Marriage, Suffering, and Lasting Hope

Mistakes That Push Kids Away

Monica Hinderer joins Doug to discuss ways parents lose their children without realizing it.   Listener questions and comments: * Lucy - I have an 18-year-old and 20-year-old and I caught them drinking. What do I do? (8:44) * Monica - My children have cut me off because of a divorce. They are influenced by their father on this. (19:42) * Shirley - Comment about drinking: you can't forget that the parents are responsible as the parents and could get sued or get in trouble. (25:32) * Akilah - I have a 19-year-old and when she turned 18 she decided that she would leave the house whenever, and she would ignore curfews. But she still lives at home when she is back from college. What should I do? (36:11) * Sherry - I have two sons who are 33 and 36 and we are in the process of trying to sell the farm to one of them and the other isn’t happy. What should we do? (43:50)   Resources: Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus https://relevantradio.com/2026/06/prayer-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/ [https://relevantradio.com/2026/06/prayer-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/]   Ways parents lose their children without realizing it. 1. They guilt their kids into staying close 2. They turn every conversation into a criticism

Impact of Attachment Styles (Part 2)

Doug continues his discussion on childhood attachment wounds and how they can negatively impact your marriage. Today, he looks at anxious and disorganized attachment strategies.   Listener questions and comments: * John - My wife doesn't like talking about difficult topics and she just wants me to listen but I want to fix. its effecting our communication. (24:20) * Angel - My fiancé was an orphan raised by his uncle and was very spoiled. He has a very entitled attitude. What should I do? (26:31)   Resources: Impact of Attachment Styles (Part 1) https://relevantradio.com/2026/06/impact-of-attachment-styles/ [https://relevantradio.com/2026/06/impact-of-attachment-styles/]   Emotionally Focused Therapy https://iceeft.com/ [https://iceeft.com/]     Signs of an anxious attachment style 1. Tendency to be very clingy 2. Highly sensitive to criticism 3. Need for approval from others 4. Tendency to be very jealous 5. Hard time being alone 6. Tendency for having low self esteem 7. Feel unworthy of love 8. Intense fear of rejection   Signs of a disorganized attachment style 1. Fear of rejection 2. Difficulty regulating emotions 3. Contradictory behavior 4. High level of anxiety 5. Substance abuse and self-harm 6. Unpredictable and confusing behavior in relationships 7. Perceive spouses to be unpredictable

Impact of Attachment Styles

Doug begins Part 1 of looking into childhood attachment wounds and how they can negatively impact your marriage.   Listener questions and comments: * Natalie - How can I create a secure attachment style in friendship? (38:29) * Julia - What is advice for a couple when one of them has problems and they blame the other? (46:58)   Resources: Emotionally Focused Therapy https://iceeft.com/ [https://iceeft.com/]   Secure attachment style 1. Ability to regulate your emotions 2. Easily trust others 3. Effective communication skills 4. The ability to seek emotional support 5. You are comfortable being alone 6. Comfortable in close relationships 7. Ability to self-reflect 8. Easy to connect with 9. Ability to manage conflict well 10. High self-esteem 11. Ability to be emotionally available   Avoidant attachment style 1. Persistently avoid emotional or physical intimacy 2. Strong sense of independence 3. Uncomfortable expressing your feelings 4. Tendency to be dismissive of others 5. Difficulty trusting others 6. Tend to be threatened by people getting to close 7. Spend more time alone 8. They believe they don’t need others 9. Tendency to have commitment issues

Intimacy and Eternity

Deacon Patrick Conley joins Doug to discuss his faith journey that led him to the Deaconate. Doug also goes to the mailbag. What can a couple do if the husband is no longer physically able to fulfill his role in the bedroom?   Listener questions and comments:   * Joan – Congratulations to Deacon Patrick Conley! (9:12)   Resources: NaPro Technology https://naprotechnology.com/ [https://naprotechnology.com/]

Prioritizing Your Spouse

Doug continues his discussion on how cognitive distortions harm marriages. He also shares how to not resent a husband for spending too much time at work. Plus: The Friday rant!   Listener questions and comments: * Michael - My wife’s therapist confirmed that my wife’s feelings were reality even when it wasn’t the truth and I had to fight him on that. (16:50) * David - I am civilly divorced but married in the Church. I am wondering if the marriage was valid or not from the beginning. (22:04)   Resources: Cognitive Distortions in Marriage https://relevantradio.com/2026/06/cognitive-distortions-in-marriage/ [https://relevantradio.com/2026/06/cognitive-distortions-in-marriage/]   Marriage Unhindered https://www.marriageunhindered.com/marriage-tune-up [https://www.marriageunhindered.com/marriage-tune-up]