Beyond I Do

Is it unreasonable to want one lazy day a week? Should your mother-in-law have a key to your house without you knowing? And can your husband dip into the kitchen fund for a vintage motorcycle if he promises it'll "go up in value"?

In this episode of The Beyond I Do Podcast, Byron and Margaret react to three real "Am I being unreasonable?" stories from married couples. We talk about the husband who treats every weekend like a second job, the wife who came home to find her mother-in-law unloading groceries in her kitchen, and the couple $5,000 away from a kitchen reno when a "once in a lifetime" bike shows up.

Three different problems. One common thread: when you make agreements as a team, you keep them as a team. Marriage is for adults.

What we cover:

• Why "resting" isn't the same as "not helping"
• Passive-aggressive vacuuming (yes, it's a thing)
• Boundaries with in-laws and why the conversation starts with your spouse, not their mama
• Yours, mine, and ours money — and what happens when someone breaks the deal
• How small broken agreements quietly chip away at trust

In this episode of The Beyond I Do Podcast, Byron and Margaret sit down with Angela and Surie Alexander, married 41 years, to talk about a love story tested by two life-altering crises: a brain aneurysm two years into their marriage, and a car accident 15 years later that took the lives of two of their sons.

Angela shares how she turned unimaginable grief into purpose by becoming an author, speaker, and subject of a documentary film, and what she believes actually holds a marriage together when everything falls apart.

Angela's book, Miracles in Action, and her documentary are available now.

In this episode of The Beyond I Do Podcast, Byron & Margaret sit down with Jennifer Struffert, founder of Enduring Connections and Advocacy, a divorce coach, relationship coach, and co-parenting mediator who went through the same coaching training program they did.

Jennifer gets real about the difference between healthy and unhealthy conflict, why "how you show up" matters more than what your partner does, and the one question she asks clients who are stuck trying to decide whether to stay or go. She also opens up about her own divorce, what she wishes she'd known, and why coaching and therapy aren't an either/or.

In this episode:

• The real difference between healthy and unhealthy conflict

• Why accountability (not blame) is the turning point in relationship coaching

• The question that helped Jennifer finally make her decision

• Why therapy and coaching work better together, not against each other

• How to co-parent through high conflict without losing the kids in the middle

• Three things every couple in conflict needs to hear

Connect with Jennifer: enduringca.com

In this episode, we break down the 5 C's every marriage needs more of — connection, conversation, compliments, collaboration, and care — and get real about two we've struggled with. Plus, two new segments debut: the Marriage-First Minute and What We're Reading, where we crack open our own book to talk about the season when a lack of communication almost cost them everything.

This episode is based on an article posted here.

What happens after the kids grow up, careers settle down, and it's finally just the two of you again?

For Shari and Terry Doherty, the answer is simple: they're falling in love all over again.

In this conversation, they share what 31 years of marriage has taught them about friendship, forgiveness, conflict, parenting, and building a relationship that keeps getting better with time. They also talk about raising children who actually want to model their marriage, working together, handling disagreements without letting them define the relationship, and why they believe your best years can still be ahead.

If you've ever wondered whether marriage can stay fun after decades together, this episode will leave you hopeful.

What You'll Hear

• Why they believe life after 50 is their favorite season
• The importance of liking your spouse—not just loving them
• Their approach to conflict after three decades together
• Why friendship is the foundation of a lasting marriage
• The story behind their daughter's decision to share their anniversary
• Lessons they've passed on to their children about marriage
• How gratitude changes everyday relationships
• Looking ahead to retirement, travel, and becoming grandparents

Key Takeaways

• Great marriages continue growing.
• Friendship makes difficult seasons easier.
• Small annoyances shouldn't overshadow a lifetime of good.
• Appreciation should be spoken out loud.
• Conflict doesn't have to threaten connection.
• Healthy marriages are built through daily choices, not perfect moments.

Can you build a successful career without sacrificing your marriage?

On this episode, we're joined by David "Kiwi" Kiwimagi, relationship coach and co-founder of Kiwi Coaching.

David shares how he and his wife went from sleeping in separate rooms, feeling disconnected, and struggling to communicate, to building a thriving marriage and business together.

We discuss:

• Why busy couples often feel like roommates• The difference between coaching and counseling• How to identify your current season of life• Why date nights should be treated like million-dollar meetings• The surprising impact your marriage has on your children• Judging vs. accepting personalities• A simple 5-minute daily habit called "Couch Time"

If life feels busy, overwhelming, or disconnected, this conversation offers practical tools you can start using today.

Some couples take years to figure things out. Jaylee and Chana knew quickly that what they had was different.

In this episode, they share how they met, blended their families, handled conflict early in marriage, and built a relationship rooted in communication, trust, and intentionality.

We also talk about:

• Dating and marrying later in life

• Blended family dynamics

• Learning how your partner communicates

• Conflict without disrespect

• Trusting your instincts in relationships

• Step-parenting and partnership

• Why intentional connection matters

This conversation was honest, funny, warm, and full of wisdom.

If you’ve ever wondered whether healthy love still exists, this episode is for you.

What happens after the honeymoon phase fades and real life shows up?

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alena Crawley (Dr. Lena) to talk about the real work of marriage. We discuss conflict avoidance, gratitude, sacrifice, personal growth, purpose, and why love alone is not enough to sustain a long-term relationship.

This conversation goes beyond surface-level relationship advice. We talk honestly about what it takes to build a marriage that lasts through changing seasons, shifting goals, stress, and everyday life.

Some of the topics we cover:

• Why unresolved issues always come back
• The danger of “back burner” conflict
• How gratitude changes relationships
• Why marriages feel heavier over time
• Growing together without losing yourself
• Why purpose matters in marriage
• The difference between coaching and therapy
• What couples should discuss before getting married

This episode is full of practical wisdom, honest conversation, and reminders that healthy marriages are built intentionally.

In this episode of Beyond I Do, Byron and Margaret sit down with Eric and Carissa, a couple who met in Hawaii, spent a week putting every card on the table, and never looked back. Six months in, they've driven across the country twice, co-founded a business, and are building something most couples take years to find.

In this episode:

• How they met on the Big Island and decided to be radically honest from day one

• Why both did deep personal work before finding each other

• The Kaufman Drama Triangle and breaking patterns of external validation

• How masculine and feminine energy shows up — and shifts — in their relationship

• What three months on the road taught them about each other

• Why "how you start a relationship is how you continue it"

• Redefining relationship success beyond just staying together

What if you stopped waiting to feel safe before showing up as yourself?

Most couples think their problem is communication. It’s not.

It’s how they approach decisions, conflict, and responsibility in the relationship.

In this episode, we talk with G. Scott Graham about the “co-pilot” mindset—and why most couples are stuck negotiating, avoiding, or forcing outcomes instead of actually working together.

We get into:

• Why negotiation isn’t the goal in marriage

• What “turbulence” looks like in real life

• Why couples wait too long to have hard conversations

• The difference between love and commitment

• The patterns couples fall into (and how to break them)

If your relationship feels off but you can’t quite explain why… this conversation will help you see it clearly.