221. It’s Never Too Late: Rebuilding Trust and Connection After Years of Pain [with Chad and Jdele Brignac]
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Blended family couples often carry unprocessed pain and can slip into patterns of “autopilot", which fuels disconnection and discouragement.
Chad and Jdele Brignac know this firsthand. After merging their families, they hoped for “Brady Bunch” magic. Instead, they spent 17 years in deep grief and survival mode as unexamined patterns collided.
In this episode, we draw out their hard-won wisdom, which they share in their book Blend Don’t Break. After two decades of marriage, a turning point came when Chad realized and owned past mistakes, moved away from reactivity, and created space for their now-adult kids to be heard and known.
Their story shows that it’s never too late. With humility, curiosity, and lived values, any couple can restart healing, rebuild safety, and reshape their family legacy. No matter where they are in their blended journey.
Chad and Jdele are speakers and authors. Chad equips men to lead with self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and compassion. Jdele guides families toward healing and lasting connection. Together, they help blended families thrive, not just survive.
You’ll Discover
Why grief and survival mode can mask deeper issues, and how owning your part can reopen connection even years later.
What “learned behaviors” look like in real life and how to move from overreacting to responding.
How to replace vague ideals with actionable family values that everyone understands and can live out.
The value of flexibility and trust, and how to increase family connection.
The “unpack before you pack” idea and how to practically focus on what to hold onto, clean up, or leave behind from your past.
Resources from this Episode
Blend Don't Break by Chad and Jdele Brignac
CLICK HERE to connect with Chad
CLICK HERE to connect with Jdele
Ready for personalized support? Schedule your free coaching call
We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession
Feeling overwhelmed and not sure where to start?
With so many episodes available here on the show, it might feel a bit overwhelming to find the topics that matter most to you. That's why we've created the Blended Family Breakthrough Quiz which will direct you to the most impactful episodes that pertain to you personally.
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