Stronger Marriage Connection
It's often said that marriage takes work. The Stronger Marriage Connection podcast wants to help because a happy marriage is worth the effort. USU Family Life Professor Dr. Dave Schramm and Clinical Psychologist Dr. Liz Hale talk with experts about the principles and practices that will enhance your commitment, compassion, and emotional connection.
More than ever before, marriages face obstacles, from the busyness of work and daily hassles to disagreements and digital distractions. It's no wonder couples sometimes drift apart, growing resentful, lonely, and isolated.
The Utah Marriage Commission invites you to listen and discover new ways to strengthen and protect your marriage connection today!
The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the Utah Marriage Commission.
Episodes
198 episodes
How A Love Life Advisor Can Help Couples Rebuild Connection | Lea Haber | 197
In this episode of Stronger Marriage Connection, global relationship coach and clinical sexologist Dr. Lea Haber joins Dave Schramm and Liz Hale to explain what it means to have a “personal trainer” for your love life. Lea explores the quiet di...
The ABCD's Of A Technology Family Detox | Arlene Pellicane | 196
In this episode of Stronger Marriage Connection, author and speaker Arlene Pellicane joins Dave Schramm and Liz Hale to talk about how technology is shaping family life—and what parents can do when screens begin replacing sleep, hobbie...
"Stop Doing That! It's Driving Me Crazy?" Misophonia in Marriage | Thomas Phelan | 195
Ordinary sounds like chewing or breathing can trigger real fight-or-flight, and that reaction can quietly strain closeness at home. We talk with Dr. Thomas Phelan about what misophonia feels like, why it can spiral into resentment, and how we c...
How To Keep The SPARK Alive In Marriage | Dan Purcell | 194
We welcome back marriage intimacy coach Dan Purcell to talk about why couples drift into “roommate mode” and how to rebuild fun, friendship, and desire with small daily choices. We share mindset shifts and practical tools that help us create “o...
How Fear and Anxiety Sabotage Intimacy in Marriage | Sami Shun | 193
We sit down with licensed psychologist Dr. Sami Chun to make sexual intimacy easier to talk about and more honest to live. We trade myths and pressure for practical language around safety, excitement, and connection so couples can navigate desi...
Start With RELATE To Build A Stronger Marriage Connection | Sonnet Hintze | 192
We sit down with marriage and family therapist Sonnet Hinsey to talk about premarital education as prevention, not therapy for people in trouble. We break down the Five Love Languages, Gottman-inspired connection habits, and simple action plans...
The Power of Pathological Positivity In Marriage | Dr. Paul Jenkins | 191
We talk with Dr. Paul Jenkins about a clear positivity model that explains why our brains swing between judging what is and building what’s next, and how that swing shows up in marriage. We walk away with simple tools that replace helpless frus...
The One Relationship Skill Every Marriage Needs | Mike Elliott | 190
Men are often expected to be strong, successful, and dependable while receiving little encouragement to express vulnerability or ask for support. Relationship coach Mike Elliott joins Dave and Liz to explore how emotional awareness, presence, a...
Rebuilding Desire In Your Marriage | Vanessa Cushing | 189
Sexual intimacy can be a powerful source of connection in marriage, but shame, avoidance, unrealistic expectations, and differences in desire can quickly create distance. Licensed professional counselor and certified sex therapist Vanessa Cushi...
The Hidden Link Between Sex, Health, and Desire | Laura How | 188
Sexual intimacy can play an important role in emotional connection, relationship satisfaction, and overall well-being. Relationship therapist Laura How joins Dr. Liz Hale and Dr. Dave Schramm to explore sexless marriages, differences in sexual ...
Happy Hacks: 101 Practical Ways To Improve Happiness | Dave Schramm | 187
We flip the mic and let Liz and Rex interview Dave about his new book, Happy Hacks, and the science-backed habits that make joy more durable in real life. We dig into why happiness matters for marriages and families, how small choices build mom...
The Three Phases To Rebuild Trust After Infidelity | Bill Bumberry | 186
Discovering infidelity can be one of the most painful experiences a couple faces. In this episode, Dr. Bill Bumberry shares practical guidance and hope for couples navigating betrayal trauma and rebuilding trust. Drawing on decades of clinical ...
Why Conflict Is A Cry For Safety And How To Respond | Kirsten Davidson | 185
We sit down with psychotherapist Kirsten Davidson to unpack why couples drift into disconnection and how Internal Family Systems therapy can help us lead ourselves with more clarity, compassion, and courage. We challenge the stories we tell our...
Why Trying To Be Perfect Can Ruin Your Relationship | Andrea Dindinger | 184
We sit down with marriage and family therapist Andrea Dindinger to name the repeat fight loops that hijack connection and to practice simple ways to interrupt them before they turn mean. We walk away with concrete tools for calmer conflict, dee...
Why Embracing Vulnerability Is Key To Rebuilding Trust | Josh Otani | 183
We sit down with therapist Josh O’Tani to talk about pornography use as a couples issue and why secrecy can wound a relationship as deeply as infidelity. We map the shame and anger cycle that keeps partners stuck, then share practical ways to r...
The Secret of Erotic Blueprints To Revive Your Marriage | Keeley Rankin | #182
Sexual intimacy changes over the arc of a long-term relationship, and treating every lull like a crisis often adds pressure that makes things worse. We talk with sex and relationship coach Keeley Rankin about how to rebuild closeness through cu...
A Strong Relationship Can Outlive Death | C. Ryan Dunn | #181
We talk honestly about grief, loss, and why love can keep shaping us even after someone is gone. We share research and real stories that reframe mourning as both painful and meaningful, then land on practical ways to build a relationship that s...
Rebuilding Intimacy In Marriage | Nick and Amy McKinlay | #180
We talk with Nick and Amy about how their marriage nearly ended, and how rebuilding emotional safety brought back real connection and passionate sexual intimacy. They share the simple habits and tools that helped them stop drifting, communicate...
Protecting Your Marriage During The Transition To Parenthood | Sean Brotherson | #179
We welcome Dr. Sean Brotherson to talk about the joys and pressures of becoming parents and how that transition can strain or strengthen a marriage. We share concrete ways to stay connected through fatigue, changing roles, and shifting intimacy...
How Emotional Closeness Builds Better Sex In Marriage | Chelom Leavitt | #178
We sit down with Dr. Chelom Leavitt to unpack why emotional intimacy is the strongest predictor of sexual wellbeing and what “feeling seen” actually looks like in a real marriage. We share science, stories, and simple daily practices that help ...
How Our Counterfeit Emotions Undermine Connection and Intimacy | Curtis Morley | #177
We sit down with Curtis Morley to learn how “counterfeit emotions” quietly disconnect couples and how authentic emotions build peace, clarity, and real intimacy. We dig into practical shifts like choosing curiosity over anger, honoring pain wit...
Reviving Intimacy in A Sexless Marriage: A Path Back To Connection | Ralph Brewer | #176
We sit down with Ralph Brewer to unpack what really sits underneath dead bedrooms, infidelity, and the quiet insecurity that many men carry into marriage. We talk straight about anxious attachment, “Mr Nice Guy” patterns, and how secure, connec...
How To Help the Next Generation Break the Dating Recession | Alan Hawkins | #175
In this episode of the Stronger Marriage Connection podcast, Dr. Dave welcomes Dr. Alan Hawkins to explore the critical issues surrounding the current state of dating, its impact on marriage formation, and practical solutions to strengthen youn...
Marriage 2.0: How To Rebuild A Marriage in Crisis | Naomi Light | #174
We welcome UK marriage therapist Naomi Light, who shares how her relationship nearly ended and how couples therapy helped her and her husband rebuild a stronger “marriage 2.0.” We dig into the science and skills behind her Rewiring Love method ...
Five Research-Based Secrets To More Passionate Sex | Emily Jamea | #173
We explore how desire works over time and why many couples crave sex that feels effortless, absorbing, and deeply connected. Dr. Emily Jamea shares research on flow state in sexual intimacy and the five qualities that help couples sustain passi...