Are you struggling to repair the bond with your brother or sister? This episode of The Drew Mariani Show is like a group therapy session for anyone who’s ever side-eyed a sibling at Thanksgiving. 🦃 Drew brings on Dr. Matthew Breuninger, Catholic father, psychologist, and therapist, to unpack the complicated, messy, beautiful, occasionally soul-crushing world of sibling relationships.
👥 Siblings: Built-in Besties… or Emotional Landmines?
Drew points out how shockingly common estrangement is among adult siblings. 1 in 3 of us has gone through it at some point.
Dr. Matthew Breuninger says: “The reason why siblings are estranged can be due to a variety of factors.”
-Old rivalry stuff
-Hurt feelings nobody talks about
-Who got what when mom died
-Religion and politics
-And just plain taking each other for granted
“You Have to Nurture the Relationship”
Breuninger makes a really solid (and convicting) point:
We put in tons of effort to keep up with our friends, but we act like siblings are just automatically supposed to stay close forever.
It doesn’t work that way.
He says parents should intentionally teach their kids how to be friends, not just roommates who grew up in the same house. Things like:
-Making them repair fights, not just brush it off
-Encouraging them to ask each other real questions
-Creating chances to hang out and bond (ice cream trips, fishing, you name it) 🎣🍦
Basically, love doesn’t grow unless you water it, even in families.
📞 The Call-Ins
Ryan (from Arizona)
He went through a painful divorce and now feels like his brother (and sister-in-law) have shut him out. He’s Catholic; they’re not. He feels like he’s being low-key judged for being “too religious.” ✝️
Breuninger gives this gentle but bold advice:
-Ask for a one-on-one conversation.
-Use “I feel” language, not “You did” accusations.
-Be honest: “I miss you.”
-Acknowledge the awkwardness and let them talk too. Even if you don’t share faith, you can still have fun together.
Angie (from Utah)
Her husband and his brother haven’t spoken in 3 YEARS. His brother converted to Judaism and things got heated when her husband tried to evangelize… a little too aggressively. 😬
Breuninger’s take?
-Be Catholic, but don’t weaponize it.
-It’s okay to stand firm in truth, but don’t forget humility and love.
-Even if you’re only 2% at fault in the argument, own 100% of that 2%.
-Start small. Send a letter. Share a memory. Remind them what you used to have together.
He says you can reawaken love with shared stories.
🙏 Final Take: Hurt Happens, But Healing Is Possible
Relationships get messy. People grow, change, argue, drift. But the pain isn’t the final chapter. You can be the one who reaches out. You can choose humility, vulnerability, and actual adulting.
So yeah, maybe your brother drives you nuts. Maybe your sister hasn’t texted back since Easter. Maybe your in-laws think you’re “too Catholic.” Whatever it is… don’t count them out. ✝️❤️
Give God some room to work, and don’t be afraid to go first.
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