Episode 358: The Crisis of Capability in Kids

Raising Boys & Girls

That Sounds Fun Network

Religion & Spirituality, Kids & Family, Christianity, Parenting

4.9 • 1.9K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2026

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Sissy Goff and David Thomas explore what they call a growing “crisis of capability” among kids today. Drawing from what they see in their counseling offices, they discuss cultural shifts that have contributed to kids feeling less able to handle normal challenges—including the rise of smartphones, the loss of play-based childhood, “language inflation” around mental health, and increasing avoidance of discomfort. They encourage parents to help rebuild resilience by normalizing nerves, allowing healthy stress, and creating opportunities for kids to practice courage in small everyday ways. Resources mentioned: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Capable by David Thomas and 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! 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. ATHLETIC GREENS: Go to DRINKAG1.com/RBG to get their best offer… For a limited time only, get a FREE AG1 duffel bag and FREE AG1 Welcome Kit with your first subscription order! Only while supplies last. COOK UNITY: Go to cookunity.com/RBG or enter code RBG before checkout to get 50% off your first order. SETH AND THE VERY SCARY STORM: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGSethStorm to check out this Lifeway book. YARA THE BRAVE: Go to https://tinyurl.com/RBGYara to check out this Lifeway book. ADVENTURE BIBLE: Get an Adventure Bible for your child and begin reading and exploring it together to build confidence and curiosity in God’s Word https://tinyurl.com/RBGAdventureBible. 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. TONE TODAY: Visit tonetoday.com and use code RBG to get 20% off your first order. HIYA HEALTH: Visit hiyahealth.com/RBG to get 50% off your first order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Now, are all the traitors present?
0:02.0	Let's get started, shall we?
0:04.0	From rags to riches.
0:06.0	I'm so sick of this.
0:07.0	Working like a dog and being treated worse.
0:09.0	Yorkshire to New York.
0:10.0	Poor climbers, you and me.
0:12.0	A life dedicated to revenge.
0:14.0	Let's make this an occasion to remember.
0:17.0	A Woman of Substance on Channel 4.
0:19.0	Stream now.
0:32.1	Hey, friends, welcome to the Raising Boys and Girls podcast.
0:33.4	I'm Sissy Goff.
0:37.8	And I'm David Thomas, and we're so glad you've joined us for this conversation.
0:39.2	Let's dive in.
0:56.3	Okay, before we get into the heavier topic that we're about to jump into, I'm hoping some people are watching on YouTube because Patches couldn't be cuter behind me.
1:04.8	She will help you regulate your nervous system if you'll just stare at her long enough. I promise it'll work. While we're having this conversation. I love when people comment about that. We often get comments on social media about how Patches,
1:11.3	Havonies love to be up high.
1:12.8	And so she loves to get up behind me in my chair when I counsel,
1:16.5	except I don't know that I've said publicly that her new favorite thing is to,
1:21.4	maybe we have, to get up on the couch behind parents that I'm meeting with.
1:25.5	And she especially likes men and licking their ears,
	...

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