Authentic Marriage Podcast

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Shawn, Lauren, Chris, and Brooke talk about what it looks like to remember your first love and continue choosing joy and connection in marriage.

Brooke shares from Revelation 2, where Jesus speaks to the church in Ephesus about remembering the love they had at first. The conversation turns to marriage and how easy it can be over time to lose some of the excitement, fun, and intentionality that came so naturally in the beginning of a relationship.

Feelings change throughout marriage, but that does not mean love has disappeared. Over time, those early feelings can grow into something deeper and more intentional. At the same time, couples should not stop having fun together. Sometimes reconnecting means doing something you both enjoy, going on a date, turning on a song that brings back a memory, or simply creating new moments together. This is part of the heart behind Love for a Lifetime date nights, giving couples opportunities to step away from everyday life and intentionally enjoy one another again.

They also talk about the importance of remembering the good moments. Take the picture. Remember the music, the places, the scents, and the experiences that remind you of the life you have built together. Those memories can help bring you back to the love, friendship, and joy that are still there, even during seasons when they may be harder to feel.

Marriage gives us the opportunity to continue getting to know our spouse on a deeper level. As life and seasons change, so do we. Continuing to pursue, learn, and enjoy one another is part of valuing the marriage God has given us.

Ultimately, marriage is meant to reflect the way Christ loves the church. We cannot fix every struggle in our marriage on our own, but we can choose to value our marriage, turn toward one another, and invite God into the places that need restoration.

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On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Brooke and Lauren have an honest conversation about a difficult season in Shawn and Lauren’s marriage. Looking back on the night of Brooke’s daughter’s wedding, they reflect on a time when Shawn and Lauren were working together and doing life together, but were not truly connecting emotionally or physically.

Brooke and Lauren talk about the importance of being intentional about intimacy in marriage. Brooke shares the simple reminder that the less you have sex, the less you want it. Intimacy can easily get pushed aside when life gets busy, which is why couples may need to intentionally make time for each other. Scheduling intimacy is not about taking away the romance, but about making sure connection remains a priority.

They also discuss the importance of bringing everything into the light with your spouse. Being honest and vulnerable allows couples to talk about what is really happening instead of allowing distance or resentment to grow. Having trusted, godly community can also provide wisdom, encouragement, and a safe place to seek advice when you need another perspective.

The conversation closes with the importance of communication, timing, and giving your spouse room to share what they are feeling. Hard conversations are not always easy, but creating space to listen and being willing to extend the olive branch can open the door to healing and renewed connection. Marriage takes intentionality, vulnerability, and a continued choice to pursue one another.

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On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Shawn, Lauren, Chris, and Brooke talk about what it looks like to support your spouse through worry, fear, frustration, and difficult moments. Drawing from Galatians 2, they discuss the importance of carrying one another’s burdens while remembering that we are not called to carry the entire weight for our spouse.

Each couple shares from their own experiences. Chris talks about struggling with worry while Brooke approaches it differently. Shawn and Lauren discuss Lauren’s struggle with fear and how they have learned that Shawn’s first response needs to be listening rather than immediately trying to fix the situation. For Shawn, frustration can be a challenge, and the couple has learned the value of listening, validating, and praying together.

The conversation explores how husbands and wives can communicate what they truly need from one another. Sometimes support does not mean having the right solution. It can mean listening, speaking truth, praying together, and helping your spouse carry the burden without taking the entire weight upon yourself. Learning your spouse and preparing for difficult moments can help couples respond with greater understanding and grace.

Our words have power, and Scripture gives us truth to speak over ourselves and our spouse. Rather than allowing fear, worry, or frustration to define the moment, we can ask, “What does God say about this?” and “What can I practically do to support my spouse right now?” Through communication, prayer, intentional listening, and biblical truth, couples can learn to carry burdens together while ultimately placing them in God’s hands.

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On this episode of Guys Garage, Chris and Shawn unpack 1 Peter 3:7 and what it means for husbands to live with their wives in an understanding way and show them honor.

The conversation challenges men to intentionally learn their wives by listening, asking questions, communicating, and taking the time to truly understand who they are. Knowing your spouse does not happen by accident. It requires curiosity, patience, and a willingness to keep learning one another.

Chris and Shawn also discuss the phrase “weaker vessel” and how it should never be understood as permission to use strength or authority against a wife. Instead, biblical strength is meant to be expressed through honor, protection, humility, and sacrificial love. Peter reminds husbands that their wives are “heirs with you of the grace of life,” pointing to their equal value before God and the unity of becoming one flesh.

The episode closes with the sobering reminder that how we treat our spouse is connected to our relationship with God. Husbands are called to submit themselves to the Lord first, allowing Him to shape the way they lead, love, listen, and honor their wives.

This episode encourages men to stop simply assuming they know their wives and instead study them, listen to them, and love them with intentional understanding.

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On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Shawn and Lauren, along with Chris and Brooke, continue their conversation on love and respect, focusing on what it looks like for husbands to intentionally love their wives.

Shawn and Lauren share how a difficult conversation about respect helped them better understand one another. The hosts discuss how respect may come more naturally to many men, while wives often feel most loved through connection, communication, and intentional acts that speak directly to their hearts.

The couples share personal examples of what makes them feel loved, from serving one another to words of affirmation and physical touch. They encourage husbands and wives to learn their spouse’s unique needs rather than assuming they experience love the same way they do.

The conversation also highlights the importance of wives listening when their husbands share their feelings. Vulnerability can be difficult, especially when someone fears rejection or an unhelpful response, but creating a safe space for honest communication can deepen intimacy and trust.

Ultimately, loving your spouse well means being willing to learn what makes them feel valued, seen, and cherished, even when it does not come naturally to you. This episode encourages couples to move beyond simply loving their spouse the way they prefer and instead become intentional about loving them in the way they receive it best.

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On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Brooke and Chris reflect on their daughter’s wedding and the joy of watching her begin a new chapter of marriage. Their conversation becomes a reminder of the importance of remembering God’s faithfulness and the ways He has carried their family through every season.

Looking at the Old Testament, they discuss how God's people intentionally marked celebrations and milestones to remember His faithfulness and His promises. Brooke and Chris share how grateful they are for the people God brought into their daughter’s life and the blessing of welcoming a new family into their own.

They also offer encouragement for newly married couples, emphasizing the importance of communicating openly about everything, refusing to hide things from one another, and creating a marriage that feels safe and secure. They encourage couples to find biblical community and surround themselves with other married couples they can learn from and lean on.

The conversation also touches on preparing for the wedding day, navigating holidays, and learning how to move through the many seasons and celebrations that come with marriage.

Ultimately, this episode encourages couples to remember where God has brought them, communicate openly, surround themselves with community, and continue choosing one another through every season of marriage.

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On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Brooke sits down with Allesha Childress, wife, mother, and cofounder of Rock Bottom Hope, a ministry she leads alongside her husband, Danny, to bring hope and support to individuals and families affected by addiction. Allesha joins Brooke for an honest conversation about marriage, personality differences, priorities, and the importance of creating space for the people and things that matter most.

The conversation explores the importance of understanding your spouse’s needs and making intentional space for one another. Allesha shares how she balances her need for solitude with a full schedule and reminds us that sometimes we can miss the great things God has placed in front of us because we fill our calendars with too many good things.

Brooke and Allesha also discuss how our calendar and bank account often reveal what we truly prioritize. They encourage couples to be intentional about making room for their marriage, family, and time with the Lord instead of allowing busyness to take over.

Another important part of the conversation is learning not to assume our spouse’s intentions. Before reacting with anger or frustration, we can pause, ask questions, and seek to understand. Giving our spouse the benefit of the doubt can create greater communication, grace, and unity.

The conversation closes with a discussion about walking alongside someone struggling with addiction and how to offer support without trying to control their journey. Through Rock Bottom Hope, Danny and Allesha help individuals and families find hope and support through difficult seasons.

Need help or know someone who does?
Rock Bottom Hope offers support for individuals struggling with addiction of any kind.

Website: www.rockbottomhope.com
Hope Line: 877-423-HOPE

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On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Chris and Brooke welcome Danny and Allesha, founders of Rock Bottom Hope, for an honest conversation about marriage, vulnerability, and intentionally knowing your spouse.

Danny and Allesha share how they met and how important it is to be completely open with your spouse. Marriage creates a space to be known fully, and hiding parts of ourselves can keep couples from experiencing deeper connection and trust.

The conversation also explores how the differences that initially attract us to our spouse can sometimes become sources of frustration in marriage. Instead of focusing on those differences negatively, couples are encouraged to recognize their spouse's unique strengths and see those differences as a blessing. Being intentional about gratitude, understanding each other's roles and strengths, and setting clear expectations can help couples work together more effectively.

Danny and Allesha also share practical ways they have learned more about one another, including taking the 5 Love Languages and spiritual gifts assessments together. Understanding how your spouse communicates, receives love, and is uniquely gifted can help couples love each other more intentionally.

The conversation also highlights the work of Rock Bottom Hope, a ministry that walks alongside individuals struggling with addiction and offers a Hope Line for those who need support. Danny and Allesha share how they intentionally separate ministry and work from their marriage while making time to reconnect through regular date nights and their 24 Hours getaways.

This episode encourages couples to be vulnerable, appreciate their differences, learn how to love their spouse well, and intentionally invest in their marriage through every season.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or needs support, visit www.rockbottomhope.com or call 877-423-HOPE. Hope is always available.

On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, Chris sits down with Danny Childress, founder of Rock Bottom Hope, to discuss addiction, biblical brotherhood, and the importance of authentic conversations among Christian men. Danny shares the heart behind Rock Bottom Hope and how the ministry exists to bring hope, healing, and restoration to those struggling with addiction and life's hardest seasons.

Together, they talk about why many men tend to keep conversations at the surface and how true healing begins when we are willing to be honest, vulnerable, and show genuine brotherly love. Chris also asks what to do when someone you love is not ready to accept help. Danny reminds listeners that while we cannot force change, we can continue to pray, love them faithfully, and be ready to support them when they are ready to take the next step.

Danny also shares how he and his wife, Allesha, intentionally protect their marriage through regular date nights and a dedicated 24 Hours getaway every other month, demonstrating the importance of making time for one another even in the midst of ministry.

If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or needs support, visit www.rockbottomhope.com or call 877-423-HOPE. Hope is always available.

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On this episode of the Authentic Marriage Podcast, hosts Shawn and Lauren, along with Chris and Brooke, record from the beautiful island of Eleuthera, Bahamas, as they reflect on the biblical gift of rest. Surrounded by God's creation, they discuss why stepping away from the routines and distractions of everyday life is essential for our spiritual, emotional, and relational health.

The conversation explores how true rest is more than taking a vacation. It is intentionally creating space to meet with God. Whether at home or away, spending daily time in His presence allows us to experience the deep rest that only He can provide. The hosts encourage listeners to disconnect from the demands of life, enjoy God's creation, and remember that rest is a gift from the Lord.

Looking to Scripture, they reflect on how God worked for six days and rested on the seventh, establishing a pattern for us to follow. They also discuss Jesus' teaching that "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath," reminding us that God designed rest for our good, not as a burden.

In a culture that celebrates constant busyness and productivity, Shawn, Lauren, Chris, and Brooke challenge listeners to embrace God's rhythm instead of the world's. God desires for us to experience abundant life, and healthy, intentional rest is part of His design.

This episode is an invitation to slow down, spend time with the Lord, and discover the renewal that comes from resting in His presence.

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