Family Meeting

Thomas Osterkamp
  • 4.9 (29)
  • Parenting
  • Updated Weekly

The Family Meeting Podcast is a podcast all about family relationships. Our goal is to help you have the family dynamic that you have always wanted. Thomas and Lysandra invite you to be a part of their family. They pull back the curtain on their family life to share practical tips and advice on everything from marriage, parenting, sex, and everything in between. For helpful posts, videos, podcast show notes, or to book them to speak at your next event, go to www.familymeeting.org.

  1. 22h ago

    FMP 308: Teaching Your Kids to Think Biblically

    Your kids are being discipled every day. Movies. Music. YouTube. TikTok. Social media. Influencers. Television. Video games. Friends. Culture. Every message they consume has the potential to shape what they believe about truth, relationships, sexuality, identity, success, morality, and God. The answer isn't simply keeping your children away from every message you disagree with. You need to teach them how to evaluate those messages for themselves. In Episode 308 of the Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra Osterkamp discuss how parents can teach their children to filter the messages they receive through the truth of Scripture. Instead of only asking, "Is this appropriate for my child?" Christian parents also need to teach their children to ask, "Is this true?" We talk about how to use movies, television, music, social media, and other forms of entertainment as opportunities for discipleship. Your children need to learn how to recognize the worldview behind the message, compare it with what Scripture teaches, reject what is false, and hold on to what is true. In this episode, we discuss: Why parents need to help children develop biblical discernment. How media and entertainment influence your child's worldview. Teaching kids to recognize the message behind the entertainment. How to compare cultural messages with biblical truth. Why simply banning media doesn't teach discernment. Using movies, music, and social media to start meaningful conversations. Helping children develop a biblical worldview. Preparing your kids to evaluate messages when you aren't there to do it for them. You won't always be standing beside your children when they encounter a message that conflicts with Scripture. The goal is to raise children who know God's Word well enough to recognize what is true, identify what is false, and make wise decisions for themselves. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our The Biblical Media Filter: 10 Questions Every Family Should Ask. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 308: Teaching Your Kids to Think Biblically

  2. Aug 12

    FMP 307: Why Every Healthy Marriage Needs Honest Feedback

    Can your spouse tell you the truth? One of the greatest indicators of a healthy marriage isn't how rarely you disagree. It's whether you can lovingly receive honest feedback without becoming defensive. In Episode 307 of the Family Meeting Podcast, Thomas and Lysandra Osterkamp discuss why every healthy marriage needs honest feedback. You'll learn why defensiveness damages connection, how humility strengthens trust, and practical ways to create a relationship where both spouses feel safe enough to speak the truth in love. If you want a stronger marriage, don't avoid difficult conversations. Learn how to use them to build greater intimacy, trust, and lasting connection. In this episode you'll discover: Why honest feedback is essential for a healthy marriage. How defensiveness keeps couples stuck. Practical ways to receive correction with humility. How to create emotional safety for honest conversations. Biblical principles for speaking the truth in love. Simple habits that help couples grow together instead of apart. Whether you've been married for one year or forty, this conversation will help you build a marriage where both spouses continue to grow. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Receiving Feedback Without Becoming Defensive Self-Assessment. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 307: Why Every Healthy Marriage Needs Honest Feedback

  3. Aug 5

    FMP 306: Sadfishing: When Social Media Turns Pain into Attention

    Is your child sharing their struggles online… or looking for validation through social media? A growing trend called sadfishing has changed the way many children and teenagers express emotional pain. Some posts are genuine cries for help. Others become a way to seek attention, approval, or sympathy from an online audience. As parents, how do we respond with both compassion and wisdom? In Episode 306 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we discuss what sadfishing is, why it's becoming more common among children and teens, and how parents can help their kids process emotions in healthy ways instead of searching for validation online. In this episode, we cover: What sadfishing is and why it's on the rise. The difference between asking for help and seeking online validation. How social media can reinforce unhealthy emotional patterns. Why children and teens are especially vulnerable to digital approval. Practical ways to help your child process emotions in healthy ways. How to create a home where your child feels safe enough to share their struggles. Biblical principles for finding identity, hope, and acceptance in Christ instead of social media. Your child's greatest need isn't more likes. It's knowing they are deeply loved, genuinely heard, and unconditionally accepted. When your home becomes the safest place to talk about difficult emotions, your child will be far less likely to seek validation from strangers online. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Helping Your Child Navigate Social Media And Emotional Health Guide. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 306: Sadfishing: When Social Media Turns Pain into Attention

  4. Jul 29

    FMP 305: God's Gift To Your Marriage

    Did you know God has uniquely gifted you to strengthen your marriage? Every follower of Christ has been given spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit. While we often think about using those gifts in the church, God also intends for them to impact the people closest to us, especially our spouse. In Episode 305 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we explore how discovering your spiritual gifts can transform your marriage and help you love, serve, encourage, and strengthen your spouse in ways only you can. In this episode, we cover: What spiritual gifts are and why every believer has them. The difference between spiritual gifts, natural talents, and personality. How to identify your unique spiritual gifts. Practical ways to use your gifts to bless your spouse every day. How different spiritual gifts complement one another in marriage. Biblical teaching on serving one another through the power of the Holy Spirit. God didn't give you your spiritual gifts just for Sunday mornings. He gave them to help you build a Christ-centered marriage every day of the week. When you understand how God has uniquely designed you, you'll stop comparing yourself to others and start intentionally using your gifts to love your spouse in meaningful ways. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Discover Your Spiritual Gifts for Marriage Assessment. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 305: God's Gift To Your Marriage

  5. Jul 22

    FMP 304: Every Child Needs to Hear These Words

    What are the words your children hear from you the most? Correction? Instruction? Or affirmation? Before Jesus performed a single miracle or preached a single sermon, God the Father publicly declared, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:17) Those words affirmed Jesus' identity before His ministry ever began. What if our children regularly heard those same kinds of life-giving words from us? In Episode 304 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we discuss the incredible power of parental affirmation and why every child needs to hear, "Well done. I'm pleased with you." In this episode, we cover: Why affirmation is essential for a child's emotional and spiritual development. What we can learn from God's words to Jesus at His baptism. The difference between affirming your child's identity and praising their performance. How your words shape your child's confidence and self-worth. Practical ways to intentionally encourage your children every day. Biblical principles for speaking life into your family. Your children will hear many voices telling them who they are. Make sure the loudest and most consistent voice is yours. Your words have the power to build confidence, strengthen relationships, and point your children toward the unconditional love of their Heavenly Father. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Speaking Life: 30 Words Every Child Needs to Hear Guide. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 304: Every Child Needs to Hear These Words

  6. Jul 15

    FMP 303: Why You and Your Spouse Handle Change Differently

    Why does one of you love change while the other resists it? Maybe one of you is ready to move, start a new job, book the vacation, or rearrange the house tomorrow. Meanwhile, the other needs time to think, process, and feel comfortable before making a decision. Neither approach is wrong. You simply have different levels of change tolerance. In Episode 303 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we explore why some people naturally embrace change while others prefer stability, and how understanding these differences can strengthen your marriage instead of creating conflict. In this episode, we cover: What high change tolerance and low change tolerance really mean. Why spouses often approach change differently. The strengths and blind spots of both personality styles. How these differences affect finances, parenting, careers, and major life decisions. Practical ways to communicate when one spouse wants to move faster than the other. How to appreciate your differences instead of fighting over them. Biblical wisdom for navigating change with unity, wisdom, and trust. The goal isn't for one spouse to change personalities. The goal is to understand one another well enough that you can move forward together. When you stop viewing your differences as a problem and start seeing them as complementary strengths, your marriage becomes healthier and your decisions become wiser. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Understanding Your Change Tolerance Assessment. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 303: Why You and Your Spouse Handle Change Differently

  7. Jul 8

    FMP 302: Stop Undermining Your Co-Parent

    Have you ever corrected your spouse in front of your kids? Overruled a parenting decision? Said "yes" after your spouse already said "no"? It may seem harmless in the moment, but undermining your co-parent's authority can confuse your children, weaken trust between spouses, and create division in your home. In Episode 302 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we discuss why parents must work together as a team and how presenting a united front creates security, consistency, and respect within the family. In this episode, we cover: What it means to undermine your co-parent's authority. Common ways parents unintentionally weaken each other's influence. Why children quickly learn to divide and conquer when parents aren't united. How to disagree with your spouse without doing it in front of the kids. Practical strategies for supporting one another, even when you see things differently. Biblical principles for teamwork, leadership, and unity in parenting. Your children don't need perfect parents. They need parents who are on the same team. When mom and dad support one another, children experience greater security, clearer boundaries, and a healthier family culture. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our United Front Parenting Guide. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 302: Stop Undermining Your Co-Parent

  8. Jul 1

    FMP 301: What We Wish We Knew About Sex Before We Got Married

    What do you wish someone had told you about sex before you got married? Many couples enter marriage with unrealistic expectations, unanswered questions, and assumptions that quietly create frustration and disappointment. The truth is, a healthy sex life isn't something that just happens. It's something couples intentionally build through communication, trust, selflessness, and a growing emotional connection. In Episode 301 of The Family Meeting Podcast, we have an honest conversation about the things we wish we had known about sex before getting married and the lessons we've learned after years of marriage together. In this episode, we cover: Common myths couples believe before marriage. Why unrealistic expectations lead to disappointment. The powerful connection between emotional intimacy and physical intimacy. How communication transforms your sex life. Why intimacy changes during different seasons of marriage. Practical ways to strengthen your physical and emotional connection. Biblical principles for cultivating a healthy, God-honoring intimate relationship. No one enters marriage knowing everything about intimacy. The healthiest marriages aren't built on perfect chemistry. They're built on love, grace, communication, and a willingness to keep learning together. Whether you're engaged, newly married, or have been married for decades, this episode will help you develop healthier expectations and a stronger understanding of God's design for intimacy in marriage. Subscribe for weekly conversations on marriage, parenting, and faith. Bonus Resource: Send an email to info@familymeeting.org for our Building a Healthy Intimate Marriage Guide. For more information: https://linktr.ee/familymeeting

    FMP 301: What We Wish We Knew About Sex Before We Got Married
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4.9
out of 5
29 Ratings

About

The Family Meeting Podcast is a podcast all about family relationships. Our goal is to help you have the family dynamic that you have always wanted. Thomas and Lysandra invite you to be a part of their family. They pull back the curtain on their family life to share practical tips and advice on everything from marriage, parenting, sex, and everything in between. For helpful posts, videos, podcast show notes, or to book them to speak at your next event, go to www.familymeeting.org.

Information

  • Creator
    Thomas Osterkamp
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    308
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2020 Thomas Osterkamp
  • Show Website
    Family Meeting

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