“Blending Families: Healing, Trust, and Starting Again w/ Kevin and Christy McCullah"

What happens when life doesn’t go the way you planned… but somehow turns into something better than you imagined?

In this deeply personal and faith-filled episode, we sit down with Kevin and Christy to unpack the real, unfiltered journey of building a blended family after heartbreak. This isn’t just a story about love—it’s about healing, trust, surrender, and the quiet ways God restores what once felt completely lost.

From single parenthood and emotional scars to unexpected connection and divine timing, their story reveals what it really takes to open your heart again—especially when fear, past trauma, and responsibility are all in the room.

You’ll hear:

• What it feels like to step back into love after being hurt deeply
• The reality of blending families—five kids, different histories, one home
• How trust is rebuilt when it’s been broken before
• Why communication (even when it’s hard) is everything
• The importance of not rushing healing before starting something new
• How small, meaningful moments—like a hidden message on a coffee cup—can carry life-changing significance

This episode doesn’t shy away from the hard parts:

• Kids navigating confusion, expectations, and emotional weight
• Learning new parenting dynamics while honoring the past
• Facing triggers, grief, and moments you thought you had already healed from

But through it all, one theme stands above the rest:

👉 God’s redemption doesn’t erase your story—it rewrites it.

Whether you’re:

• Walking through divorce
• In a blended family
• Afraid to love again
• Or just trying to make sense of your current season

This conversation is a reminder that you are not alone—and that even in the mess, something meaningful is being built.

Because sometimes the greatest love stories don’t start with perfection…

they start with surrender.

Social Media links

@designofmovement

Ashley: instagram.com/howardashley87

Brandon: instagram.com/designofmovement

Church hurt is real… and a lot of people are carrying it silently.

What happens when the place that’s supposed to heal you… is where the pain starts?

In this episode, we open up about rejection, broken trust, and the long road back to faith—because sometimes the hardest part isn’t walking away… it’s learning how to come back.

Social Media links

@designofmovement

Ashley: instagram.com/howardashley87

Brandon: instagram.com/designofmovement

What do healthy relationships really look like?

In this episode, we explore the difference between genuine connection and relationships built on people-pleasing. Many of us learn early on to keep the peace, avoid conflict, and make others happy—even when it comes at the cost of our own voice, needs, and identity. Over time, that pattern can quietly damage our relationships, leaving us feeling drained, resentful, or unseen.

Throughout the conversation, we share pieces of our own story and experiences—moments where we struggled with people-pleasing, learned hard lessons about boundaries, and discovered what healthier relationships actually look like in real life. By telling our own stories, we hope to create space for listeners to reflect on their own relationships and recognize that growth often comes through honest conversations and lived experience.

We unpack how people-pleasing develops, why it feels so hard to break, and the subtle ways it can shape our friendships, marriages, families, and communities. More importantly, we talk about what healthy relationships actually look like—relationships built on honesty, mutual respect, emotional safety, and the freedom to be fully yourself.

You’ll also hear practical strategies for identifying unhealthy dynamics and navigating relationships that may require clearer boundaries. Boundaries aren’t walls that push people away—they are guardrails that protect connection and allow relationships to grow in a healthier direction.

Whether you struggle with saying no, feel responsible for everyone else’s happiness, or simply want to build deeper and healthier connections, this episode blends honest storytelling with practical insight to help you move toward relationships rooted in truth, respect, and growth.

Social Media links

@designofmovement

Ashley: instagram.com/howardashley87

Brandon: instagram.com/designofmovement

Money problems don’t start with numbers—they start with misalignment.

In this episode, we talk honestly about finances in relationships, beginning with a brief overview of the Dave Ramsey approach and then sharing how we customized it to fit real life. We explain our bucket-style bank account system, how we use a shared budgeting spreadsheet, and why systems—not willpower—reduced stress and conflict in our marriage.

We also unpack common financial pitfalls couples face, including control, avoidance, unequal responsibility, and unclear expectations. To close, we connect money to productivity and purpose by highlighting insights from Financial Peace, Getting Things Done, and Knowing Your Why.

Books:

Crucial Conversations - https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Conversations-Tools-Talking-Stakes/dp/0071401946

Financial Peace - https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Peace-Revisited-audiobook/dp/B007QSOTY2/

Getting Things Done - https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Things-Done-Stress-Free-Productivity/dp/0142000280/

Knowing your why - https://www.amazon.com/Know-Your-Why-Finding-Fulfilling/dp/0718087712

#FriendshipGoals #RealConversations #FaithAndLife #HealthyRelationships #IntentionalLiving #CommunityMatters #EmotionalHealth #ChristianPodcast #LifeWithPurpose #UnrehearsedPodcast

Social Media links

@designofmovement

Ashley: instagram.com/howardashley87

Brandon: instagram.com/designofmovement

Brandon and Ashley discuss their church’s “Recipe for Relationships” series and how it applies to marriage, dating, and friendships. They break down two key themes—Priority (keeping God first and ordering your life wisely) and Pursuit (showing up with consistent action, not just words). They challenge listeners to re-evaluate their circle: healthy relationships build you up, require trust and respect, and are marked by growth, boundaries, and real support—not constant draining or one-sided effort.

Bible Verses Mentioned/Referenced

• Genesis 2:24 — leaving and cleaving; covenant alignment
• 1 John 3:18 — love shown through action and truth
• Ephesians 6:12 — spiritual influence behind what we wrestle with
• Galatians 6:2 — bear one another’s burdens
• Luke 9:62 (and Genesis 19:26) — don’t look back; Lot’s wife as a warning

Transformation Church Knoxville

https://www.transformationchurch.us/

Pastor Kim

https://www.instagram.com/realtalkkim/?hl=en

Social Media links

@designofmovement

Ashley: instagram.com/howardashley87

Brandon: instagram.com/designofmovement

This episode we meet Brandon Moore — the man, the myth, the nerd.

Husband. Stepfather. Senior analyst. Bass player.

In this episode, Brandon opens up about the journey of stepfatherhood, what marriage has taught him about identity and growth, how he navigates a demanding career in tech, and the role music plays in keeping him grounded and creative.

It’s honest, thoughtful, and full of real-life perspective on balancing calling, responsibility, and passion — without losing yourself in the process.

Whether you’re building a family, building a career, or building your craft, this conversation is for you.

Social Media links

@designofmovement

Ashley: instagram.com/howardashley87

Brandon: instagram.com/designofmovement

In this episode, we unpack the tension between differences and compromise in marriage—how two unique people learn to build one unified life without losing themselves in the process. We explore the internal journey many men face within marriage, from identity and responsibility to emotional growth and leadership.

We also dive into how self-awareness shapes healthier relationships, and why clarity about who you are can transform the way you date, choose a partner, and show up in commitment. Honest, reflective, and practical—this conversation is about doing the inner work so love can thrive on the outside.

Social Media links

@designofmovement

Ashley: instagram.com/howardashley87

Brandon: instagram.com/designofmovement

In this episode, we meet Ashley Moore!

We discuss motherhood, family, marriage and giving God space to move in your life

Social Media links

@designofmovement

Ashley: instagram.com/howardashley87

Brandon: instagram.com/designofmovement