The Balanced Family

The Balanced Family podcast is a heartfelt talk about building a family in a polarized, stressed-out world. Ben and Jessica Lagrone, former teachers and parents of three, share their experiences and insights in a way that's relatable, entertaining, and inspiring. They're all about being intentional and talking about the stuff that matters. It’s the perfect blend of deep yet down-to-earth - like sitting down with good friends you can laugh with but also talk about the important things. Pull up a seat and listen in as they try to find more balance in their marriage, parenting, and perspectives.

All episodes

Best episodes

Top 10 The Balanced Family Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Balanced Family episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Balanced Family for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Balanced Family episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

17 Our First Birth Story

The Balanced Family

04/22/25 • 58 min

We’re taking it all the way back to where it started—our first birth story!

In this episode, we share what it was like doing a natural birth at a birthing center, having a midwife, and what we wished we knew beforehand.

From signs of early labor to hospital transfer, avoiding the cascade of interventions, and the emotional rollercoaster of delivery - this story is honest, unfiltered, and packed with lessons we didn’t even know we needed at the time.
Warning: if you're currently pregnant and want to protect your peace of mind you may NOT want to listen because this birth was a bit traumatic in a few ways. However, this is still a beautiful story about finding joy when things don't pan out the way you expect, which is an important part of becoming a balanced family.

In fact, it was this story that planted the seed in our hearts to become content creators.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

WATCH our podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@the.balanced.family
Our Bestselling Childbirth Course: https://www.balancedfamilies.com/birth-class-for-couples
For Good Dads Who Want to Be GREAT: dadclass.net
Get Your Baby (& yourself) More Sleep: https://www.balancedfamilies.com/baby-sleep
Courses, Blog, & Free Stuff: https://www.balancedfamilies.com/

08 How to Be Broke and Live Off Credit Cards (if you must)

The Balanced Family

02/18/25 • 41 min

Ben and Jessica do NOT recommend living off credit cards. But what are you supposed to do when there’s no other option? And how do you stop financial stress from dominating your mind and stealing the joy from your home? Today, you’ll hear step-by-step how the Lagrones ditched their credit cards and became debt-free (mostly). But first, they’ll share a more important part of their journey: how they found contentment even when money was tight. But this episode applies to every family no matter their financial state. In fact, Ben has a special challenge for the couples out there living in abundance. You won’t want to miss this highly practical yet deeply profound discussion about finding authentic financial freedom.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

13 Why We Sleep Trained Our Kids (and How)

The Balanced Family

03/25/25 • 46 min

Few parenting topics spark as much controversy as sleep training. Some swear by it, others call it cruel. But here’s the thing—what if sleep training isn’t what you think it is? What if it’s possible to have a balanced approach – one that is responsive to your baby’s needs and actually helps them develop healthy sleep habits?

In this episode, we’re pulling back the curtain on why (and how) we sleep trained our kids—and why we’d do it again in a heartbeat. Spoiler: it wasn’t harsh, neglecting or self-serving. Instead, it was about balance, sanity, and creating a home where everyone slept better.

Today, we’re tackling:

The biggest myths about sleep training (and why people get it wrong)
How this helped shape our entire parenting philosophy (parent-centric vs. child-centric homes—can there be a balance?)
The practical, non-extreme approach we took to help our babies sleep (without guilt or exhaustion)
Why good sleep isn’t just about the baby—it’s about you, your partner, and your family’s well-being

We’re not saying our approach is the only way for kids to sleep. Far from it! We’re just sharing what worked for us.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

02 The 30 Days That Saved Our Marriage

The Balanced Family

01/07/25 • 37 min

TAKE THE CHALLENGE: Share this episode with your spouse and be sure you both listen to it. Then, commit to the challenge we share in the episode for AT LEAST 14 days (30 days = even better). Email us at ([email protected]) and share how it’s impacted your marriage. We’ll select one lucky couple’s story to read aloud in a future episode and gift them a $100 “date night gift card”! More about this episode:
They say opposites attract, but that wasn’t the case when Ben and Jessica began dating. They were both stubborn, opinionated, and relentlessly passionate. Even as they got married and started a family, it felt like every discussion turned into “intense fellowship” or needless criticism of one another. This constant friction put their marriage on a path towards constant cynicism and disappointment, even if their covenant remained strong. Everything changed when Ben had an idea for a 30-day challenge. Today, you’ll hear their individual versions of the story. While they still can’t agree on when this story took place (hilariously), they both agree it was massively transformative on a personal level and changed the trajectory of their marriage forever.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

01 The Balanced Families Movement: Why the World Wants It, Needs It, But Hates It

The Balanced Family

01/07/25 • 46 min

Welcome to our podcast! This episode is about how we became content creators in 2020, started a business, and began what we’ve coined the “Balance Families Movement.” We hope you’ll join it! We’ll also reflect on how polarized our world has become and how it affects us as parents. The number of decisions we have to make puts our brains on overdrive and the amount of information and opinions out there is just overwhelming. Today, we'll share some of the hard-earned secrets we've found as a couple to maintain joy amidst the grind of family life.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

03 Mom Shaming, Formula Feeding, and the “High Stakes” Decisions that Really Don't Matter

The Balanced Family

01/14/25 • 31 min

The Lagrones have a wild story for you, today. It’s about the circumstances surrounding their lives when they had their third baby and why raising her looked differently than their other kids. On the surface, you might think this is about formula versus breastmilk. But that is FAR from what this episode is about. It’s about knowing when to endure but also knowing when to quit. It’s about making decisions as a united couple and shutting out the noises in your lives. Most importantly, it’s about finding peace in chaos. MEN: don’t think this is episode is just for women. If you want to learn to love your wife better, you need to understand her world (as Ben attempts to today). And this is a just a small glimpse into it. Welcome to the world of MOM SHAME.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

04 Gentle Parenting: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The Balanced Family

01/21/25 • 36 min

Gentle parenting is a parenting style that emphasizes empathy, respect, and connection with children. Social media is full of influencers and “experts” explaining how to use loving and proactive techniques with kids rather than harsh or reactive ones. Sounds great, right? Well, the problem is that many promises of this movement don’t pan out or provide the balance children need. As Ben and Jessica find today, there are many respectable consequences from this movement but also some devastating ones that have emerged over time.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

05 Anxious Parents Raising Anxious Kids

The Balanced Family

01/28/25 • 45 min

Anxiety in children and teens is on the rise. But get this: it’s also on the rise in parents as well. Are the two related? What if parents and kids are in a cycle of worry that’s just feeding off each other? Or what if we’re all talking about anxiety too much and we’re all just anxious about feeling anxious? In this episode, Ben and Jessica share their stories about anxiety, reflect on our fast-changing society, and talk about building a joyful home.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

06 Is Crunchy Life a Better Life?

The Balanced Family

02/04/25 • 45 min

The crunchy lifestyle is big, and as you’ll learn in this two-part series, it’s also big business. What are the benefits and drawbacks parents face when they try to live a more natural, holistic lifestyle? When does the desire to make healthier choices crossover into obsession? In this series, you’ll learn just how crunchy the Lagrones are and how they balance health with convenience.
This series is inspired by the book, Really Very Crunchy: A Beginner's Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life without Adding Them to Your Personality by Emily Morrow.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

07 The Dark Side of Crunchy Life

The Balanced Family

02/11/25 • 41 min

Today, the Lagrones are continuing their discussion about crunchy life. Has crunchiness become too commercialized? Is it all just a conspiracy? How is it affecting this generation of parents (and their kids)? Why do so many crunchy people have “toxic personalities”? Join Ben and Jessica as they go to the dark side of crunchy life but eventually arrive at a conclusion that’s hopeful, empowering, and of course - balanced.
This series is inspired by the book, Really Very Crunchy: A Beginner's Guide to Removing Toxins from Your Life without Adding Them to Your Personality by Emily Morrow.

Text us your thoughts

Support the show

Show more best episodes

FAQ

How many episodes does The Balanced Family have?

The Balanced Family currently has 18 episodes available.

What topics does The Balanced Family cover?

The podcast is about Society & Culture, Personal Growth, Parenting, Kids & Family, Family, Podcasts, Marriage, Self-Improvement, Relationships and Parenthood.

What is the most popular episode on The Balanced Family?

The episode title 'Trailer: The Balanced Family Podcast' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Balanced Family?

The average episode length on The Balanced Family is 40 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Balanced Family released?

Episodes of The Balanced Family are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of The Balanced Family?

The first episode of The Balanced Family was released on Dec 12, 2024.

Show more FAQ

The Balanced Family