Raising Boys & Girls

Latest Episodes:

Episode 383: An Honest Conversation about Fathers and Sons with Scott and Randy Hearon Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

Sissy Goff and David Thomas sit down with father and son Randy and Scott Hearon for a deeply honest conversation about the father-son relationship. Through stories spanning childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, they explore the messages boys receive about identity, capability, performance, faith, and belonging. Randy reflects on his growth as a father, including the impact of addiction, sports culture, and grace, while Scott shares how his dad’s presence, vulnerability, encouragement, and willingness to grow alongside him shaped his life. Together they discuss the importance of helping boys know they have what it takes, the dangers of performance-based identity, and the power of authentic relationships, forgiveness, and faith in building lasting connections between parents and children.

Resources mentioned:

Promise Keepers
The Crossing Rite of Passage from Boyhood to Manhood: Young Men's Manualby Richard Rupp
Wild at Heartby John Eldredge
Season of Life: A Football Star, a Boy, a Journey to Manhood by Jeffrey Marx

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Episode 382: Capable Connections: Fathers and Sons Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

In episode 382, Sissy Goff and David Thomas continue their Capable Connections series by exploring the unique relationship between fathers and sons. They discuss how fatherhood shapes both men and children, while highlighting challenges boys face around performance, emotional expression, and isolation. Through research, personal stories, and practical advice, they encourage dads to help sons build healthy identities, strong relationships, and emotional resilience by modeling vulnerability, prioritizing connection, and reminding boys that their worth is not based on achievement.

Resources mentioned:

“Don't worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” - Robert Fulghum
American Academy of Pediatrics research on youth sports burnout
Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff

. . . . . .

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.

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!

LIBERTY HEALTH SHARE: Visit LibertyHealthShare.org to learn more about healthcare sharing options for your family.

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Episode 381: Where Commitment Meets Capability with Shawn Johnson and Andrew East Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Shawn Johnson East and Andrew East discuss the importance of commitment, resilience, and raising capable kids. Drawing from their experiences as elite athletes and parents, they share how supportive parents helped them build confidence through challenges rather than rescuing them from discomfort. The conversation highlights the value of letting children develop independence, discover their unique passions, learn from failure, and stick with things that matter, while emphasizing that growth and joy often come through perseverance rather than quick success.

Resources mentioned:

The Courage to Commit: Embrace the Radical Power of Sticking With Something by Shawn Johnson and Andrew East
Couple Things with Shawn and Andrew
Family Made

. . . . . .

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!

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

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Episode 380: An Honest Conversation about Mothers and Daughters with Haven Weits and Lisa Whelchel Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

Lisa Whelchel and Haven Weits share a rich and honest conversation about raising capable kids, cultivating independence, and building a strong mother-daughter relationship that lasts into adulthood. Through stories of entrepreneurship, trust, conflict, and repair, they explore how secure boundaries, meaningful connection, and a willingness to keep showing up for one another can shape both families and future generations.

Resources mentioned:

Capableby David Thomas and Sissy Goff
Substack — Lisa Whelchel’s newsletter Throw Out the Bathwater
Haven! - Haven’s Podcast

. . . . . .

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!

LIBERTY HEALTH SHARE: Visit LibertyHealthShare.org to learn more about healthcare sharing options for your family.

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Episode 379: Capable Connections: Mothers and Daughters with David and Sissy May 28, 2026

Show notes

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

. . . . . .

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: RBGGO

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

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Episode 378: Learning to Fail, Trusting God and Trick Shots with Dude Perfect May 26, 2026

Show notes

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:

. . . . . .

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

JOLIE: Head to jolieskinco.com/RBG to try it out for yourself with FREE shipping.

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Episode 377: The Power of Family and Staying Connected Through Adulthood with Dr. Kathy Koch May 21, 2026

Show notes

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 Confidenceby Dr. Kathy Koch
8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child's Intelligencesby Dr. Kathy Koch
Summit Ministries
Impact 360 Institute

. . . . . .

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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Episode 376: Helping Teenagers and Young Adults Find Their True Identity and Capabilities with Alena Pitts Franklin May 19, 2026

Show notes

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 Areby Alena Franklin and Priscilla Shirer
For Girls Like You Ministries
All Eyes on Lena Box Set by Alena Pitts and Wynter Pitts

. . . . . .

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

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.

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

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

Episode 375: Capable the Young Adult Years with David and Sissy May 14, 2026

Show notes

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.

. . . . . .

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

BRODO: Head to brodo.com/rbg for 20% off your first subscription order, and use code RBG for an additional $10 off.

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

Episode 374: The Cornerstone of Resilience and Capability with Dr. Ken Ginsburg May 12, 2026

Show notes

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.

. . . . . .

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

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

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

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