<p>In this warm and laughter-filled episode, the guys welcome back the beloved Amy Rayman after a long hiatus (a “big minute,” as they call it) for a deep dive into the many seasons every marriage seems to pass through.</p><p>The table starts with lighthearted catching-up: gym routines, snow days vs. “FID days,” rental cars the size of roller skates, and the invention of Thanksgiving Street Corn (yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds—complete with mayo-sour cream dressing, fresh sage, thyme, shallots, Asiago, and a festive pop of pomegranate seeds).</p><p>After plenty of tangents (and a few technical difficulties), the conversation turns to the heart of the episode: <strong>the seasons of marriage</strong>.</p><p>The guys and Amy brainstorm an honest list that resonates with nearly everyone:</p><p>* Honeymoon bliss</p><p>* Ships passing in the night (busy schedules, kids, careers)</p><p>* Power struggles & roommate vibes</p><p>* Trauma seasons (loss, illness, crisis)</p><p>* Young kids / “the darkness” of survival mode</p><p>* Empty nest rediscovery</p><p>* Caring for aging parents</p><p>* Hitting your stride as a couple</p><p>* Retirement (both the “we’re together 24/7” adjustment and the golden “we’re the same organism” years)</p><p>They emphasize that seasons themselves aren’t good or bad—what matters is facing them together so neither spouse ever feels alone. As one listener beautifully put it, marriage is a living organism; with good communication, humility, and commitment, couples can flourish through every change.</p><p>For fun, the guys asked Grok (X’s AI) for its comedic take on marriage stages. Highlights included the “oxytocin-high honeymoon,” the “dishwasher-loaded-like-a-raccoon-on-bath-salts” reality check, scheduled romance via Google Calendar, and the golden-years battle over who hid the TV remote or warmed the cold side of the bed first.</p><p>Through all the laughs, the core message shines: no matter the season—joyful, exhausting, heartbreaking, or mundane—the goal is to keep choosing each other, respecting each other’s systems (and pierogi traditions), and loving unconditionally.</p><p>If you’ve ever felt your marriage shift into a new season, this episode will make you laugh, nod, and maybe text your spouse from the couch: “You up?”</p><p>Listen to Episode 305 wherever you get podcasts, or watch the (mostly) live video on YouTube. And don’t forget to take the relational needs questionnaire at lunchtimeinrome.com—it’s a great tool for any season you’re in!</p> <br/><br/>Get full access to Lunchtime In Rome Podcast at <a href="https://www.lunchtimeinrome.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&#38;utm_campaign=CTA_4">www.lunchtimeinrome.com/subscribe</a>