Do you ever go through periods in your marriage when you feel distant from your partner: almost like strangers? Do you ever long for more connection and dialogue between you? Authentic conversation, going beyond the mundane necessities of schedules, childcare, or housework, is vital for all of us. We need to get to know each other again and again because we are always changing.

In this podcast, I talk to Jed and Jen Jurchenko about the importance of communicating with each other, regularly, so we don’t become strangers. Jen emphasized how difficult this can be when we are all so busy. Can anyone relate?

You could say Jed and Jen are pretty passionate about this topic. They recently finished a challenge with their community urging couples to make daily connection points. Jed has also written a series of books on the topic, called the Creative Conversation Series. The series consists of eight books, all. designed to give conversation prompts for couples and families. You can find Jed online at I Thrive 320,

Have You Tried Conversation Starters?
My first experience with conversation starters was when my parents brought a new game home for us, called the Ungame. The back of the board said it was being a game without competition. No winners and no losers! At first, we thought it seemed kind of strange, but once we got into it, we were hooked! Those “un-games” were some of my best childhood memories, as we were constantly astonished and fascinated by each others’ answers.

Have you ever tried conversation starters? They can be in the form of a game or a book, or even a set of cards. I am a big believer in these fun tools and have created a free product called 10 Questions to Love to help couples to get to know each other better.

Like Jed said in our interview, conversation starters give you permission to ask difficult questions. You can blame the questions if something sounds awkward or embarrassing. And tools like this aid us in helping you get more connected as partners.

In this podcast episode, we also share about blended family challenges, co-writing a book, and Jed’s motivation for writing the series. Jed confesses his first thoughts upon seeing his future wife! Listen in for inspiration, encouragement, and raw honesty.


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Meet Sharilee Swaity

Sharilee Swaity is a Christian relationship coach with a background in teaching and marketing. This graduate of the Relationship Coaching Institute is passionate about helping women and couples find and keep love after losing a long-term relationship through divorce, widowhood, or relationship breakdown. She works with couples helping them overcome conflict and find love with their spouse. 

Sharilee's passion for helping with relationships was born from her own painful life journey. Growing up witnessing abuse started her on the journey to looking for love in all the wrong places. By age 22, she was already married and divorced. When she finally remarried years later, it looked like she was headed for another divorce, but with the help of counselling and God's wisdom, they turned their second marriage around. 

Sharilee is the author of five books, including Happily Ever After Again: Hope, Healing, and Love for Second Marriages and 16 Gifts from a Stepmom: Encouragement for the Blended Family Journey.   When she's not coaching, writing, or teaching, she loves going for walks with her husband in the forest where they live or spending time in their permaculture-style garden. 

Sharilee loves to experience the city once in a while but nowadays spends most of her time hidden away at their homestead home.  She is a crunchy conservative with a passion for chai tea, sunsets, and trees. She loves learning, research and writing. Clck here to book a coaching call with her today. 
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