Summary

In this episode, Dustin and Brandon discuss various topics related to parenting, marriage, and personal experiences. They talk about the importance of learning from others, the challenges of parenting, and the need to be open-minded. They also share anecdotes about their children's activities and the surprises that come with them. Additionally, they touch on topics such as division of responsibilities, finding time for one-on-one with your spouse, the challenges of having multiple children, the importance of communication, and the impact of observational learning on children. They also discuss the significance of knowing your spouse's love language, the value of difficult conversations in a marriage, and the humorous experiences of dealing with children's bathroom mishaps in inappropriate places.



Sound Bites

"There's so much hate and vitriol in our country right now. And if we just took a minute, to listen and learn."

"Nothing could have prepared me for how real mom/dad brain is."

"Sometimes you just gotta let it happen. You gotta let it happen because nothing would have prepared me for that day."

"Nothing could have prepared me for the first time you hear your child sound, talk or swear or do something like you."



Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Appreciation for Learning

09:50 The Challenges of Parenting

27:18 Balancing Responsibilities and Finding Time for One-on-One

35:26 The Impact of Observational Learning on Children

46:36 Dealing with Children's Bathroom Mishaps



For information on the upcoming REACH program, email Dustin at: dustin@familybyheart.me









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"Nothing Could've Prepared Me For.." True Confessions on Parenthood and Marriage

Whether you have an autistic loved one in your family, you suspect one of your children being on the spectrum or you just want to learn some truths about the topic, this episode is one not to be missed. Hosts Dustin and Brandon speak with Leigh Merryday Porch, the author of the blog Flappiness Is and the book The Scenic Route, Embracing the Detours, Roblox and Unexpected Joys of Raising an Autistic Child. The discussion touches on topics such as family support, the challenges of raising an autistic child, and the importance of getting a diagnosis. Leigh shares her personal experiences and insights, emphasizing the need for acceptance, understanding, and love. The conversation also explores the concept of neurodiversity and the evolving terminology surrounding autism.

Leigh talks about what has been the most therapeutic experience for her and her work with autism, she emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and the benefits it brings in terms of accessing services and support. She advises parents to educate themselves about the different kinds of diagnoses and to advocate for their child's needs. Leigh also highlights the need for teamwork and collaboration with schools, while acknowledging the challenges and limitations they face due to lack of funding. At the end of the interview Leigh shares a heartfelt poem about the complexities of a hypothetical cure for autism and the love she has for her children as they are.



Sound Bites

"Your family is who's there to support you, your family is who is there to love you unconditionally."

"Her book has been my Bible. It's made me break down. It's also built me up, helped me realize how much I really need to do, not only for my son, but for other autistic people."

"Autism is part of a spectrum of neurodiversity, where individuals may think, behave, and perceive differently."

"The most therapeutic has been the private messages that have come in to me."

"Two years old is approximately the time in which autism is going to become evident to others."



Chapters

07:04 Icebreakers: Describing Leigh Merryday Porch

12:03 The Inspiration Behind the Blog 'Flappinesses'

15:20 Understanding Autism: The Spectrum and Terminology

28:01 Writing the Book and Becoming an Autism Specialist

31:56 Therapeutic Experiences and Surprising Reactions

44:58 Understanding the Concerns of Parents with Autistic Children

46:26 The Importance of Listening to Autistic Adults

48:14 Dispelling Myths about Autism Meltdowns

50:33 The Link Between Vaccines and Autism

52:20 The Complexity of Autism and Genetic Factors

53:45 Correlation vs. Causation in Autism Research

58:06 The Importance of Early Intervention and Communication

01:17:30 The Meaning of Family

01:21:01 If you were "cured" tomorrow poem



For more on Leigh:

leighmerrydayporch.com [https://leighmerrydayporch.com]







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Embracing the Unexpected of Life w/ An Autistic Loved One

In the first interview episode of this season, Dustin and Brandon interview Clarence "Tre" Anderson, a two-time graduate from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he is currently attending med school. The three discuss various topics related to family, health, and nutrition. They emphasize the importance of prioritizing and organizing one's time to balance various responsibilities.

Having been a 5-year varsity baseball player and now coach along with attending med school, Tre shares his strategies for time management and scheduling. They also discuss mental health and the significance of taking care of oneself. Tre talks about his background in Biochemical Nutrition and dispel several food myths and touch on the importance of exercise and physical fitness.

One of the key takeaways from the conversation is that nutrition doesn't have to be one-size-fits-all. It's important to understand what your body truly needs and find a nutrition approach that works for you and your family, including portion size and balance being key factors in maintaining a healthy relationship with food.

When it comes to exercise, the simplest rule for parents on the go is it can be incorporated into daily activities, such as taking walks while attending your children's practices or using study walks to combine exercise and phone time.

In the final part of the conversation, Tre Armstrong discusses the biggest metabolism killer and the importance of strength training. He emphasizes the value of meal prep for nutrition and the need for balance and fun in fitness.

Clarence “Tre” Armstrong is a two-time graduate of Case Western Reserve University where he got a degree in Nutritional Biochemistry and Metabolism and a Master’s in Medical Physiology. He is currently a first-year medical student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Tre was also a five-year member of the CWRU Varsity Baseball team and currently serves as an assistant coach. In his spare time, he also referees high school basketball and umpires high school and collegiate summer ball. He has also worked very closely with Team Impact and is considering the fields of cardiology, sports, or pediatric medicine. 


Chapters



00:00 Introduction and Background

06:39 Education and Career Path

09:27 Baseball and Softball

13:12 Walk-Up Songs

23:44 Umpiring and Officiating

29:15 Entitlement in Youth Sports

33:07 Organizing Priorities and Time Management

35:28 Mental Health and Self-Care

37:55 The Importance of Exercise for Mental Health

41:46 Leading by Example in Taking Care of Yourself

44:33 Dispelling Nutrition Myths

48:17 Breakfast and Eating Habits

58:12 Simplifying Exercise for Parents on the Go

01:01:27 Metabolism Killers

01:02:26 Metabolism and Muscle Mass

01:06:28 Nutrition Hack: Meal Prep

01:08:01 Fitness Hack: Balance and Fun

01:09:23 Lightning Round





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Playing Hardball... with Your Health and Nutrition

In the first episode of season three of Family By Heart, Dustin and his new recurring co-host, Brandon Stafford, discuss the topic of priorities. They start by talking about their experiences with New Year's resolutions and the low success rate of sticking to them. Dustin shares that he has successfully kept a resolution to give up alcohol for three years, while Brandon talks about his resolution to prioritize his health and fitness. They emphasize the importance of aligning resolutions with personal values and making them a priority in order to increase the chances of success. The principal themes of the conversation are priorities and personal growth. Dustin emphasizes the importance of setting priorities that align with who you are and what you value. He shares his experience of prioritizing his family and his own health, particularly in relation to being a good example for his children. He also discusses the challenges he faced in adjusting his priorities to accommodate his son's autism diagnosis. Dustin highlights the need for self-reflection, therapy, and education to support personal growth and improve relationships with family members. Dustin and Brandon discuss the importance for the both of them of prioritizing family and personal well-being. They emphasize the need for open communication, setting boundaries, and seeking therapy when necessary. They also highlight the significance of recognizing and managing emotions, especially anger. Dustin shares his excitement for future episodes of his podcast, where he plans to invite more individuals to share their stories. He encourages listeners to reassess their priorities and offers a free workbook to help set new goals. You can find the workbook at familybyheart.me/workbooks. [https://familybyheart.me/workbooks]

Takeaways

 * Only about 53% of people have not given up on their New Year's resolutions by March.
 * Aligning resolutions with personal values and making them a priority increases the chances of success.
 * Dustin has successfully kept a resolution to give up alcohol for three years.
 * Brandon's resolution was to prioritize his health and fitness.
 * Setting priorities that align with your values and who you are is crucial for success in achieving goals.
 * Being a good example for your children and prioritizing their well-being is important for maintaining a healthy family dynamic.
 * Recognizing and addressing personal challenges, such as anger management.
 * Self-reflection, therapy, and education are valuable tools for controlling anger and recognizing emotional red flags can help with personal growth and improving relationships with family members.
 * Therapy is essential for maintaining emotional well-being and should be seen as a form of self-care.
 * It's never too late to recalibrate and set new priorities. Consider what you constantly think about, how you spend your money, and how you spend your time.
 * Seeking an employee assistance program (EAP) or utilizing mental health coverage benefits can provide access to counseling services.
 * Brandon's podcast, the Smiling and Grinding Podcast, features interviews with inspiring and informative individuals. Can watch and listen at: https://www.youtube.com/@Smilingandgrinding [https://www.youtube.com/@SmilingandGrinding]



Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Season 3 Goals

01:03 Introducing Co-host Brandon Stafford

06:45 New Year's Resolutions

08:54 Sticking to Resolutions

15:56 Understanding Priorities

22:47 Re-prioritizing for More Family Time

23:16 Prioritizing Family Time

23:46 Support System and Accountability

24:45 Realistic Goals and Shifting Priori

How to Identify Your Priorities, w/ NEW Co-Host, Brandon Stafford

November is National Adoption Awareness Month and while many organizations recognize it as a celebration of the beauty that can come with adoption, there are several sides to each story of adoption. The adoption Network of Cleveland is one organization that advocates, supports and educates the different sides of the story.

In this episode of Family By Heart Podcast, host Dustin Gruss sits down to talk with Ty Cliffel, the Director of Programs at the Adoption Network of Cleveland.

Among topics discussed are:

- The various reasons adoption becomes an option for families on the different sides of the adoption triad

- The importance of including the awareness aspect in November being National Adoption Month - The support groups offered for the various members of the adoption process.

- DNA discovery services and what that journey searching for the birth family could reveal.

- Why inclusiveness is one of the main core values at Adoption Network of Cleveland.

- How coming to terms with the process of adoption is a lifelong journey.

- The different family outings and different upcoming events available through the Adoption Network of Cleveland.

Gruss and his wife adopted their two toddlers boys out of foster care in January 2022 and turned to the Adoption Network of Cleveland later that summer for support as the boys started to display low self-esteem due to their skin color being different.

Ty Cliffel serves as Director of Programs and is responsible for the overall administration of programs, including the creation, planning, development, coordination, and evaluation of programs and services.Ty has served children and families in a variety of settings including residential treatment, group homes, schools, and private practice. She has overseen the recruitment and training of foster and adoptive parents, conducted home studies, and provided support services for families throughout the placement process. Ty has served on the Board of Directors with Adoption Knowledge Affiliates for the past three years and is an adoptee who has been in reunion with her birth family for over 25 years.

For more on the Adoption Network of Cleveland: adoptionnetwork.org

For their upcoming events calendar: 2023 Annual Meeting : Adoption Network Cleveland Calendar of Events and Programs [https://www.adoptionnetwork.org/news-events/our-calendar.html/event/2023/11/16/2023-annual-meeting/453535]



For more on Gruss and Family By Heart visit: familybyheart.me

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Recognizing National Adoption Awareness Month w/ Ty Cliffel, Director of Programs at the Adoption Network of Cleveland

The better you take care of yourself, the better you'll be able to care for others.

In this episode of Family By Heart, host Dustin Gruss shares his 10 forms of self care that will transform your life.

If you’re like most people, you probably do a pretty good job of caring for the most important people in your life. However, you probably forget the most important person: You. The belief at Family By Heart is that by taking care of yourself now the better it will be for your family in the future. Not only will you be the best version of yourself, you will be setting an example for your family on the importance of self care.



For new and more episodes on ways to be your best for your family be sure to subscribe!



For assistance on discovering more and implementing forms of self care that will work best for you and your family visit www.familybyheart.me.

Socials: IG: instagram.com/familybyheartpod [https://www.instagram.com/familybyheartpod]

TikTok: tiktok.com/@familybyheartpod [https://tiktok.com/@familybyheartpod]



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10 Forms of Self Care That Will Transform Your Life

"The ability to seek advice or be vulnerable without fear is priceless and as fathers, we don't have that in this current environment" writes the author, Shannon Carpenter, in his article for CNN.com, "The male loneliness epidemic and how it affects fathers."

In this episode of Family By Heart, two stay-at-home dads, host Dustin Gruss and Carpenter, discuss the article and:

-The landscape that created the inspiration for the article and the response Carpenter has gotten from it.

-How Carpenter and his wife came to the decision for him to become a stay-at-home dad and his family's response to the decision

-Some of the tips and information featured in Carpenter's book, "The Ultimate Stay-At-Home Dad"

-How Carpenter met his 4 best friends and co-hosts of the Dad House Pod

-The impact of the National At Home Dad Conference and the different chapters available for dad's to join or start their own group to find much needed support.

-A fun lightning round of questions to wrap things up.



Both Gruss and Carpenter recognize the need for support and assistance for men and dads and both are happy and willing to answer any questions or point any listeners in the right direction to receive that needed support.

Carpenter , a stay-at-home dad since 2008, is a humor writer trained through the famous Second City and has written or completed interviews for large national media outlets such as previously mentioned CNN, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNBC, The New York Times and more.

For more on Carpenter visit: shannoncarpenterauthor.com.

For his article on the male loneliness epidemic visit here [https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/18/health/male-loneliness-epidemic-wellness/index.html].

IG: instagram.com/hossmanathome53 [https://www.instagram.com/hossmanathome53/]



For more on Dustin Gruss, coaching and speaking inquiries visit familybyheart.me.

IG: instagram.com/familybyheartpod

TikTok: tiktok.com/@familybyheartpod

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The Ultimate Stay-At-Home Dad Helping Combat Male Loneliness w/ Shannon Carpenter

Taking time for yourself to recharge, recover and even challenge your mind and body is an important part of being an affectionate, effective and competent parent. In this episode of Family By Heart, host Dustin Gruss shares his experience and the lessons he learned when he took the "12 Hour Walk Challenge", based off of a book written by Colin O'Brady.

Topics Dustin covers:

- A synopsis of how O'Brady came up with the book and challenge.

- The challenges Dustin faced leading up to his walk.

- Lessons he learned on his walk including:

- Pay attention to the little things

- Can still learn and have fun even when you make a wrong turn

- Can find a way even if your path seems blocked

- Listen to your body

- and more.

To help get this podcast reach more people, please subscribe, review and share where possible.



For more on the book by Colin O'Brady, visit 12hourwalk.com.

For more on Family By Heart, coaching and social links visit familybyheart.me.

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@familybyheartpod

IG: https://www.instagram.com/familybyheartpod [https://www.instagram.com/familybyheartpod/]





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Lessons From My 12 Hour Walk

After a summer hiatus going on adventures and being all sorts of exhausted from the kids being home all summer, Dustin and Family By Heart Podcast announces "We're Back."

In this brief episode, Dustin reintroduces himself for the new listeners and brings everyone up to speed on what he and the family have been up to, unveils a new logo, changes he has been making with his coaching, speaking and podcast focus and teases an exciting new website and opportunity for a coaching program for men/husbands/fathers.

For this exciting new website, check out familybyheart.me.

Socials:

IG: @familybyheartpod

TikTok: @familybyheartpod

X: @familybyheart

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We're Back!

The world of foster care is ever changing and often you'll find it is foster care alumni who are the ones working tirelessly to see that it changes to support the next generation of youth coming through the system. One such person is Jamole Callahan. After spending his teenage years in the foster system with not a whole lot of say as to where he went and what would happen with him, Jamole became an advocate for the rights of the youth growing up in the foster system. He began speaking at large organizations, on Capitol Hill and with smaller non-profits alike and took his advocacy a step further and became a trainer for those looking to become foster parents, using his own experiences to masterfully blend reality with the curriculum of topics presented by state and federal agencies.

In this episode, Jamole returns for his second appearance to give an update on new programs that are coming to help the overwhelmed foster system, how the budget ceiling talks in Washington can affect children and family services, possible bills to throw your support behind and discuss ways that you can support those who are taking on the task of getting involved in the foster system themselves.

For more of Jamole:

IG: instagram.com/jamole_callahan

The Daily Jam on IG: instagram.com/tdailyjam



For Family by Heart:

IG: instagram.com/familybyheartpod

TikTok: tiktok.com/@familybyheartpod

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Foster Youth Advocacy w/ Speaker, Trainer and Advocate, Jamole Callahan

Not all family legacies are created by blood. What it takes to make a family, in
any sense of the word, comes by the heart. Host, Dustin Gruss, is a family
transformational coach and motivational speaker. Gruss and his wife of over 5
years are on a family journey they wouldn't have imagined- when dating both
declared they wanted kids. But God had other plans as their journey includes
infertility, grief/denial, acceptance, foster care and most recently, adoption.
This podcast aims to be a resource for anyone on any part of the infertility,
childfree, pet only, foster care or adoption journey.