Hot Topics (Part 2): Fur Babies, Vasectomies, Eye Rolling & More

Dave and Ashley are back with the second half of their rapid-fire Hot Topics round, tackling more of your biggest questions and the culture's most talked-about marriage debates. They cover why smart, capable people suddenly act helpless about finding a babysitter, why couples should choose to have kids (and why fur babies don't count), why forcing your spouse into a sexless marriage is a form of infidelity, why rolling your eyes at your spouse is one of the most accurate predictors of divorce, why empty nesters are divorcing at higher rates, why our culture spends so much time and money on grooming, and whether permanent birth control like vasectomies is biblical. This one's honest, a little spicy, and packed with wisdom. In case you missed Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uIK_TOKbpI Explore XO Marriage's free digital courses: https://xomarriage.comThe Four Laws of Love by Jimmy Evans: https://store.xomarriage.com/collections/books/products/the-four-laws-of-love __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

According to Dr. John Gottman's research, rolling your eyes at your spouse is one of the most accurate predictors of divorce because it reveals deep-seated contempt – the #1 predictor of divorce. Before the eye rolls come the negative thoughts, so guard your mind, choose honour, and bring your struggles before God to protect your marriage. _______________ We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this first-of-its-kind episode, Dave and Ashley tackle a rapid-fire round of the most-asked and most-provocative questions from listeners and the culture right now. They cover the line between a preference and a fetish, what to do in a sexless marriage, how the "manosphere" is shaping men's view of marriage, the "de-centering your marriage" trend among women, why couples who combine their finances are statistically less likely to divorce, why there's no such thing as "ethical" AI porn, why sex robots still count as adultery, and why God allowed polygamy in the Bible. Buckle up — this one's spicy. Don't miss Part 2 next week. This is Part 1 of a two-part series. Download the free 9 Days to Great Sex eBook: https://daveandashley.comFight the New Drug (porn research/resources): https://fightthenewdrug.org __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many couples find themselves in a sexless marriage, but it often doesn't happen overnight. Here's the hard reality: if you don't have a medical reason for withholding sex from your spouse, you may be unknowingly starving your marriage. Sex is what separates a friendship from a marriage, and both of you have a responsibility to protect that intimacy and seek solutions together during difficult seasons. God gave us this special gift for a reason; let's honor it. _______________ We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Pastor Jimmy Witcher, CEO of XO Marriage, and his wife Kim hit their fifth year of marriage, they had drifted so far apart that Kim planned to leave. But on a 13-hour flight overseas, God met Jimmy with a hard truth – and everything changed. In this episode, the Witchers share how humility, ownership, and turning to God rebuilt their marriage, and the everyday habits that keep them thriving 42 years later: making daily "exclusive relational connection time," treating fun as fuel, and learning to play at marriage instead of just working at it. It's a powerful reminder that no matter how broken things feel, your marriage has a 100% chance of thriving when you do it God's way. Listener question: My husband is a born-again Christian but refuses to pray with me. We pray at meals with our kids, but never as a couple. I've brought it up several times. We even took a Sunday school class on couples praying together, but nothing has changed. We're in a stressful home and a stressful financial season and working on communication. I grew up in a church family; he didn't. How do I respectfully encourage him to lead us in prayer? Explore XO Marriage's free digital courses: https://www.xomarriage.com The Four Laws of Love by Jimmy Evans: https://store.xomarriage.com/collections/books/products/the-four-laws-of-love Watch Jimmy Evans' marriage teaching: https://www.youtube.com/@XOMarriage Get the Vision Retreat Guidebook: https://store.xomarriage.com/collections/xo-1/products/vision-retreat-guidebook-establishing-a-yearly-vision-for-your-marriage-family __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Falling out of love isn't real, you've simply stopped making deposits into your relationship's treasury. Start investing in small, consistent acts of love and watch your marriage come alive again. _______________ We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Gail Schaar was diagnosed with two different types of breast cancer, she and her husband, Zach, found themselves navigating a season they never expected. In this episode, Zach and Gail share how they walked through the fear and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis together, why Zach learned that being present was sometimes more important than trying to fix things, and how seeking God together brought peace when circumstances felt overwhelming. Gail also shares the story behind her book, I Am Not a Cancer Patient, and what God taught her about refusing to let a diagnosis define her identity. Listener question: Is it biblically acceptable for a husband and wife to attend different churches? We're in a rural area and churches are far away. My husband was unchurched but is now saved and preparing for baptism. He's happy at our current church, but I feel like I'm just checking a box — there's little structure and teaching. I found a new church with Bible study, visitation, and evangelism, but he won't leave. He says it feels like he's cheating. What should we do? Learn more about Gail and I Am Not a Cancer Patient: https://gailschaar.com/ Follow Zach & Gail: @gailandzachshow Get the Vision Retreat Guidebook: https://store.xomarriage.com/collections/xo-1/products/vision-retreat-guidebook-establishing-a-yearly-vision-for-your-marriage-family __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When your spouse is struggling, your presence matters far more than your solutions — simply being there and saying nothing is often the most powerful thing you can do. Leaning into God's Word together is where you'll find the true peace that no amount of fixing ever could. _______________ We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After both walking through the pain of divorce, Steve and Abi Fort never expected the second-chance love story God had waiting for them. In this episode, they share how they met in a singles class, got engaged at a gas station, and married over a video call with Steve's missionary parents officiating from across the world. Steve and Abby open up about rebuilding after heartbreak, blending a family across two cultures and languages, keeping their friendship at the center of their marriage, and why they now feel called to help other couples through marriage coaching. It's a beautiful reminder that God never wastes our brokenness – He redeems it.Listener question: My spouse and I get along fine, but it honestly feels more like we're roommates than partners. We split responsibilities, but the spark is gone. Where do we even start to reconnect? Learn more about the Marriage Coaching Academy: https://xomarriage.com Get the Vision Retreat Guidebook Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd __________ Submit your questions to Dave & Ashley: http://nakedmarriagepodcast.com Download our FREE 31 Day Marriage Devotional: https://bit.ly/3ZxsLZd We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your spouse has started to feel more like a roommate than a partner, you're not alone – this is a normal cycle that most couples face at some point. Protecting time for friendship, shared interests, and honest check-ins can help you and your spouse get back in sync. _______________ We want your marriage to thrive! Learn more at http://xomarriage.com Dave and Ashley Willis spent thirteen years in full-time church ministry before devoting their work entirely toward the global mission of building stronger, Christ-centered marriages. Their marriage-related books, blogs, podcast, speaking events and media resources have reached millions of couples around the world making Dave and Ashley one of the most recognized and trusted couples in marriage ministry. Dave and Ashley partnered with XO Marriage in 2018. XO Marriage is the nation's largest marriage-focused ministry. The Willis family includes four sons and a rescue dog named "Chi Chi." When Dave and Ashley aren't writing and speaking, they love hanging out with their family, watching movies and going on long walks which is also where they develop many of their marriage ministry content ideas. Learn more about Dave & Ashley at daveandashley.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices