The 200% Marriage Podcast with Meredith & Craig - Episode 121

We’re throwing the challenge flag on ourselves. 🚩

For 120 episodes, we’ve been the podcast world’s best-kept secret under the name "The Road of Life." But let’s be real - if you’re looking for a kick-ass marriage, that show name doesn't exactly scream "results." It was fine. And around here, "fine" is a four-letter word we don't settle for.

Welcome to Episode 1 of The 200% Marriage Podcast (and episode 121 of our journey).

In this episode, we’re officially re-branding and kicking off a brand-new podcast era where we are taking you behind the scenes of our new book, The 200% Marriage.

We’re talking about the cover art that almost looked like a formal wedding invitation (yuck), why our family has no idea what we actually do for a living, and the "testes" (testimonials) that include everything from spelling debates to creepy wingmen.

Inside this episode, you’ll hear:

• The Challenge Flag: Our favorite tool for navigating uncomfortable conversations without attacking your partner. And how we threw it on ourselves this week.

• The Cover Story: How we went from "formal wedding vibes" to a cover that looks like "going into the mountains to have sex" (thanks, Aunt Val!).

• The Dedication: A heartfelt tribute to Mer's dad and why this book is for anyone ready to stop being roommates.

• The Forward: A special reading of the forward written by our mentor and friend, Greg L. Kimble

What’s Next? Since you asked (repeatedly), we are making the podcast the "audiobook" version of The 200% Marriage. Every week, we’ll read a chapter and then dive into a chit-chat about stories from the "cutting room floor" that didn't make it to print.

Grab the Book: Amazon.com ; Amazon.ca

Marriage and Business Strategy Call: link to booking calendar

Connect with Lora Brown (The Cover Genius): https://lifedesignduo.com/

Road of Life Podcast Episode 120

Do you ever feel like money is the invisible elephant in the room? Like you're one unexpected bill away from a "Wednesday money fight," or worse, you're just using the "ostrich technique" and keeping your head in the sand?

Enter Connor Tyson.

Connor is a financial coach, former advisor of over 20 years, and the founder of Progress Solutions. He helps couples and married entrepreneurs stop the cycle of avoidance and start winning with money as a team.

In this episode, Connor gets real about why knowledge isn't the problem - Google solved that years ago - and why your habits, behaviors, and "why" are what actually move the needle.

He shares a powerful framework he learned from a veteran firefighter that transformed his own marriage, and he’s dropping it right here for you.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The Firefighter Framework: The four essential tenets for a secure marriage and financial life—Over-communication, Loyalty (having each other's back), People over Possessions, and—our favorite—having Fun.

The "Hopes and Worries" List: A simple, vulnerable exercise to align your visions and uncover the hidden fears that are quietly driving your financial decisions.

Knowledge vs. Habits: Why knowing what to do (spend less, save more) isn't enough, and how to bridge the gap by focusing on deep-rooted behaviors and values.

The 15-Minute Stand-up: Why you don't need a formal, scary spreadsheet meeting at the kitchen table, and how a quick, regular check-in on the couch keeps you aligned in a low-emotion state.

Team Strengths: How to appreciate your partner’s complementary financial strengths (like the "big picture" thinker vs. the "organized admin") instead of letting them frustrate you.

Breaking the Ice: How sharing your "biggest boneheaded money move" can remove the shame and awkwardness, making it safe to talk about finances again.

If you're ready to turn money from a "horrible master" into a "really good servant" for your marriage and your business, this conversation is pure gold.

Road of Life Coaching Resources with Meredith & Craig:

• Get "The 200% Marriage" book (if you haven't already):

  • Amazon.com: https://amzn.to/3NnsXaC

  • Amazon.ca: https://amzn.to/3LEprYT

• Marriage + Business Strategy Session: https://200percentmarriage.com/strategycall

• Infinite Relationship Mastermind: https://the200percentmarriage.com/irmapplication

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithandcraig/meredithandcraig

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithandcraig/

Connect with Connor:

• http://www.progressfc.com/

• Facebook and Instagram: @connortyson

Ever feel like your business is a chaotic mess and you’re one bad day away from becoming a total cranky turd forever?

Enter Michael Rosa. Michael isn’t your average "operations guy"—he’s a value-creation ninja with over 20 years of experience scaling multimillion-dollar companies. But don't let the resume fool you; he’s just a kid from Boston who kept saying yes and then figuring out how.

In this episode, we’re peeling back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a thriving business without losing your soul (or your marriage) in the process. From his grandfather’s abacus to why he’s currently obsessed with AEO, Michael brings that rare mix of Boston grit and "Martial Arts Sensei" wisdom.

In this episode, we’re geeking out on:

• The "Hatched" Philosophy: Why Michael’s Boston upbringing and a $1.65/hour stock boy job were the ultimate MBA.

• Why Failure is a Superpower: How to take a "faceplant" on the mat and turn it into your biggest business advantage.

• Grandpa’s Gold: Lessons from a man who came through Ellis Island, wrote poetry, and knew that your reputation is the only balance sheet that matters.

• Mentorship is a Cheat Code: How to compress decades of mistakes into days of progress (and why "nobody fails" is the ultimate team motto).

• The Sound of Making Money: Why Michael misses those old-school noisy cash registers and what it teaches us about tracking the right stuff.

• The 2026 Vision: Why we’re officially putting "Get an MGM Roaring Lion" on our to-do list for Road of Life Studios.

If you’re ready to scale your business, create massive value, and have a few laughs while we talk about Lebanese poetry and logistics, this conversation with Michael is your new favorite listen.

Road of Life Coaching Resources with Meredith & Craig:

• Get "The 200% Marriage" book (if you haven't already):

  • Amazon.com: https://amzn.to/3NnsXaC

  • Amazon.ca: https://amzn.to/3LEprYT

• Marriage + Business Strategy Session: https://200percentmarriage.com/strategycall

• Infinite Relationship Mastermind: https://the200percentmarriage.com/irmapplication

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithandcraig/meredithandcraig

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithandcraig/

Connect with Michael:

• Website: mjr-advisors.com

Road of Life Podcast Episode 118

Are you living for today at the expense of your tomorrow? 90% of Americans are currently living paycheck to paycheck, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Meet Bill Walters. Bill is a financial guide who helps families move from fear and doubt into a lifestyle of abundance. After spending six years caring for his mother through dementia, Bill realized that most people aren't prepared for the "golden years" neither financially nor emotionally.

In this episode, Bill shares his powerful "Origin Story"—from being transported to school in a little red wagon to fulfilling a deathbed promise to his father. He bridges the gap between high-level financial strategy and the raw, beautiful reality of what it means to truly love and serve your family.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The Definition of Love: Why love is simply filling a need in the moment, whether it's unloading the dishwasher or game-planning for retirement.

The "Hatched" Mindset Shift: Moving from a mindset of control and fear to one of love, light, and 100% accountability.

Operational Savings: Practical ways to reduce healthcare costs by up to 70% and redirect that "coffee money" into a tax-free nest egg.

Breaking the Instant Gratification Cycle: How to live on 80% of your income so your money starts working for you, rather than you working for it.

The "Told You So" Retirement: Why listening to expert advice now prevents you from working as a Walmart greeter at age 87

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Road of Life Coaching Resources with Meredith & Craig:

Get on the list for book updates so you don’t miss any of the fun: www.200percentmarriage.com/intheloop

Pre-order "The 200% Marriage" book (it'll change your life and help us make it a best seller): www.the200percentmarriage.com/preorder

Marriage + Business Strategy Session: https://200percentmarriage.com/strategycall

Infinite Relationship Mastermind: https://the200percentmarriage.com/irmapplication

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithandcraig/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithandcraig/

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Connect with Bill Walters:

Website: www.perfectlyimperfectfamilies.com

Phone: 267-278-506

Road of Life Podcast Episode 117

Don't Let Your Business Growth Become Your Marriage’s Funeral

Ever feel like you’re winning at the office but losing at home? Like you’re building a legacy for your family, yet you’re becoming a stranger to the person sitting across from you at dinner?

Meet Rob Tracz. Rob is a high-performance coach, keynote speaker, and the founder of Prime Performance Coaching.

But before he was helping entrepreneurs master resilience and clarity, he was learning the hard way what happens when you prioritize the "hustle" over the human you love.

In this episode, Rob gets incredibly vulnerable about the lessons he learned from neglecting his relationships early in his journey.

He’s here to make sure you don’t have to hit rock bottom to realize that your business will only ever grow as strong as your marriage does.

We talk about the "lonely at the top" trap, the myth of "someday," and why your spouse should be your primary partner not your secondary thought.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The Resilience Blueprint: How Rob helps high-achievers develop the mental toughness to handle business stress without taking it out on their partner.

• Relationship Debt: Why "working hard now to relax later" is a dangerous lie that leaves your marriage bankrupt before you ever reach the finish line.

• The Clarity Shift: How to stop "performing" for your spouse and start being present (even when the Slack notifications are blowing up).

• Avoiding the "Roommate Phase": Practical steps to maintain consistency in your connection so you don't wake up five years from now wondering who you're living with.

• The Authority of Ownership: Why taking 100% responsibility for your mistakes including butchering last names (sorry, Rob!) is the fastest way to build trust.

If you’re ready to scale your business without sacrificing the people who matter most, this conversation with Rob Tracz is a non-negotiable listen.

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Road of Life Coaching Resources with Meredith & Craig:

Get on the list for book updates so you don’t miss any of the fun: www.200percentmarriage.com/intheloop

Pre-order "The 200% Marriage" book (it'll change your life and help us make it a best seller): www.the200percentmarriage.com/preorder

Marriage + Business Strategy Session: https://200percentmarriage.com/strategycall

Infinite Relationship Mastermind: https://the200percentmarriage.com/irmapplication

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithandcraig/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithandcraig/

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Connect with Rob:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robtracz

Podcast: Surviving the Side Hustle

Website: primeperformancecoaching.com

Road of Life Podcast Episode 116

Bridge the Transition from "Student" to "Professional" (Without the Family Drama)

Do you have a brilliant young adult at home who is a rockstar on paper but totally stuck on how to actually start their life? Are you ready to reclaim your "empty nest" but feel like you're stuck in a loop of misunderstandings with your mini-adults?

Meet Minetta Minor.

Minetta is the founder and CEO of Guiding Future Success, and she has spent over 30 years mastering the art of recruiting and leadership. She noticed a massive gap: students are working so hard to get the grades that they often forget to build a strategy for the "real world."

As marriedpreneurs, we know that when your kids are struggling to launch, that stress doesn't stay in their lane it follows you into your marriage and your business.

In this episode, Minetta shares how she acts as the guide to help young adults find fulfillment and professional confidence, so parents can stop being the "bad guy" and start being the supporters.

In this episode, we dig right into the power of curiosity, why you should always say "yes" to growth, and exactly how to stay a lifelong learner.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The "Strategic Gap": Why a high GPA doesn't automatically equal a job offer and how to bridge the gap between graduation and a career with intentionality.

• The Power of "Why Not?": Minetta’s journey from a 17-year-old intern to leading a global team of 75 by leaning into curiosity instead of fear.

• Mediating the Gap: How Minetta acts as a neutral third party to translate between parents who want their kids launched and young adults who feel overwhelmed.

• Real-Time Coaching: Why she literally walks the floor of job fairs with her clients to role-play and tweak their approach in the moment - the ultimate "boots on the ground" support.

• The BHAG for 2026: Minetta speaks her "Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal" into existence a one-stop-shop community for young professionals to handle everything from careers to mental health and finances.

If you’re ready to help your young adult find their path (and get your house back in the process), this conversation is dropping serious gold.

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Road of Life Coaching Resources with Meredith & Craig:

Get on the list for book updates so you don’t miss any of the fun: www.200percentmarriage.com/intheloop

Pre-order "The 200% Marriage" book (it'll change your life and help us make it a best seller): www.the200percentmarriage.com/preorder

Marriage + Business Strategy Session: https://200percentmarriage.com/strategycall

Infinite Relationship Mastermind: https://the200percentmarriage.com/irmapplication

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithandcraig/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithandcraig/

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Connect with Minetta:

Learn more about Minetta: www.guidingfuturesuccess.com

Follow her on Instagram: @guidingfuturesuccessllc

Road of Life Podcast Episode 115:

Happy New Year! In this episode of the Road of Life podcast, we dive into our personal "Year-End Reflection and Goal Setting" process to help you kick off 2026 with clarity and connection.

As marriedpreneurs, we know (from experience) that our business success is tied to our marriage success, and that starts with getting aligned on where you're headed.

We discuss why typical New Year’s resolutions usually fail (often by January 17) and offer a more sustainable alternative: Performance-Based Goals.

Instead of just focusing on the "outcome" (like hitting a revenue number), we get into how focusing on daily habits and things within your control bypass the usual obstacles like fear of failure and procrastination and builds real momentum.

Key highlights include:

• The "Word & Song" Vibe: How choosing a theme song and a "word of the year" helps set your subconscious energy. Tune in for our words and songs for 2026.
• Digital Vision Boards: Our hack for keeping goals front-and-center by creating custom phone lock screens that serve as a constant "subconscious jolt."
• Letters to the Future: The power of writing a letter on New Year’s Eve to your future self, documenting your wins as if they’ve already happened, and the fun and (often) surprise of reading what "past you" prioritized.
• Holistic Goal Setting: Why it’s critical to set goals across five key areas -Professional, Personal, Relationship, Health/Vitality, and Community – to ensure you don't build a business at the expense of your happiness.

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Road of Life Coaching Resources with Meredith & Craig:

Get on the list for book updates so you don’t miss any of the fun: www.200percentmarriage.com/intheloop

Pre-order "The 200% Marriage" book (it'll change your life and help us make it a best seller): www.the200percentmarriage.com/preorder

Marriage + Business Strategy Session: https://200percentmarriage.com/strategycall

Infinite Relationship Mastermind: https://the200percentmarriage.com/irmapplication

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithandcraig/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithandcraig/

Recency bias is a sneaky little liar. It makes us forget the mountain we climbed in January just because we’re staring at a different one in December.

In this episode, we’re going old school - just Mer and Craig - to take you with us on our end of year reflection... which turned into our 2025 recap. We’re pulling back the curtain on the wins (like becoming best-selling authors and launching our Mastermind) and the "bruises" that taught us more than a textbook ever could.

We’re diving deep into:

• The Year of the Book: How writing The 200% Marriage together was the ultimate relationship test (and spoiler: we passed).

• Choosing Your "Hard": Why being an entrepreneur is a beautiful mess and how resilience became our superpower this year.

• The "F*ck Yes" Filter: Learning to spot your people and realizing that if it’s not a "F*ck Yes," it’s a "F*ck No."

• Integrity Recessions: Dealing with the disappointment of others not sharing your values, and how to hold boundaries even when it’s "uncomfortable as f*ck."

• Vulnerability Hangovers: Craig’s "worst nightmare" stage moment and why speaking from the heart beats a memorized poem every. single. time.

Losing Mer’s dad made this year of "firsts" one of our hardest personal years, but it also solidified why we do what we do. Relationships are the only thing that matters in an AI-driven world.

Grab a cup of tea (or two if you double fist 'em like Mer does) and join us as we pump our own tires, celebrate the life-changing shifts our clients made, and prep to our hard lessons into an even bigger 2026.

Remember: Small hinges swing big doors, but reflection builds the frame.

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Road of Life Coaching Resources with Meredith & Craig:

Get on the list for book updates so you don’t miss any of the fun: www.200percentmarriage.com/intheloop

Pre-order "The 200% Marriage" book (it'll change your life and help us make it a best seller): www.the200percentmarriage.com/preorder

Marriage + Business Strategy Session: https://200percentmarriage.com/strategycall

Infinite Relationship Mastermind: https://the200percentmarriage.com/irmapplication

Episode 105: Curiosity over Conflict: The Secret Weapon for Marriedpreneurs with Jami & Rocco Montana: https://roadoflifecoaching.com/podcast/b/episode105

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meredithandcraig/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meredithandcraig/