Marriage in Survival Mode: Why Dates Still Matter, #194
Java with Juli - Making Sense of God and Sex
Authentic Intimacy®
4.9 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 16 March 2026
⏱️ 34 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Life gets busy—especially with kids, work, and everyday stress. But research shows that couples who consistently make time for each other are significantly happier in their marriages.
This week, we're talking about why date nights matter more than you think. We'll tackle common obstacles couples face, like exhaustion, busy schedules, lack of childcare, and awkward conversations. Plus, you'll hear simple and practical tips to help you reconnect with your spouse—even in the busiest of seasons.
Guests: Dr. Greg & Erin Smalley
Check out our newest Hot Topic Kit: Healthy Dating & Boundaries.
Follow-up Resources:
Take the Date Night Challenge: 52 Creative Ideas to Make Your Marriage Fun by Greg & Erin Smalley
Date Night Conversation Starters from Greg & Erin Smalley
Q&A: How often is "normal" for having sex in marriage? (video)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey friend, if you are a single Christian looking for a relationship and dating just feels messier |
| 0:06.9 | than you think it should, that is not just you. In a dating culture that has been shaped by |
| 0:12.3 | apps, mixed messages, and hookups, many Christians feel stuck between cultural expectations |
| 0:18.2 | and biblical convictions. And that's why I'm super excited to tell you |
| 0:22.6 | about our new hot topic kit on healthy dating and boundaries. This brand new kit is a curated |
| 0:29.0 | collection of our very best content, designed to help you navigate modern dating with wisdom. |
| 0:35.0 | Through research, teaching, blogs, videos, Java with Julie clips, and full |
| 0:39.5 | episodes, you'll discover a better purpose for dating, how to set healthy boundaries, how to have |
| 0:45.5 | sexual integrity, and how to potentially prepare for a future marriage. Whether you're single |
| 0:51.2 | at 25 or single again at 55 or maybe somewhere in between, we created |
| 0:56.5 | this resource to help you pursue love without losing sight of God's design for intimacy and |
| 1:02.0 | commitment. If you're an authentic intimacy member, you already have access to this kit absolutely |
| 1:08.1 | free. And if you're not, you can get it today for just $15. |
| 1:12.5 | Look for that link in our show notes or head to Authenticinemacy.com. |
| 1:20.7 | What if one of the simplest habits in marriage turned out to be one of the most powerful? |
| 1:26.8 | Today we're talking about something that |
| 1:28.5 | sounds small but makes a huge impact, dating your spouse. I'm Julie Slattery and welcome to another |
| 1:35.1 | episode of Java with Julie. This podcast is an outreach of authentic intimacy and ministry |
| 1:40.4 | dedicated to helping you make sense of God and sexuality. |
| 1:50.5 | Today we're reaching way back into the archives for a conversation I had several years ago with Greg and Aaron Smalley. |
| 1:52.7 | Greg is a vice president of marriage and family formation at Focus on the Family. |
| 1:57.2 | Aaron is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and they are authors, speakers, and |
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