Marriage Is Funny

In this week’s episode, Jessie professes her commitment to the grocery store up the street. While she’d rather stroll the aisles than make a trip to the spa, we learn that Gerard definitely prefers the spa, but expects to get his massages from within the comforts of his own home. QUICK BITES: A Marriage is Funny proposal! What the what?! Help us celebrate with Ashley and her man in the private MIF Facebook group! Jessie kicked her commitment issues and joined the frequent shopper club at her fave local grocery store. Listen in for her prioritized list of supermarket criteria, and get her expert instructions for buying the best type of kale. Gerard’s healthy eating goes out the window when Jessie leaves town. How does that saying go? When the wife’s away, the husband eats junk food... Jessie would easily drive across town for her favorite fake ice cream. Arctic Zero and a piece of dark chocolate is a nightly ritual at Casa de Pepper. Gerard shares a special recipe for something that only HE can create: Guilt Salad. (With extra parmesan and a side of preservatives, please.) The last thing Jessie needs before leaving on a trip is another to-do item… As you may have heard in Episode 8, we’re still working on smoothing out our pre-travel send off. The Melt Massage courses have significantly upped our back-rubbing game. Now all we need to do is harness a bit of heartfelt motivation. Gerard bounces back from a bad massage experience, and now Jessie is stuck bearing the brunt of his trauma. Give Jessie a head of cauliflower and a fully stocked pantry, and she'll gladly make you a healthy feast! TRIGGER QUESTIONS: When it comes to grocery stores, are you more of a “wander the aisles” kind of person or do you prefer to make a plan and have your list delivered? What is your favorite way to receive physical connection from your partner? Would you rather have a fully stocked fridge filled with all of your favorite ingredients or a super-luxurious back rub that you never have to reciprocate?

In this episode, The Peppers discuss the merits of being totally fresh faced or having two-week scruff. Jessie reveals her complex system for magazine organization, and they both try to decide if they were conned by the friendliest scam artist ever. QUICK BITES: Good news for our parents…Finally: a clean episode! We love hearing about your love and lives over on the private FB group. Share photos, questions, ideas, jokes and have fun getting to know the other couples in our growing fam! Gerard needs to start brushing up on his Spanish, because we’re going to Mexico! He might want to start by re-listening to our conversation in Episode 18. Travel-fights are NOT happening before the big trip. (We uncover why they happen back in Episode 8.) Hair-removal woes are not just for women. Gerard's real question is: To beard, or not to beard? Jessie comes from a long line of bad-ass moustaches, and Gerard realizes he may never live up to the hype. Back in Episode 16 we talk about why "Lipstick Is The Quickest Way To Keep Away The Kisses"… (This week we learn that a few week’s scruff does the exact same thing.) Gerard’s passport photo makes him look like a terrorist. Jessie needs a magazine intervention. Do these exist? How do we sign her up? Bon Appetit makes things like brussels sprouts and ice cubes feel way more fun. The Pepper's Sunday morning routine involves fresh coffee, Meet The Press and the latest issue of Bloomberg Businessweek. Sadie’s a superstar! Check out her first HGTV Magazine appearance right here. Casa de Pepper is getting a NO SOLICITING sign. Do they make one that says, “Except for Girl Scout Cookies.” in tiny print at the bottom? TRIGGER QUESTIONS: Do you have strong preferences around your partner’s physical appearance? Does it have anything to do with how they looked when you met? What’s your favorite bathroom reading material? Have you ever bought anything from a door to door salesperson?

This week Gerard violates the first rule of polite company by talking about politics, and Jessie admits to her recent run-in with the law. QUICK BITES: Jessie wants to replace Sadie’s collar with something spikier OR get an alarm system to keep the house safe. The Peppers have an enthusiastic block-watcher who is causing over-active imaginations. Gerard calls Jessie out on her TV news obsession, and she realizes that’s what might be causing some of her paranoia. Leaving the house without your wallet means coffee and a protein box for dinner. (Thank goodness for the Starbucks app!) Jessie finally discovers her calling as a professional criminal, but cries in the face of a police officer in order to avoid arrest. When having to choose between rollerblades and an alarm system, the latter seems like a more responsible choice. Voting values can sometimes feel like a divisive split. The Peppers have differing political views, but they still try to treat each other with the utmost respect. Gerard doesn’t always agree with Jessie's electoral choices, but feels strongly about defending her right to make (and keep) a strong decision. The Peppers LOVE Lester Holt because he loves his wife. Send him a tweet if you’d like to hear him on the show! Jessie will attack you with big hugs and a beverage to avoid letting politics prevent a friendship. Gerard has social media schizophrenia. From facebook to twitter to instagram, it’s all different. (But our podcast listeners get the privilege of knowing the real guy.) Tearing down the humans attached to any campaign is not helpful. Rob Bell says: "In political discourse, vague ominous insults are unhelpful." What is helpful is to say, “What specifically don’t you like about his or her stance on the issues?” Listen to his recent series for heartfelt thoughts on a handful of current policies. TRIGGER QUESTIONS: How often do you watch/read the news? Does it ever affect how safe you feel in your neighborhood? Do you and your partner make voting decisions together? Have you and your spouse ever voted differently? When was the last time you had to bite your tongue about a hot button issue in order to preserve a social situation?

Gerard and Jessie are joined by Sonja and Alex Overhiser who share their story of going from being a fast-food duo to becoming the bloggers and podcasters behind A Couple Cooks. In this episode, you'll hear us chat about shopping carts full of cereal, adopting a flexitarian eating style, and how to form some serious solidarity around food. Connect with the Overhisers at the following links, and let us know if you have suggestions for a couple you'd like to hear on a future episode of the show! Recipes: www.acouplecooks.com Podcast: www.acouplecooks.com/podcast Instagram: @acouplecooks Facebook: @acouplecooks Twitter: @acouplecooks SONJA'S ROUND-UP OF HEALTHY COMFORT FOODS: Crispy Baked Fries So Cal Pizza Healthier Chocolate Milkshake Raw Brownies Spinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese MORE QUICK BITES: Getting shamed in the check out line at Trader Joe’s... Is this a thing? Jessie can’t live without this pantry staple, and Gerard freaks out when he finds out that she’s secretly been buying in bulk. Cereal stands in as the "crouton" in the healthy Vegan Kale Ceasar recipe on S+P! Sonja + Jessie geek out over a reality show indulgence, but the inspiration for their kitchen success is much more refined. Decoding dietary restrictions for dinner parties is not always easy. Listen in for tips from two couples who are quite familiar with this delicate dance. Alex suggests letting veggies be the star, and Jessie is always getting inspired by the meatless ideas at A Couple Cooks. Flexitarians need friends too. The Peppers are pleased to know they're not alone when it comes to opinionated eating. Picky partners are pulled apart by pulp preferences. We’re all still figuring out how to navigate eating and cooking choices when our families are regularly confused. (Parents: If you’re listening, we love veggie burgers just a little less than you think.) Jessie spills the beans about loving her greens. (Or anything that grows out of the ground, really.) The Overhisers answer a question sent in by a listener named Jeff. He asked about how to best support his spouse through her healthy eating and weight loss changes. Roasted celery IS delish. Chop coarsely with onion and cauliflower, add turmeric, garlic + salt/pepper. Pop under the broiler for 25 mins. (Add cannelini beans at the end, throw the whole thing onto a bed of fresh greens, and you've got Jessie’s favorite weekday lunch!) Turgor Pressure: The pressure of water pushing the plasma membrane against the cell wall of a plant cell. (You might be surprised at which Pepper turns out to be this week's biggest nerd.) Lentils are one of our favorite superfoods! The recipe for Lentil + Artichoke Stew on ACC is a staple at Casa de Pepper. If you’re looking for something that feels a little more splurgey, go for Sonja’s crispy baked french fries without the guilt. Listen in to hear why The Overhisers kicked calorie counting and ignoring the nutrients in order to prioritize a healthy relationship with food. Back in Ep 11, we talk about how much we suck at cooking together, but Sonja + Alex have inspired us to try again! (Will report back on how that goes.) Sonja grew up training to be a classical musician, and Alex’s creative childhood makes him a little more "freeform" in the kitchen. Great Love looks different for everyone, but our favorite couple that cooks have some pretty beautiful things to say about what it means for them. TRIGGER QUESTIONS: If you could fill an entire Trader Joe’s shopping cart with one item (completely free), what would it be? Have your eating habits changed at all since getting together with your partner? Which indulgent comfort food needs to be "healthified" next? (Share your answers with Sonja + Jessie in the FB group and we'll try to whip up a recipe for an upcoming episode!)

The Peppers have a unique approach to Valentine's Day that can sometimes feel like a bit of a drag. Find out how we stay connected during a lapse of romance, and listen as we stumble towards a system for divvying up the household chores. QUICK BITES: Puerto Vallarta here we come! Start packing your flip flops and get all of the Great Love Getaway details right here. Stay tuned for registration to open on February 14th! Each couple that comes with us gets a comp Creative Marriages shoot with our friends Michelle + Kelly -- Come hang out with us and get bear hugged at their launch event on Valentine's Day in Orange County. Gerard kicks things off with a very directed question, and Jessie tries to skirt around the answer by picking on his semantics. Jessie wants Valentine’s Day to be about celebrating love, not comparing each other to societal norms... No fancy restaurants. No jewelry. (Gerard is elated at the fact that this has now been recorded on tape.) Gerard understands there is always room for creativity and growth, and wants to be able to give Jessie something to look forward to. He also wants a backrub, but his fingers will be crossed until then. The Peppers realize that the whole point of Valentine’s Day is to feel more connected to the ones that you love... There are endless opportunities to shower your partner with romance, but it doesn't have to stop at special occasions. Jessie throws in the towel on dish duty. (After a mere 4 DAYS of giving it her all.) She’s confused about the chores around the house because of Gerard’s change of schedule... except for vacuuming. She’s very clear on who vacuums. Gerard engineered a tin can tower that has spurred on some feelings of passive aggressiveness. At the root of it, we both prefer deep connections over a dozen roses. (But let’s be honest, Jessie would NEVER turn down her favorite chocolate bar.) TRIGGER QUESTIONS: When was the last time you felt romanced by your partner? What is your least favorite chore of allllll time? Would you rather celebrate Valentine's Day with a really good back rub or the darkest chocolate that money can buy? Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes, sign up for our mailing list and send us a tweet (@meetthepeppers) if you have something to share while you listen!

This week, The Peppers are chatting with a dynamic duo that they know you will love! Michelle + Kelly DLux are fellow love enthusiasts, and the husband / wife team behind a new photo series called Creative Marriages. We are so excited to introduce you to two of our favorite friends, and can't wait to have them share the heart behind their own search for Great Love. In this episode, we talk about taking an intentional approach to a weekly sabbath, what it means to balance social media with being an attentive spouse, and how interracial relationships can be the cause of both blessings and challenges. The Peppers AND The Dluxes would LOVE to hang with you over the upcoming weeks, so join us for the Creative Marriages gallery showing on Sunday, February 14th and get excited for the Great Love Getaway coming up in April! QUICK BITES: Having an altar-ego keeps things spicy... It can also keep away they identity thieves. In case you’re curious, here is the 90’s throwback coca-cola commercial that inspired Kelly's personal brand. Check out Kelly and some of his hot DJ moves right here. Michelle decides to embrace the Dlux handle after reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. Hear the story behind how Gerard and Jessie became The Peppers, and you'll also get some background on Gerard’s corresponding break-down. Kelly + Michelle tell us how the idea for a #DLUXSABBATH came to be... Follow along with the hashtag in order to live vicariously through their weekly adventures! They recently visited the Rancho Bernardo Winery and filled a random Monday with taste-testing and hot tubbing and traipsing around in the rain with friends. Find Michelle on snapchat by searching the username: michellekphoto Find Kelly on Periscope by searching the username: @kelly_dlux Jessie’s snapchat is styleandpepper and our collective Periscope handle is @meetthepeppers! In Episode 9, we talked about our own struggles with social media. (So glad to know we're not alone.) Having an interracial relationship has provided the Dluxes with both challenges and blessings, but their efforts to convey grace (no matter what) is so inspiring! Michelle shares honestly about feeling like her wedding doesn't always match up to what she’s exposed to in her day to day business. TRIGGER QuestionS: Does your partner have any major fears that you've learned to accept? How do you and your partner prioritize rest together? What would your own version of a #dluxsabbath look like? Do you believe in the concept of having one singular soul mate on the entire planet? More Dlux Details: Kelly is the owner of the DJ/MC company Dlux Entertainment, and is currently pursuing his masters degree in Apologetics at Talbot Seminary. Michelle is a wedding and portrait photographer who you may also recognize as a former Nickelodeon star (on Ned's Declassifed School Survival Guide). They both love exploring Southern CA and volunteering their time on the leadership team at Emmaus Church in Santa Ana. Say hello to Michelle + Kelly on Instagram: @creativemarriages @michellekimphoto @kellydlux @dLUXent @kelly_dlux @streetphotoist @roamingnatives @broamingnatives Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes, sign up for our mailing list and send us a tweet if you have something to share while you listen!

The Peppers learn that leaving your wallet at home when you go to the flea market is a lot like working an 80-hour week... Either way, your wife's definitely going to find a way to b*tch about it. QUICK BITES: An update on our budget-building drama... Three words: store brand pickles. The FB group exploded with suggestions and ideas for managing personal finances! Hop over there to learn and share your own. Financial Goals for The Peppers: Building up our emergency fund, buy Jessie a pair of rollerblades (because G already got his new belt), and start saving up for The Great Love Getaway. Join in the conversation by tweeting us (@meetthepeppers) while you listen! Jessie made a special present to commemorate a random anniversary... Get your reminder of Great Love over at meetthepeppers.com. Gerard wants to go to the Flea Market, and Jessie shoots him down because she has no self control. (Get caught up by listening in on our budget discussion in Episode 22.) Jessie is on the hunt for the perfect new coffee table, an antique watch, and a handful of other things… ADD ‘EM TO THE WISHLIST. Coffee-shopping might soon become the most romantic moment of our month. Jessie checks in with Gerard about his busy week, and is surprised to find herself feeling a little bit stung. Gerard is learning to balance client work and self-care. It's much harder to get used to than he thought it would be. We changed our lives after reading The 4-Hour Work Week a few years ago, but based on the current situation -- It might be time for a little refresher. Jessie's admits to how her recent business changes have made her crave the career momentum she's used to. The Peppers are reminded of the main reason they call the West Coast "The Best Coast" and Gerard gets angry (and curses!) for the very first time on the show. We're pumped to invite you to join us on the Great Love Getaway! SAVE THE DATE for April 7-10 of 2016, and get excited by grabbing one of our new goodies at meetthepeppers.com. TRIGGER QUESTOINS: Re-tell the story of your first kiss and share us with it in the FB group! What would your all-time DREAM DATE be if money were no object? Do you or your partner ever feel burned-out in your jobs? How does the other person react when that happens? Don't forget to leave us a review on iTunes, sign up for our mailing list and blow us away by sharing this show with a friend!

The Peppers talk about being transparent with their finances and the importance of finding a good butt workout. Jessie tries to trade in her Christmas gift for something with way more wheels, and Gerard finally agrees that it's time to start using a budget. We’re hoping to try out a few new personal finance programs (You Need A Budget + Mint, specifically)… Tweet us (@meetthepeppers) with your own recommendations and we will promise to report back! The best couples are even better when they live in community with other great pairs... Our listeners have helped us to feel less alone and that's one of the reasons why we're excited to hang out with the MIF community in real life! This episode was a doozy, but we're pumped to invite you to join us on the Great Love Getaway: SAVE THE DATE for April 7-10, and start saving your pennies for the best vacation you’ve taken in a long time. References: Being Boss Podcast, You Need A Budget, Jesse Mecham, Mint Budgeting, Meyers-Briggs, Kelly Clarkson

We're back and we missed you guys more than you know! It's finally time for Season Two, and there are a lot of reasons to party so we're diving right in. Be sure to listen for our very special guests, and stay tuned for the official announcement of our Great Love Getaway. Big bear hugs to the friends who are helping us celebrate this week: Joanna + Ric Shewell, Ryan + Jen Hansard, Jeremy + Kathleen Shannon, Jennifer Giles Kemper + Grant Kemper. In Episode 21, The Peppers fill you in on the last four months, and share their excitement about their biggest bash of the year. You are invited to celebrate Epiphany 2016 with us, but please promise that you won't show up early. Special thanks to Simple Green Smoothies, The Sacred Ordinary Days Planner, The Being Boss Podcast. & Todd Glass.

The Peppers are celebrating their first season finale with a bottle of bubbly and a bungalow full of new friends on the last stop of their tour. This week's episode was brought to you by Airbnb.