Courageous Girls

Courageous Girls is a nonprofit equipping moms with trauma-informed clinical, biblical, and relational wisdom so they can raise confident, resilient, grace-filled girls. Join trusted co-founder, author, and professional counselor Terra Mattson, alongside her friends and expert guests, as they cover everything a girl mom needs to know to lead her daughter amid the confusing voices about changing bodies, healthy friendships, dating, sexuality, social media, body image, abuse prevention, and more. We talk about it all.

  1. 12h ago

    Ready for the Battle with Jeff Mattson

    We want our girls to be prepared for the hard things they may face—but that preparation isn’t only physical or emotional. There is also a spiritual battle, and our daughters need to know how to recognize it without living in fear. In this conversation, Tara Mattson sits down with her husband and Courageous Girls co-founder Jeff Mattson to talk about spiritual warfare, the armor of God, and how we can equip our girls to stand firm in what God says is true. 🔹 Know the battle without living in fear – We can teach our girls that spiritual warfare is real while keeping our focus on the greater truth that God is greater than anything we face. 🔹 Fill the toolbox with truth – Memorizing Scripture gives our girls something to reach for when fear, temptation, anxiety, or lies begin to take hold. 🔹 Practice discernment – Not every difficult moment, bad dream, or intrusive thought is spiritual warfare. Learning to slow down, seek God, and discern what is true helps our girls respond with wisdom rather than fear. 🔹 Cling to Jesus – When we don't know what else to do, we can call on the name of Jesus, draw near to God, and remind our girls that they are never alone. Spiritual warfare doesn't have to be a scary subject. When we talk about it with wisdom, Scripture, and confidence in God's character, we give our girls practical tools for navigating the battles they will face. More than anything, we want them to know who God says He is, who He says they are, and that they can cling to Him when life feels overwhelming. 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.

    Ready for the Battle with Jeff Mattson
  2. Sep 21

    The Courageous Girl Dad with Jeff Mattson and Nick West

    Dads play a powerful role in their daughters’ lives, but knowing how to lean in can sometimes feel intimidating. In this episode, Terra Mattson sits down with Jeff Mattson and Nick West to talk about the joys and challenges of being a girl dad, the pressure dads can feel to get it right, and the simple ways they can build meaningful connection with their daughters. From learning to listen instead of fix, to showing up consistently and modeling humility and repair, this conversation offers practical encouragement for dads who want to be more present and engaged. 🔹 Move beyond inadequacy – Why dads don't have to have all the answers or be perfect to make a lasting impact on their daughters. 🔹 Listen and learn her world – How slowing down, asking questions, understanding your daughter’s wiring, and truly listening can strengthen connection. 🔹 Model healthy relationships – Why humility, repair, and using our voices with one another teach girls what healthy relationships can look like. 🔹 Build community together – How Courageous Girls creates opportunities for dads to connect with other fathers, support their families, and create meaningful memories with their daughters. Jeff and Nick remind us that being an intentional dad isn't about one big event or getting everything right. It's built through the slow and steady rhythm of showing up, listening, repairing when we miss the mark, and delighting in who our daughters are. When dads lean in and build community alongside other men, they give their daughters another powerful message: you are worth knowing, and I want to know 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.

    The Courageous Girl Dad with Jeff Mattson and Nick West
  3. Sep 7

    Who Told You That? with Mandy Arioto

    Motherhood can come with a thousand voices telling us who we should be, how our kids should behave, what our homes should look like, and whether we're doing enough. But what if we paused and asked, “Who told you that?” In this episode, Terra Mattson sits down with Mandy Arioto, president and CEO of The Mom Co., for an honest and encouraging conversation about motherhood, perfectionism, comparison, community, and learning to listen to God’s voice above the noise. 🔹 Let go of perfection – Why our kids don't need perfect moms and how our mistakes can become some of the most meaningful parts of our stories. 🔹 Question the voices – How cultural expectations and comparison can shape what we believe about our worth, and why we need to ask, “Who told you that?” 🔹 Discern your own family’s rhythm – Why there isn't one perfect way to parent, and how prayer, intentionality, and knowing our families can help us discern what this season actually requires. 🔹 Find your people – Why meaningful friendship requires inconvenience, vulnerability, and the courage to do motherhood together rather than trying to carry it alone. Mandy and Terra remind us that motherhood is deeply significant work, even when much of it goes unseen. We don't have to hold everything together or become everything culture tells us we should be. We can embrace the way God has uniquely made us, invest in the people He's given us, and rest in the One who is ultimately holding it all together. Website: www.mandyarioto.co/ Instagram: @mandyarioto 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.

    Who Told You That? with Mandy Arioto
  4. Aug 24

    Breaking Free From Comparison with Lee Nienhuis & Shannon Popkin

    Comparison is something we all wrestle with—but what if the struggle goes deeper than simply wanting what someone else has? We sit down with authors Lee Nienhuis and Shannon Popkin to explore how comparison impacts our identity, relationships, and faith, especially for teen girls growing up in a world shaped by constant measuring and comparison.  Drawing from their own stories and their book Comparison Girl for Teens, Lee and Shannon unpack the hidden ways comparison shows up and how we can help our daughters move from insecurity and self-focus toward confidence rooted in Christ.  🔹 Recognizing comparison’s hidden forms – How comparison can look like feeling less than, striving for perfection, or even looking down on others—and why pride is often at the root. 🔹 Understanding our daughters’ unique challenges – Why relationships, social media, and the desire to belong can make comparison especially painful for teen girls today. 🔹 Replacing the measuring mindset – How to shift our focus from “How do I measure up?” to the truth of who God says we are. 🔹 Helping girls find their identity in Christ – Why our daughters need safe spaces to untangle emotions, ask honest questions, and experience grace through community.  With wisdom, vulnerability, and practical tools, Terra, Lee, and Shannon remind us that comparison loses its power when we know we are already loved, chosen, and secure in Christ. As moms, we don’t have to help our daughters avoid every moment of comparison—we can walk alongside them as they learn where their true worth comes from. Lee's Website: leenienhuis.com Shannnon's Website: www.shannonpopkin.com Lee's Instagram: @leenienhuis Shannon's Instagram: @shannonpopkin Book: Comparison Girl for Teens 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.

    Breaking Free From Comparison with Lee Nienhuis & Shannon Popkin
  5. Aug 10

    Rooted in Grace with Brittany Sawrey-Coulson

    What if the greatest barrier to experiencing God's love isn't our circumstances—but the belief that we have to earn it? Terra Mattson welcomes licensed professional counselor and The Path co-author Brittany Sawrey-Coulson for an honest conversation about the difference between living rooted in grace and getting stuck on the treadmill of performance-based faith. As they explore the subtle messages of shame that tell us we're never enough, Terra and Brittany unpack how God's grace invites us into freedom, authenticity, and a deeper understanding of our identity in Christ. 🔹 Performance vs. grace – How to recognize when we're striving for God's approval instead of resting in His love. 🔹 Breaking the cycle of shame – Why bringing our fears into the light with God and trusted people is key to healing. 🔹 Trusting God's heart – How small steps of vulnerability help us receive the love we've been longing for. 🔹 Modeling freedom for our daughters – Why embracing our own identity and grace creates space for our girls to do the same. Performance tells us to keep striving. Grace reminds us we are already deeply loved. Through personal stories, practical encouragement, and biblical wisdom, this conversation offers hope for every mom who longs to let go of shame, trust God's heart more fully, and model a grace-filled faith for her daughter. Website: trueface.org Instagram: @truefacelife Book: The Path 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.

    Rooted in Grace with Brittany Sawrey-Coulson
  6. Jul 27

    The Power of Community with Aimee Eckley

    What if the greatest gift we can give our daughters is not a perfect path, but a community of women who help us walk it alongside them? In this episode of Courageous Girls, Terra Mattson sits down with Aimee Eckley to talk about the lasting impact of intentional community, discovering our God-given gifts, and creating spaces where both moms and daughters can grow in faith, confidence, and identity. They explore how Courageous Girls groups become more than just gatherings—they become places where women are seen, encouraged, challenged, and reminded of who God created them to be. 🔹 Discovering our gifts – How community helps us recognize strengths we may have overlooked and calls out the unique ways God has wired us to contribute. 🔹 The power of women modeling faith – Why our daughters need to see a variety of godly women living out their gifts, passions, and purpose. 🔹 Building lasting connection – How intentional conversations, consistency, and shared experiences create deep trust between moms and daughters. 🔹 Starting before we feel ready – Why we don’t need to have everything figured out to begin building meaningful community. The journey of raising daughters is beautiful, challenging, and far too important to do in isolation. As we surround ourselves with women who speak truth, offer wisdom, and point us back to Jesus, we become the kind of community our daughters need to see. May we be women who are willing to start, willing to show up, and willing to trust that God can use our relationships to shape generations. 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.

    The Power of Community with Aimee Eckley
  7. Jun 29

    Start Your Day Differently with Tara Beth Leach

    We live in a world that is constantly competing for our attention. Before our feet hit the floor, our minds can already be filled with notifications, responsibilities, worries, and endless distractions. But God gently invites us into something different—a daily rhythm of beginning with Him. In this episode of Courageous Girls, we sit down with pastor, author, and teacher Tara Beth Leach to talk about cultivating meaningful time with God and why the first moments of our day can shape everything that follows. Drawing from her book The Great Morning Revolution, Tara Beth shares how a season of grief, caregiving, and spiritual exhaustion led her to rediscover the life-giving practice of meeting with God each morning. Together, we explore how quiet time isn’t about checking a spiritual box or striving for perfection—it’s about creating space to be present with God, receive His grace, and allow His voice to guide our hearts through every season. 🔹 Beginning with God, not distraction – Why the first moments of our day matter and how small, consistent rhythms can transform our spiritual lives. 🔹 Grace over guilt – How to release unrealistic expectations and embrace simple, sustainable practices that help us stay connected to God. 🔹 The power of daily spiritual habits – A practical look at Tara Beth’s GREAT framework: Gratitude, Reflection, Exaltation, Asking, and Trusting. 🔹 Modeling faith for the next generation – Why our daughters learn as much from what they see us practice as from what we teach them. 🔹 Trusting God in every season – How surrendering our plans, fears, and uncertainties to God helps us walk with greater peace and confidence. With honesty, wisdom, and deep encouragement, Tara Beth reminds us that meaningful time with God doesn’t require perfect circumstances or endless hours. Whether you have five minutes or fifty, God is always inviting you to take the next faithful step. As we learn to begin our days with Him, we discover that His presence is enough—and that His mercies truly are new every morning. Website: https://tarabethleach.com/ Facebook: http://facebook.com/TaraBethLeach Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarabeth82/ 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.

    Start Your Day Differently with Tara Beth Leach

About

Courageous Girls is a nonprofit equipping moms with trauma-informed clinical, biblical, and relational wisdom so they can raise confident, resilient, grace-filled girls. Join trusted co-founder, author, and professional counselor Terra Mattson, alongside her friends and expert guests, as they cover everything a girl mom needs to know to lead her daughter amid the confusing voices about changing bodies, healthy friendships, dating, sexuality, social media, body image, abuse prevention, and more. We talk about it all.

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