How’d You Do It? - Stories of Raising Children in the Faith

Jessie and Chris Koerner
  • 4.8 (23)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

How’d You Do It? is a practical, story based podcast about raising kids in the gospel and not quitting on your faith. I’m Chris Koerner, and along with my wife Jessie on some episodes, I talk with real parents who kept going. Not perfect parents. Just honest conversations about what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d do again.

  1. MAR 15

    The Eternal Family: How to Parent With Purpose for 40 Years — John & Lorie's Story

    Note: Due to a connection issue, our guests' video dropped out for most of this episode, but the audio is all there and the conversation is too good not to share. Thanks for bearing with us! Welcome to Episode 012 of How'd You Do It? I sat down with John and Lorie Nelson, parents of eight children, grandparents to nearly 22, on the exact 40th anniversary of the day their oldest son, Michael, was born. What started as a celebration turned into one of the most honest and tender conversations we've had on this show. John came from a structured, expectation-driven home. Lorie came from a warmer, more nurturing one. When they married and started having kids, they had to figure out how to blend two completely different parenting philosophies, often behind closed bedroom doors, talking each other off the ledge before facing the kids. We talk about: The Moment of the Day: The nightly ritual that kept eight kids connected across generations.The Nelson Family Court: Why handing judgment to the kids made the fights disappear.No More Sleepovers: The one rule they never looked back on.Personal Priesthood Interviews: The one-on-one habit that built decades of trust.When Your Kid's Marriage Falls Apart: A raw look at divorce, family fallout, and faith.Healing a Marriage: Fifteen years of struggle and one courageous decision.Scorched Earth vs. Soft: Two opposite parents, one united front. Enjoy!

    1h 6m

  2. MAR 8

    The Christmases Go Fast: How to Not Waste Your Years as a Parent — Jeff’s Story

    Welcome to Episode 011 of How'd You Do It? I sat down with Jeff Flamm, a serial entrepreneur who has started eight companies and raised six children, to talk about what it actually looks like to lead a family with intentionality. We dive into the "Reading Couch," the non-negotiable 6:00 PM dinner, and why he made the radical decision to sell his dream mansion, his houseboat, and his ATVs once he realized his possessions had started to "own" him. Jeff gets incredibly vulnerable about the "conduit of revelation" that opened up when he started treating his family with the same strategic focus as his businesses. We talk about: The Power of Consistency: Why "training" your kids is more about your own discipline than theirs. Stewardship vs. Ownership: Teaching children that everything we have is a gift from Heavenly Father that requires work to maintain. The Temper Trap: Jeff shares a raw look at his own struggles with patience and why "taking a breather" is the best gift you can give your kids. Nature vs. Nurture: How to handle the different personalities of six kids while keeping the family close for the long haul. Enjoy!

    45 min

  3. MAR 1

    There Is Joy Even After the Worst Loss — Mike & Lisa’s Story

    Welcome to Episode 010 of How'd You Do It? After 45 years of marriage and raising eight children, Michael and Lisa Dove realized that a "perfect" parenting recipe doesn't exist. In this episode, they share how the heartbreaking loss of two sons shifted their focus from strict expectations to radical mercy and unconditional love . They discuss navigating mental health struggles within a family and the concept of "perfect trials"—challenges designed specifically for our growth . You’ll also hear about the "miracle" of their twins and the simple, life-changing power of whispering affirmations of love to your children. Enjoy!

    54 min

  4. FEB 22

    How to Stay Close When Your Family is Divided on Religion — Glenn’s Story

    Welcome to Episode 009 of How'd You Do It? Today, we’re sitting down with a dear family friend, Glenn Davis, calling in from Huntsville, Alabama. Glenn has such a unique perspective, he spent 11 years away from the church before finding his way back through a promise he made while reading the Book of Mormon. In this episode, he opens up about the "long game" of parenting, sharing how he navigated a 60-hour work week and a mixed-faith marriage while trying to keep his daughters close to the Spirit. From volunteering at Girls Camp to supporting his children through heavy struggles with addiction and faith "sabbaticals," Glenn’s story is a beautiful masterclass in leading with unconditional love. He reminds us that while we can’t control our children’s agency, we can always provide a safe harbor, trusting that God’s timeline for our kids is much bigger than our own. Enjoy!

    52 min

  5. FEB 15

    Facing the Worst to Find the Best: Our Battle with Cancer — Keith & Keli’s Story

    Welcome to Episode 008 of How'd You Do It! What happens to a family when the "tough love" of a father meets the reality of a life-threatening diagnosis? In this episode, Keith and Keli Moon share their journey through 33 years of marriage, including the harrowing two-year battle with cancer that began when Keith was just 40 years old. Keith opens up about how facing his own mortality transformed his parenting style from strict expectations to a mission of unconditional, Christ-like love. Keli shares her perspective on "refining" the unique spirits of their three children and the beauty of finding a "rebirth" in marriage after the kids have left the nest. Enjoy!

    54 min

  6. FEB 8

    You’re Not Supposed to Save Your Kids - Debi’s Story

    Welcome to Episode 007 of How'd You Do It! After two marriages, two divorces, and raising six children across multiple states, Debi reflects on decades of parenting marked by faith, resilience, and hard-earned wisdom. She shares what it meant to be the steady presence in her family through divorce, single motherhood, and children making choices she could not control. With honesty and grace, she explores the tension between commitment and agency, why consistency mattered more than perfection, and how she learned that when teaching isn’t possible, love still is. Enjoy!

    50 min

  7. FEB 1

    "I Didn't Allow Them to Fail": The Regret of Too-Strict Parenting - Kenny & Angie’s Story

    Welcome to Episode 006 of How'd You Do It! After raising five children in ten years, Kenny and Angie Dibble sit down to discuss how their parenting evolved from rigid discipline to a philosophy of "high expectations and high love". They share candid stories about their greatest weaknesses, including being "yellers" early on, and how they learned to value their children's individuality over conformity. They open up about navigating complex challenges, from children leaving the church to coming out, and the vital lesson that while beliefs may change, "love never left". Enjoy!

    1h 9m

  8. JAN 25

    Experiences Over Things: Building a Family That Lasts - Craig & Carrie’s Story

    Welcome to Episode 005 of How'd You Do It! Craig and Carrie Decker open up about their 19-year journey to become a sealed family and the parenting philosophies that kept them close. They discuss the decision to value "experiences over things," choosing adventures like Alaskan fishing trips and zip-lining over material gifts to build lasting bonds. Tune in to hear how they turned their home into the ultimate "hangout spot" to keep their teenagers safe and instilled the powerful rule that their family will never quit on each other. Enjoy!

    50 min
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4.8
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

How’d You Do It? is a practical, story based podcast about raising kids in the gospel and not quitting on your faith. I’m Chris Koerner, and along with my wife Jessie on some episodes, I talk with real parents who kept going. Not perfect parents. Just honest conversations about what worked, what didn’t, and what they’d do again.

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