Family Brand: Take Back Your Family

Family Brand
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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.

  1. 6D AGO

    253. Raising Good Men: A Conversation with Tim Wright

    In this powerful episode, Melissa sits down with Tim Wright — former Lutheran pastor of 41 years, author, and passionate advocate for helping boys grow into strong, compassionate men of character. Melissa begins the conversation with a question many parents of boys are quietly asking: What does it even mean to be a man in today's world? With cultural messages constantly shifting — and often equating masculinity with toxicity — Tim offers a refreshing, grounded perspective. He shares why boys need intentional guidance, not stereotypes. Why strength and compassion are not opposites. And why raising good men starts with developing character — not just behavior. Tim explains how throughout history, many cultures practiced rites of passage to help boys transition into manhood. Today, we often lack those intentional moments. Without guidance, boys will still seek definition — but they may look in the wrong places. Tim shares how simple, intentional experiences can help boys build identity rooted in love, responsibility, empathy, and conviction. He also shares a deeply moving story about the rite of passage ceremony he created for his son when he became a father — gathering strong male figures, reading letters of affirmation, and symbolizing the moment through intentional marking. It's a beautiful picture of what mentorship and generational blessing can look like. The conversation then turns to Tim's middle-grade fantasy series, The Adventures of Toby Baxter. Through adventure, humor, and imagination, Tim weaves character lessons about courage, wisdom, love, grit, and truth into engaging stories designed especially to help boys grow. Melissa and Tim discuss: Why boys need strong male role models beyond just dad The power of language and affirmation ("I love you. I'm proud of you.") How parents can be intentional even if a father is absent Why character must come before labels And how to take back influence in an age of screens and algorithms Tim closes with a simple but powerful reminder: Look your child in the eyes every day and say, "I love you, and I'm proud of you." Because when a child knows they are deeply loved, it becomes a protective force against so much of what culture throws at them.   LINKS: All Links Family Brand!  stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats.  Links For This Episode: : Tim Wright Books -- The Adventures of Toby Baxter Episode Minute By Minute: 01:00 – Tim's background: pastor, author, and grandfather 03:30 – What does it mean to be a man today? 05:00 – Masculinity vs. "toxic masculinity" 06:30 – Why boys need intentional training 08:00 – The loss of rites of passage in modern culture 10:00 – Character as the foundation of manhood 12:30 – What rites of passage can look like today 14:30 – The ceremony Tim created for his son 16:30 – Why boys need multiple male role models 18:00 – Supporting boys when a father isn't present 20:00 – The Adventures of Toby Baxter series 22:00 – Using story to teach courage, wisdom, and grit 24:00 – Why boys need to rediscover reading 26:00 – Navigating technology and modern parenting 28:00 – Tim's final parenting advice: affirmation and love 30:00 – Where to find Tim's books and resources

    35 min

  2. JAN 30

    252. Seasons of Life: Why Balance Is a Myth (and What to Focus on Instead)

    This episode started the way some of our best conversations do — on a walk. Chris and Melissa talk about why the idea of "balance" often leaves families frustrated, exhausted, and feeling like they're failing. Instead, they introduce a different lens that has brought them far more peace over the years: seasons of life. Every season affords certain opportunities. Every season also has real limitations. And neither are permanent. Chris shares a conversation he had with someone wrestling with a big opportunity — one that looked great on paper, but didn't quite align with the season of life he and his family were in. That's when the idea of seasonality clicked. Not as an excuse, but as a filter. They walk through real-life examples — newly married seasons, seasons with little kids, seasons when kids are more independent, seasons packed with sports schedules, and even micro-seasons like coaching a basketball team or building a business. Each season requires different energy, different priorities, and different definitions of success. Melissa reflects on how much pressure we put on ourselves to "do it all" at once — careers, health, friendships, travel, parenting — without acknowledging that something always has to give. The freedom comes when you choose what gives on purpose, rather than resenting it later. They also talk about how comparison makes this even harder. Seeing other families travel, rest, hustle, or expand can make you question your own choices — unless you remember that you're not in the same season. Chris shares one of the most grounding decisions he's made for himself: If I choose it, I surrender my right to complain about it. Whether it's coaching basketball, committing to a business season, or choosing rest — owning your choice removes resentment and allows you to fully show up where you are. This episode is an invitation to pause and ask better questions: What season am I in right now? What does this season afford me? What am I choosing to prioritize here? And can I trust that the seasons will change? Because no season lasts forever. And no matter where you are right now, the belief that the best is yet to come is always available. LINKS: All Links Family Brand!  stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats.  Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 – Why this conversation started on a walk 01:00 – The power of walks for connection 02:00 – Clarity, commitment, and consistency 03:00 – Why Chris doesn't believe in "balance" 04:00 – Introducing seasons of life 05:00 – What newlywed seasons afford 06:00 – Seasons with little kids 07:00 – When kids get older and independence grows 08:00 – Sports schedules and real-life limitations 09:00 – Evaluating opportunities through seasonality 10:00 – Equity, work, and family alignment 11:00 – Embracing a season instead of resenting it 12:00 – Choosing what gives (and why that matters) 13:00 – Health goals and shifting seasons 14:00 – Comparison and the pressure to do it all 15:00 – Behind the highlight reel 16:00 – Why seasons always change 17:00 – Micro-seasons (like coaching basketball) 18:00 – Choosing presence over forcing hobbies 19:00 – "If I choose it, I surrender my right to complain"  20:00 – Releasing resentment 21:00 – Final encouragement: the best is yet to come

    22 min

  3. JAN 23

    251. Couple's Playbook: How to Get on the Same Page for the Year Ahead

    Couple's Playbook: Getting on the Same Page for the Year Ahead It's easy to start a new year with good intentions — and just as easy to lose them once life speeds back up. In this episode, Chris and Melissa talk about why so many couples want to be intentional but struggle to actually do it together. The issue isn't desire. It's structure. Most couples don't need more motivation — they need a simple playbook that creates the right conversations. They kick things off with a lighthearted look at Chris fully embracing his cowboy era (yes, cowboy hats and horses included), which naturally leads into a bigger theme of the episode: when you don't slow down to get aligned, life starts making decisions for you. Melissa shares how their family has built meaningful year-end and new-year rhythms — from vision boards to reflection questions — and why those traditions work so well, even with kids. Chris explains how reflection and planning became a cornerstone not just in their family, but in their business as well, helping them shape focus, priorities, and direction for the year ahead. The heart of the conversation centers on the Couple's Planning Playbook Melissa created — a simple, guided experience designed to help couples reflect individually, then come together on the things that matter most. They share what it looked like to take the playbook on a date night, fill it out separately, and then talk through it over dinner — including the moment their waitress asked where she could buy it. They also dig into why individual clarity is just as important as shared goals. From health and fitness to parenting and schedules, many goals quietly require two people to succeed — whether we acknowledge that or not. Without alignment, support turns into frustration and good intentions turn into resentment. One of the most meaningful parts of their experience came from walking through questions about each child individually — stepping back from the rush of daily life to really see where each kid is thriving, struggling, or needing extra support. Chris explains how alignment around parenting doesn't happen by accident; it happens through regular, intentional conversations. They wrap up with a hilarious (and very real) story about nearly being manipulated into getting a third dog — a perfect metaphor for what happens when couples don't pause long enough to compare notes. When you don't get on the same page intentionally, decisions get made for you. This episode is an invitation to stop chasing your tail and start leading your family with clarity, unity, and purpose — one simple conversation at a time. P.S.  Get your couples playbook here: https://familybrand.com/playbook   LINKS: All Links Family Brand!  stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats.  Links For This Episode: Get your couples playbook here: https://familybrand.com/playbook Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 – Happy New Year and Cowboy Chris makes an appearance 01:00 – Chris's goals, cowboy hats, and qualifying for Vegas 02:30 – Vision boards, manifestation, and setting intentions 04:00 – Family year-end reflection traditions 05:15 – Why reflection without structure feels overwhelming 06:45 – Using the same process for business and family 07:45 – Why couples need an actual playbook 08:45 – Taking the Couple's Playbook on a date night 10:00 – Filling it out individually, then talking it through 11:00 – Why individual clarity matters inside marriage 12:15 – Supporting each other's health and personal goals 13:30 – One powerful question about each child 15:00 – Alignment in parenting doesn't happen accidentally 16:30 – The almost-got-a-third-dog story 18:15 – Why couples need "forcing functions" to align 19:15 – Final encouragement: stop letting life run your marriage

    20 min

  4. JAN 16

    250. Wanting to Believe: The Marriage Shift That Changes Everything

    Wanting to Believe: Re-Enrolling Each Other Into What's Possible This episode came out of a conversation Chris had this week — and it hit him so clearly that he realized he and Melissa had never talked about it publicly before. They've shared openly about the hard seasons in their marriage. They've taught frameworks for having honest, productive conversations about what isn't working. But in this episode, they talk about the missing piece that made all the difference when their marriage was at its lowest: They started talking about what they wanted to create — before there was any evidence it was possible. Chris shares how a couple he was advising had been doing "everything right" — having authentic conversations, communicating well, addressing issues — yet still felt stuck. And the realization was simple, but profound: they were only talking about what was broken… not what they believed could exist on the other side. Melissa takes the conversation deeper, sharing a moment from their own marriage when there was absolutely no evidence that things would improve. No proof. No results. No momentum. And yet, she chose to hold onto something smaller, but powerful: the desire to believe a miracle could happen. They talk about faith — not as certainty, but as willingness. Wanting to believe, even when belief feels impossible. And how that willingness created the foundation for real change. Throughout the episode, Chris and Melissa reflect on how repeatedly re-enrolling each other into a shared vision — "I want to be married to you. I want our marriage to be amazing. I believe we can create something beautiful together." — slowly shifted the trajectory of their relationship. This isn't about ignoring what's not working. It's about balancing honest conversations with intentional vision-casting. Because if the only seeds you plant are about what you don't want, that's exactly what keeps growing. If your marriage feels stuck… if you're tired… if belief feels hard — this episode is an invitation to start where they did: You don't have to fully believe. You just have to be willing to want to. LINKS: All Links Family Brand!  stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats.   Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 – Chris introduces an unexpected episode topic 01:10 – Why they've never talked about this before 02:15 – Authentic Conversations vs. vision-casting 03:15 – Asking the question: "What are you trying to create?"  04:05 – Melissa reflects on their separation 05:10 – Faith when there is no evidence 06:10 – "Wanting to believe" as the starting point 07:25 – The scripture story and "help my unbelief" 08:40 – Talking about what's possible before it's possible 09:50 – Planting seeds through language and vision 10:55 – When you don't know what a good marriage looks like 11:50 – Looking for models and borrowed belief 12:45 – Re-enrolling each other during hard seasons 13:40 – Choosing to be on the same team 14:30 – Final encouragement: start with wanting to believe

    15 min

  5. JAN 9

    249. Pick Your Frequency for 2026 or "Word" For The Year!

    Couple's Playbook for 2026: Setting the Frequency for Your Year It's that time of year when the Smith family pauses, reflects, and intentionally sets the tone for the year ahead. In this episode, Chris and Melissa walk through exactly how they approach vision boards, words (or frequencies) for the year, and why doing this work up front creates so much more ease as the year unfolds. While they share what this looks like in their own family, their hope is that it gives you practical inspiration you can adapt for yours — no matter what time of year you're listening. They talk about why your "word for the year" is more than just a cute idea — it's a frequency you choose to live at. A lens that shapes what you notice, what you prioritize, and how you show up when life gets busy or hard. Chris explains how reflecting on the past year, looking ahead, and then choosing a word that truly embodies who you want to be can completely change how a year unfolds. Melissa shares a powerful exercise they did with their kids — a timed writing prompt asking "What do I want in 2026?" — and how repeating it helped everyone move past surface-level answers into more imaginative, honest desires. They also explain how they invite their kids into the process by asking what the family could use most this year, then choosing a shared family frequency together. You'll hear Melissa unpack her word for the year — Gather — and how, once she leaned into it, the meaning expanded far beyond what she initially expected. From gathering people, to gathering at church, to gathering growth through using her voice, she shares how the word already seems to be "finding her." Chris shares his word for the year — Partner — and why he's choosing to live more fully as a committed partner in every area of life: with God, with Melissa, with their kids, with their team, and with the people they serve. They talk honestly about how words create identity, how telling people your word builds accountability, and why allowing others to support your focus is one of the hidden gifts of this practice. They also address the real-life parenting side of this process — what to do when kids resist, how to balance support with challenge, and why it's okay if your child's vision board is one picture taped to a page. The goal isn't perfection — it's participation. The episode closes with powerful stories of vision boards turning into reality, sometimes immediately, sometimes years later — and a reminder that choosing a word, a frequency, or a focus plants a seed of possibility. One that has a way of growing when you give it attention.   LINKS: All Links Family Brand!  stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats.  Links For This Episode: http://familybrand.com/playbook Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 – Why this is the Smith family's favorite time of year 01:00 – Reflecting on the year and setting the tone for 2026 02:00 – Why Chris thinks of words as "frequencies" 03:00 – Choosing your frequency by reflecting on the past and future 04:00 – Melissa's writing exercise: "What do I want in 2026?" 05:00 – How repeating the exercise unlocked deeper clarity 06:00 – Inviting kids into choosing a family word 07:00 – Melissa reveals her word for the year: Gather 08:00 – Unpacking what "Gather" really means 09:00 – How sharing your word invites support and alignment 10:00 – The shower hack: writing your word every day 11:00 – Creating cues so your word doesn't get forgotten 12:00 – Vision boards as visible reminders 13:00 – Using word definitions and etymology for deeper meaning 14:00 – Chris shares his word for the year: Partner 15:00 – What it means to live as a committed partner 16:00 – Telling people your word to create accountability 17:00 – When kids resist the process (and how to handle it) 18:00 – Support vs. challenge in parenting 19:00 – Why imperfect vision boards still matter 20:00 – Stories of vision boards becoming reality 22:00 – Immediate results vs. long-term seeds 23:00 – Final encouragement: choose your frequency and plant the seed

    24 min

  6. JAN 2

    248. The Power of Boredom: Why Presence Might Be the Missing Piece

    The Power of Boredom: Learning to Live in the Present In this solo episode, Chris shares a personal experiment that quietly changed the way he experiences life. It started with a conversation around a Harvard study shared by Arthur Brooks — research suggesting that one of the biggest challenges we face today is that we never experience boredom. Every spare second is filled. Every pause is interrupted. And in the process, we're losing something deeply important: the space to think, reflect, and be present. While celebrating his 20-year anniversary with Melissa in Spain, Chris decided to test that idea. He completely removed social media from his phone — not with a timeline or rules, but simply as an experiment in presence. What followed surprised him. He read more. He prayed more. He thought more deeply. And slowly, the urge to constantly reach for distraction faded. Chris reflects on how rare it has become to simply be — even for ten seconds at a stoplight — and how reclaiming boredom opened the door to clarity, peace, and freedom. He also revisits one of the most meaningful practices from a book that has shaped his life, The Way of Mastery: ending each day by blessing and releasing it. "I bless and release this day. It has been perfect, and it is finished." That simple practice helped him recognize how often his mind lived in guilt about the past or worry about the future — and how little time he actually spent in the one place where life truly happens: the present moment. This episode isn't about quitting social media or adopting someone else's routine. It's an invitation to run your own experiment. To notice where distraction is stealing your attention. And to create a small, intentional practice that helps you come home to yourself, your family, and your life. As Chris shares, the goal isn't perfection — it's presence. And maybe, just maybe, boredom isn't something to avoid… but something we desperately need more of. LINKS: All Links Family Brand!  stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats.    Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 – Why Chris wanted to record a short solo episode 01:00 – The study on boredom and constant distraction 02:00 – Why we never let our minds be still 03:00 – The Spain trip and removing social media 04:15 – What changed when the noise stopped 05:30 – Why this isn't really about phones 06:30 – Living in the past and future instead of the present 07:30 – The daily practice of blessing and releasing the day 08:45 – Why presence is where peace actually lives 09:45 – A simple experiment you can try 10:30 – Final encouragement: let boredom work for you

    11 min

  7. 12/26/2025

    247. Consistency Over Excitement: Five Years of Building Family Brand and BTS of The Family Brand Blitz!

    You Are Firemen: Built to Lead, Built to Last This week's episode is part reflection, part celebration, and part reminder. Chris and Melissa sit down to talk about two big milestones: the recent Family Brand Blitz and the five-year anniversary of The Family Brand Podcast. And instead of just sharing highlights, they unpack the deeper lessons that emerged — about consistency, leadership, and why families are far more capable than they often realize. They reflect on the power of bringing couples together in person at the Blitz, how every family — no matter the stage — is carrying something hard, and why the work of building a strong family culture is always worth doing. They also share a big realization that came out of the event: families don't need more content or bigger programs — they need simpler, more focused tools that actually fit real life. Chris and Melissa talk honestly about the tension between doing more and doing better, and why growth often looks like subtraction instead of addition. As the new year approaches, they invite listeners to consider what needs to be simplified, not added. They also reflect on the hardest part of any meaningful work: consistency. Excitement comes easily. Staying the course when motivation fades does not. Melissa shares what it's taken to show up week after week for five years — even on the weeks she didn't feel inspired — and how consistency is what ultimately allows you to "earn the right" to lead, teach, and have a voice. The episode closes with one of the most powerful metaphors they've ever shared: you are firemen. Challenges don't mean you're failing — they mean you're exactly where you're supposed to be. You were built for the heat. You were sent your kids for a reason. And together, as a family, you are capable of far more than you think. This episode is both grounding and empowering — a reminder that leadership starts at home, consistency builds confidence, and strong families aren't perfect… they're intentional. LINKS: All Links Family Brand!  stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats.   Links For This Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sq2figwIX9s&feature=youtu.be  Episode Minute By Minute: 00:00 – Holiday check-in and why this episode matters 01:00 – Introducing the Family Brand Blitz 02:00 – Why the right couples showed up 03:00 – Celebrating five years of The Family Brand Podcast 04:00 – Chris acknowledges Melissa's consistency 05:00 – "Earning the right" to have a voice 06:00 – Lessons learned from the Blitz 07:00 – Every family struggles — and that's okay 08:00 – Why families don't need bigger programs 09:30 – Simplifying instead of doing more 11:00 – Addition by subtraction in family life 12:00 – Start, stop, continue: a powerful planning exercise 13:00 – Why this season of life feels overwhelming 14:00 – Consistency vs. motivation 15:00 – What happens when the excitement wears off 16:00 – Discipline, confidence, and earning the right 17:00 – The fireman analogy: facing adversity with identity 18:00 – Why challenges mean you're exactly where you belong

    17 min

  8. 12/19/2025

    246. The Family Brand New Year's Kickoff: How We End the Year on Purpose

    The Family Brand New Year's Kickoff: A Tradition That Builds Culture Every year, right after Christmas — during those quiet, in-between days when no one quite knows what day it is — our family slows down and does something that has become one of our most meaningful traditions. We reflect. We celebrate. And we intentionally step into the new year together. In this solo episode, Melissa walks you through the Family Brand New Year's Kickoff, a simple, free activity that hundreds of families download every year — and come back to again and again. This year's version has been fully updated, and families continue to share how impactful it's been, from sparking meaningful conversations to even becoming the moment they announced a new baby to their kids. Melissa explains why reflection matters just as much as goal-setting, and how looking back before looking forward helps families build clarity, gratitude, and momentum. She shares how to use the reflection questions with kids of all ages (even toddlers), how to keep the process light and pressure-free, and why there's no "right" way to do this — just a way that works for your family. She also breaks down two of the most loved parts of the kickoff: Choosing a family word (or phrase) for the year — a shared language that shapes how your family shows up The annual Family Award Ceremony — a powerful moment where each child (and spouse!) is recognized not for achievements, but for who they are and how they showed up Melissa shares a deeply touching story about a family friend whose son, now leaving on a two-year mission, named this New Year's award ceremony as one of his favorite family memories — a reminder that these small traditions often leave the biggest impact. Finally, she walks through how they create vision boards as a family, why perfection isn't the goal, and shares a beautiful personal story about a vision board image that unexpectedly showed up for her on a bridge in Spain — a moment that felt like a quiet wink from God. This episode is an invitation to slow down, reflect, and start the year with intention — not pressure. You don't need a perfect plan. You just need a moment to pause and ask: Who do we want to be this year, together? LINKS: All Links Family Brand!  stan.store/familybrand familybrand.com/quiz familybrand.com/retreats.  Links For This Episode: https://familybrand.com/kickoff Episode Minute By Minute: 01:20 – Introducing the Family Brand New Year's Kickoff 02:30 – Why reflection is often skipped (and why it matters) 03:30 – How the reflection questions work 04:30 – Keeping it light and pressure-free for kids 05:30 – Adapting the activity for younger children 06:30 – Using everyday moments (car rides, walks) for reflection 07:30 – Choosing a family word or phrase for the year 08:45 – Shared language and building family culture 10:00 – The Family Award Ceremony explained 11:15 – Why awards are about who they are, not what they did 12:15 – A powerful story about a son leaving on a mission 13:30 – Vision boards: why they matter 14:45 – How to make vision boards simple and fun 16:00 – Encouraging kids without forcing perfection 17:00 – Melissa's vision board story from Spain 19:30 – Feeling seen, aligned, and intentional 20:45 – Don't forget to honor your spouse 21:45 – Where to download the kickoff + how to share 22:45 – Final encouragement for the new year

    23 min
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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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