136. Q&A (Long-Distance Dating, Sexual Disconnection, Co-Parenting)
In this Q&A episode, Lauren and Jason tackle four raw and relatable listener questions that hit at the heart of modern relationships — from rebuilding trust to navigating intimacy, distance, and co-parenting.In this episode, they discuss:💔 When words cut deep:A wife is struggling to heal after learning her husband once fantasized about other women. Though he’s showing empathy and doing the work, she can’t shake the fear of abandonment. Lauren and Jay unpack how to rebuild safety after emotional betrayal and what healing looks like when your partner’s change feels real — but your heart still hurts.🌍 Long-distance love:What does it take to make a relationship thrive when you’re miles apart? The Vallottons share their best tips for staying connected across distance — from setting rhythms of communication to keeping emotional intimacy alive (even when FaceTime freezes mid-sentence).🔥 When sex becomes a struggle:He thinks more sex will fix the problem; she feels pressured and disconnected. Lauren and Jason explore how couples can move from obligation to connection, and why true intimacy starts with emotional safety, not frequency.👩👦 Co-parenting with disrespect:A single mom is raising her son alongside a dad who doesn’t treat her with respect. She’s worried about what her son is learning from their dynamic. The Vallottons discuss how to model dignity, set boundaries, and protect your child’s sense of honor — even when the other parent won’t play fair.PatreonIf you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you!For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com !Connect with Lauren:InstagramFacebookConnect with Jason:Jay’s InstagramJay’s FacebookBraveCo Instagramwww.braveco.org
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135. The Three C’s of Leading Your Family Well
In this episode, Lauren and Jason sit down to talk about what it really looks like to lead your family well while carrying leadership responsibilities in ministry, business, and life. Whether you’re parenting toddlers or launching teens, this conversation will help you build a home that’s healthy, connected, and grounded in vision.They share what they learned from blending their family and why the long game of parenting matters so much. Together, the Vallottons unpack the Three C’s that have shaped their own family:1️⃣ Culture — Build belonging through identity.Every family has a culture. Are you building yours on purpose? Learn how to establish a shared language that gives your kids identity and belonging. 2️⃣ Consistency — Play the long game.Family is formed through repetition, not reaction. Discover how small, faithful rhythms create stability and character over time — even when you can’t see the fruit yet.3️⃣ Capacity — Lead from health, not hustle.Your home doesn’t need your title; it needs your presence. Jason and Lauren share how they’ve learned to create space for rest, connection, and emotional honesty so their home stays full of life — not burnout.Enjoy!PatreonIf you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you!For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com !Connect with Lauren:InstagramFacebookConnect with Jason:Jay’s InstagramJay’s FacebookBraveCo Instagramwww.braveco.org
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134. Blending Families: Grieving What You Thought It Would Be
Blending a family isn’t just about making schedules work or learning each other’s habits. It’s about entering into an already-formed culture — one that existed before you. For the stepparent, that often means grieving what you imagined family life would look like, while choosing to restrain yourself from immediately reshaping the environment into “yours.”In this episode, Jason and Lauren Vallotton talk candidly about:Why grief is a normal and healthy part of the step-parenting journeyThe tension between honoring the existing family culture and slowly helping build a new oneThe unspoken expectations that every stepparent carries — and what to do with themWhy building a new “normal” takes years (Ron Deal says seven, and it often feels true!)Encouragement for couples to stay connected in the long process of blendingIf you’re in the thick of a blended family dynamic, you are not crazy and you are not alone. Healing, belonging, and love can grow in the middle of the mess — but it takes time, patience, and a lot of grace.PatreonIf you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you!For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com !Connect with Lauren:InstagramFacebookConnect with Jason:Jay’s InstagramJay’s FacebookBraveCo Instagramwww.braveco.org
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133. Welcoming Our First Grandbaby!
Jason and Lauren have big news to share—their first grandbaby has arrived! 🎉 In this special family update episode, they reflect on the joy of this new season, the surprises of grandparenting while still raising their own 5- and 3-year-old, and what it means to live out relational health across generations.Together, they unpack:🌿 The uniqueness of navigating multiple family “layers” at once—parenting littles, supporting adult children, and stepping into grandparenthood🎄 How conversations around holidays like Christmas shift when legacy and generational traditions come into play👵🏼 The role of grandparents in relational health—offering support without overstepping, helping without hovering👶 What’s different about parenting littles versus grandparenting (and how both roles sharpen each other)❤️ Navigating relationships with adult kids as they step into parenthood, and why cheering them on matters more than critiquing🌈 The emotional mix of joy, nostalgia, and gratitude in life’s transition seasonsThe Vallottons remind listeners that family is never static—it’s always growing and reshaping. Whether you’re raising littles, sending teens into the world, or welcoming grandkids, relational health comes down to connection, presence, and legacy.PatreonIf you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you!For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com !Connect with Lauren:InstagramFacebookConnect with Jason:Jay’s InstagramJay’s FacebookBraveCo Instagramwww.braveco.org
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132. What We Think About Separation in Marriage
What do you do when staying in your marriage feels unsafe, but separation feels like it might be the end of everything you hoped for? Separation is one of the most raw and tender topics couples face—and for many, it carries fear, shame, and deep confusion.In this episode, pastors and coaches Jason and Lauren Vallotton respond to two courageous listener questions about separation in marriage. With compassion and faith-filled honesty, they explore how to discern when separation is a protective step, what questions to ask in the midst of uncertainty, and how to hold covenant and safety together without feeling trapped by either.They discuss:Why separation does not equal failure—and how it can be a tool for safety and clarity.The key questions to ask when considering reconciliation: Is there sustained change? Is safety being rebuilt? Am I experiencing peace or manipulation?How to navigate the tension between covenant and crisis, especially when abuse or repeated betrayal is present.Why God values safety and mental health as much as marriage covenant.The importance of community, accountability, and long-term fruit when walking through separation.Practical pathways forward, whether toward reconciliation or a different future, always anchored in hope and healing.Jason and Lauren remind listeners that separation is not the end of the story. If you’re walking through a season of uncertainty or pain in your marriage, this episode will bring perspective, permission, and pastoral care.PatreonIf you've enjoyed this podcast, would you consider financially supporting the show? Every donation, big and small, helps the Vallottons continue to prioritize making this content for you. Click this link to support! Thank you!For information on the Marriage Intensive and other resources, go to jasonandlaurenvallotton.com !Connect with Lauren:InstagramFacebookConnect with Jason:Jay’s InstagramJay’s FacebookBraveCo Instagramwww.braveco.org
We’re the Vallottons, and we’re passionate about people! Every human was created for fulfilling connections in relationship and family, but it’s not always what comes easiest! We know this because of our wide range of personal experiences as well as years of working with people. So we’re going to crack open topics like dating, marriage, family and parenting to encourage, entertain and equip you for a deeply fulfilling life of relational health. Support us at on Patreon at patreon.com/datesmatesbabies
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