Family Brand: Take Back Your Family

We at Family Brand want to raise a war cry to families everywhere. Now is the time to TAKE BACK YOUR FAMILY. Develop a family culture where relationships last, and each member of the family is seen and valued for who they are. It is absolutely possible to raise a family today without fear of the future. Define who you are as a family, and what you stand for. Stop looking at the future with fear and uncertainty and start looking forward with a possibility of more. More love. More joy. More connection. More resolve. The world needs strong families now more than ever. Let us show you how.

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268. How Jesus Can Transform Your Relationships Oct 30, 2026

Show notes

Hey, Family Brand community it's Melissa! It's just me today.

It's been a little while since I've recorded a solo episode, and honestly, the last several months have held a lot of change for our family. Family Brand was acquired, my role has been shifting, Chris has been traveling a lot for work, and our oldest son is getting ready to leave home for a couple of years. There has been a lot of transition, growth, and figuring out what this next season looks like.

But today, I wanted to share something a little different.

Recently, I was asked to speak to a large group at our church about how Jesus Christ can be our relationship guide, and specifically how our individual relationship with Him can influence our marriages and the other important relationships in our lives. As I prepared for that message, I found myself asking God much more intentionally, What would You have me say? What does this group of people need to hear? And afterward, I kept thinking: Why don't I ask for His input like that more often?

One of the biggest things I've learned through our own marriage is how easy it is to look outside ourselves for a standard of what our relationships are "supposed" to look like. We compare our marriages, our spouses, and even ourselves to what we see around us. But Jesus gives us a very different example. He consistently saw people not only as they were in that moment, but as who they could become. Where other people saw mistakes, shortcomings, or limitations, He saw possibility.

That idea became incredibly personal for me during some of the hardest years of our marriage. There were times when my prayers became, Lord, help me see myself the way You see me. Other times they were, Help me see Chris the way You see him, because right now I'm not seeing clearly. And there were moments when I couldn't see a future for our marriage at all, and all I could ask was, Help me see the light and the possibility of what we could become.

Around year four of our marriage, Chris and I separated and began moving toward divorce. We had two very little boys, and I felt lonely, overwhelmed, defeated, and unsure of what came next. During that season, I had an experience while worshipping alone that reminded me that faith is believing in something we cannot yet see. I wasn't asking God to part a sea or perform some enormous biblical miracle. The miracle I wanted was for one relationship to be healed.

At the time, I had no evidence that it would happen. But I remember thinking that if God is truly a God of miracles, then surely I could have enough faith to believe that this relationship could become something different too.

And today, nearly twenty-two years into our marriage, I can say that the relationship I once viewed as one of the greatest weaknesses in my life has become one of our greatest strengths. That transformation didn't happen overnight, and it certainly didn't happen without work. But as we continued to prioritize our relationship, ask God to help us see ourselves and each other differently, and put faith in Him and in one another, we began to see something we couldn't see before.

So I want to leave you with the same challenge I shared in that message:

Choose one important person in your life and, for a period of time, ask God to help you see that person the way He sees them.

Maybe it's your spouse. Maybe it's one of your children. Maybe it's a parent, sibling, friend—or maybe the person you need help seeing differently is yourself.

Ask for new eyes. Exercise faith that the relationship can become stronger. And seek and expect miracles.

I believe Jesus can help us see the people we love differently. He can help us see ourselves differently. And sometimes, being able to see differently is where transformation begins.

Hit play to hear the full message.

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're ready to dive even deeper into our community, follow the links below.

LINKS:

All Links: Family Brand!

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 A Personal Message From Melissa
01:00 Navigating a Season of Change
02:00 Preparing to Speak at Church
03:00 Why Don't We Ask God for Help More Often?
04:00 Jesus as Our Relationship Guide
05:00 Why This Topic Felt So Personal
06:00 How Our Relationship With Jesus Changes Our Relationships
07:00 The Marriage Story Behind This Message
08:00 Stop Comparing Your Relationship to Everyone Else's
09:00 Seeing People for Who They Can Become
10:00 "Help Me See My Husband the Way You See Him"
11:00 The Lowest Point in Our Marriage
12:00 Faith for a Miracle You Cannot Yet See
13:00 Our Marriage Became One of Our Greatest Strengths
14:00 A Challenge for Your Most Important Relationships

267. Dia De Los Muertos 2026! How to Celebrate Dia De Los Muertos as a Family (and Why You Should) Oct 23, 2026

Show notes

Dia De Los Muertos 2026 is here!

Every year around this time, Chris and Melissa share one of their favorite family traditions — celebrating Dia De Los Muertos, or Day of the Dead. What started years ago as an invitation to a friend's backyard gathering has turned into a cherished Family Brand tradition that connects their kids to their heritage in the most fun and meaningful way.

In this episode, Chris and Melissa unpack why Dia De Los Muertos is so powerful, how it has evolved in their home, and why they believe every family can benefit from celebrating it — no matter your background. Far beyond face paint or costumes, this holiday is about remembering those who came before us, honoring their legacy, and helping our children understand where they come from.

Melissa shares research from the article "The Stories That Bind Us," which reveals that kids who know about their family history are more resilient, grounded, and confident. Chris adds that Dia De Los Muertos has become their built-in reminder each year to tell those stories, building both identity and belonging for their children.

They walk through practical ways to celebrate — from hosting a full neighborhood party with a food potluck and an ofrenda (altar) to something as simple as sharing popcorn and stories about a grandparent at home. Whether you want to go all-out or keep it small, this episode will leave you inspired to make it your own and create a tradition that helps your family feel more connected, seen, and rooted.

LINKS:

All Links Family Brand!

Links For This Episode:

Movie- Disney's 'Coco': https://movies.disney.com/coco
Article - "The Stories that Bind Us" by Bruce Feiler: https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/17/fashion/the-family-stories-that-bind-us-this-life.html
Dia De Los Muertos Invitation: https://www.canva.com/design/DAFQjqjuXGo/N4wG0U-JXTTSBCdohrtjUw/edit?utm_content=DAFQjqjuXGo&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=sharebutton

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 – Intro: Why Dia De Los Muertos matters to the Family Brand
01:00 – What is Dia De Los Muertos and how the Pages started celebrating
02:00 – The meaning behind the holiday: honoring heritage and ancestors
03:00 – The science of family history: "The Stories That Bind Us" study
04:00 – Why knowing family stories builds resilience and identity in kids
05:00 – How Chris and Melissa adapted the tradition for their own family
06:00 – Hosting your first Dia De Los Muertos gathering
07:00 – Setting up an ofrenda like in the movie Coco
08:00 – Bringing food that represents your family's heritage
09:00 – Inviting kids to share stories about relatives and ancestors
10:00 – Why storytelling and tradition make this night unforgettable
11:00 – Making it simple: popcorn, photos, and one meaningful story
12:00 – Turning small moments into powerful family connections
13:00 – Creative ideas: Canva invites, neighborhood gatherings, or movie nights

266. What Game Are You Going to Win in 2027? Oct 16, 2026

Show notes

Hey, Family Brand community! I'm flying solo on this episode after an incredible weekend with our team and clients at PSBLTY.

We just wrapped up the UpMarket Experience, where we had around 100 of our clients together for two days. At PSBLTY, we help financial advisors move upmarket in their businesses—but to me, "upmarket" has always meant more than simply working with higher-net-worth clients. It's also a philosophy. How do we move upmarket in our mindset, our beliefs, our relationships, our health, our leadership, and the areas of life that matter most to us?

One of the things we worked on during the event was creating a 2027 Growth Plan, and as I was preparing to teach it, I had a realization that changed a framework I've used for years.

I've often taught that there are three ways to play the game of life. You can play not to lose, where you're mostly trying to avoid failure. You can play to play, where you put in some effort and see what happens. Or you can play to win, where you're committed, intentional, and giving it your best shot.

But I realized there's actually a fourth option:

You just decide to win.

Playing to win still leaves a little room for, I'm going to try really hard, but this may not work out. What happens if instead you decide, No. I'm going to find a way to win this game?

And when I say "whatever it takes," I'm not talking about sacrificing your family, your health, your integrity, or the things that matter most. I'm talking about becoming incredibly clear about what you want and making a real commitment to creating it.

The first step is making sure you've created a winnable game.

"I want to have a great year" isn't really a winnable game. Neither is "I want my business to do better." How would you know if you won?

Maybe winning for you looks like buying your first home. Maybe it's paying off a specific amount of debt, rebuilding your marriage, strengthening your relationship with one of your kids, starting a business, changing careers, going back to school, or hitting a specific health goal.

The point is to create something specific enough that, at the end of the year, you can look at it and know: I won that game.

And you don't have to win every game at once. I have to remind myself of this too. When we try to completely transform our health, finances, marriage, parenting, business, and everything else simultaneously, we can end up making very little meaningful progress anywhere.

Pick a game. Win it. Then move on to the next one.

There's one more part of this that I think matters just as much: you have to believe it's possible—or at least be willing to believe that it could be.

Maybe there's something in your life you've secretly wondered about for a long time.

Is it possible to save my marriage?

Is it possible to become financially free?

Is it possible to rebuild my relationship with my kids?

Is it possible to finally go after the thing I've always wanted to do?

I'm telling you: it is possible.

And if you don't fully believe that yet, that's okay. One of my favorite examples in scripture is the father who tells Jesus, "I believe; help my unbelief." Sometimes faith isn't having absolute confidence that something will happen. Sometimes faith is saying, I don't completely believe this yet, but I want to.

That's enough to begin.

So here's what I want you to do after this episode:

Decide what game you're going to win.

Make it specific. Decide that you're going to find a way. You don't need to know exactly how yet. You don't need to know when every piece will come together.

Get clear. Have the courage to say what you really want. Decide to win. And choose to believe that it's possible.

I want to see you win. I believe the people who truly love you want to see you win. And I absolutely believe God wants to see you win too.

Hit play, and then ask yourself: What game am I going to win next?

Learn more about PSBLTY: https://psblty.com

LINKS:

All Links: Family Brand!

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 Chris Takes Over for a Solo Episode
01:00 What It Means to Move "Upmarket" in Life
02:00 Creating Your 2027 Growth Plan
03:00 The 3 Ways We Usually Play the Game
04:00 The Fourth Option: Just Win
05:00 Stop Hoping and Decide What You're Going to Win
06:00 How to Create a Winnable Game
07:00 Why Your Win Matters to Other People
08:00 Is It Really Possible?
09:00 You Don't Have to Win Everything at Once
10:00 What If You Don't Fully Believe Yet?
11:00 "I Believe, Help My Unbelief"
12:00 Clarity + Courage + Belief
13:00 Surround Yourself With People Who Want You to Win

265. Are We Doing Too Much for Our Kids? Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Hey, Family Brand community! Have you ever wondered if you're doing too much for your kids—or maybe not enough? That's the question we're digging into this week after Melissa came across a post from another mom that immediately made her think about some of the choices we've made in our own family.

The post shared a few everyday examples: 10-year-olds making their own lunches, a teenager handling her own sports paperwork, and a daughter working through an insurance issue after an accident. The idea was simple: being a supportive parent doesn't always mean doing everything for your kids. Sometimes support looks like cheering, guiding, observing, and loving while still letting them figure things out for themselves. And honestly, that can be hard. As parents, it's so easy to feel guilty and wonder, Should I just do this for them?

We've seen that same tension in our own house. Our kids make their own lunches, do their own laundry, and sometimes pay for things we technically could afford to cover for them. They love reminding us that they're "the only kids" who have to do certain things! But we've started looking at those moments differently. Maybe when our kids say, "I'm the only one who has to do this," it doesn't always mean we're doing something wrong. Maybe sometimes we're giving them a chance to build independence, responsibility, resilience, and confidence.

One of the biggest distinctions we talk about in this episode is the difference between supporting your kids and doing things for them. Challenging a child to make their own lunch doesn't mean leaving them completely on their own. You can buy the groceries, teach them how to make it, have everything available, encourage them, and still let them be the one who actually does it. Sometimes the more loving thing isn't removing the challenge—it's giving them enough support to learn how to handle it.

We also talk about something we've noticed among successful adults who grew up having to figure a lot of things out themselves. Many of them credit those early experiences with teaching them resourcefulness, hard work, creativity, and the belief that they could solve problems. Then they become parents and naturally want to give their kids more than they had. But maybe "more" doesn't have to mean more things or fewer struggles. Maybe it can mean more knowledge, more encouragement, more resources, more connection—and still allowing our children to experience the confidence that comes from figuring something out for themselves.

So here's our challenge this week: look at what you're currently doing for your kids and ask yourself, Is there something here they're ready to start doing for themselves? Then have an intentional conversation about it. Don't just suddenly announce that they're responsible for all their laundry forever! Explain why you're making the change, how you'll support them, and what you hope they'll gain from it. And when you see your kids being resourceful, disciplined, independent, or self-driven, call it out. Help them build the identity of someone who knows, I can figure things out. I can take care of myself. I can make things happen. Hit play to hear the full conversation!

LINKS:

All Links Family Brand!

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 What's New With Family Brand
01:00 The Parenting Post That Started This Conversation
02:00 What It Means to Be a "Lighthouse" Parent
03:00 "We're the Only Kids Who Have To..."
04:00 Don't Raise Kids Who Expect Everything Done for Them
05:00 Why Our Kids Do Their Own Laundry
06:00 Should Parents Pay for Everything?
07:00 Supporting Your Kids Without Doing It for Them
08:00 Challenge vs. Support
09:00 What Support Actually Looks Like
10:00 What Skills Are Your Kids Ready to Learn?
11:00 Why Resourcefulness Matters
12:00 Giving Your Kids More Without Doing More for Them
13:00 Letting Your Kids Struggle a Little
14:00 What Can Your Kids Start Doing Themselves?
15:00 How to Introduce More Responsibility
16:00 Catch Your Kids Being Resourceful
17:00 Helping Kids Build an Independent Identity
18:00 If It's Going to Be, It's Up to Me

264. Things We Wish We Had Done Differently as Parents Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Hey, Family Brand community! This week, we're talking about something that feels a little confronting for us as parents—one of those areas where, looking back, we can honestly say, we wish we had done some things differently.

As our kids get older and closer to leaving home, we've started having those moments where we wonder, Did we teach them this? Did we prepare them for that? Are there life skills we assumed they would just pick up along the way? One of the biggest ones we've been thinking about lately is reliability. Being on time. Following through. Doing what you say you're going to do. Becoming the kind of person other people—and you yourself—can count on.

And here's the part that's hard to admit: reliability is one of those things that's caught much more than it's taught. We can tell our kids all day long that they need to be on time for school or follow through on their commitments, but if they've spent years watching us be late, change plans, or not consistently be our word, they've learned something from that too. Over the last 20 years of raising kids, our own relationship with things like punctuality, dependability, and following through has changed dramatically—and now we're seeing some of the ripple effects of what we modeled earlier on. So instead of just lecturing our kids about being more responsible, we've been experimenting with something different: natural consequences and clear agreements. For example, some of our kids have access to cars and phones that we help provide. Rather than constantly reminding, nagging, or getting frustrated in the mornings, we've created agreements around things like being at breakfast and leaving the house on time. Their car and phone aren't simply something they automatically get—they "rent" them with their reliability. If they keep the agreement, great. If they don't, there is a clear consequence that everyone already understands.

What we've loved about this approach is that it takes a lot of the emotion out of parenting. Instead of hovering over a teenager saying, "It's 7:14! Hurry up!" the agreement gets to do the work. Of course, there's another uncomfortable lesson in that for us too: if we're asking our kids to be their word, we have to be ours. When a consequence is inconvenient for us or we feel bad enforcing it, we still have to follow through. Otherwise, we're undermining the exact principle we're trying to teach.

This isn't really an episode about punctuality. It's about identity. We want our kids to leave home believing, I'm reliable. I'm dependable. I do what I say I'm going to do. Because we've seen over and over—in relationships, work, leadership, and life—that reliability can become one of the greatest differentiators a person has. Talent matters. Ability matters. But if people can't count on you, eventually it costs you.

Hit play to hear the full conversation! We're sharing where we think we fell short, what we're trying now, and why becoming more reliable isn't just about getting somewhere on time—it's about creating a life that works.

LINKS:

All Links: Family Brand!

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 The Parenting Gap We're Trying to Fix
01:00 Why Reliability Matters So Much
02:00 Are We Running Out of Time to Teach Our Kids?
03:00 Kids Learn More From What We Model
04:00 Reliability Is Bigger Than Being On Time
05:00 The Consequences of Being Chronically Late
06:00 What We Wish We Had Modeled Differently
07:00 When Parents Send Mixed Messages
08:00 Teaching Reliability Without Constant Nagging
09:00 Using Natural Consequences
10:00 "Renting" the Car and Phone With Reliability
11:00 Teaching Kids to Manage Their Time
12:00 What Leadership Has to Do With Being On Time
13:00 Reliability Is a Skill You Can Build
14:00 Natural Consequences for Younger Kids
15:00 Letting the Agreement Do the Heavy Lifting
16:00 Why Parents Have to Follow Through Too
17:00 Reliable Kids Become Reliable Adults
18:00 What Unreliability Costs You in Life and Work
19:00 Creating a Life That Actually Works

263. Stop Outsourcing Your Intuition: Finding Clarity in a Noisy World Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

Hey, Family Brand community! We're trying something new on the podcast this week—new chairs, a new setup, and a conversation that started with something Chris wasn't actually planning to do. A couple of months ago, Chris got a new phone and, when he was setting everything back up, decided not to reinstall social media. There wasn't some dramatic social media detox or big declaration behind it. He just felt like he shouldn't put it back on his phone. What happened next surprised both of us.

Chris started noticing that he felt more present—with me, with our kids, with his team, and even with himself. Then he took the experiment a little further. One Saturday, knowing he'd be spending hours doing tractor work, he intentionally left his headphones behind. No podcast. No music. No inspirational content. Just a few hours alone with his thoughts. And strangely enough, that felt uncomfortable at first. It made us wonder: when did being alone with our own thoughts become something we needed to avoid?

That question led us somewhere much bigger. We both love books, podcasts, coaches, mentors, and personal development, and they've absolutely changed our lives. But Chris realized that some of the most profound ideas and breakthroughs he's ever experienced didn't actually come from someone else. They came during the times when he slowed down enough to ponder, pray, ask questions, and listen. Melissa has been experiencing something similar while preparing for an upcoming talk at church. By intentionally creating more quiet instead of immediately filling every empty moment with another audiobook or piece of content, ideas and clarity have started coming naturally. It made us wonder: what if the wisdom and inspiration we're constantly searching for is more available to us than we realize?

And in today's world, this conversation feels especially important. We can outsource our thinking to influencers, podcasts, experts, social media, and now even AI. Those tools can be incredibly useful—we use them too—but they can't replace your own intelligence, intuition, faith, or understanding of your unique life. Sometimes asking someone else to tell us what to do is simply easier than doing the uncomfortable work of getting clear about what we actually want. Maybe we don't always need another answer. Maybe we need enough silence to hear the answer that's already trying to get through.

So we're leaving you with a challenge this week: choose one time when you'd normally reach for stimulation—driving, working out, doing chores, or sitting down at the end of the day—and don't. Skip the podcast. Leave the music off. Put the phone away. Bring one of those questions that's been sitting in the back of your mind and give yourself enough stillness to actually think about it. Pray, ponder, listen, or simply sit with your thoughts and see what comes up. You might be surprised by what you already know.

Hit play to hear the full conversation!

LINKS:

All Links Family Brand!

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 A New Look for the Family Brand Podcast
02:00 The Accidental Social Media Break
03:00 What Happened When Chris Deleted Social Media
04:00 Being More Present Without Social Media
05:00 Learning to Be Alone With Your Thoughts
06:00 Why Silence Can Feel Uncomfortable
07:00 Experimenting With Less Stimulation
08:00 Where Our Biggest Breakthroughs Really Come From
09:00 Are We Already Connected to the Answers?
10:00 Melissa's Experience Creating More Quiet
12:00 Making Space for Inspiration
13:00 Is Wisdom Always Available to Us?
14:00 Why Do We Outsource Our Intuition?
15:00 Trust, Control, and Finding Clarity
16:00 Why Thinking for Yourself Is Harder
17:00 Social Media, Podcasts, and AI
18:00 The Danger of "I Don't Know" and "I Probably Should"
19:00 A Simple Challenge for More Clarity
20:00 Spend One Moment This Week in Silence

262. How to Build a Beautiful Family After Divorce with Wayde Elliott Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

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

261. The Power of Deciding: Why Commitment Changes Everything Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

Hey, Family Brand community! Have you ever had an idea that just wouldn't leave you alone? Maybe it was starting a business, improving your health, strengthening your marriage, or trying something completely outside your comfort zone. The question isn't whether you've had those moments—we all have. The real question is: what separates the ideas we simply think about from the ones that actually change our lives? That's exactly what we're exploring in this episode.

One of our favorite stories in this conversation comes from Melissa's unexpected "side quest" of starting a vintage business with her sister called Yarn Chasers. It wasn't something they had years of experience doing or a perfectly mapped-out business plan for. They simply decided they were going to do it, rented a booth at a huge market, spent months preparing, and went all in. Whether it lasted forever wasn't the point. The point was that they stopped wondering and started moving. That single decision created opportunities, memories, confidence, and lessons they still carry with them today.

Throughout this episode, we talk about something we've both seen play out over and over in our own lives: there's a huge difference between making a decision and truly deciding. It's easy to say, "Someday I'd like to..." It's much harder—and much more powerful—to commit, take action, and move forward before you have every answer. We've found that once you begin moving, opportunities appear, people show up, and clarity often comes through action rather than before it. You don't have to be certain—you simply have to be willing to take the next step.

One of our biggest hopes is that this conversation encourages you to look back at your own life. Think about the moments that changed everything. Chances are they began with a simple but powerful commitment: "I'm doing this." Whatever season you're in, maybe this is your reminder to stop waiting for perfect certainty. Choose a direction. Commit to it. Trust that you'll learn along the way, even if the path eventually changes. Sometimes the greatest growth doesn't come from making the perfect decision—it comes from becoming the kind of person who isn't afraid to decide.

Hit play to hear the full conversation! We dive into the stories, the mindset shifts, and the powerful quote that inspired this entire discussion—and why we believe commitment often creates the conditions for miracles.

LINKS:

All Links Family Brand!

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 Chris Surprises Melissa With a Question
01:31 Melissa's Yarn Chasers Story
03:37 What Happens When You Go All In
05:45 The Power of Truly Deciding
08:00 Possibility 2.0 and Radical Commitment
10:05 A Quote That Changed Everything
11:38 From Wishing to Doing
13:00 The Difference Between a Decision and Deciding
14:17 Why Commitment Attracts Opportunity
16:00 The Kitchen Table Analogy
17:26 The Hidden Cost of Indecision
18:40 Looking Back at Life-Changing Decisions
20:32 Expect Miracles
22:00 What If You Choose the Wrong Path?
24:08 Why Deciding Is Never Wasted
25:18 Be a Person Who Commits

261. Take Back Your Family's Time (Before Your Calendar Does) Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

Hey, Family Brand community! Have you ever had one of those moments where nothing is necessarily wrong... but something just feels off? That's exactly where we found ourselves not too long ago. On the surface, life was full of good things—work, activities, commitments, opportunities—but somehow we looked around and realized we didn't actually have much time left to simply be a family. That realization eventually led us to create one of our favorite Family Brand exercises: Take Back Your Family's Time.

The truth is, your calendar will always fill itself if you let it. We learned that the hard way. We had said yes to so many good opportunities that there wasn't much room left for the best things—the conversations around the dinner table, family traditions, slow evenings together, or simply doing the things we genuinely love as a family. Sometimes the problem isn't that we're filling our lives with bad things. It's that we're filling them with so many good things that there's no space left for what matters most.

One of the first things we did was ask a simple question: "Our family works when..." We started making a list of the moments when we feel the most connected. Maybe it's eating meals together, camping, turning off devices in the evenings, going to church, reading together, or having a nightly family check-in. Every family will have different answers, but identifying those rhythms gave us clarity about what we wanted to protect. From there, we took an honest look at where our time was actually going. It wasn't always easy, but it gave us permission to say "no" to some things so we could say a much bigger "yes" to our family.

As another busy season approaches, this is the perfect time to pause and do your own family time audit. Involve your kids in the conversation—they often have incredible insight into what makes them feel most connected. You might be surprised by what they remember and what they value. The goal isn't to create a perfect schedule. It's to intentionally create a life where your family has room to thrive instead of simply trying to keep up.

Hit play to hear the full conversation! In this episode, we walk through the entire Take Back Your Family's Time framework, the questions we ask ourselves every year, and the practical exercise you can use with your own family this week.

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're ready to dive deeper into our community, follow the links below.

LINKS:

All Links Family Brand!

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 Why We Needed to Take Back Our Family's Time
01:19 When Good Things Become Too Much
02:11 The Family Exercise We Shared in Croatia
03:14 The Wake-Up Call Our Family Needed
04:13 Identifying What Your Family Loves Most
05:00 Good vs. Better vs. Best
05:46 The Story That Changed Our Perspective
06:46 Why Every Family Needs a Time Audit
07:46 Rediscovering Family Traditions
08:27 Preparing for a Busy Season
09:00 "Our Family Works When..."
10:00 A Family Tradition That Inspired Us
11:06 Give Yourself Permission to Say No
11:47 Involve Your Kids in the Conversation
00:00 Why We Needed to Take Back Our Family's Time
01:19 When Good Things Become Too Much
02:11 The Family Exercise We Shared in Croatia
03:14 The Wake-Up Call Our Family Needed
04:13 Identifying What Your Family Loves Most
05:00 Good vs. Better vs. Best
05:46 The Story That Changed Our Perspective
06:46 Why Every Family Needs a Time Audit
07:46 Rediscovering Family Traditions
08:27 Preparing for a Busy Season
09:00 "Our Family Works When..."
10:00 A Family Tradition That Inspired Us
11:06 Give Yourself Permission to Say No
11:47 Involve Your Kids in the Conversation

259. Slower Meals, Stronger Families, and a New View of the World: Takeaways From Croatia and Turkey Jul 17, 2026

Show notes

Hey, Family Brand community! We are so glad to be back in the studio. It probably doesn't feel like we've been gone since we recorded a few episodes ahead of time, but after spending the last few weeks traveling through Croatia and Turkey, we're excited to sit down and share some of the biggest lessons we brought home with us. Every trip has a way of changing us, and this one was no exception.

Our first stop was Croatia, where we hosted another Family Brand cruise with our good friend Antony and the Solomori team. If Croatia has been sitting on your travel bucket list, consider this your sign to move it to the top. It's absolutely beautiful, but what impacted us most wasn't just the scenery—it was the culture. Everywhere we went, we saw families making time for one another, preserving traditions, sharing stories, and simply slowing down. Meals weren't rushed. Conversations stretched for hours. We even learned a Croatian word that quickly became the theme of our trip: pomalo—which simply means take it easy, slow down, don't rush. It became a reminder that maybe we're not meant to race through life quite as fast as we often do.

Then we landed in Turkey, and talk about a complete shift. Everything felt unfamiliar—in the best possible way. From hearing the call to prayer echo across Istanbul to visiting beautiful mosques, trying a traditional Turkish bath, navigating a language barrier, and experiencing a culture completely different from our own, we found ourselves having conversations as a family that we never would have had otherwise. It challenged some assumptions, expanded our understanding of another faith and culture, and reminded us how valuable it is to step outside what's comfortable. We left with an even greater appreciation for the kindness we experienced everywhere we went and for how much there is to learn simply by being curious.

By the time we made it home, each of us had something different we were bringing back. For some of us, it was a renewed commitment to slow down and prioritize family. For others, it was a deeper appreciation for home, or even a desire to start reading physical books again instead of always listening to audiobooks. More than anything, this trip reminded us that growth doesn't just happen through travel—it happens anytime we're willing to be open to new people, different perspectives, and meaningful conversations. Whether your next adventure is across the world or simply across town, we hope it stretches you in all the best ways.

Hit play to hear the full conversation! We dive much deeper into the stories, the laughs, the culture, and the lessons that simply can't all fit into a blog post.

LINKS:

All Links Family Brand!

Episode Minute By Minute:

00:00 Back in the Studio After Three Weeks Away
00:41 Our Family Trip Through Croatia and Turkey
01:03 The Family Brand Cruise Through Croatia
02:18 Why Croatia Should Move Up Your Travel List
03:05 From Croatia's Coast to Istanbul, Turkey
04:13 A Croatian Village Where Everyone Knows Your Family
06:06 Preserving Family Stories and Traditions
07:15 What Strong Families and Croatian Culture Have in Common
09:28 Pomalo: Slow Down, Relax, and Don't Rush
10:33 Experiencing Istanbul and Turkish Culture
11:26 What Turkey Taught Us About Faith and Perspective
12:30 Stepping Outside Our Comfort Zone as a Family
13:12 Helping Our Kids Experience a Different Way of Life
15:00 What Each of Us Brought Home From the Trip
15:27 Travel, Curiosity, and Learning From Other People
16:21 Slowing Down and Prioritizing Family
17:05 Rediscovering the Joy of Reading
18:13 Here's to the Rest of Summer

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