Ep. 217 - Success At The Expense of Your Marriage and Family with Krystal Parker
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Release Date: 07/23/2025
Ep. 229 - 5 Mistakes We’ve Made As Married Entrepreneurs
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Every married entrepreneur knows mistakes come with the territory—but they don’t have to derail your marriage or business. In this episode, Robert and Kay Lee pull back the curtain on the top five mistakes they’ve made as married entrepreneurs—and the lessons learned along the way. From overlooking the “Chief Feelings Officer” to chasing shiny objects, they share candid stories that cost them time, money, and peace (sometimes six figures!). You’ll hear how “hiring for convenience” created unnecessary conflict, why building real friendships beats pouring money into funnels,...
info_outline
Ep. 228 - Is Tech Helping Or Hurting Your Business (and Marriage)?
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
With over 10,000 AI tools at our fingertips, it’s tempting to think technology will be our golden ticket to efficiency, profits, and free time. The problem? All that “help” can actually lead to tech creep—where one more tool, one more subscription, and one more DIY task sneak onto your plate until your calendar is full and your marriage is on the back burner. Bottom line: Tech can absolutely help you grow your business and free up more time for your marriage—if you use it in moderation and keep your focus on the high-level work only you can do. 🎧 Listen now to learn how to put...
info_outline
Ep. 227 - Dealing With Changing Roles As Husband and Wife and Business Partners with Phil and Shae Bynes
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
When roles shift at home and at work, even strong couples can feel the strain. In this episode, returning guests Shay and Phil Bynes (Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur) pull back the curtain on their four-year journey of transitioning Shay out of the CEO seat and Phil in—while raising three kids and continuing to lead a global movement. They share what changed, what didn’t, and how they protected connection through it all. You’ll hear how they navigated identity, authority, and expectations as spouses and co-leaders—without letting business tension become marital tension. From hearing...
info_outline
Ep. 226 - Navigating Different Energy Levels As Husband and Wife
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Get on the waitlist for a Thriving in Tandem event near you. Want to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our (audio) book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. Download the 5 Daily Habits to Thrive in Tandem Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. Every married entrepreneur knows the challenge of managing different energy levels—especially when one spouse is ready to go full throttle and the other needs to pace themselves. In this episode, Robert...
info_outline
Ep. 225 - Bring Back The Fun in Marriage and Business
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
When was the last time you and your spouse really laughed together? In this week’s episode of Thriving in Tandem, Robert and Kay Lee dive deep into a topic too many married entrepreneurs overlook—fun. After returning from an 18-day dream vacation in Italy and hosting their first “Thriving in Tandem Date Night,” they realized just how many couples have stopped making space for joy. Between business demands, family responsibilities, and endless to-do lists, fun often gets pushed aside. Robert and Kay Lee share creative, budget-friendly ways to bring fun back into your marriage without...
info_outline
Ep. 224 - Don’t Believe the Hype: How Married Entrepreneurs Can Make Smarter Investment Decisions
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
In this episode of Thriving in Tandem, Robert and Kay Lee unpack the dangers of making impulsive business or investment decisions based on hype, emotion, or pressure. Whether it’s a flashy marketing strategy, a “can’t miss” real estate deal, or a new business venture, many married entrepreneurs get swept up in the excitement without counting the cost. Drawing from real-life lessons—some painful—they discuss how couples can safeguard their finances and their marriage by slowing down, asking the right questions, and aligning their risk tolerance. Together, they walk through key...
info_outline
Ep. 223 - Building a Marriage and Business That Thrives Through Every Season With Jim and Martha Brangenberg
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
In this special live-audience episode of Thriving in Tandem, Robert and Kay Lee welcome back long-time friends and returning guests, Jim and Martha Brangenberg. From running a real estate development project to revitalizing their small town, serving as volunteer firefighters and chaplains, caring for aging parents, hosting their radio show I Work for Him, and spearheading community events — Jim and Martha live a full, fast-paced life. Yet, despite the chaos, they’ve learned the value of slowing down, setting boundaries, and keeping God at the center of their marriage. Together, we unpack...
info_outline
Ep. 222 - What Makes A Good Wine, Makes a Great Marriage
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
Join Robert and Kay Lee Fukui as they draw surprising yet powerful parallels between crafting a fine bottle of wine and building a strong, lasting marriage. Fresh off their dream vacation to Italy and inspired by the care, patience, and intentionality they witnessed at the wineries, the Fukuis unpack four key principles that apply both to wine-making and thriving in tandem with your spouse: patience, environment, oxygen (aka communication and emotional safety), and blend. Through personal stories—from the early days of their relationship to navigating conflict and collaboration in...
info_outline
Ep. 221 - The Power of Unification with Mark and Christine Jewell: How One Couple Restructured Their Finances, Business & Marriage for Greater Impact
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
In this powerful and transparent episode, we’re joined by leadership coaches Mark and Christine Jewell, a dynamic couple leading the Momentum Company and Warriors of the Heart. What started as a business-focused meetup evolved into a candid conversation about marriage, money, calling, and the cost of doing life in parallel instead of in partnership. They share the raw truth of how merging their businesses and finances wasn’t easy—but it was the key to unlocking a whole new level of peace, purpose, and profit in their home and company. Christine and Mark get vulnerable about their journey...
info_outline
Ep. 220 - Lessons From Our Italian Vacation
Thriving in Tandem: The podcast for married entrepreneurs
In this heartfelt and adventurous episode of Thriving in Tandem, Robert and Kay Lee Fukui take you behind the scenes of their dream trip through Italy—from Cinque Terre to Florence, Tuscany to Lake Garda. While the landmarks and landscapes were stunning, it was the lessons learned along the way that left the deepest impression. From learning to ask for help, to the value of simplicity, to taking the time to just be, the trip served as a powerful reminder of what truly matters—both in life and in business. They share stories of free Michelin-starred meals, ancient wine cellars, hiking...
info_outlineWant to live a better balanced life and win in marriage AND business at the same time? Purchase our (audio) book Tandem: The married entrepreneurs’ guide for greater work-life balance. https://www.thetandembook.com/
Download the 5 Daily Habits to Thrive in Tandem https://marriedentrepreneur.co/5-daily-habits-download
Need some insight into how to balance it all? Schedule a free discovery call. https://marriedentrepreneur.co/lets-talk
In this deeply vulnerable and inspiring episode of Thriving in Tandem, we’re joined by Krystal Parker, President of the U.S. Christian Chamber of Commerce. Krystal shares her raw journey from corporate executive climbing the ranks of a Fortune 200 oil and gas company to discovering the devastating cost of success when it came at the expense of her marriage and family. What looked like professional triumph on the outside masked a crumbling home life and personal disconnection from what mattered most.
As Krystal takes us back to the peak of her corporate climb—fueled by power, ambition, and external validation—she candidly reveals the blind spots that hurt her marriage ending and relationship with her young daughter. But in the aftermath of that breaking point, Krystal discovered what true leadership and intentional living looked like. From restructuring her work-life rhythms to raising up her team, and ultimately placing God and family at the center, her story offers hope and a powerful reminder that redemption is possible.
Whether you're in a season of hustle or navigating growing pains in business and marriage, Krystal’s testimony is a call to evaluate where your time and heart are going. She shares practical boundaries she and her husband now implement, how she keeps her daughter a priority, and the critical difference between using work as worship instead of worshiping work. This is a must-listen for married entrepreneurs who don’t want to succeed in business only to lose what truly matters most.
Key Takeaways:
-
Success without alignment can destroy what matters most. Krystal's corporate rise came with sacrifices she didn't fully see until her marriage and family unraveled.
-
You are irreplaceable at work but you not at home. Delegating empowered Krystal’s team and freed her to re-engage with her daughter and home life.
-
Boundaries and intention create lasting connection. Krystal and her husband carve out intentional moments—even in busy seasons—to stay united and keep God at the center of their marriage.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Thriving in Tandem Podcast
02:01 Crystal Parker's Journey in the Oil and Gas Industry
10:11 Challenges of Balancing Career and Family Life
12:00 The Turning Point: Becoming a Solo Parent
18:07 Finding Balance in a New Marriage and Career
23:53 Lessons Learned and Final Thoughts