Raising Godly Girls

What does it mean to value life in a culture shaped by rapidly changing science and medical technology? In this powerful final episode of our three-part pro-life series, the Raising Godly Girls Podcast invites Christian families into a thoughtful, hope-filled conversation about embryo adoption, the sanctity of life, and God's faithfulness from the very beginning.

Host Patti Garibay sits down with an extraordinary mother-daughter duo: Marlene Strege and Hannah Strege. Decades ago, Marlene and her husband stepped out in faith to become the first family to adopt a frozen embryo and carry that baby to birth. Today...

What if your life story began before you were even born?

In this powerful episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Patti Garibay sits down with Hannah Strege—known as the world's first adopted embryo—for a deeply personal conversation about life, identity, and God's sovereign design. Hannah's story is a living testimony that every life is created with purpose, value, and intention, even in circumstances that the world may overlook or misunderstand.

As conversations around in vitro fertilization (IVF) continue to grow, many Christian families are asking how to think biblically about life at its...

What does it truly mean to be pro-life in today's world?

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Patti Garibay sits down with Marlene Strege for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation about infertility, adoption, and the often-overlooked ethical questions surrounding in vitro fertilization (IVF). As reproductive technologies continue to advance, Christian families are increasingly being called to consider how a Biblical view of life applies not only in the womb—but even at the earliest stages of human existence.

Marlene shares her own journey through infertility and how God led her family to...

What does it look like to raise a girl who is both bold in her convictions and wise in how she uses her voice?

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Natalie Ambrose sits down with attorney and advocate Alexandra Gaiser of Alliance Defending Freedom for a powerful conversation about raising daughters who are prepared to lead with truth, courage, and grace. In a world where cultural conversations are growing louder and more complex, girls are being called to step into leadership earlier than ever before.

Alexandra shares her personal journey into the...

What happens when the things we most desperately want to change are the very things we cannot control? For mothers, the desire to protect our daughters, fix what hurts, and help their stories turn out well can easily become an exhausting pursuit of control. But what if true peace doesn't come from finally getting everything under control—it comes from knowing Who is?

On this special bonus episode of Raising Godly Girls, host Rachael Culpepper welcomes bestselling author, Bible teacher, and Proverbs 31 Ministries founder Lysa TerKeurst for a powerful conversation inspired by her new book, Making Peace wi...

What do you do when your strong-willed daughter pushes back, challenges your opinion, or seems determined to turn every disagreement into a battle? On this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden put consistency under the spotlight and explore how parents can lead strong-willed girls without breaking their spirit—while helping them develop the wisdom, resilience, and leadership skills God can use for His Kingdom.

Parenting a strong-willed girl can sometimes feel like navigating a minefield of opinions, emotions, and potential power struggles. But Biblical parenting isn't about finding a formula that gu...

What happens when your strong-willed, opinionated girl discovers the world of "hot takes," rage bait, memes, and unpopular opinions? On this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden explore why these bite-sized cultural opinions can be so appealing to girls—and how parents can help their daughters develop something far more lasting: Biblical wisdom, character, and integrity.

In a culture where humor, likes, outrage, and social influence can reward the loudest or most provocative opinion, Christian girls need to learn how to discern what is worth embracing and what should be left be...

In a culture increasingly defined by division, how can Christian parents teach their daughters to think biblically about race, identity, justice, and unity? On this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Patti Garibay welcomes public theologian, author, speaker, and seminary professor Dr. Krista Bontrager for an honest and hope-filled conversation about raising girls who can engage difficult cultural conversations with both truth and grace.

With conversations about race and identity reaching girls at younger ages—and often through frameworks centered on division, group identity, and power—many Christian parents feel unsure about how to respond. Krista helps parents dist...

What does it look like to pursue Biblical unity in a world that seems to reward outrage, polarization, and constant disagreement? And how can Christian parents teach their daughters when to stand firm on essential Biblical truth—and when to graciously let something go?

On this episode of Raising Godly Girls, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden take a "flip the script" approach to conflict, exploring what it means for Christians to make the Gospel their common ground. From church disagreements and theological debates to friendship conflicts between girls, they unpack the difference between healthy, Scripture-grounded discussion and th...

In a culture that rewards outrage, celebrates division, and often encourages people to cancel rather than reconcile, how can Christian families teach girls to pursue Biblical unity? While conflict is inevitable, the Gospel offers a better way—one marked by grace, humility, truth, and the unshakable bond believers share in Christ.

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden explore what true Christian unity looks like and why it's essential for today's girls. Together, they unpack the difference between standing firm on foundational Biblical truth and holding personal preferences with op...

What if something as simple as a shoebox could change a life forever?

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Patti Garibay shares a powerful and inspiring conversation with Izabella McMillon, whose life was transformed after receiving an Operation Christmas Child shoebox as a young girl growing up in Romania. What began as a simple gift became a doorway to the Gospel—and ultimately, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Together, Patti and Izabella explore how God uses even the smallest acts of obedience to accomplish His greater purposes around the world. From li...

Serving others doesn't have to feel like another item on the family to-do list—it can become one of your family's greatest joys. When parents intentionally create opportunities to serve together, they're not only meeting practical needs, they're also building lasting memories, strengthening family bonds, and teaching daughters what it looks like to live with the heart of Christ.

In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose explore how families can make service a joyful rhythm of everyday life. From hilarious stories of family service projects to practical ideas for engaging children of...

As girls settle into the rhythms of a new school year, one of the greatest gifts parents can give is a heart that delights in serving others. But a servant's heart doesn't develop by accident—it grows as girls learn to see needs, respond with compassion, and understand that every act of kindness can point others to Christ.

In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose explore how parents can cultivate a lifestyle of service in their daughters from the earliest years through the teen years. Together they discuss practical ways to he...

Creativity is not accidental—it reflects the very nature of our Creator. But in today's culture, many girls struggle to see how their artistic gifts, entrepreneurial dreams, or creative passions fit into God's bigger story. Is art just a hobby? Can business ownership honor the Lord? And how can young women balance calling, faith, marriage, and motherhood without losing sight of what matters most?

In this inspiring episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Rachael Culpepper sits down with Katie Guiliano, founder of Hosanna Revival, to share her powerful testimony of faith, creativity, and obedience. Katie opens up...

Every girl has been uniquely created by God with gifts that can bless others and bring Him glory. Whether she's a creative thinker, a natural strategist, or someone who simply loves serving people, parents have the incredible opportunity to nurture those God-given strengths while helping their daughters remember that every talent is ultimately a gift from the Lord.

In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, co-hosts Melissa Bearden and Natalie Ambrose continue their conversation about raising entrepreneurial Christian girls by exploring the role of creativity, imagination, and innovation in God's design. Together, they discuss why childhood is...

What does it look like to raise a girl who is creative, courageous, resilient, and willing to step into the opportunities God places before her? On this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Melissa Bearden and Natalie Ambrose shine a spotlight on the entrepreneurial spirit in Christian girls—and explore how parents can help their daughters discover and steward the gifts, passions, and talents God has uniquely given them.

Entrepreneurship isn't simply about starting a business. For a Christian girl, it can be an opportunity to learn confidence, leadership, problem-solving, perseverance, and faithful stewardship while keeping Ch...

Family devotionals often begin with the best of intentions—but somewhere between busy schedules, distracted kids, and the pressures of everyday life, they can quickly feel overwhelming or inconsistent.

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Melissa Bearden sits down with author, Bible teacher, and The Gospel Coalition leader Melissa Kruger to talk about what it really looks like to build lasting, grace-filled devotional rhythms at home. Together, they offer encouragement for parents who long to disciple their daughters in God's Word but feel stretched thin or unsure where to begin.

Family discipleship doesn't stay the same through every season of parenting—and that's a good thing. As children grow from toddlers to teens and eventually into young adulthood, the way families spend time in God's Word naturally changes. The mission, however, never does.

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls podcast, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose encourage parents to embrace the changing rhythms of family devotions without losing sight of the lifelong calling to disciple their children. From busy schedules and multiple age stages to launching young adults into the world, they explore practical ways to...

Family devotions often sound wonderful in theory—but in real life, they can feel messy, inconsistent, and anything but peaceful. If you've ever wondered whether you're "doing it right," take heart: God isn't looking for perfection. He's inviting families to faithfully open His Word together, one small step at a time.

In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose encourage parents to rethink what successful family discipleship really looks like. From adapting devotions to fit your children's unique learning styles to choosing Gospel-centered resources that point girls to Jesus rather than simple be...

In today's culture, girls are constantly being told who they should be, what success looks like, and how they should define strength. But God offers a very different vision for womanhood—one rooted not in comparison or cultural pressure, but in courage, compassion, wisdom, and faith.

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Patti Garibay welcomes author, coach, and speaker Kaitlyn Cey for a meaningful conversation about raising girls who are confident in their identity in Christ and bold in their faith. Drawing from her book The Five Ways of a Fierce-Hearted Woman, Ka...

The middle school years are filled with change—and not just for your daughter. As her emotions, body, friendships, and independence begin to shift, the entire family is learning how to navigate a brand-new season together. How can parents shepherd their girls with grace while helping siblings, dads, and the whole family understand what's happening?

In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, co-hosts Natalie Ambrose and Melissa Bearden explore the unique challenges—and incredible opportunities—of parenting a middle school girl through a Biblical lens. From navigating puberty conversations without awkwardness to creating meaningful "eyes-forward" moments of connec...

Why do the middle school years feel so hard—for girls and for the parents raising them?

Friendship drama. Puberty. Growing independence. Big emotions. Endless questions. The middle school years can feel like a whirlwind for both girls and the adults who love them. Yet beneath all the change is a beautiful opportunity for parents to become a steady, Christ-centered presence during one of the most formative seasons of a daughter's life.

In this back-to-school episode, Natalie Ambrose and Melissa Bearden explore what makes the middle school years so unique. From the rapid development of ab...

Bullying today looks very different than it did just a generation ago—and parents of girls are feeling the weight of navigating it all. In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, host Natalie Ambrose welcomes back researcher, speaker, and author Brooks Gibbs for an honest and eye-opening conversation about bullying in all its modern forms.

Together, they explore the science behind childhood aggression and unpack what families need to know about in-person bullying, relational aggression, cyberbullying, sextortion, and emerging threats like AI deepfake harassment. Brooks shares research-based insight into why bullying happens, how it...

What should you do when you discover your own daughter is the one hurting someone else?

No parent wants to receive the phone call, text message, or conversation revealing that their child has been unkind—or worse, has developed a pattern of bullying another girl. While those moments can stir embarrassment, defensiveness, or even shame, they also present a powerful opportunity for discipleship. In this episode, Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose encourage Christian parents to respond with courage, humility, and a heart committed to both truth and restoration.

Continuing the Raising Godly Girls back-to-school series on...

When does unkind behavior cross the line into bullying—and how can Christian parents respond with both wisdom and grace?

As a new school year begins, many parents wonder how to prepare their daughters for the complex social dynamics they'll inevitably encounter. While every unkind comment isn't bullying, repeated patterns of intimidation, exclusion, or harm can leave lasting wounds if left unaddressed. In this timely episode, Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose equip Christian parents to recognize the difference between everyday conflict and true bullying—and to respond with confidence rooted in a Biblical Worldview.

Together, Rach...

In a culture that constantly asks girls to define themselves on their own terms, the Bible offers a far more hopeful and life-giving truth: every girl has a purposeful place in God's redemptive story.

In this episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Melissa Bearden sits down with author, speaker, and ministry leader Jen Oshman to explore how Scripture answers some of the most important questions girls are asking today about identity, purpose, and belonging. Together, they discuss what it means to understand humanity through a Biblical lens—and why God's design for women is both beautiful an...

What if one of God's greatest redemption stories is unfolding in your own motherhood?

Motherhood has a way of exposing both our greatest joys and our deepest weaknesses. From impatience and exhaustion to self-doubt and overwhelm, every season reminds us just how much we need God's grace. But the good news of the Gospel is this: Jesus isn't simply raising our daughters—He's transforming us, too.

In this encouraging episode, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden continue the week's conversation on God's redeeming work by turning the focus toward the hearts of Christian moms. Together, they ex...

Is your daughter learning to follow Jesus—or simply learning to follow the rules?

Many Christian parents long to raise daughters who are kind, obedient, respectful, and wise. But somewhere along the way, it's easy to confuse good behavior with a transformed heart. In this episode, Rachael Culpepper and Melissa Bearden unpack one of Jesus' most familiar parables—the Prodigal Son—and reveal a truth we often overlook: both sons needed the Father's grace. Whether your girl tends to be a rule-follower or a rebel, her greatest need is the same—to know the redeeming love of Jesus Ch...

Healthy, Gospel-centered relationships don't happen by accident—they are built intentionally, season by season, conversation by conversation.

In this heartfelt episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Natalie Ambrose welcomes author and speaker Willow Weston for a powerful conversation about the lifelong value of Christ-centered relationships in a girl's life. From childhood to adulthood, the voices that surround our daughters—parents, mentors, friends, and church community—help shape their understanding of identity, truth, repentance, joy, and healing.

Together, Natalie and Willow explore why it's so important to have hard conversations early and often. Whether discussing techno...

For many Christian families, following Jesus means more than attending church or embracing a set of values—it means courageously changing the trajectory of an entire family tree. In this powerful episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose explore what it looks like to parent through a first-generation Gospel focus and trust God to break cycles of sin, dysfunction, and unhealthy patterns for the sake of future generations.

Natalie reflects on the transformative faith of her grandmother, who came to know Christ at age 40 while raising four children on a working fa...

Conflict is inevitable in family life—but what if the way we handle it today shapes the legacy our daughters carry into tomorrow? In this episode of Raising Godly Girls, co-hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose tackle the family habits we often "sweep under the rug" when tension arises. From avoiding difficult conversations to repeating unhealthy patterns passed down through generations, they explore how parents can choose a different path—one marked by honesty, humility, and healing through Christ.

Drawing from the wisdom of AHG Founder & Executive Director Emeritus Patti Garibay, this conversation offers hope to moms who...

This week, the Raising Godly Girls Podcast has been strolling down Season 3's hall of fame, taking another listen to your favorite episodes.

In a culture saturated with comparison and impossible beauty standards, many girls are quietly asking a deeper question beneath body image struggles: Do I matter? This weekend edition of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast speaks directly into that ache—with truth, tenderness, and Gospel hope.

Host Melissa Bearden welcomes best-selling author and Bible teacher Lisa Whittle for a powerful conversation about body image, identity, and what Lisa calls a whole-body theology. Together, th...

What if the freedom our culture promises isn't freedom at all?

Today's girls are growing up in a world that constantly tells them to define themselves, reinvent themselves, and create their own truth. They're encouraged to build identity through achievement, appearance, influence, and endless self-expression. Yet despite these promises of empowerment, many young women find themselves struggling with anxiety, insecurity, loneliness, and a deep sense of exhaustion.

In this special BONUS episode recorded at the 2026 Women's Leadership Summit in San Antonio, AHG Founder and Executive Director Patti Garibay sits down with Alex Clark, host of...

Summer is rolling along, and the Raising Godly Girls Podcast continues a fun week of fan-fave replays!

On this Thursday episode originally aired in May 2026, hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose continue digging deeper on body image and practical ways to instill a healthy approach for our girls today.

In a time when cultural messages and marketing language are thrown around 24 hours a day, seven days a week, girls are bombarded by plenty of ways to think about their bodies, but none of it aligns with Scripture. So how can we help our daughters take...

As we march through summer 2026, the Raising Godly Girls Podcast is circling back to fan faves of Season 3's first half.  

In this episode from May 2026, hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose use the analogy of parenting instincts to recognize oncoming illness in their kids as a framework to approach a girl's body image struggles. While parents are usually pretty good at connecting symptoms to oncoming illness in their kids, it's not always as clear when body image issues surface in our girls. So this week the podcast is focusing on body image, and how that is often reflect...

In this summer season, the Raising Godly Girls Podcast is circling back to listener favorites from the first part of season 3. Today's episode is a replay of "Helping Girls Root Their Identity in Christ in a Culture of Pressure with Eric & Eden Geiger," which originally aired on January 10, 2026." 

In this heartwarming Saturday episode, American Heritage Girls Executive Director and Raising Godly Girls Podcast host Rachael Culpepper interviews Erin and Eden Geiger. The conversation surrounds the many ways God forms a daughter's identity in Christ through a parent's ongoing journey of faith with the Lord. Rachael invites listeners to...

How can Christian girls stand firm when culture challenges the very meaning of womanhood?

Over the past several years, conversations surrounding women's sports, privacy, safety, and identity have moved from headlines into everyday life. For many girls and their families, these cultural shifts have raised difficult questions about fairness, courage, truth, and what it means to honor God's design for women.

In this special BONUS episode recorded live at the 2026 TPUSA Women's Leadership Summit, AHG Executive Director Rachael Culpepper sits down with former collegiate swimmer, advocate, and mother Riley Gaines Barker. After finding herself at...

In this summer season, the Raising Godly Girls Podcast is circling back to listener favorites from the first part of season 3. Today's episode is a replay of "How a Family Guides Their Girls to Put on the Armor of God" which originally aired on January 8, 2026. Melissa Bearden queues up fellow hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose's conversation by peering through the lens of Ephesians 6, that famous passage in Scripture known as the Armor of God, to fit a girl's heart for strength and endurance.

Using a girl's identity in Christ as a "nametag", this episode...

In this summer season, the Raising Godly Girls Podcast is circling back to listener favorites from the first part of season 3. Today's episode is a replay of "Fortifying Your Girl's Faith for Life" which originally aired on January 6, 2026.

Melissa Bearden queues up fellow hosts Rachael Culpepper and Natalie Ambrose's conversation with an endearing 'dear younger me' chat to give advice for their girl selves.

The hosts zoom in on the idea of "fortifying" a girl's faith to go the long haul—"parenting forward" to teach lessons today that will resonate far in...

When a daughter is struggling emotionally, many parents feel unsure where to begin. Is this typical girlhood stress? Anxiety? Depression? Something deeper? In today's culture—where girls report rising levels of sadness, loneliness, and mental health challenges—Christian parents need both discernment and hope.

In this powerful episode of the Raising Godly Girls Podcast, Natalie Ambrose sits down with licensed counselor and author Dr. Natalie Atwell to talk about recognizing early signs of mental unwellness in girls and responding with both practical wisdom and prayerful confidence. Together, they explore how parents can identify emotional red flags, guide daug...