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MFP 385: Fighting the Slow Drift in Marriage

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Release Date: 06/15/2026

MFP 403: Learn the Heart of God from the Word of God show art MFP 403: Learn the Heart of God from the Word of God

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

If our children learn who God is by watching us, where are we learning who God is? Summary Every parent carries an image of God shaped by experience, but what happens when that image is shaped more by our wounds than by the truth? In this episode, Mike and Alicia talk about forming a true concept of God through Scripture and letting God’s Word correct the false images we pick up along the way. They share honestly from their own prayer lives, from praying through the Psalms and Isaiah in a season of exile to a simple way to read, reflect, wrestle, respond, and rest with the Gospels. Through...

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Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

If I understand my child’s feelings but refuse to guide them toward what is good, am I fully loving them? Summary What if empathy, one of the most important tools in parenting, can sometimes keep us from loving our children well? In this episode, Mike and Alicia explore the difference between understanding a child’s feelings and allowing those feelings to guide every decision. Drawing on Scripture and the example of God’s fatherly love, they talk honestly about compassion, authority, boundaries, service, and the deep delight parents are called to have in their children. You’ll hear...

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Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Summary Marriage does not mean you will perfectly fulfill every need your spouse has, but we are called to be a channel of God’s self-giving love. Join us for this powerful conversation with Devin Schadt author of The Marriage Gap: How to Understand, Communicate, and Meet Your Spouse's Four Deepest Needs. We explore the complementary needs of husbands and wives: security and respect, strength and beauty, closeness and physical intimacy, spiritual leadership and shared mission. Devin offers practical wisdom for expressing needs without shame, blame, or manipulation; building trust through...

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Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“We have vastly overprotected our children in the real world. We have to give them more freedom.”  —Jonathan Haidt Summary How much freedom should you give your children—and how do you know when they’re ready for more? In this episode, we explore one of parenting’s challenging balancing acts: offering children room to grow while providing the guidance and security they still need. Through the relatable picture of teaching a child to swim or drive, we consider why freedom is an art, not a formula, and why every child may need something different. We will tell you some stories...

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Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28 Summary Motherhood changes everything—and sometimes that transformation feels less like a beautiful makeover and more like someone rearranged your whole life while you were trying to sleep. In this honest, hopeful episode, Alicia and guest host Katie Gamboa explore the tension between self-care and sacrificial love. How do mothers give generously without running on empty? We also challenge today’s impossible expectations: work, prepare healthy meals, raise happy children, keep the house running, and...

info_outline MFP 398: Discovering Your Child’s Unique Gifts show art MFP 398: Discovering Your Child’s Unique Gifts

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6 Summary With so many sports, clubs, arts programs, school choices, and community activities available, how can parents help their children discover their gifts without letting a packed schedule take over family life? Rather than trying to produce a generically successful child, parents are invited to become students of the unique children God has entrusted to them. In this podcast, we encourage parents to give their kids room to try new things, change direction, fail, and...

info_outline MFP 397: The No-Resentment Rosary show art MFP 397: The No-Resentment Rosary

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“The Holy Rosary, by age-old tradition, has shown itself particularly effective as a prayer which brings the family together.” —St. John Paul II, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, no. 41   Summary Have you ever gathered the family to pray the Rosary—and wondered if all the fidgeting, correcting, and frustration were helping your children love prayer or simply teaching them to endure it? In this episode, we take an honest look at praying the Rosary with kids. Perseverance matters, but so do creativity, patience, and sensitivity to the needs of your particular family. The goal is not merely...

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Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.” - James Clear Summary Is your family running on good routines—or on lost shoes, late-night permission slips, and someone yelling, “Where is your backpack?” If summer loosened every habit in your house, this episode is your invitation to hit the family reset button. We’re talking honestly about the routines that shape family culture, whether we choose them or simply fall into them. Bedtimes, chores, prayer, screens, school mornings, and family meals don’t just organize the day; over time, they help...

info_outline MFP 395: Who Comes First? Navigating the Hard Choices of Family Life show art MFP 395: Who Comes First? Navigating the Hard Choices of Family Life

Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Family life is full of competing needs, responsibilities, and relationships. And sometimes there isn't one obvious "right" answer. Summary In this listener questions episode, Mike, Alicia, and Katie tackle some of the complicated situations real families are facing: What should a mom do when her teenage son starts turning to Dad instead of her? How do you discern where your family should live? Should you move if your spouse is unhappy but your children are thriving? How do you honor your parents while putting your spouse first? They also discuss life with a large family in a small house,...

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Messy Family Podcast : Catholic Conversations on Marriage and Family

Catholic couples don’t discern if they should have a child, they discern if they should postpone pregnancy. These are two different conversations.    Summary This re-release of a 2015 episode presents Natural Family Planning as more than a technique: it's a way of living that contrasts sharply with a culture focused on control and convenience. We explore how modern society tends to "engineer" outcomes, even in areas like fertility, while NFP invites couples to cooperate with the natural design of the body, integrating both faith and science. This approach requires intentional...

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Relationships are built with the material of time.

Summary

Strong marriages don't happen by accident—they require intentional time, attention, and sacrifice. This episode encourages couples to prioritize their relationship above the busyness of family life, stay connected through meaningful communication, and regularly invest in their friendship through date nights and shared experiences. Mike and Alicia highlight the importance of recognizing and responding to each other's needs, guarding against the slow drift apart that can happen over time, and keeping Christ at the center of the marriage through prayer and shared faith. They call couples to be proactive in nurturing their love so their relationship remains a source of strength and stability for the entire family.

Key Takeaways

  • Act like you are in love

  • Find common/shared loves

  • Leave the children and invest in each other

  • Take time to connect daily

  • There are ways to make the struggle of marriage easier - physical relationship

Couple Discussion Questions

  • When was the last time we had a meaningful, uninterrupted conversation?

  • Do we tend to talk mostly about logistics, or do we make time for deeper connection?

  • What do you enjoy most when we spend time together?

  • What is one step we could take to grow spiritually together?

Resources