More Than Reality with Adam and Danielle Busby

EP 76 – Behind OutDaughtered: What Depression and Pressure Did to Us

Date: March 26, 2026

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and transparent episode, Adam and Danielle Busby peel back the curtain on life behind the scenes of their hit TLC show, OutDaughtered. They reveal how a decade of reality TV fame impacted their marriage, family dynamics, personal and professional lives, and especially their mental health. Through candid conversation, they discuss the intense pressures, unseen struggles—particularly depression and burnout—and the difficult decisions that shaped their path as parents of six girls. They also address misconceptions fans hold based solely on what aired on TV, share pivotal family moments, and discuss the new chapter of homeschooling, all while reflecting deeply on faith, joy, and living authentically off-camera.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Reality Behind Reality TV

[03:05-12:04]

• Selective Storytelling:
  • Filming OutDaughtered involved planning story arcs with producers; real-life timelines were often changed to fit production needs.
  • Danielle highlighting, “We’d sit with producers and say, ‘Here’s all we’ve got as a family,’ and they’d help us build the season around these arcs... It was a constant juggle” (05:56).
  • Adam on the illusion of reality, “It’s capturing your reality, but in reality, it’s really just picking and choosing what the network decides... It didn’t mean the day we filmed was what we actually had to do in our real life” (04:44).
• Couch Interviews & Mental Fatigue:
  • Filming couch interviews was more time-consuming and mentally taxing than it appears—“by the end... your brain is like scrambled eggs” (09:33, Danielle).
• Evolving Role in Production:
  • They became executive producers for more input as their understanding of TV production deepened.

Public Perception vs. Real Life

[13:23-18:54]

• Misunderstandings Persist: Long after the show ended, people’s perceptions are still shaped by TV, not reality.
  • Danielle: “You can tell their whole comment is framed around what they remember from TV... It's crazy this far out from the show that you're still getting comments like that” (13:23).
• Behind the Scenes Logistics:
  • Meals were often takeout or craft services during production, but this was a result of filming schedules, not family habits (15:38).
  • Adam: “Who wants to watch us film dinner every single night?” (15:42).

Would They Return to TV?

[18:54-21:51]

• Danielle is open but noncommittal: “Right now in my brain, I don’t see it, but I will not close the door on it... you never know what God’s going to put on your heart or what door may open” (19:04).
• Faith guides their decisions: Adam notes, “He’s closed a lot of doors... obedience is just taking that next step” (20:40).

Depression, Burnout & Family Pressure

[21:51-36:01]

• Addressing Viewer Judgements:
  • Viewers misinterpreted Adam’s struggles as selfishness, not realizing the depth of depression and anxiety he faced.
  • Danielle: “...it was actually the most unselfish way of doing that, because I could have just hid that from the world. But I feel like... it would have been a waste for me to not steward that well... just being open and honest and sharing with the world...” (21:51).
• Gender and Mental Health Openness:
  • Adam speaking out encouraged others, especially men, to open up: “It did help. We’d receive messages about how much this saved people’s marriages...” (24:41).
• Personal Accounts of Depression & Burnout:
  • Adam describes struggling to balance a full-time job, TV filming, and content creation—pushed to the brink by the need to provide for his family while being present.
  • The turning point: A near-death experience during a plant explosion anchored his need for change: “That’s what got me thinking, I don’t want to put myself in this situation. What if something drastic had happened... leaving Danielle and six daughters. And that was it” (36:01).

Finding Purpose & Joy Through Pain

[31:15-39:00]

• Learning from Hard Choices:
  • Danielle urges listeners: “If you’re not having joy in that career, there is something else better that you can find... joy needs to come before the miserableness of ‘I have to do this’” (31:15).
• Legacy & Impact:
  • Their goal is to create lasting, meaningful family memories and pass on character and faith, not just provide financially or check societal boxes.

Homeschooling, New Chapters & Future Vision

[39:00-48:07]

• Danielle recounts the emotional moment when she realized she wanted to spend more time with the girls, setting the tone for embracing the difficult but rewarding challenge of homeschooling (43:07).
• On Homeschool Perceptions: “Homeschool has always been perceived as this underground, isolation type and weird kids... it’s so different” (42:07).
• Adam shares confidence for the next season, relying on faith that “he wouldn't bring us this far and leave us” (41:29).

Cherishing Fleeting Time & Creating Core Memories

[48:07-52:59]

• The Busbys reflect on how quickly their children are growing, the importance of appreciating each stage, and creating experiences that become “core memories.”
  • “How many of those moments are your kids having each day, where it may just be an everyday Thursday for them, but later…they’re gonna look at that moment in time…” (51:29, Danielle).

Building Community & Listener Engagement

[52:59-55:30]

• Adam and Danielle encourage listeners to comment and engage, explaining that digital support fuels their podcast’s longevity and helps them feel connected:
  • Adam: “It just helps us know that you’re listening... even just a heart. It helps reassure that this is valuable to you and not just us talking to a microphone” (54:37).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It’s capturing your reality, but in reality... [the show is] really just picking and choosing what the network decides and what they choose to show.”
  — Adam Busby, [04:44]

• “By the end [of interviews], your brain is like scrambled eggs.”
  — Danielle Busby, [09:33]

• “Even still to this day... we’re so much more than, like, that caricature of us you saw on TV, because it was literally less than 1% of our life that was edited for dramatic effect.”
  — Danielle Busby, [11:11]

• “You don’t see how many hours I was spending just scratching and clawing and figuring something out, all the while dealing with crippling anxiety and depression.”
  — Adam Busby, [36:00]

• “Would you ever film again? Listen, we're doing what we feel called to.”
  — Adam Busby, [39:17]

• “Homeschool has always been perceived as like, this underground isolation type and weird kids... It’s so different.”
  — Adam Busby, [42:07]

• “As much as our kids might get on my nerves, I want them around... I had so much joy last week because I got to experience so many fun things with the girls.”
  — Danielle Busby, [43:07]

• “How many of those moments are your kids having each day... that's going to be the thing they remember and hold on to.”
  — Danielle Busby, [51:29]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-------|---------------| | 03:05 | Behind the camera: Reality of reality TV production | | 06:05 | Evolution of their role and perspective on the show | | 13:23 | Dealing with fan misconceptions, social media feedback | | 18:54 | Would the Busbys ever return to TV? Trusting faith and the future | | 21:51 | Depression, male vulnerability & public judgments | | 26:39 | Danielle’s own depression and coping mechanisms | | 29:25 | Adam’s work burnout, striving for balance, finding joy | | 36:01 | Adam’s plant explosion experience: Fear & motivation for life change | | 39:00 | Reflecting on joy, hard decisions, and legacy | | 42:07 | Homeschooling: perception, challenges, and excitement | | 48:07 | Time is fleeting: Building memories and family legacy | | 52:59 | Building podcast community, value of listener engagement |

Tone & Style

True to their style, Adam and Danielle speak with vulnerability, warmth, humor, and a heavy dose of faith. Their conversation is friendly, conversational, and goes deep—often circling back to their commitment to authenticity and honoring their family's unique story.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a candid look into the Busbys’ post-television life, their family values, and the ways they’ve weathered personal storms together. It’s a must-listen for anyone curious about what happens after reality TV fame, those facing similar pressures, or parents seeking encouragement through life’s chaotic, beautiful seasons.