Family Rules! The Podcast

“Practically perfect in every way.” Apparently, Mary Poppins got that one wrong! Mistakes and flaws are part of the learning experience and, according to author Brooke Romney, they are part of parenting! How she has learned to embrace her own weaknesses, while letting her children know mistakes are ok.

You taught them to walk, talk, drive...but have you prepared your kids for the ins and outs of married life? Beyond just talking about the “birds and the bees,” sex educator Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife says it's our job to equip children with a proper understanding of their bodies and sexuality. She talks to Brooke about how to take on this bigger topic…

Motherhood is one of life's biggest milestones, but the truth is we're all just winging it! Speaker and author Connie Sokol shares her personal growth journey into motherhood, as she and Brooke discuss what it means to remain true to you.

As parents, it's easy to feel discouraged when we inevitably make mistakes. Nobody's perfect, but Lizzy Jensen, mother of five kids ages 8-2, says mistakes can be our best teacher. Lizzy is an attorney and founder of Small Seed. She talks with Brooke about embracing forgiveness as a parent.

When it comes to teaching your kids, you might be afraid of a certain d-word in your home: discipline. According to Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, author and psychotherapist, discipline can be something that parents can reclaim and learn to appreciate. Tina shares with Brooke how parents can find their own discipline philosophies.

More than just background noise, research shows music can be a powerful tool - to teach, lift, motivate and inspire. So how can you leverage that power within the walls of your own home? With more than 30 years of experience, music educator Tami VanDusen shares practical, actionable ways to use music to invite the Spirit and ultimately strengthen your family as you do. She and Brooke talk about their musical “first aid kits.”

Grief is not an emotion - it's a process. And it's a tough topic Emilio Parga takes on everyday. As the founder of Solace Tree, a nonprofit organization that offers support to grieving children, teens and adults, Emilio shares with Brooke interesting insight about how children process loss...and how parents can feel more confident in helping their family through a trial like death.

Adventure is out there! One of the greatest ways to bond as a family is to spend time in the great outdoors. Natalie Ockey, founder of Utah's Adventure Family blog, discusses with Brooke ways she makes her love for nature a priority in family life.

Mindfulness is more than just a trend. Clinical psychologist Dr. Liz Hale has spent her career helping couples and families build strong, healthy relationships, and she believes the power of the stillness plays a big role in those kind of connections. She shares with Brooke how the busy, everyday family can use their BRAIN (breathe, regulate, achieve, impact & navigate) to practice mindfulness.

Hands-on learning can happen anywhere! The Wright family purposefully fills their home with creativity and curiosity and, for mom Sarah Jane, the pay off is big. This author and illustrator tells Brooke how she uses an empty calendar and a full craft closet to foster bright young minds.

Teaching kids to master technology is a top concern of every modern-day parent. It's also the goal of Emily Jones, who created “Family Tech University.” She shares with Brooke how parents can help their kids tap into an internal filter and why it's important to teach stillness.

Blending and mixing personalities in a family can be a tricky recipe to perfect. Raising an introvert is no easy feat for Jessie Funk, public speaker, author, professional singer and self-proclaimed extrovert. Brooke asks Jessie how boundaries and finding common ground has worked in her motherhood...

The soccer mom just might be the most important member of the team - team family, that is! He's helped coach all the big teams to success, but today performance consultant Justin Su'a helps you motivate your own young athletes in the right way. Brooke and Justin chat about being appropriately involved in your kids' extracurriculars, and how to use sports and other activities to build resilience and character.

Grandparents have the unique ability to pass on wisdom and love from one generation to the next. One particularly important principle to pass on is managing finances. Authors Richard and Linda Eyre explain how a family bank can help take down entitlement.

Could you stop eating at Chick-Fil-A for a whole year? How much money would that save your family? Amanda Christensen, an accredited financial counselor and associate professor with Utah State University Extension, discusses how the “step-down principle” could save your family money and how to smartly budget within your means.

In between sticky fingers and unwashed hair, there are always flecks of gold that make parenting worth it. Brooke invites Rachel Nielsen of the popular “3 in 30 Podcast” to share advice on how she finds daily joy in motherhood.

These days taking the photos is the easy part! We are all walking around with a camera - a cell phone - in our hand. Getting them off our phones is another story. Co-founders of Chatbooks On today's episode, Nate and Vanessa Quigley explain how photos are an important part of the family narrative and can even lead to more confident children.

It's a lot of work to rally the family together regularly, so how can we make those efforts count? Family Researcher Heather Johnson joins Brooke to share why something as simple as brushing your teeth can create family bonds.

Do your teens need a reality check? Getting kids to be selfless on their own is an ultimate parenting goal, and author Dr. Hank Smith believes kids can learn to be big-hearted. He and Brooke discuss scenarios that help distinguish if kids might be acting selfless or selfish, and how you can help bring out their very best.

Time to grow your girl power! Kristin Hodson, an author, licensed clinical social worker, psychotherapist and founder of The Healing Group, shares why self-worth is the superpower inside every girl. She tells Brooke about her own meaning of the word “grit” - and why our girls need more of it!

Kitchen closed? Apparently the pantry doesn't have to be open 24-hours a day! Bringing a refreshing straight-talk to every day eating, registered dietician and mother of 3 Miki Eberhardt believes when parents interfere with eating, the more issues you'll see. She talks Brooke through the specific needs and goals of eating at every age.... (spoiler alert: parents of picky preschoolers, we see you!)

From the board room to the family room! Marriage and family therapist David Kozlowski believes running the family like a business can help children and family members gain opportunities and have purpose. Brooke and David discuss “The Family Business Model,” complete with CEOs, managers, and quarterlies.

It's the mom movement taking over Instagram! Have you heard of the “no-yell challenge?” Parenting coach Ralphie Jacobs explains how to use this challenge to be a more positive parent. Listen and learn how her favorite quote “water the flowers, not the weeds” can be the parenting game changer your family needs...

Dads rule! The bond of a child and their father is so special and unique. It's a relationship that best-selling author Jason Wright considers to be one of the most important. He shares with Brooke how losing his father at a young age has inspired him in his own fatherhood...and the one thing women can do to help strengthen the role.

“Every star is different and so is every child.” This popular Primary song lyric is one that Alex and Julie Boye take to heart. He is a singer, songwriter and musician. She is an author and self-proclaimed “mominator,” and together they strive to honor the individual personalities and strengths of their 8 (!) kids. The Boyes share with Brooke how they do it...

Responsibility doesn't have to be something that's ambiguous when raising kids. Dr. Tom Golightly, a clinical psychologist who also works with young athletes, knows how to get into the heads of young people to help them perform their very best. Hear how a solid link between choices and consequences can be a helpful teacher, and why it's important to show our own humanity as a parent.

Work hard, serve hard, play hard (in that order!) is just one of the mantras that Georgia Anderson lives by. And as a relationship and personal coach, Georgia believes family mantras are an important way to motivate yourself as a parent. She shares with Brooke five power phrases that will act as a mini parenting pep talk when the days feel rough.

Among your grocery items, daily tasks, and carpools, is your marriage on your to-do list? Today's guest says it should be at the top! Dr. Matt Townsend joins Brooke again to ask the important question, “do you put your marriage first?” and to bring his expertise, research, and humor to the topic.

We've all done it...that iPad can be a helpful babysitter! But for family tech editor Amy Iverson, there's a smarter way to parent with technology on your team. She shares with Brooke what's new and changing on the family tech front, and why “absolutes” don't work.

It's not something to do when the to-do list is done - in fact, it should be ON your to-do list! In today's episode, Brooke talks to family researcher Heather Johnson about the power of play, why we need it, when to get more of it, and how to make the playful moments already happening at home really count.

When it comes to happiness, there is no “one-size-fits-all” method. That's what Gretchen Rubin, best-selling author and podcaster, believes. However, she does say that the first step to being more happy is finding out which of the four tendencies you lean towards: obliger, upholder, questioner or rebel. Gretchen chats with Brooke about how these tendencies can be used to strengthen family relationships.

Nike said it first: “Just Do It!” But health and fitness expert Melanie Douglass has her own line: “Just Have Fun!” She joins Brooke to discuss how to make family fitness both successful and fun (spoiler alert: you don't need a strict plan or an expensive gym membership!)

It's the frosting of parenting! Brooke speaks with Sister Elaine Dalton, former president of the Young Women organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, about her experience as a grandma, and her perspective on this divine role.

Dried beans, dusty cans...what's the status of your 72-hour kit? Jill Meredith and her family have experienced a wildfire, mudslide, earthquakes and a pandemic….and say each disaster helped prepare them for the next. Brooke breaks down what they've learned, and what you can do to prepare in a modern way.

If your house was a classroom...would it make the grade? Liz Kirk of Alcott Learning believes home is the most powerful learning environment for kids...and parents are their most powerful teachers! Listen as Liz shares how understanding the four phases of learning will help you customise your parent-teacher role.

On and off the court, Mark and Lee Anne Pope believe in the power of hardwork - a characteristic they purposefully teach their four daughters. This BYU Basketball coach and his wife talk to Brooke about boosting work ethic and teamwork in the family.

More than just something to do, the research is clear: kids need a purpose to thrive. Brad Wilcox, second counselor in the Young Men's General Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shares with Brooke the importance of encouraging youth to follow their passions and find their purpose (spoiler alert: there can be purpose even in a passion like video gaming!)

Having emotional resilience in your family sometimes requires ninja-like agility! Brooke meets with Dr. Matt Townsend, a professor, author and relationship coach with more than 20 years of experience, to discuss how to teach children that they can do hard things and find solutions to their problems.

Team family! Brooke chats with Maria Eckersly, founder of "Meck Mom Life", about how to cultivate a more close-knit culture at home. Her secret weapon: fun!

They travel the country to introduce you to families of all kinds...and now we get to meet theirs! Brooke invites her "Family Rules" television co-hosts, Yahosh Bonner and Natalie Riskas, to share the rules and routines they put into practice at home for smoother, stronger family connections. Episode credits: Producers: Jim Bell, Brooke Walker, Sarah Collins Lead Audio Engineers: Clarke Jackman, Dan Carlisle, Marcus Richardson Audio Mixers: Andrew Brewer, Camille Jones, Chance Anderson, Dan Ekberg, Kyra Vanhoven, Laken Quigley, Parker Schmidt, Caleb Rhoton, Tyler Judkins, Zach Williams Extra technical assistance: Sam Sabin

Brooke Walker hosts a TV show called Family Rules, and now she's expanding the show to a weekly podcast from BYUradio. She talks one-on-one with experts and parents to find out the rules and tools we can all use to be better parents. She looks at the family from all different angles—from technology to genealogy, from life hacks to life lessons. The Family Rules podcast is all about making families better. Join us every Friday, for a new episode of Family Rules: The Podcast, from BYUradio. Find it on the BYUradio app, on BYUradio.org, or wherever you get your podcasts.