In this episode of Season 2, Andy and Kelly sit down with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford to explore one of the deepest longings facing Gen Z today: the search for purpose.

Drawing from research with the Barna Group, this conversation unpacks why so many young people feel pressure to pursue happiness — yet still feel anxious, empty, or directionless.

As Dr. Shackelford explains, happiness was never meant to be the ultimate goal.

Purpose is.

Together, they explore how purpose grows when we focus outward instead of inward, why serving others builds resilience, and how families can help children discover meaning through everyday rhythms of contribution, responsibility, and faith.

From chores around the house to serving at church, hospitality, and caring for neighbors, this episode reminds parents that purpose is often cultivated in ordinary moments — not extraordinary ones.

And while building resilient families isn’t always easy or convenient, it’s deeply worthwhile.

Because flourishing doesn’t come from comfort alone.

It comes from learning to live for something bigger than yourself.

Episode Highlights

[03:30] Why Gen Z pursues happiness — and why it often falls short

[04:30] The connection between purpose, anxiety, and depression

[05:30] The difference between happiness and joy

[06:30] How social media fuels inward focus and hopelessness

[07:30] Why purpose grows through serving others

[08:00] Finding meaning through pain and difficult experiences

[09:00] Helping teenagers discover their gifts and calling

[10:30] Connecting a child’s gifts back to God’s character

[12:00] Breaking out of the cycle of chasing happiness

[12:30] Creating a culture of service inside the home

[15:00] Why serving at church builds resilience and belonging

[16:30] The importance of giving kids responsibility and ownership

[18:00] Three key ingredients for resilient kids: caring adults, life skills, and leadership opportunities

[19:00] Why serving together strengthens families

[21:00] Modeling service as parents instead of just talking about it

[22:00] Why purpose is bigger than finding one perfect calling

[24:00] The importance of intergenerational relationships and grandparents

[27:00] Why the best things in parenting are often harder, not easier

Resources Mentioned

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

📖 You on Purpose

🏡 Eagle Ranch

Don’t Miss Out!

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation on helping kids cultivate purpose, resilience, and meaningful connection in a culture that constantly pulls them inward.

Next week, we’ll continue the conversation with a special guest and explore practical ways families can build these rhythms into everyday life.

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

And connect with us on Facebook and Instagram — we’d love to hear how your family is creating rhythms of service, purpose, and connection.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

In this episode of It Takes a Family, Andy and Kelly continue the conversation on faith and Gen Z with returning guest Davon Stack. Building on last week’s discussion with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford, this episode focuses on the practical side of helping kids develop lasting faith in everyday family life.

Drawing from years in student ministry, pastoral care, and parenting, Davon shares what he’s seeing firsthand in Gen Z: a deep longing for identity, purpose, connection, and something real to hold onto in a confusing world.

Together, they discuss how parents can create safe spaces for honest conversations, why relationships matter more than perfection, and how small spiritual rhythms can shape a child’s faith over time.

From responding calmly when kids open up, to modeling authentic faith in the ordinary moments, this episode is filled with encouragement for parents who may feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or spiritually inadequate themselves.

Because building faith in your home doesn’t require having all the answers.

It starts with showing up, staying present, and trusting that God is working — even in the small moments.

Episode Highlights

[02:00] Davon’s background in student ministry and pastoral care

[04:30] The biggest struggle Gen Z faces

[06:00] How beliefs shape thoughts, emotions, and actions

[07:00] The impact of comparison and technology on teens

[09:00] Why relationships are key to helping kids open up

[10:00] How parents can respond well when kids share hard things

[11:30] Creating a home environment that nurtures faith

[13:00] Simple spiritual rhythms families can practice together

[15:00] Why serving helps teenagers connect faith to real life

[16:00] Encouragement for parents whose kids resist church or faith

[18:00] The importance of community and trusted adults

[20:00] Why modeling authentic faith matters more than perfection

[22:30] Encouragement for parents who didn’t grow up with faith themselves

[27:00] Finding hope when parenting feels overwhelming

Resources Mentioned

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

📖 New Morning Mercies by New Morning Mercies

🏡 Eagle Ranch

Don’t Miss Out!

This episode continues our Season 2 conversation on Gen Z and mental health — exploring how faith, community, and consistent family rhythms can help move families from isolation and fear toward hope and connection.

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

And connect with us on Facebook and Instagram — we’d love to hear how your family is building meaningful rhythms together.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

In this episode of Season 2, Andy and Kelly sit down with Dr. Stephanie Shackelford to explore a surprising trend: Gen Z is increasingly open to faith—and even returning to it.

Drawing on research from the Barna Group, this conversation unpacks what’s behind this shift. In a world that feels chaotic, hyper-connected, and often meaningless, many young people are searching for something deeper—something steady.

And they’re finding it in unexpected places.

From renewed interest in church to curiosity around spiritual practices like prayer, Sabbath, and silence, Gen Z is showing a growing desire for meaning, peace, and purpose. But while the interest is there, many lack the structure or guidance to build lasting faith.

That’s where families come in.

This episode invites parents to consider the small, consistent rhythms that shape a child’s spiritual foundation—from attending church together to simple practices like shared meals, prayer, and creating space for rest.

Because building faith doesn’t require perfection or complexity.

It starts with small, intentional steps—lived out together over time.

Episode Highlights

[01:00] Introducing the “Faith Roots” conversation

[02:00] A simple family rhythm: singing the doxology

[05:30] Why small spiritual habits matter more than you think

[06:00] Gen Z’s openness to spirituality

[08:00] The search for truth, meaning, and stability

[10:30] Why silence and stillness are appealing to Gen Z

[12:30] Faith, hope, and love in a generation facing despair

[14:30] The power of attending church as a family

[17:00] Practicing Sabbath in realistic ways

[18:30] How prayer builds resilient families

[20:00] The role of everyday rhythms (like family meals)

[22:00] Why parents must model what they want to pass on

[24:00] Building community and not doing faith alone

[26:00] The importance of intergenerational relationships

[28:00] Choosing priorities: saying no to say yes

Resources Mentioned

📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Research — Barna Group https://www.barna.com/mental-health/

🏡 Eagle Ranch https://www.eagleranch.org/

Don’t Miss Out!

This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

Next week, we’ll move from research to additional ideas of application—exploring how these faith rhythms actually play out in everyday family life.

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

And connect with us on Facebook and Instagram—we’d love to hear how you’re putting this into practice.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

In this episode of Season 2, Andy and Kelly sit down with two Gen Z voices, Riley and Tessa, to hear how today’s young people are actually navigating mental health, identity, and resilience.

Building on research from the Barna Group and insights from Dr. Stephanie Shackelford, this conversation moves beyond just the research and into real-life experiences.

Gen Z is more open than ever about mental health—but that openness can sometimes turn into over-identifying with struggles. Riley and Tessa share candidly about what they see in their generation: the tension between awareness and identity, the temptation to label instead of work through challenges, and the impact that has on resilience.

But they also offer hope.

Through their stories, we see what actually helps young people grow: consistent time with God, honest community, and adults who show up with authenticity—not perfection.

For parents, this episode is a reminder that your presence, your faithfulness, and the way you walk through hard things matter more than having all the right answers.

Because helping your child build resilience doesn’t start with fixing their struggles.

It starts with walking with them through it.

Episode Highlights

[01:30] A fun (and revealing) Gen Z slang quiz

[06:00] How Gen Z views mental health today

[09:30] Awareness vs. identity: where it gets tricky

[12:30] Why labeling struggles can limit growth

[14:00] What actually builds resilience

[16:00] The role of faith and daily rhythms

[18:30] Walking through anxiety and identity challenges

[21:00] Why community is essential

[23:30] The impact of parents during hard seasons

[25:00] Presence over perfection

[27:00] The value of mentors and other adults

[29:00] What teens really think about their parents

Resources Mentioned

📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Research — Barna Group https://www.barna.com/mental-health/

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

And connect with us on Facebook and Instagram—we’d love to hear how you’re putting this into practice.

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 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.