How to Build a Beautiful Family After Divorce with Wayde Elliott
Hey there, Family Brand OGs and newcomers alike! This week, we're joined by our friend Wayde Elliott, who we had the privilege of meeting this summer while cruising through Croatia with our families. We loved getting to know Wayde and his daughter on that trip, and some of the conversations we had together made us realize he had a perspective we haven't shared enough of here on the Family Brand Podcast: what does it look like to intentionally build a strong family when your family doesn't necessarily look the way you originally imagined it would?
Wayde spent 20 years as a dentist before transitioning into real estate, where he now develops and operates self-storage facilities. But at the center of his life is his role as a father of three. Going through a divorce forced Wayde to think deeply about what "family" could look like when it no longer matched the picture he originally set out to build. Throughout that process, his priority was making sure his kids could continue experiencing the best of both their mom and dad, even when that meant setting aside some of his own needs to create greater stability for them. In this episode, we talk about some of the intentional choices he made to preserve his relationship with his ex, communicate openly, and create the best situation possible for everyone involved.
Of course, co-parenting doesn't mean you're always going to agree. Wayde shares what he's learned from navigating two households, different approaches to parenting, and those moments when it would be really easy to react out of frustration. One of the ideas we loved was his belief that it isn't always the experience itself that determines how we feel—it's the meaning we give the experience. We also talk about ego, forgiveness, personal core values, and Wayde's commitment to living in what he calls a "beautiful state," where he can respond intentionally instead of simply reacting in the moment.
One of our favorite parts of this conversation is Wayde's relationship with his kids and his desire to create real, meaningful connection with each of them—not only together as a family, but one-on-one. During our trip to Croatia, Wayde had a powerful conversation with his daughter that reminded him that being a great dad doesn't always mean solving the problem. Sometimes, it means sitting down, being fully present, and listening. Since that conversation, he's been even more intentional about creating individual time with her and making moments together that actually mean something. It's such a good reminder for all of us: the people we love don't always need our solutions. Sometimes they just need our presence.
Hit play to hear the full conversation with Wayde! We talk about divorce, co-parenting, fatherhood, mindset, personal growth, core values, and what it can look like to continue building a beautiful family even when life doesn't go according to the original plan.
P.S. We're here to help you build your own Family Brand, one episode at a time. So go ahead, hit play, and let's grow together! Or, if you are ready to dive into our community, follow the links below!
About Wayde Elliott
Wayde spent 20 years as a dentist before transitioning into real estate, where he now develops and operates self-storage facilities.
He's a father of three, and what matters most to him is having a real, meaningful connection with each of his kids, both together as a family and one-on-one. He's intentional about creating experiences with them, not just spending time together, but making moments that actually mean something.
Going through a divorce forced him to think hard about what "family" actually means when it's not the picture he originally set out to build. Through it all, his priority was ensuring his kids received the best of both their mom and dad, during the process and afterward, even if it meant setting aside his own needs to keep things steady for them.
One thing he's tried to instill in all three of his kids is the importance of mindset: he's always told them, "What you think about, you bring about." Watching that idea start to click for each of them, in their own way, has been one of the most rewarding parts of being their dad.
LINKS:
All Links Family Brand!
Links For This Episode:
Episode Minute By Minute:
- 00:00 Meet Wayde Elliott
- 01:00 Why Wayde Chose the Family Trip to Croatia
- 02:00 Losing His Career While Going Through Divorce
- 03:00 From Dentistry to a Completely New Career
- 04:18 Choosing an Intentional Divorce
- 05:00 Asking, "What Does Success Look Like?"
- 07:00 Creating a Win-Win for the Entire Family
- 08:00 Preserving a Relationship With Your Ex
- 09:00 Why Communication Matters in Co-Parenting
- 10:00 Parenting Differently in Two Households
- 12:00 The Meaning You Give an Experience
- 13:00 Love and Forgiveness Over Criticism
- 14:00 Deciding What Your Family Will Look Like
- 15:00 Interested vs. Committed
- 17:00 Why Ego Can Destroy Relationships
- 18:00 Responding Instead of Reacting
- 19:00 Living in a "Beautiful State"
- 20:00 Wayde's Personal Core Values
- 22:00 The Conversation With His Daughter That Changed Him
- 24:00 Your Kids Don't Always Need You to Fix It
- 26:00 Staying Present With Your Kids After Divorce
- 28:00 Wayde's Advice for Parents Going Through Divorce
- 30:00 Choosing the Meaning You Give Hard Experiences
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
