The Newlywed Show

In order to give you the best content possible, the podcast will be transitioning to a season format instead of a weekly one. Here I explain a little bit of the reasons why, and I can't wait to start publishing episodes again this fall!

It’s Zach’s turn to take the mic as he gives husbands and fathers all the things he wishes he had known before pregnancy and parenthood. Zach takes this episode in three distinct sections: pregnancy, labor and birth, and parenthood. Zach reassures fathers-to-be that changes that occur during pregnancy do go back to normal. Pregnancy brings a lot of changes, and it can feel like your wife isn’t the same person, but don’t worry, she’ll recover and be that person again. He talks about adjusting expectations with your wife’s diminished abilities to keep up with her normal routines and responsibilities. He also emphasizes the importance of helping your wife feel supported. Zach recommends taking some classes or watching birthing videos to prepare for the delivery. He also talks about setting expectations for the birth plan so dad knows how to best support mom, and process anxieties and emotions that can come to new fathers. Zach talks about some Brownie points for new fathers, and planning on how to help your wife with feeling supported post birth, from needing clothes, or how to help baby. For all things Dad-to-Be, check out episode 59!

It’s Zach’s turn to take the mic as he gives husbands and fathers all the things he wishes he had known before pregnancy and parenthood. Zach takes this episode in three distinct sections: pregnancy, labor and birth, and parenthood. Zach reassures fathers-to-be that changes that occur during pregnancy do go back to normal. Pregnancy brings a lot of changes, and it can feel like your wife isn’t the same person, but don’t worry, she’ll recover and be that person again. He talks about...

Grace brings back professional doula, Sofia Jacobsen, to talk about all things postpartum, and introduce Sofia’s new online course. Women are so amazing, and honoring our bodies after creating life is so important. Grace and Sofia cover everything from describing what is happening to the body from an anatomical perspective, to how to help recovery. They discuss the importance of proper nutrition and rest, and how that correlates with anthropological traditions. They also talk about the emotional needs of a mother. Sofia offers tips for communicating more effectively with your spouse. Communicating needs, emotions and even about intimacy can shift after postpartum. Grace and Sofia also discuss getting help from neighbors and in laws and how to communicate if that help is. . . less than helpful. Sofia also talks about the importance of building a support system of professionals. Don’t miss this information packed episode! You can find Sofia on Instagram @themotherseed and at her website themotherseed.com!

Grace welcomes back Dr. Scott Woolley for this week's episode to discuss negative patterns couples develop in dealing with conflict. Dr. Woolley introduces the three main patterns of fighting in marriage, "Find the Bad Guy," "The Protest Polka," and "Freeze and Flee". Grace and Dr. Woolley discuss why being able to identify the patterns in your own marriage allow you to change your perspective, and come together as a couple, or even individually start to address the patterns, to help change behaviors. They discuss how often, fights may seem to be about something surface level, but when actually addressed, can really about something much more vulnerable, such as self-worth, or feeling safe or supported in the relationship. They then discuss how to allow ourselves to become more vulnerable, by acknowledging surface emotions and defense mechanisms, to really address the true problems that cause conflict in a relationship. Dr. Woolley addresses how to ask the right questions about how to change behavior, by figuring out why the fights start, and how to address them differently. He gives ideas for battle plans for couples to work together to improve how they address conflict in their marriage, and cause less hurt during. Grace adds several ideas of conferences, classes or seminars to attend to help boost a couple's skills with these techniques: Hold Me Tight(er) Online Building a Lasting Connection Jeremy Boden’s Newlywed Course

Budgeting can be so hard, with every guru having a different system, and most of them are, well, complicated. This week I convinced Zach to come and share how we simplified and finally found a stable budgeting and saving system we've used for the last year and a half! Feeling in control of our money, and being able to communicate about our finances and savings goals is so helpful! Learn tips for prioritizing your savings goals, so that savings are meaningful, and not just saving to save. Learn tips to help fund your retirement, and diversify your finances a little. To use our referral to get a Capital One credit card, click here. Also, I forgot to mention this on the episode, but if you're looking for an approach to money that is NOT Dave Ramsey, I really like @deeperthanmoneyco on IG! Speaking of, my account is @gracewjensen, come hang out with me! If you enjoyed this episode, PLEASE rate and review on Apple Podcasts! It would mean so much to me!

I give you some fun (mostly) free summer date ideas according to what your spouse's love language is, and I also share a little idea of how to honor Memorial Day if you're feeling a little guilty for not honoring the day more!

What did I do this weekend that got me thinking about family history? What can family history teach you about your spouse? How can it improve your marriage? There's research about how knowing your family history influences you?!

Zach and I share our personal story of how we would get stuck in the criticism/defensiveness spiral with each other and how we got out of it, with a special emphasis on how recognizing your partner's strengths makes a big difference! IG: @gracewjensen Use code GRACE20 at www.meetjovi.com for $20 off!

Dr. Jeremy Boden comes on to discuss how to best navigate political differences within marriage. Links mentioned: https://www.drjeremyboden.com/ https://www.drjeremyboden.com/landing-page www.allsides.com @allsidesnow

One of my favorite pieces of marriage advice to give young couples is, "Don't underestimate the power of liking each other even when you don't love each other!" I tell the story of why this is so important to me, and how it can help you transition out of the honeymoon phase and into mature love. The honeymoon phase and all of it's raging hormones eventually will ebb. I give some tips about how to foster the friendship in your marriage, and bring back the best parts of the honeymoon phase into your mature relationship! Text me at 760-280-6173 to suggest episode ideas (which I might VenMo you some $$ for!) and tell what platform you listen to the podcast on so I can send you the link to each week's episode! Follow me and the podcast on Instagram @GraceWJensen. The article by Tesia Blake mentioned can be found here!

Zach and I snuggle up in an ancient armchair so I can get his live reactions to ten marriage myths and some encouraging marriage statistics! You can keep up with me @gracewjensen on Instagram or by texting me at 760-280-6174. If you text me an episode idea that I end up using I'll VenMo you some $$! The Good News About Marriage: Debunking Discouraging Myths about Marriage and Divorce by Shaunti Feldhahn

In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, I talk about some basics around what infertility is and how common it is, quotes from celebrities addressing various aspects of experiencing it, what the single most important factor is regarding how experiencing infertility will affect your marriage, and how to use the ABC-X model to influence your personal experience of infertility, The blog post I mentioned with different women's stories of having a miscarriage can be found here. Text (760) 280-6174 to give me direct comments and questions about the show and have me text you direct links to each week's episode! I also have decided to combine the podcast and my personal Instagram, so find it all @GraceWJensen!

Chelsea Petersen, couples therapist and owner of Cache Valley Counseling, describes how to re-ignite "pretty good" marriages, how marriages go stale, how to help a friend or family member struggling in their marriage, and different myths around couples counseling. Cache Valley Counseling Website Cultivating Connections Workshop 10 Ways to Fire Up The Attention, Passion, & Desire In Your Lackluster Partner Social Media: Instagram @cachevalleycounseling Facebook facebook.com/cachevalleycounseling

Chelsea Petersen, couples therapist and owner of Cache Valley Counseling, talks about how couples fall out of love, why she became a couples therapist, how to know when its time to go to therapy, which spouse usually reaches out first, and the role of sex in a committed relationship. Cache Valley Counseling Website Cultivating Connections Workshop 10 Ways to Fire Up The Attention, Passion, & Desire In Your Lackluster Partner Social Media: Instagram @cachevalleycounseling Facebook facebook.com/cachevalleycounseling

I have thought about the content of this episode for a loooong time! Zach and I discuss both practical things to talk about as a couple before deciding to try to get pregnant, and what we wish we had known ahead of time about how pregnancy would challenge our relationship.

Zach and I discuss six VERY common pieces of marriage advice-that are actually terrible! Why are they terrible? Do they have any kernels of truth in them?

Hello, I have missed you! We will back with our regularly scheduled Wednesday episodes March 24th, but in the meantime listen for a few updates!