Episode 66 - Why So Many Relationships Fail Before They Begin: How to Build a Relationship That Lasts

Episode 67 - Communication: An Interview with Dr. Laura Sicola

In this episode of The Wedding Chaplain Podcast, David Anderson talks with Dr. Laura Sicola about one of the most important foundations of a healthy marriage: communication. Dr. Sicola is a leadership communication and influence coach, author of Speaking to Influence: Mastering Your Leadership Voice, host of the podcast Speaking to Influence: Communication Secrets of the C-Suite, and a TEDx speaker whose talk is titled "Want to Sound Like a Leader?" Start by Saying Your Name Right has been viewed millions of times. In addition to her work with leaders, executives, and organizations, Dr. Sicola and her husband also lead communication workshops for engaged and married couples in churches throughout the Philadelphia region. This conversation helps engaged couples think carefully about the way they use words, tone, body language, and listening as they prepare for marriage. Wedding planning often brings major decisions, family expectations, financial conversations, and emotional pressure to the surface. Dr. Sicola explains how couples can communicate with more clarity, confidence, respect, and connection in the middle of those conversations. David and Laura also discuss the gap between what one person thinks they said and what the other person actually heard, how small communication habits can create closeness or tension, and why healthy communication before marriage can shape the daily rhythm of married life. Whether you are engaged, newly married, or simply wanting to communicate better with the person you love, this episode offers practical wisdom for building trust one conversation at a time. For Laura Sicola's social media accounts, please find them all linked below: Website: https://laurasicola.com/ [https://laurasicola.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlaurasicola/ [https://www.facebook.com/drlaurasicola/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlaurasicola/ [https://www.instagram.com/drlaurasicola/] X: https://twitter.com/LauraSicola [https://twitter.com/LauraSicola] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola/] YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWri2F_hhGQpMcD97DctJwA [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWri2F_hhGQpMcD97DctJwA] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laurasicola [https://www.tiktok.com/@laurasicola] David Anderson's Linktree Profile [https://linktr.ee/chaplaindave] The Wedding Chaplain Website [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/] Pick up a copy of David's Book, Before God and These Witnesses, today: https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses- [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Community/dp/1662876270. [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Find the Wedding Chaplain on social media: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/theweddingchaplain/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wedding_chaplain/] X [https://x.com/weddingchaplain] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmandersonjr/] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/theweddingchaplain/] Sponsor: EWed Insurance [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/wedding-insurance]

Episode 66 - Why So Many Relationships Fail Before They Begin: How to Build a Relationship That Lasts

In Part Two of David Anderson's conversation with Dr. Freda, the focus shifts from finding love to sustaining it. David shares practical wisdom from years of marriage ministry and explains why healthy relationships require intentional communication, ongoing dating, shared purpose, and emotional honesty. The conversation explores second marriages, healing after divorce, relationship expectations, and the habits couples need to maintain a connection after the wedding day is over. David also explains his "Four Rules for Dating" and why many couples stop pursuing each other after marriage. In this episode, we discuss: * Why couples must continue dating after marriage * The emotional "crash" many couples experience after the wedding * The importance of shared purpose and mission in a relationship * How to avoid turning marriage into event management * Why communication habits matter more than grand gestures * The role of service, faith, and shared goals in lasting relationships * How to know if you are truly ready to date again after divorce * David's practical rules for healthy dating and engagement Whether you are dating, engaged, remarried, or simply trying to strengthen your relationship, this episode offers practical insights for building a partnership that grows deeper over time. For Dr Freda's social media accounts, please find them all linked below: https://www.thedrfreda.com/ [https://www.thedrfreda.com/] https://www.facebook.com/fredrikauatkins [https://www.facebook.com/fredrikauatkins] https://www.instagram.com/dr_freda_coaching [https://www.instagram.com/dr_freda_coaching] to watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/d5r9O5YEOMQ?si=OWryuteY4iqvqv3T [https://youtu.be/d5r9O5YEOMQ?si=OWryuteY4iqvqv3T] David Anderson's Linktree Profile [https://linktr.ee/chaplaindave] The Wedding Chaplain Website [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/] Pick up a copy of David's Book, Before God and These Witnesses, today: https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses- [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Community/dp/1662876270. [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Find the Wedding Chaplain on social media: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/theweddingchaplain/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wedding_chaplain/] X [https://x.com/weddingchaplain] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmandersonjr/] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/theweddingchaplain/] Sponsor: EWed Insurance [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/wedding-insurance]

Episode 65 - Why So Many Relationships Fail Before They Begin: Love, Timing, and the Truth About Relationships Before Marriage

In this episode of The Wedding Chaplain Podcast, David Anderson joins Dr. Freda for a deep and honest conversation about dating, marriage, divorce, and emotional maturity. Together, they explore why so many people rush into relationships before truly understanding themselves and how culture, family history, and unresolved wounds shape the way we love. David shares his own personal story of marrying young, navigating divorce, and what he learned after years of working with more than 1,800 couples preparing for marriage. The discussion dives into why age, time, emotional clarity, and purpose matter more than chemistry alone. In this episode, we discuss: * Why relationships formed too quickly often struggle in the long term * The importance of emotional maturity before marriage * How divorce and broken family systems affect future relationships * Why college relationships sometimes collapse in "real life." * The danger of using relationships to heal unresolved pain * How family patterns and generational habits repeat themselves * Knowing your purpose matters before choosing a partner * The difference between attraction and compatibility This conversation is honest, thoughtful, and deeply practical for singles, engaged couples, divorced individuals, and anyone trying to build healthier relationships moving forward. For Dr Freda's social media accounts, please find them all linked below: https://www.thedrfreda.com/ [https://www.thedrfreda.com/] https://www.facebook.com/fredrikauatkins [https://www.facebook.com/fredrikauatkins] https://www.instagram.com/dr_freda_coaching [https://www.instagram.com/dr_freda_coaching] To watch this on YouTube: https://youtu.be/d5r9O5YEOMQ?si=OWryuteY4iqvqv3T [https://youtu.be/d5r9O5YEOMQ?si=OWryuteY4iqvqv3T] David Anderson's Linktree Profile [https://linktr.ee/chaplaindave] The Wedding Chaplain Website [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/] Pick up a copy of David's Book, Before God and These Witnesses, today: https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses- [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Community/dp/1662876270. [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Find the Wedding Chaplain on social media: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/theweddingchaplain/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wedding_chaplain/] X [https://x.com/weddingchaplain] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmandersonjr/] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/theweddingchaplain/] Sponsor: EWed Insurance [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/wedding-insurance]

Episode 64 - Five Questions Engaged Couples Need to Wrestle With: An Interview with Kyle Colavitti

Our guest today is Kyle Colavitti. Kyle started out as an actress/writer/director, but once she had kids, she wanted to be home with them and to use her own words and experiences to help people. She and her husband have been married for 22 years, and they have two teenage boys. She likes to say she is a world-class hopeful romantic and to talk to couples about marriage being a marathon… not a sprint. Through her talks and work with couples, she has developed five key questions you have to say yes to before you get married. 1. Do I want to have this man's baby? OR Do I want my DNA implanted in this woman to create another human being that we are committing to taking care of and coparenting for the rest of our lives? 2. Will I still love and want this person, and will they love and want me when we are bald, wrinkled, sagging, deaf, having mobility issues, losing our memory, basically, OLD?! 3. Will I be there for this person, and will they be there for me when we are sick or dying? 4. Will this person be there for me when I bury my parents? And will I be there for them? 5. Am I willing to do whatever it takes to work through our problems and issues? Each of these questions gets you right to the heart of what it takes to be in a long-lasting relationship. It is a great conversation. For Kyle Colavitti's social media accounts, please find them all linked below: https://www.kylecolavitti.com/ [https://www.kylecolavitti.com/] https://substack.com/@kylecola [https://substack.com/@kylecola] https://instagram.com/kylecolavitti [https://instagram.com/kylecolavitti] David Anderson's Linktree Profile [https://linktr.ee/chaplaindave] The Wedding Chaplain Website [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/] Pick up a copy of David's Book, Before God and These Witnesses, today: https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses- [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Community/dp/1662876270. [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Find the Wedding Chaplain on social media: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/theweddingchaplain/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wedding_chaplain/] X [https://x.com/weddingchaplain] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmandersonjr/] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/theweddingchaplain/] Sponsor: EWed Insurance [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/wedding-insurance]

Episode 63 - Creating a Blockbuster Love Story: The Purpose

Every great movie follows a familiar arc: a beginning that draws us in, tension that tests the characters, and a purpose that gives the story meaning. Marriage works the same way. In this three-part series, David invites engaged and married couples to step back and view their relationships as love stories still being written. Drawing from a recent marriage retreat, these conversations explore the opening scenes of marriage and why intentional dating keeps the story alive, how conflict functions as a necessary turning point rather than a failure, and why the wedding is only the first scene of a much bigger purpose. Whether you are preparing for marriage or have been married for years, this series offers practical insight, thoughtful reflection, and a renewed vision for building a love story that lasts long after the credits roll. For many couples, the story's goal feels like getting together. The wedding feels like the ending. In this episode, David Anderson invites couples to consider a bigger question: why are we together, and what becomes possible because we are? Using familiar stories and movies, this conversation explores how great love stories always point beyond the couple and why marriage works best when it is about more than happiness alone. You will hear why shared purpose gives meaning to sacrifice, how serving together strengthens relationships, and why couples need something they are working toward together. This episode is a powerful closing conversation for engaged couples and a meaningful reset for married couples who want their relationship to be about more than just getting by. To download the Script Workbook that goes along with the sessions, click here: https://www.fbcmassillon.org/_files/ugd/188bab_242573815bd64edd977e0fe302666811.pdf [https://www.fbcmassillon.org/_files/ugd/188bab_242573815bd64edd977e0fe302666811.pdf] David Anderson's Linktree Profile [https://linktr.ee/chaplaindave] The Wedding Chaplain Website [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/] Pick up a copy of David's Book, Before God and These Witnesses, today: https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses- [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Community/dp/1662876270. [https://www.amazon.com/Before-God-These-Witnesses-%20Community/dp/1662876270.] Find the Wedding Chaplain on social media: Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/theweddingchaplain/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wedding_chaplain/] X [https://x.com/weddingchaplain] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidmandersonjr/] Pinterest [https://www.pinterest.com/theweddingchaplain/] Sponsor: EWed Insurance [https://www.weddingchaplain.com/wedding-insurance]