FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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