The Dr. John Delony Show
Episode: I Resent My Husband When He’s Away (January 19, 2026)
Host: Dr. John Delony / Ramsey Network
Episode Overview
This episode takes listeners through raw, caller-driven conversations about relationships, family dynamics, mental health, and masculinity. Dr. John Delony coaches three callers on issues ranging from marital resentment during a chaotic family season, supporting a partner with depression, to addressing generational anger as a new dad. His humor, candor, and deeply empathetic approach bring both practical steps and emotional relief to listeners navigating real-life challenges.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Marital Resentment When Spouses Take Time Away
Caller: Mary, 29, pregnant with 6th child
Mary’s Situation
- Married almost 10 years, 5 kids aged 8 and under, pregnant with a sixth.
- Has a loving, supportive husband. He encourages her to take breaks, but when he leaves for personal time (hunting weekends, etc.), she feels bitter, angry, and experiences "shame and guilt".
Deep Dive with Dr. John
- No Bad Thoughts Philosophy:
“Thoughts happen... Feelings are a light on a dashboard in your car... where it becomes problematic is when you then go into, I shouldn't be feeling like this.” — Dr. John ([12:57]) - Encourages Mary to accept feelings without over-intellectualizing them. Sometimes, feelings just “are,” rather than always having a deep cause.
- Unpacks Mary’s sense of “fairness” — A lifelong habit of scorekeeping as the oldest sibling; acute awareness of perceived injustice (ex: left-out friends).
- Dr. John guides her to connect current resentment with feelings of being “let down” from her childhood. Her parents’ separations and being forced into adult responsibility built deep sensitivities.
“I found myself at the age of 14... having to give up things I really loved in order to keep things okay at home... when it happened again, it was like just a huge letdown.” — Mary ([09:58])
- Bodily Memory vs. Reality:
Even though her husband is showing up, her body “automatically kicks in” with old scripts. - Suggests compassionate self-talk, shifting mindset from “he did this to me” to “life happened”—and replacing internal narratives with intentional action.
“What if your mind was he's not going to be home till nine?... I've got bedtime tonight... and I'm going to do one or two things that will blow his mind as he walks in the door.” — Dr. John ([14:12])
Communication and Action Steps
- Instead of reacting with frustration, proactively set expectations (“expect him at nine”) and plan small acts of kindness.
- If lateness becomes a pattern or feels abusive, have a straightforward conversation about needs ("I need you here at six").
“Scorekeeping is what melts relationships. I did this, and then you did that...” — Dr. John ([17:30])
- Mary is encouraged to design “the next right thing” together with her husband as they adjust to each new phase, avoid resentment, and leverage honesty and intentionality.
- Dr. John offers Mary access to the "Together app" to cultivate daily positive connection.
2. Supporting a Partner with Depression
Caller: Demus, seeking advice for girlfriend’s clinical depression
Demus’s Concern
- Girlfriend recently started medication for diagnosed depression.
- When she’s in a depressive state, she blames herself and tends to shut down beyond his ability to comfort.
- Demus feels helpless and worries about developing resentment.
Dr. John's Coaching
- You Can’t Fix It All:
“You can't make her feel anything.” — Dr. John ([23:48]) - Role is not to rescue, but maintain honesty, character, and presence.
- Develop a “plan of action” together during periods when she is well; determine in advance what support looks like when she is low.
“When she is feeling well, y'all go come up with a game plan... it might be I'm going to back out, and this too shall pass.” — Dr. John ([25:19])
- Warns against over-functioning ("jumping in the hole"), which can reinforce her negative self-view instead of helping.
- Sharing from personal experience:
“If she's getting up at 2am to feed the baby, I'm gonna be up sitting right next to her... And she said, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard... We need one functioning brain in this house.” — Dr. John ([29:36])
- Urges Demus to avoid making her depression about his own worth. Instead, focus on “anchored presence.”
“The thing she might need more than anything else in the world is you... not your solutions, not your advice, not your stuff.” — Dr. John ([33:54])
- Suggests involving her therapist to co-create strategies for support ("I'd love to come to a session so the three of us can make a plan").
- Encourages men to redefine protection and provision in the modern world — sometimes, it means “providing boundaries, not answers; protection looks like safeguarding her space.”
3. Breaking the Cycle of Generational Anger as a New Dad
Caller: Scott, new father struggling with resurfacing anger
Scott’s Challenge
- New parent of a 2-month-old, realizing old anger issues haven’t disappeared.
- Feels powerless to comfort his son or help much while wife breastfeeds; falls into “failure factory” at home.
- Repeats pattern of unplugging/numbing out, as his own father did.
Dr. John's Approach
- Anger signals "something we care about that should be a certain way isn't."
- Scott exposes difficulty with control, people-pleasing, and lack of emotional connection growing up.
- Dr. John highlights the link between childhood emotional neglect/unmet needs and adult anger, especially when facing the powerlessness of new fatherhood.
“You learned at a really young age your emotions don't matter. Shut them down... They come out... enraged for a two month old. Because you're getting your self-story reconfirmed that I can't even do this one right.” — Dr. John ([43:02])
- Finding Worth and Purpose at Home:
Takes aim at the myth of “balance”; instead, urges creating new habits and finding actionable ways to show up (leaving phone in car, asking wife for lists, co-creating plans for support). - Reframes “just showing up” as not enough—there must be intentionality (“showing up with a plan”).
- Recommends powerful rituals:
- Writing two letters — one to 7-year-old self, affirming “you’re a good kid”, and one to his son, declaring the cycle of anger and avoidance ends with him ([54:03]).
- Stresses that “anger isn't wrong,” but what matters is choosing how to respond, not numbing or escaping.
“Game on, dads. I'm in this with you.” — Dr. John ([55:00])
4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Feelings are a light on a dashboard in your car... where it becomes problematic is when you then go into, 'I shouldn't be feeling like this.'” — Dr. John ([12:57], to Mary)
- “Scorekeeping is what melts relationships.” — Dr. John ([17:30])
- “You can't make her feel anything.” — Dr. John ([23:48], to Demus)
- “Protection looks like I'm going to provide boundaries for you, not answers.” — Dr. John ([35:00])
- “Your anger, brother, is not wrong... Are you going to numb it out?” — Dr. John ([51:15], to Scott)
- “Write a letter to your 7 year old son, and let him know that this generational avoidance, this generational anger ends here.” — Dr. John ([54:03])
Timestamps for Major Segments
- 00:05–17:30 – Mary’s call: Motherhood, resentment, and childhood scars
- 22:17–35:00 – Demus’s call: Loving a partner with depression
- 38:13–55:00 – Scott’s call: Fatherhood, anger, generational healing
- 58:05–61:58 – Lighthearted Chat: Kelly’s knee surgery and scooter story (comic relief, inside team banter)
Tone and Takeaways
Dr. John’s signature approach weaves compassion, humor, and practical psychology. He insists that emotions are signals, not sins; that honesty and intentionality trump perfection; and that generations can be healed when men and women choose, together, to “do the next right thing.” The episode is a toolbox for anyone feeling shame for their honest reactions, striving to love someone through mental illness, or longing to rewrite the script handed down by difficult family histories.
Useful Resources Mentioned:
- Together app: for intentional marital connection
- Marriage retreats: for re-setting partnership goals