In this episode, Mike and Kristen Jones discuss the importance of learning from the past to avoid repeating mistakes in romantic and family relationships. Drawing on the book Emotionally Healthy Relationships, they explore how family of origin shapes a person’s views on conflict, success, and emotions through inherited "commandments." They emphasize that while individuals often adopt unhealthy generational patterns, it is never too late to rewrite these rules and pursue healing. By using tools like the genogram, couples can visually map out their family history to identify where dysfunction began and where positive shifts occurred. Ultimately, the discussion encourages listeners to examine their upbringing to build more intentional, authentic, and emotionally healthy foundations for their current lives.

(C) 2025 All Music by Mike and Kristen Jones for use by Heart and Soulution, including Heart and Soulution theme, Card of the day jingle and all background music; generated with Suno.ai.

Reference material and Resources to dive deeper:

• Emotionally Healthy Relationships by Pete and Gerri Scazzero. Workbook and video training course.

• Genogram exercise and Unbiblical Family Commandments.

Connect with Heart and Solution:

• Follow on Instagram: Join the conversation ⁠⁠@heartandsoulution.⁠⁠

• Share Your Ideas: Let Mike and Kristen know your ideas for future episodes and engage in the conversation on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Heart and Soulution podcast, hosts Mike and Kristen Jones explore the critical roles of vision and mission statements within personal and family relationships. While common in corporate settings, the hosts argue that many couples lack a clear direction for their lives together, leading to potential conflict and unmet expectations.They discuss the differences between Vision and Mission and give ideas on how to define, and refine these statements. Mike and Kristen discuss the benefits for having a shared vision and mission. For those who are dating, discussing life visions can help determine if two people are heading in the same direction or if their paths are fundamentally incompatible. Kristen and Mike share How to Create Your Vision and Mission and outline a practical process for couples to develop these statements.

(C) 2025 All Music by Mike and Kristen Jones for use by Heart and Soulution, including Heart and Soulution theme, Card of the day jingle and all background music; generated with Suno.ai.

Connect with Heart and Solution:

• ​Follow on Instagram: Join the conversation ⁠⁠⁠⁠@heartandsoulution.⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ​Share Your Ideas: Let Mike and Kristen know your ideas for future episodes and engage in the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Heart and Soulution podcast, Mike and Kristen Jones continue their deep dive into the unrealistic and false sexual expectations that can impact intimacy within a marriage. Borrowing concepts from the book Married Sex, they discuss how getting clear on your own expectations and understanding your spouse's is the first step toward building a healthier connection.

(C) 2025 All Music by Mike and Kristen Jones for use by Heart and Soulution, including Heart and Soulution theme, Card of the day jingle and all background music; generated with Suno.ai.

Reference material and Resources to dive deeper:

• ​⁠⁠Married Sex⁠⁠, by Gary Thomas and Debra K. Fileta, published in 2021 by Zondervan publishing, available on Amazon in multiple formats.

Connect with Heart and Solution:

• ​Follow on Instagram: Join the conversation ⁠⁠⁠@heartandsoulution.⁠⁠⁠

• ​Share Your Ideas: Let Mike and Kristen know your ideas for future episodes and engage in the conversation on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of Heart and Soulution, Mike and Kristen Jones discuss sexual expectations in marriage, citing the book Married Sex. They argue that personal beliefs shaped by culture and upbringing influence intimacy. Couples must communicate realistic, agreed-upon expectations and debunk myths to foster deep intimacy.

(C) 2025 All Music by Mike and Kristen Jones for use by Heart and Soulution, including Heart and Soulution theme, Card of the day jingle and all background music; generated with Suno.ai.

Reference material and Resources to dive deeper:

• ⁠Married Sex⁠, by Gary Thomas and Debra K. Fileta, published in 2021 by Zondervan publishing, available on Amazon in multiple formats.

Connect with Heart and Solution:

• Follow on Instagram: Join the conversation ⁠⁠@heartandsoulution.⁠⁠

• Share Your Ideas: Let Mike and Kristen know your ideas for future episodes and engage in the conversation on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

In this episode, Mike and Kristen Jones launch the second season of Heart and Soulution by discussing physical intimacy within marriage. They highlight the importance of intentionality and character, arguing that a healthy sex life requires effort and kindness outside of the bedroom. The hosts reference the book Married Sex to address common challenges, noting that a high percentage of couples face frustrations in this area. They encourage listeners to investigate health, relational, and spiritual factors that may hinder intimacy rather than accepting a decline as a natural part of aging. Throughout the conversation, they emphasize that sexual closeness is a divine design intended to distinguish the marital bond from all other relationships.

(C) 2025 All Music by Mike and Kristen Jones for use by Heart and Soulution, including Heart and Soulution theme, Card of the day jingle and all background music; generated with Suno.ai.

Reference material and Resources to dive deeper:

• Check out material from the Parrott's by visiting their ⁠website⁠ or by following them on instagram ⁠@lesandleslie.⁠

• Married Sex, by Gary Thomas and Debra K. Fileta, published in 2021 by Zondervan publishing, available on Amazon in multiple formats.

Connect with Heart and Solution:

• Follow on Instagram: Join the conversation ⁠@heartandsoulution.⁠

• Share Your Ideas: Let Mike and Kristen know your ideas for future episodes and participate in their weekly poll on ⁠Instagram⁠.

In this episode of the "Heart and Soulution" podcast, Mike and Kristen Jones focus on navigating the holiday season with family, particularly Thanksgiving and Christmas. They share personal anecdotes about their experiences with family traditions, the challenges of blending families, and managing holidays with adult children and in-laws. They discuss the importance of setting healthy boundaries, the difficulty of managing unrealistic expectations during family gatherings, and the need for empathetic listening when dealing with challenging relatives like an "Uncle Mortimer." The discussion wraps up with practical advice for couples to form a united front, strategies for gracefully ending contentious discussions, and suggestions for creating a positive, engaging environment to minimize conflict.

(C) 2025 All Music by Mike and Kristen Jones for use by Heart and Soulution, including Heart and Soulution theme, Card of the day jingle and all background music; generated with Suno.ai.

Reference material and Resources to dive deeper:

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Table Topics Tabletop Sets: Questions to start great conversations.⁠⁠⁠⁠

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• ⁠⁠The YouVersion Bible App.⁠⁠

Connect with Heart and Solution:

• Follow on Instagram: Join the conversation ⁠⁠⁠@heartandsoulution.⁠⁠⁠

• Share Your Ideas: Let Mike and Kristen know your ideas for future episodes and participate in their weekly poll on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠.

In this episode of "Heart and Soulution," Mike and Kristen Jones, discuss relationships and grief. They begin with casual conversation about the end of their first podcast season, eventually revealing that they will be discussing the heavy topic of grief. They explore personal experiences with grief, noting that Kristen especially was not taught how to grieve effectively and that this avoidance proved problematic later in life. The conversation is informed by resources like the podcast, The Place We Find Ourselves, and Francis Weller's book, The Wild Edge of Sorrow, with the Mike and Kristen drawing parallels between Weller's concepts and biblical perspectives on mourning. They include the passage about beauty for ashes in Isaiah 61:3. Ultimately, they reflect on healthy grieving processes for individuals and couples, emphasizing the importance of not avoiding grief and offering support to those who are suffering.

(C) 2025 All Music by Mike and Kristen Jones for use by Heart and Soulution, including Heart and Soulution theme, Card of the day jingle and all background music; generated with Suno.ai.

Reference material and Resources to dive deeper:

• Weller, Frances; The Wild Edge of Sorrow: Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief; 2015; North Atlantic Books.

• The Place We Find Ourselves podcast with Adam Young; Five part series on grief (episode 132).

• ⁠The YouVersion Bible App.⁠

Connect with Heart and Solution:

• Follow on Instagram: Join the conversation ⁠⁠@heartandsoulution.⁠⁠

• Share Your Ideas: Let Mike and Kristen know your ideas for future episodes and participate in their weekly poll on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠.

Want to know how to stop the hamster wheel in your relationship? In this episode of Heart and Soulution, Mike and Kristen Jones discuss the concept of the "crazy cycle" in romantic relationships, which they relate to Dr. Emerson Eggerichs's book, Love and Respect, derived from Ephesians 5 in the Bible. The core idea is that disrespect from the wife causes a lack of love from the husband, which in turn causes more disrespect, creating a self-perpetuating cycle that must be broken by one partner choosing to change their behavior, focusing on unconditional love and unconditional respect. The hosts emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence, managing expectations, and clear communication for couples to prevent or exit this cycle, making a crucial caveat near the end.

(C) 2025 All Music by Mike and Kristen Jones for use by Heart and Soulution, including Heart and Soulution theme, Card of the day jingle and all background music; generated with Suno.ai.

Reference material and Resources to dive deeper:

• • Dr. Gary Smalley's "Keys to Lasting and Loving Relationships"

• Chapman, Gary D., and Jennifer M. Thomas. The Five Languages of Apology: How to Experience Healing in All Your Relationships. Moody Publishers, 2008. Follow on instagram.

• Chapman, Gary D. The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts. Northfield Publishing, 2015. Follow on Instagram.

• Scazzero, P., & Scazzero, G. (2022). Emotionally Healthy Relationships: Discipleship that deeply changes your relationship with others (Updated ed.). Zondervan. EHS Website.

• The YouVersion Bible App.

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Table Topics Tabletop Sets: Questions to start great conversations.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Heart and Solution:

• Follow on Instagram: Join the conversation ⁠@heartandsoulution.⁠

• Share Your Ideas: Let Mike and Kristen know your ideas for future episodes and participate in their weekly poll on ⁠Instagram⁠.