In a candid conversation on Kelly Ripa’s new Sirius XM podcast, Let’s Chat Off Camera with Kelly Ripa, the beloved couple shared insights into their enduring 26-year marriage. Despite the challenges they’ve faced, Kelly and Mark emphasized the power of communication in overcoming obstacles.

“It constantly gets better. There is nothing insurmountable if you communicate and talk things through.” – Mark Consuelos

One issue that resurfaced during their early years of marriage was Mark’s jealousy. Kelly acknowledged that it was a difficult pill to swallow, stating, “It’s difficult to be married to someone envious. It’s unappealing.” However, Mark admitted that his jealousy was a fault in his character, and he actively worked on personal growth to address it.

“When I was 25, I was completely mad. But that jealousy did stick with me for a while… It’s far worse on the inside. The jealous person knows it’s terrible and nasty, yet they can’t stop themselves.” – Mark Consuelos

Kelly recounted an incident where Mark’s jealousy flared up over a harmless interaction with an elderly waiter. Despite these challenges, it is evident that both Kelly and Mark have learned and grown together throughout their journey.

The couple also highlighted the importance of working on themselves individually. Kelly admitted to a poor habit of hanging up the phone during arguments, a result of her upbringing. Mark expressed how unnerving it can be when communication breaks down, particularly when they are distanced physically.

“It’s terrible… That’s a result of my upbringing. I came from a famous family of hanger-uppers.” – Kelly Ripa

While they have their fair share of pet peeves, Kelly and Mark reassured listeners that none of these were deal breakers. Their relationship, like a heartbeat, has its ups and downs. It is the willingness to address these issues and grow together that has allowed their marriage to flourish over the years.

Now that their children have grown and left the nest, Kelly and Mark have sought the guidance of a marriage counselor to navigate this new chapter. They find immense value in counseling, especially when things are good, as it helps them break old habits and behaviors.

“One of the great benefits of going to marriage counseling… is that the old habits and behaviors you kind of hung on to, I thought twice about doing them because I knew that within a week or five days, I would be accountable to somebody.” – Mark Consuelos

Kelly Ripa’s podcast, Let’s Chat Off Camera with Kelly Ripa, produced by Consuelos & Ripa’s Milojo Productions, promises authentic conversations with a range of guests, including Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, Carol Burnett, and Matthew McConaughey.

In a world where relationships often face challenges, Kelly and Mark serve as a shining example of a couple who navigated the ups and downs with open communication, personal growth, and a commitment to each other.