Ep 367 Infertility, Faith, and Deliberate Spontaneity: A Marriage in Progress
Marriage Therapy Radio
MTR
4.6 • 690 Ratings
🗓️ 8 April 2025
⏱️ 44 minutes
🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Zach is joined by Dr. Brenna and Edmund Squires, a Florida-based couple navigating the complexities of marriage, faith, and long-term infertility. Married for nine years, Brenna—a psychologist and wellness consultant—and Edmund—a military veteran—share how their relationship has been shaped by both deep love and hard-fought resilience.
Their conversation explores the emotional toll of unexplained infertility, how they’ve learned to support each other through grief and disappointment, and the importance of prioritizing their marriage above all else. They also discuss their faith and the role it plays in their decisions, and they open up about maintaining intimacy during a prolonged fertility journey—introducing the term "deliberate spontaneity" as a way to keep connection alive even amid stress.
Whether you're navigating your own fertility challenges or simply working to grow stronger together, this episode is full of vulnerability, wisdom, and hope.
Infertility Is a Couple’s Issue, Not Just One Partner’s Burden
- Initially, Brenna bore the brunt of testing and treatment. They had a breakthrough moment where they decided to re-center as a team—emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
"Deliberate Spontaneity" in the Bedroom
- Trying to conceive can quickly turn sex into a chore. They’ve adapted by planning spontaneity—romanticizing required intimacy so it stays emotionally fulfilling and connected.
Open Communication as an Anchor
- Long conversations, emotional check-ins, and apologies are core practices in their marriage.
- Brenna's mental health training adds insight, but it's mutual vulnerability that creates safety and closeness.
Supporting Others Through Their Story
- Out of their own experience, Brenna and Edmund have launched monthly webinars and resources for couples navigating infertility.
- Their goal: help couples strengthen their relationship first, so they’re not starting their family journey from a place of disconnect.
Learn more about Dr. Brenna and Edmond Squires at https://www.encourageandempowerwellness.com/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, everybody, welcome. And thank you for listening to this episode of Marist Therapy Radio. |
| 0:05.8 | My name is Zach Brittle. We're starting round two of couples interviews. We're going to be doing that over the next three weeks. |
| 0:11.8 | I'm actually really excited to roll some of these out for you. This one is actually the first one that I recorded a couple months ago, I guess. |
| 0:19.0 | It's with Dr. Brenna Squires and her husband Edmund Squires. |
| 0:22.3 | They are out of Florida. We talk a lot about their relationship, how they make it work. |
| 0:27.1 | They have been struggling with infertility. They are trying to figure out how to grow their |
| 0:33.0 | family and they haven't had a lot of luck and they've been really at it and navigating how to do that |
| 0:38.1 | emotionally, physically, spiritually. Faith is a big part of their journey, which is interesting |
| 0:43.8 | to hear about. And we talk a little bit about how they do sex. I've often said that people who |
| 0:50.2 | are struggling to have kids, they hate sex. But these guys offer a different kind of perspective, which was refreshing to hear about. I think you'll enjoy it. Interviews that are coming up later next week and the following week, I tell you what, man, they were very cool. I learned a ton, and I'm excited to share them with you. I want to continue to say thank you to those of you who are continuing to support us on Patreon and get a look behind the scenes. I am rolling out here in a little bit, a bunch of |
| 1:14.8 | little mini videos about some of my favorite go-to stories or lessons. I found that in my |
| 1:22.0 | counseling practice, I rely on a handful of sort of iconic or consistent anyway teaching stories that helped me illustrate |
| 1:31.3 | a point. And so I thought, oh, I'm going to share those. So those will be behind the scenes at |
| 1:35.3 | Patreon. If you're not yet a member over there, please go ahead and meet us at patreon.com slash |
| 1:41.3 | Marriage Therapy Radio or you can go through our regular site, Marriage Therapy Radio.com, and then there's a button for Patreon. Paid members will get a look behind the scenes. Again, at some of the things that I share with clients on a pretty consistent basis. It was fun for me to make those videos and now to share them with you. And for the rest of you, I am excited to introduce you to Brenna Squires and her husband, |
| 2:02.3 | Edmund Squires. This is a very cool conversation. Stick around. Tell me about you guys. |
| 2:07.4 | You're in Tampa and who are you? Just give me, give us a quick cliff notes on, on Brenna and it's |
| 2:14.1 | Edmund, yeah? Yep. Right on? |
| 2:18.4 | Yes. |
| 2:20.1 | So a little bit about us. We have been married for a little over nine years. |
| 2:23.1 | We met in Georgia. |
| 2:25.5 | We met while I was doing my residency in psychology. |
... |
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