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.