Technology promises to make life better, boost productivity, connect us, and help us learn. But what does it do to childhood?  Where is the evidence that a screen-based childhood is best for kids? 

We all know that sitting still, staring at screens, watching who-knows-what is not good for healthy child development. And it's time for parents to rebel against this tsunami of technology. 

Arlene shares the story behind her new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families published with Summit Ministries (release date September 29). The most unusual thing about the book? For a limited time, it's free!  Just request your copy at techresetbook.com

Arlene will walk you through statistics on rising teen depression, anxiety, and declining literacy tied to screen use, then explain how her family avoided phones, social media, and video games through most of her kids' childhood. She addresses three common parenting fears — that kids need social media to make friends, that limiting tech will make kids hate their parents, and that it's too late to change course — and offers practical steps towards healthier tech use. Plus, she addresses the spiritual ramifications of too much tech.  What if our kids feared God more than they feared losing followers?

 

00:01 – A heart-to-heart about phones and tablets in the home

00:59 – Announcing The Great Tech Reset, a free print book, order at techresetbook.com

02:02 – The statistics: rising teen depression, anxiety, and declining literacy tied to screens

03:53 – How the book came about: stepping back from the Parents Rising Conference to write with Summit Ministries

08:49 – Lie #1: Kids need social media to make friends

12:41 – Lie #2: Limiting tech will make your kids hate you

18:59 – Lie #3: It's too late to change course

24:42 – A pop quiz for listeners: do you reach for your phone to relax?

27:15 – Closing scripture from Luke 12 and prayer for families

 

Order Arlene Pellicane's new book, The Great Tech Reset, now! TechResetBook.com

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

The pressure to be endlessly happy is leaving the next generation more anxious and isolated than ever.  In his new book, The Happiness Crisis: How Adversity Can Build a Resilient and Joyful Next Generation, Dr. Jonathan Eckert calls for a culture shift that we can begin at home.

How do we embrace adversity and see the value of challenges, instead of becoming parents who make everything too easy?  Dr. Eckert explains the biblical connection between joy and struggle, and why removing adversity — "snowplow parenting" — prevents kids from developing resilience.

Arlene and Jon work through real-life scenarios, including a child facing bullying and a teen caught using AI to cheat on a school assignment. The conversation closes with practical steps for helping kids rediscover purpose and joy through community and faith.

Dr. Jonathan Eckert is a former middle school teacher and basketball coach who worked in the Bush and Obama Department of Education. He has a PhD from Vanderbilt, and currently serves as the Executive Director of the Baylor Center for School Leadership. 

 

02:35  Why the pursuit of happiness backfires

03:29  How phones and comparison fuel kids' unhappiness

04:57  Snowplow parents vs. building "muscles around the backbone"

09:15  Roleplay: what to say when a kid is bullied at school

14:40  Roleplay: when a teen gets caught using AI to cheat

21:18  My teacher story: destructive vs. productive struggle

28:17  The "man in the arena" quote and the ABCs of joy

 

Connect with Dr. Jonathan Eckert at jonathaneckert.org or on Linkedin.

Grab a copy of Dr. Eckert's book The Happiness Crisis. 

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do your parents offer too much parenting advice? Too little?

Lori Wildenberg, author of Grandparents Make Grand Partners, joins Arlene to talk about grandparent and adult-child relationships. They cover how to invite an under-involved grandparent to do more, and how to address a grandparent who offers too much unsolicited advice. Lori shares how she and her husband stay close to their adult daughter despite differing views, and how families can keep connected across distance. You'll also get to hear ideas for handling screen-time disagreements and passing down family faith stories.

02:58 — Why today's grandparents differ from earlier generations

05:10 — How to reach an uninvolved grandparent

10:30 — Story: asking a grandparent to "tone it down"

13:08 — Why unsolicited advice feels like criticism

16:08 — Loving an adult child through disagreement

24:03 — Staying connected with grandkids who live far away

26:49 — Navigating different screen-time philosophies

31:53 — The power of grandparents and passing down faith stories

Connect with Lori Wildenberg on her website 

Grab Lori Wildenberg's book, Grandparents Make Grand Partners

Follow Lori on Instagram 

Follow Lori on Facebook 

 

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sleep can sometimes feel unproductive, but believe it or not, sleep is valuable in more ways than we realize!  Sure there are many physical benefits, but there are also important spiritual benefits. 

Brett McCracken, author of The Wisdom of Sleep: How Rest Reveals God's Truth and Revives Weary Souls, joins Arlene to explore why God designed humans to need sleep at all. They discuss sleep as a gift of grace that can't be earned, the vulnerability of nighttime and what it teaches about dependence on God, and practical tips for helping both adults and children sleep better. The conversation also turns to how screens have replaced older nighttime dangers, and how sleep itself pushes back against an AI-driven culture that prizes constant productivity. Brett shares personal reflections as a father of four on choosing rest over an ever-growing to-do list.

 

03:53 — The central question: why did God design humans to need sleep?

05:52 — Sleep as an ungratefully-received gift of grace

06:38 — Nighttime vulnerability and learning to trust God's protection

10:03 — Practical sleep tips for adults and kids

15:27 — Phones and screens as the new "danger of the night"

18:23 — John Piper's quote on sleep as a corrective to pride

26:21 — AI, human limitation, and what sleep reveals about being human

 

Get a copy of Brett McCracken's book, The Wisdom of Sleep, on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. 

Connect with Brett at https://www.brettmccracken.com/

 

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you ever wonder, Will my kids turn out okay? Am I messing them up? 

Get ready to be encouraged and empowered by today's conversation with mom, nana, and bestselling author of 60+ books Pam Farrel. You're going to learn how to be a proactive, unworried, confident parent as we head into a new school year.

Pam explains the Learner-Leader framework she and her husband Bill developed to raise their three sons, including gift-giving traditions, age-specific contracts, and decision-making exercises. Pam shares two memorable stories from her own family: Brock's prayer on the 50-yard line after a huge football loss, and Zach's turnaround after he punched through a wall at age eight. The conversation covers how to start being proactive with a teenager, the role of prayer in parenting, and more. 

03:00 – Proactive vs. passive parenting: the key difference

04:34 – The Learner-Leader Day tradition

08:14 – Where "Learner, Leader, Lover of God" came from: Pam's prayer over newborn Brock

13:02 – One step for parents who haven't been proactive with a teen

16:51 – The movie night story: letting Zach make (and own) the call

28:00 – The 50-yard line: Brock's prayer after a 48-0 loss

31:16 – Zach's rock-bottom moment and the "treasure map" turnaround

 

Connect and find out more about Pam Farrel at love-wise.com

Find the parenting resources mentioned on the podcast here: https://www.love-wise.com/parenting/

Get Pam & Bill Farrel's book, The 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make here. 

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sometimes God's presence and glory seems separated from everyday life, but what if daily grace can be experienced in the mundane?  

In this episode, Arlene talks with beloved author and artist Ruth Chou Simons about her new book, This Moment Matters: 100 Ways to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life. Ruth shares how raising six boys reshaped her expectations of motherhood, and how she turns ordinary tasks — cooking, closets, evening routines — into moments of discipleship.

They discuss scripture memory that adapts to different seasons of life, stewarding a home without chasing perfection, and the practice of looking your children in the eye instead of calling out instructions across the room. The conversation offers practical ways to notice God's presence in daily, unremarkable moments.  

01:43 – Raising six boys and letting go of the story she expected

04:12 – Turning kitchen prep time into discipleship moments

 07:11 – Teaching multiple kids at once without needing to be perfect

09:58 – Scripture memory that fits your actual season, not a perfect system

12:32 – Stewarding your home as a haven, not a showcase

16:37 – Simplifying your closet and choosing a signature accessory

20:41 – Why looking your kids in the eye changes everything

Connect with Ruth Chou Simons on her website

Shop Ruth Chou Simons' art and more at GraceLaced 

Follow Ruth Chou Simons on Instagram 

Learn more about Ruth's new book, This Moment Matters: 100 Ways to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life 

 

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What heroes do your kids look up to? 

Boys and girls need better examples than secular YouTube celebrities and pop music stars. They need real heroes that will inspire courage, truth, charity, and perseverance. 

The popularity of the Odyssey shows us how we long for moral heroes. The ultimate place to find heroes is in the Bible.  How can we help Biblical heroes come alive for boys and girls? 

New York Times bestselling author Joshua Cooley joins Arlene to unpack his Heroes of the Bible devotionals. You'll hear why figures like Gideon prove that God works through weakness rather than natural strength, and get practical ideas for building a family Bible-reading rhythm, managing kids' phone use, and helping young athletes root their identity in Christ instead of their sport. Joshua serves at the editor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes magazine. If your kid has ever faced disappointment on a team, Josh also offers a Bible-based way to talk them through it. He also shares the story behind the football memoir he co-authored with Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles.

03:56 – Why boys need heroes right now

05:36 – Gideon: hiding in a ditch and becoming a "mighty man of valor"

07:27 – Inside the Heroes of the Bible devotional format

14:06 – Building a family Bible-reading rhythm that actually sticks

20:00 – What worries Josh about kids and phone use today

21:58 – Sports, identity, and glorifying God through athletics

27:27 – Helping a kid handle not making the team

 

Find out more about Joshua Cooley and his books on his website.

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Why does God allow us to suffer? 

Glenna Marshall spent six years chasing a diagnosis and sixteen years living with a painful autoimmune disease before writing Praying in Pain. In this conversation, she explores this question and walks us through what God has taught her through it all. Glenna talks through the four-part pattern of the biblical lament psalms — cry out, remember, resolve — and how they became her lifeline during sleepless nights of suffering. Glenna opens up about the pride that kept her silent from her church, the tension chronic illness can create in a marriage, and what she's learned about complaining honestly to God instead of everyone else. Listen in for a hard-won perspective on healing, hope, and raising children who've watched a parent suffer well.

 

02:04 – Glenna describes the onset of her mystery illness at age 29

09:30 – The four-part pattern of lament psalms: cry out, remember, resolve

13:37 – "You don't have to stop complaining — you just have to complain differently"

16:12 – The story of snapping at a friend who complained about a sore back

20:16 – Hiding her flare-up from her church during a leaf-raking outreach

22:36 – The three ways Glenna believes God heals

27:03 – Navigating marriage when one spouse is in chronic pain and the other isn't

31:59 – Glenna's closing word to anyone suffering in isolation

 

Check out Glenna Marshall's blog: https://www.glennamarshall.com/

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if the secret to raising a confident, faith-filled learner has been sitting in history books all along? 

Jennifer Pepito, host of Restoration Home and author of The Inspired Homeschool, joins Arlene to explore how homeschooled figures from history — including Leonardo da Vinci, C.S. Lewis, and Laura Ingalls Wilder — offer a roadmap for joyful, confident learning today. Jennifer shares the warning signs of a homeschool that's lost its spark, why she chose to homeschool her seven children, and practical tools like notebooking that help kids make learning their own. This conversation will help you raise curious kids who are able to think on their own. 

This episode isn't just for homeschoolers - it's for any parent who wants to help their children love learning. 

 

02:12 – Warning signs your homeschool needs "fresh fire"

04:18 – Jennifer's home motto: "Earth's crammed with heaven"

11:23 – Encouragement for moms who feel ill-equipped to homeschool

17:15 – Why notebooking is such a powerful learning tool

19:56 – What C.S. Lewis's homeschool/tutoring years can teach us

23:51 – Avoiding the "screen time trap" and the truth about reading timelines

27:41 – Practical advice on screen time: productive vs. consumptive use

31:06 – Laura Ingalls Wilder and the idea that "Ma embraced her work"

 

Learn more about Jennifer Pepito's book, The Inspired Homeschool.

Get access to other homeschooling resources at https://thepeacefulpress.com/

 

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It seems like technology is always bad, especially when it comes to impacting the hearts of kids. But is there a way to use technology to strengthen your family values? 

Jess Wolstenholm, VP of Education and Research at Minno, joins Arlene to talk about how parents can use media intentionally during the most formative years of a child's faith. They dig into the "4 to 14 window," why young children need predictable rhythms, and how to have real conversations with teens about what they're watching. Jess also walks through how to evaluate media choices for different ages and why small, consistent habits add up more than parents often realize.

1:32 — What Minno is and how it differs from YouTube Kids and Netflix

4:28 — Why preschoolers and older kids need to be taught differently

5:13 — The 4 to 14 window: how a child's worldview is formed

7:08 — Why predictable rhythms matter so much in early faith formation

9:45 — How to have faith conversations with teens without it feeling like a quiz

12:49 — Why parents should narrate their own screen use in front of their kids

16:53 — Start small: why 10 consistent minutes beats occasional big efforts

23:02 — What to look for (and avoid) when evaluating media for your kids

Minno is the #1 media source for Christian content for kids. Start your free trial and learn more at gominno.com

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Go to Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

 

 

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.