Choosing Us

Brad and Michaela Draper
  • 5.0 (11)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Brad and Michaela Draper have what many people call "a unique relationship that others strive to be like". Though they feel their relationship is fairly normal, they also realize they are different from most other relationships. They found each on the dance floor of a bar, were married 9 months later, were told they were making a massive mistake... here they are 10 years later with two little rug rats. Brad and Michaela are beyond excited to share some of the nuggets they have picked up along the way while curating what many would say is the ultimate power couple. Join them on this journey as they relay a variety of topics to help you create the type relationship you strive for most. Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

  1. 19h ago

    144. Choose Joy in Every Season: Why Your Partner and Attitude Matter Most

    Choosing Joy When Life Gets Messy What if happiness has nothing to do with your circumstances? The Drapers, hosts of Choosing Us, make a compelling case that joy is a daily decision, not a destination you arrive at when things finally calm down. It's a choice you make right now, in the middle of the chaos. Frankly, the T-Pain story alone is worth your time. He went from earning $40 million as a successful R&B artist to severe depression and financial ruin, before rebuilding his life through professional gaming and reconnecting with what actually mattered to him. It's a powerful reminder that wealth and fame simply don't guarantee happiness. Because the Drapers (Brad and Michaela) have lived through their own financial and emotional struggles, they speak to these ideas with real honesty. They describe taking turns being the emotionally strong partner while the other processes difficult feelings, a balanced system that keeps the relationship moving forward. Like pedaling a bike, a marriage requires constant effort, not just during hard seasons but especially during good ones. (They also identify as fire signs, Aries and Leo, which honestly tracks for this level of energy.) The Drapers stress that choosing your life partner is the single most consequential decision you will ever make. Tune in to hear why that choice shapes everything else. Now, If you find this episode valuable, please share with your significant other, friends, and family. We love you! Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

  2. Aug 12

    143. High Warmth, High Boundaries: The Draper Parenting Philosophy

    Raising Kids Who Can Actually Handle the Real World Consistently following through on consequences might be the single most powerful parenting tool you have. When Brad and Mikayla of Choosing Us share how their young son told a friend that his dad would absolutely follow through on discipline, it becomes clear that children are paying much closer attention than we think. In this third round of their parenting series, the Drapers tackle the hard questions around gentle parenting, boundaries, and emotional regulation. Mikayla leans softer while Brad favors tough love, and together they make a compelling case for "high warmth, high boundaries" parenting, validating feelings while still holding the line. They hold the line, even when it's uncomfortable. What does it actually look like to leave the park without a meltdown? The answer involves countdown warnings, natural consequences, and never making empty threats (because kids remember everything, like an elephant trained as a baby). Practically, they discuss repeating instructions only once or twice before consequences kick in, and how parents who consistently enforce boundaries raise more resilient, respectful children. Are you parenting out of habit, or are you parenting with purpose? Listen to this episode and start raising your kids more consciously. Now, If you find this episode valuable, please share with your significant other, friends, and family. We love you! Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

  3. Aug 5

    142. Modeling Over Lecturing: Parenting by Example in the Modern World

    Raising Kids Who Wake Up at 5 A.M. (And Actually Love It) Rarely do parents talk this openly about breaking cycles they never meant to carry forward. In this episode of "Choosing Us," the Drapers get real about modern parenting, from resisting smartphone pressure to confronting inherited habits like yelling that they never wanted to pass on to their kids. What makes this conversation genuinely compelling is how practical it gets. The Draper children wake naturally at 5 a.m., inspired by watching their father rise at 4:30 a.m. daily. Before most families are even stirring, these kids are moving, playing, and learning. That kind of influence doesn't come from lectures. It comes from living it out loud. (The smoothie story alone is worth the listen.) Can children really absorb nutrition knowledge, emotional regulation, and work ethic simply by watching their parents? The Drapers believe the answer is a clear yes, and they back it up with specific moments from their own home. Because children learn by observing rather than being told, the Drapers argue that every parental habit is a lesson being taught in real time, whether parents intend it or not. If you're navigating the messy, rewarding work of raising kids in today's world, this episode is worth your time. Listen now. Now, If you find this episode valuable, please share with your significant other, friends, and family. We love you! Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

  4. Jul 29

    141. Parenting Styles Evolve: Finding Grace in Different Approaches

    Raising Exceptional Kids on Purpose Intentional parenting is harder than just hoping your kids "turn out fine" and Brad and Michaela Draper are done with the survival mode approach to raising children. On this episode of Choosing Us, the Drapers get real about what it actually takes to raise confident, kind individuals who make a positive difference in the world. Clearly, two parents will always bring different instincts to the table. Michaela holds final say on parenting decisions to keep things consistent, while Brad leans into a firmer, more demanding role, especially with their boys. (It is a lot to manage, honestly.) These differences, the Drapers argue, are a feature rather than a flaw. Could the varying approaches between two committed parents actually be exactly what children need? Brad draws on memories of military dads enforcing strict dress codes and behavioral standards, reflecting on how those high expectations shaped an entire generation of leaders. Michaela grounds all of it in emotional intelligence and nurturing presence. Together, they cover screen time battles, parenting a strong-willed four-year-old, and why conscious effort matters far more than defaulting to old habits. Deliberately raising capable kids requires constant communication and flexibility. Tune in to Choosing Us, and like, subscribe, and download so you never miss an episode. Now, If you find this episode valuable, please share with your significant other, friends, and family. We love you! Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

  5. Jul 22

    140. Choose Joy Now: Why Waiting for the Perfect Moment is Costing You Your Life

    When Did You Last Really Laugh With Your Partner? Somewhere between work stress, pregnancy loss, and caring for a seven-month-old daughter, the Drapers realized they hadn't genuinely laughed together in months. That quiet realization became the spark for one of their most honest conversations yet on Choosing Us. The hosts, including speaker and his wife Michaela, share how a simple daily walk after surgery led to a profound moment of reflection. Life had quietly drained the silliness from their relationship, and they hadn't even noticed it happening. (Funny how that happens without any single dramatic turning point.) Rather than waiting for things to calm down, they made a deliberate choice to bring joy back now, starting small with comedy specials like Shane Gillis's Netflix special and leaning into more playful moments together. Slowly but surely, they began rebuilding that lighthearted connection they had let slip away. What would change in your relationship if you stopped waiting for the perfect moment and started choosing joy today? The Drapers remind us that meaningful transformation happens through small, consistent steps not sweeping overhauls. Life will always be busy, always be hard. The only question is whether you actively pursue happiness anyway. Listen to this episode and let it challenge you to take one small step today. Now, If you find this episode valuable, please share with your significant other, friends, and family. We love you! Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

  6. Jul 15

    139. Evolving Together: How to Reconnect When Everything Changes

    Relationships Don't Stay the Same, and Neither Should You Constantly evolving, constantly changing, that is the reality Brad and Michaela Draper lay bare in this deeply honest conversation about what it actually takes to keep a relationship thriving. After twelve years together, this couple from the "Choosing Us" podcast reveals that the version of love you built years ago may no longer fit who you are today. What does it really mean to love someone who is still becoming themselves? Frankly, the Drapers don't shy away from the messy details. They talk openly about vasectomy complications, Michaela's first-ever fitness journey that isn't tied to pregnancy preparation, and a beautifully simple practice they call "make out minutes" that keeps physical connection alive without requiring grand gestures. They also reflect honestly on exiting the intensive parenting phase and what it means to intentionally rediscover each other. (It turns out confidence has less to do with appearance and more to do with keeping promises to yourself.) Michaela shares that feeling truly attractive comes from building something meaningful internally. Brad, meanwhile, reflects on years of looking outward to support his partner rather than inward toward his own needs. Because growth demands new conversations, this episode is one worth carving out time for. Listen in. Now, If you find this episode valuable, please share with your significant other, friends, and family. We love you! Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

  7. Jul 8

    138. Unmet Needs: How Small Touches Transformed Our 12-Year Marriage

    When Small Touches Saved a 12-Year Marriage Rarely does a single moment on a treadmill change the course of a marriage, but that is exactly what happened here. After two years of pregnancy and postpartum recovery, one half of this couple had a quiet, honest realization: she hadn't been meeting her husband Brad's emotional needs, even while managing the household and keeping everything running. What followed was remarkable. Within just 24 hours of her initiating more physical touch and affection, Brad's body and mood responded noticeably. A twelve-year marriage began shifting in real time, through something as simple as scratching his back without being asked. Could such small, consistent gestures really be the missing piece in long-term relationships? The Drapers (best friends and life partners, as they describe themselves) explore love languages, vasectomy cautionary tales, and a new ovulation-tracking device that helps couples understand hormonal cycles together. They dig into how unmet emotional needs quietly create irritability and conflict before couples even realize something is off. Honestly, the message is simple and worth repeating: you don't need grand gestures to transform your relationship. You just need daily, intentional effort and the willingness to be vulnerable about what you actually need. Press play. This one will stay with you. Now, If you find this episode valuable, please share with your significant other, friends, and family. We love you! Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

  8. Jul 1

    137. Failed to Generate..Show Support

    In this epsidoe, Brad and Michaela recap some learnings from their 12 years of marraige. Now, If you find this episode valuable, please share with your significant other, friends, and family. We love you! Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

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5
out of 5
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About

Brad and Michaela Draper have what many people call "a unique relationship that others strive to be like". Though they feel their relationship is fairly normal, they also realize they are different from most other relationships. They found each on the dance floor of a bar, were married 9 months later, were told they were making a massive mistake... here they are 10 years later with two little rug rats. Brad and Michaela are beyond excited to share some of the nuggets they have picked up along the way while curating what many would say is the ultimate power couple. Join them on this journey as they relay a variety of topics to help you create the type relationship you strive for most. Listen in! Thank you for listening to this episode of Choosing Us.

Information

  • Creator
    Brad and Michaela Draper
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    144
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Brad Draper
  • Show Website
    Choosing Us