Consider this plot twist: Joy might be the most overlooked lifeline in the teen years--for parents and for teens. To say it another way: joy is serious business.

You’ll learn how joy becomes a protective force in your home, what science says about positive emotion and resilience, and how faith traditions across the world treat joy as an anchor during hardship. You'll also find simple, evidence-backed practices to bring light back into your home… even when things feel heavy.

Joy isn’t a mood. It’s a muscle—and one of the most powerful tools we have as parents of teens.

Consider this plot twist: a surprising shift that transforms parenting: moving from teaching teens “everything” to trusting them to learn, commit, and grow. You’ll hear why trust is a two-way street, how to play the long game, and why letting teens try, stumble, and try again builds confidence for everyone. With practical tools rooted in values, boundaries, consequences, and grace, you’ll learn how trust lowers tension, strengthens connection, and helps your teen become the thoughtful, capable human they’re meant to be.

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Trust isn’t magic—it’s a muscle. In this lively episode, Julie shows how to stop micromanaging, start trusting, and let your teen build the judgment they’ll need out in the world. More freedom, fewer freakouts. Yes, really.

Before we can ask our teens to trust us, we have to be trustable. In this episode, Julie shares real conversations with her kids about what earned their trust—and what didn’t go as planned. She explores how trust grows not from authority, but from consistency, care, and emotional safety. Drawing from the work world, behavioral science, and faith, Julie unpacks what it means to be “impeccable with your word,” build trust through integrity, and create a home where your teen’s nervous system feels safe.

If you’ve ever worried you’ve “messed up” trust, this episode offers encouragement, restoration, and practical tools to rebuild it—one trustworthy moment at a time.