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Awesome Marriage Podcast

Far too many couples are just surviving their marriage when it was meant to thrive. This is the place for practical tips on how to build an awesome marriage. Our passion is to help you strengthen your marriage. Dr. Kim Kimberling hosts the show. Dr. Kim is the President of Awesome Marriage, has been married for over 50 years, and has been a professional counselor for 40+ years. He is the author of 7 Secrets to An Awesome Marriage ,14 Keys To Lasting Love, and most recently Love, Intimacy and Sex in the Second Half. Dr. Kim will be joined once a month by his wife of 55 years, Nancy Kimberling. He will also host other great guests that will teach and encourage you as you intentionally pursue an awesome marriage. Tune in each week to hear practical advice from Dr. Kim. This podcast is brought to you by the ministry of Awesome Marriage.
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Now displaying: October, 2025
The Mindful Marriage: Breaking Cycles and Building Connection in Christ with Ron Deal Ep.701 0
Oct 28, 2025

In this episode, Dr. Kim sits down with Ron Deal to talk about what it really means to build a mindful marriage. Ron shares lessons from his new book, Mindful Marriage, and how restoration therapy helped him and his wife Nan find healing and deeper connection. Together, they explore how faith, self-awareness, and emotional regulation can transform your relationship from the inside out.

 

Episode Insights:

Authenticity is the foundation of lasting happiness.

Emotional dysregulation is normal.

 Our brains respond to threat, not fairness.

Pain cycles drive repeated conflict.

Growth and redemption matter more than blame.



Quotes from Today’s Episode:

'Happy wife, happy life' sounds catchy, but in reality, it's an empty promise. Lasting happiness in marriage comes from authenticity, not performance or pretending everything is okay.

Every single one of us gets thrown off-balance emotionally. Some stay there longer, others move through it quickly, but emotional dysregulation is part of the human experience. There's nothing wrong about you because you get dysregulated.

The brain can't tell the difference between a rattlesnake, a near-miss in traffic, or your spouse's criticism. Threat is threat.

Our brains are wired for survival, not perfect communication.

You don't have fifty different fights in marriage. You just have one ongoing pain cycle. Once you identify and understand your pain cycle, you can finally move beyond it together.

Ignoring your pain doesn't make it go away—if anything, it makes your pain stronger, more insistent, and harder to escape.

It's easy to point out the flaw in someone else, but it's vital to focus on your own growth.

You may not forget your pain, but you can redeem what it does in your life. Choosing redemption over resentment is liberating.



Couples Conversation Guide:

Are there areas in our marriage where we tend to “perform” or pretend things are okay instead of being real with each other? 

 

When conflict or hurt arises between you, how aware are you of what’s really going on beneath the surface—your emotions, triggers, or past experiences?

What’s one practical step you can take this week to be more mindful in your marriage—whether that’s pausing before reacting, praying together, or choosing to listen with empathy?

 

Mentioned in this episode:

 

The Power of Praying Together as a Couple and Pursuing Spiritual Growth Together Ep. 70 0
Oct 21, 2025

700 episodes! What better way than to do this episode with Nancy who has been here with me through all of the seasons and cohosts and guests on the Awesome Marriage podcast. And there is no better topic for us than to talk about how powerful prayer is for your marriage and the daily rhythm of praying together. Nancy initiated praying together on our first night as a married couple and we’ve kept it going ever since. Not only does it serve to protect our marriage, but it serves to grow us each closer to the Lord and one another. Join us as we talk about the power of a praying couple and how to pursue spiritual growth together.

 

Episode Highlights:

If you feel uncomfortable, start with silent or guided prayers- just start somewhere.

Prayer becomes a rhythm that allows you to partner with God.

Prayer becomes the glue that helps you withstand the seasons of marriage and life together.

Hard times have been some of the biggest seasons of growth individually and in our marriage.

 

Quotes from Today’s Episode:

Praying together can feel intimidating at first, but it's not about perfection—it's about inviting God into your story, one honest word at a time.

It's hard to pray when you're angry—and hard to stay angry when you start to pray.

There is power in the prayer—and even greater power in the One we pray to.

When couples choose to consistently pray and grow together, it changes everything—your marriage, your family, and generations to come will be transformed.

Let God lead you, one small step at a time. Habits of faith begin with intentional choices.

If you miss a day, don't quit. The habit matters more than perfection—keep pursuing God together.

There is nothing like drawing close to your spouse in spiritual intimacy—it's a bond deeper than anything else.

Take time to talk honestly about where you are spiritually as a couple, without judgment. Then choose just one thing to pursue together.

 

Couples Conversation Guide:

  1. What fears or awkward feelings do we have about praying together, and how could we take a first step to make it a natural part of our relationship?

  2. How has our prayer life (or the lack of it) shaped the emotional and spiritual climate of our marriage so far?

  3. In what ways can we set spiritual goals together that encourage growth without feeling like a checklist or competition?

  4. How can we support each other through seasons of spiritual dryness or difference in faith, and what role can Scripture or prayer rhythms play in that?

Mentioned in this Episode:

 

Confessions of the Higher Desire Wife with J. Parker Ep. 699 0
Oct 14, 2025

Mismatched sex drives in marriage? You're not alone—and it's not a problem to fix, but an opportunity to grow together.

Most couples (up to 90%!) will experience periods where their sexual desires don't line up perfectly. It's completely normal—and it's a chance to build deeper understanding, communication, and compassion in your relationship. Getting honest about differences means you can meet each other where you are, as a team.

This conversation is full of encouragement for the couple (or the spouse) who is feeling the disconnect from the different drives. Join Dr. Kim and J. Parker as they talk about normalizing this topic and making your marriage (and sex life) awesome.

Episode Highlights:

Majority of couples face the struggle of mismatched sex drives.

It’s important that the lines of communication are open when talking about desire, frequency and expectation.

Open, ongoing communication is key to building intimacy. 

The way we think about intimacy is often shaped by cultural messages, church teaching, or our upbringing.

 

Quotes from Today’s Episode:

Mismatched sex drives aren't the exception—they're the norm.

Instead of seeing it as a sign something's wrong, view it as an opportunity to communicate, show compassion, and navigate intimacy as a team.

The old script that ‘men want sex and women want romance' sells everyone short. You can crave both romance and intimacy, regardless of who in your marriage has the higher desire.

A thriving sex life isn't automatic—it's something you cultivate over time, through learning, honesty, and growth together.

Sometimes a gap in desire isn't about your relationship at all, but about real-life pressures.

There are times when speaking up isn't nagging—it's partnership. Express what you need, but do it out of love and with respect, seeking to connect and understand, not just correct.

 

Questions for Reflection:

  1. When was the last time you and your spouse had a conversation about frequency? 
  2. Do you feel comfortable telling your spouse what you need in regards to physical intimacy? 
  3. What’s one small step you could take this week to communicate more openly about your needs and create healthier intimacy together?

 

Mentioned in this Episode:

 

How to Rekindle Intimacy & Guarding your Marriage from Emotional Affairs Ep. 698 0
Oct 7, 2025

What do you do when intimacy and connection in your marriage start to fade? How can you rekindle the spark, or better yet, keep it burning strong? In this episode, we talk about practical and biblical ways to nurture intimacy in all its forms. When you intentionally protect and prioritize closeness with your spouse, you not only build a marriage you truly enjoy, but you also guard your relationship against the dangers of emotional affairs.

 

Episode Highlights:

Identify the different types of intimacy shared within marriage.

The wholeness of your marriage matters.

All forms of intimacy must be invested in.

Boundaries keep your marriage protected. 

 

Quotes from this episode:

Your sex life is a thermometer, not a thermostat—it reflects the health of your relationship, but it can't set it.

 

When couples neglect emotional and spiritual intimacy, their physical relationship becomes hollow—a beautiful house with no foundation. Sooner or later, the cracks will show.

 

Without emotional intimacy, sex loses its power to truly bond you together. Without spiritual intimacy, you miss God's vision for marriage—a reflection of Christ and the Church.

 

If you wouldn't say, do, or share it with your spouse present, don't do it. That's your boundary—protect it fiercely.

 

If you have nothing to hide, living transparently should be easy—openness is the glue of trust in marriage.

 

Couple’s Conversation Guide:

  1. When you think about intimacy in your marriage, which type (physical, emotional, spiritual, or relational closeness) feels the strongest right now? Which could use more attention?

  2. How do you personally feel most connected to me—through words, actions, time together, or something else?
  3. What boundaries do we need to set (personally and as a couple) to guard our marriage against the threat of emotional affairs?

  4. What’s one thing you’d love for us to do together that would bring more joy, fun, or connection into our marriage?



Mentioned in this Episode:

 

How to Rekindle Intimacy & Guarding your Marriage from Emotional Affairs Ep. 698 0
Oct 7, 2025

What do you do when intimacy and connection in your marriage start to fade? How can you rekindle the spark, or better yet, keep it burning strong? In this episode, we talk about practical and biblical ways to nurture intimacy in all its forms. When you intentionally protect and prioritize closeness with your spouse, you not only build a marriage you truly enjoy, but you also guard your relationship against the dangers of emotional affairs.

 

Episode Highlights:

Identify the different types of intimacy shared within marriage.

The wholeness of your marriage matters.

All forms of intimacy must be invested in.

Boundaries keep your marriage protected. 

 

Quotes from this episode:

Your sex life is a thermometer, not a thermostat—it reflects the health of your relationship, but it can't set it.

 

When couples neglect emotional and spiritual intimacy, their physical relationship becomes hollow—a beautiful house with no foundation. Sooner or later, the cracks will show.

 

Without emotional intimacy, sex loses its power to truly bond you together. Without spiritual intimacy, you miss God's vision for marriage—a reflection of Christ and the Church.

 

If you wouldn't say, do, or share it with your spouse present, don't do it. That's your boundary—protect it fiercely.

 

If you have nothing to hide, living transparently should be easy—openness is the glue of trust in marriage.

 

Couple’s Conversation Guide:

  1. When you think about intimacy in your marriage, which type (physical, emotional, spiritual, or relational closeness) feels the strongest right now? Which could use more attention?

  2. How do you personally feel most connected to me—through words, actions, time together, or something else?
  3. What boundaries do we need to set (personally and as a couple) to guard our marriage against the threat of emotional affairs?

  4. What’s one thing you’d love for us to do together that would bring more joy, fun, or connection into our marriage?



Mentioned in this Episode:

 

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