Awesome Marriage Podcast

Calling all military spouses AND frequent travelers: Do not miss this bonus episode! Today we’re thrilled to have Jen McDonald of Milspouse Matters join us on the podcast. Jen is full of wisdom and warmth as well as practical tips and advice on how to weather a marriage separated by distance and the unique challenges of military life. Tune in and be encouraged by her story!     Episode highlights include:  The parts of military life that Jen was NOT prepared for  The realities of deployment and reintegration  Practical things that helped her marriage stay connected during deployment  *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Find Jen on Facebook, Instagram and on Twitter (X)  Get Jen’s Amazon bestselling book: You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse And her new book Milspouse Matters: Sharing Strength Through Our Stories She also has several Military Spouse Resources on her site (including the The 5-Day Deployment Devotional and deployment resources for families and kids). Jen has graciously offered our listeners 10% off when you use the code marriage10 at checkout! (Discount available through 12/31/23.)  Resources for kids / families:  The Comfort Crew for Military Kids Military Child Education Coalition Military Kids Connect   Military OneSource (info and support for families) Military and Family Life Counseling Program (free!)

What does  it mean to “reframe?” And how can you know if you need to do it? Reframing is a term Dr. Kim has used in past episodes, and today we learn exactly what it means and the practical steps to do it.  Scripture is clear that our mindset is very important, so this month we’re digging into how to cultivate a healthy mindset and a healthy marriage. Tune into today’s episode for the details!  Episode highlights include:  The Biblical basis and Scripture to support the concept of reframing Practical steps of the reframing process What to do if your spouse frames you negatively *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Dr. Kim’s Mind Craft Plan (I accidentally referred to it as Mind Your Marriage in the episode) is a great place to start!  Caroline Leaf’s book, Switch On Your Brain includes the “21-Day Brain Detox” Dr. Kim mentioned in the episode  The Weekly Marriage Check In is a great way to stay connected with your spouse, and you get this printable resource FREE when you sign up for the One Thing email! Get all the details here.  Being self-aware is a gift to your marriage, yourself and everyone around you! Our Self Check In Guide is a tool to take you through the process of growing self-aware.  Dr. Kim mentioned our Marriage Changers Membership, where he and Nancy share exclusive video content each month. Marriage Changers also get automatic access to each new monthly resource we create. Learn more here.  Scripture references:  Romans 12:2 Proverbs 4:23   1 Corinthians 2:16   Romans 8:6  

You know that moment when things go quickly from okay to “What just happened?” in your marriage? Suddenly there’s tension and you’re totally disconnected. Today, we are so happy to have Dr. Glenn and Phyllis Hill join us on the podcast. They do a great job explaining what goes wrong in that moment, and how to prevent it from happening again. Tune in to learn more!  Episode highlights include:  The shift that completely changed how they approached conflict  The 1 question to stop asking in fights and the better 1 to ask instead  The Hills unpack what it means that identity is the #1 human need, and how that plays out in marriage A practical tool to easily learn how to emotions well together    How disconnection can affect family life and strategies to handle it  *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Find more from Dr. Glenn and Phyllis at their website: https://www.connectioncodes.co/ and make sure to use the code AWESOME20 for 20% off any of their classes!  Learn more about using this process to connect in their book: The Connection Codes or on The Connection Codes Podcast! Download your free copy of the Hill’s Core Emotion Wheel! You are invited to Dr. Kim’s free webinar, 8 Guidelines for Fighting Fair in Your Marriage. Get all the details HERE    

We’re so used to seeing sex allll around us - skin sells, after all! But today, Joshua Ryan Butler shows us how we are still likely to miss so much of what sex is designed to show us. Sex is everywhere – except being talked about by the married couples who are (hopefully!) having it, and the churches and families who desperately need a robust theology of God’s purpose for sex and sexuality. Today’s episode takes a look at why sex is so much more than right / wrong or rules, and why that truth is incredibly freeing. Tune in to learn more.    Episode highlights include:  Why does it matter what we believe about God’s purpose for sex?  How to unpack the tension between what culture says vs church says about sex  Why a better relationship with God leads to better sex in your marriage (and a better marriage in general!)  Specifically why our male / female differences are so valuable  The shift from rule-keeping to image-bearing and what it means for our lives  *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Find more from Joshua on his website at Joshuaryanbutler.com If you enjoyed today’s episode, you will love Joshua’s new book, Beautiful Union!  You can break the conflict cycle in your marriage! Dr. Kim is hosting a FREE webinar on Friday 10/27. Get all the details HERE  Ready to gain REAL freedom and healing from porn in your marriage? Learn more about how you can do that with our new course, Marriage Undefiled: How To Overcome Porn and Heal Your Marriage HERE

This is the place for honest conversations and practical advice on how to have an awesome marriage. In this brief trailer, Dr. Kim Kimberling and co-host Lindsay Few share what you can expect to hear on the Awesome Marriage podcast each week.  If you enjoy the podcast, follow along here or at awesomemarriage.com/podcast for questions in each week's show notes that will help you and your spouse apply the info in each episode.  We pray this content is helpful for you and your marriage!  * Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!  * You can find all of Awesome Marriage's helpful resources on our website. 

What is a gospel perspective of sexuality? It’s hard to answer, since too often, sex is not talked about in the church. Yet it’s literally everywhere in the world around us. Most couples struggle with their sex life at some point and parents are deeply concerned about helping their kids navigate the topic in a God-honoring way in the midst of all of culture’s chaos. That is why we are honored to have Dr. Juli Slattery on the podcast today, sharing her vast knowledge and wisdom on the subject. You don’t want to miss what she has to say.    Episode highlights include:  Why a biblical worldview of sexuality is actually very freeing How disruptions to your sex life can become a springboard to greater intimacy  4 specific aspects of God’s love that should define healthy sex in marriage  The process to engage so you can equip your kids to navigate sexuality biblically Encouragement for couples who are struggling in this area  *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  For more great info from Juli:  Her newest book: God, Sex, and Your Marriage  Her podcast:  Java with Juli  Her website: authenticintimacy.com Books by the authors mentioned in the episode:  Celebration of Sex, by Douglas Rosenau,   The Married Guy’s Guide to Great Sex and Enjoy! The Gift of Sexual Pleasure for Women, both by Cliff and Joyce Penner  Refresh your marriage this fall with the 4th Annual Online Marriage Retreat. The retreat is live NOW! This year’s theme is Refresh: Break Through the Barriers to an Awesome Marriage. It’s packed with teaching sessions from our amazing speakers to bring you practical ways to break through the barriers that keep your marriage from being awesome. Click HERE for all the details!  Set your marriage up for better satisfaction in the bedroom when you get your head in the game with the Think Sex Challenge!   

This week it’s the husbands’ turn to weigh in. Today we hear what men said they wish their wives knew about sex. Would your husband agree? Dr. Kim strongly encourages couples to talk about their sex life, not argue about it, but… most couples don’t! So listening to today’s episode together is an easy way to start the conversation.  Sex in your marriage matters because God created it to draw spouses together, but all too often pain and tension lead to exactly the opposite. Tune in today to learn the next steps in your marriage.    Episode highlights include:  Some common Christian sex myths that might be hindering your sex life... ... And what the Bible says about them Some really effective ways to talk about sex with your spouse ... ... And some others you definitely want to avoid *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Set your marriage up for better satisfaction in the bedroom with the Think Sex Challenge The 4th Annual Online Marriage Retreat launches THIS WEEK! This year’s theme is Refresh: Break Through the Barriers to an Awesome Marriage and this retreat is packed with helpful sessions from amazing speakers. Click HERE for all the details!  Ready to gain REAL freedom and healing from porn in your marriage? Learn more about how you can do that with our new course, Marriage Undefiled: How To Overcome Porn and Heal Your Marriage.  Has sex has fallen down the list of priorities? In Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half Dr. Kim and Nancy tell how they have handled the challenges to their sex life later in marriage.  We highly recommend the book Celebration of Sex to educate yourself and your spouse on exactly what works for the two of you!

The wives have spoken! Today we share what women said they wish their husbands knew about sex. Would your wife agree? Dr. Kim wants couples to talk about their sex life, not argue about it! So an easy way to start is by listening to today’s episode together and talking about it.   Sex in your marriage matters because God created it to draw spouses together, but all too often pain and tension lead to exactly the opposite. Tune in today to get the conversation started!   Episode highlights include:  Tips to help balance the mental load spouses are carrying  Women don’t get tired of their husband’s compliments – with this 1 exception! Practical reasons why it can be helpful to schedule sex  Addressing assumptions spouses make that will deter them from great sex   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Set your marriage up for better satisfaction in the bedroom with the Think Sex Challenge Ready to gain REAL freedom and healing from porn in your marriage? Learn more about how you can do that with our new course, Marriage Undefiled: How To Overcome Porn and Heal Your Marriage.  Has sex has fallen down the list of priorities? In Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half Dr. Kim and Nancy tell how they have handled the challenges to their sex life later in marriage. We highly recommend the book Celebration of Sex to educate yourself and your spouse on exactly what works for the two of you! The 4th Annual Online Marriage Retreat launches NEXT WEEK! This year’s theme is Refresh: Break Through the Barriers to an Awesome Marriage and this retreat is packed with helpful sessions from amazing speakers. Click HERE for all the details! 

We are delighted to have Toni Collier on the podcast today. Toni has spoken and written plenty about the way that embracing brokenness, though counterintuitive, is the key to experiencing a full life in Christ. She talked to Dr. Kim about how –and why– to effectively embrace your brokenness personally, what that means, and what it can do for your marriage and family. Don’t miss this grace-filled episode! We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.  Episode highlights include:  The faith “secret” that transformed Toni’s perspective on brokenness The deeply personal origin of Toni’s new book, and why a children’s book is so important   The biggest mistake she made early in marriage, and how she recovered  *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!    MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Be sure to check out Toni’s children’s book Broken Crayons Still Color! It is beautifully designed to help kids deal with big feelings and gain the tools to handle them well.  And don’t miss Toni’s book, Brave Enough to Be Broken: How to Embrace Your Pain and Discover Hope and Healing, which is full of Biblical wisdom and practical tools to help you heal right where you are today!  Grow closer to God while you grow closer to your spouse with the 2-Week Couple’s Scripture Challenge! Click through for more info.  The mind is a powerful sex organ, and the 25-Day Think Sex Challenge is designed to help you harness that power to experience more fun, intimate and fulfilling sex in your marriage.   

Ministry couples face both unique joys and unique challenges. If you’ve been around Awesome Marriage for a while, you’ve probably heard Dr. Kim say to put God first and your spouse second. But when your job is ministry, it can be really hard to balance your vocational ministry with your primary ministry - your marriage. Today we’re talking about how to keep your marriage thriving when you are in ministry. We pray this episode is helpful to you and your marriage.    Episode highlights include:  The surprising data on how ministry affects marriage and family  Our personal experiences of what makes ministry hard on marriage What to do if you work in a ministry culture that does not prioritize marriage or family 4 specific ways to protect and build your marriage   *Music for this podcast is created by Noah Copeland. Check him out here!   MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:  Don't let your ministry take out your marriage! The Sustaining Your Marriage In Ministry online course was designed to help you through the challenges you face. Learn more HERE. Our friends at Emotionally Healthy Discipleship offer resources that equip leaders to lead from their inner life with Christ.   Anything you want to hear about that we missed today? Shoot me an email and let us know!