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In this powerful episode of The CoCo Blend Podcast, host Jamie Newton-Knight welcomes her first-ever guest who experienced blended family life as a child — Dr. Samantha.

So often, the conversations on The CoCo Blend center around moms, bonus moms, and co-parents. But this time, Jamie flips the script to hear from someone who lived it. Dr. Samantha shares how growing up in a blended family shaped her perspective on love, cooperation, and legacy.

She opens up about the positive relationships between her parents and step-parents, the importance of support systems, and how intentional parenting helped create an environment where love truly overflowed. Together, Jamie and Dr. Samantha remind us that the beauty of blending is not just in how families are formed — but in how children thrive when adults choose unity over ego.

Key Takeaways:

Dr. Samantha grew up in a blended family — and didn’t even realize it because love came first.

Cooperation among parents builds emotional safety for children.

Support systems and intentional choices create lasting impact.

A child’s joy should be a higher priority than adult differences.

The legacy of love we build today shapes generations to come.

🎧 Listen now to hear this inspiring conversation that proves blended doesn’t mean broken — it means beautifully built with love and intention.

About Dr. Samantha Wilson Murfree
Dr. Samantha Wilson Murfree, a proud Mississippi native, is a distinguished leader in higher education, ministry, and community service. She earned a B.A. in Psychology from Tougaloo College, an M.A. in Educational and Counseling Psychology from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and a Ph.D. in Counseling and Student Personnel Services from the University of Georgia. In 2022, she furthered her calling by completing a Master of Arts in Christian Ministries at Liberty University.
With nearly three decades of higher education experience, Dr. Murfree currently serves as Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at Mercer University. She is also the Founder and CEO of Prevailing Woman Ministries, Inc., a nonprofit serving women and teens in need, and the author of four inspirational books, including The Prevailing Woman: A Devotional.
Her leadership and service have earned her multiple honors, including the 2021 Woman of Achievement Award from the Career Women’s Network, the 2023 Women on the Move Award from the Tubman Museum, and the 2024 Uplift Our Community Award from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
An active community leader, Dr. Murfree has served on several local boards and is a member of the Macon (GA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated. Licensed in ministry at Beulahland Bible Church, she shares her life with her husband of 16 years, Dr. Joshua W. Murfree, Jr., their two granddaughters, and their beloved poodle, Zoe Chanel.

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🎙️ New episode alert

In this episode of The CoCo Blend Podcast, Jamie Newton-Knight breaks down the viral custody exchange between Brittany Renner and PJ Washington. What started as a routine handoff quickly escalated into accusations, recordings, and heated words—all while their child cried in the middle.

Jamie shares practical lessons from this situation, including 10 better ways parents can handle tough custody exchanges, a tip of the week for navigating emotional transitions, and a prayer for peace in every home. Get your pens & notebooks ready!

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Why kids sometimes cry during custody handoffs (and why it doesn’t always mean trauma)

How to protect your child’s emotional well-being in tense moments

10 strategies to keep custody exchanges peaceful and respectful

The importance of unity, even when disagreements exist

A prayer for parents navigating co-parenting challenges


Follow Jamie on Instagram, TikTok & YouTube: @blendedblackfamily

Learn more at: thecocoblend.com

Don’t forget to subscribe, hit the notification bell, and share this episode with another parent who needs encouragement!

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In this episode, Jamie sits down with Naja Hall, Master Stepfamily Coach, founder of Blended and Black and VIP Stepmom; and host of I Know I’m CRAZY podcast, to unpack the realities of being a stepmom when the biological mom thrives on conflict. Naja gets candid about her own experience—marrying a man whose ex made co-parenting anything but smooth—and how that shaped her path as a coach and community builder for stepmoms.

Together, Jamie and Naja talk about the emotional weight of high-conflict dynamics, the importance of boundaries, and the resilience it takes to hold your peace when someone is committed to chaos. They highlight the unique pressures stepmoms face and why finding community and strategies is so critical for surviving—and thriving—in a blended family.

Perfect For:
Stepmoms (and their partners) who feel like they’re constantly battling negativity from the other household, and anyone seeking encouragement and practical wisdom for navigating high-conflict co-parenting dynamics.

About my guest: Naja Hall is an entrepreneur, creative, and subject matter expert. As a Certified Coach and Educator, and the brains behind popular communities VIPStepmom and Blended and Black, Naja understands that family is the most influential force in human development. She dedicates her work to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life’s toughest transitions. Naja also hosts the popular podcast I Know I’m Crazy with Naja Hall and is the author of the Amazon best-selling Girl, Bye! book series. Through storytelling and meaningful human connections, her mission is to promote empathy, accountability, and emotional intelligence. Never one to color between the lines, Naja has recently launched Naja Hall Beauty, a makeup and skincare brand that centers on empowering individuals to create their beauty mantras and to feel free to redefine whenever they want.

Don't forget to:

• Subscribe- so you are the first to know when a new episode is released
• Leave a comment with your thoughts
• Share this episode with a stepmom friend who needs encouragement.
• Connect with Naja through Blended and Black, VIP Stepmom, and the I Know I’m CRAZY podcast.
• Follow Jamie on social media @blendedblackfamily for more conversations on co-parenting with grace & grit.

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In this heartfelt episode of The CoCo Blend Podcast, Jamie Newton-Knight offers a mix of encouragement, real talk, and personal reflection for every mom, bonus mom, and blended family builder. Jamie challenges the outdated narrative that only traditional nuclear families are “whole,” and reminds us that love, respect, growth, and effort are what truly make a family strong.

Whether your family blends through marriage, co-parenting, or bonus parenting, this episode will inspire you to see the beauty, resilience, and purpose in your unique dynamic.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

* How to dismantle the “broken” label society puts on blended families.

* Mindset shifts that replace shame, guilt, and comparison with strength, grace, and celebration.

* Affirmations to speak over your family and reframe your narrative.


Tip of the Week:
"There is no blueprint for a perfect family — only a commitment to keep showing up with love."

Jamie shares a Prayer for Blended Families & Closing Reflections

🔥 Don’t forget to:
✅ Subscribe for weekly episodes
✅ Leave a comment with your thoughts or story
✅ Share this with a fellow mama who needs encouragement
✅ Join the CoCo Crew email list for giveaways & sneak peeks → https://crafty-hustler-4023.kit.com/eeab03175b

📲 Connect with Jamie:
Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/blendedblackfamily/?hl=en

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🎙 In this potentially controversial episode, Shana Robinson offers a candid perspective on how women can sometimes contribute to the breakdown of the co-parenting dynamic—and shares a bold comment that may spark strong reactions.

Shana Robinson shares her powerful perspective on co-parenting and the dynamics between parents. She delves into the challenges faced by both men and women in co-parenting scenarios, emphasizing the importance of accountability and mutual respect.

Key Takeaways:
✨️Powerful Men in Co-Parenting: Shana discusses the often overlooked sacrifices made by men in co-parenting situations and the importance of recognizing their contributions.

✨️Desire to Be Great Dads: She highlights that many fathers are eager to be involved and raise their children, and how often the narrative shifts to portray them negatively.

✨️Accountability in Co-Parenting: Shana emphasizes the need for both parties to take accountability and acknowledge their roles in the situation.

‼️Shana also discussed the 4 F's that her and her partner came up with for their family:
Finance
Flame
Family &
Future

🌟Tip of the Week:
Shana's tip of the week was for the listeners to complete an exercise. She encouraged them to create two lists: one listing positives in their co-parenting journey, and another for moments that humble them. She believes healing is a choice and encourages embracing the journey.

This episode was epic 🔥

You can connect with Shana Robinson on:
Instagram: @theshanarobinson.co

💌 Stay Connected:
Loved this episode? Here’s how you can support and stay in the loop:
✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode
✅ Leave a review — it helps other mamas find the show

✅ Share this with a fellow mama who needs encouragement

✅ Join the CoCo Crew email list for giveaways & sneak peeks → https://crafty-hustler...​

🔗 Connect with Jamie:
Instagram & TikTok: @blendedblackfamily
Website: www.thecocoblend.com

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✨ In this heartfelt and empowering episode, Jamie Newton-Knight invites you into a vulnerable conversation about the kind of self-care that rarely gets recognition — but makes all the difference. “The Self-Care No One Sees” is for the mom, the co-parent, the woman doing the deep, internal work without applause. Jamie shares her personal journey of redefining self-care, setting boundaries, and reclaiming peace in motherhood and co-parenting.

This is your gentle reminder: you don’t need permission to protect your energy — but you have it here.

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🎙️ In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

The true meaning of self-care — beyond the Instagram-worthy moments

How quiet self-care shows up in real life, especially for moms and co-parents

Why protecting your peace isn’t selfish — it’s survival

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📝 Tip of the Week:
"Your peace is not a luxury. It’s a necessity. Protect it like your life depends on it — because sometimes, it does."
You are allowed to prioritize your emotional safety, even when others don’t understand. Boundaries are a form of self-love.

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💌 Stay Connected:
Loved this episode? Here’s how you can support and stay in the loop:
✅ Subscribe so you never miss an episode
✅ Leave a review — it helps other mamas find the show

✅ Share this with a fellow mama who needs encouragement

✅ Join the CoCo Crew email list for giveaways & sneak peeks → https://crafty-hustler-4023.kit.com/eeab03175b

🔗 Connect with Jamie:
Instagram: @blendedblackfamily
Website: www.thecocoblend.com

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You're doing a beautiful job, sis. Keep choosing you. The self-care no one sees is shaping the wholeness everyone will.💛

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Happy Father’s Day! In this heartfelt special episode of The CoCo Blend Podcast, Jamie sits down with her husband for an honest and vulnerable conversation about fatherhood, blended family dynamics, and the power of intentional parenting.

Whether you’re a biological dad, bonus dad, or navigating co-parenting as a father figure, this episode is a powerful look at dads' often unspoken emotional journey in blended families.

Together, Jamie and her husband reflect on:

• The challenges of stepping into a blended family with grace
• How he built trust and connection with bonus children
• The importance of communication and unity in parenting
• Why fatherhood is more than just a title — it’s a legacy
• Advice for other dads navigating similar roles

If you’ve ever wondered what support is behind the scenes or how a husband shows up as a partner, parent, and protector, this one’s for you.

Join the CoCo Crew:

Let’s Connect:
Follow Jamie → @blendedblackfamily

Father’s Day podcast, blended family dad, co-parenting fatherhood, bonus dad podcast, black fatherhood, parenting in blended families, stepdad advice, Jamie Newton-Knight, The CoCo Blend Podcast, fatherhood and healing, intentional parenting, family podcast

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In this vulnerable and heartfelt solo episode, host Jamie Newton-Knight gets real about one of the most common — and quietly heavy — parts of motherhood: mom guilt. Whether you’re a biological mom, bonus mom, co-parent, or caregiver, that inner voice saying “you’re not doing enough” can feel overwhelming.

Jamie shares her personal experience navigating guilt as a co-parent in a blended family and opens up about the unrealistic expectations that society often places on moms. From missing moments to questioning decisions, she unpacks the emotional toll of trying to do it all — and how she’s learning to release shame and embrace grace instead.

💛 What You’ll Hear:

• The root causes of mom guilt in modern motherhood
• How co-parenting dynamics can add pressure and confusion
• Jamie’s personal struggles with letting go of perfectionism
• Practical mindset shifts to help you extend grace to yourself
• A reminder that being a “good mom” doesn’t mean being everything to everyone

🌟 Tip of the Week:

📣 Support the Show:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
• Share this episode with a mama friend who’s been hard on herself lately
• Join the CoCo Crew email list for early episode access, giveaways & updates → JOIN HERE

🔗 Connect with Jamie:

Instagram: @blackblendedfamily

💬 Join the Conversation:

What does mom guilt look like in your world? DM Jamie or tag her on social to share your story. Let’s keep breaking the silence and rewriting what it means to mother with love and intention.

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