In this episode, we're getting honest about one of the sneakiest marriage killers: ungratefulness. We've found in our own marriage, and in the couples we talk to, that the longer you're together, the easier it is to start taking your spouse for granted. The things that once drew you to them? You stop noticing. And the things that bother you? They seem to get louder.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why ungratefulness breeds discontentment — and what to do instead
• How our Weekly Marriage Meeting builds gratitude intentionally into our week
• The "what you look for grows" principle and why it's a game-changer in marriage
• What to do when your heart is hardened toward your spouse and it feels impossible to feel grateful
• The Litany of Humility and how it shapes the way we approach recognition and appreciation
• A live, rapid-fire version of our three-things-we-appreciate exercise... straight from our own meeting

We wrap with a practical one-degree shift you can try this week: keeping a daily gratitude list specifically about your spouse.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Weekly Marriage Meeting Journal
• Daily Marriage Challenge emails
• The Litany of Humility— a Catholic prayer of humility we reference throughout the episode

If this episode encouraged you, share it with a couple who needs it. And if you haven't already, subscribe so you never miss a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template at onedegreemarriage.com/meeting

What would your marriage look like if both of you woke up every morning asking, "How can I out-serve my spouse today?"

In this episode, we get real about what it actually means to seek to out-serve your spouse, the subtle scoreboard most couples keep, why our flesh resists serving without reciprocation, and how the gospel completely reframes what sacrifice is meant to look like in marriage.

In this episode:

• Why "I did it last, so you do it now" quietly shifts service into transaction
• The language shift that removes the tally from your marriage
• What to do when you feel like you're the only one giving, and nothing is coming back
• Why prayer isn't an afterthought, it's your first move
• Three practical one-degree shifts to start serving your spouse better this week

📋 Free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template → onedegreeMarriage.com/meeting

One Degree Marriage Podcast | Helping couples grow through practical, faith-grounded conversations... one degree at a time.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template at onedegreemarriage.com/meeting

Marriage will change you — the question is, will it change you for better or worse?

In this episode, we get honest about six real ways marriage has shaped, stretched, and sanctified us — the good stuff AND the uncomfortable stuff. From sin being exposed (yes, including the t-shirt drawer debate) to learning that love is a daily choice and not just a feeling, this one's a candid conversation you'll want to share with your spouse.

In this episode:

• Why marriage exposes sin you didn't even know you had
• How close proximity forces you to think about others more
• Why structure and discipline in marriage creates MORE freedom
• The conflict skills they had to learn the hard way
• The humbling reality of thinking you know it all before kids
• Why love is a choice — and what that looks like in the real, tired moments

One Degree Shift: Ask your spouse this week — "How can I best serve you this week?" — and then actually do it.

🎁 Free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template → onedegreeMarriage.com/meeting

Mentioned in this episode:

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template at onedegreemarriage.com/meeting

Spring break is here, and if you're hitting the road with your spouse, we did the work for you. In this episode, we walk you through our curated road trip playlist straight from the One Degree Marriage podcast: 10 episodes hand-picked to spark real conversation in the car without requiring a single note. From fun and light to deeper listens, we've got your whole drive covered.

GET THE WHOLE PLAYLIST HERE

What separates couples who feel truly close from those who are just coexisting? In this episode, we're (and by we I mean... me. Just Xan this week) breaking down 7 practical habits that deeply connected couples actually practice. No fluff, no theory, just things you can implement today.

From the High-Low-Buffalo daily check-in to non-sexual physical touch, praying together, the Weekly Marriage Meeting™, expressing specific gratitude, protecting against slow drift, and having a real conflict plan, we're gonna cover it all.

Whether your marriage feels disconnected right now or you're simply looking to go deeper, there's something here for you.

Grab the free Weekly Marriage Meeting™ template at https://onedegreemarriage.com/meeting

Feeling disconnected from your spouse or stuck in the daily grind of work, kids, and responsibilities?

In this episode, we talk about one simple rhythm that has helped our marriage stay intentional: taking a yearly marriage retreat.

You don’t need a fancy vacation, a huge budget, or even overnight childcare to make it happen. A marriage retreat can be as simple as a weekend away, a staycation, or intentionally setting aside time to reconnect and reflect on where your marriage is headed.

In this conversation, we share why we started doing annual marriage retreats, what actually makes them meaningful, and how you can plan one that strengthens your relationship.

We also talk about:

• Why thriving marriages don’t happen by accident

• How to plan a marriage retreat with any budget

• The most important conversations to have during your retreat

• How to align your marriage, faith, and family vision for the future

• Practical ways to reconnect when life feels busy or overwhelming

Whether you’ve been married one year or ten, intentional time together can make a huge difference in building a strong, Christ-centered marriage.

Resources & Links

📥 FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Guide: https://onedegreemarriage.com/meeting

What does it really mean for wives to “submit” to their husbands in Ephesians 5?

In this episode, we unpack one of the most controversial passages in the Bible about marriage: “Wives, submit to your husbands.”

Is submission blind obedience?

Does it mean tolerating sin or abuse?

Is it outdated or oppressive?

Or is it something deeper, and actually freeing?

We explore:

1. What biblical submission is not
2. Why this passage must be read alongside the call for husbands to love like Christ
3. What submission looks like on an ordinary Tuesday
4. How respect, encouragement, and trust play out practically
5. Why submission is ultimately an act of worship to Christ

If you’ve wrestled with this passage (or avoided it altogether) this conversation will help you think biblically, clearly, and courageously about your role in marriage.

📖 Scripture referenced: Ephesians 5:22–33, 1 Peter 3, Genesis 2

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Mentioned in this episode:

March Marriage Challenge

https://onedegreemarriage.com/challenge?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=preroll

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template at onedegreemarriage.com/meeting

Ephesians 5 might be one of the most debated passages in marriage conversations, especially when it comes to submission. But what about the calling placed on husbands?

In this episode of One Degree Marriage, we unpack what it actually means for husbands to love their wives “as Christ loved the church.” And spoiler alert: the bar is Jesus.

We break down:

1. What servant leadership really means (and what it doesn’t)
2. Why authority in marriage is meant for sacrifice, not control
3. Practical, everyday examples of loving your wife well
4. How husbands can initiate spiritual leadership at home
5. The difference between passivity and Christlike leadership

If you’ve ever wondered what Ephesians 5 looks like on a Tuesday night, this episode is for you.

Next week, we’ll tackle the other half of the conversation.

Mentioned in this episode:

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template

Download the FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template at onedegreemarriage.com/meeting

March Marriage Challenge

https://onedegreemarriage.com/challenge?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=preroll