What happens when you take your children beyond their comfort zones and witness them discover their own capacity for resilience? In this deeply moving episode, we share the transformative pilgrimages our family undertook across Europe's ancient paths - the Camino de Santiago and the Via Francigena.

Alex reveals how his journey with 10-year-old Grayson became a pivotal moment in their relationship, creating space for honest conversations and emotional growth. Walking 96 miles in just six days, they faced physical exhaustion, torrential downpours, and emotional breakdowns. But within these challenges, they discovered something profound - that showing up authentically during difficult moments creates the foundation for deep trust. "I want you to know that whenever it gets challenging, I'll always be here with you," Alex told his son during a breakdown in the forest. "I can't make it easier. I won't make it easier, but I'll be here with you."

The story takes another remarkable turn when our 6-year-old daughter Linavelle joined her brothers on the Via Francigena pilgrimage through Italy. Despite our initial doubts, she never once asked to be carried, demonstrating that children are capable of extraordinary feats when given the opportunity. Through flooded paths, mountain passes, and even being rescued by park rangers during a storm, our children revealed strengths we hadn't fully recognized.

These pilgrimages represent more than physical journeys - they're metaphors for parenting itself. By creating intentional challenges and supporting our children through them, we help them build the confidence they'll need to navigate life's inevitable difficulties. As we navigate our own journey through grief after losing our son Liam, these experiences remind us that resilience isn't about avoiding pain but about walking through it together, one step at a time. Join us for this intimate exploration of growth, connection, and the beauty that emerges when we dare to walk beyond our perceived limitations.

Have you ever stumbled upon exactly what you needed—or what your children were longing for—at the most unexpected moment? That's precisely what happened when our family climbed the steep steps into the medieval fortress town of Capranica, Italy, and found ourselves in the middle of a Star Wars cosplay festival, just weeks after our children had reluctantly parted with their beloved Star Wars helmets.

Capranica marked a significant transition in our family's journey. After months of fast-paced travel across Europe, this three-week stay at a tranquil hazelnut orchard gave us the breathing room to establish sustainable rhythms for our world-traveling family of seven. Without a vehicle, we embraced walking everywhere—from half-mile treks to collect firewood (which became our children's favorite chore) to five-mile hikes along the ancient Via Francigena pilgrimage trail connecting medieval towns.

The slower pace allowed us to address important family dynamics, particularly redefining our traveling arrangement with Katherine. Through thoughtful, honest conversations, we realized that for everyone to truly thrive, Katherine needed freedom to pursue her own healing journey rather than remaining in a supporting role for our family. This brave restructuring created space for authentic growth on all sides—our children developed greater independence taking on household responsibilities, Katherine began exciting solo adventures across Europe, and Alex and I deepened our understanding of what our family truly needed.

What challenging conversations have you been putting off that might actually create more freedom for everyone involved? Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is release expectations and allow each person to find their own path—even when that means significant changes to our original plans.

Join us for this heartfelt exploration of slow living, unexpected adventures, and the courage to make changes when something isn't serving everyone involved. Subscribe to follow our journey as we prepare for our next chapter: communal living with other families in Portugal.

Have you ever found yourself saying "that's too expensive" while simultaneously dreaming of financial abundance? Our journey through Monaco revealed this exact contradiction in our own thinking. With 33% of Monaco residents being millionaires, the environment of extreme wealth forced us to confront our limiting beliefs about money and success.

The true revelation came when we realized how our language around finances was shaping our family's reality. We'd been caught in the trap of scarcity thinking, focusing on what we couldn't afford rather than how we could create more abundance. This breakthrough shifted our entire approach - especially with our children. Instead of saying "we can't afford that," we now ask "how can we make money for that?" This simple change has transformed our five kids into budding entrepreneurs, actively participating in generating income for our family goals.

Our time in Naples and the small town of Baronisi became a laboratory for living these new values. Morning walks with our youngest son Liam created precious one-on-one time rarely possible in a large family. Meanwhile, an unexpected opportunity arose when Alex was recruited to play quarterback for an Italian American football team - presenting a choice between pursuing a personal dream and staying committed to our family's travel vision.

This episode delves into the heart of family decision-making, values clarification, and the courage to choose what truly matters. Whether you're planning your own family adventure or simply seeking to align your finances with your deepest values, our story offers both inspiration and practical approaches for creating the life you truly desire. What would change in your family if you shifted from limitation to possibility thinking? The answer might surprise you.

What happens when a special needs child runs away in a foreign country? How do you navigate cliff-side dangers with a fearless daughter? And why would anyone stuff 12 people into a 5-person rental car in Sicily?

Welcome to the beautiful chaos of world travel with five children in tow. In this raw and revealing episode, we pull back the curtain on our European adventures, sharing the moments that Instagram never shows – from the panic of searching for our daughter in Toulouse to the disappointment of arriving at a "perfect surf town" in Portugal only to find freezing cold water and constant wind.

Our journey through Portugal and Sicily reveals how expectation repeatedly collided with reality as we navigated tiny apartments, budget constraints, and the unique challenges of traveling with our special needs daughter. When Linavelle bolted from a taxi and was found by a concerned stranger who didn't believe Alex was her father, we faced one of our most terrifying travel moments.

The episode explores not just destinations but the transformative power of discomfort and adaptability. We discuss how military connections provided unexpected support in Sicily, how we learned to set boundaries when coordinating travel with friends, and why the challenging moments ultimately became our most cherished memories.

For families contemplating extended travel, this conversation offers honest insights into the logistics, financial considerations, and emotional resilience required. Rather than presenting a highlight reel, we share the messy, imperfect, and utterly life-changing reality of pursuing adventure with children in tow.

What travel mishaps have taught you the most? We'd love to hear your stories of expectation versus reality in the comments, and don't forget to subscribe for part two where we'll continue our Italian adventures!

What happens when you uproot your life, sell everything, and decide to travel the world with five children? The gap between expectation and reality becomes your greatest teacher.

In this raw and honest conversation, we dive into our first steps into global family travel after leaving the Dominican Republic in June 2024. Far from the curated Instagram version of nomadic family life, we share the beautiful chaos that unfolded - from our daughter Linavelle's sudden, intense fear of flying (picture a "wild animal trying to claw her way out of the airplane") to landing in a small French airport with no transportation and zero French language skills.

We thought we had it figured out - using Skyscanner's "explore everywhere" feature to find affordable destinations, excited to document everything for a YouTube channel that never materialized. Instead, we learned that the cheapest flights often lead to the most expensive countries, that European summer doesn't guarantee warm weather, and that jet lag with five kids can keep you housebound until mid-afternoon for days.

The real adventure wasn't in the sightseeing but in the adjustments - navigating public transportation with Star Wars helmets and multiple suitcases, discovering that eight people (after my sister joined us) need triple the groceries you'd expect, and recalibrating our expectations almost daily. Yet these challenges became our greatest gifts, teaching our children resilience and problem-solving in real time.

Our journey reveals how families can use the same tools that work at home - deep breathing, honest communication, and respecting autonomy - to navigate the unpredictable nature of travel. We've learned that the messy middle between what we imagined and what actually happened is where the real magic lives.

Have you found yourself needing to adapt when life doesn't match your expectations? We'd love to hear how you've navigated those spaces between.

Two years after our last episode, we're breaking the silence to share the unexpected twists and profound revelations from our journey abroad. What began as a strategic move to the Dominican Republic—seeking affordable living and family support as we welcomed our fifth child—evolved into something far more transformative than we ever anticipated.

When we left Florida in May 2023, we had a clear vision: find a beautiful home near the beach, hire household help to free us from domestic responsibilities, and create space for both parents to fully bond with our newborn. The military-to-civilian transition had been challenging, especially after Alex's abrupt discharge for refusing the COVID vaccine. Dominican Republic offered not just beautiful beaches and surf spots for our kids, but a financial breathing room that allowed us to reimagine family life entirely.

Just as we were settling into our routine, an unexpected notice from our landlord refusing to renew our lease became the catalyst for our greatest adventure yet. Rather than simply finding another apartment, we asked: "Why not travel the world?" Within weeks, we had sold nearly everything we owned, packed our lives into six suitcases, and embarked on a journey that would test and transform us in ways we couldn't have imagined.

Throughout this raw, unedited series, we'll share how living outside the American bubble has changed our perspective on everything—from healthcare (where we've received better care as veterans abroad than we ever did in the States) to the delicate balance between structure and freedom after military life. We'll tell the story of our travels, the communities we've discovered, and the heartbreaking loss of our son Liam that has deepened our commitment to living authentically and sharing our truth.

Join us as we explore what it means to challenge conventional wisdom, find purpose beyond borders, and create a life of meaning while holding space for both individual dreams and family vision. If you've ever wondered what lies beyond the familiar or how to navigate life's unexpected turns with both grace and determination, this series is for you.

Join hosts Jessyl and Alex Lange as they discuss conscious leadership tools that have transformed their lives, offering prompts and exercises that you can use in your own life. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, Jessyl and Alex emphasize the importance of taking responsibility and approaching life with curiosity and a growth mindset instead of blame and victimhood. You'll learn how to break negative thought patterns, communicate effectively in relationships, and create win-win solutions. This podcast is a must-listen for anyone seeking growth and positivity!

[00:00:00] Challenges and Upcoming Plans Amidst a Move

[00:03:50] Conscious Leadership Tools and Mindset Shift
[00:07:43] Taking Responsibility and Building Conscious Connection
[00:11:11] Personal Growth Through Adversity
[00:14:50] The Power of Asking Questions
[00:18:18] Taking responsibility for personal problems
[00:22:11] Steps for Resolving Relationship Conflicts
[00:25:46] Changing Household Responsibilities in Relationships
[00:29:19] Creating a vision with your spouse
[00:32:26] Taking 100% Responsibility for Outcomes

Alex and Jessyl were excited to start a new business venture together in 2019. After a short 3 years it came to an end. On this podcast we discuss what this experience was like and what lessons we learned. Tune in to hear what’s next for us.

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