The Families of Character Show
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© 2026 The Families of Character Show
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We serve parents who want more for their family. Our show offers research-based parenting solutions to the most common family problems, real-life parenting stories, and authentic support. The host, Jordan Langdon, is a wife, mother, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker who validates what parents go through and offers practical actionable steps parents can implement today to transform their families in joy and unity. Guests are experts in their field of work and provide high-value material for parents and families.
181 Episodes
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Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! The glow of the microwave clock, an untouched Advent wreath, and a pile of unwrapped gifts—sound familiar? We open with a scene that many parents know too well and move toward a countercultural claim: December isn’t a test of endurance, it’s a training ground for unity. Through a vulnerable story about trying to do everything alone, we explore the moment a marriage turns from survival to connection and how that pivot reshapes the entire sea...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! (RE-BROADCAST) On this episode of Respect Life Radio, hosts Emma and Jennifer interviewed our very own podcast host & Executive Director of Families of Character, Jordan Langdon. In this interview, Jordan shares her personal journey of marriage and raising three children, reflecting on how embracing this Christ-centered model transformed her family life. Through seasons of struggle and growth, she and her husband discovered the p...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! What if the most powerful way to raise courageous kids is hidden in small, repeatable moments at home? Former Navy SEAL and father of four Jimmy Graham joins us to share the lived wisdom behind his new children’s book, How Do You Love a Fish?, a field-tested guide to forming character through short stories, scripture, and simple nightly rituals. We explore how parents can lead with clarity in a chaotic world by pairing modeled behavior with...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! Holiday gatherings don’t have to feel like conversational minefields. We explore a practical, heart-forward approach to keep the peace without tiptoeing around every topic: lead with curiosity, set kind boundaries, and make service your default setting. Instead of avoiding politics, religion, or health decisions by staying silent, we share scripts and strategies that let you engage without getting dragged into a win-or-lose debate. We trade...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! Big feelings don’t check the calendar. Between crowded rooms, shifting schedules, and constant stimulation, kids can tip from excitement to overload in seconds. Parents are left juggling judgment, guilt, and a wailing child at the dinner table. In this episode, we share a practical way to turn holiday meltdowns into moments of connection by reframing tantrums as communication, validating feelings, and co-regulating with calm breath and touc...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! What if the scoreboard you’ve been chasing isn’t the one that matters? Former Nike executive John Olinger joins us to unpack a life-altering season marked by a 40-day prayer, a sudden family tragedy, and a career fork that forced him to define success on purpose. John shares how losing his mother young and later his father reframed time as both scarce and uncertain and why that urgency pushed him to choose people over projects without aband...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! One in four adults are distant or estranged from a parent. We dig into why that happens and how to reverse the pattern by making home the safest place for truth. With licensed psychotherapist, Catherine Hickem, we unpack the habits that build lifelong closeness and the ones that quietly push kids away. We discuss: • the cost of fear driven parenting and hidden expectations • modeling conflict resolution that heals, not harms • treating adul...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! Ever feel like money talks with your spouse turn into a maze of receipts, blame, and “we’ll do this when life slows down”? Let’s change the script. We close our money and marriage series with a simple, powerful exercise that helps you move from logistics and conflict to compassion and clarity—no perfect plan required. With a pen, two sheets of paper, and 30 minutes, you’ll uncover the stories you each carry about money, the beliefs you abso...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! Money stress usually feels like a numbers problem, but what we’re really missing is a shared picture of the future. We dig into the tug-of-war between kid expenses now and retirement later, and we show how a simple, faith‑grounded vision transforms everyday choices. With Josh, a Certified Financial Planner (with many other certifications!), and our own marriage as the test lab, we get practical about defining your ideal day when you retire,...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! We unpack the five biggest money struggles couples face and make the case that a shared vision is the keystone that makes everything else easier. Jake and Noelle Wysocki share practical routines, from State of the Union meetings, and tiny experiments to co-learning, that turn money from a stressor into a tool. In this episode, we discuss: • why no shared vision drives most money conflicts • how to run quarterly “State of the Union” check-in...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! Money isn’t out to get us—but the way we relate to it can either pull us apart or pull us closer. We open a four-part journey on money and marriage with a simple reframing: cash is a tool, not a tyrant. From there, we dig into what actually drives most “money fights”: clashing values, childhood scripts, and unspoken fears that steer daily choices without us realizing it. This episode goes over: • money as a neutral tool, not an enemy • rese...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! What terrifies parents more than anything? The thought of their child experiencing sexual abuse. Yet this fear often prevents the very conversations that could protect our children. In this powerful episode, attachment specialist Eli Harwood joins Jordan to share essential strategies for preventing and responding to childhood sexual abuse. This episode goes over: • Using anatomically correct language for all body parts from infancy to norma...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! What if the greatest threat to your child's wellbeing isn't lurking outside your home, but sitting in their pocket? Clinical psychologist Dr. Johann D'Souza delivers a wake-up call about what he calls "digital destruction" - the devastating impact of smartphones and social media on young people's mental health, development, and happiness. We discuss: • Rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality have doubled or tripled among youth in weal...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! What would you do if you noticed something wasn't quite right in your neighborhood? When off-duty firefighter Garrett Golish spotted smoke drifting through his yard while chatting with his sister-in-law about campfires, he could have dismissed it as someone grilling or burning yard waste. Instead, he trusted his instincts and took immediate action – a decision that likely saved a family with a sleeping baby who had no idea their backyard sw...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! What would you do if violence erupted while your family was having a picnic in the park? Do your children know what to do in an emergency, or would panic take over? These aren't comfortable questions, but they're essential ones in today's world. Former Navy SEAL Jimmy Graham shares his expertise on family emergency preparedness and the importance of having a coordinated plan that includes children. He explains how his military and CIA prote...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! What if the secret to raising virtuous children isn't found in lectures or lessons, but in the stories we share? When educator and father Jeff Minnick recalls the tale of "The Countess and the Impossible" – a story about a boy striving for excellence in lawn-mowing that shaped his work ethic for six decades – we glimpse the extraordinary power of literature in character formation. In this episode we discuss: • Stories serve as powerful exam...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! Ever feel like you and your spouse are playing completely different games when it comes to discipline? One moment you're calmly coaching your child through a tantrum, the next your partner swoops in with strict consequences, leaving your kids confused about the rules and possibly learning to play you against each other. Creating a united front in discipline is essential for raising secure, respectful children who understand boundaries and f...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! The after-school hours between 3-6 PM represent a crucial transition time when children often experience emotional meltdowns after holding it together all day at school. When kids fall apart after returning home, it's actually a sign they feel safe with you, and by implementing the "three R's" routine—Refuel, Regulate, Reconnect—parents can transform this challenging window into an opportunity for meaningful connection. In this episode, we ...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! The Family Huddle is a simple yet powerful 20-minute weekly family meeting that can transform household chaos into calm and share the mental load that often falls on one parent. Studies show families who meet regularly report better communication, fewer behavioral issues, and children who are more emotionally secure and less likely to engage in risky behaviors. In this episode, we discuss: • A simple, repeatable format: prayer, calendar rev...
Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest! Routines aren't restrictive shackles but freedom frameworks that help children thrive during the back-to-school transition and beyond. Science confirms that consistent routines improve children's sleep quality, school performance, emotional regulation, and ultimately prepare them for independent adulthood. • Research shows kids with consistent bedtime routines sleep better and perform better academically • Routines reduce decision fatigue,...
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