Shows
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life PodcastWant a Teen Who Listens? Build Relationship FirstAre you tired of parenting by force, only to watch results fade?Did you know that long-term influence usually starts with emotional deposits—not immediate obedience?In this episode, Greg and Rachel Denning sit down with friends to unpack the parenting strategy that transformed their home: choosing strategic empathy, trust-building, and persuasion over force and control.We dive into:Why influence matters more than obedienceHow to make daily emotional deposits that pay off laterTactful, creative strategies instead of reactionary discipline...2025-08-0733 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life PodcastWhat Every Parent MUST Know to Stop Discipline Battles for GoodAre you frustrated by constant discipline battles with your kids? Do you feel like no matter what you try, the misbehavior just won’t stop?What if the key to ending discipline problems isn’t about punishments or timeouts — but about becoming a truly effective parent and mentor?In this episode, Greg and Rachel Denning reveal why most parenting struggles come down to what you are doing — or not doing — as a parent. They share why discipline problems aren’t really about your kids but about parenting skills and trust-building.You’ll learn the powerful m...2025-07-2433 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#312 Ambitious Moms: Big Dreams & Little Kids — How to Navigate the Baby/Toddler Years Without Losing Yourself or Letting Go of Your Big DreamsFeeling torn between your big dreams and the tiny humans in your care?Do you ever wonder if you’ll ever have the time, energy, or space to pursue the big dreams in your heart — while you're still night nursing, co-sleeping, and managing tantrums between business tasks?You're not alone.In this episode, Rachel gets real about what it takes to be an ambitious mom in the baby and toddler years — and why the real secret isn't doing it all right now... but doing what matters most and learning to trust the process.Y...2025-05-1454 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#301 Transform Your Parenting with Emotional Awareness & Intelligence: The Key to Family Harmony"What are some practical steps to change our emotional state? How do we change the energy that we radiate? You guys emphasize that it’s a choice, we can choose... but why does that feel so difficult and strange? How do you do it so that it is genuine and not a mask?"In this episode, Greg and Rachel explore the powerful impact of emotional awareness and emotional intelligence on family life -- especially on your ability to parent well. They dive into these thoughtful questions, explaining why emotional shifts can feel challenging and...2025-02-261h 02
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#299 Why We STOPPED Eating Vegetables to Get into the BEST Health of Our LifeYou don’t eat vegetables???!!!This question came from a listener after hearing Greg and Rachel’s radical approach to nutrition.You might be thinking the same thing, but stick with us –theydive deep into the reasons behind theirdecision to stop eating vegetables,how they moved to an animal-based diet,why salad is a 'toxic sludge',how the food pyramid is a scam,and the evidence on howtransforming their eatingas helped them achieve the best health of their lives -- which includes NO diseases and no medications--and they've done itwithout vegetables, vitamins or supplements.The listen...2025-02-121h 03
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#298 Get on the Same Page With Your Spouse to Create Marriage Magic & a Family LegacyA strong, thriving marriage can bring immense joy and happiness to your life -- but a struggling one can create unnecessary pain and misery.
In this episode, Greg and Rachel Denning unlock the secret to "marriage magic" that can be the foundation of true happiness and fulfillment.
They share how to break free from marriage mediocrity by setting high expectations for your relationship and making intentional efforts to create something extraordinary.
They dive into important topics like conflict resolution, overcoming self-sabotage, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, all aimed at helping couples b...2025-02-0556 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#297 Is It a 'Sin' That We Are So CERTAIN About What We Preach on This Podcast?"Is there room for doubt?
Or are you always certain (in this podcast, etc) that your decisions/choices about how to navigate this life are the way everyone should also do things?
Because if you are certain, that leaves no room for tolerance or unity, which isn't necessarily a good thing."
In this episode, we discuss certainty and the role it plays in the choices we make and the lives we live.
We are VERY CERTAIN about many things we talk about on this podcast, but is that always a good...2025-01-291h 12
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#296 How to Respond to/Deal With In-Laws and Others Who Oppose Your Extraordinary Lifestyle ChoicesIn this episode, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning tackle a question from a listener about navigating family dynamics, particularly when your lifestyle choices conflict with those of your in-laws.
The listener expresses frustration about her family's refusal to respect her parenting choices, from food habits to childcare practices, and the toll this has taken on her relationship with her in-laws and her own family culture.
The Denning’s dive deep into how to respond to family members—especially in-laws—who either oppose or feel uncomfortable with your lifestyle choices.
They address the emotional strugg...2025-01-221h 02
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#295 Refuse to Participate in the Destruction of YOUR FamilyIn this episode, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning dive into the vital concept of taking control of family life and prioritizing family values over societal norms. They encourage listeners to refuse to participate in the pressure to conform to mainstream expectations and instead focus on building a life centered around personal and family growth, self-and-family improvement, and family connection.
Greg and Rachel discuss how fostering a strong, purposeful family unit starts with the individual’s commitment to growth and alignment with their core values.
Throughout the episode, the Dennings explore the challenges of living authentically in...2025-01-151h 01
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#294 How to Get Your Kids to ListenIn this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, Greg and Rachel Denning share powerful new year motivation for parents seeking to inspire and guide their children. They discuss the importance of setting goals, embracing discomfort, and preparing kids to face life’s challenges with resilience. By modeling adaptability and growth, parents can foster a supportive environment where their children learn to thrive, not just listen. The Dennings emphasize that identity transformation—shifting from a fixed mindset to one that embraces change—is critical for achieving success in both parenting and personal development.
Greg and Rachel also explor...2025-01-081h 19
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#293 Transforming Marriage Dynamics: How Life Coaching Can Build a Stronger RelationshipIn this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning explore the complexities of marriage dynamics, offering valuable insights on how communication, understanding, and mutual growth are essential for a thriving partnership. They dive into the challenges couples face, such as betrayal and rejection, and provide practical advice on how to navigate these issues with empathy and reassurance. Rather than focusing solely on traditional counseling, the Dennings encourage couples to consider working with a life coach to help them strengthen their relationship and reach their fullest potential.
Greg and Rachel highlight the importance...2025-01-0151 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#292 You Can’t Get to an Extraordinary, Significant Life if You’re Stuck in the MatrixIn this thought-provoking episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning explore the profound impact of societal systems on parenting and family life. They delve into the concept of “the matrix” — the conventional structures that shape education, success, and personal identity — and how these systems can keep families stuck in unproductive patterns, preventing them from creating an extraordinary, significant life.
They emphasize the importance of fostering a strong foundation for children, focusing not just on academic success but on mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. They argue that success should not be confined to grades a...2024-12-251h 57
Machine MindsEpisode 76 | Computing in Compressed Form | Rachel StClairIn this episode of the Machine Minds Show, host Greg welcomes Rachel Sinclair, the founder and CEO of Simuli, a pioneering company focused on advancing artificial intelligence through innovative computing methods. Rachel shares her journey from a strong research background in AI to establishing her own startup, driven by a desire to explore the philosophical questions surrounding consciousness and machine intelligence.Throughout the conversation, Rachel discusses the core technology behind Simuli, which leverages hyperdimensional computing—a novel mathematical framework that allows for efficient data processing and model training. She emphasizes the importance of making AI more accessible an...2024-12-2037 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#291 Creating Good Routines and Habits for Resistant Children (So They’re Happy Most of the Time)In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning dive into practical strategies for managing resistant children and helping them develop positive routines and habits. If your child struggles with resistance or has difficulty adjusting to structure, this episode is for you. Greg and Rachel explore how small changes in family dynamics—like improving self-awareness, fostering emotional connections, and creating flexible routines—can make a significant difference in your child’s behavior and happiness.
They discuss the importance of balance between work and play, how understanding a child's emotional needs influences their action...2024-12-181h 32
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#290 Promoting Lifelong Learning: How to Get Your Child to Practice Their Musical InstrumentIn this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning explore the challenges parents face when encouraging their children to practice musical instruments, emphasizing the role of music in promoting lifelong learning and brain development. They tackle the common struggle of balancing practice with enjoyment, and share strategies to foster a love for music while building skills.
One participant from their 28-Day Challenge asks, “How do you address problems with kids that don’t want to practice musical instruments? I feel like it’s so important for their education to have this skill, but I’m...2024-12-1142 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#289 A WARNING for Good Moms: Doing This Will Backfire!In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning delve into the complexities of the parenting journey, emphasizing the critical nuances that can shape vastly different outcomes for children. They explore the delicate balance between control and freedom, advocating for a parenting style that allows children to make their own decisions within a safe, supportive environment.
The Dennings share invaluable insights on teaching decision-making skills, the importance of learning through experience, and how respecting children's autonomy fosters growth. While it might seem counterintuitive, they emphasize that loosening control can lead to better...2024-12-041h 20
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#288 Toujours Prét: How and Why to Be “Always Ready” (a Recap of the Portugal Training)In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning reflect on the wildly successful Toujours Prêts training event and dive into the importance of lifelong learning as a key to becoming an asset to your family and community. Held at the beautiful World School Family (Beach & Farm) Resort in Portugal, this event empowered participants to develop the skills, confidence, and mindset necessary to face life's unexpected challenges.
The Dennings stress that hope is not a strategy—preparation is crucial, and lifelong learning is the foundation of readiness and becoming an asset. Thr...2024-11-2743 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#287 How to Help Manage Device/Phone Use for Older Teens & Young AdultsIn today's digital age, managing tech boundaries with older teens and young adults can be a delicate balancing act. On this episode of The Extraordinary Family Life Podcast, Rachel and Greg Denning dive deep into strategies for maintaining healthy tech boundaries and encouraging digital minimalism, especially with phones and devices. They share practical tips for parents seeking to help their teens thrive in a tech-saturated world while fostering meaningful offline activities, like hobbies and family engagement.
One listener's question serves as the foundation for the conversation: “Hi there, I've admired your family and would love some insight on...2024-11-201h 10
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#286 Attain Highly, Sacrifice Greatly: Here’s What We’ve Sacrificed to Create an Extraordinary Family LifeAre you willing to sacrifice greatly in order to attain highly and achieve your biggest goals? We received this great question from one of our viewers: ““He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.” – James Allen. In line with this powerful quote, how have Greg and Rachel Denning sacrificed greatly to build the extraordinary life they have today? How did they overcome the fear of losing comfort, security, or even social expectations to pursue their dreams? Then as a follow up question: what advice w...2024-11-1351 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#285 Proactive Parenting: How to Raise Kids Who Grow Into Amazing, Responsible Teens You Want to Be With (& Who Want to Be With You)In this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning share powerful insights on Proactive Parenting, revealing how to raise kids who develop into responsible, confident teens—teens you not only want to spend time with, but who genuinely want to be with you as well. For the first time ever, Greg and Rachel are joined by special guests Brian and Sam, two seasoned parents who offer fresh perspectives and practical advice on navigating the parenting journey.
Together, they dive into the importance of building strong emotional connections with your children and maintaining a lon...2024-11-061h 19
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#284 Building Family Culture and Emotional IntelligenceAre you struggling with building family culture? Emotional intelligence plays a crucial role in fostering a healthy environment where everyone thrives. This episode of The Extraordinary Family Life Podcast is a recorded live session of the 28-Day Challenge course ( https://courses.extraordinaryfamilylife.com/bundles/extraordinary-family-life-bundle ) where Greg and Rachel Denning share their insights on the importance of emotional awareness in building family culture. They highlight common issues, such as how neglecting emotional processing can lead to misunderstandings and conflict.
For example, many families might ignore negative emotions, thinking they’ll just go away, but this often leads to...2024-10-301h 24
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#283 When and Why to Consider DivorceWelcome to the Extraordinary Family Life podcast! In this compelling episode, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning address a heartfelt listener question that strikes at the core of personal development and the complexities surrounding divorce. Our listener shares her incredible journey of growth over the past decade and the deep challenges she's faced as she feels increasingly disconnected from her husband. She describes feeling "multiple levels ahead of him in most aspects of life," leading to feelings of resentment and frustration.
As she diligently works on self-improvement, she expresses, "I think I have been going through YEARS of...2024-10-231h 49
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#282 The Power of Judgment in a Fragile Society: Raising Resilient Children in a 'Sensitive' WorldIn this episode, Greg and Rachel Denning delve into the pervasive issue of entitlement in families and society, exploring how it shapes behavior and undermines resilience. They emphasize the importance of free speech as a tool for understanding and compromise, highlighting that open communication often requires navigating discomfort.
A recurring theme is the critical role parents play in fostering resilience in children, rather than over-coddling them. The hosts argue that life's pressures should be reframed as challenges to overcome, and that healthy mindsets, grounded in self-reliance and gratitude, are essential for personal growth.
Personal responsibility...2024-10-161h 11
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#281 Facing Your Fear and Moving Through It: The Path to an Extraordinary LifeIn this empowering episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning explore the essential theme of facing your fear in the pursuit of an extraordinary life. Through heartfelt personal stories and insightful discussions, they illustrate how confronting fear and overcoming feelings of overwhelm can lead to profound personal growth.
Greg and Rachel emphasize that living a fulfilling life isn’t about avoiding fear but embracing it. They share practical strategies for stepping outside your comfort zone and making bold decisions that can unlock new opportunities. This episode offers listeners inspiration and actionable advice on...2024-10-091h 13
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#280 Here's WHY You Don't ALREADY Have the Truly Fulfilling Family Life You WantIn this inspiring episode, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning delve into the philosophy of 'escaping the unhappy dream of our life' and creating a truly fulfilling life instead.
They discuss why so many people are 'content' with the results they have instead of pursuing the results they really want.
Creating a truly happy life requires deliberate choices and intentional actions. Hard work is required to achieve anything extraordinary. The difference is, with the right coaching and mentoring, you can learn to work hard with 'power tools' instead of doing everything 'by hand'.
The...2024-10-021h 10
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#279 Easily Overcome 'Obligation Eating' (Even During the Holidays) for the 'Best Health' of your Life BEFORE New Years!Join hosts Greg and Rachel Denning in this enlightening episode, where they delve into the vital themes of healthy eating and overall health self-improvement amidst today’s societal challenges of unhealthy processed food options (including during the holidays).
Discover the concept of obligation eating and the social expectations of consuming foods that aren't good for you.
How do you say no?
One key is to fully understand the hidden dangers of processed foods, and the importance of healthy eating practices that nourish both body and mind over a lifetime.
Tune in to...2024-09-251h 21
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#278 An ‘Odyssey’ of Obstacles WILL Arise When Pursuing Big Goals -- Here’s How to Handle ThemIn this episode of the Extraordinary Family Life podcast, Greg and Rachel Denning share a real-life experience happening to them now to illustrate the journey of pursuing goals which is often filled with unexpected twists and challenges.
They reveal how pursuing big goals often leads through a series of obstacles, each one becoming an opportunity for growth and learning. Join them as they share their highs and lows, and explore how embracing these challenges shapes your journey in profound ways.
Greg and Rachel discuss the significance of recognizing patterns in the challenges we face and...2024-09-181h 09
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#277 Killing Sacred Cows: Why So Many People Are Leaving the ChurchWelcome to this episode, where hosts Greg and Rachel Denning dive into a crucial and timely discussion:
Why are so many people leaving the church? They tackle the often-taboo topic of questioning religious beliefs and practices, emphasizing the importance of examining and challenging these aspects to foster genuine transformation and growth within faith communities.
With a keen eye on both the potential for positive change and the shortcomings that sometimes plague churches, the Dennings advocate for a faith journey that prioritizes truth-seeking, open dialogue, and the need to challenge sacred cows.
Join Greg...2024-09-111h 38
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#276 Making Sense of Current Trends & Events - A Humble Conversation to Understand the World TodayIn this compelling episode, hosts Greg and Rachel Denning dive deep into making sense of current events and the societal trends that are causing increasing concern for many parents.
They explore the chilling effects of speaking out against emerging issues, the fear of being labeled, and the deliberate erosion of traditional values.
The conversation spans the infiltration of left-leaning ideologies into education, government, and big businesses, and examines the dangers of extremism on both ends of the political spectrum.
Greg and Rachel address the impact of an undefined identity on mental health and...2024-09-041h 01
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#275 How to Change Your Life -- Finding the First Step to Making Changes That LASTFeeling lost and overwhelmed by all the advice and strategies out there about how to change your life? In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Rachel and Greg Denning—successful business owners, avid world travelers, and parents to seven—dive deep into how to tackle the daunting process of making life changes.
They respond to this question from one of their listeners:
“So if someone wants to change their life, what is step one? I’m overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I’ve just been listening to so many books and podcasts, and I feel like wi...2024-08-281h 05
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#274 Being a Good Person Does NOT Make You a Good Parent: It’s a VERY Specific Skill You MUST LearnIn this compelling episode, Greg and Rachel Denning reveal a crucial insight: being a good person does not automatically make you a good parent. They argue that effective parenting requires a specific set of skills that can be learned and developed. Join them as they delve into how mastering these parenting skills will help you be a better parent and can drastically reduce discipline problems and create a more harmonious home environment.
Greg and Rachel discuss the importance of shifting focus from merely fixing problems to proactively fostering a positive and nurturing environment which PREVENTS problems. They...2024-08-211h 20
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#273 I’m Tired of Being a Roommate ‘Without Benefits’ with My Wife! (aka Why Women Don’t Want Sex)In this follow-up episode to #268 I’m Tired of Being a Lonely “Roommate With Benefits” For My Husband, Greg and Rachel Denning talk to their male listeners about how to enhance their sexless life. They make a compelling case for focusing on self-improvement as a crucial step. They tackle the complexities of physical intimacy in relationships, exploring the barriers and challenges that often arise. They address why some women may experience a lack of interest in sex and emphasize the necessity of understanding and meeting each other’s needs to maintain a healthy relationship.The Denning duo explores...2024-08-141h 35
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#272 Surviving & Thriving the Current Fourth Turning: Mental, Emotional, Physical, and Financial 'Resourcefulness'In this episode, Greg and Rachel Denning dive deep into today's global issues and share their insights on how to stay informed and prepared. They discuss the significance of asking the right questions and seeking information from credible sources, rather than relying solely on mainstream news. Greg and Rachel explore a range of interconnected themes, including the potential impacts of food shortages, political division, and challenges within the healthcare system. They also address the rise of drug abuse, homelessness, and crime, emphasizing the critical importance of individual and family preparedness and training.
Tune in to discover practical...2024-08-071h 13
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#271: Adventures in Mongolia & Beyond: Building Relationships, Learning from Travel, and Some Current EventsJoin Greg and Rachel Denning as they take you on a thrilling journey through their recent bucket list adventure and travel across London, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, China & Qatar.
In this episode, they share captivating stories from their travels, including their daring horseback ride in Mongolia, the unique experience of preparing and eating goat, and navigating the cultural complexities of China.
Greg and Rachel reflect on the profound lessons learned from their travels—emphasizing the importance of taking breaks, testing systems, and nurturing meaningful relationships. They delve into the significance of personal growth and responsibility within relationships an...2024-07-311h 05
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#270 So You Want to Change Your Spouse? Here’s How You Can Have a Positive Influence For Change in Your RelationshipIn this enriching episode, Greg and Rachel delve into invaluable strategies for supporting your spouse's personal growth and enhancing your relationship.
What strategies do Greg and Rachel recommend for supporting your spouse's personal growth within a marriage?:
They begin by offering insightful marriage advice, emphasizing the importance of actively helping your partner improve within the context of your shared journey
They underscore the importance of implementing "pattern interrupters" — strategies to break out of negative cycles and habits that may hinder personal growth. They highlight th...2024-07-171h 08
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#269 'Next Level' Strategies for Raising Teens Today: Building Trust, Connection & CompetenceWelcome to "Raising Teens Today," where Greg and Rachel Denning challenge the norms of parenting teens in today's world and give you strategies for thriving, not just surviving.
The Dennings share personal anecdotes that unravel the joy and unexpected friendship that can blossom during the teenage phase and why your child's teenage years can be some of the best years of YOUR life!
They emphasize the profound impact of early emotional connections and underscore the critical roles of sleep, nutrition, and lifestyle choices in shaping teenagers' behaviors and mental health.
Delving into contemporary...2024-07-101h 23
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#268 I’m Tired of Being a Lonely “Roommate With Benefits” For My HusbandIf you’re feeling lonely in your marriage, like a roommate ‘with benefits’ instead of partners, best friends, and lovers, then you’ll want to listen to this episode!We received this great question from one of our podcast listeners: “I’ve been listening for a long time. Thank you for your podcasts, and for championing greatness in personal and family living. Because of your podcasts and recommended reading I’ve realized that my husband needs physical intimacy more than I do, and I’ve tried to step up and make sure that his needs are met. When he’s...2024-07-031h 13
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#267 The Challenges (& Lasting Impact) of the Baby/Child-Rearing Phases on Your Marriage & Parent/Child RelationshipsIf you're NOT a new parent, you still want to listen to this episode -- because it may help you to understand WHY you have the current relationship you do with your children and/or your spouse because of things that happened or did NOT happen during the baby and child-rearing phases!
But this episode came in response to this question which we received:
"My husband and I have been married for a little over two years and we are expecting our first baby in the Fall. We've both listened to and loved your podcast...2024-06-271h 25
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#266 You WANT to Need (& Be Needed By) Your Spouse -- How & Why to Be Interdependent Instead of Autonomous"I have a follow-up question to podcast 264. Greg talked about kids being more autonomous, but that you don't want your spouse to be autonomous. This is a new concept to me. What I've heard (from [well-known life coach]) is that since you can't control circumstances that you need to change the way you think about them so that you are OK with your circumstances instead of being discouraged or saddened by them.
So, I have, in some ways, done this with my husband, so that I won't be bothered by things he does or doesn't do. I'm...2024-06-201h 16
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#265 How to Get Out of 'Blah' & Live Each Day with More Meaning & HappinessIt's easy to get stuck in a rut and to fill that your days blur together... especially while raising a family.So how do you change that?How do you have more happiness, meaning, and joy in the day-to-day 'to do's that otherwise feel so pointless and mundane?That's what we discuss in this episode.Despite the 'Instagram perfect' image of what your 'dream life', might look like, the reality is it will be filled with hard work.In fact, you may already be living your dream life and...2024-06-1251 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#264 I'm Spread Too Thin!! How Can I 'Do It All' & Stop Neglecting the Most Important People in My Life???This week's question came from a member of Rachel's 28-Day Challenge who said:"I really struggle with trying to do everything. I feel like when I was doing the M1 (Marriage Level 1) Challenge my marriage was great. But I can't keep it up on that level while I'm trying to focus on my kids.And when I focus on my kids then my husband feels neglected. And if I take time for myself then I feel my kids and husband are being neglected. I feel that everyone needs me all the time and I can't...2024-06-061h 19
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#260 How to Know Which Science to Believe About What's Healthy & What's Not??I received this excellent question in my Instagram DM"How do you decide which scientific research to listen to? Particularly when it comes to health-related topics like what is healthy to eat and what is not? It seems there is a pretty consistent message in science and research to avoid highly processed foods and sugar. But on the finer points with things such as seed oils, carnivore diet, intermittent fasting, coffee/tea etc. it seems that there is just as much research on the opposite side of the thing you and Greg believe....2024-05-081h 20
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#259 How to Motivate Your Teenager to WILLINGLY Help Out & Take ResponsibilityThis week's topic came from Rachel's recent experiences with their 13-year-old son who has been very motivated to help out around the house lately (because of very specific strategies, which she shares in this episode).AND she also received this question from her Family Systems & Charts community. "Hello there. I just started your chart system and we had our first meeting this week. It went well and I am finally seeing some good results. I have invested a lot of time in this. However, my 17-year-old daughter is not that motivated. What can I do?"2024-05-011h 14
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#255 Stop Calling it 'ADHD' -- It's NOT a Disorder, It's NormalThis much-needed episode addresses something we've been concerned about, thinking about, and researching for years regarding ADHD/ADD in adults and children. Based on our own experience (having at least 3 kids with ADHD, and at least one of us -- Greg 😁) and experience gained by working with thousands of clients -- plus the added perspective of traveling to 50+ countries which provides a look at the way people do things around the world -- we share some unique and paradigm-shifting perspectives on ADHD and what it means for parents, children and families.We talk about 'labels', dia...2024-04-031h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#254 What to Do When Your Spouse is Not 'Showing Up' or Investing in Your Extraordinary Marriage/LifeIn this episode, Greg and Rachel Denning answer this question:"Wondering if you have advice for someone who has been trying to pour everything into life/marriage to make it extraordinary but the spouse is not showing up and 'being the man' as Greg has defined. If they try, they relapse or it seems like the bare minimum is done. It has been years of this and it feels like it’s holding us back from an extraordinary life. Wondering your thoughts on handling situations like that when it feels like you have tried ev...2024-03-2759 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#249 Here's Why You & Your Spouse Disagree (Understanding the Values Hierarchy) PLUS Tips to Motivate TeensIn this unique episode, I'm sharing a coaching session from my 28-Day Challenge because Greg is currently trekking to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro with four of our teens and a group of 18 other people.In this coaching session (recorded live) we answer questions from members of the group such as:my husband says he feels I don't respect him because the house isn't clean when he gets home. What do I do about it?my spouse won't share financial information with me and feels attacked whenever I ask for it. What do I do?how can...2024-02-271h 16
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#247 What to do When You're Both INSPIRED & DEPRESSED by Listening to Our PodcastIf you're like me, then there's probably been a time when you've felt like this:"...you're convincing me [to change my life]! And I know I have some development to do, but I start to feel so much lack sometimes when I listen to your episodes! 😉 Like there is so much to do and change that it seems it will take too long and we are starting so late...stuff like that. I also need to still believe that everyone is on a journey and it is OK if we are far behind the ideal (tha...2024-01-241h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#241 Stop Controlling Your Kids & Instead Gain Their Love, Respect & AdmirationDo you want to develop a parenting style and family culture that nurtures instilling values through individual autonomy INSTEAD of through parental control?Parents face many challenges -- and the temptation to control their children -- when they are overly attached to specific outcomes for their family. Greg and Rachel emphasize the importance of letting go of control and cultivating an environment that encourages children to make their own choices and paradoxically is better at actually creating the short- and long-term results and outcomes you want.The hosts delve into personal experiences...2023-11-1540 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#240 Dealing with Picky Eaters & Empowering a Lifetime of Healthy Food ChoicesAre your kids picky eaters? Are you concerned about their short and long-term health because of a lack of nutrition?Then listen to this episode where we discuss the importance -- and strategies -- for instilling good dietary habits in children and overcoming pickiness.To begin, Greg and Rachel shed light on the significance of food choices and the impact it has on a family's well-being. They emphasize the role of parents in setting a positive example and creating an environment where children are empowered to make healthy choices. This episode is a valuable resource...2023-11-0757 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#238 Israel/Palestine, Ukraine, W.H.O., 'The Great Reset', Tolerance, Murdered Activists, and Other Craziness! 🤪We cover a LOT of things in this episode as we discuss, examine, and analyze things that have been on our minds during the last week and as we ask each other WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE WORLD??We're not talking about conspiracy theories... but actual conspiracies. Stay with us here... these aren't crazy ideas that we've come up with from our imaginations......these are actual, proven things that are happening and we're just asking the questions:What does that actually mean?Where will this actually lead?Our (optimistic) concern is...2023-10-241h 08
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#237 The Stability of Your Family Life DEPENDS on the Stability of Your MarriageIn this series about raising well-adjusted kids and better family stability, we're now diving into the 2nd level of the Extraordinary Family Life Pyramid -- Marriage!YOU are the foundation of your family life, followed by your MARRIAGE.Without strong INDIVIDUAL mental, emotional, spiritual, social, physical, and financial health you don't have the 'solid footing' necessary to raise well-adjusted kids.The same is true when it comes to your marriage. You and your spouse are providing the up-close-and-personal look at interpersonal relationships that your children will take into their adult life and their...2023-10-101h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#236 Creating Stability: Become a Better Problem Solver to Become a Better ParentIf you've been a parent long you know that parenting often feels like a series of problems to solve. This is accurate. So it only makes sense that if you become a better problem-solver, you will become a better parent.Continuing on the theme from the last episode about how to create family stability, we explain HOW to improve your problem-solving skills -- and how to do it without damaging relationships or becoming controlling and domineering.We also explain how to PREDICT and PREVENT problems (including tantrums, meltdowns, and outbursts) -- plus how...2023-10-031h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#235 Creating a Family Culture of Stability, Safety, Trust, & Well-Adjusted Family Members"My kids are having a hard time adjusting to _______ (moving, traveling, homeschooling, divorce, death, etc). How can I help them?"We've received a question like this dozens of times over the years. Parents the world over wonder how they can create family stability, safety, and healing -- especially in today's mixed-up crazy world.Some claim stability comes from 'staying in one place' -- as one commenter on Instagram said,"Kids want stability, staying in one place, traditions, predictability, and the same friends."And as others have said in the past, "You're...2023-09-261h 25
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#233 The Impending Unraveling (and Collapse?) of Society -- How to Protect Your FamilyIn this episode, we philosophize (are you surprised?) about observations we've been making for the past decade or more as we've read, studied, and traveled to 50+ countries. It's kind of like putting together a puzzle. You take one piece after another and see where they fit and little by little a picture begins to emerge.In this case, the picture that's forming shows the current state of the world and the impending disasters that seem to lurk around the bend. We expound on a few of them, get angry about a few others, rant and rave a...2023-08-291h 30
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#232 PROTECT Your Kids NOW from Traffickers & Sexual AbusersIn this very important episode, Greg and I discuss first-hand knowledge we have about the growing industry of human trafficking. We also talk about sexual abuse, how it happens, and how to protect your kids.If you think it doesn't happen in your neighborhood, church, or community -- think again! It is a REAL threat and it is EVERYWHERE. It's happened to us, too.What actions can you take to protect your family? That's what we cover in this episode, along with WHY and HOW human trafficking has become a major world issue and what...2023-08-221h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#231 Stop Lying to Your Kids — Speak ONLY Truth to Gain More InfluenceWe've never told any of our 7 children there is a Santa Clause or a Tooth Fairy. That's because we always wanted to be seen as people our children can believe and trust -- NO MATTER WHAT -- especially when it comes to discerning truth in the world and discovering what is real and what is not.And while it's not just about Santa Clause, this approach of ALWAYS speaking Truth is one of the key philosophies that has helped us to raise children, teens, and young adults who truly trust, believe, and seek out our advice, even into young...2023-08-081h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#230 How to Handle the Stress & Pressure of Family Life and to Move Into Higher Level EmotionsI (Rachel) cried today. It was because of the stress and pressure and overwhelm of 'all the things' I have to get done by a looming deadline, and it was sparked by the small irritations of family life.So Greg and I do what we usually do in a situation like this -- we sat down and psychoanalyzed WHY I was crying so we could process the 'emotional stacking' to help me get back to a positive state (and then recorded this episode 😁 ).But this isn't something I do only when I cry or feel ove...2023-07-1959 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#229 How to Plan BIG Adventures for Your Family (+ Budget & Costs)After posting reels on Instagram about our most recent 6-month trip to 17 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa, I've had many people ask:"How do you even BEGIN planning a trip like that?""What was your budget for this experience?""How do you afford it?"In this episode, we walk through our process for dreaming, envisioning, and then executing BIG goals and dreams. It's the exact process we've used again and again to travel to 50+ countries on five continents with our 7 children for the past 17 years.2023-07-111h 17
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#228 How to Help Your Kids LOVE 'Reading' (aka Stories, Learning, & Growing)"Do you have a podcast episode or advice somewhere where you talk about how you instilled a love of reading in your children? As parents love reading and have read a lot to our children when they were young. Sometimes we still do now, but no matter which book we suggest, they hate reading, and it breaks my heart."In this episode, we answer this question from a mom and share specific strategies -- and book recommendations -- for helping children of all ages learn to fall in LOVE with 'reading'.But we...2023-06-271h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#226 Please Don't Be Offended That I Shared This Episode With You -- Here's Why YOU (and I) Need a CoachGreg received an email from a friend who said, "My son needs a life coach :)" His response was, "EVERYONE needs a life coach."The stigma is that only people with problems or those who 'can't figure it out' need a life coach.But the truth is, if you want to have a truly EXTRAORDINARY life, you NEED a coach.You understand this when it comes to learning the violin or tennis -- if you want to be good you get a coach.Yet somehow too many people don't connect...2023-06-1359 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#225 How to Help Your (Public or Homeschool) Kids Get a World-Class EducationNo matter if you homeschool or send your kids to public or private school, YOU are responsible for the outcomes of their education.The first step is for YOU to define what EDUCATION means to you.Is it academic learning? Grades, tests, and ACT scores? Getting into the 'best' colleges.Or is it MORE than that?Does it include their mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, social, and financial development?If it doesn't, it should.What about experiences and exposure to people, places, and ideas?Too many...2023-05-301h 25
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#224 How (& WHY) to Have Sex 3-6 Times a Week EVEN with Kids, Businesses, Homeschool, Jobs, Activities, and MoreThis episode would not be complete without listening to these episodes as well:What Wives Need to Know About Their Husband's Sex Drives And What Men Need to Know About ThemselvesSex-quel Follow-Up Episode with Rachel DenningHusbands, How to ACTUALLY Listen to Your Wives (And Why She Needs It)Masturbation & Cheap Sexual Acts are a Poor Substitute for Real Connection -- A Message for Teens & SpousesThis episode was in response to a question we received:I just listened to one of your trainings and you guys mention having sex...2023-05-231h 19
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#223 How to Prevent 80% of Problems & Find Lasting Solutions When Challenges Do AriseDo you feel stuck? Or like you're constantly dealing with the same problems -- in your marriage, with your kids, or your finances? Does it feel like you can never 'afford it' -- no matter what it is? Or that you keep having the same health issues crop up?Do you feel like "life sucks and then you die"?Did you realize that you can PREVENT most of these problems before they happen?Most people think that when things like this arise that it's 'just life'.But our research...2023-05-1656 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#222 How Sugar Contributes to Disease & How to Give it Up FOR GOODAs part of the 28-Day Challenge we ask participants to choose one food to give up.Some choose sugar. But it’s not always easy to give it up. As one mom said:“…the sweet tooth got the best of me. I don’t drink soda and haven’t had a donut in two years; those our out. I don’t eat things with corn syrup, and I mostly use olive and coconut oils. But every time I decide, no more sugar, I can almost feel my brain go into panic mode. An...2023-05-1056 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#221 Specific Strategies & Tools to Make Your Marriage Good, Better, Great & EXTRAORDINARYAt work, home, family life, and marriage, it’s easy to blame the circumstances of life or to say ‘That’s just the way things are’…But the reality is that we’re often participating in, perpetuating, or creating our own chaos in marriage and family life — but that means we also have the power to prevent it with intentional planning and preparation.Of course, many couples and parents think “I don’t have time to be intentional and strategic like you’re describing. Our life is so crazy busy!”But if you don’t take the time no...2023-05-021h 26
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#220 "My Kids Are Fighting So Much!" How to Put and End to Fighting -- For Good"I'm feeling sooooo burnt out of motherhood... My kids are fighting so much. Last week we did a 'no fighting' challenge for 7 days. They did pretty well and each got a prize.This week has been a total dumpster fire. I keep circling back to me. Making sure I am good, but I'm just not. I feel so drained at the end of my day after so much fighting. Any advice?"Conflict is often seen as an unavoidable part of family life—whether it’s sibling rivalry, marital disagreements, or parenting struggles. But what if figh...2023-04-251h 42
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#219 How to Get Your Kids to Do What They Should (Homework, Chores, the 'Right' Thing) WITHOUT the BattleWe received a great question from a mom which we answer in today’s episode.Just a reminder — we love receiving questions. Feel free to ask us anything by visiting podcast.extraordinaryfamilylife.com where you can leave us a voice or text message.This mom asked:“I have a 13-year-old daughter. She gets homework from coop & every week it’s a battle. I remind her about her assignment- she says yes, I know… and gets mad at me every time I bring it up but then either doesn’t do it or is up late...2023-04-181h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#213 What to Eat Part 2 -- Snacks, Recipes, Rules, & When to Break ThemAfter episode #211 about What to Eat we received a lot of follow-up questions (thank you!) and were asked to do a follow up episode to clarify some things, such as:What if I'm lactose intolerant? What do you recommend to replace grass-fed milk?What about food storage? I store a lot of grains and legumes. What's the best way to eat them.Where do I find grass-fed meat, cheeses, butters, milk, etc.?How do I know I can trust package labels at the store and that they're actually what they say they are?How do you eat healthily...2023-03-0759 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#211 What to Eat & How -- What's ACTUALLY Healthy? Our Food JourneyIn many of our episodes, we often reference food and its connection to behavior and emotion.So it’s not surprising that we received this request:“I would LOVE to hear an episode on food! YES it is confusing and hard to navigate! We've already made some good changes, but I'd love to hear your specific thoughts about how you implement this both at home and on the road. I'd also love to hear some scientific evidence from books but mainly how you guys apply it… especially when your kids when they are surrounded by all th...2023-02-211h 19
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#204 Family Travel is an Investment in the Development of Yourself & Your Children + Logistics, Tips & FAQsWe spent the New Year in Tallin, Estonia! We’re keeping the Denning family dream alive with family adventures. In December, we traveled through NYC, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, & Estonia.We’ve had some questions about the logistics of traveling with a family which we’re going to discuss in this episode. How do we do it? What do we do with our stuff? How do we make it work?We also get philosophical and talk about how travel has been a tool for helping us (and our children) to become assets (instead of jus...2023-01-031h 12
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#203 Creating a Real Life 'Happily Ever After' Marriage (It's Not a Pipe Dream)Greg and Rachel are still in Norway leading two trips. The first took place in Tromsø, 225 miles north of the Arctic Circle where they fed reindeer, went dog sledding, and saw the Northern Lights while cruising the harbor.
The 2nd trip spans from Oslo to Flåm to Bergen and back where they're cruising fjords, taking spectacular train rides, and learning about Viking and Hanseatic history.
Because of these trips, this week’s podcast is a special treat -- an audio taken from an exclusive presentation they did for a paid summit. It discusses the stra...2022-12-2041 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#202 Video Games & Virtual Worlds -- How to Get Our Sons & Husband's BackHey everybody! Greg and I are in Oslo, Norway with our family, recovering from jet lag. In a few hours, we fly to Tromsø, 220 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Tomorrow begins our first Norway trip where 18 other people will be joining us for reindeer sledding, dog sledding, and the Northern Lights.(Check out our 2023 travel schedule and join us here!)This week’s podcast is audio taken from our most recent coaching session for the Extraordinary Family Life Formula. We discussed why boys and men (young and old) turn to video games and virtual wor...2022-12-061h 05
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#199 The Rewards (& Risks) of Pursuing a Life of Comfort & LuxuryI remember the first time I realized that humanity’s desire for luxury was actually a driving force for improving the world.Previous to that I often felt that wanting luxury and comfort was wrong or bad… perhaps from generations of Puritanism passed down through religion and culture?But as I lay in the comfort of a luxurious hotel room feeling perfectly at home, I finally understood that this desire was a positive thing.Without (a woman’s?) desire for indoor plumbing, a comfy bed, and the ease of flipping a switch to produc...2022-11-011h 02
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#198 Masturbation & Cheap Sexual Acts Are a Poor Substitute for Real Connection — A Message for Teens AND SpousesWe’ve been asked several times over the years by coaching clients and others regarding masturbation.Specifically, they want to know how to approach masturbation in general — with their children or teens, and in their marriage.Is it normal for teens to masturbate? What are the side effects or outcomes?And what about in marriage? Is masturbation okay or normal, especially if your sex drive doesn't match up with your spouse?We’ve also been asked by young adults and college students IF or WHY some of these things are so “wrong” —...2022-10-251h 30
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#196 How & WHY to do Morning Family Devotionals (Discussions)We are busy people. And so are you. We have a LOT going on, as I’m sure you do too. Human nature often makes us feel that we’re “too busy” to do things like morning routines or rituals. We’re “too busy” to do morning discussions with our family.But because you are so busy is exactly why you MUST do family discussions and devotionals. (When we use the term devotional we don't necessarily mean it as a religious activity, although it certainly can include religion and spirituality.)Daily family devotionals are one of the foundat...2022-10-111h 16
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#195 Fear is a Traitor & is Holding Back Your Family & Your LifeFear is a universal emotion. We’ve all experienced it at some point. It is very real and very relevant. As a teenage girl, Edith Eger was a prisoner in Auschwitz Concentration Camp. She said that after she was released once the War ended, it was then that she learned that the greatest prison is the one in our own minds. Fear makes us prisoners of our minds.With all the people we work with — and through our own experiences — we’ve learned that so many of us are living far below our privilege, potential, desires, wants, and ‘cal...2022-10-041h 02
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#194 The Hero's Journey -- Leave the Ordinary World Behind and Live a Great StoryEvery great story, movie, or book contains elements of what’s been called the ‘Hero’s Journey’ — a series of events and experiences that makes the story meaningful and transformational. It’s the process by which the hero-to-be becomes the hero of the story.The interesting thing is that the same elements which make a great story also make a great life. YOU can become the hero of your own life by living and following the ‘Hero’s Journey’. When you do, you finally get out of the bleachers and into the arena of truly living. This starts by stepping...2022-09-2738 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#193 How to STOP CARING What Other People Think About YouAll of us have been ‘conditioned’ by society when it comes to things such as HOW to behave and WHAT to care about.That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It fact, social conditioning can be very positive. Caring what other people think or how others view us helps us to be law-abiding citizens — which keeps order and civility in communities and nations.But sometimes, social conditioning can cause us to believe and behave in ways that our detrimental to our own well-being. Social conditioning can limit our own growth and development. However, it takes...2022-09-2059 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#191 The Truth (& Myths) About Overcoming Anxiety & DepressionMany, if not all of us, know of someone — are ARE someone — who has dealt with the devastating effects of anxiety and depression.Methods for dealing with these issues can be very charged. It’s a subject that’s often difficult to discuss, for a variety of reasons — shame, guilt, anger, frustration, despair.But they are subjects that NEED to be addressed — least of all because it’s becoming a crisis for youth and adults today. And what those who are struggling need most are advice and strategies that ACTUALLY work — and, as you’ll learn in this epis...2022-09-061h 02
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#190 Unconditional Love is NOT the Highest Form of Love; Deep, Meaningful Love is CONDITIONALMany of us have been taught or grown to believe that unconditional love is the highest of virtues.And in many ways it makes sense. Loving others — without conditions — seems to be the highest level of love possible, partly because it sometimes seems so unrealistic, especially when it comes to family members.(It’s even difficult to get clear on exactly what we’re talking about because we only have one word for ‘love’ in English. In Latin there are at least three — Eros, Agape, and Philia).But as Greg and I have thought about...2022-08-3049 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#189 How to Get Stuff Done & Be Productive (Even With a Family)Getting things done is one of the most critical ingredients for achieving your dreams and goals and building a lasting family legacy.Yet it’s also one of the hardest things to do because of the natural ebbs, flows, and interruptions of family life.There are mouths to feed, diapers to change, laundry to fold, meals to prepare, and dishes to wash. How can you even think about taking action toward your big dreams and goals?Well, that’s what we’re going to dive into in this episode. I’ve spent years reading...2022-08-231h 01
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#188 Your Teen's Current Habits Will Make or Break Their Life Happiness & SuccessGreg Denning often says, “Tell me your habits and I’ll tell you your future.”Habits are the MOST important thing to determining the outcomes and happiness of your life.Habits will make or break your mental, emotional, spiritual, social, physical, family, and financial life.Where you are right now — and the quality and happiness of your life — is a DIRECT result of the habits you have had to this point.Where you want to go, who you want to become, and what you want to do, will be the DIRECT result of...2022-08-161h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#187 Seek an ‘Inner Knowing’ (Insight & Intuition) And ACT On It to Avoid Sabotaging Your Life and Your FamilyIn our line of work coaching families for the past 20 years, we get an up-close-and-personal look into the lives of many different types of people. It’s a sacred privilege and we learn so much. We often experience a wide range of emotions, from empathy to despair to elation. And not going to lie, sometimes we get fired up or frustrated about the things that people do — or don’t do — especially the things that THEY know they NEED to do. They will receive a clear insight about something they should do or should NOT have done…...2022-08-091h 04
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#186 How to Build Confidence"I would like to be more confident but my face turns red if I am embarrassed, nervous, shy, afraid, or just talking with someone. Without that handicap, I know I would be more confident, but unfortunately, I let it stop me all too often.But I heard that Mr. Denning used to be really shy and his face would turn red anytime people would even ask him a question in class. I'm heading off to college soon and am a bit overwhelmed. I do the same thing, I am generally an introverted person, but I really enjoy...2022-08-021h 00
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#185 Helping Children Develop Self-Control (aka The GREATEST Predictor of Future Success)As a parent, if you knew there was ONE major characteristic which — if developed — would drastically increase your child’s chances of success and happiness, not only now but as an adult… wouldn’t you want to know what it is? And wouldn’t you do everything in your power to help your child develop that characteristic?As parents of seven children, we give a definite ‘Yes!’We want to know and we want to help them develop it as fully as possible.Well, researchers have followed a large group of people from child...2022-07-261h 41
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#184 Helping Children to Manage Their Emotions (so They Can Live Happier Lives)Emotions can be big and scary — for both parents and children.But it is possible to teach — and model — emotional management for your kids.Emotions are EVERYTHING. Our lives our experienced through emotions, so by default, the quality, quantity, and content of our emotions determine the quality and content of our lives.We can and should educate our emotions — and teach our children to do the same.How?That’s what we’ll cover in this episode. Strategies for dealing with a range of feelings (which are normal), and how to valid...2022-07-191h 01
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#183 Seeing BEYOND Roe Vs. Wade, Gun Control, & Other 'Surface Tensions'There is a lot of ‘surface tension’ in the media today -- social and mainstream. Lots of polarity and opposition about intense topics.And it bothers me. Because it paints the picture that there are only two sides to any issue. And that’s just not true.We (as individuals and society) have to look beyond the ‘surface tension’ of topics to the underlying problems and underlying causes of those problems.There is so little we know — we as a society, (and especially ‘we’ as in Greg & Rachel). But we do know that “as the area of you...2022-06-281h 01
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#181 Chores as Child Abuse?! Responses to This & Other Surprising CommentsHave you ever thought of chores as child abuse? I haven’t either. But I shared a post on Instagram about our system for organizing chores and I was shocked at the number of NEGATIVE comments I received from people who believe that giving your children chores is akin to child labor and abuse.One comment said, “Parents who want to do less [sic] things by dumping it on kids should be ashamed of themselves. Kids do not need to have regular chores in order to learn responsibility and you know it VERY WELL… you aren't teaching, you ar...2022-05-312h 11
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#180 This is What's Contributing to All Your Parenting Problems -- And Will Solve Them When AddressedWhen Greg Denning was out on his own as a teenager it wasn’t difficult for him to realize that his life sucked… but he desperately wanted it to be better and different.Nobody wants to live a sucky life and stay there. But it was so interesting to him to watch people live a sucky life — and stay there. They would keep doing the same things that would produce the same sucky results.As a 16-year-old he was able — miraculously enough — to look around and say, “Dude, stop doing what you’re doing and you’ll get dif...2022-05-241h 02
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#166 The Size of Your Dreams MUST Exceed Your Current Capacity to Achieve ThemAre you ready to start dreaming bigger and living more intentionally — both for yourself and your family?In this episode, Greg and I dive into one of our favorite topics — dreaming BIG and setting bold, meaningful goals that challenge you to grow into the person capable of achieving them.We talk about why dreaming is not just a nice idea — it's essential. Big dreams expand your vision and help you rise above the limitations of your current reality. As Greg often says,“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity...2022-01-111h 01
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#165 Exposing Your Kids to the Dark Side -- WHY and HOWWelcome to this episode where we will be discussing a sensitive and sometimes frightening topic to many parents — and that’s WHY and HOW to expose your children to the darkness in order to help them be stronger and more prepared to face and fight evil and malice in the world (which does exist, in case you’re like I used to be and naively thought there are no ‘bad people’ in the world or that bad things don’t happen to me or my family.We’ll also touch on the Law of Attraction or Expectation and how that w...2021-12-281h 01
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#164 Teen Mental Health Strategies That WORK! Pattern Interrupts & State ChangesIn this episode, we’re discussing teen mental health and strategies for helping them not only overcome mental health challenges but to learn to thrive despite their difficult circumstances. We’re empathetic to the real struggles and suffering that parents and youth are dealing with and want to provide hope in this episode.Through personal experience, as well as from working with thousands of youth, and doing decades of research, we’ve discovered what actually works to help teens deal with the challenges they face.We know that not every situation is black and white with c...2021-12-211h 14
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#157 Our Response to 'Incomprehensibly Stupid' Memes & Current EventsWhat happens when you share a 'controversial' meme on social media?
Lots of comments and ensuing arguments.
In this podcast, Greg and Rachel respond to comments on a meme that was shared which said:
"If you've ever wondered if you would have complied during 1930s Germany, now you know."
The reactions included words and phrases including:
incomprehensibly stupid
asinine
comparing people who have been vaccinated to Nazi Germans
and a lot more...
An adequate response was not feasible in a Facebook comment, so we answered in a podcast episode...2021-09-131h 03
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#152 Your Money & Your MarriageWhat are good beliefs and practices around money in your marriage? What if one spouse brings in the income and the other stays home, who should be in charge of how it’s spent? Does the non-income earning spouse have any say on how the money should be spent?
What if one spouse wants to save every penny and the other sees it as a tool for experience and growth?
What if one spouse wants to approve every purchase before anything can be spent? What if they become upset when they feel you spend in a way they don’t appr...2021-07-1646 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#150 The Sex-quel. Follow Up Sex Episode With Rachel DenningIs your marriage feeling more like a roommate situation than a passionate partnership?Do you dread sex or feel like it's just one more thing on your to-do list?You're not alone—and it doesn’t have to stay that way.In this episode, we’re diving deep into the honest, uncomfortable, and totally transformational truth about how to build a great sexual relationship in marriage. This is a raw and vulnerable conversation between husband and wife—parents of 7—about what it really takes to create deep intimacy, desire, and connection even during the most stressf...2021-06-161h 17
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#148 What Wives Need to Understand About Their Husbands' Sex Drive, and What Men Need to Understand About Themselves"Just because you've been with yourself for your entire life, doesn't mean you understand yourself."This is true about your spouse too. Just because you've been married to them for ___ years, doesn't mean you understand themAnd these statements are especially true when it comes to sexuality... understanding your own sexuality, and your shared relationship with your spouse.Just because you have sex with your spouse doesn't mean you're good at talking about it or doing it.Sexuality is a part of being human, and a pivotal part of being married....2021-06-031h 11
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#89 How to Live in Real Joy and to Radiate it to Those Around YouIn this episode, host Greg Denning explores the concept of experiencing profound, daily joy that permeates one's entire being. He emphasizes that such joy is attainable but often overshadowed by distractions, conflicting emotions, and unmanaged thoughts.
Greg encourages parents to become "generators of light and warmth," allowing joy to radiate from within and positively impact those around them.
It’s TOTALLY possible, though still surprisingly rare, to live in real joy day by day. The kind of joy that permeates your being and radiates through you and from you; that feeling—no, more than a feel...2020-02-0536 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#29 This is what generosity REALLY looks likeWhen people are cruel, they are just passing on the degradation in themselves. On the other hand, when people are kind, they are passing on the goodness in themselves.
Be generous make a difference, there is always a way to be kind to others.
While the Dennings were in Costa Rica, money was tight. Even though they were in a tough spot, they saw others who were living in an even worse condition. What could they do to help? They got friends back in the states to donate hundred of books for this villages school! They...2019-04-1418 minThe EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#15 Choose your love and love your choiceGreg and Rachel met in college, you could say Greg was struck at first sight. Growing up Greg didn't have a lot examples of what a good marriage should look like, or if it was even possible. In his late teens he was terrified of talking to girls, so in his early twenties he pushed himself to date a lot and meet a lot of people. He had a list of qualities he wanted his spouse to have, he was dating deliberately.
Later to find they were both dating deliberately. On their first date, Rachel didn't talk a lot...2019-02-1530 min
The EXTRAORDINARY Family Life Podcast#14 How to Feel Joyful and Happy Most of The TimeIn this episode, host Greg Denning discuss how emotion is the driving force in our lives. He asks:
"What emotions do I feel most of the time? Is that how I WANT to feel?"
If emotion is a choice -- and in this episode Greg will show you why that's true -- then why not choose the better options?
Discover how letting go of the negative emotions will clear space for you to get those positive emotions back into your life.
Emotion is so important and having it be a positive d...2019-02-1325 min