Raising Boys & Girls

In this episode, Elina 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, Elina 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 Are by Alena Franklin and Priscilla Shirer

For Girls Like You Ministries 


All Eyes on Lena Box Set by Alena Pitts and Wynter Pitts

. . . . . . 

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.

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

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. 

. . . . . . 

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.

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

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.

. . . . . . 

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.

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

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 and avoidant. David and Sissy connect this to factors like digital communication, lowered relationship standards, and increased screen use, all of which can hinder resilience and healthy development. They emphasize that true capability is built through real-life challenges, responsibility, and healthy risk-taking, and encourage parents to raise expectations, foster strong relationships, teach coping skills, and create space for both rest and growth.

Resources mentioned:


Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience by David Thomas and Sissy Goff


The Addiction Inoculation: Raising Healthy Kids in a Culture of Dependence by Jessica Lahey


Navigating Our Teens Dating with Paula Faris


Birds & Bees

. . . . . . 

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.

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: Jolie will give you your best skin & hair guaranteed. Head to jolieskinco.com/RBG to try it out for yourself with FREE shipping.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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. Especially in the middle school years, kids face rapid changes and self-doubt, making it crucial for parents to support rather than rescue. By allowing kids to work through hard moments while staying gently connected, we help them build the confidence and capability they need for life.

Resources mentioned:


Untangled: Guiding Teenage Girls Through the Seven Transitions into Adulthood by Dr. Lisa Damour


Under Pressure: Confronting the Epidemic of Stress and Anxiety in Girls by Dr. Lisa Damour


The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents by Dr. Lisa Damour

. . . . . . 

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.

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