As we enter Pride Month, conversations around identity, gender, and family dynamics are more prevalent than ever. This week, we sit down with Walt Heyer for a deeply personal and candid conversation that serves as a valuable tool for families navigating these complex topics.

Walt shares his firsthand journey through gender dysphoria and cross-dressing, shedding light on how early childhood trauma can profoundly impact identity development. Together, we explore the historical context of gender treatments, the critical role of therapeutic support, and the long-term consequences of hormonal interventions.

Walt emphasizes why active parental involvement is crucial and advocates for a deeper understanding of the root causes behind gender dysphoria. Rooted in a message of faith, healing, and redemption, this episode encourages families to foster open, honest conversations at home.

Listener Note: This episode contains mature themes and discussions surrounding trauma and medical interventions that may not be suitable for children. Parental discretion is advised.

Early Roots of Identity Struggles: Walt’s experience with cross-dressing began at a young age, highlighting how early these complex issues can manifest in a child’s life.

Psychological Impact: Cross-dressing and related behaviors can lead to significant and lasting psychological harm.

Historical Context: There is an established historical precedent for gender dysphoria treatments that helps frame modern approaches.

Risks of Medical Intervention: Hormonal treatments can carry severe, long-term physical and psychological consequences.

The Vital Role of Parents: Active, intentional parental involvement is absolutely crucial when addressing a child’s internal struggles.

Vetting Professional Help: Parents must carefully vet therapists and counselors to ensure they are truly helping uncover the truth rather than just affirming a symptom.

Addressing the Source: It is essential to understand and address the underlying root causes—such as childhood trauma—rather than just treating the surface-level identity issues.

The Power of Faith: Faith and spiritual redemption can play a deeply transformative role in an individual’s recovery and healing journey.

A Legacy of Support: Through his website and personal counseling, Walt has successfully helped thousands of individuals and families navigate these struggles.

A Call to the Church: The church has a distinct responsibility to actively support, equip, and walk alongside families facing these modern challenges.

Walt Heyer’s male identity was fractured at an early age when his grandmother cross-dressed him in secret and affirmed how cute he looked as a girl. That led to other abuse, physical and sexual. In adulthood, Walt internally identified as a girl, continued to cross-dress, and drank to excess. Even so, Walt married, had children, and successfully climbed the corporate ladder until his ongoing distress caused him to seek a gender therapist who told him cross-sex hormones and “gender reassignment surgery” were the answer.

What makes children great artists? They’re born to create! From mud kitchens to blanket forts, paper airplanes, and more, kids love being creative! Art empowers your child to dream, to wonder, to pick up the paintbrush of their imagination. They want to discover, explore, and bring ideas to life on the palette or page. Creating a Masterpiece offers award-winning online step-by-step fine art lessons trusted by parents and recommended by Celebrate Kids, Simply Charlotte Mason, Teach Them Diligently, Ginger Hubbard, and many more.

Aside from parents, grandparents hold some of the highest potential for influence in a child’s life. But in today’s rapidly changing culture, navigating family dynamics, physical distance, and the delicate line between supporting and overstepping can feel like a minefield.

In this episode, Leslie Nunnery sits down with Lori Wildenberg to explore the beautifully vital role of intentional Christian grandparenting. Together, they unpack the unique challenges modern grandparents face, the immense power of organic faith conversations, and the essential roles that humility and respect play when partnering with your adult children.

Whether you are a grandparent looking to leave a lasting spiritual legacy, or a parent wanting to foster a healthier relationship between your children and their grandparents, this conversation offers deeply practical wisdom and biblical encouragement for the whole family.

Messy Journey: How Grace and Truth Offer the Prodigal a Way Home

Lori Wildenberg, licensed parent and family educator, author, and national speaker, is passionate about helping families build connections that last a lifetime and beyond. Lori is the author or co-author of seven books including the newly released Grandparents Make Grand Partners: How to Have an Eternal Impact on Your Grandchild’s Life and the award-winning Messy Hope: Help Your Child Overcome Anxiety Depression, or Suicidal Ideation. Lori is married to her college sweetheart, Tom. They have four adult children, 3 in-laws, and 5 grands. A perfect day in Lori’s world is a hike with Tom, any combination of family members, and Toby the family goldendoodle. The Wildenberg home is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. loriwildenberg.com

Looking for a Christ-centered education for your family? Liberty University offers K-12 through college options, building a solid biblical foundation at any stage.

How does parental divorce impact adult relationships later in life? In this eye-opening interview, Kent Darcie shares his personal journey from experiencing parental divorce to becoming a dedicated advocate and resource for adults and couples affected by it.

Whether you are dating, preparing for marriage, or looking to strengthen your current relationship, this episode offers practical guidance on healing, specialized premarital preparation, and building a healthy marriage rooted in faith.

The Hidden Impact: How parental divorce silently affects trust, communication, and vulnerability in adult relationships.

Tailored Premarital Counseling: Why standard premarital prep often overlooks the unique hurdles faced by adults with divorced parents.

Emotional Reprogramming: Practical steps for identifying, healing, and changing negative beliefs and emotional wounds left behind by divorce.

Building a Strong Foundation: How to use biblical principles and intentional conversations to establish a thriving, healthy marriage.

Equipping Families & Churches: Available resources and support networks designed for children and adults of divorce.

Kent Darcie, founder of Adult Children of Divorce Ministries, is committed to breaking the cycle of divorce among adults with divorced parents. Kent received his Masters in Counseling Psychology from Moody Theological Seminary and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.

The need of the hour is not simply more educated people—but grounded leaders. We need men and women with the courage to stand for truth in a culture that’s drifting. At Bob Jones University, we live that out through the BJU Promise—to prepare each student to pursue a higher calling. We anchor students in truth through a biblical worldview across every discipline. We mentor them in wisdom through faculty who invest personally in their growth. And we strengthen their faith through intentional discipleship, meaningful community, and daily opportunities to walk with Christ. It’s why homeschool families love BJU—over 30% of our students come from homeschool backgrounds and they would love to meet you and share what God is doing at Bob Jones University. Schedule your visit at BJU.EDU.

The landscape of faith-based learning has shifted dramatically in recent years. What was once a choice between traditional private schools and homeschooling has expanded into a vibrant ecosystem of micro schools, co-ops, and hybrid models.

In this episode, we sit down with Jonathan Edmondson from the Herzog Foundation to explore the post-COVID boom in Christian education. Jonathan shares how the “modern one-room schoolhouse” is making a comeback and why parents are more empowered than ever to shape their children’s learning environments. Whether you are a parent looking for better options or an educator with a dream to start something new, this conversation provides the roadmap and the resources to make it happen.

The Post-COVID Shift: Why Christian education is experiencing unprecedented growth and how the “new normal” favors parental involvement.

The Rise of Micro Schools: Understanding how these intimate, flexible learning environments offer a “modern one-room schoolhouse” experience.

Empowering Parents & Educators: How the Herzog Foundation is removing the barriers to entry for starting new faith-based programs.

Practical Steps to Start: Insights into the Herzog Foundation’s free eight-step online training process for school startups.

A Shared Mission: Why the future of Christian education depends on community-driven, innovative solutions.

Jonathan Edmondson is the administrator of the SchoolBox and HF Homeschool programs at the Herzog Foundation, which have supported over 500 Christian school and homeschool launches in the past three years. A product of Christian education himself, Jonathan is a believer and advocate of a child’s education including Christian morality and discipleship, in addition to rigorous academic standards.

Hey homeschool families! I want to tell you about HF Homeschool. It’s a free, online guide to help you start a Christian homeschool group or co-op. You can go at your own pace, and if you finish the coursework, HF will even fund a mentor—a free coach to help your homeschool thrive. They’re also sponsoring the Teach Them Diligently conference, packed with workshops, resources, and fellowship with other Christian homeschool families. It’s a great way to connect, learn, and be encouraged in your homeschool journey. Check it out and sign up today at hfhomeschool.com!

In a rapidly changing educational landscape, parents and students alike find themselves wrestling with the question: Is traditional college worth it? With rising costs and shifting job markets, many are seeking alternatives that provide real-world experience and spiritual growth. In this blog post, we’ll explore insights from Andrew Haak, director of the Excel Summer Leadership Camp and faculty member at Excel College, about how their innovative approach to higher education addresses these pressing concerns.

Student Debt is a Major Concern: The rising cost of education and student debt is a pressing issue that families must consider.

Faith Development is Challenging: Traditional college environments often lack the personal mentorship necessary for spiritual growth.

Excel College Offers a Unique Solution: With a focus on practical experience and community living, Excel College prepares students for real-world challenges while nurturing their faith.

Mentorship is Key: Personalized guidance helps students navigate their educational and personal growth effectively.

Excel College

Teach Them Diligently Convention: Meet with like-minded families and hear more from world-class speakers. Click HERE to register today!

Andrew Haak is the Director of the Excel Summer Leadership Camp and a member of the College Classroom Faculty at Excel College in Black Mountain, NC. Excel is forging an alternative to higher education that produces wise, mature, and productive adults who follow Jesus into flourishing lives. Andrew has served at Excel since 2021, and during that time has founded and directed the Summer Leadership Camp and co-created the Critical Thinking method and curriculum used across both the camp and college programs. He lives on campus with his wife Gabriella and remains deeply invested in the formation, culture, and mission of Excel to make disciples of Jesus and steward healthy families.

Looking for a summer experience for your student that will take them on the adventure of a lifetime while building their character in Christ? At Excel Summer Leadership Camp, students spend 12 days in the Blue Ridge Mountains growing in their faith, developing leadership skills, and gaining real-world readiness. From rock climbing and whitewater rafting to deep discussions on faith, truth, and leadership—every moment is designed to build confidence, clarity, and conviction. This isn’t just a camp—it’s a launching point. Students leave more prepared to discover God’s truth, discern wisely, and live wholeheartedly. Want to learn more about our camps? Come see Excel at the Teach Them Diligently conferences in Branson, Missouri and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, or visit theexcelcamp.org.

In an era of rising costs and impersonal systems, many families are looking for a healthcare alternative that aligns with their biblical values. This week, we sit down with Wes Humble from Liberty Health Share to explore the world of Christian health sharing.

Unlike traditional insurance, health sharing is a community of believers who share one another’s medical burdens. We dive into how this model functions, the spiritual benefits of “bearing one another’s burdens,” and the practicalities of navigating healthcare as a member.

The Biblical Foundation: How health sharing differs from traditional insurance profit motives.

Community Values: Why shared beliefs create a more supportive and trustworthy environment.

Eligible Expenses: Understanding how your healthcare dollars are used in accordance with your convictions.

The Prayer Box: How members support each other emotionally and spiritually, not just financially.

Practical Navigation: A look at direct billing and how the system has evolved to reduce stress for families.

Liberty Health Share

Free Resource: 7 Essential Attributes for Homeschool Success

Teach Them Diligently Convention: Meet with like-minded families and hear more from world-class speakers. Click HERE to register today!

Wes Humble has served at Liberty HealthShare since 2018. He has led as executive director of Ministry, Community Relations, and Events. He also conducts a monthly chapel for the staff at Liberty as well as caring for their pastoral needs.

Liberty HealthShare is a non-profit, charitable organization and a Christian medical cost-sharing ministry.

The world isn’t waiting for our children to grow up before it starts trying to shape their hearts. Ideologies and cultural shifts are “invading” the family space every single day. The question is: Are we as parents ready to be the primary line of defense and discipleship?

This week on the podcast, David and Leslie Nunnery are honored to sit down with Dr. Albert Mohler, President of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. They move past the surface-level talk and dive deep into the sacred stewardship of parenting in a rapidly changing world. If you’ve felt the weight of raising kids for Christ in today’s culture, this episode was recorded just for you.

Dr. Albert Mohler’s Official Resources: Access his daily podcast, The Briefing, and his latest books on culture and Christian worldview at AlbertMohler.com.

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary: Learn more about the leadership and educational programs led by Dr. Mohler at SBTS.edu.

Teach Them Diligently Convention: Meet with like-minded families and hear more from world-class speakers. Click HERE to register today!

Dr. Albert Mohler is the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a well-respected authority on cultural issues facing Christians today. His extensive experience in training leaders and engaging with Christian families provides him with a unique perspective on the urgent responsibility of parents in discipleship.

When it comes to college, what comes first matters. At Boyce College, truth comes first. Every student, in every major, completes 30 hours of Bible and theology because we believe Scripture is worth more than an elective. Professors teach with conviction and help students order their lives around God’s Word. That foundation prepares them for maximum faithfulness in every calling, whether in the workplace, the church, or the home. If you want a college where the Bible shapes the whole education, I encourage you to visit Boyce College. Schedule a campus visit at boycecollege.com and see it for yourself.

Is your parenting driven by a list of rules, or a life of discipleship? In this insightful episode of the Teach Them Diligently podcast, Leslie Nunnery sits down with Israel Wayne to pull back the curtain on what it truly means to raise children with a biblical worldview in a confusing culture.

They move past the surface-level “how-to” and dive into the heart of the home: the parent’s own walk with Christ. From guarding your family against false teachings to the power of modeling authentic faith (even in our failures), this conversation is a masterclass in Christ-centered parenting.

Why you must be a disciple first to effectively disciple your children.

Practical strategies for teaching deep biblical doctrine at home.

How to use everyday conversations to build a firm foundation of faith.

Discover more resources from Israel Wayne and Family Renewal HERE

Secure your ticket to Teach Them Diligently in Pigeon Forge, TN and Branson, MO

Israel Wayne is an author and conference speaker and Director of Family Renewal. He and his wife, Brook, live in SW Michigan and are homeschooling parents of 11 children. www.FamilyRenewal.org

What makes children great artists? They’re born to create!

We often think of books as part of education—but what if they’re actually one of our most powerful tools for discipleship? In this episode, Leslie Nunnery sits down with Korrie Johnson of Good Book Mom to explore how the books our children read are shaping far more than academic skills—they’re forming worldview, discernment, and faith.

Korrie Johnson is a follower of Jesus, a wife, mom, and the owner of Good Book Mom- a website that reviews children’s books from a Christian perspective. Good Book Mom offers a membership filled with curated book lists, as well as a Biblical alternative to Scholastic book order and fairs for Christian schools, co-ops, and other groups.

Hey homeschool families! I want to tell you about HF Homeschool. It’s a free, online guide to help you start a Christian homeschool group or co-op. You can go at your own pace, and if you finish the coursework, HF will even fund a mentor—a free coach to help your homeschool thrive. They’re also sponsoring the Teach Them Diligently conference, packed with workshops, resources, and fellowship with other Christian homeschool families. It’s a great way to connect, learn, and be encouraged in your homeschool journey. Check it out and sign up today at hfhomeschool.com!

How do you help kids develop clarity and confidence about who they are when culture constantly pushes confusion? In this episode, Leslie Nunnery is joined by Dr. Kathy Koch (Celebrate Kids) and Dr. Jeff Myers (Summit Ministries), co-authors of Raising Gender-Confident Kids: Helping Kids Embrace Their God-Given Design , to talk about one of the most urgent discipleship challenges facing families today: raising gender-confident kids in a culture that’s increasingly confused about identity and God’s design.

Dr. Kathy is not only “Pro-Life,” she is “Pro-Abundant Life.” With a passion for being an influence and for helping build strong and healthy families, Dr. Kathy writes (6 books and counting) and speaks (a lot and often) on a wide range of topics that are both timeless and current. Her humorous and easy-to-learn-from speaking style, foundational wisdom, and practical and relevant details leave her audiences empowered with strategies to navigate the challenges of raising and teaching children. She warmly speaks to young people and their adults with compassion and understanding, never shying away from tough topics in our current culture. Her messages are always beautifully woven with Biblical truth and hope.

Dr. Jeff Myers is the president of Summit Ministries. As an educator and entrepreneur, Dr. Myers has become one of America’s most respected authorities on youth leadership development. Through his speaking engagements and media appearances, Dr. Myers has become a fresh voice offering humor and insight from a Christian worldview.

Liberty HealthShare is a non-profit, charitable organization and a Christian medical cost-sharing ministry.