96. A Better Marriage Starts With A Better You, with Casey & Megan Caston
Release Date: 12/13/2024
110. My Husband Doesn’t Support Me with His Kids: What Every Stepmom Needs to Know
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
"My husband is an idiot." That's what a stepmom said to me recently - not once, but multiple times. But behind those words? A mountain of hurt, exhaustion, and feeling completely alone in her own home. If you've ever felt like you're carrying everything by yourself while your partner seems checked out, dismissive, or just doesn't get it - this episode is for you. I'm diving deep into what "he doesn't have my back" really means, why it's about so much more than just everyday disagreements, and most important - what you can actually do about it before resentment poisons everything. This isn't...
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109. When It’s All Too Much: Mindfulness Tools for Stepmom Life
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
You're not broken. You're overwhelmed. This episode is for those moments when you’re trying so hard to keep it together, but inside you're screaming. The mental load is crushing you, your patience is hanging by a thread, and even the dog’s breathing feels like too much . . . If that rings a bell, let me reassure you that no, you’re not broken. You’re just overwhelmed. And there are tools to help you manage your stress. This week, I'm joined by licensed therapist and coach Kristin Cogan for a conversation every stepmom (and honestly, every woman) needs. We’re diving into the...
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108. Stepmom Triggers and the Power of Choosing Peace Over Panic
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
What if you could take that familiar whisper of "You don't quite belong" and give it the heave-ho? Picture this: at your stepdaughter's sorority Parents Weekend, everyone's wearing their "sorority mom" pins . . . everyone but you. That familiar whisper starts: "I wonder if they notice I don't belong here." But then something incredible happens: you pause, breathe, and choose a different thought. This episode is about that moment - how triggers that used to wreck you now don't have to. You know what I'm talking about: It can be the smallest, most seemingly-insignificant moments that hits...
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107. Stop Trying Harder: Why Stepmoms Need Support, Not Perfection
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
"You're not the problem. You're just doing it alone." If you attended the last weekend, you wrapped up in a high - feeling seen and understood. But it’s over now, and you're back in a house that doesn't feel like yours with zero space to land. Today we're talking about why "trying harder" isn't the answer, and what you actually need to create lasting change in your stepfamily life. In This Episode, We Cover: Why Stepmom Life Feels So Isolating The myth of "trying harder" and the stepmom spiral of second-guessing your boundaries and interactions How "trying harder" leads to losing...
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106. I Didn’t Sign Up For This: When Stepmom Life Gets Messy Fast, with Alicia Krasko
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Every stepmom has that moment where reality hits and you think: “Wait… I didn’t sign up for this.” In today’s episode, I sit down with Alicia Krasko - stepmom coach, podcast host, and CEO of the Stepmom Side Community. Alicia’s story will sound familiar: she went into stepmom life thinking it would be smooth sailing (kids liked her, in-laws liked her, even the ex liked her)… until suddenly, everything changed. In the episode, we talk about: What happens when “happily ever after” collides with blended family reality Why traditional therapy often misses the mark for...
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105. From Bathroom Floor To Breakthrough: The Lifeline That's Helped Thousands of Stepmoms
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
“You don’t have to do this alone. You don’t have to guess, or feel guilty. You just have to say yes to support that actually gets it.” Ever feel like you’re walking on eggshells in your own home? Like no one truly sees how hard you’re working to hold it all together? In this powerful mini episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on why the FREE annual (coming up September 4-6th) has become a lifeline for thousands of stepmoms around the world - and why it might be exactly what you’ve been needing, too. I share my own raw and real moments (yes, including the one where my stepson...
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104. Why You Don’t Need the Ex to Change to Finally Feel at Peace in Your Stepfamily, with Priscilla Smith
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
If you’ve ever found yourself tangled in the emotional mess of a high-conflict ex, today’s conversation is for you. My guest, Priscilla Smith, knows exactly what it’s like to live in that storm. A certified stepfamily coach and child-free stepmom (and speaker at the upcoming !), Priscilla has navigated years of tension, loyalty binds, and co-parenting chaos — all while building a stronger marriage and a more peaceful home. She’s here to share how she shifted from reacting to leading, stopped letting the ex dictate her peace, and created tools that actually work in real life. In this...
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103. Parenting Without The Power Struggles, with Parenting Expert Wendy Snyder
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Parenting is hard - but it can help when you're able to lower the temperature. If you've followed me for a while, you know I subscribe to the research-based "connection before correction" philosophy when it comes to stepparents getting involved in discipline. My guest for this episode has an expertise in what she calls "compassionate discipline," which is a great option for parents looking for a way to be more responsive and less reactive. Wendy's work on positive parenting strategies is inspiring - and should give us all some food for thought as we work to create strong relationships with our...
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102. Real Food, Real Families: Katie Kimball on Kitchen Stewardship
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Today we're talking about something that can be an unexpected complication in blended family life - and that's mealtime. Getting kids to eat nutrient-packed food is hard enough, but add in a two-house dynamic where kids may have different rules and expectations around what they eat and it can get downright thorny. That's where Katie Kimball comes in. Mom of four and founder of Kitchen Stewardship, Katie and I talk about how to navigate picky eaters and encourage good habits, even when the other house has different rules. And she tells us about her coming up this summer, where CEOs,...
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101. What Stepkids Think About Their Stepparents - And Why It Matters
The Stepmom Diaries Podcast
Ever Wondered What Your Stepchildren Think About You? Kids can be tricky for stepparents to navigate. Their behavior isn't rational, they don't know how to express their emotions, and sometimes they can take out their frustration on the person who can be the easiest target: stepmom. But there's more to the story, and that's what we're talking about in this episode. We've got one of the top stepfamily researchers with us, and he's recently released a new look at the stepfamily dynamic - from the kids' perspectives. He's got some really interesting, insightful, and surprising, findings...
info_outline"If you want a better marriage, it starts with a better you"
(there may be affiliate links in this post - for more about what that means, click here)
Our guests this week are known for their clever and relatable social media videos - but they are much more than that. Casey and Meygan Caston, founders of Marriage365, offer up some great relationship advice for couples. In today's episode, they give us their top tips for good communication, and you'll enjoy hearing their story.
And they've offered a special $250 discount for our listeners to their annual marriage retreat happening October 2-5, 2025. You can check it out HERE and put the code STEPFAMILY SOLUTIONS in the comment field to apply the discount.
About Casey & Meygan:
Casey and Meygan Caston, founders of Marriage365, fell in love, got married, and started their happily ever after. They quickly found themselves facing deep challenges in their marriage due to childhood trauma, stubborn personalities, and poor communication. By year three, they were on the brink of divorce.
Determined to turn things around, Meygan embraced the advice: “If you want a better marriage, it starts with a better you.” She focused on her own healing, habits, and boundaries, sparking a dramatic shift in their relationship.
Frustrated by ineffective and costly therapy, the Castons created practical tools and resources to help couples strengthen their marriages. This inspired the launch of the Marriage365 app offering affordable and convenient support for relationships that has helped over 100,000 couples reconnect and reignite their love. They’ve authored five books, lead global marriage retreats, and offer one of the top premarital courses in the U.S.
Married 21 years, Casey and Meygan live in Southern California with their two teenagers, enjoy the beach, card games, and walks with their dog.
You Can Find Casey & Meygan:
On their website: marriage365.com
On Instagram: @marriage365
You can grab their book, 365 Connecting Questions For Couples, on Amazon!
And Join Me In January!
For additional support, join me in Alexandria, VA January 24-25th for Stepmom Live! - it will be a transformative 2 days of diving into stepfamily challenges like communication, conflict, and most of all, how to tame the chaos and save your sanity. And follow me on Instagram and TikTok for all my latest.
Got a question for me or something you're struggling with in your stepfamily life? Submit a question to be answered on a future podcast episode HERE
If you're looking for some help with stepfamily communication, make sure you grab Smooth Talking: 10 Essential Stepmom Scripts - it will give you the exact words to use when you're trying to talk about some of the tricky stepfamily topics that come up on the regular.
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