Blended Family Podcast
277 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 156 ratingsThe Blended Family Podcast is a weekly show with a strong focus on strategies and methods to help your family thrive. Blended Families face many difficulties and challenges which can sometimes drive families apart. The goal of this podcast is is to help your family grow together through these challenges and create the peaceful and loving home you desire. Your host, Melissa, understands these struggles because she has a blended family of her own. When you listen to this podcast, you will see that the family life you have always dreamed of is completely attainable!
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Episodes
76-Author Jodi Womack, Get Momentum
May 02, 2016 07:00 - 30 minutes - 41.5 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com JODI WOMACK is the CEO of the Get Momentum Leadership Academy and the founder of No More Nylons, a coaching program providing women business leaders with professional networking expertise. She co-founded Get Momentum with her husband, Jason so they could work together from anywhere in the world. Her firsthand experience in business management, marketing, and customer service gets put to good use through their training and coachi...
75-Bringing a new baby into the blended family
April 25, 2016 07:00 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Bringing a new baby into a blended family home is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. There are many factors to consider when you choose to expand your family. There are steps you can take to make sure it is a smooth transition for everyone involved. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfa...
74-Abuse in the blended family
April 18, 2016 07:00 - 18 minutes - 24.9 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Abuse can be very damaging to a blended family, because there are more lives at stake. Instead of worrying about one family, we now have two we have to be concerned about. There are different types of abuse, which are physical, emotional, verbal, and sexual. There are many factors that determine why people become abusers, and why others become victims. Getting help is essential in order to live a happy peaceful life, and...
73-Perspective of a child in a blended family
April 11, 2016 07:00 - 20 minutes - 27.6 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Back in September we did the perspective series, a month long series focusing on the perspective of people in the blended family. However, we never took into account the perspective of a child in the blended family home. Oftentimes we overlook a child’s feelings because we are too busy worrying about our own relationship and situation. Some common feelings a child may experience while being part of a divorce or a blended fami...
72-Listener Questions
April 04, 2016 07:00 - 19 minutes - 26.4 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com This week, I answer some listener questions. If you want to send me a question for a future show, please email to me, message me in facebook, or send me an audio file via speakpipe. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to [email protected] Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at...
71-Be a peacemaker in your home
March 28, 2016 07:00 - 15 minutes - 21.1 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Do you want to create more peace in your home so that your blended family can live with ease? Learn how in this episode. I’ll give you some tips on how to become the peacemaker in your family, and how to help your children as well. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to [email protected] Send me a...
70-Be a supportive partner
March 21, 2016 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29.3 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com It’s essential to be supportive to you partner in any relationship, but it’s needed even more in a blended family. There are four key areas where support is important, which are parenting, work, lifestyle, and personal development. Parenting Always backup your partner and be their teammate Support them emotionally through painful parenting moments Help with general parenting responsibilities Work and business life...
69-Blended Families in TV and Film
March 14, 2016 07:00 - 12 minutes - 17.5 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Blended families have been portrayed in TV and film for many years. I’ve compiled a list of the most popular movies and shows you should check out with your own blended family! In Television Brady Bunch Who’s the Boss Full House Drake and Josh The Foster’s Modern Family Life with Derek Step by Step Sister Sister Two and a half Men Different Strokes In Film Brady Bunch Yours, Mine, and Ours Stepmom The Pare...
68- Sex Positivity Part 2-Children and their sexual identity
March 07, 2016 08:00 - 22 minutes - 30.4 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Many adolescents struggle with their sexual identity. If they identify as bisexual, lesbian, gay, or transexual, it can be much easier for them if they come from a home that is sex positive. Blended families can be harder for a child to reveal their sexual identity to, as there are more people involved, each whom may have a differing opinion. It’s important for the entire family to come together and support the child in...
67-Sex Positivity Part 1, Fostering open communication about sex in your blended family
February 29, 2016 08:00 - 20 minutes - 28.7 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Do you have a home that is sex positive? Do you even know what that means? Raising children comes with lots of questions, especially when it comes to sex. How much are we supposed to say? Should we tell the truth? We are living in quite a different world now than when we were young. Homes that are blended have a bit more of a challenge, as both sides need to decide what is right for their family. There are many benefits to being...
66-Balancing business and a blended family
February 22, 2016 08:00 - 17 minutes - 24.8 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Learning to balance both business and family life can be challenging, but even more so in the blended family. If you don’t get it right, you can end up being overwhelmed or filled with guilt and regret. Some tips I have for you in this show include… give yourself some downtime schedule family time phone free dinners leave work at work delegate use a calendar effectively do the most important things first multi tasking...
65-Jealousy in the blended family
February 15, 2016 08:00 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Jealousy is a normal human emotion, but sometimes it can interfere with our relationships. It is very common in the blended family to struggle with feelings of jealousy when it comes to your partner's ex spouse or their children. Some common types of jealousy blended families face are jealousy of the partner's ex spouse and their history together jealousy of the partner's ex spouse and their current relationship as co pa...
64-Simple ways to connect with your partner
February 08, 2016 08:00 - 20 minutes - 27.9 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com When Valentine's Day comes once a year, it reminds us of the importance of connecting with our partner. However, we don’t need to wait until Valentine's Day to connect. There are simple things we can do every day to show our partner we care for them and to help us stay connected. In this week’s episode, I have 20 easy things you can do! Complement one another Kiss Send your partner a card Give gifts Make eye contact Hav...
63-Interview with Susan Sexton
February 01, 2016 08:00 - 26 minutes - 37 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Judge Susan Sexton is the host of the 50 Shades of Divorce podcast. She has been on both sides,as she has been a judge, and she has also experienced her own divorce. In this interview we discuss… Susan’s own journey what to expect from her podcast common court issues from divorce mistakes couples make process of divorce hiring an attorney judge selection state laws To connect with Susan, please use the links below...
62-Dispelling the myths of the blended family
January 25, 2016 08:00 - 15 minutes - 21.8 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Do you ever get frustrated when people pass judgement on you just because you have a blended family? Or do you sometimes realize that you have your own misconceptions about your blended family? In this episode I talk about some of those and what to do about it. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to melissa@blende...
61-Meditation with Chel Hamilton Part 2
January 18, 2016 08:00 - 13 minutes - 18.5 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com This is the second part of the meditation podcast that we started last week with expert Chel Hamilton. She created a special meditation mini just for us. Connect with Chel and hear all of her podcasts www.meditationminis.com Donate to my cupid run www.blendedfamilypodcast.com/cupid Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or ...
60-Meditation with Chel Hamilton
January 11, 2016 08:00 - 28 minutes - 38.9 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Connect with Chel Hamilton Website Twitter In this interview, I speak with Chel Hamilton, host of the Meditaion Mini’s Podcast. She teaches us all about the practice of meditation. In this show, we discuss Chels own story with meditation what is a guided meditation how to overcome feelings of discomfort how do we find the time to meditate proper methods or practices of meditation physical and mental benefits of medit...
59-Healthy Habits for the New Year
January 04, 2016 08:00 - 19 minutes - 26.9 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com The beginning of the year is a great time to set new goal, or healthy habits for the year to come. In this show, I tell you how to set those goals, plus I give you many ideas to get you started. I encourage you to make your own list of specific, measurable, and realistic goals. My list here are the ideas mentioned in the show. financial goals fitness goals nutrition goals family goals connect with people cut stress hav...
58-Stop Arguing With Your Kids!
December 21, 2015 08:00 - 16 minutes - 22.6 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Arguing with your kids is a part of parenting that we all could do without. Children are great at it, and they do it to use their power. You can have a more peaceful home by learning how to diffuse these arguments. My ten tips Don't argue back Learn to walk away Provide choices Encourage Communication Model good behavior Set boundaries Learn to compromise Only discuss the issue at hand Let your child walk away Lea...
57- A Parents Worst Nightmare
December 14, 2015 08:00 - 11 minutes - 16.2 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Update on our son, who was recently in a car accident Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to [email protected] Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com
56- Don't put your children in the middle!
December 07, 2015 08:00 - 21 minutes - 29.4 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Putting children in the middle is one of the biggest mistakes we make as divorced parents. Whether it’s intentional or accidental, it always hurts the children. There are reasons why we do this and some very common mistakes we make. Children always pay the price. Protect your children by learning to avoid this common pitfall, your children will thank you for it! Pledge to help parents from putting kids in the middle of their...
55-Religion and the blended family
November 30, 2015 08:00 - 16 minutes - 23.2 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com A big issue that blended families face is when each family comes from a different religious background. Though certainly not a deal breaker, this can definitely cause some upset in the family, whether from ex partners, or in the current situation. I’ll give you some tips on how to deal with an ex, and also go over some common challenges. Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Face...
54-Special guest, Shawn's first appearance on the show!
November 23, 2015 08:00 - 31 minutes - 43.3 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com As I am very close to my year anniversary of doing the podcast, I thought it would be fitting to have Shawn, my number one supporter, on the show. If you want to get to know my other half, please listen in as we talk about our differing parenting styles Shawns past anger issues communication importance of quality time our engagement story other listener questions If you enjoy hearing Shawn on the show, please send us some...
53-Helping a child through the loss of a parent
November 16, 2015 08:00 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Helping a child through the loss of a parent can be very difficult. There are many things you can do to help support your child/children through a traumatic loss like this, such as keep your personal feelings out of it don't speak negatively about the parent who has passed get the child therapy communicate with the child don't rush the child make a memorial space for the child in their room keep your child active talk to...
52- Hacks to save you time and money!
November 09, 2015 08:00 - 18 minutes - 26.1 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Every blended family can benefit from learning simple tips to save time and money. In this show, I go over my top ten tips of each! Tips to save time Food Prep Prepare things the night before Delegate chores and responsibilities Exercise at home Online shopping Follow a cleaning schedule, or hire someone Wake up earlier Use your schedule wisely Split tasks with your partner Learn to say no And the tips to sa...
51-Moving Past Affairs
November 02, 2015 08:00 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com In cases of infidelity, having a blended family can certainly add more complications to the mix. Whether you’re struggling with the knowledge of a past affair or going through it now in your current relationship, this episode can help. Cheating doesn’t have to be a deal breaker. There are ways to move forward past infidelity and go on to have a successful relationship. We will also talk about some do’s and don't’s, and how to de...
50-Love your Blended Family
October 26, 2015 07:00 - 20 minutes - 28.4 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sometimes we get so caught up in negativity that we lose sight of what's wonderful right in front of us. Blended families are stressful, and we can forget all the blessings that they do bring us. Let me show you how to change your mindset, improve your mood, love and appreciate your blended family! When you change your focus, anything is possible. Ten things to help improve your mood. Eat well Exercise Breathe or medit...
49-The Unique Challenges of Joint Custody
October 19, 2015 07:00 - 22 minutes - 30.9 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Joint custody arrangements are becoming much more the norm in modern divorce. For those that have joint custody arrangements, you know that there are many challenges you must face. To start, we discuss the difference between joint physical and joint legal custody, and some factors in making that decision. We also discuss some challenges you might face such as communication scheduling parental influence transportation...
48-Create Confident Kids with Marty Ward
October 12, 2015 07:00 - 33 minutes - 45.6 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Marty L Ward is championing the movement to Create Confident Kids. When a 10 yr old little girl hung herself rather than face the bully back in 2011, Marty said, “ENOUGH!” Despite all our school regulations and “Anti-Bullying” and “Stop Bullying” campaigns, 4,400 students commit suicide each year, and 160,000 are absent every day due to fear of confronting the bully. Fed up with the rising statistics, Marty looked for an answ...
47-PTSD in the Blended Family, Interview with Michele Rosenthal
October 05, 2015 07:00 - 31 minutes - 43.8 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Michele Rosenthal is an award-winning PTSD blogger, bestselling and award-nominated author, host of the radio program, Changing Direction, and founder of HealMyPTSD.com. A former faculty member of the Clinical Development Institute for Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center, Michele is also a trauma survivor who struggled with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for over twenty-five years. Then, she launched a succes...
46-Perspective Series Part 4-Bio Dad
September 28, 2015 07:00 - 18 minutes - 25.7 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Part four and the last of the perspectives series. Are you a bio dad who wants to know if what you are feeling is normal? Are you a mom who wants to know where the bio dad in your life is coming from? Listen to this show to gain some perspective and insight from bio dads who really want to be heard. Here are some important questions we address what’s the biggest challenge you face as a bio dad? what’s the thing you love m...
45-Perspective Series Part 3-Stepdad
September 21, 2015 07:00 - 16 minutes - 22.7 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Part three of the perspectives series. Are you a stepdad who wants to know if what you are feeling is normal? Are you a mom who wants to know where the stepdad in your life is coming from? Listen to this show to gain some perspective and insight from stepdads who really want to be heard. Here are some important questions we address what’s the biggest challenge you face as a stepdad? what’s the thing you love most about be...
44-Perspective Series, Part 2-Bio Mom
September 14, 2015 07:00 - 19 minutes - 26.4 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Part two of the perspectives series. Are you a bio mom who wants to know if what you are feeling is normal? Are you a step parent who wants to know where the bio mom in your life is coming from? Listen to this show to gain some perspective and insight from bio moms who really want to be heard. Here are some important questions we address what’s the biggest challenge you face as a bio mom? what’s the thing you love most ab...
43-Perspective Series, Part 1-Stepmom
September 07, 2015 07:00 - 23 minutes - 31.9 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Part one of the perspectives series. Are you a stepmom who wants to know if what you are feeling is normal? Are you a bio parent who wants to know where the stepmom in your life is coming from? Listen to this show to gain some perspective and insight from stepmoms who really want to be heard. Here are some important questions we address what’s the biggest challenge you face as a stepmom? what’s the thing you love most abo...
42-Back to school Tips
August 31, 2015 07:00 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sending the kids back to school is always a transition. You want to set up for success, and have that transition go as smooth as possible. I share my top ten tips for a successful school year, which are Establish routines Use alarm clocks Set designated homework times and areas Use family calendars Be smart about meal planning Teach your kids time management skills Talk about head lice prevention Keep the kids heal...
41-Establishing boundaries in the blended family
August 24, 2015 07:00 - 22 minutes - 31 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Setting proper boundaries is essential in the blended family home. Everyone needs to know what is acceptable and what is not in order to maintain some kind of peace in the home. Some tips on setting boundaries include doing so from the beginning, holding family meetings, and practicing good communication. If you’re wondering who needs boundaries, well everyone. Though you will find the most necessary boundaries are set with...
40-Listener Questions
August 17, 2015 07:00 - 19 minutes - 27.1 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com This show is all about you! I answer some listener questions! Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Send questions or feedback to [email protected] Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com
39-Family Contracts
August 10, 2015 07:00 - 21 minutes - 29 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Family Contracts can be very helpful in the blended family. When children move from home to home, behavior and rules can get a little out of control. Contracts can help get everyone on the same page. There are many different types of contracts that you can draw up, depending on the child and what their specific needs are. Some examples are a cell phone contract, a driving contract, a behavioral contract, or a chore/reward con...
38-What to do if your relationship is ending
August 03, 2015 07:00 - 16 minutes - 22.3 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Ending a relationship is a very hard decision to make, especially if you have a blended family. Lots of lives are affected by your decisions. If you and your partner come to the realization that the relationship is not working, there are some tips to help you get through the process more smoothly. Make sure this is definitely what you want Don’t repeat previous mistakes or old patterns Learn from this experience Talk to ...
37-Decoding Teenagers-Interview with Dr Jennifer Wider, author of Got Teens
July 27, 2015 07:00 - 52 minutes - 72.6 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Dr. Jennifer Wider is a women's health expert, author and radio host who frequently appears on television shows including the Today Show, CBS News, and ABC News Nightline. She is the author of 4 books including her most recent: Got Teens, the Doctor Moms' Guide to Sexuality, Social Media and Other Adolescent Realities, w/ Dr. Logan Levkoff. She is a medical adviser to Cosmopolitan Magazine and has written hundreds of articles ...
36-Teens and Social Media
July 20, 2015 07:00 - 19 minutes - 26.5 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com These days our children are exposed to more than they should be, and most exposure is due to social media. Teenagers spend the majority of their time with their faces buried in their phones. This is truly frustrating for parents. The choice whether to get your child that smartphone or not is yours as their parent, but you should be aware of what it entails before you make that decision. Most importantly, certain rules should ...
35-Your Role as a Step Parent
July 13, 2015 07:00 - 16 minutes - 22.9 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Being a stepparent can be hard, and sometimes confusing as well. It’s hard to know how much you can say or do, or how much you can involve yourself in the life of the child. In this episode, I go over some do’s and dont’s to help you in your role as a stepparent. For the donts Dont badmouth Dont be a disciplinarian Dont be a replacement parent Don’t take things personal Don’t expect everything to be perfect. And the...
34-Health and wellness in your blended family
July 06, 2015 07:00 - 17 minutes - 24.5 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Keeping your blended family healthy can be a challenge. As children shuffle from home to home, they can can also bring their illness from home to home. We can’t always control the other home environment where our children live when they aren’t with us. We can only teach them the importance of healthy eating and exercise. In this episode I share tips and challenges. I also get into the benefits of using essential oils to impro...
33-Forgiveness in the blended family
June 29, 2015 07:00 - 18 minutes - 25.1 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Forgiveness is something that is necessary in all families. Blended families will not be as successful if we cannot learn how forgive others. It is also extremely important to teach our children how to do this. These nine steps were taken from www.learningtoforgive.com Know exactly how you feel about what happened and be able to articulate what about the situation is not OK. Then, tell a trusted couple of people about your e...
32-Father's Day Special with Justin Worsham
June 21, 2015 07:00 - 31 minutes - 28.5 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Don’t miss this awesome Father’s Day Special, with special guest, Justin Worsham. Justin has a thriving career as a comedian, and is now cultivating a radio career. His podcast, called The Dad Podcast, is rising to the top of the charts! In this interview we discuss Justin’s role as a stay at home, working parent His relationship with his own dad Incorporating humor into parenting The Dad Podcast Some parenting strug...
31-Summer with your Blended Family
June 15, 2015 07:00 - 9 minutes - 13.3 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Summer is here, school is out! What are you going to do with your blended family? It can be hard to coordinate schedules over the summer and also keep them busy. What can you do so you don’t hear the constant “I’m bored?” I’ll give you just a few tips in this short episode, as I’m getting ready to take a small trip before the chaos of summer arrives! Join the Private Facebook Group Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes Connect ...
30-Feeling Unappreciated in the Blended Family
June 08, 2015 07:00 - 14 minutes - 20.4 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com There are many roles we play in our blended families, and sometimes we can feel unappreciated for all that we do. There are five main categories or roles that we feel unappreciated in. Stepparent Parent Partner Child New partner (unappreciated by partner’s ex) Proper communication can help, by expressing to your family what your needs are. Most of us have these feelings at one point or another. Join the Private Face...
29-Raise the Child You Were Given
June 01, 2015 07:00 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com It is very common as parents to compare our own children to other children. This comparison hinders us from truly seeing the positive qualities in a child. We need to accept, love, and embrace our kids for who they are, positive and negative. Blended families can struggle with this, as suddenly there are other kids in the home, and often we cannot help but to compare our biological children to our stepchildren. It is our huma...
28-Escaping Perfectionism
May 25, 2015 07:00 - 15 minutes - 21.4 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Perfectionism is something that many people struggle with. When it comes to a blended family, we can feel pressure to have the “perfect” family. This, of course, is an unrealistic expectation. In this episode, we discuss the questions to ask yourself to determine if you are a perfectionist, examples of what perfectionism looks like in a blended family, and what steps you can take to overcome perfectionism, which involve ...
27-Before you call it quits
May 18, 2015 07:00 - 17 minutes - 24.1 MB[email protected] www.blendedfamilypodcast.com In almost all relationships, at some point or another, couples are faced with a decision to end a relationship or stick it out. The stresses of a blended family can really put an extra strain on a relationship. Before you decide to end a relationship, and affect not only your lives, but the lives of your children, there are some important 5 key factors to look at. length of the relationship overall quality of the relationsh...