2022 has been a crazy year at Bare Marriage!

We ended 2021–on December 31 no less–hitting 1,000,000 downloads of the podcast overall. So after three years, we got to 1,000,000 downloads, with 500,000 of them being in 2021.

Well, in 2022 we reached 900,000 alone! So many more people are tuning in each week, and we’re just thrilled. We really appreciate you all!

And remember–when you put on Instagram that Bare Marriage is one of your no-miss podcasts, other people may tune in, too. This is how we change the evangelical conversation about sex and marriage. So spread the word!

Yesterday I listed the top 10 blog posts in 2022, and today I thought I’d show you the top 5 podcasts.

If you missed yesterday’s list, here it is! And now, let’s countdown the top 5 podcasts:

5. Episode 156: How The Authors We Critiqued Responded to The Great Sex Rescue

Of all the podcasts we did this year, I likely put the most work into this one! We put together all of our resources for all the different authors that we critiqued for The Great Sex Rescue have responded–and it’s not pretty. Some stuff we wanted to share got cut at the last minute because it’s private emails we’re privy to, but they tell an even worse story.

What really meant a lot to me in this podcast was the email to Gary Thomas I shared at the end. I think in it you can see my heart as I honestly tried to plead with authors to do the right thing, all to no avail.

If you haven’t listened yet, this one meant a lot to me!

4. Episode 131: The woman who was crying in the shower is here!

This was actually a surprise Part 2 podcast! 

Part 1 was a podcast we did analyzing one of Emerson Eggerichs’ podcasts, where he read a letter from a listener, who reported she was crying in the shower before sex. We analyzed that podcast, and noted that there were obvious red flags of marital rape that Eggerichs completely ignored.

Well, that woman heard our podcast and contacted us, and we recorded her story, as she explains what else was happening (it definitely was marital rape) and how she is now divorced. And she told us how the advice from Emerson Eggerichs made her feel.

It was a very moving podcast, so listen in if you missed it!

3. Episode 132: All About the Sexual Response Cycle

We got all technical in this one!

One of the things we covered in depth in our two books that were launched this year, The Good Girl’s Guide to Great Sex and The Good Guy’s Guide to Great Sex, is the sexual response cycle. 

Part of the problem with the sex advice we’re often given about how to reach orgasm is that we’re told to focus on specific tasks or movements. But doing those things at the wrong part of the sexual response cycle won’t actually result in pleasure or arousal. It’s far more important to learn to listen to her body than it is to follow a checklist of things that are supposed to stimulate her.

All of this is detailed in the books, which make amazing bridal shower gifts. But we laid it all out in this podcast too! Plus you’ll love our discussion of the Dunning Kruger effect and being on the peak of mount stupid!

2. Episode 136: The Uncomfortable Truth About Waiting for Marriage for Sex

Another big thing we talked about in our new books is how the wedding night can go awry! When we don’t understand the sexual response cycle, and we head straight to intercourse, we can actually cause some damage that may take a while to repair. We cement the idea that sex isn’t for her. 

And we even make it more likely that she’ll experience vaginismus.

So in this podcast we shared our survey findings about the wedding night, and laid out a game plan for how to handle the sexual debut better! We need to talk about this. If we want couples to save sex for marriage, we need to set them up for success, not disappointment or bewilderment. (and again–our new books or our Honeymoon Course can help with this!). 

And here it is–the #1 Bare Marriage episode this year!

1. Episode 149: Groomed for an Abusive Arranged Marriage: Alyssa Wakefield’s Story Part 1

One of the things that I’m most passionate about is helping people see the links between bad teaching about the worth of women and women ending up in abusive marriages. 

That’s what we found in our studies; and that’s what we hear over and over again from commenters. We can’t stop abuse until we stop the teaching.

So I thought hearing someone’s story may teach this in a new way. Alyssa Wakefield came on our podcast for two episodes (both made it into the top 10!), and her first interview was our top podcast of the year. 

Her story is riveting, and you can listen to part 1 and part 2. 

So there you go–those were the top podcasts from 2022! More of them were from earlier in the year, because podcasts tend to get more downloads the longer they’ve been out. But I liked all of these and I’m glad they made the top 5.

What’s ahead in 2023 for Bare Marriage?

As we look ahead, we’ve got a bunch of things launching!

Our book She Deserves Better launches April 18.

We’ll have some amazing pre-order bonuses starting March 1. This book is going to do for parenting what The Great Sex Rescue did for sex, we pray. And you can pre-order it now!

My first in a series of Fixed it For You books launches for Valentine’s Day!

It’s got 30 of my famous Fixed It For Yous–with 10 all new ones–with discussion questions to go along with each one so that you can use it as a couple’s devotional, a small group curriculum, or even just to journal through your own thoughts as you’re trying to make sense of what you were taught and what’s actually from Jesus.

We’re publishing some one sheets of problematic books for you to share. 

So many people have asked us about having something that summarizes the problems in books to show to their pastor, church librarian, or women’s small group leader. So this year we’re putting some of the money that comes from our Patrons towards creating one sheets of problematic books. The Love & Respect one will be available in just a few weeks! (And you can join our Patreon group for as little as $5 a month right now!). 

Keith and I are writing our marriage book.

We’re under contract with Baker books for a marriage book–an awesome book that will prepare people for marriage or enhance their marriage. It won’t be filled with gender stereotypes. It won’t be filled with toxic tropes. It will just be evidence-based, rooted in people’s real experience, and, of course, based on some new surveys!

Stay tuned for two new surveys!

We’ve got two new surveys planned for this year–the first on sexual pain, and the second a matched pair survey on marriage. We really appreciate all of you who get the word out for us and help us do this research that really matters.

I’m hoping to spend more time on Instagram Lives and reels.

So if you don’t follow me on Instagram, head on over! 

And I’m sure there will be lots of other great stuff, too.

So that you for joining us in 2022. We’re looking forward to the year ahead! And your comments, your shares, your interactions and engagements mean so much to me, and they help other people see our work as well!

Which was your favourite podcast this year? Was it one on this list, or was it another? Let’s talk in the comments!