In this episode (Part 2 of 2) Chris, Ryan, and Kayla are joined by their friend Melissa Corkum to talk about blocked care, her new book, Reclaim Compassion, and her recent TED Talk. Links The Adoption Connection Melissa's TED Talk Reclaim Compassion: The Adoptive Parent's Guide to Overcoming Blocked Care with Neuroscience and Faith Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families worldwide. We are so...

In this episode (Part 1 of 2) Chris, Ryan, and Kayla are joined by their friend Melissa Corkum to talk about blocked care, her new book, Reclaim Compassion, and her recent TED Talk. Links The Adoption Connection Melissa's TED Talk Reclaim Compassion: The Adoptive Parent's Guide to Overcoming Blocked Care with Neuroscience and Faith Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families worldwide. We are so...

In this episode, Part 2 of our sibling conflict discussion, Chris, Kayla, and Ryan share practical advice and offer some skill-building strategies for us and our kids. Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families worldwide. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we can pour into others. Would you consider supporting our ongoing work by becoming a patron of our podcast? One Big...

We're back for Season 10 of The Empowered Parent Podcast. In this episode, Chris, Kayla, and Ryan discuss something every parent with at least two kids has to deal with, sibling conflict. They share personal examples (both as parents and siblings), confirm that sibling conflict is normal, and share some additional insights. Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families worldwide. We are so thankful for...

Ryan and Kayla are joined by their friend Jillana Goble to discuss her new book, A Love Stretched Life. They had the privilege of endorsing A Love Stretched Life and here is what they had to say: "The stories Jillana shares in  A Love Stretched Life are raw and real. You won’t want to put this book down as you begin to read story after story of heartbreak and struggle. But the stories are not only hard, but they are beautiful too. They are stories of choosing to “love against the grain.” For...

Chris, Kayla, and Ryan talk about a topic near and dear to their hearts, open adoption. They share their experiences and all that they have learned from being in a relationship with their daughter's birth mom. Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we could pour into others. Would you consider supporting our ongoing...

As we prepare for going back to school, Chris, Kayla, and Ryan discuss how best to advocate for your kids at school.  As mentioned in the episode Chapter 4 of The Connected Child Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we could pour into others. Would you consider supporting our ongoing work by becoming a patron of...

Chris, Ryan, and Kayla get together to reflect on 500,000 downloads of The Empowered Parent Podcast. Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we could pour into others. Would you consider supporting our ongoing work by becoming a patron of our podcast? One Big Happy...

Thank you, thank you, thank you! We've hit half-a-million downloads and wanted to share a bonus episode with you. We record two episodes every time we get together and record. There's the episode that we share with everyone, and there's the episode after the episode (Green Room) that we share with our Patrons. This is the Green Room from our recent episode on Chores. We hope you enjoy it and hope you would consider becoming a Patron of The Empowered Parent Podcast. Become a Patron of the...

In this episode of the podcast Chris, Kayla, and Ryan are all about chores. They discuss finding the sweet spot between recognizing that no one wants to do chores and that they need to be done. They also address how leading by example and offering to help might be good places to start. Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured...

Jamie Finn joins Ryan and Kayla in the episode to discuss her new book Foster the Family. They discuss the similar motivations and expectations they all came to foster care with and how this journey has impacted their families. Mentioned in this Episode Foster the Family: Encouragement, Hope, and Practical Help for the Christian Foster Parent Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the...

Chris, Kayla, and Ryan are back. In this episode of the podcast they discuss how to connect with the kid you stuggle to connect with. They share from their personal struggles and victories how they have made progress connecting with all of their children. Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we could pour into...

Chris, Kayla, and Ryan are back with a new season and a new episode. They discuss how connected parenting works in big families. In part one, they discuss how being proactive is a foundational component of connecting at home.  Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we could pour into others. Would you consider...

She's back! Chris and Ryan welcome Kayla back for this episode and they're talking about consequences. They talk about how to use them effectively and in ways that can help the parent-child relationship.  As mentioned in this episode Connection Over Consequences S08 - E17 Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so...

Chris and Ryan are without Kayla again for this episode. They decide to hit record and see where the conversation takes them. Where it takes them to is a discussion of Ted Lasso and the importance of good leadership amongst other things. As mentioned in this episode Ted Lasso Darts Scene The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so...

Chris and Ryan are without Kayla for this episode. They discuss why the holiday season can be the most wonderful time of the year as well as a very difficult time for us as well. They remind us that we need to "keep our balance" especially at this time of the year.  Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we could...

Chris, Ryan, and Kayla are back and discussing something important, gratitude. We often talk about how we wish our kids had more gratitude, but they discuss how we need to model lives of gratitude for our kids. They share some of the things they are thankful for and why our circumstances sometimes make it hard for us to be thankful. Become a Patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We...

Chris, Ryan, and Kayla are back and take on the topic of consequences. But before they discuss how to effectively use consequences, they talk about why connection can help make consequences less necessary.  Become a patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we could pour into others. Would you consider supporting our ongoing...

Chris, Kayla, and Ryan and joined once again by Chris's wife Kelly to continue the discussion on parenting teens.  Become a patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we could pour into others. Would you consider supporting our ongoing work by becoming a patron of our podcast? One Big Happy Home Web | Facebook | Twitter |...

This episode of the podcast is a special one because Chris, Kayla, and Ryan and joined by Chris's wife Kelly to discuss parenting teens. They don't often discuss this subject, but as the number of teens is growing in their families they thought they would give it a shot. Become a patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we...

Chris and Ryan are without Kayla for this episode again and pick up where they left off talking about the power of being present with our kids. They share some practical things they have done in their families too. Resources Mentioned in this Episode BUILD: Creating a Foundation of Connection Become a patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who...

Chris and Ryan are without Kayla for this episode and they discuss the importance of being present and available for our kids. The boys share from their experiences as dads, they focus on the 5 Household Dysfunction ACES, and share why we need to maximize our time with our kids.  Become a patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so...

Chris, Kayla, and Ryan are joined by their good friend Allison Highton for this special Mother's Day episode. They discuss the joy and struggles for moms and their kids and how their expectations of the day have changed over the years. Become a patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us so we could pour into others. Would you consider...

Chris, Kayla, and Ryan pick up where they left off in the previous episode (Getting the Relationship Back on Track) and discuss how we can repair after rupture. They offer why it is important to make things right between us and our children and remind us of the important things to remember when trying to make things right. Become a patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so...

Chris, Kayla, and Ryan tackle a potentially difficult topic in this episode, repairing your mistakes with your kids. They discuss how apologizing and seeking forgiveness is a wonderful relationship tool as well as a great way to teach how to take responsibility for words and actions. Become a patron of the Empowered Parent Podcast We love that we can play a part in bringing hope, encouragement, and healing to families across the world. We are so thankful for the people who have poured into us...