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Marriage is a team sport that nobody prepared us for. What happens when two different people try to build a life together? How do you create a truly functional partnership rather than just two people sharing space?

Greg and Jess dig deep into what makes relationships work as teams by examining three crucial elements: shared vision, effective communication, and the delicate balance between trust and leadership. They reveal how establishing family values created their roadmap for raising "likable, contributing members of society" and how contentment with both plenty and little stems from mutual agreement about what truly matters.

The conversation takes a fascinating turn when they explore their dramatically different communication styles. Greg's "let's try it and see what happens" approach crashes headlong into Jess's need for careful planning. Their candid stories about navigating these differences offer valuable insights for any couple struggling with similar tensions. "Your brain works way different and way faster than mine," Jess admits, highlighting how understanding these differences transformed their communication.

Perhaps most compelling is their exploration of leadership in marriage. They challenge the notion that one person must lead everything, instead advocating for recognizing individual strengths. "In every relationship, someone is leading," Greg explains, "but that doesn't mean creating a dictatorship." Their perspective on how trust and leadership function together provides a refreshing framework for couples tired of power struggles.

The episode wraps with practical application points, encouraging listeners to identify their "why" behind major life decisions and commit to being lifelong learners together. Whether you're newly married, considering marriage, or decades into partnership, you'll find actionable wisdom to strengthen your team.

Share your thoughts with us! What book has impacted your relationship journey? We'd love to hear what's helped you become a better teammate in your relationship.

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"We had no idea what we were doing." Those words might not be what you expect to hear from podcast hosts sharing advice about blended families, but that's exactly what makes Baggage Claim so refreshingly honest. In this vulnerable episode, Greg and Jess pull back the curtain on their 13-year journey of blending families to reveal the messy, beautiful truth: nobody really knows what they're doing.

The highlight reels we often see of blended families can be intimidating. Core values, behavior lists, and carefully structured routines make it seem like some families have it all figured out. But behind those Instagram-worthy moments are real people navigating uncharted waters, making mistakes, and learning as they go. Greg and Jess share some of their biggest failures—from leaving kids at practice because they missed calendar invites to writing checks for groceries they knew wouldn't clear—and how those challenging moments actually created some of their family's most cherished traditions.

What stands out most is their resilience through financial hardships and communication challenges. As Greg shares the humbling experience of not being able to afford medical care for Jess during a time of illness, they reflect on how these struggles shaped their family philosophy: "If we can't be happy with a hundred dollars in our bank account, we'll never be happy with hundreds of thousands." This perspective shift transformed their approach to both money and marriage.

Whether you're in the trenches of early blended family life or navigating the evolving relationships with adult children, this episode offers comfort in knowing you're not alone. The real magic happens not in having all the answers, but in showing up consistently with love, curiosity, and the willingness to fail forward. After all, if you're failing, it means you're trying—and that's something worth celebrating.

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What happens when a bank teller and a marketing guy fall in love over karaoke at a country bar? In our first-ever guest episode, we're thrilled to welcome Nick and Brandy Kastner, who bring 19 years of marriage wisdom to the table.

Their story begins with workplace animosity (Brandy wasn't thrilled when Nick got quickly promoted at the bank where they both worked) and transforms into a relationship built on compromise, communication, and intentional connection. After a memorable first date where Brandy sang "Baby Got Back"—the moment Nick claims he fell in love—they navigated early relationship challenges, including an ex trying to reconnect. When they finally decided to marry, they skipped the expensive ceremony, opting for a $50 backyard wedding that proved true commitment doesn't require grand gestures.

The Kastners openly share their struggles with balancing busy schedules, raising their now nearly-adult daughters, and nurturing their relationship through different love languages. Despite the chaos of volleyball tournaments, work travel, and everyday life, they've maintained a strong connection by never going to bed angry and making intentional time for each other. They've experienced only three truly heated arguments in nearly two decades together—a testament to their communication skills and mutual respect.

As they prepare for their oldest daughter's graduation and the next chapter of their lives, Nick and Brandy offer practical advice about staying truthful with each other, not forcing expectations on children, and most importantly, creating dedicated time for your relationship. Their journey reminds us that beautiful marriages don't happen by accident—they're built through daily choices, honest conversations, and the willingness to compromise (even on graduation party plates).

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Have you ever wondered how to make each child in a blended family feel uniquely valued? Sometimes the answer lies in being purposefully present in both big adventures and small everyday moments.

When Greg and I merged our families, we quickly realized that intentionality would be our lifeline. After a chance encounter at Target revealed how our daughter Callie felt about sharing "her time" with us, we knew we needed a better approach. This moment of clarity sparked what would become one of our most cherished family traditions – the "Sweet 16 Adventures."

For each child's sixteenth birthday, we dedicated three to four days to go anywhere in the continental US and do whatever they wanted. Callie's New York adventure during a historic snowstorm, Thomas's adrenaline-filled outdoor excursion in Asheville, Cody's skateboarding journey up the California coast, and Erin Grace's personalized NYC experience – each trip uniquely reflected that child's personality and interests.

But perhaps the most powerful parts of our story aren't the grand adventures but the small, consistent investments we made: "Girls' Days" getting manicures, "Boys' Days" fishing followed by eating at "places the girls would never go," and those in-between moments where we simply showed up. These seemingly ordinary times built extraordinary connections that our now-adult children still reference today.

The beauty of intentional parenting isn't in perfection but presence. As I recently heard, "Don't wish for happiness to come. Be happy where you're at." Whether you're managing a blended family or simply looking to deepen your connection with your children, start where you are, with what you have. We'd love to hear your stories of intentional moments with your children on our social media. What simple traditions have created lasting bonds in your family?

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What happens when your faith gets shattered? How do you rebuild trust in something bigger than yourself when life deals devastating blows? This deeply personal episode reveals the spiritual journeys that have profoundly shaped our marriage and blended family.

Greg shares his transformation from substance abuse to ministry after a rock-bottom moment in a bar bathroom. His story includes unexpected miracles—like the time four catering vans mysteriously appeared with food after a simple prayer for homeless people in Atlanta. You'll hear how his faith was later tested through divorce despite "doing everything right" according to religious expectations, leading to broken windows, burned furniture, and ultimately, redemption.

Jess reveals a different path—raised in church by a devoted mother, her faith was strengthened through her daughter's miraculous healing from severe heart defects. Yet she too faced a devastating test when her first husband died unexpectedly, forcing her to redefine what "good" looks like in a world where prayers sometimes seem unanswered.

We explore how these experiences form the foundation of our relationship, highlighting our belief that healthy marriages require three essential components: personal health (emotional, mental, spiritual), a strong couple relationship, and family dynamics. As we share our stories without filters, we invite you to consider your own "true north"—what grounds you during life's inevitable storms?

Whether you're spiritually inclined or not, this conversation offers valuable perspective on finding anchor points that hold you steady when everything else falls apart. Because as we've learned through our journeys, everyone is either in a storm, just coming out of one, or about to enter one—and what matters most is how you weather it together.

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The scheduling dance of blended families might be the most challenging choreography you'll ever learn. In this heartfelt episode, Greg and Jess dive deep into the complexities, frustrations, and unexpected joys of figuring out who gets the kids when—and how to do it with grace.

Drawing from their 13 years of experience navigating the waters of shared custody, they reveal how color-coded calendars became their lifeline and why perspective changes everything. With a simple yet powerful finger-pointing exercise, they demonstrate how two people can look at the exact same situation yet see completely different things—a perfect metaphor for co-parenting negotiations.

The conversation takes an honest turn as they address the painful reality that children will inevitably miss events that feel important to you. Rather than creating guilt or making demands, they share their philosophy of always extending invitations while accepting that kids will make their own choices, especially as they grow older. "It's not about you" becomes their mantra, repeated throughout as a necessary reminder for anyone trying to navigate these tricky waters.

Most powerfully, Greg shares the story of the mule in the well—a touching metaphor for how the dirt that seems to be burying you can actually become the steps that lead you out if you just keep shaking it off and stepping up. For anyone feeling stuck in the scheduling conflicts and emotional turbulence of blended family life, this episode offers not just practical advice but genuine hope that there's light at the end of the tunnel.

Whether you're newly navigating the blended family journey or have been at it for years, this conversation delivers equal parts practical wisdom and emotional reassurance. The key takeaway? Keep communicating, keep perspective, and above all—keep moving forward.

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We're all guilty of seeking that elusive "silver bullet" – the one magical secret that transforms an ordinary marriage into an extraordinary one. But what if the answer isn't found in grand gestures or revolutionary techniques, but rather in simple, consistent choices made day after day?

In this deeply personal episode, Greg and Jess pull back the curtain on their 13-year relationship to share four foundational principles that have sustained them through blended family challenges, busy schedules, and life's inevitable ups and downs. Their candid conversation reveals how intentionally having fun together, embracing selflessness, letting go of minor irritations, and prioritizing communication creates the bedrock of lasting love.

Jess shares a particularly powerful perspective on "not sweating the small stuff" that stems from her experience of losing her first husband – a reminder that the very things we complain about (laundry left unfolded, items on countertops) are actually privileges of having someone in our lives. Meanwhile, Greg opens up about his journey from being communication-avoidant to recognizing how essential honest dialogue is to relationship health.

What makes this episode especially valuable is its practicality. Rather than offering vague platitudes, Greg and Jess provide specific, actionable challenges you can implement immediately: a five-minute question exercise to improve communication, ways to redefine "fun" that fit your current life stage, and the transformative practice of serving your partner with zero expectation of return.

Whether you're in the honeymoon phase, navigating the roommate years, or rebuilding after a rough patch, these time-tested principles offer a roadmap for creating a relationship that doesn't just survive but genuinely thrives. Ready to move beyond searching for silver bullets and start building something that lasts? This conversation is your starting point.

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Family culture doesn't happen by accident. Drawing on corporate experience, we discovered how establishing core values could transform our blended family's dynamics and create an intentional environment for our children to thrive.

With sticky notes spread across our kitchen table, we invited our children (ages 8-12) to help identify what mattered most to our family. This collaborative process resulted in six core values: Love, Communication, Service, Together, Fun, and Faith. Each family member selected one value that resonated personally with them, then painted it on canvas as a visual reminder of our shared commitments.

These values became guideposts for daily life together. When arguments threatened to escalate, our communication value reminded us to speak respectfully and take a cooling-off lap around the neighborhood if needed. When weekend mountain bike races consumed our time, our fun value pushed us to find creative ways to make these trips enjoyable for everyone. Our faith value encouraged questions and personal discovery rather than forced participation.

The real power wasn't in the pretty canvases hanging on our walls—it was in modeling these values consistently. Children don't learn from what we say but from what we do. Even when we stumbled (and we certainly did), returning to these core principles helped reset our family's direction.

Whether you're in a newly blended family, raising teenagers who challenge every boundary, or just beginning your parenting journey, establishing core values provides a foundation for intentional family culture. Start small with just one or two values—what matters is beginning the conversation about what your family stands for and how you'll live that out together.

What core values would you choose for your family? We'd love to hear which principles guide your home.