FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

Parenting a prodigal creates pain and helplessness as we seek to navigate difficult relationships. Listen to Ron Deal’s conversation with Judy Douglass, a prodigal parent, on how to tenderly manage these tenuous relationships while staying calm, present, and patient in rebuilding a relationship on their terms. Douglass and Deal discuss the Prodigal Son story in Luke and the parallels with our prodigals in opening our arms to them when appropriate but not chasing or threatening in any way with our behavior. We move toward the goal of gaining influence as we patiently work to bring back love and trust in our relationships. Show Notes and Resources Make plans to join us at Blended & Blessed!  Judy's podcast with Ron  Judy's podcast: When You Love a Prodigal  Order your copy of When You Love a Prodigal  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Cheryl Shumake wants to reach brown & black blended families with brown & black voices. She & Clifton Howard talk with Ron Deal about her new ministry, Sawubona, which means “I see you” & its goal to break through the barriers with culture-informed spaces Show Notes and Resources Watch Blended & Blessed from anywhere in the world!  Join us on the 2026 Love Like You Mean It Cruise  Learn more about Cheryl  Sawubona Ministries  Send a tax deductible gift  Ron's upcoming events  Blended Small Group Ministry Map  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

What does the apostle Paul mean in Philippians 2:4 when he says, “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others?” How do we apply that to marriage, and to relationships in a blended family?In this podcast episode, Ron Deal talks with Brian Goins, author of Playing Hurt, A Guy’s Strategy for a Winning Marriage, about taking care of our own needs and always being mindful of the needs of our spouse. Goins explains that marriage is about finding the motivation and resolve to stay in the game despite the pain and calls husbands to be the heroes they long to be--men who play hurt in order to win at marriage. Show Notes and Resources   Get Ron's new book: The Mindful Marriage  Get Brian's book: Playing Hurt Check out Brain, Heart, World Order The Art of Marriage Send a tax deductible gift of support Register for Blended & Blessed  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Do you think your marriage could improve if your spouse were different? Is it easier to look at their faults instead of considering your own? In this podcast episode, Ron Deal talks with co-authors of his new book, The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself. Terry and Sharon Hargraves and Nan Deal share how the book can help couples understand their part of marital distress, why they react the way they do, how to be more empowered constructively, and how to cultivate more loving and harmonious relationships as they understand themselves better and learn to relate to their partner as a companion. Show Notes and Resources  Small Group Searchable Map  Email us for your chance to win a signed copy of The Mindful Marriage. blended@familylife.com Get your copy of The Mindful Marriage  The Mindful Marriage Conference  Register for Blended & Blessed  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Luke Landwer was young when his parents divorced, and he enjoyed time with just his mom for many years. When she remarried to a man with six kids, the adjustments for Luke were many. At just 11 years old, his conversation with Ron Deal is insightful as he articulates how adjusting to new rules, a new house, new people, was a challenge. He yearns for more time with his dad, but distance prevents it at times. He recognizes the blessings of a large family, however, with step-grandparents who love him and siblings around who prevent the loneliness he experienced in days past. Show Notes and Resources Learn more about Ron & Nan Deal's new book: The Mindful Marriage  Watch Luke's Blended Family story on YouTube.  Give a year end tax deductible gift!  Join us in April for a marriage event just for couples in blended families.  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Living in a blended family as a young adult can bring challenges and blessings. For Amelia Dellaripa, it brings many more blessings. In this podcast episode, Ron Deal talks with Amelia about her blended family of seven and how they developed love and acceptance for one another over time.Amelia talks about how there was seldom any divisiveness or difficult interactions with her stepmom or stepbrother from the beginning. They were always welcoming toward her, and it seemed that everyone was on the same team and wanted to do their part in building relationships. Although she was young when her dad remarried and understanding new family dynamics was hard, she’s now thankful for her big, blended family. Show Notes and Resources Pre-order Ron & Nan Deal's new book: The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself  Get organized with the Family Core App!  This Christmas, your gift will be doubled!  Upcoming events and resources  Join us in April for a marriage event just for couples in blended families.  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

What’s it like to be a teenager in a blended family? How do you manage the confusing emotions of your childhood and teenage years while also adjusting to new family dynamics? Davis and Campbell Faulkner lost their dad in a traffic accident when they were very young. Their mom remarried and they’ve navigated feelings of loss, fear, anxiety, grief, abandonment, and more as they’ve adjusted to a new stepdad and life in a blended family. Listen to their insightful conversation with Ron Deal and learn how they’ve coped and found gratitude for their current journey in the midst of loss. Show Notes and Resources Pre-order Ron & Nan Deal's new book: The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself  Double your year end gift to FamilyLife Blended.  List of counselors and coaches  Upcoming events and resources  Please send your comments! blended@familylife.com Join us in April for a marriage event just for couples in blended families.  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Gratitude doesn’t always happen naturally in blended families, but it is worth pursuing and can move us toward unity in relationships. As we take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), consider our perspective about the circumstances we find ourselves in, and allow ourselves to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2), we posture ourselves toward an obedient heart that discovers blessings, even in hard seasons. In this podcast episode, Ron Deal and Gayla Grace talk about intentional ways to create a heart full of gratitude that pursues love with others and more easily moves our relationships toward connectedness. Show Notes and Resources Watch podcast episodes on YouTube  Sign up for the Strengthening Stepfamilies Newslettter  Find Smart Stepfamily Therapists and Coaches  Consider supporting ministry to blended families with a tax deductible gift.  Join us in April for a marriage event just for couples in blended families. See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Foster care and adoption present difficult dynamics with issues similar to blended families. How do you help a child cope with ambiguous loss or connect as a parent when children act out from prior wounds? The loss that results from separation from a first family carries deep wounds that manifest themselves in misbehavior. Many children can’t verbalize their hurts, and families don’t have access to all the pieces of the puzzle. Love isn’t enough to fix the brokenness in a child, particularly when trauma is part of the story. Listen to Ron Deal's conversation with Jenni Lord for answers to these complex issues. Show Notes and Resources Pre- order Ron's new book: The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself  Learn more about Jenni and Chosen  Ron's speaking schedule  Get our monthly newsletter  Learn more about blended family resources  Get The Summit on Stepfamily Ministry, All-Access Digital Pass  See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

Laura Husband, daughter of Columbia astronaut Rick Husband, was 12 years old when she endured her dad’s very public death. Laura shares with Ron Deal the layers of grief that followed with the lingering effects and expectations after an astronaut dies. When her mom began dating three years later, she felt abandoned and without a voice to the changes in her life. Her mom later remarried and Laura began an adjustment to blended family life with her new stepdad, Bill. Laura shares the loving relationship she and Bill eventually formed and how Bill chose a path, separate from her dad, that drew her in. Show Notes and Resources Get the Summit All-Access Pass  Pre- order Ron's new book: The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself  The list of Smart Stepfamily therapists and coaches.  Consider supporting resources for blended families with a tax deductible gift.    See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy