179: From Shock to Strength: Unplanned Pregnancy in a Blended Family

What happens when God’s good plan lobs an unplanned pregnancy into a blended family? Jay and Tammy Daughtry chat about shock, grace, and choosing love over shame. From unfiltered Day One reactions to faith-fueled healing, they offer a blueprint for both welcoming chaos and blessing it. This episode…

178: We Struggled to Blend. Now We Help Blended Families Thrive

Their first Christmas nearly broke them. Five kids, two parenting styles, zero prep. But Scott and Deana Thayer didn’t quit—they built a blended family from mismatched traditions, co-parenting chaos, and grace-fueled grit. As a couple now helping blended families thrive, the Thayers share hard-won …

177: Gary Chapman: Keys to a Successful Marriage

What if your marriage pivoted on three humble questions? Dr. Gary Chapman—yes, the Five Love Languages guy—gets real about early struggles, foot-washing humility, and how servant-hearted love transformed his 64-year marriage. Blended families, take heart: Far from fluff, these are faith-fueled, gri…

176: How to Help Kids Cope with Divorce and Remarriage

Divorce…hurts. But for kids caught in the middle, it can feel like the world has split in two. How can you help kids cope with divorce and remarriage? Summer Butler, creator of Blended: Navigating Life Between Two Homes, cracks open a healing workbook for kids juggling two homes, big feelings, and …

175: Blended Holidays Are Complicated. Here’s How They Made It Work

What do red sweaters, a ski trip “familymoon,” and a Christmas sleepover have to do with healing after loss? A lot, actually. Join pastor and author Rob Bugh, pediatrician Rhonda Williams Bugh, and their adult kids Kyle and Nate as they revisit the rocky, grace-filled early years of blending two gr…

174: More Than Just A Stepparent: Helping a Grieving Child Heal

When a child loses a parent, grief doesn't end for them. And when they join a stepfamily, we need to come alongside them with love and support as parents and stepparents as we honor their pain and memories. Ron Deal talks with Diane Fromme about what helps and what hinders, especially as stepparent…

173: When Your Brains Are Different: Finding Your Way in a Neurodivergent Marriage

A neurodivergent marriage is when at least one partner has a neurodevelopmental condition like autism or ADHD. In this episode, Ron Deal speaks with Dr. Stephanie Holmes and her husband, Dan, who struggled to face that their young child was on the autism spectrum. Many years later, Dan discovered h…

172: Beautifully Blended: Devotions and Resources for Every Kind of Blended Family

Ron Deal speaks with Gayla Grace about her new book, Beautifully Blended: 101 Devotions to Encourage Couples in Blended Families. This book offers support and advice with relatable anecdotes, along with a devotion, prayer, and Bible reading for each day. Every day dynamics in blended families are …

171: How To Navigate In-Law Relationships: Building Bridges, Not Battlegrounds

In-law relationships can be delicate and challenging, especially when they involve a former spouse. Ron Deal speaks with Dave and Ashley Willis about how to prevent feelings of powerlessness and frustration as we build bridges, not battlegrounds, in difficult relationships. Establishing healthy bou…

170: 2025 Blended and Blessed: Answering Your Blended Family Dilemmas

Ron Deal and Gayla Grace answer questions from Blended & Blessed, such as: how do I manage tug of war feelings between my spouse and my children; how do I talk to my teenager who doesn't want me to remarry after his dad died; what are common ghosts of marriage past and how do we cope with them, how…