

Bare Marriage
Sheila Gregoire
Tired of Christian pat answers about marriage? The podcast that goes in-depth into marriage, parenting, and even sex--to see how we can live the passionate life we were meant for. Paired with Bare Marriage--the blog!
Episodes
Mentioned books

10 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 1h 7min
Episode 298: Purity Culture, Date Rape, and Porn: plus Joash Thomas and the Justice of Jesus
Joash Thomas, an author and deacon in discernment for priesthood, discusses his book, The Justice of Jesus. He explores how colonialism distorted Western Christianity's understanding of justice, emphasizing that following Jesus requires a holistic approach to justice. The conversation delves into disturbing studies linking purity culture to misconceptions about consent and the harmful effects of male porn use on relationships, especially among religious women. Joash challenges mainstream views on justice, advocating for healing and communal support over punishment.

Sep 25, 2025 • 1h 34min
Episode 297: The Myth of Good Christian Parenting
Send us a textIt's The Great Sex Rescue--but for parenting!The Christian parenting industry has been feeding us garbage for decades, and Keith and I sat down with Marissa Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis, authors of "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting," to talk about how we got here.THE MYTH OF GOOD CHRISTIAN PARENTINGPre-Order the book now--and claim your amazing pre-order bonuses!TO SUPPORT US: Join our Patreon for as little as $5 a month to support our workAnd check out our Merch, or any of our courses!Join our email list!LINKS MENTIONED:Instagram: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcginnisThreads: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcginnisFacebook: @mburtwrites | @kelsey.kramermcginnisBluesky: @mburtwrites | @kkramermcginnisTikTok: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcgSubstack: @mburtwrites | @kelseykramermcginnisYouTube: @mburtwritesWebsite: Marissa My article on spanking and sexual arousalMy article on the research on spanking effectsThe article about those who hid Jews during the Holocaust Support the showJoin Sheila at Bare Marriage.com!Check out her books: The Great Sex Rescue She Deserves Better The Marriage You Want and the Study Guide The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex and The Good Guy's Guide to Great Sex And she has an Orgasm Course and a Libido course too!Check out all her courses, FREE resources, social media, books, and so much more at Sheila's LinkTree.

8 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 55min
Episode 296: How to Avoid Inadvertently Giving Your Kids Sexual Hangups
In this enlightening chat, Keith, a regular contributor and expert on marital dynamics, joins to explore how parenting can inadvertently create sexual hang-ups in kids. They discuss the dangers of oversharing parental sex lives, the complexities of talking about teenage sexual development, and why shame-centered approaches to topics like pornography can backfire. Keith also challenges the misconception that more sex equals a happier marriage, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and healthy communication in relationships.

Sep 11, 2025 • 54min
Episode 295: Does More Sex Make Marriage Happier?
Send us a textWe're constantly told that more sex will fix our marriages, but the research tells a completely different story. When couples are simply told to increase frequency without addressing quality, satisfaction, and women's actual experiences, it often backfires and decreases desire altogether. The real predictor of marital happiness isn't how often you're having sex—it's whether that sex is mutually satisfying, intimate, and pleasurable for both people. Unfortunately, evangelical sex advice keeps pushing obligation sex messages that treat women's exhaustion and needs as obstacles to overcome rather than valid concerns. It's time we start asking better questions about what makes sex actually good instead of just demanding more of it.OUR SPONSOR:Check out the book Better Ways to Read the Bible--to transform the way you see Scripture, and let it come alive again if it's been used as a weapon against you.TO SUPPORT US: Join our Patreon for as little as $5 a month to support our workAnd check out our Merch, or any of our courses!Join our email list!LINKS MENTIONED:The Orgasm Course Psychology Today article on sexual frequency and happinessFocus on the Family State of Marriage in America surveyThe Whole Story puberty course for kids (coupon code: PODCAST)Our reel about the 24 hour ruleSupport the showJoin Sheila at Bare Marriage.com!Check out her books: The Great Sex Rescue She Deserves Better The Marriage You Want and the Study Guide The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex and The Good Guy's Guide to Great Sex And she has an Orgasm Course and a Libido course too!Check out all her courses, FREE resources, social media, books, and so much more at Sheila's LinkTree.

Sep 4, 2025 • 1h 18min
Episode 294: 4 Christian Women Talk Menopause--and Perimenopause!
Send us a textI brought together three dear friends to have an honest conversation about perimenopause and menopause because so many of you have been asking about it. We shared our real stories and talked about the challenges like brain fog, weight changes, and sexual adjustments, and my dry eyes that nearly drove me crazy! But here's what I want you to know: menopause isn't just about suffering through symptoms. Each of us found our voices during menopause, finally standing up in toxic relationships and getting angry about toxic teachings we’d tolerated for years. OUR SPONSOR:Check out the book Better Ways to Read the Bible--to transform the way you see Scripture, and let it come alive again if it's been used as a weapon against you.TO SUPPORT US: Join our Patreon for as little as $5 a month to support our workAnd check out our Merch, or any of our courses!Join our email list!LINKS MENTIONED:The Orgasm Course Merry Lin's book RebecomingMerry Lin's LinkTreeMerry's Bare Marriage podcast episode with meKelita Haverland's song The Strong One Rosemary Flaaten's program at The Center for Healthy RelationshipsThe We Do Not Care Club video Support the showJoin Sheila at Bare Marriage.com!Check out her books: The Great Sex Rescue She Deserves Better The Marriage You Want and the Study Guide The Good Girl's Guide to Great Sex and The Good Guy's Guide to Great Sex And she has an Orgasm Course and a Libido course too!Check out all her courses, FREE resources, social media, books, and so much more at Sheila's LinkTree.

7 snips
Aug 28, 2025 • 1h 26min
Episode 293: Better Ways to Read the Bible feat. Zach Lambert
Zach Lambert, lead pastor and founder of Restore Austin, shares insights from his book to help those feeling lost in their relationship with the Bible. He discusses how scripture can transform from a source of shame to one of healing. Lambert also advocates for compassionate interpretations, particularly regarding women's experiences in faith. The conversation addresses the need for trauma-informed approaches and critiques rigid biblical inerrancy, emphasizing love and empowerment over legalism.

23 snips
Aug 21, 2025 • 1h 10min
Episode 292: Hear Sheila Answer Men’s Questions about Healthy Marriage & Sexuality
Blake Roberts and Jamie Haig, therapists and co-hosts of the 3% podcast, dive into the complexities of healthy marriage and sexuality. They tackle common misconceptions about masculinity and relationship dynamics, advocating for open communication and vulnerability. The discussion highlights the emotional load shouldered by women and the impact of shared responsibilities on marital satisfaction. They also critique traditional views within the evangelical context, pushing for healthier narratives around intimacy and partnership.

Aug 14, 2025 • 1h 3min
Episode 291: How Professor Neil Reaches Young Men Stuck in Misogyny
Sheila Wray Gregoire chats with Professor Neil, an expert in men and masculinity in popular culture. They dive into the troubling messages propagated by some Christian leaders about gender roles and relationships. Neil critiques how these narratives often echo incel ideology. He emphasizes the importance of using research to challenge misogyny, particularly among young men. Their discussion highlights the impact of social media on attitudes towards women and advocates for healthier models of masculinity, aiming for respectful and equitable partnerships.

Aug 7, 2025 • 1h 14min
Episode 290: What Does Authoritarianism Have to Do with Complementarianism? (with a test!)
Dive into the unsettling crossover between authoritarianism and evangelical beliefs. The discussion unveils how toxic teachings can impact personal and societal morals. Tools for questioning rigid faith and embracing diverse perspectives are shared. The importance of open-mindedness in navigating belief evolution is emphasized, urging a compassionate approach to differing views. Engage with ideas on improving neighborly relations amid conflicting ideologies, while confronting hypocrisy and promoting intellectual inquiry within religious practices.

Jun 26, 2025 • 1h 3min
Episode 289: Why Fiction Makes You a Better Person (Why We Don't Hate ALL Books!)
Discover the transformative power of fiction and how it fosters personal growth and empathy. The hosts share their journeys back to reading, discussing the joy it brings and how narratives deepen understanding of complex issues. They highlight the value of flawed characters in children's literature, promoting important conversations about social behavior. The discussion encourages readers to engage with diverse stories for better mental health and relational awareness, culminating in an inspiring poem about women's voices and empowerment.