Beyond I Do

Mar 18 · 57m

What if the secret to a strong marriage isn't avoiding the hard parts, but actually choosing which hard parts you're willing to live with?In this episode, Byron and Margaret sit down with Jason and Christie McMullen, a couple who have been married 26 years and have personally mentored over 100 couples through their church in the Tampa Bay area. What started as a ministry has turned into a movement, and they're bringing it all to the Beyond I Do table.They get into the gym analogy for marriage, why butterflies and bubbles aren't enough to sustain a relationship, and two communication tools that have genuinely changed how couples fight, "clear as kind" and "the story I'm telling myself." They also talk about the difference between men as waffles and women as spaghetti, why timing matters more than most couples realize, and the one rule they implemented in their marriage that eliminated a whole category of arguments.This one is practical, honest, and a little bit funny. You'll want to listen with your spouse.In this episode:Why love alone won't sustain your marriageThe gym analogy that reframes commitment"Clear as kind" — how to ask for what you actually needGolf vs. tennis conversations — and why it matters which one you're havingHow to maintain intimacy when life is moving fastThe 10 pm rule and why it worksWhat "friends of your marriage" are and why you need them

Mar 3 · 49m

Dr. Jackie Black has coached over a thousand couples, and she’s clear about one thing: emotional safety is the foundation of real connection. In this conversation, we get into how couples drift apart, how “fine” becomes normal, and why the smallest moments can quietly shut a partner down.We also talk about the difference between therapy and coaching, how to tell the truth without blowing things up, and practical ways to rebuild your “we” without forcing a big date night.In this episode, you’ll hear:Signs you and your partner may be driftingWhy presence matters more than you thinkThe 4 daily moments that keep couples connectedDr. Jackie’s win-win-win model (I win, you win, we win)Why she says compromise doesn’t belong in marriage—and what to do insteadConnect with Dr. Jackie Black:Website: drjackieblack.comInstagram: @DrJackieBlack

Feb 17 · 45m

Jay and Renee Linsom are back. Last time, you heard their love story, the long-distance start, the doubts from others, the wheelchair, the faith, and the commitment.This time? You hear the storm.Jay spent much of the past year in and out of the hospital with serious health challenges. They spent their anniversary together in a hospital room.Four years into marriage. And already tested.In this episode, they talk about:Living out “in sickness and in health” earlier than expectedStaying connected during hospital staysProtecting your marriage from outside voicesChoosing commitment when it would be easier to quitBuilding a foundation that doesn’t crack under pressureIf you've ever wondered what divorce-proofing really looks like… this is it.

Feb 11 · 34m

Make sure to check out Part 1!Sex is one of the most talked-about topics online. And one of the least talked about at home.In this episode, we sit down with Holly Eckelberger, founder of That Sex Educator and host of Meet Me at the Spot, for a real conversation about sex, intimacy, shame, and why so many adults are still confused about their own bodies.We talk about:Why most adults never got real sex educationHow porn became the default teacherWhy couples avoid talking to each other and ask the internet insteadHow gender roles, exhaustion, and resentment kill desireWhat healthy sexual communication actually looks likeHow parents can talk to kids without fear or shameWhy reproductive justice is a relationship issue tooThis episode is honest, funny, and uncomfortable in the best way.If you’ve ever thought, “Why didn’t anyone teach us this?”This conversation is for you.

Feb 11 · 35m

Sex is one of the most talked-about topics online. And one of the least talked about at home.In this episode, we sit down with Holly Eckelberger, founder of That Sex Educator and host of Meet Me at the Spot, for a real conversation about sex, intimacy, shame, and why so many adults are still confused about their own bodies.We talk about:Why most adults never got real sex educationHow porn became the default teacherWhy couples avoid talking to each other and ask the internet insteadHow gender roles, exhaustion, and resentment kill desireWhat healthy sexual communication actually looks likeHow parents can talk to kids without fear or shameWhy reproductive justice is a relationship issue tooThis episode is honest, funny, and uncomfortable in the best way.If you’ve ever thought, “Why didn’t anyone teach us this?” This conversation is for you.

Feb 3 · 23m

You’re not arguing. You’re not unhappy. You’re just not connected.That quiet drift? That’s complacency.In this episode, we break down 11 signs of complacency in a marriage—the kind that sneaks in when life gets busy, and effort slows down.We talk about: Letting yourself go Robotic “I love yous”No date nightsLoss of intimacyShallow communicationAvoiding hard conversationsNot planning a future togetherThen we flip it.You’ll hear 11 practical ways to reconnect, rebuild intention, and stop guessing your way through marriage.No fluff.No perfection. Just real talk, laughs, and tools that work.

Jan 20 · 53m

You don't just need love to stay married. You need to like each other.In this episode, we sit down with C. Natasha Richburg, author, storyteller, life coach, professor, and wife of 42+ years.Natasha breaks down what actually keeps a marriage alive after the honeymoon fades.You’ll hear:Why liking your spouse matters more than being rightHow values—not chemistry—hold a marriage togetherWhat couples get wrong about conflict and communicationHow grace, humor, and growth keep love sustainableStories from a real 42-year marriage that still feels funThis conversation is honest. It’s funny.It’s practical.If you want a marriage that lasts and feels good, this one's for you.

Jan 6 · 56m

Marriage takes effort. Not “work” that feels like misery.In this episode, we sit down with Tyrone and Verlyn Talton, married 18 years (together 19), and the conversation feels like family from minute one.You’ll hear:The mindset shift that changed everything: effort vs. workWhat “put your spouse first” looks like in a blended familyThe boundary lessons that come with being the youngest of 10… and an only childVerlyn’s take on service in marriage (and why feelings aren’t the whole point)A real gut-check on communication: listening in “3D” (deflection, denial, defense)There are laughs.There are receipts.And there are practical takeaways you can use this week.Connect with Verlyn: “Before You Do” Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/beforeyoudo.If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a couple you care about.

Dec 17 · 58m

A marriage can feel shaky long before anyone says the D-word.In this episode, Byron and Margaret talk with Dr. Becky Whetstone, PhD, Marriage and Family Therapist, Life Coach, and "Marriage Crisis Manager” about what happens when one person thinks they want out, and what couples can do before panic and chaos take over.Dr. Becky shares why the "marriage crisis" creates a chase-and-run dynamic, why people make bad decisions when their nervous systems stay on high alert, and how her Managed Separation (MS) approach provides structure, purpose, and timelines when a separation occurs.You'll also hear her practical take on:“Checking in” and what it really signals in a relationshipThe 3 foundations Sue Johnson taught for secure attachment in marriageThe “five stages of a dying marriage” and the early warning stage most couples ignoreWhy many divorces turn ugly even when both people say they want peaceWhat she believes adults owe their kids if divorce happensDr. Becky's book: I (Think) I Want Out: What To Do When One Of You Wants To End Your Marriage Website: marriagecrisismanager.comIf you've ever thought, "I'm not sure we're going to make it," this conversation gives you language, steps, and a calmer way forward.