Raising Boys & Girls

• Episode 325: Understanding the Loyalist and Enneagram 6's with David and Sissy

  ​​Sissy and David celebrate the strengths of Enneagram Sixes—their loyalty, courage, diligence, and care for the common good—while naming the real challenges of worst-case thinking, indecision, and hypervigilance. They offer practical ideas for Six parents (trust your gut, build steady routines, model bravery “even when you feel afraid”) and simple ways to support a child who might be a Six (reassure safety, give age-appropriate choices, and nudge into small risks). The theme: Sixes hold families and communities together more than they realize. Resources mentioned in the episode: The Worry-Free Parent by Sissy Goff — and its Workbook Braver, Stronger, Smarter by Sissy Goff (for girls) Strong and Smart by David Thomas (for boys)  Brave by Sissy Goff (for older middle & high school girls) The Invisible String by Patrice Karst . . . . . .  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! Access Raising Boys and Girls courses here! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  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: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo code RBG. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Episode 324: You're More Prepared than You Think / Enneagram 5's with Kris Plunkett & Lauren Rupley

  Enneagram 5 parents Lauren Rupley and Kris Plunkett talk curiosity, intentionality, and energy management in family life. They describe how fives’ love of learning, patient problem-solving, and reflective nature become strengths—sparking great questions, thoughtful rhythms, and delight in kids’ unique wiring. They also name common struggles: over-researching instead of trusting intuition, scarce-energy mindsets, stepping back to observe rather than engaging in hard moments, and turning kids’ challenges into a referendum on their own preparedness. Practical help includes building daily downtime, modeling conscious tech boundaries, asking “Is this about me or about my child?”, showing vulnerability, and finding mentor parents a few steps ahead. Resources mentioned: Stephen Biesty's Incredible Cross-Sections Black Beauty by Anna Sewell The Black Stallion by Walter Farley . . . . . .  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! Access Raising Boys and Girls courses here! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  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: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo code RBG. WAYFAIR: Get organized, refreshed, and ready for the holidays for way less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. KIWICO: Tinker, Create, and Celebrate this holiday with KiwiCo! Get up to 50% off your first crate at kiwico.com, promo 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

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• Episode 323: Understanding the Investigator and Enneagram 5's with David and Sissy

  Enneagram Fives—the Investigators—bring curiosity, insight, independence, and a calming, steady presence to both life and parenting. Sissy and David highlight how Fives notice patterns others miss, think objectively, set healthy boundaries, and dive deep into learning. Their measured energy and calm in crisis can be a superpower at home, helping kids regulate and feel safe. They also explore common stretches: retreating into the mind, mistaking self-protection for not needing relationships, cynicism/sarcasm when fear rises, and feeling drained by the constant demands of family life. The episode offers grace (manna for today) and practical growth steps for Five parents—express warmth (not just wisdom), choose presence over preparation, and engage emotions before problem-solving. For kids who may be Fives, they share ways to reassure, gently invite connection, honor refueling needs, and nurture quirky passions. Books mentioned in the podcast:  The Worry-Free Parent by Sissy Goff . . . . . .  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! Access Raising Boys and Girls courses here! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  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: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo code RBG. EVERYDAY DOSE: Get 45% off your first subscription order of 30-servings of Coffee+ or Bold+. You’ll also receive a starter kit with over $100 in free gifts including a rechargeable frother and gunmetal serving spoon by going to everydaydose.com/RGB or entering RGB at checkout. You’ll also get FREE gifts throughout the year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Episode 322: When you Struggle with the Practical in Parenting / Enneagram 4's with Jon McLaughlin & Kendra Allen

  What a heartfelt and deeply human conversation with two incredible Enneagram Fours—therapist Kendra Allen and artist Jon McLaughlin. Jon McLaughlin is a Nashville-based recording artist, songwriter, and pianist who also co-hosts a parenting podcast with his friend Dave Barnes. Kendra Allen is a therapist and mom whose work centers on authenticity, emotional health, and helping people grow with self-awareness and compassion. Both bring such insight into what it means to live and parent from a place of depth, emotion, and authenticity. Together, they explore the gifts and challenges of being a Four—the ability to sit with sadness and create beauty from it, as well as the struggle to focus on what’s missing instead of what’s present. They share moving stories from their own parenting journeys—how empathy can sometimes become over-identification, how creativity and authenticity shape their homes, and how they’re learning to hold both depth and lightness in their relationships with their kids. From Jon’s tender story about his daughter saying, “I like being with you when I’m sad,” to Kendra’s reminder that “your work is a gift,” this episode is full of grace, honesty, and hope for every parent seeking connection. We’d also think you’d like: Ep.170 Parenting through Infertility, Loss and Adolescence with Kendra Allen and Ep. 119 Parenting with Vulnerability with Jon and Amy McLaughlin. . . . . . .  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! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  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: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo 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: Visit hiyahealth.com/RBG to get 50% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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• Episode 321: Understanding the Individualist and Enneagram 4's with David and Sissy

  Fours bring depth, texture, and beauty to the world—helping all of us see what’s true and lovely through story, song, nature, and the poetry of everyday life. Their superpower is sitting with complex emotions and holding nuance, which can anchor families in grief and hard conversations. We also name a few common traps: chasing the “exceptional,” push–pull dynamics when others don’t respond just right, and letting feelings define identity. Helpful practices include simple, steady routines for the mundane, channeling empathy outward, and remembering that many feelings pass more quickly than they seem—often in about 90 seconds. For parents, Fours shine in attunement and deep listening—so pair that Olympic-level support with calibrated challenge and an invitation to move forward. Teach kids to sort feelings from truth, give Four girls room to feel without hopping on the rollercoaster, and point them toward purpose; with Four boys, expect some identity “trying on,” name the melancholy default without shaming, and keep both empathy and next steps in play. Growth and grace—always both. Mentioned in the podcast: Brave: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Beating Worry & Anxiety — Sissy Goff (referenced for parents of teen girls). “Someday Soon” by Wilder Woods (Bear Rinehart) — lyric about feeling like a stranger. Raising Boys and Girls episode #94 Giving Up Parental Control with Betsy & Gene Cashman . . . . . .  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! Connect with David, Sissy, and Melissa at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠raisingboysandgirls.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Owen Learns He Has What it Takes: A Lesson in Resilience⁠ ⁠Lucy Learns to Be Brave: A Lesson in Courage⁠⁠ . . . . . .  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: QUINCE: Go to ⁠Quince.com/rbg⁠ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. THRIVE MARKET: Head over to ⁠ThriveMarket.com/rbg⁠ to get 30% off your first order and a FREE $60 gift.  NIV APPLICATION BIBLE: Save an additional 10% on any NIV Application Bible and NIV Application Commentary Resources by visiting faithgateway.com/nivab and using promo code RBG. BOLL & BRANCH: Get 15% off plus free shipping on your first set of sheets at Bollandbranch.com/rbg⁠. Exclusions apply. KA’CHAVA: Go to Ka'Chava and use code RBG for 15% off your next order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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