Episodes

Greg and Erin know that every marriage goes through a crisis. That's why we invited Todd and Kristin Evans to share their personal journey from enjoying life as a young, carefree couple to facing the challenges of raising a child with severe disabilities, including emotional strain, grief, and marital disconnect. No matter what your challenges might be, you'll hear ways to get through the storms. We talk about the importance of communication, support networks, and intentional self-care. Todd and...

Get ready for a passionate edition of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley share a message from Dan and Jane Seaborn about how their personality and lifestyle choices are completely opposite in their marriage. The Four Seasons of Marriage Sign Up For The Free Weekly Marriage Newsletter Nurturing The Heart Of Your Spouse Collection Resist The Drift Conferences Hope Restored Conferences Support this Show! ENGAGE WITH US If you enjoyed listening to the Crazy Little Thing C...

Are you thinking about divorce? On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss overcoming crises in marriage. They dive into the difficulties of rebuilding trust after infidelity, dealing with shame, and managing resentment. Our guests, Monty and Jeannine Mora, share their personal journey from their early years as a young pastoral couple, through a major crisis involving misaligned priorities, personal struggles, and suicidal thoughts. They highlight th...

Whether you’re seeking new friends or wanting to deepen existing relationships, this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage will help women and men build their respective friendships. Erin and her friends discuss how deep, supportive female friendships are vital for navigating life’s challenges, providing encouragement, and fostering spiritual and emotional growth. Then, Greg and his friend Bill discuss the unique challenges men face in forming deep friendships, such as busyness, reluctan...

Dr. Greg Smalley and Erin Smalley discuss various aspects of marriage preparation, adjustment, and conflict resolution with four young married employees of Focus on the Family. They share their insights and experiences about preparing for marriage, dealing with marital changes, finances, and communication styles. Whether you've been married for a long time or a short while, there's useful advice on understanding conflict as an opportunity for growth, maintaining individual emotional health, and ...

On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley delve into the importance of men adopting lion-hearted characteristics in today's culture, inspired by Brandon and David Lindell's book 'Lion Hearted: A Man's Guide to Living Focused, Fulfilled, and Fearless.' We'll talk about the challenges faced by men stepping into leadership roles within their families, the significance of intentional living, and the need to understand and guard the heart. We'll also look at ani...

Join us as we continue to discuss how to deal with conflict on Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, with part two of our discussion with Dr. Bob Paul and Tara Lalonde. They'll share their experiences of dealing with reactive cycles in their marriages, emphasizing the importance of self-control. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley ask about conflict styles like fight-fight, fight-flight, and flight-flight, detailing how unresolved issues can amplify present conflicts. We also go over the 'Care Cycle,' a fiv...

In this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg Smalley and Erin Smalley discuss the importance of personal responsibility with Dr. Bob Paul and Tara Lalonde, who share their extensive experience in marriage counseling through the Hope Restored program. Bob and Tara explain concepts like the reactive cycle and the importance of seeing your spouse through the eyes of God. They also provide actionable tips for balancing family expectations and maintaining a strong marital connectio...

Greg and Erin discuss maintaining a strong marriage during the transition to the empty nest phase with the one and only Dr. Gary Chapman, author of 'The Five Love Languages' and 'Your New Life with Adult Children.' We explore the emotional challenges couples face as children leave home, and the importance of communication, intentionality, and empathy in navigating this transition. Dr. Chapman shares insights on balancing personal and marital growth, and the need for parents to listen and validat...

On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Patricia Ashley shares a deeply personal testimony about how her marriage, once perceived as dead and nearly at the point of collapse, was revived through their mutual journey and commitment to Christianity. Over time, through shared prayer and a growing understanding of God's intentions for marriage, the Ashley's rebuilt their relationship, focusing on mutual respect and love. We also answer a listener email about how often 60+ year olds sh...

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley have a great conversation with Dr. Joannie DeBrito, about the common differences between partners that impact marriage, such as intellectual and processing differences, emotional versus logical thinking, and varying approaches to stress and grief. She emphasizes understanding and leveraging these differences to strengthen your marriage, and highlights the contrast in how men and women multitask, manage stress, and handle sexual differences. Practical advice includes rec...

On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Greg and Erin speak with Dr. Stephanie and Dan Holmes about being in a marriage effected by autism. They discuss the evolving dynamics of their relationship, the importance of communication strategies, and how neurodivergence impacts their daily lives. Stephanie highlights the significance of understanding and valuing each other's strengths, while also stressing the need for neurodiversity-informed support when seeking marital help. Dan refl...

On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg Smalley and Erin Smalley discuss the importance of regular date nights for marital happiness, stability, and sexual satisfaction with Jay and Laura Laffoon. They share personal anecdotes about their own date nights provide insights from their 40-year marriage on keeping the spark alive through dating. You'll learn how to overcome barriers to date nights, the significance of trying new activities together, and later, we even talk abo...

So, what HAVEN'T you told your spouse? On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss the impact of past trauma and secrets on marriage and relationships. We'll also hear from Elizabeth Good who discusses her book 'Speak the Unspeakable,' exploring the impact of adverse childhood experiences, or ACES. Greg and Erin encourage you to play a movie-themed game of 'Never Have I Ever,' and they'll answer a listener's question about handling a potential pornogr...

On this episode of 'Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage' Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley celebrate our troops and their families, and talk with Beth Runkle about the challenges military spouses face and the dynamic of military home life -- which includes frequent moves, loneliness, saying goodbye for deployments, and the emotional strain of maintaining relationships. Beth shares personal experiences about resentment towards military life, the importance of communication, and how finding faith helped he...

On this episode of 'Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage,' Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss common myths about marriage. Do you have misconceptions about what makes a marriage successful? We'll talk with Rhonda and Steve Stoppe who discuss Rhonda's book 'If My Husband Would Change, I'd Be Happy.' We'll hear stories about their marital challenges and how they resolved them through faith and open communication. The episode concludes with advice on dealing with chronic illness in marriage and the im...

Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley interview Dr. Gary Chapman, renowned author of 'The Five Love Languages' and other marriage-related books. On this episode we discuss practical insights from Chapman's new book, 'A Simple Guide for a Better Marriage.' Highlights include addressing common communication issues in marriage, the importance of humility, techniques for handling conflicts, and the role of apologies and forgiveness. Dr. Chapman shares his wisdom from 60 years of marriage, emphasizing the need f...

What if you went to your girlfriend's father, asking for her hand in marriage, and he says "NO!" What would you do? On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley dive into a heartfelt story involving Curt and Tanya Cramer, their daughter Abby, and her future husband, David. This conversation emphasizes the importance of patience, relational growth, and spiritual growth in order to handle the biblical requirements of a marriage. Greg and Erin also address a list...

Personal anecdotes, including stories about resolving conflicts, handling crises, and supporting each other through tough times, illustrate the broader points of a strong marriagfe. The importance of empathy, communication, and long-term commitment is highlighted, as is the notion of using marriage as a means to grow more like Christ and to support one another in becoming the best versions of themselves. The Healthy Marriage Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations to Bring You Closer Together If yo...

On this edition of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Greg and Erin have a discussion with Jim and Jean Daly about strengthening marriages, starting with how their differences revealed themselves early in their marriage. We'll explore the key challenges in marriage such as creating safety and understanding each other's needs. This conversation is also featured on Focus on the Family daily radio program on June 5, 2025. The Healthy Marriage Devotional: 365 Daily Inspirations to Bring You Closer...

In this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss strategies to strengthen marriages using biblical principles and sports analogies! We spent some time with marriage coaches George and Tondra Gregory who shared their experiences working with NFL teams and their approach to marriage ministry. Topics include defining a 'win' in marriage, navigating cultural and communication differences, and the importance of intentional growth through life transitions. The e...

On this episode of Crazy Little Thing called Marriage, Dr. Greg Smalley and Erin Smalley discuss the benefits of prayer in relationships with the one and only Stormy Omartian, an award-winning author known for her 'Power of a Praying' series. Stormy shares her personal story, highlighting the role of prayer in overcoming marital challenges like depression, anger, and PTSD. You'll learn how prayer will foster unity, commitment, and positive change in your marriage. We also address a listener ques...

On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, Dr. Greg Smalley and Erin Smalley tackle the sensitive topic of marital betrayal due to physical affairs, emotional affairs, and pornography addiction. Guests Bob and Dannah Gresh share their personal journey through Bob's pornography addiction and the process of healing and restoration they experienced. They discuss the spectrum of pornography use, the impact of shame, and the importance of rigorous honesty and transparency in recovery. Ha...

How is your marriage, really? On this episode of Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage, we're highlighting key aspects of a long-lasting marriage. The episode discusses maintaining friendship, effective communication, and daily acts of love in marriage with our special guests Brandon and Octavia Cormier. They share their love story, challenges in communication, and how their faith has played a pivotal role in their marriage. The episode showcases the importance of enduring difficulties, seeking cou...