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We're Mike and Kim Anderson and we believe in a world where blended families experience a future full of hope, connection, and peace. That's why we focus on helping couples in stepfamilies move from a place of confusion and conflict to a life of confidence and connection. Thanks for joining us to discover how you can live the blended family life you really want!
If you've been following us for a while — yes, we recently changed the podcast name from "The Blended Family Coaching Show" to "Blended Family Breakthrough". Thanks for noticing!
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If you’re co-parenting between two homes, you already know: your kids are watching everything. How you talk about their other parent, handle handoffs, respond to schedule changes, and react when the ex sends that text. These everyday issues impact and shape your children’s well-being. In this episode, we sit down with co-parenting experts Jay & Tammy Daughtry, who are both adult children of divorce and co-parents themselves. They share their TEAMM mindset: The End Adult Matter...
Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your h...
You want this season to feel special for your blended family. But instead of joy, you’re feeling grumpy, anxious, or even a little hopeless. Schedule changes, empty chairs at the table, tension with an ex, and slow bonding in step-relationships can make gratitude feel out of reach. Deep down you might be wondering, “How am I supposed to be thankful when life really hurts?” In this episode, we'll sit with you in that question. And we'll introduce three simple “gratitude lenses” that will help ...
Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your h...
The holidays can turn magical… …or messy! This is especially true when two households, multiple calendars, and big expectations collide. You want peace, memories, and connection; the problem is last-minute schedule changes, mixed emotions, and the pressure to please everyone. We’ve been there. In this conversation, we'll offer practical guidance with a simple plan: five respectful negotiation tips for working with the other home and a kid-centered framework to navigate...
You’re the parent, or stepparent, who wants less conflict and more connection. But a child’s resistance, sarcasm, isolation, or hurtful words, such as: “you’re not my dad,” can derail plans and result in hurtful interactions. We’ve been there. In part 2 of this mini-series, you'll discover how to respond well in tough moments of pushback by using John Gottman’s 5 steps of Emotion Coaching. You’ll hear us role-play around real-life pushback when a child is competing for a parent's love, ...
We know that pushback moments can sting. Eye rolls, refusals, accusations, or shutting down are all things kids in blended families can tend to do. It’s easy for parents and stepparents to appease, minimize, deflect, control, try to 'fix-it' or simply avoid pushback (we’ve done it too). In this two-part series, we act as your guides and name the real struggle beneath kids' hurtful behavior: loss, grief, and fear that come with blending. Then we introduce a clear plan: Emotion Coaching.&...
Resources Episode 221. Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, a...
Blended family couples often carry unprocessed pain and can slip into patterns of “autopilot", which fuels disconnection and discouragement. Chad and Jdele Brignac know this firsthand. After merging their families, they hoped for “Brady Bunch” magic. Instead, they spent 17 years in deep grief and survival mode as unexamined patterns collided. In this episode, we draw out their hard-won wisdom, which they share in their book Blend Don’t Break. After two decades of marriage, a turning point cam...
Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your h...
Have you ever experienced an awkward "stepfamily moment" in public? Like when someone notices that you and your child have different last names or makes assumptions about your family dynamics? We've experienced plenty of those moments in our blended family journey, and it doesn't feel very good. In today’s conversation, we address the experience of feeling “marginalized” or "less than". And we'll share what we've done to stand in our true identity and invite others int...
CLICK HERE to learn more about the Blending Together Community Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help yo...
Over our 24 years of blending, we’ve discovered that every couple needs a clear strategy to get unstuck and move toward the family future they really want. In this conversation, we share a proven approach to aligning around your family's goals, creating a values-based parenting approach, and avoiding the common pitfalls that lead to chaos, resentment, and division. We know how confusing and lonely blended family life can feel at times—it's complicated! Even with millions of stepfamilies...
Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your h...
If you’ve ever felt like the values you’re trying to instill in your kids get undone the moment they step into the other home, you’re not alone. We’ve been there—and we know how discouraging it can feel. In this episode, we share a powerful tool we first learned from Ron Deal called the Inoculation Strategy. It’s a simple, practical way to prepare your kids to recognize and resist negative influences—without badmouthing or creating loyalty binds. We’ll walk you through real-life example...
Resources Surviving & Thriving in Stepfamily Relationships by Patricia Papernow Episode 217. Feeling Overwhelmed and Powerless? How to Regain Hope with Tools that Heal [with EJ and Tarah Kerwin] Episode 139. The Most Common, Challenging Pain Point Every Blended Couple Experiences Episode 206. Avoid These 5 Common Pitfalls to Ensure a Successful Partnership Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show?&nb...
If you’ve ever wondered why blending a family feels so hard—even when you're "doing everything right"—this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, we connect with EJ and Tarah Kerwin—professional therapists and co-founders of the Relationship Renovation Counseling Center—who open up about the very real and very raw struggles they faced when they merged their lives into one blended family. Despite all their training, nothing could have prepared them for the emotional rollercoaster o...
Resources Episode 36. How to Change Your "Stories" and Grow Connection [with Mark Warren] Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share Ready for some extra support? We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching...
If you're feeling stuck in a blended family marriage that’s filled with constant conflict, emotional disconnection, or overwhelming stress, you're not alone—and you're not without hope. Wes and Jennie were right where you are. Ten kids, a new marriage, and the chaos of the pandemic had pushed them into survival mode. Their arguments were frequent and intense. Their connection was fading fast. And they had no idea how to move forward. But instead of giving up, they chose to reach out for...
Resources Episode 215. Does Your Relationship Feel Hopeless? Why Giving Up Might Not Be the Answer The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman Episode 155. How to Easily Enjoy Meaningful Conversations and More Connection with Your Spouse [with Jennifer Zumbiel] Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know! We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/...
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I am so thankful that you have added what the bio parent can do. There are so many resources out there and this is the 1st I have come across that address what the bio parent can do. Thank you!