Raising Boys & Girls

This episode features a powerful conversation with neurosurgeon Dr. Lee Warren about trauma, faith, and the science of hope. Drawing from his experience serving in Iraq, battling PTSD, and losing his teenage son, Dr. Warren shares how we can’t always control what happens to us—but we can influence how we experience it. Through the lens of his book, The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery, he explains the neuroscience of neuroplasticity and how changing our thoughts can literally reshape our brains. Together, they explore how parents can help kids build agency, resilience, and real capability by teaching them to challenge their thoughts, pause before reacting, and grow stronger through hardship.

Resources mentioned:


The Life-Changing Art of Self-Brain Surgery by Dr. Lee Warren


Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder by Nassim Nicholas Taleb

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In this deeply grounding conversation, Sissy and David sit down with longtime mentor and educator Melissa Trevathan to talk about what kids need spiritually right now. Melissa shares that while children’s core longings—to feel safe, loved, and significant—haven’t changed, the intensity of anxiety and pressure has. She emphasizes that spiritual formation happens primarily through relationship, not instruction, and encourages parents to create safe, authentic spaces where kids can ask questions, wrestle with doubt, and experience God’s grace rather than performance. From the power of storytelling and nature with younger kids to helping teens answer “Do I matter?”

Resources mentioned:


My First Message by Eugene Peterson

. . . . . . 

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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.

ATHLETIC GREENS: Go to DRINKAG1.com/RBG to get their best offer… For a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order! Only while supplies last.

COOK UNITY: Go to cookunity.com/RBG or enter code RBG before checkout to get 50% off your first order.

SETH AND THE VERY SCARY STORM: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGSethStorm to check out this Lifeway book.

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Sissy and David sit down with Andy Crouch to talk about what kids need in a tech-saturated world—and why their deepest needs haven’t changed. Andy explores how today’s screens foster “parasocial” connection, how AI companions could become adolescents’ most trusted voices, and why frictionless digital relationships can keep kids from growing through real-life conflict and disappointment. He encourages families to be “tech-wise, not tech-free,” creating intentional rhythms and boundaries—especially around meals, sleep, and bedrooms—so kids can stay grounded in embodied relationships and grow in wisdom and courage.

Resources mentioned:


The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch


The Life We’re Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World by Andy Crouch


My Tech-Wise Life: Growing Up and Making Choices in a World of Devices by Andy and Amy Crouch

. . . . . . 

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.

ATHLETIC GREENS: Go to DRINKAG1.com/RBG to get their best offer… For a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order! Only while supplies last.

COOK UNITY: Go to cookunity.com/RBG or enter code RBG before checkout to get 50% off your first order.

SETH AND THE VERY SCARY STORM: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGSethStorm to check out this Lifeway book.

YARA THE BRAVE: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGYara to check out this Lifeway book.

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Kristen Jenson, founder of Defend Young Minds and author of Good Pictures Bad Pictures, talks with Sissy and David about why parents need to start conversations about pornography early—ideally as soon as kids have access to screens. She explains how porn often finds kids through friends’ devices, social media, apps, and even AI, and why proactive, calm conversations help build an “internal filter” that tech safeguards alone can’t provide. Kristen also addresses the link between pornography, addiction, and rising child-on-child harmful behavior, and offers practical steps for parents if exposure happens: stay calm, make a plan, keep talking, and remember that porn is the problem—not your child.

Resources mentioned:


Good Pictures Bad Pictures by Kristen Jenson


Good Pictures Bad Pictures Jr. by Kristen Jenson


Good Pictures Bad Pictures: Guidebook for Counseling Kids by Kristen Jenson and Shelby DeBause

. . . . . . 

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.

ATHLETIC GREENS: Go to DRINKAG1.com/RBG to get their best offer… For a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order! Only while supplies last.

COOK UNITY: Go to cookunity.com/RBG or enter code RBG before checkout to get 50% off your first order.

SETH AND THE VERY SCARY STORM: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGSethStorm to check out this Lifeway book.

YARA THE BRAVE: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGYara to check out this Lifeway book.

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Sissy Goff and David Thomas talk with Dr. Preston Sprinkle about how parents and the church can help kids navigate identity, gender, and sexuality with both clarity and compassion. Preston emphasizes being a non-anxious presence, starting age-appropriate, Jesus-centered conversations early, and building strong relationships that keep hard conversations open. Together, they explore how conviction and kindness can coexist, why discomfort builds resilience, and how parents can respond without panic or pressure.

Resources mentioned:


Theology in the Raw


From Genesis to Junia: An Honest Search for What the Bible Really Says About Women in Leadership by Preston Sprinkle

. . . . . . 

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.

COOK UNITY: Go to cookunity.com/RBG or enter code RBG before checkout to get 50% off your first order.

BRODO: Go to Brodo.com/RBG for 20% off your first subscription order, plus an additional $10 off when you use code RBG at checkout.
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