The Tried & Truth Podcast: Rethinking Success. Rethinking What Matters

What if everything we're doing to keep our kids happy is actually getting in the way of their ability to thrive? Dr. Jon Eckert, author of The Happiness Crisis: How Adversity Can Build a Resilient and Joyful Next Generation, has spent 30 years as a teacher, coach, and professor of educational leadership studying what helps young people flourish. His research reveals a counterintuitive truth: our efforts to keep kids happy, safe, and successful may be undermining the very things they need to thrive. In this conversation, we explore the difference between happiness and joy, why adversity is essential to resilience, and how our instinct to protect our children from struggle can unintentionally keep them from growing. Dr. Eckert introduces the ABCs of Joy—Adversity, Belonging, and Curiosity—and challenges us to rethink everything from modern parenting and school safety to youth sports, technology, and how we measure our children's success. If you've ever said, "I just want my kids to be happy," this conversation may change the way you think about what it actually means to help them thrive. Key Topics Covered: Happiness vs. joy: Why the pursuit of happiness may be missing the point Helicopter parents vs. lawnmower parents: How our parenting instincts have changed The ABCs of Joy: Adversity, Belonging, and Curiosity Why children need struggle, and how rescuing them can undermine resilience How parents model the very behavior they're trying to prevent Jonathan Haidt's framework: More bruises in the real world, fewer scars in the virtual world Why your child can't be whatever they want to be—and why that's a gift Measuring progress instead of success: Five questions to ask your kids Moving from naive optimism to gritty optimism Guest: Dr. Jon Eckert is a professor of educational leadership at Baylor University and author of The Happiness Crisis: How Adversity Can Build a Resilient and Joyful Next Generation. Connect with Dr. Eckert at happinesscrisis.com, on LinkedIn, or through Baylor University. Resources Mentioned: The Happiness Crisis by Dr. Jon Eckert The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt Want something worth reading about this week? That’s what Right Here, Lately is—a short weekly note with an idea to sit with, something I’m learning, a few things I’m loving, and a little encouragement for wherever life finds you. Less than two minutes. Free to join. And always something I hope leaves you a little better than I found you. Join me →  

We often measure success by what we accomplish, produce, and achieve. But what about the work no one sees? In this episode of The Tried & Truth Podcast, I’m joined by Marci Farrell of Thankful Homemaker to explore the invisible work that shapes our lives, the deeper purpose of homemaking, and how we can redefine success in the everyday. Whether you're a working mom, a stay-at-home mom, or navigating a different season of life, this conversation offers a fresh perspective on finding purpose in everyday responsibilities, building a meaningful home, and being faithful with what’s in front of you rather than trying to do it all. We also discuss gratitude in marriage, learning to notice the people closest to us, and trusting God with the work left undone. In this episode, we discuss: What might change if you measured your day by how faithfully you loved the people in front of you, rather than by everything you accomplished? The invisible work of motherhood, marriage, home, and everyday life How we are all homemakers Redefining success and finding purpose in your current season How gratitude can transform the way you see the people in your home Letting go of perfection and trusting God with the outcome Connect with Marci Farrell: Website: thankfulhomemaker.com Book: Homemaking Matters Instagram: @thankfulhomemaker Want something worth thinking about this week? That’s what Right Here, Lately is—a short weekly note with an idea to sit with, something I’m learning, a few things I’m loving, and a little encouragement for wherever life finds you. Less than two minutes. Free to join. And always something I hope leaves you a little better than I found you. Join me →  

How do we raise children who are naturally curious, creative, and confident in a world of shrinking attention spans and constant screen time? In this episode we sit down with Jennifer Pepito — host of The Restoration Home podcast, founder of The Peaceful Press, and veteran homeschooling mom of seven — to explore what it really takes to nurture creativity, curiosity, and faithful purpose in our homes. Jennifer shares 27 years of wisdom on how parents modeling their own curiosity is the spark that lights it in their kids, why unstructured offline time in nature is essential for creative development, and how doing the inner work of healing our own wounds creates a home atmosphere where children feel free to create, explore, and thrive. Whether you homeschool, send your kids to school full-time, or are somewhere in between, this conversation is packed with practical encouragement for every season of parenting. In This Episode: Why curiosity starts with the parent — not the child How screens and constant consumption quietly kill creativity The power of unstructured time in nature for sparking ideas Simple arts and crafts that build creative foundations in early childhood Encouraging excellence in teens without creating overwhelming pressure How fear and shame shut down creativity in the home Why inner healing and forgiveness are essential for creative parenting What success really looks like after 27 years of raising kids Resources Mentioned: The Inspired Homeschool by Jennifer Pepito — inspiredhomeschoolbook.com 🌿 The Peaceful Press curriculum & resources — thepeacefulpress.com 🎧 If this conversation hits home, don't forget to subscribe to The Tried and Truth Podcast and leave a review to help more listeners find it. Even better, share it with a friend.  Want something worth thinking about this week? That’s what Right Here, Lately is—a short weekly note with an idea to sit with, something I’m learning, a few things I’m loving, and a little encouragement for wherever life finds you. Less than two minutes. Free to join. And always something I hope leaves you a little better than I found you. Join me →  

What if the thing you’re most frustrated by right now—the limitation, disappointment, delay, or circumstance you wish you could change—isn’t simply an obstacle to overcome? In this episode, I’m talking with author and writer Sara Hagerty about the unexpected gift of limitations and what can happen when we stop fighting every boundary in our lives and begin to ask what God might be doing within it. Sara shares how infertility, illness, grief, family challenges, and unexpected loss changed the way she sees suffering, surrender, productivity, and presence. We talk about why grief is not something we need to rush through, how unprocessed grief can come out sideways, and how allowing ourselves to name what hurts can create space for healing and deeper joy. We also talk about Sara’s experience with a productivity fast—intentionally stepping away from her to-do list during the time of day when she was normally most productive. What she discovered challenged the belief that being productive means we are valuable or successful. And perhaps the biggest reminder from this conversation: there may be more for you right here. Not necessarily more on the other side of the limitation. More inside the life, season, family, or circumstances you have today. In this episode: Why some limitations may be invitations rather than barriers How grief helps us process disappointment and loss Why grief can come out sideways when we don't allow ourselves to feel it What it means to surrender instead of constantly trying to overcome How suffering can produce perseverance, character, and hope Sara's “productivity fast” and what it revealed about her relationship with productivity and worth Why slowing down can help us become more present, creative, and attentive How to stop postponing your life while waiting for a different season Finding beauty, peace, joy, and presence within your current circumstances What it looks like to trust God with the story you didn't plan Resources Mentioned: The Gift of Limitations by Sara Hagerty  A Grace Disguised by Jerry Sittser Instagram: @sarahagertywrites 🎧 Listen now — and if this one hits home, subscribe to The Tried and Truth Podcast and leave a review to help more listeners find it. Want something worth thinking about this week? That’s what Right Here, Lately is—a short weekly note with an idea to sit with, something I’m learning, a few things I’m loving, and a little encouragement for wherever life finds you. Less than two minutes. Free to join. And always something I hope leaves you a little better than I found you. Join me →  

You know how to hold it all together — but underneath, there's a quiet ache you rarely say out loud. In this conversation with therapist and bestselling author, Dr. Alison Cook, she will help us put words, understanding and next steps to that feeling towards a greater sense of inner security. In this episode, we'll unpack questions such as: What does it mean to be attuned to yourself? Why doesn't spiritual maturity automatically translate into emotional security or inner stability? Why does being "the capable one" sometimes work against you? How do you stop performing and start actually feeling safe? What do you do with loneliness, even in a room full of people? How can faith and psychology work together instead of feeling at odds? Why do life transitions make old insecurities resurface — and how can you plan for it? Plus a helpful and healing grounding morning practice used by Dr. Cook. Dr. Alison Cook, licensed psychologist and bestselling author shares personal stories and practical tools for recognizing anxiety, honoring the "achiever" parts of yourself with compassion, and rediscovering a more secure, embodied faith. Mentioned in this episode: 🔗 dralisoncook.com/quiz  Take this 3 minute quiz to help you uncover the role you took on in your family—and learn how it may still be shaping your relationships, faith, and inner life today. The Secure Soul (includes free masterclass: "Healing the Wounds That Shape Us") Dr. Cook's podcast: The Best of You Connect with Dr. Alison Cook: dralisoncook.com Want something worth thinking about this week? That’s what Right Here, Lately is—a short weekly note with an idea to sit with, something I’m learning, a few things I’m loving, and a little encouragement for wherever life finds you. Less than two minutes. Free to join. And always something I hope leaves you a little better than I found you. Join me →