The Real Reason the Van Es Couple Stays Together
Life Doesn’t Pause for Live Radio
Working in live radio means home life keeps moving. This week started with the usual check-in—kids, dogs, chaos—and quickly turned into a studio saga. The Disneyland giveaway went sideways: a new board sputtered, callers couldn’t hear, and one hung up live. Improvisation became the only plan. That scramble reminded us of a truth we’ve learned as a couple: when tech breaks, humor and teamwork hold the line. Relationships thrive in the margins when you choose to protect them.
Pretzel, the Star of Advocacy
The day also featured Pretzel, a sweet Doberman who shines with people but needs to be the only pet. We filmed her at the station for LovePup Family Fest, a free, donation-driven adoption event. Shelters need more than feel-good posts—they need clear calls to action and simple ways for people to adopt. Pretzel’s cameo wasn’t just content; it was advocacy. Listeners laughed, shared, tagged friends, and sparked new homes. Community grows one small, specific story at a time.
Marriage, Intimacy, and Tiny Frictions
Listeners asked about marriage, intimacy, and everyday frictions. We shared first impressions—one of us arriving wild-eyed from Mexico, the other hoping friends wouldn’t stage an intervention. Laughing off differences, teasing each other, and keeping touch and reassurance alive built bridges to deeper memories: early lunches with crutches, jelly bean moments, and the slow path from coworkers to partners who still like sitting together doing nothing special.
Routines and Daily Mantras
Our house holds six dogs with senior needs, step goals, sauna time, vitamins, and a mild obsession with a convection oven for legendary cookies. The most surprising routine is a spoken mantra: “Something wonderful is going to happen to me today.” Naming the person makes it stick—“to Jake today”—and repeating it morning and night reframes the day. Manifestation, cognitive priming, or habit—it works. It nudges gratitude and focuses attention on loved ones while acknowledging that attention is finite.
Vulnerability and Health Updates
We shared an upcoming surgery to remove female reproductive organs. That’s life, not content. Naming it calmly and planning a deeper conversation with a medical expert models partnership under pressure. Health choices ripple through relationships—scheduling, emotions, recovery, and support. The same skills that get us through live radio glitches—humor, patience, presence—carry us through operating rooms and beyond.
Closing Wins and Daily Habits
The show ended with real-time ratings from Portland and a reminder of why we rally for LovePup Family Fest. Wins matter most when they serve others. We keep refining apps, filming adoptables, and repeating small habits that make us kinder at home. The takeaway: build rituals that return you to each other, tell specific stories that spark action, and keep laughing when the phones fail. Wonderful things rarely arrive on schedule, but they show up when you leave the door open.
