Ahhhhh, communication in marriage. It's so important, and also a source of frustration in our most important relationships! We don't always know how to talk, and more importantly, listen to one another, especially when emotions run high. Learning to talk about intimacy in marriage is also a skill we can develop.

My guest today is Denise and Oliver Marcelle founders of Denoli LLC. They mentor couples on improving their communication skills for deeper intimacy and connection. They've been married for 20 years and have 3 children.

We all experience times of loss and grief. I received an excellent question from a listener in regards to this:

"My wife and I are grieving due to loss and it is something we are trusting God with and through but this is an odd space to be in to think about or bring up sex. I know things need to look different but help to navigate this would be helpful. Can you do a podcast episode or a blog or something on how to think about intimacy while walking through grief?"

So today's podcast is going to do just that!

I reached out to Cecilie Ott, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist that specializes in helping individuals and families deal with times of loss. I learned a lot from her teaching and I hope this helps you whoever this episode was meant for.

Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of your relationship. Join me for this SOLO episode and learn how to use the 3-2-1 rule to enhance yourself and your relationship with your spouse.

Dan interviewed Joy Skarka from Authentic Intimacy. Joy's story can be described in one word: freedom. She is passionate about creating spaces to free women from shame. Tune in to hear how Joy found freedom from sexual abuse, sexual addiction, and how she navigates painful sex. Joy is the Authentic Intimacy's Director of Discipleship.

To learn more about Joy and her work visit Authentic Intimacy.

Close romantic relationships are often fraught with anxiety. It just comes with the territory, and it's a beautiful part of what makes us human. How we deal with that anxiety is a different story though. I read Dr. Kathleen Smith's excellent book, "Everything Isn't Terrible" and learned sooo much about how my family's dynamic affects the way I show up in my marriage and other relationships. Tune in to hear my interview with Dr. Smith on how differentiation - a term she uses to describe a mature way to deal with anxiety -- leads to better relationships.

Mindfulness is a buzzword these days, but its roots are deep. In this podcast, I interview Dr. Chelom Leavitt, PhD, an impressive woman that researches the link between mindfulness practice -- the ability to be fully present -- and sexual satisfaction in long-term married couples.

Your full presence is one of the greatest gifts you can give another person. When you're mindful you can be with the person you love in mind, body, and spirit -- especially in our most precious intimate moments!

In this podcast, Dan interviewed clinical Psychologist Daniel Burgess who specializes in Marriage and Family Therapy and has a passion for helping couples navigate sexual intimacy. Dr. Burgess challenges us to grow and become curious about our physical intimacy as he explains why understanding our values and relationship with God is important when it comes to what goes on in the bedroom.

One huge factor in enjoying a life-giving sex life is your overall attitude towards your own sexuality. Today, we have the privilege of interviewing Dr. Anthony Hughes. In this episode you'll learn to embrace your sexuality and not be ashamed of cultivating and sharing this powerful force within our marriages.

Dr. Anthony Hughes is a sex therapist and founder of Covenant Sex Therapy. He is also a professor at Brigham Young University, a private religious school. Tune in to hear his view of sexuality from a faith and spiritual standpoint. Spoiler alert: it's very positive!!

In today's podcast episode I hope to share a message of hope and understanding to those that feel like the intimacy they experience in the bedroom is duty sex. I want to talk about what duty sex is and what it isn't, why couples fall into the pattern of duty sex, and what you can do about it.

The difference between an ordinary marriage and an extraordinary marriage is the little 'extra'." When you say "I Do", it's not the end of your dating years: it's just the beginning of a lifetime of growing and learning together.

There's no one else I know who's more dedicated to making it easy for couples to keep dating after marriage than Tara Carson, the founder of The Dating Divas. In this episode we'll discuss how to come up with great date ideas, how to keep dating when you have little children, how to find great babysitters, and other ideas to keep the fires of romance burning bright for a long-lasting marriage.

To find out more about Tara and the Dating Diva's sign up for their newsletter!

Other resources mentioned in this podcast episode:

• Date Ideas

• 10 Minute Marriage Challenge

• Dollar Dates

• Babysitting Co-op

• Anti-Shake Tool for Bed