Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today’s episode features Jenni Colwell. Jenni serves as the Director of Children and Family Ministries for the British Columbia and Yukon District of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. She is passionate about nurturing the spiritual formation of children and equipping the pastors and leaders who serve them. Jenni and her husband, Mark, have been married for 31 years and are blessed with four adult children, two sons-in-law, and two grandchildren.

Episode notes:

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Today’s episode is all about building a stronger team, and in this case, that team is your marriage. If team-building activities work in uniting coworkers and near strangers, how much more will it do for you and your spouse?

Episode notes:

Helping Couples Thrive digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/helping-couples-thrive

100+ great date ideas

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/100-great-date-ideas

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2020 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

For today’s episode, it’s our pleasure to introduce Jason Weening. Jason and his wife, Alli, have been married for 20 years and are blessed with 10 children. He speaks to dads and moms encouraging them to be intentional in their most important organization – their family! He is the author of two books: a fiction adventure book for kids, Danger in the Jungle, and a humorous non-fiction book, Yes, Dear...I’m Watching Them: Stories of Injury and Adventure from the Frontlines of Dadhood. He co-hosts the Helping Men Thrive podcast and supervises the care of hens, ducks, cows, and vegetables on their small hobby farm in southern Saskatchewan. Find him at HeyDads.ca.

Episode notes:

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

HeyDads.ca

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2026 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome back to The Thriving Family, a podcast from Focus on the Family Canada. If you’re new to the show, this is the place where family, faith, and culture intersect. Our first season explored communication and conflict in relationships. For season two, we looked at how our Heavenly Father heals our scars. Now, for season three, we are talking about God’s full life for you. We sat down with ministry leaders, coaches, entrepreneurs and content creators from across Canada, and I’m so excited for you to hear these conversations.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

For today’s episode, we have the honour of introducing a powerful testimonial of healing scars that were left by dysfunctional family. The family we grew up in – our family of origin – has an undeniable impact on our lives. It can affect how we see ourselves, how we see the world, how we interact with others, and our expectations of marriage and parenting. Tina’s story is told with brutal honesty, and we are grateful for her courage in sharing with us. I hope you are encouraged by Tina’s testimony of finding healing and hope.

Please note that this testimonial mentions abuse and is not suitable for children.

Episode notes:

Understanding Your Family of Origin digital booklet

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/free-booklet-download-understanding-your-family-of-origin

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2025 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

For today’s episode, we are talking about inevitable stress and necessary self-care following the birth of a first child, but not from the perspective you might expect. When it comes to self-care, new dads may struggle to find information that applies to them. Sadly, this make them feel unprepared and alone if they’re struggling. You’ll hear from several dads about their experiences and discover practical steps for self-care as a new father.

Just a note: Referrals to websites not produced by Focus on the Family Canada do not necessarily constitute blanket endorsement of the sites' content.

Episode notes:

Content series for new parents

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/new-parents

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2016 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

In today’s episode, we are looking at what it means to be in a relationship with a highly sensitive person. By first understanding the characteristics and needs of a highly sensitive person, you can then identify how that’s affecting your relationship – especially when it comes to navigating conflict – so you can create a safe, thriving marriage.

Please note that reference to the individuals and organizations quoted does not constitute a blanket endorsement of either the individuals’ external work or their respective organizations. And all names have been changed to protect their privacy.

Episode notes:

Navigating Conflict in Marriage digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/navigating-conflict-in-marriage

Helping Couples Thrive digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/helping-couples-thrive

Focus Marriage Assessment Tool

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/marriage-assessment

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2018 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today it’s our great pleasure to introduce author and speaker Shirley Thiessen. Most people feel uncertain how to express empathy and love to those who are grieving. Shirley was one of those people. Then abruptly, grief ambushed Shirley’s family. Twelve days after her son’s wedding, Shirley was thrown into the unimaginable task of planning his funeral. The trauma of losing her child threatened to destroy her. Hope and resiliency gradually emerged with the caring support of courageous, compassionate friends. They listened, acknowledged her loss, prayed and patiently remained present.

Inspired by these “Hope Heroes,” Shirley wrote the book, The Little Black Funeral Dress: Five Things I Wish I Had Known About Grief to pay it forward. Identifying the need for more grief education particularly in faith communities, Shirley became founder of Corner Bend Grief Ministries in 2019. Her passion is to inspire others to be Hope Heroes so that every grieving soul will experience God’s love and find courage to recycle their pain for his glory.

This conversation with Shirley Thiessen is facilitated by Len DenBraber, chief operating officer at Focus on the Family Canada.

Episode notes:

The Little Black Funeral Dress by Shirley Thiessen

https://shop.focusonthefamily.ca/The-Little-Black-Funeral-Dress

Walking Through Grief PDF booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/grief

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2025 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.