Who doesn’t want a passionate marriage? But do you really know what that means? Or what it takes? Passion is a much more complicated topic than most of us want to deal with. It isn’t just ripping each other’s clothes off as soon as you are with

Seven Critical Strategies to Improve Your Marriage – Encore

Mar 26th, 2024 37m 24s

Far too many people believe that relationships are natural. You meet someone, fall in love, plan a life together and go on autopilot. This is not a prescription for success. It’s a prescription for flying into the side of a mountain. That’s whe

ENCORE: The “No Excuse” Way to Reconnect with Your Spouse

Mar 19th, 2024 33m 39s

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED 07-27-2020. Nothing thrives on neglect and your marriage is no different. But it’s easy to let things go because “it’s not that bad” or other things take priority—your kids, job, social media. If you have lost touch with ea

How Easy Should Divorce Be?

Mar 4th, 2024 40m 14s

No-fault divorce began in California in 1969 when Ronald Reagan was governor. It is now the norm in all fifty states. But when it requires both people to consent to getting married, should only one person be able to dissolve it? We’re now on th

Shattered Trust—Now What?

Feb 27th, 2024 35m 40s

Once a cheater, always a cheater—right? But what if that’s not true. Infidelity is extremely painful, but it doesn’t have to be life sentence, for either of you. It is possible to recover from it and build a relationship that is more authentic

Making Marriage Fun Again

Feb 20th, 2024 30m 33s

When you think about your marriage do you smile? Or do you wonder why you’re even still in it? Marriage shouldn’t be hard. Or work. Or drudgery. If it’s any of those things, then it isn’t serving you well. If you and your partner are feeling di

Performative Masculinity is Not Relational

Feb 13th, 2024 34m 40s

“Man UP”. “Act like a man.” “Real men don’t…..” If you’ve ever heard or made these statements, or something like them, what was the outcome? While the patriarchy has given men, especially white men, a lot of power, it also has “boxed” them in t

How To Get And Keep The Spark in Your Marriage

Feb 6th, 2024 35m 45s

Do you love your partner but aren’t sure you’re in love with them anymore? Do you wonder where the magic has gone? Do you worry it won’t ever come back? Are you settling for being roommates when you want so much more? If so, then Jeff Forte, ex

Is Your Marriage Harder Than It Needs to Be?

Jan 30th, 2024 33m 55s

Expecting your marriage to be clear sailing with n’er a squall in sight is setting you up for disappointment and resentment. Far too many couples focus on the wedding day instead of what they want the marriage to look like. As a result, they ar

Love Never Dies a Natural Death, It Gets Killed

Jan 23rd, 2024 31m 50s

Have you ever heard a couple on the brink of divorce say they never loved each other in the first place? But you were at their wedding and you know that’s not true. Maybe you’ve even found yourself thinking this about your spouse. But that’s me

The Path to a Better Marriage

Jan 16th, 2024 32m 46s

I often tell people that couples work is actually simultaneous individual work. It’s common to focus on what your partner is doing, but the only one you have control over is you. Looking within is often where the answers lie. The good news is t

Is it the Quantity or Quality of Intimacy that Matters?

Jan 9th, 2024 31m 55s

Okay, trick question. For most of us, it’s both. Intimacy (and sex) is important in a romantic relationship. And it’s a concern in many marriages. Intimacy is a source of anxiety for far too many couples. Like many things, good sex and real int

Happiness is a Side Benefit

Jan 2nd, 2024 30m 41s

Countless people think it’s their job to make their partners happy. While that is a wonderful concept, it’s impossible to do. You are responsible for your happiness. Your partner is responsible for theirs. But even focusing on happiness in that

One Thing You Can Do Today to Improve Your Marriage

Dec 12th, 2023 31m 45s

You hear it all the time: Marriage takes work. But what if there was something you could easily do everyday that would make it easier? Guess what? There is. It doesn’t cost any money and you don’t even need to leave your house. Dr. Erin Leyba,

Into Me You See

Dec 5th, 2023 33m 54s

Many people jump to sex when they hear the word intimacy. If pressed, they may reluctantly include forms of affection. So you may be surprised to learn that there are actually ten different types of intimacy. Physical intimacy is just one kind,

Dreading the Holiday Season? You don’t have to!

Nov 28th, 2023 37m 19s

For many, this time of year can be really stressful. Instead of feeling joyous and full of good cheer, you may be feeling anxious instead. Oh, you might put a smile on your face and commit to following all the usual traditions, but you’re alrea

Love DOES Mean Saying “I’m Sorry”

Nov 21st, 2023 32m 58s

I was in elementary school when both the book and the movie Love Story were released. It’s classic line, “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”, struck me as stupid even then. I do suspect that for many people it’s easier to say, “I love

Are You and Your Marriage Sexually Healthy?

Nov 14th, 2023 31m 45s

Intimacy is what most of us are looking for in our marriage. It is more than just physical, but how you interact physically is important. The challenge? Sex is everywhere, but good information about healthy sexuality is not. This makes creating

What You Need to Know to Have an Intimately Healthy Marriage

Oct 31st, 2023 36m 11s

People need touch—a hug, a snuggle, and, yes, sex—to be healthy. What should seem straight forward is often quite complicated. Stress, hormone levels, time and more, all play a role in how healthy and intimate your marriage is. Women’s Intimate

Making Time For Your Marriage Matters

Oct 24th, 2023 38m 47s

Is “Busy” your answer to the question, “How are you?” For a lot of us, that seems to be the standard response. Not only does it seem to be the new normal, it seems to be the new status symbol. But accepting this as a daily practice has its cost

The Question isn’t Whether to Change or Not, but How to Do It Successfully

Oct 17th, 2023 33m 55s

You’ve asked your partner to do something different. Or, maybe, your partner has asked you to. The two of you might even agree that the change will help your relationship. You also agree to make the change and then, …. you find yourself doing t

How Much Sex is Enough?

Oct 10th, 2023 32m 35s

Top things married couples fight about: money and sex. Rarely is it because there is an overabundance of either. And both topics are extremely personal. If one of you is unhappy with how often you are physically intimate, then your relationship

Divorce May Not Always Be the Answer

Oct 3rd, 2023 34m 58s

All relationships have ups and downs. This often comes as a surprise to couples who think everything will be sunshine and roses on their wedding day. It can make them think they might have made a mistake. But it actually is quite normal. If thi

Do You Know the Signs of a Bad Marriage?

Sep 26th, 2023 34m 25s

There’s a saying that forewarned is forearmed. This is true when it comes to your marriage as well. Knowing what behaviors are harmful is what is going to keep your relationship out of danger. But that means not only knowing what to look for bu

Stop Getting Hijacked into a Fight

Sep 19th, 2023 34m 32s

So there you are, having what you think is a non-controversial conversation with your spouse, when suddenly all you know what breaks lose. You can no longer think straight and all of your good intentions to stay on topic, be open to listening,