Margo and I have a long list of the things that we love about one another, but we're not going to pretend that there's a list of things that we don't like. In fact, her words are "the most unattractive thing that you do" to be exact! I had no idea that sitting accross from one another and exchanging things that we aren't necessarily a fan of was a relationship goal of mine, but here we are. Grateful that we've grown to the point where this can take place without insecurity or a desire to take pe...
Jul 23, 2025•43 min•Ep. 98
Anybody dealing with a little bit of chaos right now?? It's so easy for the things that are happening around us to incite responses that can resemble frustration, confusion, anger, axiousness or depression. But do we have to keep going through these cycles? Is our respsponse automated based on the chaos around us, or can we determine whether our peace will remain intact? I can assure you that we have tools at our disposal to combat the craziness!
Jul 09, 2025•25 min•Ep. 76
Our children require so much in order for us to raise them up as healthy and capable individuals. Although they've been assigned to our care, by no means are they our property. Appreciating their real-life process and giving them them a small seat at the table as their parents lead the way, can and will make all the difference in their lives.
Jun 25, 2025•27 min•Ep. 25
You don't make it to 11 years of marriage without some legitimate tests. While the idea of divorce wasn't something we entertained, we were definitely tempted to believe the thought that we'd be miserable because of all that came with our family. But, God!! Today, we can see the fruit of our efforts and the blessings on the other side of much heartache. Things are not perfect, but there is no question that our commitment to doing the right thing has made all of the difference. This moment of gra...
Jun 11, 2025•13 min•Ep. 97
Pride takes down families. Simple as that. It is as deceptive as it is destructive. If we were to closely examine the issues related to marriage and divorce, as well as other relational conflicts, pride wouldn't be too hard to find. Unfortunately, we all deal with it to some degree. Humility, on the other hand, is what strengthens bonds and makes way for the wisdom that we need to overcome even the most significant relationship issues.
May 28, 2025•33 min•Ep. 96
As a stepparent, you may be tempted to prefer your biological child over your step child. This can show up in the form of comparison, inconsistent execution of discipline, or the outright shunning of your stepkid(s). There are plenty of reasons or excuses that we may use to get to this point, but this outcome is not uncommon! Correcting course so that we're not depending on our bio kids to affirm our identity or soothe our bruised ego is a necessary step.
May 21, 2025•29 min•Ep. 95
We've addressed who it is that we prioritize during singlehood and the early stages of blending. It's time to talk about what comes first when things get serious. Getting this right for our family has not been easy, but it is without question one of our greatest achievements!
Apr 23, 2025•43 min•Ep. 94
The process of blending your family is not a free-for-all! The decisions we make about how we spend our time, the well-being of our children and the proper way to invest into a love interest are crucial. This means we have to have our priorities straight. Depending on what stage you find yourself the person that requires your investment may look one way or another. Nonetheless, my wife and I have learned that a successful blend depends heavily on keeping the first things first!
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 93
While apologizing is can be considered difficult for obvious reasons, being on the receiving end of an apology can be just as hard for reasons that aren't so apparent. The temptation to open up the floodgates and pounce on the opportunity at hand can seem irresistable. Whether we want them to understand the full weight of their transgression, or we're hoping to share a little bit of the pain, being slightly petty during the "I'm sorry" is something we all have to face at some point. However, tho...
Mar 27, 2025•26 min•Ep. 92
Another overlooked practice within the family unit, apologizing! This is a gift within every home and a skill to be developed. It's more than just saying "I'm sorry".... genuine apologies result in stronger connections as our homes choose the humility of admission over the pride of pointing the finger. Getting to this point takes time and what may feel like losses in the short term. However, the long-term benefits for the development of our kids and the intimacy within our marriages far outweigh...
Mar 13, 2025•25 min•Ep. 91
Being a parent within the blended family dynamic is incredible! When things are hitting on all cylinders and we recognize traces of a ripple effect that we can trace back to our efforts, there's hardly a more satisfying feeling. There may also be moments when we ask, "what did I get myself into?" It's in these moments that we can begin to question whether we would have made the same decisions and taken that same path had we known what lay ahead. Listen in on this episode as I get real honest abo...
Feb 12, 2025•36 min•Ep. 90
Venting is an important part of regulating ourselves (a.k.a maintaining sanity), and it should be prioritized! Letting a little bit of air out over time keeps us from imploding when we least expect it. However, we can't release our stress and worries in whatever way we please. I've learned first hand that we can't be careless about how we go about the process. Being strategic about who we choose to share some of our most intimate and tumultuous experiences with is among the most important decisi...
Jan 31, 2025•32 min•Ep. 89
The step-sibling relationship can be tough to navigate. At times you hear about the kids getting along as if they've been reunited with a long lost sibling. In other cases, it doesn't seem as if they can even stand being in the same room together. At the end of the day, the kids have likely experienced more than their fair share of pain. This makes it especially difficult for them to accept the significant changes that comes with blending a family. During this episode we acknowlege the experienc...
Jan 22, 2025•36 min•Ep. 87
Considering everything that a child experiences within the blended family, it makes sense that their happiness is would be such a high priority. For other parents, it's also very difficult to take emphasis away from the development of their character and skills because those areas aren't getting enough attention. Which parent are you?? Doing right by our children and raising them with their best interest in mind is no easy task. This is not an outcome that we'll ever achieve if we remain on auto...
Jan 08, 2025•29 min•Ep. 86
The stop-and-go of a child leaving the home and returning can be taxing for everybody. If relationships are strengthening, their departure can be deflating. If we look forward to them leaving, then we probably won't receive them well when they get back. Not to mention the tax on the child as they go from one space to another. Reminding ourselves to function within our roles and the outcomes we want to see in our family will help us to navigate this the right way!
Dec 25, 2024•32 min•Ep. 45
Talk about learning on the job! As stepparents we don't have all of the answers. In fact, there are times when it feels as if we have none. This comes with the territory. Five things that I wish I had known: Not all grown people are adults Heartbreak will become normal I am not defined by the failures or successes of my stepchild Teenagers kinda suck I can discern, but I cannot condemn We learn as we go, but it doesn't hurt to learn from the going of others!...
Nov 27, 2024•24 min•Ep. 85
I took the time to answer some blended family questions that I'm sure each of us can relate to!
Nov 21, 2024•38 min•Ep. 84
Every blended family is a comeback story! Marquette Walker is an excellent illustration of this. Marquette relates to the samaritan woman at the well mentioned in the book of John. That woman was known to have 5 husbands, and Marquette can say the same. The woman at the well was also known to have a life changing encounter with Jesus. This is also Marquettes story! Marquette’s mental, emotional, and spiritual restoration has changed her life and she has become a source of hope and change for oth...
Nov 06, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 83
There's no shame in being overwhelmed by all the things that come with being a Stepparent. Personally, I took it all on and tried to keep it together, until I couldn't. Immense stress, worry and frustration was my reward for carrying all the weight that came with navigating this process. However, I've learned that empathy, holding tight to what's most important for the kids, and surrenduring it all to the One who cares the most, changes everything. Freedom from this cycle of anxiousness is possi...
Oct 09, 2024•34 min•Ep. 86
Excessive levels of worry and stress have become the norm for countless stepparents. Simply dealing with the struggles that have produced some level of anxiousness is not working. In fact, it's causing lasting issues personally and within our relationships. As stepparents, we need to figure out what we're dealing with before we can find the right solutions!
Oct 02, 2024•25 min•Ep. 85
Ownership of our role as a stepparent, and closeness to our stepkid(s). These things may sound simple, but they can come with much challenge and confusion before things make sense. Do I have the right to refer to him/her as my child? What are the best moves to make in the face of resistance? How do I avoid causing offense or overstepping while also being everything that my stepchild deserves? If you've asked yourself questions like these, you're far from alone! Listen in as my wife and I discuss...
Sep 12, 2024•59 min•Ep. 84
Who doesn't want to be considered a good parent? We do our best, hope for the best, but what we get back isn't always the best. Sometimes it feels like our kid(s) have concluded that good parents make for better punching bags. If you can relate, your frustration is reasonable! However, we can't be so quick to judge our kids and sum up their behaviors as some form of disrespect or rejection of our efforts. Parenting is a race of endurance, and the good ones are willing to do the work to run well!...
Aug 28, 2024•22 min•Ep. 83
There's no question that the idea of affirmation has taken a turn for the worse. Kids are suffereing from confusion and parents struggle to find the right kind of support as objective truth is considered a threat. My guest Stephanie Winn is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, whistleblower against gender malpractice, and host of the podcast You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist. During this episode we address the social pressures being placed on families, the dangers of what is being called g...
Aug 14, 2024•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 82
The odds are against us.. Statistics suggest that a significant portion of marriages that include a child from a previous relationship end in divorce/separation. So how do we beat the odds?! After 10 years of blending our family, we can see clearly what has sustained us through even the most difficult moments. We've beat the odds, and we believe that you can too!
Jul 31, 2024•32 min•Ep. 81
Parents have an incredible amount of power! We get to lead and shape the lives of the the next generation. No pressure! Unfortunately, we don't always do this perfectly. In fact, many mistakes are made along the way. One of the consequences of our misteps is discouragement. This experience exists well beyond the moment that the seed of discouragement is sown, and the effects can be severe. As parents we have to commit to learning from our mistakes and using our authority to encourage and build u...
Jul 17, 2024•34 min•Ep. 80
Too often we have an almost lazer focus on the things that aren't going well. We can be quick to forget about the wins that we fought so hard to take hold of and give attention to the things that appear to be working against us. Even in the midst of challenge, we can see the good, stir up some much needed gratitude and gain courage to keep moving. Don't get hung up on the pain of resistance. Set your focus on the wins and there will be more to come!
Jun 26, 2024•25 min•Ep. 79
As much as we may downplay it, fathers are so blessed when they're celebrated! To know that we are loved and supported by those closest to us is what matters most. We may not make this process easy though... Listen in as I discuss ways that you can celebrate the fathers in your life. This helps us to become better fathers, husbands and men on the other side of these moments. Guys, go ahead and make apparent what you want; and for those celebrating them, make sure they know that they're valued! E...
Jun 12, 2024•22 min•Ep. 78
The power of the reset button cannot be overstated! So many of us have the habit of carrying all of 'yesterday' into our 'now.' The result is offense, mental and physical tiredom and we place expectations on others that aren't fit or fair. My stepdaughter unknowingly introduced me to this concept as she would quickly move past the not-so-positive moments, as if holding onto even the most recent history wasn't worth it. You'll find that this tool will come in handy on a daily basis (sometimes hou...
May 22, 2024•33 min•Ep. 77
I took the time to answer some blended family questions that I'm sure each of us can relate to!
Apr 24, 2024•34 min•Ep. 75
Do you accept yourself? As you are? At this very moment? Most are either slow to answer the question or quick to pinpoint areas that require some serious maintenance. However, it's not just possible, but it is necessary that we are content even in the midst of our efforts to improve. Each of us will have the opportunity to take a step toward acceptance as we work to become best version of ourselves and everything that our family could ask for.
Apr 10, 2024•22 min•Ep. 74
