Parenting Doctors Podcast: What We Were Never Taught

What happens when you love someone deeply, believe in their potential, and still find yourself facing the same dysfunctional patterns over and over again?

In Episode 12 of What We Were Never Taught, we explore one of the hardest challenges in relationships: how do you challenge dysfunction without abandoning the person you love,...

What We Were Never Taught — Episode 11: Compatibility Is Built, Not Found

We’ve been taught to believe that the right person will simply “fit.” That when we meet our soulmate, the relationship will feel natural, effortless, and easy.

But what happens when conflict emerges? When differences become more obvious? When we start thinking, ...

Most people believe relationships end because of cheating, betrayal, incompatibility, or because they simply "fell out of love."

While those experiences are deeply painful and can certainly end a relationship, they often point to a deeper issue that receives far less attention.

Episode 9: Why Love Isn’t Enough — The Skills Every Relationship Needs to Thrive

Many people enter marriage believing that strong convictions will be enough to carry them through. A deep faith, a belief that marriage is forever, a commitment to never give up, and a willingness to fight for the relationship are powerful foundations—but beliefs alone are not enough.

Episode 8: Do You Want to Be Right or Do You Want to Connect? Understanding Narcissistic Patterns in Relationships

There comes a point in some relationships where conflict stops being about solving a problem and starts becoming a battle for emotional survival.

In this episode of What We Were Never Taught, we explore narcissistic patterns—not as labels ...

Episode #7: The Relationship Blueprint / Relationship Story Arc

In this episode of What We Were Never Taught, we introduce the concept of the Relationship Blueprint—the unconscious emotional template that shapes how we experience love, conflict, and connection across our lifetime.

Most people assume relationship struggles come from either “this partner” or “childhoo...

Episode #6: The Conversation Most Couples Never Have How to Talk About Hurt Without Creating More Hurt

Most couples don't avoid difficult conversations because they don't care. They avoid them because they don't know how to talk about hurt without escalating conflict, triggering defensiveness, or creating even more pain.

In this episode of What We Were Never...

Episode #5: You Think You’re Explaining Yourself—But You’re Actually Losing Them

In most relationships, disconnection doesn’t happen in big, dramatic moments—it happens in small conversations where defensiveness takes over before understanding can land.

In this episode of What We Were Never Taught, I explore why defensiveness is one of the most common and most damaging patterns in relationships, and ho...

In this 4th episode of What We Were Never Taught, we explore one of the most recognizable patterns in relationships: why some people tend to cling when they feel disconnected, while others pull away when emotions become intense.

Drawing from attachment theory in a simple and accessible way, this episode breaks down how different attachment styles—secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful-avoidant—shape the way people respo...

This is my Episode #3 of my new relationship show podcast. Why Emotionally Unavailable People Attract Each Other: The emotional skills we were never taught about intimacy

Emotionally unavailable people often attract each other because the relationship feels familiar, safe, and validating of their existing beliefs about intimacy.

1. Familiarity feels like chemistry
2. Neither person has to face deep vulne...

In this episode of What We Were Never Taught, we explore one of the most painful dynamics in relationships: what it really means when people feel like they are no longer being heard.

Most people assume the problem is that someone has stopped listening. But in reality, listening often breaks down slowly over time due to emotional overload, repeated misunderstandings, defensiveness, a...

After spending more than a decade focused on parenting and families, I’m beginning a new conversation about relationships, emotional connection, communication, and resilience. In this first episode, I share parts of my own journey through divorce, shame, growth, and the realization that many couples are never truly taught the emotional and communication skills needed to navigate difficult seasons well. I reflect on the pain r...

This is my first parenting podcast in 5 years.  I am returning to encourage a new generation of parents.  I will be drawing from my books.

My first Parenting Podcast in 5 years.  I woke up this morning at 3 a.m. and put together my first parenting podcast in a long time.  My greatest gift, my calling, and my purpose is ENCOURAGEMENT.  I came back to this parenting podcast becaus...

I had the joy of interviewing Addison Ruscoe, Voice of the Riverview Rams.  If you like the art and science of sports broadcasting, this podcast is definitely for you.  If you love sports or the character of sports, this is a good one.  Great life lessons, and the value of discovering purpose is at the heart of today's podcast.  We also discussed Ram Football for 15 minutes toward the end of today's show.  

My Daughter is Playing in the Regional Championship Varsity Football State Playoff Game Tomorrow Night.  Why Not?  A coach who had a huge impact on my life is a man named Von Shepherd.  He touched me in many ways at a window of time when I needed him most.  He taught me several quotes and lines and phrases.  He had a simple two-word question that I remembered today being out on the field at Riverview High S...

Listen to some of the minutes toward the end of my interview with Meghan Buchanon, a true overcomer who we all can be inspired by.  A few of these minutes can apply to the Everests that we all face.  

A few of these minutes were taken from my interview with Meghan Buchanan, an Aerospace Engineer, Adventure Athlete and Motivational Speaker. She has set her sights on becoming the 1st Rocket Scientist to climb the 7 Summits,...

Today's interview is with Meghan Buchanan, an Aerospace Engineer, Adventure Athlete and Motivational Speaker. She has set her sights on becoming the 1st Rocket Scientist to climb the 7 Summits, 5th US WOMAN to complete the EXPLORERS GRAND SLAM (climbing the world’s 7 Summits and last degree ski to the North and South Poles), and eventually 1st US WOMAN to complete the Adventurers Grand Slam (unsupported Poles). She has taken ...

Dr. Dan presents his recent show on the Dr. van Ingen Clinical Psychology and Parenting Show with a feature on his upcoming webinar on the Top Ten Best-Ever Anxiety Treatment Techniques. He references a book by Donald Miller who identifies four characters in each of our life story: victim, villain, Hero, & Guide.  There are some good and rich ideas that can be discussed with families on when these characters e...

This podcast helps provide a recipe for emotional disaster.  This insight also helps give us clarity on what we can do to not get stressed out with upcoming performances.  

Dr. Dan is a clinical psychologist who works as an anxiety specialist, a parenting author, a national speaker on anxiety and neuroscience [for 10 years], and one who is passionate about Sport Psychology. He has worked with olympic training...