Happily Married (to other people): Recent Episodes
Laugh Your Way, America! LLC
If you find yourself worried about the future of today's youth, Jenna's oldest daughter might just change your mind. Wise, witty, warm, and way more mature than her 20 years, Sophie shares a uniquely Gen Z take on mating, marriage and more. If you don't know what it means to be "left on opened" or you wonder what the next generation thinks of til-death-do-us-part, you won't want to miss this one.
All couples fight. Only some of them do it successfully and actually move forward happily afterward. What sets the ones who can brush off a spat apart from the grudge-holders? Turns out, there's a seven-minute exercise research shows can make you both happier overall--and not just in the minutes after you bicker. This is one episode you don't want to miss.
This week, [someone], [someone else] and [another person] cover [topic].....
Topics discussed:
- Topic A
- Topic B
- Topic C
Links mentioned in this episode:
- http://example.com
- http://second-example.com
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
Summer brings with it some pros...like having more time with the kids, and some cons...like having more time with the kids! Here are some new and old ways to make the most of summer and stay sane!
Apparently millennials are even more narcissistic than we ever thought: to wit, enter the weekend marriage, a supposed trend where couples exist separately during the week (sometimes in the same house, but preparing their own meals and coming and going as they please) and then live like a unit on the weekends. Is this mad drive to preserve independence a sign of healthy boundary setting--or is it a self-absorbed way of avoiding the sacrifice and compromise inherent to marriage? As you'd imagine, we have lots of thoughts. (Note: This week's catch-up intro is longer than most; the day's topic starts around the 26-minute mark. Sorry, Carol! Spoiler: Jenna cries. Again.)
How do you show your dude your appreciation on the daddy of all Hallmark holidays? Tune in for some ideas (and one hilariously major misunderatanding among the hosts).
We all need to be needed... but sometimes "helping" your partner looks (and feels) a lot like a power play. Today's advice features tricks for being thoughtful and supportive without tiptoeing into parenting territory.
When two people commit to living together for life, there will inevitably come a day when somebody's little feelings get hurt. It turns out "I'm sorry" can range from slightly empty to downright toxic. In this episode, we discuss alternatives to the throwaway two-word standby.
You know how easy it is to fire off an angry text to your partner? Newsflash: It's almost as easy NOT to send it. It's a whole lot smarter, too. Here's why fighting via text (aka fexting) is never a good idea.
Even the happiest marriage will hit an occasional hiccup. You may find yourself feeling hurt, lonely, disappointed, overwhelmed, underappreciated, or some combination of the above. The good news: It's perfectly normal. The better news: We can help. Tune in to this week's episode for HMTOP's top coping tips.
In honor of Halloween, we cover why some people think marriage is "scary AF" (cheating spouses! boring bedroom antics! FOMO!) and cover a random list of things couples allegedly argue about on the spookiest of all days. Tune in for a frighteningly fun episode.
It's no secret that kids can complicate virtually any situation. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that couples across the globe have taken to the secret confession site Whisper to blame their babes for their miserable marriages. Tune in for a HMTOP-style smackdown.
How do you move past disappointment, anger or betrayal? More importantly, should you? This week, the HMTOP team debates the path to peace in the aftermath of marital hiccups, and Phil shares his simple, airtight trick to finding forgiveness in your heart.
Respect is a lot like love: we all want it, it's difficult to define, and the only way to get it is to give it first. In this week's episode, we take a deep dive into Aretha Franklin's favorite topic. (Bonus: Phil mansplains his simple, unique method for dealing with stress! You'll definitely want to hear it.)
The good news: divorce rates in general are on the decline. The bad news: That happy statistic doesn't include older couples. In fact, split-ups in the over-fifty crowd doubled between 1990 and 2010, not just in the US but around the world. Here's why a handful of "experts" think this is, and what HMTOP thinks of these "expert" analyses.
Marriage is many things (amazing, challenging, trying, rewarding); it's also not lots of things (easy, predictable, self-sustaining, boring). This week the HMTOP team breaks down happily ever after into its simplest parts and pieces. As always, hilarity ensues.
From a secret stash of chocolate to donating some change to charity under the radar, apparently lots of us are keeping a few (harmless, baby) skeletons in our marital closets. Researchers say this actually isn't a bad thing--as long as you keep a few important considerations in mind. Tune in for tips delivered in quintessential HMTOP style.
This week, [someone], [someone else] and [another person] cover [topic].....
Topics discussed:
- Topic A
- Topic B
- Topic C
Links mentioned in this episode:
- http://example.com
- http://second-example.com
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
Here's a newsflash: Living with another person day in and day out for the rest of ever can be a challenge. Invariably, we will all do things that bug our spouses. Today, the HMTOP trio tackles the guys' top marital peeves. (Don't worry, the wives get to weigh in, too.) Bonus: Jenna cries in the first five minutes of the podcast! Cut her some slack; her daughter is leaving for college an hour after recording.
This week, [someone], [someone else] and [another person] cover [topic].....
Topics discussed:
- Topic A
- Topic B
- Topic C
Links mentioned in this episode:
- http://example.com
- http://second-example.com
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
It's a fact: You can't fight and laugh at the same time. (Mean-spirited laughter doesn't count FWIW.) Turns out, couples who chuckle together are closer, happier and possibly even feel friskier than their crabby, mirthless chums. Here's how to infuse more passion and playful fun into your marriage.
Are mainstream movies to blame for unrealistic marriage expectations? Maybe! (We're not saying it's all Renee Zelweger's fault with that whole "you complete me" nonsense... but she's definitely part of the problem.) The fact is, despite what Hollywood would have you believe, happily ever after doesn't drop out of the sky after any single three-word phrase. Today the HMTOP experts weigh in on the cinematic love lines that may be setting the relationship bar impossibly high.
If you’re an HMTOP regular, you already know Jenna’s not a big fan of Pharma. One evolutionary anthropologist claims that love drugs may be the secret to mending a mediocre marriage, and insists that love is nothing more than a chemical cocktail of hormones, something we can easily replicate in pill form. Seems legit in theory… but… So. Many. Questions.
The couple in question have been dating for a few months. They both have kids and exes and limited funds. They're not technically moving in together; they're buying a house together... and then splitting it into his-and-hers halves. You see, it's a tough housing market out there! Neither could afford the house solo. The kids think it's great! What could possibly go wrong?
Tons of young couples think their twenties are the time to be selfish: to have fun, build careers, make money, and explore the world. But many experts ask: why can't you do this as half of a married couple? In this episode, Team HMTOP explores some of the many benefits of trudging through the trenches together.
You may not like it, but you should probably learn to accept it: Women need to feel beautiful in order to feel sexy. And your words (or lack of them) and actions (or lack of them) play an important role in how she feels about hereself-and how excited she is to get naked with you. Here's what to do-and as importantly,what not to do-if you want to make her feel fabulous. (Spoiler: You should want to make her to feel fabulous!)
Sex is private. It's purely for procreation. It's mostly for men. Even thinking about it outside of marriage is a sin. If you "learned" any of these things in church, the HMTOP crew is here to set the record straight. Bonus: Phil enlightens us with the airtight KYPIYP rule. (It's a good one.)
We're going to let you in on a little secret: When you make the decision to live with another person for the rest of ever, there's a good chance (like, 100%) that something they do will eventually get on your nerves. Some relationship expert somewhere thinks she's got the secret to managing these little annoyances. Naturally, the HMTOP squad has some opposing thoughts. Would you ever expect otherwise?
Words can be powerful and destructive weapons or magical messangers of love and affection. Obviously, the more you use them in the latter category, the happier your union will be. Today, the HMTOP team shares a few phrases you might be wise to adopt if you want marital bliss.
In a perfect world, your partner's birthing person would be generous, demure, warm, and wise, and she'd offer to watch your children for long stretches of time (for free, of course). In reality, she could be cold, cruel, controlling, conniving, insecure, jealous, or any crazy combination of the above. Since you married one another for better or for worse, you're going to need to learn at the very least to put up with her. Team HMTOP is here to help.
From lack of ambition to treating strangers like crap, readers weigh in on relationship things that can't be forgiven, shouldn't be tolerated and are generally considered just cause for a breakup. In a not-so-shocking twist, Team HMTOP doesn't always agree with their idea of relationship red flags.
The average husband isn't 't exactly notorious for his deep desire to work on his marriage. That's why HMTOP couldn't resist picking apart a piece featuring relationship advice from nothing but guys. Tune in to hear what these marriage masters think are the secrets to wedded bliss.
From the "how can this even be real" files, HMTOP tackles a shocking story from Newsweek. Apparently, there's a husband out there who has decided that his wife's quarantine weight gain justifies his demand for an open marriage until she slims down. Outrage naturally ensues. Tune in for a laugh-out-loud lesson in for-better-or-for-worse.
With age comes wisdom... or does it? In this week's podcast, the HMTOP team takes on a Reader's Digest article titled "26 Marriage Tips from Grandmas You'd Be a Fool Not to Follow." As always, we don't agree with everything the granny gang advises (that would be so boring!), but there's lots of stuff here to think--and laugh--about.
After Phil regales us with the details of his well-deserved and ridiculously lavish tropical vacation (try not to hate him!), Jenna describes her 22nd anniversary celebration, which randomly involved a 600 year old tree and maybe a tiny bit of tresspassing. Also covered, because we're nothing if not random: covid-travel tests, the dangers of certain sunscreens and how to make a dirty monkey. (The adult beverage, not the smelly primate.)
When you have kids who play sports, the rivalry doesn't always stay on the field. From the importance of winning to the level of commitment you expect from their little athletes, some husbands and wives have a hard time remembering they're on the same team. In this episode, the HMTOP team offers tips for surviving this long, sweaty season of your marriage. (Bonus discussion on GMO mosquitos, just because!)
According to a certain online article, women are routinely guilty of doing these four "not so obvious" things that are pushing their partners away. Naturally, the HMTOP crew has some opinions on this. As always, there are lots of laughs... and a few surprises.
Buddhists believe that compassion and kindness are the foundation of lasting love. Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh offers a half dozen mantras you can incorporate into your marital communication to give the whole thing a boost. Do we agree with all of them? Of course not! But we'll tell you why, and weigh in with some tips of our own.
Jenna thought it was pronounced A-A-R-P; Diane calls it Aarp (rhymes with harp). If you think that's a tangent, wait until you hear the first 29 minutes of this episode. (This might be when Jenna-the-sinner admits to watching The Righteous Gemstones... in its entirety. You may want to pray for her soul.) Today's topic is "5 Signs Your Marriage Is in Trouble and What To Do about It." Does the HMTOP crew agree with the signs or the solutions? Tune in to find out.
Not in the mood lately? You're not alone! The pandemic has taken its toll on every aspect of our lives--including what happens (or doesn't happen, ahem) in the bedroom. Lots of couples admit they're experiencing a sluggish sex life these days, and many don't know what to do about it or even how to broach the sometimes-sensitive subject. Phil and Jenna are here to help.
Bridal designer Erin Cole joins Phil, Jenna and Diane to talk about the ins and outs of matrimony, as well as her bestselling memoir, The Size of Everything, a powerful story of survival. This witty, wise discussion is not to be missed.
Ladies, take no offense. How does your dude treat his truck? Like a prized, precious possession, that's how! He buffs it, pours money into it, and checks in on it regularly to make sure it stays in tip-top shape. Does he wait for the engine to blow before giving it any love? Of course not! The minute that "check engine" light comes on, he's on it. We bet you wouldn't mind a piece of that! (Guys, take note.) In this episode, Jenna, Phil and Diane dissect TREATHER LIKE A TRUCK, which features wise and witty advice for making your marriage great again.
Before you get all bent, consider the phrase "lucky dog."You can say that again! We LOVE our dogs. We spoil them. We lavish them with love and praise and treats when they behave, and we don't hold weeks-long grudges when they don't. In this episode, Jenna, Phil and Diane dissect TREAT HIM LIKE A DOG, which features wise and witty advice for making your marriage great again.
An interesting article on LifeHacker.com broke down "the major stages of every relationship" and what to avoid in each one. Jenna and Phil recommend avoiding that article... and tuning in to this episode instead. You might learn a thing or two.
Scientists spend a lot of time trying to figure out what makes happy couples tick. Sometimes they get weird about it. (Do we really need to subject women to a "mild electric shock" to determine, for instance, that holding her partner's hand can reduce pain and stress? Apparently we do. Thanks, scientists!) In this episode, Jenna and Phil look at some of the best and (in their rarely humble opinions) worst relationship advice born of such diligent research. You're welcome.
Melodee Meyer is Jenna's dear friend. She's also a bestselling author, speaker, business coach, lifestyle strategist and renowned fitness guru. In her day job, she helps clients build strength, passion and purpose. In this eye-opening podcast, Master Mel explains how her very best business strategies can make us all happier in our relationships, too. You don't want to miss this one!
There's a reason more couples break up on Valentine's Day (for real!) than any other day of the year. The pressure can be staggering! So, what's a mostly in-love couple to do? Forget the gas station roses and scratchy lingerie for her, or the heart-covered boxers for him. In this episode, Phil and Jenna break down some of the best (and worst) ways to celebrate your love on the mother of all Hallmark holidays.
Some folks say a little white lie here or there never hurt a couple. (See "Do These Pants Make My Butt Look Big?" in your relationship-dictionary.) Others believe honesty is the best (read: ONLY) policy when it comes to til-death-do-us-part. Which is it? Well, someone somewhere published a list of five lies that are just fine among married folks. The HMTOP crew weighs in on this possibly-dodgy advice.
We all know that "happily married" takes work. But are the happiest married doing something you're not? Quite possibly. Tune in for some simple tweaks you can make in your marriage that might give it a nice bliss-boost. Bonus freebie: Jenna shares her famous green smoothie recipe, which sounds disgusting but is actually delish. Promise.
"Remember your most important job is to build up and maintain his ego (which gets bruised plenty in business). Morale is a woman's business." Yes, that's an actual snippet of advice from a 1950s marriage book. Other then-hot tips: Always wear one specific type of underwear... and "feed your man to keep him out of saloons." You can't make this stuff up--but you CAN make fun of it! Which the HMTOP crew does. Mercilessly.
Can you be friends with your exes? Should your partner have access to your social media passwords? Is it okay to share marital gripes with your friends? What would be considered realistic sexpectations? The list of subjects fraught with marital landmines is essentially endless. Clearly, communication and compromise are key to any successful relationship. In this episode, the HMTOP crew takles the top topics couples argue about and offers tips for navigating them with humor and grace. (But mostly humor.)
The Flag Page is a tool the Laugh Your Way crowd has been using for years to help people figure our what motivates them and how they can maximize their chances of success in their lives and in their relationships. In this episode, Jenna lets her (freak?) flag fly... and Phil helps her make sense of the results. Tune in to learn more about this innovative tool couples can use to develop a deeper understanding of what motivates one another. It's painless, we promise.
As the HMTOP team celebrates the dawning of a new (and hopfully, much better) year, they discuss new year's resolutions, cheese, compatibility, and the strange and seemingly growing trend of "identifying as a cat." (Yes, it's a thing.) If this trajectory doesn't make any sense to you, you're obviously a new listener.
Death is an inevitable part of life. In this episode, Jenna, Phil and Diane take a deep dive into the subject--and how it impacts your life, relationships and family dynamics. It sounds depressing as hell, but if you've listened to HMTOP at all, you know that the crew can infuse humor into just about anything. (It's not morbid or disrespectful; it's just another way of coping.)
This special episode features Phil's pop, the hilariously one and only Mark Gungor, as in-studio guest of honor. Lots of topics are tossed about, but most of them pale in comparison to Mark's admission (confession? explanation? declaration?) that husbands will do pretty much whatever it takes to see their wives' naked bosoms. If this sounds depressing to the ladies ("Is that really all he cares about?" "Well, maybe mostly."), keep in mind this basically means that you hold all the marital power. You're welcome.
After Phil digs his way out of the doghouse (he's a GREAT dad, okay?), the hosts have a lively discussion about how the stuff that bugs us about our partners more often than not is actually stuff we need to work on in ourselves. (And how to use this mirror concept to your advantage.) Lots of wisdom and laughs in this one. You should listen.
He booked the hotel for the wrong month. She forgot to pack snacks for the plane. He wants to try out the zip line; she wants to read a book by the pool. Getting away from it all sometimes means taking it all with you--and then some. In this week's episode, Jenna and Phil offer practical tips for enjoying your time away together (without killing each other). Bonus topics include TikTok dance tutorials, Napoleon Dynamite and Phil's internet boyfriends.
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
In this episode, Jenna and Phil dissect the dreaded man cold, which naturally segues into a discussion of Phil's vasectomy and wraps up with some insight into Christmas trees. Enjoy this random but humorous display of stream-of-consciousness at its finest.
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
Everyone wants to feel acknowledged and appreciated... so why is it so flipping hard to say those two little words to your partner? With Thanksgiving on the horizon, Jenna and Phil take a deep, comical dive into how you can (and why you should!) cultivate an attitude of gratitude in marriage--and life.
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
Even if you love a good, juicy burger, you'll be disappointed if you're served one when you order a $52 filet. Jenna and Phil explain how this concept relates to marriage--and how adjusting (and communicating) your expectations can in fact make your relationship infinitely happier.
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
Phil has grand plans and an actual outline for this episode, which Jenna hijacks by bringing up the dreaded s-word (shopping). Turns out, both hosts have lots to say on the subject! Tune in to learn how to give-and-get (without winding up in the doghouse) this holiday season.
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
Phil loves watching horror movies almost as much as Jenna loves not watching horror movies. In this episode, recorded with Halloween on the horizon, the hosts discuss what folks fear most about the m-word--and offer advice for overcoming these potentially terrifying hurdles. (Bonus: Phil gets a surprise supernatural visit in-studio mid-podcast; you cannot make this stuff up!)
This podcast is hosted by ZenCast.fm
What is there to say!? This is episode one. Check it out, get to know us, and hopefully you come back for more!