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PODCAST

It Takes a Family

Every family has challenges, but sometimes it feels like you"re navigating more than your share. How do you find a path to healing and hope? Welcome to It Takes a Family, the podcast that helps parents move from desperation to hope by providing practical guidance and real-world insights.Each week, hosts Andy and Kelly, alongside experts and fellow parents, share stories and lessons from the trenches of difficult family seasons. This season, they’ll break down Eagle Ranch’s proven approach to

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

28:54

Change the Story (Part 1): Finding Hope Beyond the Hard

It Takes a Family ·

2026/04/16

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

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56:32

Bonus Episode: The Neurobiology of Being Known with...

It Takes a Family ·

2026/04/09

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,

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28:42

Increased Connectedness (Part 2): How Struggle Builds...

It Takes a Family ·

2026/04/02

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

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29:48

Increased Connectedness (Part 1): Why Relationships...

It Takes a Family ·

2026/03/26

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

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29:52

Supporting the Guardians (Part 2): Why Parents’...

It Takes a Family ·

2026/03/19

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

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28:41

Supporting the Guardians (Part 1): Why Parents’...

It Takes a Family ·

2026/03/12

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

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37:23

Creating Tech-Free Spaces (Part 2): Building Rhythms...

It Takes a Family ·

2026/02/26

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

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32:38

Creating Tech-Free Spaces (Part 1): What the Research...

It Takes a Family ·

2026/02/19

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,

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42:00

HOLIDAY BONUS: Balance Hopes & Expectations with...

It Takes a Family ·

2025/11/20

The holidays are here, and with them comes an intense mix of joy, stress, and sky-high expectations. Why do the holidays amplify existing family conflicts and tension? And how can parents navigate that pressure without sacrificing their sanity or their peace?Hosts Andy and Kelly bring back Molly Hughes to tackle the tough topic of managing holiday stress. Molly dives into why we feel the intense pressure to create a "picture-perfect" Christmas and offers the crucial distinction between holding onto

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33:35

BONUS EPISODE! Nurture & Structure: The 5 Steps to...

It Takes a Family ·

2025/11/13

In this highly practical bonus episode, hosts Andy and Kelly bring back John Cunnings (Boys' Program Director) to finish unpacking the five-step process behind the Choice & Consequence model. This is the bedrock of the structured side of the Nurture & Structure approach, designed to replace a parental posture of control with one of loving training.John reviews the initial steps and then dives deep into the most challenging parts: allowing the child's choice and consistently giving the

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30:38

What is Gospel Parenting? He Did It All, We Get It All

It Takes a Family ·

2025/11/06

This episode brings together the five core elements of whole family healing from Eagle Ranch—Your Story, Family Dynamics, Nurture & Structure, Child's Unique Gifts, and Community—and frames them through the lens of the Gospel.Hosts Andy and Kelly welcome Davon Stack, a seasoned ministry leader from Perimeter Church, to discuss what "Gospel Parenting" truly means. Davon breaks down the powerful, simple truth of the Gospel ("We had it all. We lost it all. He did it all. We get it all.") and shares

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34:14

Your Child's Unique Gifts: Finding Triggers,...

It Takes a Family ·

2025/10/23

Every child is an image bearer of a creative God, and discovering their unique gifts is one of the most rewarding parts of parenting. In this episode, hosts Andy and Kelly talk with Wade Pierce, Senior Director of Program at Eagle Ranch, about how to stop trying to control your kids' future and start becoming their greatest talent agent.Wade, an adoptive and foster parent who has welcomed over 40 children into his home, shares hard-won lessons on recognizing a child's passions, the danger of

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31:00

Your Child's Unique Gifts: Finding Triggers,...

It Takes a Family ·

2025/10/16

Do you really know what motivates your child, or are you projecting your own expectations onto them? In this insightful episode, hosts Andy and Kelly talk with Dr. Fred Haselden (Director of Education) and Jennifer Smith (Day School Program Counselor) about the critical difference between the gifts you want your child to have and the unique gifts God has actually given them.They share core concepts from psychology, including how your child's nervous system is always choosing between connection and

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25:44

Community: Thriving in an Epidemic of Loneliness Part 2

It Takes a Family ·

2025/10/09

Community is a lifeline, especially when parenting gets hard. In this episode, co-host Andy Nelson gets vulnerable and shares his personal story of moving from a strong, stable community to a new city where he and his wife, Emily, felt isolated and alone.Andy shares how this experience of being without a "safety net" forced them to intentionally build a new community and how this journey shaped their family's values. He also tells the powerful story of a season of hardship when their community

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24:51

Community: Thriving in an Epidemic of Loneliness Part 1

It Takes a Family ·

2025/10/02

Gen Z is the most connected generation in history, but they're also experiencing an unprecedented epidemic of loneliness. In this episode, hosts Andy and Kelly talk with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford, a Senior Fellow at the Barna Group, about her research on teen mental health and the critical role that community plays in our well-being.Dr. Shackelford shares why virtual connection often leads to thin, surface-level relationships and why in-person community is vital for a healthy family. You'll learn

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27:28

Nurture & Structure: Striking a Balance in Your...

It Takes a Family ·

2025/09/25

Some parents care for a few children; others care for 39. In this episode, hosts Andy and Kelly talk with John and Cassie Adams, a couple with a big heart for children, who have welcomed dozens of kids into their home through fostering and house-parenting.John and Cassie share how their wildly different family upbringings and personality types have influenced their approach to parenting. They discuss their experience with a "strong-willed" child and how it pushed them to discover the true balance of

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29:51

Nurture & Structure: Striking a Balance in Your...

It Takes a Family ·

2025/09/18

It's one of the most practical and powerful tools in parenting: nurture and structure. But what does it actually look like in real life? In this episode, hosts Andy and Kelly are joined by John Cunnings, the Boys' Program Director at Eagle Ranch, who has over 20 years of experience applying this model in real homes.John helps us understand the importance of balancing love and connection (nurture) with boundaries and rules (structure). He shares how the choice and consequence model is a fundamental

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30:21

Family Dynamics: What Doesn't Get Healed Gets...

It Takes a Family ·

2025/09/11

No family is a perfect mix. In fact, most are beautifully complicated. In this episode, hosts Andy and Kelly are joined by John and Julie Price, a couple with uniquely different upbringings who came together to raise their own sons and care for hundreds of boys at Eagle Ranch.John, the middle child of 13 kids from a dairy farm, and Julie, a last-born missionary kid who grew up in Brazil, open up about the challenges and rewards of their blended family and house-parenting journey. They share deeply

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30:30

Family Dynamics: What Doesn't Get Healed Gets...

It Takes a Family ·

2025/09/04

What does it really mean to have a healthy family dynamic? In this episode, we're joined by licensed professional counselor and family expert, Philip Costa, who helps us uncover the powerful ways our history and our day-to-day lives shape our families.Philip shares how personal trauma, loss, and even birth order can influence our parenting in ways we're not always aware of. He introduces the powerful concept that what's not revealed is not healed, and gives listeners a clear path to begin addressing

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30:50

Understanding Your Story: How Your History Impacts...

It Takes a Family ·

2025/08/28

In last week’s episode, we learned from an expert about how our childhoods and family history can impact our parenting. This week, our co-host Kelly Brewer gets vulnerable and shares her own deeply personal story of how her upbringing shaped her journey as a parent.In this powerful episode, Kelly dives into her "happy, carefree" childhood and reveals the underlying emotional challenges she faced. She candidly shares her own moments of desperation, poor choices, and self-loathing, and how a

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