couple things interviews

Join us for an insightful conversation with Arthur Brooks, one of today’s leading voices on happiness, purpose, and living a meaningful life. We dive into what truly makes us fulfilled, how to navigate life’s transitions, and practical ways to build a life you love. Whether you’re seeking more joy, clarity, or balance, Arthur shares wisdom drawn from decades of research, teaching, and writing including his bestselling book The Happiness Files.

(00:00:00) all about arthur

Today we sat down with the incredibly wise mental health expert, author, and radio personality, Dr. John Deloney. With a passion for helping people thrive in their relationships, John tackles various questions from callers live on his podcast, “The Dr. John Deloney Show.” We brought some of those unique and challenging questions onto this episode and included additional questions sent in by our audience! After spending over twenty years in crisis response and finding real solutions and freedom in his own wellness journey, John knew he wanted to help as many people as possible heal from their past trauma and live whole, connected lives. We think he’s doing an amazing job at this and we hope this episode is enlightening! :)

(00:01:00) let’s get this chat started!
(00:02:04) we call him dr. neighbor
(00:04:19) how did you get interested in investing in family?
(00:06:33) what revelation have you had because of marriage?
(00:07:38) never dating anyone else again and cultural lies
(00:10:06) is marriage worth it?
(00:15:40) can you fix the fear of being left?
(00:18:53) infidelity is more than “cheating”
(00:21:56) “i see a whole picture of you, are you okay?”
(00:24:13) how do i discern if someone is checked out?
(00:27:07) “just pick up the towels”
(00:29:06) how do you know when you are ready to commit to serve in a marriage?
(00:37:58) who can serve who the best?
(00:38:57) us vs. them and the ugly of that
(00:41:48) the meaning of the word “faithful”
(00:48:59) rapid-fire questions from our listeners
(00:52:39) how to navigate "trigger trauma ping pong"
(00:56:11) how to support a spouse who struggles with depression
(00:58:06) advice for toxic mother–daughter relationships
(00:59:19) phone vs. marriage
(01:00:34) my kids are in a dad phase… not a dad phase
(01:02:53) intimacy feeling like a requirement

Today we interviewed the host of the Netflix series How to Get Rich , three-time bestselling author and financial expert, Ramit Sethi! Ramit answered some questions you all sent in about your finances and we honestly learned a lot from him ourselves! Ramit’s latest book, “Money for Couples” helps couples talk about their finances without stress or conflict and teaches them how to build a rich life together. Ramit is so passionate about helping people live their best lives, despite the amount of money in their bank account, and his passion for what he does is contagious. Let us know what you learned in the comments below!

(00:00) why we wanted to chat with ramit

(01:15) let’s get into it!

(01:29) should i stop getting daily coffee?

(04:52) when paying off debt, do it in small amounts or all at once?

(09:44) are points on a card marketing?

(13:20) merging finances — are there pros and cons?

(16:27) thoughts on prenups

(21:30) how many credit cards and bank accounts does ramit have?

(25:00) tech stack for financial organization and partner roles

(26:48) should everyone have an investment account?

(28:35) wisest way to approach investments...

(33:02) “i’m going to go broke!”

(36:00) team rent or buy?

(40:26) the magical word “equity”!

(42:56) perspectives on owning vs renting

(45:06) perspective on money after having kids

(48:13) monthly couples finance meeting

(51:04) why do you care about money?

We loved catching up with John!!! Our conversation bounced between light and deep—covering everything from the chaos of his love life to the raw, honest truths about addiction, depression, and the road to healing. Of course, we somehow ended up laughing every other minute. We also talked about his upcoming comedy tour and everything there is to look forward to!! It was vulnerable, hilarious, and everything in between. Hope you enjoy!

(00:00) meet our funny best friend 😂

(01:12) personal shame and its power

(03:48) reducing false narratives, people pleasing, and approval seeking

(10:54) the range rover

(12:22) am i good now after doing all of that?

(14:23) are comedians filled with pain? do the jokes help you heal or cope?

(19:15) everyone needs something, everyone needs some support…

(22:12) “at least you’re crying, but you’re on a yacht.”

(24:02) talented kids, overdriving parents, and “trauma” memories

(32:17) finding your moving sidewalk

(35:15) thoughts on “creator comedians” and the drug of attention

(39:26) delete that and tour

In this episode, we got to hang out with Sahil Bloom—entrepreneur, investor, author and all-around deep thinker—to chat about his new book, The 5 Types of Wealth. Spoiler alert: wealth isn’t just about money! Sahil breaks down the five types of wealth and shares why focusing on all of them (and not just your bank account) leads to a richer, more fulfilling life. If you’ve ever felt like you’re chasing success but missing the mark, this conversation will help you get back on track! Sahil is so inspiring and we love how open he is about his own personal struggles to get to where he is today. We hope this episode encourages you to wake up tomorrow and invest in what really matters!

(00:00) meet sahil bloom

(00:50) let’s begin

(02:22) why self-help

(05:54) how can you convince people that it isn’t about monetary success

(09:30) finding balance while maintaining agency over your life

(12:01) the power of 30 days

(13:46) showing up when the rewards are uncertain

(17:26) there is no quick fix

(21:52) viewing freedom in terms of responsibility

(29:17) is structuring your life bad

(33:34) what do you hope people take away from “the 5 types of wealth”

(34:40) what success looks like to sahil

(36:26) advice from people in their 90s

(38:23) how do you see yourself

(43:11) how did having a kid change your life

(46:50) how are you viewing your future

(49:16) best piece of daily advice

(51:30) how to view planning

Today we got to interview Rich and DawnCheré Wilkerson, a couple we’ve been wanting to meet for a while and the conversation didn’t disappoint! After an 8 year battle with infertility, DawnCheré and her husband Rich are here to share their story of God’s faithfulness after a long season of waiting. We talked about DawnCheré’s powerful new book that explores what it means to find purpose, joy, and strength in seasons of waiting, and how we are all waiting on something in our lives. Together, Rich and DawnCheré share how their journey through infertility, ministry, and unanswered prayers transformed their perspective on pain, purpose, and God’s timing. So whether you’re in a holding pattern or coming out of a hard season, we hope this conversation reminds you that your story is still unfolding.

(00:00) meet rich and dawncheré wilkerson

(01:20) let the chat begin

(02:20) how did the wilkersons become the wilkersons

(05:30) dawncheré’s beautiful name

(07:50) leading a church together … what does that look like

(13:32) what is the hardest thing in ministry right now

(18:31) living in the wait

(21:05) is it harder to wait these days

(25:45) how to navigate people telling you not to wait … does waiting mean something is wrong

(34:38) how do you wake up and find hope in the waiting

(40:30) how did it feel when you had your first baby

(46:27) do you force yourself to wait in an intentional way

(50:34) waiting can be the “golden moment”

Today we sat down with two incredible resources and human beings, beloved counselors and best-selling authors, Sissy Goff and David Thomas from Daystar Counseling. We have learned SO much from them over the years. With decades of combined experience walking alongside children and families, Sissy and David bring wisdom, warmth, and practical tools to the table as they share insights from their highly anticipated book series for kids  called “The Daystar Dog Series.” We dive into topics like childhood anxiety,  emotional resilience, the importance of connection, and what parents can be doing to check in with their child’s emotions.  Whether you're a parent, caregiver, teacher, or someone who simply loves the next generation, we hope conversation leaves you encouraged and equipped.

Love you guys!

Shawn and Andrew 

Pre-order The Daystar Dog Series ▶ https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/day-star-dogs

Beam Kids is now available online at https://www.shopbeam.com/COUPLETHINGS Take advantage of our exclusive discount of up to 40% off using code COUPLETHINGS

Subscribe to our newsletter  ▶ https://www.familymade.com/newsletter

Follow our podcast Instagram  ▶ https://www.instagram.com/shawnandandrewpods/

Follow My Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/ShawnJohnson

Follow My Tik Tok ▶ https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnjohnson

Shop My LTK Page ▶ https://www.shopltk.com/explore/shawnjohnson 

Like the Facebook page! ▶ https://www.facebook.com/ShawnJohnson

Follow Andrew’s Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/AndrewDEast

Andrew’s Tik Tok ▶ https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewdeast?lang=en

(00:00) meet our favorite parenting gurus

(01:18) interview begins

(02:51) we are going to make mistakes

(03:33) why are anxiety rates on the rise for kids?

(08:35) resilience... daystar dogs!

(12:00) helping kids grow their “muscles”

(13:25) being aware of your feelings

(19:16) finding their confidence

(25:14) a kid who doesn’t use their voice and the worry bug

(28:06) teaching courage

(30:22) what are signs to look for with anxiety?

(37:26) what age should you start counseling?

(40:27) we are at hypervigilance

(44:24) too much information and finding the right information

Today we had the privilege of sitting down with Dr. Emily Heisey (Doctor of Physical Therapy) and Dr. Matt Otteman (Doctor of Chiropractic), Co-Owners of KinActive Kids and Pediatric Development Experts! As a parent it can feel overwhelming and often intimidating to focus on each milestone your child is supposed to hit at each age group, but Dr. Emily and Dr. Matt take the stress away by showing parents easy (and super fun) ways to play with your kids while also encouraging their brain development! They offered some amazing insights into what we all can be doing to stop comparing the progress of each of our kids and start honing in on each child’s unique way of learning. Such a cool conversation- we learned so much!

Today we were starstruck because we sat down with two stars (who we now consider friends) Alexa and Carlos PenaVega! Alexa played Carmen Cortez in the hit film series, Spy Kids, and Carlos starred as Carlos Garcia on the Nickelodeon series Big Time Rush so it’s safe to say they’re a power couple and our inner-child was freaking out a little. What we love most about this couple is how authentic they are, even in an industry where being yourself and standing strong in your faith can sometimes cost you a job. This couple has been through so much and their unwavering peace, joy and love for one another is truly an inspiration. We could have talked to Alexa and Carlos all day, they are seriously the best. Check out their new book, “Love Is The Point” out August 22, 2025!

Order Their New Book ▶loveisthepointdevo.com  

Carlos’s Instagram ▶https://www.instagram.com/therealcarlospena/

Alexa’s Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/vegaalexa/

Beam Kids is now available online at https://www.shopbeam.com/COUPLETHINGS Take advantage of our exclusive discount of up to 40% off using code COUPLETHINGS

Subscribe to our newsletter  ▶ https://www.familymade.com/newsletter

Follow our podcast Instagram  ▶ https://www.instagram.com/shawnandandrewpods/

Follow My Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/ShawnJohnson

Follow My Tik Tok ▶ https://www.tiktok.com/@shawnjohnson

Shop My LTK Page ▶ https://www.shopltk.com/explore/shawnjohnson 

Like the Facebook page! ▶ https://www.facebook.com/ShawnJohnson

Follow Andrew’s Instagram ▶ https://www.instagram.com/AndrewDEast

Andrew’s Tik Tok ▶ https://www.tiktok.com/@andrewdeast?lang=en

#PenaVegas #hollywood #faith #family #marriage #parenting

Today we sat down with Hunter and Devin Cordle, a couple we’ve been told we needed to meet for a long time and you guys were right, we loved them! Hunter and Devin, best known online as “The Cordle Family” share their hilarious and unfiltered take on marriage, parenting, faith, and everyday life with their online audience of over 6 million, but what stood out to us about them the most was their genuine hearts, vulnerability and authentic love for one another (plus they’re really funny so that helps too haha). We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed meeting the Cordles! Let us know who we should book next in the comments below!