Blended Family Podcast

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Special Bonus Episode! From Audioboom, comes an amazing new podcast with hosts Susan Yara and Sharzad Kiadeh. Listen to the clip from their show, and then head on over to subscribe to FAM-for All Moms!   Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially literate you are!   Learn how to get out of DEBT here! Learn how to create an affordable WILL and ESTATE here!                   

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   I know that I have been very inconsistent with the show! I’ll explain where I’ve been, what has been going on, and where I'm headed.  I’ll finally explain this mysterious illness that has been plaguing me, as well as why I think it happened. Last, I’ll share some tips on the importance of self care!    Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially literate you are!   Learn how to get out of DEBT here! Learn how to create an affordable WILL and ESTATE here!                   

With many children in today’s society are currently navigating through emotional challenges, learning and attention issues, or family stressors/pressures on the home front, we need to think more carefully about different ways to support children’s motivation and engagement, both in the classroom and at home. Joining us today on this episode of  The Blended Family Podcast to share how to assist your child in developing his/her sense of worthiness is Donna Sager Cowan, the creator of The Superhero School Series and the author of the forthcoming children’s book, With The Curiosity Of A Cat (book #2 in the series). As the youngest child in a large family, Donna felt lost in the crowd. She entertained herself by making up stories and friends to play with. By age 5, Donna had taught herself to read, and that began her imaginative journey to dreamy castles with princes and fairy godmothers.  Donna is a grandmother, random fact-finder, and encourager. And yes, she believes she’s a superhero. She resides in California

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Another co hosting show with a listener! Christina joins us to discuss her own experiences in her blended family! Do you want to share your story on the show? If so, just schedule a consult with me by using the link below!    Some things we discuss are Her personal story What it’s like being in the military and having a blended family Her tips on being close with stepkids Her relationship with bio mom Her own childhood experience in a blended family And much more! Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially literate you are!   Lea

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Mindset is everything! Did you know your mind is the most powerful tool you have? Are you aware that you can control your thoughts, therefore enabling yourself to look at your blended family in a different way? I will be answering some listener questions, and showing you how a simple shift in perception can help to change your mind! Some topics are money, love, stepkids, and ex spouse! If you want me to answer one of your questions, just email me!  Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially literate you are!   Learn how to get out

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Another co hosting show with my listener Marc! He shares all about his blended family and how he makes things work! Get a dad's perspective on how he deals with common blended family issues! Some things we discuss are    His personal story Transitions and visitations Parental alienation Raising kids in a blended family Struggles of a father during and after a divorce How being a middle school teacher and parenting middle school children feels  Puberty  Coparenting And more!   Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially literate you

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   There are many circumstances that force temporary separations in a marriage or partnership. Many people are taken away from the home for business. Military families know all too well the pain of separation for long periods of time. Other couples sometimes leave for family obligations or trips for their leisure. No matter the circumstance, it can be hard for the entire family. I share some tips to make the separation easier on everyone! Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially literate you are! Learn how to get out of DEBT here! Le

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   My guest, Michael Babikian is President and CEO of LegacyShield, a consumer engagement service that provides comprehensive legacy planning tools and services. These tools provide to every consumer the resources typically available only to the ultra-wealthy.    In this interview, we discuss His personal story of why he created Legacy Shield Legacy Shield’s easy process What makes Legacy Shield different What is included with Legacy Shield The importance of having an estate plan And much more!   To learn more about Legacy Shield or to get started, email me HERE!   Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching sessio

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   My guest Shannon Forster,  who has created a children's book called Love Grows and Grows, is helping so many families.  Her story shows that ALL types of families are special!!!!! The book now has a global audience and is  a "must have" book for all co-parenting and blended families after a divorce.   The book has characters styled as human-hybrid flowers; which themselves are a metaphor for growth and evolution towards love.  The story follows young siblings Flora and Leaf as they transition into a new and unfamiliar life between two homes- one with Mom, and one with Dad and his new wife.  Their journey highlights the challenges associated with creating extended families: a child's apprehension of meeting someone new, and eventually choosing to accept and embrace this person to become a part of their secular world.  With love and patience, we see a mom and a step-mom model a wonderful example of how to put their children first, working together

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Join me and my co host Stacy, as we talk about her experiences in a blended family. I love these co host shows, and I would love for you to join me! Schedule a mini session (below) if that sounds like fun.   I also share some financial 101 on budgeting! How do you know how to allocate your money in a budget? I’ll give you a simple formula as a guideline!  Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially literate you are!                   

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Gabrielle Hartley is a leading divorce attorney, mediator, coach, author and speaker.  Her new book, Better Apart; The Radically Positive Way to Separate (Harper Collins) is the first book of its kind to combine the life changing, healing wisdom of mindfulness, meditation and yoga with practical advice and legal wisdom to get the reader through and beyond the divorce.    Better Apart was named “the conscious uncoupling how-to” by People Magazine.  She has also been featured throughout media channels including The New York Times, The New York Post, Yoga Journal, & Mind Body Green. Gabrielle is the founder of Better Apart Divorce Coaching, Co-Parenting and Mediation Services as well as live and online class for individuals and professionals working with divorce. She speaks around the nation on radical self care.  In her practice, she is known for a unique, non-toxic approach to divorce that she developed over two decades in practice. Gabrielle

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Another co hosting show! I’m joining by a great couple who want to share their story!  In this discussion, we talk about  Their personal story  What it was like being a widower Online dating How to honor the memories of a lost one How his work with counseling helps his own family Relationship with her ex and new partner  Some of their challenges And much more! Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially literate you are!                   

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Esther Hutchison and her husband Jay are family YouTubers/Relationship coaches, who are followed by thousands, and whose content from their channel has been featured in the Daily Mail.  Esther and Jay’s experience lend their hearts to passionately motivate people to make the best with what they have. Wherever they are in their relationships. They also inspire others to grow closer in their marriage and families though their hardships and mistakes. Esther and Jay live in Florida with their big blended family of seven children!  In this interview, we discuss: Their personal story  Their You Tube channel, This Big House What it’s like raising kids in different age groups What it’s like being in an interracial blended family  Mistakes to avoid when blending a family How to keep the relationship alive And much more! Connect with Esther and Jay Website YouTube Channel Instagram This Big House Video on Finance  Connect with me Join the Private Faceboo

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Another co host episode today with one of my listeners! Plus I share my financial tip of the week, which is the importance of teaching kids to save money from a young age. We discuss How she and her partner met How her blended family is structured What it’s like raising kids in different stages of life Co parenting challenges Gender differences in kids How they created a good sibling environment in their home Relationship with bio mom Her podcast And more! Connect with Kerrie Instagram Check out her podcast, Girlfriend’s Guide to Blending Families   Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financ

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Joel W. Hawbaker is a high school teacher and a soccer coach in Alabama where he lives with his wife, his two daughters, and their two rescue dogs Butterscotch and Bruiser. He is also a professional speaker and author, focusing on leadership, education, and especially blended family life. He has been remarried for five years, and he seeks to inspire other blended families to live a more harmonious life through grace, patience, and mutual respect. When he grows up, Joel wants to be a fighter pilot and a black belt. He joins me for this Father’s Day special to talk about his own journey with fatherhood in a blended family. In this interview we discuss His personal story Why he is in his current line of work Challenges in his own blended family His 10 Commandments of blended family life And much more! Fathers Day article from National Geographic, History of Father’s Day Connect with Joel Website Facebook Facebook Group Twitter LinkedIn   Connect

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   I am joined today by another co host, Jessie Norman. Jessie is also a podcaster looking to make a difference in the blended family world. She hosts the Moving on Podcast along with her husband, and they make an amazing team. She’s so down to earth and full of great tips.   In addition, I bring you a finance tip of the week, where I give you some facts about life insurance, and why it’s essential for every family.   Connect with Jessie Website Email Facebook Instagram Podcast Instagram   Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially lite

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Stepmothers Day is one week after Mother’s Day, and so I thought it would be fitting to have a show for my stepmoms! My guest, Kendall Rose is an accomplished public speaker who has been a featured guest and provided commentary about blended family legal and financial challenges and solutions, to leading media outlets. She joins me to discuss her book, The Stepmoms Club, How to be a stepmom without losing your money, your mind, and your marriage.   Her personal story How the Stepmother’s Club came to be The book Financial aspects of blended families Biggest challenge for stepmoms Importance of self care Mothers Day, and how it affects stepmoms Stepmoms and bio moms stigma How to start your own stepmoms club The Stepmom Jewelry   Connect with Kendall Rose Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Buy the book HERE Buy the Stepmoms club necklace HERE Buy the Stepmoms club bracelet HERE   Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   My Mothers Day message to all of my very special listeners, both bio and stepmoms alike. Plus my 5 tips to start practicing self care TODAY!     Connect with me Join the Private Facebook Group Connect with me on Facebook Connect with me on Twitter Connect with me on Instagram   Send questions or feedback to melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com Sign up for my monthly newsletter Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes   Schedule an interview, coaching session, or financial review here Take my money quiz here to see how financially literate you are!                  

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   Joining the podcast is Sherrie Campbell, the author of But It’s Your Family...Cutting Ties with Toxic Family Members and Loving Yourself in the Aftermath. Toxic family abuse is always two-fold. The first layer of abuse is the original poor treatment by toxic family members, and the second is someone’s denial of the ways in which abusers treat and harm them. Loving someone doesn’t always mean having a relationship with them, just like forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation. A significant part of healing comes with accepting that there are some relationships that are so poisonous that they destroy one’s ability to be healthy and function best. But It’s Your Family is a remarkable account of what it means to cut ties to toxic family abuse and thrive in the aftermath.   Sherrie shares her personal story, and then we take a deep dive into the topic of what it’s like to have a toxic person in your life, and how to break free!   Connect With Dr.

melissa@blendedfamilypodcast.com www.blendedfamilypodcast.com   After enduring what has been called “the worst known case of parental alienation and the most corrupt family court case in the history of Tarrant County Texas” Wendy became motivated to break the silence about parental alienation.  In 2014, Wendy’s court case was featured in the critically acclaimed documentary Divorce Corp. She has not stopped fighting for the rights of alienated parents since. Wendy’s passions and strengths include giving educational presentations to the public and professionals, giving TV and radio interviews, giving support to targeted and alienated parents as well as conference and event planning.  Whether it’s experts or advocates or families, one of Wendy’s gifts is bringing people together for awareness, education and support.   She joins us for a second time to discuss her personal story, as well as what we can all do to help bring awareness to parental alienation.   "Parental Alienation can happen to ANYONE so it should