Ep 387 Building an Extraordinary Family Life with Greg and Rachel Denning

Zach sits down with Greg and Rachel Denning, parents of seven, world travelers, authors, and coaches who have built a marriage around adventure and intentional living.

They share how their story began with adoption, grew through unexpected pregnancies, and expanded into a lifestyle of global travel and immersion experiences for their kids. From living on a shoestring in Nicaragua with six children to now leading retreats, writing books, and running The Extraordinary Family Life Podcast, Greg and Rachel open up about the lessons they’ve learned through risk, resilience, and imagination.

With candor and humor, they reflect on the importance of listening, navigating differences in intimacy, and approaching both marriage and travel as a hero’s journey, one that transforms you with every challenge and every chapter.

Key Takeaways

Adventure as a family philosophy – Travel and immersion became their way to educate, bond, and expand imagination.

Cycles and chapters – They’ve lived their marriage in 1–3 year “chapters” of babies, moves, and big shifts, embracing change as part of the design.

Rock bottom became a turning point – Running out of money in Nicaragua forced them to commit fully to creating their own path forward.

Focus creates reality – Greg learned that “where the head goes, the body follows”, what you focus on is what you feel and create.

Listening transforms intimacy – Rachel taught Greg how to listen without fixing, which became a cornerstone of their connection.

Balancing needs in sex and love – Rachel reframed physical intimacy as a reciprocal need, equal to emotional connection, deepening their bond.

Marriage as a hero’s journey – Just like travel, marriage is an adventure through unknowns, challenges, and transformation.

Guest Info

Greg DenningCoach, author of The Formidable Family Man, and co-host of The Extraordinary Family Life Podcast, Greg helps men step into their roles as protectors, providers, and present partners. His coaching and writing distill the principles that guided his own transformation.

Rachel DenningCo-host of The Extraordinary Family Life Podcast, Rachel is a writer, speaker, and mother of seven who brings wisdom on adventure, family design, and emotional growth. Her candid stories and practical tools empower women to embrace both courage and connection.

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