Baggage Claim
Baggage Claim is a space for blended families, marriage, and friendship.
Here, we dive into real-life conversations about the ups and downs of relationships, from navigating second marriages to unpacking the baggage we all bring. Hosted by Greg and Jessica, who both have rich experiences with love, loss, and family, this community is about sharing stories, learning together, and growing stronger as couples and individuals. Grab a drink and join us as we unpack, laugh, and claim our baggage—one conversation at a time
Episodes
23 episodes
Bros, Babies, and Building a Marriage That Lasts
What happens when you bring a bromance to the podcast table? Pure magic. This episode of Baggage Claim features our son Thomas and his best friend AJ as we explore the fascinating intersection of friendship and marriage.These two young ...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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37:59
Why Kids Don’t Need Perfect Parents—They Need Present Ones
The dance between loving our children and setting appropriate boundaries can be one of parenting's greatest challenges. This becomes even more complex when guilt enters the equation—whether from divorce, loss, or simply wanting to give our kids...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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33:04
"We Built This Together: The Power of Inclusion in Blended Families"
The foundation of any successful blended family begins with intentionality, especially when it comes to involving children in the process. In this deeply personal episode, Greg and Jess take listeners back to the earliest days of their relation...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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41:55
"We Promised You Real – So Here's Real"
There's something powerful about admitting you're in a valley. In this raw and unscripted 20th episode, we break from our usual format to have an honest conversation about the seasons of life we're currently navigating.Greg, Jess, and P...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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55:08
Selfishness vs. Selflessness: The Trade-offs of Marriage (Part 1)
What's the real enemy of a thriving relationship? According to Greg and Jess, it might be something we don't like to admit: selfishness. In this deeply personal and sometimes emotional conversation, the Baggage Claim hosts unpack the complex te...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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43:48
Taco Bell, Talladega Nights, and Talking About Sex
Ever notice how marriage comes with an instruction manual for everything except the bedroom? That silence might be more damaging than you realize.We tackle the conversation every couple needs but few actually have – honest communication...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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40:10
The Argument That Wrote This Episode
Ever sit across from your partner during an argument and wonder why the simplest disagreement suddenly feels like World War III? You're not alone. Every couple fights—it's how you fight that makes all the difference between relationship growth ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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41:54
Curiosity Over Conflict: A New Way to Communicate
Ever wonder why some couples seem to navigate conflicts effortlessly while others get stuck in endless loops of misunderstanding? The secret might be simpler than you think. In this heart-to-heart conversation, we explore a powerfu...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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43:33
Beyond I Do: Creating a Shared Journey That Actually Works
Marriage is a team sport that nobody prepared us for. What happens when two different people try to build a life together? How do you create a truly functional partnership rather than just two people sharing space?Greg and Jess dig deep...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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48:39
We Have No Idea What We're Doing, And That's Perfectly Okay
"We had no idea what we were doing." Those words might not be what you expect to hear from podcast hosts sharing advice about blended families, but that's exactly what makes Baggage Claim so refreshingly honest. In this vulnerable episode, Greg...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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56:24
From Bank Beef to Backyard Vows: Nick & Brandy’s Love Story
What happens when a bank teller and a marketing guy fall in love over karaoke at a country bar? In our first-ever guest episode, we're thrilled to welcome Nick and Brandy Kastner, who bring 19 years of marriage wisdom to the table.Their...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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47:18
Every Moment Matters: How Being Present Creates Lasting Family Memories
Have you ever wondered how to make each child in a blended family feel uniquely valued? Sometimes the answer lies in being purposefully present in both big adventures and small everyday moments.When Greg and I merged our families, we qu...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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47:23
From Burned Furniture to Rebuilt Lives, How loss and healing reshaped our view of faith.
What happens when your faith gets shattered? How do you rebuild trust in something bigger than yourself when life deals devastating blows? This deeply personal episode reveals the spiritual journeys that have profoundly shaped our marriage and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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47:13
The Scheduling Dance of Blended Families
The scheduling dance of blended families might be the most challenging choreography you'll ever learn. In this heartfelt episode, Greg and Jess dive deep into the complexities, frustrations, and unexpected joys of figuring out who gets the kids...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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43:12
Love, Loss, and the Little Things That Matter Most
We're all guilty of seeking that elusive "silver bullet" – the one magical secret that transforms an ordinary marriage into an extraordinary one. But what if the answer isn't found in grand gestures or revolutionary techniques, but rather in si...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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43:12
From Sticky Notes to Strong Roots: Defining Your Family Culture
Family culture doesn't happen by accident. Drawing on corporate experience, we discovered how establishing core values could transform our blended family's dynamics and create an intentional environment for our children to thrive.With s...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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43:04
The Kitchen Table Effect
Picture this: a well-worn table, rescued from an old hunting lodge, standing at the heart of a bustling blended family home. Not particularly beautiful or expensive, but carved with a "P" by small hands and refinished with love. This humble kit...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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49:00
From Victim to Victory: Rewiring Your Perspective on Life and Love
Your perspective shapes everything about how you experience your marriage. Are you constantly focusing on what your partner does wrong, or are you actively looking for the good? In this candid conversation, Greg and Jessica share how their vast...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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45:00
Love in the Blender: Navigating Romance While Raising Four Kids
Greg and Jess share their dating journey from first meeting through getting engaged and married, exploring how they've maintained their relationship while raising four children in a blended family.• Started with Facebook messages and te...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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54:10
The one word we don't use! Unpacking expectations and discipline in our blended family.
Join Jess and Greg as they unpack how they handled expectations for all four kids. We unpack how we handled discipline with all the children and how we managed expectations for everyone in the house on a weekly basis. We also briefly dig into w...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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29:18
Speaking Their Language: How Personality Types Affect Communication
Today we start to unpack the huge topic of communication and expectations. Join Greg and Jess as they unpack how different personality traits influence relationship dynamics and communication.
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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35:03
Scarred & Skeptical
From scarred and skeptical to safe and secure, Greg and Jess brought baggage of trust issues in two very different ways. Join us as we unpack this baggage together!
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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43:24
How did we find ourselves here?
Meet Greg and Jess the ones behind the mic! We're excited to introduce our new podcast where we dive into real-life conversations about the ups and downs of relationships, from navigating second marriages to unpacking the baggage we all bring. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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21:54