If we want to help Gen Z thrive, we have to help them tell a better story.

In this episode of Season 2, Andy and Kelly sit down with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford to explore how today’s teens are interpreting their lives—and why so many feel stuck.

Building on research from the Barna Group, this conversation unpacks a growing trend: Gen Z increasingly views life through a “therapeutic lens,” where emotions define reality and struggles are quickly labeled or diagnosed.

While this has led to greater emotional awareness and reduced stigma around mental health, it also comes with challenges.

When every hard moment is labeled as trauma—or every feeling becomes identity—young people can lose sight of the bigger picture. Instead of seeing emotions as signals, they begin to see them as the full story.

And that’s where parents come in.

This episode invites parents to step into their role as story-shapers—helping their kids hold both lament and hope, interpret their experiences accurately, and develop resilience in the face of challenges.

Because the goal isn’t to dismiss hard things.

It’s to remind our kids: this is not the whole story.

Episode Highlights

[01:30] What we’d tell our 16-year-old selves

[03:00] What it means that Gen Z sees life through a “therapeutic lens”

[06:30] The pros and cons of emotional awareness

[10:00] Why Gen Z feels overwhelmed: technology, information, and constant connection

[12:00] Social media, algorithms, and the illusion of community

[14:00] Why Gen Z feels “stuck” and lacks resilience

[16:00] The role of parents in shaping perspective and offering hope

[17:30] “Name what’s true”: helping kids interpret reality accurately

[19:00] Research insight: how we interpret experiences shapes our well-being

[20:30] Why language matters (trauma, triggers, diagnoses)

[23:30] What to do when your child pushes back

[24:30] Modeling emotional health and repair as parents

[26:30] Why your mistakes can actually help your kids grow

Resources Mentioned

📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Research — Barna

https://www.barna.com/mental-health/

📖 On Getting Out of Bed — Alan Noble

🎵 Be Kind to Yourself — Andrew Peterson

🏡 Eagle Ranch

https://www.eagleranch.org/

Don’t Miss What’s Next

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

Next week, we’ll hear directly from Gen Z voices—how this plays out in real life and what’s actually helping.

Don’t Miss Out!

If this episode encouraged you:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming conversations
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify
• Share this episode with another parent who may need encouragement

And as always, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to hear how you’re implementing these ideas in your own family.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

If we want to help Gen Z thrive, we can’t just encourage connection—we have to understand how we’re actually wired for it.

In this special bonus episode of Season 2, Andy and Kelly sit down with Dr. Curt Thompson—psychiatrist, speaker, and author—to explore the deep connection between our brains, our relationships, and our need to be known.

Building on our Increased Connectedness conversation, Dr. Thompson helps us see that healing doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens when we are seen, soothed, safe, and secure in relationship.

Drawing from interpersonal neurobiology and faith, he explains how shame and anxiety shape our stories—and how those stories often begin long before we’re aware of them. From early childhood experiences to the subtle “death by a thousand cuts” moments, we all carry narratives that influence how we parent, connect, and respond to stress.

But there is hope.

Dr. Thompson reminds us that it’s never too late to retell our story.

Through intentional relationships, repaired ruptures, and consistent presence, we can begin to experience healing—and offer that same healing to our children.

Episode Highlights

[01:30] Meet Dr. Curt Thompson: psychiatrist, author, and expert on connection

[03:00] Growing up: how early family experiences shape our stories

[06:30] Why we’re wired for connection—and what happens when it’s missing

[10:00] Anxiety explained: what’s really happening beneath the surface

[14:30] The link between shame and anxiety—and how they form our identity

[18:00] “We are our biggest problem”: the stories we tell ourselves

[22:00] How shame develops early—and why it’s more felt than thought

[27:00] The “death by a thousand cuts”: subtle ways shame builds over time

[32:00] How unprocessed pain impacts our parenting

[36:00] Why success doesn’t resolve underlying anxiety or shame

[40:00] The power of community in healing and growth

[43:00] Repairing ruptures: what actually builds secure relationships

[47:00] Why parents don’t need to be perfect—just willing to repair

[50:00] The importance of being known in your own life first

[52:00] How connection rewrites our story—and our children’s

Resources Mentioned

📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Report — Barna Group

https://www.barna.com/mental-health/

📖 The Soul of Shame — Dr. Curt Thompson

📖 The Anatomy of the Soul — Dr. Curt Thompson

📖 The Soul of Desire — Dr. Curt Thompson

🎧 Being Known Podcast — Dr. Curt Thompson

https://curtthompsonmd.com/podcast/

🌐 Dr. Curt Thompson Website

https://curtthompsonmd.com/

Don’t Miss Out!

If this episode encouraged you:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming conversations
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify
• Share this episode with another parent who may need encouragement

And as always, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to hear how you’re implementing these ideas in your own family.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

If we want to help Gen Z thrive, we can’t just encourage connection—we have to help them experience relationships built through shared life.

In Part 2 of our Increased Connectedness conversation, Andy and Kelly sit down with Shane Sullards—entrepreneur, adventurer, and Eagle Ranch alumnus—to explore how community is actually formed and why struggle often plays a key role in deepening it.

Drawing from his own story, Shane shares how his time at Eagle Ranch transformed his life. As a teenager facing deep pain and isolation, it wasn’t independence that changed him—it was consistent, caring community. Through relationships that refused to let him withdraw, he began to experience hope, healing, and a new sense of belonging.

That experience continues to shape how he lives and parents today.

Shane challenges the idea that connection just “happens.” Instead, he explains that meaningful community is built through intentional action—showing up, staying engaged, and walking through hard things together.

Some of the deepest bonds aren’t formed in comfort, but in struggle.

Whether it’s navigating family challenges or simply showing up consistently in everyday moments, shared difficulty has a way of turning individuals into a community.

For parents, this offers both a challenge and an invitation.

This conversation is a reminder that community doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through presence, perseverance, and a willingness to walk through life together.

Episode Highlights

[01:30] Meet Shane Sullards: entrepreneur, adventurer, and Eagle Ranch alumnus

[03:00] Shane’s story: how community at Eagle Ranch changed his life

[04:30] Why independence alone isn’t enough

[06:30] Isolation vs. connection for introverts and extroverts

[08:00] A pivotal moment of care that created space for healing

[10:00] Mentorship: learning from those who have “been there”

[11:30] Parenting tension: protection vs. healthy struggle

[12:30] Encouragement for parents who feel disconnected

[13:00] “Action is love”: small steps that build connection

[14:30] How shared struggle deepens relationships

[16:30] Why struggle reveals character

[17:30] Lessons from global communities

[20:30] The downside of self-sufficiency

[21:30] Reframing hardship as growth

[22:30] Modeling healthy relationships

[23:30] Creating opportunities for connection

[24:30] Building resilience through responsibility

Resources Mentioned

📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Report (Barna Group)

https://www.barna.com/mental-health/

📖 You on Purpose — Dr. Stephanie Shackelford

🏡 Eagle Ranch

https://www.eagleranch.org/

Don’t Miss Out!

If this episode encouraged you:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming conversations
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify
• Share this episode with another parent who may need encouragement

And as always, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to hear how you’re implementing these ideas in your own family.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

If we want to help Gen Z thrive, we have to look closely at one of the most powerful influences on their well-being: connection.

In this episode, Andy and Kelly sit down with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford to explore what research reveals about relationships—and why, in a world of constant digital interaction, many young people are still experiencing deep loneliness.

As part of our series on the Gen Z mental health crisis, this conversation focuses on the reality that while today’s kids are more connected than ever, much of that connection is shallow. Dr. Shackelford introduces the idea of “thin” versus “thick” relationships, helping us understand why frequent interaction doesn’t always lead to meaningful connection.

The research is clear: strong, healthy relationships are one of the greatest predictors of mental health, physical health, and long-term resilience. In fact, decades of research—including a landmark Harvard study on adult development—point to relationships as one of the most significant contributors to lifelong health and happiness.

But in the midst of busy schedules, packed calendars, and digital distractions, many families are unintentionally missing out on the kind of connection that truly sustains us.

There is good news.

Connection doesn’t require perfection or adding more to an already full life. It begins with small, intentional shifts—creating space, prioritizing shared experiences, and being willing to invite others into our everyday rhythms.

This episode offers both clarity and hope, reminding us that resilience is not built by avoiding hardship, but by walking through it together.

Episode Highlights

[02:50] Who is Gen Z and what the research reveals about rising mental health challenges

[04:40] The connection paradox: why Gen Z is both highly connected and deeply lonely

[05:00] Why strong relationships are one of the greatest predictors of health and happiness

[06:10] “Thin” vs. “thick” connection: what today’s kids are missing

[07:00] How technology creates the illusion of connection without depth

[09:00] Why busyness does not equal true community

[10:30] The four characteristics of resilient families

[11:30] What separates resilient families: a willingness to ask for help

[13:00] Why receiving support can feel uncomfortable—but is essential

[14:10] Creating margin and space for connection in everyday life

[15:00] Simple ways to build connection through shared experiences

[17:00] The role of serving together in strengthening relationships

[19:00] Why church and community involvement matter for well-being

[20:20] The importance of intergenerational relationships for kids

Resources Mentioned

📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Report (Barna Group)

https://www.barna.com/mental-health/

📊 The State of Today’s Family (Barna Group)

https://www.barna.com/the-state-of-todays-family/

📖 You on Purpose — Dr. Stephanie Shackelford

Don’t Miss Out!

If this episode encouraged you:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming conversations
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify
• Share this episode with another parent who may need encouragement

And as always, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to hear how you’re implementing these ideas in your own family.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

If we want to help Gen Z thrive, we can’t only focus on kids—we have to support the parents raising them.

In Part 2 of our Supporting the Guardians conversation, Andy and Kelly sit down with Eagle Ranch counselor Phillip Costa to talk about what parents themselves are experiencing right now—and why their own healing and growth matter so much.

Drawing from nearly two decades of counseling experience, Phillip shares how anxiety, stress, and depression among parents have steadily increased, especially in the digital age. From constant information overload to the pressure of “getting parenting right,” many caregivers today feel overwhelmed and exhausted.

But there is hope.

Phillip explains that lasting change in a family often begins when parents slow down and begin exploring their own story—how they were parented, what triggers them, and how unresolved pain can shape the way they respond to their children.

When parents begin doing that work, something powerful happens: the entire family system begins to shift.

This conversation offers a hopeful reminder that parenting isn’t about perfection. It’s about faithfulness in the process, growing in compassion for ourselves, and building a foundation strong enough to weather the storms that inevitably come.

Episode Highlights

[03:40] The current state of parenting: why anxiety and stress are increasing for caregivers

[05:30] How constant information and “Dr. Google” can fuel parental anxiety

[08:40] Signs a parent may be running on empty and losing margin

[10:30] Why exploring your personal story is essential for growth

[13:30] What keeps parents from slowing down and doing their own work

[14:30] The ripple effect: how parents changing begins to transform families

[16:10] Understanding authoritative parenting: balancing nurture and structure

[18:20] Why tools and parenting tips don’t work without a strong foundation

[20:00] The importance of community when processing your story

[25:30] Encouragement for parents who feel like they’re doing the work but still struggling

Resources Mentioned

📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Report (Barna Group)

https://www.barna.com/mental-health/

🎙 Previous Episode with Phillip Costa

Family Dynamics: What Doesn’t Get Healed Gets Transferred (Part 1) — Season 1, Episode 4

📖 You on Purpose — Dr. Stephanie Shackelford

Don’t Miss Out!

If this episode encouraged you:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming conversations

• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify

• Share this episode with another parent who may need encouragement

And as always, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to hear how you’re implementing these ideas in your own family.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

When we talk about the Gen Z mental health crisis, the focus is often on teens. But what about the people raising them?

In this episode of It Takes a Family, Andy and Kelly welcome back researcher Dr. Stephanie Shackelford to explore the second theme from the Barna research: Supporting the Guardians.

What the data reveals is both surprising and deeply important—parents are struggling at nearly the same rates as their children. Anxiety, loneliness, and chronic stress are affecting caregivers across the board, making it harder to lead families with confidence.

Dr. Shackelford helps unpack what’s happening beneath the surface and why supporting parents is essential if we want to help the next generation thrive.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why many parents today feel overwhelmed and paralyzed by information

• The growing loneliness crisis among caregivers

• How parental mental health directly impacts children

• The difference between permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative parenting

• Why both warmth and structure are essential for healthy development

• How redefining the goal of parenting—from happiness to flourishing—changes everything

The good news? Parents don’t have to figure this out alone. Small steps toward community, honest conversations, and simple rhythms can make a powerful difference.

Episode Highlights

[03:00] Why the mental health of parents matters just as much as the mental health of teens

[04:00] The loneliness crisis among caregivers and the pressure parents carry today

[08:30] Understanding permissive, authoritarian, and authoritative parenting styles

[10:00] Why children need both connection and boundaries to flourish

[13:30] How your own upbringing may shape the way you parent today

[15:00] Rethinking the goal of parenting: happiness vs. flourishing

[19:30] Returning to basic family rhythms—sleep, nutrition, and time outside

[21:30] When it may be time to seek outside help

[22:30] Why moms often become the emotional safe place for kids—and how dads can step in too

[25:00] An encouragement for overwhelmed parents: you are not alone

Resources Mentioned

📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Report (Barna Group)

https://www.barna.com/mental-health/

📖 You on Purpose — Dr. Stephanie Shackelford

Don’t Miss Out!

This is a two-part conversation.

Today we explored the research behind supporting parents and caregivers. Next week, we’ll move into practical ways families can begin building healthier rhythms and support systems at home.

If this episode encouraged you:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2

• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify

• Share this episode with another parent who may need encouragement

And as always, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to hear how you’re implementing these ideas in your own family.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

What does it actually look like to build a tech-wise home in real life?

In Part 2 of our conversation on Smart Tech Use, Andy and Kelly sit down with Rachel Medefind, Director of the Institute for Family-Centered Healing & Health at the Christian Alliance for Orphans.

Rachel holds a Master of Science in Psychology and Neuroscience of Mental Health from King’s College London, with a focus on children who have experienced early adversity, and is the author of When There Is Crisis. She is also a bio mom, foster mom, and adoptive mom raising five children ranging from teens to young adults.

Rachel shares how her family built rhythms over time — not overnight — to protect what matters most. From delaying smartphones to creating screen-free mornings and evenings, she offers a hopeful, practical vision rooted in one foundational idea:

Technology decisions must flow from your family’s values — not fear.

If you’ve ever thought, “We’re too far gone,” this episode will remind you: it’s never too late to reset.

Episode Highlights

[08:00] Why parents feel overwhelmed — and how fear can paralyze leadership

[11:30] Starting with your family’s “big rocks” before setting tech rules

[15:30] Why parents’ device habits must change first

[17:45] Delaying smartphones and matching tools to actual needs

[19:30] Having teens write and sign their own phone agreements

[20:00] Screen-free mornings: prayer, chores, movement before devices

[22:30] No devices in bedrooms and protecting sleep

[24:30] Baby steps vs. drastic resets — how to make meaningful change

[27:00] Why technology is a spiritual formation issue, not just a behavior issue

[34:00] Life beyond screens — from reading aloud to 25 days on the John Muir Trail

Resources Mentioned

📖 When There Is Crisis — Rachel Medefind

📖 The Anxious Generation — Jonathan Haidt

📖 You on Purpose — Dr. Stephanie Shackelford

📖 The Common Rule — Justin Whitmel Earley

🌐 Christian Alliance for Orphans

https://cafo.org

Don’t Miss Out!

If this episode encouraged you:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming conversations
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify
• Share this episode with another parent navigating the digital world

And as always, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram — unless you’re on a fast. 😉

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

Are smartphones really that big of a deal… or is this just another cultural panic?

Is the concern over smartphones and Gen Z mental health just more noise — or is something truly different?

In this first episode of Season 2 of It Takes a Family, Andy and Kelly sit down with researcher and author Dr. Stephanie Shackelford to examine what the data actually says about technology and the rising mental health crisis among Gen Z.

This season is built on groundbreaking research conducted with the Barna Group, exploring why anxiety, depression, and loneliness have increased so dramatically among today’s teens and young adults.

Dr. Shackelford shares hopeful, research-backed starting points for parents who feel overwhelmed — including two simple boundaries that can make a measurable difference:

• No screens at family meals

• No devices in bedrooms overnight

If you’ve ever thought, “The ship has sailed,” this episode will remind you: it’s never too late to reset rhythms in your home.

This conversation kicks off our first Season 2 theme: Smart Tech Use — helping families create intentional tech-free spaces that foster connection, identity, and resilience.

Episode Highlights

[05:00] The mental health spike that correlates with smartphone adoption

[08:00] “Technology is designed to foster obsession.”

[10:00] Two research-backed starting points: no screens at meals, no screens in bedrooms

[13:00] Why even a phone on the table reduces relational attunement

[16:00] The powerful impact of removing phones from the bedroom — for parents too

[17:50] Time vs. type of screen use: why communal viewing differs from scrolling

[19:00] Is this just another cultural panic?

[21:00] Walking as wise in a digital age

[23:00] Why it’s never too late to reset boundaries

[27:00] The church as a sacred, screen-free refuge

[29:00] Teens actually want help being on their phones less

Resources Mentioned

• 📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Report (Barna Group)Download the free report here:https://www.barna.com/mental-health/
• 📖 The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• 📖 You on Purpose by Dr. Stephanie Shackelford
• 📖 The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley

Don’t Miss Out!

If this episode encouraged you, challenged you, or gave you a starting point:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify (it helps other parents find hope)
• Share this episode with another parent navigating the digital world

And as always, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to hear how you’re implementing tech-free rhythms in your own family.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.