Marriage on a Tightrope

In this episode of Marriage on a Tightrope, Allan and Kattie dive deep into the complexities of mixed faith marriages. From their personal journey to actionable strategies, they offer support and insight for couples navigating differing beliefs within their relationships. 💡 What We Cover in This Episode 1. Mixed Faith Marriage Challenges Faith Transition: Allan shares his transition from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, while Kattie remained a believing member. They open up about how this shift led to imbalances and tension in their relationship. Lack of Resources: With limited support available early in their journey, they created Marriage on a Tightrope to fill the gap for other couples. Sunday Struggles: They candidly discuss how Sundays became a flashpoint for conflict around church attendance and family activities. Loss of Spiritual Intimacy: The absence of shared spiritual practices created distance, forcing them to find new ways to connect. 2. Strategies & Resources for Mixed Faith Marriages Marriage on a Tightrope Workshop A 7-week course (6 required sessions + 1 optional Q&A) designed for couples navigating mixed faith dynamics. Topics include communication strategies, building trust, parenting approaches, and managing spiritual differences. 🗓️ Next Workshop Starts: Sunday, April 6th | 7–9 PM MST 💻 Format: Live Zoom sessions + recordings available for flexibility. 🔗 Register: tightropemarriage.org (Click "Join our workshop") Communication Techniques Soft Start: Initiate conversations gently to avoid defensiveness. Own Your Role: Recognize and take responsibility in moments of conflict. Express Emotions: Open up to foster empathy and deeper understanding. Emotional Regulation: Tools to stay grounded and manage physiological reactions during tough discussions. Parenting in a Mixed Faith Marriage Encourage your children’s autonomy in their spiritual journey. Balance your expectations with respect for your child's beliefs. Explore diverse rituals that honor both parents' perspectives. ✨ Resource Highlight: Uplift Kids for value-based, non-religious lessons. 3. Personal Stories & Experiences Allan & Kattie reflect on their own mixed faith journey, particularly around parenting and Sundays. Natasha Helfer shares a heartfelt story about her teenage son’s choice to attend church as a way to connect with his late father, underscoring the importance of safe, open family environments.

Marriage on a Tightrope is excited to announce a new parenting workshop with Uplift Kids.  One of the more difficult aspects of a mixed faith marriage is figuring out what and how to teach your children.  In this episode, we welcome Jon Ogden and Michelle Larson from Uplift Kids to talk through some of these challenges, and we outline the exciting details of our new 3 week parenting workshop which starts Sunday January 12th, 2025. More details about this episode: About Uplift Kids An organization offering resources for mixed faith marriages with a focus on children’s emotional and spiritual development. Introduction of guests Jon Ogden and Michelle Larson, highlighting their backgrounds and roles at Uplift Kids. Personal Experiences with Uplift Kids Kattie's journey using Uplift Kids for family activities during COVID and its unbiased approach to family discussions. Michelle's story of returning to her family farm, integrating her work and personal life, and her daughter's personal growth through Uplift Kids resources. Jon’s experiences, including the impact of Uplift Kids during his son’s bullying and transformative family camps. Uplift Kids Offerings Curriculum on topics such as kindness, mindfulness, emotional regulation, and more, available through weekly or daily engagements on upliftkids.org Events like family camps, with plans for more retreats. Announcement of the Three-Week Parenting Course Course Details: Starts January 12th, with Zoom meetings on Sundays at 7 PM MT. Offers live sessions and a one-year access to resources. Content Overview: Week 1: Children’s wellbeing with Amanda Suarez. Week 2: Developmental needs of family members with Michelle Larson Week 3: Using Uplift Kids in mixed faith marriages with Jon Ogden Registration Details: upliftkids.org/join/tightrope. Special Offer: 50% off for the first 30 couples thanks to a generous donor who covered half the cost for the first 30 couples.

In this enlightening episode, we sit down with Tyson and Kylie Woollard, a couple who has navigated the complexities of a mixed faith marriage. They share their personal journey, the challenges they've faced, and the strategies that have helped them strengthen their bond despite their differences. Whether you're in a similar situation or simply curious about mixed faith dynamics, this conversation is full of valuable insights. Key Takeaways: Open Communication: Tyson and Kylie emphasize the importance of ongoing dialogue about beliefs and values. Finding Common Ground: They share practical tips for identifying shared goals and interests that transcend religious differences. Building Respect: The couple discusses how mutual respect and understanding can help bridge gaps and foster harmony. Creating Safe Spaces: Learn how they cultivate environments where both partners feel safe expressing their beliefs. Join Our Community: We invite other couples navigating mixed faith marriages to reach out for an interview opportunity! Share your story and insights with our listeners. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: Marriage on a Tightrope Instagram: @marriageonatightrope Get in Touch: We’d love to hear your comments, questions, or experiences. Email us at [email protected]. Thank You for Listening! If you found this episode helpful, please consider subscribing, rating, and leaving a review. Your support helps us reach more couples in need of encouragement and guidance.

Join us on this week's episode with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife in discussing the topic of "Sexuality and Self: Creating Strength in Ourselves and Our Intimate Relationships". We sit down to talk about this subject as it pertains to the upcoming Safely Gathered Women's Retreat 2024.    We talk about why women lack a sense of self and how we can develop in our own sexual wants and desires. We also touch on what Dr. Finlayson-Fife wants everyone to know about their sexuality and self.    To sign up for our Safely Gathered Women's Retreat you can go here. To get $10 off use the code JFF10.   Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife is an LDS relationship and sexuality coach with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Her teaching and coaching focus on helping LDS individuals and couples create greater connection and passion in their emotional and sexual relationships. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Finlayson-Fife has created five empowering and highly-reviewed online courses. Each course was designed to give LDS individuals and couples the tools requisite to creating healthier lives and stronger intimate relationships. Dr. Finlayson-Fife also offers many workshops and retreats where she teaches these life-changing principles in person.   Dr. Finlayson-Fife is a frequent guest on LDS-themed podcasts on the subjects of sexuality, relationships, mental health, and faith. She is also the creator and host of Room for Two, a popular sex and intimacy coaching podcast.

We are so excited to have Life Coach Alyssa McBride on the show today!     In this episode we talk about navigating your personal identity in a Mixed Faith Marriage. We also touch on building self confidence, setting boundaries, and how to manage stress and anxiety. We finish the episode with a discussion about embracing change.    If you would like more information about Alyssa and you can contact her, you can do so here:   website: https://www.thriveandshinecoaching.net/ Retreat waitlist: https://forms.gle/w8hp43vs7jgd3on38   instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thriveandshine_coaching/ email: [email protected]     Our announcements this week:   1) We start our Workshop on a Tightrope in ONE week, Sunday August 4th.  Do you need communication tools? Do you want quality content by a professional who has designed a course for your Mixed Faith Marriage? Do you want to connect with other couples facing similar difficulties? @everyone If  you find that your current marriage circumstances are difficult to navigate then we want to see you in our workshop. Here are some quick facts about us. *Natasha Helfer is our professional therapist with decades of work and experience in this area. She has come up with the material as well as at home exercises. Natasha will be there for every class to answer questions and provide clinical help   *YES you CAN use your HSA to pay for the workshop   *YES we do each meeting LIVE via Zoom on Sunday nights from 7-9 pm MST   *Yes we structure our weeks so each week builds to the next in order to have the difficult conversations surrounding children, church leaders, "tenders" (anything that could be difficult to talk about). In addition you learn tools to communicate effectively   *Yes you learn from other couples   *Yes hundreds of couples have done this course and report at the least it's helped with their communication and at most saved their marriage   For additional questions please message us. If you are in need of financial help for the course, please message us. We are excited for the couples who have already signed up and are excited to move their marriage forward. You can go here to sign up: https://kattie-mount.mykajabi.com/offers/N8SjnFMX/checkout   2) Safely Gathered Women's Retreat 2024 tickets are on sale now!   The retreat will be held Thursday Sept 5th from 830 am to 9 pm at the Hale Center Theater in Sandy, Utah. We are honored and excited to have the amazing Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife to join us and talk about "Sexuality and Self; Creating Strength in Ourselves and Our Intimate Relationships." We have a fantastic day planned just for our audience. This is sure to sell out and we would love to see you there. Go to this link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/938009320127?aff=oddtdtcreator Please let us know if you have any questions. We would love to answer them for you.   3) Finally we will have a table again at the Faith Matters Restore Conference. If you have any questions what that is you can go here to get tickets and learn more about it: https://faithmatters.org/restore-2024/ You can get a 20% discount on your tickets by using the code: TIGHTROPE.

Welcome to this week's episode of Marriage on a Tightrope. We know you will enjoy this episode with Jennie and Travis Stevens.  They tell their mixed faith story and share great wisdom on how they have made their mixed faith marriage work. Trigger warning: The topic of family sexual abuse and a brief mention of suicide is discussed in this episode   We have so many exciting ways you can connect with us over the next few months. Our Workshop on a Tightrope starts August 4th! This is the 11th session to date and the only workshop we will be doing this year. We partner with Natasha Helfer to bring you a 7 week course specifically to help your mixed faith marriage. We've had hundreds of couples go through the program and we've received incredible support from them. We meet every Sunday evening via zoom (7pm MST), and we spend two hours together going over material with our therapist Natasha Helfer. It is life changing for marriages who are in their mixed faith era. You can join us and sign up here.  If you have any questions you can email us @[email protected] We have opened the Safely Gathered Retreat 2024 Registration for all of our Marriage on a Tightrope members. We want you to have first spots available before we open it to Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife audience. We are honored and excited to have the amazing Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife to join us and talk about "Sexuality and Self; Creating Strength in Ourselves and Our Intimate Relationships." Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife does an excellent job in including those who are married, divorced, single, widowed, or anywhere else you may fall. This is all about your own sexual desires. She also knows that our audience is a diverse one with those who have never been Mormon, those in the LDS church, those who have left, those in a mixed faith marriage, and anyone in between.   This is sure to sell out and we would love to see you there. Go to this Eventbrite link to register:   Lastly we will have a table again at the Faith Matters Restore conference that will be held Friday and Saturday Sept. 6 & 7th at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy. You can save 20% on your ticket if you use the code TIGHTROPE. For more information you can go here: faithmatters.org/restore We also wanted to plug the great things that are happening at Sunstone! Sunstone is a nonprofit dedicated to hosting open forums of Mormon thought, art, and experience. We're one of the only places where fundamentalist Mormons, active Latter-day Saints, and ex-Mormons sit side-by-side in the earnest desire to learn and grow. They're annual conference is coming up August 1-3.   Please reach out if you have any questions, thoughts, concerns, or you just want connection. You can as always join our Marriage on a Tightrope facebook and instagram groups for updated information.

Welcome to this week's episode of Marriage on a Tightrope. We have an important and heartfelt episode lined up for you today. Our main focus is on church camps and how to approach discussing them with your children. Alongside this discussion, we'll also be opening up about some personal news: recently, we received the difficult news that my father has little time left to live. We'll share how this news has impacted our family and how we're navigating this challenging time together. Join us as we explore both the practical aspects of church camps and the emotional journey of dealing with family health issues. It's a raw and honest conversation you won't want to miss. We have so many exciting ways you can connect with us over the next few months. Our Workshop on a Tightrope starts August 4th! This is the 11th session to date and the only workshop we will be doing this year. We partner with Natasha Helfer to bring you a 7 week course specifically to help your mixed faith marriage. We've had hundreds of couples go through the program and we've received incredible support from them. We meet every Sunday evening via zoom (7pm MST), and we spend two hours together going over material with our therapist Natasha Helfer. It is life changing for marriages who are in their mixed faith era. You can join us and sign up here.  If you have any questions you can email us @[email protected] We have opened the Safely Gathered Retreat 2024 Registration for all of our Marriage on a Tightrope members. We want you to have first spots available before we open it to Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife audience. We are honored and excited to have the amazing Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife to join us and talk about "Sexuality and Self; Creating Strength in Ourselves and Our Intimate Relationships." Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife does an excellent job in including those who are married, divorced, single, widowed, or anywhere else you may fall. This is all about your own sexual desires. She also knows that our audience is a diverse one with those who have never been Mormon, those in the LDS church, those who have left, those in a mixed faith marriage, and anyone in between. This is sure to sell out and we would love to see you there. Go to this Eventbrite link to register:  Lastly we will have a table again at the Faith Matters Restore conference that will be held Friday and Saturday Sept. 6 & 7th at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy. You can save 20% on your ticket if you use the code TIGHTROPE. For more information you can go here: faithmatters.org/restore We also wanted to plug the great things that are happening at Sunstone! Sunstone is a nonprofit dedicated to hosting open forums of Mormon thought, art, and experience. We're one of the only places where fundamentalist Mormons, active Latter-day Saints, and ex-Mormons sit side-by-side in the earnest desire to learn and grow. They're annual conference is coming up August 1-3. Please reach out if you have any questions, thoughts, concerns, or you just want connection. You can as always join our Marriage on a Tightrope facebook and instagram groups for updated information.

After a 7 month hiatus, Kattie and Allan are back. Why were they gone in the first place? YOU'LL HAVE TO LISTEN AND FIND OUT. In this episode, Kattie and Allan discuss the reasons why they disappeared for 7 months and a few challenging situations that have occurred over the past few weeks that have reminded them that they are indeed still in a Mixed Faith Marriage.

Friend of the podcast and all around great person, David Ostler, joins this episode of Marriage on a Tightrope to discuss his new book Healing our Divide. David talks about the polarization in our communities, why it's important to learn the tools to overcome our difference, and how to access the tools we need to get there. Help the mixed faith community by becoming a recurring donor at tightropemarriage.org.

Kattie and Allan talk about what they each want their funerals to look like. This can be a taboo topic that many couples avoid, but the stress for the believing partner to put together a funeral for a non-believing partner can be lessened by having a direct conversation on the topic. Kattie and Allan each answer 8 questions: 1. What location should the funeral be held? 2. Cremated, Buried, Donate your body to science, Or become a Pod? 3. What are you wearing in a casket? 4. Is there a song you want played? 5. Who would you want to speak at the funeral? 6. What do you want to be remembered for? 7. What’s one thing that you want everyone to eat in your honor at the luncheon? 8. Are there any other wishes? Have you and your partner discussed what you want your funeral to look like? Comment below. It isn't too late to join our latest session of "Workshop on Tightrope". This 6 week online course has helped over 200 couples learn the tools and strategies they need to thrive in their mixed faith marriage.  You'll get weekly live Zoom sessions with Natasha Helfer, licensed Marriage and Family therapist, Allan and Kattie, and get to know 20 other couples.  Click here to register and see what other couples have said about the course. Please consider a recurring donation to Marriage on a Tightrope by going to tightropemarriage.org.