Sissy and David are joined by author and speaker Toni Collier for an honest and hope-filled conversation about the power of community in helping kids and families navigate grief and hardship. Drawing from her family’s experience with divorce, Toni shares how accepting support from safe people strengthened both her and her children. Together, they discuss why resilience is built over time, how to help kids recognize safe relationships, and the importance of balancing bravery with rest. Toni also offers practical ideas for building meaningful community, inviting children to contribute through service, and stepping into kids’ worlds so they feel seen, connected, and capable.

Resources mentioned:

• Don’t Try This Alone by Toni Collier

• Brave Enough to Be Broken by Toni Collier

• Broken Crayons Still Color by Toni Collier

• Still Coloring with Toni Collier

. . . . . . 

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Grief looks different at every age, and understanding a child’s developmental stage can help parents recognize what they need most. Sissy Goff and David Thomas explore how grief may appear in babies and toddlers, preschoolers, elementary-age children, middle schoolers, and teenagers—from regression and separation anxiety to withdrawal, risk-taking, and unexpected emotional reactions. They offer practical guidance for providing stability, addressing guilt, creating opportunities for side-by-side conversations, and surrounding kids with trusted support. Above all, they remind parents that children don’t need perfect words—they need adults who notice, remain close, and continually reassure them, “I see you, I’m here, and you don’t have to go through this alone.”

Resources mentioned:

• Helping Kids Through Grief by Sissy Goff

• Elisabeth Kübler-Ross’s five experiences of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance from On Death and Dying

. . . . . . 

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In this episode of Raising Boys and Girls, it features Sissy Goff and David Thomas in an in-person conversation with author and Duke professor Kate Bowler about her newest book, Joyful Anyway. Kate unpacks the difference between happiness (built from luck and circumstance) and joy (a surprising, embodied experience that can coexist with grief and hardship), drawing on her own journey through stage four cancer. She talks about letting go of the "professional happiness manager" role in parenting, how to be honest with kids about grief without burdening them, and how relinquishing control can open people up to deeper love and connection.

Resources mentioned:

• Joyful Anyway by Kate Bowler

• Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate Bowler

• No Cure for Being Human: (And Other Truths I Need to Hear) by Kate Bowler

• Good Enough: 40ish Devotionals for a Life of Imperfection by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie

• The Lives We Actually Have: 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days by Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie 

• Everything Happens with Kate Bowler

• The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

. . . . . . 

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Order our new book, Capable, here!!

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

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

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Grief can look very different in children than it does in adults. In this episode, Sissy Goff and David Thomas share five important ways kids process loss: in small doses, in the middle of everyday life, through emotions connected to secondary losses, through play, and in new ways as they grow and develop. They encourage parents to follow their child’s lead, offer language when grief unexpectedly surfaces, and remember that there is no “right” timetable or expression of grief. Rather than trying to make children grieve like adults, caregivers can remain close, make room for remembering, and reassure kids that they never have to walk through loss alone.

Resources mentioned:

• Helping Kids Through Grief: A Parent's Guide for Making Sense of Death, Processing Loss, and Finding Hope by Sissy Goff

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

. . . . . . 

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Order our new book, Capable, 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.

CHRISTIAN HEALTHSHARE MINISTRIES: Take charge of your healthcare by visiting chministries.org/solution.

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

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Ginny Yurich, founder of 1000 Hours Outside, joins Sissy and David to explore how outdoor play, movement, and hands-on experiences prepare children to learn and grow. She shares how homeschooling has shaped her understanding of education, emphasizing that children learn constantly through their interests, relationships, everyday responsibilities, and time in nature. Ginny also explains how outdoor play builds problem-solving skills, agency, confidence, and the ability to assess healthy risks. In a rapidly changing, technology-driven world, she encourages parents to focus less on performance and more on developing distinctly human strengths such as creativity, empathy, communication, practical skills, and meaningful relationships.

Resources mentioned:

• 1000 Hours Outside tracker sheets

• Homeschooling: You're Doing It Right Just by Doing It by Ginny Yurich

• Until the Streetlights Come On: How a Return to Play Brightens Our Present and Prepares Kids for an Uncertain Future by Ginny Yurich

• Smart Moves: Why Learning Is Not All in Your Head by Carla Hannaford

• Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto

• Learning All the Time by John Holt

• UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World by Dr. Michele Borba

• The Self-Driven Child: The Science and Sense of Giving Your Kids More Control Over Their Lives by William Stixrud

• Simplicity Parenting: Using the Extraordinary Power of Less to Raise Calmer, Happier, and More Secure Kids by Kim John Payne and Lisa M. Ross

• Generative Artificial Intelligence: What Everyone Needs to Know by Jerry Kaplan

• Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff

. . . . . . 

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Order our new book, Capable, here!!

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

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

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Parent-teacher conferences can feel stressful for parents, but Sissy Goff and David Thomas encourage families to approach them as opportunities to build a supportive team around their child. They share practical ways to create a spirit of partnership with teachers, receive honest feedback without becoming defensive, and look beyond grades to understand how a child is growing academically, emotionally, and socially. They also remind parents to focus on a few meaningful next steps, involve children in solving problems, and recognize where stepping back may allow kids to develop greater independence, responsibility, and confidence.

Suggested parent-teacher conference questions:

• How can I support what you’re doing at school from home?

• Is there anything you see at school that we might not be seeing at home?

• Where do you see capability in my child that they might not see yet?

• Where could we give our child more responsibility?

• What are two things we could work on at home right now?

. . . . . . 

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Order our new book, Capable, 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.

ADVENTURE BIBLE: Get an Adventure Bible for your child and begin reading and exploring it together to build confidence and curiosity in God’s Word https://tinyurl.com/RBGAdventureBible.

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

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

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In this episode, Sissy and David sit down with Michael and Melissa Kruger to talk about helping families build meaningful spiritual rhythms together. The Krugers share the heart behind their new book, The Good News Family Devotional: Fifty-Two Weeks Through the Gospel of Mark, and encourage parents that family discipleship doesn’t have to be perfect or complicated to make a lasting impact. They discuss creating space for kids to ask hard questions, building resilience through a loving and faith-filled home, and remembering that small, consistent steps over time can shape a child’s faith for years to come.

Resources mentioned:

• The Good News Family Devotional: 52 Weeks Through the Gospel of Mark by Michael and Melissa Kruger

• Surviving Religion 101 by Michael Kruger

• Michael Kruger’s website: michaeljkruger.com

• Word First: wordfirst.org

. . . . . . 

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Order our new book, Capable, 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.

ADVENTURE BIBLE: Get an Adventure Bible for your child and begin reading and exploring it together to build confidence and curiosity in God’s Word https://tinyurl.com/RBGAdventureBible.

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

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

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As kids head back to school, Sissy Goff and David Thomas share five practical ways parents can help them navigate the big emotions that often come with transition. They encourage parents to expect heightened feelings, lend kids their confidence, let feelings “ride but not drive,” protect margin for rest, and help kids collect evidence of their own capability. With simple scripts and questions parents can use at home, Sissy and David remind us that the goal isn’t for kids to become fearless—it’s for them to learn that they can feel nervous, overwhelmed, or uncertain and still move forward.

Resources mentioned:

• I Am Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff

. . . . . . 

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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.

ADVENTURE BIBLE: Get an Adventure Bible for your child and begin reading and exploring it together to build confidence and curiosity in God’s Word https://tinyurl.com/RBGAdventureBible.

CHRISTIAN HEALTHSHARE MINISTRIES: Take charge of your healthcare by visiting chministries.org/solution.

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

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

GO MINNO: Visit GoMinno.com and use code RBG to get a one-month free trial.

HIYA HEALTH: Visit hiyahealth.com/RBG to get 50% off your first order.

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Sissy Goff and David Thomas sit down with Lysa TerKeurst for a meaningful conversation about making peace with what we can’t control—especially as parents. Lysa shares what she’s learned through raising five children, walking through divorce, and now becoming a grandmother, including the importance of keeping kids talking, releasing the need to control outcomes, and allowing children to experience consequences and build resilience. She reminds parents that their children’s mistakes don’t define their parenting and encourages families to create a strong sense of belonging, pursue their own growth, and trust God with what they ultimately cannot control.

Resources mentioned:

• Making Peace with What I Can’t Control: Find Relief from the Exhaustion of Overthinking, Trying to Fix Others, and Wanting to Figure It All Out by Lysa TerKeurst

• Good Boundaries and Goodbyes: Loving Others Without Losing the Best of Who You Are by Lysa TerKeurst

• Proverbs 31 Ministries

• “Thy Will” by Hillary Scott & The Scott Family

• Eloise books by Kay Thompson

• Lysa TerKeurst on Instagram and Facebook

. . . . . . 

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Order our new book, Capable, 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.

ADVENTURE BIBLE: Get an Adventure Bible for your child and begin reading and exploring it together to build confidence and curiosity in God’s Word https://tinyurl.com/RBGAdventureBible.

CHRISTIAN HEALTHSHARE MINISTRIES: Take charge of your healthcare by visiting chministries.org/solution.

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

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

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As kids head back to school, friendships can bring just as much anxiety as academics. In this episode, Sissy Goff and David Thomas share five practical ways parents can help kids build social confidence: practice the first few minutes of the day, teach kids to notice others, give them simple conversation starters, allow friendships time to grow, and celebrate courage instead of popularity. They remind parents that friendship is a skill that develops through practice, small risks, repeated interactions, and plenty of imperfect moments along the way.

Resources mentioned:

• Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff

. . . . . . 

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!

Order our new book, Capable, 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.

ADVENTURE BIBLE: Get an Adventure Bible for your child and begin reading and exploring it together to build confidence and curiosity in God’s Word https://tinyurl.com/RBGAdventureBible.

CHRISTIAN HEALTHSHARE MINISTRIES: Take charge of your healthcare by visiting chministries.org/solution.

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

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

GO MINNO: Visit GoMinno.com and use code RBG to get a one-month free trial.

HIYA HEALTH: Visit hiyahealth.com/RBG to get 50% off your first order.

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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Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson join David and Sissy for a funny, honest conversation about raising capable kids without giving in to pressure, perfectionism, or the urge to rescue them from every hard moment. Drawing from their friendship and experiences parenting young adults, they discuss the importance of allowing kids to fail, advocate for themselves, handle responsibilities, and develop confidence in their own decision-making. They also share how laughter creates perspective and strengthens family relationships, making room for both lighthearted moments and harder conversations. Melanie and Sophie encourage parents to know their individual child, model an authentic faith, apologize when they get things wrong, and remember that struggles are often what help kids develop resilience and make their faith their own.

Resources mentioned:

• The Big Boo Cast Podcast with Melanie Shankle & Sophie Hudson

• The Lion and the Bear: A 100-Day Guide for Facing Your Giants | Devotional for Teen and College Girls by Melanie and Caroline Shankle

More listening:

• Ep 50: How to Help Kids Handle Conflict with Melanie Shankle and Sophie Hudson

• Ep 151: Raising Boys and Girls Live with Sophie Hudson and Melanie Shankle

• Ep 246: Freeing Your Children from your Own Trauma with Melanie Shankle

• Ep 304: Faith, Family, and the Power of a Good Devotional with Melanie and Caroline Shankle

. . . . . . 

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!

Order our new book, Capable, 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.

ADVENTURE BIBLE: Get an Adventure Bible for your child and begin reading and exploring it together to build confidence and curiosity in God’s Word https://tinyurl.com/RBGAdventureBible.

CHRISTIAN HEALTHSHARE MINISTRIES: Take charge of your healthcare by visiting chministries.org/solution.

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

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

GO MINNO: Visit GoMinno.com and use code RBG to get a one-month free trial.

THE ABSORPTION COMPANY: Visit absorbmore.com and use code RBG for up to 35% off your first order.

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