The Legendary Marriage Podcast

In this “mini-sode” Danielle and Justin talk through the top 10 Christmas arguments that couples have. Warning: the conversation derails… A lot. Show Highlights: • Christmas confessions• Top 10 Christmas arguments• Talk about it Segment Sponsors:  Freshly: Get 30% OFF your meal- click HERE. You can ALWAYS help support the Legendary Marriage mission to impact 1 MILLION couples by doing your regular shopping through our Amazon Affiliate Link. www.legendarymarriage.com/amazon Talk About It: Each week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What would make THIS Christmas your best ever? Disclosure: some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

This week, our guests are none other than Devin and Carla McConnell  – Danielle’s parents! In this nepotistic episode, Devin and Carla share how they have stayed best friends for more than 44 years, and how they’re daily making an impact by serving those in their community.   Carla and Devin McConnell are  a legendary couple with a story of how they transformed their marriage over the years, and never stopped being best friends.  They share the story of how they fell in love, despite Devin being the worst boyfriend ever! As they go back to their 44 years of marriage, they reflect on how they rarely ever had a date night, but focused on the kids and paying the bills.  The backstory is revealed on how the McConnell family developed their collective sense of humor, and how the retirement years turned all their years of working hard to having the space to live out their legacy, by loving their grandkids and making an impact in the community, by actively providing furniture for people transitioning from homeless to a home, through the Epworth Furniture Ministry. Show Highlights: * Sending out 27 Christmas cards and landing a true love* Is a joke proposal really the best idea?* Getting married with no plans or expectations* Devin taught Carla to have a sense of humor* After the hots fade, are you still friends?* On a mission to give furniture to the formerly homeless* Being present, as grandparents Sponsors:  Freshly: Get 30% OFF your meal- click HERE. You can ALWAYS help support the Legendary Marriage mission to impact 1 MILLION couples by doing your regular shopping through our Amazon Affiliate Link. www.legendarymarriage.com/amazon Talk About It: Each week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What area of life have you historically gone your own separate way, but you’d like to move forward together? Disclosure: some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

This week we have Shannon Upton on the show.  Shannon shares how many of us are reluctant to host parties in our homes, because of expectations put on us by others, but mostly by ourselves.  The truth is our friends and family just want to be with us. She gives us some great practical ways to get out of our heads and plan for a wonderful party, where we truly experience each other in community. Show Highlights: What’s so special about getting together anyway? Getting over the roadblocks of holding a party How to play to your strengths as a host Being present during the party How introverts can navigate a party The magic of hosting together with your spouse How cleaning up can relive the party again Bringing Jesus into any event   About Shannon Upton: Shannon is the author of Organizing You and Building Your House, Biblically-based self-help books that will teach you how to clear out your own spiritual clutter. She has written two Organizing You group Bible studies, blogs, and offers several tremendous resources to help you live in Christ’s abundance. She’s also an encourager who loves to share organizing ideas, prayers, and scriptures through social media. (She admits to being slightly addicted to Pinterest.) Shannon believes that the Lord allowed her to struggle with clinical anxiety, and then healed her of it, for His purpose. She wants to help you clear out your spiritual clutter so you can fully enjoy your family and grow closer to the Lord. You can find Shannon at her WEBSITE, on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and PINTEREST. You can get Shannon’s books through our STORE on Amazon. Resources: Shannon has written several books including; Organizing You, Organizing for Christian Hospitality, Building Your House, and Organizing for a Wonderful Wardrobe. Sponsors:  Freshly: Get 30% OFF your meal- click HERE. You can ALWAYS help support the Legendary Marriage mission to impact 1 MILLLION couples by doing your regular shopping through our Amazon Affiliate Link. www.legendarymarriage.com/amazon Talk About It: Each week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What excuse/reason could you make to throw a party?   Disclosure: some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Today’s guest, Amy Rasdal met the love of her life at an abandoned gas station. Amy dishes all about that story, the joys of married life, as well as her personal mission to liberate corporate working moms, by empowering them to build successful consulting businesses. Amy and her husband Chris both attained many degrees in college, with the goal of working in the corporate world. Everything shifts the day before Halloween and Amy decides she never wants to have the corporate, jet-setting lifestyle. She then she changes all of it and begins her business, at home, making more than ever possible in the the 9 to 5 corporate gig. Now she works from everywhere, including Disneyland! And helps others do the same. About Amy Rasdal: Amy Rasdal is a working mom of two kids, ages 14 and 4.  She traded her corporate job for consulting 15 years ago and loves it!  Now she lives a very blended life with almost no boundaries. She works and plays every day, and Amy liberates corporate working mothers by empowering them to build their own successful consulting businesses.  “I’m quick on the mute button and I can tell you a foolproof way to do a professional conference call from Disneyland.” – Amy Rasdal You can find Amy Rasdal at her WEBSITE, on LINKEDIN, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM, and FACEBOOK. Amy also has a great FREE resource for listeners ready to take a stab at building theri own business.   Show Highlights: The miracle work done in Disney with giant lollipops Meeting the love of your life at an abandoned gas station A female CFO switched her whole perspective of corporate Having no boundaries within structure for the win Speaking gig wearing the baby! Working with hubby as a team Worked from the hospital, just after giving birth!   Sponsors:  Freshly: Get 30% OFF your meal- click HERE. You can ALWAYS help support the Legendary Marriage mission to impact 1 MILLLION couples by doing your regular shopping through our Amazon Affiliate Link. www.legendarymarriage.com/amazon TALK ABOUT IT: Each week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What do you want to set as a priority in your schedule?

Early in their marriage, Jaime and Nathan Cross found their differences driving a wedge between them, so they dug in and did their work. Nathan, an extreme introvert, started speaking up, using more words of affirmation, and Jaime, who is a woman of action , learned to slow down and be more present. By the way, they did it all while building a hugely successful skin care company together – MIG Soap!   About Jaime & Nathan: A cool breeze blew across the great Rockies as Jaime and Nathan entered a little corner print shop as strangers more than 16 years ago. Standing in line, it was love at first sight and they haven’t left each other’s side since. For the last eight years, they have been building their eight figure skincare company. Jaime is a chemistry wizard, a business building machine, a futurist and visionary called to change the world through empowering entrepreneurs. Nathan is an artist, a music maker, a theologian and jujitsu master called to change the world through revolutionizing the way we relate to our Creator. Together they take their four beautiful boys on intrepid adventures all over the Colorado mountains. You can find Jaime on FACEBOOK, at MIG Soap, and on her PODCAST.   Show Highlights: The unhealthy conflict styles that almost destroyed their marriage Balancing building a ministry, a business and a family How MIG organic skin care was born out of a desperate call to God Becoming adoptive parents as newlyweds (less than 1 year!) How differences play into your working relationship Teaching their kids to be entrepreneurial   Sponsors:  Freshly: Get 30% OFF your meal- click HERE. You can ALWAYS help support the Legendary Marriage mission to impact 1 MILLLION couples by doing your regular shopping through our Amazon Affiliate Link. www.legendarymarriage.com/amazon TALK ABOUT IT: Each week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What’s the big dream you could pray for?

When do you want to retire?  Today’s guests Alli and Matt Owen from OwenYourFuture.com share their story of how they saved up, payed off debt and now live their dream of traveling, and having adventures in “Clifford, their big red van,” while helping other couples Owen their financial future as well.  Oh, and They are 28 year old. You may know Alli and Matt Owen from Huff Post, MSN, CNBC or their wildly popular YouTube channel. They saved 70% of their income for 4 years and are now enjoying a “mini-retirement” traveling the Americas in their self-converted bright red Sprinter van, Clifford. It is their hope to help more people to get out of debt and maximize their savings so that they can pursue their own version of financial freedom. You can find Alli and Matt at their WEBSITE, and on INSTAGRAM,    Show Highlights: Retiring at age 27! Part of the FIRE movement community to retire early Retro-fitted a van named Clifford, for their travels Saving 70% of their income On a mission to get others free from debt What they learned about each other living in 70 SQft. The 10-Minute Money Checklist Tame Your Wild Money Habits in 10 Minutes per Week! * Mr. Money Mustache article that Alli mentioned   Sponsors:  Freshly: $60 off your first 2 weeks of 12 meals for only $75/week with code: THANKS75  (Only available till 11/21/2018) AFTER November 21, 2018, click HERE. You can ALWAYS help support the Legendary Marriage mission to impact 1 MILLLION couples by doing your regular shopping through our Amazon Affiliate Link. www.legendarymarriage.com/amazon Talk About It: Each week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What’s the retirement scenario we dream of?       Disclosure: some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

This week we’ve got Mr. Mark Ferguson on the show! Mark is a real estate agent, and investor, he’s an author and the creator of the Investfourmore.com blog. Mark’s real estate team sells hundreds of homes every year, he has flipped over 150 houses, owns 16 rental properties and has written five books including; Build a Rental Property Empire, Fix and Flip Your Way to Financial Freedom, How to Make it Big as A Real Estate Agent,  How to Change Your Mindset to Achieve Huge Success, and The Book on Negotiating Real Estate: Expert Strategies for Getting the Best Deals When Buying & Selling Investment Property. Mark’s purpose is to help as many people as he can become financially free through real estate. Mark created InvestFourMore.com in March of 2013 to show people how to invest in rental properties. The blog became popular very quickly and Mark has been featured on The Huffington Post, Zillow, Forbes, Money Magazine, The Washington Post, and more! You can find Mark at his website, on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.    Show Highlights: Buying vs. renting a house Worst case scenarios when buying a house How to buy a house the right way When flipping is a good option Does the “vibe” of the house matter? Signs becoming a landlord is a good option What home repairs are a ‘no go’ when making a buying decision   TALK ABOUT IT: Here’s your conversation starter:  What could it look like for us to save/ make money with real estate?   Disclosure: some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, we earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. 

Life is full of tough choices. When there are big decisions to be made, and the outside world thinks that you’ve gone crazy, what do you do?  Today’s guests, Phil and Shae Bynes, share about how they choose to lean in to each other, listen to what God is saying and share every bit of it with their family. About Phil and Shae Bynes Phil and Shae Bynes are a couple of crazy kids in love who have been happily married for 19 years, and together since they were 16 years old. The are the proud parents to three beautiful daughters ranging from 18 months to 17 years old and live in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Phil is a licensed massage therapist and owner of Crazy Good Massage.  Shae is Founder and Chief Fire Igniter of an organization called Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur where she inspires, teaches and mentors Christian entrepreneurs to do business in partnership with God and have greater Kingdom impact through the work the do in the marketplace. You can Find Shae on FACEBOOK, and at her WEBSITE. Shae’s book, “Grace Over Grind” is available on AMAZON. You can find Phil at his WEBSITE.   Show Highlights: Marriage proposal in high school God called Shae out of high paying job Asking God for a plan each day Weekly couple meeting Growing faith through being homeless Kids praying for $ too pay the bills Family Church held at home Do we want to have more kids? Is our teenage daughter ready to find her forever man?   Talk About It: Every week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters.Here’s your conversation starter:  What is something God may be teaching you in this season?

This is episode 100!  A Framily reunion!! We’re going to jump into a conversation with ten couples. We’ll reflect on the experience of being on the show, get updates, participate in our very first Legendary Marriage Game Show and have some amazing conversation, lots of which go completely off the rails.  Let’s get to it! About Our Guests: * Tray and Melody Lovvorn www.legendarymarriage.com/062 * Ruthie and Jon Hart www.legendarymarriage.com/084 * Ryan and Alexis Dobson www.legendarymarriage.com/007 * Tom and Ariana Sylvester www.legendarymarriage.com/034 * Gabe and Sherry Avila www.legendarymarriage.com/068 * Alan and Julie Briggs www.legendarymarriage.com/090 * Tammy and Joel Fink www.legendarymarriage.com/092 * Raf and Erica Robinson www.legendarymarriage.com/041 * Tommy and Jacky Watson www.legendarymarrriage.com/071 Show Highlights: * Can we read each other’s mind while playing Legendary Marriage Game Show * Where to go for a second honeymoon? * What’s your biggest fear or phobia? (It gets a bit disturbing.) * What’s your biggest pet peeve? * The adventures of money conversations * Do you really tell your spouse everything? * Confession of what we don’t tell our spouses How to make differences work Spicing up your sex life A blessing for all of the Legendary Marriage Couples Talk About It: Each week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What’s something you could celebrate right now?

In this retrospective episode, we ask “what happens when you set out on a mission together to change the world?” Listen in as we pull back the curtain on over 2 years of producing this show. All the lessons learned, a some honest confessions, and even a few outtakes that will delight or disturb you.  This is episode 99 and we’re looking back at 100 episodes and 2 years of learnings, confessions, what we’ve learned from our amazing guests, and of course behind the scenes clips and outtakes that will leave you laughing. Talk About It: Each week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What do you love about your marriage in last year?  What do you want to focus on next year?

Julie Briggs has known God was calling her to adopt since she was a teen, she knew God was calling her to adopt as a first choice to grow her family. Julie and her husband Alan adopted two siblings, children of deceased parents and immediately dealt with the after effects of that trauma. Every child wants someone who’s crazy about them, and Julie shares ways to attach to even the most traumatized children.  She shares her parenting fails and even how other parents judged her, but she kept focused on loving her kids. You can find Julie Briggs on her website, on Instagram, Facebook Show Highlights: Heart for orphans, as a teen It’s NOT about fertility Ethiopia works on a different time frame When kids left the entire world they knew Kids would not sleep without their parents We all need someone who’s crazy about them The myth of attaching with adoption and young children The epic tantrum that changed her parenting   Talk About It: Each week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: Growing up, who were the adults that were “crazy about you?”

Chris and Beth share their story, and some thoughts on raising whole-hearted kids, including the story of meeting on a college campus visit and funny stories of what did not go as planned on their wedding day.  When they had their first child, they immediately felt the weight of raising not only a healthy child, but how they’d grow into a healthy adult. They both saw that other cultures have established rites of passages for young teens, but America was lacking in this department. So they established a year long journey for their children to transition from children to young adulthood. About Chris and Beth Bruno: The adventure for Chris and Beth Bruno began 23 years ago, and has included international living, several graduate programs and three children. Beth is the author of A Voice Becoming: A Yearlong Mother-Daughter Journey into Passionate, Purposed Living, and Chris authored Man Maker Project: Boys are Born, Men are Made. Chris is a licensed professional counselor and heads up the Restoration Counseling Center of Northern Colorado, as well as serving as CEO of Restoration Project. Beth works to reframe the feminine voice through her own podcast called Fierce and Lovely, and is a contributing author to Red Tent Living online magazine. Meanwhile, they are just normal people who love the outdoors, dark wine, coffee and chocolate, and love parenting their 18, 15, and 12 year old children. You can find Beth Bruno at her website, on Instagram, Facebook, and her book. You can find Chris Bruno at his website, on Instagram and Facebook and his book.   Show Highlights: Meeting as a college tour guide How cassette tapes spiced up their wedding recessional Moving to Turkey without knowing how to speak a single word Engaging in conversations that matter Importance of rites of passage as kids move to adulthood Having other adults help to raise their children Attention vs. Intention   Talk About It: “And now the “talk about it” segment of the show. Every week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What are you glad your parents taught you?  What do you wish they would have taught you?

Geriann Wiesbrook shares how she fell in love with her now husband Paul– in Jr. High and even shared a first kiss on her 16th birthday! When they were young and married with kids they had to grind it out, working multiple jobs and fighting as a hobby. One night, their marriage hit crisis mode, she didn’t want a divorce, but they really had little success in making their relationship any better. After ten years of fighting, she tells of a pivotal moment, when they fell back in love and are now focused on making their impact in the world.  And today they are more in love than ever.   About Geriann Wiesbrook Geriann Wiesbrook met her husband Paul in Jr High. Survivors of raising two amazing children and three adorable grandsons and are still crazy about each other after 32 years of marriage. Paul is an amazing mechanic, dad and the grounded half of their marriage. Geriann is more of the dreamer, hope-giver and is the founder of Military Mama Network, a nationwide effort to support our troops, veterans and their families. She runs Facebook groups with great authenticity, and Geriann was recently one of 115 community leaders Facebook has chosen for their Community Leadership Program, recognizing her as an exceptional community leader. Geriann also teaches others how to use social media to build community and tell their stories in an impactful manner. You can find Geriann Wiesbrook and her work in helping military families at www.militarymamanetwork.org, as well as on Instagram and Facebook.   Show Highlights: * Puppy love was real love * When your marriage hits overnight crisis * A decade of fighting to achieve restoration * Trying to keep the family together * It’s worth fighting for a great counselor * Their tortured marriage retreat * Fighting with God * The night we shifted back toward each other * Couples getaways are a must * How her 50th birthday shifted her legacy * We all have a purpose in life   Talk about it: Every week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: What is an area of your marriage, where you find yourselves settling?  

Infertility sucks, and today’s guest, Pradeepa Narayanaswamy is on a mission to help couples make it suck a little less. Predeepa shares vulnerably from her own story, about how shame, blame and the cycle of hope and despair left her feeling lost and alone, as well as her 11 year journey tested her relationship with her husband, and strengthened their resolve to build a stronger marriage. Now, Predeepa helps other couples navigate their fertility journey, and make it suck less. About Pradeepa Narayanaswamy: Pradeepa is a Fertility Coach helping men, women and couples’ infertility journey SUCK LESS! She believes couples, men and women who feel empowered during their infertility journey with the help of fertility coaching, have a more positive experience. She’s so thankful to be a part of something so personal like infertility and is honored to provide a personal touch that gets at the intangibles and helps bring ease to the process.  Find her on LinkedIn and YouTube.   Show Highlights: * How Infertility is like repeatedly jumping from the 30th floor * Blindsided by a miscarriage * Advice for friends and family support around miscarriage * Shame of infertility * Blaming God * Avoiding loved ones * Men and women processing infertility differently * Men need support too * Importance of checking in with your spouse   Resources: Here are some resources mentioned in this episode Invisible Wall Blog 20 Thing You Should Never Say to Someone Struggling with Infertility Blog Talk About It: Every week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: In a struggle/victory you’re facing, ask your spouse about their perspective on the issue and how they’re feeling about it.

Christie Mann is our guest and she shares the insights from her new book series, Adventures of ‘Lil Sass.  She explores how teaching children emotional wellness at a young age can create a ripple effect of emotional health throughout the entire family. By encouraging parents to be the model, be the coach and be the sanctuary, we create a home, where it’s safe to explore and move in and through emotions, therefore, happier, healthier families! About Christie Christie is a Developer of Leaders of Leaders; an Author, Speaker, Coach, Trainer, Kundalini Yoga & Meditation practitioner, and Creator of The Adventures of Lil’ Sass- an emotional wellness brand of books & accessories for children that teach the importance of understanding emotions & how to express them in a healthy way. You can find Christie on Facebook, Instagram, and her website. Check out all of the Lil’ Sass books! (Amazon.com links)  Lil’ Sass and The Adventure of Sadness Lil’ Sass and The Adventure of Anger Lil’ Sass and The Adventure of Joy Show Highlights: * Kids have emotional flexibility * Kids learn to repress emotion at an early age * Dad going to prison * Raising adult parents with emotional wellness * Be the model, be the coach, be the sanctuary * Allow yourself to have emotions * Karate chop your emotions * Create space to have emotion * Create times of silence * Emotional wellness is connected to physical wellness       Talk About It: Every week we challenge you to set a time with your spouse to have a conversation that matters. Here’s your conversation starter: Typically, in what situations do you repress your emotions?  Could you do it differently?     Reviews: Want to win cash and prizes? Leave a review in your podcast app, then post a comment on our “reviews” thread in the Legendary Marriage Community on Facebook. It’s easy: * Open your podcast app, leave a rating and review. * Head over to the Facebook group, and comment on the “Reviews” thread. (bonus points for a screenshot of your review) * Win cash and prizes! (we will draw 1 lucky winner each week!