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Filter OptionalAuthor: Filter Optional
Addiction Counselor Chico West and his wife Shannon lend their years of experience to listeners from all walks of life offering a unique perspective from both the filter (Shannon) and the no filter (Chico). Welcome to Filter Optional. Language: en Genres: Education, Self-Improvement Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Marital Bliss | #6
Episode 6
Tuesday, 9 December, 2025
Thirty years of marriage and thirty-six years of sobriety—two milestones that shaped Chico and Shannon West’s lives and marriage. In this heartfelt episode of Filter Optional, the couple celebrates their anniversary by unpacking what truly sustains a relationship over decades: not just love, but the willingness to step into the messy middle.Through honest reflection, humor, and real-life examples (yes, even about a forgotten hammer), Chico and Shannon explore:- Why love alone can’t sustain a marriage—and what it really means to let your marriage sustain your love- The role of pain, healing, and emotional honesty in long-term relationships- How to hold space for your partner’s needs without losing yourself- Why identifying and communicating your needs creates deeper intimacy- How the “messy middle” moments—disagreements, missteps, vulnerability—can become the foundation for lasting connectionFrom faith to codependency, solitude to physical touch, Chico and Shannon share the lessons that keep their love grounded, real, and resilient.Takeaway: Marital bliss isn’t about avoiding pain—it’s about learning to walk through it together. When you investigate your feelings and hold space for each other’s humanity, your marriage becomes the thing that sustains your love.
