In this episode of Couples Unfiltered, we sit down with Mila and Donnell—hosts of La Vida Blended—a beautifully honest and culturally rich podcast about love, parenting, and the realities of building a blended family. Based in Portland, Oregon, this mixed-race couple (she's Mexican, he's Black) opens up about navigating identity, second marriages, and the deep emotional terrain of pregnancy loss, having endured the heartbreak of nine miscarriages together.

Both social workers by profession, Mila and Donnell bring an unmatched level of emotional intelligence and cultural insight to the conversation. They share how their backgrounds influence their parenting, how they maintain a loving co-parenting relationship with Donnell’s ex-wife, and what it really means to create a home full of healing, communication, and respect.

From cultural expectations to grief, from honoring ex-spouses to redefining what “family” looks like—this is an episode that doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Their transparency is a gift, and their story will inspire anyone navigating love after loss or learning to embrace the beautiful complexity of blended families.

🔗 Follow Mila & Donnell on IG: @LaVidaBlended 🎙️ Subscribe to their podcast: La Vida Blended on all streaming platforms!

This one’s a slow pour. Sip accordingly.

We’re on location at San Diego Magazine headquarters, sitting down with the couple behind the city’s most beloved lifestyle brand — and yes, we’re posted up at the iconic Happy Half Hour podcast scene. This episode? It’s a vibe. It’s a journey. And it’s a love story told in bylines, risk, and shared leftovers.

Troy Johnson — Food Network star, writer, host of Crave, Guy’s Grocery Games judge, co-host of Campus Eats, and the sharp pen behind San Diego Magazine's cultural voice — joins us with his wife Claire, the media-savvy CEO who left Brooklyn and a powerhouse career at NBC Universal to build something new in SoCal.

In 2021, the Johnsons bought San Diego Magazine — yes, during a pandemic — and began the wild process of transforming a legacy print publication into a thriving, multi-platform media brand. We talk about the chaos, the chemistry, and the conversations that made it all possible.

And maybe the most unforgettable part? On their first date, before they even talked business or brunch, they bonded over something deeply personal: both grew up with gay parents — a reality that shaped their resilience and worldview in a world that wasn’t always ready for it.

Claire, who is 14 years younger than Troy, jokes she thought, “What’s the worst that can happen?” when she took the leap and moved across the country with him. Spoiler: it turns out, a lot. But most of it’s pretty amazing.

If you’re into stories about building something meaningful, creating against the odds, and holding onto love while holding down a business — this episode will fill your cup.

⚠️ Long episode ahead. But worth every delicious minute.

https://sandiegomagazine.com/

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From friends to young lovers, Alex and Melissa’s story is anything but conventional—and that’s what makes it unforgettable. In this heartfelt episode, they take us on a journey that spans decades: from high school sweethearts navigating unexpected parenthood, to co-parenting while living separate lives, and finally reuniting to build a marriage and business together.

They open up about what it took to rekindle their relationship after years apart, how they embraced doing life "out of order," and why starting over was the best decision they ever made. Now as empty nesters, they’re finally enjoying life as newlyweds—this time with deeper love, a stronger foundation, and a shared passion for culinary hospitality.

Whether you're in a relationship, healing from one, or wondering if second chances are real—this episode is a raw, inspiring look at love, timing, resilience, and rewriting the rules.

This episode was filmed at Fox Point Farms in the Carriage Home (Available to rent for weekend stay) IG post

Fox Point Farms- Bringing people together through experiences

Fox Point Haven Farm+Table

Fox Point Brewing

Fox Point Roasters

Harvest Market

Huerta Taco Stand

The Bake House

Heal Botanics

The Farm

Fox Point Farms

1200 Fox Point Farms Lane

Encinitas, CA 92024

760-704-8333

@foxpointfarms on IG