Family Brand: Take Back Your Family

Hey everyone, it's Chris here, and I can't wait to tell you about my recent chat on the Family Brand podcast with the awesome Shelli Baltman and Fiona Stevenson. These two amazing ladies are all about helping people tap into their creativity and reach their full potential. They started their own boutique innovation agency called The Idea Suite back in 2015, and they've been making waves in the world of creativity and innovation ever since! Shelli and Fiona are part of this fantastic mastermind group I'm in, and they were some of the first to try out the very first version of Family Brand. During our talk, they emphasized the importance of teaching our kids to be adaptable, creative, and full of ideas in today's fast-paced world. They're also really passionate about helping underserved groups, including kids, by teaching them creative problem-solving skills they'll need to thrive in life. Their passion led them to co-write an amazing book called "The Greatest Helmet of All Time: Using our Heads for Creative Problem Solving." They share the same six-step process they use with their clients to help kids (and grown-ups) come up with innovative ideas and solutions. One of the main points from our conversation was the importance of teaching our kids that they're not just creative, but that they're creators. Shelli and Fiona explained that it's about embracing the identity of being a creator and knowing you can create anything. This powerful mindset can help our kids face challenges with confidence and resilience. Shelli and Fiona also talked about the importance of finding a balance between consuming and creating. They encouraged parents to teach their kids to create more than they consume, so they're active participants in the world rather than just passively taking things in. My chat with Shelli Baltman and Fiona Stevenson was seriously inspiring and full of great insights. I'm so thankful for their friendship and the amazing work they do to help unlock people's creative potential, both young and old. Definitely check out their book, "The Greatest Helmet of All Time," and keep an eye out for more from these two fantastic women!   Links For This Episode:    Link to Buy Book: https://amzn.to/3LtL5wq Website: familybrand.com Social: Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand   NEW: What Culture are You Creating In Your Family? Take the Quiz Now! https://familybrand.com/quiz   Episode Minute By Minute: 0:44 What’s inside today’s show 1:32 Get to know Shelli Baltman and Fiona Stevenson 3:12 How limiting stories can start to take away our creativity  3:58 Some of the ideas behind the book, “The Greatest Helmet of All Time” 6:56 Teaching our kids they can be creators and contributors  13:25 Why it’s so important to teach kids that they can be innovative and solve problems 16:38 How to find this life changing book 17:37 Why Chris endorses The Idea Suite  

In this episode, we chat with the one and only Michael Hyatt, the founder and chairman of Full Focus. You may know him from one of his many life changing books or coaching programs! Today we talk about his new book, Mind Your Mindset, and how it can help parents like us take control of our thinking to achieve success in all areas of life, family and business.  As parents, we are often juggling so many things, from work and household duties to our children's needs and activities. It can be overwhelming and stressful, and sometimes it feels like we're not making any progress towards our goals. Michael Hyatt believes that by taking control of our thinking and mindset, we can achieve bigger, better, and extraordinary results. Michael talks about the concept of the narrator, the voice inside our heads that interprets the facts of our existence. He explains how we can learn to distinguish between the facts and the stories we build based on them. He also shares how our thoughts inspire our actions, and our actions determine our results. By tinkering with our thinking, we can create a positive and productive mindset that will help us achieve our goals as parents. We also talk about how our lives are made up of the stories we choose to believe. As parents, we often tell ourselves negative stories about our parenting abilities, our children's behavior, or our work-life balance. Michael encourages us to reframe these stories and choose to believe positive and empowering ones instead. As parents, we know how important it is to set a good example for our children. By taking control of our thinking and mindset, we can teach our children the value of a positive attitude and a growth mindset. We can show them that anything is possible if we believe in ourselves and work towards our goals. Be sure to listen to the end to hear some of Michael’s incredible tips and insights on parenting, staying connected as a family, how to love your kids as they leave the house and so much more. His advice is something all parents and entrepreneurs can learn from!  We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did. Michael's insights and advice on taking control of our thinking are truly inspiring and applicable to all aspects of our lives as parents. Don't forget to check out his new book, Mind Your Mindset, for even more tips and strategies on achieving success.   Links For This Episode:  Get The Book: https://mindyourmindsetbook.com Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand NEW: What Culture are You Creating In Your Family? Take the Quiz Now! https://familybrand.com/quiz   Episode Minute By Minute: 0:44 Welcome Michael Hyatt to the Family Brand Podcast 1:06 How we met Michael  2:21 A look into Michael’s new book  6:16 The key to taking control of your mind 11:30 The power of taking personal responsibility  16:30 Teaching your kids to say sorry 18:22 The difference between a story and the truth  23:11 One of Michael Hyatt’s #1 leadership tip 27:20 Parenting advice from Michael Hyatt 31:25 Creating a great place for your family to come 37:40 What drives your kids away as they get older 43:30 How Michael raised daughters that believe in themselves   

Every year, our family chooses a word, a scripture, and a quote that serves as a guide for our decisions and actions. We have hinted at this process on the podcast over the years but we have never made a full episode breaking down the full process until today! This fun and easy experience has been one of the most transformative things we have done in our family.  It all started when Melissa and I realized that setting individual goals every year wasn't working for us. We would always fall off the wagon by January 15th. So instead, we started picking a word or a phrase to live by for the year. This idea evolved into choosing a family theme and it's been a game-changer for us.  Our family theme for this year is "Simplify and Expand," and our scripture is Matthew 6:33: "But seek first the Kingdom of God and all his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Our quote for the year is: "Fill your life with lots of experiences, not lots of things. Have incredible stories to tell, not incredible clutter in your closets." The process of choosing our family theme is a collaborative one. At the end of each year, we reflect on what worked for us and what didn't, and we have conversations with our children about the year we've had as a family. This year, our goal is to simplify our lives, starting with decluttering our home, so we can have more space for meaningful experiences. They come prepared with their own scriptures and quotes that align with the theme, and we all vote on the one that embodies the theme the most. It's a fun and meaningful way for our family to come together and focus on what's important to us. This simple progress has brought so much joy and connection to our home that we will never go without it! If you want to start creating your own Family Brand or if you don't know where to start when it comes to setting goals or intentions as a family, start with our Family Brand Course! Get 20% off now when you use the promo code "PODCAST" at: https://familybrand.com/program LINKS: Website: familybrand.com Social: Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand   NEW: What Culture are You Creating In Your Family? Take the Quiz Now! https://familybrand.com/quiz Episode Minute By Minute: 0:54 This topic has been a long time coming! 1:43 Why we have a theme, a scripture and a quote for every year  4:29  Our theme, scripture and quote for 2023 5:36 Why we are simplifying our lives this year 9:44 How this progress can help you live more intentionally  14:00 A look inside our Family Brand Program 15:12 Why we won’t leave our family's future to chance  17:00 How we define a strong family  19:17 It may be hard work, but it’s always worth it. 20:15 How to start creating your Family Brand (20% off discount with promo code: PODCAST)

Have you ever stopped to think about what makes a family or a company truly successful in the long run? I mean, sure, you can have a great message, a compelling story, a solid strategy, and strong values, but what if I told you that the number one thing that can drive growth, foster meaningful relationships, and create a positive environment is actually culture? We know you've probably heard the word "culture" thrown around a lot, but do you really know what it means? To us, culture is simply the environment that surrounds us and how we treat each other. It can be within a company, within a family, or even as customers or clients in a business. Recently Chris worked with a branding agency that was doing amazing things, and he was blown away by their culture. People loved working there, they supported each other, and they got stuff done. And the crazy thing was, they didn't even have any stated values or mission statement. It was all just part of their culture, the way they treated each other, and how they showed up. And that's the thing about culture, you can't not have one. Every family, every company, every group of people has a culture, whether it's by design or just by default. So, wouldn't it be amazing if we could create a culture that inspired us to be better, where we could be our authentic selves, and where we felt good just being there? That's why we are so excited to tell you about our new Family Culture Quiz on our website! It's a 10-question quiz that will give you a score and show you the one essential ingredient to having an amazing family culture! Take the Quiz Now! https://familybrand.com/quiz And the best part is, no matter where you rank, there are practical things you can do to improve your family's culture. So, don't just take our word for it, go check out the quiz for yourself and see what the research says about the power of culture in a family or a company. Trust us, it will be worth your time! >CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE QUIZ< Website: familybrand.com Social: Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand Take our Family Culture Quiz and learn The One Essential Piece of An Amazing Family Culture: https://familybrand.com/quiz   Episode Minute By Minute: 0:56 The most common question we hear from families and organizations 1:44 Why culture is the foundation for success  5:24 Practical ways we experience culture every day 6:00 Our definition of culture  7:14 Is your culture created by design? 10:22 How to take our family culture quiz  13:54 How to find out the #1 thing that creates a family culture   

Welcome to this week's episode of The Family Brand Podcast! We are recording from the North Shore, and feeling happy and nostalgic about living here full-time.  Recently, we have been getting a lot of questions about our Family Brand program so we decided to take a few of the core principles we teach and unpack them one at a time here on the podcast. We are starting off this series with "we prioritize."  This is where we self-identify our priorities and how we can show up more powerfully and present for our kids and loved ones. Research from the University of Nebraska highlights the six things that make a strong family the first strength they discuss is prioritizing family. When parents prioritize their family, everyone's life changes for the better and has positive effects for years to come. We understand this one is easier said than done, all the distractions and commitments that modern life brings. That's why we are keeping it simple and want to encourage you to just ask yourself… “Am I building a life around my family or building my family around my life?” You may have to read that question again to let it sink in. It can be profound and confronting at the same time.  Hit play to hear our list of practical ways we are prioritizing our family in 2023 and building a life where everyone feels loved and seen. If you want to take these ideas even further and start applying them in your own family, here is some homework for this week's episode!  To take this month's theme of prioritizing family to the next level. This month Chris and Melissa challenged everyone in the Family Brand Program to have a screen-free day and just play together as a family. This activity could look different for every family, but trust us the memories are with it! Overall, we hope you use this episode as a reminder that making family a priority takes intentional effort, but the benefits are immeasurable. And remember, "it's not about being perfect, but it's about being intentional."   More Of What’s Inside: What the research says about creating a strong family Why it’s harder than ever for families to stay connected Practical ways to prioritize family are having family meals together  What entrepreneurial families need to remember  How to know if your family is getting enough from you  Why we are so passionate about this topic Awareness is key to prioritizing family How to show up even in the small things And much more! Links For This Episode:  Family Brand Podcast-Importance of Family Meals with guest Karlie Burnham: https://familybrand.com/reviving-the-family-dinner-why-eating-together-is-important-with-karlie-burnham Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 3:01 How these principles build on each other  4:47 Most families feel like they are too busy 5:39 Practical examples of prioritizing family  7:04 Why we have meals together as a family  8:00 Common lies entrepreneurs tell themselves  9:40 How we are learning to connect more  11:00 Is your family getting your best?  13:38 The power of showing interest in their interest  14:44 Recap and action steps for every listener this week  

Hey, it's Chris and Melissa back for another Family Brand Podcast!  This is a special recording for us because we're back on the North Shore of Hawaii! We love this place and feel like it's where we really gained a lot of momentum with our podcast. If you have been listening for a while, you know we've recorded over half of our episodes here. Being back reminds us there's just something special and magical about this vibe that attracted so many amazing people to support us. Thanks again for listening to our show! We find it an honor to spend time with you every week.  Today we're chatting about the idea of life as one big adventure. We talk about our own experience of living on the North Shore in 2021 and how we felt called to take our family on an adventure, selling everything we owned and moving there. Although we moved back to Arizona, we're back in Hawaii for the month of February, taking advantage of a unique opportunity that came up. A lot of people have been asking us about our kids' school, but we believe that life is meant to be lived, and that we can choose how we want to live and raise our kids. We see life as one big adventure, meant to be lived and played to win. This may sound easier said than done, but over the last few years we have learned how to live outside the box and not let things like school systems or others opinions hold us back from experiencing all life has to offer.  In this episode we encourage others to think of life as an adventure too and to question the "shoulds' ' and "supposed tos" that you may not even realize you are living by. We know that stepping outside the box can sometimes mean facing criticism, but we believe that the criticism says more about the criticizer than the criticized.  We encourage everyone to have the courage to truly live! If you know another powerful couple or friend who needs to hear this reminder, help us spread the word and share this episode with them.    More Of What’s Inside: An analogy that proves your limitless  How life experience can be more powerful than reading It’s okay to step out of the box What to do when you face criticism  Living an adventurous life encourages others to do the same Gradually becoming more adventurous still counts Why we are back in Hawaii for a month The Inexplicable Laws of Success And much more!   Links For This Episode:  Book- 'The Inexplicable Laws of Success' by Singh Virend and Verusha Virend: https://amzn.to/3Ylx4EQ Website: familybrand.com Social: Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 1:00 Why we are back in North Shore  3:30 We moved for a month  6:30 is life just one big adventure? 9:04 Common regrets at the end of life 10:21 What does living life look like to you? 13:11 Why most people really criticize you  14:13 Our encouragement for you today 16:16 Step #1 to creating your dream life

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we’re bringing you a subject we’ve never had before on The Family Brand Podcast… Many of you will be excited because we have gotten a few requests for this topic. If you are new here, this will be a memorable first introduction to us! Haha Hit play to hear how to have better sex and intimacy in your marriage! Our guest today is Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, a relationship and sexuality coach with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Jennifer’s teaching and coaching focus on helping Christian individuals and couples achieve greater satisfaction and passion in their emotional and sexual relationships. In this episode, we discuss common sex struggles that couples face at different stages of marriage, including Chris and Mellissa’s own experiences. They delve into cultural standards for what makes a "good" parent, and how these standards can negatively impact our sexual relationships. They also talk about how to know if your marriage is imbalanced, and the negativity effects of making your children your identity. Jennifer provides practical advice for breaking out of your current routine, and reigniting the passion in your relationship. She covers the importance of communication and understanding your partner’s needs, as well as tips for keeping the spark alive. Whether you’re a newlywed or have been married for years, this episode is full of valuable insights and advice for taking your sexual relationship to the next level. So grab your partner and get ready to take notes!  PS:  To learn more about us or Jennifer, check out our links below!  More Of What’s Inside: Common sex struggles at different stages of marriage Chris and Mellissa’s sexual history  Cultural standards for  what makes a “good” Moms/Dads  How to know if your marriage is imbalanced  The negative effects of making your kids your identity  How to break out of your current rut and routine  The #1 thing you can do to be “sexy” to your spouse Meliisa’s experience at Jevvier’s workshop  How to understand your fantasies  And much more!   Links For This Episode:  Course: https://www.finlayson-fife.com/courses Workshop and Recourses: https://www.finlayson-fife.com/workshops Podcast: https://finlayson-fife.com/coaching/room-for-two Book- ‘Come as You Are’ by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D: https://amzn.to/40hZxwp  Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:58 Welcome to today’s episode 2:28 How Jennifer became a Sex and Relationship coach 5:24 How important is sex to marriage? 11:18 The common challenges in sex and marriage 15:55 How to create more desire in your relationship 25:40 Tips for empty-nesters  29:17 What makes really good sex 34:11 Understanding your fantasies  40:13 Finding your sense of self and self-worth  44:13 The dynamic of desire  47:13 Why Jennifer started prioritizing sex 50:36 Books and resources to learn more  52:07 Jennifer’s tips for all couples listening

As a busy entrepreneurial family, you are faced with hundreds of ways to invest your time, money, and energy daily. But are you investing where it really counts?  We believe the best investment we can make as spouses and parents is always in our own personal growth and self-development. But what happens when one person in the couple grows more than the other? Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! In this show, we share the importance of growing together in marriage rather than growing apart. We understand this can be easier said than done. We all grow at different speeds and in different ways. Plus, when you have young kids, you and your spouse may be in different seasons in life when it comes to careers or personal goals. Recently we took a trip to Texas together, and it reminded us of how far we have come in our own personal development journey. Trust us, we aren’t anywhere near finished, but we are proud of the journey so far. Hit play to hear our advice for growing together with your spouse, practical examples of how we learn and have shared experiences together, how to respond if your spouse doesn’t want to grow with you and so much more.  Being willing to try new things and step out of our comfort zones to grow and become greater is one of the best gifts we can give our kids. They are watching our every move and learning how to do this thing called life so let’s show them how to invest in their greatest asset, themselves!  Ps: To learn more about our Family Brand Program, check out: familybrand.com More Of What’s Inside: What prevents relationships from growing apart How Melissa developed her own identity and new skills Our recent trip to Austin, Texas Why we take four annual getaways together to focus on personal growth How to spark conversations by sharing a podcast The importance of self-awareness Overcoming the victim mentality Growing apart can happen to every couple  And much more! Links For This Episode:  Song- Ben Platt "Grow as We Go" https://open.spotify.com/track/6hYvw3LLTViP2mT4MpDNmT?si=024880a7e92e47af Family Brand Podcast-How To Plan and Execute a Couple's Trip: https://familybrand.com/how-to-plan-and-execute-the-perfect-couples-trip-even-if-youre-busy/ Website: familybrand.com Social: Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:42 What inspired today’s conversation 2:06 The special ability only leaders have 6:27  The importance of growing together  8:30 How Melissa’s personal development journey started  11:36 The value of a shared experience  15:00 The truth about growth and transformation 17:38 Lyrics all couples need to hear  19:41 What to do if you’re the only one growing 21:35 Only you can take ownership of you

Have you ever thought, “I REALLY wish I/we had more time!” If so, you are going to love this episode. Dan Martell is an entrepreneur, angel investor and became a highly sought-after coach in the SaaS industry after exiting three technology companies within a ten-year period. He’s also an Ironman athlete, philanthropist, husband, and father of two incredible boys. We recently had the opportunity to take him and his wife, Renee through our Family Brand Level Up Your Family program. This week he launched his amazing book ‘Buy Back Your Time’. Dan is an expert when it comes to figuring out how to free up more of your time so you can do the things that light you up while making more income and a bigger impact in the world. One of the things we constantly hear from families is they don’t feel like they have enough time. And, oftentimes this seems impossible for families to figure out how to take back their time. There are so many demands coming at them from every direction. In this episode, Dan will share some really creative and practical ways that every family can take back more of their time, so they can focus on being a family, doing the things that light them up, and making a big difference in the world. In fact, we have already begun to experience the benefits of what Dan teaches. Recently, we implemented one of his strategies to buy back a significant amount of time each week that we are now using to further our mission of building and strengthening families. If you like this episode, check out the links below to connect with Dan or join the Family Brand Program!  More Of What’s Inside: A first look into Dan’s new book - Buy Back Your Time Practical examples of how we are creating more time in our week You deserve to make your life a little easier by outsourcing  Invest in activities that bring you happiness and financial success How to support your community by outsourcing and delegating tasks like meal prep, grocery shopping A million-dollar lifestyle is more achievable than you think! Common struggles that hold back most families from living their dreams Why Dan is a raving fan of the Family Brand Program How Dan positively transformed all the relationships in his life And much more!   Links For This Episode:  Dan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danmartell Dan on LinkedIn: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/dmartell Book- "Buy Back Your Time" by Dan Martell: https://www.buybackyourtime.com Website: familybrand.com Social: Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 1:28 Get to know Dan Martell 2:13 The biggest changes most families struggle with  4:30 The moment everything changed for Dan 7:33 When Dan started buying his time 10:50 Dan’s advice for every family who needs more time 13:26 Overcoming the shame of outsourcing  18:34 Teaching your kids responsibility even when you outsource help at home 22:28 the power of investing in your family  28:00 Learning from others and how they save time 34:48 Reframing your mindset to worthiness and possibility

Parenting is a challenging journey, full of uncertainty and self-doubt.  It can be hard to know if you are doing the right thing when it comes to parenting your kids and loving them on an individual level to ensure all their needs are met both emotionally and physically. Welcome back to the Family Brand Podcast! Melissa here for another show and If you agree with the statement above, this episode will blow your mind. Fair warning before you dive into today’s content, you may want to grab a pin and paper or your digital equivalent so you can take notes. This episode is packed with valuable tips all parents need to hear!  Hit play to meet the one and only Crystal Haitsma. Crystal is known as the “parenting coach” and talks with us about how to trust yourself as a parent. Crystal has a unique approach to parenting and I was excited to hear more about it face-to-face.  I stumbled upon Crystal's Instagram and after scrolling through a few posts I had to know more. I  was immediately drawn to her connection-based parenting method. Crystal explains that the connection-based parenting method is all about building a strong relationship with your children and It's about being present, listening actively, and understanding your child's perspective. It's not about being tyrannical or controlling but rather about being a guide for your child and learning how to help and love them in the best way possible. For most of us, this approach to parenting is 100% the opposite of what we experienced growing up.  Learning how to parent in a new way can seem daunting at first or your temptation may be to run out and grab every book you can find on parenting and self-development you can find. Either way, you’ll learn during our conversation that building a better relationship with your child may be easier than you think. Why? Because you have everything you need to succeed inside you. Crystal reminds us of the fundamental truths of self-care and how if we take care of ourselves we can better serve our kids and families. You’ll also hear her advice on how to trust your intuition, how to overcome the battles in your mind, how to not repeat the pain of your past and so much more.  It's okay to make mistakes and remember that being a perfect parent is impossible. However, we know there is always room for growth! We look forward to relistening to this episode over and over again to learn more from Crystal. To reach out to us or learn more about our guests, follow the links below!    More Of What’s Inside: Crystal’s approach as a parenting coach Why it’s so easy to want a certain behavior from your kids It’s never too late to change your relationship with your kids Self-healing is both daunting and empowering The difference between thought work and emotional work What to do if you feel like melting down Melisa gets coached live on the podcast How Crystal got started parenting coaching  The power of connection based parenting And much more!   Links For This Episode:  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.parenting.coach Crystal's Podcast: http://www.coachcrystal.ca/blog Crystal's Parenting Personality Quiz: https://coachcrystal.involve.me/parents-organic Link to Crystal's Mindset Journal for Parents: https://www.coachcrystal.ca/shop Book- By Gordon Neufeld- "Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers": https://amzn.to/3GqOF6p Book-by Deborah MacNamara PhD- "Rest, Play, Grow: Making Sense of Preschoolers (Or Anyone Who Acts Like One)": https://amzn.to/3Zp6NGf Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:52 How Crystal and Melissa met  1:33 What Crystal does as a parenting couch 7:01 What is connection-based parenting  9:35 How to show up with different energy with your kids 14:50 Shifting your perspective as a parent 17:01 Why it’s important to connect with your teenager  22:28 You have the power inside of yourself for you or your kids 27:18 Your past will affect your parenting  31:47 How to start being a better parent today 35:20 What to do when you’re overly stimulated 40:02 Teaching your kids how to process emotions  45:57  How to learn more from Crystal  47:57 Books about parenting you may love 51:33 How to take control of your thoughts and mindset

New Year, New Vision. If you want to have a great 2023, creating a clear vision is the #1 way to get the most out of your new year. Plus, it’s more fun and easier than you think!  Welcome to the Family Brand Podcast! If you are new here, you may not know that we are big believers in vision boards. At one point in our lives, we would have been skeptical about the idea and have chalked it up to a “woo-woo” exercise and completely written it off.  However, after years of seeing firsthand how Vision Boards can pay off and help you manifest your dreams and intentions…we are 100% convinced that every family should adopt this tradition! Creating them as a family can be a fun and meaningful activity for all ages.   First, start by talking about a few goals. This can include personal goals, such as learning a new skill or starting a new hobby, as well as family goals, like saving for a vacation or improving your health. By having this conversation, you can get a better understanding of what each family member is hoping to accomplish and how you can support each other in reaching your goals. This year we had the opportunity to look back on our vision boards from 2022 and everyone in the family was amazed at how many things from our boards came to life throughout the year. From words we embodied to awards we worked towards, to visiting the same locations we saw in a magazine. Watching our kids see their goals come to pass has been one of the most powerful things we have experienced as parents.  By setting goals and visualizing your future together, you can create a roadmap for success and strengthen your connections with your loved ones. In this episode, we share how we created our Vision Boards for 2023, what words we picked for the year and why, how we helped our kids complete their boards, and how we plan to use them throughout the calendar year. We will also cover what practical materials you’ll need to create them so that by the end of the show, you’ll be ready to start your own! So why wait? Gather your family and get started on your vision boards for 2023 today! For more help and to get to most out of the experience, download our full activity pack: https://familybrand.com/new Inside you’ll find out with main activities: Reflection of the past year Family Awards Ceremony Vision Boards creation  These three activities can help children understand the concept of time, the power of setting goals, encourage positive habits, reinforce their identity and uniqueness, plus so much more!   More Of What’s Inside: What’s on our 2023 vision board Why you should start with a word or a phrase for the year How our family is disconnecting from devices more this year The “simplify, expand and simplify” framework  Why we had a great Christmas break as a family  A few lessons we learned in 2022 The importance of having a vision board A few goals that came to pass last year Our “words” for 2023 and how we plan to live them out The brain science behind a vision board And much more!   Links For This Episode:  Book- "The GO-Giver" by Bob Burg: https://amzn.to/3QjR8UH Link to the New Years Bundle: http://familybrand.com/new   Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:43 Welcome back to the Family Brand Podcast! 1:18 Let’s talk about vision boards! 3:16 How we come up with our “word” for the year 4:22 Crazy adventures that came true because our vision boards 6:43 Advice for people who have never made a vision board 8:47 Mellisa’s word for 2023 12:40 Unpacking your “word” even further 16:02 It’s the year to get off the sidelines  18:06 Why we love camping as a family  20:54 Chris’ word for 2023 23:54 How to promote peace in our home

Nothing leads to better conversations like traveling on the open road.  Recently, we were traveling for a quick work trip and our four oldest kids were hanging out with friends for Christmas Break. We took our youngest to friends about an hour and a half away so we found ourselves with some alone time in the car.  We started talking about our kids individually and how we can love them more intentionally in 2023. It led to one of the most thought-provoking and powerful conversations we have ever had as parents. We left the trip with 3 questions that every parent should be asking if they want to up-level their parenting.  Welcome back to the Family Brand Podcast! Today on the show, we will let you in on our conversation and break down our answers to these 3 parenting questions. However, full disclosure is we haven’t fully finished this exercise ourselves, so we will all be doing it together.  After serious consideration, we decided to take some time with our answers and really lean in to find the most intentional ways to love our kids this year. It truly is a profound experience and we plan on making this process a part of our yearly routine.  Setting relationship goals and being strategic about how you lead your family doesn’t just apply to your kids. You can apply these same questions to your marriage and show your spouse more intentional love in the New Year.  And speaking of the New Year, don’t miss out on our FREE New Year’s Eve Bundle. We have a few ideas to help you create the most meaningful, fun, connected, positive, and awesome New Year's Party your family ever imagined!  Our plans consist of 3 main activities: Reflection of the past year Family Awards Ceremony Vision Boards creation  These 3 activities can help children understand the concept of time, the power of setting goals, encourage positive habits, reinforce their identity and uniqueness, plus so much more!  It will be your family's new favorite tradition! Get access now: http://familybrand.com/new More Of What’s Inside: How can we show up for each of our children Some tools and strategies to help your kids How are we finding the answers to these questions  The power of making investments in your family  A few examples of how we are applying our answers How to have the best year yet  And much more! Links For This Episode:  Link to the New Years' Eve Bundle: http://familybrand.com/new Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:07 What’s inside this episode  2:00 A new tradition we are implementing as parents  4:24 Helping and loving your kids as individuals  5:05 How we are showing up for our kids this year 8:00 Making proactive investments in your family 11:03 Intentional goal setting for every relationship 12:01 How to capitalize off the new year

New Year's Eve is a special time for many people and families. It's a chance to reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year ahead.  Welcome back to the Family Brand Podcast! We are excited to share an update on our MOST requested topic of the year.  If you have heard our previous years episodes, we can cut to the chase! Get Your FREE New Years' Eve Party Bundle Here: http://familybrand.com/new (PDFs and Print outs included!) If you’re new around here, let us give you the rundown! After years of perfecting the perfect family New Year's Eve party, It’s now become one of our most beloved holidays and traditions in the Smith House.  However, we haven’t always looked forward to the end of the year like we do today. A few years ago, we were going through the motions and stayed up too late on New Year's Eve and then the whole family woke up groggy and grumpy on New Year’s Day.  The new year is supposed to be a time for fresh starts and new beginnings, and just barely making it through the day on January 1st didn’t feel like how we wanted to start my new year.  Sound familiar? If so, we have a few ideas to help you create the most meaningful, fun, connected, positive, and awesome New Year's Party your family ever imagined!  Our plans consist of 3 main activities: Reflection of the past year Family Awards Ceremony Vision Boards creation  These 3 activities can help children understand the concept of time, the power of setting goals, encourage positive habits, reinforce their identity and uniqueness, plus so much more!  Having a meaningful New Year's Eve party with your kids can help set the tone for the rest of the year and set your family up for success. Don’t just take our word for it. Try it for yourself!  Every family that has tried these ideas said it was a game-changer for their relationships and helped transform the culture in their house throughout the new year. Hit play to see why our party plans even went viral last year on Instagram!  Get Your FREE New Years' Eve Party Bundle Here: http://familybrand.com/new (PDFs and Print outs included!) Feel free to take these ideas and resources and make them your own! Tag us in your pictures or contact us and tell us how your night goes @ourfamilybrand on Instagram. (Links below)   More Of What’s Inside: How to have the most meaningful New Year’s Eve party with your family How to get ahead of the game with your family awards night The impact of being acknowledged for something you’re doing This isn’t just something “cool” to do with your family  Why Chris personally looks forward to this transition  What other people are saying about our New Year's Eve party What gave us the idea to redesign our New Year’s Eve  And much more! Links For This Episode:  Link to the New Years' Eve Bundle: http://familybrand.com/new Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:40 Why people have been requesting this episode  1:17 Why we love this tradition  2:25 What inspired our New Years Party Ideas 5:20 A look inside our Family Reward ceremony 6:01 The power of reflecting on your year 7:05 Kids love vision boards  8:23 How has this process impacted us 9:14 How to get your New Years' bundle FREE!   

Light, love, and positivity.  In our opinion, these are not just “new age” buzzwords. These are some of the most important things we can spread worldwide. And we all have the power to do it! Do you agree?  If so, we probably can agree that it can be easier said than done.  During the Holidays, it’s easier to keep things like that at the top of your mind, especially as you buy gifts and start creating memories with your family. Things like generosity and intentionality are built into your schedule. But what about the rest of the year?  How can we give away our light to anyone we meet, and what does that even mean?  Those are just some of the questions we want to tackle in today’s episode! Welcome to another episode of the family Brand podcast.  This conversation is short and sweet, but if you apply these ideas you’ll be rewarded for years to come. (Plus, everyone around you too.)  Hit play to hear why we think everyone has a light that the world needs, how to unleash your light, how to appreciate people more, what it looks like to acknowledge others, and so much more.  More Of What’s Inside: What does it mean to “give light”? The story of how our church asked us to deliver a nativity set  The best gifts aren’t necessarily physical gifts The gift of appreciation and affection Getting outside of yourself when you are giving Give more than just the perfect gift And much more!   Links For This Episode:  PDF-50 Ideas to Share Your Light: https://content.churchofjesuschrist.org/acp/bc/Asia%20Area/2022LTWPAC/50%20Ideas/LTW-22-50-ideas-ENG.pdf The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success: https://amzn.to/3j2x0de Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 1:10 Let’s talk about giving light  2:46 Every gift can have some light 4:06 The Law Of Giving 5:45 You never know how far kindness can go  6:50 How Chris’ friend shows honor to others 8:41 How can you bring a little more light? 9:29 How to get a list of ideas on how to spread your light

Today we are coming to you live from our family road trip! Welcome back to the Family Brand Podcast! Every year around this time, the Smiths get a whole new look. You may think we are referring to ugly Christmas sweaters or our favorite Holiday outfits, but we are talking about our Cowboy hats and boots.  We take a trip to Las Vegas to see Chris compete in the National Rodeo Championships. If you haven’t known us long, this family hobby may surprise you. However, if you have been around awhile you know that we love the country scene as much as the surf scene!  We have a mixed bag of interests, hobbies, and things we like to do as a family. We love to go on adventures together so we find ourselves in the most interesting places and conversations.  Sometimes, those conversations can go south quickly. As you find the vision for your family and you create your “Family Brand.” you’ll discover fast that some people have a lot to say… It may feel like everyone has an opinion on your life and how you live it. Some people may even ask you why? Or proceed to tell you that you are wrong. Maybe you have experienced similar situations in your life. In this episode, we have an honest conversation about when you owe an explanation and when you don’t. In modern culture, we all spend too much time apologizing or explaining why we do things that matter to us.  Don’t get us wrong, of course, there are valid times to give someone an explanation, but for the most part, we want to encourage you to take back your power and give less energy to people who ask questions they don’t really care to know the answer to. Or people who ask questions just to knock you down.  We hope this episode encourages you and your family embraces more of what you want to do in the new year! If you liked this “coaching” style content, let us know! Reach out to us via the links below.  More Of What’s Inside: You don’t owe anyone an explanation When you told people you were moving to Hawaii Why you don’t have to apologize when you fail People are asking for an explanation are coming into your world and calendar How to take back your family's time How Mellissa now handles emails How often do you find yourself explaining yourself? Chris’ healthy journey in 2022  And much more!   Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:49 Our trip to Vegas 1:27 Why we love the Rodeo 2:12 You never have to explain yourself 3:47 A lot of people will question you  7:02 How to respond to people's questions 10:33 Don’t give away your power  14:28 What Chris has been working on lately 17:04 Pay attention to how you respond this week

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, they say… But is it really? LOL Welcome back to the Family Brand Podcast, Chris and Melissa here for another honest conversation about what’s going on in the Smith world. If you’re like us, you love this time of year and all the beautiful memories we get to make with our kids of all ages.  However, as the years have gone by it feels like our schedule is packed and our family is spread thin across the board. It can be hard to navigate the Holiday season with family arrangements, expectations with traditions, checking off the gift list, and everything in between.  In other words, the to-do list is long but the hours are short. It feels more overwhelming than “the true Christmas Spirit.” Instead of just putting our heads down and finishing out the calendar year in the same routine, we decided to sit down and do a “family audit” so we can have a more peaceful Christmas and Holiday atmosphere in our home.  If that sounds good to you, hit play to hear more! During this conversation, we share how we plan to take back our schedule this season, how we plan to declutter our home before we bring more “stuff” via Christmas gifts, how we found out our kid's favorite traditions, and how we are prioritizing activities' accordingly and so much more!  Every family and Holiday culture is unique so feel free to take the ideas discussed in the show and make them your own! However you celebrate, we hope you take action on this episode. Even if you can eliminate one stressful thing in your life over the next few weeks it will be worth it! And, your kids will thank you.  - Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Give your kids the gift of a last name they are proud of! Start building your own Family Brand today: familybrand.com More Of What’s Inside: What’s the biggest challenge facing your family? How we are outsourcing over 300 pieces of laundry every week Why we think it’s important to have your kids do chores How to take back your family’s time Why have we been asking “What’s going on with our house?” Updates on our new home Why we have grown to love a minimalist lifestyle Sometimes you just have to get rid of “stuff” in all areas   And much more!   Links For This Episode:  Book- "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo: https://amzn.to/3VmVoEL Podcast- "Agreements vs. Expectations" -The Family Brand Podcast: https://familybrand.com/agreements-vs-expectations-why-every-parent-needs-to-understand-this/ Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:40 Is it the most wonderful day of the year? 4:28 How minimalism can be freeing 8:40 Why our laundry life is insane  11:18 Finding joy in your home  15:28 How to make the Holiday less stressful 18:26 How to do a “family audit”

Relationships are the most fulfilling part of the human experience. It’s clear that none of us were designed to be alone and that’s one of the reasons why marriage is so powerful and life-giving for those who do it right.  For those who do it wrong, marriage and relationships can be stressful and traumatic. How do we know? Because we have had it both ways! We have experienced firsthand how handling conflict can make or break a relationship. Statistically,  we could all tell a story about how a conflict either in our own relationships or in our parent's relationships affected us negatively and shaped our worldview.  That’s why learning how to “fight well” and building a marriage and family culture that thrives and knows how to approach “healthy conflict”  is a key focus in the Smith house! Welcome back to the Family Brand Podcast! Today we are joined by Jayson and Ellen Gaddis from The Relationship School.  Chris first met Jayson in a Mastermind program they are both members of and they quickly hit it off as they discovered they had a shared purpose of serving marriages and families at a high level. When we first heard about their transformative and yet practical advice for couples at The Relationship School, we knew we had to introduce them to YOU! Hit play to hear the Gaddis’ life-changing advice on what to do when your relationship isn’t working, how to approach hard conversations better, the #1 thing anyone can do to improve their marriage, how to have a stronger relationship, what to do when you don’t know what to say and so much more! If you are a legacy-minded person, you probably spend your time thinking about the most important things you can teach your children or grandchildren and what valuable lessons you can pass on to them. After this episode, we are more convinced than ever that mastering communication in our marriage is one of the best things we can do for future generations. Someone has to stop unhealthy cycles in your family line, why can’t that person be you?   Homework: Even if your marriage is going great right now, the wisdom Jayson and Ellen have on this topic is something we all can learn from. We left this conversation with two huge takeaways!  Creating a conflict resolution plan The importance of addressing things sooner rather than later What’s your biggest takeaway? Your homework from this episode is to TAKE ACTION on one of the topics that stood out to you from today’s conversation! For more free resources and programs to help you build your marriage or your own Family Brand, follow the links below! More Of What’s Inside: It’s through conflict that we build strong relationships How to have a conflict resolution process that you’ve agreed upon. Our recent interview on The Relationship School Podcast  A look into Jayson’s book on conflict resolution The danger of saying “we’re not good at communicating” Why timing really does matter  Coming out of a divorce mentally  A few things you should never say to your spouse  Jayson and Ellen Gaddis's best advice for all couples How Jayson and Ellen healed their past relationship wounds And much more!   Links For This Episode:  The Relationship School Website: https://relationshipschool.com Book-'Getting to Zero' by Jayson Gaddis: https://www.gettingtozerobook.com Relationship Mastery Training: https://relationshipschool.com/relationshipmastery Ellen's Website: https://ellenboeder.com Jayson's Website: https://www.jaysongaddis.com 'The Relationship Upgrade Course' for Couples: http://relationshipschool.com/upgrade The Relationship School Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-relationship-school-podcast/id997215878 Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:02 What’s inside today’s episode 2:06 Get to know Jayson and Ellen 4:26 How Jayson and Ellen met 9:26 Conflict isn’t always a negative thing 16:21 Why conflict needs a few rules 18:57 Avoid using all incommoding language  22:29 The #1 thing you can do to improve your marriage 27:18 The sooner you can talk  about an issue the better 31:21 Letting your “why” can't wait until later 35:11 How we are taking action about this episode 36:01 How to connect more with Jayson and Ellen Jayson Gaddis Bio:Jayson Gaddis, author, podcaster, speaker, and “personal trainer for relationships”, is a global leader on interpersonal conflict and connection. He got tired of complaining that street-level relationship skills are not taught in school, so he founded The Relationship School®, an impact-based company dedicated to helping individuals, couples and teams work out their differences in order to have indestructible relationships. He is the creator of Interpersonal Intelligence® and Present Centered Relationship Coaching® and the Getting To Zero Method™. His new book Getting to Zero: How to work Through Conflict In Your High Stakes Relationships was voted Editors Choice, Best non-fiction, and Best Leadership and Business book in 2021 on Amazon. He’s been married to his amazing wife since 2007 and has two beautiful kids. They live in Boulder, Colorado. When he doesn’t live and breathe this relationship stuff with his family, he pretty much gets his ass handed to him. Ellen Boeder's bioEllen Boeder, MA, LPC is a psychotherapist and coach for couples in Boulder, Colorado, who has been interested in how relationships actually work for as long as she can remember. Studying with innovative researchers and cutting edge practitioners in the field of psychology, relationships, and also yoga, for over 20 years has helped her integrate her approach to working with people in a sensitive, straightforward, deeply informed and embodied way. The most high level training she does is usually at home with her husband and two young children, as she finds her way through the real, raw, and beautiful experience of being deeply intertwined with others. Ellen is also a faculty member for The Relationship School®, is a long time yoga practitioner, and writes a blog that incorporates her studies in psychology with her life experience as a mother, called Rearranged by Motherhood.

Authenticity. It’s a word that gets thrown around and overused these days. But what does it really mean? Today we want to talk about how to let your kids be themselves and how to feel like a less “controlling” parent. Don’t get us wrong, it’s important to have a healthy level of authority in your kids' lives as they grow up, but there is a difference between parenting, and infringing on one's free will and the ability to express themselves.  Chris and Melissa here welcoming you back to the Podcast! Here at Family Brand, part of what we do is teach families how to create their family vision statement and family values. One of our core goals as Smith’s is we want to create a culture where everyone in our family feels like they belong and are accepted.  Growing up and just through our own life experiences, the sense of “belonging” was a feeling we weren't super familiar with. We both found it hard to truly be ourselves and live from a place that we would call congruent. Learning our individual identity and what it meant to express ourselves has been a journey. (And one we are still on)  In today’s episode, we are going to share our experiences of learning how to be more authentic and how to create an environment where all of our kids know they can be exactly who they are. This can be easier said than done, so that’s why we are going to also share a few practical examples about how we are parenting our kids through everything from switching schools, bad haircuts, crazy outfits and so much more.  It’s easy to feel like we know best when it comes to how our kids should be or live their lives. Can you relate? If so, listen to the end to hear how Melissa is learning how to release control or “nagging” Mothering tendencies and step into a new level of relationship with our boys.  More Of What’s Inside: How to allow your children to be who they are The challenge of not trying to control everything around our kids The idea is that you can be who you want to be Are you more worried about what other people will think? Creating a culture of belonging  Can you allow people to be who they want to be? And much more! Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 1:00 The importance of just being you 3:06 How we are letting their kids be themselves 6:49 Everyone has an individual worldview 8:14 It’s not about what people think about you 12:55 A powerful mother and son night Mellissa recently  16:25 Creating a culture of belonging 29:23 Is there something you should release this week?

WARNING: We know a lot of our listeners listen to our show with kiddos in the car or in the room. That’s why we wanted to let you know at the top that we are going to be covering the topic of pornography and keeping your kids safe from assault. We won't go into graphic detail or anything like that, but our conversation is more geared toward the parents or guardians of kids.  Welcome to episode 103 of the Family Brand Podcast! Okay, it’s time to have some #RealTalk about porn and how to protect our kids in 2022 and beyond. Technology isn’t going anywhere and we are a part of a forerunning generation of Parents who are learning what it means to have a healthy approach to screens and the internet.  We are excited to welcome special guest Kristen Jensen to the show to help cover this very important topic of kids and pornography. After getting many DMs and questions from parents in our Family Brand Course about this topic we knew we had to bring in an expert. Kristen is the founder of www.defendyoungminds.com and the Author of the number one bestselling book “Good pictures, bad pictures” the guide to “porn proofing”  young kids. She is also the executive producer of the brain defense, digital safety curriculum, a powerful and engaging video-based course for families and educators. During this powerful conversation, Kristen will share briefly about her journey and why she is so passionate about this topic. You’ll also get practical tips and advice on what to do if your kids have already seen porn, how to start protecting your kids now, how porn affects brain development, and more!  We hope you leave this conversation feeling empowered and equipped to have a better conversation about porn and other important topics in your home. Also, if you have parents in your friend group or community, please share this information with them!    More Of What’s Inside: The brain science of porn The difference between a thinking and feeling brain  When the average kid first sees porn How to help your kids be safer on the internet  Why parents should always stay calm around this topic What to say to your kids about porn (at any age)  How to teach your kids sex/body parts aren’t “bad” Helping your kids have a healthy approach to sex Where art crosses the line into porn And much more!   Links For This Episode:  Defend Young Minds Website: https://www.defendyoungminds.com Book- 'Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr.' by Kristen Jenson: https://amzn.to/3fTW8Se Book- "Good Pictures Bad Pictures" by Kristen Jenson: https://amzn.to/3NQI4FA Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:07 What’s inside this episode  3:45 How Kristen Jenson became passionate about this topic  7:45 The best time to start the conversation with your children 11:29 Taking control of the conversation  17:05 The effects of addictions on the brain  20:23 What to do if your kids have seen porn 30:35 Why 7-11 is such an important age  36:00 Porn is the opposite of healthy sex 41:36 Final thoughts and advice 

If you are a parent or have been in any sort of long-term relationship, there is a good chance that you have experienced a fight or misunderstanding because the root of the issue wasn’t addressed sooner… We have all been there! It can be hard to discern when is the best time to bring up a “touchy” topic that could lead to further conflict or hurt feelings if not handled correctly. How we approach these conversations can be the defining factor in the other party feeling loved or totally rejected.  Especially when these conversations are ones with your kids, it’s important to make sure you’re not coming from an angry or emotionally charged place. This of course is easier said than done and none of us are perfect! However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take practical steps to have more powerful conversations and healing conflict in your home.  Welcome to episode 102 of the Family Brand Podcast! What conversations are you avoiding having with your loved ones? Maybe you were hurt by something they did or didn’t do. Or, something they said or didn’t say. Unfortunately, unmet expectations and unintended pain happen more often than we would like it to.  That’s why we wanted to take a full episode to talk about this important topic. Hit play to hear our thoughts and advice on how to have hard conversations, how to stay calm even in the hardest situations, why it’s important to address things quickly and not wait, plus so much more!  This episode is short, but it’s pretty powerful and packed. As always, if you want to take your Family Brand to the next level, join our official course now: familybrand.com    More Of What’s Inside: Why timing is everything when it comes to communication How do you know when to address an issue vs. keep your mouth shut? The power of sharing feedback in an effective way Would rather address it or clean up a mess later? What Melissa has been learning and reading about How Chris has seen conversations go poorly  Handling conflict with your kids  Healthy conversations can transform your family culture  And much more!   Links For This Episode:  Book-"How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie: https://amzn.to/3TZIlZe Website: familybrand.com Social:  Facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyBrandOfficial Instagram: www.instagram.com/ourfamilybrand YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCGu-7odB6gkPbyXpUIQLkrg Twitter: https://twitter.com/OurFamilyBrand  Free course: familybrand.com/10steps Episode Minute By Minute: 0:42 Why we think this topic is so important 4:47 How to define what’s worth addressing  6:46 Learning from those older and wiser 11:00 No one wants to feel like their wrong 15:01 You are responsible for your response 16:24 The power of teaching your kids how to have healthy conflict