Mostly Thriving Podcast with Amanda + TJ

Our trip to Mackinac Island gave us so many memories we'll cherish forever, but it also brought some real parenting struggles to the surface. In this episode, we're having a candid conversation about what this season has been like for us, because we never want to be the people who only share the highlight reel. This is the mostly part of Mostly Thriving. If parenting feels hard right now,...

Amanda literally got off the plane from Atlanta and sat down to record this episode. We're recapping her Home Depot influencer trip, sharing an update on her mental health journey, and unpacking a wild story from TJ's clinic involving some parking lot drama and getting cussed out. 😳 The tea is piping hot (and slightly delirious) ☕😂

From unpopular opinions to the decline of modern society to whether having doubts makes you a bad Christian-- no topic was off limits in this episode. We had no plan, followed every tangent, and somehow ended up having one of our favorite conversations yet.

WE'RE BAAACKKK with a new audio and video setup! (Huge thanks to our friend Chris Cook for helping us make these adjustments, check out his podcast Win Today , here.) This week we're recapping our family trip up north, the stomach bug that took down our entire house, and the surreal moment Olympic gold medalist, Connor Hellebuyck, visited our DIY hockey rink. Plus, we're addressing you...

We’re answering your biggest marriage questions, opening up about the moments that could’ve changed everything, and sharing the conversations, therapy lessons, and advice that have shaped our relationship. If marriage has ever felt hard, messy, or lonely… this one’s for you ❤️

We have beef with over-the-top bachelorette trip expenses, outdated wedding traditions, and the unrealistic expectations placed on bridal parties — and we NEED to talk about it. In this episode, we’re sharing our honest hot takes on modern wedding culture, the trends we don’t understand, and what we’d actually do differently if we got married today. Whether you’re planning a wedding or just love a...

We’re diving into all your burning questions from last week’s episode, The Chaos Behind the Content: A Real Day in the Life of an Influencer ! From how influencers actually make money (spoiler: it’s not from Instagram) to the real strategies that helped grow Come Stay Awhile into what it is today—nothing’s off limits. If you’ve ever been curious about the business behind the content, this one’s fo...

We’re pulling back the curtain on what a “day in the life” actually looks like as an influencer, business owner, and mom. From brand deals and deadlines to school drop-offs and a full hockey schedule, it’s a busy, chaotic, very real day. Get an honest peak behind the scenes into what it takes to run Come Stay Awhile, and get to know the team that makes it all happen. Plus, we talk boundaries, burn...

We’re getting real about the phase of parenting we’re in right now—and honestly, it’s a tough one. With boys ages 5 and 2, we’re in the thick of it and feeling the challenges. If you’re in a hard season too, this episode is for you. You’re not alone.

This week, Amanda sits down with special guest Jaqueline Chiarot—mom of two, interior designer, and wife of NHL Red Wings defenseman Ben Chiarot. She gives us an honest look at what it’s really like balancing life in the NHL, running a business, and raising two young kids. Jaqueline also shares her take on current design trends and offers encouraging advice for anyone who feels like they’re barely...

We’re spilling all the tea from our spring trip to Anna Maria Island 🌴 From our favorite moments to the things we’d 100% do differently, we’re giving you the full, unfiltered recap—highs, lows, and everything in between. Plus, we’re bringing back the Q+A segment! We answer your questions about debt and finances, reveal next week’s special guest, and Amanda answers which DIY project was her all-ti...

We’re spilling it ALL! We told you to ask us anything… and you absolutely delivered 😂 From our dumbest decisions to how we actually manage our finances, nothing was off-limits and we’re answering it all with full honesty. This is one you don’t want to miss! And if we didn’t get to your question, don’t worry—we’re making Q&A a regular thing in future episodes.

We’re baaaack! Did you miss us? 😅 In this episode, we catch you up on everything from the past two weeks, share our most random “icks,” and put TJ to the test as he tries to guess common girl terms (with mixed results). Let’s just say we weren't exactly thriving this week, between technical difficulties and lingering sickness, it felt like the odds were against us. Nevertheless, we're her...

RERUN: In this episode, Amanda opens up about her lifelong struggle with anxiety and panic attacks and what it’s like navigating that while juggling motherhood, marriage, and two thriving businesses. TJ shares what it was like stepping into a world of anxiety he’d never experienced before, and how it shaped their relationship and parenting. Together, they get honest about perfectionism, fear of fa...

In this episode, Amanda recaps her trip to Hilton Head Island with fellow DIY influencers who’ve grown into real-life friends. We unpack the stigma around influencing, how networking trips have transformed into fun girl trips, and what it's actually like to have 20 influencers in one house. The conversation takes a deeper turn as Amanda shares a powerful moment when she felt a nudge from God t...

From construction noise chaos to car trouble and near-accidents, this episode is the definition of mostly thriving. Amanda shares her streak of lemon cars (including an engine dying before 40,000 miles) and TJ unpacks the “hit & run” situation that felt like a setup. Then we pivot into marriage in the thick of parenting — divorce stats, fighting in front of your kids, the glass ball theory, an...

In this episode, we dive into our current Olympic obsession, share our spicy Valentine’s Day hot takes, and tell the terrifying story of how we almost got kidnapped in Italy. We’re also bringing back Ask the Vet — but with a twist. TJ challenges Amanda to read real client notes from the clinic to see just how much she’s absorbed after 10 years of being married to a veterinarian. It’s chaotic, hila...

This is Part 2 of Debriefing Our 2026 Marriage Meeting—if you missed Part 1, tap here . We continue the conversation about how we set goals, plan for the future, and communicate using this template (from @shawnjohnson and @andreweast) as our guide. From personal growth and parenting to business goals and therapy, we’re setting our intentions for 2026. If you’re trying to grow together, hold each o...

What if stress in marriage isn’t a red flag… but an invitation? In this episode, we break down our “Marriage Meeting” (guided by this template from @shawnjohnson + @andreweast) Every year we have a date night to a align on goals, finances, parenting, faith, health, and the future. From arguing better to dreaming bigger, this is how we stay purposefully aligned.

This week we’re sharing our unfiltered Disney hot takes, vacation delusion moments, and what really happens when routines fall apart. Plus, a real conversation about mom guilt, imposter syndrome, and learning how to set work boundaries when your job never turns off. It's real, it's raw, and it's a good reminder to step back and talk things out with a loved one when you're feeling o...

In this episode, TJ and his grandpa share how faith shaped two generations of veterinary medicine. From rejection and perseverance to building clinics and answering hard calls, they reflect on what it means to follow a true calling. This conversation is a reminder that purpose, obedience, and an “emotional paycheck” matters more than anything else.

We’re reflecting on the wins, the mess, and the growth that defined 2025. From celebrating 10 years of marriage to navigating home projects, faith, and deeper connection. This episode is about slowing down, celebrating milestones, and learning what it really means to be mostly thriving .

This week we’re catching up on our holiday chaos before diving into a very real day-in-the-life of TJ as a veterinarian. From a shattered femur and back-to-back urgent cares, to a behavioral euthanasia, a tongue-laceration emergency, and finally… two adorable puppies saving the day, we walk through the emotional rollercoaster of what vet med really looks like behind the scenes hour by hour.

In this lighthearted episode, Amanda and TJ recap Thanksgiving, talk Q4 chaos, and TJ shares a wild vet clinic story. Then things get competitive with an Agree or Disagree showdown and a very heated Start, Bench, Cut segment. We wrap with some real talk about why Christmas lists feel weird as adults… and a simple challenge that might make someone’s holiday a little brighter. 🎄 Grab your coffee, t...

Today we’re sitting down with Kelsey & Ryan — the powerhouse couple behind @ Newbuild_Newlyweds . With 1.6M TikTok followers, 518K on Instagram, a #3 spot on Forbes’ 2025 Top Home Creators list , and an HGTV debut on Battle of the Beach , they’ve built a DIY empire from the ground up. We talk all about: How their DIY journey started The messy moments nobody sees Ryan leaving engineering Moving...