Marriage is a Joke: Recent Episodes
Elaine and Abe Romero
Marriage is a Joke: The FUN Marriage Podcast, is dedicated to discussing real marriage issues with a sense of humor! Let’s agree that marriage can be funny, and we all need a laugh from time to time. Join Elaine Romero, LMFT, licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and her hubbie Abe Romero, lifetime jokester, for a fun but informative podcast on marriage. They will discuss how to cope with the hard parts but also how to have fun in this beautiful but crazy relationship called marriage!
You’re sitting on the same couch.
You’re technically “spending time together.”
But one of you is watching reels and the other is 47 videos deep into something you don’t even remember searching for. 😂
Social media isn’t the enemy..we LOVE it! It connects us, entertains us, teaches us things, and gives us plenty to laugh about together.
But when does a helpful tool start hijacking our connection?
On this episode of Marriage Is a Joke, Abe and Elaine are talking about:
📱 Doom-scrolling instead of connecting
😂 Sending reels instead of actually talking
👀 Comparing your very real marriage to everyone else’s highlight reel
🚩 Taking TikTok or IG relationship advice a little too seriously
💬 DMs, old flames, and why online boundaries matter when you’re married
😵💫 The difference between relaxing on your phone and completely checking out
Plus, we share practical ways to enjoy social media WITHOUT letting it take over your marriage.
Our bottom line?
❤️ Use technology to turn TOWARD each other..not away from each other.
🎙️ Listen to the latest episode of Marriage Is a Joke wherever you get your podcasts!
MarriageIsAJoke #MarriagePodcast #MarriageTips #HealthyMarriage #Couples #RelationshipTips #MarriageTherapy #CouplesTherapy #SocialMediaAndMarriage #RelationshipPodcast #MarriageHumor #EFT #GottmanMethod #SafeHarborCounselingCenter
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/marriage-is-a-joke--5661497/support.
🎧 Marriage is a Joke Podcast
Real talk. Real marriage. No filters.
Where humor meets hard truths—and love shows up even when life gets messy.
If this episode resonated with you, don't just listen… be part of it.
💙 Join our Supporters Club
Get exclusive content, behind-the-scenes moments, deeper conversations, and help us keep this podcast going strong.
👉 Join now and support real conversations about real marriage.
📲 Stay connected with us:
Instagram: @marriage.isajoke
Instagram (Therapy & Counseling): @shcounseling
Facebook: facebook.com/shcounseling
❤️ Because marriage isn't always perfect…
…but it's always worth showing up for.
Have you ever gone to bed exhausted…not because of everything you did, but because of everything you had to think about?
The appointments. The groceries. The school forms. The family calendar. The birthday gifts. The emotional health of the kids. Planning ahead. Remembering the little things. Worrying about the big things.
Research suggests that many wives carry a larger share of the invisible mental and emotional load of family life. In this episode of Marriage Is a Joke, Elaine and Abe dive into why that happens, how it affects marriages, and why this conversation matters.
This isn’t an episode about blaming husbands or keeping score. It’s about understanding each other better.
Abe shares an important perspective, too: sometimes wives are carrying responsibilities they don’t actually have to carry. Together, we talk about how couples can have honest conversations about expectations, recognize the invisible work that’s happening behind the scenes, and find healthier ways to share the load.
If you’ve ever felt mentally exhausted and wondered, “Why am I thinking about everything?”—you’re not alone.
Join us as we unpack the research, share plenty of laughs, introduce our favorite “clipboard” metaphor, and offer practical ideas to help couples become better teammates instead of opponents.
🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts, and if this episode resonates with you, share it with your spouse or someone you love.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/marriage-is-a-joke--5661497/support.
🎧 Marriage is a Joke Podcast
Real talk. Real marriage. No filters.
Where humor meets hard truths—and love shows up even when life gets messy.
If this episode resonated with you, don't just listen… be part of it.
💙 Join our Supporters Club
Get exclusive content, behind-the-scenes moments, deeper conversations, and help us keep this podcast going strong.
👉 Join now and support real conversations about real marriage.
📲 Stay connected with us:
Instagram: @marriage.isajoke
Instagram (Therapy & Counseling): @shcounseling
Facebook: facebook.com/shcounseling
❤️ Because marriage isn't always perfect…
…but it's always worth showing up for.
What is it about vacations that can turn loving couples into exhausted enemies in matching T-shirts?
In this episode of Marriage is a Joke, we unpack why travel can bring out the BEST… and WORST… in marriage. From airport stress and different vacation expectations to overstimulation, spending tension, and “vacation versions” of ourselves showing up, we’re talking about the real reasons couples fight on trips.
We also share one of OUR vacation fights at Disneyland. 😅
In this episode:
✈️ Why vacations amplify stress and attachment needs
🎢 Planner vs spontaneous spouse dynamics
🧠 The “parts” of us that show up while traveling (IFS style)
❤️ How a reset tool can save a trip
☀️ Questions couples SHOULD ask before vacation
😂 And why sometimes all your marriage really needs is snacks and electrolytes
Because honestly…
A vacation doesn’t create problems. It reveals and amplifies them.
The goal isn’t a perfect trip.
It’s learning how to stay connected inside the stress.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/marriage-is-a-joke--5661497/support.
🎧 Marriage is a Joke Podcast
Real talk. Real marriage. No filters.
Where humor meets hard truths—and love shows up even when life gets messy.
If this episode resonated with you, don't just listen… be part of it.
💙 Join our Supporters Club
Get exclusive content, behind-the-scenes moments, deeper conversations, and help us keep this podcast going strong.
👉 Join now and support real conversations about real marriage.
📲 Stay connected with us:
Instagram: @marriage.isajoke
Instagram (Therapy & Counseling): @shcounseling
Facebook: facebook.com/shcounseling
❤️ Because marriage isn't always perfect…
…but it's always worth showing up for.
❤️💙Life hit us hard.
We almost lost a parent and everything else just paused.
The podcast. Our routines. Even parts of how we normally show up for each other.
And it made us ask something real:
What actually happens to a marriage when life falls apart?
Do you pull away…
Keep score…
Feel disconnected…
Or do you lean in…even when you’re exhausted?
In this episode, we talk about:
❤️ 💙What this season looked like for us
❤️ 💙How we supported each other when things felt uneven
❤️ 💙The difference between codependence, independence, and healthy interdependence
❤️ 💙Why strong marriages aren’t always 50/50
Because the truth is…
the strength of your marriage shows up most when life is the hardest.
🎧 Episode #18 is live
👉 Link in bio
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/marriage-is-a-joke--5661497/support.
🎧 Marriage is a Joke Podcast
Real talk. Real marriage. No filters.
Where humor meets hard truths—and love shows up even when life gets messy.
If this episode resonated with you, don't just listen… be part of it.
💙 Join our Supporters Club
Get exclusive content, behind-the-scenes moments, deeper conversations, and help us keep this podcast going strong.
👉 Join now and support real conversations about real marriage.
📲 Stay connected with us:
Instagram: @marriage.isajoke
Instagram (Therapy & Counseling): @shcounseling
Facebook: facebook.com/shcounseling
❤️ Because marriage isn't always perfect…
…but it's always worth showing up for.
Join Abe and Elaine this Christmas as we give mistletoe a deeper meaning than just holiday décor.
Historically, mistletoe stayed green when everything around it died back in winter, which made it a symbol of hope, renewal, and connection. Over time it became a reminder to pause, soften, share a kiss, and come close.
This year we’re practicing mistletoe moments! ❤️ Tiny Pauses throughout the season where we stop long enough to really see each other.
Not long talks.
Not perfectly curated dates.
Just intentional connection that quietly says:
💚 You matter
💚 I still choose you
💚 I see you
💚 I’m here
Some moments will be sugar …soft compliments, gratitude pauses, a quiet hold by the glow of the tree, a prayer before bed.
Some moments will be spice…..a sprig hung over the bed, a slow kiss, playful flirtation, a little warmth that reminds us we’re not just teammates but lovers too.
Because marriage isn’t only strengthened by huge gestures, it flourishes in the gentle, repeated moments of closeness.
This season, let mistletoe prompt you to slow down, kiss, laugh, pray, flirt, breathe, and come close again.❤️🎄
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/marriage-is-a-joke--5661497/support.
🎧 Marriage is a Joke Podcast
Real talk. Real marriage. No filters.
Where humor meets hard truths—and love shows up even when life gets messy.
If this episode resonated with you, don't just listen… be part of it.
💙 Join our Supporters Club
Get exclusive content, behind-the-scenes moments, deeper conversations, and help us keep this podcast going strong.
👉 Join now and support real conversations about real marriage.
📲 Stay connected with us:
Instagram: @marriage.isajoke
Instagram (Therapy & Counseling): @shcounseling
Facebook: facebook.com/shcounseling
❤️ Because marriage isn't always perfect…
…but it's always worth showing up for.
Join Abe and Elaine as they dive into Gottman’s final principle for making marriage work: Shared Meaning. This episode explores what your marriage stands for ….beyond chores, communication, or conflict.
They’ll talk about how every couple needs to define the philosophy of their marriage:
• What do we value?
• What traditions matter to us?
• How do we see parenting, politics, faith, or family roles?
• What are the small daily rituals that make us “us”?
From tiny moments like Sunday morning routines to the big beliefs that guide your life, shared meaning is what turns a relationship into a legacy.
Tune in as Abe and Elaine unpack how couples can discover, define, and intentionally build their shared story…together.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/marriage-is-a-joke--5661497/support.
🎧 Marriage is a Joke Podcast
Real talk. Real marriage. No filters.
Where humor meets hard truths—and love shows up even when life gets messy.
If this episode resonated with you, don't just listen… be part of it.
💙 Join our Supporters Club
Get exclusive content, behind-the-scenes moments, deeper conversations, and help us keep this podcast going strong.
👉 Join now and support real conversations about real marriage.
📲 Stay connected with us:
Instagram: @marriage.isajoke
Instagram (Therapy & Counseling): @shcounseling
Facebook: facebook.com/shcounseling
❤️ Because marriage isn't always perfect…
…but it's always worth showing up for.
💙❤️Tired of having the SAME fight over and over again?? Tune in as Abe and Elaine discuss gridlock issues. This episode covers:
🎯 Why 69% of conflicts in marriage are perpetual
🎯 How to uncover the dreams hiding under the drama
🎯 The 4 Gottman steps to get unstuck (without selling your soul to the thermostat war)
🎯 A real-life example from one couple
Whether it’s in-laws, money, chores, or Christmas plans, you can move from stuck to connected and compromise… even if you never totally agree.
🎧 Listen now and find out how to turn “we’ll never agree” into “we actually understand each other.”
Join Abe and Elaine as they discuss emotional responsiveness in marriage. Sue Johnson, founder of EFT, found in her research that behind the tears in all marital conflict is the question we all yearn to know. ARE YOU THERE FOR ME? (A.R.E) Essentially we are all asking are you A- accessible, R- responsive, and E- engaged in this marriage or relationship? Of course Elaine and Abe put some fun spins on this. Join them for some laughs on the difference of men and women too.
Go to instagram.com/marriage.isajoke and dm Elaine your email if you want the handout mentioned.
Video mentioned called “It’s Not About the Nail”https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-4EDhdAHrOg
Join Abe and Elaine as they discuss Gottman’s Principle #5 called “Solving Your Solvable Problems.” Conflict in marriage is inevitable! Thriving couples still have conflict. The Gottman research team has found that couples tend to have both Solvable and Gridlock problems. In this episode, Abe and Elaine go over the Gottman’s top tips of how to solve these solvable problems. Elaine and Abe are honest about how they too struggle with some dynamics in their own conflict. Stay tuned for our next episode where they go over how to get through the gridlock problems in principle #6!
Join Abe and Elaine as they discuss an interesting (but a little weird ) study about tears. 😢😢How crying becomes a natural way to slow down the intensity and anger in marital conflict. Link to check out the study: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sniffing-womens-tears-makes-men-less-aggressive/ (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/sniffing-womens-tears-makes-men-less-aggressive/)
Join Abe and Elaine as they discuss this awesome principle from the Gottman research! We never want to control each other in marriage. This creates a parent- child like relationship. However, our feelings and thoughts should INFLUENCE our partner’s decisions. Warning for Wives: Sadly, to Elaine’s chagrin …this episode led to Abe’s visions of buying a motorcycle!
Are you guilty of making the holidays all about your kids?? Don’t forget to celebrate your marriage and get a little Naughty or Nice! This short but sweet episode will get you into the mood of making sure your marriage gets the attention it deserves this Christmas. Watch out for that naughty Santa!
Did you know that men are socialized in our culture to repress certain emotions? As a result, this can lead to isolation, depression, and frustration in marriage. It's important that all men and boys know it's healthy for them to widen their range of emotions. It's also okay to express strength and toughness too! Join Abe and Elaine for a great discussion on the male psyche and how it manifests in marriage. It's crucial that our men and boys understand that their role matters, that their anger may be masking repressed pain, and that we value all their feelings—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Ultimately, the goal is for both partners to feel safe being open and vulnerable in their marriages and families.
Looking to keep your marriage thriving? 👫💖 Want to maintain that deep connection you felt when you first met? You might be surprised to learn that the secret isn't grand gestures or luxury gifts 🎁🎀, but rather in the day-to-day moments we often overlook 📆💡.
Join us in our latest episode 🎧 as we delve into Gottman's insightful Third Principle, "Turn Toward Your Spouse" 💑💕. Discover how focusing on this principle can make a world of difference in sustaining a meaningful, long-lasting bond 🤝💘.
Our podcast provides practical, easy-to-follow advice that can fit into your busy lives 🏃♂️🏃♀️. Whether it's a thoughtful conversation over breakfast ☕🥐, or a simple, shared smile during a stressful day 😊💫, we'll show you how these small moments can have a big impact.
Because true love isn't just about being together, it's about consciously turning toward each other, every day 🔄❤️. So tune in, and let's explore how to find the extraordinary within the ordinary together 🌟🔍.
🎙️ Introducing our latest episode with special guests Pastor Scott and Jenny Treadway! 🌟 Get ready for a marriage advice session like no other! 💕
This isn't your typical pastor interview – be prepared for an exciting, laughter-filled conversation as Scott and Jenny spill the secrets behind their successful 30-year marriage! 💑
Discover how to safeguard your marriage during tough times, the art of self-improvement, and the importance of prioritizing FUN in your relationship! 😄✨
Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a couple who has mastered the art of a happy and fulfilling marriage! 🎧🥰
MarriageAdvice #RelationshipGoals #CouplesTherapy #LoveLanguages #CommunicationSkills #HealthyRelationships #MarriagePodcast #30YearsStrong #FunInMarriage #SelfImprovement
Do you ever feel like enemies in your marriage? Do you get to a place where you feel lost or it becomes “you” against you against “them”?Join Abe and Elaine as they discuss the importance of securing a home base. What’s a home base? It’s that space in your marriage where you feel safe. There is a sense of peace. You speak in softer tones. You are vulnerable. You feel seen and accepted as yourself. Learn what stirs up and threatens this space and what secures it and keeps it safe! Pretty soon you’ll be saying Marco! Polo! ….just like the pros! Listen in to hear what we mean.
Join Abe and Elaine as they discuss nurturing your fondness and admiration and what the heck that is!
According to the research at the Gottman Institute every couple needs to nurture what they are fond of and what they appreciate in their spouse. This is the second principal in their book The Seven Principles for Making a Marriage Work by, Gottman. Special guest appearance of Billy Bob Thornton from Sling Blade…haha.
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert https://a.co/d/bqNhr9z
4 The Twelve Bids of Christmas!
Guess what always gets put on the back burner at the holidays? Your marriage! Take time this holiday to make “bids” for connection with your spouse. Listen to Abe and Elaine discuss what bids are and fun ones during the holidays. Excuse Abe’s mind…sex always on the brain!
The Attitude Dance for your Gratitude Walk:
Tower of Power - Attitude Dance - 1991
Join Abe and Elaine as they discuss your Love Map! According to the research at the Gottman Institute every couple needs a rich, detailed Love Map of their partner’s heart. This is the first principal in their book The Seven Principles for Making a Marriage Work by, Gottman. It’s so important to have this map especially if you are dating Bruce Wayne(aka: Batman). Listen to hear why!
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert https://a.co/d/dGg99XZ
In a rut with your date night? Join Abe and Elaine as they talk about several rut-buster dates! Staying creative with date night is so important to marriages. This episode is sure to keep you laughing and give you some creative date ideas.
Online Cooking Class:
100pleats.com
(Yes! Elaine was right)
Chocolate Tasting Date Kits:
Green & Black's Organic Tasting Collection 395G https://a.co/d/coUJbVT
https://www.tazachocolate.com/products/virtual-tasting-kit?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhaq2quTf-gIV8zWtBh1zNwlqEAAYAiAAEgL0GvD_BwE
Cheese Tasting Kit:
https://www.venissimo.com/product/virtual-cheese-tasting-kit/3972
Wine Tasting Kit:
https://justenoughwines.com/pages/virtual-wine-tasting-kit?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpt2gweXf-gIV8QetBh1X9AAAEAAYAiAAEgKfQPD_BwE
We all know why marriage is hard! So let’s take a minute to focus on what is awesome about marriage. Grab your love, a drink and laugh with Elaine and Abe about what they love about being married. Message them on instagram www.instagram/marriage.isajoke to tell them what’s awesome about your marriage!
Welcome! Checkout our intro on what our podcast is about and meet your Hosts Elaine and Abe Romero. Oh yeah... and have a few laughs.