Carl and Heather Present

All I Want for Christmas Is YouWhat if the best Christmas gift you could give your spouse this year is simply more of YOU?Christmas is supposed to be a season of love, joy, and peace. But between the shopping, decorating, family obligations, and endless activities, it's easy to give everyone else our best and leave our spouse with whatever energy we have left.In this episode, Carl and Heather share five practical ways to keep Christmas from crowding out your marriage. They'll talk about protecting your time together, sharing the holiday workload, making room for affection and intimacy, navigating family expectations, and keeping Jesus at the center of it all.Plus, don't miss their Christmas Connection Challenge—three simple questions to help you slow down, reconnect, and make this season more meaningful together.Because the best gift you give your spouse this Christmas might not be under the tree. It might be your attention, your affection, and your willingness to be present.Don't just make Christmas special. Make your marriage a priority.Enjoying the podcast? Follow Carl and Heather Present and share this episode with another couple!📖 Discover more about our book, Together on Purpose, at https://carlandheather.com.Send us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]

Book Launch Week: Why We Wrote Together On PurposeThis week, we're celebrating the release of our new book, Together On Purpose!After years of traveling, speaking, and sharing the hope of Jesus with couples across the country, we kept asking ourselves one question: How can we help couples continue building their marriages long after the event is over?That question eventually led to a book.In this special episode, we're looking back at what God has done through our live events and more than 100 podcast episodes, sharing why we believe marriage matters so deeply, and reading a few favorite selections from Together On Purpose.There are stories, laughter, and some heartfelt reflections on what it means to discover God's purpose for your marriage.Because a wedding is an event, but a marriage is a lifetime. And we believe God has something beautiful in mind for yours.Get the book: carlandheather.comSupport the ministry: carlandheather.com/giveThanks for being part of this journey with us. We're just getting started!Send us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]

Does Your Spouse Really Know You? | The Power of Vulnerability in MarriageYou can share a home, a bed, a bank account, and decades of memories with someone—and still keep parts of yourself hidden.So here's a question worth asking: Does your spouse really know you?Most of us want to be deeply loved, but being deeply known? That's a little more frightening.We hide our fears, our insecurities, our disappointments, and our struggles. Sometimes we call it being strong. Sometimes we tell ourselves we're protecting our spouse. But what if the very walls we've built to protect ourselves are keeping us from the intimacy we're longing for?In this episode of Carl and Heather Present, we're having an honest conversation about vulnerability in marriage—why it's so difficult, why it matters, and how learning to lower your guard can change your relationship.Heather shares a personal realization about years of suppressing her emotions, Carl opens up about a painful season of professional disappointment, and we share a deeply personal story about Carl's father that reveals how choosing mercy over self-protection can open the door to healing.In this conversation, we'll explore:Why you can be married for decades and still feel emotionally disconnected.How hiding your feelings can quietly create distance in your marriage.Why vulnerability isn't weakness—it's courage.How to create a marriage where it's safe to be honest, even when life is hard.One simple, practical step you can take this week to build deeper intimacy with your spouse.Because here's what we believe: You can't be fully loved if you refuse to be fully known.And sometimes, the best marriage you've ever had begins with one honest conversation.❤️ OUR CALL TO AFFECTIONThis week, tell your spouse one thing you've been afraid to share. It doesn't have to be dramatic. Start small. Be honest. And if your spouse opens up to you, resist the urge to fix, correct, or defend. Just listen.📖 PRE-ORDER OUR NEW BOOK: TOGETHER ON PURPOSE!Our brand-new book, Together On Purpose: Why God Brought You Together—and What to Do Next, releases November 1, 2026!Pre-order your copy before November 1 and you'll be entered to win FREE registration to a FamilyLife Weekend to Remember marriage getaway, PLUS hotel accommodations in Nashville, April 30–May 2, 2027, where we'll be speaking!Pre-order today at https://carlandheather.com🙏 HOW CAN WE PRAY FOR YOU?We believe in the power of prayer, and we'd love to pray for your marriage. Whatever season you're walking through, send your prayer requests to [email protected]. It would be our privilege to pray for you.💬 LET'S KEEP THE CONVERSATION GOINGWhat's one thing that makes vulnerability difficult in marriage? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments.If this conversation encouraged you, please like, subscribe, and share it with another couple who might need to hear it.The best marriage you've ever had could still be ahead of you.Carl & HeatherCarl and Heather Present | Together ON Purpose#MarriageAdvice #ChristianMarriage #MarriagePodcast #Vulnerability #EmotionalIntimacy #TogetherOnPurposeSend us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]

How do you know the difference between a hard marriage…and an unhealthy one?This week, we sit down with Christian counselor and author Dr. Dave Ralston for a candid conversation about narcissistic patterns in marriage, emotional immaturity, manipulation, boundaries, biblical submission, and what happens when one spouse refuses to take responsibility for the harm they’re causing.Dr. Dave has counseled thousands of women who describe remarkably similar experiences: blame-shifting, gaslighting, stonewalling, emotional manipulation, and slowly losing their sense of identity inside their marriage.We talk about why Christian women can sometimes confuse biblical submission with tolerating destructive behavior, how Scripture can be weaponized inside a marriage, and why protecting your heart is not the same thing as punishing your spouse.We also ask some difficult questions:Can a narcissistic husband really change?What does a healthy boundary actually look like?What’s the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation?How can you tell the difference between an imperfect spouse and a repeated pattern of emotional harm?And when has the cost become so great that separation may need to be considered?If you’ve ever wondered, “Is this just a difficult season—or is something seriously wrong in my marriage?” this conversation may help bring clarity.Dr. Dave Ralston is the founder of Life Training Christian Counseling and author of The Five Life Languages. He helps individuals and couples pursue emotional and spiritual health through practical tools grounded in biblical truth.Learn more at LifeTrainingCounseling.org.Send us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]

Have we become so concerned about “over-spiritualizing” our problems that we’ve actually started over-naturalizing them?The Bible describes a very real spiritual world. Paul tells us that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, that the devil has schemes, and that followers of Jesus should put on the whole armor of God.So what does that mean for marriage?In this episode, Carl and Heather take an honest look at witchcraft, sorcery, spiritual warfare, manipulation, control, and the battle surrounding our marriages and families.They explore what Scripture actually says about occult practices and spiritual opposition, including Galatians 5, Ephesians 6, Acts 16, and the broader biblical pattern of divination, sorcery, and seeking supernatural power or guidance apart from God.They also turn the conversation inward. Our fallen nature wants control, and manipulation, intimidation, and domination can show up much closer to home than we might like to admit.So before we start identifying “witchcraft” in somebody else, maybe we need to look in the mirror.Most importantly, this episode is not a call to fear. It’s a call for husbands and wives to become spiritually awake—to pray, forgive, bless one another, establish healthy boundaries, resist evil, and stand confidently in the victory of Jesus.Because Scripture tells us to put on armor—not pajamas.And sometime today, check in with your spouse and ask:“How are you really doing—and how can I pray for you?”Together On Purpose: Why God Brought You Together—and What to Do Next is available now at CarlandHeather.com.Send us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]

What does it actually take to write a marriage book…with your spouse?In this special behind-the-scenes episode, Carl and Heather take you inside the story of their new book, Together On Purpose: Why God Brought You Together—and What to Do Next.Recorded on location in Tampa, Florida, while speaking at a Weekend to Remember marriage getaway, Carl and Heather interview each other about the process of writing the book—and share some of the stories, ideas, and surprises that shaped it along the way.Why does the world need another marriage book? Who did they picture sitting across the table while they were writing? What do they understand about marriage now that they didn't understand when they said “I do”? What does it really mean for a couple to have a purpose? And did writing a marriage book together actually make being married easier…or harder?They also pull back the curtain on some of the details behind Together On Purpose—including the hardest parts of writing it, the meaning behind the cover, the “Call to Affection,” and what they hope happens when a couple reaches the final page, closes the book, and looks at each other.If you've been curious about Together On Purpose, this is the episode that tells you the story behind the book—and why Carl and Heather believe God didn't simply bring you together to stay together. He brought you together on purpose.TOGETHER ON PURPOSE — AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 1Pre-orders are open now at CarlandHeather.com.And there's a pretty great reason to pre-order early:Everyone who pre-orders Together On Purpose before November 1 will be entered to win a FREE Weekend to Remember getaway PLUS hotel accommodations in Nashville, April 30–May 2, where Carl and Heather will be speaking!Pre-order your copy, then share this episode with a couple you'd love to experience Together On Purpose with.Send us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]

Technology isn’t just changing how we communicate. It’s shaping our marriages, our parenting, our attention—and even the way our kids are being discipled.In this episode of *Carl and Heather Present*, we sit down with Jesse and Sarah Siegand of **Preserve the Church** to talk about what technology is doing to Christian families and how parents can respond with wisdom, courage, and intention.This isn’t just a conversation about screen-time limits.It’s about a much bigger question:**Who—or what—is discipling your family?**We talk about:• The hidden ways phones can create distance in marriage• What parents should consider before giving a child their first smartphone• Why our own technology habits matter more than we may realize• How algorithms, entertainment, and constant connectivity can shape our children’s values• What “digital discipleship” actually looks like in a Christian home• Practical boundaries Jesse and Sarah have used with their own family• How Scripture can guide the way we think about attention, wisdom, self-control, and technology• What families can start changing this weekAnd ultimately, we ask:**If the goal isn’t simply less screen time, what are we trying to make more room for?**More connection.More conversation.More presence.More prayer.More Scripture.More attention to the people God has placed right in front of us.Technology isn’t going away—but we can become much more intentional about the kind of marriage, family, faith, and legacy we’re building in the middle of it.If you’re trying to raise kids who can think biblically, recognize the pressures of the culture around them, and carry their faith into adulthood, this conversation is for you.**Watch to the end, then ask your family this question:***What is technology helping us become—and what might it be keeping us from?*Subscribe to *Carl and Heather Present* for honest conversations about marriage, family, faith, and how to build a life together on purpose.Important Links:Technology and Spiritual Health Course: https://learn.seu.edu/course/technologyNext Gen Tech Reset Conversation:https://youtu.be/wifJKzI_7cI?si=VsMban4SCEj1i6ujPreserveTheChurch.orgParentswhofight.orgSend us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]

In this episode, Carl and Heather talk about five red flags that may be telling you it’s time to pay attention to your marriage: negative words, disappearing sexual intimacy, unforgiveness, spiritual apathy, and isolation from community.But this isn’t an episode about declaring your marriage broken. It’s about noticing the warning lights before unhealthy patterns simply become “normal.”What does it feel like to be on the receiving end of your words? What happens when physical intimacy disappears? Can unforgiveness keep the past in control of your present? Can two Christians have a marriage that isn’t actually Christ-centered? And does anybody outside your marriage really know how the two of you are doing?Carl and Heather look at each of these questions through the lens of Scripture and talk about the healthier things God invites couples to pursue instead: blessing, intimacy, grace, devotion, and community.If you want a marriage that doesn’t simply survive but continues moving toward God and toward each other, this conversation is for you.If this episode encouraged you, don’t just move on—join us.Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don’t miss conversations that are helping couples fight for what matters most—their marriage, their family, and their walk with God.If this episode spoke to you, drop a comment 💬 and tap like 👍—it helps more couples find this message.Need prayer? We’d truly be honored to stand with you.📧 [email protected] if you’re looking to invest in the health of marriages at your church or event, we’d love to serve you.⛪💍 Submit a request at carlandheather.com/bookingSend us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]

Dr. Gary Chapman, author of the best-selling book "The Five Love Languages," sits down with us to share what he has learned from a lifetime of working with couples and helping people express and experience love.If you're stuck and you need something to help you better touch the heart of your spouse, this is the episode for you.If this episode encouraged you, don’t just move on—join us.Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don’t miss conversations that are helping couples fight for what matters most—their marriage, their family, and their walk with God.If this episode spoke to you, drop a comment 💬 and tap like 👍—it helps more couples find this message.Need prayer? We’d truly be honored to stand with you.📧 [email protected] if you’re looking to invest in the health of marriages at your church or event, we’d love to serve you.⛪💍 Submit a request at carlandheather.com/bookingSend us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]

Can you have genuine faith and still experience genuine doubt?When Christian leaders fail, prayers seem unanswered, life doesn’t make sense, or something you’ve always believed suddenly feels uncertain, questions can begin creeping in: Is God really who I thought He was? Can I actually trust Him? What if I’m wrong about all of this?In this episode, Carl and Heather have an honest conversation about doubting your faith—and why doubt itself isn’t necessarily the problem. Thomas doubted after showing extraordinary courage and devotion to Jesus. John the Baptist found himself sitting in prison asking whether Jesus really was the Messiah. And in both cases, their questions were brought toward Jesus, not away from Him.So when is doubt healthy, and when does it become dangerous?We’ll explore how to recognize where your doubts are coming from, the difference between wrestling with God and becoming double-minded, and five practical things you can do when your faith feels uncertain.You don’t have to be afraid of your questions. Don’t waste your doubt. Let it drive you toward prayer, Scripture, truth, and ultimately back to Jesus.Please let us pray for you and with you. Send Prayer requests: [email protected] us Fan MailLooking to connect with Carl and Heather? Start here...www.carlandheather.com@[email protected]