Raising Kids, Growing Parents

About Raising Kids, Growing Parents

Raising Kids, Growing Parents is a podcast designed to help parents, future parents, and anyone on the parenting journey build confidence, emotional intelligence, and strong relationships with the children in their lives. Inspired by the book Growing Into Your Parenting Role, the series explores the real work of parenting — the self-reflection, patience, grace, and growth it takes to raise great kids while becoming the best version of yourself. Through stories from my decades of parenting, grandparenting, and teaching, each episode offers practical tools, heartfelt lessons, and encouragement to remind you that great parenting is a matter of choice, not circumstance. Whether you’re preparing for parenthood or already in the trenches, this podcast equips you to be a more intentional, grounded parent — and to grow right alongside your children.

Publisher

William Shackelford, aka "Papa Shack"

Category

kids & family · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

14 Jan 2026

Latest episode

26 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

6 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Jun 2026

   Building Trust with Your Parenting Team

   In this episode, we dive into Chapter 4 of Growing Into Your Parenting Role, titled Building a Trusting Relationship with Your Parenting Team. In this chapter, author William Shackelford shares his core belief that trust is a nonnegotiable foundation of any lasting relationship—especially within families and parenting partnerships. Drawing on personal stories and hard-earned life lessons, William explains how trust serves as the bedrock that sustains relationships long after infatuation fades or shared interests change. You’ll learn how trust is intentionally built over time—and the common behaviors that quietly erode it. The episode concludes with practical guidance for making honesty a core family value, showing how living truthfully reduces stress, strengthens relationships, and creates partnerships that are not only healthier, but built to last.

2. 

   29 May 2026

   Proven Process for Selecting A Good Mate

   In this episode, we dive into Chapter 3 of Growing Into Your Parenting Role, titled Select a Good Mate. In this chapter, we explore a foundational truth: great parenting begins long before children arrive. It starts with one of the most important decisions you will ever make—choosing who will walk with you on that lifelong journey. Drawing from their own six-year courtship, the authors share how their relationship shaped a philosophy for building a strong, lasting partnership. That foundation is built through four distinct stages of relationship development: Infatuation, Exploration, Confirmation, and Dedication. This episode also explains why it is essential to distinguish between the traits you desire in a mate and the traits you require. You’ll be introduced to a practical brainstorming tool designed to bring clarity and intention to that process. Finally, we walk you through the Compatibility Assessment Checklist, a tool the authors created to help couples identify potential relationship “deal breakers” related to money, lifestyle choices, and personality traits—ensuring both partners are truly prepared for a lifetime commitment and effective co-parenting.

3. 

   23 Apr 2026

   How To Develop A Plan for Your Life and Why

   In this episode, we explore Chapter 2 of Growing Into Your Parenting Role, titled Have a Plan for Your Life. The chapter opens with a pivotal moment from the author’s youth, when a teenage Renée—his girlfriend at the time and future wife—delivered a life-changing ultimatum: college or no marriage. That moment became a powerful lesson in how clear intentions produce specific, life-shaping results. This chapter emphasizes a critical truth: without a clear plan for our lives, we often end up living out the less ambitious plans of others. The podcast discusses how creating a concrete Life Plan—complete with visual reminders and achievable short-term goals—builds the confidence, direction, and sense of control parents need to become the true architects of their own destiny. In addition, it provides tips and tools for creating a life plan. Join us as we unpack the authors’ strategy for shaping individual dreams into a shared parenting vision—so you’re not just surviving parenthood, but intentionally designing it. Learn more at: www.apacademystore.com.

4. 

   26 Mar 2026

   The Key Role Self-Esteem Plays in Parenting

   This episode dives into Chapter 1 of Growing Into Your Parenting Role, titled Feel Good About Yourself. In this podcast, we challenge a common myth about parenting—that great parenting begins with changing children’s behavior. Instead, we reveal a deeper truth: the foundation of a “master parent” is built on self-worth and healthy self-esteem. You’ll hear the inspiring story of the author’s father—a disabled veteran with a sixth-grade education who raised nine children by modeling an unshakable belief in his own value. His quiet confidence shaped not only his family, but also the author’s lifelong understanding of self-esteem, leadership, and parenting. Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as a guide, this episode explains why parents must first meet their own emotional and psychological needs before they can fully nurture a child’s growth and development. Finally, we introduce the Self-Esteem-Building Checklist, a practical workbook tool designed to help couples and parenting team members strengthen one another. From money management to personal habits and behavioral traits, this tool helps families build a shared foundation for collaboration, confidence, and success on the parenting journey.

5. 

   21 Jan 2026

   Growing Into Your Parenting Role: Book Review

   Welcome to Raising Kids, Growing Parents - a podcast rooted in real life, real parenting, and real growth. This inaugural episode introduces Growing Into Your Parenting Role, the book by husband-and-wife team William G. Shackelford and Renée Nuckols Shackelford. Drawing from decades of lived experience, the Shackelfords share the practical tips, tools, and mindset shifts they used to raise strong, independent, and successful children. Often compared to the idyllic Huxtable family, their journey wasn’t about perfection—it was about intention. Through coaching, mentoring, and learning to truly play on the same team as their children, they discovered powerful ways to connect, communicate, and guide their kids through life’s challenges. In this podcast, you’ll hear stories and insights shaped by 50 years of parenting, 25 years of grandparenting, and decades of helping people build emotionally intelligent, lasting relationships. These are lessons learned in the trenches—and shared with honesty, candor, heart, hope, and tools. If this episode resonates with you, you’ll love the Raising Kids, Growing Parents Podcast Training Series. This companion program takes a deeper dive into all 17 chapters of Growing Into Your Parenting Role, featuring engaging 12-minute audio lessons led by two AI presenters. Each lesson includes a thoughtfully designed workbook to help you move from insight to action - so you’re not just learning about parenting, you’re growing into it.

6. 

   14 Jan 2026

   Welcome Podcast

   This short podcast introduces the Raising Kids, Growing Parents podcast series inspired by the book Growing Into Your Parenting Role: Tips and Tools for Every Stage of Your Parenting Journey — which your host, Bill Shackelford, was blessed to write with my beloved late wife, Renée. Every episode dives into the real work of parenting — not the picture-perfect Instagram kind, but the kind that requires self-reflection, emotional maturity, patience, and grace. This podcast series is designed to encourage you, equip you, and remind you that great parenting is a matter of choice, not circumstance. Along the way you will learn that parenting isn’t just about raising kids… it’s about growing into the best version of yourself while you do it.

Contact Raising Kids, Growing Parents

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.