Expedition Marriage Christian marriage and relationship podcast with Chris & Jamie Bailey, marriage coaches

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Welcome to the Expedition Marriage Podcast! We’re glad you’re here! We’re Chris and Jamie Bailey, Christian marriage coaches who each hold a master’s degree in professional counseling, with over 20 years helping couples build Christ-centered marriages.We’re here to help you put God at the center of your marriage by sharing solid biblical truth along with practical marriage tips. So no matter where you are in your marriage, start getting excited — because we’re here to help you have joy in your marriage!

Why can two people deeply love each other and still feel completely disconnected—emotionally or sexually? And why is sex still something so many Christian couples struggle to talk about? Today we're joined by licensed marriage and family therapist George Faller, founder of the New York Center for Emotionally Focused Therapy and coauthor of Brave Love, Great Sex. Before becoming a therapist, George served as a lieutenant in the New York City Fire Department, including during 9/11. And interestingly, that experience still shapes the way he approaches struggling marriages today: Instead of running away from the fire, learn how to move toward it. George helps us understand the attachment patterns operating both inside and outside the bedroom—and why what looks like anger, withdrawal, rejection, pressure, or defensiveness may actually be a signal pointing toward a deeper need for connection. We're talking about: * Why emotional and sexual connection can't be separated * The attachment needs underneath conflict * Why some spouses protest while others withdraw * How self-protection creates negative cycles * Why emotions are information—not problems * How vulnerability creates connection * Why rejection can create sexual anxiety * Why repair matters more than never getting it wrong * Why Christian couples need to get better at talking about sex * How shame and purity-culture messages can follow us into marriage * Why great sex isn't primarily about performance * The importance of sexual communication * Why pressure can shut down desire * How pain and chronic illness affect sexual intimacy * Why mismatched desire doesn't mean you can't have a fulfilling sex life * What can happen to intimacy after 50 * George's four-step process for building a new cycle of connection * How couples who have been disconnected for years can begin finding their way back One of our favorite reminders from this conversation: The goal isn't perfection. It's connection and repair. If you've been avoiding conversations about emotional or sexual intimacy because they feel uncomfortable, this episode is an invitation to choose the discomfort that can actually take your marriage somewhere better. Because you don't have to stay stuck in the same cycle forever. 00:00 Meet George Fowler 00:55 From Firehouse to Therapy 03:47 Challenge Response Mindset 04:17 Why Brave Sex Talk Matters 05:48 Attachment Hats Explained 07:15 Sex as Connection System 09:34 When Touch Disappears 10:32 Pursue Withdraw Bedroom Swap 13:08 New Moves Replace Cycles 16:11 Signals Curiosity Caregiving 18:00 Vulnerability and Repair Skills 20:57 Best Sex Talk Questions 22:11 Purity Culture Fallout 23:11 Research on Great Lovers 24:10 Orgasm Gap and Anatomy 25:39 No Pressure Just Healing 27:24 Desire Gap and Better Sex 30:08 Connection Over Performance 30:43 Passion That Grows 33:07 Afterglow and Oxytocin 34:44 Chronic Pain and Brakes 37:50 Four Rs for Safety 39:52 Breaking the Cycle Together 41:24 Choose the Hard Conversation 42:14 Book Release and Farewell Get George's book, Brave Love, Great Sex: Harnessing Attachment Theory for Passionate Relationships today - https://a.co/d/07GAsF8U #ChristianMarriage #MarriageIntimacy #SexlessMarriage #MarriageAdvice #EmotionalIntimacy #MarriageCommunication #ChristianMarriageAdvice __________ At Expedition Marriage, our mission is simple — to help couples build healthy, Christ-centered marriages that reflect God's design and bring Him glory. As Christian marriage coaches, each with a master's degree in professional counseling, we're passionate about equipping husbands and wives with the biblical truth, practical tools, and encouragement they need to thrive, not just survive in marriage. Through our weekly podcast, online courses, marriage coaching, and our Newlywed Couples Devotional, we walk alongside couples who want to: *Strengthen connection and communication *Restore hope in hurting seasons *Grow together to become more like Christ *Learn to love one another the way Jesus loves us Whether you're newly married or decades in, we're here to remind you that marriage is a sacred journey. One meant to be enjoyed and continually refined by God's grace. Need help for your marriage? Reach out to us to learn more about our marriage coaching options at https://expeditionmarriage.org/marriage Want to Join our 30 Day Praying for your Spouse Challenge? Wives- Pray for your husbands https://expeditionmarriage.org/30-day-praying-for-your-husband-challenge/ Husbands- Pray for your wives https://expeditionmarriage.org/30-day-praying-for-your-wife-challenge/ *Disclaimer: The information discussed here is for educational and encouragement purposes only. It is not therapy or counseling, and it is not a substitute for working with a licensed mental health professional. If you're facing a mental health crisis or a clinical issue, please seek help from a licensed provider in your area.
God Designed Sex for Connection—So Why Aren't Christians Talking About It
What do you do when your kids make choices you don’t agree with or that aren’t good for them? That’s our discussion on this episode! Check it out!
When your kids go astray. New episode! #christianparents #christianmarriage
There comes a point in parenting when you realize something terrifying: You can’t control your kids anymore. They choose their own friends. They date people you may not choose. They make decisions about alcohol, sex, relationships, college, marriage, and eventually even their faith. So what do you do when you can see where a decision might lead, but you can’t stop your child from making it? In this episode, Chris and Jamie talk honestly about one of the hardest transitions in parenting: moving from control to influence. They share from their own parenting journey, their own stories of wandering far from God, and the biblical hope we have when a child’s current chapter looks nothing like the ending we prayed for. In this episode: * Why control becomes an illusion as our children get older * Why Proverbs 22:6 is wisdom—not a guarantee * What Lois, Eunice, and Timothy teach us about sincere faith * How Deuteronomy 6 changes the way we disciple our children * Why good parenting doesn't guarantee good choices * The danger of both pride and shame in parenting * Why repentance may be one of the most powerful things your children see you do * How to move from controlling your kids to influencing them * Why curiosity works better than criticism * How to talk about a relationship you don't approve of * What to do when your child questions or walks away from Christianity * Why natural consequences can sometimes be necessary * What the Prodigal Son teaches us about letting go without giving up * How to remain heartbroken and hope-filled * Why your child's current chapter isn't necessarily their final chapter And Jamie shares the powerful true story of a mother who prayed for her estranged son for decades—and eventually watched him come home to both her and Jesus. Your job isn't to control every chapter of your child's story. Plant faithfully.Live your faith sincerely.Speak truth in love.Keep the door open.Keep praying. And trust the God who loves your child even more than you do. 00:00 Parenting Control Illusion 01:07 Kids Growing Independence 01:56 When Choices Scare You 05:03 Fear Versus Trust 06:39 Proverbs Not Promise 08:00 Faith Not Checkbox 09:20 But God Redemption Stories 12:32 Hope For Wandering Kids 14:48 Sincere Faith Witness 16:29 Shema Daily Discipleship 19:56 Pride Shame Repentance 22:39 Grace And Truth Approach 23:38 Emotional Entrenchment 24:20 Love With Boundaries 25:32 Teaching Wise Decisions 27:32 Let Consequences Teach 28:28 From Rules To Benefit 30:24 Curiosity Not Judgment 33:25 Faith Doubts And Deconstruction 38:54 Mission Field At Home 40:35 Prodigal Son Hope 45:09 Prayer And Final Charge __________ At Expedition Marriage, our mission is simple — to help couples build healthy, Christ-centered marriages that reflect God's design and bring Him glory. As Christian marriage coaches, each with a master's degree in professional counseling, we're passionate about equipping husbands and wives with the biblical truth, practical tools, and encouragement they need to thrive, not just survive in marriage. Through our weekly podcast, online courses, marriage coaching, and our Newlywed Couples Devotional, we walk alongside couples who want to: *Strengthen connection and communication *Restore hope in hurting seasons *Grow together to become more like Christ *Learn to love one another the way Jesus loves us Whether you're newly married or decades in, we're here to remind you that marriage is a sacred journey. One meant to be enjoyed and continually refined by God's grace. Need help for your marriage? Reach out to us to learn more about our marriage coaching options at https://expeditionmarriage.org/marriage Want to Join our 30 Day Praying for your Spouse Challenge? Wives- Pray for your husbands https://expeditionmarriage.org/30-day-praying-for-your-husband-challenge/ Husbands- Pray for your wives https://expeditionmarriage.org/30-day-praying-for-your-wife-challenge/ *Disclaimer: The information discussed here is for educational and encouragement purposes only. It is not therapy or counseling, and it is not a substitute for working with a licensed mental health professional. If you're facing a mental health crisis or a clinical issue, please seek help from a licensed provider in your area.
When Your Kids Make Choices You Don’t Agree With | Christian Parenting
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Ep. 188: The Marriage Principle Most Couples Ignore

Jul 9, 2026

Learn how the biblical marriage principle of sowing and reaping shapes every marriage. Chris and Jamie explain why healthy marriages don’t happen by accident, how small daily choices create your future relationship, and practical ways to begin planting seeds that lead to lasting connection and restoration.

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Ep. 186: Why So Many Couples End Up Living Like Roommates (And How to Reconnect)

Jun 25, 2026

Feeling more like roommates than spouses? In this episode, Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo share how their marriage nearly ended after years of disconnection and what helped them rebuild intimacy. Learn the six pillars of intimacy, how to identify cracks in your marriage, and practical ways to reconnect emotionally, spiritually, physically, financially, recreationally, and sexually.

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Episode 182: Your Communication Isn’t the Real Problem in Marriage

May 21, 2026

Most couples think their biggest issue is communication. But what if the real problem is what’s happening underneath the communication? In this episode, we unpack the protective patterns that sabotage connection in marriage. The escalation. The defensiveness. The shutdown. The criticism. The threats. The emotional spirals. These aren’t random reactions. They’re survival strategies.

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*Disclaimer: The information discussed in this podcast is meant for entertainment purposes and is not meant to replace counseling or working with a trained healthcare professional.