Podcasts by FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

82: It’s All Fun and Games from 2022-05-23T00:00:48

Krista Smith-Larson is a blended family mom who produces games that help draw out matters of loss and stepfamily transition in order to bring about hope and healing. Listen to her dialogue with ...

81: Bonus Moms: Refined for Good from 2022-05-09T05:00

God loves the work of refining our character, particularly as we engage in family relationships. We become more and more like Christ as we learn how to love, forgive, show kindness, and be famil...

80: From Toxic Competitors to Business Partners from 2022-04-25T09:24:09

Relationships between biological moms and stepmoms can be malicious, competitive, and wounding. But they don't have to be! Listen to Ron Deal's discussion with two women who found healing for th...

79: Advice to Children: What Experts Might Say to Your Kids from 2022-04-11T08:15:14

Would you like your kids to hear helpful advice from several experts about their blended family struggles? This podcast is for you! Listen for yourself first, then with your child—young or old—t...

78: From Our Perspective from 2022-03-28T02:08:07

Kids in stepfamilies often lose control over many aspects of their lives after their parents remarry. In this episode, Ron Deal talks with two stepsiblings about their own experiences, their har...

77: Grace-filled Parenting in Blended Families from 2022-03-14T02:05:02

Blended and Blessed is a marriage event specifically designed for couples in a blended family. This podcast episode features a dynamic speaker from Blended and Blessed 2021, author and stepmom L...

76: Moving from Roommates to Soulmates in Marriage from 2022-02-28T01:05:33

Life has a way of moving us into roommates in marriage when we want to be soulmates. Ron Deal talks with Dr. Greg Smalley about how to stay deeply connected with one another, even during seasons...

75. Dancing in the Bedroom from 2022-02-14T01:04:43

The subject of sexuality and sexual desire in marriage brings up lots of questions. In this episode, Ron Deal interviews Dr. Michael Sytsma, a pastor and sex therapist, who talks about how to pu...

74: You ask, We answer from 2022-01-31T01:08:40

Do you have stepfamily questions? We have answers! Listen to Ron Deal's discussion with Gayla Grace on important topics like finding your place as a stepparent, being a childless stepmom, reason...

73. Waiting to Be Wanted in Your Blended Family from 2022-01-17T01:08:02

Are you good at waiting? What about waiting to be wanted by someone you care about in your blended family? That's a hard reality for many in the early years of stepfamily life. In this episode, ...

72: Ridding Your Soul of Shame from 2022-01-03T01:05:05

Shame is a common theme in blended families, perhaps stemming from a previous divorce, failed relationship building in your current stepfamily, or the negative stigma associated with a non-tradi...

71: Have Serious Fun, And Make Each Day Count from 2021-12-20T01:05:13

The benefit of "fun" is often overlooked when we consider how to build healthy stepfamily relationships. But Ron Deal's podcast guest, Dr. Jim Burns, says it's an important piece that can help c...

70: Having an Ours Baby from 2021-12-06T01:02:51

Many stepcouples want to have a baby together. Is it a good idea? Are there negative implications? In this episode, Ron Deal talks with Heidi Farrell about how an "ours" baby impacts the family ...

69: Good Co-Parenting: Conflict and Cooperation with Your Ex from 2021-11-22T00:01:22

Children need healthy relationships with both parents after divorce, which requires good co-parenting. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Dr. Mary Jeppsen on how co-parent anger dramatically...

68: Preparing to Blend: Getting ready for life after the wedding from 2021-11-08T04:06:19

Preparing to blend a family can be a daunting endeavor. But you can—and should—get smart about stepfamily living ahead of time to create a strong family. Listen to Ron Deal talk with two stepcou...

67: Blended with Grit: Widowhood and Forming a New Family from 2021-10-25T01:00:50

Remarriage after widowhood creates unique struggles. Listen to Ryan and Jess Ronne, parents and stepparents to 8, share with Ron Deal about how insecurities can create conflict in a new marriage...

66: A Healthy Sex Life: What Couples Should Know from 2021-10-11T01:01:31

What does a healthy sex life really look like? How do you find healing if you've experienced sexual brokenness? Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Dr. Juli Slattery on what makes a good love...

65: Turn Your Season and Your Life Around from 2021-09-27T01:04:11

Pro baseball player Darryl Strawberry has experienced fame, fortune, and notoriety. But he's also walked through addiction, divorce, and anguish. Today, he's far more interested in talking about...

64: Seasons and Rhythms: Strengthening Your Family Throughout the Year from 2021-09-13T03:00:16

Special days give families an opportunity to honor each other, celebrate one another, and strengthen their identity as a stepfamily. Ron Deal and his guests present ideas on how to creatively ta...

63: Growing up in a Blender: Shelby Abbott from 2021-08-30T01:01:03

Sometimes in stepfamilies, we take things out on each other that really are about someone or something from the past. We have something to say to a parent from the past, but instead fight that b...

62: Pressure to Perform: When it Feels Like the World is Watching from 2021-08-16T01:02:26

The end of your marriage doesn't mean the end of God's favor. But when you're in ministry, it can feel that way. Drs. Bobby and Janice Love speak with Ron Deal about how to manage the spotlight ...

61: Love Mercy: Divorce&Remarriage in the Bible from 2021-08-02T01:03:30

What does the Bible teach about divorce and remarriage? How do we consider Truth and Grace when we apply it to God's people? Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Dr. Rubel Shelly on a subject...

60: Grace-filled Stepparenting from 2021-07-19T01:01:32

Stepparenting is a marathon, not a sprint. And getting to the finish line with strong relationships requires a lot of grace, personal strength, and wisdom as you accommodate people's grief and f...

59: Conversations to Improve Your Family from 2021-07-05T01:02:39

Little things can create big changes in blended family homes. In this episode, Jed and Jenny Jurchenko share with Ron Deal how they created positive change in their home by taking small, positiv...

58: Investing for Life After Kids from 2021-06-21T01:00:41

We could spend 1/3 of our lives without a paycheck since it's expected we can live into our mid-80's and beyond. How do we know if we're preparing adequately for retirement? Ron Deal talks with...

57: The Smart Stepdad from 2021-06-07T01:03:46

How do you know if you're ready to be a stepdad? Ron Deal gives insight into the stepdad role as he talks with Bob Lepine and Dennis Rainey about this important position that can be daunting, bu...

56: Adult Stepfamilies from 2021-05-24T01:00:30

Blended families that form when children are in their late teens or adult years are adult stepfamilies. We often mistakenly think these families have few adjustments to make. Listen to Ron Deal'...

55: The Smart Stepmom from 2021-05-10T01:03:37

What does it mean to be a smart stepmom? Laura Petherbridge answers that question as she speaks with Dennis Rainey, Bob Lepine, and Ron Deal on how to navigate a role that can be confusing, lone...

54: The Power of God at Work in Stepfamilies from 2021-04-26T01:03:02

Marriage, while typically a two-person dance, gets complicated when couples try to manage a stepfamily maze with multiple lives around them. Ron Deal talks with Dave and Ann Wilson about how to ...

53: Managing Yourself in the Midst of the Unknown from 2021-04-12T01:03:17

If self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, how do we allow the Spirit to cultivate that fruit in our lives? Pastor Rob Bugh answers that question and speaks with Ron Deal on the value of self-con...

52: Blended and Blessed Backstage from 2021-03-29T01:03:01

Blended and Blessed® is a one-of-a-kind annual event for stepfamily couples, single parents, dating couples with kids, and those who care about blended families, with valuable teaching by truste...

51: Growing Up in a Blender: Play the Long Game from 2021-03-15T01:01:27

When blended family variables create tough dynamics to parent through, we might consider giving up on those relationships. But Jim Ramos, raised in a blended family, speaks with Ron Deal about h...

50: Parenting Troubled Children in Stepfamilies from 2021-03-01T00:00:10

How do you help a child or stepchild who feels lost, or angry, or who really fights against the family? And what if their anger or hurt is justified—and you deserve it, but everyone else doesn't...

49: Blended Kingdom Families podcast from 2021-02-12T00:00:12

People of faith want their family to be a Kingdom family—centered in God's Word and rooted in truth and grace. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Scott and Vanessa Martindale, founders of Bl...

48: Sending&Receiving Kids Between Homes from 2021-02-01T00:00:30

Stepfamily life often includes kids with two homes. Moving between those homes is not just physical for kids, but emotional, psychological, and relational. Ron Deal's panel discussion on this ep...

47: Lessons From the School of Hard-Knocks from 2021-01-18T00:00:41

The journey into a blended family is full of bumps and bruises—for someone anyway. Unpacking those for yourself, your kids, your new spouse is part of readying yourself and your family for stepf...

46: Autism and the Blended Family from 2021-01-04T00:00:30

Did you know that 1 in 6 children have some form of learning disability and some form of developmental disability, according to the CDC? Dr. Stephanie Holmes is a professional counselor and mom ...

45: Adult Stepfamilies: Joys and Challenges with the Holidays from 2020-12-21T00:00:15

Blended family Christmases with adult children don't always go so well, especially in the early years. Adult children bring their own needs, wants, opinions, and agendas to the family and when t...

44: Overcoming Emotional Abandonment in Marriage from 2020-12-07T00:00:26

Do differences in your marriage ever make you feel disconnected? Blended family couples have so many things related to step-ness that they need to manage, the last thing you need is to be irrita...

43: Growing Up in a Blender: Who’s my Daddy? from 2020-11-23T00:00:23

Imagine you have a relationship with your father for many years, then find out there are family secrets that will dramatically change your relationship and life. Stepfamily instability can bring...

42: Military Stepfamilies: Mission Ready from 2020-11-09T00:00:19

Did you know the military has a high-rate of couples in stepfamilies? Did you know that military personnel marry, divorce, and remarry at a younger age and more frequently than civilians do? Tod...

41: Raising Kids in a Toxic Culture from 2020-10-26T01:00:38

We can't help but live in a social culture. For blended families, that culture often includes multiple homes, ambiguous roles of parents and stepparents, and lots of moving parts. Listen in whil...

40: Battle of the Moms from 2020-10-12T01:00:44

Our world expects moms and stepmoms to be against each other. The social media club of "let's bash the mom or stepmom and commiserate together" is alive and well. But when a mom and stepmom don'...

39: Grandparenting and the Blended Family from 2020-09-28T01:01:12

For most of us, grandparents are fabulous! They are the adults who love us, but don't have to discipline us, and because they don't have to take us home, relish the chance to spoil us. Stepgrand...

38: Daily Practices for Happy Stepcouples from 2020-09-14T10:46:59

Whatever we invest ourselves on a regular basis-our habits-not only become commonplace, but actually shape our decisions and our relationships. What are the habits-the daily practices-of your ma...

37: Co-Parents, Teachers, and Your Child’s Education from 2020-08-31T01:00:26

Parents, stepparents and school representatives (teachers, counselors, and administrators) all play a role in helping school-home relationships thrive. But not everyone knows how to play that ro...

36: Crisis Counselor Tips for Managing Crisis from 2020-08-17T01:00:45

Stepfamily life often includes a variety of crises, some big, many small. How do you effectively manage those crises and come out on the other side with connected relationships and renewed commi...

35: Second Wife, Second Life from 2020-08-03T01:00:39

As a second wife or husband, have you ever felt second best? Or treated as second class by others? How can you be first in your spouse's heart when you're not the ONLY? In this episode, Ron Deal...

34: Finding Support for Your Family from 2020-07-20T01:01:02

Are you looking for support for the unique dynamics and challenges that stepfamily life brings? Have you wondered where you can go to get help? Then this episode is for you! Ron Deal talks with ...

33: Bonus Parenting from 2020-07-06T01:01:15

If you had your pick, what term would you use for the stepparent in your family? Some people are perfectly fine with “stepparent”, but others prefer “bonus parent” or “Smom” if you’re a stepmom....

32: The Essentials of Co-parenting from 2020-05-11T01:00:34

If you've ever had frustrations dealing with between-parenting issues, today's conversation will provide you practical help. We're going to wrestle with the every day hiccups of co-parenting and...

31: Mother’s&Father’s Day in Blended Families from 2020-05-06T14:28:46

For stepparents, biological parents, and children, Mother's Day and Father's Day seem to have tons of swirling emotions. How do you manage this so the day doesn't work against you? Our panel of ...

30: Re-Sex: The Challenges of Sex for Blended Family Couples from 2020-04-27T01:00:42

Should you ask your spouse about their previous sex life? What if you find yourself thinking about sex with your former spouse-is that a problem? And, what if your spouse is thinking about sex w...

29: When A Parent Goes M.I.A. from 2020-04-20T01:00:47

If a parent dies, it is devastating to a child and the other parent has to carry the load of parenting. But what if one parent is there, but absent. Many people think life would be easier if the...

28: Growing Up in a Blender from 2020-04-13T01:01:03

Many times the voice of the child in a blended family is drowned by the conflict and loss associated with how the couple entered the stepfamily journey. In this episode, Ron Deal invites childre...

27: Beyond Broken from 2020-04-06T01:00:40

We sometimes hear the term "broken" when people describe families that have gone through a divorce. However, Ron Deal suggests that we not refer to stepfamilies, as broken families because all o...

26: Two Homes, Two Sets of Values: From a Child’s Point of View from 2020-03-30T01:00:17

What if you were hearing conflicting messages about moral values-from two people you loved and respected-and very much wanted to please? That is what a child who lives in two different homes and...

25: Building Love Together in Blended Families from 2020-03-23T01:00:27

Dr. Gary Chapman has spread the message of love languages to millions of people. In this episode, Dr. Chapman and Ron Deal discuss their new book, Building Love Together in Blended Families, and...

24: Blending Despite Betrayal from 2020-03-16T01:00:28

As a first-marriage, blended family, Darryl and Gwen Smith had good intentions when they wed over thirty years ago. However, their immaturity and emotional baggage led to a divorce. Utlimately, ...

22: The Clutter-Free Home, the Clutter-Free Family from 2020-03-01T23:00:10

Many stepcouples know that they will be merging families, but most don't realize that they are merging their belongings, as well. Maybe you combined two families and didn't have room for everyth...

21: Stepfamilies and The Holidays from 2019-11-11T09:50:46

It's that time of year again when you not only need to plan for the holidays but need to prepare for the co-parenting issues that inevitably arise. Ron Deal and guests share their wisdom and blu...

20: About to Blend from 2019-11-03T23:00:09

Whether you are dating, engaged or single hoping to marry one day, there are preparations to make if you or your significant other have children. How do you get ready to blend? Drs. Jeff and Jud...

19: Financing Togetherness in Blended Families from 2019-10-28T00:00:10

The topic of money matters can be a pain point in any marriage and family. However, blended families can produce monetary minefields! Debt, child support payments, and inheritance conundrums inf...

18: The Blessing and Your Blended Family from 2019-10-21T00:00:11

For each of us, regardless of our age, the acceptance of our parents and significant others in our life is incredibly important. Many people spend a lifetime searching for something the Bible ca...

17: Grief and the Blended Family from 2019-10-14T00:00:10

If death or divorce is part of your stepfamily journey, then you know the pain and obstacles that can come when blending a family. In this episode, Ron Deal talks with Brian and Diane Fromme. Th...

16: The Childless Stepmom from 2019-10-07T00:00:10

Whether by choice or chance, the stepmom who hasn't birthed children of her own can find loneliness in her role with her stepchildren and her relationship with her husband. Ron Deal talks with L...

15: Navigating Your Custody Battle from 2019-09-30T00:00:10

One of the unfortunate and sometimes ugly results of a divorce is a custody battle. How do you sift through the murky waters of lawyers, legalities and loss while parenting your children? Throw ...

14: In Their Shoes from 2019-09-23T10:43:24

Have you ever wondered what's really going on inside a child of divorce? Or what their experience of your blended family is? Lauren Reitsema, is a wife and mother, and grew up a child of divorce...

13: Calming Angry Kids from 2019-09-16T01:00:10

Does your childhood, or previous relationships, ever creep into your current ones? If you've ever noticed that certain themes tend to repeat in our relationships you are not alone. And you'll wa...

12: Overcoming Betrayal from 2019-06-10T01:00:14

Betrayal in marriage can be devastating. Kyle and Sheri Keffer have both experienced betrayal in previous marriages and have seen how the effects can carry over into a new marriage. They join Ro...

11: Undone: Making Peace With the Life You Have from 2019-06-03T01:00:15

Michele Cushatt has experienced divorce, blended family life, adoption, and is a three time cancer survivor. In this episode Michele and Ron discuss the unexpected journey of her life and the ha...

10: A Battle for Your Child and a Fight For Your Marriage from 2019-05-27T06:00

What would you do if the night before your wedding one of your children comes to you and says, "Please don't get married tomorrow?" On this episode, Mike and Kim Anderson discuss how they handle...

9: Stepparenting With Grace from 2019-05-20T06:00

How do you give grace to a teenager? To a stepteenager, at that? And, how do you give each other grace as parents, when it comes to how they react to your teenager? Ron discusses these questions...

8: Parenting After Divorce from 2019-05-13T06:00

All parenting is difficult, but when you add in divorce, the challenge multiplies. Staying connected is harder than ever, and fragile and shifting co-parenting structures and relationships put p...

7: Eternity Is Now in Session from 2019-05-06T06:00

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be." What about now? Pastor and theologian John Ortberg provides a fresh perspective on the nature of eternity and our own connection...

6: Challenging Co-Parent Situations and Parent Alienation from 2019-04-29T06:00

Stepcouples hope and pray they can have peaceful relations with their former spouses, and it is possible. But for some couples, no matter how much they try, the venom and vitriol of the former s...

5: Daily Bread for the Starving Stepmom from 2019-04-22T06:00

Stepmoms bear a unique burden, and they often neglect their own care. Melanie Anthony offers hope for balance in the midst of the burden.
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4: Caught Between Your Spouse and Your Family from 2019-04-15T06:00

She may have been in love with Lamar, but as a strong self-confident woman, Ronnie wasn't that interested in Lamar's help raising her two children from a previous relationship. Exploring the com...

3: The Good News About Marriage from 2019-04-08T06:00

Fifty percent of marriages end in divorce, right? WRONG. In this encouraging exploration of the real state of marriage, researcher and author Shaunti Feldhahn teams up with Ron Deal for a deep l...

2: Life in a Blender: Dave and Ann Wilson from 2019-04-02T06:00

Understanding the long-term effects of divorce and remarriage on kids is difficult. A good way to start is to ask an adult who experienced life in a blended family. Ron talks with "FamilyLife To...

1: Blended Families, Identity, and Different Last Names from 2019-04-01T06:00

When Dave was growing up his father told him over and over, "You're a Bondeson and a Christian." That helped shape his identity. But as a father himself, Dave finds it challenging to translate t...