One of you is ready to leave early. The other is still looking for their shoes. Welcome to marriage.

This week, Juli and Mike are on stage at the Love Like You Mean It Cruise! Live and unfiltered, they talk honestly about how their differences have shown up in parenting, intimacy, and their pace of life—and how they've learned to let those differences draw them closer, instead of driving them apart.

Guest: Mike Slattery

Join Mike & Juli on the Love Like You Mean It Cruise in 2027!

Follow-up Resources:

3 Reasons Women Tend to Take Over in Marriage by Juli Slattery (blog)

Q&A: How can I help my husband grow up and take responsibility? (video)

The Very Important Difference Between Conflict & Fighting by Juli Slattery (blog)

Some wounds don't just live in your memories… they live in your body, in your relationships, and in your sense of safety.

If you've ever wondered, "Can I be whole after sexual trauma?," you're not alone—and you're not beyond healing.

That's the question Juli is tackling this week. You'll hear why sexual trauma uniquely affects identity and intimacy, how shame and self-blame keep us stuck, and what real sexual wholeness looks like.

This conversation is for anyone who has experienced sexual trauma (or loves someone who has) and is wondering: Is healing really possible for me?

Co-host: Hannah Nitz

Register for the webinar Healing After Sexual Abuse: Practical Guidance for Pastors, Leaders, and Caregivers.

Follow-up resources:

Find a Christian counselor or sex therapist: check out ABCST or MyCounselor.online

Surprised By the Healer by Juli Slattery and Linda Dillow

The Wounded Heart by Dan Allender

Try Softer by Aundi Kolber

God's Healing Stinks by Juli Slattery (blog)

Q&A: Past sexual trauma inhibits my ability to enjoy sex. Is there hope that I can ever heal? with Dr. Juli Slattery

Follow Hannah Nitz @hannahnitz

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

Their love story made headlines—but not for the reasons you might expect.

In this conversation, CD and Melody Fabien share a completely different vision for dating—one rooted in purpose, boundaries, and hearing God's voice.

If you're tired of hook-ups, ghosting, and the pressure of fast-paced dating, this episode is for you.

Guest: CD & Melody Fabien

Check out our brand-new Hot Topic Kit: Healthy Dating & Boundaries.

Follow-up Resources:

Check out CD & Melody's resources at https://cdandmelody.com/

Watch their news-worthy first kiss.

Q&A: What's the Difference Between Sexual Integrity and Purity? (video)

Q&A: How Can I Steward My Sexuality As a Single? (video)

What Do I Do With My Sexual Desires? by Juli Slattery (blog)

Follow Melody on IG at @melodyfabien

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

Many married couples carry a secret: one of them doesn't like sex—they may even dread it. For years, sex has felt more like obligation than pleasure, and they've quietly believed something must be wrong with them.

This week, we're tackling the unspoken question: "What if I'm married and I don't like sex?"

We'll talk about the real reasons sex can feel difficult or even painful, and call out a few common lies that keep couples stuck.

If you've ever felt confused, disappointed, or alone in your struggles with sex, this conversation offers hope, practical insight, and the reminder you don't have to stay where you are.

Co-host: Hannah Nitz

We'd love to hear your thoughts about this conversation. Leave us a rating and review.

Follow-up Resources:

Be the first to know when Online Book Studies open up

Q&A: Past sexual trauma inhibits my ability to enjoy sex. Is there hope that I can heal? (video)

Q&A: Sex has never been pleasurable in our marriage. Should I fake it? (video)

Preorder 25 Questions You're Afraid to Ask About Sex, Love, and Intimacy by Dr. Juli Slattery

God, Sex & Your Marriage by Juli Slattery

Passion Pursuit: What Kind of Love Are You Making? by Juli Slattery

Restoring the Pleasure by Cliff & Joyce Penner

Enjoy! The Gift of Sexual Pleasure for Women by Cliff & Joyce Penner

Follow Hannah Nitz @hannahnitz

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

Life gets busy—especially with kids, work, and everyday stress. But research shows that couples who consistently make time for each other are significantly happier in their marriages.

This week, we're talking about why date nights matter more than you think. We'll tackle common obstacles couples face, like exhaustion, busy schedules, lack of childcare, and awkward conversations. Plus, you'll hear simple and practical tips to help you reconnect with your spouse—even in the busiest of seasons.

Guests: Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley

Check out our newest Hot Topic Kit: Healthy Dating & Boundaries.

Follow-up Resources:

Take the Date Night Challenge: 52 Creative Ideas to Make Your Marriage Fun by Greg & Erin Smalley

Date Night Conversation Starters from Greg & Erin Smalley

Q&A: How often is "normal" for having sex in marriage? (video)

You know your spouse's love language, and you try to use it. So why is their love tank always running on empty?

This week, we're expanding the classic framework to include personality nuances, seasonal shifts, overdoing it (yes, that's possible!), and love tank "leaks." Plus, you'll learn why gifts aren't always about money and why physical touch isn't always about sex.

Join us for a conversation about moving past formulas and becoming a better student of the one you love.

Guests: Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott

Follow-up Resources:

Listen to Dr. Gary Chapman talk about the Five Love Languages on Java #592 The Love Language that Matters Most.

Take the free relationship assessment at myheartchart.com

The Five Love Languages Premium Assessment

The Love Language That Matters Most by Dr. Gary Chapman, Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott

Follow Les & Leslie at @lesandleslie

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

Maybe you're already living together. Maybe this topic feels uncomfortable. Maybe you've never questioned it before.

This week, Juli unpacks what God says about living together before marriage, what (secular) research is telling us, and how covenant—not convenience—creates lasting security.

Co-hosts: Hannah Nitz & Joe Caruso

Tell us what you think! Leave us a rating & review.

Follow-Up Resources:

Preorder 25 Questions You're Afraid to Ask About Sex, Love, and Intimacy by Dr. Juli Slattery

Q&A: Is God okay with me having sex with someone I love even if we're not married?

Q&A: What is the difference between sexual integrity and purity?

Follow Hannah Nitz @hannahnitz

Follow Joe Caruso at @joecaruso06

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

Men get a lot of mixed messages about masculinity. Some say it's toxic. Others say it doesn't really matter anymore. It's no surprise guys are left wondering, "What does it even mean to be a good man?"

This week, Juli sits down with Brant Hansen, author of The Men We Need, to get honest about the struggles men face and why true strength looks very different from the stereotypes we're used to. This conversation is an invitation to see manhood not as a problem to fix, but as a calling worth stepping into.

Guest: Brant Hansen

What did you think about this conversation? Let us know in a rating and review.

Follow-up Resources:

The Men We Need:God's Purpose for the Manly Man, the Avid Indoorsman, or Any Man Willing to Show Up by Brant Hansen

Blog: 3 Reasons Women Tend To Take Over in Marriage by Dr. Juli Slattery

Blog: 7 Ways We Unknowingly Sabotage Intimacy in Our Marriages by Dr. Juli Slattery

Blog: Resign As Boss: How To Help Your Husband Lead by Dr. Juli Slattery

Video: Q&A: How Can I Help My Husband Grow Up and Take Responsibility?

Follow Brant Hansen at @branthansen

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

What's okay in the bedroom—and how are married couples supposed to know?

In this episode, Juli doesn't hand you a checklist. Instead, she walks you through three questions every couple can ask when navigating gray areas in the bedroom.

From pornography and fantasy to sex toys and more, this conversation helps you discern where you may need to draw a line and where you may need to step out of your comfort zone.

Joined by Hannah Nitz and Joe Caruso, this episode marks the kick off of a new series inspired by Juli's newly revised, upcoming book, 25 Questions You're Afraid to Ask About Love, Sex, and Intimacy.

Co-Hosts: Hannah Nitz, Joe Caruso

What did you think of this episode? Leave us a rating and review in your podcast app.

Follow up resources:

Check out our brand-new Hot Topic Kit: Pornography in Marriage.

Blog: What's OK in the Bedroom? (Includes a list of what God has said "no" to)

Book: God, Sex, and Your Marriage by Dr. Juli Slattery

Book: Passion Pursuit: What Kind of Love Are You Making? by Dr. Juli Slattery and Linda Dillow

Follow Hannah Nitz @hannahnitz

Follow Joe Caruso at @joecaruso06

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

Are awkward "side hugs" the best we can do when it comes to opposite-sex friendships?

Juli sits down with author Bronwyn Lea, who helps us rethink what it means to live as brothers and sisters in God's family. They talk about why we often confuse intimacy with sexuality, how Jesus modeled close, non-romantic relationships, and what healthy Christian community can look like (even in a sex-saturated world).

Listen in to discover how moving beyond fear-based boundaries can lead to more connection and stronger, life-giving friendships in the body of Christ.

Guest: Bronwyn Lea

Follow-up Resources:

Beyond Awkward Side Hugs: Living as Christian Brothers and Sisters in a Sex-Crazed World by Bronwyn Lea

What Defines an Intimate Relationship? by Dr. Juli Slattery (blog)

Q&A: What is the Purpose of My Sexuality as a Single? w/Dr. Juli Slattery

Q&A: How Can I Tell The Difference Between Sexual Desire And A Desire For Intimacy? w/Dr. Juli Slattery

Surrendered Sexuality: How Knowing Jesus Changes . . . Everything by Dr. Juli Slattery

Follow Bronwyn at @bronwyn_lea

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

Juli unpacks four of the most common (and subtle) lies we believe about sex, desire, and compatibility. From "sex is about expressing myself" to "the best sex is compatible sex," they explore how these ideas shape our relationships—and how God invites you into something deeper.

If you've ever felt stuck, confused, or distant from God because of sexuality, pull up a chair—this conversation is for you.

Co-hosts: Hannah Nitz and Joe Caruso

Leave us a rating & review in your favorite podcast app.

Follow-up Resources:

Surrendered Sexuality by Dr. Juli Slattery

God, Sex, and Your Marriage by Dr. Juli Slattery

Follow Authentic Intimacy at @authenticintimacy

Follow Hannah Nitz @hannahnitz

Follow Joe at @joecaruso06