144. Allow us to Reintroduce Ourselves: Meet the Smiths

Hey there, Family Brand OGs and newcomers alike! If you've been with us for a while, you know we've been on this journey of family, relationships, and intentional living for nearly three years. But if you're just tuning in, you might be wondering, "Who are these people?" Well, today we give a nod to Jay-Z, as we "reintroduce ourselves" to our old and new listeners alike! (If you don't know that song, look it up, lol.)

We've grown and evolved so much since our first "Meet the Smiths" episode, and we want to share that journey with you. In a fun twist, Melissa wore the same shirt during the podcast that she wore on our first date 19 years ago. It wasn't planned; it just happened. And that's what we love about our relationship—sometimes the most meaningful things happen by accident.

Our marriage journey hasn't been a straight path; it's been filled with ups and downs. We've faced challenges, misunderstandings, and even reached a point where we considered separating.

But we persevered, sought help, and worked on confronting the issues we had been avoiding. We've learned that you can't change what you refuse to confront, and that lesson has become a cornerstone of our philosophy. This led us to a realization: there are tons of resources for improving your business, your brand, or your marketing strategy, but very few for improving your family life. That's why we created Family Brand—to offer families resources, support, and a community to grow together intentionally.

Melissa's intuition has played a significant role in our journey. When we were at our lowest, she felt a strong pull to try one more marriage counselor. That decision was a turning point for us, and it's part of why we're so passionate about sharing our story and resources through Family Brand. So, if you're intrigued by our story and want to dive deeper into our philosophy on family, relationships, and intentional living, you know what to do. Hit play to hear the full conversation! Trust us, you won't want to miss this episode. It's a heartfelt, honest, and inspiring look at what it means to build a strong, intentional family.

PS:

We're here to help you build your own Family Brand, one episode at a time. So go ahead, hit play, and let's grow together! Or, if you are ready to dive into our community, follow the links below! 

LINKS:

Website:

familybrand.com

Social:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand

Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand

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Episode Minute By Minute:

01:01 Reintroduction to Chris and Melissa, catch up with their family story and adventures 

02:41 Take a look back at the Smith’s childhood and how they eventually connected 

06:29 From dating quickly, to quickly getting married, resources for healthy marriages were slim 

08:04 Four years into marriage, Chris and Melissa talk about their separation 

10:50 The Smith’s share their bad experience with marriage counseling 

15:23 Finding the right counselor and how it changed everything for their marriage 

18:57 Chris and Melissa talk about the power of choosing to believe something 

21:40 Chris talks about choosing to write a new story and fighting for their marriage and family 

27:36 Chris talks about the point when they decided to form an identity and what they stand for 

30:08 Melissa talks about her purpose to build the kingdom of God by building families 

32:48 The Smith’s share their journey over the years working with families and their podcast 

36:16 Chris talks about their mission and how they want to help other families moving forward 

37:19 What’s in store for the future of Family Brand podcast?

39:54 How to get involved in the Family Brand movement