Marriage Is Funny

Jessie diagnoses herself with something called The Mercy Curse, and Gerard grapples with being a high-maintenance patient. Find our real-time stories from the Great Love Getaway by following @meetthepeppers on instagram. We’d love to hang out with you in Nashville next week… Happy hour starts at 4:30 pm at Pinewood Social, and we can’t wait to hug you soon! Share your feedback with us by leaving a review on iTunes and find out how you can support our mission of Great Love right over here! QUICK BITES: More about how the 90’s hits of Gloria Estefan was truly the soundtrack of Jessie’s childhood. Potato Bug or Roly Poly? You be the judge. Jessie delves deep into a dark corner of her childhood, and recounts a recent breakdown that connects with some past hurts. Gerard gives his advice about how to be an empathetic listener without feeling all the feels. Get Jessie’s vegan spider repellant packets and join the ranks of highly sensitive people who oppose insect genocide. The Peppers recently discovered termites at their bungalow, and are dreading the process of tenting the house like a neighborhood circus. Efficient fly traps are not for the faint of heart, but Jessie is pushing past the pain by pretending that she’s not involved. When Gerard is sick The Peppers are more aware of how differently they deal with various symptoms. (This is also discussed in the chronic pain episode.) Jessie realizes she does in fact have a tiny sliver of nurturing within her personality, but it does have an expiration date and a handful of exceptions. TRIGGER QUESTIOns: What is the one thing that is always sure to make you cry? Do you have a designated bug manager or pre-determined insect removal policy at your house? Which partner is a more high-maintenance patient? How many days go by before things get annoying to the other person?

Gerard finds a stack of unused coupons in the junk drawer, and it prompts him to proclaim that they need to cut back on the grocery bill. Jessie’s new love affair with music is snazzing up her song library, and she's shyly sharing the secret of pursuing her inner DJ. Share your feedback with us by leaving a review on iTunes and find out how you can support our mission of Great Love right over here! QUICK BITES: Gerard thinks that the duo is overspending on food supplies, but Jessie assures him that she hasn’t changed a thing since their bill has gone up. Jessie loves to take care of the groceries and cooking, but threatens to stop because her shopping skills are being questioned. You’re probably not surprised that our budgeting conversation from Season Two is coming back to bite us in the butt. Long Beach has an extensive list of weekly farmer’s markets, but Jessie wishes that they had grocery carts AND carried her favorite healthy ice cream. Jessie has a love/hate relationship with music, but things are improving thanks to Brother Joey’s introduction to The Big Music Library in the Clouds. Both of The Peppers have music-library-dysmorphia but thankfully their personal tastes are complementary enough to co-exist. YES Gerard was in an all-male a capella group in college, and YES you can listen to his hit solo song right here. How did we miss the fact that Sia has such an incredible body of work? (If you happen to know the answer, does that mean you ALSO know why she wears her hair over her face?) The set of Sonos speakers that Gerard bought himself as a birthday gift have truly been a fun addition for the whole household. Blaring a little bit of Flo Rida is the only way Jessie can pump herself up enough to use the vacuum cleaner. The Peppers covered dinner music AND bedroom music in Episode 2, but Jessie blurts out an update to her current faves for The Kissing Playlist. This week’s show wraps up with what are likely the silliest show outtakes that you’ve ever heard on Marriage is Funny... Please don't say we didn't warn you. Because we know you’re curious: Gerard is partial to a specific type of gluten free tortillas that have both helped his tummy AND nearly broken our bank. TRIGGER QUESTIONS: Do you know (or can you guess) the most expensive item on your family's last grocery bill? What is the most embarrassing song in your entire music library? Which Disney character is your ultimate alter-ego? If you had to pick one for your partner, who would it be?

*Thankfully, Gerard was ONLY sick when we recorded the intro for this one... Hang in there for the first few minutes, and you’ll be past the nasally voice in no time.* This week, we consider the opposing values of puppy cuddle time vs. perfectly clean sheets. Gerard gets excited about hopping back on stage to play the bass in a band, and The Peppers discuss pros and cons of pursuing distinctly separate hobbies. Share your feedback with us by leaving a review on iTunes and find out how you can support our mission of Great Love right over here! QUICK BITES: Listen to Episode 36 to find out why The Peppers are not currently sleeping in the same bed. Sadie Mae reminds us of Slinky Dog in the Toy Story movies… Family Halloween costume idea, perhaps? The fan we wish we had, and the fan we would NOT recommend are both proof of why we should ALWAYS listen to Cameron -- our friendly guy at the local Home Depot. The Santa Ana winds have us sweating during dinner, and we’re left daydreaming about an AC unit that fits on our super-old windows. Gerard’s concern with dog-hair splinters makes Jessie break down and agree he needs to wear his stylish Birkenstocks more often. Jessie realizes that she should take full advantage of the chance to shop for her faves at West Elm and CB2. In case you're curious about our favorite white sheets... (They're durable, affordable, made from organic cotton, and easy to order online!) We would do pretty much anything for our precious furry daughter… Find out why we aren’t parents by listening to Episode 40. A sneak peek at our cheap gray coverlet will give you a glimpse at why we don’t care when our dog jumps on it for a snuggle. Gerard gets schooled in the anatomy of a well-layered bed and then admits to one of his biggest fears that has us buying lint-rollers in bulk. Jessie busts out into song while Gerard hums the bass… And now we both need to beg your eardrums for forgiveness. Gerard gets excited about getting back up on stage to play his bass, and we both see the benefits of having distinctly separate hobbies... Listen to us chat about the benefits of having SHARED hobbies back in Episode 41. Jessie is attracted to Gerard in spite of his (adorable) chocolate-chip-cookie-gut, and admits that being married to a musician is certainly something that counts as a turn-on. TRIGGER QUESTIONS: Do you sleep with your pet(s) in the same bed? Have both partners always had the same preference about this decision? Can you come up with at least one way to encourage (or actually make it possible for) your spouse to pursue one of their own personal hobbies? What was one of the very first things that you can remember being attracted to about your sweetie pie?

The dishwasher drama continues when Gerard gets mad about the botched installation of The Pepper's latest appliance. The Peppers both turn a bit red in the face, but thankfully Jessie has a skin cream for pretty much everything. Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes, and send us a tweet if you have something to share while you listen! QUICK BITES: Gerard gives some good advice for how you should react if anyone ever throws a trash can at you. When it comes to arguing, Jessie likes to get into it and then get past it while Gerard usually prefers to just get out of the room. The Peppers break their own rules and talk about the unresolved fight that they had the night before recording. Our introverted and extroverted natures make for different communication styles, particularly when processing through a conflict. We decide to keep the newspaper swatting to a minimum after remembering from Episode 27 that we DO have neighbors who like to call the cops. Gerard and Jessie learn the difference between being an argument escalator and argument elevator… Stay tuned for Jessie’s conversation about this with Liz Bohannon on our spin-off mini-series called The Perfect Wife. (Coming Thanksgiving 2017!) Hear our original skincare conversation about sunscreen in Episode 34, and then listen in as Jessie makes yet another request for Gerard to start taking better care of himself. The Peppers recognize the flaws on their skin as giving them a nice healthy dose of humility. (And an opportunity to rub medicated cream on each other.) Gray hair and aging are revisited as mortality is discussed... Jessie gives a quick rundown of her skincare values, and professes the benefits of her favorite vibrating tools. (Clarisonic Mia, NuFace, and Quip!) TRIGGER QUESTIONS: When was the maddest you have ever seen your spouse? In arguments, are you more of an internal processor or a verbal processor? How about your partner? What part of aging are you most looking forward to? Least excited about?

Jessie’s discomfort with the dirty dishes brings about a big admission of Gerard’s recent dishonesty. The Pepper's TV-watching habits have dredged up the importance of healthy expectations, and they both commit to being more present when they’re pressing "play" on their favorite shows. This is the last week to grab your tickets for our next Great Love Getaway in Puerto Vallarta! Check out the sweet video from our April trip, and we can't wait to vacation with our favorite listeners on October 12th-16th, 2016. QUICK BITES: Jessie and Gerard’s favorite stemware has no actual stem. Whether or not we actually intend all of the puns in this episode is entirely up to your own comedic discretion. This is NOT the first time we’ve covered dishes on the show, and you can listen to the last convo we had about chores right here. Does anyone want to invent a subscription service that offers the monthly delivery of fresh mason jars? If so, please sign us up to be first in line. Moment of silence for Jessie’s favorite coffee drinking vessels: The black orchid mug from our friend Michael Aram and a ceramic travel tumbler from Starbucks. Quantico + The Americans + Master Chef are our current TV favorites... We will not stop live tweeting them so follow along with our antics here and here. Kelly Dlux warned us about the perils of tweeting while watching TV together, and we are currently re-listening to his sage advice about social media from back in Episode 24. TRIGGER QUESTIONS: Which person in your marriage is more particular about the chores? Is there one specific chore that they absolutely will not let the other partner help with? Has your sweetie pie ever broken something that meant a lot to you? Have you ever broken something and tried to cover it up afterwards? If you could instantly morph into ONE character from any current TV show this season, who would it be and how would your spouse react?

The Peppers are back! Season 3 is here and we’re diving right into this week’s show without making you listen to the boring highlight reel of our summer. (You're welcome.) Lately, Gerard has been commuting to work for a total of four hours (round-trip) on public transportation everyday, and wants to try and find a way to make the most of the time spent on the train. Meanwhile, Jessie has been trying to figure out how to win the fight with our new piece of furniture for the past few months, but she refuses to give up by taking it back to Goodwill. QUICK BITES: Become a first-tier Great Love Gangster by joining us in Mexico! Rest, Play + Connect on what is guaranteed to be your favorite vacation of the year. Spread the word about Great Love, and help us out by leaving us a review on iTunes! Find out about other ways to support our show right here. Gerard is commuting a total of four hours (round-trip) on public transportation everyday, and wants to try and find a way to make the most of the time spent on the train. (Besides twitter.) Neither of us can figure out when to use the words further or farther. If you can explain it to us, please send help. Jessie hardly ever uses the car that we share, but has created a morning routine in order to reap the benefits of having a pretend commute. Gerard shares how much he’d like to sneak in some productivity on his commute everyday, but then immediately regrets sharing his thoughts when Jessie starts spewing a bunch of well-meaning, yet unsolicited advice. Thinking back to Episode 9, we remember how pulling out your phone at an inopportune time can totally ruin an otherwise delightful moment -- or in this case, a fresh morning. Gerard decides to start riding his bike to and from the train station again, and is hoping the healthy movement ends up being a positive start to his day. Despite the weird things he’s subjected to on the rest of his trip, that morning ritual of zipping down the beach path will hopefully be a positive experiment. Jessie has been trying to figure out how to win the fight with our new piece of furniture for months, to no avail. The armoire is gorgeous, and also ginormous -- but we can’t figure out how to actually get it to fit inside our house. If you are an engineer, contractor, or even a creative ninja genius with an idea for taking apart our window frame... we want to hear from you! TRIGGER QUESTIONS: What are your favorite things to listen to during a long commute or car ride? Have you listened to an artist, podcast or audiobook recently that made you glad for the quiet time? What is the very first thing that you do when you wake up in the morning? What is the most beautiful piece of furniture in your entire home?

It’s the Season Two Finale and The Peppers are a puddle of emotions. Jessie shares a story about her fascination with creative farming, and Gerard insists that getting married early is a good thing. Listen as they recap their most memorable moments of growth, and find out why they're going to miss their Great Love Gang something fierce. It's time to save-the-date for our next Great Love Getaway! We're heading to Puerto Vallarta in October 2016, and we'd love to have you join us. You asked for t-shirts and we did our best to deliver some swag... Three cool styles, now available for our gangster buddies UNTIL FRIDAY JUNE 10th! QUICK BITES: We’re hosting another getaway in the Fall! Watch the video from our last trip right here, and listen to the episode that we recorded from our Casa at the beach. Great Love Goods are here! Gorgeous letterpress prints and ganster tees are now available… Snag one (or all three!) for yourself, and thank you so much for helping to support the show! Jessie’s upcoming project is called The Perfect Wife, but she wants you to know that there is no such thing. Head over to the site for more info, and stay tuned for a sneak peek very soon. TRIGGER QUESTIONS: What is the first thing people say when they see what you look like in your wedding photos? Who are the other corn stalks and sweet peas in your field? Can you think of a defining moment when you've had to choose between growing together and growing apart?

The Peppers may share a keen love of personal style, but they still enjoy the chance to kick off their shoes and let loose. Gerard admits that he's starting to feel the Birkenstock-burn, and Jessie is hoping that their summer will be full of bike riding and brunch. It's time to save-the-date for our next Great Love Getaway! We're heading to Puerto Vallarta in October 2016, and we'd love to have you join us. You asked for t-shirts and we did our best to deliver some swag... Three cool styles, now available for our gangster buddies UNTIL FRIDAY JUNE 10th! QUICK BITES: Gerard's current footwear of choice was inspired by everyone's favorite old man from Brooklyn. Jessie publicly declares her newfound love of turtlenecks right here. Check out Gerard's Guy Style column if you're looking for some dude-friendly fashion advice. If you're curious about what Jessie does with her wardrobe cast-offs, you can take a peek at her Poshmark closet (and help support our sailing fund at the same time). Gerard has to pick between sailing lessons or new boat shoes, and we bet you can guess what he happens to choose. Jessie's new podcast project is called The Perfect Wife.me because the perfect wife is not... her. (Duh.) Listen in for interviews with women like Jess Connolly, Erin Loechner, Whitney English + more! The Peppers are hoping to snap more blog photos and write more jokes this summer. Listen to another convo we had about the challenges of podcasting (and fighting) right from Episode 17 in Season One. Graeme in Seattle was surprised by our blow-up confession from Episode 25. It's sad to say that this was not an isolated incident. The Peppers have tried to link up for a shared project before, but the burned sweet potato fries made the efforts feel futile. (Tune in to Episode 11 for the full story.) TRIGGER QUESTIONS: What is the one trend that you most regret wearing? Have you ever felt physically or mentally uncomfortable because of something that you had on? When it comes to bike rides, are you more motivated by the calorie burn or the chance of a swanky brunch at the end?

This episode is a long-awaited answer to the most frequently asked question of our entire podcast... Why the heck don't The Peppers have any kids?! Jessie's little brother stops in as our special guest, and he keeps us both in line as the emotions start to flow. Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes, and send us a tweet if you have something to share while you listen! QUICK BITES: You might remember our special guest from last season when he crashed our closet in NYC, and promptly divulged the story behind one of our dirtiest fights. Jessie tries to be nice when people ask her about having kids, but it’s usually way too tempting to pull out the smart-assery instead. Gerard gets annoyed when people make assumptions about our decision, but Joey reminds us that excitement loves company. The Peppers would have to start sleeping in the same bed again if they had to make room for a nursery. Pre-engagement counseling (yes, that is a thing) was the moment we realized that we saw eye to eye about starting a family. Jessie is worried that her grandmotherly daydreams are never going to happen, but Gerard reassures her that he’ll always be around to pluck her chin hairs. Both sets of our parents have been incredibly understanding about the decision not to have kids, but their own friends have not stopped trying to force the issue. Gerard makes the clear distinction between a decision and a diagnosis. Jessie loses her shit over losing dear friends over such a decisive choice. The Peppers insist that they love hosting families as Casa de Pepper, but parents are better off bringing sippie cups and outlet covers since the baby-proofing has yet to happen. Gerard’s top two celebrity crushes have a baby together, and the wife’s outlook on kids has inspired Jessie to find hope. A shocking admission at the end of the show leaves both Jessie + G with a ton of resolve towards our desire to bless and nurture others. TRIGGER QUESTIONS: What is your opinion on how much or how little some parents share of their kids online? Regardless of whether or not you are a parent now, can you remember visualizing yourself as a mom or dad when you were little? Have you ever lost a friend because of the addition of kids? (Either yours or theirs.) How did this happen and how did it make you feel?

Part II of the sex series on Marriage is Funny! Gerard and Jessie share their thoughts on important things like abstinence, foreplay, and experimenting in the bedroom. The Peppers are joined by expert Kate McCombs, and her wisdom continues to inspire the Great Love Gang to be more intentional toward intimacy. (Be sure to listen to Episode 39 for Part I with Kate!) Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes, and send us a tweet if you have something to share while you listen! QUICK BITES: Q1: My husband says he isn’t a kissing guy, but I need foreplay in order to have sex. How can I fulfill his needs without making him do something that he doesn’t want to do? Cooking is like sex. Creativity and variety are two ways to be very good at it. AASECT.org is a great resource for finding a sex therapist that you can visit with your partner. Jessie’s adventures in finding a counselor continue to be entertaining. (You may notice that Ep 9 in Season One is starting to sound familiar.) Q2: How can we build up more courage in the bedroom? Is there an easy way to tell my partner I think they are boring in bed? Creating a “sex lab” could be the best way to start experimenting in the bedroom... Check out Kate's article about how to set the mood in your own home. Q3: Is there a right way or a wrong way to suggest the use of toys and tools? Never break the laws of bad sexual etiquette... The pleasure of your partner matters just as much as your own. Gerard and Jessie were sure to park in the back when they drove to the sex shop in Episode 20. Q4: What do I do when my husband wants it and I don’t? Is faking it ok? It’s important to tell our partners exactly when and how they’ve blessed us in order to build up their "cushion" when times are good. Q5: How can I initiate sex when I know my partner doesn’t feel like it? Kate explains the difference between justification vs clarification when it comes to turning down your partner when they’re making a move. TRIGGER QUESTIONS: What is the most surprising thing that your partner has ever done in bed? When was the last time you talked to your partner about sex? When was the last time you talked to someone besides your partner about sex? What was the most intimate moment that you had with your partner this week?