No family is a perfect mix. In fact, most are beautifully complicated. In this episode, hosts Andy and Kelly are joined by John and Julie Price, a couple with uniquely different upbringings who came together to raise their own sons and care for hundreds of boys at Eagle Ranch.

John, the middle child of 13 kids from a dairy farm, and Julie, a last-born missionary kid who grew up in Brazil, open up about the challenges and rewards of their blended family and house-parenting journey. They share deeply personal stories about learning to relinquish control, embracing vulnerability, and the transformative power of a simple apology. This episode is a powerful reminder that every family has a dynamic to navigate and that authenticity is the key to building real connection.

Episode Highlights

• [01:10] John and Julie introduce themselves, their radically different backgrounds, and their roles at Eagle Ranch.
• [06:20] How their diverse family histories prepared them for a life of working with children and families.
• [11:00] Julie's personal story of learning to love without control while house-parenting seven teenage boys.
• [17:00] The powerful impact of apologizing to your children and teaching them to ask for forgiveness.
• [21:00] Practical tips for parents of adolescent boys, including why they crave respect and authenticity.
• [25:50] A heartwarming story of a son's vulnerability and a powerful conversation on trust.

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What does it really mean to have a healthy family dynamic? In this episode, we're joined by licensed professional counselor and family expert, Philip Costa, who helps us uncover the powerful ways our history and our day-to-day lives shape our families.

Philip shares how personal trauma, loss, and even birth order can influence our parenting in ways we're not always aware of. He introduces the powerful concept that what's not revealed is not healed, and gives listeners a clear path to begin addressing their own family dynamics. You'll also learn the difference between training and controlling your child, and why giving yourself grace is the first step toward creating lasting change.

Episode Highlights

• [01:10] Philip introduces himself and shares his personal story of loss, adoption, and being a blended family.
• [03:10] Defining family dynamics and how they impact every family, regardless of its unique makeup.
• [05:50] How to begin identifying your own family's dynamics and the importance of being aware of them.
• [12:20] Philip explains why what's not revealed isn't healed and how unresolved issues can get transferred to your children.
• [14:15] An explanation of the difference between training your child and controlling them.
• [23:00] Philip's top three pieces of advice for parents feeling overwhelmed and seeking to create change.

Resources Mentioned

• Book: What Happened to You? by Bruce Perry
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In last week’s episode, we learned from an expert about how our childhoods and family history can impact our parenting. This week, our co-host Kelly Brewer gets vulnerable and shares her own deeply personal story of how her upbringing shaped her journey as a parent.

In this powerful episode, Kelly dives into her "happy, carefree" childhood and reveals the underlying emotional challenges she faced. She candidly shares her own moments of desperation, poor choices, and self-loathing, and how a surprising moment of grace changed her life forever. This episode is a raw, real, and inspiring testimony that no one is beyond hope.

Episode Highlights:

• [01:39] Kelly shares her family of origin story as the baby of the family.
• [03:58] The hidden truth beneath a "happy-go-lucky" childhood.
• [07:22] How seeking happiness in the wrong places led to a deep, dark spiral.
• [12:28] The breaking point and a pivotal moment of finding grace and forgiveness.
• [18:08] A crisis in adulthood that led to a new season of healing and growth.
• [21:07] How Kelly’s parenting changed as she began to address her own history and patterns.
• [25:50] An encouraging reminder: It’s never too late to parent your kids or find healing.

Don’t Miss Out!

• Want more? Listen to Part 1 of this discussion with our expert, Molly Hughes.
• Join the conversation! Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram and let us know your thoughts or topics you'd like to hear about.

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• If this episode helped you, please take a moment to leave us a review to help other families find us.