Have you thought about the impact your motherhood has had on you and your children? Have you ever looked at the parallels between you and the Blessed Mother? Doug unpacks the beauty of motherhood as the Church celebrates the Queenship of Mary. PLUS: A praise of mothers.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Sebastian - My wife and I were married for 67 years and the thing that kept us together was respect for each other. (16:12)
• Teresa - My mother was left a widow with 8 children at the age of 42. She got up every day, crossed the border and picked all day in the field to make sure we all had something to eat. (18:25)
• Chris - My wife is a mother of 10 children (two miscarriages) and she expresses her love by sacrifice. (26:55)
• Bob - My mom was a mother of 8 and she stayed home with us. She ended up getting dementia and when my dad passed she said 'Don’t be mad at God'. It was such a powerful message from a woman who had every right to be mad at God. It was very faith affirming. (32:06)
• Warren - This is the 4th anniversary of the death of my mother. Given the time for reflection, I was amazed at what an incredible woman she was. (35:46)
• Brian - My mom is a mother of 10 and was one of 20 children. She really did a good job of passing on her faith to us. (42:53)
• Suzette - I lost my mother in April and she made it to 100. She was such a blessing and passed on the beautiful Catholic Faith to me. (44:46)
• Rose - My mother and grandmother were involved in the foster system and they were amazing. (46:39)

 

Treating your wife like a queen

1. Speak words of gratitude.
2. Leave notes telling your wife you love her.
3. Give her a break.
4. Take her for a walk.
5. Get the kids involved in making dinner.
6. Bring home flowers.
7. Help with the bedtime routine.
8. Lead the children in showing gratitude.
9. Pray with her and for her.
10. Bless her with the Sign of the Cross.

Are some emotions bad? What should you do if your child’s emotions are out of control? Monica Hinderer joins Doug sharing the devastating impact of invalidating your child’s emotions. They unpack 6 types of emotional invalidation and share how to validate your child's emotions.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Sue - I have a 27-year-old son who doesn't really talk to me because he was so mistreated and criticized by his dad. I couldn't do anything to balance that out. I am very grateful for this topic. (41:53)

 

Types of emotional invalidation

1. Minimizing
2. Dismissing
3. Judging
4. Fixing too quickly
5. Comparing
6. Ignoring

How do you overcome a broken heart? What do you do when your husband is in denial? How do you help adult children who aren’t pulling their weight? Should you make your children play sports? Why is there a decline in intimacy in my marriage? Doug answers these questions and more.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Jessica - Am I doing harm to my son by making him play sports even though he hates it? He is 12. (16:08)
• PJ - I am dealing with failure-to-launch adult children. How do I help them? (22:24)

 

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/

Are you in need of marital conversion? Today on Marriage Unhindered, Doug shares steps in a religious conversion and applies them to marriage. PLUS: Doug shares advice for handling in laws who are too involved in your marriage.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Jeff - Are we looking to convert or for conversion? My wife and I are recent converts and it has saved our marriage. (13:16)
• Judith - What if you change and the other person doesn’t like the change and doesn’t care? (32:48)

 

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/

 

Steps for a religious conversion

1. Repent - Acknowledge your sins.
2. Avoid sin and follow God.
3. Metathesis - Effect a change in state or condition.
4. Metamorphosis - To be transformed.

 

Examination of conscience for married couples

• Have I loved my spouse as Christ loves the Church—sacrificially and faithfully?
• Do I show respect, kindness, and patience, or do I speak harshly, criticize, or belittle?
• Have I been selfish in my desires, refusing to serve or sacrifice for my spouse?
• Have I been unfaithful in thought, word, or action—including pornography, flirtation, or inappropriate relationships?
• Do I forgive readily, or do I hold grudges and keep a record of wrongs?
• Do I listen with empathy, or do I dismiss my spouse’s feelings and needs?
• Do I use my body and my spouse’s body as a gift, or do I reduce intimacy to selfish gratification?
• Have I neglected my spouse’s emotional, spiritual, or physical needs?
• Do I share in the responsibilities of family life (finances, chores, parenting), or do I leave an unfair burden on my spouse?

Greg Schutte joins Doug discussing his Building a Eucharistic Marriage course, built off of a therapeutic model for change, which connects 7 areas for therapeutically strengthening our marriage with 7 areas of deepening our relationship with Christ through the Eucharist.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Rose - I recently found some bad texts on my husband’s phone. He is texting a woman who is married and our families know each other. (20:57)
• Mary - How do I extend forgiveness when the person doesn't see a problem to ask for forgiveness. (40:28)

 

Resources:

Building a Eucharistic Marriage

https://www.eucharisticmarriage.org/

 

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/

What can Mary’s Assumption into heaven teach us about marriage? Doug shares how sacramental marriage is a preparation for perfect union with God in heaven which Our Lady now enjoys. PLUS: A celebration of everything that is good about marriage.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Ray - Let's say you have a spouse and you were to meet another person, better than the spouse you have... how would God look at you, or is that the devil? (8:33)
• Raul and Marilyn - I want to brag about my wife. We have been married nearly 37 years, and she is my saint. Christ has been right there from the beginning when we left the alter. (13:11)
• Jessica - Doug has a lot to do with my marriage being at a positive place right now. I emailed him, and I have been listening to the show for a while, and it has helped me change the perspective I have about marriage. (19:42)
• Helen - I've been married for 40 years. It has been very hard at times, and we have 5 children. With Relevant Radio for the past 5 years, we have grown together through prayer. (22:54)
• Vito - I was married for over 66 years before my wife passed away. We were together for 83 years and lived in the same house. She lived on the first floor, and I lived on the second floor. It was an exceptional marriage because we had the Lord in our marriage. (36:12)
• Len - I was married 44 years ago today on the Feast Day of the Assumption! (42:26)
• Monica - I thought I was married to the best man in the whole world, until I heard Vito. I did marry the best person. He is my cross and he is my gift. (48:36)

 

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/

Doug unpacks the dangers of screens and the impact of smart phones on child development. He shares a study that reveals the extent of smartphones’ damage on brains, responsibility and self-control.

Doug also gives tips for putting together a family mission statement on how phones and other screens should be used in the home.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Gary - My wife did research in 2014 that the phones are bad for kids, so we don't let our kids use them. (13:13)
• Joe - Parents should go to school board meetings. It’s a great way have an impact on phone usage in schools. (16:12)
• Kurt - People can write to the government and work to get regulations in place on phones. (23:10)
• Kelly - What can a grandparent do? (24:38)
• Jude - My wife and I were talking about this. It’s good to be open about this issue with each other and be on the same page. (27:24)
• Sabrina - When the kids are old enough to go out there aren't any pay phones. What is the other option? (29:47)

 

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/

 

Practical tips for parents

1. Set really clear boundaries.
2. Schedule and hour minimum without phones.
3. Schedule one day a week without screens.
4. Designate a room in the house for phones and screens.
5. Enjoy tech free meals.
6. Turn off screens at least one hour before bedtime.
7. No screens overnight in the bedroom.
8. Homework before phones and other screens.
9. Install parental controls on all devices.
10. Parents should model the behavior.

Are you or your spouse struggling with pornography? Is pornography destroying your marriage? Today, Dann Aungst joins Doug discussing how pornography use harms marriages. They share how the increase in couples viewing pornography together leads to higher divorce rates and offer concrete solutions to overcome the scourge of pornography.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• Ron - With all the porn around, why does anyone pay for it? Where does the money for this industry come from? (24:12)
• Doug helped my son before law school! My son graduated with honors. I want to give people hope. (28:21)
• Larry - I started a group where high school kids are helping teach other high school kids. How do I teach about this issue without sounding too preachy? (38:35)
• Rocco - Theology of the body is the best. (45:57)

 

Resources:

 

Road to Purity

https://roadtopurity.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/

Anastasia Northrop joins Doug to discuss the importance of preparing for marriage while you are single. They share the importance of prayer and living in the present moment while being open to the vocation of marriage.

Listener questions and comments:

• Cathy - After on and off online dating, I finally found the one. (36:46)
• Andrew - My wife and I met on online. I was very broken but God worked on me and led me to the woman who became my wife. (44:02)

 

Resources:

National Conference for single Catholics

https://nationalcatholicsingles.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/

 

The trouble with dating Apps

1. Endless swiping creates decision fatigue.
2. Algorithms favor looks over compatibility.
3. Ghosting has become socially acceptable.
4. Too much focus on instant gratification.
5. Profiles are curated to impress but not connect.
6. Misleading photos set unrealistic expectations.

Fr. Joe Hinderer joins Doug sharing highlights from his recent ordination to the priesthood. Doug also shares advice for those who are married to an emotionally challenged spouse.

 

Listener questions and comments:

• John - I have been married for 30 years. My wife and I are at emotional odds. (39:27)
• Linda - What do I do if I cannot find a spouse? (45:41)

 

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/

 

Emotionally Focused Therapy

https://iceeft.com/what-is-eft/

 

Helping an emotionally challenged spouse

• Use clear language to avoid miscommunication.
• Validate their feelings to help them open up.
• Focus on specific issues instead of holding onto complaints.
• Ask open ended questions to spark deeper conversations.
• Give non-verbal cues that encourage communication.
• Use active listening to show you are truly engaged.
• Practice patience.
• Mirroring them helps show you understand.