In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace explore the hidden cost of chronic busyness and emotional exhaustion—especially the kind that stems from doing too many “good” things. They discuss the symptoms of burnout, how it quietly erodes our most important relationships, and why many Christians struggle to set boundaries out of guilt or obligation. With practical tips for recognizing early signs and creating emotional margin, they invite listeners to evaluate their priorities and build sustainable rhythms of rest. Whether you're juggling responsibilities as a student, parent, spouse, caregiver, or ministry leader, this episode offers valuable insight on how to recover from burnout and rediscover joy and connection.

Resources Mentioned:

• Ezekiel 37:4–5 – A reminder of how God breathes life into dry bones, symbolizing restoration and renewal.
• Proverbs 4:23 – "Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life."
• Chariots of Fire – A film referenced when discussing finding life-giving purpose; “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.”
• Ron Blue Trust – Biblically-centered financial planning mentioned in the sponsor segment. ronblue.com

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
  Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships:
  👉 http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace explore how to navigate difficult conversations without damaging your relationships. They discuss practical steps for preparing your heart, regulating your emotions, choosing the right time and setting, and using the “affirmation sandwich” method to speak truth with grace. Whether you’re dealing with conflict in a marriage, friendship, workplace, or with a neighbor, this episode offers valuable advice to improve your relationships by fostering trust, clarity, and reconciliation.

Resources Mentioned:

• Speaker-Listener Quick Tip Card – A helpful tool for structuring healthy, two-way communication.
• Navigating a Difficult Conversation Quick Tip Card – A free, practical guide for preparing and having hard conversations.
• Free Relationship Advice – Submit your question and receive confidential, faith-based guidance from CMR’s team.
• Blue Trust – Certified Wealth Strategists – Biblically centered financial planning and investment management. (colby.gilmore@ronblue.com)

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships! http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:
Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace explore how to discern when it might be time to end a dating relationship. They discuss 13 red flags to look out for—ranging from spiritual misalignment and boundary issues to emotional unavailability and unresolved conflict—providing practical insights and tips to help you navigate the dating process with wisdom and faith. Whether you're dealing with dating relationships, or navigating romantic connections post-loss, this episode offers valuable advice to improve your relationships.

Resources Mentioned:

• Ron Blue Trust – Personalized, biblically-centered financial planning and investment management for all income levels: ronblue.com

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on your favorite platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships! http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:
Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace explore how to set and maintain healthy boundaries in dating relationships. They discuss the importance of emotional, physical, and spiritual boundaries, how to talk about them early on, and what to do if those boundaries have already been crossed—providing practical insights and tips to help you date with wisdom, clarity, and intentionality. Whether you're dealing with dating relationships, friendships, or mentoring others in their relationships, this episode offers valuable advice to improve your relationships.

Resources Mentioned:

• Too Much, Too Soon: Setting Emotional Boundaries in Dating – A blog by Alisa Grace offering practical wisdom on emotional vulnerability and pacing in relationships.
• Ron Blue Trust – A financial planning resource that offers biblically-based strategies for unity, stewardship, and generosity.
• The Art of Relationships YouTube Channel – Watch helpful videos on emotional bonding, relational psychology, and more.

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships! http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:
Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris and Alisa Grace explore the highs and lows of college roommate dynamics in “Roommate Horror Stories.” They discuss student stories—ranging from passive-aggressive tension and cleanliness conflicts to emotional dumping and boundary-crossing behaviors—providing practical insights and tips to help you navigate difficult living situations with grace and wisdom. Whether you're dealing with roommates, friends, or even future spouses, this episode offers valuable advice to improve your relationships and set healthy boundaries.

Resources Mentioned:

• Blue Trust – Certified Wealth Strategists – Biblically centered financial planning and investment services for couples seeking financial unity. Contact Colby Gilmore at colby.gilmore@ronblue.com
• Boundaries vs. Ultimatums – with Willa Williams – This previous episode dives deeper into how to set healthy boundaries without crossing into ultimatums.

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
  YouTube: youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on your favorite podcast platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships: http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:
Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Alisa Grace sits down with licensed marriage and family therapist Willa Williams to unpack the often-confused concepts of boundaries and ultimatums. They explore the difference between making a request, setting a boundary, and issuing an ultimatum—highlighting how tone, intention, and personal responsibility can either build connection or create division in your relationships.

Together, they provide practical tools and real-life examples to help you communicate needs in a healthy way, create emotional safety, and respond maturely when on the receiving end of a boundary. Whether you’re navigating conflict with a spouse, roommate, friend, or coworker, this episode offers wisdom and encouragement to help you grow in both courage and compassion.

Resources Mentioned:

• Speaker-Listener Technique (PDF) – A simple yet powerful communication tool that fosters active listening and mutual understanding in any relationship.
• Blue Trust (Colby Gilmore) – Biblically-centered financial planning and investment management for couples and individuals.
• The Couples Institute – Dr. Ellyn Bader – Professional therapy resources and relationship education.
  
  

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/@biola-cmr
  
  

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these relationship insights.
  Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships:
  👉 http://eepurl.com/bgsuQv

About the Hosts:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they combine the wisdom of Scripture with scholarly research to offer practical advice and insights. Learn more about their work at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris Grace sits down with Tim Carney, author of Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be. They dive into the challenges of modern parenting, discussing how cultural shifts, over-scheduling, and fear-based parenting have made raising kids more stressful than ever. Tim shares insights on how we can reclaim community-driven parenting, encourage independence in our children, and create a more family-friendly culture.

Whether you're a parent navigating the pressures of modern parenting, a young adult thinking about starting a family, or someone interested in how culture shapes childhood, this episode offers practical insights and hopeful solutions for building stronger families and communities.

Resources Mentioned

📖 Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be – Get the book here
📄 What’s the Ideal Family Size? Somewhere Between 0 and 10 Kids – Read Tim Carney’s Washington Post article (Note: This article may be behind a paywall.)
📊 American Enterprise Institute (AEI) – Research on family, culture, and policy. Visit AEI

Connect with Us
🌐 Website: cmr.biola.edu
📘 Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
📸 Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
▶️ YouTube: youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation
🎙️ Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts / Spotify to help others discover the show.
🔗 Share this episode with a friend who could benefit from these insights.
📩 Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships! Join here

About the Hosts
Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace are passionate about helping people build and sustain healthy relationships. As leaders of the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, they blend biblical wisdom with scholarly research to offer practical advice for everyday relationships. Learn more at cmr.biola.edu.

In this episode, Chris Grace and guest co-host Tatum Munivez explore key questions to ask before getting engaged. They discuss essential relationship considerations, including compatibility, handling conflict, emotional safety, and recognizing red and green flags. Through personal insights and real-life examples, they provide practical wisdom to help you navigate the engagement decision with confidence.

Whether you're dating seriously or thinking about the next step, this episode offers valuable advice to build a strong foundation for marriage.

Resources Mentioned:

• 8 Questions to Ask Before Getting Engaged – A guide from the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships.
• Premarital Counseling – Learn how premarital counseling can strengthen your relationship and how to sign up.

Connect with Us:

• Website: cmr.biola.edu
• Facebook: facebook.com/biolacmr
• Instagram: instagram.com/biolacmr
• YouTube: youtube.com/@biola-cmr

Join the Conversation:

• Subscribe to The Art of Relationships Podcast to never miss an episode.
• Leave a review on your favorite platform to help others discover the show.
• Share this episode with someone who could benefit from these insights.
• Sign up for weekly updates and resources from the Center for Marriage and Relationships! Click here.

About the Hosts:

Chris Grace, Ph.D., and Alisa Grace lead the Biola University Center for Marriage and Relationships, combining biblical wisdom with relationship research to help individuals build healthy relationships. Learn more at cmr.biola.edu.