This Episode explores the powerful and often complicated relationship between mothers and daughters, highlighting how deeply girls are shaped by their moms’ words, reactions, and emotional health. Sissy Goff and David Thomas discuss the importance of modeling grace, resisting the urge to rescue or overcorrect, and helping daughters grow through hard things with support instead of protection. They also share practical ways moms can stay connected to their girls through simple everyday moments like walks, shared journals, music, dance parties, and intentional one-on-one time, all with the goal of helping girls feel safe, seen, and capable. 

Resources mentioned

• Dance Party Button

. . . . . . 

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This episode features an engaging conversation with Dude Perfect members Cory Cotton and Garrett Hilbert about friendship, faith, perseverance, and raising resilient kids. Joined by Sissy Goff, David Thomas, and Sissy’s nephews Henry and Whit, the group talks about how Dude Perfect started from simple backyard competitions in college and grew into a global platform focused on family-friendly entertainment. Cory and Garrett share how failure, patience, teamwork, and learning to apologize have shaped both their business and friendships over nearly two decades together. They also discuss their heart behind creating clean content families can trust, encouraging kids to get outside, try hard things, and not be afraid of failure.

Resources mentioned:

• The Boxcar Children
• The Hardy Boys
• Diary of a Wimpy Kid
• Operation Trick Shot by Dude Perfect
• Capable by Sissy Goff and David Thomas

. . . . . . 

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LEGACY BOX: Legacybox is running their Mother’s Day sale and they’re also offering an additional $10 off your order. Visit Legacybox.com and use discount code: RBG

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Dr. Kathy Koch joins Sissy Goff and David Thomas to discuss the growing challenges facing today’s young adults and families, especially around resilience, identity, technology, and relationships between parents and adult children. Dr. Kathy explains how overparenting, screen dependence, fear of failure, and endless choices have contributed to anxiety, lack of perseverance, and “failure to launch” struggles, while also offering hope through intentional connection, healthy boundaries, faith, and small relational repairs. She encourages parents to stop leading from guilt, help kids practice making decisions and asking for help, create healthier technology rhythms, and focus on rebuilding trust and communication one step at a time.

Resources mentioned:

• Celebrate Kids
• Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children: Strategies and Conversations that Work by Dr. Kathy Koch
• Five to Thrive: How to Determine If Your Core Needs Are Being Met (and What to Do When They're Not) by Dr. Kathy Koch
• Resilient Kids: Raising Them to Embrace Life with Confidence by Dr. Kathy Koch
• 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligences by Dr. Kathy Koch
• Summit Ministries
• Impact 360 Institute

. . . . . . 

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See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . . 

If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form.

QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply.

SHOPIFY: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGShopify to learn more about Shopify!

LEGACY BOX: Legacybox is running their Mother’s Day sale and they’re also offering an additional $10 off your order. Visit Legacybox.com and use discount code: RBG

GO MINNO: Visit GoMinno.com to get a one month FREE TRIAL using code: RBG

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In this episode, Alena Pitts Franklin shares how grief, faith, and family shaped her understanding of capability and identity. She reflects on her early acting role in War Room, the loss of her mother Winter Pitts, and how God’s steadiness carried her through seasons of fear, insecurity, and growth. Throughout the episode, Alena encourages parents to lead with peace, encouragement, and authentic faith rather than fear, while reminding girls that their identity is rooted in God’s love instead of culture, achievement, or comparison. She also discusses her new book God Is, her ongoing work with For Girls Like You Ministries, and her passion for helping girls discover confidence, purpose, and resilience through a relationship with God.

Resources mentioned:

• War Room
• God Is ― A Devotional for Teen Girls & Young Women: 60 Days of Learning Who God Is to Understand Who We Are by Alena Franklin and Priscilla Shirer
• For Girls Like You Ministries 
• All Eyes on Lena Box Set by Alena Pitts and Wynter Pitts

. . . . . . 

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Pre-order our new book, Capable and grab tickets for Capable - The Book Tour here!

See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . . 

If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form.

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BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply.

SHOPIFY: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGShopify to learn more about Shopify!

LEGACY BOX: Legacybox is running their Mother’s Day sale and they’re also offering an additional $10 off your order. Visit Legacybox.com and use discount code: RBG

GO MINNO: Visit GoMinno.com to get a one month FREE TRIAL using code: RBG

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In this episode, Sissy Goff and David Thomas discuss the growing challenges many young adults face, including entitlement, emotional fragility, difficulty handling feedback, and struggles with responsibility and relationships. They explain how capability is built through real-life experiences like disappointment, inconvenience, accountability, conflict resolution, and service to others. The conversation encourages parents to stop removing every obstacle, allow natural consequences, and support young adults as they learn to navigate hard things with resilience and maturity. 

. . . . . . 

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If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form.

QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply.

SHOPIFY: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGShopify to learn more about Shopify!

LEGACY BOX: Legacybox is running their Mother’s Day sale and they’re also offering an additional $10 off your order. Visit Legacybox.com and use discount code: RBG

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In this episode of the Raising Boys and Girls podcast, Dr. Ken Ginsburg explains that resilience is built through strong, loving relationships and introduces his “7 Cs” of resilience: confidence, competence, character, connection, contribution, coping, and control. Drawing from his work with adolescents, he encourages parents to guide rather than control their children so they can develop confidence, healthy coping skills, and a lasting sense of purpose, while emphasizing the importance of human connection in a technology-driven world.

Resources mentioned:

• Lighthouse Parenting: Raising Your Child With Loving Guidance for a Lifelong Bond by Dr. Ken Ginsberg
• Center for Parent and Teen Communication - which provides guidance and resources for parents navigating adolescence and technology.

. . . . . . 

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QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply.

SHOPIFY: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGShopify to learn more about Shopify!

LEGACY BOX: Legacybox is running their Mother’s Day sale and they’re also offering an additional $10 off your order. Visit Legacybox.com and use discount code: RBG

GO MINNO: Visit GoMinno.com to get a one month FREE TRIAL using code: RBG

OUR PLACE: Stop cooking with toxic cookware, and upgrade to Our Place today. Visit fromourplace.com/RBG and use code RBG for 10% off sitewide.
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This conversation highlights a growing “capability gap” in teens, where some, often girls, are overwhelmed by pressure and perfectionism while others, often boys, are disengaged and avoidant. David and Sissy connect this to factors like digital communication, lowered relationship standards, and increased screen use, all of which can hinder resilience and healthy development. They emphasize that true capability is built through real-life challenges, responsibility, and healthy risk-taking, and encourage parents to raise expectations, foster strong relationships, teach coping skills, and create space for both rest and growth.

Resources mentioned:

• Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience by David Thomas and Sissy Goff

• The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence by Jessica Lahey

• Navigating Our Teens Dating with Paula Faris

• Birds & Bees

. . . . . . 

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Pre-order our new book, Capable and grab tickets for Capable - The Book Tour here!

See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . . 

If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form.

QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply.

SHOPIFY: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGShopify to learn more about Shopify!

LEGACY BOX: Legacybox is running their Mother’s Day sale and they’re also offering an additional $10 off your order. Visit Legacybox.com and use discount code: RBG

GO MINNO: Visit GoMinno.com to get a one month FREE TRIAL using code: RBG

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Dr. Lisa Damour explains that resilience comes from learning to handle discomfort, not avoiding it, and reminds parents that mental health isn’t about always feeling happy. Especially in the middle school years, kids face rapid changes and self-doubt, making it crucial for parents to support rather than rescue. By allowing kids to work through hard moments while staying gently connected, we help them build the confidence and capability they need for life.

Resources mentioned:

• Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Dr. Lisa Damour
• Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls by Dr. Lisa Damour
• The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents by Dr. Lisa Damour

. . . . . . 

Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share!

Pre-order our new book, Capable and grab tickets for Capable - The Book Tour here!

See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . . 

If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form.

QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply.

SHOPIFY: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGShopify to learn more about Shopify!

LEGACY BOX: Legacybox is running their Mother’s Day sale and they’re also offering an additional $10 off your order. Visit Legacybox.com and use discount code: RBG

GO MINNO: Visit GoMinno.com to get a one month FREE TRIAL using code: RBG

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Middle school is a crucial but often overlooked stage where kids need practice, not perfection, as they navigate social disconnection, increased screen use, and deep self-consciousness. By creating opportunities for real-life interaction, responsibility, healthy voices, and manageable discomfort, parents can help kids build the resilience and capability they’ll need for what’s ahead.

Resources mentioned:

• Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World by Sissy Goff
• Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life by David Thomas

. . . . . . 

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Pre-order our new book, Capable and grab tickets for Capable - The Book Tour here!

See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . . 

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HOPE SPRINGS: Listen along to Hope Springs, https://tinyurl.com/RBGHopeSprings, a family audio drama series following the lives and adventures of a few Colorado kids 

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EVERYBODY GET A JUICE BOX: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGJuiceboxPodcast to learn more about this podcast on neurodiverse parenting. 

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Dr. Bruce Perry unpacks the difference between stress, adversity, and trauma, helping parents shift from asking “what’s wrong with you?” to “what happened to you?” He explains how moderate, predictable stress actually builds resilience, while overprotection can limit a child’s growth. He also highlights the powerful role of relationships—especially how a regulated parent can calm a dysregulated child—and offers practical ways to foster connection through rhythm, movement, and presence. Ultimately, he reminds us that understanding a child’s story is key to helping them heal and grow.

Resources mentioned:

• The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog by Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz
• Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential—and Endangered by Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz
• What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey

. . . . . . 

Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share!

Pre-order our new book, Capable and grab tickets for Capable - The Book Tour here!

See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . . 

If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form.

HOPE SPRINGS: Listen along to Hope Springs, https://tinyurl.com/RBGHopeSprings, a family audio drama series following the lives and adventures of a few Colorado kids 

QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply.

NIV ILLUSTRATING BIBLE: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGNIVIllustratingBible to learn more about the NIV Illustrating Bible.

EVERYBODY GET A JUICE BOX: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGJuiceboxPodcast to learn more about this podcast on neurodiverse parenting. 

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Elementary school is a critical window where kids begin asking, “Am I capable?” and moments of struggle, not success, are what build that belief. Anxiety, anger, lack of regulation, and low agency are showing up more than ever, but they’re also opportunities. When parents pause before rescuing, hold steady boundaries, and give kids space to problem-solve, they’re actually building resilience and mental health. Capability grows when kids experience manageable challenges with support, learning, “I can do hard things.”

. . . . . . 

Sign up to receive the⁠ bi-⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠monthly newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, where they are taco'ing, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share!

Pre-order our new book, Capable and grab tickets for Capable - The Book Tour here!

See our speaking dates, purchase books and check out our courses here.. . . . . . 

If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Advertise With Us⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ form.

HOPE SPRINGS: Listen along to Hope Springs, https://tinyurl.com/RBGHopeSprings, a family audio drama series following the lives and adventures of a few Colorado kids 

QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.

BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply.

NIV ILLUSTRATING BIBLE: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGNIVIllustratingBible to learn more about the NIV Illustrating Bible.

EVERYBODY GET A JUICE BOX: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGJuiceboxPodcast to learn more about this podcast on neurodiverse parenting. 

SHOPIFY: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGShopify to learn more about Shopify!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices