One Degree Marriage: Christian Marriage Podcast for Couples Who Want to Stay Connected, Intentional, and Faithful

Nathaniel & Xan Sibley
  • 5.0 (127)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A thriving marriage doesn't happen by accident... it's built one intentional choice at a time. How do we stay connected when life feels busy and disconnected? What rhythms help us handle conflict with grace instead of frustration? How do we grow spiritually together? What does it look like to bring fun, intimacy, and purpose back into our marriage? On the One Degree Marriage Podcast, Nathaniel and Xan get real about the everyday struggles and joys of marriage. With biblical wisdom and practical tools, we'll help you take small, one-degree shifts that lead to lasting transformation in your relationship. Grab a seat on our cozy virtual couch and join the conversation. Then take one step today toward the Christ-centered, flourishing marriage you've been longing for. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow along on Instagram @onedegreemarriage!

  1. 3D AGO

    Fostering Intimacy in Marriage When You Feel Disconnected

    Feeling disconnected in your marriage, even when nothing is “wrong”? In this episode, we talk about the three kinds of intimacy (spiritual, emotional, physical) and why surface-level fixes like date nights don’t work if you don’t address the root. We’ll walk you through the starting point that changes everything: an honest conversation to diagnose what’s actually driving the drift (busyness, unresolved conflict, unmet expectations, stress, trust, spiritual stagnancy). Then we share simple, practical rhythms that rebuild connection over time, including prayer, Weekly Marriage Meetings, and daily check-ins. RESOURCES: Free Weekly Marriage Meeting TemplateWeekly Marriage Meeting Journal™Conflict Resolution Episode: Our Favorite Way to Fight

    31 min

  2. FEB 9

    How to Love Your Spouse the Way They Actually Feel Loved

    Have you ever gone all out to love your spouse, only to be met with a lukewarm response? You meant well. You put in real effort. And somehow, it still missed the mark. In this episode of One Degree Marriage, we’re talking about what it actually looks like to love your spouse in the way they feel most loved, not just the way that comes naturally to you. Using real-life examples, biblical truth, and practical questions you can ask this week, we unpack why love is meant to be self-giving and sacrificial rather than self-expressive. We discuss love languages, why gratitude and intention both matter, how seasons of life change the way love is received, and why regular check-ins (like a Weekly Marriage Meeting) are key to staying connected. If you want to move from well-intentioned effort to meaningful connection, this episode will help you take that next step.

    24 min

  3. FEB 2

    5 Rules for Healthy Conflict in Marriage (Without Damaging Trust or Connection)

    Conflict isn’t the enemy in marriage. How you handle it is. In this episode, we walk through five practical rules for healthy conflict in marriage—rules that help couples stay connected, communicate clearly, and resolve disagreements without damaging trust. We talk about why conflict can actually strengthen your relationship, how subtle habits like “always” and “never” language sabotage communication, and what it looks like to approach hard conversations as teammates instead of opponents. You’ll hear real-life examples from our own marriage, a simple framework for bringing up difficult topics, and why having a conflict plan matters more than you think. If you want better communication, healthier conflict, and a marriage that grows stronger over time, this episode is for you. Episode Show Notes

    26 min

  4. JAN 26

    How to Bring Up Hard Conversations Without Starting a Fight

    Hard conversations don’t usually fail because of the topic—they fail because of how they start. In this episode, we share a simple, practical framework for bringing up difficult topics in marriage without triggering defensiveness or conflict. Learn how the first minute of a conversation can change everything and how to invite your spouse into connection instead of control. 🔗 Resources MentionedThe Communication Toolkit (digital PDF): A practical set of tools and scripts to help couples navigate hard conversations with clarity, calm, and connection.

    26 min

  5. JAN 19

    Don’t Waste Your Marriage: From Trivial Pursuits to Eternal Purpose

    What is the biblical purpose of marriage? Is marriage meant for happiness and companionship, or something more? In this episode of the One Degree Podcast, we walk through Ephesians 5 and Genesis 2 to explore what it looks like to not waste your marriage. We unpack servant leadership, biblical submission, and why Scripture calls you to focus on becoming a better spouse rather than wishing for a different one. Ultimately, marriage isn’t just about having a healthy relationship. It’s about becoming faithful followers of Jesus who live on mission together and make disciples... starting in your home. RESOURCES MENTIONED: Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper Connect with us on Instagram! Grab your Weekly Marriage Meeting Journal

    41 min

  6. JAN 12

    Stop Trying to Fix Your Spouse: The Power of One-Sided Obedience and Servant Leadership

    It’s easy to read Scripture with your spouse in mind. In marriage, we often approach the Bible looking for what they should change instead of allowing God’s Word to confront us first. But Scripture was never meant to be a tool for managing your spouse’s obedience. It’s meant to shape your own heart. In this episode of the One Degree Marriage Podcast, we talk about why the Bible addresses individuals before relationships, how passages like Ephesians 5 are often misunderstood, and why obedience in marriage isn’t meant to be transactional. We also discuss what faithfulness looks like when your spouse isn’t changing, how to pursue obedience without resentment, and when bringing in wise counsel is both biblical and necessary. This conversation is for Christian couples who want a stronger, healthier marriage but feel stuck focusing on what their spouse isn’t doing instead of what God is calling them to do. In this episode, we cover: Why Scripture is meant to be a mirror before it’s ever a megaphoneHow Ephesians 5 speaks to personal responsibility, not controlThe difference between faithfulness and transactional obedienceWhat to do when obedience isn’t reciprocated in marriageWhen prayer, counsel, and community are essentialWhy marriage isn’t about fixing each other, but pursuing faithfulness together One Degree Shift: This week, read Scripture asking, “How am I being called to obey?” rather than “How should my spouse change?”

    34 min

  7. JAN 5

    The One Habit Every Married Couple Needs

    What if one simple habit could dramatically improve communication, reduce conflict, and help your marriage stay spiritually connected, without adding more to your plate? In this episode, we break down the Weekly Marriage Meeting, the one habit we believe has had the biggest long-term impact on our marriage. We explain exactly what a Weekly Marriage Meeting is, why it works when other marriage goals fail, and how this simple rhythm helps couples move from feeling like roommates to feeling deeply connected again. You’ll hear the real structure we use each week, including how we talk about communication, conflict, intimacy, finances, schedules, and spiritual growth.... without awkwardness or overwhelm. Whether you’re newly married or have been married for decades, this episode will help you build intentional connection through small, consistent habits that compound over time. RESOURCES: FREE Weekly Marriage Meeting Template Weekly Marriage Meeting Journal

    35 min

  8. 12/29/2025

    How to Build Spiritual Intimacy in Marriage (Practical Habits That Actually Stick)

    If you and your spouse feel spiritually disconnected, you’re not alone. In this episode, we talk about spiritual intimacy in marriage: what it is, what it looks like in real life, and how to grow it through simple spiritual habits—from prayer, to reading the Bible together—that actually stick. We cover personal vs. shared spiritual disciplines, how habits shape what you love, and what to do if your spouse isn’t on board spiritually. Plus, we share a practical One Degree Shift you can start today to pursue Christ together without trying to change everything overnight. In this episode: What spiritual intimacy in marriage meansSigns of healthy spiritual intimacy (safety, depth, honesty)Personal habits vs. couple habitsPrayer, Scripture, fasting, and consistency over intensityWhat to do when your spouse isn’t on the same page spirituallyA simple “one habit for 365 days” challenge Resources mentioned: You Are What You Love by James K.A. Smith: humans are shaped more by what they love than what they think, and habits and cultural liturgies form our desires. Get our Free Weekly Marriage Meeting Template or go deeper in the habit with a Weekly Marriage Meeting Journal!

    45 min
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About

A thriving marriage doesn't happen by accident... it's built one intentional choice at a time. How do we stay connected when life feels busy and disconnected? What rhythms help us handle conflict with grace instead of frustration? How do we grow spiritually together? What does it look like to bring fun, intimacy, and purpose back into our marriage? On the One Degree Marriage Podcast, Nathaniel and Xan get real about the everyday struggles and joys of marriage. With biblical wisdom and practical tools, we'll help you take small, one-degree shifts that lead to lasting transformation in your relationship. Grab a seat on our cozy virtual couch and join the conversation. Then take one step today toward the Christ-centered, flourishing marriage you've been longing for. Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode. Follow along on Instagram @onedegreemarriage!

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