Did you know that nearly half of adults are part of a stepfamily relationship? Ron Deal, a licensed marriage and family therapist and one of the most recognized experts on stepfamily dynamics, joins us to share practical strategies for co-parenting, blending relationships, and creating harmony in your home. With insights from his book The Smart Stepfamily, Ron offers wisdom on building respect across households, supporting children through transitions, and fostering unity in blended families. Whether you’re navigating co-parenting challenges or looking to strengthen your stepfamily bond, this episode is packed with helpful advice and encouragement.

Anxiety is a heavy word. Saying it out loud can invoke strong emotions, and dealing with it as an individual can be challenging enough. So how do you navigate through seasons of anxiety in your marriage? In this episode of The WinShape Marriage Podcast, Marlee Arnold sits down with Monique Wells, a licensed professional counselor with over 25 years of experience. They navigate this important conversation answering questions like, “How can I support my spouse if they’re dealing with anxiety?”; “What can we do if we’re both walking through an anxious season?”; and “How can we stay connected amidst it all?” Hear practical ways you can show up for your spouse and strategies to manage this season as a team.

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Time Stamps:

(1:50) What does anxiety look like and how do you pay attention to it

(4:47) If you’re noticing signs of generalized anxiety for yourself, how do you let your spouse into how you’re feeling

(8:45) How to support your spouse if they’re experiencing stress and anxiety

(14:39) How to navigate a stressful or anxious season together, if you’re both experiencing it

(21:03) How to recognize if generalized anxiety is moving into more chronic anxiety

(26:53) How to approach anxiety from a biblical perspective

(33:12) How important is it to maintain connection and intimacy during seasons of anxiety

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Links:

2 Corinthians 10:5-6 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%2010%3A%205-6&version=ESV

Philippians 4:8 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians%204%3A8&version=ESV

John 10:10 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010%3A10&version=ESV

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

WinShape Marriage Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/retreats/

Pastor & Ministry Leader Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/ministry-retreats/

Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep8.pdf

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Relevant Resources:

“How To Find a Marriage Counselor” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/how-to-find-a-marriage-counselor/

There is so much more to intimacy with your spouse than just physical intimacy. In fact, Dr. Juli Slattery says there’s a difference between being sexually active and sexually intimate. So, how do you tap into deeper intimacy in your marriage? Dr. Slattery is back on The WinShape Marriage Podcast talking about just this with Rob Philo and Marlee Arnold. They discuss practical ways you can engage with your spouse outside the bedroom that will impact intimacy in the bedroom and even ways you might be sabotaging intimacy without realizing it.

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Time Stamps:

(1:12) How intimacy extends beyond the bedroom

(3:10) How does intimacy outside the bedroom impact intimacy in the bedroom

(4:56) What are some practical things you can do outside the bedroom that will impact intimacy in the bedroom

(8:14) How “talking” can fail to build intimacy at times

(11:28) How you might be sabotaging intimacy without realizing it

(21:06) How to work toward recovering intimacy after a breach of trust in marriage

(24:28) How to develop intimacy in your marriage when there are walls built up

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Links:

Authentic Intimacy https://www.authenticintimacy.com/

“God, Sex, and Your Marriage” https://shop.authenticintimacy.com/products/god-sex-and-your-marriage

Faithful & True https://www.faithfulandtrue.com/

Be Broken https://www.bebroken.org/

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

WinShape Marriage Intensives https://marriage.winshape.org/intensives/

The Journey https://marriage.winshape.org/journey/

260 Free Printable Conversation Starters for Couples https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/conversation-starters-for-date-night/

Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep7.pdf

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Relevant Resources:

“90 Date Ideas for Couples” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/90-date-ideas-for-couples/
“How To Find a Marriage Counselor” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/how-to-find-a-marriage-counselor/

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Relevant Episodes:

God’s Design for Sex in Marriage | Dr. Juli Slattery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mY5u0EL6HzI&t=1797s

Tragedies, losses, and uncertainties are all a part of life. Jesus promises tribulation to us. It’s not if but when. So, when tragedy strikes in your marriage, how do you cope? How do you navigate grieving with your spouse or how do you support your spouse when they’re experiencing grief? And where is God in the middle of grief? Marlee Arnold navigates this sensitive conversation with Laurie Lokey, a licensed professional counselor based out of Spring Hill, Tennessee.

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Time Stamps:

(2:40) Laurie’s background helping individuals and couples navigate grief

(7:55) How do you begin navigating a season of grief with your spouse

(11:00) How do you share with your spouse if you are experiencing grief differently than they are

(13:50) What is the next step to take when grieving if you realize you need more help

(18:35) How do you walk through a season of grief when you experience a miscarriage

(23:25) How and where do you see the character of God amidst grief

(29:54) How important is it to maintain connection and intimacy during seasons of grief

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Links:

John 16:33 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2016%3A33&version=ESV

Bill & Laurie Lokey https://billandlaurielokey.com/

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

The Journey https://marriage.winshape.org/journey/

260 Free Printable Conversation Starters for Couples https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/conversation-starters-for-date-night/

Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep5.pdf

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Relevant Resources:

"How To Find a Marriage Counselor” https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/how-to-find-a-marriage-counselor/

It’s time to get up, get moving, and play with your spouse! What?! What does it mean to “play” as an adult? Isn’t that something kids do? Spoiler—play is not just for toddlers, elementary school kids, or even teenagers. Play is for adults, too, and it’s a healthy and vital part of your marriage relationship. Marlee Arnold is back with Julie Baumgardner, senior director of WinShape Marriage, and Bradley Joseph, a team leader of facilitation at WinShape Foundation, aka an expert on play. Together, they talk about what playing looks like in a marriage context, what the benefits are, and personal examples as well as detail different play personalities. It’s a great conversation where you are certain to learn something new.

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Time Stamps:

(1:17) Introduction to Bradley Joseph and his role at the WinShape Foundation

(2:20) What we mean when we say at WinShape Marriage Retreats we bring experiential learning into our experiences

(8:30) What does “playing” in marriage look like; what are some examples

(11:48) The definition of play

(12:05) What are some benefits for your marriage of playing with your spouse

(16:24) Breaking down “play personalities”—collector

(19:53) Competitor

(21:47) Creator

(22:34) Director

(23:49) Explorer

(26:30) Joker

(27:00) Kinesthete

(27:38) Storyteller

(29:24) How can you engage with your spouse in play if you have different play personalities

(33:15) How to have time to have fun and play with your spouse

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Links:

National Institute for Play https://nifplay.org/

Play Personalities https://nifplay.org/what-is-play/play-personalities/

Identify Your Play Nature https://nifplay.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/take-your-play-history-2023.08.02.pdf

The Importance of Play in Couple Relationships https://extension.usu.edu/relationships/research/the-importance-of-play-in-couple-relationships

90 Date Ideas for Couples https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/90-date-ideas-for-couples/

260 Free Printable Conversation Starters for Couples https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/conversation-starters-for-date-night/

60 Free Printable Would You Rather Questions https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/free-printable-would-you-rather-questions/

“The Body Keeps the Score” https://www.amazon.com/Body-Keeps-Score-Healing-Trauma/dp/0143127748

Pastor & Ministry Leader Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/ministry-retreats/

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep4.pdf

What would you say to yourself as someone who’s newly married if you could go back in time? Or what would you tell your younger self as you were preparing your heart for marriage? Dr. Rob and Amy Rienow, co-founders of Visionary Family Ministries and authors of multiple books including, “Visionary Marriage,” have been married for 30 years. Rob Philo asks them to share “what they wish they knew earlier in marriage,” how they’ve grown as a couple, and how they’re continuing to grow in their marriage, even after 30 years. You’ll be encouraged in this episode that no matter how long you’ve been married it’s impossible to have it “all figured out”—that's the beauty of marriage!

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Time Stamps:

(:48) The Rienows’ background in the marriage and family space

(2:35) I wish we set better work/life boundaries

(5:38) Physical boundaries vs. emotional boundaries

(10:32) I wish we set better rhythms of communication with extended family

(15:37) I wish we trusted the Lord’s timing with having children

(20:35) I wish we under promised and over delivered more

(23:32) I wish we were more intentional about date nights

(32:29) I wish we prayed together every day

(36:29) I wish we were more diligent when managing finances

(40:59) I wish we had more people speaking wisdom into our lives

(42:37) I wish we focused more on the positive

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Links:

Visionary Family Ministries https://visionaryfam.com/

“Visionary Marriage” https://visionaryfam.com/shop/visionary-marriage/

EveryDolllar https://www.ramseysolutions.com/ramseyplus/everydollar?snid=free-tools.budgeting.everydollar-budget-app

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

The Journey https://marriage.winshape.org/journey/

260 Free Printable Conversation Starters for Couples https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/conversation-starters-for-date-night/

Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2E3.pdf

Let’s talk about sex—healthy, biblical intimacy and sexuality. Cohosts Marlee Arnold and Rob Philo talk to Dr. Juli Slattery, clinical psychologist, author, and president of Authentic Intimacy, about the cultural view of sex as compared to the biblical view of sex. Why did God design sex and how should Christian couples be thinking about and talking about this topic in the context of their covenant marriage? This conversation is not only fascinating but foundational for couples to have a healthy viewpoint of sex and intimacy in their marriage.

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See below for a free PDF defining the following: the cultural narrative of sex, the purity narrative of sex, and the biblical narrative of sex.

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Time Stamps:

(1:24) What inspired Dr. Juli Slattery to step into studying and researching healthy biblical sex and intimacy

(3:33) What Dr. Juli Slattery thinks the current cultural view of sex is

(5:55) From a biblical perspective, how should Christians be thinking about sex and sexuality

(8:30) What does sex mean in the context of a covenant marriage

(13:15) How Dr. Juli Slattery sees the purity culture affecting Christian couples in this space

(17:55) For couples listening affected by purity culture, what can they do to start taking the right step

(19:27) What is the purpose of sex

(24:02) What are some ways Christian couples get tripped up related to sex

(27:13) Dr. Juli Slattery compares sex to a box of LEGO

(29:03) What are some foundational conversations couples can be having related to sex to lay the groundwork for healthy sex and intimacy

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Links:

Sex: The Cultural Narrative, The Purity Narrative, The Biblical Narrative https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/10/Rethinking-Sexuality.pdf

Authentic Intimacy https://www.authenticintimacy.com/

“God, Sex, and Your Marriage” https://shop.authenticintimacy.com/products/god-sex-and-your-marriage

Faithful & True https://www.faithfulandtrue.com/

Be Broken https://www.bebroken.org/

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

WinShape Marriage Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/retreats/

260 Free Printable Conversation Starters for Couples https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/conversation-starters-for-date-night/