Wife for Life

Michelle McElroy
  • 4.6 (5)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

Wife for Life is an interview style podcast for wives by wives, where we share our advice and experiences with the hope of creating longevity in your marriages, empowerment in your business, strength in your faith and support in your womanhood.

  1. 3D AGO

    When the Wheel Belongs to God: Clarke Byard on Surrender, Sacrifice, and the NFL Wife Life

    What does it look like to build a marriage that holds when everything around you is shaking? Clarke Byard knows firsthand. As the wife of NFL safety Kevin Byard, Clarke has navigated three high-risk pregnancies, an unexpected home birth her husband had to deliver, a 19-week water break that doctors warned would likely end in miscarriage, a four-and-a-half-month NICU journey, cross-country moves mid-school-year, and a trade announcement that came the very day she returned home from the hospital — all while raising three children and keeping her family rooted in faith.In this inspiring Wife For Life conversation, Clarke gets deeply honest about what NFL wife life actually requires of you — emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and relationally. She talks about the season early in her marriage when she and Kevin operated more like competitors than teammates, and how a pivotal conversation shifted everything. She shares what she had to unlearn about success, ambition, and identity — and what God called her into instead. And she opens up about the women in her community who showed up for her in ways she never would have thought to ask for, and how that experience changed the way she shows up for others.Clarke's story is a masterclass in surrender, resilience, and what it looks like to let God be the main character in your marriage. Whether you're a professional athlete's spouse navigating the unique pressures of that life, or simply someone trying to build something real and lasting with your partner, this episode will meet you exactly where you are.

    1h 2m

  2. FEB 18

    Showing Up in Spite Of: Marlene Trimuel on Faith, Brain Surgery & Marriage Resilience

    What does it mean to truly show up for your marriage when life throws the unthinkable at you? In this powerful episode, we sit down with minister, author, and women's empowerment speaker Marlene Trimuel to discuss her 28-year marriage journey with Reverend Terrence Trimuel Sr. Marlene shares the unexpected crisis that tested their faith—discovering she had a brain aneurysm while simultaneously losing family members and caring for parents battling cancer.Despite medical urgency, Marlene delayed surgery twice to honor commitments to her son's graduation and daughter's achievements, trusting God through each decision. You'll hear how her husband became her caregiver after surgery, how friendship became their foundation during the hardest season, and why Marlene's definition of a wife for life is simple yet profound: "showing up in spite of."This episode offers honest wisdom about navigating health challenges, creating safe spaces for your spouse to be vulnerable, and maintaining your individual purpose while nurturing your marriage. If you're a high-capacity couple facing unexpected life transitions, this conversation will strengthen your resolve to show up—no matter what.

    55 min

  3. FEB 11

    Building Undeniable Marriages: Dr. Kieta Joy on Faith, Friendship & Intentional Partnership

    What does it take to build a marriage that thrives during your peak performance years? In this dynamic conversation, marriage specialist Michelle McElroy sits down with leadership trainer and "the league's life coach" Dr. Kieta Joy to explore how intentionality, transparency, and faith create marriages that don't just survive pressure—they thrive because of it. Dr. Kieta Joy shares her 18-year marriage journey with her husband Frenchy, revealing how they navigated the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of teaching your spouse how to love you, and why "undeniable" excellence in your relationship starts with God and commitment. From their unique courtship story to navigating year 15 (one of their hardest), this episode offers practical wisdom for high-capacity couples building emotionally intelligent marriages. You'll learn why friendship matters, how to communicate through life transitions, and why having mentor couples is non-negotiable for lasting marital success.

    52 min

  4. JAN 28

    Dating with Strategy: How Tasheekia Harris Built a Marriage Foundation Before the First Date

    What if the key to a thriving marriage starts with how you date?Tasheekia Harris, founder of Crowning Daughters for Success and wife of former NFL player Walt Harris, shares how she approached dating differently in her late 30s—with strategy, intention, and biblical boundaries.You'll Learn: Why they didn't meet face-to-face for 6 months (and how it strengthened their foundation)The "pig mentality" principle from Matthew 7 that protects your valueHow to create safe spaces for honesty in marriageWhy marriage problems aren't actually hard when you have the right skillsThe "making each other better" framework for partnershipWhat it means to be a wife for lifeThis conversation offers relationship intelligence for single women dating with intention, engaged couples building foundations, and married couples strengthening partnership.Guest: Tasheekia Harris - Founder, Crowning Daughters for Success | Author, "Protect Your Pearls" | Married to Walt Harris (13-season NFL veteran)Subscribe to Wife for Life for weekly marriage wisdom for high-capacity couples.

    54 min

  5. JAN 21

    From Laundromat Dates to Legacy: How One Woman’s Standards Built a 25-Year Marriage—And What She Did When Plan A Was Over

    "The laundromat. That’s where our first date was.” — Tonia LewisAt 24, Tonia walked away from a man she was falling for because he couldn’t keep simple plans. Two months later, he returned transformed.First date: laundromat. Second date: grocery store.She needed to know if he could show up in REAL LIFE.That foundation built 25+ years of marriage, 7 children, and a legacy that continues even after everything changed 7 years ago.This week on Wife for Life: standards, self-work, sovereignty, and what happens when Plan A is over.”

    1h 3m

  6. 11/26/2025

    From Best Friends to Forever: Amber Staples on IVF, Identity & Fighting for Your Marriage

    When best friends become lifelong partners.  Event CEO and NFWA president Amber Staples opens up about her love story with retired NFL linebacker Justin Staples, why “balance is fictional,” and how entrepreneurial couples can build support systems that actually sustain the home. We go deep on IVF, mental health after NFL retirement, Black love, and the shift from “winning” to listening with emotional intelligence. If you’re navigating marriage and business, craving peace, provision, and partnership, or learning to lead without losing your softness—this one’s for you.

    1h 6m

  7. 11/20/2025

    Crystal Sims-Banks-From Courtroom to Covenant: Building a Law Firm, Family, and Marriage That Lasts

    What happens when two litigators realize their marriage isn’t a courtroom? Attorney Crystal Sims Banks shares how she and Henderson Banks learned to communicate beyond “winning,” built a thriving personal injury & employment law practice in Chicago, and kept their union soft during a hard season of postpartum depression. Expect practical takeaways on emotional intelligence, therapy, setting business + family goals, and creating a home that supports high-performance spouses—from dinner rhythms to boundaries with social media. This one’s for the modern wife who leads with faith, structure, and softness.

    1h 2m

  8. 11/12/2025

    The Common Denominator: How One NFL WAG Turned Mental Health Challenges Into Marital Strength

    Real love doesn't wait for perfect timing—it builds character through the chaos.  What happens when "just having fun" collides with real life—a surprise pregnancy, blended family dynamics, and the weight of NFL retirement trauma? Briante Wells, soon to be Maroney doesn't just tell you how she and retired NFL player Laurence Maroney made it work—she shows you the messy, honest truth about building a high-capacity relationship when nothing goes according to plan. In this conversation, Briante gets real about:  -Why their nonprofit became Laurence's pathway to healing -Releasing the "balance myth" that was stealing her peace -Choosing compassion when your partner's processing trauma -How 8 years of intentional growth made marriage the natural next step If you're a high-capacity woman wondering how to lead without losing your softness, support without sacrificing yourself, or build something lasting when the beginning is chaotic—this conversation will remind you that you already have what it takes. Sometimes the strongest relationships aren't built in perfect conditions. They're forged when two imperfect people refuse to quit on each other during the hardest seasons.

    1h 4m
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Ratings & Reviews

4.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Wife for Life is an interview style podcast for wives by wives, where we share our advice and experiences with the hope of creating longevity in your marriages, empowerment in your business, strength in your faith and support in your womanhood.

Information

  • Creator
    Michelle McElroy
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    47
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Michelle McElroy
  • Show Website
    Wife for Life