Marriage Lab

Aaron & Jenna Zint

Aaron and Jenna have been married for over a decade and love talking to people about their relationships, the messiness, the struggle and the victories in all of it. If you're married or planning on it, you can expect 1) Tools for the growth of your marriage and you personally 2) Hope for a healthy marriage no matter what you've experienced up to this point 3) Laughter and comfort when you say, "That's totally us!" and "We've been there!" If you've enjoyed our podcasts, would you consider financially supporting the show?We set-up a secure way for you to do that. This helps the Zints to continue to be able to prioritize making content for you! We appreciate it so much!http://patreon.com/TheHabitLab

  1. FEB 3

    Different Flavors of Comfort in Families ( feat: Rosie Zint)

    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. Support the show ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Become a sponor of our shows This helps Jenna & Aaron to continue to be able to prioritize making content for you! We appreciate it so much. Simply click on this link & you'll support both of the Zints' podcasts!! patreon.com/TheHabitLab Check out our website ZintSquad.com for coaching individual and couple's coaching appointments, Online Small Groups, Aaron's book, Jenna's Habit Lab Mastery Course and more. Please review, subscribe and share your favorite episodes with a friend! Links: Online Small Group - Porn Recovery Course Couples Coaching, Habit Coaching, Porn Recovery Coaching, Emotional & Relational Health Coaching Book: Numb to Known: The Surprising Path Away From Porn

    35 min
  2. JAN 28

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

    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. Support the show ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Become a sponor of our shows This helps Jenna & Aaron to continue to be able to prioritize making content for you! We appreciate it so much. Simply click on this link & you'll support both of the Zints' podcasts!! patreon.com/TheHabitLab Check out our website ZintSquad.com for coaching individual and couple's coaching appointments, Online Small Groups, Aaron's book, Jenna's Habit Lab Mastery Course and more. Please review, subscribe and share your favorite episodes with a friend! Links: Online Small Group - Porn Recovery Course Couples Coaching, Habit Coaching, Porn Recovery Coaching, Emotional & Relational Health Coaching Book: Numb to Known: The Surprising Path Away From Porn

    40 min
  3. JAN 12

    Stuck in the Same Fight: how naming patterns can break the cycles

    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. Support the show ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Become a sponor of our shows This helps Jenna & Aaron to continue to be able to prioritize making content for you! We appreciate it so much. Simply click on this link & you'll support both of the Zints' podcasts!! patreon.com/TheHabitLab Check out our website ZintSquad.com for coaching individual and couple's coaching appointments, Online Small Groups, Aaron's book, Jenna's Habit Lab Mastery Course and more. Please review, subscribe and share your favorite episodes with a friend! Links: Online Small Group - Porn Recovery Course Couples Coaching, Habit Coaching, Porn Recovery Coaching, Emotional & Relational Health Coaching Book: Numb to Known: The Surprising Path Away From Porn

    33 min
  4. 11/11/2025

    Rethinking Relative Visits

    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 Support the show ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Become a sponor of our shows This helps Jenna & Aaron to continue to be able to prioritize making content for you! We appreciate it so much. Simply click on this link & you'll support both of the Zints' podcasts!! patreon.com/TheHabitLab Check out our website ZintSquad.com for coaching individual and couple's coaching appointments, Online Small Groups, Aaron's book, Jenna's Habit Lab Mastery Course and more. Please review, subscribe and share your favorite episodes with a friend! Links: Online Small Group - Porn Recovery Course Couples Coaching, Habit Coaching, Porn Recovery Coaching, Emotional & Relational Health Coaching Book: Numb to Known: The Surprising Path Away From Porn

    32 min
  5. 10/23/2025

    But first...Curiosity

    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. Support the show ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Become a sponor of our shows This helps Jenna & Aaron to continue to be able to prioritize making content for you! We appreciate it so much. Simply click on this link & you'll support both of the Zints' podcasts!! patreon.com/TheHabitLab Check out our website ZintSquad.com for coaching individual and couple's coaching appointments, Online Small Groups, Aaron's book, Jenna's Habit Lab Mastery Course and more. Please review, subscribe and share your favorite episodes with a friend! Links: Online Small Group - Porn Recovery Course Couples Coaching, Habit Coaching, Porn Recovery Coaching, Emotional & Relational Health Coaching Book: Numb to Known: The Surprising Path Away From Porn

    37 min
  6. 10/03/2025

    Can you put sex on the calendar?

    Please don't listen with your kids.  Our case for scheduling sex. When life gets full—kids, work, ministry, and the endless to-do list—intimacy is often the first thing to slip through the cracks. We’re told sex should always be spontaneous, but in real marriages that can leave couples disconnected and frustrated. In this episode, we talk honestly about scheduling sex—why it isn’t cold or unromantic, but actually a powerful way to prioritize each other. We’ll unpack the myths around spontaneity, share how intentional rhythms can actually increase desire and connection, and give you practical tools for creating space for intimacy without guilt, pressure, or shame. If you’ve ever felt like the busyness of life is crowding out closeness, this conversation will help you reframe intimacy as something worth planning for—because a thriving marriage doesn’t happen by accident. Support the show ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Become a sponor of our shows This helps Jenna & Aaron to continue to be able to prioritize making content for you! We appreciate it so much. Simply click on this link & you'll support both of the Zints' podcasts!! patreon.com/TheHabitLab Check out our website ZintSquad.com for coaching individual and couple's coaching appointments, Online Small Groups, Aaron's book, Jenna's Habit Lab Mastery Course and more. Please review, subscribe and share your favorite episodes with a friend! Links: Online Small Group - Porn Recovery Course Couples Coaching, Habit Coaching, Porn Recovery Coaching, Emotional & Relational Health Coaching Book: Numb to Known: The Surprising Path Away From Porn

    37 min
  7. 09/26/2025

    When teasing turns toxic: scoffs & sarcasm- the slow drip of contempt

    We all scoff. We all slip into sarcasm.  But what if those “little” habits aren’t as harmless as they seem? Research from the Gottman Institute shows that contempt — often disguised as casual teasing — is the single strongest predictor of death to connection (aka: divorce) Scoffing, sarcasm, and eye-rolling may feel small in the moment, but they send powerful messages of superiority, dismissal, and disrespect. In this episode, we unpack how these micro-habits of contempt impact the brain, erode safety, and poison connection in marriage. You’ll hear real-life examples of how scoffing and sarcasm sneak into everyday conversations, what’s really hiding underneath those jabs (hint: it’s often unspoken pain), and practical ways to replace contempt with curiosity and vulnerability. If you’ve ever said, “Oh, we’re just teasing,” this episode will help you see why even a few “drops of poison” can contaminate the well of your relationship — and how to choose a healthier, more life-giving way forward. We are giving you a 30 day Challenge: Weed out scoffing & sarcasm from your dialogue. See what a difference it makes. (Remember: don't use this challenge to start tallying how often your partner uses them- mind your half of the yard only :) Support the show ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>> Become a sponor of our shows This helps Jenna & Aaron to continue to be able to prioritize making content for you! We appreciate it so much. Simply click on this link & you'll support both of the Zints' podcasts!! patreon.com/TheHabitLab Check out our website ZintSquad.com for coaching individual and couple's coaching appointments, Online Small Groups, Aaron's book, Jenna's Habit Lab Mastery Course and more. Please review, subscribe and share your favorite episodes with a friend! Links: Online Small Group - Porn Recovery Course Couples Coaching, Habit Coaching, Porn Recovery Coaching, Emotional & Relational Health Coaching Book: Numb to Known: The Surprising Path Away From Porn

    29 min
5
out of 5
142 Ratings

About

Aaron and Jenna have been married for over a decade and love talking to people about their relationships, the messiness, the struggle and the victories in all of it. If you're married or planning on it, you can expect 1) Tools for the growth of your marriage and you personally 2) Hope for a healthy marriage no matter what you've experienced up to this point 3) Laughter and comfort when you say, "That's totally us!" and "We've been there!" If you've enjoyed our podcasts, would you consider financially supporting the show?We set-up a secure way for you to do that. This helps the Zints to continue to be able to prioritize making content for you! We appreciate it so much!http://patreon.com/TheHabitLab

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