The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane

Bringing up spiritually strong kids in today's world can seem like a daunting challenge. 

Dr. Charles Fay, a psychologist and president of the Love and Logic Institute, joins Arlene to discuss his book Raising Spiritually Strong Kids. He explains Ephesians 2:8-10, the difference between grace and permissiveness, and how rescuing kids from every problem interrupts the trust cycle. He describes the Love and Logic approach of setting limits with few words and letting empathy and consequences teach, along with a five-step process for helping older kids with problems. He also covers parenting without shame, staying connected with kids, and what to do when spouses disagree about discipline.

1:15 – A toddler meltdown in a restaurant and a neighbor’s advice: “be loving and strong”

5:18 – Ephesians 2:8-10: saved by grace, saved to do good works

10:12 – A candy lesson: letting kids make affordable mistakes

18:18 – The “parenting prosperity gospel” and why doing everything right doesn’t guarantee results

20:00 – The trust cycle, why rescuing kids stunts it, and the five steps for helping with big problems

25:01 – Love and Logic in a nutshell: set limits with few words, let empathy and consequences teach

26:50 – How modern psychology has encouraged idolizing children

29:12 – Parenting without shame and building connection at home

32:25 – When spouses disagree on discipline

Learn more about Love and Logic, and Dr. Charles Fay's book, Raising Spiritually Strong Kids

Get Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families.  Free while supplies last from Summit Ministries 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.

Because kids experience and express grief differently than adults, we can feel unprepared to handle our kids' emotions. We hardly know how to grieve ourselves, so how can we help our kids through the death of a loved one or divorce? 

Arlene talks with counselor and New York Times Bestselling Author, Sissy Goff about her new book, Helping Kids Through Grief: A Parent's Guide for Making Sense of Death, Processing Loss, and Finding Hope. As a therapist with over 30 years of experience, Sissy has seen firsthand the impact of grief on kids and families, and she's here to offer guidance and hope.

Sissy discusses the importance of understanding the grieving process, how to validate a child's emotions, and the value of creating memories to honor loved ones who have passed away. We'll also explore the differences in how boys and girls grieve, and how to support kids through various types of loss, from the death of a loved one to the end of a sports season.

03:00 – Why Sissy wrote the book and the sixth stage of grief: meaning

06:10 – Anger and "all feelings are okay, but not all behaviors"

07:12 – What to say to a grieving child: "It won't always feel like this"

10:32 – Kids grieve in doses

11:57 – Answering "When is Papa coming back?"

13:18 – How boys and girls grieve differently

14:44 – Divorce and secondary losses

20:21 – Keeping memories alive with memory boxes

23:00 – When the parent is grieving too: accepting help from community

Get Sissy Goff's book, Helping Kids Through Grief, and learn more at RaisingBoysandGirls.com 

Push back against too much screen time and read Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families.  Free while supplies last from Summit Ministries 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.

For many kids (especially boys), life revolves around video games. "Wake me when it's the weekend" is the attitude of many kids who aren't interested in school, responsibility, or family bonding when there are video games to be played. 

Child and adolescent psychologist Dr. Richard Freed joins Arlene to explain why video games are so sticky. He breaks down persuasive design, the science tech companies use to keep kids on screens. You'll understand BJ Fogg's behavior formula and how games like Fortnite are built by psychologists and AI to exploit boys' instincts for hunting, fighting, and status.

Dr. Freed discusses why boys are falling behind academically and socially, and why family and school connection matter more than peer or online community.  You won't be left helpless against the gaming console. We'll share practical steps to delay the addicting power of smartphones, social media, and video games. Dr. Richard Freed is the author of several books including Better Than Real Life: How Silicon Valley's Secret Science of Persuasive Design is Stealing Childhood.  

02:15 – Why girls started self-harming at age 10-11 in the early 2000s

03:56 – Video games as "sophisticated psychological conditioning chambers"

06:12 – BJ Fogg's persuasive design formula: B = MAT (motivation, ability, triggers)

10:19 – Fortnite's lead designer and the "Skinner box" behind the game

13:25 – When limiting a teen's screen time becomes dangerous

20:11 – Debunking the myth that video games build real-world skills

30:06 – The three things kids need most: family, school, physical activity

36:04 – Where to find Dr. Freed and his book, Better Than Real Life

Connect with Dr. Richard Freed and grab a copy of Better than Real Life at RichardFreed.com  

Push back against persuasive design and read Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families.  Free while supplies last from Summit Ministries 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.

If exposed regularly to AI, how will kids tell the difference between the real world and what is artificial?A tech reset is needed - moving from a screen-based childhood to a play-based childhood. Going into nature instead of sitting on a couch. 

Author Eryn Lynum knows a lot about the benefits of being in God's creation. She's the host of the Nat Theo podcast, but even her family needed to reestablish limits. She read Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset, during a three-week road trip. Lynum describes the family meeting that followed, how her four kids responded, and how nature became the replacement for screen time rather than just a restriction.

We'll talk about AI, rest, and Eryn's experience with Addison's disease. Eryn has two new books to help your children embrace the wild outdoors and God's creation: a children's book Where Wonder Leads and the family devotional Made to Marvel.

02:36 – Why the Lynum family needed a tech reset

05:11 – How her four kids reacted to new tech limits

08:16 – Replacing tech with nature instead of just restricting it

10:29 – Nature vs. AI: teaching kids what's real

13:45 – How to start engaging with nature as a family (even in a condo)

20:21 – What "wonder" means in Where Wonder Leads

23:15 – Living with Addison's disease and why rest matters

29:40 – Made to Marvel: the new 52-week family devotional

Find out more about Eryn Lynum's ministry and her new books, Where Wonder Leads and the family devotional Made to Marvel, at https://nattheo.com/

Get Arlene's new book The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families for FREE while supplies last from Summit Ministries. 

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.

Arlene's children were not allowed to have social media, play video games, or have personal phones or tablets until their senior year of high school. What did the kids think about this???

Noelle (the middle child of three) is here to represent the kids! Was she left out of friend groups at school because she wasn't on social media? Did she struggle with anxiety as a result?

Noelle addresses common concerns parents raise, including whether kids need phones to stay connected with friends, whether delaying phone access affects academic performance, and whether it leaves children unprepared once they leave home. She describes how her parents explained their reasoning rather than simply withholding technology, and how that shaped the boundaries she set for herself once she did get a phone. Noelle also discusses her current use of AI as an engineering student at Oral Roberts University, and how her faith shapes how she spends her time.

Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families is available for FREE while supplies last. Request your copy at TechResetBook.com and begin your do-over with screen time. 

02:19 — Noelle introduces herself: senior year at Oral Roberts University, mechanical engineering

03:15 — What she actually did as a kid without video games, tablets, or cable

05:21 — Addressing the myth that kids need phones to stay connected with friends

09:05 — The "time pit" and what she avoided seeing online — comparison, body image, bad news

12:33 — Phone use in the classroom and its effect on attention span

16:04 — Why she didn't "go crazy" once she finally got a phone senior year

18:11 — Her deliberate process for delaying social media after getting a phone

22:47 — How going without a phone gave her more freedom, not less

29:19 — Balancing being a "tech optimist" and AI enthusiast with caution about addictive technology

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

Get Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families (free while supplies last!) 

Check out Noelle's art on Instagram 

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 other 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.

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.