The Nacho Kids Podcast: Blended Family Lifesaver

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori talks with Katt Johnston, a mental health professional, educator, and content creator focused on family estrangement, emotional systems, and the impact of mental health culture on relationships. Kat shares her journey of becoming a leading voice in estrangement after a viral TikTok video, and dives deep into how therapy and societal trends can sometimes harm family relationships by over-validating discomfort rather than building resilience.
Topics discussed:
Nuances between genuine and manufactured discomfort leading to estrangement
The devastating effects of parental alienation in stepfamilies
The roles validation and social media play in conflict
Advice for estranged parents and stepparents on how to cope, maintain boundaries, and support each other.
The importance of pre-planning for blended family events
Handling unequal treatment
The need for better mental health ethics and court education on alienation.
Listeners will gain insights on the importance of self-care for estranged parents, strategies to avoid further damage to family relationships, and how society and therapy culture may need to shift towards more balanced support and accountability. The episode concludes with information on Katt's coalition for ethical mental health standards and a reminder that stepfamily life, while challenging, can still be good when you nacho.

** Disclaimer:
This episode includes discussion of addiction, overdosing, and alleged inappropriate touching between a stepparent and stepchild **

In this episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori sits down with longtime friend Tabatha Hartman to discuss her challenging journey through grief, blending families, addiction, and parental alienation. Tabatha shares how her life changed after the loss of her ex-husband, the struggles her daughter endured, and the tough choices she faced as a mother and stepmom. The conversation delves into issues such as therapy for grieving children, navigating false allegations, maintaining boundaries, and building resilience amid chaos. Tabatha Hartman also talks about her memoir, "How Did We Get Here?", written to help others facing similar struggles. The episode offers raw, honest insight into coping with loss, healing family relationships, and the ongoing impact of addiction.
In this episode, we discuss:
Coping with the death of a co-parent and its effects on blended families

Parenting through grief and supporting children after loss

Legal battles and parental alienation within stepfamilies

The impact of addiction and relapse on families

Setting boundaries and making difficult decisions as a parent

The journey of repairing and rebuilding fractured parent-child relationships

The reality of false allegations and how to navigate them

Writing as a tool for processing grief and trauma

The ongoing effects of addiction and generational cycles

How open communication and resilience can help families move forward

Comparisons are the Thief of Joy—But What About in Blended Families?
In episode NKP362 of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Lori and David dive deep into the pitfalls of comparison, especially when it comes to blended families, kids, and relationships.
Listeners will hear personal stories from Lori about her son Jackson's academic achievements and the emotions that arise when comparing him to David's children. Together, Lori and David candidly discuss how easy it is to compare kids, relationships, and even possessions, leading to unnecessary feelings of inadequacy and frustration. They reveal their distinct perspectives on academic success, parenting expectations, and why it's crucial to focus on each person's unique strengths instead of measuring up to others.
In this episode:
Why comparison in blended families can be harmful

How Lori and David navigate differences in their children's achievements

The importance of recognizing individual strengths and backgrounds

Why it's better to compare yourself only to the person you were yesterday

If you'd like to be a guest on our podcast, email us at [email protected].
If you are struggling in your blend, or just want to better your blended relationships (including your relationship with your partner), join the Nacho Kids Academy at nachokidsacademy.com today!

We offer one-on-one coaching and couples coaching. If you are interested, email us at [email protected] to check our availability.

In this episode, Lori and David dig into real-life stepfamily scenarios from handling dinnertime food drama with stepkids, to discovering vapes hidden in a teenager's room. They discuss the importance of keeping the "target off your back" as a stepparent, sharing strategies for maintaining household harmony and reducing stress, like letting dad handle his child's plate or calmly informing the bio parent about the contraband instead of taking action yourself. The hosts get candid about how small moments can trigger deeper frustrations and how most conflicts fade with time.
In this episode:
Tips for reducing daily stress as a stepmom or stepdad

Why "nachoing" can lead to better stepfamily relationships

Creative ways to share responsibility with your partner

Pros and cons of handling stepkid secrets and discipline

The long-term perspective: laughing about today's drama years down the road

Heartwarming and hilarious stories from the hosts' own experiences, including the joys of being a supportive step-parent and the misadventures of parenting

In this heartfelt episode of the Nacho Kids Podcast, Valerie Mills shares her remarkable story of becoming a stepmom who ultimately adopted her stepdaughter, overcoming immense obstacles and heartbreak along the way.
Listeners will journey with Valerie Mills as she details the emotional and legal complexities of her family's story, from rescuing her stepdaughter from a difficult home environment at age 7, to navigating the revolving door of foster care, facing her own battle with cancer, and overcoming domestic abuse. Hear how Valerie Mills fought for custody, the surprising ease of the adoption process as a single parent, and the pivotal moments where unconditional love triumphed over adversity.
This episode covers:
The unique challenges of blended families and step-parent adoption

Navigating the foster care system and the importance of stability for traumatized children

Open, candid discussions about mental health, resilience, and healing after trauma

The power of chosen family and how more love supports a child's growth

You'll also hear touching anecdotes about mother-daughter dynamics, ongoing struggles with biological parents, the importance of extended support systems, and practical tips for anyone considering adoption or dealing with family court.
Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this inspiring story with someone who needs to know they're not alone on this journey!