Episode 337: Helpful Habits for the New Year with Justin Whitmel Earley

Raising Boys & Girls

That Sounds Fun Network

Religion & Spirituality, Kids & Family, Christianity, Parenting

4.9 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 30 December 2025

⏱️ 48 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Sissy Goff and David Thomas talk with Justin Whitmel Earley about his new book The Body Teaches the Soul and how our everyday physical habits—like breathing, sleep, movement, and technology use—quietly shape our spiritual lives and parenting. Justin shares how burnout and anxiety led him to discover that lasting change comes not from trying harder, but from practicing small, embodied habits that help us respond with patience, presence, and grace. With practical encouragement for overwhelmed parents, he reminds us that habit change is about responding to God’s love, not earning it, and that starting small can lead to meaningful transformation. Resources mentioned: The Body Teaches the Soul by Justin Whitmel Earley The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley Habits of the Household by Justin Whitmel Earley Made for People by Justin Whitmel Earley Atomic Habits by James Clear . . . . . . 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. MERCY SHIPS: Please donate today at MercyShips.org/podcast. OMAHA STEAKS: Visit OmahaSteaks.com for 50% off sitewide during their Sizzle All the Way Sale. And for an extra $35 off, use promo code FUN at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This episode is brought to you by Shopify. With Shopify, 2026 is the year you make it happen. It gives you the tools to build your dream store, online and in person. Plus with marketing built in, it'll help you reach exactly who you need to. Join the millions who've already made the leap, like Jim Shark and all birds, and ring in the new year with Shopify.
0:23.4	Sign up for your £1 per month trial at Shopify.com.uk slash Spotify.
0:43.4	Hey friends, welcome to the Raising Boys and Girls podcast. I'm Sissy Goff.
0:49.2	And I'm David Thomas, and we're so glad you've joined us for this conversation. Let's dive in. Justin Whitmill Early is a lawyer, speaker, and bestselling author whose work centers on the habits that form our spiritual, emotional, and relational lives.
1:06.2	His books, including the common rule and habits of the household, have helped countless families
1:11.7	build rhythms that lead to peace and connection in everyday life. Justin's newest book invites
1:17.7	us even further into the transformative power of embodied practices. We are thrilled to welcome
1:23.7	our friend Justin back to the Raising Boys and Girls podcast. And you all hang tight.
1:28.1	This one is packed full of practical ideas that you could implement today.
1:36.0	So, Justin, we are so excited about your new book. We love all that you put out into the world
1:41.9	and are really excited about the body teaches the soul.
1:45.8	And we would love to start by you just talking about the heart behind it.
1:50.8	And what led you to explore the connection between our physical habits and the formation of our souls?
1:58.8	I would love to tell you because this is not only a long story, but a very personal story.
2:06.1	So for me, this book has really been brewing for almost a decade
2:10.6	because it was a decade ago that I collapsed in my professional life.
2:16.5	I was a missionary in China who became a lawyer
2:20.3	at the age of 30.
2:22.1	And having that missionary headspace
2:25.1	made me feel like I was really called to lawyering.
2:28.0	So I ran at it with all the fervor of a man on a call
2:32.4	without really thinking about how the habits and practices of being a
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from That Sounds Fun Network, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of That Sounds Fun Network and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.