Welcome to the Raising Boys and Girls Podcast with Sissy Goff, David Thomas, and Melissa Trevathan. In each episode of this podcast, we’ll share some of what we’re learning in the work we do with kids and families on a daily basis at Daystar Counseling Ministries. Our goal is to help you care for the kids in your life with a little more understanding, a little more practical help, and a whole lot of hope. So pull up a chair and join us on this journey of raising boys and girls. Connect with us at raisingboysandgirls.com.
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Sep 29, 2026 · 29:31
Kicking off a new stretch of their Capable series, Sissy Goff and David Thomas explore the strength of competence, distinguishing it from confidence: confidence says "I think I…
Sep 24, 2026 · 34:14
Blake Brewer joins Sissy and David to tell the story of watching his father drown in Hawaii when he was 19, and how a letter his dad had written him, discovered in his briefcase…
Sep 22, 2026 · 37:03
Closing out their series on grief, Sissy Goff and David Thomas focus on remembering, living, and hoping. They encourage parents to follow a child's lead on keepsakes and…
Sep 17, 2026 · 39:32
Pastor and author Tyler Staton joins David Thomas for an honest conversation about prayer, parenting, and his journey through advanced-stage cancer. Tyler shares creative ways…
Sep 15, 2026 · 34:46
Sissy Goff and David Thomas share four things grieving children need most: conversation, community, consistency, and coping. They explain how honest, age-appropriate…
Sep 10, 2026 · 39:34
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…
Sep 8, 2026 · 30:08
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…
Sep 3, 2026 · 33:57
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,…
Sep 1, 2026 · 23:30
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…
Aug 27, 2026 · 39:03
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…
Aug 25, 2026 · 24:02
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…
Aug 20, 2026 · 35:56
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…
Aug 18, 2026 · 16:17
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…
Aug 13, 2026 · 37:17
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…
Aug 11, 2026 · 30:54
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…
Aug 6, 2026 · 56:32
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…
Aug 4, 2026 · 48:22
As the new school year approaches, Sissy Goff and David Thomas help parents understand why transitions can bring big feelings, physical symptoms, and anxious thoughts for both…
Jul 30, 2026 · 34:05
Dr. Dale Atkins joins David and Sissy to explore how speed, chronic stress, digital distraction, and intensive parenting are reshaping family relationships and contributing to a…
Jul 28, 2026 · 26:48
Friendships are where kids practice being human, but social anxiety, screens, group dynamics, and “rollercoaster” relationships are making connection harder than ever. Sissy and…
Jul 23, 2026 · 41:05
Katty and Hunter Connelly join Sissy and David to share what they have learned while raising four very different children. They discuss building capability through honesty,…
Jul 21, 2026 · 41:43
Sibling relationships can be some of the longest and most meaningful relationships in a person’s life, helping kids develop empathy, resilience, social skills, and healthy…
Jul 16, 2026 · 47:13
David and Sissy talk with two beloved educators, kindergarten teacher Wheat Teller and high school history teacher Dan Carpenter, about what capability looks like in the…
Jul 14, 2026 · 33:41
Sissy and David celebrate the powerful role teachers, coaches, mentors, and other trusted adults play in helping kids grow into capable, resilient people. They reflect on the…
Jul 9, 2026 · 31:14
Sissy and David talk with Barbara “Babs” Costello, beloved social media creator, former preschool founder, mom of four, and grandmother of nine, about the lasting impact of…
Jul 7, 2026 · 1:05:51
In this conversation, John and Carole Ferguson and their daughters reflect on the rhythms that built a close, capable, faith-filled family across generations. They share how…
Jul 2, 2026 · 30:24
In this conversation, David and Sissy explore the important role grandparents play in helping children grow into capable, resilient adults. They discuss how grandparents provide…
Jun 30, 2026 · 36:17
Sissy and David sit down with Sharon McMahon to discuss how parents can help children become informed, resilient, and capable in a complicated world. Sharon shares her journey…
Jun 25, 2026 · 44:26
Builder and longtime Daystar friend Doug Durr joins his daughters, Allye Gray and Analise Glover, to reflect on the unique bond between fathers and daughters. They share stories…
Jun 23, 2026 · 31:04
David and Sissy explore the unique role fathers play in helping daughters develop confidence, resilience, and capability. Through personal stories, research, and counseling…
Jun 18, 2026 · 44:35
In this Capable Connections conversation, Hunter Henry and his mom, Jenny Henry, reflect on the values and experiences that shaped Hunter from childhood to adulthood. They…
Jun 16, 2026 · 36:38
David and Sissy explore the powerful relationship between moms and sons, emphasizing that moms are often a boy’s emotional home base and play a key role in shaping his…
Jun 11, 2026 · 59:59
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…
Jun 9, 2026 · 32:04
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…
Jun 4, 2026 · 55:16
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…
Jun 2, 2026 · 1:09:50
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…
May 28, 2026 · 26:43
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…
May 26, 2026 · 41:55
This episode features an engaging conversation with Dude Perfect members Cory Cotton and Garrett Hilbert about friendship, faith, perseverance, and raising resilient kids. Joined…
May 21, 2026 · 36:44
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,…
May 19, 2026 · 36:02
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,…
May 14, 2026 · 22:12
In this episode, Sissy Goff and David Thomas discuss the growing challenges many young adults face, including entitlement, emotional fragility, difficulty handling feedback, and…
May 12, 2026 · 38:56
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…
May 7, 2026 · 25:31
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…
May 5, 2026 · 45:41
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.…
Apr 30, 2026 · 21:57
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…
Apr 28, 2026 · 50:23
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…
Apr 23, 2026 · 27:06
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…
Apr 21, 2026 · 43:32
Zee Pendleton and Angela Rice talk about how kids today are dealing with more anxiety, screen time, and big emotions, and remind us that raising capable, confident kids really…
Apr 16, 2026 · 21:07
Toddlers’ “I do it myself” moments aren’t defiance, they’re signs of healthy development and a deep drive for autonomy. When parents pause before stepping in, allow struggle, and…
Apr 14, 2026 · 38:19
Sherman Bucher shares that while boys today are more open to getting help, many are also more anxious, less confident, and unsure how to take their next steps. He highlights the…
Apr 9, 2026 · 26:26
This episode highlights how boys develop true capability by practicing risk, emotional regulation, and perseverance in everyday moments. David and Sissy explain that modern life…
Apr 7, 2026 · 37:29
Kari Kampakis shares why today’s girls need both grace and grit—the ability to stay kind while also developing strength and resilience. She encourages parents to help their…
Apr 2, 2026 · 22:32
This episode explores how to raise capable girls by addressing three key challenges—feelings, failings, and fear. Sissy Goff shares how girls often feel deeply, internalize…
Mar 31, 2026 · 34:36
Dr. Arthur Brooks shares that happiness isn’t a feeling to chase, but a direction shaped by habits—cultivating enjoyment, satisfaction, and meaning. He highlights the importance…
Mar 26, 2026 · 37:41
Dr. Aliza Pressman shares five research-based principles—relationship, reflection, regulation, rules, and repair—that empower parents to raise resilient, capable kids,…
Mar 24, 2026 · 23:48
David and Sissy explore how modern parenting has shifted toward anxiety, over-helping, and outsourcing wisdom to experts—often at the cost of building real capability in kids.…
Mar 19, 2026 · 54:45
Catherine Price explores how technology is shaping kids’ attention, mood, relationships, and development, while offering a hopeful path forward for families. She emphasizes that…
Mar 17, 2026 · 25:14
Sissy Goff and David Thomas explore what they call a growing “crisis of capability” among kids today. Drawing from what they see in their counseling offices, they discuss…
Mar 12, 2026 · 1:01:04
Sissy Goff and David Thomas sit down with Jay and Catherine Wolf to talk about resilience, suffering, and what it really means to raise capable kids. After Catherine survived a…
Mar 10, 2026 · 20:13
Sissy Goff and David Thomas introduce the idea behind their book Capable and discuss the growing mental health struggles they are seeing in kids today—anxiety, isolation, and a…
Mar 9, 2026 · 1:58
Sissy Goff and David Thomas introduce the Capable series—a conversation about the growing “crisis of capability” they’re seeing in kids today. Drawing from decades of counseling…
Mar 5, 2026 · 29:04
In this conversation with Tara-Leigh Cobble, founder of D-Group and host of The Bible Recap, Tara shares how moving from “Bible exposure” to true “Bible engagement” transformed…
Mar 3, 2026 · 39:27
In this deeply moving conversation, Sissy and David sit down with beloved children’s author Sally Lloyd-Jones to talk about her newest book, Jesus, Our True Friend. Sally shares…
Feb 26, 2026 · 33:59
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…
Feb 24, 2026 · 38:20
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…
Feb 19, 2026 · 48:10
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…
Feb 17, 2026 · 52:16
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…
Feb 12, 2026 · 47:11
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…
Feb 10, 2026 · 1:03:16
Sissy and David are joined by Megan Michelson and Mary Flo Ridley from Birds & Bees for a practical, hope-filled conversation about protecting kids in today’s fast-moving,…
Feb 5, 2026 · 30:48
In this episode, Sissy Goff and David Thomas sit down with Justin Giboney for a timely, thoughtful conversation about what kids need right now in an increasingly polarized world.…
Feb 3, 2026 · 47:40
Sissy and David unpack five things kids need culturally right now: conversation (parents as the calm, safe first source), protection in the real world (body-safety skills and…
Jan 29, 2026 · 31:32
Dr. Juli Fraga invites parents into the often-overlooked work of tending to their own emotions as a foundation for raising emotionally healthy kids. Drawing from her book Parents…
Jan 27, 2026 · 47:06
Sissy Goff and David Thomas sit down with Dr. Marc Brackett, founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, to talk about helping kids—and parents—understand,…
Jan 22, 2026 · 32:24
Sissy Goff and David Thomas welcome Devon Kuntzman, founder of Transforming Toddlerhood, for a practical conversation about what toddlers need most right now. Devon reframes…
Jan 20, 2026 · 27:06
This episode emphasizes that kids grow emotionally strong through five key needs: healthy boredom that creates space for creativity and self-direction, agency that helps them…
Jan 15, 2026 · 38:45
Sissy Goff and David Thomas explore the powerful, research-backed role of play in reducing anxiety, building resilience, and strengthening family connection. They unpack why…
Jan 13, 2026 · 37:21
Sissy Goff and David Thomas sit down with journalist and author Leland Vittert to talk about his memoir Born Lucky and the profound impact his father had on his life growing up…
Jan 8, 2026 · 30:23
Sissy Goff and David Thomas kick off a new series by exploring five things kids need most socially right now. Drawing from decades of counseling experience and current research,…
Jan 6, 2026 · 39:03
In this episode, Dr. Gary Chapman joins Sissy Goff and David Thomas to explore what kids need most right now: feeling deeply and consistently loved. Drawing from decades of…
Dec 30, 2025 · 45:29
Sissy Goff and David Thomas talk with Justin Whitmel Earley about his new book The Body Teaches the Soul and how our everyday physical habits—like breathing, sleep, movement, and…
Dec 22, 2025 · 30:32
In this warm and super-practical holiday episode, Sissy and David share 10 grounding tips to help families navigate Christmas with more connection and less overwhelm. They…
Dec 18, 2025 · 20:51
Sissy and David reflect on the meaningful conversations and listener feedback from their Enneagram parenting journey, offering a quick, hope-filled recap of each number’s core…
Dec 16, 2025 · 1:05:00
In this rich and hope-filled conversation, Sissy and David are joined by beloved friends and Enneagram teachers Jill Phillips and Hunter Mobley to explore how the Enneagram can…
Dec 11, 2025 · 1:03:27
Hillary Rector and Andy Gullahorn share an honest, thoughtful look at what it’s like to move through the world—and parent—as Enneagram Nines. They discuss the genuine ease,…
Dec 9, 2025 · 38:51
In this episode, Sissy and David dive into Enneagram Nines—their calming presence, deep empathy, and quiet, steady love that makes home feel like a safe place for kids’ big…
Dec 4, 2025 · 38:26
In this Enneagram 8 episode, Sissy and David sit down with longtime friends (and parents of six young adults between them) Amy Fenton and Brian Camp. They share how their…
Dec 2, 2025 · 40:31
Sissy and David explore the bold, protective world of Enneagram 8s, celebrating their fierce loyalty, honesty, and justice‑driven strength while also naming common struggles like…
Nov 27, 2025 · 33:32
Author and therapist Niro Feliciano joins Sissy and David to talk about her new book, All Is Calm-ish, and how we can find contentment and calm in the middle of a busy, often…
Nov 25, 2025 · 54:29
In this episode, Sissy and David sit down with Enneagram Sevens Mary Killett and Aaron Weber, who share how their natural optimism, humor, and energy shape their lives at Daystar…
Nov 20, 2025 · 27:23
In this episode, Sissy and David turn their attention to Enneagram Sevens—the Enthusiasts, Optimists, and Adventurers who bring joy, imagination, and energy to the world. They…
Nov 18, 2025 · 53:37
In this episode, Sissy and David sit down with two beloved Enneagram Sixes: longtime Daystar founder and leader Melissa Trevathan and Daystar counselor Allye Gray. They explore…
Nov 13, 2025 · 27:43
Sissy and David celebrate the strengths of Enneagram Sixes—their loyalty, courage, diligence, and care for the common good—while naming the real challenges of worst-case…
Nov 11, 2025 · 44:05
Enneagram 5 parents Lauren Rupley and Kris Plunkett talk curiosity, intentionality, and energy management in family life. They describe how fives’ love of learning, patient…
Nov 6, 2025 · 29:13
Enneagram Fives—the Investigators—bring curiosity, insight, independence, and a calming, steady presence to both life and parenting. Sissy and David highlight how Fives notice…
Nov 4, 2025 · 1:02:38
What a heartfelt and deeply human conversation with two incredible Enneagram Fours—therapist Kendra Allen and artist Jon McLaughlin. Jon McLaughlin is a Nashville-based recording…
Oct 30, 2025 · 40:36
Fours bring depth, texture, and beauty to the world—helping all of us see what’s true and lovely through story, song, nature, and the poetry of everyday life. Their superpower is…
Oct 28, 2025 · 54:27
We loved this honest, hopeful conversation with two dear friends—Kelli Haywood and Brandon Verner—who both live as Enneagram 3s at home and at work. If you’re a Three (or love…
Oct 23, 2025 · 34:57
In today’s episode, we’re diving into the world of Enneagram Threes—the Achievers. Threes bring incredible energy, focus, and drive into everything they do. They’re natural…
Oct 21, 2025 · 43:30
In this week’s episode, we sit down with two of our favorite Twos—Heather Flener and Sherman Bucher—for a conversation full of warmth, laughter, and self-awareness. These two…
Oct 16, 2025 · 29:04
In this week’s episode, we’re diving into one of our favorite Enneagram numbers—Twos, “The Helpers.” We love Twos. They’re the nurturers of the world—nurses, teachers,…
Oct 14, 2025 · 53:20
Oh, friends, what a beautiful conversation about the heart of Type Ones! We love how this episode unpacks the inner world of these incredible, responsible souls who care so…
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