We’re back in the new year and starting off strong sharing a second marriage story! Despite what you may think, you and your spouse have a marriage story—one worth reflecting on and considering sharing. Be inspired by Phillip and Whitney Gable, a WinShape Marriage Host Couple, as they share their marriage story on today’s episode of The WinShape Marriage Podcast. They talk openly and vulnerably about how the Lord captivated each of their hearts, ultimately leading to transformation in their marriage. There isn’t a nice, neat bow at the end of this episode—instead an encouragement that God is still working and still writing their story, even in the present. How is he doing the same for you?

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Links:

Marriage Discipleship https://marriage.winshape.org/discipleship/

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

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Relevant Episodes:

A Marriage Story: The Robys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXYJcpoRH0Q&t=2s

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Happy New Year's Eve from WinShape Marriage! Solidify a 2026 goal—become more like Christ. How would this impact your marriage? As you prepare for a new year ahead, listen back to this REPLAY episode, Growing Your Relationship With God and Your Spouse in 2025,—it all still applies for 2026! And, stay tuned for a brand-new episode next week featuring a marriage story you don’t want to miss. Happy New Year!

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REPLAY: Spiritual formation is a “fancy” term that basically means being on a journey of becoming more and more like Jesus. What if your only goal in 2025 was to become more like Him? How would that impact your marriage for the better? Marlee Arnold sits down with Jeremy Marshall, senior manager of learning and development at WinShape Foundation. Together, they discuss what it means to encourage your spouse in their individual faith journey, how you and your spouse might relate to God differently, and what it means to spiritually lead in your marriage. There’s nothing more fundamental to your marriage relationship than your relationship with God and how that impacts your marriage. Tune into this enlightening conversation.

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Time Stamps:

(1:14) Introduction to Jeremy Marshall and his role at the WinShape Foundation

(2:45) What is spiritual formation?

(4:10) Where does spiritual formation intersect with becoming one with your spouse in marriage?

(7:05) How can you support your spouse on their individual spiritual formation journey?

(14:10) What does it look like to grow together spiritually in your marriage?

(20:00) What is, “Sacred Pathways?”

(24:54) What is spiritual leadership and how does that terminology sit with Jeremy as a husband of 22 years

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Links:

“Sacred Pathways” https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Pathways-Discover-Your-Souls/dp/0310329884

Spiritual Pathways Assessment https://groupleaders.org/curriculum-feed/spiritual-pathways-activity#personal-assessment

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

Pastor & Ministry Leader Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/ministry-retreats/

The Journey https://marriage.winshape.org/journey/

Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2025/01/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep14.pdf

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Relevant Episodes:

What Does Spiritual Leadership Mean, Anyway? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7g0T2-8izo&t=57s

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Merry Christmas Eve from WinShape Marriage! If you’ve never listened to our most popular podcast episode, now’s your chance. In lieu of a new episode today, catch this REPLAY episode, How To Love Your Spouse Well, with the one and only Dr. Gary Chapman! We hope this Christmas season has been joyous and peace filled, and we can’t wait to catch you back here in the new year for new episodes.

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REPLAY: What’s your love language? What’s your spouse’s? To kick off season two of The WinShape Marriage Podcast, Marlee Arnold talks to the author of The New York Times Best Seller, “The 5 Love Languages,” Dr. Gary Chapman. Not only do they break down The 5 Love Languages, but they talk about how to utilize them to enhance your marriage. Even if you are a love language fanatic, or you know nothing about them at all, you’ll definitely learn something in this episode that will help you be a better spouse this week.

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Time Stamps:

(1:41) What first inspired Dr. Chapman to step into the marriage and family space and eventually write, “The 5 Love Languages”

(7:27) Acts of service

(8:10) Receiving gifts

(10:20) Quality time

(13:00) Words of affirmation

(14:21) Physical touch

(17:00) What does it mean to love your spouse well based on their love language

(21:37) Are you only supposed to love your spouse via their primary love language?

(23:45) Is there any correlation to the love languages you received or didn’t receive growing up that contributes to your love language?

(25:17) How Dr. Chapman responds to criticism of The 5 Love Languages...“My spouse doesn’t love me well...they never...”

(29:29) How The 5 Love Languages influenced other work by Dr. Chapman

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Links:

The 5 Love Languages https://5lovelanguages.com/

1 John 3:18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%203%3A18&version=ESV

1 John 4:19 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20John%204%3A19&version=ESV

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

90 Date Ideas for Couples https://marriage.winshape.org/resource/90-date-ideas-for-couples/

WinShape Marriage Retreats https://marriage.winshape.org/retreats/

Spark deeper conversation with your spouse related to the episode with our free discussion questions. https://marriage.winshape.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/09/WSMPodcastDiscussionQuestions-S2Ep1.pdf

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Marriage expectations—a phrase that can trip couples up from time to time. What does it mean to have marriage expectations? Is this biblical? How do you and your fiancé and/or spouse have healthy conversations around marriage expectations? We dive into these questions and more on today’s episode of The WinShape Marriage Podcast. Genee Francis, returning guest and assistant director of content and programming at WinShape Marriage, joins Marlee Arnold. Discussions surrounding marriage expectations don’t have to be difficult. Tune into this episode for enlightening tips on how to navigate this topic in your own relationship.

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Time Stamps:

(1:00) Genee Francis' background

(1:57) Defining the term—marriage expectations

(4:39) What are some legitimate biblical marriage expectations?

(6:20) What are some unrealistic marriage expectations?

(8:36) Is this considered a “small” expectation, or does this carry more weight?

(13:11) How do you begin a conversation around marriage expectations in a healthy way?

(18:30) How do you approach having mismatched expectations?

(21:25) Is it OK to have nonnegotiable expectations in marriage?

(24:00) What do you do when one spouse is falling short on upholding agreed upon expectations?

(28:56) What is the biggest thing that trips couples up related to marriage expectations?

(30:53) One key takeaway from this conversation

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Links:

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

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Are you and your spouse fostering an emotionally safe environment in your marriage and in your home by extension? What does this actually mean? On today’s episode of The WinShape Marriage Podcast, Dr. Joshua Straub joins Marlee Arnold to unpack this conversation. Dr. Straub is an author, speaker, and podcaster, and he and his wife Christi founded Famous at Home. These two phrases—emotional safety and “being famous at home”—are the focal point of today’s discussion. In short, emotional safety is when you feel like you can be fully yourself without getting shut down or punished for it. So, do you feel that in your marriage you can express yourself without fear or judgement? And are you and your spouse creating space for your children to do the same? Learn how to take one or two practical steps forward in this space by listening to this detailed and enriching conversation.

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Time Stamps:

(1:11) Dr. Joshua Straub’s background

(4:33) What is emotional safety?

(9:29) How do you foster an emotionally safe environment in your marriage, first?

(17:03) What is a first step to creating an emotionally safe environment in your home? Where do you start?

(23:36) Dr. Straub shares a personal example of how he has created an emotionally safe environment in his family

(36:39) Why is it important to be “famous at home?”

(40:30) What is a first step to making sure that you’re prioritizing your family above outside noise?

(45:04) What are some consequences of not fostering an emotionally safe environment in your home?

(49:34) One key takeaway from this conversation

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Links:

Dr. Joshua Straub https://joshuastraub.com/

Famous at Home https://www.famousathome.com/

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What does the enneagram have to do with marriage? Jeff and Beth McCord, cofounders of Your Enneagram Coach, join Marlee Arnold on today’s episode of The WinShape Marriage Podcast. For those unfamiliar with the enneagram and to serve as a refresher for others, they spend part of the conversation providing an overview of the enneagram and how Your Enneagram Coach began as well as breaking down some of the criticisms of the enneagram. The latter half of the conversation is devoted to how the enneagram can be used as a tool for transformation in marriage. According to the McCords, the enneagram is one avenue to helping you understand why you think and behave the way you do. However, it is the gospel of Jesus Christ that ultimately brings any healing and transformation to yourself and your marriage. Don’t miss this interesting conversation!

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Time Stamps:

(1:17) Jeff and Beth McCord’s background

(4:58) A quick overview of the nine enneagram types

(9:40) Detailing the origin of Your Enneagram Coach

(16:58) Understanding some criticisms of the enneagram

(18:50) Discussing the origin of the enneagram

(21:46) How much weight should you give your enneagram number

(26:25) How a spouse’s enneagram number can affect their marriage relationship

(41:07) What if you and your spouse have the same enneagram number

(45:38) One key takeaway from this conversation

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Links:

Your Enneagram Coach https://www.yourenneagramcoach.com/

9 Enneagram Types https://www.yourenneagramcoach.com/coremotivations

Should Christians Use the Enneagram? https://www.yourenneagramcoach.com/origins

Improve Your Marriage Using the Tools of the Enneagram and the Truth of the Gospel https://www.becomingus.com/

WinShape Marriage Website https://marriage.winshape.org/

WinShape Marriage Instagram https://www.instagram.com/winshapemarriage/

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