Home Podcasts Master Your Marriage
Master Your Marriage

Master Your Marriage

Sharla and Robert Snow 168 Episodes Aug 19, 2026

The average couple waits 6 years to get help in their marriage. That's 6 years of pain, hurt, frustration and lost opportunity. This podcast is designed to help you NOT become a part of that statistic. Hosted by Dr. Robert and Sharla Snow — themselves married for 31 years — The Master Your Marriage show is here with straight-talking guidance on how to fill your marriage with fun, friendship and love, without it ever feeling like "hard work." No matter how long you've been struggling with your marriage, or how long it's been since you've felt that "spark," we promise you, there is hope! Your MASTERFUL marriage starts here.

Episodes

Empathy: The Antidote to Contempt
Empathy: The Antidote to Contempt Aug 19, 2026 33:48 We just spent two episodes looking at contempt—the number one predictor of divorce. One of the clearest takeaways is this: empathy and contempt cannot live in the same room.When contempt is operating, we elevate ourselves. Disgust and superiority crowd out our capacity to stay present with the person we claim to love the most. And when we lose that presence, we start wounding each other without fu
How to Build a Contempt-Free Marriage (it's the #1 predictor of divorce!)
How to Build a Contempt-Free Marriage (it's the #1 predictor of divorce!) Aug 12, 2026 29:03 Last week we named the problem: contempt is addictive, corrosive, and the #1 predictor of divorce. This week we take up the harder question—how do we actually walk away from it?We open with an honest look at whether it’s possible to keep a largely contempt-free marriage while still participating in a culture that runs on contempt. The short answer: not in any deep or sustainable way. Contempt is a
The Addiction of Contempt
The Addiction of Contempt Jul 29, 2026 31:15 In this episode, we unpack one of the most destructive forces in modern relationships: contempt.Drawing from Arthur Brooks’ book Love Your Enemies, we explore why contempt is not just a communication problem—but an addictive pattern that is quietly eroding marriages, families, and our sense of belonging. We look at the difference between anger and contempt, the brain chemistry that makes contempt
Breaking the Silent Treatment: How to End the Silence and Reconnect in Your Marriage
Breaking the Silent Treatment: How to End the Silence and Reconnect in Your Marriage Jul 22, 2026 24:00 We’ve all heard (or said) those loaded words: “We need to talk.” For most of us, they immediately trigger defensiveness and dread. But what happens when conversations stop altogether? In this replay episode, we explore the difference between healthy silence and the damaging silent treatment, why it’s so harmful to your marriage, and practical ways to break the silence and start reconnecting.Whethe
Defensiveness Is a Self-Esteem Problem (And How to Fix It)
Defensiveness Is a Self-Esteem Problem (And How to Fix It) Jul 16, 2026 30:27 Most of us get defensive without even realizing it — and it’s one of the fastest ways connection breaks down in marriage. In this episode, we explore why defensiveness is actually a self-esteem issue at its core.We break down how defensiveness shows up differently depending on whether you’re coming from shame (one-down) or grandiosity (one-up), and why neither position allows for real repair or in
Mini Episode: Real Self Esteem, Shame & Grandiosity (Listener Questions)
Mini Episode: Real Self Esteem, Shame & Grandiosity (Listener Questions) Jul 10, 2026 04:42 In this quick mid-week bonus episode, Sharla answers two listener questions from our current series on Real Self Esteem and the distortions of shame and grandiosity.We explore:Why you can feel confident and know your worth, yet still hear harsh critical voices from your parentsHow to pursue excellence and high performance without falling into grandiosity or one-up-nessThe different “parts” of us (
How Adapting to Trauma Wires Us for Shame
How Adapting to Trauma Wires Us for Shame Jul 8, 2026 29:40 This is part two of our shame series. Be sure to listen to last week's episode for an introduction into shame and how it relates to self-esteem.In this episode, we go deeper into the real reason shame and grandiosity show up in our relationships. We explore how early childhood experiences shape a part of our psyche called the Adaptive Child — the part that learned to survive through fight, flight,
The Shame Cycle That’s Hurting Your Marriage
The Shame Cycle That’s Hurting Your Marriage Jul 2, 2026 25:50 Most of us are walking around with a relationship to ourselves that is pretty dysfunctional — and we don’t even realize it. We bounce back and forth between shame and grandiosity, sometimes minute by minute, and this constant internal cycle quietly damages our marriages.In this first episode of our new series, we unpack what real self-esteem actually is, how shame and grandiosity act as two sides
Why Therapy Often Falls Short (Even When It’s Good Therapy)
Why Therapy Often Falls Short (Even When It’s Good Therapy) Jun 24, 2026 23:41 Many people do deep, sincere work in therapy and gain real insight into their patterns — yet they still find themselves repeating the same painful cycles in their relationships. In this episode, we explore why insight alone often fails to create lasting change and what actually helps us respond differently when we’re triggered. Drawing from the work of Terry Real and Relational Life Therapy, we un
Don’t Run From Tension – Stephen Curry’s Marriage Wisdom
Don’t Run From Tension – Stephen Curry’s Marriage Wisdom Jun 18, 2026 31:04 What if the secret to a thriving marriage isn’t avoiding conflict… but learning to lean into it?In this episode, Sharla and Robert explore NBA superstar Stephen Curry’s powerful marriage advice from his recent interview with Michelle Obama: “We don’t run away from the tension on the daily.” They unpack why this simple idea is backed by decades of research from John and Julie Gottman, Terry Real, a
BONUS EPISODE: Ho’oponopono Forgiveness Meditation - Release Resentment and Free Yourself
BONUS EPISODE: Ho’oponopono Forgiveness Meditation - Release Resentment and Free Yourself Jun 12, 2026 17:21 BONUS EPISODE - FORGIVENESS MEDITATION TOOL! This guided Ho’oponopono meditation is a powerful companion to Episode 162: “When Is It Okay Not to Forgive? (And When It’s Not)” — and is especially helpful for married couples and partners working to strengthen their relationship.We strongly recommend listening to Episode 162 first. It provides essential context on what forgiveness really means in mar
When Is It Okay Not to Forgive? (And When It’s Not)
When Is It Okay Not to Forgive? (And When It’s Not) Jun 10, 2026 22:04 In this powerful episode of Master Your Marriage, Sharla and Robert Snow explore one of the most misunderstood topics in relationships: forgiveness. They revisit the subject with fresh insights, addressing common misconceptions, the crucial difference between forgiveness and reconciliation, and when it might actually be wise to move slowly on reconciliation — while still choosing internal peace.Th

Recommended