133: A Great Marriage Starts With A Great You
Podcast Guest: Gregg Denning
May 19th, 2025
Listen to the Show:
In this Episode
In this episode, Greg Denning shares how personal growth fuels an extraordinary marriage. With seven kids and a globe-trotting lifestyle, Greg offers real-life strategies for building connection, managing stress, balancing roles, and staying deeply in love. Learn how daily habits, emotional awareness, and intentional effort create a thriving marriage, even in the busiest seasons of life. Perfect for couples ready to grow individually and together.
“The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the Utah Marriage Commission.”
Time Markers
00:00 – Meet Greg Denning
03:30 – Greg’s childhood
06:10 – Why Greg and Rachel prioritize marriage over everything
07:45 – The role of energy, sleep, and physical fitness in showing up for your spouse and kids
09:50 – Overcoming a temper and emotional baggage
13:10 – How one moment changed Greg’s relationship with anger
14:40 – Daily “micro-deposits” and yearly “honeymoon trips”
17:45 – Practical ways to build emotional intimacy, self-awareness, and vulnerability in marriage
19:30 – Date nights, silent film test, and becoming easy to live with through small intentional shifts
22:00 – How Greg and Rachel handle differences with curiosity, books, and emotional maturity
24:50 – Greg’s advice to men
29:15 – What women can do to inspire—not push—their husbands toward greatness
32:25 – Why sex is often the biggest issue
35:10 – Why men must learn to really listen
39:00 – Greg’s podcasts and resources for couples and family-minded men
40:00 – Don’t settle—keep working on yourself and your marriage.
Insights
Gregg’s
Don’t settle for a mediocre marriage. Keep growing, keep trying, and believe that change is possible. Even small improvements in yourself can raise the quality of your relationship—because when you become better, your marriage becomes better. Like a rising tide, your growth lifts your whole family. Be the tide.
Liz’s
I’m going to start asking myself a hard but important question: What’s it like to be married to me? And even though part of me doesn’t want to hear the answer, I know I need to ask my husband, too—and really listen. I want to take it seriously, take notes, and grow from it. Because I truly do want to know.
Dave’s
The "silent film test" really stuck with me—if someone watched my life without sound, would it be clear I had an extraordinary marriage? Would my actions alone reflect love, respect, and connection with my spouse and family? That thought hit me hard.
About Gregg:
Greg Denning is known for his positive energy and his unique ability to inspire others. He left home at the age of 16 due to difficult family circumstances and spent some tough years hungry, lonely, and discouraged. Determined to discover the secrets to creating a happy life -- and IF it was even possible -- he started a journey of personal growth and development that continues to this day and which led him to create the life of his dreams.
He and Rachel have been blissfully married for 24 years, have 7 awesome children with whom they have traveled to 60+ countries, and have created a multiple six-figure, location independent business. They currently live in Europe.
Greg is a Family Lifestyle & Business Consultant for entrepreneurs and businessmen, as well as the creator and coach of the Formidable Family Man Tribe where he helps family men master their Fitness, Family, & Finances.
Gregg's Resources:
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Dr. Dave Schramm:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/DrDaveUSU
Facebook Marriage Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/770019130329579
Facebook Parenting Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/542067440314642
Dr. Liz Hale: