In this episode, I explore the power of self-reliance in young people — and the dangers of underestimating them.

“The belief that children and teenagers are incapable of rational decision-making and self-direction is a self-fulfilling prophecy.” When society assumes kids can’t think, choose, or lead, we create systems that deny them the chance to try — and they grow into exactly what we feared.

This conversation unpacks how schools, sports, and adult-driven environments strip away responsibility, why preserving the joys of childhood is essential, and how families can nurture true independence by trusting children to rise.