Episodes

You may have heard our exciting news: The Connected Families podcast has reached an amazing milestone – two million listens! 🎉 We’re touched by how many of you have tuned in from across the US and around the world over the past five years. Thank you for listening and sharing with others who could use a little parenting encouragement. Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting! Were you encouraged by this podcast? Donate to Connected Families today! Take a moment to ra...

Author and artist Ruth Chou Simons chats about life with God, and her first children’s book, Home Is Right Where You Are. Ruth shares insights on pursuing God’s grace daily and passing it on to our children, emphasizing the importance of reminding kids that their true home is with Jesus. She explains how you can have meaningful faith conversations, using her book as a starting point, and encourages you to nurture your heart with God’s grace to guide your children toward their home in God. Menti...

Author and artist Ruth Chou Simons chats about life with God, and her first children’s book, Home Is Right Where You Are. Ruth shares insights on pursuing God’s grace daily and passing it on to our children, emphasizing the importance of reminding kids that their true home is with Jesus. She explains how you can have meaningful faith conversations, using her book as a starting point, and encourages you to nurture your heart with God’s grace to guide your children toward their home in God. Menti...

In this episode, Jim and Lynn Jackson, co-founders of Connected Families, chat with Dr. David and Amanda Erickson from Flourishing Homes and Families about their new book, The Flourishing Family: A Jesus-Centered Guide to Parenting with Peace and Purpose. The Ericksons share their journey of integrating Christ-centered theology with modern neuroscience to provide a holistic approach to parenting. They explore gospel-centered gentle parenting (while addressing common misconceptions) and reframe d...

In this episode, Jim and Lynn Jackson, co-founders of Connected Families, chat with Dr. David and Amanda Erickson from Flourishing Homes and Families about their new book, The Flourishing Family: A Jesus-Centered Guide to Parenting with Peace and Purpose. The Ericksons share their journey of integrating Christ-centered theology with modern neuroscience to provide a holistic approach to parenting. They explore gospel-centered gentle parenting (while addressing common misconceptions) and reframe d...

In this episode, Jim and Lynne Jackson talk with Ruth Wharton about the transformative power of “do-overs.” They unpack how this practice mirrors the gospel by encouraging us to give ourselves grace, seek forgiveness, and mend relationships. They share the simple steps involved and how do-overs grow and evolve as your children do. By modeling grace and humility through do-overs, you can start to transform the culture in your home today. Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline That Connects onlin...

In this episode, Jim and Lynne Jackson talk with Ruth Wharton about the transformative power of “do-overs.” They unpack how this practice mirrors the gospel by encouraging us to give ourselves grace, seek forgiveness, and mend relationships. They share the simple steps involved and how do-overs grow and evolve as your children do. By modeling grace and humility through do-overs, you can start to transform the culture in your home today. Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline That Connects onlin...

When faced with your child’s misbehavior, it’s tempting to focus on their weaknesses: poor emotional regulation, lack of self-control, or dishonesty. But what if you could see beneath these struggles to recognize the God-given strengths hidden within? At Connected Families, we affectionately refer to these strengths as “gifts-gone-awry.” Listen in as Connected Families Co-Founder Lynne Jackson sits down with 22-year-old Lucy Browning and her parents, Ted and Jill. Together, they share how identi...

When faced with your child’s misbehavior, it’s tempting to focus on their weaknesses: poor emotional regulation, lack of self-control, or dishonesty. But what if you could see beneath these struggles to recognize the God-given strengths hidden within? At Connected Families, we affectionately refer to these strengths as “gifts-gone-awry.” Listen in as Connected Families Co-Founder Lynne Jackson sits down with 22-year-old Lucy Browning and her parents, Ted and Jill. Together, they share how identi...

Have you ever noticed bad behavior increasing the more you attempt to quell it in your child? You might be facing a situation of payoffs, accidental rewards or misplaced “focus fertilizer.” In this episode, Chad Hayenga and Jim Jackson unpack how parents often react and unintentionally reward undesired behavior. They demonstrate how shifting from frustrated reactions to genuine engagement can transform challenging moments into opportunities for connection and growth. Mentioned in this podcast: ...

Have you ever noticed bad behavior increasing the more you attempt to quell it in your child? You might be facing a situation of payoffs, accidental rewards or misplaced “focus fertilizer.” In this episode, Chad Hayenga and Jim Jackson unpack how parents often react and unintentionally reward undesired behavior. They demonstrate how shifting from frustrated reactions to genuine engagement can transform challenging moments into opportunities for connection and growth. Mentioned in this podcast: ...

Showing love is easy when your child is doing well, but what does it look like to extend selfless agape love to a child who is misbehaving? Listen in as Jim and Lynne Jackson, Connected Families Co-Founders, share about receiving God’s unconditional love and effectively passing it on to your child (in the midst of struggles!). This conversation is packed with scripture and practical tools to encourage and equip you. Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline that Connects with Your Child’s Heart bo...

Showing love is easy when your child is doing well, but what does it look like to extend selfless agape love to a child who is misbehaving? Listen in as Jim and Lynne Jackson, Connected Families Co-Founders, share about receiving God’s unconditional love and effectively passing it on to your child (in the midst of struggles!). This conversation is packed with scripture and practical tools to encourage and equip you. Mentioned in this podcast: Discipline that Connects with Your Child’s Heart bo...

Expanding on last week’s episode, Josh and Rachel Keller use role-plays to show how you can engage in a difficult conversation with your child. They offer insights for choosing a time and place that will help foster meaningful dialogue and highlight the importance of listening and empathy as you enter the conversation. If you’re feeling unsure about the weighty or awkward conversations you need to have, this episode will give you a boost in confidence and some practical ideas for a great, connec...

Expanding on last week’s episode, Josh and Rachel Keller use role-plays to show how you can engage in a difficult conversation with your child. They offer insights for choosing a time and place that will help foster meaningful dialogue and highlight the importance of listening and empathy as you enter the conversation. If you’re feeling unsure about the weighty or awkward conversations you need to have, this episode will give you a boost in confidence and some practical ideas for a great, connec...

Whether it’s swearing, sex, racism, or a loved one’s choice, talking about difficult topics is a requirement of parenting. Listen in as Josh and Rachel Keller, MA, LPCC (Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches), join us to share practical ideas for approaching difficult conversations with kids of all ages. In their light-hearted and humorous way, they encourage us to reflect, embrace the awkward, and lead with curious questions. You’ll feel encouraged and equipped for your next tough convers...

Whether it’s swearing, sex, racism, or a loved one’s choice, talking about difficult topics is a requirement of parenting. Listen in as Josh and Rachel Keller, MA, LPCC (Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches), join us to share practical ideas for approaching difficult conversations with kids of all ages. In their light-hearted and humorous way, they encourage us to reflect, embrace the awkward, and lead with curious questions. You’ll feel encouraged and equipped for your next tough convers...

Three dads and parent coaches talk about power struggles and how to break the patterns of judgment and defensiveness that get us stuck in power struggles with our kids. Chad Hayenga, Jim Jackson, and Alan Thetford team up to discuss how you can shift from a mindset of control to one of grace and teamwork. Jim shares a personal story about realizing he was a “power-hungry dad,” and the group roleplays how you could shift away from power-struggle parenting in a common interaction about screens and...

Three dads and parent coaches talk about power struggles and how to break the patterns of judgment and defensiveness that get us stuck in power struggles with our kids. Chad Hayenga, Jim Jackson, and Alan Thetford team up to discuss how you can shift from a mindset of control to one of grace and teamwork. Jim shares a personal story about realizing he was a “power-hungry dad,” and the group roleplays how you could shift away from power-struggle parenting in a common interaction about screens and...

What if you could stop arguments before they started? If you’re curious about how to stop arguing with your child, you’ll want to listen to this podcast. Stacy Bellward and Sara Paine are passionate that wise questions can stop you from arguing with your child. After all, Stacy even co-authored an online course on it. Today, they discuss one game-changer question in particular and share how this question can transform parent-child interactions by fostering curiosity, empathy, and connection. Th...

What if you could stop arguments before they started? If you’re curious about how to stop arguing with your child, you’ll want to listen to this podcast. Stacy Bellward and Sara Paine are passionate that wise questions can stop you from arguing with your child. After all, Stacy even co-authored an online course on it. Today, they discuss one game-changer question in particular and share how this question can transform parent-child interactions by fostering curiosity, empathy, and connection. Th...

This week, we chat with Joel and Mindy Bolitho, an Australian couple who’ve experienced transformation through the Framework. They talk about significant moments in their journey and how they spread the word about Connected Families in their community. Connected Families’ Director of Development, Adel Irwin, also joins the conversation to highlight the upcoming Week of Sharing (August 1-7) and how you can get involved. Mentioned in this podcast: Text the keyword “parenting” to 50155 to give to...

This week, we chat with Joel and Mindy Bolitho, an Australian couple who’ve experienced transformation through the Framework. They talk about significant moments in their journey and how they spread the word about Connected Families in their community. Connected Families’ Director of Development, Adel Irwin, also joins the conversation to highlight the upcoming Week of Sharing (August 1-7) and how you can get involved. Mentioned in this podcast: Text the keyword “parenting” to 50155 to give to...

Perhaps your child always sits politely at the table and eats their Brussels sprouts, but for the rest of us, especially with a food-sensitive child or two, food struggles in families are real. Today we talk to Emily Meade, RD, LD, a dietitian who wants to help us recapture some of the connection and joy that can happen in the kitchen and around the table. Emily discusses the importance of teaching children that their bodies are uniquely created by God, and she shares strategies for encouraging...