Why In Laws Matter

PEACE Framework

If You Could Go Back

What To Remember

How is your relationship with your in-laws? Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss what research and experience reveals about in-law relationships, prompted by Erin being asked to speak to a moms group. If conflict, enabling behavior, and parenting disagreements with in-laws seem to take away the PEACE in your family - this is the podcast for you! Make sure you forward the link to other members of your family, too!
Married Into The Family
Article: How Your Relationship with Your In-Laws Impacts Your Marriage
Call Our Free Counseling Line at 1800-A-FAMILY
Enjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It’s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!
Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email

How is your relationship with your in-laws? Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss what research and experience reveals about in-law relationships, prompted by Erin being asked to speak to a moms group. If conflict, enabling behavior, and parenting disagreements with in-laws seem to take away the PEACE in your family - this is the podcast for you! Make sure you forward the link to other members of your family, too! <a href="https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-crazy-little-thing-2026-07-20?refcd=2505002">Married Into The Family</a> <a href="https://sf.fotf.com/ugy3ym">Article: How Your Relationship with Your In-Laws Impacts Your Marriage</a> <a href="https://www.focusonthefamily.com/get-help-now/">Call Our Free Counseling Line at 1800-A-FAMILY</a> <a href="https://sf.fotf.com/ux2jt1">Enjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It&rsquo;s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!</a> <a href="https://sf.fotf.com/bdtu8b">Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email</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.

Marrying Into Madness - Dealing with In-laws

Intro

Control & Serving

Chore War & Handling Anger

Mental Load, Depression

Anger & Managing Emotions

Animal Personality Types

Q & A, Close

Do differences between you and your spouse trigger tension in your marriage? Greg and Erin talk with Amber Lia and offer tips to respond well and explore how miscommunication fuels anger. They discuss common conflict points like “chore wars,” the invisible mental load, and backseat driving, while emphasizing teamwork, communication, and going the extra mile. They also encourage you and your spouse to take the personality test, and they answer a listener's question about living with a depressed spouse.
Marriage Triggers: Exchanging Spouses' Angry Reactions for Gentile Biblical Responses
UnTriggered: 60 Days of Transformation for Moms Who Struggle With Anger
Reactive Cycle Tool
Hope Restored
Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email
Take The Animal Personality Test
How To Give Your Spouse Constructive Feedback

Do differences between you and your spouse trigger tension in your marriage? Greg and Erin talk with Amber Lia and offer tips to respond well and explore how miscommunication fuels anger. They discuss common conflict points like &ldquo;chore wars,&rdquo; the invisible mental load, and backseat driving, while emphasizing teamwork, communication, and going the extra mile. They also encourage you and your spouse to take the personality test, and they answer a listener's question about living with a depressed spouse. <a href="https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-crazy-little-thing-2026-07-13?refcd=2502002">Marriage Triggers: Exchanging Spouses' Angry Reactions for Gentile Biblical Responses</a> <a href="https://sf.fotf.com/ebstho">UnTriggered: 60 Days of Transformation for Moms Who Struggle With Anger</a> <a href="https://sf.fotf.com/gd2f0z">Reactive Cycle Tool</a> <a href="https://sf.fotf.com/t7m6p3">Hope Restored</a> <a href="https://sf.fotf.com/xs8jry">Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email</a> <a href="https://sf.fotf.com/nc0syr">Take The Animal Personality Test</a> <a href="https://sf.fotf.com/abebrq">How To Give Your Spouse Constructive Feedback</a>

Anger Triggers in Marriage

INTRO

Unrealistic Expectations, Launching & Conflict

Crossing The Line, Safety & Respect

Unforgiveness & Forgiveness Decisions

Soundtracks & Selfishness

Develop Self Awareness

Animal Kingdom Similarities

Get ready for Part Two of how to spark the fire in your marriage! Want to make your spouse feel special? Todd and Carolyn Petka share the "rocket fuel” for thriving marriages, and describe obstacles like unrealistic expectations, busy lives without margin, conflict styles, and family-of-origin wounds, that naturally leak energy and require intentional refueling. We'll look at the animal kingdom to help you understand your personality, and we have a listener Q & A about how to manage a family when your health is struggling.

 

The Relationship Rocket Formula

 

Hope Restored

 

Check Out The Reactive Cycle Assessment

 

Enjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It’s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!

 

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.

Get ready for Part Two of how to spark the fire in your marriage! Want to make your spouse feel special? Todd and Carolyn Petka share the "rocket fuel&rdquo; for thriving marriages, and describe obstacles like unrealistic expectations, busy lives without margin, conflict styles, and family-of-origin wounds, that naturally leak energy and require intentional refueling. We'll look at the animal kingdom to help you understand your personality, and we have a listener Q &amp; A about how to manage a family when your health is struggling.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-crazy-little-thing-2026-07-06?refcd=2487801">The Relationship Rocket Formula</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/kni844">Hope Restored</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/djj10u">Check Out The Reactive Cycle Assessment</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/uson49">Enjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It&rsquo;s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/b9qbmc">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>

Sparking the Marriage Fires, Pt. 2

Refuel Tools and STP Formula

Fuel the Fire

TV Couples and Listener Q&A

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley speak with Pastors Todd and Carolyn Petkau about their Relationship Rocket Formula, comparing marriage to a rocket needing navigation, fuel, and spark! They encourage looking into Scritpture, deep “fuel and spark” questions, and creating safety through active listening and saying, “tell me more.” Greg and Erin also apply ideas to TV couples, then answer a listener question about overwhelm, grief, and criticism. This is a program for EVERY marriage.

 

The Relationship Rocket Formula

 

Hope Restored

 

Check Out The Reactive Cycle Assessment

 

Enjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It’s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!

 

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.

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley speak with Pastors Todd and Carolyn Petkau about their Relationship Rocket Formula, comparing marriage to a rocket needing navigation, fuel, and spark! They encourage looking into Scritpture, deep &ldquo;fuel and spark&rdquo; questions, and creating safety through active listening and saying, &ldquo;tell me more.&rdquo; Greg and Erin also apply ideas to TV couples, then answer a listener question about overwhelm, grief, and criticism. This is a program for EVERY marriage.
&nbsp;
<a href="https://donate.focusonthefamily.com/don-crazy-little-thing-2026-06-29?refcd=2481401">The Relationship Rocket Formula</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/3zwrm5">Hope Restored</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/5xq6ko">Check Out The Reactive Cycle Assessment</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/z34gtv" data-callout-id="edit_links_in_description">Enjoying music together can draw you closer as a couple. Check out Focus Live, powered by Godcaster. It&rsquo;s a great way to get Focus On The Family content and hear contemporary Christian worship music!</a>
&nbsp;
<a href="https://sf.fotf.com/dkjpx2">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>

Marrying Into Madness - Dealing with In-laws

Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

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Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage

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