Welcome to the
Blended Family Breakthrough
Podcast
Get your custom podcast list:
To quickly find the topics that matter most, take our Blended Family Breakthrough Quiz.
Answer a few questions, and we’ll curate a playlist of episodes specific to your needs.
Browse our episodes:
Search for something specific here:
Or Click a Link to Browse by Category:
Bonding | Kid’s Perspectives | Marriage/Partnership | Parenting/Discipline | Co-Parenting
096. Celebrate Father’s Day by Honoring the Dad and/or Stepdad in Your Home
Do you know what your hubby might need most this Father's Day? Check out this episode to find out…
094. 70 Summer Activities to Create Family Time and Encourage Bonding
Discover the best strategy for building family bonds this summer — plus 70 ideas that will help!
093. How to Overcome Power Struggles When Kids Oppose Your Decision to Remarry
Discover the "do's and don'ts" of shifting the power when kids have too much control in the home.
092. At a loss and feeling defeated because the kids stubbornly refuse to blend?
Discover practical ways to navigate the challenges and tensions that pop up when kids reject or resist your decision to remarry.
090. How to Experience a Happy Mother’s Day by Minimizing Tension and Disappointment
Find out how to minimize the disappointment, frustration and stress that could come along with Mother's Day in a blended family - so that you can experience something different this year.
089. Feeling Stuck in the Change Process? Change Isn’t the Issue — Transition Is
Change isn't hard — it's transition that's challenging. Discover how to navigate "the neutral zone" in this week's episode.
088. An Effective Strategy to Prepare Your Kids for the Challenges of Blending
Discover a simple strategy that will help you create a smoother transition for kids in the blending process and build stronger bonds in step-relationships.
086. 2 Effective Strategies to Strengthen Family Bonds and Reduce Painful Tension
Discover 2 practical, effective approaches to loving well in your unique blended family dynamic…
085. How to Uniquely Build More Love and Connection in Your Blended Family [with Ron Deal]
Discover insights from expert Ron Deal on how you can use the 5 Love Languages uniquely in your blended family…
072. The Best Way to Create Healthy, Bonded Relationships
It seems like creating healthy bonds in a blended family should be easy — but for most of us, it's not as simple as we anticipated. Discover the best strategy for building healthy bonds and avoid the most common missteps when it comes to "blending".
069. How to “Blend” Your Holiday Traditions in a Practical Way
Discover a practical framework that'll help you avoid holiday tension, pressure and disappointment. Instead, you'll create new traditions for your blended family that are honoring and meaningful to everyone!
047. How to Like Your Stepchild Even When You’re Feeling Frustrated and Annoyed
It's uncomfortable for any stepparent to admit they don't like their own step-child. But faking, avoiding or trying to grit your way through doesn't help. Check out this episode to discover how Mike overcame his frustrations with his stepdaughter — and gained more connection with her.
039. How to Create Strong Bonds with Resistant Stepkids
Find out 5 specific strategies that will help you build strong bonds and experience more connection with your step-kids — even when they seem resistant.
037. Why do kids struggle to accept their stepparent?
Sometimes it feels like no matter how much you try to connect with your step-child, they keep putting up impenetrable walls between you.
But, when you can understand why kids put up walls in the first place, you'll be ready to approach them from a new place of empathy - which will create new opportunities for real change in your relationship.
In this episode, we'll explore five common reasons why kids struggle to accept a stepparent and we'll discover - from a kid's viewpoint - why resisting often seems like the safest way to cope.
036. How to Change Your “Stories” and Grow Connection [with Mark Warren]
"Your emotions follow your stories." If you want to experience more connection and just have more fun in your family, then you've got to "write a new story".
Check out this week's episode to discover how you can re-write your stories so you can feel better — even when you're dealing with stress and conflict.
035. Are you controlling conflict or is it controlling you?
Don't let conflict steal your connection. Find out how you can actually handle conflict in a way that leads you to more connection and intimacy in your marriage — and in your blended family!
034. How to Avoid Mother’s Day Disappointment
Special occasions are sometimes tough for blended families — Mother's Day is no exception. Disappointment, frustration and resentment are all things I've experienced on Mother's Day and chances are you have too. But it doesn't have to be that way. Find out how to experience something different this year in this episode (and don't miss the tips for husbands too!).
030. Should Stepparents WANT Authority With Their Stepkids?
Authority can be difficult to figure out in blended families. There's a lot of conflicting advice out there and in this episode we're just having an honest conversation about it. Check it out.
027. How to Set Clear Boundaries and Safeguard Relationships
Clear and healthy boundaries allow for stronger bonds and more satisfying relationships. Check out this episode to find out the best way to set these boundaries in your blended family.
023. How to Move From Feeling Stranded to Being Connected (Part 3 of 3)
I (Mike) often felt stuck on the outside as a step-parent. Kim and Annika had their little inside routines and jokes that I couldn’t seem to connect with. What I really wanted was to instantly feel included…but blended family life just doesn’t work that way. When I was feeling like a Stranded Stranger, what I was really wanting was for our family to “blend”. But one stepfamily expert says that “compartmentalizing” is a better approach…