Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today’s episode tackles a very sensitive and difficult subject: sex trafficking. Sex trafficking is on the rise in Canada. This episode will educate you about how traffickers operate and what to be aware of as a parent. Note that this episode mentions sexual assault and is not suitable for children. We recommend parents listen to this episode to discern if it’s right to let their teenagers hear. An important note before we begin: If you are concerned that your child could be the victim of sex trafficking or is being groomed for sex trafficking you must intervene, but you should do so carefully to ensure you don’t put your child’s safety at risk. The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached at 1.833.900.1010 and they can advise you on how best to proceed. Most importantly, any disclosure of sexual abuse made by a minor must also be reported to the police or a child welfare agency right away.

Episode notes:

Lynda Harlos’ book Walk a Mile: A Mother’s Journey into Her Daughter’s Secret Life has not been reviewed for endorsement by Focus on the Family Canada. The occasional use of strong language in Lynda’s book will concern some readers. You can also watch Lynda’s story on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEDT-NpTyW8

Focus on the Family Canada series on protecting children from sexual abuse

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/protecting-children-from-sexual-abuse

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2024 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today, you’re in for an inspiring conversation with Carissa Youssef, a leader with a servant’s heart who is passionate about God’s redemptive work. Born in Chicago, Carissa lived throughout the Midwest until her family settled in Seattle in 1993. After graduating from high school, Carissa moved to British Columbia to attend university where she earned her BA in Communications and later her MBA. Carissa spent nearly 15 years of dedicated work in the fight against extreme poverty, and she now serves as the executive director of One Day’s Wages, where she continues to advocate for the most vulnerable. Carissa and her husband, Bob, live in Abbotsford, BC, with their two daughters.

This conversation with Carissa Youssef is facilitated by Kara Pippy, chief marketing officer at Focus on the Family Canada.

Episode notes:

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2025 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

In today’s episode, we are tackling a deeply personal issue – emotional abuse in marriage. Words don’t leave physical marks, but they bruise the spirit. This episode is full of practical advice and insights from marriage experts to help work through this daunting topic. While we recognize that men are also victims of emotional abuse, we hear from women more often which is why that dynamic is described this episode. That being said, these principles apply whether it's the wife or husband who is the victim of emotional abuse.

Please note that reference to the individuals and organizations quoted does not constitute a blanket endorsement of either the individuals’ external work or their respective organizations.

Episode notes:

Read a related article here: “Words that bruise: Are you emotionally abusive?”

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/words-that-bruise-are-you-emotionally-abusive

The Emotionally Destructive Relationship by Leslie Vernick

https://shop.focusonthefamily.ca/The-Emotionally-Destructive-Relationship

Understanding Abuse digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/understanding-abuse

Unpacking Biblical Separation and Divorce video series

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/unpacking-biblical-separation-and-divorce

Understanding Abuse in Marriage video series

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/understanding-abuse-in-marriage

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

© 2013 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

Today’s episode features Bryan and Bonnie Pue, founders of The Union Movement. As a young man, Bryan was into the party scene, depressed, angry and addicted to pornography. Meanwhile, Bonnie was the homeschooled church teen girl whose naivety was shattered when a trusted church leader confessed his sexual sin to his congregation. As they found restoration and freedom, their passion grew to help others find healing and to empower churches to do the same. They founded The Union Movement to help people find wholeness by presenting a gospel-centred, holistic approach to the topics of identity, sexuality, and relationships. They develop resources, speak at events, and support local churches and leaders who desire to cultivate healthy cultures. Bonnie and Bryan have been married since 2007, and are now mom and dad to six fantastic sons.

This conversation with Bryan and Bonnie is facilitated by Len DenBraber, chief operating officer at Focus on the Family Canada.

Episode notes:

In God’s Image video series

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/Ingodsimage

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2025 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

In today’s episode, we explore the very real topic of fear and anxiety in children. As you well know, every person at every age has moments of fear. Consider how many times Scripture tells us, “Do not be afraid.” For children specifically, each new developmental age brings up common fears as they are learning to discover the world around them and their place in it. But how do we know what’s normal, and what’s not? And when should parents be concerned?

Episode notes:

Understanding and Navigating Anxiety digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/anxiety

Helping Children Manage Anxiety video series

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/helping-children-manage-anxiety

Read a related article here: Monsters and mid-terms: Helping your child cope with anxiety

https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/monsters-and-mid-terms-helping-your-child-cope-with-anxiety

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2014 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast.

We carry around a heart that is aching to be known and felt in a way that warms us from the distances we feel in our relationships. It’s a longing for that deep inner touch. And the closer we are in the relationship, the deeper the pangs of loneliness can be. Today’s episode, “Building Bridges in Intimate Loneliness,” was originally written by Tom Peters. Tom has been nurturing his passion for helping others for over 35 years. He holds a master's in Counselling Psychology. In addition to developing a private practice, Tom also is a practicing counselling supervisor and a member of the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario. He and his wife of 30 years are parents to two married daughters, one son, and they recently became grandparents. Just a note that this episode is written by Tom, but voiced by a guest.

Episode notes:

Hope Restored marriage intensives

http://www.hoperestoredcanada.ca/

Navigating Conflict in Marriage digital booklet

https://info.focusonthefamily.ca/navigating-conflict-in-marriage

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2020 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.

​Welcome back to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. This is the space where family, faith, and culture intersect. In this second season, the theme is healing scars. You’ll hear sound bites on how to navigate relationships and experience restoration from brokenness. And we sat down with ministry leaders as well as followers of Christ who work in a variety of sectors – all who are passionate about the restorative work of our Heavenly Father.

Welcome to The Thriving Family, a Focus on the Family Canada podcast. Today’s bonus episode comes features a very special guest: Katie Leigh, the iconic voice behind Adventures in Odyssey character Connie Kendall! Katie has voiced a wide range of roles, and she's played the role of everybody's favorite teenager, Connie, for over 20 years - a part that strangely mirrors her own life.

Katie attended the One Grand Party, a 2-day interactive event with two live performances last August at Focus on the Family’s headquarters in Colorado Springs when 6,000 fans celebrated episode one thousand of Adventures in Odyssey.

Katie sat down with Kara Pippy, Focus on the Family Canada’s chief marketing officer, and they had a fascinating conversation about Katie’s work as a voice actor, what it’s like to be a believer in the entertainment industry, and what she has learned from her years as the voice of such a beloved resident of Whit’s End.

Episode notes:

Katie Leigh’s website

https://www.katieleigh.com

Free, one-time consultation with a registered counsellor at Focus on the Family Canada over the phone. Give our head office a call at 1-800-661-9800 to request a consult.

Support the podcast: https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/podcastgiving

© 2025 Focus on the Family (Canada) Association. All rights reserved.