Choosing Us

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.

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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.


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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.


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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.

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In this epsidoe, Brad and Michaela recap some learnings from their 12 years of marraige.

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Choosing Us: Touching Your Dreams and Living With Intention

Supergluing a finger shut instead of going to the doctor is either impressive or deeply stubborn, and honestly it might be both. The Drapers bring this same unfiltered energy to every corner of their conversation on "Choosing Us," making this episode genuinely hard to put down.

Quickly moving from laughter into substance, the hosts explore what it actually means to want something versus truly visualizing yourself living it. The female host describes using sauna meditation sessions to mentally rehearse her roles as mother, wife, and individual, carrying that clarity into real decisions. Interestingly, she draws a parallel to biblical prophets like Isaiah, who describe future events in present tense, mirroring the logic behind vivid visualization.

What does it look like to "touch your dreams" before they arrive? The Drapers share practices like walking luxury home floor plans, test-driving aspirational cars, and staying at upscale hotels annually (small investments that make big visions feel real).

Because children learn by watching, not listening, the conversation lands on parental authenticity. One host shares her desire to return to modeling, another mentions rediscovering dancing. Both argue that fulfilled parents raise children who pursue fulfillment.

Tune in to hear the full conversation. It will stay with you.


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When the Weight Doesn't Get Lighter, You Get Stronger

Rarely does a single weightlifting session crack open a life philosophy, but that is exactly what happened when the speaker attempted a double bodyweight rack pull somewhere between 260 and 280 pounds. The bar moved slowly, not explosively, and yet lifting it changed everything about how they understood difficulty.

The Drapers, hosts of Choosing Us, bring this same hard-won perspective to summer parenting, relationship struggles, and what it really means to grow. Because when you pray for patience, you should probably expect the trials that follow.

What would it look like to stop resenting the chaos and start seeing it as the actual pathway forward?

Through the concept of mitohormesis (the biological idea that cellular stress builds strength), the Drapers connect muscle development to marriage, parenting, and daily resilience. They share the story of a father who lost his son and still chose gratitude, and they describe incarcerated women who chose happiness despite their circumstances. These aren't feel-good anecdotes but genuine evidence that our response to hardship is always a choice.

Situations stay heavy. We become stronger. That is the message.

Genuinely, this episode deserves a listen. Share it widely.


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Building Family Bonds That Actually Last

What happens when you marry someone and suddenly inherit an entirely new family culture, one that looks nothing like your own? The Drapers, Brad and Michaela, tackle this question head-on in this episode of Choosing Us, recorded live from Michaela's grandparents' patio in Idaho.

Honestly, the personal stories here are what make this one worth your time. Brad watched his brother struggle with difficult in-law relationships and decided early on to make family compatibility a real priority. Michaela's family includes over a hundred relatives across multiple generations, with cousins gathering monthly and even ex-spouses remaining welcome at celebrations. Brad was genuinely surprised by that level of inclusivity.

Clearly, blending two different family cultures takes real effort and openness, and it requires ongoing work rather than a one-time adjustment. There's even a funny moment (involving a failed homemade pizza Valentine's Day tradition) that perfectly captures how good intentions don't always translate.

Brad's father once grilled Michaela about her humanitarian fundraising until she cried, yet his business connections ended up sponsoring her trip. That story alone shows how family relationships can be complicated and ultimately rewarding.

After witnessing a hawk catch a robin mid-conversation, the Drapers reflect on which family traditions deserve to continue and which should be left behind.

Tune in to hear how Brad and Michaela intentionally designed their own family culture from two very different starting points.


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What You Say Shapes What You Feel and Who You Are

Rarely does a single phrase carry so much weight, but the difference between "I am tired" and "I feel tired" could be quietly reshaping your relationship without you even realizing it. Michaela and her partner Brad, hosts of Choosing Us, explore how the words we repeat become what our brain accepts as truth, influencing our thoughts, feelings, and ultimately our closest relationships.

The idea is simple but profound: identity statements are not just words, they are the foundation of how we experience life and love. When couples stop affirming core truths like "my spouse is my best friend and teammate," those connections slowly deteriorate. Michaela even shares a funny moment (a child's Mother's Day card listing mom's phone as what she loves most) that cuts surprisingly deep.

What does a happy, healthy relationship actually look like for you and your partner?

The conversation covers how pairing affirmations with physical movement amplifies their power, and why building your foundation during good times, layer by layer like poured concrete, is what allows couples to survive the harder seasons together. Because when things get rocky, the solution is not dramatic, it is humble, consistent, daily choice.

Tune in to hear how Michaela and Brad put all of this into practice together.


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Choosing Your Partner Every Single DayRarely does a couple make the daily, conscious decision to truly choose their partner feel this tangible and real. The Drapers, hosts of "Choosing Us," bring nearly thirteen years of marriage experience to a conversation that challenges the modern throwaway approach to relationships.

After 12 years of marriage, the Drapers have built something worth examining. They argue that marrying your best friend, the person you instinctively call during joy, struggle, or anger, forms the strongest possible foundation for a lasting partnership. (Michaela's trip to St. George with strangers turned out to be a genuine turning point for her growth.) They came from polar opposite upbringings yet used those differences to build a shared vision rather than let them divide the relationship.

What does it actually mean when your spouse is not the first person you want to call? The Drapers frame this not as failure but as an invitation for honest reflection and constructive dialogue.
Through patient encouragement rather than pressure, accountability without harshness, and vulnerability without fear, they demonstrate that strong marriages are built daily through small, intentional choices. Because choosing your partner is an ongoing, active commitment, not a one-time decision.

Tune in to hear the full conversation and bring their insights into your own relationship.


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