Operation: Thriving Marriage

Marriage is like a mirror—it reflects both the beauty we love and the flaws we’d rather avoid. Like mirrors, our spouses often reveal truths about us that we can’t see on our own. God uses marriage to shape us, to refine us, and to prepare us for His purposes. The problem is that none of us enjoy having our weaknesses exposed. Our natural instinct is to deny, defend, or pull away. But when we distance ourselves from our spouse’s ob...

On this episode of Operation: Thriving Marriage, Bryon and Jen talk about what it means to truly heal the heart of your marriage. Marriage is about two becoming one, yet too often our thoughts, pride, and unforgiveness create distance that leaves us feeling alone even when we live under the same roof. The Bible reminds us in Genesis 2:18 that it is not good for man to be alone, but many couples today are “alone together,” sharing s...

In this episode of Operation: Thriving Marriage, we tackle one of the most debated and often misunderstood topics in Christian marriage—contraception. With so many competing voices, from the cultural message of “do whatever you want,” to Catholic rejection of all forms of contraception, to nuanced Orthodox views, to the Protestant perspective of leaving the decision to the couple, it’s easy to feel confused about what is right. We ...

In this episode of Operation: Thriving Marriage, we explore what it truly means to build emotional intimacy in marriage. When you think of intimacy, what comes to mind? Many couples confuse intimacy with romance or sex, but they are not the same. Romance and intimacy feed each other, but intimacy goes much deeper. When we mistake sex for intimacy or make it the goal, we miss out on the true connection God designed for marriage. Thi...

Episode 87 – 

In-Laws: Navigating Boundaries, Expectations, and Blessings

In-laws often get a bad rap. From sitcom jokes to horror stories passed around at bridal showers, it’s almost a cliché to talk about how difficult mothers-in-law can be. But are in-laws really the problem—or is it the lack of clear boundaries and expectations that causes the most damage?

In this episode of Operation: Thriving Marriage, Bryon and Jennifer ...

Episode 85: Building Emotional Intimacy

When people think about intimacy in marriage, the first thing that usually comes to mind is sex. For many couples, the idea of intimacy is wrapped up in romance, physical affection, or sexual connection. But in reality, true intimacy—especially emotional intimacy—goes much deeper than that.

In today’s episode of Operation: Thriving Marriage, we’re tackling one of the most misunderstood as...

In Episode 84 of Operation: Thriving Marriage, Bryon and Jen Harvey dive into a trending concept from Gen Z culture: “Main Character Energy.”

Bryon kicks off the conversation by sharing how he came across the term and what it means—seeing yourself as the central figure in every situation. Jen offers insight into how this mindset can subtly affect relationships, especially in the context of marriage.

In marriage, “main character ene...

In Episode 84 of Operation: Thriving Marriage, Bryon and Jen Harvey dive into an important truth: there are no perfect marriages. While we often focus on communication and addressing issues, today’s episode explores why unpacking every problem can sometimes do more harm than good in your relationship.

Many couples fall into the trap of thinking they need to discuss and fix every little irritation. But over-unpacking issues can cr...

In Episode 82 of Operation: Thriving Marriage, Bryon and Jen Harvey tackle a topic that hits close to home for nearly every couple: how mishandling money can sabotage your marriage. Bryon begins the conversation by asking Jen, “You deal with a lot of different family issues as a lawyer. What do you see as the biggest contributor to strife in marriage?” Drawing on both professional and personal experience, Jen explains that while fi...

In this episode of Operation: Thriving Marriage, we’re continuing our conversation on how couples sabotage communication in marriage. Last time, we talked about harboring resentment and bottling up emotions — if you haven’t listened to that episode yet, we encourage you to go back and check it out. Today, we’re diving into three more common ways communication breaks down between spouses: allowing arguments to grow, refusing to apol...

In this episode of Operation: Thriving Marriage, we’re diving into two of the biggest ways couples sabotage communication without even realizing it: harboring resentment and bottling up feelings. Communication is essential to solving any problem in marriage, and if you can’t talk openly and honestly, you’ll stay stuck. Resentment builds when expectations are unspoken, unmet, or unreasonable — what we call “Unexpectations.” Whether ...

Episode 75: What Is Love? - Operation: Thriving Marriage

Welcome back to Operation: Thriving Marriage! In today’s episode, we dive into one of the most fundamental aspects of both faith and relationships: What Is Love?

Episode Summary:

Love is often misunderstood in our culture, reduced to just a fleeting emotion or romantic ideal. But Jesus commands us to love, which means love must be more than just a feeling—it’s an attitude and...

In this episode of Operation: Thriving Marriage, we dive into the idea that we often marry our unfinished business. Relationship patterns, childhood wounds, and unmet emotional needs can shape our marriages in ways we don’t even realize. But the good news? With self-awareness and God’s guidance, we can break free from unhealthy cycles and build stronger, healthier marriages.

Psychotherapist Lori Gottlieb once said, “We marry our ...

Podcast Notes for Operation: Thriving Marriage

Episode 78: Commitment is More Than Not Getting Divorced

Commitment in marriage is often misunderstood. Many couples believe it simply means not getting divorced, but staying married isn’t enough to create a thriving relationship. True commitment requires more than avoiding separation—it’s about intentionally nurturing your marriage every day. A thriving marriage requires constant ca...

Podcast Notes for Operation: Thriving Marriage

Episode 76: Things That Hurt Men

Introduction

In marriage, safety should be foundational—just as it is in the military. While service members are trained to recognize and defend against dangers, the same principle applies to relationships. Marriage should be the safest human connection, but achieving this requires understanding and addressing the risks that threaten that safety.

Th...

Episode 75: New Love Languages 

Welcome to Operation: Thriving Marriage! In this episode, we’re diving into the concept of love languages—one of the most helpful tools for building strong, loving relationships. While Dr. Gary Chapman’s original five love languages have impacted countless marriages, new research shows they might not cover everyone’s unique ways of expressing and receiving love. We’re exploring the two new love langu...

**Episode 74: Combining Accounts; Yes or No? | Operation: Thriving Marriage Podcast**

In this episode, Bryon and Jen explore a question often asked during premarital coaching and live events but rarely discussed openly in marriage circles: *Should we combine our bank accounts?* While questions about sex and parenting frequently arise, financial issues don’t come up as often. Why is that? Bryon and Jen delve into why this topic is e...