Not many of us have the bandwidth to keep up with technology for ourselves, let alone to safeguard the kids we love. Screens are one of the areas we need trusted, like-minded and like-hearted guides to keep us up to date and aware of what we need to do to protect our kids. Joey Odom has become one of those guides for us. Joey and Heath are the founders of a brilliant box called Aro, to help us connect with our families more than any of us are connecting with screens. Joey has got so much...

In this week’s episode, we dive into the beginnings of adolescence. As we know, girls have often surged ahead in their maturity, physically and emotionally. Which, in this stage, means not-so-great news. But, the sooner we see girls move into their teenage angsty-ness, the sooner they move out of it. For girls, we’ll call these years the narcissistic years…because, IYKYK. For boys, we’ll call him the Individual. Listen along as we dive into who he and she are in their middle school years....

This week is the last of our Raising Boys and Girls Live Podcast Tour episodes and we are going out with a BANG with two of our favorite people in the world… Annie and Dave Barnes!  You likely know Dave from the phenomenal Dadville podcast he hosts with our friend Jon McGlaughlin OR from his beloved music OR from his antics on Instagram. (If you don’t, go follow and download and all the things now.) But you may not know his wise, thoughtful, exceedingly kind wife, Annie. (We think she’s his...

Over this past year, we have had the delight of getting to know the delightful Toni Collier. Toni is a mom, author, speaker, and the founder of an international women’s ministry called Broken Crayons Still Color, which also happens to be the name of her newest book!  We know you will enjoy Toni just as much as we do…get ready to laugh, learn and lean in to this important conversation about parenting through hurt. Feels particularly important in this season. . . . . . If you are looking to...

It has been so fun sharing with you conversation from our friends who joined us on the Raising Boys and Girls Live Podcast tour. And those of you who got to come to Atlanta had the grace of getting to hear from two of our favorite people on the planet, Katherine & Jay Wolf from Hope Heals! They made us laugh and get so teary during our time together—as they always do. If you’re not following them and getting to not only witness but join in on all of the good they are doing, head over to...

Have you ever been to a Behold the Lamb of God show? If not, PUT IT AT THE TOP OF YOUR LIST FOR NEXT YEAR or see if there are any stray tickets for a show near you this season. You likely know Andrew Peterson from his own poignant, beautiful lyrics and melodies. Or maybe from his Wingfeather Saga series or books for kids. Or, maybe his books for grown-ups, Adorning the Dark and The God of the Garden. Or from his song that shaped our hearts and culture, Is He Worthy? Or from The Rabbit Room....

Y’all. To be honest, we really hope you can hear us say any words in this podcast episode—because mostly we were CRACKING UP at our hilarious and wise friends Sophie Hudson and Melanie Shankle. We were thrilled they would join us on the Raising Boys and Girls live podcast—knowing we wouldn’t have to say much, because they are all of the entertainment and wisdom any of us need! We can’t wait for you to listen in. AND if you aren't already listening to their podcast, The Big Boo Cast, go...

How many of you have read any of the Every Moment Holy books? They are some of our VERY favorites and we recently got to sit down with Douglas McKelvey, the author of these books to discuss the importance of practicing the presence of God as a family. We can’t wait for you to listen in. Douglas is every bit as rich and deep as these books. They’re also a GREAT Christmas gift—so go get one—or lots—for your friends and family today! And make sure to listen for the end because we’ve got a great...

We are THRILLED to be sharing with you some FUN we had with our friend, the Queen of all things fun (who also happens to be brilliant, wise, thoughtful and lots more), Annie F Downs!!! We recorded this episode LIVE in August on our Raising Boys and Girls tour and thought you might enjoy listening in on this conversation around the ages and stages in Annie’s life, as well as the most important thing she thinks parents—and grandparents—and grown-up BFF’s need to know today! . . . . . If you...

It feels like the perfect podcast episode to release the week after Thanksgiving for us because we could not be any more grateful for these two friends. Heather and Luke Flener are the parents of two amazing girls and two of the most thoughtful, wise, grace-filled people we know. They’re the kind of people that make the world feel a little better when they’re around. Plus, they’re a blast to hang out with! . . . . . Order The Worry-Free Parent or The Worry-Free Parent Workbook today! Sign up...

This season can be one of the toughest when it comes to entitlement and kids. We are ALWAYS so deeply grateful for the voice of our friend Rachel Cruze, but we’re especially grateful for not only the truth that she shares on this week’s podcast, BUT THE FACT THAT SHE’S WRITTEN A CHILDREN’S BOOK TO HELP INSTILL GRATITUDE IN KIDS!!!! Grab a copy of the book, I'm Glad for What I Have, TODAY to read with your kiddos this week—and make sure to listen to this episode as a reminder while you’re...

Welcome back to Part 2 of this VERY important conversation with our friend, the brilliant Kimberly Carraway. If you haven’t heard part one we invited you to go back and listen NOW! So much wisdom in these two episodes and so much help for the kids we love and us navigating learning! Transforming Your Teaching: Practical Classroom Strategies Informed by Cognitive Neuroscience . . . . . Order The Worry-Free Parent or The Worry-Free Parent Workbook today! Sign up to receive the RBG monthly...

We are so excited this week to introduce you to one of the smartest (and kindest) people we know, Kimberly Carraway. Kimberly is the founder and CEO of The Carraway Center in Nashville and Birmingham and one of our our favorite go-to folks for all things academic with kids. We can’t wait for you to listen in on this conversation about kids and learning hurdles of all kinds. This is one you’ll want to pull over and grab a pen and paper to take notes. We loved the time so much that we broke it...

The Adventurous Years and the Lover stages in a child’s life. So much good and richness and fun in these years. And also some anxiety creeping in, too. In this week’s podcast, we’ve moved from who they are to what they need. And what they need has certainly changed in the past few years, in light of our world today. Don’t forget, for a deeper dive, we’ve now got the Ages and Stages Discussion Guides up on our website—with Try it Out sections and devotionals for each day of the week. Go...

We first heard about Justin Whitmel Earley’s work years ago. A friend of ours said it had changed the life and practices of her family. We have heard the same countless times from parents since.  We are so excited to have Justin and his wife Lauren on the podcast this week. They talk about Justin’s newest book, Habits of the Household—Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms. And they talk about their own life as a family, what they’ve learned and who they’re becoming both...

This week we continue our Ages and Stages series and begin talking about Stage 2, The Lover for boys (ages 5-8) and The Adventurous Years for girls (ages 6 to 10 or 11 or 12). When we speak on the Ages and Stages at parenting conferences, we both say the same thing: “If you would ever want your child to be stuck in their development, this is where you’d want them to get stuck.” So many good things happening in this stage. So much growth. Emotionally. Spiritually. Relationally. Who they are is...

We are still talking about how much we enjoyed spending the morning with Andrew and Shawn Johnson East. This was our first time to host an Olympic Gold Medalist alongside a former NFL player. These two remarkable humans are also authors and the wise minds behind Family Made, a media company serving and supporting families in an amazing way. Equally so, they are the proud parents of two kids and one on the way.  We shared a wonderful, thoughtful conversation about parenting through the ages...

It is a delight to introduce you this week to Sissy Goff's little sister and brother (officially her brother-in-law, but pretty much little brother.) Kathleen is the owner of the cutest boutique in Nashville, K.McCarthy and Aaron is the Director of Giving and Leadership at our very own Daystar Counseling. And, Sissy wants to make sure we mention that they’re the mom and dad to her favorite little guys on the planet, Henry and Witt! We are thrilled for you to get to listen in on this sweet,...

We had the opportunity to share conversation with Sarah Molitor, the woman and creator behind Modern Farmhouse Family. Sarah is a wife to Tim, and the mother of SIX boys and one girl. Yes, 6 + 1 = 7 children! We talk with Sara about her brand new book, Well Said, and her children’s book, I Grew with You. You will enjoy this conversation about the joys and challenges of a large family, and parenting through the ages and stages. . . . . . If you are looking to dive deeper into this stage pick...

There is a beautiful little preschool in Nashville, attached to an Episcopal church, that has a very special place in Sissy’s heart. Its name is St. George’s Kindergarten and the faculty there—headed up by the wonder women known as Mrs. Zee and Mrs. Angela. They are wise, deeply encouraging, and insightful in a way that parents—and aunts and uncles and grandparents and anyone who loves preschool age kids need. We were thrilled for you to hear this thoughtful, insightful and hilarious...

We have long admired the profoundly helpful work of Moms on Call. When we talked about redoing the Ages and Stages podcast series with voices that we trust, these two women were at the top of our list for Stage 1 kiddos. Our conversation lived up to every bit of what we had hoped and MORE! We can’t wait for you to join in on this conversation with Laura Hunter and Jennifer Walker and discover all of the practical help and gracious hope they have to offer! Toddler by Design E-Guide . . . ....

We can’t imagine a better way to celebrate this favorite day than with two of our favorite people. Gabe & Keely Scott are some of the brains and brilliance behind our beloved Ladybird Taco. They share the story of how Ladybird came to be, alongside sharing a story of loss and hope that will remind you why these two are so adored and admired in our community (and beyond). Their story made its way to CBS Sunday Morning, The Atlantic, Southern Living (just to name a few). We were honored...

Last week we talked about boys and girls in stage one and who they are. Now, let’s talk about what these Stage 1 little ones we love so dearly need. Is it connection? Boundaries? Emotional literacy? TIME? It feels like they need so much so often in these years. So, listen in for a conversation with Sissy, David and Melissa on how we can be proactive in our parenting to build more resilient, confident kiddos from their earliest stages. . . . . . If you are looking to dive deeper into this...

We are so thrilled to have our friend, Katy Boatman, on today to talk about how to help anxious kids connect with Jesus. Her new devotional, You Can Trust: 100 Devotionals to Answer What-Ifs, is available now! . . . . . Order The Worry-Free Parent or The Worry-Free Parent Workbook today! Sign up to receive the RBG 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!  Find us...

It’s BACK!!! We are SO excited to announce that the Ages & Stages Series is BACK on the Raising Boys and Girls podcast! So much has changed in the past few years in the lives of kids and of parents. And so we wanted to update what we’ve heard from many of you is your favorite series to date!  This week, we’re kicking off with Stage 1 for the little ones in your lives. We’ll be talking about boys and girls—who they are in these birth to four or five years. Through each stage, remember to...