Connected Families Podcast

In this episode on calming for kids, Lynne Jackson (Connected Families Co-Founder) and Lydia Rex ( Connected Families Certified Parent Coach ) talk with Stacy about what role parents play in helping their kids calm down. This conversation especially has sensitive or intense kids in mind, and the principles shared are paired with practical examples and stories from parents who’ve tested the ideas....

In this podcast we chat with Danika Delello, who shares how desperate she was for help when dealing with her strong-willed child’s frequent, lengthy tantrums. She talks about switching her parenting mindset from an obedience-focused approach to one based on connection and grace through the Connected Families Framework. Danika relates how this shift allowed her to be present in a loving, affectiona...

If you imagine your most recent parenting fail, do you cringe or just laugh? Do you wallow in shame or regret? Today, we’re talking with Dijea Young about moving beyond regret into hope. She shares experiences as a mom to 8, grandmother, and Certified Connected Families Parent Coach and explains helpful strategies for transforming regrets into opportunities, particularly during the holidays....

In today’s episode, Connected Families Co-Founder Jim Jackson interviews Stephen Freeman, a father of five, who shares how Connected Families impacted his parenting approach. Through coaching and practical tools, Stephen learned to see challenging behaviors differently and developed a deeper understanding of both parenting and God as Father. Mentioned in this podcast: Parent Coaching Give the gift...

If you’re not satisfied with what your parenting looks like today, maybe becoming a better mom or dad is more about reframing what you already do than finding new tips and tricks that “work” with your kids. In this episode, Connected Families Co-founders Jim and Lynne Jackson discuss the powerful practice of transforming discouraging mental “tapes” into grace-filled,...

Wondering how you can set holiday boundaries and expectations for family gatherings? Are you looking forward to celebrating Christmas with family but dreading unsolicited advice from well-meaning relatives? You are not alone. Changes in your daily routines, travel, lack of sleep, and large gatherings set the stage for parenting challenges. Sometimes, other adults in your family may scrutinize thes...

Today we chat with Leah Sutterlin, an adoptee, adoptive mom, and adoption advocate, about being an adoptee. Leah shares how early separation affected her later relationships and attachment style and discusses the identity struggles she experienced growing up. She also explains how her parents’ supportive approach allowed her to openly process grief and embrace her adoption story. Listen in t...

Listen in as Connected Families Co-Founder Lynne Jackson and Christina Spaeth-Harrer, pediatric occupational therapist, share their expert insights on improving family sleep. From managing bedtime routines to incorporating sensory-friendly activities, Christina and Lynne offer practical tools for common sleep challenges. They also discuss the importance of emotional connection and integrating fait...

Are you a teacher working to create a nurturing classroom environment while managing behavior well? Whether you teach in a school or volunteer at church, this conversation is for you. Dr. Cindy Wilson, Partnership Program Manager at Connected Families, and Maggie Rocke, a kindergarten teacher, and Connected Families Certified Parent Coach , join us to explore how to effectively apply the Connected...

Dr. Nicole Wilke joins us to talk about what it takes to raise kids who can overcome everything from daily challenges to childhood trauma. Nicole discusses nurturing resilience by reframing challenges positively and the importance of fostering your child’s connection with God. She emphasizes modeling resilience for your kids and integrating resilience-building moments into your daily conversations...

Join us for a powerful conversation with Jim and Lynne Jackson about raising resilient children. They encourage you to focus on the process and long-term perspective of building character and identity rather than focusing on the result of the task at hand. Whether you’re dealing with homework struggles or life’s bigger challenges, you’ll feel equipped with hope and purpose to nurture r...

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...

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,...

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....

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 ca...

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-F...

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 engagem...

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 enc...

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...

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, embra...

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...

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 shar...

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 ho...

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 teachin...

What if chores weren’t a constant struggle in your household? Join Connected Families Certified Parent Coaches Marni Love and Corrie Thetford as they discuss the Happiness Trifecta and how it can transform the way chores are done at your house. The Happiness Trifecta is a group of brain chemicals you can tap into to make chores more enjoyable for your kids. Corrie, Marni, and our host, Stacy...