Beyond I Do

The Truth About Lasting Marriages

What happens after the honeymoon phase fades and real life shows up? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Alena Crawley (Dr. Lena) to talk about the real work of marriage. We discuss conflict avoidance, gratitude, sacrifice, personal growth, purpose, and why love alone is not enough to sustain a long-term relationship. This conversation goes beyond surface-level relationship advice. We talk honestly about what it takes to build a marriage that lasts through changing seasons, shifting goals, stress, and everyday life. Some of the topics we cover: * Why unresolved issues always come back * The danger of “back burner” conflict * How gratitude changes relationships * Why marriages feel heavier over time * Growing together without losing yourself * Why purpose matters in marriage * The difference between coaching and therapy * What couples should discuss before getting married This episode is full of practical wisdom, honest conversation, and reminders that healthy marriages are built intentionally.

What Happens When Two Healed People Find Each Other?

In this episode of Beyond I Do, Byron and Margaret sit down with Eric and Carissa, a couple who met in Hawaii, spent a week putting every card on the table, and never looked back. Six months in, they've driven across the country twice, co-founded a business, and are building something most couples take years to find. In this episode: * How they met on the Big Island and decided to be radically honest from day one * Why both did deep personal work before finding each other * The Kaufman Drama Triangle and breaking patterns of external validation * How masculine and feminine energy shows up — and shifts — in their relationship * What three months on the road taught them about each other * Why "how you start a relationship is how you continue it" * Redefining relationship success beyond just staying together What if you stopped waiting to feel safe before showing up as yourself?

Co-Pilots Don't Negotiate, They Collaborate.

Most couples think their problem is communication. It’s not. It’s how they approach decisions, conflict, and responsibility in the relationship. In this episode, we talk with G. Scott Graham about the “co-pilot” mindset—and why most couples are stuck negotiating, avoiding, or forcing outcomes instead of actually working together. We get into: * Why negotiation isn’t the goal in marriage * What “turbulence” looks like in real life * Why couples wait too long to have hard conversations * The difference between love and commitment * The patterns couples fall into (and how to break them) If your relationship feels off but you can’t quite explain why… this conversation will help you see it clearly.

Marriage is Hard. So is Divorce. Which Hard Do You Choose?

What if the secret to a strong marriage isn't avoiding the hard parts, but actually choosing which hard parts you're willing to live with? In this episode, Byron and Margaret sit down with Jason and Christie McMullen, a couple who have been married 26 years and have personally mentored over 100 couples through their church in the Tampa Bay area. What started as a ministry has turned into a movement, and they're bringing it all to the Beyond I Do table. They get into the gym analogy for marriage, why butterflies and bubbles aren't enough to sustain a relationship, and two communication tools that have genuinely changed how couples fight, "clear as kind" and "the story I'm telling myself." They also talk about the difference between men as waffles and women as spaghetti, why timing matters more than most couples realize, and the one rule they implemented in their marriage that eliminated a whole category of arguments. This one is practical, honest, and a little bit funny. You'll want to listen with your spouse. In this episode: * Why love alone won't sustain your marriage * The gym analogy that reframes commitment * "Clear as kind" — how to ask for what you actually need * Golf vs. tennis conversations — and why it matters which one you're having * How to maintain intimacy when life is moving fast * The 10 pm rule and why it works * What "friends of your marriage" are and why you need them

Stop Compromising: How to Find Real Alignment

Dr. Jackie Black has coached over a thousand couples, and she’s clear about one thing: emotional safety is the foundation of real connection. In this conversation, we get into how couples drift apart, how “fine” becomes normal, and why the smallest moments can quietly shut a partner down. We also talk about the difference between therapy and coaching, how to tell the truth without blowing things up, and practical ways to rebuild your “we” without forcing a big date night. In this episode, you’ll hear: * Signs you and your partner may be drifting * Why presence matters more than you think * The 4 daily moments that keep couples connected * Dr. Jackie’s win-win-win model (I win, you win, we win) * Why she says compromise doesn’t belong in marriage—and what to do instead Connect with Dr. Jackie Black: * Website: drjackieblack.com * Instagram: @DrJackieBlack