Is alcohol having a negative impact on your marriage? Is it difficult to talk to your spouse about their drinking problem? Today, Doug shares how alcohol can harm marriages. He also discusses marital intimacy when age or illness makes intercourse impossible.

 

5 types of intimacy

1. Spiritual intimacy
2. Emotional intimacy
3. Intellectual intimacy
4. Physical intimacy
5. Recreational/social intimacy

Doug explores the marriages of St. Adelaide and St. Gangulphus and reflects on Our Blessed Mother’s protection of families under the title Mother of Fairest Love. JL Marti joins the conversation to share insight on the beauty and strength of Fairest Love.

Resources:

 

Marriage Unhindered

https://www.marriageunhindered.com/

 

Rekindled Hearts Marriage Bundle

https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle

 

Happy Marriage for Life

https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/

 

Home - Fairest Love Family Project

Are you concerned about your child's ability to communicate? Monica Hinderer joins Doug as they continue their discussion on how to turn our children into excellent communicators.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Rae - What if the person is talking too much and he just repeats himself and I can never get a word in. He gets offended because 'he wasn't done'. (18:35)
• Gerrard - When I speak to my kids I use the same method with my employees. I communicate a purpose and then the need. (23:36)
• Maribel - Do you have any training for parents who need to control their emotions? (45:46)

Doug continues to discuss how to strengthen the emotional connection with your spouse. He also tackles the question of what to do if your spouse accuses you of being too religious.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Maryalice - I am meeting guys who are single or divorced and they are not empathetic but very selfish. They just talk about themselves. Before people are married shouldn’t they have figured out that they are selfish people? (27:28)
• Suzanne - I remarried two years ago and it’s been challenging. I feel like there are a lot of things I can’t tell my husband. (32:22)
• Deedee - What does the gospel say about to how to stay married? (41:25)

 

Resources:

 

Marriage Unhindered

https://www.marriageunhindered.com/

 

Rekindled Hearts Marriage Bundle

https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle

 

Happy Marriage for Life

https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/

 

Catholic Therapists

https://catholictherapists.com/

 

Key elements for a strong emotional connection

1. Trust
2. Respect
3. Empathy
4. Communication
5. Friendship

 

Ways to connect emotionally with your spouse

1. Talk openly and often
2. Do things together
3. Practice empathy and curiosity
4. Show appreciation
5. Build daily rituals of connection
6. Be open and vulnerable

Do you feel as emotionally safe with your spouse today as when you were married? Are you concerned your hearts are drifting apart? Are you afraid to be emotionally vulnerable? Today, Doug unpacks the importance of emotional connection in marriage and how to regain it if you’ve lost it.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Ron - We're having difficulty because my wife doesn't believe in matrimonial marriage. The vows that we took with each other don't apply to her as they do to me. We’ve been married for 41 years. (23:08)
• Peter - I'm a caregiver for my wife. She has dementia and it's getting worse.  It's like she doesn't believe in me and I have no emotional help. How do I deal with this? (30:00)
• Dick - After 46 years of marriage, we've been different all this time. I'm more social than she is. How do I bring back the fun-loving person I knew 46 years ago? (37:20)
• Zach - After you have a child with your wife and she becomes a different person, how do you remind her of how much fun you used to have? We have been married for 2 years. (41:17)
• Lori - My marriage of 28 years has been good. There have been some bumps, but we're best friends more than anything. (45:07)

 

Resources:

 

Marriage Unhindered

https://www.marriageunhindered.com/

 

Rekindled Hearts Marriage Bundle

https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle

 

Happy Marriage for Life

https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/

 

Catholic Therapists

https://catholictherapists.com/

 

Key elements for a strong emotional connection

1. Trust
2. Respect
3. Empathy
4. Communication
5. Friendship

Doug shares highlights from his Pilgrimage to Rome. He also goes to the mailbag. How can you pass the faith on without coming on too strong? How can you help a married son whose marriage is in trouble but he doesn’t want help? How do you fix communication problems? Doug answers these questions and more.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Gina - My daughter left the Church and she is going to therapy but she is getting worse. What can I do to help her? (44:45)

 

Resources:

 

Marriage Unhindered

https://www.marriageunhindered.com/

 

Rekindled Hearts Marriage Bundle

https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle

 

Happy Marriage for Life

https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/

 

Catholic Therapists

https://catholictherapists.com/

 

Fight Right

https://www.amazon.com/Fight-Right-Successful-Conflict-Connection/dp/0593579658

 

Seven Principals to make marriage work

https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Principles-Making-Marriage-Work/dp/0553447718

 

Marriage Rules: A Manual for the Married and the Coupled

https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Rules-Manual-Married-Coupled/dp/1592407455

 

5 Steps to overcoming pride

1. Awareness
2. Obedience
3. Embracing constructive criticism
4. Service
5. Prayer

What happens if you lose faith in your husband? What do you do if there is physical abuse in your marriage? What do you do when you learn secrets about your spouse's past? Doug answers these questions and more. Plus: The Friday Rant!

Listener questions and comments:

• Rebecca - My husband is going through a midlife crisis and has left the family. What should I do? (20:03)
• Erica - Why would adultery at any time during marriage not count for an annulment? (37:41)

Resources:

Rekindled Hearts - Marriage Bundle

https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle

Guest host Monica Hinderer is joined by her guest Fr. Joe Hinderer to continue their discussion on the importance of sibling relationships in childhood and beyond. They discuss conflict and how to repair relationships by respecting boundaries and leaving the door open to reconciliation.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Dee - I have a sibling who took money from my mother and I had to fix the issue. How do I deal with hurt after forgiving? (18:59)
• Sheila - How do you deal with brother and sister in-laws? They come with their own problems along with their spouse. (32:23)
• Diane - I have an older sister and a younger brother and I’m the only one who talks to both of them. The other two don’t talk to each other. (42:39)

Guest host Monica Hinderer is joined by Julie Larkin to discuss inner child work and how to deal with emotional wounds. They share the value of true affirmation and forgiveness, pointing to God’s unconditional love.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Jose - I have been angry at my mother and I find it difficult. She used to treat me with violence. I still live at home at 32. (23:51)
• Gloria - I am a speech therapist and I have seen that some of my students have a hard time with picking up on social cues and discerning emotions in others. Do you think therapy could help them? (28:35)
• Mary - I started healing through the JPII center and I have found that my pain is from my absent father. (38:00)
• Jackie - I found great comfort after leaning into my faith after trauma from childhood. (43:51)
• Eli - What program for mental health coaching is reliable? (47:49)

 

Resources:

Vita Optimum Counseling and Consulting

https://www.vitaoptimumcounseling.com/

 

Girl Talk

https://www.girltalk.org

 

Born Only Once, Third Edition: The Miracle of Affirmation

https://www.amazon.com/Born-Only-Once-Third-Affirmation/dp/1498288154

Jonathan Marcotte joins Doug to discuss the impact of childhood attachment wounds in marriage.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• John - I have an anxiety disorder that upsets my wife, and it causes tension in our marriage. What advice do you have that can help us? (24:09)
• Maria - Sometimes my husband makes comments that can be demeaning, and I tend to shut down. What should I do? (36:55)

 

Resources:

 

 Sacred Ground Psychotherapy

https://www.sgpsych.com/

 

Marriage Unhindered

https://www.marriageunhindered.com/

 

Rekindled Hearts Marriage Bundle

https://relevantradio.store/collections/books/products/marriage-bundle

 

Happy Marriage for Life

https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/