Welcome to the FamilyLife Blended Podcast

The Reality of Blending Families

Her Story of Being Widowed Twice

Kids, Grief, and the Stepdad Role

Responding to Rejection

How Siblings Experience Grief Differently

Adoption and Hope 

Remarriage after the death of a spouse brings hope—but it can also uncover grief you didn't expect. Ministry leaders Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown share the realities of building a blended family after widowhood, helping children navigate loss, and learning that love doesn't erase pain overnight. On FamilyLife Blended, Ron Deal explores what it really takes to become family again.

Show Notes and Resources
Watch this episode on YouTube 
Learn about Rachel's ministry
Browse free blended resources
Donate to FamilyLife Blended

Remarriage after the death of a spouse brings hope&mdash;but it can also uncover grief you didn't expect. Ministry leaders Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown share the realities of building a blended family after widowhood, helping children navigate loss, and learning that love doesn't erase pain overnight. On FamilyLife Blended, Ron Deal explores what it really takes to become family again.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/YgWKKtnkYeM">Watch this episode on YouTube</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li>Learn about <a href="https://www.neveralonewidows.com/">Rachel's ministry</a></li>
<li>Browse <a href="https://familylifeblended.com">free blended resources</a></li>
<li>Donate to <a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?campaign-code=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">FamilyLife Blended</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

Remarriage after the death of a spouse is more than saying "I do." Rod and Rachel Faulkner Brown join Ron Deal on FamilyLife Blended to talk grief and blending a family.

198: Remarriage After the Death of a Spouse: Why It's Harder Than You Think

Ron Introduces Blake Hudspeth

Grief and Forgiveness

Building Safety and Stepparent Wins

Co-Parenting In Crisis

Creating Emotional Safety

Leaning In With Honesty

Church Support For Blended Families

Many kids grieving divorce never have words for what they're carrying. Blake Hudspeth grew up through four different stepfamilies and knows how family change can shape a child's view of love, trust, and belonging. On FamilyLife Blended, Ron Deal talks with Blake about the grief parents often overlook, the questions kids rarely ask out loud, and why feeling "fine" isn't always the whole story.

Show Notes and Resources
Watch this episode on YouTube 
Get a free download for how to build love with your stepchild
Read the article: Bridge Building: Strengthening Relationships with Stepchildren
Get your copy of The Mindful Marriage
Ministering to students tips sheet
Send the Blended team a donation

Many kids grieving divorce never have words for what they're carrying. Blake Hudspeth grew up through four different stepfamilies and knows how family change can shape a child's view of love, trust, and belonging. On FamilyLife Blended, Ron Deal talks with Blake about the grief parents often overlook, the questions kids rarely ask out loud, and why feeling "fine" isn't always the whole story.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://youtu.be/Zpvls2wyeSs">Watch this episode on YouTube</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/content-offers/building-love-with-the-five-ps-of-stepparenting/">Get a free download for how to build love with your stepchild</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/blended-family/stepparents/developing-a-relationship-with-stepchildren/bridge-building-strengthening-relationships-with-stepchildren/">Read the article: Bridge Building: Strengthening Relationships with Stepchildren</a></li>
<li><a href="https://shop.familylife.com/product/the-mindful-marriage/">Get your copy of The Mindful Marriage</a></li>
<li><a href="https://additional-pdfs.s3.amazonaws.com/MinisteringToStudentsInStepfamilies_2020.pdf">Ministering to students tips sheet</a></li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?campaign-code=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Send the Blended team a donation</a></li>
</ul>

Many kids grieving divorce never have words for what they're carrying. Blake Hudspeth grew up through four different stepfamilies and knows how family change can shape a child's view of love, trust, and belonging. On FamilyLife Blended, Ron Deal talks with Blake about the grief parents often overlook, the questions kids rarely ask out loud, and why feeling "fine" isn't always the whole story.

197: What Kids Grieving Divorce Wish Parents Knew

Welcome to the FLB Podcast

Ron Introduces Montell and Kristin Jordan

Kristin Growing Up Blended

Montell Adoption Story

Debt and Divorce Fallout

Choosing Marriage Stability

Adoption and Trust Tests

From Music to Marriage Ministry

Blended family life can feel like walking into someone else’s story: guarded kids, mixed loyalties, no clear playbook. Montell Jordan—the artist best known for his hit, "This Is How We Do It"—and his wife Kristen join Ron Deal to unpack growing up in the chaos—and what kids wish adults understood but rarely say.

Show Notes and Resources
Learn about Montell and Kristin's ministry
Dozens of free blended resources for you
Find a small group in your area
Reserve your cabin on the Love Like You Mean It Cruise! 
Register to receive your access link to The Smart Stepfamily on Right Now Media 

Blended family life can feel like walking into someone else&rsquo;s story: guarded kids, mixed loyalties, no clear playbook. Montell Jordan&mdash;the artist best known for his hit, "This Is How We Do It"&mdash;and his wife Kristen join Ron Deal to unpack growing up in the chaos&mdash;and what kids wish adults understood but rarely say.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://montellandkristin.com/">Learn about Montell and Kristin's ministry</a></li>
<li><a href="https://familylifeblended.com">Dozens of free blended resources for you</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/find-an-event/">Find a small group in your area</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.lovelikeyoumeanitcruise.com/">Reserve your cabin on the Love Like You Mean It Cruise!</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/the-smart-stepfamily-ministry/">Register to receive your access link to The Smart Stepfamily on Right Now Media</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Blended family life can feel like walking into someone else’s story: guarded kids, mixed loyalties, no clear playbook. Montell Jordan—the artist best known for his hit, "This Is How We Do It"—and his wife Kristen join Ron Deal to unpack growing up in the chaos—and what kids wish adults understood but rarely say. 

196: Growing Up Blended: Montell and Kristin Jordan

Ron Introduces Debbie Alsdorf

Family Story and Healing as Kids Grow

10 Stepmom Do-Overs 

Kids Need Support

Reset Step Discipline

Regulate Emotions

Higher Road Finale

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/pdf/FLBp2026-07-27.pdf

https://fl-podcasts.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/FLBP/docs/FLBp20260727_S08_E195.docx

Blending a family isn’t a Hallmark montage. It’s a minefield of hurt feelings, mixed loyalties, and second-guessing...everything. Debbie Alsdorf shares hard-won “do-overs” from 36 years as a stepmom—what she got wrong, what she’d never repeat, and what actually helped a fractured family slowly become one. From Debbie's book, Beyond the Brady Bunch, this stepmom advice skips fantasy and deals with real life.

Show Notes and Resources
Access blended resources familylifeblended.com 
Give to Familylife Blended directly 
Watch the show, Renewed Hope for the year, on Women & Blended Families 
Read Debbie's article, "10 Things I Would Do Over as a Stepmom" 
More about Debbie and her ministry 

 

 

Blending a family isn&rsquo;t a Hallmark montage. It&rsquo;s a minefield of hurt feelings, mixed loyalties, and second-guessing...everything. Debbie Alsdorf shares hard-won &ldquo;do-overs&rdquo; from 36 years as a stepmom&mdash;what she got wrong, what she&rsquo;d never repeat, and what actually helped a fractured family slowly become one. From Debbie's book, Beyond the Brady Bunch, this stepmom advice skips fantasy and deals with real life.
Show Notes and Resources
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.familylife.com/familylifeblended/blended-families/">Access blended resources familylifeblended.com </a></li>
<li><a href="https://donate.familylife.com/blended/?campaign-code=D000BLENDG&amp;cru_medium=DesktopHeaderNav&amp;cru_campaign=Blended">Give to Familylife Blended directly</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li>Watch the show, <a href="https://youtube.com/live/GdRPoARKA3I?feature=share">Renewed Hope for the year, on Women &amp; Blended Families&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>Read Debbie's article, "<a href="https://shaunti.com/2024/07/10-things-i-would-do-over-as-a-stepmom/">10 Things I Would Do Over as a Stepmom</a>"&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://debbiealsdorf.com/">More about Debbie and her ministry</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
&nbsp;

Blending a family isn’t a Hallmark montage—it’s messy and complex. Debbie Alsdorf shares lessons from 36 years as a stepmom: mistakes, do-overs, and what truly helped her fractured family become one. Real advice, no fantasy. 

198: Remarriage After the Death of a Spouse: Why It's Harder Than You Think

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