LDS Mission Podcast Episode 243: Relationship Strategies with Mike Dildine is a Valentine's-week conversation with my favorite human—my husband, Mike—and it's packed with real-life relationship strategies that apply to marriage, companionships, family relationships, roommates, and mission culture. We talk about what coaching has taught us about thoughts, emotions, agency, and how to stop living like a victim of your circumstances and start becoming the author of your own story—especially when relationships feel messy, intense, or confusing.

In this episode, we dive into mindset tools that have strengthened our relationship over the years: being careful about adding meaning to everything, learning to give love and respect to people who are different from you, and creating a safe space for the full range of emotions instead of trying to "fix" everything. Mike shares how coaching helped him feel more empowered in relationships, and we talk about the truth that you can't "make" someone feel loved—love is created internally through thoughts, self-awareness, and emotional ownership, not flowers, date nights, or perfect behavior.

Mike also shares an unforgettable story from a spontaneous Penn State White Out trip that becomes the perfect mission and marriage analogy: you can't control everything, but you can embrace the journey—the good, the bad, the uncertainty—and still have an incredible experience. LDS Mission Podcast Episode 243: Relationship Strategies with Mike Dildine will help you build stronger relationships through compassion, maturity, agency, and Christlike love—no matter what stage of the mission experience you're in.

Mike Dildine is a custom home builder and entrepreneur based in Eagle, Idaho, known for his leadership at Highland Homes. With a passion for building both beautiful homes and meaningful relationships, Mike balances a thriving business with family life and personal growth. He brings his strategic mindset and wise insight into everyday relationships, offering a thoughtful perspective on connection and growth. Whether in business, family, or faith, Mike's focus is building a legacy of trust and purpose.

As always, if you found this episode helpful, I want to invite you to subscribe if you aren't already, share this episode with your friends and missionaries you know, and write a review. I know this work will help LDS missionaries around the world and it would mean so much to me if you did. Until next week my friends.

Learn more from Mike - Highland Homes:

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