Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 211. Becoming....Undeniable | 07 Feb 2025 | 00:23:12 | |
Hey Family Brand! It’s Chris and Melissa here, and today we’re diving into a topic that has been a theme in our home and our conversations lately—what it means to become undeniable. Whether it’s in parenting, business, sports, or life in general, how do we show up in a way that makes our contributions impossible to ignore? We’re sharing personal stories, including how our son took on this mindset in his journey as an athlete, and how you can apply this principle in your own life. Melissa kicks off the conversation by reflecting on her recent speaking experience. Even though she’s spoken on Zoom and hosted this podcast for years, standing on stage in front of a live audience pushed her in new ways. She found herself replaying every detail, second-guessing her delivery, and realizing how easy it is to be unnecessarily hard on ourselves when we step outside our comfort zones. The lesson? Growth happens when we embrace discomfort and keep showing up, even when we don’t have it all figured out yet. Chris shares a powerful conversation he had with an entrepreneur who was hesitating to take action in his business, waiting until he was "sure it would work." But here’s the reality—you don’t get certainty before taking the leap. You take the leap, and then you figure it out. This same idea applies in our families, our careers, and every area of life. If we wait until we feel completely ready, we’ll stay stuck. The inspiration for today’s episode comes from our son, Tanner, and the journey he’s been on with sports. Last year, he chose the word “undeniable” as his theme. At first, it seemed like just a word on a vision board, scribbled in a barely legible font. But over time, he fully embodied that word. He showed up differently in his training, his mindset, and his approach to challenges. Instead of hoping to earn playing time, he worked in a way that made it impossible for coaches to overlook him. He became undeniable. We wrap up with three powerful questions inspired by world-renowned sports psychologist Bill Beswick, questions that can help you in any area of life:
These questions push us to get clear on our goals, commit to them fully, and recognize that struggle is part of the process. Whether in sports, business, marriage, or personal growth, the key is to put in the work and trust that your undeniable efforts will lead to undeniable results.
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What’s one area of your life where you can commit to showing up so fully that your contribution can’t be ignored? We’d love to hear your thoughts—send us a message or share your story with us!
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| 210. State of the Smith Family Finances Address | 31 Jan 2025 | 00:31:16 | |
Hey Family Brand! It’s Chris and Melissa here, and today we’re diving into a topic that we haven’t spent much time on in the podcast: family finances. If the thought of finances makes you want to tune out, stick with us—we’re sharing lessons learned from our own money journey, the missteps we’ve taken, and the shifts that have helped us build a healthier relationship with money. This is about more than numbers; it’s about stewardship, mindset, and teaching our kids how to handle money in a way that sets them up for life. In this episode, we get personal about how we’ve navigated our finances as a family. Like many couples, we started with different upbringings around money, and for years, we didn’t even realize our mindset about money was rooted in scarcity. Early on, we spent countless hours trying to save a few dollars, without understanding the bigger picture of value creation and stewardship. A turning point came when we started reframing our language and habits around money—focusing less on “we can’t afford that” and more on “how can we create the money for what matters to us?” We also share the importance of teaching financial principles to our kids. A recent conversation with our 17-year-old revealed a gap in how we’ve communicated what it takes to manage money and run a household. This year, we’re being more intentional about showing our kids the behind-the-scenes of family finances—everything from setting budgets to understanding the value of creating income. A simple rule we’ve implemented, “We pay for everything you want and half of what you need,” has helped our kids think twice before spending. Another shift this year has been the introduction of clear roles in our household finances. Inspired by a couples retreat, we decided to designate Chris as the CFO (Chief Financial Officer) and Melissa as the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of our family. This has brought much-needed clarity and accountability to how we handle our responsibilities. It doesn’t mean we don’t support each other, but it has helped eliminate the overlap and inefficiencies we used to face. Our main takeaway for you: Financial success isn’t just about saving more or spending less; it’s about creating value, building good habits, and fostering a healthy relationship with money—both for you and your kids. As you step into this year, take some time to reflect on how you can intentionally improve your family’s relationship with money. LINKS: All Links Family Brand!
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| 201. STOP Doing These Family Traditions! | 28 Nov 2024 | 00:14:02 | |
Hey Family Brand! It’s Melissa here, and today, I want to dive into a topic that feels especially timely as we head into the holidays: family traditions. Traditions can be beautiful and meaningful, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself if all of your traditions are still serving you and your family? That’s what we’re exploring in this episode—how to evaluate your traditions, let go of the ones that no longer work, and intentionally create new rituals that bring your family closer together. When we think of traditions, our minds often jump to the big ones—holiday celebrations, birthdays, or annual events. But family traditions are so much more than that. They’re also the small, consistent rituals we build into our daily and weekly lives, like family dinners, bedtime routines, or even Sunday night check-ins. Research shows that the strongest families have the highest frequency of these rituals, not just around special occasions, but woven into everyday life. I share some examples from our family, like how we’ve reevaluated traditions over the years. For instance, we decided to stop making gingerbread houses with extended family after moving further away, even though it was hard for the kids at first. The key is to make space for what works best for your unique family, while still honoring the core purpose of traditions: building identity, belonging, and strength. If you’re ready to shake things up, I suggest starting with a family discussion. Bring everyone together, explain your thoughts about why you’d like to adapt or change certain traditions, and invite their feedback. One resource I recommend for this process is the book The Intentional Family by William Dougherty, which offers practical advice on how to make these shifts thoughtfully and collaboratively. Lastly, I encourage you to double down on traditions that truly bring connection to your family. For us, family meetings and shared mealtimes have been game-changers. If you’re curious about starting family meetings, I have a free resource to guide you through the process, complete with a mini-course to make it super simple. Check it out at familybrand.com/meetings. As you step into this holiday season and prepare for the new year, take some time to reflect: What traditions are worth keeping, and what new ones can you create to align with the family culture you want to build? LINKS: All Links Family Brand! Links For This Episode:
Episode Minute By Minute:
I hope this episode inspires you to embrace traditions that truly bring joy and connection to your family. Let me know what changes you decide to make—I’d love to hear your story!
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| 112. You are Already the Guru: Trusting Yourself as a Parent, with Guest Crystal Haitsma, The Parenting Coach | 12 Jan 2023 | 00:53:27 | |
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!
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| 111. Want To Get The Most 2023? Here's How. | 06 Jan 2023 | 00:29:01 | |
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:
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!
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| 110. 3 Questions to Ask Yourself to Level Up Your Parenting in 2023 | 30 Dec 2022 | 00:14:06 | |
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:
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:
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| 109. Create Your Most Meaningful New Year's Yet (Free Gifts Inside) | 22 Dec 2022 | 00:11:10 | |
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:
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)
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| 108. How to Share Light with Anyone You Meet | 16 Dec 2022 | 00:11:06 | |
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:
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| 107. You Don't Owe an Explanation | 09 Dec 2022 | 00:18:42 | |
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:
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| 106. How To Have A Less Stressful Holiday Season By Doing A "Family Audit" | 02 Dec 2022 | 00:21:58 | |
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
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| 105. How to Fight Well, and Master Communication in Marriage- with Jayson and Ellen Gaddis of The Relationship School | 25 Nov 2022 | 00:40:06 | |
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!
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:
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| 104. Can Your Kids Be Themselves Around You? | 18 Nov 2022 | 00:20:58 | |
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.
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| 103. Porn Proofing Today's Young Kids with Guest Kristen Jenson of Defend Young Minds | 11 Nov 2022 | 00:45:10 | |
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!
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| 200. Heed the Calling: Why Listening to Your Calling Can Change Everything | 22 Nov 2024 | 00:13:19 | |
Hey Family Brand! It’s Chris and Melissa here, and we’re thrilled to bring you this week’s conversation, inspired by a special experience we had as a family. Over the weekend, we attended church with some dear friends, and the pastor shared a powerful message about Jonah and what it means to have a calling. That message sparked an amazing family discussion, and today, we’re diving into what it means to listen for your calling, why it’s so important, and how to act on it, even when it feels scary. We kicked off the episode sharing our weekend in Phoenix, where we enjoyed great company, community events, and some meaningful time with our kids. A highlight was attending a non-denominational church service, which was a first for most of our family. The pastor’s message about Jonah running from his calling really hit home and prompted a big question: What does it mean to feel called to something? Together, we explored the idea that callings can look different for everyone. Sometimes, they’re about pursuing something that excites you. Other times, they involve stepping into something uncomfortable or unknown. Either way, callings often require courage. We reflected on how fear of failure, judgment from others, or simply the busyness of life can drown out those inner nudges. But here’s the truth—when you listen and act on what’s calling to you, amazing things can happen. Melissa shared a personal story about stepping away from her career as a nurse, despite the resistance and questions she faced from others. Chris talked about how their family’s move to Hawaii, driven by nothing more than a feeling, taught them to trust their intuition. These experiences reminded us that callings don’t always make sense to others—and they don’t have to. We wrapped up by encouraging you to get quiet, reflect, and listen. What’s calling to you right now? Maybe it’s something big, like a career change, or something small, like dedicating more time to a passion. Whatever it is, don’t let judgment or fear hold you back. As Melissa beautifully put it, “Time is going to pass anyway, so you might as well spend it on the path to where you want to go.”
LINKS: All Links Family Brand!
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| 102. The Conversations You're Not Having | 04 Nov 2022 | 00:17:48 | |
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
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| 101. Instilling Heritage: Why (and how) You Should Throw A Dia De Los Muertos Party | 28 Oct 2022 | 00:18:17 | |
Hey guys! Chris and Melissa here, as the end of October draws near, we are getting close to a yearly family tradition of ours. It’s one that has taught our whole family about where we come from and now we get an opportunity to celebrate them every year! If you are one of our OG listeners, you may remember this conversation from this time last year. If you are new around here, this may be a whole new concept for you! Either way, we hope you enjoy this episode and we hope it helps creatine lasting memories for years to come. We were first introduced to this tradition by a good friend of ours back in Arizona, we were lucky enough to be invited and learn more about our friend’s histories as well as our own. If you’ve been listening to Family Brand long you know that some of our biggest values are that our kids know they belong and have a strong identity in who they are. There have been countless studies on why it’s important for people to know their ancestors and how the stories they left behind can only make us stronger. Join us as we discuss how we like to celebrate our family through this day, the fun we have in researching our family history, and even how we keep honoring our ancestors the entire year. You’ll get our best tips and practices on how you can dive into your family history and how to throw a Dia De Los Muertos party that will have your kids excited to learn about their heritage. This tradition has not only been great to learn about the far past but has created an amazing opportunity for us to hear the stories of our parents, and grandparents as well, only strengthening our sense of family. We hope this episode inspires you to jump into your own history and share with your family the great pride that comes with knowing who you are. If you do decide to celebrate this tradition with your family tag us on Instagram @ourfamilybrand so we can celebrate with you!
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| 100. Are You Outgrowing Your Friends? | 21 Oct 2022 | 00:20:56 | |
Welcome to the 100th episode of the Family Brand Podcast! That's crazy, right? We are so excited to cross this milestone together. Honestly, we never thought we would keep going this long! It just goes to show that taking it one week at a time and staying consistent can help you reach any goal! Over the past 100 episodes, we have had more fun than we ever thought possible. Maybe we would have talked with each other and recorded it, but what truly has made it so fun and life-giving is the fact that YOU join us every week! We have been so humbled by your willingness to share the show with your friends, leave reviews, and hit subscribe so you never miss an episode. Without you, none of this would be possible! Our commitment is to keep bringing value to you and your family and help you become a stronger family through each episode. Here is to 100 more! Over the past few weeks, we have been discussing what topic we should cover for our big milestone episode. We got feedback from friends and family and brainstormed what could be the best thing to do for our 100th time together. After our recent family vacation, it was obvious that friendships and surrounding yourself with the right people were the best thing we could bring to you today. Hit play to hear how you can start leveling up your family's relationships with people who bring the best out of each other. Surrounding ourselves with powerful families like yours has been key for us living a more fulfilling and prosperous life. We can’t stress the importance of rich relationships in 2022 and beyond. That’s why we encourage you to listen to the end to hear your “homework” from this episode if you want to start surrounding yourself with the right people today. PS: If you want to create your own Family Brand and Values, head to: familybrand.com now!
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| 99. Structure Creates Freedom, Especially in a Family | 14 Oct 2022 | 00:22:27 | |
There is nothing like getting a workout AND listening to a great podcast. It’s like an exercise for your body and mind at the same time and it’s one of our favorite ways to start the day. The morning of this recording we hit the gym and listened to a powerful conversation with the one and only Jocko Willink. Obviously, that sparked up the conversation of discipline and what freedom really looks like. If you don’t know who Jocko Willink is, let us introduce him really fast. His given name is John Gretton and picked up the nickname "Jocko" during his time as a United States Navy officer where he served in the Navy SEALs and is a former member of SEAL Team 3. Not only is he an American hero, but he is a master of discipline and doing what it takes to be free. His type of mentality is not reserved for the high performers or elite operatives of our time. It’s a mindset we believe every family and parent could benefit from if they give it a try. Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Hit play to hear our thoughts and personal journeys so far with discipline and staying in a highly-productive family schedule. This is one of those topics we could go back to over and over again and always have something new to say. That’s why we encourage you to listen with a pen and paper or open up a fresh notepad on your smartphone! Be listening for one action step you can take today. Also, If you want to create your own Family Brand and Values, head to: familybrand.com now!
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Links For This Episode: Podcast Mentioned: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4M6CY6QkqWEnGjtE43mLsu?si=AyPtaG_5RiOxNB6Md_yBVg&nd=1 Kids Book Mentioned: https://www.amazon.com/Way-Warrior-Kid-Wimpy-Novel/ Website: Social:
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| 98. Growth and Doing The Hard Things | 06 Oct 2022 | 00:23:02 | |
Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Recently, Melissa went on a personal development retreat with an incredible marriage and relationship expert. We don’t want to give away too much just yet about the trip because we will soon have them as a guest on the show! However, while Melissa was away it was just Chris and the kids left to brave for themselves…. How do you think it went? LOL! It actually went better than great! Everyone not only survived but thrived all week. On both sides too! The kids had some serious Dad bonding time and good memories and Mellissa got some time to invest in herself and continue her personal development journey. When was the last time you invested in yourself? For the majority of our lives, we wouldn’t be able to answer that question. We NEVER used to invest in ourselves or try to intentionally work on self-care or development. Looking back now, we wish we would have started sooner. That’s why we are so excited about today’s conversation! Hit play to hear our thoughts on investing in yourself at every stage in life, why we think it’s critical for unlocking your potential and so much more. Whether this is your first time listening or if you are a self-investment professional we hope you leave this conversation empowered and encouraged about your future! If you want to create your own Family Brand and Values, head to: familybrand.com now! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 97. Parenting is a Football Game: How To Write The Game Winning Playbook | 22 Sep 2022 | 00:18:48 | |
After we moved from Hawaii, we found our way back to small-town America on the mainland. Friday night nights, bike rides to our favorite spots, and every other Fall activity you can think of are in full swing for the Smith family, and it’s wonderful! As the seasons change outside your window, they change just as quickly inside our homes as parents. We are experiencing this first hand as we parent 5 kids between the ages of 5 and 15. It takes A LOT of emotional intelligence and awareness to parent kids at different ages in the ways they need. This is the type of stuff we don’t hear many parents and thought leaders talk about… That’s why in today’s episode, we share a powerful parenting analogy we can all relate to. In the spirit of Fall, it’s a football analogy, but even if you know nothing about football, this powerful concept of parenting and coaching in different seasons will still resonate with you. Hit play to hear how Parenting is like a Football game and how you can write your family's “game-winning playbook” We share authentically what we have been learning in this season and what all the stages of parenting look like (even when they are out of the house), why this analogy can help you lead your family more powerfully and so much more. This episode is short, but it’s pretty powerful and packed, and you’ll be ready to take action. Towards the end, we mention our Family Values and how we plan to use them more intentionally. If you want to create your own Family Brand and Values, head to: familybrand.com now!
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| 96. Help Your Kid Deal With Their Mental Health and Depression with guests Justin and Megan Martin | 15 Sep 2022 | 00:53:15 | |
Trigger warning: In this episode, we talk about mental health issues and experiences with raising a kid with thoughts of suicide. If you find any of these topics overwhelming or triggering, we encourage you to skip this episode for now and come back when you are ready. September is Suicide awareness month. This episode originally was published in September of 2022. Whether you hear this episode around that time or in the future, take some time to be aware of the ones you love. It can be easy to get into your own routine and not pick up on the warning signs from those around you. If you see someone exhibiting signs of Suicidal thoughts or tendencies. It’s time to speak up and do what you can to get them help. Dial 988 for immediate help or check out the resources below. Welcome to episode 96 of the Family Brand Podcast! Today we are joined by two incredible people who we are excited to know and introduce you to. Hit play to meet Justin and Megan Martin! A few weeks ago, we got an Instagram notification that someone we didn't know (Megan) tagged us in a new post. When we clicked through to see the picture… Our hearts were overflowing with gratitude and honor. Megan shared a picture of their wall where their “Family Values” were hanging and the caption expressed her experience with our Family Brand Program. It was so humbling to hear how these total strangers heard the podcast and took action on creating a better future for their families. Of course, they didn’t stay strangers for long because we had to send them a DM and get to know them. We are so glad we did because this family and their story are nothing short of amazing. During this conversation, the Martins will authentically share all the ups and downs of helping their kid walk through a dark season of depression and other mental health issues. After the pandemic, physical and mental health is a top priority for many of us. If you are growing in this area as a family, we hope this conversation will help you navigate whatever life throws at you and give you more tools you need to succeed! To connect with us and see the resources mentioned during this show, follow the links below!
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Links From This Episode: Website-Suicide Prevention Tools https://psychiatry.org/patients-families/suicide-prevention Website- Suicide Prevention Skills https://intheforefront.org/learn-saves-lives Website: Social:
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| 95. The Best is Yet to Come-Navigating Life's Big Changes | 08 Sep 2022 | 00:18:28 | |
Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Melissa here, for a solo cast. If I am being honest, I have put this episode off for a while... I’ve known in the back of my mind that this conversation was going to be important for many of you listening but I knew it would make me a bit emotional. You see, we just closed an amazing chapter in the Smith house and are bravely stepping into uncharted territory. Our baby girl is off to Kindergarten. That means, for the first time in 15 years I have no little ones in the house and my “mom life” looks COMPLETELY different. Whether your kids are young or out of the house, getting married, going off to college, job hunting or learning how to walk, transition seasons can be hard for us parents. I’ve spent weeks journaling and thoughtfully reflecting on our time raising our littles. The time of reflecting has really given me a new level of thankfulness and perspective. In this episode, I want to share with you the page out of my journal that perfectly encapsulates my thoughts and feelings about this season. It’s raw and authentic and I am excited to let you in on the process. I hope that this episode gives you language to the feelings you may be going through, remind you that the best is yet to come, and to be the first (or maybe only) person to say “GOOD JOB!” on finishing the last season strong. For more free resources and to start creating your own Family Brand, follow the links below! Have thoughts or feedback on this episode? Swipe up to find our social media links too!
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| 94. Believe in Yourself: It’s Selfish Not To… | 02 Sep 2022 | 00:11:02 | |
Do you believe in yourself? Like, truly believe in yourself? It’s something that most people struggle with… There are typically 3 types of people when it comes to self-belief or self-confidence. There is one camp that doesn’t believe in themselves at all and struggles to admit their life has any purpose or meaning so why dream big at all… On the other side of the camp, there are people who believe too much in themselves and they bulldoze everyone in their path to see their dreams come true without another thought about the people they may have hurt… Maybe you find yourself in one of those camps, or maybe you are somewhere in the middle. After having many conversations with friends, family, clients and organizations, and others I found that most people would say they are somewhere in the middle of both camps.
A lot of people struggle with the balance between believing in themselves and serving others. They often wonder and struggle with questions like: is it okay to take a stand for myself? Is it okay to believe in me? Is it okay to take care of me first? And then immediately followed with questions and thoughts like: But where do I cross the line? Am I being selfish? Who do I think I am anyway? I didn’t reach my last goal anyway…
Can you relate? Welcome back to another episode! Just Chris here, flying solo for this week's show. Recently, I stumbled upon this quote from A Rabbi Philosopher, whose name was Hallel, The Elder. “If I'm not for myself, Who will be for me? But if I'm only for me, what am I?” This powerful quote is the perfect way to open up the conversation about self-doubt, and self-confidence. And winning the battle in our minds. Hit play to learn more!
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| 93. Why Are We Even Doing This? How To Make The Tough Conversations with Your Kids Easier | 26 Aug 2022 | 00:22:34 | |
In our house, we have a “high challenge, high support” culture. You might be thinking “what do you mean by challenge? Isn’t that a little negative?” Simply put, in our family, we challenge each other to do hard things, be brave, and become a greater version of ourselves every day. This type of intentional parenting is not always easy… Holding your kids (and yourself) to a higher standard without breaking anyone’s spirit is a serious balancing act and takes some hard conversations. In today’s episode, we want to let you in on a situation that recently happened in our family. One of our kids was having a hard time and started to act outside of their identity. (If you are a parent, you can fill in the blanks) Instead of blowing up at our kid and using hard language like “I am so disappointed in you” or “you should haven’t done XYZ…” we decided to pivot the tough conversation in alignment with our “Family Brand.” If you have listened to the show for a while, you know that we have been developing our personal Family Brand with a shared family vision and values for years. Now we help families all over the world do the same! However, this situation has taken our passion for this concept of a “Family Brand” to a whole new level. While having a tough conversation with our kid, we were able to have a shared language and a conversation with them (not just talking at them) about values and goals instead of shame and expectations. We can’t say this issue would have gone this smoothly without our Family Brand… It’s one thing to take notes or write down a family vision in a Google doc…it’s another thing to live it out and shape your kids' culture around it…Hit play to learn more! More Of What’s Inside:
Links From This Episode: Podcast: Family Brand - 68. An Essential Ingredient for Family Culture - The High Challenge and High Support Matrix: High Challenge High Support Matrix Website: Social:
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| 199. Raising Civic-Minded Kids with Brittany Richman of The American Moms | 15 Nov 2024 | 00:34:52 | |
Hey, Family Brand! It’s Melissa here, and today, I have a very special guest on the podcast—Brittany Richman of The American Moms. Brittany’s story is inspiring, from working on President Bush’s speechwriting team to founding The American Moms blog with her twin sister. She’s here to share her insights on teaching our kids about civics, showing up in our communities, and the power we each have to create positive change. If you’ve ever wondered how to get your family more involved in civic life or felt unsure about where to start, this episode is packed with ideas to help you make a difference, right where you are! Brittany talks about her journey into politics and public service, starting with her job in the White House. Her passion for civic engagement is something she and her sister carry forward today through The American Moms, where they help families raise civically aware kids. Brittany shares how simple activities like watching the news as a family or attending local meetings can create a lasting impact. She believes these small, everyday actions build a foundation of awareness and involvement, showing kids that they, too, have a voice. One of the biggest takeaways Brittany shares is the importance of teaching kids to understand and appreciate differing viewpoints. In today’s world, disagreement often feels like division, but Brittany emphasizes that “disagreement and hatred are not the same thing.” She encourages families to foster open conversations, teaching kids to approach others with respect, even when opinions differ. This lesson, Brittany says, helps raise citizens who are engaged, empathetic, and empowered to make a difference. Brittany also talks about the importance of getting involved at the local level. From advocating for better sidewalks to improving school grading systems, she shares real-life examples of how showing up can lead to meaningful change. This isn’t about grand gestures—it’s about addressing what matters in your own backyard. Brittany reminds us that “sometimes change is as simple as gathering a group of moms, writing letters, or attending a school board meeting.” If you’re interested in finding unbiased news or want to know where to start with civic education, Brittany has some fantastic advice. She recommends local news, podcasts like Civics 101, and educational websites that help both kids and parents learn about government and civics without the bias we often see today. By seeking a variety of sources, we can foster an open-minded approach to news and help our kids build a well-rounded understanding of the world.
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| 92. When Things Go Wrong: Will You Respond Or React? | 19 Aug 2022 | 00:21:35 | |
You’ve heard it said, “there are no guarantees in life…” The truth is that there is at least ONE thing you can count on. At some point, you can guarantee that things will not go according to plan. Despite your best efforts, your consistent practicing or organizing, or planning, sometimes “the universe” has other plans. Can you relate to the feeling: It’s safe to say that we have all been there at one time or another. Recently, we had a pretty big disappointment in our family that got us thinking about when things go wrong and how to respond. Don’t get us wrong nones loved ones or pets passed away, but it was a sad time nonetheless. (Especially for our kids.) Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves and wallowing in our emotions, we decided to intentionally change our perspective and respond instead of react. How we respond to negative circumstances as parents is how our children are learning how they should behave/respond in times of pressure or sadness. That’s why even when bad things happen or don’t go as planned…we still try to respond and model what healthy emotions look like for our kids. We aren’t perfect at it, but we understand this principle in life is key to raising and leading a resilient Family. In this episode, we will share a practical example of how we are handling disappointment in the Smith House, what Chris has been learning about Stoicism and Leadership, how to teach your kids gratitude despite their circumstances and more! We hope these powerful concepts and conversations will help you and your family handle any speed bump, pebble, or mountain that comes your way on the road of life. Follow the links below to connect with us and for more free resources!
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Links From This Episode: Book- "Man's Search For Meaning" by Viktor Franklr: https://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Young-Adult/dp/0807067997 Meditations: A New Translation: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255 Podcast- The Daily Stoic: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4aka7yo0qyVKhMmwipALfP?si=PwNd-M5aRXqy0R-UISIbrw&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A7fY99FB3bNyn7nEdXCoBeB&nd=1 Website: Social:
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| 91. Back To School: The Conversation You Must Have with Your Kids | 12 Aug 2022 | 00:17:00 | |
As the new school year kicks off in America and around the world, it’s safe to say that most families' schedules just got a lot busier. Between getting everyone's school supplies, and new clothes, signing up for Fall sports and everything in-between, back-to-school season can feel like one big “to-do list.”
With a family of 5 kids all in school now, we understand how crazy this time of year can be so we promise we aren’t trying to add more to your plate. However, there is one more thing we think every listener should make time to do before sending their kiddos back to school.
Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Chris and Melissa here, and before we go on, we just wanted to take a minute to say THANK YOU!!! Recently, we have met some of our listeners face-to-face. It was such a humbling experience, we had to make time on this episode to say thank you to each and every one of you for showing up with us every week! If you are new here and want to learn more about us, head to: https://familybrand.com
Recently, we saw a post on Facebook that stopped us in our tracks. It was a short story about a girl named Lucy and it has sparked a powerful conversation in our house we want to invite you in on. The post was written by Lucy’s mom in an effort to help parents raise a generation with a high value for Kindness.
We think that kindness is one of the most beneficial things you can equip your kids with for not just a new school year, but every day of their lives. Hit play to hear why we think this is so critical, how we are practically living this out in our own family, more about the post that started it all, how back to school is hard on everyone, and more!
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| 90. The Power Of Acknowledging People | 05 Aug 2022 | 00:14:06 | |
Imagine yourself walking on stage accepting an award that symbolizes all your hard work paid off… You look out to the crowd and all your loved ones are there cheering you on… You smile at them, beaming with pride as they start a slow clap… Suddenly, one by one the crowd starts to join in and the claps lead to a thundering roar of people cheering and chanting your name! You have to admit, that would be a pretty episode right? The truth is, all humans are greatly motivated by achieving great things and being acknowledged for doing those things. In the Smith house, we try to be intentional about creating a culture of recognition where everyone feels seen and celebrated for doing different things. In this episode, we share that we have practically been acknowledging individuals in both our family and in business. This topic and idea are not complex or difficult, but it is an easy habit to get out of. It’s human nature to notice one thing go wrong or bad, even though the last 100 things went super well. Just think of the last time someone gave you a compliment or said something encouraging like “job well done.” How did you feel? Probably be pretty great if the other person was being genuine. The power of acknowledging another person can not be overstated or exaggerated. Be sure to listen to the end because we close with one powerful action step you and your family need to take this week. If you choose to accept the challenge, we can almost GUARANTEE it will change the culture in your house! Find out what it is and more when you hit play! More Of What’s Inside:
Links From This Episode: Book- Greg McKeown "Essentialism"
Book- Ed Mylett -"The Power of One More"
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| 89. Is Your Child Ready for a Phone? How and When to Know | 29 Jul 2022 | 00:19:26 | |
Are they old enough? What about the psychological effects? Should I limit their internet access? Should I check their messages? Just because they have a phone should they have social media? If you have asked yourself or asked your spouse any of these questions, you probably have a kid in the house who reallyyy wants their own cell phone. Or maybe, you have young ones in the house but HOW and WHEN to bring screens into the picture could already be keeping you up at night. It doesn’t matter where you are in your parenting journey, the screens/phone conversations are a big decision and it will probably look different for each family. We will be the first to say we are not professionals on this topic and you may have a different perspective on phones and young adults. However, we wanted to invite you in on the conversation we have been having in the Smith home and how we are personally navigating our oldest son getting his first iPhone. One thing we can all agree on is that the screens themselves are not the enemy. How your kids use the screen and how they interact with the internet is where it can get sticky. In this episode of the Family Brand Podcast, we want to share how we made the decision to let our 15-year-old get his own phone, how we are reaffirming his identity and teaching him how to avoid the “comparison game” online, how and what we are putting time-limits on apps and more. What would you add to the conversation? We always want to hear your thoughts and how you are creating your own Family Brand. Reach out to us via the links below! While you are checking out those links, don’t miss the other Phone and Phone Safety Resources we have provided for this episode. Scroll down to see more!
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Links From This Episode: Instagram Story Highlight with links to Phone and Phone Safety Resources: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17932654705914913
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| 88. 10 Things I've Learned As A New Real Estate Investor | 22 Jul 2022 | 00:36:33 | |
“You are not buying a house, you are buying a lifestyle.” - Anonymous Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Melissa here coming at you from a closet in Mexico. LOL! Why am I in a closet, you may ask? Because we are on family vacation trying to catch a few waves and surf before the school year starts again. I decided to break away for a little while and record this episode because so many of you have Real Estate on the mind. Back on episode 14, titled “How To Start Building Your Legacy With Real Estate,” I interviewed my amazing mentor and Real Estate Expert, Deb Cleveland. Deb added so much value in that conversation that I recommend listening (or relistening) to that episode if you are totally new to all things Real Estate! Check out the links below to skip to that episode. On today’s show, I decided to do a sequel to that episode and share the 10 things I’ve learned during my time in Real Estate. I’ll be the first to admit, I don’t know everything about the industry, and I am still learning new things every day. However, these 10 things will save you a lot of time and energy, plus they will help you gain confidence to try it out for yourself. If you don’t have any interest in buying homes or land and you think Real Estate isn’t for you, I still want to encourage you to listen to this episode until the end. The reason I started this journey in the first place is because I knew I needed a change, and I needed to find something to do that brings me to life. Do you have something that brings you to life? If not, you are not alone. Most parents don’t have a creative outlet, or something they can work towards that brings them happiness. If that sounds like you, I want to share a little bit of my journey with you and give you a few questions you can ask yourself today that could help. More Of What’s Inside:
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| 87. You Matter. Do You Know it? Do Your Kids Know It? | 14 Jul 2022 | 00:18:06 | |
YOU MATTER! Every part of your life has purpose and you’re designed to make an impact. Was that hard to hear? Or maybe you didn’t even read it. Either way, read that first sentence again and let those words sink in. By now, the voice in your head is probably telling you that it can’t be true. Thoughts like this may be racing through your mind - I am not enough I am never going to be enough Chris and Melissa don’t even know me If I only had *insert thing* I would matter, etc If this *insert moment* never happened, everything would be fine… No one truly sees me or understands me At one time or another, we have all struggled with thoughts like this. That’s why we think it’s sooo important to break through the lies and limiting beliefs that may creep into our lives so we can authentically show our kids how much they matter in this world. It’s easy to put on our “coach hat” and challenge our kids by holding them to a higher standard. That style of parenting is needed to raise strong families, but it’s not the ONLY style we should be using to create a family of strong individuals. In this episode, we are going to share how we create a culture of honor in the Smith family and why we go out of our way to make each kid feel important and equip them with a sense of knowing they matter. This episode isn’t a quick checklist or a practical parenting hack but it’s definitely a conversation you don’t want to skip over. However, if you want to get the full value out of this show, we have to warn you. This is something that takes vulnerability, honesty, and consistency to really start seeing your kids believe it for themselves. But we got your back! If you already feel awkward about saying the words “you matter” to your kids or loved ones, that’s okay. For many people, it’s hard to start speaking identity over people and calling out the greatness in everyone! Hit play to hear how we do this with our kids and the easiest way to get started. If you enjoy this episode, please share it with your friends! The more we can help people truly understand how much they matter, the more we can change the world one family at a time. For more free resources to help you build your Family Brand, check out the links below! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 86. Helping Our 5yr Old Navigate Being Made Fun Of By Reminding Her of Her Identity | 08 Jul 2022 | 00:21:31 | |
Whether it’s falling off their bike, a sporting accident, or too much rough housing with siblings, as parents we hate to see when our kids get hurt. When it’s a physical injury the next action steps and questions to ask are a little obvious. How bad is it? Is something broken? Is there blood? Do we need a Doctor? Etc. However, when our kids get their feelings hurt, what to do next isn’t always as clear… Welcome back to another episode of The Family Brand Podcast! Recently, our 5-year-old daughter Indie came to us because a little boy at the park said something that had her questioning her identity. In passing, the boy said “You’re weird” and then proceeded to laugh and walk away. If you know our Indie girl, you know that she lives life at 100% and she feels every emotion. When she is happy, she is overjoyed. When she is sad, she is down in the dumps. When she is having fun, she is the life of the party and everyone is having fun. In the same way, if her feelings are hurt, she feels every part of that emotion. Of course, Chris’ natural reaction was to figure out where the kid lived and we could go talk to (or beat up lol) the little boy's Dad. Like most moments in parenting, your first reaction may not be the best. After our daughter opened up about what happened and how she felt, we knew we had an opportunity to redefine those words and help her see her true identity. Hit play to hear the practical questions we asked her, how we took a negative moment and turned it into a family memory of love and support, how we got her siblings involved, and more importantly how we have created a culture where our kids feel like they can talk to us about anything. After our conversation and family time, Indie said that the next time she sees that little boy at the park, she isn’t going to be mean or say nasty words back, she will simply say - “My family likes me, and I’m beautiful!” It’s hard, but struggling and confronting what others say and think about you is just a part of life. It’s our job as parents to help our kids navigate through those moments with love so when they are out on their own, they become unstoppable. For more free resources to start building your Family Brand, check out the links below! PS: Shout out to our son Tanner for the great introduction! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 85. What Does Your Car Say About You? Life Back On the Mainland | 30 Jun 2022 | 00:21:54 | |
Welcome back to another episode! Chris and Melissa here with Familybrand.com. After living in Hawaii last year, it has fundamentally changed some ways in which we do life. In Hawaii, where we lived, nearly everyone drove old cars, and the only thing that mattered was if it would get you to the beach (and Costco!) dependably or not. Now that we're back on the 'mainland,' we are asking ourselves and really looking closely at what kind of cars we want to drive. Does the car you drive matter? It's really much deeper than just what car you want to drive- it's looking at decisions you make and asking yourself why you make them. If you want to own a nice car (or watch/boat/house/horse, etc.), for example, is it because that's something you really want and is important to you? Or is it more deeply motivated by what you want other people to think about you? Interestingly, we have had people comment to us lately in Arizona that they wonder if we're successful based on the cars we're currently driving. It's so interesting! Do we hold judgment and form opinions of people based on their vehicle? Whether it's a 150k+ car or a clunker, do you form opinions of the car owner based on what they drive? Is it important to signal to yourself and others success by what car you drive? These are the types of questions that we have been asking ourselves for the past six months, and it’s led to really thought-provoking conversations. We knew we had to bring this topic to the podcast! Honestly, we don’t have a black and white opinion on the matter because we are still deciding for ourselves and processing in real-time. We know this isn’t a traditional episode and may not leave you with an actionable tip you can apply in your family. However, if you stick around to the end, we think these questions could lead you to a greater level of self-awareness and maybe open up a few thought-provoking rabbit holes for you and your spouse to chat about. Once you’ve listened, this is definitely not a one-sided conversation! Do you have thoughts on this topic? We would love to hear from you! Follow the links below to reach out to us and submit any topic ideas you’d love to hear our thoughts on. More Of What’s Inside:
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| 84. Free and Simple Ways To Make Summer Memories | 24 Jun 2022 | 00:15:08 | |
Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Chris and Melissa here, and for the most part, we love the Summer. For us, it's more carefree, there's less schedule, you don't usually have to be places at certain times in the morning, the list goes on. We thought we would record a check-in episode to let you know how our Summer is going, and what our weeks with the kids look like! One of the reasons we take Summers seriously is because, for us, we don’t have a ton of memories of growing up on family vacations or big trips. The things we remember from our childhood are the small moments. We think sometimes we put this unnecessary pressure on ourselves as parents. Some preach the season as if it has to be fun, over-the-top amazing, and every second of the day should be focused on entertaining our kids. However, we have found the same feelings we had as kids are still true today. Little fun things around your town and creating experiences and memories is what they'll remember the most about their Summers growing up. You may be thinking, but what if I don’t have a lot of extra time or money? Don’t worry we got you covered! Hit play to hear how we design every day during the Summer around a quick, simple, and FREE activity for our kids that is fun for every age. The best part? These ideas are also overwhelmingly free. We know how fast things can start to stack up and all of a sudden your day is run by your kid's schedule and activities. That’s why we also want to let you in on why let our kids get “bored” and why we think it’s one of the best Summer gifts you can give them. It’s the sad truth we only have 18 Summers with our kids. As our oldest gets ready to start high school this fall, this reality is hitting us harder than ever. We hope you take the ideas in the episode and make them your own! Even if none of them work for this season for your family, we hope that you take the time to dream up intentional ways to make your Summer a lasting memory for you and your kids. For more free resources and tips, check out the list below! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 83. How Every Couple Can Level Up Their Marriage | 17 Jun 2022 | 00:21:18 | |
Every marriage and every season of marriage is going to be different for everyone. For some, you and your spouse could be doing great, and everything from the bedroom to communication is fine. Others may find themselves in a season of feeling hopeless and ready to throw in the towel on the whole relationship. We have experienced both ends of the spectrum! If you have been listening to the show for a while, you know that we went through a season where our marriage wasn’t just rocky, it was terrible for both of us. Fast forward to today, and we are happier than we have ever been. This transformational journey was crazy, healing, hard, and full of lessons. After coming out the other side of our darkest days, people often ask us how we did it. We sat down and put some thought into it and came up with a few things that moved the needle forward the most during this journey. We probably could take many episodes about this topic, but we think these tips are the best for any couple who wants to level up their marriage! (Even if it’s already going awesome) Here is a little peek into this episode! What you focus on is what grows: It’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s the truth! If all you focus on is how bad your marriage sucks…it’s going to keep sucking. We used to only focus on the negative stuff in our relationship and never tried to talk to each other about what we did want and how we could change things. You are responsible for your own happiness: When we first got married, we tried to rely on each other to make one another happy. This was a bad plan. We believe at the Family Brand that powerful families are made of powerful individuals. That takes each person taking responsibility for their own health and happiness. Talk to each other in uplifting ways: They say the power of life and death is in the tongue. You can see this principle play out firsthand in your own marriage! If you think talking down to each other and constantly focusing on the negative is going to up-level your marriage, you are setting yourself up for failure. Hit play to hear how to start bringing life back to your relationship! These are just a few examples of what we cover today. We hope that you finish the episode to hear more! More importantly, we hope you take these ideas and start applying them to your own marriage. For more free resources and things that can help you level up your whole family, check the links below! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 198. Business, Beating Cancer, Co-Parenting and More: Amy Jordan's Pilates Revolution | 07 Nov 2024 | 00:35:39 | |
Hey Family Brand community! Melissa here, and I’m thrilled to welcome Amy Jordan to our podcast today. Several of you have reached out requesting us to have Amy on the show, and she does not disappoint! Amy is not just a pioneer in the Pilates world but also a passionate mom who embodies the spirit of healthy living and resilience. Today, she shares her journey from a high-stakes career in Hollywood to creating WundaBar Pilates and how her role as a mother has deeply influenced her entrepreneurial path. Amy opens up about the challenges of balancing motherhood with her career, emphasizing the importance of modeling success, health, and resilience for our children. She believes that by showing our kids how we tackle challenges and pursue our passions, we teach them invaluable lessons about determination and living on purpose! We also dive into Amy’s innovative approach to Pilates, her invention of the Wunda Core Resistance Ring, and how she’s making fitness accessible and fun for everyone. Amy’s story is not just about overcoming obstacles but also about the transformative power of following one's passion and the impact it can have on our children’s perception of what is possible. Interested in learning more about Amy’s philosophy on fitness and motherhood? Hit play now for this inspiring conversation! If Amy’s journey inspires you, or if you have your own experiences with integrating fitness and family life, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out, share your story, and let’s keep building strong, vibrant families together. P.S. Registration is now open for our couples retreat in Hawaii! Join us and Family Brand for transformational retreats designed to deepen your connection and reignite the spark in your relationship. Sign Up Now: https://familybrand.com/retreats
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| 82. Designing a Life You Love: The Exact Steps To Start | 10 Jun 2022 | 00:20:11 | |
What do you really want in life? You may be like, woah Chris and Melissa…that’s a heavy way to start a conversation? You may be right, but it’s an important question to ask yourself. If you remember the movie Alice in Wonderland, there's a scene that sums up the importance of this question perfectly. The scene opens, and Alice stumbles upon the Cheshire Cat sitting at a fork in the road. Alice says, “what road do I take?” And the Cat asks, “well, where do you want to go?” Alice responds with a confused “I don’t know…” So the cat ends the conversation with something simple yet profound. “Then it doesn't really matter.” The truth is, if you don’t know where you want to go and what you want to do with your life, you will end up anywhere and somehow nowhere at the same time. Running in circles but never really making progress. Sound familiar? We have been there too! Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Recently, we were listening to a recording by Jordan Peterson (link below) where he talks about how to stop wasting your time. The conversation is really powerful because he shares how most people don't get what they want in life because they never decide what it is they do want. That’s why we asked you that question at the beginning of the show notes. The sooner you get clear on that question, the better! Your life is too valuable to waste another second in the grey areas. Dreaming big and designing a life you love doesn’t have to be overwhelming or full of shame. In this episode, we are going to share our favorite wisdom and lessons we have personally learned around this topic, along with what we have learned from a few mentors. By the end of this show, you will have the exact steps you can take to start improving every area of your life. You’ll also hear how we used these mindset shifts and practical steps to start rebuilding our own life and marriage. More Of What’s Inside:
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| 81. How and Why to Prioritize Self-Care As a Busy Mom, with Guests Bonnie and Audrey from 'The Outnumbered Podcast' | 02 Jun 2022 | 00:25:29 | |
“Being a Mother Is Learning About Strengths You Didn’t Know You Had.” - Linda Wooten Welcome back to another episode of The Family Brand Podcast! Melissa here, today is an episode dedicated to the ladies. Dads and men, Chris is sitting this one out but you are welcome to stick around! We are going to take a deep dive into the joyful (and sometimes chaotic) side of motherhood. Joining me for this conversation are two of the most incredible moms you will ever meet. My guests today are Bonnie and Audrey from The Outnumbered Podcast! I first met Bonnie while attending an event for female podcasters and content creators. Within minutes of our first conversation, I knew that she and her co-host Audrey were women we had to have on the show. Their hearts and values for how raising strong families are very similar to how we feel here at Family Brand so we know you are going to love this conversation. However, I have to admit. When I first heard the title of their show, “The Outnumbered Podcast” I thought to myself they probably have 3-5 kids. Let’s just say that was a serious understatement. Between the two families, they have a combined total of 19 children. Bonnie is the proud mother of 10 children and Audrey is the proud mother of 9. It’s safe to say they know what they are talking about when it comes to motherhood! At this point, they are total motherhood pros but even they would admit it didn’t start that way. During our conversation, Bonnie and Audrey share a few of their best tips and life lessons they have learned along the way. You’ll also hear how they have mastered the art of self-care and how they both find time to prioritize themselves even with a busy family schedule. These tips and tricks will help even the most overwhelmed of moms start to fall in love with being a mom again. Listen to the end to hear how they practically find time for themselves, tips for homeschooling, and making your kid's schedules, how to avoid burnout, how you can delegate household chores and so much more! Whatever stage of motherhood you are in, we hope this conversation leaves you feeling empowered and encouraged that you are on the right path. You got this Momma! Just take it one day at a time. To connect with us to find more free resources, check out the links below. More Of What’s Inside:
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| 80. Are you a Builder, or a Wrecker with your Words? How to Design the Marriage you Want Through your Language | 27 May 2022 | 00:25:57 | |
Almost every couple has had an argument that starts and then next thing you know, it’s three hours later and you're like…what are we even arguing about? How did we get here? You hit the point where you have talked yourself silly. Moments like that are exactly what this episode will help you avoid! Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Recently, we were at our top 20 most downloaded episodes of the show since we began. One episode that made the list was our second episode, “Your Words Create the Culture in Your Home.” We get feedback on that show often, so many of you guys have reached out with requests like “Hey, can you go even deeper on that topic? Maybe with examples of how it applies in other relationships?” if you were one of those people, this episode for you! Today we revisited the conversation of language and how you create a culture in your home through words. This time we are going to focus in specifically on how you speak with your spouse or significant other! Think about it this way, every time we speak it creates something. But WHAT are we creating? Join us as we discuss several examples of how you can start creating the relationship of your dreams just by changing the way you speak to each other. This is one of those episodes that can come with a serious guarantee! If you apply any of these ideas and mindset shifts we cover into today’s show, you will literally start to see your life-changing for the better. (And fast!)
However, that guarantee comes with a challenge. Or maybe a condition would be a better word. As parents and leaders of our families, it’s our responsibility to set the mood and the energy for our home. If we want to see a change, we have to take action and be the ones to change it. Why? Because learning alone isn’t enough to take back your family. It’s going to take you maybe doing something differently or using new langues. If you finish this episode, we want to see you take action! (including us) Let’s spend this week talking about the things we want in our marriage vs what we hate about our marriage. Let's spend more time talking about the things that we're committed to rather than the things you “need to do one day.” Let's spend more time building each other up with words and not wrecking each other down. Hit play to start upgrading your relationship in 25 minutes or less! If you would like us to take another angle on this topic or how it applies to other relationships in your life, reach out to us! We want to cover as many topics as you need. Connect with us and find more free resources below in the “link” section.
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Links: Winning The War In Your Mind Book: https://www.amazon.com/Winning-War-Your-Mind-Thinking/dp/0310362725/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1653485113&sr=1-1 Poem Melissa Shares: https://bible.org/illustration/builder-or-wrecker Website:
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| 79. Create a Summer Your Family Will Never Forget | 20 May 2022 | 00:16:30 | |
Hey guys, Chris and Melissa here! Summer is officially here, so we wanted to reshare one of our most loved episodes. Every year around this time, we start to talk and plan about what we want our Summer to look like. Last year we recorded an episode that lets you in on our exact process! As we start preparing for Summer in the Smith house, we had to invite you on the journey! Whether it’s your first or next time listening to this content, we hope you enjoy it and start taking action on these ideas today. Recap: Summer is the perfect time to try something new. We’ve recently been working on how we can get the most out of our summer vacation. Whether it's a new skill, hobby, or road trip, we’re going to lean into adventure. If you could have any skill by the end of summer what would it be? In today’s episode, we talk about using the months of summer vacation to intentionally create fun not just for your kids but for you too! To me, 2-3 months is the perfect time to learn a new skill, whether it's baking, reading, or learning to throw with your left hand, it can be whatever you’re interested in either learning or getting better at. We go over our list for the summer and give some practical tips on how you can get the most out of your bucket list, whether you’re staying at home or going on vacation. You’ll learn how you can create more adventure with road trips and extending vacations to add just a little more excitement to your summer. We talk about how simple tradition can be and how you can easily begin new summer traditions that your kids will love, as well as the connection we have during the summer when we all go towards our own goals together. This episode is full of ideas on how you can upgrade your summer and ultimately learn something you could use for the rest of your life. So take your time, think about what you want to learn this summer, and then go for it! For resources or to follow us on social media, check out the links below! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 78. Taking an Interest in Your Kids' Interests (Family Culture Game-Changer) | 12 May 2022 | 00:17:32 | |
Do you know what your kids are interested in? Maybe a better question would be, can you have an informed conversation with your kids about their interests? If the answer is no, we have a challenge for you! Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Today we wanted to talk about taking an interest in what your kids are interested in. This is a powerful and practical thing any parent can do to create a family culture where every kid feels seen and ultimately feels “belonging.” The best part? You’re just one question away from making this happen! It can be easy to pick up on things like what your kids are interested in when they are young and cry out for their favorite stuffed animal or tv show. Listen in to hear our tips on how you can remain “curious” about your kid's interests and how to ask questions that allow you into their world. Interest can be anything from books, sports, hobbies, songs, telling jokes, their friend group, or anything in-between. When you start to be more intentional about paying attention, you’ll start to notice where their interests are quick! After you have identified them, that’s when you can really create some magic! You’ll also hear how to start engaging with them around their interest and how you can not just use their interest to create more connection between you, but how you can motivate your kid to “lean in” to their interest even more and spark their God-given passion for things. By the end of the show, you’ll know the exact steps to take and how you can start applying these tips today. If you start to take more interest in your kids' interests this week, we would love to hear how it goes and cheer you on! Follow us and reach out on Instagram @ourfamilybrand. Links and more free resources are below! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 77. How to Invest in Your Family and Get Positive Results | 06 May 2022 | 00:18:59 | |
Welcome back to another Family Brand Podcast! Today we are excited to share a topic that has been on our hearts since our very first show. This episode is for anyone who is serious about leveling up their family and being proactive about creating a better family culture. By the end, you will have your first action steps towards creating your “family brand” along with how to get the blueprint on how to start investing in your family and get positive results. Hit play now or scroll for more! “How Much Have You Invested in Building Your Business’ Brand?” If most people were, to be honest when answering the question above, they would say hundreds and sometimes millions of dollars are spent on courses, books, mentors, stock managers, virtual assistance, ad agencies, graphic designers, conference tickets, and everything in between. The list is endless when it comes to ways you can spend money and change your brand or business for the better. For most entrepreneurs and high-performing parents, it comes naturally to be intentional about investing in ways to reach goals quicker. “How Much Have You Invested In Building Your Family’s Brand?” The honest answer to this question would be staggeringly less than the prior answer for most families. The fact is, most parents that invest in their business often lose their families along the way…The greatest inheritance you can ever give your children is a last name they’re proud to share. That’s more powerful than real estate, money, or any other asset. We saw the difference firsthand in our own family. It’s why we did the hard work to invest in building a strong family. The payoff? We’re more in love than ever before, have incredible relationships with each of our kids, and have a stronger, healthier relationship as a family. You Deserve To Be As Intentional With Your Family as You Are With Your Business Everyone in your family deserves to experience what it’s like to be a part of a strong healthy family! Listen in to hear more about our Strength Your Family Program, along with more resources for your family to achieve new heights. (links below) You’ll also hear a little bit of our journey and how almost losing everything made us passionate about being proactive instead of preventive when it comes to your family relationships. More Of What’s Inside:
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| 76. Build Unstoppable Confidence | 29 Apr 2022 | 00:24:04 | |
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “confidence”? Maybe you think of someone who is opinionated and well-spoken. Maybe you think of your favorite athlete or superstar. Or maybe, this word has always been a mystery to you…either way, today we are going to talk about how to build unstoppable confidence in yourself. (Even if that feels scary now.) Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast. Melissa here, for a solo episode! Confidence and growing in confidence has been a big theme for me over the last several years. Even doing this podcast in the beginning was a big stretch for me. If you would have told me 3 years ago that I would be not just hosting my own show, but being interviewed as a guest on other shows I would have been terrified at just the thought. Fast forward to today and what used to be a huge fear is now one of my favorite things! If we had all day together I could tell you countless stories about how myself and our entire family have grown in confidence but I thought I would leave this topic to the real professionals. Recently I was listening to an episode by one of my favorite podcasters, Mel Robbins! Mel perfectly summed up the topic of confidence in a way I had never heard before. I honestly was so mindblown by the conversation I knew I had to share it here with you. After Mel felt like she was failing at life for 40 years, she says she finally figured out how to change her habits and she has become a happier, more confident, and more fulfilled person. Now she is on a mission to teach others how to do the same in their life in every aspect. Her show “Here’s Exactly What To Do” covers her journey and what she has learned along the way. Listen in to today’s episode as I share her 6-practical tips and tricks on how to Build Unstoppable Confidence. You’ll also hear my personal take on confidence and how I am living out these tips and taking action today. I hope this conversation impacts you and gives you the inspiration you need to take action toward your dreams! To learn more about Mel or to connect with Chris and me, check out the links below! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 75. Transform Your Days by Reimagining Your Mornings | 21 Apr 2022 | 00:30:19 | |
Having a “morning routine ” has been a hot topic over the last few years as people have continued to update their schedules and adapt to a pre and post-pandemic world. For us, having a morning routine isn’t just about getting more done or finding peace. It’s about being the best version of ourselves. This may sound like an overdramatic analogy, but hear us out. You know when you are on a plane waiting for your flight to take off, and the flight attendants come down the aisle and they start the uniformed safety protocol overview? You can always bet on them highlighting the oxygen masks and how to use them in case of an emergency. Why? Because parents need to put on their oxygen masks first to ensure their ability to help their kids…for us, being more intentional with our morning routine has been like a metaphorical oxygen mask! Hey guys! Chris and Melissa here with another Family Brand Podcast. We believe the best way to show up powerfully (and consistently) for your family starts by bettering yourself. In today’s episode, you’ll learn in just a few steps how to upgrade your mornings, and how to create a powerful and successful future for yourself and your whole family. Before you let that feeling of overwhelm start to take over, this isn’t an all-or-nothing type of habit. We’ve been experimenting with this for a little while in our own lives and have found that even the littlest steps have a huge impact. Did you know that waking up just thirty minutes earlier than you usually do would give you an extra seven and half days every year? That’s a full seven and a half days you can use for uninterrupted time to reach for your personal goals! From our experience, this time has not only made us healthier and more fulfilled, but it has also made us better spouses and parents! Join the conversation as we lay out our step-by-step process of making a routine that works for you. You’ll get our best tips and tricks to get you out of bed in the morning and ready for the rest of the day. We discuss the power of your thoughts and how disciplining yourself now will give you energy, productivity, confidence, and so much more in the long run. You’ll even see the benefits start to trickle down into the rest of your family! We weren’t always good at this, it took time and baby steps, but we’ve found that this small sacrifice was well worth it. It’s more than just creating a morning routine, it's about taking the time you deserve and using it to create your best life. Hit play to learn how you can make a difference starting today. We hope this episode encourages you to take back your time and start living for your future! For more resources or to connect with us, check out the links below! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 74. Start Living Out Your Dreams TODAY! | 14 Apr 2022 | 00:29:22 | |
Over the past 17 years of marriage, we have gradually collected a stack of business cards. Each one represents a job or business opportunity that Chris has been a part of. When we look through them now, we laugh because many of them ended up not working out for one reason or another. However, that doesn’t matter to us now because we can see how the failures and lessons along the way are actually what led us to our dreams. We believe that everyone deserves to have their dreams fulfilled but sometimes the hardest part is just getting started. If you have a dream that is waiting to be released into the world, our question for you is…why not today? Hey guys, welcome back to another Family Brand Podcast! Today we talk about the pivotal step to making all your dreams come true. That’s right, it’s just taking the first step! Now, we know that is easier said than done, so we’ve recorded this episode specifically for you. Hit play to hear our best tips and tricks on how you can overcome the doubt and start living your dreams today. Most of us get so caught up on “the how” of our dreams we psych ourselves out but when it comes to starting, “the how” doesn’t even matter. Join us as we talk about the dreams we dared to step into and why we don’t regret one single second of it even when its challenging. The biggest companies in the world had to start somewhere and your dreams are no different. We talk about the risk you take when you don’t pursue your dreams, why failure doesn’t mean you’re done, and allowing the pieces to fall into place wherever they need to. You may not be able to guess the end but we bet that it’s better than you even imagined. At the end of the day, we believe that people are waiting for the solution your dream brings. So, why not start today? If you enjoyed this episode make sure to share with someone who needs some encouragement to go after their own dreams. For more resources or to connect with us on Instagram, check out the links below! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 73. Winning At Business And At Home: Applying The Same Principles To Rock At Both with Guest Skye Fagrell | 07 Apr 2022 | 00:48:52 | |
Over the past few years there have been a lot of conversations about work and life balance and how to achieve success in both. For most families, If you’re winning in business unfortunately that may mean the other important areas of your life like family and health can be suffering. On the other hand, you may be winning with your personal goals and relationships but the bottom line in your business is taking a hit. We believe that raising a strong family requires us as parents to show up powerfully and consistently in all areas of your life. Do you agree? If so, you’re going to love this episode! Hey guys, Melissa here! Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast. Today I’m joined by family friend and best-selling author, Skye Fagrell! Join us as we talk about the winning business principles you can apply to strengthen your family and live life with intention in every area. Listen in as Skye talks about the “aha!” moment that led to his bestseller “More Fit 4 The Kingdom” and the four fitness principles he uses in business, his family, and even his spirituality to win more in life. Whether your kids are young or off to college, you’ll learn practical tips on how to make sure your family is getting everything they need to feel supported and successful. The power of these principles is deeper than just creating beneficial habits, though. Skye talks about how instilling these principles can help you measure and foster the intangible in your kids. Like how much they’ve grown in their spiritual walk or if they feel fulfilled and satisfied with life. Plus! You’ll get tips on how to get your whole family to collaborate, fun ways to make intentional family vacations without blowing your budget, and even real-life examples of how Skye uses these principles in his own family. Of course, just like anything with parenting, this isn’t foolproof. You’ll need lots of patience, flexibility, and grace for yourself, but if you take it one step at a time, you’ll find that the benefits outweigh the cons. I left this conversation with tons of ideas on how to upgrade our family and work life! Was there a specific principle that resonated with you? We’d love to hear from you! You can follow us on Instagram @ourfamilybrand or check out the links below for more resources! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 197. From Financial Struggles to Debt Freedom with Brad Nelson the "Debt Free Dad" | 01 Nov 2024 | 00:36:13 | |
Hey Family Brand! It’s Melissa here, and today, I’m beyond excited to introduce you to Brad Nelson, also known as the Debt Free Dad. Brad has an incredible story about going from the weight of debt to a life of financial freedom, and he’s here to share how he did it and how you can too. If you’ve ever felt alone in your financial struggles, this episode is for you! Brad breaks down simple, practical steps to help families like ours get out of debt and start building the future we want. Brad opens up about his early financial journey and the challenges he faced, from living paycheck-to-paycheck to ultimately losing his home. He shares how this wake-up call led him to completely transform his mindset and make debt freedom a reality. Brad’s story is one so many of us can relate to—thinking we’ll manage “someday” while trying to keep up with life’s demands. But he shows us that, with the right mindset and some determination, financial freedom is possible. One thing Brad emphasizes is the importance of mindset. Getting out of debt isn’t easy, but it starts with a vision and a commitment to change. He talks about how having a clear vision for his future helped him make tough choices, like cutting back on unnecessary spending. This vision was a game-changer, motivating him to stay on track when things got hard. Brad encourages all of us to sit down and get honest about what we want our financial lives to look like—and to start taking small steps to get there. We also dive into the topic of family finances and how to involve our kids in positive, age-appropriate ways. Brad suggests bringing children into simple budgeting conversations, teaching them that “no” doesn’t mean “never,” and that financial responsibility is about intentional choices. It’s about giving them the tools to build a healthy relationship with money that will last a lifetime. Lastly, Brad shares how he’s now helping others on their financial journeys through his Debt Free Dad podcast and membership community, Roots of Personal Finance. By providing accountability and support, Brad has created a space where people don’t have to feel alone in their financial struggles. This community is all about giving families the tools and support to reach their goals, one step at a time. P.S. Registration is now open for our couples retreat in Hawaii! Join us and Family Brand for transformational retreats designed to deepen your connection and reignite the spark in your relationship. Sign Up Now: https://familybrand.com/retreats
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| 72. How to Be the Home that All Your Kids' Friends Want to Be In with Guests Harmony and Collin Bryce | 31 Mar 2022 | 00:47:43 | |
Growing up did you ever hang out at the “cool house”? Maybe it had the newest games, or a pool to swim in, or maybe you just felt like you could be more yourself. How can we as parents foster that fun, safe space, and memorable place for our kids. (And all their friends too!) Melissa here for another Family Brand podcast! Today on the show I welcome Collin and Harmony Bryce. We’ve known Collin and Harmony for a while now, we first met back when we all lived in the same neighborhood after Chris and I first got married. Recently, they’ve been telling us about this thing they call the “game night culture”. The more I heard about it the more I knew we had to share it on the podcast! Join us as Collin and Harmony talk about how you can become the house that all your kids and their friends want to be at. Don’t worry about the details, we’ve got you covered. You don’t need endless amounts of food, a big house, or even a yard to create intentional fun. The Bryces have the playbook on how to have the best game night ever. Hit play to hear their best tips and tricks for things like planning for big groups, game ideas for different ages, how to use these nights to develop life skills along the way, and more. You’ll love how their approach to game night isn’t all “fun and games”. During our conversation, Collin and Harmony open up about how taking the time to learn these skills as parents has led to their kids having more genuine connections and the ability to create real childhood memories that will last a lifetime. In the year 2022, these may be some of the best gifts we could give our children. I left this episode with tons of ideas and notes of how to spend our next Smith game night If these tips help you as well, we’d love to hear how your game night goes! You can reach us @ourfamilybrand on Instagram! Or if you’d like to connect with Harmony and Collin, check out the links below! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 71. Agreements vs. Expectations: Why Every Parent Needs To Understand This | 25 Mar 2022 | 00:20:36 | |
Agreements and expectations. For many families, these two terms can be interchangeable. However, for parents who want to build their family by design, and not by default need to understand the difference. The results can lead to less fighting, more peace in your home, and not to mention the life lessons and character-building your kids learn along the way. Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Chris here and today I am flying solo for an episode. Melissa asked me to take the microphone on this topic because I am so passionate about it after seeing the power of this play out first hand in the Smith household. The power of coming into agreement as a family isn’t just a nice saying or about “getting along with each other better.” If you have listened to the show before, you know that we like to treat our family as a team. Of course, Melissa and I are the captains but just like in any great team, it takes commitment from every player. It can be frustrating for the entire family when little chores fall through the cracks like dirty dishes, taking out the trash, walking the dog, etc. Understanding agreements vs expectations could be helpful in situations like this, but this conversation can go a lot deeper than to-dos and housework. Understanding everyone's expectations and agreements around family time, self-care, time with friends, hobbies, sports and more can lead to overall more peace and fulfillment for every member of your family. Hit play if you want to start saving time, energy, and frustration in your family with this simple and practical concept. Within minutes you’ll understand what an agreement actually is and how to effectively communicate it to your family. You’ll also learn how to find opportunities to instill family values, what happens when an agreement is broken, and more. We hope this episode gives you another tool that will help you build the family and culture you want for your #FamilyBrand! Scroll down to find more free resources or ways to connect with us! More Of What’s Inside:
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| 70. What To Do When No One In Your Family is Getting Along | 17 Mar 2022 | 00:23:04 | |
You know when your family starts to feel less like family and more like enemies in war? That can sound dramatic, but when contention is high in your house, you know exactly what feeling we are talking about. Welcome back to another episode of the Family Brand Podcast! Chris and Melissa here, and this week we want to invite you into an honest conversation about what to do when no one in your family is getting along. When we first moved to Hawaii in the winter of 2020, there was a season where the kids didn’t have many friends and neither did we. We spent a lot of time together, but with the stress of moving and being away from our normal lives and duties, we all started to feel out of sync. We started to notice the kids fighting more, trash-talking during games was at an all-time high, and tension was becoming the norm. When we moved back to the mainland we were ready to get ahead of the emotional rollercoaster but even with a plan in place, we found the contention and emotions that come with moving and readjusting start to set in again. Like we always say, it takes long term vision, courage, and commitment to create a family culture where everyone is empowered to thrive. Seasons such as this are where you put the pedal to the medal, and start living out (or fighting for) the culture you really want in your home. Hit play to hear how we are navigating this in our own family, along with three incredible tips we got recently from our church on this very topic. We hope this episode leaves you empowered and motivated to be the “peacekeeper” in your family along with the practical tools you need to start today! PS: Did you know one of our goals this year is to help equip more families like yours? For more resources and to follow our journey, follow us on Instagram! Scroll down to see more of our content. More Of What’s Inside:
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