Rydel's Van Talk

Rydel Funk
  • 4.8 (44)
  • Parenting
  • Weekly

Van Talk is where motherhood meets real talk. We're a mother daughter duo, Stormie and Rydel. Hopping in our og van to talk all things parenting, family life, and the beautifully chaotic moments in between. Expect laughs, giggles, a little tea being spilled, and honest conversations about raising kids, raising ourselves, and doing it with love. Wanna ride? Hop in! This is mom talk with the windows down and you're riding shotgun!

  1. 15h ago

    Don't Wait Around For Him, More Determined Than Your Toddler, Keep Your Circle Small | EP 53

    In this episode of Van Talk, we’re talking about marriage, motherhood, confidence, and why you should never stop building a life you love! 🚐💛We’re sharing some of our favorite date nights with our husbands and why we believe marriage is all about building a TEAM. When you think about it, you might spend more of your life with your partner than you ever spent without them, so investing in that relationship matters!We also talk about maintaining your independence in a relationship. If your boyfriend or husband is out with the boys, don’t just sit around waiting for him to get home! Make your own plans, pursue your interests, keep growing, and never put your entire life on hold for someone else.Then we’re diving into raising confident kids! From starting the day with positive affirmations to being your children’s biggest cheerleaders, we share why we believe the words spoken around kids can shape the way they see themselves.We’re also talking about setting expectations with little ones, keeping toddlers safely in their strollers when needed, and why sometimes you have to be even more determined than your kids.Plus, we’re discussing the power of a good old-fashioned pros and cons list! Whether you’re considering going back to work, trying something new, or making a big family decision, it’s okay to explore your options and realize something isn’t the right fit.And finally, we’re talking friendships and why having a small circle of genuinely good people can be so much better than having a huge group of friends.

  2. Nov 3

    Dealing With Bullies, 0-1 vs 3-4 Kids, Every Season Looks Different | EP 52

    In this episode of Van Talk, we’re talking about embracing every season of life, even when it looks completely different from what you’re used to! 🚐💛We kick things off with some fun parenting conversations, including our favorite first activities to introduce little ones to and the story behind giving each of our kids their own special family color!Then we’re getting into something every mom can relate to: how do you keep showing up when you’re having a bad day? We talk about finding ways to stay positive, pushing through the harder moments, and navigating those days when you’re feeling burnt out.We also talk about how friendships naturally change throughout life. Sometimes your friends get new boyfriends, enter new seasons, or simply have different priorities. And sometimes becoming a mom means saying no to plans because your kids and family come first. It’s all about understanding that everyone is living a different chapter and doing what works best for you.Of course, we’re answering a BIG motherhood question: Which transition was the hardest, going from zero to one kid, one to two, two to three, or three to four?! We share what it was really like welcoming baby number four and which transitions surprised us the most.And finally, we’re talking about helping kids navigate bullies in the classroom, standing up for themselves, and building the confidence to handle difficult situations.

  3. Oct 27

    Get Your Spark Back, Date Your Husband, Helicopter Moms | EP 51

    In this episode of Van Talk, we’re talking about something that can easily get pushed to the bottom of the list when you’re raising little kids: your marriage! 💛We share why prioritizing husband-and-wife time is so important, how being consistent with date nights makes such a difference, and why keeping that connection strong takes intentional effort.We’re also talking about getting your spark back! Whether it’s finding time to be creative again, rediscovering your passions, or simply doing things that make you feel like YOU.Then we’re diving into some tricky family situations. How do you handle a parent who lies to you? And what do you do when you’ve set a very clear boundary with your child, only for another adult to go behind your back and do exactly what you said no to?We also talk about raising independent kids while still being incredibly involved in their lives. How do you spend so much time together, create a close family, and still teach your children to stand on their own two feet without becoming a helicopter mom?

  4. Oct 17

    50 Questions For 50 Episodes, Mom Confessions, R5 Reunion Tour | EP 50

    IT’S OUR 50TH EPISODE OF VAN TALK!!! 🎉🚐💛We’re celebrating 50 episodes with a very special rapid-fire Q&A, and absolutely nothing is off limits! 😂Do we ever hide in the bathroom just to get five minutes of peace? Are we secretly snoops? Who has BO? Who’s better at keeping up with laundry? And would we ever work at Disney?!We’re answering all kinds of hilarious, random, and surprisingly revealing questions about motherhood, family life, personal habits, and everything in between.Plus, we’re talking R5 reunion questions and taking a little trip down memory lane!50 episodes of laughs, parenting conversations, family stories, and plenty of opinions. Thank you for riding along with us every week and being part of our little Van Talk family!Here’s to 50 more! 🥂💛

  5. Oct 8

    Are U Done Having Babies? Who's In Your Kids Ear? Sunday Sports Traditions | EP 49

    In this episode of Van Talk, we’re talking about family traditions, motherhood, and some of the big decisions that come with raising kids! 🚐💛First up, we recently started having the kids ASK for what they want instead of constantly whining, “I want! I need!” and how those little everyday habits can make such a difference.We also talk about the importance of weekly family traditions and why we LOVE our Sunday sports gatherings! 🏈 There’s just something about everyone coming together, cheering on their teams, and having a reason to spend time as a family every single week. We especially love how sports bring all the boys together!Then we’re getting into some interesting mom conversations, including navigating jealousy from other moms, what it’s like having a husband who works from home while you’re a stay-at-home mom, and why making a good old-fashioned pros and cons list can help when you’re figuring out what works best for your family.And of course, we’re answering a BIG question: How do you know when you’re done having kids?! Is there ever a moment when you just know your family is complete?Finally, we’re talking about why it’s so important to know who’s in your kids’ ears. The people surrounding your children can have a huge influence on their confidence.

  6. Oct 3

    Be A Living Room Family, Activities Moms, No TEASING | ep 48

    In this episode of Van Talk, we’re asking a big question: which generation has had it hardest when it comes to raising kids, especially now that technology, social media, and the internet are part of everyday life? We talk about why we want to be a “living room family,” spending time together in the same space instead of everyone disappearing into separate rooms and separate screens. That means phones away at the dinner table, family meals filled with actual conversation, and intentionally creating opportunities to connect. We also share why we LOVE being activity moms. Dance, cheer, hockey, parkour, swimming, diving, riding bikes… bring it on. 😂 We believe giving kids opportunities to try lots of different things, learn new skills, and discover what they love can help build confidence along the way. And activities don’t have to cost a fortune. We talk about finding the free things happening around you, from libraries and community programs to churches and Mommy & Me activities, and surrounding your family with people who share the values that matter to you. Most importantly, we talk about making home a safe place for your kids. No teasing them, degrading them, or making them the punchline of the joke. We want our kids to know that home is where they can completely be themselves and that the people closest to them are always in their corner.

  7. Oct 1

    Our First Fight, Drowning In Housework, Put The Phone DOWN | EP 47

    In this episode of Van Talk, we’re talking about that feeling every mom knows: you clean one room, turn around, and somehow the rest of the house has exploded. 😂We share how we try to stay on top of the never-ending housework, why we teach kids to “pick up their trails” as they move through the house, and how little habits can keep the mess from becoming completely overwhelming.And we HAVE to talk about our phones. Doom scrolling can quietly eat up so much of the day, and sometimes the reason we feel like we don’t have enough time isn’t actually a lack of time… it’s the tiny screen in our hand stealing 10 minutes here and 20 minutes there. 📱👀We also get into the older-kid years and how to encourage teens to care about their appearance and basic hygiene, from showering and shaving to smelling good and learning how to present themselves, without making appearance their entire identity.And finally… Stormie and Rydel had their FIRST FIGHT?! 😂 Except calling it a “fight” might be extremely generous. We talk about why we almost never fight, what happened this time, and why the whole thing was basically over before it started.

  8. Sep 28

    R5 Origin Story, Our First Show, Our First Songs | EP 46

    This week on Van Talk, we’re going all the way back to the very beginning of R5. 🎸Before the tours, the albums, the screaming crowds, and the R5 Family, there were a bunch of kids learning instruments, practicing constantly, writing our first songs, and playing anywhere we could.We’re telling the story of our very first band, how each of us started playing our instruments, our earliest practices and shows, the first songs we wrote, and some of the funniest memories from those first few years.We also tell the story of Rocky having to practice guitar for an hour before he could play video games… until eventually he loved playing guitar so much that the video games basically disappeared. 😂But more than anything, this episode is about the part of the story people didn’t see. We practiced and worked at this EVERY DAY for years before anything big happened.This is essentially R5: Chapter One. Where it started, what those early years actually looked like, and all the little moments that eventually became something much bigger. 💛🎸

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4.8
out of 5
44 Ratings

About

Van Talk is where motherhood meets real talk. We're a mother daughter duo, Stormie and Rydel. Hopping in our og van to talk all things parenting, family life, and the beautifully chaotic moments in between. Expect laughs, giggles, a little tea being spilled, and honest conversations about raising kids, raising ourselves, and doing it with love. Wanna ride? Hop in! This is mom talk with the windows down and you're riding shotgun!

Information

  • Creator
    Rydel Funk
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Rydel Funk
  • Show Website
    Rydel's Van Talk

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