Relevant Radio
Marriage Unhindered is a sincere exploration of the joys and challenges within the realm of marriage. Hosted by the seasoned Doug Hinderer, this one-hour, caller-based show is scheduled to air Monday through Friday at 5PM CT, and will offer listeners an authentic journey into the complexities of marital relationships.
Mark Swartzberg joins Doug to discuss his conversion to the Catholic Church, family life, and his journey to Relevant Radio. Listener questions and comments: • Brian - What are the specifics on the validity of the marriage and the sacramentality of marrying a non-Catholic? (40:28)
Catherine DiNuzzo joins Doug to discuss anxiety from a Catholic perspective. They define good vs bad anxiety, the problem of guilt, and how to manage anxiety as a Catholic. Listener questions and comments: Jasmine - How do I fight my mind that triggers anxiety even if I’m doing okay? (10:19) Rose - I get anxiety around my kids, but I don’t want to share with my kids. What do I say? (35:21) Judy - I have had anxiety when other people are driving. What should I do? (39:59) Resources: Sacred Heart Mental Wellness https://www.sacredheartmentalwellness.com/
Are you a victim of a no-fault divorce? Today, Mary Bowen joins Doug to discuss her efforts to overturn Texas's no-fault divorce law. Listener questions and comments: Patrick - I went through a no-fault divorce, and my wife threatened to say 'cruel and unusual punishment,' which means she is mean to me. (23:37) Karen - This happened to me, and they called it irreconcilable differences. It feels like your spouse and court are against you. It’s been 22 years, and you feel like you made a mistake. (35:57) Steve - I want to support you, and let’s get this done in Texas! (37:50) Stan - I went through one, and I want to tell you that this should be a class lawsuit. I don’t know how you can do this on your own. (38:57) Frank - What hope do you have for people who are happily married? What signs should we look for to prevent this? (40:51) Tony - My wife alienated my daughter from me and would turn my kids against me, and now my kids are getting divorced. I am a stander as well. (45:24) Resources: https://www.texasnofault.com/
Relationship coach Rose Sweet joins Doug to discuss the foundations of good marriages. Listener questions and comments: Denise - My boyfriend’s best friend is a concern to me. He wants me to meet her and her husband. I feel weird about it. (9:20) Shirley - My daughter is 'Christian' but has a second marriage. The kid from the first marriage still lives at home at 34. Is my daughter putting her kids before her husband? (18:46) LeeAnn - I was in a friendship with a guy, but then he got married, and I took the hint and distanced myself from him. (25:34) Resources: Rules for relationships Listen Lead Love Let go Rose Sweet https://rosesweet.com/
Doug shares the top reasons why people get divorced and gives to ultimate advice to not just avoid divorce, but to have a great marriage. Listener questions and comments: Ellie - Do you have any tips for when we’re struggling with something but don’t communicate it because we’re worried it might seem irrational or unfair to the other person? Sometimes that fear of how it will be perceived can stop us from communicating altogether. (26:28) Resources: Marriage Unhindered https://www.marriageunhindered.com/ Happy Marriage for Life https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/ Why couples get divorced Poor communication Loss of trust Financial disagreements Emotional neglect (Matrimonial laziness) Unresolved conflict Changing personal goals and lifestyles The ultimate marriage advice Plan daily prayer for and with your spouse Plan to do a good deed for your spouse every day Apologize and forgive always
Doug wraps up his discussion of 15 ways to strengthen your marriage and shares tips for planning 5 fun at-home dates. PLUS: The Friday Rant. Listener question and comments: Alex - I would like to become Catholic but my wife does not and I want to know what to do. We have 5 kids. (8:25) R.J. - I could use some advice on being a grandparent. I’m going down to help my son out, and it’s been a while since I’ve been around the kids. I want to make sure I’m helpful and know how to best be there for them. (43:41) Resources: Making Marriage Stronger (Part 1) https://relevantradio.com/2026/08/making-marriage-stronger/ Gottman Card Decks https://www.gottman.com/couples/apps/ Ways to strengthen your marriage Start with small rituals Listen like you actually mean it Schedule some fun time together Speak appreciation out loud Keep learning about each other Handle conflict without keeping score Share household responsibilities evenly Put the phone down Support each other’s interests Laugh together when life gets tense Have regular check-ins about the relationship Build a culture of compliments Create shared goals together Make physical affection a priority Celebrate milestones together 5 fun at home date nights Dance together Read poetry together Play board gmes and card games Wine and charcutarie board Make a photo album
Monica Hinderer joins Doug to address challenging family and marriage issues, including OCD and ADHD, pornography, and infidelity. They offer guidance for navigating hurt, betrayal, and difficult relationships. Listener questions and comments: Kate - My daughter-in-law has OCD and ADHD and is very attached to her family. (8:18) Maria - I found my husband watching porn. I don’t know what to do and I am embarrassed. (21:12) Dan - I find that withholding sex from a spouse only makes things worse when dealing with my own porn addiction. (37:49) Mary - I found out that my husband has been unfaithful before marriage and then during marriage. What should I do? (42:38) Resources: Monica Hinderer https://www.monicahinderer.com/ Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change https://bit.ly/4cKsoRU Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening https://bit.ly/4xrRpd3
Doug shares 8 ways to strengthen your marriage. Listener questions and comments: Linda - What if you do these things but they aren't reciprocated. (20:09) Resources: Catholic Catch Singles Trivia Pre-Registration https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=o-0BRmklpkqOCzBfwpVBLl-LqlRwJghFqZHL9AOb2yNUNDVNSzUzWEdUMzQzRDlTRU5aT0FPSzdFQyQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl Gottman Card Decks https://www.gottman.com/couples/apps/ Ways to strengthen your marriage Start with small rituals Listen like you actually mean it Schedule some fun time together Speak appreciation out loud Keep learning about each other Handle conflict without keeping score Share household responsibilities evenly Put the phone down
Dr. Christine Bacon joins Doug to discuss her Super Couple Formula for couples who desire a long and happy marriage. Listener questions and comments: Jessica - My husband will ask me to validate his hurtful comments about my own family members if they did something wrong to him. (21:43) Brian - How in marriage do you apply forgive and forget? how do you realistically argue without letting past issues come up again. (38:39) Resources: The Super Couple: A Formula for Extreme Happiness in Marriage https://www.amazon.com/Super-Couple-Formula-Happiness-Marriage/dp/1633932036 Super Couple Formula Selflessness Attentiveness Communication Respect Encouragement Deliberateness
What happens when single women start attending a married guys’ breakfast after Mass? How do you heal a marriage after a wife discovers her husband’s past porn use? Doug goes to the mailbag to answer these questions and more. Listener questions and comments: Betsy — I wouldn’t want to know. It would be too much for me. (14:34) Rosie — I think it is irrelevant to bring up watching porn if it happened in the past. You are not defined by your mistakes. (19:48) Marie — I was married to someone who was into porn for 20 years before the marriage, and it continued during the marriage. We are divorced now. (22:25) Steven — I struggled with porn before marriage. I confessed it to my wife, and she has helped me stay pure. (28:02) Lisette — It would have been nice to know during the engagement process, but I don’t think I would want to know now. (32:34) Marie — I think one of the reasons porn is so bad is that it gives a man an unrealistic version of women. My son pointed out that women also do this with romance novels, and that also hurts marriages. (39:55)
Doug celebrates the beauty of marriage. Listeners share brief stories of love and commitment. Their stories highlight faith, devotion, and lasting love. Niki - I married my high school sweetheart and we went through the motions with our faith but recently we have come together and are closer to God. We are now expecting a baby after 6 years of infertility. (8:47) Colleen - My husband noticed me in high school. He was a JV basketball player and I was a cheerleader. (11:09) Elizabeth - My husband saved my life on the second date. We have been married for 30 years. (22:26) Joseph - I met my wife in 1984 and we got married in 1992. I knew within 2 weeks that I would marry her. I prayed to the Blessed Mother and she sent me my wife. (30:36) Laura - My husband and I met in college. I am a Cubs fan and he is a Cardinals fan. When I flew home for a break and I got turned around in St Louis, he turned around and came back to get me. (32:51) Alyssa - We met during our youth group days and we finally got married. (37:25) Diane - My husband made a delivery to our office and he knocked over some plants when he was backing up his truck and we started talking that day. (39:23) Pete – I am a Cubs fan. I married a White Sox fan, and it’s working well after 35 years! (45:02)
Monica Hinderer joins Doug for a thoughtful conversation about the challenges of parenting, the importance of community and support, and navigating emotions during conflict. Listener questions and comments: Chris - My wife and daughter get into fights and my daughter is only 7. I need advice. (27:29) Roger - My daughter is moving in with her boyfriend. What should I do? (44:03) Resources: Monica Hinderer https://www.monicahinderer.com/
How do you respond when you get cancelled by your daughter-in-law? What do you do when your husband’s brain surgery changes his personality and he is very abusive? Doug goes to the mailbag answering these questions and more. Listener questions and comments: Deedee - Applause to Doug for answering that question well. Jesus said to forgive 7 x 70 times. (19:29)
Is it appropriate for someone of the opposite sex to give your spouse a massage at work? Can fasting result in a happier marriage? Where do you draw the line with verbally abusive teenagers? Doug answers these questions and more. Listener questions and comments: Colleen - I totally agree that the massage is not ok. But you glossed over him saying 'you didn’t have permission'. That’s a red flag in my book. (15:31) Resources: Monica Hinderer https://www.monicahinderer.com/
Dr. Johann D’Souza joins Doug to discuss the inverted family. They unpack the dynamic of the anxious mother and explore the importance of the father taking a leading role in protecting and guiding his family amid the pressures of the culture. Listener questions and comments: Maria - My granddaughter is 28. She said to me, 'I choose to have you out of my life'. What do I do? (32:28) Resources: https://www.johanndsouza.com/neversmartphone
What should you do when you learn something shocking about your spouse that happened many years ago? How should you deal with loneliness in marriage? Doug answers these questions and more. Listener questions and comments: Mark - Responding to the email about an invalid marriage: Deceit alone is not going to make a marriage invalid. (36:06) Resources: Marriage Unhindered https://www.marriageunhindered.com/ The Forgiveness Institute https://internationalforgiveness.com/ Marriage Unhindered shows on forgiveness https://relevantradio.com/?cat=26671&s=Forgiveness Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love https://www.amazon.com/Eight-Dates-Essential-Conversations-Lifetime/dp/1523504463 Ten Lessons to Transform Your Marriage https://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Transform-Your-Marriage-Strengthening/dp/1400050197
Greg Schutte joins Doug to share why married couples need a commitment to change throughout their marriage. Listener questions and comments: Pat - How do I handle my granddaughter getting married to another woman? (8:10) Andy - My wife and I are having a hard time due to her drinking and every time it happens it creates an argument. (13:13) Sharon - Comment for Andy: I recommend Al-Anon and an AA meeting. (25:20) Barbara - I work in drug and alcohol rehabilitation and it runs in my family. You must go to these meetings as soon as possible. (26:53) Mary - I have been married for 40 years and we have been to counseling for many years. We have had low intimacy for the last few years and now he is wanting to be sexually active. (28:58) Tom - I have a daughter and a new born and I feel anger coming out of my wife. I don’t know how to manage it. What should I do? 40:27 Resources: Building a Eucharistic Marriage https://www.eucharisticmarriage.org/ Marriage Works! Ohio https://trustmarriage.com/
Fr. Rob Ryan and Fr. John LoCoco join Doug to discuss an upcoming singles night at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Chicago. Doug also talks about the challenges of dating and what to look for in a future spouse. Listener questions and comments: Lisa - If you are a female, go to where the men are: the lakes, the beach and hiking. (21:12) Bobby - It’s hard to tell a spouse you don’t like who they hang around with because you might be suggesting they are similar to that group. They might say 'you don’t trust me?' (39:20) Elma - Is it ok to date a widower of only one month? (42:30) Maureen - I used to be a professional matchmake. For Catholics: what a great time to check out the singles at confession. (46:45) Resources: Catholic Catch Singles Trivia Pre-Registration https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=o-0BRmklpkqOCzBfwpVBLl-LqlRwJghFqZHL9AOb2yNUNDVNSzUzWEdUMzQzRDlTRU5aT0FPSzdFQyQlQCNjPTEu&route=shorturl 20 best ways to find a date in real life Sign Up for a Fitness Class / dance lessons Attend Community Events Take a Class That Interests You Say Yes to Social Invitations Become a Regular Somewhere such as a coffee shop Volunteer for a Cause Join a Sports League Attend Networking Events Explore Bookstores and Libraries Take Part in Group Travel or Tours Attend Live Music Events Join a Hobby Group Take Dance Lessons Attend Faith-Based or Spiritual Events Sign Up for a Public Speaking or Improv Class Explore Outdoor Activities Register for Workshops or Seminars Become an Active Member of Your Neighborhood Attend Friend-of-a-Friend Gatherings Focus on Living a Full Life 4 Things to look for when you are dating Does the person ask questions about you and listen for the answers? Do they treat people of lesser status well? Are they reliable? Are they a person of virtue and trying be a better person? Ask the right questions What brought you here? Wat sparks your curiosity? Who are the people you like to hang out with? What are your hobbies? What do you spend most of your time thinking about? What is something you believe that most people will disagree with? What does a life well-lived look like to you?
Doug goes to the mailbag. A listener had serious reservations about getting married and is now miserable. What should she do? Listener questions and comments: Maria Teresa - We enjoy your professional way of speaking so we decided to get your course. My husband was super open to it and I think it was the Holy Spirit. (14:12) Mary - We got married almost 6 years ago and I thought we were under the understanding that it was forever but he just said he's done and he never wanted to marry me. I had no idea. I am going to counseling and he is not talking to me. (36:01) Resources: Marriage Unhindered https://www.marriageunhindered.com/ Happy Marriage for Life https://www.happymarriageforlife.com/
Adam Lane Smith joins Doug to discuss the importance of forging strong attachment bonds with your spouse. Listener questions and comments: Bob - What should a man do when his wife says 'he's a good husband and a good dad, but she has no interest in showing physical affection?' (27:08) Michael - I had abnormal attachment to a narcissistic parent and picked a partner like that. How do I fix this? (37:57) Angel - My fiancé asked me if I've had feelings for a fellow film producer, and I told him it was 14 years ago, and it was well before I met him. He went crazy and locked me out of social media. What am I supposed to do? (41:20) Stacy - Maybe communication is the problem in these relationships. (45:40) Resources: Adam Lane Smith https://bundle.adamlanesmith.com/private-coaching?utm_source=podcast&utm_content=Unhindered&funnel_source=private-coaching Emotionally Focused Therapy https://iceeft.com/