Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley
Focus On The Family With Jim Daly
Sparking the Marriage Fires, Pt. 2 | Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage
Video · 34 min · July 9, 2026
About this video
Get ready for Part Two of how to spark the fire in your marriage! Want to make your spouse feel special? Todd and Carolyn Petka share the "rocket fuel” for thriving marriages, and describe obstacles like unrealistic expectations, busy lives without margin, conflict styles, and family-of-origin wounds, that naturally
leak energy and require intentional refueling.
More from Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage with Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley
View all- 1The Manosphere (Part 2 of 2) | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageWe're continuing our discussion of the “manosphere,” reviewing how it distorts headship and submission and focusing on three additional lies: that emotional vulnerability is weakness, that women are biologically untrustworthy, and that a wife’s body belongs to her husband.
- 2The Manosphere (Part 1 of 2) | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageDr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss the Manosphere and the “Christian Manosphere." This is a program that you want to share with all the men in your life. Greg shares research from months of reading forums and explains the first three of six lies that many men are believing. We also go into what submission means for women.
- 3Laying the Foundation for Your Legacy | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageDr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss what it means to leave a marital legacy by building a healthy foundation -- with intentional core values -- rather than living by default. Guest Lain McCanless of Rally Your Family describes practical tools to guide decisions, unify spouses, and model faithfulness across generations. This is something you can start today!
- 4Don't Let the Weight of the Past Crush Your Marriage | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageDr. Greg and Erin Smalley are joined by Bob Lepine to discuss how guilt, shame, and past wounds affect marriage. If unresolved hurts are triggering conflict in your relationship, listen to this episode and then share it with your spouse. We also talk about building a healthy sexual relationship and adjusting unrealistic expectations shaped by culture.
- 5Adaptability in Marriage | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageDoes it feel like your life is being interrupted? Financial issues, health concerns, and disagreements with family members can all throw a wrench into our plans. Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley talk with Julie Plagan, who describes common interruptions in her life. We address the need for control, people-pleasing, and messages from how a strict faith background fueled anger and unforgiveness.
- 6Affair Prevention & Recovery | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageDr. Greg and Erin Smalley focus on infidelity with Brad and Tammy Miller. They discuss how couples drift through busyness, unmet emotional needs, validation-seeking, social media connections, and contrast emotional vs. physical affairs.
- 7Support For An InterFaith Marriage | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageYou're really going to be blessed by this program, even if you and your spouse share the same faith. Greg and Erin talk with David McIver, author of Looking For The One. David teaches that loving a spiritually different spouse means seeing them through Jesus’ eyes and praying about where the trust was first broken rather than focusing on behavior.
- 8Rapid Fire Q & A | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageDr. Greg and Erin Smalley host a rapid-fire episode answering common marriage questions from both a husband and a wife perspective - with timed responses! They discuss whether spouses should check in when apart, address hidden purchases as “financial infidelity,” evaluate location sharing and phone/social media access, and other common questions couples have.
- 9Marrying Into Madness - Dealing with In-laws | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageHow is your relationship with your in-laws? Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley discuss what research and experience reveals about in-law relationships, prompted by Erin being asked to speak to a moms group. If conflict, enabling behavior, and parenting disagreements with in-laws seem to take away the PEACE in your family - this is the podcast for you!
- 10Anger Triggers in Marriage | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageDo differences between you and your spouse trigger tension in your marriage? Greg and Erin talk with Amber Lia and offer tips to respond well and explore how miscommunication fuels anger. They discuss common conflict points like “chore wars,” the invisible mental load, and backseat driving, while emphasizing teamwork, communication, and going the extra mile.
- 11Sparking the Marriage Fires, Pt. 2 | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageGet ready for Part Two of how to spark the fire in your marriage! Want to make your spouse feel special? Todd and Carolyn Petka share the "rocket fuel” for thriving marriages, and describe obstacles like unrealistic expectations, busy lives without margin, conflict styles, and family-of-origin wounds, that naturally leak energy and require intentional refueling.
- 12Sparking the Marriage Fires, Pt. 1 | Crazy Little Thing Called MarriageDr. Greg and Erin Smalley speak with Pastors Todd and Carolyn Petkau about their Relationship Rocket Formula, comparing marriage to a rocket needing navigation, fuel, and spark! They encourage looking into Scritpture, deep “fuel and spark” questions, and creating safety through active listening and saying, “tell me more.”
Get the Pray app
Follow Focus On The Family With Jim Daly and keep listening on your phone.