Welcome back to Marriage IQ! We’re making a borehole through boring and striking out stale marriages.

In this episode, Dr. Heidi Hastings and Dr. Scott Hastings explore the incredible power of committed love, using the jaw-dropping $38 billion divorce of Jeff Bezos as a stunning case study. Scott argues that even amidst immense wealth, virtually every man eventually longs for one woman, one wedding ring, and one life. If a CEO is willing to risk everything to pursue love, how much more should you invest in your marriage?

That investment begins with individual discipline. This episode’s core lesson focuses on The Golden Hour—How Individual Discipline Saves Your Marriage. We take you step-by-step through much of Dr. Scott Hastings’ rigorous 28-point Golden Hour routine—from 6:00 AM wake-ups and meditation to self-affirmations and goal reviews.

In this episode, learn:

✅The profound psychological research proving why marriage remains the ultimate, non-negotiable goal for most men.

✅How to use the Golden Hour system to create immediate, non-negotiable daily goals (“light switches”) and long-term identity affirmations (“dimmers”).

✅The scientific findings behind why setting realistic expectations is the only way affirmations lead to sustained psychological well-being.

✅A review of our four cornerstones (Identity, Intentionality, Insight, Intimacy) and the foundation of Integrity that makes every marriage scintillating.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/marriage.iq?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXVnYWlpYnVtcmtvaQ==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558652547411⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MarriageIQ/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FREE PDF DOWNLOADS : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marriageiq.com/freebies⁠⁠

In this laugh-out-loud —and think-a-little — conversation, Dr. Heidi and Dr. Scott Hastings sit down again with Dr. Gina Barreca, a world-class intellect who studies humor the way most of us need to use it: to survive life, love, and other people.

From bathroom bonding to marriage banter gone wrong, Gina unpacks why laughter is essential in relationships—and how to know when a joke stops being funny and starts being harmful. Discover why women tell stories (not jokes), what makes men and women laugh differently, and how humor can transform tension into connection.

Because in marriage, if you can’t laugh at yourselves… you might just become the punchline.

Topics include:💬Healthy vs. harmful humor in marriage

💬Gender differences in communication and laughter

💬The healing power of shared laughter

💬How to bring humor back when things get heavy
So grab your 500-pound purse, your favorite spouse, and join us for an episode that proves comedy really is a survival skill for love.

✨EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are sponsoring a big DATE NIGHT GIVEAWAY: We’re gifting five $100 date-night gift cards (use it for dinner, a concert—your call).

🔔Enter by subscribing to our Weekly Marriage Tips at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MarriageIQ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Entries close November 18, 2025

🔥Winners announced November 28, 2025

Already subscribed? You’re in the drawing. Double your odds—have your spouse subscribe, too. And if this episode inspires a great date, tag us and share a pic—we’ll feature our favorites!

🌐You can find Dr. Gina Barreca and learn more about her work at : ⁠ginabarreca.com

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/marriage.iq?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXVnYWlpYnVtcmtvaQ==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558652547411⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MarriageIQ/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FREE PDF DOWNLOADS : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marriageiq.com/freebies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Why do words—and laughter—matter so much in marriage?

In this lively and heartfelt episode of Marriage IQ, Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings welcome Dr. Gina Barreca—professor, bestselling author, humorist, and truth-teller on women, culture, and relationships. Known for blending sharp wit with deep insight, Dr. Barreca opens up about her Brooklyn roots, how comedy became her survival skill, and why humor is one of the most honest languages of love.

Together, they dive into:

💬 The power of precise communication—and why naming your feelings can be the first step to healing.
💬 How humor helps couples survive pain, stress, and everyday mistakes (including expensive travel mishaps!).
💬 What feminism really means in marriage—and why mutual respect, not rivalry, defines equality.
💬 How shared laughter can build intimacy and authenticity in even the toughest seasons.

From childhood resilience to relationship wisdom, this conversation is as funny as it is profound—a reminder that love, like humor, is all about telling the truth with heart.

🎧 Listen in for a candid, laughter-filled exploration of how being real, precise, and playful can transform the way we love.

🌐You can find Dr. Gina Barreca and learn more about her work at : ⁠ginabarreca.com

✨EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are sponsoring a big DATE NIGHT GIVEAWAY: We’re gifting five $100 date-night gift cards (use it for dinner, a concert—your call).

🔔Enter by subscribing to our Weekly Marriage Tips at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MarriageIQ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Entries close November 18, 2025

🔥Winners announced November 28, 2025

Already subscribed? You’re in the drawing. Double your odds—have your spouse subscribe, too. And if this episode inspires a great date, tag us and share a pic—we’ll feature our favorites!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/marriage.iq?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXVnYWlpYnVtcmtvaQ==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558652547411⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MarriageIQ/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FREE PDF DOWNLOADS : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marriageiq.com/freebies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We pick up where last week left off—moving from technoference to the bigger beast: social media. From doomscrolling and old-flame DMs to jealousy, comparison, and online “tribes,” Drs. Heidi and Scott Hastings unpack how our digital lives spill into our marriages—for better and for worse.

You’ll hear what divorce attorneys are seeing in real life, why phubbing (phone-snubbing your partner) cuts deeper than it seems, and what the research says about how scrolling shapes satisfaction, anxiety, and trust.But this episode isn’t anti-tech—it’s pro-intentionality. We share smart ways to keep connection stronger than your feed: couple boundaries, shared accounts, algorithm detox, and a new “Tech Check 2.0” to help you and your spouse turn screens into tools for intimacy, not obstacles to it.

✨EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are sponsoring a big DATE NIGHT GIVEAWAY: We’re gifting five $100 date-night gift cards (use it for dinner, a concert—your call).

🔔Enter by subscribing to our Weekly Marriage Tips at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MarriageIQ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Entries close November 18, 2025

🔥Winners announced November 28, 2025

Already subscribed? You’re in the drawing. Double your odds—have your spouse subscribe, too. And if this episode inspires a great date, tag us and share a pic—we’ll feature our favorites!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/marriage.iq?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXVnYWlpYnVtcmtvaQ==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558652547411⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MarriageIQ/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FREE PDF DOWNLOADS : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marriageiq.com/freebies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

A true confession kicks this episode off: we accidentally lost half our date night to our phones. That slip becomes today’s lesson on technoference (little device interruptions) and phubbing (phone-snubbing your partner)—and why even “just a second” can quietly lower connection, satisfaction, and trust.

We break down the brain science (hello, dopamine loop), the common bias that makes your scrolling feel harmless but theirs feel hurtful, and simple fixes that work: no-phone zones, joint (not parallel) screen time, playful repair, and our 10-Minute Tech Check you can try tonight. Plus, a few tech-for-good ideas (card decks, sweet midday texts, shared playlists) to boost intimacy.

Part 2 drops Friday: social media’s impact on you—and your marriage. Follow, share with a friend, and leave a review to help other couples find Marriage IQ.

✨EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are sponsoring a big DATE NIGHT GIVEAWAY: We’re gifting five $100 date-night gift cards (use it for dinner, a concert—your call).

🔔Enter by subscribing to our Weekly Marriage Tips at ⁠⁠⁠⁠MarriageIQ.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Entries close November 18, 2025

🔥Winners announced November 28, 2025

Already subscribed? You’re in the drawing. Double your odds—have your spouse subscribe, too. And if this episode inspires a great date, tag us and share a pic—we’ll feature our favorites!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/marriage.iq?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXVnYWlpYnVtcmtvaQ==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558652547411⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MarriageIQ/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

FREE PDF DOWNLOADS : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marriageiq.com/freebies⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

What happens when your best intentions collide with your partner’s expectations?

In this real, unscripted Marriage IQ episode, Drs. Scott and Heidi Hastings unpack how miscommunication and emotional reactivity can derail even the best marriage moments—from heartfelt conversations to romantic retreats.They share a recent story of how cloudy weather, unspoken needs, and one vulnerable moment turned into conflict—and how they repaired it with empathy, humor, and new “rainy-day rules” for their relationship.
👉 Listen in for practical tools to turn misunderstandings into deeper connection—and to learn how to speak and listen with emotional intelligence.

✨EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT:

We are sponsoring a big DATE NIGHT GIVEAWAY: We’re gifting five $100 date-night gift cards (use it for dinner, a concert—your call).

🔔Enter by subscribing to our Weekly Marriage Tips at ⁠⁠⁠MarriageIQ.com⁠⁠⁠.

Entries close November 18, 2025

🔥Winners announced November 28, 2025

Already subscribed? You’re in the drawing. Double your odds—have your spouse subscribe, too. And if this episode inspires a great date, tag us and share a pic—we’ll feature our favorites!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/marriage.iq?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXVnYWlpYnVtcmtvaQ==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558652547411⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MarriageIQ/⁠⁠⁠⁠

FREE PDF DOWNLOADS : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marriageiq.com/freebies⁠⁠⁠⁠

What do spies and spouses have in common?

In this episode of Marriage IQ, we sit down with Jeremy Hurewitz — former foreign correspondent turned corporate intelligence specialist and author of Sell Like a Spy — to talk about what high-level spy skills can teach us about marriage.

You’ll learn:

✅How to get honest answers from your partner without starting a fight

✅The FBI-inspired way to calm an emotional argument before it explodes

✅Verbal mirroring and the “FM radio voice” trick that helps your partner feel safe

✅Radical empathy: caring for your spouse even in moments you don’t actually like them

✅How elite listeners make you feel like you’re the only person in the room — and how to practice that at home

We also get into body language, reading what’s really going on under the surface, and knowing whether your spouse is mad at YOU… or just mad at the situation.

If you’ve ever thought, “We’re talking, but we’re not connecting,” this one is for you.

📘 Check out our guest Jeremy Hurewitz’s book Sell Like a Spy here: https://www.selllikeaspy.net/book

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/marriage.iq?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXVnYWlpYnVtcmtvaQ==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558652547411⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MarriageIQ/⁠⁠⁠

FREE PDF DOWNLOADS : ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marriageiq.com/freebies⁠⁠⁠

Drs. Scott & Heidi Hastings unveil the Ultimate Marriage IQ Date Idea Collection—organized by season, budget, and connection level so you can pick the right date for right now. From everyday, low-cost adventures to cozy winter rituals, spring renewals, summer spontaneity, and fall reflections, you’ll get plug-and-play ideas across the Four Cornerstones: Identity, Intentionality, Insight, and Intimacy.

🎁 GIVEAWAY: We’re gifting five $100 date-night gift cards (dinner, concert—your call).

Enter by subscribing to Weekly Marriage Tips at MarriageIQ.com

⏰ Entries close November 18, 2025

🏆Winners announced November 28, 2025

Already subscribed? You’re in the drawing. Double your odds—have your spouse subscribe too.

💰BONUS: Grab the free printable PDF of today’s ideas under Freebies at MarriageIQ.com—sort by season, budget, or connection level and go!

SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/marriage.iq?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXVnYWlpYnVtcmtvaQ==⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558652547411⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@MarriageIQ/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠