Author, speaker, and podcaster Kate Battistelli and her husband Mike are back on the podcast to give us practical wisdom on why preparing for the empty nest starts while the nest is still full.

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Invest in your relationship this week by watching either the sunrise or the sunset together.

ABOUT MIKE AND KATE BATTISTELLI

Mike and Kate met as active professionals in the NYC Music and Broadway Theatre world. But when God called them to follow Him and lay down those dreams, they did! They’ve now been married forty-one years. Today, Mike is a realtor in the Nashville area, and Kate is a speaker, podcaster, and the author of Growing Great Kids, The God Dare, and The After Party of the Empty Nest. They are also the parents of Grammy and Dove Award-winning singer/songwriter and Contemporary Christian recording artist Francesca Battistelli and grandparents to seven grandkids.

CONNECT WITH MIKE AND KATE BATTISTELLI

• Visit Kate’s website (https://katebattistelli.com/)
• Receive FREE sample chapters of The After Party of the Empty Nest by texting GODDARE to 44144
• Follow Kate on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/KateBattistelli/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/katebattistelli/), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/katebattistelli)

CONNECT WITH TED AND ASHLEIGH

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter and get the FREE resource Five Simple Marriage Tools You Should Know here: https://ashleighslater.com/5-simple-marriage-tools-you-should-know/

TEAM US RESOURCES

• Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/)
• FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)

 

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Dating your spouse is vital for a thriving marriage. While dates can sometimes be pricey, they don’t have to be. We’re sharing ten fun, budget-friendly date ideas for you and your spouse.

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Pick one of the date ideas we shared and try it, or come up with your own. Let us know what you did by sharing on social media and tagging us. If you subscribe to my email newsletter at AshleighSlater.com, you can also respond to it and let us know what you did.

CONNECT WITH US

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter and get the FREE resource Five Simple Marriage Tools You Should Know here: ashleighslater.com/5-simple-marriage-tools-you-should-know/     

TEAM US RESOURCES

• Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/)
• FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How do you and your spouse give and receive love? In this episode, we talk about the five love languages. We unpack each one and give you practical ideas on how to express them.

FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES

1. Words of Affirmation
2. Quality Time
3. Receiving Gifts
4. Acts of Service
5. Physical Touch

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Pick a practical way to speak your spouse’s love language this week. It doesn’t have to be one of our suggestions. If you don’t know your spouse’s love language, either get them to take the quiz or observe them and see what builds them up the most.

CONNECT WITH US

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter and get the FREE resource Five Simple Marriage Tools You Should Know here: ashleighslater.com/5-simple-marriage-tools-you-should-know/     

TEAM US RESOURCES

• Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/)
• FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• “How the Love Languages Can Revolutionize Your Marriage,” Focus on the Family with Jim Daly and guest Dr. Gary Chapman (https://www.focusonthefamily.com/episodes/broadcast/how-the-love-languages-can-revolutionize-your-marriage/)
• “What Are the Five Love Languages” by Sherri Gordon (https://www.verywellmind.com/can-the-five-love-languages-help-your-relationship-4783538)
• “The Art of Active Listening” at Inspire Well Being (https://www.inspirewellbeing.org/the-art-of-active-listening/)
• The Love Languages Quiz (https://5lovelanguages.com/quizzes/love-language)
• “Here's What the Love Language Words of Affirmation Really Means, and How to Speak It” by Jill Gleeson (https://www.countryliving.com/life/inspirational-stories/a45666429/words-of-affirmation-love-language-examples/)
• “The Psychology Behind the 5 Love Languages” by UAGC Staff Member (https://www.uagc.edu/blog/the-psychology-behind-the-5-love-languages)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you want a happier marriage? Then, it’s time to start thinking about what you think about! We have marriage and family speakers, podcasters, and authors Dan and Danielle Macaulay on the podcast. They share why the happiness of your marriage starts in your head.

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Make a positive adjective list as Danielle talked about. Then, as Dan mentioned, share at least one of those list items with your spouse.

CONNECT WITH US

Sign up for our weekly email newsletter and get the FREE resource Five Simple Marriage Tools You Should Know here: ashleighslater.com/5-simple-marriage-tools-you-should-know/      

ABOUT DAN AND DANIELLE MACAULAY

Dan and Danielle Macaulay have been married for twenty-three years and travel across Canada and the U.S. wearing multiple “hats” in ministry spanning singing, speaking, family, worship, and marriage ministries. Dan is a GMA Music Canada Award winner and nine-time nominee, with songs used around the world in churches and radio. Danielle is an author of five books centered on relationships, families, and ministering to women. Dan and Danielle have a marriage podcast called Married Up, now in its fourth season (marriedup.net) and are regulars on the marriage TV show, A Better Us.

CONNECT WITH DAN AND DANIELLE MACAULAY

• Married Up podcast (https://marriedup.net)
• A Better Us TV Show on YouTube (https://bit.ly/3IoibZg)

TEAM US RESOURCES

• Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/)
• FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)

 

 

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are you a reader? In this episode, we share five super practical, must-read marriage books that will encourage, challenge, and inspire you and your spouse.

5 Books to Enrich Your Marriage

1. The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman
2. For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and For Men Only by Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn
3. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver
4. The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages by Shaunti Feldhahn
5. The Marriage Course with Nicky and Sila Lee

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Start reading one of the books we recommended or start the Marriage Course, and let us know either via Instagram, Facebook, or email one way it’s helping you and your spouse.

CONNECT WITH US

Sign up for Ashleigh's weekly email newsletter and get our FREE resource "Five Simple Marriage Tools You Should Know." You can do that here: ashleighslater.com/5-simple-marriage-tools-you-should-know/ 

TEAM US RESOURCES

• Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/)
• FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)

LINKS TO THE RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• The Five Love Languages by Dr. Gary Chapman (https://amzn.to/4jFtIqg)
• For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn (https://amzn.to/4jr1cZQ) and For Men Only by Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn (https://amzn.to/3Rwebx6)
• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman and Nan Silver (https://amzn.to/42piLDx)
• The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages by Shaunti Feldhahn (https://amzn.to/3YG6cBq)
• The Marriage Course with Nicky and Sila Lee (https://www.themarriagecourse.org/try-a-course-online)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you have a pet? We have three! Today, we share how having pets has benefited our marriage, and we believe they can make your relationship better, too.

3 WAYS PETS MAKE YOU BETTER PARTNERS

1. Pets bring us together
2. Pets help us laugh together more
3. Pets offer opportunities for teamwork

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

If you have a pet, talk about how your pet has benefited your marriage. If you don’t have a pet, maybe visit a park this week and watch the dogs and other wildlife. See how it sparks conversation or helps you laugh more.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-us/id1565819107)

TEAM US RESOURCES

• Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/)
• FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• "Pet Ownership Statistics 2025” by Michelle Megna at Forbes.com (https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-ownership-statistics/)
• “3 Ways Owning a Pet Can Improve Your Love Life” by Mark Travers at Forbes.com (https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/02/05/3-ways-owning-a-pet-can-improve-your-love-life/)
• “Are Dogs or Cats More Likely to Make Us Laugh?” by Stanley Coren at Psychology Today (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/canine-corner/201509/are-dogs-or-cats-more-likely-make-us-laugh)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you and your spouse struggle to find things to talk about? We hope to help with that! We’ll share three practical ways to spark conversation in your marriage when you’ve run out of things to say.

3 WAYS TO SPARK CONVERSATION

1. Through Scripture and stories
2. By getting nostalgic
3. With flirting

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Pick one of these three ways to spark conversation with your spouse this week.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-us/id1565819107)

TEAM US RESOURCES

• Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/)
• FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• "Have You Run Out of Things to Talk About with Your Partner?” by Susan Krauss Whitbourne (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/fulfillment-at-any-age/201911/have-you-run-out-of-things-to-talk-about-with-your-partner)
• The Bible Recap (https://www.thebiblerecap.com/)
• “Nostalgia Reveals the Importance of Family and Close Relationships” by Clay Routledge (https://ifstudies.org/blog/nostalgia-reveals-the-importance-of-family-and-close-relationships)
• “Flirt Your Way to a Better Marriage” by Lisa Jacobson (https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/flirt-your-way-to-a-better-marriage/)
• “Without Flirting, It Wouldn’t Be a Marriage” by Sarah Hunter Murray (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/myths-desire/201909/without-flirting-it-wouldnt-be-marriage)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Some relationship experts say that couples don’t grow apart. Instead, they stop growing together. Today, we share three practical ways you and your spouse can embrace a growth mindset and continue growing together. A couple of them may surprise you.

3 WAYS TO HAVE A GROWTH MINDSET

1. Allow your spouse to live outside the box
2. Get to know your spouse … continually
3. Keep “under the rug” clean

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Grow together this week with online date night questions or Jon Gottman’s love map exercises.

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-us/id1565819107)

TEAM US RESOURCES

• Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/)
• FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• “Couple Don’t Simply Grow Apart, They Fail to Grow Together” by Dr. Ryan Rasner at Prairie Wife in Heels (https://prairiewifeinheels.com/couples-dont-simply-grow-apart-they-fail-to-grow-together/)
• The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages by Shaunti Feldhahn (https://amzn.to/4i4s0O6)
• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman Ph.D. and Nan Silver (https://amzn.to/4jk0U6E)
• Save Your marriage Before It Starts by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott (https://a.co/d/eJGAhi1)
• “Don’t Bury Your Relational Issues” by Ashleigh Slater at Boundless.org (https://www.boundless.org/relationships/dont-bury-your-relational-issues/)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you and your spouse laugh together? Today, we talk about how shared humor and laughter can benefit your relationship.

3 WAYS SHARED HUMOR STRENGTHENS MARRIAGE

1. Builds intimacy
2. Helps defuse conflict and restore connection
3. Makes the hard times more manageable

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Do something to feed your shared sense of humor. As one writer we quote in this episode recommends, “Collect experiences, look for the places where comedy shows up. Look for the ridiculous, the surprising, the awkward.”

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK

Did you enjoy this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/team-us/id1565819107)

TEAM US RESOURCES

• Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/)
• FREE Team Us Study Guide (https://ashleighslater.com/team-us/free-team-us-study-guide/)

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• “How did April Fool’s Day start and what are some famous pranks?” by Aliza Chasan at CBS News (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-did-april-fools-day-start/)
• Spaghetti Harvest clip at BBC (https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0074rd6)
• “Humor in Marriage” by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott at Focus on the Family (https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/humor-in-marriage/)
• “R is for Repair” by Zach Brittle at the Gottman Institute (https://www.gottman.com/blog/r-is-for-repair/)
• “Why Laughter Is Good for Your Marriage” by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott at Focus on the Family (https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/why-laughter-is-good-for-your-marriage/)
• Ted’s master’s thesis on laughter (https://heavenlaughs.com/)
• The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John M. Gottman, Ph.D. and Nan Silver (https://amzn.to/4j0Dind)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sometimes we sit back and wonder how we made it through our weeping years. But here we are, still married, still friends, and still liking each other. It wasn’t easy to remain united when miscarriage, multiple job losses, debt, and a house that wouldn’t sell desperately fought to pull us apart. While an attitude of “us vs. the problem” helped, we realized we couldn’t stop with the idea of us against the world. We needed more.

Today, we’re discussing how to walk together through the really hard situations, seasons, and losses that we experience as couples and how to remain a strong team during them. So, listen in as we share three practical things you can do to better brave sorrow together in your marriage.

While Ted and Ashleigh are taking a break, we're thrilled to bring back this popular episode from the archives! 

 4 Ways to Brave Sorrow Together:

1. Refuse to play the blame game
2. Face defeat together
3. Allow freedom to grief differently from each other
4. Point each other back to God’s character

***
Us Time Challenge:
Make a list of the ways God has been faithful to you as a couple. Tape it to your fridge or bathroom mirror as a reminder of His goodness even in difficulty.

***
Team Us Resources:
Team Us: The Unifying Power of Grace, Commitment, and Cooperation in Marriage
FREE Team Us Study Guide

Links Mentioned in This Episode:
Braving Sorrow Together: The Transformative Power of Faith and Community When Life Is Hard

***
Connect with Ted and Ashleigh:
Website | Instagram | Facebook

Episode Image Credit: Getty/Rudzhan Nagiev

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.