Introduction

Ron Introduces Vaneetha Risner

Grief Community and Triggers

Boundaries After Divorce

Forgiveness Without Reconciliation

 Co-Parenting and Healing Forward

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2026-03-09.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20260309_S08_E185.docx

Vaneetha Risner knows the raw grief of unwanted divorce and betrayal. She gets church shame, lost identity, lingering triggers. Yet God has turned lament into deeper trust. This was never the plan, but it has forged faith. And it offers hope for yours.

Show Notes and Resources
Register for the live Blended & Blessed event in Oklahoma City 
Listen to episode 130: Coping With Traumatic Events
Learn about Vaneetha and get a copy of her book, This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God Through the Heartache of Divorce 
Help us reach more families around the world with a gift of support 

Vaneetha Risner knows the raw grief of unwanted divorce and betrayal. She gets church shame, lost identity, lingering triggers. Yet God has turned lament into deeper trust. This was never the plan, but it has forged faith. And it offers hope for yours.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.blendedandblessed.com/">Register for the live Blended &amp; Blessed event in Oklahoma City&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/podcast/familylife-blended-podcast/130-coping-with-traumatic-events/">Listen to episode 130: Coping With Traumatic Events</a></li>
<li>Learn about Vaneetha and get a copy of her book, <a href="https://www.vaneetha.com/">This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God Through the Heartache of Divorce&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Help us reach more families around the world with a gift of support&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>

FamilyLife Blended® provides timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families and those who love them. Join Ron L. Deal, LMFT, LPC as he and his guests discuss a wide variety of marriage, family, and relationship topics related to blended families.

Timeless wisdom and practical help and hope for blended families with Ron Deal, LMFT, LPC.

FamilyLife Blended® Podcast

Vaneetha Risner knows the raw grief of unwanted divorce and betrayal. She gets church shame, lost identity, lingering triggers. Yet God has turned lament into deeper trust. This was never the plan, but it has forged faith. And it offers hope for yours.

185: This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God through the Heartache of Divorce

Welcome to the FamilyLife Blended Podcast

Ron Introduces Brian and Debbie Doyle

Widowhood Stories and Grief Support

 Rebuilding Family Roles and Support Teams

Remarriage With Adult Kids

 Grief Pace And Holidays

Mens Ministry And Mentoring

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2026-06-01.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20260601_S08_E191.docx

Father’s Day feels weird, or even stings, when the chair at the table is empty—or when your stepkids pull back because they’re still hurting. Ron Deal talks with the widowed and remarried Brian and Debbie Doyle--about grief, holidays, and blending families with adult children. If you’ve ever worried about stepping in or stepping too hard, this conversation gives you permission to move with patience, empathy, and faith.

Show Notes and Resources
Free blended resources 
Look for a live or virtual small group to join 
Iron Sharpens Iron 
Get the Smart Stepdad or The Smart Stepmom 
Give a donation to help strengthen blended families 
List of Smart Stepfamily Therapist Providers 

 

Father&rsquo;s Day feels weird, or even stings, when the chair at the table is empty&mdash;or when your stepkids pull back because they&rsquo;re still hurting. Ron Deal talks with the widowed and remarried Brian and Debbie Doyle--about grief, holidays, and blending families with adult children. If you&rsquo;ve ever worried about stepping in or stepping too hard, this conversation gives you permission to move with patience, empathy, and faith.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/">Free blended resources&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/find-an-event/">Look for a live or virtual small group to join&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://ironsharpensiron.net/aboutironsharpnsiron.html">Iron Sharpens Iron&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://shop.familylife.com/product-category/blended/">Get the Smart Stepdad or The Smart Stepmom&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Give a donation to help strengthen blended families&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://smartstepfamilies.com/smart-help/therapy-providers">List of Smart Stepfamily Therapist Providers&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

Father’s Day hits differently when chairs are empty and stepkids keep their distance. Ron Deal talks with Brian and Debbie Doyle about grief, blended families, and moving with patience, not pressure.

191: Father’s Day Feels Weird: Blended Family Grief and Hope

Ron Introduces Carol Kent

Carol’s Family Story

Breaking the Regret Loop

Carrying Sorrow & Calendar Triggers

Hope and Gratitude in a Life Sentence

Impossible Relationships & Purposeful Pain

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2026-05-18.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20260518_S08_E190.docx

Mother’s Day can sting when your story didn’t turn out like you planned. Maybe that looks like wayward kids. Courtrooms. Even prison sentences. And silence where relationship used to be. Ron Deal talks with author Carol Kent about loving a son serving life in prison—and finding faith when the worst actually happens. If you’re carrying shame, regret, or heartbreak as a mom or stepmom, this conversation sits with you in it—and refuses to let despair win.

Show Notes and Resources
Use blended resources for free! 
Watch Carol and Gayla talk about how to cultivate a thankful heart in dark seasons on Women & Blended Families 
Learn about Carol and her ministry 
Donate $5.00 or more to help Jason's ministry to other inmates 
Support the work at FamilyLife Blended 
Enroll in the certificate program in Blended Family Ministry 

Mother&rsquo;s Day can sting when your story didn&rsquo;t turn out like you planned. Maybe that looks like wayward kids. Courtrooms. Even prison sentences. And silence where relationship used to be. Ron Deal talks with author Carol Kent about loving a son serving life in prison&mdash;and finding faith when the worst actually happens. If you&rsquo;re carrying shame, regret, or heartbreak as a mom or stepmom, this conversation sits with you in it&mdash;and refuses to let despair win.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/">Use blended resources for free!</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmMXsEmCfhQ&amp;list=PLoZ3uqAYX8EE5-rlD9PMy1DFnEHBR8Wt7&amp;index=5">Watch Carol and Gayla talk about how to cultivate a thankful heart</a> in dark seasons on Women &amp; Blended Families&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://speakupforhope.org/">Learn about Carol and her ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://speakupforhope.org/donate/">Donate $5.00 or more to help Jason's ministry to other inmates</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Support the work at FamilyLife Blended</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/learn/certificate-in-blended-family-ministry/">Enroll in the certificate program in Blended Family Ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Mother’s Day can sting when life goes sideways—wayward kids, courtrooms, even prison. Ron Deal talks with Carol Kent about loving a son behind bars and finding faith while living the impossible.

190:  The Mother's Day You Never Wanted: Hope for Hurting Moms and Stepmoms

Ron Introduces Daniel & Brittany Brooker

 Messy Redemption and Eternal Hope

Developmental Grief

Be Present in Pain

Mentors and Practical Wisdom

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2026-05-04.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20260504_S08_E189.docx

Loss shattered you; remarriage after widowhood humbles you amid trauma, blending families, and recurring developmental grief. If comparison, unmet expectations, or past pain threaten your marriage and home, listen in. Daniel and Brittany Brooker (Refuge Widowers) share Scripture-soaked wisdom, practical strategies, and hope to redeem brokenness for God’s glory.

Show Notes and Resources
Our events, small groups, and ministry map 
Learn about Daniel's ministry 
Learn about Brittany's ministry 
FamilyLife Blended resources 
Give a gift to FamilyLife Blended ministry 

Loss shattered you; remarriage after widowhood humbles you amid trauma, blending families, and recurring developmental grief. If comparison, unmet expectations, or past pain threaten your marriage and home, listen in. Daniel and Brittany Brooker (Refuge Widowers) share Scripture-soaked wisdom, practical strategies, and hope to redeem brokenness for God&rsquo;s glory.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/find-an-event/">Our events, small groups, and ministry map</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.refugewidowers.com/about">Learn about Daniel's ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.brittanypricebrooker.com/">Learn about Brittany's ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://linktr.ee/familylifeblended">FamilyLife Blended resources</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?cru_source=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Give a gift to FamilyLife Blended ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Loss shattered you; remarriage after widowhood humbles you amid trauma, blending families, and recurring developmental grief. If comparison, unmet expectations, or past pain threaten your marriage and home, listen in. Daniel and Brittany Brooker (Refuge Widowers) share Scripture-soaked wisdom, practical strategies, and hope to redeem brokenness for God’s glory.

185: This Was Never the Plan: Walking with God through the Heartache of Divorce

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