FamilyLife Blended® Podcast
- Episódios
- 201
- Publicação
- quinzenal
- Último episódio
- 2 nov 2026
Sobre o podcast
FamilyLife Blended® provides timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families and those who love them. Join Ron L. Deal, LMFT, LPC as he and his guests discuss a wide variety of marriage, family, and relationship topics related to blended families.
Episódios 201
202: The Marriage They Hadn't Trained For: Devon & Asha Still
They’d beaten stage 4 cancer. Then came a challenge they hadn’t trained for: marriage. Former NFL player Devon Still and wife Asha join Ron Deal on FamilyLife Blended to unpack their NFL player marriage, from …
Notas do episódio
They’d beaten stage 4 cancer. Then came a challenge they hadn’t trained for: marriage. Former NFL player Devon Still and wife Asha join Ron Deal on FamilyLife Blended to unpack their NFL player marriage, from custody battles and clashing expectations to years of learning about each other. Their hard-won discovery? Love matters. But understanding your spouse—and doing the work—matters, too.
Show Notes and Resources
- Listen to Devon and Asha's Podcast.
- Preorder The SmartStepFamily.
- Thank you for sending a gift of support.
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201: How to Rewire Your Brain--When Life Feels Hopeless
Wondering how to rewire your brain after loss, grief, or years of discouragement? Neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Warren joins Ron Deal to explore how hope, biblical truth, and the way you think can reshape your mind—even …
Notas do episódio
Wondering how to rewire your brain after loss, grief, or years of discouragement? Neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Warren joins Ron Deal to explore how hope, biblical truth, and the way you think can reshape your mind—even when blended family life feels overwhelming. On FamilyLife Blended, discover why hopelessness doesn't have to define your future.
Show Notes and Resources
- Watch this episode on YouTube.
- Learn about Dr Warren and grab one of his books.
- Find a blended resource that can serve you.
- Send a donation to the blended team.
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Capítulos (8)
200: Childhood-trauma Healing: When One Stepparent Changed Everything
Childhood-trauma healing doesn't erase the past—but it can change your future. Worship leader Kim Walker-Smith shares how growing up through divorce, multiple stepfathers, abuse, and loss shaped her life, and …
Notas do episódio
Childhood-trauma healing doesn't erase the past—but it can change your future. Worship leader Kim Walker-Smith shares how growing up through divorce, multiple stepfathers, abuse, and loss shaped her life, and how one faithful stepdad became a picture of hope. On FamilyLife Blended, Ron Deal explores what healing can look like for anyone carrying wounds from a broken family.
Show Notes and Resources
- Watch this episode on YouTube
- Learn about Kim Walker-Smith
- Browse free blended resources
- Give a tax deductible gift
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Capítulos (7)
199: Helping Kids With Big Emotions: Why They're Not Just "Acting Out"
Helping kids with big emotions starts with understanding what's really driving them. Counselor Michelle Nietert joins Ron Deal to unpack why kids in blended families often struggle with grief, overwhelm, and …
Notas do episódio
Helping kids with big emotions starts with understanding what's really driving them. Counselor Michelle Nietert joins Ron Deal to unpack why kids in blended families often struggle with grief, overwhelm, and divided loyalties—and how parents can respond without making things worse. On FamilyLife Blended, discover practical ways to become the calm, steady presence your child needs most.
Show Notes and Resources
- Watch this episode on YouTube
- Learn about Michelle Nietert, LPC and get a copy of one of her book
- List of Christian Stepfamily Therapists
- Give a donation to help strengthen blended families
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (8)
198: Remarriage After the Death of a Spouse: Why It's Harder Than You Think
Remarriage after the death of a spouse brings hope—but it can also uncover grief you didn't expect. Ministry leaders Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown share the realities of building a blended family after …
Notas do episódio
Remarriage after the death of a spouse brings hope—but it can also uncover grief you didn't expect. Ministry leaders Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown share the realities of building a blended family after widowhood, helping children navigate loss, and learning that love doesn't erase pain overnight. On FamilyLife Blended, Ron Deal explores what it really takes to become family again.
Show Notes and Resources
- Watch this episode on YouTube
- Learn about Rachel's ministry
- Browse free blended resources
- Donate to FamilyLife Blended
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (7)
197: What Kids Grieving Divorce Wish Parents Knew
Many kids grieving divorce never have words for what they're carrying. Blake Hudspeth grew up through four different stepfamilies and knows how family change can shape a child's view of love, trust, and …
Notas do episódio
Many kids grieving divorce never have words for what they're carrying. Blake Hudspeth grew up through four different stepfamilies and knows how family change can shape a child's view of love, trust, and belonging. On FamilyLife Blended, Ron Deal talks with Blake about the grief parents often overlook, the questions kids rarely ask out loud, and why feeling "fine" isn't always the whole story.
Show Notes and Resources
- Watch this episode on YouTube
- Get a free download for how to build love with your stepchild
- Read the article: Bridge Building: Strengthening Relationships with Stepchildren
- Get your copy of The Mindful Marriage
- Ministering to students tips sheet
- Send the Blended team a donation
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (8)
196: Growing Up Blended: Montell and Kristin Jordan
Blended family life can feel like walking into someone else’s story: guarded kids, mixed loyalties, no clear playbook. Montell Jordan—the artist best known for his hit, "This Is How We Do It"—and his wife …
Notas do episódio
Blended family life can feel like walking into someone else’s story: guarded kids, mixed loyalties, no clear playbook. Montell Jordan—the artist best known for his hit, "This Is How We Do It"—and his wife Kristen join Ron Deal to unpack growing up in the chaos—and what kids wish adults understood but rarely say.
Show Notes and Resources
- Learn about Montell and Kristin's ministry
- Dozens of free blended resources for you
- Find a small group in your area
- Reserve your cabin on the Love Like You Mean It Cruise!
- Register to receive your access link to The Smart Stepfamily on Right Now Media
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (8)
195: Stepmom Advice: 10 Things I Would Do Over as a Stepmother
Blending a family isn’t a Hallmark montage. It’s a minefield of hurt feelings, mixed loyalties, and second-guessing...everything. Debbie Alsdorf shares hard-won “do-overs” from 36 years as a stepmom—what she …
Notas do episódio
Blending a family isn’t a Hallmark montage. It’s a minefield of hurt feelings, mixed loyalties, and second-guessing...everything. Debbie Alsdorf shares hard-won “do-overs” from 36 years as a stepmom—what she got wrong, what she’d never repeat, and what actually helped a fractured family slowly become one. From Debbie's book, Beyond the Brady Bunch, this stepmom advice skips fantasy and deals with real life.
Show Notes and Resources
- Access blended resources familylifeblended.com
- Give to Familylife Blended directly
- Watch the show, Renewed Hope for the year, on Women & Blended Families
- Read Debbie's article, "10 Things I Would Do Over as a Stepmom"
- More about Debbie and her ministry
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (8)
194: What “God Hates Divorce” Gets Right—and Very Wrong
"God hates divorce": you’ve heard it, maybe felt crushed by it. Cheryl Shumake joins Ron Deal and Gayla Grace to pull apart what Malachi 2 really says—and what it doesn’t. If you’ve felt judged, stuck, or …
Notas do episódio
"God hates divorce": you’ve heard it, maybe felt crushed by it. Cheryl Shumake joins Ron Deal and Gayla Grace to pull apart what Malachi 2 really says—and what it doesn’t. If you’ve felt judged, stuck, or sidelined by church talk, this conversation meets you there and pushes toward truth, clarity, and hope without easy answers.
Show Notes and Resources
- Blended family resources familylifeblended.com
- Give to Familylife Blended directly
- Blended ministry certificate
- Start a stepfamily ministry
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (8)
193: Restoring Trust After Sexual Betrayal
You thought you were rebuilding after sexual betrayal—whether from this marriage or the previous—but something still feels off: Distance. Triggers. Questions you can’t shake. Authors Matthew and Joanna …
Notas do episódio
You thought you were rebuilding after sexual betrayal—whether from this marriage or the previous—but something still feels off: Distance. Triggers. Questions you can’t shake. Authors Matthew and Joanna Raabsmith get brutally honest about how betrayal trauma, perhaps from sexual addiction, porn, affairs, or other sources, affects your brain, your body, your marriage...and why quick fixes don’t stick. From their book, Building True Intimacy, Matthew and Joanna map a slower, sturdier path forward when trust feels shattered.
Show Notes and Resources
Access blended resources familylifeblended.com
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (8)
192: Jim Burns: When Adult Children Stray
You raised them right—so why does it feel like you’re losing them? Jim Burns steps into the ache parents don’t say out loud: regret, distance, and the fear you blew it. Drawing from When Your Adult Child …
Notas do episódio
You raised them right—so why does it feel like you’re losing them? Jim Burns steps into the ache parents don’t say out loud: regret, distance, and the fear you blew it. Drawing from When Your Adult Child Strays, he gets real about what to do when pushing harder only pushes them away—and what actually keeps the door open.
Show Notes and Resources
- Email us [email protected]
- Learn about Jim, Homeword, and get his book, When Your Adult Child Strays
- Give a tax-deductible gift
- Ron's speaking schedule
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (6)
191: Father’s Day Feels Weird: Blended Family Grief and Hope
Father’s Day feels weird, or even stings, when the chair at the table is empty—or when your stepkids pull back because they’re still hurting. Ron Deal talks with the widowed and remarried Brian and Debbie …
Notas do episódio
Father’s Day feels weird, or even stings, when the chair at the table is empty—or when your stepkids pull back because they’re still hurting. Ron Deal talks with the widowed and remarried Brian and Debbie Doyle--about grief, holidays, and blending families with adult children. If you’ve ever worried about stepping in or stepping too hard, this conversation gives you permission to move with patience, empathy, and faith.
Show Notes and Resources
- Free blended resources
- Look for a live or virtual small group to join
- Iron Sharpens Iron
- Get the Smart Stepdad or The Smart Stepmom
- Give a donation to help strengthen blended families
- List of Smart Stepfamily Therapist Providers
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (7)
190: The Mother's Day You Never Wanted: Hope for Hurting Moms and Stepmoms
Mother’s Day can sting when your story didn’t turn out like you planned. Maybe that looks like wayward kids. Courtrooms. Even prison sentences. And silence where relationship used to be. Ron Deal talks with …
Notas do episódio
Mother’s Day can sting when your story didn’t turn out like you planned. Maybe that looks like wayward kids. Courtrooms. Even prison sentences. And silence where relationship used to be. Ron Deal talks with author Carol Kent about loving a son serving life in prison—and finding faith when the worst actually happens. If you’re carrying shame, regret, or heartbreak as a mom or stepmom, this conversation sits with you in it—and refuses to let despair win.
Show Notes and Resources
- Use blended resources for free!
- Watch Carol and Gayla talk about how to cultivate a thankful heart in dark seasons on Women & Blended Families
- Learn about Carol and her ministry
- Donate $5.00 or more to help Jason's ministry to other inmates
- Support the work at FamilyLife Blended
- Enroll in the certificate program in Blended Family Ministry
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (7)
189: Widowhood to Remarriage: Blending Families with Ongoing Grief - Daniel and Brittany Brooker
Loss shattered you; remarriage after widowhood humbles you amid trauma, blending families, and recurring developmental grief. If comparison, unmet expectations, or past pain threaten your marriage and home …
Notas do episódio
Loss shattered you; remarriage after widowhood humbles you amid trauma, blending families, and recurring developmental grief. If comparison, unmet expectations, or past pain threaten your marriage and home, listen in. Daniel and Brittany Brooker (Refuge Widowers) share Scripture-soaked wisdom, practical strategies, and hope to redeem brokenness for God’s glory.
Show Notes and Resources
- Our events, small groups, and ministry map
- Learn about Daniel's ministry
- Learn about Brittany's ministry
- FamilyLife Blended resources
- Give a gift to FamilyLife Blended ministry
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (6)
188: Growing up Blended: Micah Scharchburg
If you were growing up in a blended family, you knew the drill—new houses, new rules, new “normal” every few years. And now you’re the parent, wondering what stuck and what still stings. Ron Deal talks with …
Notas do episódio
If you were growing up in a blended family, you knew the drill—new houses, new rules, new “normal” every few years. And now you’re the parent, wondering what stuck and what still stings. Ron Deal talks with Barna's Micah Scharchburg about growing up in family chaos—and why your story doesn’t have to define your kids’ future. If you’ve ever asked, “Did that mess me up?” or "Am I messing up my kids?" this conversation meets you right there—and points you forward.
Show Notes and Resources
- Get a Blended & Blessed All Access Pass blendedandblessed.com
- Blended resources for you
- Learn about Barna
- Ron's speaking schedule RonDeal.org
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (6)
187: Worship through Grief: Matt and Kari Perkins
Meet Matt and Kari Perkins, widowed parents who blended a family of seven after deep loss. They know you don’t “get over” loss—you grow with it. Find honest hope for grieving parents and blended families as you …
Notas do episódio
Meet Matt and Kari Perkins, widowed parents who blended a family of seven after deep loss. They know you don’t “get over” loss—you grow with it. Find honest hope for grieving parents and blended families as you form a future without erasing the past.
Show Notes and Resources
- Learn more about Matt and Kari, and the Grief to Growth Pathway
- You still have time to register for Blended & Blessed!
- List of Christian Stepfamily Therapists
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
186: Is Fear Running Your Stepfamily? (Here’s How to Spot It)--Gayla Grace
You’re not crazy. Blended family life is complicated—and sometimes it feels like you’re fighting battles that started long before this marriage. Old fears. Ex-spouses. Money tension. Kid loyalty binds. Ron Deal …
Notas do episódio
You’re not crazy. Blended family life is complicated—and sometimes it feels like you’re fighting battles that started long before this marriage. Old fears. Ex-spouses. Money tension. Kid loyalty binds. Ron Deal and Gayla Grace name the “ghosts” haunting stepfamilies—and why you lean out when you meant to lean in. If you’re tired of walking on eggshells, this one will feel uncomfortably familiar—in the best way.
Show Notes and Resources
- Watch Women & Blended Families
- Attend Blended & Blessed for free this year!
- Get the All- Access didgital pass from previous Blended & Blessed years
- Listen to the podcast with Dr. Juli Slattery
- Get your copy of The Mindful Marriage
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (9)
185: This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God through the Heartache of Divorce
Vaneetha Risner knows the raw grief of unwanted divorce and betrayal. She gets church shame, lost identity, lingering triggers. Yet God has turned lament into deeper trust. This was never the plan, but it has …
Notas do episódio
Vaneetha Risner knows the raw grief of unwanted divorce and betrayal. She gets church shame, lost identity, lingering triggers. Yet God has turned lament into deeper trust. This was never the plan, but it has forged faith. And it offers hope for yours.
Show Notes and Resources
- Register for the live Blended & Blessed event in Oklahoma City
- Listen to episode 130: Coping With Traumatic Events
- Learn about Vaneetha and get a copy of her book, This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God Through the Heartache of Divorce
- Help us reach more families around the world with a gift of support
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (6)
184: Parenting & Grandparenting kids about tech, phones, and screens
When did “family time” become everyone scrolling in separate corners? In this eye-opening episode, Ron Deal and author Arlene Pellicane unpack how to manage screentime—helping parents and grandparents raise …
Notas do episódio
When did “family time” become everyone scrolling in separate corners? In this eye-opening episode, Ron Deal and author Arlene Pellicane unpack how to manage screentime—helping parents and grandparents raise screen-wise kids who still look up, laugh, and live offline. Discover why boredom builds brilliance, how to delay devices with grace, and how real connection always outshines the algorithm.
Show Notes and Resources
- Reserve your Love Like You Mean It cabin!
- Look for a seminar or stepfamily small group in your area
- Learn about Arlene and order her book, Screen Kids ArlenePellicane.com
- Send a tax-deductible gift
- Join us online for Blended & Blessed for FREE!
- Watch the film, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
183: Grief Triggers and Tender Triumphs: Happy Chaos in a Blended Family
Grief lingers, yet love insists on living. Podcasters Justin and Kelly Walker navigate a blended family of 9 amid grief triggers and daily chaos. Hallway tributes, fire-pit conversations, and tender routines …
Notas do episódio
Grief lingers, yet love insists on living. Podcasters Justin and Kelly Walker navigate a blended family of 9 amid grief triggers and daily chaos. Hallway tributes, fire-pit conversations, and tender routines show how honoring the past fosters resilience, teaches empathy, and shapes a family that holds loss and new beginnings in a single heartbeat.
Show Notes and Resources
- Host Blended & Blessed for FREE
- Get a copy of The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself
- The Happy Chaos Podcast
- Send in a donation
- Search Ron's upcoming events
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (6)
182: Blended and Blessed book, Building Healing through the Beatitudes
After a scandalous start to their blended marriage, Ines Franklin and her husband Jim discovered God's grace turns broken stories into masterpieces. With raw honesty--and pulling from the richness of the …
Notas do episódio
After a scandalous start to their blended marriage, Ines Franklin and her husband Jim discovered God's grace turns broken stories into masterpieces. With raw honesty--and pulling from the richness of the beatitudes in the Bible--Ines explains core ingredients to flourishing in blended family life, with heaps of practical takeaways. What began in shame ends in her "smoothie family" of 5 kids, 10 grandkids, and redemption that shouts hope.
Show Notes and Resources
- Order a hardback copy of The Mindful Marriage here or preorder the paperback where you get books
- Blended & Blessed for FREE!
- Look at Ron's upcoming events
- Learn about Ines on her website
- Get a copy of Ines' book, Blended and Blessed
- Make a donation to FamilyLife Blended
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
181: Beauty in the Broken: A Kintsugi Approach to Blended Family Life
Overwhelmed by blended-family brokenness? Ron Deal and Wynand Jacobs dive into the messy, unpolished reality of blended families in New Zealand. Using Kintsugi as a gospel metaphor, they explore God's power to …
Notas do episódio
Overwhelmed by blended-family brokenness? Ron Deal and Wynand Jacobs dive into the messy, unpolished reality of blended families in New Zealand. Using Kintsugi as a gospel metaphor, they explore God's power to reform shame into beauty, grief into testimony, and mistakes into stories that shine. It's a masterclass in the divine alchemy of blended family life.
Show Notes and Resources
- Learn about FamilyLife New Zealand
- Find an event on our blended map
- Send a donation to further the blended ministry
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (5)
180: Tinsel, Tension, Togetherness: Navigating Your Blended Family Christmas--Mike and Kim Anderson
Holidays got your blended family feeling like a tossed salad of joy, stress, and edgy emotions? Podcast hosts and blended marriage coaches Mike & Kim Anderson bring real talk, raw truth, and restoration therapy …
Notas do episódio
Holidays got your blended family feeling like a tossed salad of joy, stress, and edgy emotions? Podcast hosts and blended marriage coaches Mike & Kim Anderson bring real talk, raw truth, and restoration therapy magic. Learn how to swap pain cycles for peace, chaos for connection—and maybe, just maybe, survive a blended family Christmas with your sanity and your stepkids.
Show Notes and Resources
- Order a hardcover copy of The Mindful Marrriage. You can pre-order a paperback version any place books are sold.
- Learn about Mike and Kim
- Send in a year-end gift to FamilyLife Blended
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Capítulos (6)
179: From Shock to Strength: Unplanned Pregnancy in a Blended Family
What happens when God’s good plan lobs an unplanned pregnancy into a blended family? Jay and Tammy Daughtry chat about shock, grace, and choosing love over shame. From unfiltered Day One reactions to …
Notas do episódio
What happens when God’s good plan lobs an unplanned pregnancy into a blended family? Jay and Tammy Daughtry chat about shock, grace, and choosing love over shame. From unfiltered Day One reactions to faith-fueled healing, they offer a blueprint for both welcoming chaos and blessing it. This episode is a must-listen for anyone ready to turn unexpected blended-family moments into hope-filled family legacies.
Show Notes and Resources
- Ron and Nan's schedule
- Learn about The Daughtrys coparentinginternational.com
- Unplanned Grandparenting
- Give a year end gift and it will be doubled!
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
178: We Struggled to Blend. Now We Help Blended Families Thrive
Their first Christmas nearly broke them. Five kids, two parenting styles, zero prep. But Scott and Deana Thayer didn’t quit—they built a blended family from mismatched traditions, co-parenting chaos, and …
Notas do episódio
Their first Christmas nearly broke them. Five kids, two parenting styles, zero prep. But Scott and Deana Thayer didn’t quit—they built a blended family from mismatched traditions, co-parenting chaos, and grace-fueled grit. As a couple now helping blended families thrive, the Thayers share hard-won wisdom, church-sized challenges, and the “95/5” rule that saved their sanity. Blending isn’t easy—but it’s worth every messy, beautiful step.
Show Notes and Resources
- Gift a copy of Gayla's new devotional, Beautifully Blended
- Access the free Smart Stepfamily Series
- Look for a small group online
- Blended & Blessed is April 18, 2026
- Find a qualified counselor for your marriage and family
- Support FamilyLife Blended
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
177: Gary Chapman: Keys to a Successful Marriage
What if your marriage pivoted on three humble questions? Dr. Gary Chapman—yes, the Five Love Languages guy—gets real about early struggles, foot-washing humility, and how servant-hearted love transformed his …
Notas do episódio
What if your marriage pivoted on three humble questions? Dr. Gary Chapman—yes, the Five Love Languages guy—gets real about early struggles, foot-washing humility, and how servant-hearted love transformed his 64-year marriage. Blended families, take heart: Far from fluff, these are faith-fueled, grit-tested keys to a successful marriage--as well as messy love, lasting connection, and conflict that doesn’t destroy. Find real talk, deep grace, and hope you can hold onto.
Show Notes and Resources
- Order a copy of Gary and Ron's book, Building Love Together
- Access blended resources and sign up for our free newsletter
- Meet Ron and Nan in person at a speaking event! RonDeal.org
- Discover your love language, learn more about Dr. Chapman, or get a copy of his new book, A Simple Guide for A Better Marriage 5lovelanguages.com
- Make a tax deductible donation
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
176: How to Help Kids Cope with Divorce and Remarriage
Divorce…hurts. But for kids caught in the middle, it can feel like the world has split in two. How can you help kids cope with divorce and remarriage? Summer Butler, creator of Blended: Navigating Life Between …
Notas do episódio
Divorce…hurts. But for kids caught in the middle, it can feel like the world has split in two. How can you help kids cope with divorce and remarriage? Summer Butler, creator of Blended: Navigating Life Between Two Homes, cracks open a healing workbook for kids juggling two homes, big feelings, and confusing rules. Hear her raw story, then discover how drawing, writing, and boundary-setting can bring clarity, comfort—and even joy.
Show Notes and Resources
- Learn about Summer, and get her workbook, BLENDED, Navigating Life Between Two Homes www.blendedbookco.com
- Search for virtual groups
- Get the 2025 Summit All-access digital pass
- Order a copy of The Mindful Marriage
- Make donation to FamilyLife Blended
- The next Smart Stepfamily Therapy training
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
175: Blended Holidays Are Complicated. Here’s How They Made It Work
What do red sweaters, a ski trip “familymoon,” and a Christmas sleepover have to do with healing after loss? A lot, actually. Join pastor and author Rob Bugh, pediatrician Rhonda Williams Bugh, and their adult …
Notas do episódio
What do red sweaters, a ski trip “familymoon,” and a Christmas sleepover have to do with healing after loss? A lot, actually. Join pastor and author Rob Bugh, pediatrician Rhonda Williams Bugh, and their adult kids Kyle and Nate as they revisit the rocky, grace-filled early years of blending two grieving families—and navigating those first blended holidays. It's raw, real, and rich with hope and hard-won wisdom.
Show Notes and Resources
- Summit on Stepfamily Ministry details
- Find a virtual group for blended family couples
- Order a copy of When the Bottom Drops Out
- The next Smart Stepfamily Therapy training
- International Therapy provider list
- FamilyLife Resources and Events
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
174: More Than Just A Stepparent: Helping a Grieving Child Heal
When a child loses a parent, grief doesn't end for them. And when they join a stepfamily, we need to come alongside them with love and support as parents and stepparents as we honor their pain and memories. Ron …
Notas do episódio
When a child loses a parent, grief doesn't end for them. And when they join a stepfamily, we need to come alongside them with love and support as parents and stepparents as we honor their pain and memories. Ron Deal talks with Diane Fromme about what helps and what hinders, especially as stepparents with grieving stepchildren.
Fromme explains how a stepparent can never replace a biological parent and functions as an "and," not an "instead." Stepparents will likely face rejection, insecurity, and feelings of being an outsider; however, with humility and ongoing love and support, they can, over time, develop meaningful and significant relationships with stepchildren following loss.
Show Notes and Resources
- Learn about Diane and get a copy of, Stepparenting the Grieving Child
- You can still register for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry
- Find a small group on the searchable map and browse Ron's speaking schedule
- Send a gift to help with FamilyLife Blended's work
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
173: When Your Brains Are Different: Finding Your Way in a Neurodivergent Marriage
A neurodivergent marriage is when at least one partner has a neurodevelopmental condition like autism or ADHD. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Stephanie Holmes and her husband, Dan, who struggled to …
Notas do episódio
A neurodivergent marriage is when at least one partner has a neurodevelopmental condition like autism or ADHD. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Stephanie Holmes and her husband, Dan, who struggled to face that their young child was on the autism spectrum. Many years later, Dan discovered his own autism diagnosis.
Neurodiverse couples face unique challenges with communication, emotional expression, and sensory sensitivities that can include physical touch and intimacy, along with a lack of understanding between both partners. Stephanie & Dan offer support and guidance on how to recognize neurodiversity and strategies to cope with it.Show Notes and Resources
- Register for the Summit on Stepfamily Ministry
- Learn more about Dr. Stephanie and Dan Holmes and their book Uniquely Us
- Read Ron and Dr. Stephanie Holmes article: Autism and the blended family
- Learn more about Embracing The Autism Spectrum
- Listen to podcast 46: Autism and the Blended Family
- Give a tax-deductible gift
See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy
Aqui estão os 40 episódios mais recentes de 201. Os mais antigos estão no feed do podcast.
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