The school year is back in full swing. If you're a parent, that probably means your calendar just got a whole lot crazier. In today’s episode, we’re tackling three common back-to-school stressors and sharing practical ways you and your spouse can turn chaos into calm.

3 BACK-TO-SCHOOL CHALLENGES COUPLES FACE

1. Syncing family schedules
2. Emotional exhaustion
3. Parenting style conflicts

PRACTICAL WAYS TO TURN CHAOS INTO CALM

1. Have a calendar white board and daily check ins
2. Give each other time alone for self-care and also take breaks together
3. Stop, ask, and listen, and use the 49/51 percent rule

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Talk with your spouse about what the top challenges are for you as we head into this new school year. Then, brainstorm some practical ways you can turn that chaos into calm as a team.

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

• “Kids reflect on the start of a new school year” by Ayesha Rascoe at NPR (https://www.npr.org/2024/09/08/nx-s1-5101763/kids-reflect-on-the-start-of-a-new-school-year)
• “How to Cope with Parental Burnout as a Couple” by Kristin and Todd Evans at Focus on the Family (https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/parenting-stress-in-marriage-how-to-cope-as-a-couple/)
• “One Ritual You and Your Partner Need to Feel More Connected” by Aaron and April Jacob at Gottman Institute (https://www.gottman.com/blog/one-ritual-partner-need-feel-connected/)
• “How to Navigate Different Parenting Styles” by Kendra Han at Gottman Institute (https://www.gottman.com/blog/navigate-different-parenting-styles/)

 

 

 

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

Within the Christian community, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” is often quoted as a hard-and-fast rule for married couples to follow whenever they experience conflict. But sometimes Ted and I do go to bed mad—and surprisingly, it’s been good for our marriage. In today’s episode, we’ll tell you why.

TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE

Think of another hard-and-fast rule couples are often told. Do you practice it in your marriage? How has it been helpful? If not, what do you do instead and why?

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

• Commentary on Ephesians 4:26 at BibleRef.com (https://www.bibleref.com/Ephesians/4/Ephesians-4-26.html) 
• “The Benefits of Slumber” at NIH News in Health (https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2013/04/benefits-slumber#) 
• The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages by Shaunti Feldhahn (https://amzn.to/4dgY67T) 

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

What’s the secret to a strong marriage? Listen in as we talk about the importance of consistent follow through in three specific areas.

TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE

Pick one idea from each of the areas to put into practice 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

• “Beating the Carnies: The Secrets to Winning 5 Popular State Fair Games,” Brett and Kate McCay, The Art of Manliness (https://www.artofmanliness.com/living/games-tricks/how-to-win-state-fair-games/)
• “The Ideal Praise-to-Criticism Ratio,” Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman, Harvard Business Review (https://hbr.org/2013/03/the-ideal-praise-to-criticism)

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

Have you ever looked at your spouse and asked, “What do we have in common?” Maybe there have been times when you’ve even felt like you have more differences than similarities.

In marriage, there’s always the potential for our differences to eat away at our unity—especially if that’s what we focus on. Today, we’re sharing five practical ways you and your spouse can stop your differences from dividing you.

TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE

Identify one difference that’s been dividing you and your spouse lately. Take some time to think about what you can appreciate and respect about that difference. Then, tell your spouse—and be sure to keep it all positive!

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/)

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• Loving Him Well by Gary Thomas
• For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn and For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn
• 9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage by Robert Paul and Greg Smalley

 

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

No matter how long you’ve been married, reminding yourself of fundamental marriage truths is helpful. In this episode, we’ll share four truths about marriage every couple needs to remember.

TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE

Talk about which of these truths you needed to be reminded of most. Ask yourselves: How can we live it out in our marriage 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
• FREE Team Us Study Guide 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

• “6 Truths About Marriage Every Engaged Couple Needs to Hear” by Ashleigh Slater at Boundless.org (https://www.boundless.org/relationships/6-truths-about-marriage-every-engaged-couple-needs-to-hear/) 
• “Did I Marry the Wrong Person” by Glenn Lutjens at FocusontheFamily.com (https://www.focusonthefamily.com/marriage/did-i-marry-the-wrong-person/) 
• “Want a Great Marriage Someday? Learn to handle conflict now” by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin at Boundless.org (https://www.boundless.org/blog/want-a-great-marriage-someday-learn-to-handle-conflict-now/) 
• Reset: Powerful Habits to Own Your Thoughts, Understand Your Feelings, and Change Your Life by Debra Fileta (https://amzn.to/44yKMIo)  
• The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Marriages: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference by Shaunti Feldhahn (https://amzn.to/3Q5zDbT) 

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

Do you and your spouse have fun together? As couples, sometimes we can get in a rut and feel like life — and marriage — are all work and no play. In this episode, we’re exploring how we can make marriage fun again. This month, we are reairing our favorite episodes, and this is definitely at the top of our list!

TAKE THE "US TIME" CHALLENGE

If fun is lacking from your marriage, try one of our suggestions.

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

• “Ideas for How to Add Fun Back into Your Marriage” by Andrew Linder

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

We don’t have a choice on whether we will experience stress. However, we do have a choice on how we will face it. Today, we share three practical ways you and your spouse can tackle stress as a team.

3 WAYS COUPLES CAN TACKLE STRESS AS A TEAM

1. Reaffirm your team mentality
2. Stay open and stay communicating
3. Laugh, cry, or eat your equivalent of ice cream

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Reaffirm your team mentality. Whether the stress you are experiencing is big or small, remind each other that you are on the same team.

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

• “The Four Trauma Responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn” by Sarah Schuster at Health.com (https://www.health.com/fight-flight-freeze-fawn-8348342)
• “Love Under Pressure: Managing Stress as a Couple” by Lauren Church at Utah Marriage Commission (https://extension.usu.edu/strongermarriage/blog/love-under-pressure-manage-stress-as-a-couple)
• “Rescuing Your Relationship from Stress” by Jon Beaty at the Gottman Institute (https://www.gottman.com/blog/rescuing-relationship-stress/)

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

We share five of our favorite strategies for teamwork in marriage. So, if you and your spouse are feeling out of synch lately, don’t miss this episode!

5 KEY STRATEGIES FOR TEAMWORK

1. Get on the same page
2. Enjoy something new
3. Choose lightheartedness
4. Make peace with the past
5. Fight as allies

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Think about what you and your spouse do that makes you most feel like a team and why.

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.

In this episode, we focus on engaged couples and those contemplating marriage. A wedding marks the beginning of a marriage — and that marriage is the joining of two people. So, a wedding should be the joint ideas, preferences, and efforts of those two people. Listen in as we share three skills couples can practice when they approach wedding planning as a team.

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

We have two this week. First, for the already-married couples who listened, look back at your wedding planning and reminisce on how you may have practiced one or more of these skills. Second, for engaged couples, pick one of these three skills and apply it to something you either still need to plan or an area where you are having a hard time agreeing.

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.

Do you and your spouse have summer travel plans? Whether it’s a family vacation, a couple’s getaway, or a trip to spend time with extended family, we have five travel tips for you in today’s episode.

TAKE THE “US TIME” CHALLENGE

Talk with your spouse about your travel styles. And, if you plan to travel this summer, spend time making the plans together and anticipating and preparing for triggers.

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

• “Traveling with Your Partner? Tips for Taking Long Vacations Together,” by Maria Morava at Newsweek (https://www.newsweek.com/tips-traveling-partner-together-vacations-relationships-1927611)
• “How Travel Affects Sleep And What to Do About It” by Jordi Lippe-McGraw at Forbes (https://www.forbes.com/sites/jordilippemcgraw/2024/05/22/how-travel-affects-sleep-and-what-to-do-about-it/)
• “Fewer Americans are planning summer travel. Travel costs aren’t the top reason” by Bella Stoddart at CNBC (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/24/planning-a-summer-vacation-fewer-planning-trips-because-of-costs.html)

 

 

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