エピソード

  • Ep. #164: How to Prevent After School Meltdowns
    2025/08/19

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    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 discuss:

    • How research shows the 3-6 PM window is when behavioral outbursts most commonly occur
    • Consistent after-school routines lower cortisol levels in both parents and children
    • Meltdowns indicate trust, not misbehavior—home is their emotional exhale
    • Refuel, Regulate, Reconnect
    • Creating unstructured play time in the evening for better emotional regulation

    Remember to stay intentional, stay playful, and keep leading your family with love. God's mercies are new every afternoon, especially at 3:45 when someone's crying about grapes.


    Support the show

    Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
    Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
    Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

    our website

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    18 分
  • Ep. #163: The Back-to-School Game Changer to Bring Calm from Chaos
    2025/08/12

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    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 review, family goal, family cheer
    • Creates a space for connection, predictability and problem-solving as a team
    • Gives kids a sense of belonging and ownership in family life
    • Starts building leadership skills through participation in planning

    Check out our Huddle Up Digital Bundle in our Families of Character shop for a more robust version of the family huddle, complete with videos and printables.

    Please share this episode with someone in your network, and give us a rating and review on Apple or Spotify to help our show move to the top of the charts for parenting podcasts.


    Support the show

    Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
    Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
    Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

    our website

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    15 分
  • Ep. #162: Back-to-School Doesn’t Have to Break You: Let Routines Set You Free!
    2025/08/05

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    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, giving both parents and kids more mental energy for important matters
    • Flexibility within structure creates safety and stability for children
    • Make routines visual with charts or checklists that give kids independence
    • Practice new routines before school starts with a three-day reset challenge

    If this episode encouraged you, please send it to another parent or your spouse. Join our community of families who are motivated to lead with love and live with intention by following us on Facebook and Instagram!


    Support the show

    Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
    Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
    Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

    our website

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    22 分
  • Ep. #161: Choosing Quality Media for Your Kids with Tim Maschler
    2025/07/29

    Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

    What happens when a successful Hollywood scriptwriter encounters Jesus Christ? For Tim Maschler, who wrote for iconic shows like Hawaii Five-0, Starsky and Hutch, and Magnum PI, it meant walking away from mainstream entertainment to pioneer something more meaningful.

    We discuss:
    • How Tim experienced a dramatic conversion to Christ while writing for mainstream TV
    • How Tim and his wife, Melissa, began creating explicitly faith-based content after leaving Hollywood
    • The Maschlers' current project "Me and Johnny Cash" is about a teen using Johnny Cash's Christian message to influence his school
    • The importance of parents being "eternal gatekeepers" of their children's media, even content from faith-based studios requires parental evaluation
    • Tim's collaboration with John Paul the Great Catholic University

    Check out Riordan Classics and be sure to stop by the Families of Character shop to view our Tame the Tech Digital Bundle and Tame the Tech Printable.

    The Thriving Family Accelerator provides an easy, 3-step process to lower stress, parent as a united team, and enjoy a true friendship with your spouse & relationship with your kids. Sign up now for this live parent coaching with proven methods for positively engaging your family and redistributing the mental load.

    Support the show

    Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
    Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
    Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

    our website

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    43 分
  • Ep. #160: Saying NO When Other Parents are Saying Yes {Rebroadcast}
    2025/07/22

    Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

    Ever feel like the villain in your child's story for saying "no" when all the other parents are saying "yes"? You're not alone, and you're certainly not wrong.

    In this episode rebroadcast, we explore how to confidently say no to your children when other parents are saying yes, and why these important boundaries shape their character and future success.

    • Saying no is harder but prevents severe long-term consequences for our children
    • Importance of validating children's feelings before explaining your reasoning behind a no
    • The benefit of offering alternative positive activities during the "withdrawal period"
    • Key benefits include modeling how to stand up to peer pressure and strengthening self-control
    • Taking a stand empowers other parents to do the same, creating a ripple effect

    Visit our shop for the Tame the Tech digital bundle and printables including a Cell Phone Contract and helpful screen time checklists!

    Support the show

    Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
    Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
    Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

    our website

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    23 分
  • Ep. #159: Finally, An Alternative to the Time-Sucking Smartphone with Joe Hollier
    2025/07/15

    Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

    Ever looked up from your smartphone and wondered where the time went? You're not alone. In this eye-opening conversation with Joe Hollier, co-founder of the Light Phone, we explore how our constant connection to smartphones is quietly eroding our family time, mental space, and ability to be fully present.

    We speak about:

    • Most smartphone apps are built to maximize "retention" through addictive design to collect data and sell advertising
    • The Light Phone offers essential utilities (calls, texts, navigation) without browsers, email, or social media
    • First Light Phone launched via Kickstarter, proving substantial demand for a minimalist phone option
    • How one boarding school went completely smartphone-free using Light Phones, seeing improved academic and social engagement
    • Light Phone offers privacy benefits as the company doesn't collect or sell user data unlike mainstream smartphone companies

    For more information about the Light Phone, visit their website.

    To get control over screen time and access our Cell Phone Contract check out our Tame the Tech printable. Ready for it all? Pour your favorite beverage and download our Tame the Tech Digital Bundle and get started on taming the tech in your home, with confidence!

    The Thriving Family Accelerator provides an easy, 3-step process to lower stress, parent as a united team, and enjoy a true friendship with your spouse & relationship with your kids. Sign up now for this live parent coaching with proven methods for positively engaging your family and redistributing the mental load.

    Support the show

    Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
    Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
    Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

    our website

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    1 時間
  • Ep. #158: Breaking Free from Digital Chains
    2025/07/08

    Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

    Technology and screens have infiltrated every corner of our lives, raising the crucial question of whether we're managing our tech or it's managing us. We explore practical strategies to help families develop healthy tech habits without losing their sanity.

    • Dr. Leonard Sax identifies loss of parental authority around technology as a major factor in declining child well-being -- see Episode #100, #118, and #124 for more from Dr. Sax and check out his book, The Collapse of Parenting.

    • Joey Odom, co-founder of Aro, advocates creating sacred spaces and times where phones are put away
    • Five practical strategies for healthier tech habits
    • Weekly family huddles provide natural opportunities to discuss tech habits and make adjustments

    Visit our shop for the Tame the Tech digital bundle and printables including a Cell Phone Contract and helpful screen time checklists!


    The Thriving Family Accelerator provides an easy, 3-step process to lower stress, parent as a united team, and enjoy a true friendship with your spouse & relationship with your kids. Sign up now for this live parent coaching with proven methods for positively engaging your family and redistributing the mental load.

    Support the show

    Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
    Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
    Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

    our website

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    27 分
  • Ep. #157: How to Prioritize Your Family Over Your Phone with Joey Odom {Rebroadcast}
    2025/07/01

    Send us a Text Message and suggest a topic or guest!

    Have you ever caught yourself scrolling through your phone while your child tries desperately to get your attention? Or noticed an entire room of family members, all physically present but mentally elsewhere, faces illuminated by screens? You're not alone.

    In this eye-opening conversation with Joey Odom, co-founder of ARO, we delve into the hidden crisis affecting modern families—the way our devices are systematically eroding our most precious connections.

    We discuss:
    • Missing life's important moments because of smartphone distraction
    • Smartphones as adult "comfort objects" that actually isolate us rather than provide security
    • The PID cycle: how proximity to our phones leads to interaction, then unhealthy dependence
    • How establishing phone-free sacred times and places transforms family dynamics
    • Four practical strategies to change your relationship with your phone

    To learn more about ARO and their solution for families, visit goaro.com.


    The Thriving Family Accelerator provides an easy, 3-step process to lower stress, parent as a united team, and enjoy a true friendship with your spouse & relationship with your kids. Sign up now for this live parent coaching with proven methods for positively engaging your family and redistributing the mental load.

    Support the show

    Give $20 to keep the mic on. We're a 501 c(3) non-profit and produce this show for parents around the globe.
    Discover the secrets to building a connected + thriving family. All you'll need is a few minutes of your week—it's easy!
    Looking for things to combat boredom and bolster growth in your kids? Check out our Tame the Tech Bundle and the Best Me I Can Be Journal!

    our website

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    1 時間 8 分