Conversation Balloons

Kate Anderson, senior counsel and Director of the Center for Parental Rights at Alliance Defending Freedom, outlines what parental rights are, where they come from, and how you can assert and protect your rights to raise and educate your child as you choose. School, gender issues, privacy, adoption/ foster care eligibility, and more are covered, and Leah speaks from her own experience as an attorney partnering with ADF.

Additional resources:

Free booklets from Alliance Defending Freedom-- Parents in Control--https://adflegal.org/resource/parents-in-control-usa-curriculum-surveys-opt-out-rights/ Confronting Religious Discrimination: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents--https://adflegal.org/resource/religious-discrimination-foster-adoptive-parents/Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925)--268 U.S. 510--https://www.oyez.org/cases/1900-1940/268us510Mirabelli v. Bonta, emergency order (2026)--https://www.thomasmoresociety.org/case/mirabelli-v-olsonMahmoud v. Taylor (2025)--606 U.S __ --https://www.oyez.org/cases/2024/24-297Owasso Independent School District v. Falvo (2002)--534 U.S. 426-- https://www.oyez.org/cases/2001/00-1073FERPA (34 CFR Part 99--Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act--https://studentprivacy.ed.gov/ferpaEqual Access Act--98 Stat. 1302, 20 U.S.C. §§ 4071-4074--Bd. of Education of Westside Community Schools v. Mergens (1990)--https://www.oyez.org/cases/1989/88-1597Oregon foster adoption--Jessica BatesKallie Keeler case--Washington state 2026--https://adflegal.org/press-release/high-school-female-athlete-sues-after-unknowingly-wrestling-male-who-sexually-assaulted-her-during-match/?reference_code=11041076&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=google&utm_content=%7E20248933359_150742826875_alliance+defending+freedom%5E814946495493&utm_campaign=brand-searchTF and BF v. Kettle Moraine School District (2021)--https://adflegal.org/press-release/wisconsin-court-rules-protect-parents-rights/ Jennifer DeGross and Shane DeGross v. Tana Senn in her official capacity as Sec. of Washington State Dept Children,Youth, and Families, et al. (2026)--https://adflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/degross-v-hunter-2026-05-20-permanent-injunction.pdfMead v. Rockford Public School District--https://adflegal.org/case/mead-v-rockford-public-school-district/Jessica Bates (2026)--https://adflegal.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/bates-v-wendt-2026-09-09-stipulated-order-judgment.pdf

Should I give much of my kids' inheritance to them while I'm alive? Can I give differing amounts to different kids? Should I reveal my estate plan to my heirs? Financial advisor Russ Crosson gives sage and surprising answers to these and more questions.Additional resources:Books by Russ Crosson--Your Life Well SpentLeverage: Using Temporal Wealth for Eternal Gain (Russ Crosson and Kenneth Boa)Your Money Made Simple: The Key to Financial Freedom

Scholar Mark Hall on Gen Z and patriotism, Christian nationalism, capitalism and socialism, and how the Constitution looks after 250 years. Constitution Day is Sept.17, 2026--give it a read that day!

Additional resources:

Books by Mark David Hall:

Did America Have a Christian Founding? Separating Modern Myth from Historical Truth

The Political and Legal Philosophy of James Wilson

Faith and the Founders of the American Republic

Who's Afraid of Christian Nationalism? (Spoiler alert: Not an endorsement of Christian Nationalism)

George Washington, William Samuel Johnson, Roger Sherman, et al.: :)

The Constitution of the United States of America https://www.senate.gov/about/origins-foundations/senate-and-constitution/constitution.htm

Moms and dads (and teachers, grandparents, and babysitters): Mia Wisinski has endless great suggestions for screen-free silliness with kiddos--because you could use a laugh yourself.. When you can't think of one more game or knock-knock joke, she's in your corner with loads of ideas gleaned from her years in theater, improv, and mothering. Additional resources:--Instagram @Playfulheartparenting--www.playfulheartparenting.com--with resources like FamProv, the Silly Moments app, and Active Play Mode course and community--Conversation Balloons Episode 64--"Onstage at This Stage" https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SxLFyYVSj87s07ATxvi1w--Conversation Balloons Episode 41--"How to Talk to Little Kids" https://open.spotify.com/episode/6mu6f9mX32p5M2kbWffOj5

How do we pass on our spiritual legacy to grandchildren?  We host Christian grandparenting expert Dr. Josh Mulvihill for practical tips and biblical motivation to share our faith and stories with grandkids.  Family estrangement, a sense of inadequacy, and lack of intentionality can hold us back--listen for help in overcoming these issues.  Even those not part of a Christian tradition will be encouraged by Dr. Mulvihill's gracious vision of grandparenting.

Additional resources:

Renewanation.org

Christiangrandparenting.org

Legacycoalition.com

Books by Dr. Mulvihill:

• Grandparenting: Strengthening Your Family and Passing on Your Faith
• Biblical Grandparenting

Interior designer Laura McCall of Collected Interiors donates time to create spaces for women coming out of incarceration using "trauma-informed design."  Could her insights help calm an overstimulated child, or traumatized adult?  Does she have practical tips for your living space? Yes and yes!

Additional resources:

www.Collectedinteriors.org

Instagram: Collectedinteriors918

Conversation Balloons Podcast, Episode 113, "A Child's Environment Making Her Sick" with Laura McCall

Medical ethicist Bill Davis discusses aspects of caring for dependent parents--such as their times of impaired judgement, their demands that can't be fulfilled, and the possibility of avatars and robots to meet companionship needs. This is the practical sequel to Dr. Davis's previous episode with us at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaLFX0Rh9cI , "Honor My Father and Mother? Really?"

Additional resources:

Books by Bill Davis:

--Honoring Dependent Parents: Biblical Decision-Making for Adult Children

--Departing in Peace: Biblical Decision-Making at the End of Life

Previous Conversation Balloons podcast:

Honor My Father and Mother? Really? with Bill Davis https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaLFX0Rh9cI

History scholar and author of 15 books about religion and politics Dr. Mark David Hall schools Leah on the varying degrees of religious fervor of the founders of the USA, as we get ready to celebrate America's 250th birthday.

Additional resources:

By Mark David Hall--

--Did America Have a Christian Founding? Separating Modern Myth from Historical Truth

--The Sacred Rights of Conscience

--Faith and the Founders of the American Republic

Humorist Chip Leighton keeps us in stitches as he recounts texts from teens and anecdotes about their dads that are at best what youngsters call "cringey." The perfect show to share for Father's Day! You'll want to pick up this bestselling author's good-natured pokes at both Gen Z and their parents.

Additional resources:

Dad, Can You Not? A Dad's Guide to Being Less Cringe by Chip Leighton

What Time is Noon? Hilarious Texts, Ridiculous Feedback, and Not-So-Subtle Advice from Teenagers by Chip Leighton

If our parents fall into mental or financial straits, what do we owe them?  How do we manage elderly parents' needs that threaten to overwhelm us?  Medical ethicist and Christian philosophy professor Bill Davis gives us balanced advice.  Part one of two honest conversations with the author of Honoring Dependent Parents.

Additional resources:
Books by Bill Davis:

Honoring Dependent Parents: Biblical Decision Making for Adult Children

Departing in Peace: Biblical Decision Making at the End of Life