Can love still feel new when someone has already been married and had children with someone else?

In this vulnerable episode, Jason and Lauren Vallotton respond to a heartfelt question from a listener navigating the early stages of dating a divorced man with kids. Together, they unpack the very real fears, griefs, and hopes that can rise up in blended beginnings.

Whether you're walking this journey yourself or supporting someone who is, this episode offers practical wisdom, personal insight, and gentle clarity around some of the most tender questions:

• How do I reconcile the longing to be someone’s first with the reality of coming in second chronologically?
  
  
• Can I feel truly chosen if he’s loved before?
  
  
• What are healthy signs he’s healed from his past—and what red flags should I pay attention to?
  
  
• How do I navigate comparison, memories, or ongoing connection with a former spouse as they co-parent?
  
  
• What does “fairytale love” look like when the story begins with complexity?

Jason and Lauren speak from personal experience and pastoral wisdom to offer encouragement, grounded perspective, and honest dialogue about grief, hope, and choosing love in real life—not in the fantasy.

Because healing doesn’t mean the past never happened—it means the past no longer holds the pen.

Patreon
If 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:
Instagram
Facebook
Connect with Jason:
Jay’s Instagram
Jay’s Facebook
BraveCo Instagram
www.braveco.org

If your marriage feels chaotic, disconnected, or directionless… you’re not alone. In this episode, Jason and Lauren tackle what it looks like when couples are stuck in survival mode—no calendar, no plan, and no unity—and how to get back on the same team.

Jay’s been walking with several couples who feel overwhelmed and out of sync, and in this candid conversation, the Vallottons offer a lifeline of practical tools and fresh perspective to help you move from chaos to clarity.

In this episode, they unpack:

• Why chaos is a symptom, not the root issue
• How to create an ecosystem for your marriage that you’re leading—not one that’s leading you
• The power of living from a shared calendar and shared priorities
• Why independent goals can still flow from a shared vision
• What it takes to build peace, productivity, and purpose in your everyday rhythms

Key questions to ask together:

• What season are we in right now?
• What are our top three shared goals?
• Are we moving toward those goals—together?

🎯 Practical Challenge: Try this for one week

1. Set a Sunday night “calendar + priority” meeting
2. Write down your top 3 shared goals
3. Name one pain point and commit to addressing it with compassion

Don’t let the chaos run the show. Step into leadership together—one week, one goal, one shared step at a time.

Patreon
If 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:
Instagram
Facebook
Connect with Jason:
Jay’s Instagram
Jay’s Facebook
BraveCo Instagram
www.braveco.org

What does it actually mean to lead your home like a man of God—and why does emotional connection matter just as much as spiritual authority?

In this episode of Dates, Mates & Babies, Jason Vallotton sits down with the legendary Dr. Henry Cloud, bestselling author of Boundaries, to unpack the kind of leadership that builds trust, safety, and lasting love. From marriage and fatherhood to communication and connection, this conversation is packed with wisdom for men and women alike.

Dr. Cloud shares a powerful framework for building a strong home: start with connection, then add boundaries, protection, and healthy communication. Whether you're a man wondering how to lead with both strength and compassion—or a woman longing for safety and partnership—this episode will give you language, hope, and tools to create the kind of marriage that thrives.

Topics We Cover:

• The real role of a husband as a leader
• Why emotional intelligence is key in marriage
• How to create psychological safety in your home
• What to do if connection was never modeled for you growing up
• A practical pathway to becoming a strong, present, emotionally safe man

Whether you're single, dating, married, or parenting together—this episode will help you reimagine leadership in a way that builds legacy.

Connect with Dr. Henry Cloud:
drcloud.com
Instagram
YouTube

Patreon
If 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:
Instagram
Facebook
Connect with Jason:
Jay’s Instagram
Jay’s Facebook
BraveCo Instagram
www.braveco.org