Drawing from real questions asked by newlyweds and couples in the early years of marriage, Gabby puts Julie on the hot seat to tackle some of the most common challenges couples face today. From “why marriage feels harder than dating” to navigating expectations, communication, finances, and in-law boundaries, this conversation is packed with practical, honest, and deeply relatable insight.

Julie shares why the transition from dating to marriage can feel so different, how to handle conflict without creating resentment, and why “different isn’t deficient” is a game-changing mindset. Together, they unpack what it really looks like to function as a team, communicate clearly, and build a strong foundation from the very beginning.

Whether you’re newly married, engaged, or just want to strengthen your relationship, this episode offers real tools and encouragement to help you navigate marriage well — on the daily.

In this powerful episode of Marriage on the Daily, host Julie Baumgartner sits down with clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and relationship expert Dr. Kelly Flanagan to unpack the real meaning behind being “triggered” and how couples can navigate those moments in a healthier, more connected way.

Drawing from his new book The Road Less Triggered, Dr. Flanagan shares how our reactions in conflict often have less to do with our spouse—and more to do with what’s happening inside of us. From understanding how our nervous system shifts into protection mode, to learning how to regulate ourselves before responding, this conversation offers practical tools to help you move from conflict to connection.

You’ll discover:

• Why “you triggered me” can actually give away your power
• The hidden pain beneath most emotional reactions
• How to calm yourself before trying to communicate
• A simple daily practice to help keep your heart open
• How your triggers can become teachers instead of tripwires

If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in the same arguments or wondering why communication breaks down in key moments, this episode will give you a fresh perspective—and a hopeful path forward.

Because in marriage, it’s not about avoiding conflict… it’s about learning how to show up differently in the middle of it.

With over 30 years of experience, Dr. Oliver brings both biblical insight and practical wisdom to the conversation, helping us reframe what anger really is—and what it isn’t. As he explains, anger itself isn’t the problem. It’s what we do with it that can either damage or deepen our relationships.

Together, Julie and Gary unpack:

• Why anger is always a secondary emotion (and what’s really underneath it)
• The three core drivers of anger: hurt, frustration, and fear
• The critical difference between reacting and responding
• How unmanaged anger quietly destroys connection—and how healthy anger can actually build intimacy
• Practical steps to recognize your triggers and take responsibility for your responses

You’ll also hear why phrases like “help me understand” can transform conflict, and how just one person choosing to respond differently can begin to change the entire dynamic of a marriage.

If you’ve ever struggled with anger—or been on the receiving end of it—this episode will give you the tools, clarity, and hope you need to move toward healthier, more Christ-centered communication.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not about eliminating anger—it’s about learning to handle it in a way that brings life, not harm, to your marriage.

In this episode of Marriage on the Daily, Julie B sits down with bestselling author, researcher, and speaker Shaunti Feldhahn to explore the findings behind her book The Surprising Secrets of Highly Happy Couples. Drawing from years of interviews and national survey data, Shaunti reveals what the happiest couples are actually doing differently.

Rather than focusing on what breaks marriages apart, Shaunti’s research looks at couples who describe themselves as highly happy and uncovers the small daily habits that set them apart. From choosing to believe the best about your spouse’s intentions to learning how to redirect your thoughts and emotions during conflict, these simple mindset shifts can dramatically change the tone of a relationship.

Julie and Shaunti also discuss why keeping score of the good matters more than keeping score of the bad, how the way we speak to our spouse can either build them up or tear them down, and why spending simple time together is one of the strongest predictors of marital friendship and happiness.

This conversation is filled with practical encouragement and research-backed insights for couples who want to strengthen their connection and create a marriage that truly thrives.

Because often it isn’t the big moments that shape a marriage — it’s the little choices made daily.

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of Marriage on the Daily, Julie B sits down with Dexter and Kim Hardy to talk about rebuilding trust after betrayal. Married for 40 years, the Hardys share their raw story of financial infidelity, secrecy, shame, anger, depression, and the long road back to healing.

As a pastor and pastor’s wife at the time, the pressure and embarrassment felt overwhelming. When hidden financial decisions came to light, their credit collapsed, bankruptcy followed, and their marriage entered one of the darkest seasons imaginable. Kim opens up about the crushing weight of shame and depression, while Dexter shares the shock, anger, and internal struggle of trying to lead a church while privately navigating deep betrayal.

But this is not just a story about broken trust. It is a story about redemption.

The Hardys unpack what it actually takes to rebuild trust over time: honest conversations without condemnation, accountability paired with grace, curiosity instead of accusation, and allowing healing to happen at the pace it needs to happen. They talk about the tension between accountability and autonomy, how suspicion cannot sustain growth, and why forgiveness and healing are related but not identical.

Most importantly, they share how prayer, transparency, and daily dependence on God transformed not just their marriage, but each of them individually.

If you or someone you love is walking through betrayal, shame, or the aftermath of broken trust, this conversation offers hope. Your story is not over. Healing is possible. And sometimes the very chapter that feels like it will destroy you becomes the one God uses to redeem you.

Because even when trust has been broken, the little things done daily can rebuild something stronger than before.

In this episode of Marriage on the Daily, Julie B sits down with marriage expert Dr. Kim Kimberling, who has spent more than 40 years helping couples build lasting, healthy relationships. As the co-founder of Awesome Marriage and a husband of more than 50 years, Dr. Kim shares practical wisdom for navigating the critical early years of marriage and building a foundation that lasts a lifetime.

Dr. Kim talks about the expectations couples bring into marriage, why unmet and unspoken expectations can create distance, and how shifting your focus from “my spouse needs to change” to “how can I be the right spouse” can transform your relationship. He also explains why putting your marriage ahead of your children creates security for the whole family, and how couples can avoid slowly drifting apart in the busyness of life.

You will also hear honest insight about protecting your marriage through healthy boundaries, staying intentional with connection, and the powerful role prayer plays in strengthening emotional and spiritual intimacy.

Whether you are newly married or several years into your journey, this episode offers practical encouragement and simple habits that will help you stay connected, avoid common pitfalls, and build the kind of marriage you truly want. Because it is the small, faithful choices you make daily that create an awesome marriage.

In this episode of Marriage on the Daily, Julie B sits down with marriage legend and bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman, known around the world for The Five Love Languages. With more than 60 years of marriage experience and decades of counseling couples, Dr. Chapman shares why so many spouses genuinely love each other but still feel unloved and how learning to “speak” the right love language can change everything.

You will hear the story behind the five love languages, practical examples of each one, and encouragement for couples who feel like loving their spouse does not come naturally. Dr. Chapman explains why love is a choice, not just a feeling, and how small, intentional daily actions can fill your spouse’s emotional love tank and create a climate where communication, conflict resolution, and forgiveness become easier.

Julie and Gary also talk about the power of apology, the importance of patience when rebuilding trust, and how inviting God into your marriage each day can transform your mindset and your relationship.

If you want simple, proven tools you can use right away to strengthen your connection, this conversation will give you exactly that. Because often it is not the big gestures, but the little things done daily, that make the biggest difference.

In this episode of Marriage on the Daily, Julie B sits down with author, speaker, and longtime marriage leader Ted Lowe to talk about the powerful connection between your thoughts and your relationship. Drawing from his book Us in Mind: How Changing Your Thoughts Can Change Your Marriage, Ted shares how neuroscience, marriage research, and Scripture all point to one surprising truth: happy couples think differently.

Ted unpacks five simple but intentional mindset shifts that can transform everyday interactions, including learning to see the best in your spouse, choosing empathy over fixing, pausing before reacting, and loving first instead of keeping score.

This conversation is practical, encouraging, and full of tools you can start using today. Because sometimes the biggest breakthroughs in marriage start with the smallest mental reset.

If you want to grow closer, communicate better, and handle conflict with more grace, this episode will help you do married well on the daily.

In this debut episode, host Julie B sits down with marriage and family expert Dr. Sharon Hart May, founder of Safe Haven Relationship Center and a pioneer of marriage intensives. Together, they tackle one of the most common myths newly married couples believe: if you marry the right person, you should not have conflict.

Julie and Sharon unpack why conflict is not the enemy of marriage and how learning to argue well can actually strengthen connection. They explore how differences in personality, preferences, and expectations show up in everyday life, from chores, schedules and hobbies to finances and communication. You will hear practical insight on how conflict can either build intimacy or quietly erode it, depending on how couples respond.

This conversation offers wisdom on staying connected during disagreements, avoiding harmful patterns like criticism and character attacks, and protecting the marriage bond as a safe haven. Sharon shares actionable guidance on how couples can focus on what truly matters, navigate differences without fear, and build rhythms that support teamwork instead of resentment.

If you are newly married or simply want to grow in emotional maturity, communication, and connection, this episode sets the foundation for what Marriage on the Daily is all about. Because it is not the grand gestures that shape your marriage most, it is what you do on the daily.

Hosted by Julie Baumgartner, a marriage and family counselor with more than 30 years of experience, this podcast is rooted in both professional wisdom and personal story. Julie shares how growing up as a child of divorce shaped her calling to walk alongside couples and help prevent the kind of pain she experienced firsthand. Married since 1989 and having faced real life challenges such as illness, loss, and career changes, Julie brings an honest, compassionate, and faith centered perspective to marriage.

Each episode, Marriage on the Daily features trusted voices from the marriage world as well as couples who are just a few steps ahead on the journey. Together, they offer practical tools, skills, and insights you can apply right away. This podcast focuses on what research and experience both confirm. It is not the grand gestures that make or break a marriage, but what you do or do not do day in and day out.

Expect meaningful conversations, relatable stories, wisdom grounded in faith, and actionable takeaways you can use immediately. There will be laughter, some tears, and plenty of encouragement. Above all, this podcast exists to help you build a marriage that is life giving, resilient, and deeply rooted in God.

If you are ready to do marriage well on the daily, this podcast is for you.