Life is full of ups and downs. Each one of us will experience difficult seasons in life. During my darkest and most difficult season, one of the things I learned to say is “It is not well with my circumstances, but I want to make sure it is well with my soul.”

My guest, Courtney Joseph Fallick, experienced this as well when her high school sweetheart husband left their marriage for another woman. She found herself fighting for joy and working to overcome the darkness.

Courtney is a best-selling author and the founder of Women Living Well Ministries and Good Morning Girls. Courtney is also a great speaker who has been featured on The Rachael Ray Show and many national conferences including Hearts at Home. She’s been blogging through the Bible, one chapter per day, since 2014 and she makes her home in Ohio with her blended family.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• More about the dark season of life Courtney walked through
• How to keep bitterness and resentment from building up
• How to respond when it feels like God's ignoring our prayers
• And so much more!

I hope this episode offers you confidence, support, and hope for the future!

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes: jillsavage.org/courtney-joseph-fallick-217

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...

Our topic in this episode is SO IMPORTANT! Mark and I are joined by Reese and VaLisa Palmer, fellow workers in the sphere of marriage coaching and strengthening.

Reese is a clinical psychotherapist specializing in marriage and family therapy (LMFT). VaLisa is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LCP) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC) who enjoys working with families and couples. Together, they founded Palmer Counseling where their mission is to provide a safe, affirming, and nurturing therapeutic experience that inspires everyone to live abundant lives and fulfill their God-given purpose.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How the echos of the past impact your present
• The importance of knowing your attachment style in marriage
• Why we get stuck in negative cycles of communication
• And so much more!

We are excited for this conversation all about marriage!

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes: jillsavage.org/reese-valisa-palmer-216

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...

Note for the Listener: As you can probably guess from the title, we talk candidly about sexual intimacy in this episode. We recommend listening to it away from young ears if you have children at home.

You may have heard us mention our Date Night Community. Well, we recently did an 8-week deep-dive all about sex and sexual intimacy called “Great Sexpectations.” The content was so good—we wanted to share some of it with everyone!

Mark is joining me for this episode as we explore some of the topics like how to create a better sex life, what may surprise you is okay to do in the bedroom, and shifting how we view sexual intimacy within marriage. This is a candid (and a little bit spicy) conversation all about sex!

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Why sex begins in the kitchen
• A better goal to have for sexual intimacy
• The value of understanding your own body
• And much more!

We hope this conversation inspires you to build deeper sexual intimacy with your spouse!

Find resources mentioned and more in the show notes: jillsavage.org/improving-intimacy-215

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...

Can you remember your first breakup? Even if you parted ways amicably, you likely questioned if you were good enough, if you made the right choice, or even criticized yourself for not doing enough to try to make it work. When we journey through breakups, infidelity, trauma, or even divorce, the experience tends to stick with us in the form of intrusive thoughts and triggers.

My friend, Leslie Hardie, is an infidelity and trauma expert who has been in private practice since 2003. As a betrayed spouse herself, combined with many years of providing infidelity counseling, she brings meaningful insight and compassion to other betrayed spouses as well as counsels couples. Leslie gives us some tips on what to do when reminders of difficult circumstances we’ve been through pop up.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The opportunity behind the hurt
• How to cope with the aftermath of betrayal
• Identifying thoughts that are from the enemy
• And so much more...

There is hope and healing after infidelity!

Find resource mentioned and more in the show notes: jillsavage.org/leslie-hardie-214

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...

Buckle up, this is the episode where we are covering all things sex! You may feel embarrassed to talk about sex candidly or you may even feel like sex is still a dirty word from your childhood. Whether you have a history that includes pornography, an affair, or sex before marriage, there are many things that can impact how you approach sex with your spouse. However, you may be surprised to learn that there are very few “do nots” when it comes to sex within marriage and a whole lot of freedom.

To help us get more comfortable about the topic of sex and to discover God’s instruction on the topic, we have some expert friends joining us. Bill and Pam Farrel are international speakers, authors of 60 books, relationship specialists, and together they co-direct Love-Wise Ministry. Bill and Pam have been happily married for 44 years, and have three grown sons and seven grandchildren. They live on a boat that is docked in Southern California.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How men and women can work together to build intimacy
• Why we should design the sex life we want in marriage
• The importance of having candid conversations with your spouse
• And so much more...

I'm so excited for this episode and I hope you are too! Let's talk about sex!

Find resource mentioned and more in the show notes: jillsavage.org/bill-pam-farrel-213

(We've been sharing a shoutout at the beginning of each episode. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our listeners, and specifically the transformation and celebrations in your life. Want to reach out to us? You can contact us here on our website or text our new No More Perfect hotline at 309-431-1718.)

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...

Are there some aspects of your relationship where you often feel worked up, angry, or even like things aren’t fair? This is a prime breeding ground for resentment to take root. This could be a result of something your spouse has done or something they aren’t doing that causes resentment to boil up inside of you. However, resentment often grows as a result of an issue in our own hearts.

In this episode, we are exploring how to untangle resentment in your marriage. Joining me is Chelsea Damon, author of I Thought This Would Make Me Happy. Chelsea ​​is an author, blogger, foster and biological mom, and wife to Josh. She is passionate about cultivating a loving family and helping others do the same.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• What causes resentment to grow in marriage
• Why it is important to examine our hearts regularly
• How to combat resentment with gratitude
• And so much more...

I can’t wait to hear how this conversation has helped you!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/chelsea-damon-212

(As we start into our fifth year of the podcast, you'll start hearing a shoutout at the beginning of each episode. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our listeners, and specifically the transformation and celebrations in your life. Want to reach out to us? You can contact us here on our website or text our new No More Perfect hotline at 309-431-1718.)

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...

Our phones are often the first thing we interact with when we wake up and the last thing when we go to bed. We check it at all hours of the day to remain connected and fill the empty moments.

There is rarely a moment that goes by in our busy lives when we don’t have access to technology. It’s quite literally in the palm of our hands! But is this 24/7 access to it healthy? Is it doing more harm than good? It’s often not until we start intentionally unplugging from it that we realize how much it was taking from our lives.

My guest, Hannah Brencher, has experience with slowly putting technology back in its place as she has navigated the tug-of-war between staying plugged in and powering down. She is a writer, a TED speaker, and an entrepreneur. Hannah was even named one of the White House’s Women Working to Do Good.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How to cultivate a lifestyle that unplugs
• The power of presence
• Some first steps to striking a balance with technology
• And so much more...

This is a super practical episode that I know you will love!

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/hannah-brencher-211

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...

A little over a year ago, we shared about how we got invited to go to Africa. In this episode, we are sharing the rest of the story!

This is actually part two of Episode 135 - To Uganda with Love with Pastor Zachariah. If you want to know more about how this all began, be sure to give that one a listen.

There were so many amazing God stories that happened before, during, and after our trip, and we are so excited to share those with you!

In this episode, you'll hear:

• The crazy God story of how this all started
• Why it’s important to be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading
• Some of the amazing ways only God can connect our lives
• And much more!

We are so amazed at all the connections God has made as a result of ONE interaction on our way to a coffee shop in Alabama!

Find resources mentioned and more in the Show Notes: jillsavage.org/uganda-again-210

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...

 What do we do when life seems to fall apart at our very fingertips? Can God still use even the terrible experiences for good in some way?

In this conversation, we are talking about why no experience is ever wasted in God’s economy. And my guest, Davey Blackburn, knows this personally.

In 2015, Davey Blackburn’s life was turned upside down when his pregnant wife, Amanda, was murdered in a home invasion. The unthinkable happened and Davey had to pick up the pieces of their broken life while caring for their 18-month-old son.

As a high-profile criminal case unfolded over the next several years, Davey took on the seemingly impossible task of finding the strength to restore his shattered soul. He is now the founder and director of Nothing is Wasted, a ministry dedicated to helping others navigate trauma, tragedies, and major life transitions.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• How God meets us in our pain
• How the work of healing occurs in a process
• The importance of forgiveness being a choice, not a feeling
• And so much more...

I hope you are encouraged by this conversation, especially if you are in the midst of loss or difficult life circumstances.

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/davey-blackburn-209

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 spent 20 years of my life as a pastor’s wife. The role of a pastor’s wife is a precarious space to occupy as stereotypes, expectations, and pressures abound! Today, I’m talking with three pastor’s wives and they are giving us an inside look at the ins and outs of this role.

Jessica Taylor, Jenna Allen, and Stephanie Gilbert are co-hosts of the Pastors' Wives Tell All podcast and co-authors of Pastors’ Wives Tell All: Navigating Real Church Life with Honesty and Humor. Collectively, through their Pastors’ Wives Tell All ministry, they are breaking down walls within the Church and crushing the pastor’s wife stereotypes with a little bit of ministry, therapy, and a whole lot of Jesus.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Some of the stereotypes people often carry of a pastor’s wife
• The importance of pastors’ wives finding their own calling
• Ways that we can encourage and support those in this role
• And so much more...

This is an important conversation for all of us to understand better how to love the spouse of our pastor well.

Show Notes: jillsavage.org/pastors-wives-208

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...