Blended Family Breakthrough
We're Mike and Kim Anderson and we believe in a world where blended families experience a future full of hope, connection, and peace. That's why we focus on helping couples in stepfamilies move from a place of confusion and conflict to a life of confidence and connection. Thanks for joining us to discover how you can live the blended family life you really want!
If you've been following us for a while — yes, we recently changed the podcast name from "The Blended Family Coaching Show" to "Blended Family Breakthrough". Thanks for noticing!
Episodes
362 episodes
A Short Summer Pause and What’s Coming August 4th
We’re popping in with a short summer update before taking a brief pause from releasing new episodes throughout July 2026.But don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere!We’re using July to prepare some fun and helpful new things we’ll b...
Simple Step: How Patience and Persistence Create Space for Bonding
ResourcesEpisode 240. Energize Family Bonds One Meaningful Conversation at a Time [with Ashley Noelle]Order your Blended Bond Deck here:
240. Energize Family Bonds One Meaningful Conversation at a Time [with Ashley Noelle]
In blended family life, it’s easy for kids, parents, and stepparents to feel unsure, unseen, or disconnected as everyone adjusts to new relationships, new rhythms, and new expectations.We know how hard it can be to want deeper connection...
Simple Step: Healthy Boundaries that Protect Relationships
ResourcesClick here to schedule your FREE COACHING CALL239. Feeling Res...
239. Feeling Responsible for Everyone? How Codependency Hinders Family Relationships and How to Heal [with Michelle Farris]
Codependency can be tricky to recognize because it often looks like love, generosity, or “just trying to help.” But when our giving turns into fixing, rescuing, controlling, or sacrificing ourselves to earn love and approval, it can quietly cre...
Simple Step: Assertive Communication
ResourcesEpisode 50. How to Openly Communicate What You Really Want Episode 179.
238. Co-Parenting Conflict? 4 Tools for Effective Communication to Increase Cooperation and Create Boundaries
Co-parenting conversations can escalate fast, especially when an ex is reactive, manipulative, dismissive, or unreasonable. It’s tempting to defend yourself, fire back, or make a quick decision just to escape the pressure. But that kind of resp...
237. Communication Frustration? Gain Powerful Tools & Insight to Help Reduce Conflict & Stay Connected
If there’s one thing we’ve learned in our 25 years of marriage, parenting, and blended family life, it’s this: communication problems aren’t about bad intentions more often, they’re about lacking the right tools. In this episode, we...
Simple Step: Navigating Mother's Day
ResourcesEpisode 236. Does it Ever Get Easier? How to Stay Hopeful by Playing the Long Game [with Gayla Grace]Episode 157.
236. Does it Ever Get Easier? How to Stay Hopeful by Playing the Long Game [with Gayla Grace]
In this episode, we sit down with our friend Gayla Grace for a deeply encouraging conversation about what it really takes to build a strong blended family over time. Gayla candidly shares about the challenges she and her husband faced while ble...
Simple Step. The Value of 1 on 1 Bio-Time
Resources from this episodeEpisode 235. Stepparenting Takes Two: How to Build Connection and Avoid Common Wrong TurnsEpisode 103.
235. Stepparenting Takes Two: How to Build Connection and Avoid Common Wrong Turns
When we got married, we stepped into blended family life with a lot of hope, but also a lot of unrealistic expectations. We thought connection would come quickly, parenting would feel natural, and our new family would settle into place easily. ...
Simple Step: Outlaw Words that Drive Negativity
ResourcesEpisode 234. Caught in the Negative? How to Reframe Painful Moments and Regain Hope Episode 106. How to Avoid "Outlaw Words" [...
234. Caught in the Negative? How to Reframe Painful Moments and Regain Hope
The reality is, blended family life gives us plenty of painful moments to get caught up in: tension with an ex, a hard interaction with a stepchild, a family activity that goes sideways, or marital conflict. And it is easy for one negative mome...
Simple Step: 3 Financial Questions with Brian K. Peterson
ResourcesGet your FREE copy of Blended Family Finances (limited offer) by Brian K. PetersonTo connect with Brian,
233. Building a Life You Love: How to Reduce Stress and Create a Unified Financial Vision [with Brian K. Peterson]
Money is a hard topic for any couple, but in a blended family, it often carries even more weight. It’s rarely just about numbers. It’s about history, protection, prior commitments, loyalty, fear, values, and the future you’re trying to build to...
Simple Step: How to Manage Yourself When You're Missing Your Kids
ResourcesEpisode 232. 5 Principles to Manage Contact Between Homes and Promote Your Child's WellbeingArticle from Navesink Wellness C...
232. 5 Principles to Manage Contact Between Homes and Promote Your Child's Wellbeing
If you’ve ever wrestled with the question, “How often should my child be in contact with their other parent during my time?”, you've probably realized this isn’t really about phone calls. It’s about the invisible pressure kids feel to ...
Simple Step: Boundaries Between Homes
ResourcesEpisode 231. When Your Ex Starts Dating: How to Handle their New Partner and Protect Your KidsEpisode 170.
231. When Your Ex Starts Dating: How to Handle Their New Partner and Protect Your Kids
If you’ve ever felt that jolt of panic when your child shares that they've been spending time with "daddy's new girlfriend" or "mommy's new boyfriend"……you’re not alone. That moment can trigger fear, jealousy, grief, and of c...
Simple Step: Working Through Decision Dilemmas
ResourcesEpisode 230. Everyday Decisions, Big Tension: The Hurtful Patterns That Create Blended Family DivisionEpisode 203.
230. Everyday Decisions, Big Tension: The Hurtful Patterns That Create Blended Family Division
Ever tried to make a seemingly straightforward family decision (something that should be easy) only to feel the tension rise, opinions harden, and lines get drawn? You’re not imagining it. In blended families, decisions can feel like l...
Simple Step: Managing Loyalties & Priorities in Your Home
ResourcesEpisode 167. Achievable Strategies to Make Your Marriage the Foundation of Your Blended FamilyEpisode 206.
229. The Heavy Burdens Kids Carry: Loyalty Binds, Parental Allegiance, and How To Help
If you’ve ever watched your child’s mood shift the moment they step into a handoff…Or felt the sting of being kept at arm’s length for reasons you can’t explain… You’re not imagining it. In blended families, kids ...