Episodes
All episodes of Above Average: The podcast for big families.
From car seats to caravans, from dinner time to bedtime, we’ve covered many topics that big families can relate to.
Dig in to each and every episode of the podcast here.
41: What Do Kids Think About Trump, Clinton, and the 2016 Election?
Kids pick up on more than adults think, especially when it comes to polarizing topics like the 2016 election.
40: The episode without a title (Because Bobby wanted to call it “Don’t Fake the Funk”)
Bobby and Lance are back! We talk about our families’ summer break, back-to-school time, job changes, and Epipens. Quite the grab bag, eh? We wanted to keep it light after taking a break, so this one’s a pretty chill show.
39: You Should Know Your Pharmacist. Guest: Dr. Matt Robinson
We chat with Pharmacist Matt Robinson. When it comes down to it, this episode is all about keeping your family safe and healthy, and saving time and money.
38: Fitting in Fitness – Finding the time to get and stay in shape
It’s time to fit some fitness into your life. Do it for you, your spouse, and your kids. #NoExcuses
37: Not Too Little, Not Too Big – Finding the right-sized home for your big family
Ever wondered what it would be like to be in a much bigger home? Or maybe a smaller one? Lance and Bobby share house stories and talk about how much space you really need.
36: Your Kids vs. Your Marriage – Which is more important?
Your relationship with your spouse is more important than your kids. In this episode, we dig into how and why this is a good thing for your entire family.
35: Interview with Benji Travis of ItsJudysLife, BenjiManTV, and Video Influencers
YouTuber Benji Travis joins Lance to talk about big family life, YouTube success with wife Judy, and what it takes to earn extra money online.
34: Bop that Buckle! – Car Seats & Your Big Family
7 out of 10 children aren’t in their car seats properly. Even big families aren’t immune! In this episode, discover how and why to up your car seat game.
33: Why You Should Ditch Your Resolutions
Ditch your resolutions, and instead learn how to actually accomplish what you want, and discover why it matters to your family.
32: Punch Out – Confession
Notes on frustrations and solidarity in big family parenting.
31: Happy Ho-Ho-Holidays!
Making the most of the holidays with your big family.
30: Raising Thankful Kids – Attitudes & Gratitudes
We’ve broken down this topic into two parts: talking and doing. When you’ve got a bunch of kids, both are important!
29: Interview with Jason Evert, author and speaker on the virtue of chastity
Lance interviews author and speaker Jason Evert about the importance of teaching chastity to your children, especially when you have a big family.
28: MAILBAG – “When did you decide to have a big family?”
We were recently asked by a listener: “When did you decide to have a big family?” And we’ve got easy answers! (Just kidding. Listen to get the full story!)
27: A Big Family – The new status symbol?
In this episode we discuss how Above Average families are a growing trend for the rich, and even seen as a status symbol of money and power in some circles.
26: Punch Out – Beware of Subliminal Inflation
Subliminal inflation has been sneaky trend for years, preying on the bank accounts of shoppers who don’t even know it exists. Learn how to find it and what you can do to overcome it.
24: Francis on the Family: “A Factory of Hope”
Pope Francis has shared some inspiring and encouraging words for those of us with big families. On this episodes, we dig into why they mean so much.
25: Own it! – Teaching Your Kids Personal Responsibility
Bobby and Lance talk about the how and why surrounding parents and the duty to raise children who know the value of personality responsibility.
7: The Clutter of Stuff (Re-air)
Can you relate to ALL THE STUFF an Above Average family has? Is your garage and endless pile of children’s toys, bikes, and balls? Do you store it away? How much do you keep? Tune in to this episode to hear the guys discuss and offer practical tips and simple encouragement.
23: Punch Out – When your work life interrupts family life.
Find yourself dealing with work interruptions – when you’re not at work? Here are a few ways to make the best of it without driving your family crazy.
22: Happy Fall Y’all – 3 Ways to Enjoy Autumn With Your Big Family
In this episode, we talk about a few fun fall family activities that will get you and your big crew enjoying the weather, smells, and tastes of the season.
21: The Bedtime Marathon – On your mark, get set, go (to bed)!
In this episode, we talk about ways to win the bedtime race with your big family. (Protein bars are optional.)
20: Saving Big: Southern Style. Guest: Southern Savers’ Jenny Martin
Jenny Martin of Southern Savers, and a mother of five, joins Lance to discuss working from home while homeschooling your kids, what makes southernsavers.com tick, and of course how to save a ton of money for your big family by using easy-to-use methods.
19: Pros & Cons of a Big Family… according to an Irish Newspaper
If you already have a big family, you could write a “pro / con” list in a heartbeat. But an article we came across had a short list like this that was worth poking fun at.
18: Making Time for Each Kid – Ways to give them individual attention
One of the classic challenges with (or objections to!) a big family is lovingly giving all your kids individual attention. Here are some ways to fix that.
17: You’re About to Get Schooled – Public vs. Private Schools vs. Homeschooling
Let’s talk about the options you have when it comes to educating your big family. We look at the big three – Public Schools (free! close to home!), Private Schools (high quality! faith formation!), and Homeschooling (environment! flexibility!) – and share our experiences with each.
16: Bedroom Arrangements (Do you even *need* beds?)
With lots of kids in your fam, who sleeps where in your house? With lots of kids, who sleeps where in your house? Who gets their own room? Do they make quadruple bunkbeds? When you’ve got an Above Average family, sometimes it’s complicated figuring out this stuff. Lance and Bobby cover all this and more in this episode. You can listen to the show on iTunes or Stitcher, or in the player below: Photo by vastateparksstaff / CC BY...15: Expert guest Chris LoCurto – Personality Styles in Your Big Family
LifePlan & leadership expert Chris LoCurto discusses how knowing your family’s and your own personality styles improves communication and strengthens bonds.
14: The Doctor Is In – Guest: Pediatrician Dr. John Phillips
A pediatrician shares ways to improve doctor’s visits and much more. Dr. John Phillips with Owensboro Health in Owensboro, Kentucky sits down with Lance and discusses taking your big family to see the doctor (specifically cramming lots of bodies in a tiny room), the “screen time” problem, and the benefits he has seen kids experience when they have many siblings. One thing you won’t hear on the show is something you can only see here – this great image from a marketing campaign with Dr. John joined the Owensboro Health / OneHealth Pediatric Center team. John and his wife Holly have 3 wonderful kids, so they know what it’s like to have a “busy” household! Subscribe and listen to this episode on iTunes or Stitcher, or play it...13: Hit the Road Jack – The Travel Show
How to make your big family’s road trip a little better It’s summertime! And for many families that means some road tripping is about to go down. Lance and Bobby tackle a ton in this episode, from tips for trip planning to how to stay sane in the van (or – in some cases – bus), and from eating healthy on the road to dealing with digital devices while traveling. The podcast is live on iTunes now or you can play the episode below: In this episode we mentioned… Bobby and Kat’s favorite list app, Listary:...12: Fame, Fortune, and Feeding Many Mouths – Celebrities with big families
What do Bill Murray, Elon Musk, and P. Diddy have in common? Big fams!
11: More siblings → Fewer divorces. Unpacking a recent study
In this episode, we unpack a recent study from Ohio State University researchers that shows when it comes to preventing divorce in adulthood, the more siblings the better. This is BIG news for big families!
10: Stick a Fork in ‘Em! – Going out to eat with your big family
When you take your big ol’ family out to eat, is it an adventure or pure torture? In Episode 10, the guys discuss the pros and cons of taking a bunch of kids to fast food places and restaurants with table service. And if you listen all the way to the end and finish your food, you get to play on the play place! You can listen to the episode below, but we’d love it if you could subscribe. Don’t know how? Check this out: “How to listen to the show” Show notes: Bobby talked about Michi’s Ladder; Lance talked about Menchie’s Frozen...9: The Moment You Add Another One. (Part 2)
Part 2 of the “*another* new baby” discussion. Lance and Bobby walk through some of their experiences with the hospital stay and the eventual return home with a new baby. You can listen to the episode below, but we’d love it if you would subscribe. Don’t know how? Check this out: “How to listen to the show”...8: The Moment You Add Another One. (Part 1)
Your family’s already big. So, what’s it like when you add another baby to the mix? In the first part of a two-part series, Lance and Bobby go over some of the prep Above Average families do immediately before the new addition arrives. You can listen to the episode below, but we’d love it if you would subscribe. Don’t know how? Check this out: “How to listen to the show” Show notes: We talked about the “meal train” idea. Check out mealtrain.com, but let us know if you’d suggest any...7: The Clutter of Stuff
Can you relate to ALL THE STUFF an Above Average family has? Is your garage and endless pile of children’s toys, bikes, and balls? Do you store it away? How much do you keep? Tune it to this episode to hear the guys discuss and offer practical tips and simple encouragement. You can listen to the episode below, but we’d love it if you could subscribe. Don’t know how? Check this out: “How to listen to the show” Show notes: We discussed Bobby’s bike-rack-thing. See pictures here. You can check out this awesome DIY post with more instructions and photos on building something similar. Listen to this episode on iTunes or Stitcher, or in the player below: Photo by Kevin Utting / CC BY...6: The Host with the Most – Having guests in your home
When you already have a lot of bodies in your home, what are some practical things to consider when you’re hosting even more bodies! In this episode the guys talk about some general ideas to consider when you have family or even another “Above Average” family from out of town coming to visit and stay with you! You can listen to the episode below, but we’d love it if you could subscribe. Don’t know how? Check this out: “How to listen to the show” Show notes: We mentioned our new Facebook page. If you get a sec, go “like” it. That date night we discussed? We spent some time on the pedestrian bridge in downtown Nashville. If you’re ever in town, check it out for some amazing views of the...5: “You’re Having Too Many Kids” – Dealing with what others think
“Are those all yours?” asked the stranger at the grocery store as you maneuvered your brood through the aisles. “Oh my – *another* baby?!” said your mother-in-law after you revealed the big news. In this episode Lance and Bobby discuss catchphrases like these and share how they deal with the pressure society and relatives often put on a growing big family. We also talk about a rockin’ video from the Chapman family from North Carolina. Click here for the story, and here’s the...4: Let’s Hear it for the Moms – The wives join the fellas
Lance and Bobby are joined by their wives, Sarah and Katherine. They introduce themselves, discuss their roles in our big fams, and share some of their favorite “momma moments.“ Photo by Pete Unseth / CC...3: Get. Out. Side! – Sports and other activities with your big family
Fresh air and sunshine is the best cure for restless kids. But kicking your kids outside and getting them involved in sports and extra-curriculars can be a little more challenging when it involves more people and large age...2: Crashing the Party – Hanging out with smaller families
What happens when you bring the party to, well, the party? We’ll explore the pros and cons, and some practical tips on how to (or to not) take over the party when you and your crew roll up to spend some time with a smaller family or kidless...1: Cars and Growing Pains – Vehicles big enough for your crew
Episode 1! We start off by introducing co-host Bobby Ehrhardt. Then we dig in on this week’s topic: a little car talk. But as most big family folks will understand – it’s much more mini-van than muscle car. Finding cars for your big family isn’t impossible, but getting one that fits your budget and is practical to drive around town isn’t really a piece of cake. We’re here to...0: Kickin’ it Off – A brief introduction from Lance
A brief primer on Above Average: The podcast for big families. Host Lance Osborne shares some background and a little preview of what’s in store.