How do you and your spouse handle conflict? Doug continues his discussion on the 5 different types of couples. He shares the difference in divorce rates between hostile and hostile detached couples and how establishing trust and respect are a major factor in this. Doug unpacks an email from a woman who has a special needs child and is fearful of having more children. Doug shares the message of trust in the gospel of Matthew and encourages the listener to follow the teachings of the Catholic Chur...
Mar 01, 2025•51 min
Monica Hinderer joins Doug discussing how to identify and use your child’s primary love language to raise a great person. They discuss the 5 love languages: words of affirmation, physical touch, quality time, acts of service, and gifts. Doug shares how children who feel safe and secure are less likely to develop depression and it makes them more likely to develop good relationships when they are adults. Knowing their love language help foster this safety and security. Listener questions and comm...
Feb 28, 2025•51 min
Doug shares the couple’s quiz and unpacks 5 types of couples: conflict avoiders, validators, volatile, hostile, and hostile detached. Which one are you? Listener questions and comments: Tony – I’ve been married for 36 years. I feel like I fit in all 5 categories. Michael – I have a friend whose spouse is unfaithful. What advice can I share with him? Raul – I have been married for 20 years. My wife has 3 children from a previous marriage. We have a special needs child. How can we achieve peace? E...
Feb 27, 2025•51 min
Who wants to be a therapist? Doug unpacks two cases and asks listeners what advice they would give. Case 1: A young wife who complains constantly. Case 2: A husband who does not contribute financially to the household. Callers weigh in and Doug shares his advice. Listener questions and comments: Michael – I have a similar approach to both studies. I would start by having both take assessment inventory and see how they line up. Elva – I have been married for 30 years and found myself in the same ...
Feb 26, 2025•50 min
Dann Aungst joins Doug to discuss the problem with couples who view pornography together. They unpack statistics that point to the increase of women who view pornography and the high divorce rate associated with couples who view pornography together. Doug and Dann also share what can be done to help someone who does not want to quit looking at pornography. They examine the emotional psychological chemical and spiritual elements of porn addiction. Listener questions and comments: Joe – Who is the...
Feb 25, 2025•50 min
Doug shares advice with a listener who just found out his wife is having an affair. He talks about how difficult the first conversation will be, but that through prayer and professional help, the marriage can still be saved. Doug shares a story by Alice Von Hildebrand from her book By Love Refined. In this letter, Alice discusses table manners with her friend who is distraught over her husband’s eating habits. Alice talks about the differences between men and women and how these differences give...
Feb 22, 2025•50 min
Doug and Monica Hinderer give advice on childhood emotions and discuss the importance of stressing that the intellect controls the emotions and it is critical to teach children to think the right way. Doug and Monica also share what to do if you were raised in a highly critical home and give tips for what to do if you are in an abusive relationship. Listener questions and comments: Jack – I was raised in a very critical and negative family. It's affected my life. When I was in the military, my f...
Feb 21, 2025•50 min
Doug unpacks a case study from Impossible Marriages Redeemed by Leila Miller. Overcome by grief from her sister’s death, the wife in this story decided to file for divorce. After her husband’s remarriage, and much prayer. the couple ultimately reconciled. Doug discusses how big emotions can lead to bad decisions and that the secret to overcoming grief is focusing on helping other people. He speaks to the power of prayer and how the intercession of Mary can thaw the coldest of hearts. Listener qu...
Feb 20, 2025•51 min
Doug discusses how marriage is affected when the wife is the primary breadwinner. Callers weigh in with their perspectives and experience. Doug shares the pros and cons when the wife is the primary breadwinner Listener questions and comments: Mike - My wife has made more money for the last 40 years. Why would that be perceived as a problem? Is there any Catholic position on this? Sarah - I was the sole breadwinner, and my husband wasn't working at all. I got a ton of backlash, he accused me and ...
Feb 19, 2025•50 min
Doug shares possible reasons why a husband has no interest in intimacy, how a wife can overcome procrastination, and what to do if your husband is a party animal. Doug unpacks the value of suffering and shares how it can unite us with the love of Christ. Listener questions and comments: Frank – I’m not married but I enjoy the program. How do I know God’s plan in my life? John – I am not Catholic. I want to save my marriage. She is Catholic but does not want to work on the marriage anymore. I can...
Feb 18, 2025•51 min
Doug shares first date red flags, his list of what to avoid, and what to look for on a first date. PLUS: The Friday Rant! First date red flags: arriving late, using the phone too much, high jacking the conversation, talking about your ex, debating everything, being overly touchy, expecting intimacy, complaining about everything, and splitting the bill. Listener questions and comments: Susie - I am single and looking for Mr. Right. I have no Valentine and am looking for one. I am perturbed. Can y...
Feb 15, 2025•50 min
Monica Hinderer joins Doug discussing how to make sure your children know you love them. They share the importance of affirmation, setting boundaries, and being honest and authentic. Doug tackles a listener email in which a mom asks if it is OK for her daughter to go on an overnight trip with her boyfriend’s family. Doug and Monica weigh the pros and cons. Callers share their opinions. Listener questions and comments: Julie - We are missing a much bigger picture here. It’s likely that this boy w...
Feb 14, 2025•51 min
Doug unpacks the qualities of a good husband. He stresses the importance of a wife’s primary place in her husband’s life, husbands being emotionally available, mutual love, and respect. Doug also unpacks the 5 intimacies in marriage. How do you honor your father and mother and still honor your wife and children? Doug answers this email question reminding the listener that it is important to protect your wife physically, emotionally and spiritually from everyone. This does not mean you disown you...
Feb 13, 2025•51 min
On day two of National Marriage Week, Doug discusses the qualities of a good wife. From spending quality time with her husband to showing unwavering respect for her husband, Doug unpacks these qualities a man should hope for in a good wife. Listener questions and comments: Cooper – My wife was unfaithful so I filed for divorce. Should I have stayed in the marriage and tried to make it work?
Feb 12, 2025•51 min
Jim and Maureen Otremba join Doug to discuss Worldwide Marriage Day and contemporary difficulties in marriage. They unpack Colossians 3:12-17 and speak to God’s love for His people and to the heartfelt compassion we should have for our spouse. Listener questions and comments: Nick - I've been married for 20 years. My wife feels that the way we follow each other on the phone location is a controlling thing. What do you think about tracking? I feel it's more for safety, but she has turned off loca...
Feb 11, 2025•51 min
Doug reads an email from a man who struggles with sexual addiction and wants to save his marriage. Doug shares the importance of divine intervention through confession, mortification, and prayers of deliverance. Doug shares a case study from Impossible Marriages Redeemed by Leila Miller. In this situation, the husband was living a double life and having an affair. The marriage was healed through the power of confession, the rosary, and 12-step programs. Listener questions and comments: Deedee - ...
Feb 08, 2025•54 min
Monica Hinderer joins Doug to explore the dangers of raising children to be overly self-reliant. Self-reliance can be a good thing but sometimes becoming overly independent can lead to a lack of trust and missed opportunities for growth. Doug and Monica discuss the spiritual dimension and how hyper independence can lead to a lack of trust in God. Listener questions and comments: Jessica – We're working on our marriage. I grew up in an extremely critical household and my husband did not. We find ...
Feb 07, 2025•54 min
Doug reviews ways to reconnect with your spouse. Today he shares the value of exploring various forms of intimacy. He unpacks the 5 forms of intimacy in marriage which are physical, emotional, intellectual, experiential and spiritual. Doug reads an email from a listener whose ex-boyfriend struggled with an alcohol addiction. After some time of sobriety, he wants to get back together. Doug shares the importance of boundaries and how friendship can be a good alternative to a committed relationship...
Feb 06, 2025•54 min
Doug goes to the mailbag and shares advice for a woman who is struggling because her husband is not sexually attracted to her. Doug details the destructive nature of pornography. Another email presents a husband who wants to take a break to pursue his meaning in life. Doug speaks to the importance of selfless love and how the power of prayer can bring through through this difficult time. Listener questions and comments: Mark - Is it wrong for a man to want to be with a skinnier woman? Suzie - If...
Feb 05, 2025•54 min
Doug continues to unpack ways to reconnect with your spouse. He shares the importance of gratitude and making a daily effort to let your spouse know how important they are in your life. Listener questions and comments: Martha - I've been to counseling with my husband. Everything Doug says, I do, and my husband says he'll do, but he doesn't. He says that 15 minutes a day too much time. What should I do? Mary - How do I approach my husband about his mother. We seem to argue about her a lot. Elizab...
Feb 04, 2025•54 min
Feeling disconnected from your spouse is a common problem many experience after years of marriage. Today, Doug unpacks ways to reconnect with your spouse. Doug shares the importance of investing one percent of the day with your spouse and taking the time to actively listen to your spouse. PLUS: The Friday Rant. Listener questions and comments: Mary – How to I practice reflective listening with my husband when he's having work problems, and I'm having work problems? Lalo – The problems in my marr...
Feb 01, 2025•50 min
Monica Hinderer joins Doug to continue their discussion on being raised in a highly critical home. In this episode, they unpack how overly critical parents can lead children to become people pleasers. They share how people pleasers tend to suppress their own emotions and have lower self-esteem and offer solutions to help those who struggle with people pleasing. Listener questions and comments: Andrew - My friend is being raised in a household where they don’t really practice their faith, and now...
Jan 31, 2025•50 min
Dr. Johann D’Souza joins Doug discussing how to parent an anxious child. He includes common differences between mom's approach, dad's approach and why they are both wrong. Dr. D’Souza shares resources to help parents with children struggling with anxiety and speaks to the importance of avoiding parental accommodations, showing empathy, and restoring confidence. Listener questions and comments: Virginia - I have a 14-year-old daughter and she washes her hands obsessively. What can I do to help he...
Jan 30, 2025•50 min
Doug continues his discussion on reasons why couples fall out of love. He shares the importance of putting God first, then your spouse, then your children. Doug speaks to the value of rekindling the love of friendship with your spouse, reconnecting on shared hobbies, and keeping the commitment of time with your spouse by planning regular date nights. Listener questions and comments: Mary - What do you do next when your spouse asks something that's impossible or unreasonable? We have a few young ...
Jan 29, 2025•50 min
Doug shares reasons why people fall out of love. He stresses the importance of staying connected through regular prayer, date nights and communicating about your hopes and dreams. Listener Questions and comments: Maria - I have been married about 40 years and have had a good friend for 15 years. I sacrificed my friendship for my marriage. How can I save both? Rick - I'm in the process of a divorce. We just concluded mediation. Is there any hope for my marriage? Jim – How do you help a friend who...
Jan 28, 2025•50 min
Greg Schutte joins Doug to continue their conversation on the Building a Eucharistic marriage course , a 7-part video series, which connects 7 areas for therapeutically strengthening your marriage with 7 areas of deepening your relationship with Christ through the Eucharist. Doug and Greg discuss the importance of listening to the heart of your spouse and how this leads to better communication and better understanding of the spouse’s perception of the relationship. Resources: Marriage Unhindered...
Jan 25, 2025•50 min
Monica Hinderer joins Doug for part 6 of their series on the negative effects of excessive criticism on children. They discuss hyper defensiveness when a child always feels like they are always under the microscope and share key insights into how you can criticize the behavior and not the child. Listener questions and comments: David - I was getting beaten up in school at 3rd grade. I was wondering why this was happening to me. Should I just make fun of myself? My parents were embarrassed that I...
Jan 24, 2025•50 min
Doug unpacks the importance of forgiveness in marriage. He shares that while forgiveness is an act of the will, our faith can motivate us to make the right decision. Doug discusses why it is so difficult to forgive and gives reasons to forgive your spouse. Listener questions Art - How do you show mercy to someone when they're flawed and about to end the marriage? Barbara - My husband passed away 6 years ago. What we always did before arguing, was say 'would this matter tomorrow'. If it did matte...
Jan 23, 2025•50 min
Dr. Mario Sacasa joins Doug to discuss the gift of marriage. They unpack the sacramental nature of marriage and the importance of emotional intimacy in marriage. Doug and Dr. Sacasa give advice to callers. Patty - I need advice for my marriage. How can I be more emotionally intimate with my husband of 31 years? Maria - What about marriages without God as a foundation? How do I give advice to them? Shirley - Can you give us the tools to have a celibate and chaste relationship before marriage and ...
Jan 22, 2025•50 min
Doug answers listener emails and calls, giving advice on a variety of topics ranging from divorce and defects in marriage to working on having an overall stronger marriage. Doug encourages those in troubled marriages to focus on the positive aspects of their marriage and to use therapy to help fix what they cannot fix on their own. Listener calls: Joseph - I have been married for 35 years and things have gone from bad to worse. I walked out on my wife on Christmas Day. Should I continue to try o...
Jan 21, 2025•50 min
