

Raising Boys & Girls
That Sounds Fun Network
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 18, 2025 • 28min
Ep 248: Milestone Nine - Foundation
We are so excited to be moving into the spiritual milestones in our Are My Kids on Track Series. In this episode, we get to interview Melissa Trevathan, whom you know from past season of the Raising Boys and Girls podcast and from being our Daystar Counseling Founder and Senior Director. She’s also our resident Bible teacher at Hopetown and the best Bible teacher we know for kids. We are so grateful for Melissa’s wisdom and insight when it comes to the spiritual lives of kids of all ages. We know you’re going to love this episode just as much as we did! My First MessageGrab a copy of Are My Kids on Track? to follow along with us through the season!Are My Kids on Track? Spotify Playlist. . . . .Sign up to receive the 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!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsor:Hiya Health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/RBG. This deal is not available on their regular website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 13, 2025 • 33min
Ep 247: The Power of Moms and Pursuing Justice as a Family with Jemar Tisby
Jemar Tisby has been a 6th grade teacher, middle school principal, now college professor, historian, author, activist, and all around great guy. We were delighted to sit down and learn from the history he has taught and the legacy he has lived for today’s podcast. We have a feeling you will have the same experience: you’ll laugh, cry, learn more about all of the things that bring us together way more than divide us, and hear his heart for both kids and parents in this tumultuous world. Plus, we all talk about losing our biggest fans, our Moms, and all that they did to shape us. You’re gonna love this one, just as much as we did!The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and ResistanceStories of the Spirit of Justice I Am the Spirit of Justice. . . . .Sign up to receive the 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!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsor:Dose: Save 30% on your first month of subscription by going to dosedaily.co/RBG or entering RBG at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 11, 2025 • 32min
Ep 246: Freeing Your Children from your Own Trauma with Melanie Shankle
Melanie Shankle, who one of your favorites and undoubtedly one of ours, is back on the podcast this week, talking about her amazing new book, Here Be Dragons: Treading the Deep Waters of Motherhood, Mean Girls, and Generational Trauma. You’re going to want to listen to this episode, buy the book, follow along with all she’s doing and especially with The Big Boo Cast! Melanie is wise and hilarious and you will know immediately why she’s our first third time-er.Past episodes you will love with Melanie:Ep 50: How to Help Kids Handle Conflict with Melanie Shankle and Sophie HudsonEp 151: Raising Boys and Girls Live with Sophie Hudson and Melanie Shankle. . . . .Sign up to receive the 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!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsors:Function: Function currently has a waitlist, but they are offering my audience the chance to skip it! Head to functionhealth.com/RBG or enter code RBG when signing up to skip the waitlist!Wayfair: Give your home the refresh it needs with Wayfair. Head to Wayfair dot com right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 6, 2025 • 44min
Ep 245: Helping Kids do the Important Work of Racial Reconciliation with Esau McCaulley
Esau McCauley is a professor of New Testament and Public Theology at Wheaton College, as well as the bestselling author of seven books. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about his newest book, How Far to the Promised Land, in which he shares his own story of hope and his family’s legacy. We also dive into his two fantastic children’s books: Andy Johnson and the March for Justice and Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit. Through it all, he shares so much rich truth about what it looks like to advocate for justice and anti-racism as a family. This is a conversation that we believe will both enlighten and inspire you. It sure did both of us!You may also enjoy these episodes. Ep 24: Talking to Kids About Race with Dr. Chinwe WilliamsEp 96: Teaching Kids How to Engage with People Who Have Differing Points of View with Carlos Whittaker. . . . .Sign up to receive the 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!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsors:Needed: Head over to thisisneeded.com and use code RBG for 20% off your first order. Jolie: Jolie will give you your best skin & hair guaranteed. Head to jolieskinco.com/RBG to try it out for yourself with FREE shipping. And if you don’t like it— you can return your Jolie for a full refund within 60 days, no questions asked.Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code RBG at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Our Place offers a 100 day trial with free shipping and returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 5min
Ep 244: Navigating the Loss of a Child and Miscarriage as a Family with Annie F. Downs & Tatum Green
It is a topic more of us need to be talking about, in our own lives. And it’s certainly a topic we need to be helping the kids we love navigate. We were deeply honored to have Annie F. Downs and her remarkable sister, Tatum Green, share their story of loss on this week’s episode. If you’ve suffered loss, we believe this episode will be one that brings you comfort and hope. If you haven’t, it will equip you to walk alongside the people in your life who have. We all need to listen and learn how to better love each other. We’re so grateful to Tatum and Annie for vulnerably and hopefully reminding us how. And for writing this wonder of a book, Where Did TJ Go?: A Book for Kids on Grief and Loss.Check out other helpful episodes on this topic below. Ep 83: Navigating Pain and Suffering with OthersEp 170: Parenting Through Infertility, Loss and Adolescence. . . . .Sign up to receive the 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!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsor:Hiya Health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/RBG. This deal is not available on their regular website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 30, 2025 • 47min
Ep 243: Practical Ways to Build Boundaries at Home with Emma Pasquale and Sherman Bucher
Boundaries are hard at home. Some kids don’t respect them. Some kids have lots of them. It can be tough to know how to help build healthy boundaries at home. This week, our dear friends and wise co-workers at Daystar, Sherman Bucher and Emma Pasquale are talking about just that. Grab a pen and paper because you’re going to want to take notes on this one!Grab a copy of Are My Kids on Track? to follow along with us through the season!Are My Kids on Track? Spotify Playlist. . . . .Sign up to receive the 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!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsors:Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code RBG at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Our Place offers a 100 day trial with free shipping and returns. Needed: Head over to thisisneeded.com and use code RBG for 20% off your first order. Dose: Save 30% on your first month of subscription by going to dosedaily.co/RBG or entering RBG at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 28, 2025 • 42min
Ep 242: Helping Kids Develop Sexual Integrity with Jim Burns and Erin Mashaw
Sexual Integrity…sounds like a hard concept to grasp and an even harder concept to teach the kids we love. But our new friend Jim Burns and our long-time friend, Erin Mashaw, have written a book to help us do just that! We’re so excited about this book and about our conversation with Jim and Erin that brings such grace, hope and wisdom to the topic. We can’t wait for you to listen in on this one. A Student's Guide to Sexual Integrity: God's Plan for Sex and Your Body (For Ages 10-17 or Grades 6-12) Doing Life with Your Adult Children: Keep Your Mouth Shut and the Welcome Mat OutHomeWordIf you enjoyed this episode, you may also find this episode as helpful. Ep 56: How to Talk to Your Kids About Sex. . . . .Sign up to receive the 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!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsor:Hiya Health: We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/RBG. This deal is not available on their regular website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 23, 2025 • 29min
Ep 241: Milestone Eight - Boundaries
Where do your kids struggle, in regard to boundaries? Your sons? Daughters? When we wrote Are My Kids on Track, one of the things we talked about was how boys struggle in respecting boundaries, whereas girls struggle in setting them. Has that been your experience? What have you found that has helped? In this week’s episode, we talk about both…teaching the kids we love to set and respect boundaries. Grab a copy of Are My Kids on Track? to follow along with us through the season!Are My Kids on Track? Spotify PlaylistHow to Find a Counselor for your Child. . . . .Sign up to receive the monthly newsletter to keep up to date with where David and Sissy are speaking, favorite books and games to play with your kids, PLUS conversation starters for you and your family to share!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsor:Jolie: Jolie will give you your best skin & hair guaranteed. Head to jolieskinco.com/RBG to try itout for yourself with FREE shipping.And if you don’t like it— you can return your Jolie for a full refund within 60 days, no questions asked. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 21, 2025 • 37min
Ep 240: Adoption, Fostering and Healing from Trauma with Tori Hope Petersen
We had the privilege to sit with Tori Hope Petersen recently and hear, not only her powerful story, but the difference she is making in the world for children. We talked foster care, adoption, resilience, and healing from trauma...both for kids and for ourselves. And, of course, we talked about her new wonder of a book, Breaking the Patterns that Break You. We can’t wait for you to listen to this wise and hope-filled episode from our friend, Tori! @torihopepetersenIf you enjoyed this episode, check out our Adoption and Fostering Playlist. . . . . .Sign up to receive the 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!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsor:Dose: Save 30% on your first month of subscription by going to dosedaily.co/RBG or entering RBG at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 16, 2025 • 54min
Ep 239: Understanding the Social Dynamics of Teenagers with Rosalind Wiseman
Do you have a teenager living in your house? Or an almost teenager? This was one of our favorite conversations with one of our favorite authors, Rosalind Wiseman. In this episode, she talks about what’s going on with the adolescent guys and girls that we love in relationships, and what we can do to help. And make sure to listen through till the end because she gives us some much needed wisdom on what we can do to motivate the teenagers in our lives. You’re going to love this episode!. . . . .Sign up to receive the 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!Go behind the scenes and watch our podcast on YouTube!Download a copy of the Raising Boys and Girls Feelings Chart. Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at raisingboysandgirls.com. . . . . .If you would like to partner with Raising Boys and Girls as a podcast sponsor, fill out our Advertise with us form. A special thank you to our sponsors: Needed: Head over to thisisneeded.com and use code RBG for 20% off your first order. Our Place: Go to fromourplace.com and enter my code RBG at checkout to receive 10% off sitewide. Our Place offers a 100 day trial with free shipping and returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


