

Connect2
Focus on the Family Singapore
Welcome to the Connect2 marriage podcast by Focus on the Family Singapore!
Married life can be filled with twists and turns, especially with the day-to-day priorities, and stresses in life, including the times we run into conflict with our spouse.
No matter the state of your relationship today, we want to help your marriage thrive.
Join us as we figure out life and love together, and go deep into the conversations and questions (often unspoken) about the toughest topics on connection, intimacy and lifelong love.
While there are no perfect marriages, there is always room to grow to be the best spouse we can be. With practical tips, a whole lot of vulnerability and even a dose of humour, we hope that these episodes will provide hope and encouragement for your marriage.
Married life can be filled with twists and turns, especially with the day-to-day priorities, and stresses in life, including the times we run into conflict with our spouse.
No matter the state of your relationship today, we want to help your marriage thrive.
Join us as we figure out life and love together, and go deep into the conversations and questions (often unspoken) about the toughest topics on connection, intimacy and lifelong love.
While there are no perfect marriages, there is always room to grow to be the best spouse we can be. With practical tips, a whole lot of vulnerability and even a dose of humour, we hope that these episodes will provide hope and encouragement for your marriage.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 4, 2024 • 21min
Is This the One? Heartfelt Insights on Love, Dating, and Marriage.
Grace Ann Chua, a certified dating coach and founder of HTHT.co, explores the multifaceted world of love and relationships. She emphasizes that dating is a journey of self-discovery, revealing insights about identifying personal values and non-negotiables. Alongside Elvin and Esther Foong, she discusses the importance of communication, navigating red flags, and the challenges of differing values. The trio shares valuable tips for sustaining joy in relationships and the significance of resilience in marriage.

Aug 14, 2024 • 27min
The First Year of Marriage: Managing Finances and Chores for a Harmonious Home
Explore the journey of newlyweds as they tackle the challenges of finances and household chores. Discover how vulnerability and open communication can transform tasks into acts of love. Learn about setting healthy boundaries with in-laws while nurturing your marriage. Delve into the significance of emotional connections through gratitude and intentionality. With creative solutions and personal stories, the hosts highlight the importance of teamwork for a harmonious home.

Jul 31, 2024 • 24min
The First Year of Marriage: What We Wish We Knew?
"If you value your marriage, you will need to often make sacrifices not to put your individual identity above the collective identity (of the family)." - Ernest Sim What does it take for two individual lives to come together as one unit in the beautiful union of marriage? How do two differing persons with their unique personalities, preferences and style work synergistically together to create a sum larger than its parts? Tune in to hear from Ernest and Elyna Sim as they discuss candidly how they adapted to life as one family unit during their first year of marriage! --A thriving marriage does not just happen. It takes love and effort to keep the romance alive. This September, surprise your spouse with a date where you get to discover new things about each other and deepen your connection over specially curated experiences. Seats are limited! Register Now at www.family.org.sg/BestDateEver! --If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/connect2podcast to share with your friends. You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Do note that if you are based in Singapore, one-time gifts above SGD$50 or monthly donations above SGD$10 are eligible for 250% tax-deductible benefits.

Jul 17, 2024 • 20min
Financial Harmony in Marriage: How to Sustain?
“Why do we make the money we make? What's the vision around the money itself? … how can we make sure that we execute that vision?” – Ng Choon Jin Our family backgrounds influence our views on money and its role in our lives. This inevitably affects how a married couple manages and uses money, often leading to conflicts. How can we develop a clear and healthy vision for our finances in marriage, and how do we start that conversation with our spouse? Joining us for this episode is Choon Jin, an ex-accountant turned money coach. Tune in to find out about the remaining 4 money types that describe our relationship with money, and find out which type best describes you.--Best Date Ever is a date event that will surely bring out your playful sides with fun and engaging activities, alongside various opportunities for you and your spouse to deepen your connection over specially crafted experiences. Discover new things about each other, bond over great food and conversations, and look forward to a great time together! It's time to re-connect & re-ignite the romance in your marriage at Best Date Ever with your forever date this September! Register Now at www.family.org.sg/BestDateEver! --If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/connect2podcast to share with your friends. You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Do note that if you are based in Singapore, one-time gifts above SGD$50 or monthly donations above SGD$10 are eligible for 250% tax-deductible benefits.

Jul 3, 2024 • 19min
Financial Harmony in Marriage: How to get Started?
“Money, while so fundamental, is nothing more than an enabler... never let the money decision lead your life - always let the life decision lead first, and then the money will be enabling you to do what you need to do”. - Choon Jin Money can often become a major issue in marriage. Joining us for this episode is Choon Jin, an ex-accountant turned money coach. Tune in to find out about the 4 money types that describe our relationship with money and find out which type best describes you.--Have you been wanting to take your spouse on a date but haven't found the time to plan something meaningful?At Best Date Ever, reconnect with your spouse over a delightful meal, fun activities and meaningful conversations in a cosy setting. Look forward to an intimate and engaging experience designed exclusively for married couples to enjoy together!Regularly dating your spouse nurtures and strengthens your relationship for the long haul. Register your interest at www.family.org.sg/BestDateEver!--If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/connect2podcast to share with your friends. You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Do note that if you are based in Singapore, one-time gifts above SGD$50 or monthly donations above SGD$10 are eligible for 250% tax-deductible benefits.

Jun 19, 2024 • 28min
How do we Intentionally Practise Kindness and Forgiveness in Marriage?
Habits. How do we practise kindness and forgiveness towards our spouse daily? “Your mind is like a garden. Your thoughts are like seeds. Choose kindness and forgiveness so you don't deal with weeds.” Tune in to this episode, where our guests Mario and Shalyn share about being quick to listen and slow to react, as well as what to do when we over-react. --Looking for helpful resources to navigate your marriage? Choose from a range of articles and podcasts covering topics such as communication, intimacy, conflict resolution. Visit www.family.org.sg/resources/marriage and read more. --If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/connect2podcast to share with your friends. You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Do note that if you are based in Singapore, one-time gifts above SGD$50 or monthly donations above SGD$10 are eligible for 250% tax-deductible benefits.

Jun 5, 2024 • 24min
The Power of Kindness and Forgiveness in Marriage
” --- we need to have that frank, open, honest communication. Once we have that, it's a natural tendency that kindness and forgiveness start to come in.” - Mario Join Mario and Shalyn as they discuss their 17-year marriage journey, sharing candid insights into the challenges they've faced, such as unmet expectations and conflicts. Despite these hurdles, they consistently find their way back to each other, thanks to the power of kindness and forgiveness. Discover how these principles can positively impact your own marriage today! --Looking for helpful resources to navigate your marriage? Choose from a range of articles and podcasts covering topics such as communication, intimacy, conflict resolution. Visit www.family.org.sg/resources/marriage and read more. --If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/connect2podcast to share with your friends. You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Do note that if you are based in Singapore, one-time gifts above SGD$50 or monthly donations above SGD$10 are eligible for 250% tax-deductible benefits.

May 15, 2024 • 22min
Annoying Habits That Hinder Life-Long Love
“Instead of trying to dissect the problem, I'm trying to understand her emotional state. I try to listen to her, validate her point of view, and acknowledge how she's feeling. When I do that, I remember that we are on the same team.” - Justin Intimacy in a marriage is built by two active listeners. Join Justin and Joey on this podcast, as they continue the conversation from the last episode, and share candidly their process of overcoming the negative habits in their marriage to nurture intimacy. --Looking for helpful resources to navigate your marriage? Choose from a range of articles and podcasts covering topics such as communication, intimacy, conflict resolution. Visit www.family.org.sg/resources/marriage and read more. --If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/connect2podcast to share with your friends. You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Do note that if you are based in Singapore, one-time gifts above SGD$50 or monthly donations above SGD$10 are eligible for 250% tax-deductible benefits.

May 1, 2024 • 20min
Small Gestures That Cultivate Life-Long Love
“Celebrating the small victories: they just finished a presentation... Why not celebrate those moments? Why do we only wait until we have certain anniversaries or bigger milestones that we celebrate and care for each other? We can build that intentionality and pursue our spouse in heartfelt and genuine ways.” - JustinBuilding a marriage and pursuing our spouse is not just the big and grand gestures, or even spending time together after the day ends. It’s about the little acts throughout the day that tells your spouse you’re thinking of him/her. Hear from Justin as he shares candidly how he continues to be creative in pursuing Joey, even amidst the responsibilities of work and parenthood. Tune in to find out more!--Looking for helpful resources to navigate your marriage? Choose from a range of articles and podcasts covering topics such as communication, intimacy, conflict resolution. Visit www.family.org.sg/resources/marriage and read more.--If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/connect2podcast to share with your friends. You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Do note that if you are based in Singapore, one-time gifts above SGD$50 or monthly donations above SGD$10 are eligible for 250% tax-deductible benefits.

Apr 17, 2024 • 20min
Nurturing Your Marriage Amidst Life's Demands
After marriage, it's common to grow familiar with our spouse, sometimes neglecting to prioritise each other’s needs. The key to a thriving marriage lies in intentional efforts to communicate in each other's love language, and prioritising your spouse. Joining us on this podcast are Francis and Jocelyn, who share how they maintain their strong bond amidst competing factors. Tune in to discover more! --Looking for helpful resources to navigate your marriage? Choose from a range of articles and podcasts covering topics such as communication, intimacy, conflict resolution. Visit www.family.org.sg/resources/marriage and read more.--The Connect2 Marriage Preparation Workshop equips couples with handles to walk into marriage.Through the guidance of husband-and-wife trainers over 3 sessions, participants will learn to: Engage in effective communication and healthy conflict Plan and manage family finances well Understand sexual intimacy and the importance of romance Manage expectations and plan for the future (children, in-laws, work-life) Whether they are newly married or thinking of getting married, couples will benefit from the interactive style of learning, practical tips offered, and deep discussions about topics that are not usually raised in conversations before marriage.Share this with a couple who could benefit from the workshop!Find out the dates: www.family.org.sg/C2MarriagePrep--If you have enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review on Apple Podcast or Podchaser. It'll be very helpful for others to find our podcast. You can also help us by copying this link www.family.org.sg/connect2podcast to share with your friends. You can also support us by giving monthly. We appreciate your generous giving as every dollar helps to sustain our efforts in strengthening families. Do note that if you are based in Singapore, one-time gifts above SGD$50 or monthly donations above SGD$10 are eligible for 250% tax-deductible benefits.


