194: How To Keep The "SPARK" Alive In Your Marriage

Podcast Guest: Dan Purcell

Setember 14th, 2026

194 Dan Purcell

Listen to the Show:

In this Episode

In this episode of Stronger Marriage Connection, marriage intimacy coach Dan Purcell joins Dave Schramm and Liz Hale to explore how couples can keep friendship, fun, emotional connection, and sexual intimacy alive throughout marriage. Dan explains why losing the spark may be common, but it isn’t inevitable. From intentionally dating your spouse and practicing emotional check-ins to staying curious about who your partner is becoming, couples can use small, consistent efforts to keep growing together. Dan also shares resources designed to make connection easier, including his new Sparked app.

“The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this podcast do not necessarily reflect the views of the Utah Marriage Commission.”

Chapters

00:00 – Keeping the Spark Alive
02:09 – From Dating Divas to Date Your Spouse
03:53 – Bringing Fun Back to Marriage
05:18 – Why Couples Lose the Spark
07:06 – Turning Challenges Into Opportunities
09:29 – Growing Beyond Your Comfort Zone
11:34 – Choosing Connection Over Drifting
14:02 – Building the Spark Like Fire
15:12 – Who Goes First?
17:23 – Daily Habits for Connection
18:27 – The Emotional Check-In Exercise
20:45 – Learning to Speak Emotionally
24:19 – Staying Curious About Your Spouse
27:41 – Curiosity Creates Deeper Understanding
30:06 – Feel Without Reacting
32:13 – Tolerating Differences in Marriage
35:19 – Why Date Nights Matter
36:39 – Bringing Creativity Back to Dating
39:05 – Inside the Sparked App
41:15 – Making Date Nights Easier
44:33 – Private Connection Between Spouses
46:03 – Resources for Stronger Intimacy
48:23 – Keep Dating Your Spouse
49:04 – Takeaway of the Day

Insights

Dan Purcell: Keep exploring your relationship, stay curious, and continue learning skills that can make your marriage stronger. Whether your marriage is already thriving or you’re struggling to connect, helpful resources are available—and small, intentional efforts can help you keep growing together.
Liz Hale: Learn to speak emotionally with your spouse. You don’t always have to understand exactly why you feel guilty, jealous, angry, or sad before sharing it. Simply identifying and communicating what you’re feeling can open the door to deeper emotional connection.
Dave Schramm: Stay curious about your spouse. Curiosity gives us new information about our partner, but the next step is using that understanding wisely. When we become more curious, we can learn to respond rather than react and treat our spouse with greater understanding and care.

About Dan Purcell:

Dan Purcell is an entrepreneur, relationship educator, and founder of Get Your Marriage On, where he helps Christian couples strengthen their marriages and deepen intimacy through apps, coaching, retreats, and educational resources. He is also the founder of Virgo Development and has created and acquired several businesses focused on using technology to improve people’s lives and relationships. Dan is pursuing a master’s degree in Marriage Counseling from Liberty University. A husband of more than 20 years and father of six, he is passionate about faith, family, and helping couples build stronger, more connected marriages.