Take the test here: https://mycourageousgirls.com/corevaluesindex
We invite our daughters, Adonia and Nevaeh, to join the conversation as we continue exploring what it means to “train up a child in the way they should go.” Last time, we shared how the Core Values Index has shaped our parenting. This week, you’ll hear directly from our girls about how knowing their wiring has helped them connect with us, with each other, and with God.
Together, we talk about everything from navigating chores and friendships to handling anxiety and sibling comparisons. You’ll hear real stories (and plenty of giggles) about how our unique wirings show up in everyday life—and how God uses our differences to strengthen our family.
Whether you’re a parent, mentor, or simply someone who invests in the next generation, we hope this conversation gives you practical tools and fresh encouragement to see the children in your life the way God designed them—and to parent, teach, and lead with grace and confidence.
Today we dive into how the Core Values Index (CVI) can transform the way we parent. Over the years, we’ve found this tool to be one of the most practical ways to truly see our children for who God designed them to be. Every child is uniquely wired, and when we learn to notice and nurture those differences, we set them up with a deep confidence to thrive in the world.
Take the test here! https://mycourageousgirls.com/corevaluesindex
Together, we talk through the four core values—Banker, Builder, Merchant, and Innovator—and share stories from our own parenting journey that highlight the beauty and the challenges of raising kids who are wired differently than we are. From helping with chores to handling conflict, the CVI has helped us lean into Proverbs 22:6: training our children in the way they should go.
We hope this conversation encourages you to look at your kids through a new lens, one that affirms their God-given wiring and equips you with practical ways to guide them with grace, wisdom, and hope.
In today’s episode, we’re sitting down with the wise and wonderful Sissy Goff to talk all things anxiety, regulation, and relationships—especially how these show up in the lives of our daughters. As moms, we carry our own stories and hopes for our girls, and Sissy reminds us how to attune, slow down, and connect in a way that rewires our daughters' hearts and minds for resilience and trust.
Together, we unpack the subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways anxiety shows up, the importance of healthy attunement without overfunctioning, and how to guide our girls through relational conflict—including what to do when they face “mean girl” moments.
🔹 Attunement over anxiety – How slowing down, speaking with empathy, and staying emotionally present helps our daughters regulate and feel seen.
🔹 Reinforce the good – Why what we pay attention to most (brave moments vs. crisis) shapes our kids’ emotional wiring.
🔹 Strong and kind – How to teach our girls to stand up for themselves with courage and compassion in the face of conflict.
🔹 Trust over fear – Why early intervention matters, and how trust—not just bravery—is the key to helping kids overcome anxiety.
This episode is rich with practical language and tools—including Sissy’s “VOMP” framework for conflict and a new children’s book that helps little ones build courage through the power of connection and love.
Let’s raise girls who are emotionally equipped, deeply loved, and grounded in grace—starting with us.
Raising Capable Kids Conference 2025
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store...
Conflict doesn’t have to be scary—it can actually become one of the most powerful tools for connection and growth. In this episode, we explore how Courageous Girls equips moms and daughters to handle conflict with confidence, honesty, and grace. Through years of shared experience, Terra Mattson and her daughters share how they’ve learned to communicate well, listen with empathy, and lean into hard conversations rather than avoiding them.
This conversation is rich with practical tools and hard-won wisdom. Whether you're in a smooth season or facing a strain with your daughter, there’s hope and help here for you.
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store...
In this episode of the Courageous Girls podcast, we sit down with two very special guests—Adonaiya and Neveah—to reflect on their years growing up in the Courageous Girls program. With heartfelt honesty and humor, they share how this mother-daughter journey helped them navigate comparison, identity, faith, conflict, and communication. From journaling and retreats to public school challenges and sibling dynamics, the girls open up about how Courageous Girls shaped their confidence and deepened their relationship with their mom—and with God.
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
We live in a culture that pushes us to do it all perfectly and quickly—but God calls us to embrace rest and trust instead. In this episode, we explore how to expand our timelines, lower our expectations, and find freedom in God’s rhythm for our lives.
🔹 Embracing rest — Why slowing down isn’t failure, but a gift from God to refresh our hearts and minds.
🔹 Letting go of control — How trusting God with our “to-do” lists frees us from burnout and bitterness.
🔹 Modeling grace — Teaching our daughters that their worth is in who they are, not what they accomplish.
With honesty and encouragement, we learn how God’s grace invites us to live as human beings, not human doers—finding joy and purpose in relationship with Him and others.
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
We live in a world that often equates success with fame or perfection—but God invites us to dream differently. In this episode, we open Chapter 9 of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace with Terra Mattson to explore how to dream big in a way that’s grounded in faith, identity, and purpose.
🔹 Redefining “big” – How God’s version of success isn’t about scale, but about surrender and obedience.
🔹 Courage to begin – Why small steps matter and how to trust God even when the outcome is uncertain.
🔹 From fear to freedom – How to release perfectionism, people-pleasing, and performance-driven living.
With vulnerability and wisdom, Terra shares how our dreams—whether delayed, derailed, or reimagined—can still reflect God’s glory. Let’s raise daughters who are free to dream with Him, and become women who do too.
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
Our culture often treats sex like a casual exchange—but God designed it as something sacred. In this episode, we dive into Chapter 8 of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace with Terra Mattson, exploring how to help our daughters develop a healthy, grace-filled view of sexuality.
🔹 The purpose of sex – Why God intended it to flow from emotional intimacy, not produce it.
🔹 Truth over shame – How to talk with our daughters about boundaries, identity, and God’s design.
🔹 Healing and hope – What to do with our past and how to walk forward in wholeness.
With tenderness and truth, Terra offers insight into the connection between our stories, our brains, and our bodies—equipping us to raise girls who are rooted in worth, wisdom, and grace. Let’s reclaim the beauty of God’s design—for ourselves and the next generation.
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
In this deeply personal episode of Courageous Girls, Terra Mattson walks us through one of the most common and paralyzing challenges we face as women—fear and anxiety. Sharing insights from Chapter 7 of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace, Terra unpacks the difference between fear and anxiety, how our past shapes our responses, and why naming these emotions is the first step toward freedom.
As a licensed therapist and founder of Courageous Girls, Terra combines neuroscience, biblical truth, and real-life stories to help us grow stronger faith muscles—not just for ourselves, but for the daughters we’re raising. With honesty and hope, she reminds us that God goes at our pace, and that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s choosing truth in the face of it.
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
We’re tackling one of the most requested and often misunderstood topics—friendship. In this Courageous Girls episode, Terra Mattson shares powerful insights from Chapter 6 of Courageous Girls: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace, unpacking the deeper struggles moms face with friendship and how that shapes what our daughters learn.
As a licensed therapist, executive coach, and founder of Courageous Girls, Terra brings both wisdom and vulnerability as she explores codependency, Christian culture, and the need to model healthy, grace-filled relationships. Together, we reflect on how Jesus sets a better example—one with boundaries, truth, and wholehearted love.
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
We were never meant to do life alone. In this episode, we unpack Chapter 5 of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace and dive into the power of true, intentional community. Whether we’ve been burned by friendships in the past or find ourselves longing for deeper connection, God designed us to be known and loved—by Him and by others.
🔹 Why community matters – We heal in relationships, just as we’re wounded in them.
🔹 Breaking the cycle – Overcoming comparison, insecurity, and the fear of being truly seen.
🔹 Leading by example – How to create safe, lasting friendships for ourselves and our daughters.
Terra Mattson shares wisdom from years of counseling, personal stories, and practical encouragement to help us step into the kind of relationships we were made for. Let’s stop settling for surface-level friendships and start building the kind of community that transforms lives!
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
Our words hold incredible power—shaping the way our daughters see themselves, their worth, and their relationship with God. In this episode, we explore Chapter 4 of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace with Terra Mattson, unpacking the ways we can speak life and truth into the next generation.
🔹 The power of words – How the messages we receive (and repeat) impact our identity.
🔹 Breaking free from lies – Recognizing and replacing the cultural and personal narratives that distort God’s truth.
🔹 Equipping the next generation – Practical ways to guide our daughters in speaking and believing what is good, true, and beautiful.
Terra shares personal experiences, biblical insights, and tangible tools to help us use our voices to bring healing and confidence—not just for our daughters, but for ourselves. Let’s learn how to speak life and raise a generation of girls rooted in grace!
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
We all experience emotions, but how often do we truly understand them? In this episode, we dive into Chapter 3 of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace with Terra Mattson as she unpacks the importance of emotional regulation—for ourselves and the girls we mentor.
🔹 Why it matters – Our emotions are God-given signals, yet many of us were taught to ignore or suppress them.
🔹 What we’ll learn – Practical tools to help us and our daughters name, process, and care for emotions in a healthy way.
🔹 How it changes us – When we learn to engage our emotions with wisdom, we grow in wholeness, deepen our relationships, and become more present, grace-filled guides for the next generation.
As a trauma therapist and mother, Terra shares personal stories, biblical insights, and real-life strategies to help us embrace the truth: we have to feel it to heal it. Let’s step into this journey together, learning how to love God with our whole hearts—mind, body, and soul.
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
Have you ever felt like you're the only one knee-deep in the mess, wondering if you’re doing it all wrong? We sure have—and in this episode, we get real about what we’ve all quietly named “holy crap.”
We’re walking through Chapter Two of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace, and this one hits home. Together, we unpack the theology of suffering, the lie of perfectionism, and the messy, manure-like moments of life that God can use as fertilizer for something sacred. From lost friendships and mom guilt to real grief and unanswered prayers, we talk about what it means to raise strong daughters not by shielding them from pain—but by modeling how to walk through it with grace, honesty, and faith.
Tara reminds us that hard doesn’t mean wrong—and it certainly doesn’t mean God is absent. He meets us in the crap, transforms it, and walks with us through the “Saturday” seasons before resurrection comes. We also reflect on how we can give grace to ourselves and one another, even in the chaos of littles, work, and the feeling that we’re not doing enough.
💬 This episode is for every mom and mentor who’s asked:
-Why is this so hard?
-Am I the only one struggling?
-What do I do when my daughter faces disappointment or pain?
-How can we reframe suffering in a way that builds resilience and faith?
✨ Challenge of the week: Be honest about your story. Share something real with a trusted friend, mentor, or your daughter. Maybe it’s finally time to open the book, start a Courageous Girls group, or simply admit: “This is hard. And I don’t want to do it alone anymore.”
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
What would it look like if we stopped letting the world tell our daughters who they are—and taught them to listen to the One who made them? That’s exactly what we’re unpacking in this episode as we dig into Chapter One of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace—a chapter titled She Walks with Confidence.
Together, we’re exploring what it means to raise girls (and grow as women) who don’t chase stars or shrink under dots. Using the story of You Are Special by Max Lucado, we reflect on how easy it is to let praise define us and criticism undo us—and how different life looks when we know we are deeply, unshakably loved by God.
We talk identity, self-worth, and the dangerous hustle for approval, not just in our daughters' lives but in our own hearts too. Walking in confidence isn’t about performance—it’s about living from a place of being seen, known, and delighted in by the Father. And when we, as moms and mentors, live from that place? We become Lucia—the ones whose stickers don’t stick, and whose peace speaks louder than performance.
💬 This episode is for the woman asking:
-Why do I care so much what others think of me?
-How do I help my daughter build real confidence?
-Am I parenting from approval or from identity?
✨ Challenge for the week: Make a list of the “dots” and “stars” you’ve been carrying. Which ones come from the world—and which come from God? Then, spend some time with your Creator, just like Ella did with Eli. Because the more we know His love, the less the stickers stick.
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.
What if we could mother our daughters in the way many of us never experienced?
In this first episode of the Courageous Girls Podcast, we (Terra Mattson and the Courageous Girls community) invite you into the heart of why this movement began. As women, mothers, and mentors, we’ve seen firsthand the pressure, confusion, and pain girls are navigating in today’s world—and we know we’re not alone in wanting to do something about it.
Together, we explore the roots of Courageous: Being Daughters Rooted in Grace, a book written to help women uncover the beliefs, emotions, and experiences that shape us—and how those, in turn, impact the way we guide the next generation. We share the heavy realities girls are facing, from early exposure to sexuality and social media pressures, to the silence that often surrounds their struggles.
Through clinical insight, biblical wisdom, and real-life stories, we ask: how can we become safe, attuned, grace-filled women for the girls in our lives? This episode is a call to reflect, connect, and take courageous steps forward—starting with our own healing.
💬 Key topics we unpack:
-Why we started Courageous Girls
-The real stories girls are living today—and how we respond
-The impact of purity culture and modern overcorrection
-Why moms matter more than we often realize
-What it looks like to lead from a place of grace, not perfection
Learn more about the Courageous Girls movement at www.mycourageousgirls.com
Follow along on Instagram: @mycourageousgirls
Read the book: Courageous by Terra Mattson
Download the Courageous Girls App—available on any app store.