The Couples Edition

🎙️ Ep. 15 Biggest Wedding RegretsWe spent so much time and money planning our wedding and made some mistakes we wish someone warned us about. In this episode of The Couples Edition, we break down the biggest regrets from our wedding planning process so you can avoid them. From people-pleasing and pressure to invite distant relatives, to digital invites, cake myths, and whether you should elope instead of pay for a huge event. We’re spilling all the honest truths no one tells you!👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:37 – People pleasing during wedding planning04:31 – Pressure to invite certain people05:34 – Save money with digital invites08:50 – The pressure to have a tiered cake10:57 – Mistake in choosing our wedding location14:22 – Cash vs gifts18:47 – the pressure around picking a wedding party21:11 – Tips for hiring photographers & videographers24:07 – Should you elope instead of paying for a wedding?✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @thecouplesedition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your questions or drop your comments below

🎙️ Ep. 14 What It’s Really Like Living in SF (From a Couple Who Loves It)Ever wondered what it’s actually like to live in San Francisco? In this episode of The Couples Edition, Alli and Elie spill all the tea on what surprised them most about moving to SF, from the famously confusing weather to wild rent prices, culture shocks, and everything in between.Whether you're thinking of relocating, already live in the Bay, or just curious about city life on the West Coast, this conversation is packed with honest insights, funny moments, and real talk from a married couple navigating life in one of the most iconic cities in the U.S.Hit subscribe for more unfiltered relationship convos, city living vlogs, and couple chats that feel like your favorite double date.👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:17 – The most surprising thing about moving to San Francisco03:51 – Weather hack to prepare04:39 – How much there is to do & see05:34 – People of SF07:21 – Making friends in the city12:16 – Managing spending in the city14:41 – Is crime actually bad?17:26 – A tip for safely riding public transit19:29 – Warning for tourists20:13 – Worst thing about living in San Francisco21:52 – Poop on the streets22:22 – What SF problem would we want to solve first?✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @thecouplesedition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your questions or drop your comments below

In this episode, we dive deep into modern gender roles, financial dynamics in relationships, and why more women are outpacing men in education and career success. Should men still be the breadwinners? How do couples navigate household responsibilities when both partners are ambitious? And why are successful women still judged more harshly than successful men?We explore what it means to build a non-gendered household, share our views on parenting equality, and unpack the cultural bias that applauds men for doing the bare minimum at home.👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:03:01 – Stats on women’s success09:35 – Should men be the breadwinners?14:26 – Should men be the physical protectors?18:36 – Does it bother us if the woman makes more?29:33 – Bias against successful women32:29 – How we view gender roles in our marriage📊 Fun Fact: In 2022, women made up 58% of college students and earned more degrees than men across all levels.Whether you're navigating relationship roles or simply curious about shifting norms, this conversation is for you.✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @thecouplesedition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your questions or drop your comments below#MarriagePodcast #GenderRoles #WomenBreadwinners #ModernRelationships #MillennialMarriage #CouplesPodcast

🎙️ Ep. 12 Chasing Purpose Over Comfort — As a CoupleIn this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on the real choices we’re making to build a life that’s aligned, intentional, and on purpose together. This is our most vulnerable and authentic episode yet, sharing the rawness of the season we are currently in.We also get honest about how this pursuit of purpose has impacted our marriage, romance, and the way we navigate external relationships. If you desire to live an intentional life, this one’s for you.👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:01:00 – How has life changed since quitting our jobs?05:18 – Knowing your WHY09:41 – Doing the hard things to build your dream13:35 – Killing comfort14:09 – What is the why?15:16 – Alli’s why17:46 – Elie’s why20:52 – Challenges with people understanding31:31 – How has this season impacted our marriage?35:50 – How has romance been involved?41:43 – What is the hardest part about going against culture norms?44:10 – What are we saying no to in this season?47:47 – When do things slow down, if ever?52:01 – Healthy habits✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @thecouplesedition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your questions or drop your comments below

🎙️ Ep. 11 Why We Got Engaged After 3 Months?! | Answering Your Spicy Questions (Part 2)This week, we're back with Part 2 of our most unfiltered Q&A yet. A group of amazing women asked us all the spicy, deep, and honest questions about dating, timelines, faith, marriage, and more — and we didn’t hold back.We’re diving into why we got engaged after only three months, how societal norms shaped (or didn’t shape) our journey, the moment we knew, and even the role race played in our dating preferences. Plus, our guest Mel shares how intentionality shaped her own relationship.👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:01:31 – Why did you get engaged after only 3 months of dating?06:52 – Were you concerned that your timeline was so unconventional?10:17 – How intentional was our guest Mel and her husband while dating?12:52 – Do you feel pressure dating within societal norms?14:43 – How did you know they were the one?16:23 – The best quality in a partner17:49 – Watching your partner grow with God18:58 – How have you seen your partner transform?23:09 – Identify crisis after the wedding26:42 – Was race a qualification on our lists???✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @thecouplesedition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your questions or drop your comments below#RelationshipAdvice #ChristianDating #MarriagePodcast

Ep. 10: They Asked Us Everything About Our RelationshipFour women sat us down and asked the real questions about our relationship — from how we knew it wasn’t just infatuation, to what gave us the confidence to get married quickly, to what faith and submission actually look like in our marriage.We’re sharing our honest answers on chemistry, mindset, non-negotiables, and the intentional choices that shaped our relationship.⏱ TIMESTAMPS:01:28 – How did we know it wasn’t just infatuation?04:54 – Making a list of what you want in a partner08:04 – Elie’s non-negotiables for a partner08:48 – How important was chemistry?10:31 – What gave us the confidence to get married so soon?15:33 – What was your mindset toward dating when you met?19:06 – Were there any hesitations they were the “one”?22:25 – What has faith looked like in our relationship?28:09 – What does submission look like in our relationship?✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @thecouplesedition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your questions

🎙️ Ep. 9 Our Spiciest Marriage Hot TakesShould couples merge their money? Is it wrong to “lower your standards”? And why do we actually think you should buy the cheaper ring?In this episode of The Couples Edition, we’re sharing our most controversial takes on marriage, from merging finances and skipping long engagements to why your parents aren’t your family once you're married. Plus, we respond to the online backlash we got after talking about merging our money.Whether you’re dating, engaged, or deep in marriage, this one’s full of real talk, personal stories, and honest advice.✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @thecouplesedition for more unfiltered convos on relationships & marriage.💌 DM us your questions or hot takes!👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:24 – Criticism on couples merging money07:29 – Benefits of merging money09:58 – Should you get a prenup?17:49 – Don’t have high standards for a partner that you don’t meet22:10 – Spend more time planning for marriage than a wedding24:24 – Buy the cheaper engagement ring26:44 – Marriage won’t fix your problems.. it will magnify them34:31 – Your parents are no longer your family when you get married..#MarriageHotTakes #CouplesPodcast #RelationshipAdvice

🎙️ Ep. 8 Relationship Advice for Our Younger SelvesWhat would you tell your younger self about love, dating, and heartbreak?In this week’s episode of The Couples Edition, we’re sharing the relationship advice we wish we had in our teens and 20s — before dating, getting engaged, or married. From the cringey mistakes to the red flags we ignored (and green flags we overlooked), we’re spilling all the tea on how our perspectives have changed.We open up about the pressure to settle, the difference between attraction and alignment, and the self-worth lessons that changed how we love. If you’re navigating the dating world, reflecting on past relationships, or just want real talk about what actually matters in a healthy partnership.. this one’s for you.✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @thecouplesedition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your questions & we’ll answer them in a future episode!👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro01:10 – First relationship lessons05:58 – Thinking you know it all at 20 yrs old08:24 – Bad dating advice12:02 – Don’t be picky about the things easily fixable… fashion style12:39 – Dating red flags18:33 – Dealing with heartbreak23:11 – Embracing your singleness25:28 – Don’t settle!28:26 – What is the worst relationship mistake you’ve made?31:33 – Getting cheated on34:40 – Fall in love with yourself first. No one else can complete you#relationshipadvice #datingtips #marriagetalk #selfworth #datinginyour20s #redflags #greenflags #thecouplesedition #relationshipmistakes #intentionaldating #bayareapodcast #relationshipgoals

🎙️ Ep. 7 How We Knew We Were “The One”: Engaged in 3 Months How do you really know someone is “the one”? In this episode of The Couples Edition, we’re sharing how we went from FaceTime calls to engaged in 3 months — and what gave us the confidence to commit that fast.We walk through the exact moment we each knew, the intentional steps we took to safeguard our decision, and the conversations every couple should have before getting engaged. From family reactions to dealbreakers that would’ve stopped us in our tracks, we’re giving a behind-the-scenes look at our fast-tracked love story — and why we have no regrets.👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro01:50 – Who knew first we were the ONE04:34 – Things Elie wanted in a wife06:07 – Elie waiting on Alli to realize he was the one07:55 – Alli knew he was the one after only 6 weeks10:34 – Are we crazy for moving so fast11:17 – Crazy way we found mentors14:06 – We started pre-marital counseling before even getting engaged16:39 – Checking the boxes off before getting engaged17:24 – Meeting all of our families - aka Bachelor hometown dates20:12 – Elie announcing to Alli’s parents that he’s marrying her22:07 – Planning the engagement24:46 – Offering to pay for the engagement ring25:55 – Planning a quick wedding28:29 – Deep Dive Tea Time: what are some deal breakers that you would have called off the wedding30:48 – Are red flags normal?33:15 – Advice for fast relationships🎧 Whether you’re dating intentionally, in a fast-moving relationship, or love a good love story — this one’s for you.👇 Tell us in the comments:Would you get engaged after 3 months if it felt right?📲 DM us or tag us on Instagram @thecouplesedition with your story or questions—we’d love to hear from you!#CouplesEdition #MarriagePodcast #IntentionalDating #HowWeKnew #EngagedIn3Months #ChristianDating #RelationshipAdvice #FaithAndMarriage #ModernMarriage #QuickEngagement #PremaritalCounseling #MarriageGoals

🎙️ Ep. 6 Friendships in Marriage: Couple Friends, Opposite-Sex Boundaries & Staying ConnectedHow do you navigate friendships when you're in a committed relationship — especially as a married couple? In this episode of The Couples Edition, we dive into how we manage friendships as partners: from opposite-sex boundaries to the benefit of couple friends.We’re sharing the friendship rules we’ve set in our marriage, how men and women approach friendship differently, and how to avoid losing yourself — or your friends — when you fall in love. Plus, we get real about the “gray area” of opposite-sex relationships and where we personally draw the line.👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:40 – Difference between men & women friendships05:25 – Clashes over whose in our wedding parties09:19 – Do you cut friends out or ghost them?12:09 – Maintaining friendships when you start dating someone new15:33 – Using a calendar to organize couple vs friend time17:38 – It’s so important to maintain friendships outside our your significant other19:20 – How Elie maintains his male friendships22:30 – How Alli maintains friendships23:58 – Creating our couple friends26:58 – Finding who you can confide marriage things with34:51 – Deep Dive Tea Time: Are close friends of the opposite sex okay?37:55 – Is it okay to be friends with your ex?39:41 – Scenarios with the opposite sex.. what would you do?49:25 – Closing advice on having friends as a couple🎧 Whether you’re dating, engaged, or married, this one’s for you.👇 Tell us in the comments: Do you think it’s okay to have close opposite-sex friends in a relationship?📲 DM us or tag us on Instagram @thecouplesedition with your thoughts or friendship stories—we’d love to hear from you!#CouplesEdition #MarriagePodcast #RelationshipAdvice #HealthyFriendships #MarriageTalks #IntentionalDating #CoupleGoals #FaithAndMarriage #ModernMarriage #FriendshipBoundaries

🎙️ Ep. 5 The Tea in Our Intercultural RelationshipEver wonder what it really takes to blend families, values, and traditions? In this week’s episode of The Couples Edition, we’re sharing what it’s *actually* like to blend cultures, traditions, and family expectations in our interracial marriage — from everyday routines to the wild drama at our wedding.We open up about our very different upbringings, how we’ve learned to honor both of our backgrounds, and the hard lessons we’ve learned about boundaries, compromise, and family. If you’re dating across cultures, married to someone with a different background, or just curious about what it takes to build a relationship that bridges worlds — this one’s for you.✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @theCouplesEdition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your questions & we’ll answer them in a future episode!👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Episode teaser00:38 – Intro02:50 – Our cultural backgrounds08:12 – Elie thinking independent from his culture10:31 – Differences between Elie & his family lifestyle13:28 – Gender norms between cultures17:19 – Do we have gender roles in our marriage?19:47 – Navigating family expectations & cultural differences25:02 – Addressing family drama26:53 – Unspoken expectations30:09 – Deep Dive Tea Time: How our cultural differences impacted our wedding!!33:44 – Buying the bride & traditional Congolese wedding36:15 – Dealing with uninvited wedding guests & getting a bouncer41:58 – Lying about our wedding start time43:50 – Turning people away from our wedding48:23 – The aftermath of the culture drama at our wedding 54:36 – Intercultural wedding takeaways - what we should have done different #interracialcouple #interculturalmarriage #relationshippodcast #weddingdrama #culturaldifferences #thecouplesedition #intentionaldating #bayareapodcast #relationshipadvice

🎙️ Ep. 4 How we handle money in marriage💵 Money is one of the top reasons couples break up… so why don’t we talk about it more?In this week’s episode of The Couples Edition, we’re opening up about how we manage money in our marriage — from merging finances and navigating different money mindsets, to handling disagreements and budgeting as newly self-employed entrepreneurs.We share how our upbringings shaped our financial habits, the red (and green) flags we looked for while dating, and what we’ve learned about sacrifice, generosity, and alignment in our relationship.If you’re dating intentionally, preparing for marriage, or already navigating life as a couple — this episode is full of raw insight, real stories, and helpful advice.✨ New episodes every Friday!👉 Follow us on Instagram @theCouplesEdition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your questions & we will answer in future episode!👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro to money as a couple & our different backgrounds with money growing up05:11 – Elie’s self-taught money lessons07:06 – Alli’s frugal parents retiring early08:15 – Building financial models09:14 – How our family backgrounds impact our financial literacy11:49 – How to start educating yourself financially13:30 – Keeping up with the Jone’s15:49 – Our first money conversation as a couple18:33 – Money red flags in dating21:45 – Combining finances..28:05 – Loosing independence with money once we got married29:47 – Our biggest fight around money35:35 – Society’s pressure on spending money37:11 – Money disagreements in marriage40:05 – Our transition for high paying tech jobs to being self-employed entrepreneurs44:06 – Understanding your WHY in money management45:33 – Ways we’ve reduced our spending in this season47:27 – How to talk about money in a relationship💐 Beautiful floral arrangement from Field to Jar!#marriagemoney #couplefinances #couplespodcast #budgetingtips #relationshipgoals #newlywedlife #moneyandmarriage #thecouplesedition #intentionaldating #interracialcouple

🎙️ Ep. 3 – Selling Everything to Travel Full-Time: Our Digital Nomad Couple StoryEver wondered what it’s really like to sell everything, quit your 9-5, and travel the world with your spouse? In this episode, we’re sharing our digital nomad story, from downsizing and saying goodbye to routine, to navigating Wi-Fi fails, time zones, and the highs and lows of working remotely as a couple.Whether you're dreaming of becoming a digital nomad, curious about traveling full-time with your partner, or figuring out how to take the leap into location-independent life, this one’s for you.✨ What we cover:How we became full-time travelersBiggest lessons from 2 years of digital nomadingBest cities to live and work remotelyRelationship challenges while traveling togetherHonest advice for couples who want to live abroad🎧 **Listen now** on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your shows.👉 Follow us on Instagram @TheCouplesEdition for real talk on dating, marriage, money, travel, and building an adventurous life together.🔍 Keywords: digital nomad couple, full-time travel, living abroad as a couple, remote work lifestyle, downsizing to travel, relationship while traveling

Stop wasting time dating the wrong people..In this episode of The Couples Edition, we’re breaking down how intentional dating led us to getting engaged after just 3 months—and why it worked. From building your non-negotiables list to spotting red flags early, we’re giving you the exact mindset shift to stop settling and start dating with purpose.⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro to intentional dating01:36 – The first time we met - interviewing your date03:53 – Making a list of your ideal partner05:34 – Determine what you want YOUR life to look like first06:44 – Elie showing intentionality immediately07:48 – Dealbreakers on your list08:58 – Elie’s framework for making a list12:02 – Examples of boxes Alli checked on Elie’s list14:51 – Your partner's money..18:30 – How not to waste time on people / red flags29:25 – Thoughts on ghosting people31:46 – Deep Dive Tea Time: What did no one warn you about marriage?38:26 – Stop settling🎧 Whether you're single, dating, or rethinking your standards—this one’s for you.👉 Follow us on Instagram @theCouplesEdition for more relationship content.💌 DM us your biggest dating lesson—we might feature it in a future episode!

Welcome to our very first episode of The Couples Edition! We're Alli & Elie — a couple who got engaged just 3 months after meeting, married in 11 months, and have been building an adventurous, purpose-driven life ever since.In this episode, we’re sharing our love story, why intentionality was the key to everything, and the lessons we learned about dating, asking hard questions, and navigating love across cultures. Whether you're dating, engaged, or just love hearing unique stories, this one's for you.👇 Jump to the good parts with timestamps:⏱ TIMESTAMPS:00:00 – Intro: Who we are & what this podcast is about01:35 – How we met04:35 – Elie's first message to Alli07:40 – Asking difficult questions early (aka Elie interviewing Alli)09:20 – Our first date started horribly11:20 – Getting engaged after only 3 months of dating12:40 – Making a list about your future partner16:30 – Key lessons from our dating journey18:30 – How did our race & culture play a role in us dating26:30 – Culture drama tea25:00 – Next week preview✨ New episodes every Friday!Hit the subscribe button and follow us on Instagram @thecouplesedition to submit questions or topic requests for future episodes!