
The Intentional Family
The Intentional Family is a podcast about purposefully building a great home life, one day at a time.
Latest episodes

Nov 2, 2020 • 47min
Episode 16: Top 10 Intentionality Tips for Parents
Explore top parenting strategies that nurture intentionality in the family. Discover the benefits of a centralized 'Command Central' for better planning and communication. Uncover the importance of preparing the night before to enhance daily productivity. Learn about building lasting habits by modeling family values and promoting emotional resilience. Delve into the teamwork aspect within family dynamics and celebrate each member's contributions. Finally, find out how to instill healthy habits and maintain a strong marital relationship amidst parenting challenges.

Oct 19, 2020 • 35min
Episode 15: The Power of Your Words
Discover how the words we speak can shape our reality and emotions. The discussion highlights the transformative power of positive speech and self-reflection. Learn about mindful content consumption for nurturing a positive mindset. Hear how language impacts identity and behavior, especially in children, and explore the importance of positive affirmations in fostering healthy relationships. Personal stories illustrate the connection between our mindset and well-being, encouraging life-giving communication.

Oct 5, 2020 • 45min
Episode 14: What to Do When Things Aren’t Working
Rachel and Mike share their journey of overcoming a rocky start to the school year. They discuss the vital role of feedback and small adjustments in creating harmony at home. The hosts delve into the pressures of homeschooling and how to view setbacks as growth opportunities. They also tackle the influence of social media on perceptions of success, advocating for a mindful approach to self-evaluation. Lastly, they highlight the pursuit of inner peace as a crucial counter to chaos, emphasizing adaptability and communication in family dynamics.

Sep 21, 2020 • 44min
Episode 13: Deliberate Practice
They discuss the importance of deliberate practice, getting outside your comfort zone, understanding other perspectives, and why they choose as a family to do hard things. They explore the concept of deliberate practice and its relationship to doing hard things. They emphasize the importance of exposing children to contradictory material and discuss the challenges of teaching children about racial differences in society. They explore the importance of trying new things and overcoming fear, sharing personal anecdotes about learning to improvise on the violin. They highlight the benefits of clear communication and encourage listeners to identify their own deliberate practice for personal growth.

Sep 7, 2020 • 49min
Episode 12: Growth Mindset
Rachel & Mike discuss the concept of a growth mindset, its importance in raising children, and practical ways to develop it. They share personal experiences with their son finding passion in jujitsu and their oldest son exploring artistic abilities. They also talk about the difference between goals and habits and highlight the importance of enjoying the process. They share their experience joining Classical Conversations and becoming a tutor, emphasizing the value of trying new things. The chapter also discusses deliberate practice, recognizing growth in others, and fostering a growth mindset within a family.

Aug 24, 2020 • 40min
Episode 11: Habit Forming Family Systems
Rachel and Mike share details on two of their most important family systems: Pie Charts & Star Rewards. They share how these systems help automate desired behaviors, why it's critical that you model the behavior you want to see, and the importance of winning or losing as team.Intentional Family T-Shirts (& Sweatshirts)Adventures in OdysseyDisc Golf BasketIntentional Family #4: Family Core ValuesIntentional Family #5: Family Core Values, Part 2

Aug 10, 2020 • 44min
Episode 10: The Art of Conversation
Rachel & Mike look at why conversation is so important, why technology can actually work against us when trying to communicate effectively, and share strategies for cultivating meaningful conversation with the important people in your life.Intentional Family #9: Screen TimeMike’s Sermon SketchnotesReclaiming Conversation by Sherry TurkleBookworm #97: Reclaiming ConversationClassical ConversationsThe Art of Gathering by Priya Parker

Jul 27, 2020 • 36min
Episode 9: Screen Time
The hosts discuss managing screen time and teaching responsible use to their kids. They emphasize monitoring video game screen time and understanding the influence of technology. Being engaged parents and prioritizing conversation is key. Setting boundaries, being an example, and being mindful of screen time are important. The negative effects of excessive screen time on relationships and productivity are discussed.

Jul 13, 2020 • 43min
Episode 8: Personal Retreats
Exploring the benefits of personal retreats for individual growth and problem-solving. The concept of the 12-week year and intentional imbalance. Challenges of staying active and social during the pandemic. Reflection and continuous improvement. Importance of self-reflection and taking personal retreats.

Jun 29, 2020 • 39min
Episode 7: What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
Rachel & Mike discuss childhood aspirations, growth mindset, cultivating positive atmosphere as parents, understanding salesmanship and leadership, and the importance of personal growth and character development