Awesome Marriage Podcast

In this episode, Dr. Kim talks with author and pastor Heath Hardesty about his new book, All Things Together. Heath shares how his time apprenticing under his earthly father became a living picture of what it means to be an apprentice of our Heavenly Father. They discuss what it looks like to live as image bearers in a fragmented world, why discipleship is more than "extra credit," and how God redeems, not erases, our humanity. Together, they unpack how to see with wonder again, order our imagination around Christ, and live a whole, beautiful life that reflects Him.
 
Episode Takeaways:
Wholeness comes from staying connected, not from doing more.
Slowing down is often the most spiritual thing we can do.
God loves us and desires to dwell with us.
Our focus and intention shape the way we experience life and who we become.
Life feels scattered because we're often living disconnected from what truly grounds us.
Our actions are connected to our faith.
We ache and long for relationship with our Creator. He is a good Father.



Quotes from this Episode:
How we imagine the world really affects how we inhabit it.
Technology can connect, but the digital world often pulls us apart—scattering our presence across time and place until we forget what it means to truly be together.
When we take things out of context and mix the sacred with the trivial, our souls are shaped by confusion and chaos.
God weaves beauty from even the most ordinary or unwanted chapters of our stories—if we let Him, nothing is wasted.
We are made to be apprentices of the Master—union, abiding, obeying, and becoming like Him is the heart of how we truly change.
Faith isn't just belief in our heads—it's trust that spills out through our hands, our words, our feet, our relationships. It's embodied and lived.
Serving others, especially those closest to us, by following Christ's example, transforms both them and us. True love is found in humble service.
Faith has everything to do with our hands, our feet, our mouth, and our relationships. It's an embodied thing.
 
Reflect on This:
Where does life feel most rushed right now? How can you invite Jesus into this space instead of just trying harder?
What small daily habit or rhythm is shaping you the most right now, for better or for worse?
If following Jesus is more about apprenticeship than perfection, what is one simple practice you could lean into this week to stay more connected to Him?
 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Never miss a Wider Lens episode. Listen here.
Heath Hardesty is on Instagram.
Purchase All Things Together: How Apprenticeship to Jesus Is the Way of Flourishing in a Fragmented World by Heath Hardesty
Find Dr. Kim on Instagram

We've all heard the proverb that pride comes before the fall—but is there a place for pride in our relationships at all? Today, Dr. Kim takes an honest look at pride in marriage: its roots, its power, and its ability to divide even the strongest relationships. You'll be encouraged to recognize where pride may be creeping in, what it's actually revealing about your own heart, and practical ways to get it under control. Dr. Kim also addresses how to love and set healthy boundaries with a spouse who is struggling with pride—without enabling, escalating conflict, or losing yourself in the process.
 
Episode Highlights:
Pride quietly erodes connection.

Pride reveals what's happening in the heart.

Healthy humility creates stronger, safer relationships.

It's ok to name the unhealthy rhythms in your marriage. It's not ok to remain in them. 

 
Quotes from this Episode:
Unchecked pride leads to chronic resentment.

Many affairs and separations trace back to one thing. One spouse spends years feeling like they couldn't be heard, valued or respected. 

When we make a mistake pride tells us to minimize it or justify it. 

Healthy confidence says "I have value and so does my spouse." Pride says "I have value and my spouse needs to recognize it."

Confidence can receive correction. Pride can't. 

Pride builds a wall one brick at a time. Every unapologized offense was a brick. Every conversation where one spouse lectured instead of listened. Every eye roll- a brick.

You don't want to just endure an unhealthy dynamic without ever naming it. That's not humility that is enabling. 




Time to Talk About it: 
Where do you think pride shows up most in our relationship—during conflict, communication, or something else?

When you feel unheard or unvalued, how do you usually respond—and do you think pride plays a role in that reaction?

What's one practical way we could replace pride with humility in our marriage this week?




Mentioned in This Episode:
Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

Make sure you're checking in with your spouse every week with our FREE Weekly Marriage Check in Guide!

Your words, your tone, your attitude- they all matter in how your spouse hears you and how connected your marriage feels. Check out our new devotional: Cut the Criticism and Cultivate Companionship in Marriage

Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Have negative thoughts about your spouse slowly replaced the positive ones? You need to start Mind Craft: Take Your Thoughts Captive to Transform Your Marriage today!

If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! 

It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer this month, you'll receive our Most Popular Resource Bundle — 10 powerful marriage tools with a combined value of $185. Become a Marriage Changer today!

Marriage has a way of bringing our imperfections to the surface—and if we're honest, that can feel frustrating, discouraging, and even isolating at times. But what if those struggles aren't something to hide…what if they're actually where God's grace shows up most?
In this episode, we're talking about how the imperfect stories we see throughout Scripture mirror our own and remind us that we're not alone in the mess. We'll unpack what it really looks like to build intimacy through vulnerability, why accepting each other's brokenness matters more than having it all together, and how God's unconditional love can shift the way you see yourself and your spouse.
If you've ever felt like your marriage falls short of the ideal, this conversation will remind you that God does some of His best work right in the middle of it.



Episode Highlights:
The people in the Bible weren't perfect—and that's exactly where God's grace shows up, just like it does in our marriages.

Real intimacy doesn't come from having it all together—it comes from being honest, letting your guard down, and choosing to love each other in the middle of the imperfections.

When we truly understand God's unconditional love, it changes everything.

 
Quotes from this Episode:
I think we all have a tendency to let other people define who we are and we've got to keep our eyes on him."
I love that scripture in 1 John 4 all the time, you know, we love because He first loved us.- Dana Che
People have this idea that people in the Bible are saints… I really wanted to show the humanity of the people in scripture. Just like us they struggled with their faith.- Dana Che Williams
We can't project the image of God if we are hiding. If we are pretending. -Dana Che
We are broken people who married broken people. - Dana Che
Even if people reject you, God does not reject you. - Dana Che Williams
We must get our worth and our value from the Lord.- Dana Che Williams
We have to be tethered in. We have to be tied together, so that when the storms of life or the gentle everyday situations of life, we aren't disconnecting. 
I can't be led by my feelings. I have to pray about my feelings. I have to submit my heart before the Lord.
He wants your marriage to work. He wants every marriage to work.- Dr. Kim
There is so much beauty in the suffering if we will just endure it. 


Time to Talk About it: 
Do you feel like you play second fiddle to anything in your spouse's life? Have you shared that with them?
What routines and rhythms can we put in place to fight against the disconnect? 
Are there things we did before marriage, that we have stopped doing? How can we bring that excitement back to our marriage today?
What can the two of you be working on together to grow the Kingdom of God? (If you don't have an answer, take the time now to go to the Lord in prayer)


Mentioned in This Episode:
Connect with Dana Che

Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

Make sure you're checking in with your spouse every week with our FREE Weekly Marriage Check in Guide!

Our Reframing Challenge will help you view your spouse through the lens of God.

Once a year we do something HUGE! 10 resources for one donation. Don't miss our April bundle- your marriage will thank you for it!

Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Have negative thoughts about your spouse slowly replaced the positive ones? You need to start Mind Craft: Take Your Thoughts Captive to Transform Your Marriage today!

If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! 

It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer you'll receive our Most Popular Resource Bundle — 10 powerful marriage tools with a combined value of $185. Become a Marriage Changer today!

Most couples are unintentionally at risk of making one decision that can change their marriage forever. Jim Ramos shares the powerful guardrails that protect and strengthen your marriage, drawing from personal stories, biblical wisdom, and decades of ministry experience. His insight will challenge everything you thought you knew about love, trust, and biblical fidelity—showing you how to avoid costly mistakes and build an unbreakable, joy-filled partnership.
You'll discover:
Why most problems in marriage boil down to one choice and how guardrails can save you

The crucial boundaries that keep temptation at bay—living above reproach and emotional connection

How to build walls of protection around your wife's heart and why framing her well is your greatest act of love

The importance of intentionality, regular check-ins, and prayer in cultivating a thriving relationship

The biblical foundation of mutual submission, respect, and standing back-to-back as life partners

This episode isn't just theory—Jim shares real stories, practical guardrails, and tangible steps you can take today. Whether you're engaged, newly married, or decades in, the principles here will help you lead with integrity and love. Don't leave your marriage to chance—discover how purposeful boundaries create a legacy of unbreakable trust, happiness, and spiritual harmony.
Perfect for husbands and wives committed to God's design, or anyone ready to fight for a marriage that lasts a lifetime. Because in God's family, guarding your marriage isn't restriction, it's the freedom to love fearlessly.
 
Quotes from this Episode:
Jim Ramos: "Guardrails in marriage are not restrictions but powerful safeguards that create freedom by preventing destructive choices."

Jim Ramos: "The root cause of most marital failures is a single, stupid choice away—guardrails act as proactive filters to avoid those pitfalls."

Jim Ramos: "Effective leadership in marriage involves presiding over, protecting, and providing—like building walls and inspecting walls—rather than striving for equality."

Jim Ramos: "Cultivating a shared journey towards Jesus strengthens marriage intrinsically; the closer couples move to Christ, the closer they become to each other."

Jim Ramos: "Raising children and managing a stress-filled life require intentional prioritization—placing marriage second only to Jesus—otherwise, chaos undermines core relationships."

Jim Ramos: "The story loops we build through unguarded conversations and stories can open doors for rumors, damaging trust."

Jim Ramos: "Personal renewal in marriage is never too late; repentance and redirection through guardrails are always available, transforming failure into unbreakable bonds."

Dr. Kim: "I think guardrails in marriage, to me, just pictures, man, you're protecting your marriage."

Dr. Kim: "If we begin to think we're not vulnerable, we're really in trouble because we all are."

Dr. Kim: "I think Satan wants us to fool us into thinking that he's not causing any trouble or that he's just maybe not even there."

Dr. Kim: "I think when a man gets it, everyone wins, right? So when men step into that role, then the women naturally get rally around it."

Dr. Kim: "I think intentionality, we don't realize how much that makes a difference. And our wives notice that."

 
Time to Talk About it:
What is one guardrail you'd like to see implemented in your marriage to strengthen and protect it?

What is one step we can take today to make our marriage more of a priority?

How can you begin to support one another spiritually so that your relationship with Jesus will grow? How can you see that shaping your marriage?

 
Mentioned in This Episode:
 
Once a year we do something HUGE! 10 resources for one donation. Don't miss our April bundle- your marriage will thank you for it!

Check out Jim Ramos and Men in the Arena.

Men- check out their instagram page. Wives- share their page with your husband.

Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

Make sure you're checking in with your spouse every week with our FREE Weekly Marriage Check in Guide!

We believe in boundaries as tools to protect your marriage and give you freedom to enjoy your marriage. Here's a tool to help you protect your marriage.

Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Need a place to start discussing boundaries? God's Word is the perfect place to start and we have created a plan just for you: Boundaries in Marriage

If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! 

It's the perfect time to become a Marriage Changer! When you become a Marriage Changer, you'll receive our Most Popular Resource Bundle — 10 powerful marriage tools with a combined value of $185. Become a Marriage Changer today!

We've explored the spectrum of narcissism, now it's time to dive into what you can do when those patterns show up in your marriage. Dr. Kim shares how to discern when to speak up and when to self-reflect, how to cultivate an atmosphere for healthy conversation, and why boundaries are essential for meaningful connection.
 
Episode Takeaways:
Forgiveness is not pretending something didn't happen. 
Trust has to be built consistently over time. 
Being a good christian spouse does not mean absorbing pain. 
When you see the same behaviors repeatedly, it's time to do something. 
Language matters when having productive conversations.
Change starts with responsibility, not accusation.
God sees you and He is near!
 
Quotes from this Episode:
You can forgive someone and still require accountability.
Healthy relationships don't make you feel like you're losing your mind. 
Keep love as the goal. 
Boundaries aren't unloving, they are essential.
Patterns that took years to develop don't disappear in just weeks. 
Labels can explain behavior, but they rarely heal relationships.
Defensiveness feels safe, but it slowly kills intimacy.
You can't control your spouse's willingness to change — but you can control your own humility.
Most marriages don't break from one big issue, but from unaddressed patterns over time.
Healing begins when curiosity replaces accusation.
 
Take Time to Talk About It:
What narcissistic or self-protective patterns do you notice repeating in your marriage?


How does defensiveness show up for you — and what is it usually trying to protect?


What would it look like to take responsibility for your part without minimizing the pain you've experienced?

 
Mentioned in this Episode:
Awesome Marriage is on Instagram!

Make sure you're checking in with your spouse every week!

Your words, your tone, your attitude- they all matter in how your spouse hears you and how connected your marriage feels. Check out our new devotional: Cut the Criticism and Cultivate Companionship

Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Continue growing in love and intimacy, don't stop Pursuing Your Spouse in Marriage.

If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !