Today, Mark is joining me to talk about the subject of personal growth. It’s no secret that we did a lot of work on our marriage that we now affectionately refer to as “Mark & Jill 2.0”. But what you might not hear us talk about specifically as much is how much growing we had to do on our own before our marriage could take on new life.

Whether you're feeling like you're stuck in survival mode or you're eager to make a significant change in your relationships, the key is to start with personal growth. Mark and I talk through some practical insights on how to begin your personal growth journey and why it's essential for your well-being and the success of your relationships.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How to cultivate a growth mindset
• Strategies for pursuing a thriving life
• The impact of a growth mindset on every area of your life
• And more!

I hope this episode is exactly what you need to hear today!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/personal-growth-132

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

When we were early in our marriage, I often said to Mark, “Sex! I could go the rest of my life without it!” And he totally believed me. True story! Needless to say, we had all kinds of challenges in that area of our marriage, and eventually, we sought out sex therapy. And it was a game-changer for us!

It’s no secret that sex is an important part of any marriage, but we are often hard-pressed to talk about it honestly with one another. It can be hard to find Christian resources to dig into this somewhat taboo topic, and yet it is one of the areas that can drastically impact your marriage for the better!

Today, we are talking about how to get a different perspective on sex. Helping us do that is Shaunti Feldhahn and Dr. Michael Sytsma. They are the authors of a new book called Secrets of Sex & Marriage: 8 Surprises That Make All the Difference. Shaunti is a bestselling author, social researcher, speaker, and has a graduate degree from Harvard. She uses her analytical background to help relationships thrive. And Dr. Michael Sytsma is an ordained minister, licensed professional counselor, Certified Sex Therapist, professor, and national speaker.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How they collected information about sex and marriages
• The two primary ways desire works
• What the true gatekeeper to having more sex is
• And more!

I pray this is exactly what you are needing to hear today!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/feldhahn-sytsma-131

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

When Mark and I were raising our five children, there was a wide array of temperaments, personalities, and unique traits in each of them. The truth is, families usually have one child that is more sensitive and intense than the others. Often what worked for your other children might not work with this child. Every child is different and needs intentional leadership from their parents. In fact, Dr. Kathy Koch and I talk about this in our book, No More Perfect Kids: Love Your Kids for Who They Are, because learning new skills and understanding your sensitive and intense child can be a game changer.

Helping me unpack this today is Lynne Jackson. Lynne has 25 years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist working with children with a sensory processing disorder, ADHD, OCD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), and autism spectrum disorder. Lynne is also an author and founder of Connected Families, a ministry that helps families in the midst of everyday life.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Examples of a sensitive and intense child
• Strategies for decreasing stress for you and your child
• What truly makes us good parents
• And more!

I pray this is exactly what you are needing to hear today!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/lynne-jackson-130

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

I love a good love story. Whether on the pages of a good book or on the big screen, I really do enjoy experiencing a love story unfold. Have you ever considered that you have a love story with God? You do! We’re talking about that and more in today’s episode.

Joining me today is Bob Wheatley. He is an author, podcaster, and former professional athlete. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Bob played four years of minor league baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays and the St. Louis Cardinals. He has a strong desire for helping people discover their passion for God which inspired him to write his first book, Our Hearts’ Desire: How Our Stories Reveal The Thing We Want Most.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• How our relationship with God is a love story
• The crucial role we play in this story
• How God has pursued us and His people throughout history
• And more!

I hope that this episode is an encouragement to you wherever you listen!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/bob-wheatley-129

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Today, Mark is joining me to talk about an important, though often forgotten, topic: listening. Listening is a skill that takes practice, focus, and a willingness to set aside our thoughts and engage with others. It’s not always easy, but when we put in the effort, the benefits to our relationships with loved ones, friends, and coworkers are significant.

We work with people to improve their listening skills all the time in our coaching and have seen firsthand how much of a difference it can make. Whether it’s with our kids, friends, or relatives, when we listen better, we communicate better, and all relationships improve. So, let’s commit to working on this together and seeing the amazing benefits for ourselves!

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Why it is important that we are quick to listen
• The four principles for becoming a better listener
• How to let people know you care by validating their feelings
• And more!

I hope this is a helpful episode for you today! Listen closely! 😉

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/better-listener-128

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Life on this side of heaven can be challenging at times. I know that isn’t breaking news for most of us, but what might surprise you is that a battle is going on around us. There’s an Enemy that comes to steal, kill, and destroy, and we must be aware that this is happening and that we know how to find victory in that battle.

In this episode, I am joined by my friend, Judy Dunagan, for a discussion on spiritual warfare. Judy is an acquisitions editor at Moody Publishers. She is also the author of The Loudest Roar, which covers how we can stand in the unshakable victory Christ has already won despite the battle raging around us.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Who the Enemy is and how he attacks.
• What spiritual warfare looks like in our lives.
• The tools at our disposal as Christians to defend ourselves.
• And more!

I pray this episode encourages you today!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/judy-dunagan-127

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

Welcome to another bonus episode of the No More Perfect Podcast! We like to bring you some extra podcast goodness every once in a while that's quick to listen to and helpful for your life. Just to say thank you!

In this bonus episode, Mark and I are talking all about the difference between letting our stories define us and letting our stories refine us. The reality is that when we let our stories define us, we experience shame and become stalled. When we let our stories refine us, we can experience growth.

Using the healing journey from our dark season of marriage as an example, we are sharing how God used our story as a pathway to refine each of us respectively in our faith, emotional health, and our thinking, as well as how He can do the same in your life.

We hope this bonus episode is a support to you this week!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/bonus-refine-not-define/

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

There comes a time when every child steps into adulthood and starts to make their own choices. Some of those choices are ones we agree with, while others are not. How can we reconcile our relationship with our adult children, even in the face of our own heartache? How do we create a space for joy and understanding in our relationships with our adult kids?

Navigating the waters of this new relationship with our children is what I’m talking about today, along with my guest, Mary DeMuth. She is an international speaker, a podcaster, and the author of 40 books, including both fiction and non-fiction. Mary’s most recent book is Love, Pray, Listen: Parenting Your Wayward Adult Kids with Joy. She lives in Texas with her husband of 30 years and is mom to three adult children.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The danger of basing your happiness on the choices of your children
• What our adult children need to hear from us the most
• The importance of listening to your adult children
• The power of praying over your children
• And more!

I loved talking with Mary on this topic, and I hope it is an encouragement to you today!

Show Notes:  https://jillsavage.org/mary-demuth-126

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

It's no secret that mother-daughter relationships can sometimes be complex and challenging. Still, it's also true that these relationships are some of the most important and defining in our lives. Whether your relationship with your mom is strong or strained, it's natural to experience ups and downs. After all, we're all human, and perfection is unattainable. However, with the right tools and understanding, we can work towards improving and strengthening our bond with our mothers.

To help us dive deeper into the mother-daughter relationship, I'd like to introduce Debbie Alsdorf. Debbie is an accomplished author, speaker, and coach for women and writers. She and her husband, Ray, live in Arizona and have raised a blended family of four children, who have blessed them with ten grandchildren. Debbie has written 14 books and curriculums and is well-equipped to offer guidance and insights on this important relationship.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• The role a mother has in the development of their children
• What kind of attitude we should have when seeking reconciliation
• How to find healing even if our mother is gone
• And more!

I hope this conversation is an encouragement to you today!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/debbie-alsdorf-125

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...

It’s hard to believe that this is our final episode for 2022! Mark is joining me on the podcast today to review the year and share what we look forward to in the new year. We are so thankful to you, our faithful listener, and we are so excited about everything coming up in 2023. Thanks for listening to this episode and closing out the year with us!

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Our recap of 2022 and the lessons we learned along the way
• What we are looking forward to in 2023
• We close out this episode and the year by reading the Christmas story
• And more!

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas, and we will be back in 2023!

Show Notes: https://jillsavage.org/year-review-124

You're invited to our Transform Weekend October 24-26, 2025. Learn more and register here.

Check out our other resources:

• Mark and Jill’s Marriage Story
• Marriage Coaching
• Marriage 2.0 Intensives
• Speaking Schedule
• Book Mark and Jill to Speak
• Online Courses
• Books

Marriage Resources:

• Infidelity Recovery
• For Happy Marriages
• For Hurting Marriages
• For Marriages Where You’re the Only One Wanting to Get Help

Mom Resources:

• New/Preschool Moms
• Moms with Gradeschoolers
• Moms with Teens and Tweens
• Moms with Kids Who Are Launching
• Empty Nest...