226. Family Culture Upgrades for Summer: Simple Changes That Make a Big Impact
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
Release Date: 06/06/2025
237. The Tuttle Twins Creator on Saving America at the Dinner Table
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
What if the future of our country doesn’t hinge on elections, courtrooms, or political battles—but on family dinner conversations? That’s exactly the vision today’s guest, Connor Boyack, shares with us. Connor is the bestselling author of over 50 books, including the wildly popular Tuttle Twins series, which has sold more than seven million copies worldwide. He’s also the founder of Libertas Network, a think tank and collection of family-centered initiatives that have changed over 100 laws and empowered kids and parents around the globe. From teaching free-market principles to...
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236. Becoming Dangerous...Being Strong Enough to Play, Protect, and Participate as a Parent
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
Getting Off the Sidelines Have you ever looked around and realized that too many parents are sitting on the sidelines of their kids’ lives? Chris had this exact thought during a recent Girl Dad camp, where he noticed how many dads struggled to fully participate in simple activities like soccer, frisbee, or even just running around with their daughters. It broke his heart—not out of judgment, but out of empathy. Because every parent wants to be in the game, not watching from the bench. In this episode, Chris and Melissa unpack what it really means to stay active and engaged—not for...
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235. 7 Ways to Help Your Teen Stay Connected at Home
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
Helping Teens Connect at Home If you’ve ever felt like your teens are drifting toward their rooms, screens, or independence a little faster than you’d like, you’re not alone. In this episode, Chris and Melissa open up about the rhythms, struggles, and small wins of keeping their three teenagers connected and interactive with family life. They share the real-time lessons they’re learning as parents—from literally pulling kids out of their rooms to setting boundaries around phones at the dinner table. You’ll hear how mealtimes (even if it’s just one-on-one breakfasts), family...
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234. Girl Dad Camp: Boosting Confidence, Connection, and Courage in Our Daughters
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
This week’s episode is a special one—Chris is back from Girl Dad Camp and we’re unpacking everything he experienced alongside our daughters, Ivy and Indy. Hosted at BYU and organized by the women’s athletics coaches, Girl Dad Camp is a weekend built for fun, connection, and, most importantly, confidence-building. With stations like pickleball, gymnastics, bracelet-making, and journaling, it's a mix of sports and soul work designed to strengthen the father-daughter bond. Chris shares everything from fun moments (like their epic dance competition!) to sobering stats about girls’...
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233. Intentional Back-to-School: Letting Your Kids Help Choose Their Education
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
Hey friends! It's that time of year again—backpacks, new shoes, and… big decisions about school. In this week’s episode, Chris and I open up about what school looks like for our family this year. With five kids in different grades (and different learning styles), we’ve never taken a one-size-fits-all approach to education—and this year is no different. From public school to community college to homeschool with a neighbor, we share why each of our kids is doing something unique this year and how we’ve learned to give them a say in the process. We also reflect on how our views on...
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232. What If One Weekend Could Transform Your Family Forever?
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
Hey Family Brand, it’s Chris and Melissa here! We have something really special to share with you today. If you’ve ever felt like life is moving too fast, like your family is surviving more than thriving, or you just wish you had space to reconnect and refocus—this episode is for you. We're inviting you to something we’ve been dreaming about and working on behind the scenes: our Family Brand Live Event, coming this November. This isn’t your average seminar or parenting workshop—it’s a full weekend experience designed to bring your family together in a powerful, life-changing way....
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231. Family Meeting that Don't Suck - How to Actually Make Them Work
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
Hey Family Brand! It’s Melissa here, and if you’ve ever tried to hold a family meeting that ended in chaos, eye-rolls, or zero follow-through… this episode is for you. We’re diving into a topic that might sound boring but can truly transform your family culture: family meetings. Trust me, I get it—most of us didn’t grow up doing these, and if we did, we may not have the best memories of them. But what if family meetings didn’t suck? What if they were actually helpful, hopeful, and maybe even a little fun? This idea hit me recently while working with a coaching client who was...
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230. Why Hustle Culture Doesn’t Work for Families (and What to Do Instead) Feat. Kelly O’Neil
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
Hey Family Brand — it’s Melissa here, and I am SO excited to introduce you to today’s guest, the incredible Kelly O’Neil. I have been a fan of Kelly’s work for years, and I’m still processing this conversation — it was that impactful. Kelly is a strategist, a visionary, and a total powerhouse when it comes to helping people build legacy businesses without sacrificing what matters most. She’s worked with Fortune 500s, celebrity entrepreneurs, and industry disruptors, and today, she’s bringing that same level of insight to us as families. In this episode, we’re talking about...
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229. Be Your Family’s Chief Reminding Officer
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
Hey Family Brand, it’s Chris and Melissa! Today’s episode is inspired by something we’ve found to be one of the most underrated (but absolutely essential) roles in leadership — whether you’re running a company or raising a family: becoming the Chief Reminding Officer. This idea came up during one of our walks, and we realized how much of parenting and leadership isn’t about coming up with something brand new every day. It’s about consistently reminding your team — or your kids — of what’s already true. Who you are. What you stand for. What you value. And honestly? That kind...
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228. Preparing for the Unexpected: A Personal Story on Wills and Life Insurance
Family Brand: Take Back Your Family
Hey Family Brand — it’s Melissa here. Today’s episode is a little different, and honestly, it’s one I tried to record six different times. It took me a while to even figure out what I wanted to say because this one hits close to home. Last week, my cousin and his wife passed away unexpectedly in a tragic plane crash, leaving behind two little ones. Even as I write that, my heart feels so heavy. It’s every parent’s worst nightmare to even imagine not being there for your kids as they grow up. It’s something we never want to face — and I never thought we’d have to. But this...
info_outlineHey Family Brand! It’s Melissa here, and this week I’m sharing something I’ve been thinking about a lot—how summer gives us a unique opportunity to pause, reflect, and upgrade our family culture. Whether your kids are home more, you're traveling, or you’re just trying to juggle a different routine, summer naturally gives us space to reevaluate what’s working… and what’s not.
In this episode, I walk you through a few changes we’re making as a family this season. They’re small on the surface—things like setting limits on video games, resetting kitchen expectations, and creating more intentional mealtimes—but they’re making a big impact in how we’re showing up for each other.
One of the biggest shifts we’ve made is in our morning routine. I share how we’ve gone from chaotic, slow-moving starts to mornings filled with structure, gratitude, and even scripture. I’ve also added a daily rhythm for myself that includes getting outside, stretching, drinking water, and tracking it all on paper. It’s been so good for my mental and physical health—and the kids are noticing too.
I also open up about how these changes didn’t come from perfection or pressure. They came from a moment of honesty—realizing we were slipping into habits that didn’t reflect the culture we actually want to have. So if you’ve been feeling like it’s time to make a shift in your home, I want you to know: it doesn’t have to be complicated. Start small. Start now.
This episode is a little behind-the-scenes peek into our summer—and an invitation for you to think about what kind of family culture you want to build in this season.
LINKS:
All Links Family Brand!
Episode Minute By Minute:
- 0:00 – Why summer is a great time to reset your family culture
- 1:15 – The moment I realized we needed some structure back in our mornings
- 2:30 – Our new morning rhythm: movement, water, journaling, and scripture
- 4:00 – Setting kitchen expectations so everyone pitches in
- 5:15 – Why I’m limiting video games and adding screen-free pockets
- 6:30 – How I’m building new rhythms for me as a mom this summer
- 8:00 – Encouragement: You don’t need to overhaul your life—just pick one thing