What One Year of Podcasting Taught Us About Marriage After 50

Most couples avoid hard conversations. They tiptoe around disagreements, swallow frustrations, and hope problems dissolve on their own. Talking openly about marriage challenges feels too vulnerable, too risky, too exposing. Yet Lee and Ron spent an entire year doing exactly that on camera for anyone to watch. No scripts. No pretending. Just two people navigating love after 50 and sharing what they learn along the way.

The Rogers represent something rare in relationship content. They started the Love Lately Podcast as newlyweds in their fifties, bringing decades of life experience, previous relationships, and individual growth into a fresh marriage. Ron works long hours six days a week while Lee builds content and marketing businesses. In this special season finale episode, Lee turns the tables and interviews her husband about their first year together. Their conversation reveals practical wisdom any couple can apply, whether starting marriages later in life, rebuilding relationships after setbacks, or simply wanting deeper connection without losing themselves in the process.

 Study Your Person Beyond Assumptions 

The foundation supporting successful marriage starts with genuine curiosity, transcending assumptions from past relationships. Ron identifies this as his most lasting takeaway from their entire first season: learning each other's love languages required starting from scratch, not defaulting to what worked before. He states it directly: "Your style of love is completely different from my style. And I continue to grow in that area today. Nothing has changed since the first episode."

Previous relationship patterns create blind spots. What resonated with past partners may fall completely flat with your current spouse. Ron calls it "studying your person." Watching. Listening. Paying attention to what actually resonates instead of projecting what should work based on your own preferences. He admits he still works on this daily: "I can't expect her to automatically give me those things. We've learned how to continually talk about it. And we've grown from it." Are you studying your partner or assuming you already understand them?

 Move Past Fear Into Growth 

Ron didn't want to do this podcast. Cameras aren't his thing. Content creation falls completely outside his wheelhouse. After working long hours six days a week, he wants to watch the game and decompress. He said yes anyway. Ron explains the distinction that enabled him to push through resistance: "Fear is always about the unknown. It brings all that anxiety about things that haven't happened yet. That's the fear." Understanding this difference allowed him to recognize his hesitation came from imagined scenarios rather than actual threats.

Moving past fear revealed something unexpected. He actually enjoys it. The thing he avoided became something meaningful. Lee shares why she wanted Ron on the podcast despite his resistance: "I truly see a calling on his life. I think he's an amazing speaker. He always has really deep things to say. I wanted to pull him into what I believe is a calling." She saw potential he couldn't see in himself. Supporting your partner sometimes means pushing them toward greatness they'd otherwise avoid. The thing you're avoiding right now might become something you love.

 Define Love Beyond Feelings 

Ron's definition of love separates fleeting emotion from lasting commitment. He describes it as "an infinite desire for the well-being of another." Not a feeling that fluctuates based on circumstances. Not butterflies that fade after honeymoon phases. An infinite desire that continues regardless of what happens. This definition fundamentally changes how he approaches daily marriage choices. He explains: "That infinite desire continues no matter what. So no matter what we go through, I'm still part of the equation. Something I have to look at where I fell short."

He lives this definition through consistent action. Showing up for podcast recording when exhausted. Supporting Lee's vision even when it stretches his comfort. Continuing to study her love language instead of assuming he's figured her out. Ron connects this to faith perspective as well. When anxiety arose during their home buying process, Lee wanted to pray again for guidance. Ron's response: "For what? God heard us. We're not begging Him. If we have faith, we move forward; we praise Him." Praying with expectation rather than desperation. How you define love determines how you practice it.

 Value Non-Physical Connection 

Physical touch represents one love language. Ron highlights something deeper that sustains their marriage daily. He describes what he values most: "All the touches that aren't physical. When you touch my heart, touch my mind, touch my spirit." Being touched without someone putting their hands on you. The excitement of coming home is not because of planned activities but because your person exists there. Seeing her. Smelling her presence. Knowing she's around. These seemingly ordinary moments create extraordinary connection when appreciated intentionally.

Ron continues: "This life that we've built it's the best that I've had. We don't jet set. We don't rub elbows with the elite. We have a regular life. And it's perfect." Lee rates her current life 9.5 out of 10. A friend expressed surprise at such a high number. But the rating reflects appreciation for ordinary moments rather than extraordinary circumstances. Work, home, each other, and their recently adopted dog. Nothing Instagram-worthy by typical standards. Everything is meaningful by the standards that actually matter. Are you measuring relationship success by external metrics or internal connection?

 Accept Imperfections That Fit 

Perfect couples don't exist. Lee and Ron argue. They have hard moments. They do things that drive each other crazy. Pretending otherwise would contradict everything their podcast represents. Yet somehow, their life together rates near perfect. Ron explains the paradox: "We're not perfect, but our imperfections are perfect imperfections. We still fit." This perspective separates couples who thrive long-term from those who crumble when flaws emerge. Seeking perfection guarantees disappointment. Seeking compatibility of imperfections creates lasting foundations.

Lee learned significant lessons from Ron's approach to boundaries. She describes his "no button" as solid. If something doesn't serve him or align with his priorities, he declines without guilt. Meanwhile, she says yes to everything then wonders why exhaustion hits. Watching him protect time and energy taught her self-care isn't selfish. Their imperfections balance rather than destroy. His boundaries teach her limits. Her vision pushes his growth. Neither tries changing the other into someone different. They accept who each person is while growing together in aligned directions.

 Choose Courage At Any Age 

Lee summarizes their first year with one word: courage. Starting marriage after 50 requires vulnerability many avoid. Putting yourself out there after past hurts feels terrifying. Moving cities, quitting stable jobs, and blending established lives demands bravery most people talk about but never demonstrate. They've done all of it. And they keep jumping into new things together. The podcast. Buying their forever home. Adopting a dog at 55. Whatever comes next, they approach it together with shared courage.

Ron's daily approach supports consistent courage: "I don't worry about tomorrow. If I'm solid today, if I love you today and move throughout my day with the right attitude, tomorrow is going to take care of itself." Love Lately takes a brief pause before returning with new episodes, guest interviews, and fresh perspectives. But their message remains consistent: Love can happen at any time in your life. Keep pressing on. Marriage success after 50 isn't about avoiding problems. It's about choosing each other through problems. It's about an infinite desire that doesn't stop when circumstances get hard. The Rogers prove it's possible at any age.

Ready to build a deeper connection in your own relationship? Listen to the complete Love Lately podcast season finale for the full conversation between Lee and Ron about lessons learned, challenges overcome, and hope for what's ahead.

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Book: https://www.amazon.com/Out-Shadows-Into-Your-Light/dp/B0DXVX5ZL8