Marriage Lab

Latest Episodes:

Don't ask triggered people BIG questions Apr 02, 2026

Show notes

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 triggered.

What it often looks like 👇
• “Why didn’t you invite me?”
→ “Do you have more fun with them?”
→ “So you don’t have fun with me?”
→ “Do you even enjoy being around me?”

→“Do you even like me?”
→ “Are you happier without me?”
→ “Is something wrong with us?”
→ “Do you even want this relationship?”

😬 See how fast it escalates?

We unpack:
• Why triggered brains give exaggerated, painful answers
• The “staircase” of escalation most couples fall into
• The difference between curiosity vs. panic-driven questioning
• What’s actually happening in your brain (emotional flooding + amygdala hijack)
• Why you’re not “getting clarity”… you’re digging for pain

And most importantly—
the simple habit that protects your relationship:
👉 Don’t ask big questions when someone is triggered.

If you’ve ever walked away from a conversation more hurt than helped, this episode will give you a better path:
pause → regulate → return to clarity.

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

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How calls with your spouse go sideways (& how to fix it) Mar 17, 2026

Show notes

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 capacity
• unclear intentions (are we connecting or handling logistics?)
• hoping for something deeper… without saying it

...and the hurt that builds when your spouse can’t show up the way you needed—especially in the middle of a workday

What starts as a quick call can quickly spiral into misunderstanding, frustration, or even conflict that leaks into the rest of your day.

The good news? Most of this is preventable.

We walk you through a simple 3-step framework to help you:
• set clear expectations
• honor each other’s capacity
• and actually get what you need out of the conversation

So your phone calls stop feeling like landmines… and start becoming small, consistent moments of connection (or pure logistics exchange) again.

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

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Stop Calling Strategies “Needs” Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

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 idea of how that need should get met: date night, quicker texts, no phones at night, doing the dishes before sitting down.

The problem is, most of us accidentally disguise strategies as needs… and that’s where control sneaks in. We talk about why that feels so painful (for both people), how “requests” turn into “demands” when there’s punishment attached, and why collaboration creates way more buy-in than prescriptions ever will.

We'll talk about how to peel back the strategy to name the real need underneath, so you can fight less about the method and connect more around the longing.

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

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Understanding Yourself Without Staying Stuck Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

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, triggers, habits, or even love languages—and how awareness is meant to become a starting point for transformation, not a comfortable resting place. We share stories from our own marriage about conflict avoidance, travel differences, stress habits, and learning how to let understanding lead to maturity rather than excuses.

If you’ve ever heard the phrase, “That’s just how I am,” this conversation will help reframe awareness as an invitation to grow—one small, intentional step at a time.

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

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Divine Intervention: Amy's story- Divorced & Remarried Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

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 things are possible with Him.

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

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Different Flavors of Comfort in Families ( feat: Rosie Zint) Feb 03, 2026

Show notes

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” each family member needs when big emotions show up—whether that’s physical touch, someone staying close, space to process alone, or quiet presence.

Rosie shares how she prefers space before reconnecting, while Jenna reflects on how having someone in the room can actually make it harder for her to notice what she’s feeling.

The conversation is tender, honest, and full of Rosie’s natural charm.

Toward the end, Jenna also shares a recent meaningful moment they experienced together with the Lord—offering a gentle invitation for parents to cultivate similar moments of connection, emotional safety, and spiritual openness with their own kids.

This episode is both practical and heart-level, and a reminder that learning how we give and receive comfort can deepen our relationships in powerful ways.

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

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The Dopamine Hunt behind 6,7 : how to harness joy grows where attention goes Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

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 stoked out of their minds when they encounter or hear 6,7.

What can we learn here that could help us adults harness & grow our joy as we train our attention intentionally??

Optimism isn’t just a personality trait.
It’s a trained habit of attention.

In this episode, we talk about:
• the dopamine “hunt”
• why unpredictability fuels motivation
• how learned optimism actually works
• and what faith has to do with training your brain to look for goodness

Joy doesn’t come from forcing positivity.
It grows where attention is practiced.

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

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Stuck in the Same Fight: how naming patterns can break the cycles Jan 12, 2026

Show notes

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, disconnection, and reactivity. We share real examples from our marriage, parenting, and coaching work to show how awareness creates space between a trigger and your response.

When you can name what’s happening inside you—passivity, shutdown, avoidance, mind-reading, or self-rejection—you gain more self-control, clarity, and freedom to choose a different response. This isn’t about suppressing emotions or fixing your spouse; it’s about growing self-awareness so you don’t keep making the same mess.

If you want practical tools for breaking unhealthy patterns, regulating emotions, and creating healthier communication in your marriage, this episode will help you slow down, get curious, and choose differently.

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

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Rethinking Relative Visits Nov 11, 2025

Show notes

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 isn’t working anymore — and how to get creative about connection without spending a fortune.

We’ll share our own story (including a few hard lessons from our in-laws 😅) and offer practical alternatives for families who live far apart: meeting in the middle, combining trips, camping, even serving together.

If you’ve ever felt torn between your budget and your relationships, this episode will help you rethink what “showing up” can look like in this season.

Click here to donate to our missions trip: Zint family link

To grab Jenna's e-workbook>> Peaceful Christmas Planner

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

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But first...Curiosity Oct 23, 2025

Show notes

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 the habit that can stop that spiral before it starts: curiosity.

When something feels off—at work, with your kids, or in your marriage—it’s tempting to assume motives or fill in missing details. But curiosity interrupts that pattern. It slows you down long enough to seek understanding before judgment.

Because the goal isn’t to win an argument; it’s to keep connection.

In this episode, we'll unpack:
• why your brain fills in gaps (and gets the story wrong most of the time)
• how to replace courtroom conversations with curious ones
• a pre-confrontation filter that helps you pause before reacting

Listen to “But First, Curiosity: How to Avoid Courtroom Conversations” wherever you get your podcasts.

To enter to win: share a podcast episode on your social media stories & tag me @jennazint

You can enter as much as once a day. Ends Oct 21

Support the show

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GRAB Jenna's Summer Course Here