Raising Boys & Girls

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 teachers and mentors who made them feel seen, believed in, challenged, and loved, and they remind listeners that one steady, caring adult can change the trajectory of a child’s life. They also talk about the practical ways educators and coaches build capability in kids by helping them feel known beyond performance, offering safe challenge, supporting anxious children with calm and clear expectations, and offering hope. The episode closes with a challenge for parents and kids to thank the people who have made a meaningful impact in their lives.

Resources mentioned

Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff

Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys by Stephen James and David Thomas

Raising Girls: Learn How to Encourage, Challenge, and Inspire Your Daughter to Discover Who God Is Calling Her to Be by Melissa Trevathan and Sissy Goff

Nashville Coaching Coalition

Oprah Winfrey’s interview with her elementary school teacher, Mrs. Duncan

“Trees We’ll Never See” by Amy Grant

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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 words, the gift of intentional grandparenting, and creating a home that feels peaceful rather than perfect. Babs shares wisdom from her new children’s book, Did Your Mother Ever Tell You?, encouraging parents to make space for kids’ big feelings while speaking life-giving words over them. She also offers practical homemaking advice, including her simple “15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes at night” routine, and makes a strong case for screen-free family dinners as a meaningful way to build connection. 

Resources mentioned


Did Your Mother Ever Tell You? by Babs Costello


Homemaking with Babs by Babara Costello


Celebrate with Babs by Babs Costello


Every Day with Babs by Babs Costello

Find Babs on Instagram

. . . . . . 

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.

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.

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.

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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 clear expectations, consistent family meals, chores, service, hospitality, gentle correction, and intentional time with extended family gave their children both security and responsibility. As grandparents, John and Carole emphasize the importance of prayer, showing up for meaningful moments, supporting without managing, welcoming spouses as family, and helping each grandchild feel deeply loved, accepted, and known.

Questions David mentions:

When you think about your family growing up, what did your parents do that made you feel most safe, seen, and known?

Grandparents often have influence in ways they don’t even realize. What are some things your parents did—or still do—that shaped the way you parent today?

For the daughters—what are some things your parents did growing up that you now realize were actually building capability in you?

For the grandparents—what has been the biggest surprise about moving from parenting children to parenting adult children… and now grandparenting?

How do you stay supportive without overstepping? Especially when you may parent differently than your adult children do?

What does healthy involvement from grandparents actually look like? What helps adult children feel supported instead of managed?

There’s so much research—including work from Lisa Miller—about how grandparents can deeply shape a child’s spiritual life. How have you seen that play out in your family?

What are some of the most meaningful traditions, rhythms, or small moments that have helped create connection across generations?

For the daughters—what do your parents do now that makes you feel most encouraged as an adult?

For the grandparents—what would you say to grandparents who feel unsure of their role or worry they’ve missed their chance to make an impact?

If each of you could finish this sentence: “One thing every child needs from a grandparent is…” what would you say?

Resources mentioned:

Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff

The Spiritual Child: The New Science on Parenting for Health and Lifelong Thriving by Dr. Lisa Millert

. . . . . .

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.

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.

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.

LIBERTY HEALTH SHARE: Visit LibertyHealthShare.org to learn more about healthcare sharing options for your family.
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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 a unique source of wisdom, encouragement, and unconditional love while reinforcing the values parents are teaching at home. The episode also highlights the power of family stories, meaningful traditions, and intentional connection in helping kids develop a stronger sense of identity, belonging, and confidence.

Questions David mentions:

When you think about your family growing up, what did your parents do that made you feel most safe, seen, and known?

Grandparents often have influence in ways they don’t even realize. What are some things your parents did—or still do—that shaped the way you parent today?

For the daughters—what are some things your parents did growing up that you now realize were actually building capability in you?

For the grandparents—what has been the biggest surprise about moving from parenting children to parenting adult children… and now grandparenting?

How do you stay supportive without overstepping? Especially when you may parent differently than your adult children do?

What does healthy involvement from grandparents actually look like? What helps adult children feel supported instead of managed?

There’s so much research—including work from Lisa Miller—about how grandparents can deeply shape a child’s spiritual life. How have you seen that play out in your family?

What are some of the most meaningful traditions, rhythms, or small moments that have helped create connection across generations?

For the daughters—what do your parents do now that makes you feel most encouraged as an adult?

For the grandparents—what would you say to grandparents who feel unsure of their role or worry they’ve missed their chance to make an impact?

If each of you could finish this sentence: “One thing every child needs from a grandparent is…” what would you say?

Resources mentioned:

Capable by David Thomas and Sissy Goff

NIH: Effects of grandparents’ involvement on young children’s resilience: mother’s parenting stress and family strength as mediators

. . . . . .

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.

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.

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

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 from classroom teacher to becoming “America’s Government Teacher,” and talks about the importance of balancing protection and preparation as kids grow. Together, they explore how children can handle difficult topics when guided by trusted adults, why self-awareness is essential for modeling calm engagement, and how teaching kids to focus on “the next needed thing” helps build confidence and agency. Sharon also shares the inspiring story of civil rights leader Septima Clark and explains why her new children’s book encourages kids to believe that ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference. 

Resources mentioned:


We Are Mighty: 12 Ordinary Americans Who Did the Next Needed Thing by Sharon McMahon


The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon

@sharonsaysso

. . . . . . 

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.

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!

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