The Living Marriages Podcast | Effective Communication, Intimacy, Healthy Habits, Christian Counseling, Christian Parenting
The Go-To Podcast for Those Who Want To Rebuild Intimacy and Connection in Their Christ Centered Marriage
Has the excitement of your wedding day now faded into the background?
Are you so exhausted that the last thing you want to think about is your marriage?
Do you and your spouse feel like ships passing in the night?
If you’re craving the intimate, connected marriage God has for you, you’ve come to the right place!
We’re April and Aaron Au, marriage coaches with over a decade of experience, who are on the journey to finding God’s best for our marriage while raising two young boys.
We recently heard this wisdom: “If your marriage isn’t growing, it’s dying.” Yikes! That really got our attention! But if you think about it, it’s true. Marriages need direction, purpose and a common vision to thrive. If they don’t, they will inevitably drift apart. When you add the pressures of raising young children and the grind of daily work to the mix, there are even more forces that threaten to pull our marriages apart.
Thankfully, God has a beautiful vision for our marriages. He wants us to cultivate and enjoy intimacy and connection in our marriage. What’s more, God wants to breathe his Spirit and life into our marriages through beautiful encounters with him in prayer and worship.
In this podcast, we’ll learn about:
- Simple, healthy habits that lead to effective communication and intentional conversations
- The assumptions and expectations that can sabotage our marriages
- How community is essential for a connected marriage
- God’s heart to bring healing and wholeness to us, as individuals and as a family
And of course, we’ll dive into all of the fun topics like sex, money, parenting and why you shouldn’t buy a car without talking to your spouse first.
We’ll also have space to encounter God through prayer, worship and reflection through regular episodes called “Thursday Thoughts.”
So join us on this beautiful journey that we call “Living Marriages.”
Get in touch!
info@livingmarriages.com
Like the podcast? You can make a charitable donation to keep fresh content coming: https://livingmarriages.com
Listen on:
Episodes
6 hours ago
6 hours ago
We are so excited to introduce you to our good friends, Cris and Christy Harper. After God moved them to Edmonton from Alabama in the midst of a global pandemic to start church ministry, they felt a bit untethered in life and in their marriage.
As they were approaching the end of the year, God invited them to a new practice, one which they've developed and practiced regularly at the end of each year. It's an incredible way of connecting, of building courage in communication, of repentance, of building friendship and deepening communion with one another and with Christ.
Join us for this humour-filled and deeply encouraging conversation as we approach the end of 2025!
Resources
Here is the Spiritual Health Reflection and the Rule of Life Builder by the folks over at Practicing the Way.
Interested in becoming a marriage mentor? FamilyLife Canada can provide the training and resources you need here.
Next Steps
If you'd like to get in touch, we'd love to hear from you and to pray with you! Send us an e-mail: info@livingmarriages.com
Please pray about supporting this non-profit podcast. For more information on making a charitable donation, please visit: https://livingmarriages.com
6 days ago
6 days ago
In Episode 89, we spoke with our friend Justin Chan about how in being curious about our differences and learning to honour them, God can draw us closer to one another and himself!
On today's Thursday Thought we take time to reflect on some of the differences in our marriage, get curious about them and pray about how the Lord might be inviting us to honour these differences.
We also are reminded about three of the most important words you can use in your marriage: "Tell me more!"
Next Steps
If you'd like us to pray for you or if you have any episode suggestions or ideas, get in touch with us! We'd love to hear from you: info@livingmarriages.com
If you're feeling led to make a charitable donation to help keep this non-profit ministry "on the air," please visit our website: https://livingmarriages.com
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
Tuesday Dec 16, 2025
If you've been listening to the podcast for awhile, you'll know that two of the biggest dangers marriages face today are "drift" and "difference". Each is a tool the enemy uses to great effect to drive us further apart in our marriages.
Today's guest, Justin Chan, Director of Oneness for Power to Change and founder of the PRAXIS experience, shares his wisdom and experience of how understanding and honouring the differences between us and our spouse can actually bring us closer to each other and to God.
We chat about:
The importance of self-awareness in our relationships with one another and God
Discovering how cultural and social differences might be at play in our marriages
Being curious about and honouring our differences
Finding spiritual rhythms and practices that suit our personalities and that still bring us closer together in unity
What it looks like to be "present FOR" our spouse when they can't be "present WITH."
Next Steps
If you'd like prayer or have feedback, guest or episode ideas, we'd love to hear from you! You can e-mail us at info@livingmarriages.com
If you're feeling led to support this non-profit ministry, you can make a charitable donation through our website https://livingmarriages.com
Thursday Dec 11, 2025
Thursday Dec 11, 2025
As we discussed in Ep. 87, the holiday season can be anything but "the most wonderful time of the year." However, with clear communication and intentional planning, our families can move from just surviving this time to actually enjoying and thriving in it.
Join us for this Thursday Thought as we reflect further on what kind of communication and planning we might need to have BEFORE we're in the thick of it. Plus, we pray that God would restore to us the wonder of Advent and Christmas, without all of the cultural baggage and expectation we often experience.
Next Steps
Get in touch! We'd love to hear from you about prayer requests you have or episode or guest ideas! info@livingmarriages.com
Want to donate to this non-profit ministry to help keep new content being published? Make a charitable donation at https://livingmarriages.com
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
Tuesday Dec 09, 2025
"It's the most wonderful time of the year..." At least that's how the carol goes. With American Thanksgiving barely in the rearview mirror and Christmas barreling towards us, are you feeling the joy and wonder of the Advent and Christmas seasons or are you feeling the pressure and expectation of yet another holiday? If you're feeling the pressure, like we are, make sure to stop and do this one thing: communicate!
On this episode, we learn alongside you and encourage you to:
Communicate clearly - make sure you both know what you are saying "yes" to
Take time to understand your family traditions and expectations
Make time for dates and connecting in the midst of busyness
Prioritize your immediate family, even if you are travelling and visiting family abroad
Resources
For a great conversation of family of origin (especially in light of family traditions) please visit Episode 75.
For some practical ideas for weekly check-ins as a couple, listen to Episode 11.
(Links will open podcast episodes in Apple Podcasts)
Next Steps
We'd love to hear from you about how we can be praying for you during the holiday season. Or send us feedback and show note ideas! info@livingmarriages.com
If you'd like to support this non-profit ministry with a charitable donation, please visit https://livingmarriages.com
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
Thursday Dec 04, 2025
On this Thursday Thought, we lean into God's grace and love as we seek to discover God's best for our sex life.
We reflect on:
Our conversation from Episode 85 with Joanna Sawatsky of baremarriage.com
We re-affirm our view of the sacredness of sex intended for the covenant of marriage
We lean into God's grace and healing for those affected by pornography, purity culture and more
We discuss how obligation and entitlement have no place in the bedroom
And much more! We also pray for God's healing, wholeness and best for the areas of sex and intimacy in our marriage.
Next Steps
Have ideas for guests, episode topics, feedback or prayer requests? Get in touch! info@livingmarriages.com
If you'd like to make a donation to this non-profit ministry, you can do so at our website: https://livingmarriages.com
Grace and peace! Aaron and April
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
Tuesday Dec 02, 2025
There has been a lot of conversation in Christian circles recently about some of the well-intentioned yet harmful marriage advice that is being perpetuated, especially in some best-selling Christian materials.
Today's guest, Joanna Sawatsky, has been working to shine a light on some of these teachings and their effects on marriages through rigorous research. Along with the team at baremarriage.com, she's also been sharing God's heart for hope, health and healing for our marriages.
On this episode, we talk with Joanna about:
What a memorable message is and how research shows the impact of these messages on the quality of our marriage and our sex life
The importance of curiosity and holding space for others
The harm that comes from marriage teachings that point to female obligation and male entitlement when it comes to sex
Compassion and the importance of seeing each other as God's image-bearers
Resources
Joanna Sawatsky is an author, epidemiologist and biostatistician with the team at baremarriage.com. Please click on the link to find out more about the books, podcast and blog that Joanna referenced in our conversation.
Next Steps
Thoughts, feedback, episode ideas, prayer requests? Please get in touch with us. We'd love to hear from you and pray with you. info@livingmarriages.com
If you'd like to support this non-profit ministry, please visit our website to find out how you can partner with us in prayer and financially: https://livingmarriages.com
Thursday Nov 27, 2025
Thursday Nov 27, 2025
On this Thursday Thought, we take time to reflect on the conversation we had with Matt and Mandy Horne in episode 83. We draw encouragement and instruction from how God held them close and how they walked in "deep trust" with him through challenging transitions in life and marriage. We pray for all of our listeners going through these difficult seasons of transition.
Next Steps
If you'd like us to pray with you, we're here for you! Please drop us a line: info@livingmarriages.com
You can also donate to this non-profit ministry: https://livingmarriages.com
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Tuesday Nov 25, 2025
Mandy and Matt Horne have experienced A LOT of transition in their nearly 25 years of marriage. From several moves to adoption to working in ministry to starting a business, they have experienced the joys and challenges of the different seasons of life God has brought them through.
In our conversation you'll hear:
How God has held them close and how they have clung to him through difficult transitions
How they took on roles and responsibilities they might have never dreamed of depending on the season they were in
Mandy's 3 R Coaching Framework (Reconnect, Restore and Rise)
Resources
If you would like to find out more about Mandy's work as a board-certified Health and Wellness Nurse Coach, please visit her website:
https://www.wellspringoflifecoaches.com/
For Mandy's special offer for a free resource for Living Marriages' listeners, please visit:
https://gift.wellspringoflifecoaches.com/au
If you'd like to get in touch with Aaron and April at the Living Marriages Podcast and ministry, please visit our website:
https://livingmarriages.com
or send us an e-mail with episode ideas, feedback and prayer requests: info@livingmarriages.com
Thursday Nov 20, 2025
Thursday Nov 20, 2025
On this Thursday Thought, we reflect back on Ep. 81 and the Marriage Hierarchy of Needs by Sheila and Keith Gregoire from "The Marriage You Want."
We reflect and pray on the idea that if one of you feels like you're being chased by a bear in your marriage, you both are! Are we on the same level in our marriage and if not, have we communicated about it? Is this a season we are in by choice and if so, are we still communicating openly about it, giving gratitude for the other? And if this is not by choice and one spouse finds themselves in a different level of need, how are we going to support and help one another?
Resources
To see a diagram of the Marriage Hierarchy of Needs and hear Sheila Wray Gregoire and Dr. Keith Gregoire's conversation about this, please click here.
Next Steps
We'd love to hear from you. How do you see the Marriage Hierarchy of Needs playing out in your marriage? Any questions? Ideas for shows and guests? Prayer requests? Get in touch! info@livingmarriages.com
If you'd like to support our non-profit ministry in finances and prayer, you can visit our website to find how: https://livingmarriages.com