Mostly Thriving Podcast with Amanda + TJ

RERUN: In this episode, Amanda opens up about her lifelong struggle with anxiety and panic attacks and what it’s like navigating that while juggling motherhood, marriage, and two thriving businesses. TJ shares what it was like stepping into a world of anxiety he’d never experienced before, and how it shaped their relationship and parenting. Together, they get honest about perfectionism, fear of failure, and raising confident kids in an imperfect world. It’s raw, real, and a reminder that even in the chaos, you can still be mostly thriving.

In this episode, Amanda recaps her trip to Hilton Head Island with fellow DIY influencers who’ve grown into real-life friends. We unpack the stigma around influencing, how networking trips have transformed into fun girl trips, and what it's actually like to have 20 influencers in one house.

The conversation takes a deeper turn as Amanda shares a powerful moment when she felt a nudge from God to pray out loud with her friends — even knowing they don’t all share the same beliefs. It’s vulnerable, honest, and a reminder that faith isn’t always loud… but it is bold.

If you’ve ever wrestled with identity, expectations, or speaking up about your faith, this one’s for you.

From construction noise chaos to car trouble and near-accidents, this episode is the definition of mostly thriving. Amanda shares her streak of lemon cars (including an engine dying before 40,000 miles) and TJ unpacks the “hit & run” situation that felt like a setup. Then we pivot into marriage in the thick of parenting — divorce stats, fighting in front of your kids, the glass ball theory, and why doing the inconvenient things now might protect your relationship later.

In this episode, we dive into our current Olympic obsession, share our spicy Valentine’s Day hot takes, and tell the terrifying story of how we almost got kidnapped in Italy. We’re also bringing back Ask the Vet — but with a twist. TJ challenges Amanda to read real client notes from the clinic to see just how much she’s absorbed after 10 years of being married to a veterinarian. It’s chaotic, hilarious, slightly unhinged… and one of our favorite episodes yet.

This is Part 2 of Debriefing Our 2026 Marriage Meeting—if you missed Part 1, tap here. We continue the conversation about how we set goals, plan for the future, and communicate using this template (from @shawnjohnson and @andreweast) as our guide. From personal growth and parenting to business goals and therapy, we’re setting our intentions for 2026. If you’re trying to grow together, hold each other accountable, and move through life with intention, this conversation is for you.

What if stress in marriage isn’t a red flag… but an invitation? In this episode, we break down our “Marriage Meeting” (guided by this template from @shawnjohnson + @andreweast) Every year we have a date night to a align on goals, finances, parenting, faith, health, and the future. From arguing better to dreaming bigger, this is how we stay purposefully aligned.

This week we’re sharing our unfiltered Disney hot takes, vacation delusion moments, and what really happens when routines fall apart. Plus, a real conversation about mom guilt, imposter syndrome, and learning how to set work boundaries when your job never turns off. It's real, it's raw, and it's a good reminder to step back and talk things out with a loved one when you're feeling overwhelmed.

In this episode, TJ and his grandpa share how faith shaped two generations of veterinary medicine. From rejection and perseverance to building clinics and answering hard calls, they reflect on what it means to follow a true calling. This conversation is a reminder that purpose, obedience, and an “emotional paycheck” matters more than anything else.

We’re reflecting on the wins, the mess, and the growth that defined 2025. From celebrating 10 years of marriage to navigating home projects, faith, and deeper connection. This episode is about slowing down, celebrating milestones, and learning what it really means to be mostly thriving.

This week we’re catching up on our holiday chaos before diving into a very real day-in-the-life of TJ as a veterinarian. From a shattered femur and back-to-back urgent cares, to a behavioral euthanasia, a tongue-laceration emergency, and finally… two adorable puppies saving the day, we walk through the emotional rollercoaster of what vet med really looks like behind the scenes hour by hour.