Courageous Girls

Our motivation is to see a generation of women who are navigating trusted relationships, are confident in who God says He is and who He made them to be and are resiliently moving through the peaks and valleys of life. A generation of women who are rooted in grace and free from the performance-based treadmill we are enticed with every day.

  1. Choose Connection Over Fear with Michelle Tae

    3 DAYS AGO

    Choose Connection Over Fear with Michelle Tae

    We’re raising daughters in a world that feels faster, louder, and more overwhelming than ever—and if we’re honest, it can stir up fear in us as moms. But what if we didn’t have to have all the answers? What if the goal wasn’t perfection, but presence? In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with Michelle Tae, a Courageous Girls mama, to talk about what it looks like to parent from a place of healing, honesty, and deep connection. Michelle shares vulnerably about her own story—how pain in her relationship with her mom shaped her fears of raising daughters, and how God has gently rewritten that story through community, consistency, and courage. Together, we explore how creating intentional space—month after month—can transform not only our daughters’ lives, but our own. This conversation is a powerful reminder that we don’t need to keep up with the culture—we can root our girls in something deeper. 🔹 From fear to connection – How facing our own stories can open the door to deeper relationships with our daughters. 🔹 The power of consistency – Why showing up over time creates safety, trust, and lasting impact. 🔹 Navigating a fast-changing world – How to stay grounded as our girls face social media, AI, and growing up too quickly. 🔹 Emotions as a gift – Learning to feel, process, and model emotional health for the next generation. With honesty and hope, Michelle reminds us that healing is possible, connection is worth the risk, and we are not alone in this journey. Let’s raise daughters who feel known and loved—and become women who live that way too.

    39 min
  2. Start the Conversation Sooner with Annie Horner

    20 APR

    Start the Conversation Sooner with Annie Horner

    Talking to our daughters about sex can feel overwhelming—especially when our own stories are marked by shame, confusion, or silence. But what if these conversations weren’t something to fear… but an invitation to build trust, safety, and connection? In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with Annie Horner to explore how to talk with our girls about sexuality in a way that is honest, grace-filled, and ongoing. Together, we unpack how our responses shape our daughters’ sense of safety—and why starting earlier (and softer) than we think matters more than getting it “perfect.” Through powerful metaphors and practical language, Annie helps us reframe these conversations—not as a one-time talk, but as a path we walk with our daughters over time. 🔹 Start sooner than you think – How early, everyday moments build a foundation of safety before the hard questions come. 🔹 Your tone shapes their trust – Why your response matters more than having the “right” answer. 🔹 Curiosity is not the enemy – Learning to guide your daughter’s questions without shame or fear. 🔹 It’s not too late to begin – How to repair, rebuild trust, and step back into the conversation—even in the teen years. This conversation reminds us that we don’t have to do this perfectly—we just have to be present. When we create a safe path, our daughters won’t have to navigate a confusing world alone. 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.

    56 min
  3. When Dreams Don’t Happen with Julie Fowler

    6 APR

    When Dreams Don’t Happen with Julie Fowler

    We all carry expectations about how our stories will unfold—especially when it comes to motherhood. But what happens when those dreams are delayed, derailed, or deeply wounded? In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with Julie Fowler to talk about infertility, loss, and the long, painful road of waiting. Together, we explore what it means to trust God when the story doesn’t go the way we planned—and how to help our daughters build an identity rooted in Him, not outcomes. With honesty and hope, Julie shares her journey through miscarriage, failed adoptions, and grief—and how God met her in the middle of it all. This conversation is a reminder that suffering is not the end of the story, and that God is still writing something meaningful in every chapter. 🔹 God meets us in the waiting – How Scripture and community anchor us when life feels uncertain and painful. 🔹 You are not alone – Why isolation is a lie and how widening your circle can bring healing and perspective. 🔹 Identity beyond outcomes – Teaching our daughters their worth isn’t tied to motherhood, marriage, or milestones. 🔹 Grief and faith can coexist – Learning to be honest with God while still trusting His goodness and sovereignty. Whether you’re walking through loss, supporting someone who is, or raising daughters in a world full of expectations, this episode invites you to hold your story with open hands—and trust the God who sees. Website: www.juliefowlerministries.com/ 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.

    36 min
  4. You’re Already Loved with Michelle Nietert and Lynn Cowell

    23 MAR

    You’re Already Loved with Michelle Nietert and Lynn Cowell

    We live in a world that constantly pressures girls to perform, compare, and prove their worth—but the Father’s heart tells a very different story. In this episode of the Courageous Girls Podcast, we sit down with licensed professional counselor Michelle Nietert and Proverbs 31 Ministries author Lynn Cowell to talk about what it truly means for girls and young women to become strong and secure in God’s love. Together, we explore how our earthly experiences with fathers can shape our view of God—and how healing, freedom, and resilience grow when girls learn to see God not as a taskmaster, but as a loving, present Father. From anxiety and overachievement to loneliness, identity struggles, and the impact of social media and AI, this conversation meets moms and daughters right where they are. With wisdom, honesty, and hope, we unpack how knowing who God is anchors girls in who they are, especially in seasons of transition, uncertainty, and growth. Key Takeaways: 🔹Identity before performance – Why focusing on who God is (not what girls do) builds lasting confidence and resilience. 🔹The Father’s presence matters – How knowing God as protector, healer, and companion changes the way girls face anxiety, loneliness, and pressure. 🔹Navigating social media with wisdom – Practical guidance for helping girls stay rooted in truth amid comparison, perfectionism, and digital noise. 🔹You’re not parenting alone – Encouragement for moms to trust God’s ongoing work in their daughters’ lives, even when the journey feels hard. This episode is an invitation—to slow down, lean in, and remember that we are raising daughters who are deeply known, fiercely loved, and never alone. Website: https://lynncowell.com/ Website: https://michellenietert.com/ 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.

    46 min
  5. Social Media & Girlhood with Katie Wise

    9 MAR

    Social Media & Girlhood with Katie Wise

    We’re raising girls in a digitally distracted world—one where filters, comparison, and constant connection shape how our daughters see themselves and others. In this episode of the Courageous Girls Podcast, we sit down with licensed marriage and family therapist Katie Wise to have an honest, grace-filled conversation about social media, identity, and connection. Together, we explore how social media impacts girls at every age and stage—from body image and belonging to empathy, dopamine, and emotional development. We also reflect on how our relationship with social media as moms shapes what our daughters learn about beauty, worth, and truth. This isn’t an all-or-nothing conversation. It’s an invitation to slow down, get curious, and learn how to navigate technology together—with wisdom, connection, and intention. Key takeaways from this episode: 🔹 Identity under pressure – How social media amplifies comparison and shapes how girls answer the question, “Am I enough?” 🔹 The hidden cost of filters – Why filtered images impact body image, brain chemistry, and self-worth more than we realize. 🔹 Connection over consumption – How face-to-face relationships build empathy, resilience, and emotional regulation in ways screens never can. 🔹 Healthy boundaries with hope – Practical ways to approach social media with age-appropriate limits, ongoing conversation, and grace. Our hope is that this conversation equips you to lead with confidence, model discernment, and create space for real connection—both for your daughter and for yourself. You are not behind, and you are not alone. You are the right mom for the job. 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.

    36 min
  6. Building Healthy Friendships with Rachael Gilbert

    23 FEB

    Building Healthy Friendships with Rachael Gilbert

    Friendship shapes our daughters more than we often realize—and it’s something we don’t want to leave to chance. In this episode of the Courageous Girls Podcast, hosted by Terra Mattson, we’re joined by Rachael Gilbert for a meaningful conversation about one of the most tender and formative topics in a girl’s life: friendship. Together, we explore why friendship matters so deeply to the hearts of girls, how it connects to identity and belonging, and how we can intentionally guide our daughters toward healthy, life-giving relationships rooted in truth, grace, and courage. With honesty, wisdom, and warmth, Terra and Rachel talk about the beauty and complexity of friendships—and how God meets our girls right in the middle of it all. Key Takeaways: 🔹 Why friendship matters – How relationships shape confidence, identity, and emotional health in girls. 🔹 Healthy vs. unhealthy friendships – Learning to recognize red flags, boundaries, and life-giving connection. 🔹 Courage in relationships – Helping girls navigate conflict, rejection, and change with wisdom and grace. 🔹 Faith-filled friendships – Encouraging relationships that reflect God’s love, truth, and belonging. Our heart is to raise girls who know they are never alone—and who have the courage to pursue friendships that help them become who God created them to be. Website: https://rachaelgilbert.com/ 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.

    48 min
  7. You Are Right On Time with Annie F. Downs

    9 FEB

    You Are Right On Time with Annie F. Downs

    Conversations around sex, dating, marriage, and purpose can feel complicated—especially as moms raising daughters in a changing cultural and church landscape. In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with bestselling author, speaker, and podcast host Annie F. Downs for a powerful and honest conversation about singleness, calling, and trusting God with the long story of our lives. Together, we explore how the church’s messaging around marriage has shaped girls and women, and why it’s time to shift the paradigm—from “when you’re married” to “if you’re married.” Annie shares vulnerably from her own journey of singleness, faith, disappointment, joy, and deep intimacy with God, reminding us that no one is behind, late, or forgotten. This episode invites moms and daughters alike to release comparison, redefine sexual purity as a lifelong practice, and embrace the freedom of living fully present in the chapter God has us in right now. In this episode, we discuss: 🔹 Singleness as a valid calling – Why marriage is not the finish line, and how every season holds purpose and dignity. 🔹 Sexual purity as a lifestyle – Reframing purity beyond marital status and grounding it in discipleship and identity. 🔹 You are right on time – How to dismantle the “late bloomer” narrative and trust God’s timing with courage and peace. 🔹 What does this make possible? – Learning to see closed doors, waiting seasons, and disappointment as invitations, not failures. Our hope is that this conversation helps you raise daughters—and become women—who know they are deeply loved, fully called, and free to live boldly with God, no matter what their story looks like. Website: https://www.anniefdowns.com/ 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.

    40 min
  8. Bodies, Boundaries, Belonging

    26 JAN

    Bodies, Boundaries, Belonging

    Raising girls in today’s culture means navigating tension—between purity culture and personal freedom, between shame and grace, between rules and relationship. In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with our dear friend and trusted expert Dr. Michelle Watson Canfield for an honest, hope-filled conversation about how we talk to our daughters (and ourselves) about bodies, boundaries, and belonging. Together, we unpack the impact of purity culture, the pendulum swing toward “it’s my body, don’t shame me,” and the invitation to a better way—one rooted in grace, discernment, and deep identity in Christ. This conversation is as much for moms as it is for daughters, because the work always begins with us. With wisdom from clinical practice, Scripture, and lived experience, we explore how moms and dads can partner together (even imperfectly) to speak life, affirmation, and truth into the hearts of girls—starting young and continuing through the teen years. Key Takeaways: 🔹 Beyond rules to relationship – Why the goal isn’t control or permissiveness, but helping girls hear God’s voice and trust His love. 🔹 Our stories matter – How a mom’s own experiences with shame, purity culture, or freedom shape the messages her daughter receives. 🔹 The power of words and presence – Practical ways parents—especially dads—can speak affirmation that protects against lies and insecurity. 🔹 Raising discerning daughters – Helping girls understand their value, their bodies, and the kind of love they were made for. Our hope is to raise girls who aren’t driven by fear, performance, or attention—but who are confident, resilient, and rooted in grace. And along the way, to become women who are healing, growing, and walking in that freedom too. Website: www.drmichellewatson.com 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.

    45 min

About

Our motivation is to see a generation of women who are navigating trusted relationships, are confident in who God says He is and who He made them to be and are resiliently moving through the peaks and valleys of life. A generation of women who are rooted in grace and free from the performance-based treadmill we are enticed with every day.

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