The Art of Relationships Podcast

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace explore why personality differences don’t have to mean incompatibility. From planning versus spontaneity to different preferences for socializing, spending, and keeping things tidy, they discuss how the qualities that first attract us can become sources of frustration. Through personal stories and biblical wisdom, they offer practical ways to assume the best, understand each other’s backstory, and approach difficult conversations with humility and grace. Whether you’re navigating differences with a spouse, significant other, roommate, friend, or family member, this episode will help you appreciate how you’re each wired while taking meaningful steps to grow together.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gE3CStdYC40

Resources Mentioned:

• Going Deeper Together: Spiritual Armor Required – A five-lesson course equipping couples to recognize the enemy’s tactics and stand strong together using practical, biblical tools.
• Philippians 2:3–4 – A reminder to approach relationships with humility and consider the interests of others.
• Psalm 139:23–24 – An invitation to ask God to search our hearts and reveal areas where we need to grow.

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships!

About the Hosts:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Alisa Grace is joined by guest co-host Tatum Munivez to explore how every marriage brings two cultures together, even when spouses come from similar backgrounds. They discuss how family traditions, faith practices, emotional expression, and approaches to conflict shape our expectations of marriage. Through personal stories and practical examples, they share how to replace criticism with curiosity, distinguish cultural preferences from biblical convictions, and honor extended family while creating a culture of your own. Whether you’re dating, engaged, or married, this episode offers tools to navigate differences with empathy, communicate your needs, and build meaningful traditions together.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/EhQ93pf34xo

Resources Mentioned:

• John Gottman’s Four Horsemen – Learn about criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling, the harmful communication patterns discussed in this episode. Read more.
• Scripture References – Genesis 2:24 on leaving and cleaving, Psalm 139 on God’s intimate knowledge of us, and Philippians 2:3–4 on considering others’ needs.
• Center for Marriage and Relationships – Explore resources to help strengthen your marriage and relationships. Visit cmr.biola.edu.

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone navigating different family traditions or expectations in their relationship.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships!

About the Hosts:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

Guest Co-Host: In this episode, Tatum Munivez, CMR’s Communications and Marketing Manager, joins Alisa and shares personal insights from her own marriage.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace explore what it means when you and your spouse do not always see the world the same way. They discuss why compatibility does not mean sameness, how differences can trigger deeper insecurities, and why conflict often feels threatening when the stakes seem high. Through practical examples involving money, parenting, social preferences, and faith, Chris and Alisa explain how humility, grace, and honest communication can help couples stop trying to change each other and begin appreciating what each person brings to the relationship. Whether you are dating, engaged, newly married, or have been together for decades, this episode will help you navigate differences, challenge the stories you may be telling yourself, and create a relationship where both people feel known, accepted, and emotionally safe.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4cLExII7C38

Resources Mentioned:

• Weekend to Remember in Bellingham – Join Chris and Alisa at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember marriage getaway at Semiahmoo Resort Golf & Spa in Blaine, Washington, October 23–25, 2026. https://cmr.biola.edu/events/2026/familylife-weekend-to-remember-marriage-getaway-bellingham-wa

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast so you never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships. http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As directors of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace are joined by Tatum Munivez to answer some of the burning marriage questions couples are really asking. From keeping physical intimacy alive when you're exhausted to navigating disagreement, reconnecting when your marriage feels distant, setting healthy boundaries with difficult in-laws, and building a more Christ-centered home, they tackle real challenges that can show up in every season of marriage.

Chris and Alisa share practical, biblical wisdom for listening to understand, validating your spouse even when you disagree, prioritizing your marriage, seeking help when you're struggling, and growing together spiritually. Whether you're newly married, raising kids, walking through a difficult season, or simply wanting to strengthen your connection with your spouse, this episode offers encouragement and tangible ways to pursue a healthier, more connected marriage.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/gDOgoeUZWs4

Resources Mentioned:

• Spiritual Intimacy Scale - A 28-question assessment from Dr. Chris and Alisa Grace to help couples measure and grow the spiritual closeness in their marriage. Download the Spiritual Intimacy Scale
• The Sacred Pathways - A self-assessment based on Gary Thomas's work to help you discover which of the nine spiritual temperaments best describes how you connect with God. Take the Sacred Pathways Assessment
• Going Deeper Together: Spiritual Armor Required - A five-lesson course designed to help couples recognize the enemy's tactics and stand strong together using practical, biblical tools. Learn More

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Have a burning relationship question? Email us at [email protected], and we may answer it in a future episode.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships! http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris Grace is joined by psychology student Patrick Flanigan to explore the power of biblical discipleship and why following Jesus was never meant to be a solo journey. Together, they unpack the difference between mentorship and discipleship and what it looks like to intentionally walk alongside someone in their faith.

They discuss why discipleship requires honesty, vulnerability, and a willingness to be inconvenienced for others. They also explore how having someone further along in their faith can help us navigate doubt and hardship, why disciplers don’t need to have everything figured out, and how being fully known can open the door to deeper spiritual growth.

Whether you’re looking for someone to disciple you or wondering how God might use you to invest in someone else, this conversation offers practical encouragement to take the next step. Patrick and Chris challenge listeners to be proactive, embrace vulnerability, and pursue relationships where they can both learn from someone ahead of them and pour into someone coming behind them.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5LpW91-sFgA

Resources Mentioned:

• The Great Commission (Matthew 28) - Jesus’ call to His followers to go and make disciples, a reminder that discipleship is part of the calling of every Christian.
• Paul and Timothy - A biblical model of discipleship that demonstrates what it can look like to intentionally invest in someone’s faith and prepare them to disciple others.
• Matthew 25: The Sheep and the Goats - A passage that has shaped Patrick’s desire to remain willing to be inconvenienced in order to serve and invest in others.

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships! http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Host:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., is passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As co-director of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, he combines the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about his work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace sit down with licensed professional counselor and marriage ministry leader Dr. Genee Francis to explore marital drift—the slow, often unnoticed loss of connection that can happen even in strong, committed marriages. They discuss why couples begin to feel emotionally disconnected, how communication struggles can actually point to a deeper loss of intimacy, and how different seasons of life can gradually pull spouses apart.

Dr. Francis shares practical ways couples can begin reconnecting, from remembering what first brought them together and staying curious about who their spouse is today to creating simple rhythms of connection, expressing specific gratitude, and dreaming about their future together. They also discuss the importance of Christian community, counseling as healthy marriage maintenance, and re-anchoring your marriage in shared values and your relationship with Christ. Whether you've been married for a few years or a few decades, this episode offers encouragement and tangible steps to recognize drift early, rebuild intimacy, and intentionally protect your marriage.

Resources Mentioned:

• WinShape Marriage — Marriage retreats and resources for couples in every season, from premarital relationships to empty nesting: https://marriage.winshape.org/
• The Art (and Science) of Relationships — A seven-lesson course from the Center for Marriage and Relationships exploring emotional safety, conflict, forgiveness, gratitude, technology, and practical steps for building healthier relationships: https://learn.biola.edu/courses/the-art-and-science-of-relationships
• Center for Marriage and Relationships Resources — Explore Ask the Expert content, podcast episodes, video clips, marriage mentoring resources, and more: https://cmr.biola.edu/
• More on Genee Francis: https://marriage.winshape.org/staff/genee-francis/
  • WinShape Marriage Website
  • WinShape Marriage Instagram

Connect with Us:

• Website: https://cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships! http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at https://cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Rachel Pestana and Tatum Munivez share what they wish they had known before starting college. Drawing from their own experiences as recent graduates, they offer practical encouragement for navigating one of life's biggest transitions. From building meaningful friendships and navigating dating to handling homesickness, connecting with professors, choosing a major, and growing into adulthood, they provide honest advice to help students approach college with confidence and grace. Whether you're preparing to leave home, figuring out friendships, dating, academics, or your future career, this episode is packed with practical wisdom to help you thrive during your college years.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RL4pip8f3X4

Resources Mentioned:

• Free Relationship Advice Appointments – Receive confidential, biblical, and practical relationship guidance from the Center for Marriage and Relationships. Available in person or virtually. https://cmr.biola.edu/resources/relationship-advice
• Center for Marriage and Relationships Resources – Browse podcasts, blogs, articles, and relationship resources for every stage of life. https://cmr.biola.edu/

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with an incoming college student, parent, or friend who could benefit from these insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships! http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:
Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace answer some of the most common (and most honest) dating questions submitted by attendees at the Biola Couples Conference. From navigating physical, emotional, and spiritual boundaries to figuring out compatibility, alone time, conflict, and preparing for marriage, they offer biblical wisdom and practical guidance for every stage of dating.

They discuss how to distinguish healthy attraction from lust, why intentional boundaries matter, how to recover after crossing those boundaries, the role of prayer and spiritual intimacy in dating, finding shared hobbies, addressing relationship concerns, and overcoming fear surrounding physical intimacy before marriage. Along the way, they share personal stories from their own relationship and practical advice for building healthy patterns that last.

Whether you're single, dating, engaged, or mentoring someone in a relationship, this episode offers thoughtful insights to help you pursue relationships that honor God and foster lasting intimacy.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZFClUEIRSSk

Resources Mentioned:

• Sheet Music by Dr. Kevin Leman – A practical Christian guide to sexual intimacy designed for engaged and newly married couples. Chris and Alisa recommend reading the first few chapters before marriage and the remaining chapters afterward.
• Free Relationship Advice – Biola Center for Marriage & Relationships – Receive confidential, biblical, and practical relationship guidance from the CMR team: https://cmr.biola.edu/resources/relationship-advice
• CMR Relationship Resources – Explore articles, podcasts, and practical tools on dating, marriage, and healthy relationships: https://cmr.biola.edu/

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast so you never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who is navigating dating or engagement and could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and relationship resources from the Center for Marriage & Relationships: http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:
Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage & Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace continue their conversation with Tony and Lymari Navarro as they share the powerful second half of their story of healing after infidelity. This episode explores what it actually takes to rebuild trust, restore intimacy, and create a stronger marriage through God's grace.

Tony and Lymari discuss the importance of laying a new foundation rooted in Scripture, embracing the "messy middle" of recovery, finding the right support, celebrating small victories, and choosing perseverance when healing feels slow. They also share practical encouragement for couples navigating broken trust, reminding listeners that restoration isn't about returning to what once was—it's about allowing God to build something entirely new.

Whether you're walking through betrayal, supporting a friend in crisis, strengthening your own marriage, or simply wanting to build healthier relationships, this episode offers biblical wisdom and practical hope for the journey.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3AOwkiFfIDA

Resources Mentioned

• From Ruin to Renewal: Tony and Lymari Navarro share their personal story of rebuilding their marriage after infidelity while discovering God's power to restore what was broken. https://shop.familylife.com/product/from-ruin-to-renewal/
• Weekend to Remember® Marriage Getaway: The marriage conference that became a turning point in Tony and Lymari's restoration journey, providing biblical tools and practical guidance for building a healthy marriage. https://www.familylife.com/weekend-to-remember/
• Home with the Navarros: Marriage coaching, speaking information, resources, and encouragement from Tony and Lymari Navarro. https://www.tonyandlymarinavarro.com/
• Tony & Lymari Navarro on Instagram: Follow their ongoing ministry, marriage encouragement, and family life content. https://www.instagram.com/tonyandlymarinavarro

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast so you never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who needs hope that healing and restoration are possible.
• Sign up for weekly relationship resources and encouragement from the Center for Marriage and Relationships: http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace sit down with marriage coaches, speakers, and authors Tony and Lymari Navarro to hear the first part of their powerful story of betrayal, broken trust, and the beginning of restoration. Tony and Lymari share how their relationship began, their journey to faith, and the challenges they faced as young believers trying to build a marriage without healthy models or examples.

As their family grew, unresolved wounds, unhealthy communication patterns, and emotional distance created cracks beneath the surface of their marriage. When Lymari received a phone call revealing Tony's infidelity, everything came crashing down. Together, they candidly discuss the devastating impact of betrayal, the role of wise counsel during a crisis, the tension between justice and grace, and how God met them in the midst of their deepest pain.

Whether you're walking through betrayal, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking to build a stronger marriage, this episode offers honest encouragement and biblical wisdom about forgiveness, grace, and the first steps toward healing.

Watch on YouTube:

Resources Mentioned:

From Ruin to Renewal – Tony and Lymari Navarro's story of rebuilding their marriage after infidelity and discovering God's power to restore what was broken.
https://shop.familylife.com/product/from-ruin-to-renewal/

Home with the Navarros – Marriage resources, coaching, speaking information, and encouragement from Tony and Lymari Navarro.
https://www.tonyandlymarinavarro.com/

Tony & Lymari Navarro on Instagram – Follow their ongoing ministry, marriage encouragement, and family life content.
https://www.instagram.com/tonyandlymarinavarro

Connect with Us:

Website: cmr.biola.edu
Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform to help others discover the show.

Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.

Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships!
http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.