Marriage Lab
Aaron and Jenna have been married for over a decade and love talking to people about their relationships, the messiness, the struggle and the victories in all of it. If you're married or planning on it, you can expect 1) Tools for the growth of your marriage and you personally 2) Hope for a healthy marriage no matter what you've experienced up to this point 3) Laughter and comfort when you say, "That's totally us!" and "We've been there!"
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Episodes
137 episodes
When you're emotionally raw, don't crowdsource your worth....
Emotionally raw seasons can heighten everything—especially the desire to feel seen, known, and secure.In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to build a preventative habit of anchoring your identity in God first, rather than tu...
Don't ask triggered people BIG questions
Ever ask gradually big relationship question in the middle of an argument… and then regretted the answer?In this episode, we break down a common (but damaging) pattern:asking life-defining questions when someone is emotionally tri...
How calls with your spouse go sideways (& how to fix it)
Phone calls with your spouse should be simple… so why do they so often go sideways?In this episode, we unpack the subtle dynamics that quietly derail connection:• unspoken expectations• not checking if the other person even has c...
Stop Calling Strategies “Needs”
In this episode, we unpack one of the most practical distinctions we teach: the difference between a need and a strategy. A need is a relational longing: connection, safety, being seen, being prioritized. A strategy is your id...
Understanding Yourself Without Staying Stuck
Sometimes self-awareness helps us grow… and sometimes it quietly gives us permission to stay exactly where we are.In this episode, we talk about the subtle ways insight can turn into self-justification—whether it’s personality types, tri...
Divine Intervention: Amy's story- Divorced & Remarried
A story only God could write. 💔➡️❤️ Divorce, divine encounters, heart-level repentance, and a miraculous reconciliation.Listen to hear Amy's testimony of when God interrupts a story that felt finished.It will remind you all thi...
Different Flavors of Comfort in Families ( feat: Rosie Zint)
In this episode, Jenna is joined by her nine-year-old daughter, Rosie, for a sweet and surprisingly insightful conversation about what comfort looks like in their family. Together, they talk about the different “flavors of comfort” ...
The Dopamine Hunt behind 6,7 : how to harness joy grows where attention goes
Dopamine isn’t just about pleasure.It’s about seeking.Your brain lights up most when the reward isn’t guaranteed— when you’re searching, anticipating, scanning.This is why elementary kids around the country are...
Stuck in the Same Fight: how naming patterns can break the cycles
Why do the same conflicts keep showing up in marriage—even when the topic keeps changing?In this episode, we talk about the power of naming your patterns: the emotional and relational loops that quietly drive conflict, disconnecti...
Rethinking Relative Visits
Family visits are supposed to bring connection… but sometimes they bring exhaustion, awkward expectations, and a drained bank account.In this episode, we’re talking about what to do when the way you’re visiting family is...
But first...Curiosity
Ever notice how easy it is to slip into a courtroom conversation? You start building a case in your head, stacking evidence, rehearsing your defense... all before you’ve actually asked a question.This week’s episode is about...
Can you put sex on the calendar?
Please don't listen with your kids. Our case for scheduling sex.When life gets full—kids, work, ministry, and the endless to-do list—intimacy is often the first thing to slip through the cracks. We’re told sex should always b...
When teasing turns toxic: scoffs & sarcasm- the slow drip of contempt
We all scoff. We all slip into sarcasm. But what if those “little” habits aren’t as harmless as they seem? Research from the Gottman Institute shows that contempt — often disguised as casual teasing — is the single strongest predict...
Steps to Move From Rumination > to > Processing
Last time we talked about ruminating vs. processing. This week, I’m walking you through the how—practical steps to move through pain even if the other person doesn’t respond well.Here’s the framework:Noti...
Ruminating vs Processing
Can you tell the difference between when your emotions are hijacking you & when they're helping you? Noticing and expressing our emotions is a good thing. In fact, it’s vital for a healthy marriage. But there’s a thin line betwe...
The Do's & Don'ts of Processing w/ Your Spouse
In this episode of Marriage Lab, Erin and Jenna dive into the do’s and don’ts of processing with your spouse—how to share what’s on your heart in a way that invites care instead of conflict. From everyday recaps to high-stakes conversa...
Are you forgiving wrong?
Think you’ve forgiven… but still feel stuck? You’re not alone.Most of us were never taught what real forgiveness looks like—just the performance of it. Say a prayer. Say the words. Move on. Except… we don’t.This epis...
When Pain Feels Like an Identity Attack
Some pain cuts deeper than others—not because it hurts more, but because it feels true. In this episode, we unpack the kind of pain that doesn’t just bruise your feelings, it hits your identity.We explore three subtle (and not-s...
When Pain spoils into offense
Offense Isn’t Just Pain: It’s Pain + Pride We often think being offended is just another form of hurt—but it’s more than that. Offense is what happens when pain gets tangled with pride. It’s the moment pain hardens into ju...
Special Episode: Moved by Love: the secret to sharing Jesus
What if evangelism wasn’t about striving—but about overflow?In this special episode, I sit down with a few of my friends fresh off a missions trip to unpack what actually cracked the code for us when it came to sharing Jesus.&nbs...
Passivity isn't a fruit of the spirit
What if the “peace” you’re protecting in your marriage… is actually costing you real connection?In this episode, we’re unpacking how passivity can disguise itself as love—especially in Christian marriages. We’ve seen it in our own relati...
Date Fail Debrief: Control Freak & Shut Down
What do you get when you mix a paddleboard, high expectations, and two humans with emotions?Definitely not the relaxing date we envisioned. But maybe... a deeper kind of win?This was not our best date… but maybe it was one ...
You, Me &… Nobody Else?- isolation in marriage
In this episode, we’re tackling a subtle but serious issue in marriage: isolation.What happens when your spouse becomes your only source of connection? Spoiler: it doesn’t lead to thriving.We talk about: