[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

Many of us know someone who suffers from mental illness. Whether it’s a partner, a child or stepchild, or an ex spouse, it can be difficult navigating that terrain, especially in a blended family. My guest today, John Cordray is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor and he owns a private practice in St. Louis, Missouri. John is also very active as a Mental Health advocate on social media and his podcast, The Mental Health Today Show. John’s passion is to help as many people who are struggling with a mental illness and to help end the stigma that so often is associated with Mental Health.

In this interview we discuss

• His personal story
• His podcast and youtube channel
• How to cope with an ex who has a mental illness
• Narcissism
• Protecting children whose parent has mental illness
• How to cope when your partner has mental illness
• Listener questions
• Teenagers and mental health
• And much more

Connect with John

Website

Podcast Website

Facebook

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Youtube channel

Instagram

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Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

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Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955

[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

Happy Mother’s Day!

For this Mother’s Day special, I am featuring three mom podcasters that I think are making a big impact in the world!

Shawn Fink is the founder of The Abundant Mama Project and the author of “The Playful Family” and “The Abundant Mama’s Guide to Savoring Slow.” She is the mother of twin girls, Jadyn and Liana, and a family wellness coach for mothers around the world. Her work has appeared in The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen.com, Scary Mommy, Dr.Green.com and The Shriver Report.

Connect with Shawn

Website

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Twitter

Mary Grace is the host of The Global Mom Show Podcast, a show that helps moms cultivate a global perspective in their own life and in their children's'. Mary Grace is a wife, a mom of three boys, a former expat and development worker, and a freelance writer for nonprofits and businesses. She has a master's degree in Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management from the SIT Graduate Institute, and she has studied and worked abroad in Germany and India, and traveled many other places as well. Today she makes her home in the US, where one of her goals is to stay connected with a global view of life.

Connect with Mary Grace

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Free Guide 10 ways to create a global home, no matter where you live

Casey Destefano is an accomplished Director/Producer with more than 20 years experience in Film and TV. She has worked with companies such as: NBC, FOX, HBO, DreamWorks, Universal Studios, The Disney Channel & Nickelodeon. Currently she owns her own boutique marketing agency where her team specializes in utilizing video to help women led-businesses build strong powerful brands. In addition, Casey is the host of the hit podcast, "Women with Balls…in the Air," where she coaches her audience to have successful careers and abundant family lives without pulling their hair out!

Connect with Casey

Website

Facebook

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Questions for my moms to answer!

What is the thing you enjoy most about being a mom?

What makes you proudest as a mom?

What is your best mom superpower?

What do you want your kids to remember most about their childhood?

If you had to name three positive adjectives about you as a mother, what would they be?

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Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955

[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

Linda Ricci, another special listener, also reached out to me in the efforts of sharing her story of abuse. Both her and my last guest, Lisa Paige, met through our private facebook group, where they discovered they had a similar experience. Linda also feels it is her calling to help others, and she feels getting her story out is the first step. In this interview we discuss:

• Her marriage
• How the abuse started
• How religion played a role in her marriage
• What prompted her to leave after 20 years
• How the kids handled things
• Narcissistic characteristics of her ex husband
• How her ex is doing today
• What she learned from her experience
• Her new relationship
• Her words of wisdom
• Resources she recommends

You can connect with Linda in our private facebook group!

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Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

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Schedule an interview or coaching session here

Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955

[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

One of my special listeners, Lisa Paige, has reached out to me in the hopes that I would share her story. This is a personal story of abuse, but she has persevered! Lisa now has a better relationship and a blended family! In this interview she shares:

• About her family
• How the abuse started
• Why she stayed for so long
• What triggered her decision to leave
• How she decided to let her husband know she was leaving him
• What happened after the divorce
• Where life took her after the divorce
• Lessons she learned along the way
• Words of wisdom to others who are stuck in abusive relationships

If you want to connect with Lisa, you can find her in our private facebook group. She feels it is her mission to help others who are in a similar place as she was.

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Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

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Schedule an interview or coaching session here

Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955

[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

As an alienated parent and victim of family court corruption, Wendy Perry (formerly Archer) became motivated to bring awareness and education about parental alienation out of the shadows. Her advocacy work has included coordinating and hosting the annual Parental Alienation Awareness Day event in Dallas/Fort Worth Texas and other large events such as the Parental Alienation Symposium drawing attendees from around the world, hosting monthly support group and advocacy meetings, meeting with legislators in Washington DC about family court reform as well as doing TV, radio and magazine interviews to raise awareness and education.  The corruption in Wendy’s family court case was so extreme that it was featured in the documentary Divorce Corp.  Having previously served on the board of directors for PAAO Canada and as a co-founder of PAAO USA; Wendy has most recently co-founded and serves as one of the officers for the non-profit organization PAAO International.  

In this interview we discuss

• The parental alienation awareness organization
• What is parental alienation
• What is the difference between parental alienation and parental alienation syndrome
• Some personal letters from victims of PA
• Difference between PA and gossip
• How to help children who are affected by PA
• What steps to take if this is happening to you or your children
• How to help support the cause
• And more

Find out more about Wendy and the Parental Alienation Awareness Organization

Website

Facebook page

Facebook group

Twitter

Join the Private Facebook Group

Listen and Rate/Review on Itunes

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Send questions or feedback to [email protected]

Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe

Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

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Schedule an interview or coaching session here

Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955

[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

Every blended family has to deal with transition days, and every child deals with transitions in a different way. Most parents and step parents dread this, as they know they are in for some behavior that can be out of character. In this episode I’ll talk about

• Transition day behaviors
• Why transitions are hard for our children
• Why transition days are hard for parents
• What parents can do to make things easier for both themselves and their kids
• Importance of working together with your partner

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Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955

[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

When you’re a parent in a blended family, you don't have time to get sick. Unfortunately, it happens, and it’s never convenient. It’s important to learn some tips to prevent illness, but I also have tips for when find yourself under the weather.

• Don't be afraid to ask for help
• Seek medical help if necessary
• Do the bare minimum
• Let go of perfectionism
• If your home with the kids, make it easy on yourself
• Let go of the guilt

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Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955

[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

Elle Martinez is the creator of Couple Money, a personal finance site and podcast focused on helping spouses build their marriage and wealth together. She shares tips, advice, and stories from her own journey and others about dumping debt, taking care of family, and dealing with sticky situations that many marriages encounter.

She joins me for a discussion of finances and blended families. In this interview we discuss

• Her personal story
• The couple money podcast
• Bank accounts in blended families
• Child support
• Debt
• Childrens expenses
• Saving money
• College funds
• Estate planning
• And much more!

Elle recommends

NAPFA National Association of Financial Advisors

GuideVine

To connect with Elle

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Send questions or feedback to [email protected]

Send me a voicemail at Speakpipe

Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

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Schedule an interview or coaching session here

Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955

[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

Most divorced couples lack great communication skills, which makes co parenting much harder than it needs to be. Healthy communication with your ex creates a peaceful environment for your children, and also sets a great example for them that they will model when they grow up.

My 15 tips for better communication with your ex are

1. Never use the kids as a go between
2. Never argue in front of the kids
3. Learn to pick and choose your battles
4. Avoid being sarcastic, disrespectful, and rude
5. Set boundaries, and stick to them
6. Don't bring up the past when communicating
7. Practice empathy
8. Treat your ex the way you want to be treated
9. Put your children first
10. Texting and email should be your chosen method of communication
11. Choose your words carefully
12. Monitor your tone
13. Avoid topics that will trigger your ex
14. Learn to listen
15. Learn to compromise

Listen to my interview with Dr Jennelle on The Big Change of Heart Podcast! Click here, and find episode #44

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Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955

[email protected]

www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

Our children get enough negativity in the outside world. At home, we need to counteract that by building them up. A healthy self esteem is so important for children to have, and it is our job as parents to help them have a positive self image. We can change their story, and teach them how to change their own. Some ideas to help are

• Notice when they do something right
• Tell them you are proud of them
• Compliment them every day
• Tell them they are beautiful

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Visit the website at www.blendedfamilypodcast.com

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Schedule an interview or coaching session here

Send mail to Melissa Brown

                    5445 Murrell Rd

                    Unit 102 #178

                    Viera FL 32955