If your marriage feels like it's slowly gliding from 30,000 feet down to “meh,” Doug Hinderer is your inflight marriage attendant with the oxygen mask of wisdom 😂. In this Marriage Unhindered podcast episode, Doug drops 12 simple but powerful habits to keep your spouse crazy in love with you... without needing a second honeymoon in Maui (though he’s not against it 😉).

 

You can listen to the whole hour here!

 

 

✈️ The Setup:

 

Doug compares marriage to a plane that slowly loses altitude. Like, you don’t even notice at first: 29,999...29,998...until boom 💥, your ears pop and you’re like, “Wait...what happened to us?”

 

But the good news? You can totally course correct. He gives you 12 ways to get back to that deep, mature, old-sweater kind of love: you know, the cozy, warm, “you’re my favorite person to do absolutely nothing with” kind of thing 🧣❤️.

 

 

🎯 1. Make them feel like the VIP in the room

 

👀 Eye contact. 📱Put down the phone.


When they talk, actually listen.


Not just “uh-huh” while checking your fantasy football score. Be present. Be engaged. Be their biggest fan.

 

 

😂 2. Laugh together like life depends on it

 

Because sometimes it does.


Marriage is hard; humor is your glue.


Inside jokes, goofy faces, laughing at your toddler’s meltdown (privately)...it keeps things light in heavy seasons.

 

 

3. Fight fair 

 

Fighting is normal. Contempt is the killer.


No name-calling. No door slamming. Even in conflict, still respect each other.

 

 

🎁 4. Surprise them in meaningful ways

 

Doesn’t have to be a weekend getaway (but again, not saying no).


Handwritten notes. Favorite snack. A warm cup of coffee waiting.


✨The little things are the big things. ✨

 

 

🌱 5. Let them grow (and grow with them)

 

You’re married... not cloned.


Encourage their hobbies, passions, weird obsessions with sourdough or CrossFit.

 

 

6. Keep the romance going... especially when life is nuts

 

Life gets busy. Kids are loud. The dog puked.


Still, hold hands. Plan date nights. Send sweet texts.


Don’t let intimacy become a to-do list item (or worse...get left off the list).

 

 

🙏 7. Say "Thank You!" (like, a lot)

 

Not just “thanks.” Be specific.


💬 “Thanks for doing the dishes.”


💬 “Thanks for rubbing my feet even though I clearly haven’t showered today.”
Gratitude makes love grow. Every time.

 

 

📵 8. Turn off the world and tune into each other

 

Dinner time = no screens.


Even just 10 minutes of uninterrupted convo shows: you matter most.
(Yes, even more than March Madness 🏀.)

 

 

📣 9. Be their biggest cheerleader

 

Got a spouse going through something hard? Or chasing a dream?


Say: “I believe in you. I’m proud of you.”


You’re not just married... you’re a team.

 

 

🏠 10. Build shared goals

 

Dream together.


Raise your kids well. Travel. Do a home reno. Start a food truck named "Holy Guacamoly."


It’s our future... not just yours or mine.

 

 

11. Have the hard convos... even when it’s awkward

 

Don’t say “I’m fine” when you’re clearly not.


Be honest, even if it’s messy.


You don’t have to solve it all right now, but don’t lie about your feelings.

 

 

💍 12. Choose them. Every. Single. Day.

 

Love isn’t a one-and-done.


Every morning, you wake up and say:


💬 “Today, I’m going to love you well. You’re my person.”


That’s the secret sauce.

 

 

Bottom Line

 

Great marriages don’t happen by accident.


They’re built brick by brick, laugh by laugh, thank you by thank you.


Even if you’ve lost some altitude, you can climb again. ⛅

 

So go hug your spouse. Look them in the eye. And maybe hold their hand in the car (unless you’re driving... then maybe one hand 😅).

 

 

The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It’s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out here.

 

If your marriage feels like it's slowly gliding from 30,000 feet down to &ldquo;meh,&rdquo; Doug Hinderer is your inflight marriage attendant with the&nbsp;oxygen mask of wisdom 😂. In this Marriage Unhindered podcast episode, Doug drops&nbsp;12 simple but powerful habits to keep your spouse crazy in love with you... without needing a second honeymoon in Maui (though he&rsquo;s not against it 😉).
&nbsp;
You can listen to the whole hour <a href="https://relevantradio.com/2025/03/building-virtue-to-stay-deeply-in-love/">here</a>!
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="560" data-end="563">
&nbsp;
✈️ The Setup:
&nbsp;
Doug compares marriage to a plane that slowly loses altitude. Like, you don&rsquo;t even notice at first: 29,999...29,998...until boom 💥, your ears pop and you&rsquo;re like,&nbsp;&ldquo;Wait...what happened to us?&rdquo;
&nbsp;
But the good news? You can totally course correct. He gives you 12 ways to get back to that deep, mature, old-sweater kind of love: you know, the cozy, warm, &ldquo;you&rsquo;re my favorite person to do absolutely nothing with&rdquo; kind of thing 🧣❤️.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1026" data-end="1029">
&nbsp;
🎯 1.&nbsp;Make them feel like the VIP in the room
&nbsp;
👀 Eye contact. 📱Put down the phone.
 When they talk, actually listen.
 Not just &ldquo;uh-huh&rdquo; while checking your fantasy football score. Be present. Be engaged. Be their biggest fan.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1273" data-end="1276">
&nbsp;
😂 2.&nbsp;Laugh together like life depends on it
&nbsp;
Because sometimes it does.
 Marriage is hard; humor is your glue.
 Inside jokes, goofy faces, laughing at your toddler&rsquo;s meltdown (privately)...it keeps things light in heavy seasons.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1519" data-end="1522">
&nbsp;
3. Fight fair&nbsp;
&nbsp;
Fighting is normal. Contempt is the killer.
 No name-calling. No door slamming. Even in conflict, still respect each other.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1762" data-end="1765">
&nbsp;
🎁 4.&nbsp;Surprise them in meaningful ways
&nbsp;
Doesn&rsquo;t have to be a weekend getaway (but again, not saying no).
 Handwritten notes. Favorite snack. A warm cup of coffee waiting.
 ✨The little things are the big things. ✨
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="1991" data-end="1994">
&nbsp;
🌱 5.&nbsp;Let them grow (and grow with them)
&nbsp;
You&rsquo;re married... not cloned.
 Encourage their hobbies, passions, weird obsessions with sourdough or CrossFit.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="2190" data-end="2193">
&nbsp;
6. Keep the romance going... especially when life is nuts
&nbsp;
Life gets busy. Kids are loud. The dog puked.
 Still, hold hands. Plan date nights. Send sweet texts.
 Don&rsquo;t let intimacy become a to-do list item (or worse...get left off the list).
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="2453" data-end="2456">
&nbsp;
🙏 7.&nbsp;Say "Thank You!" (like, a lot)
&nbsp;
Not just &ldquo;thanks.&rdquo; Be specific.
 💬 &ldquo;Thanks for doing the dishes.&rdquo;
 💬 &ldquo;Thanks for rubbing my feet even though I clearly haven&rsquo;t showered today.&rdquo; Gratitude makes love grow. Every time.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="2692" data-end="2695">
&nbsp;
📵 8.&nbsp;Turn off the world and tune into each other
&nbsp;
Dinner time = no screens.
 Even just 10 minutes of uninterrupted convo shows: you matter most. (Yes, even more than March Madness 🏀.)
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="2900" data-end="2903">
&nbsp;
📣 9.&nbsp;Be their biggest cheerleader
&nbsp;
Got a spouse going through something hard? Or chasing a dream?
 Say: &ldquo;I believe in you. I&rsquo;m proud of you.&rdquo;
 You&rsquo;re not just married... you&rsquo;re a&nbsp;team.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="3106" data-end="3109">
&nbsp;
🏠 10.&nbsp;Build shared goals
&nbsp;
Dream together.
 Raise your kids well. Travel. Do a home reno. Start a food truck named "Holy Guacamoly."
 It&rsquo;s our future... not just yours or mine.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="3283" data-end="3286">
&nbsp;
11. Have the hard convos... even when it&rsquo;s awkward
&nbsp;
Don&rsquo;t say &ldquo;I&rsquo;m fine&rdquo; when you&rsquo;re clearly not.
 Be honest, even if it&rsquo;s messy.
 You don&rsquo;t have to solve it all right now, but don&rsquo;t lie about your feelings.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="3509" data-end="3512">
&nbsp;
💍 12.&nbsp;Choose them. Every. Single. Day.
&nbsp;
Love isn&rsquo;t a one-and-done.
 Every morning, you wake up and say:
 💬 &ldquo;Today, I&rsquo;m going to love you well. You&rsquo;re my person.&rdquo;
 That&rsquo;s the secret sauce.
&nbsp;
<hr data-start="3721" data-end="3724">
&nbsp;
Bottom Line
&nbsp;
Great marriages don&rsquo;t happen by accident.
 They&rsquo;re built brick by brick, laugh by laugh, thank you by thank you.
 Even if you&rsquo;ve lost some altitude, you can climb again. ⛅
&nbsp;
So go hug your spouse. Look them in the eye. And maybe hold their hand in the car (unless you&rsquo;re driving... then maybe one hand 😅).
&nbsp;
<hr>
&nbsp;
The best way to listen to the Best of the Week is on our #1 Free Catholic App. It&rsquo;s free and always will be! To get and share the Relevant Radio app, check it out <a href="https://relevantradio.com/listen/get-the-app/">here</a>.
&nbsp;

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

Life can get busy, and it's easy to miss out on the captivating moments from your favorite Relevant Radio shows. But now, we've got you covered! "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" brings you the crème de la crème of Relevant Radio's programming. We carefully curate and compile the most engaging and relevant content from the past week, just for you! Get ready to catch up on faith, culture, current events, and personal growth, all in one convenient and easily accessible podcast. It's like having a front-row seat to the most compelling moments from Relevant Radio's diverse range of shows. So, whether you're an active Relevant Radio listener or new to our programming, "The Best of the Week - Relevant Radio Podcast" is your passport to a world of knowledge, growth, and inspiration.

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