Mindful Marriage and Family Podcast with Jake and Tamara Fackrell

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As we wrap up Season 2 of the podcast, we want to thank you for joining us on this journey. We are taking the summer off, but we are excited to announce that Season 3 will return next September. Next season we will focus on helping couples discover and build their own individualized love formula.

In this final episode of the season, we share some of the family practices that strengthened our marriage and deepened our connection with our children. We talk about holding weekly family meetings that included a teaching moment, family business and planning, and a fun family activity. These simple gatherings became a powerful way to stay connected and intentional as a family.

We also discuss the importance of spending one on one time with each child. Those individual moments became the secret sauce to stronger relationships and meaningful connection. We share how setting goals together as a family helped create unity and purpose in our home.

You will also hear about our favorite tradition called runaway dates, spontaneous moments away together that helped us prioritize our marriage amidst the busyness of parenting. Marriage needs intentional time and attention. Do not let parenting consume every part of your relationship. Protect your time together and keep your marriage the focus.

Also, we talk about doing “gotchas,” catching our kids in good acts and recognizing the positive things they were doing. Encouragement and praise helped create a more loving and supportive family culture.

And then listen for our other secret sauce for connections!

Thank you for being part of Season 2. We cannot wait to reconnect with you in Season 3 next September.

Link Below for Tamara's Peer Pressure Book

https://www.amazon.com/Making-Your-Own-Choices-Strategies/dp/B0DXD52L5Z/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1URP53PGTV9T1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.vw2yvRpvDIJOcBrQmWTHLC6AOa4YZ9WALAJE7pSIuX8.4ZgCMQZuJWGXCloIisnz5DH1YdM_GCF5Qoaf7FRSCDg&dib_tag=se&keywords=peer+pressure+tamara+fackrell&qid=1778158181&sprefix=peer+pressure+tamara+fackrell%2Caps%2C245&sr=8-2

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This is the long awaited episode on intimacy. In this episode, we sit down with sexual intimacy expert Dr. Chelom Leavitt, a leading researcher on sexuality in marriage, to have an open and thoughtful conversation about strengthening physical and emotional connection between spouses. She shares practical, research-based insights on how couples can improve communication, deepen trust, and create a more fulfilling and lasting intimate relationship.

Whether your marriage is thriving or in need of renewal, this episode offers meaningful guidance for maintaining a healthy and connected sexual relationship over time.

Please note: This episode contains mature content. 

Next episode 26 is the last of season 2! Don't miss it.

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What you say in your marriage matters more than you think. In this episode of Say That Thing: The Power of Positive Words in Marriage, we explore how the words you choose can either strengthen your relationship or slowly tear it down.

Healthy marriages aren’t conflict-free—they’re built by couples who know how to navigate conflict with intention and care. 

You’ll learn why positive interactions carry more weight than you realize, how to separate your spouse from the problem, and why expressing appreciation out loud is essential to a thriving relationship. This episode is a powerful reminder that peacemaking isn’t passive—it’s a daily choice.

If you’ve ever held back a kind word, assumed your partner “just knows,” or struggled to communicate during conflict, this conversation will give you simple, practical tools to transform the way you speak—and the way you love.

Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do… is say that thing.

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What does it actually take to move your marriage from good to great?

In Episode 23, I share what changed everything for me. I didn’t always have a great marriage—but now I do, and I can honestly say I never want to go back. This episode is about the shift: the intentional choices, mindset changes, and daily actions that elevate a relationship beyond just “fine” or “functional.”

If your marriage is good but you know it has the potential for more—more connection, more joy, more depth—this conversation will show you how to get there. Great marriages don’t happen by accident. They’re created on purpose.

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Feeling stuck in the “marriage blahs”? You’re not alone—and it doesn’t have to stay that way. This episode is all about getting intentional with your relationship and rediscovering what truly works for you as a couple.

We’ll explore how to break out of autopilot, identify your unique “marriage formula,” and make small, meaningful shifts that bring connection, energy, and purpose back into your relationship. Because a thriving marriage isn’t one-size-fits-all—it’s built on understanding, intention, and choosing each other every day.

If you’re ready to move from routine to renewed, this conversation will give you the insight and encouragement to start.

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Get ready for your mind to be exploded! Link for VAK Chicago Test

In this episode, we break down one of the most overlooked reasons couples struggle to communicate: you and your spouse may be processing your non-verbals in completely different ways. Using the VAK framework—Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic—you’ll learn how each style shapes the way we listen, respond, and connect.

This episode will help you recognize why your message isn’t landing the way you intended, how to identify your spouse’s communication style, and what simple shifts you can make to reduce friction and increase clarity. When you understand how your spouse sees, hears, and feels, you stop repeating the same arguments—and start building real connection.

If you’ve ever felt unheard, misunderstood, or stuck in the same patterns, this episode will give you a practical lens to change how you communicate—and how you connect.

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Take the PRAISED Romance Styles TEST here.

Relationships are a lot more dynamic than we sometimes give them credit for. While many people are familiar with traditional love languages, newer insights—like those from Dr. Tamara Fackrell’s work, highlight a few additional ways people feel deeply connected, especially through shared experiences and meaningful communication.

What makes this perspective so powerful is that it goes beyond just how we express love, it helps us understand how our partner receives it. And when we get that right, everything feels a little easier: communication flows better, connection deepens, and relationships become more fun and fulfilling.

One simple way to remember these key expressions of love is through the acronym PRAISED:

P – Presents: Thoughtful gifts that show you were thinking about them
 R – Recreation: Having fun together and creating shared memories
 A – Appreciation: Genuine words that make your partner feel seen and valued
 I – Intimacy: Physical and emotional closeness that builds trust
 S – Service: Doing things that make your partner’s life easier
 E – Exchange of Communication: Open, honest conversations that build understanding
 D – Devoted Time: Giving your full attention—no distractions, just connection

When you start to recognize which of these matter most to your partner, it becomes a lot easier to love them in a way that truly lands. And the best part? It doesn’t have to feel complicated—it can actually make your relationship feel more natural, more intentional, and a lot more fun.

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Teenage years often bring conflict, emotional distance, and moments that leave parents wondering if they are doing anything right. In this episode, Jake Fackrell and Dr. Tamara A. Fackrell offer thoughtful guidance for parents navigating the ups and downs of raising teens. They explore how choosing the right battles, staying calm during conflict, and forgiving without waiting for an apology can change the entire dynamic of a home. 

Jake and Tamara emphasize the importance of increasing love during difficult behavior and building connection through small but meaningful habits like play, laughter, and six-second hugs that help teens feel secure. They also share why parents should never face these challenges alone and how leaning on family, friends, and professional guidance can provide strength and perspective. This episode is filled with encouragement for parents who feel overwhelmed and a powerful reminder that no matter how difficult things seem, hope should never be lost.

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In this episode, we explore powerful principles for creating a strong, united family culture. Instead of parenting through control or constant persuasion, we discuss how shifting to a “family team” mindset can build trust, responsibility, and long-term cooperation in the home.

We talk about how children thrive when they feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves. When families operate as a team, every member understands that their actions impact the whole group, which naturally builds unity, belonging, and accountability.

You will also learn why giving children choices within clear boundaries can be more effective than simply demanding behavior. Empowering kids to solve problems and make decisions helps them develop confidence, independence, and ownership of their actions.

Another key theme in this episode is the power of time. The greatest gift parents can give their children is presence. We discuss the importance of one-on-one time with kids, meaningful family time, investing in your spouse, and even taking time for yourself so you can lead your family well.

We also dive into the role of values and spiritual development in shaping strong families. Children learn far more from what parents model than what they say. Living values daily through love, service, and example leaves a lasting impact.

Strong families are not built through perfection. They are built through teamwork, communication, consistent structure, and loving leadership.

This episode will give you practical tools and a fresh perspective on how to build a home where every member feels valued, trusted, and connected.

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This episode explores how struggling marriages can begin to heal through small, intentional changes that rebuild trust and emotional safety. When relationships feel tense, distant, or stuck in negative patterns, improvement does not come from winning arguments — it comes from creating understanding, offering sincere apologies, and learning to communicate in ways that invite connection instead of defensiveness.

We discuss practical shifts like taking ownership without excuses, reflecting your spouse’s feelings so they feel heard, and replacing pressure with emotional safety. These simple but powerful habits can soften conflict, rebuild closeness, and restore a sense of partnership.

A struggling marriage does not mean a failed marriage. Healing begins when couples stop fighting each other and start working together to rebuild connection.