Merry Christmas! On today's special holiday episode, Greg and Erin talk with some friends here at Focus on the Family about some early marriage stories from Christmas. Plus, Greg and Erin will talk through some holiday conversation starters!



Check out some more conversation starters for the holiday season!



Want to hear more about Greg's Furby story? Click here!

Merry Christmas! On today's special holiday episode, Greg and Erin talk with some friends here at Focus on the Family about some early marriage stories from Christmas. Plus, Greg and Erin will talk through some holiday conversation starters!
 
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/christmas-conversation-starters-for-couples" data-callout-id="edit_links_in_description">Check out some more conversation starters for the holiday season!</a>
 
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/how-to-navigate-the-stress-of-the-family-holiday-road-trip" data-callout-id="edit_links_in_description">Want to hear more about Greg's Furby story? Click here!</a>

Did you know the Hebrew root word for marriage is the same as mess? Okay, maybe not, but it wasn’t a stretch to believe, right? This is the podcast for Christian married couples who are in the middle of a messy moment. They need to laugh. They need clear, practical advice. And they need to hear from someone with an actual degree in this thing. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley are those people. They have reached millions of couples through their counseling practices, books, events, and work at Focus on the Family.

Did you know the Hebrew root word for marriage is the same as mess? Okay, maybe not, but it wasn’t a stretch to believe, right? This is the podcast for Christian married couples who are in the middle of a messy moment. They need to laugh. They need clear, practical advice. And they need to hear from someone with an actual degree in this thing. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley are those people. They have reached millions of couples through their counseling practices, books, events, and work at Focus on the Family.

Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

Did you know the Hebrew root word for marriage is the same as mess? Okay, maybe not, but it wasn’t a stretch to believe, right? This is the podcast for Christian married couples who are in the middle of a messy moment. They need to laugh. They need clear practical advice. And they need to hear from someone with an actual degree in this thing. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley are those people. They have reached millions of couples through their counseling practices, books, events, and work at Focus on the Family. 

Did you know the Hebrew root word for marriage is the same as mess? Okay, maybe not, but it wasn’t a stretch to believe, right? This is the podcast for Christian married couples who are in the middle of a messy moment. They need to laugh. They need clear practical advice. And they need to hear from someone with an actual degree in this thing. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley are those people. They have reached millions of couples through their counseling practices, books, events, and work at Focus on the Family.

Christmas Stories from the Early Years of Marriage

Tapestry and Treasure Hunting

Spousing on Empty

Mental Load and Marriage Tools

Listener Question

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley welcome guests Ashley Durand and Kristen Roush authors of Mothering on Empty. We'll talk about the pressures that can leave spouses depleted, and how joy, identity in Christ, and an eternal perspective anchor marriage without idolizing it. We'll give practical tips for husbands of exhausted wives: empathy over fixing, initiative without being asked, avoiding competitions over tiredness, setting social media boundaries, and addressing the “mental load” so no one feels alone.

 

Mothering On Empty

 

Use the Marriage Assessment Tool! It's free!

 

Check Out the Reactive Cycle Assessment Tool!

 

Here's Information on Hope Restored

 

Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Number - 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

 

Contact the show!

 

Send Us A Review!

 

Support the show!

 

If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley welcome guests Ashley Durand and Kristen Roush authors of Mothering on Empty. We'll talk about the pressures that can leave spouses depleted, and how joy, identity in Christ, and an eternal perspective anchor marriage without idolizing it. We'll give practical tips for husbands of exhausted wives: empathy over fixing, initiative without being asked, avoiding competitions over tiredness, setting social media boundaries, and addressing the &ldquo;mental load&rdquo; so no one feels alone.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-crazy-little-thing-2026-04-06?refcd=2459401">Mothering On Empty</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/nxahb2">Use the Marriage Assessment Tool! It's free!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/rn0lp5">Check Out the Reactive Cycle Assessment Tool!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/li0ohs">Here's Information on Hope Restored</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/f2b4ck">Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email</a>
&nbsp;
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Number - 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/85xhzn">Contact the show!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/g0zeh0">Send Us A Review!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/8sqqst">Support the show!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/mrt11x">If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.</a>

Spouse-ing On Empty

Introduction

Spring Reset for Marriage

Assume the Best Intentions

Small Habits That Build Love

Conflict Repair and Positive Focus

Respect Means Asking

Respect Through Praise

Recreate Your First Date

What makes a successful marriage? Today, Greg and Erin feature a presentation by best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn. She offers insights from research she's conducted on what makes for a happier, more fulfilling marriage. She also outlines practical ways to develop a more Christ-like relationship with your spouse. We'll challenge you to recreate your first date, and we'll answer a listener question about whether its Biblical to have joint bank accounts.

 

For Men/Women Only Bundle

 

Conversation Starters for Couples

 

Learn More About The Hope Restored Marriage Intensive

 

Take The Reactive Cycle Assessment Tool

 

Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email

 

Nurturing The Heart of Your Spouse Audio Collection

 

Contact the show!

 

Send Us A Review!

 

Support the show!

 

If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.

What makes a successful marriage? Today, Greg and Erin feature a presentation by best-selling author Shaunti Feldhahn. She offers insights from research she's conducted on what makes for a happier, more fulfilling marriage. She also outlines practical ways to develop a more Christ-like relationship with your spouse. We'll challenge you to recreate your first date, and we'll answer a listener question about whether its Biblical to have joint bank accounts.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-crazy-little-thing-2026-03-30?refcd=2447304">For Men/Women Only Bundle</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/vy0xyx">Conversation Starters for Couples</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/uvysho">Learn More About The Hope Restored Marriage Intensive</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/exh146">Take The Reactive Cycle Assessment Tool</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/e3fc2b">Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/xlkbom" data-callout-id="edit_links_in_description">Nurturing The Heart of Your Spouse Audio Collection</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/85xhzn">Contact the show!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/g0zeh0">Send Us A Review!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/8sqqst">Support the show!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/mrt11x">If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.</a>

Research on Happy Marriages

Stay In Your Yard

When The Marriage Changes

Why Do We Get Triggered?

How To Grow Closer

One Important Truth

Connection Ideas

Q & A -  What Is A Healthy Amount of Sex

Pastor Dan Seaborn returns for more great conversation on reflection in marriage. When was the last time you asked yourself, "What caused me to do that?" when you responded to your spouse in a not-so-productive way? Greg and Erin also have an exercise to build connection that will open up your spouse's inner world, and we answer a listener question about how often to have sex in a healthy marriage.

 

The Necessary Nine

 

Take the Marriage Assessment Tool

 

Learn More About The Hope Restored Marriage Intensive

 

Take The Reactive Cycle Assessment Tool

 

Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email

 

Contact the show!

 

Send Us A Review!

 

Support the show!

 

If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.

Pastor Dan Seaborn returns for more great conversation on reflection in marriage. When was the last time you asked yourself, "What caused me to do that?" when you responded to your spouse in a not-so-productive way? Greg and Erin also have an exercise to build connection that will open up your spouse's inner world, and we answer a listener question about how often to have sex in a healthy marriage.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-crazy-little-thing-2026-03-23?refcd=2447603">The Necessary Nine</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/c8zz0e" data-callout-id="edit_links_in_description">Take the Marriage Assessment Tool</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/8uxl92" data-callout-id="edit_links_in_description">Learn More About The Hope Restored Marriage Intensive</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/s0ursz" data-callout-id="edit_links_in_description">Take The Reactive Cycle Assessment Tool</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/baolc1">Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/85xhzn">Contact the show!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/g0zeh0">Send Us A Review!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/8sqqst">Support the show!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/mrt11x">If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage podcast with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley, please give us your feedback.</a>

Christmas Stories from the Early Years of Marriage

In 1 playlist(s)

Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips