The Road Less Triggered with Dr. Kelly Flanagan Ep. 709
Release Date: 01/20/2026
Faith Over Culture: Building a Marriage That Stands with Aaron and Amy Graham Ep. 728
Awesome Marriage Podcast
In a culture that constantly redefines truth, how do you build a marriage that actually stands firm? Dr. Kim sits down with Aaron and Amy Graham to talk about choosing faith over culture and why most marriages don’t fall apart overnight—they slowly drift as outside voices shape what we believe about love, identity, and purpose. The Grahams challenge couples to examine those influences, guard their identity, and remember that marriage was designed for more than just their own happiness. This conversation is a powerful reminder that your spouse isn’t meant to meet every need—and that...
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Why Everything Feels Personal (And How to Change That) Ep. 727
Awesome Marriage Podcast
Have you ever gotten to the point in your marriage where your spouse felt more like the enemy than the person you committed to stand by in sickness and in health? What used to feel easy now feels tense. Conversations turn into misunderstandings. Small things feel big. Or maybe it’s not conflict, it’s distance. You’re living side by side, but feeling miles apart. Somewhere along the way, everything started to feel… personal. And today, we’re talking about why that happens, and how to change it. Episode Highights: It’s not you vs. your spouse. It’s you both vs the pattern....
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9 Lies That Will Destroy Your Marriage: And the Truths That Will Save It and Set It Free with Dr. Smalley Ep. 726
Awesome Marriage Podcast
In a culture that blurs truth and deception, marriages can easily absorb beliefs that slowly damage connection and trust. In this episode, Dr. Greg Smalley joins us to uncover the lies that are hitting marriages the hardest—and the truths that can set couples free. We talk about why marriages are so vulnerable to these lies, how stress and unmet expectations make them worse, and how emotional distance and internal narratives shape the way we see our spouse. Dr. Smalley also shares practical ways to recognize and replace these lies with truth, plus insight from his own marriage. If you’ve...
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Loving Through the Little Things: Letting Go of Assumptions Ep. 725
Awesome Marriage Podcast
Most of us have experienced that shift in marriage—where the little quirks that once felt endearing during dating suddenly become everyday annoyances. The real challenge comes when those small frustrations start to build, creating distance, resentment, and barriers to connection. And often, it’s not just the habits themselves—but the assumptions we attach to them—that carry the most power, quietly shaping how we see and respond to our spouse. In this episode, Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy share practical ways to keep the small things from becoming big issues. They talk about the power of open...
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Wider Lens: All Things Together: Apprenticeship to Jesus in a Fragmented World with Heath Hardesty
Awesome Marriage Podcast
In this episode, Dr. Kim talks with author and pastor Heath Hardesty about his new book, All Things Together. Heath shares how his time apprenticing under his earthly father became a living picture of what it means to be an apprentice of our Heavenly Father. They discuss what it looks like to live as image bearers in a fragmented world, why discipleship is more than “extra credit,” and how God redeems, not erases, our humanity. Together, they unpack how to see with wonder again, order our imagination around Christ, and live a whole, beautiful life that reflects Him. Episode...
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Is there a Place for Pride in Marriage? Ep. 724
Awesome Marriage Podcast
We’ve all heard the proverb that pride comes before the fall—but is there a place for pride in our relationships at all? Today, Dr. Kim takes an honest look at pride in marriage: its roots, its power, and its ability to divide even the strongest relationships. You’ll be encouraged to recognize where pride may be creeping in, what it’s actually revealing about your own heart, and practical ways to get it under control. Dr. Kim also addresses how to love and set healthy boundaries with a spouse who is struggling with pride—without enabling, escalating conflict, or losing yourself in...
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Tried and True with Dana Che: What Biblical Marriages Teach Us About Ours Ep. 723
Awesome Marriage Podcast
Marriage has a way of bringing our imperfections to the surface—and if we’re honest, that can feel frustrating, discouraging, and even isolating at times. But what if those struggles aren’t something to hide…what if they’re actually where God’s grace shows up most? In this episode, we’re talking about how the imperfect stories we see throughout Scripture mirror our own and remind us that we’re not alone in the mess. We’ll unpack what it really looks like to build intimacy through vulnerability, why accepting each other’s brokenness matters more than having it all together,...
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Guardrails in Marriage with Jim Ramos Ep. 722
Awesome Marriage Podcast
Most couples are unintentionally at risk of making one decision that can change their marriage forever. Jim Ramos shares the powerful guardrails that protect and strengthen your marriage, drawing from personal stories, biblical wisdom, and decades of ministry experience. His insight will challenge everything you thought you knew about love, trust, and biblical fidelity—showing you how to avoid costly mistakes and build an unbreakable, joy-filled partnership. You’ll discover: Why most problems in marriage boil down to one choice and how guardrails can save you The crucial boundaries...
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Addressing Narcissistic Patterns in Marriage Ep. 721
Awesome Marriage Podcast
We’ve explored the spectrum of narcissism, now it’s time to dive into what you can do when those patterns show up in your marriage. Dr. Kim shares how to discern when to speak up and when to self-reflect, how to cultivate an atmosphere for healthy conversation, and why boundaries are essential for meaningful connection. Episode Takeaways: Forgiveness is not pretending something didn’t happen. Trust has to be built consistently over time. Being a good christian spouse does not mean absorbing pain. When you see the same behaviors repeatedly, it’s time to do...
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Wider Lens: Free Me from Me: Escaping the Maze of Self-Centeredness by Embracing a God-Centered Life
Awesome Marriage Podcast
Are you caught in a maze and don’t even know it? Today, Dr. Kim is joined by Ryan Wekenman to talk about the maze of self-centeredness we all have to navigate. When we begin living for applause, appreciation, or validation, we can easily drift out of sync with the Lord and into a life focused on serving ourselves—the exact opposite of what God calls us to. In this powerful conversation, Ryan and Dr. Kim challenge us to recognize the pull toward self-focus and invite us to shift our attention back where it belongs: fully on Jesus. We pray this episode encourages you to take the focus off...
info_outlineI’m so thrilled to have Dr. Kelly Flanagan back on the show. Today he is talking about his newest book The Road Less Triggered, focusing on the importance of recognizing and managing emotional triggers in relationships. The work of faith, self awareness, and compassion is vital in our relationships. Dr. Flanagan shares how to stay engaged, remain soft, and practically manage conflict in a way that brings connection to your marriage.
Episode Highlights:
Understanding Triggered Moments in Relationships
Your body is an early warning system
Living in the security of God's unconditional love provides a foundation of safety.
The posture of your heart affects how you receive communication.
Quotes from This Episode:
Most relationship conflict isn't like D-Day—it's more like Groundhog Day. We keep repeating the same patterns until we decide to break the cycle.
The heart of this work is restoring a sense of choice—the power to keep your heart open, even when you're triggered and it feels impossible.
A response is the fruit of self-regulation. A reaction is a failure of self-regulation.
You can't connect if you're protecting. Openness is required for real connection.
Our culture pushes us to blame others, but real progress comes from taking personal responsibility for how we show up.
Until we move out of being triggered and back into connection mode, we'll keep self-sabotaging every attempt to connect.
Becoming a safe environment for the people you love inspires them to open their own hearts—and builds true connection.
Seeing the ways we differ as sources of complementary wisdom, not flaws to be fixed, can revolutionize your relationship.
Questions for Conversation:
- Think about a recent moment in your marriage where you felt triggered. What physical or emotional signals did your body give you, and how might noticing these earlier help you respond rather than react?
- Consider a way your spouse differs from you that has caused tension. How could reframing that difference as complementary wisdom rather than a flaw shift your approach and deepen your connection?
TRIGGER CHALLENGE: Together, identify one habit or action that makes each of you feel safe and heard. Commit to practicing that habit in your interactions over the next week, then reflect on how it affected your connection.
Mentioned in this Episode:
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Connect with Dr. Kelly Flanagan
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