The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

After more than two decades of speaking with parents, churches, and schools, Suzanne has noticed something significant: the questions parents are asking have changed because the language shaping our culture has changed. Words like toxic, trauma, triggered, inclusive, emotional regulation, and deconstruction now show up regularly in conversations about family, relationships, identity, and faith. But language does more than describe culture — it can reshape the way we understand ourselves, one another, and ultimately what we believe to be true. In this solo episode, Suzanne steps back for an aerial view of what she is hearing from parents across the country. From changing language and the search for trusted voices to AI, pornography, online access, anxiety, and shifting definitions of truth, she points to the deeper issue beneath it all: worldview. The question for parents is not simply, "What trends should I be worried about?" It is: Who is shaping the way my family thinks — and does it line up with the Word of God?

→ Why changing language can change meaning, relationships, and culture → How to examine popular ideas through a biblical worldview rather than simply adopting cultural language → Who parents can trust for wisdom, guidance, and resources → How technology, AI, pornography, and online access are shaping the next generation → Five cultural trends challenging biblical identity, truth, authority, and hope → Why intentional parenting begins with understanding the worldview discipling your family

Suzanne Phillips is the founder and CEO of Beacon Parent, host of The InFormed Parent Podcast, speaker, coach, writer, and advocate for families and education. For more than 20 years, Suzanne has worked with parents, churches, schools, and communities to help families navigate culture through a biblical worldview. Her work centers on intentional parenting, spiritual formation, family vision, and equipping parents to lead with greater clarity, wisdom, and confidence.

Want practical tools and trusted resources to help you lead your family with biblical clarity?

→ Beacon Parent: www.beaconparent.com → Suzanne's trusted books: Beacon Parent Vetted List https://www.amazon.com/shop/beacon_parent → Get practical tools and biblical insight in your inbox: Subscribe https://beaconparent.myflodesk.com/subscribe → Hear More on Instagram: @beacon_parent https://www.instagram.com/beacon_parent/ → Work with Suzanne Phillips: SuzannePhillips.net

🎧 If this episode helped you think more intentionally about what is shaping your family, follow The InFormed Parent, leave a review, and share it with another parent who wants to parent with purpose instead of simply reacting to culture.

Episode Summary Most parents want to believe the adults and institutions surrounding their children are safe. But what happens when warning signs are missed, reports are mishandled, or an unsafe educator is allowed to move from one school to another? In this episode, Suzanne sits down with nationally recognized sexual abuse attorney John C. Manly for a difficult but necessary conversation about protecting children in school environments. John draws from decades of representing survivors of sexual abuse to explain how institutional failures can happen, what "pass the trash" means, how mandated reporting works, and why background checks and internal policies do not always provide the protection parents assume they do. This conversation is not about parenting from fear. It is about understanding the systems surrounding our children, recognizing potential warning signs, asking better questions, and knowing where greater accountability is needed. In This Episode → What "pass the trash" means and how unsafe educators can move between institutions → How mandated reporting works — and where breakdowns can occur → What parents should know about school notification, background checks, and accountability → Why abuse and grooming may not always look the way parents expect → How widespread institutional failures can develop when warning signs are missed or ignored → Practical ways parents and citizens can advocate for stronger safeguards and greater transparency Meet John John C. Manly is the founder and managing partner of Manly, Stewart, Finaldi & Thom and has spent more than 25 years representing survivors of sexual abuse and assault. He served as lead counsel for survivors abused by former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University physician Larry Nassar and has represented survivors in major cases involving schools, universities, religious institutions, sports organizations, and medical providers. His firm reports recovering more than $3 billion on behalf of clients. John is a graduate of the University of Southern California and Pepperdine University School of Law and previously served as an intelligence officer in the United States Navy Reserve. (Manly Stewart) Connect with John + Manly, Stewart, Finaldi & Thom 📲 Instagram → @msflawfirm ▶️ YouTube → @manlystewartfinaldilawfirm 📘 Facebook → @ManlyStewart 🌐 Website → www.manlystewart.com Keep Growing with Beacon Parent Want more trusted tools to help you stay informed, protect your children, and parent with biblical clarity? → Beacon Parent: www.beaconparent.com → Suzanne's trusted books: Beacon Parent Vetted List https://www.amazon.com/shop/beacon_parent → Get practical tools and biblical insight in your inbox: Subscribe https://beaconparent.myflodesk.com/subscribe → Hear More on Instagram: @beacon_parent https://www.instagram.com/beacon_parent/ → Work with Suzanne Phillips: SuzannePhillips.net 🎧 If this episode helped you better understand the systems surrounding your children, follow The InFormed Parent, leave a review, and share this conversation with another parent who needs to hear it.

Pornography is a conversation most parents would rather not have — but avoiding it does not protect our children.

In this episode, Suzanne sits down with author and speaker Greta Eskridge to talk honestly about why parents need to begin conversations around sex and pornography earlier than many of us expect.

Greta shares the personal journey that led her to this work, what she learned as she began understanding the impact of pornography, and why connection is one of the most important tools parents have. Together, Suzanne and Greta unpack how to start the conversation, what to do when a child has already been exposed, and how parents can respond without panic, shame, or fear.

This is not about having one perfect "talk." It's about becoming a safe, informed parent who is willing to keep the conversation going.

→ Why parents need to talk about pornography before exposure happens → When and how to begin age-appropriate conversations about sex and porn → Some of the most surprising realities parents need to understand → How to respond if your child tells you they've seen pornography — or you discover it yourself → Practical ways to protect children while preserving connection and trust → Encouragement for parents who feel overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or unsure where to begin

Greta Eskridge is an author, speaker, wife, and second-generation homeschooling mom of four.

She is passionate about helping families create connection, preserve childhood, pursue joy, and protect children from pornography. Greta travels the country equipping parents with practical tools for connected, courageous parenting and helping families engage difficult conversations with greater confidence and hope.

She is also the author of Adventuring Together and It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn.

📲 Instagram → @greta.eskridge 🌐 Website → www.gretaeskridge.com 📚 It's Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn 📚 Adventuring Together

Want more trusted resources to help you navigate difficult cultural conversations with biblical clarity and confidence?

→ Beacon Parent: www.beaconparent.com → Suzanne's trusted books: Beacon Parent Vetted List → Get practical tools and biblical insight in your inbox: Subscribe → Hear More on Instagram: @beacon_parent → Work with Suzanne Phillips: SuzannePhillips.net

🎧 If this episode helped you feel more prepared for an important conversation, follow The InFormed Parent, leave a review, and share it with another parent who needs these tools too.

What happens when our desire to protect our kids starts getting in the way of preparing them?

In this episode, Suzanne sits down with bestselling authors and counselors Sissy Goff and David Thomas to talk about what it really takes to raise capable kids — children who can face discomfort, navigate hard emotions, solve problems, take healthy risks, and grow through adversity.

Drawing from more than 30 years of counseling kids and families, Sissy and David unpack some of the cultural and parenting patterns that may unintentionally be weakening resilience. They talk about empathy without emotionalism, the language we use around trauma and triggers, the limits of constantly rescuing our kids, and why capability is built through experience — not simply explained.

And if you're realizing you may have over-helped, over-protected, or created patterns you want to change, this conversation offers plenty of hope. Parents can shift the environment at home and begin giving kids the opportunity to discover just how capable they really are.

→ Why resilience and capability matter more than constant comfort → How rescuing, overprotecting, and some parenting trends can unintentionally hold kids back → The difference between healthy empathy and allowing emotions to lead everything → How words like trauma, trigger, and toxic can shape the way kids understand difficulty → Practical ways to help kids build confidence, coping skills, and independence → How parents can change course — even after years of doing things differently

Sissy Goff, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP, and David Thomas, LMSW, are New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and USA Today bestselling authors and the Executive Directors of Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville.

For more than 30 years, they've helped children, teens, and families navigate the challenges of growing up. Together, they've written 25 bestselling books and co-host the Raising Boys and Girls podcast, which has been downloaded more than 15 million times.

Their newest book, Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience, equips parents with practical ways to help children discover their strength, courage, and capability.

📲 Instagram → @sissygoff 📲 Instagram → @raisingboysandgirls 🌐 Learn more about Capable → www.raisingboysandgirls.com/capablebook 📚 Capable: How to Teach Your Kids the Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience → Buy Here

Want more trusted tools to help you raise confident, resilient kids with biblical wisdom and practical support?

→ Beacon Parent: www.beaconparent.com → Suzanne's trusted books + parenting resources: Beacon Parent Vetted List → Get Beacon Parent in your inbox: Subscribe → Hear More on Instagram: @beacon_parent → Work with Suzanne Phillips: SuzannePhillips.net

🎧 If this episode encouraged you, follow The InFormed Parent, leave a review, and share it with another parent who needs the reminder: capable kids are built through opportunities to grow, not lives without difficulty.

What parents need to know about social media, online safety, new protections, and the digital spaces shaping our kids.

Social media is changing quickly—but are the safeguards designed to protect kids actually working? In this episode, Suzanne sits down with Nicki Petrossi, founder of Scrolling 2 Death, to help parents better understand what is happening behind the screen. After 15 years in social media marketing, Nicki began asking harder questions about the platforms our kids are spending so much time on. Today, she travels the country helping parents understand the risks, research, and realities surrounding kids and social media. Suzanne and Nicki unpack current lawsuits against social media companies, new safety measures being introduced by platforms, technology in schools, and what parents can do to stay informed and engaged.

→ What current lawsuits are revealing about social media + kids → Whether new laws and protections will actually help → The truth about parental controls and in-app safeguards → What parents should know about apps and technology used at school → How to take a more informed, proactive role in your child's digital life

Nicki Petrossi is the founder of Scrolling 2 Death, an organization helping families navigate social media and online safety. After 15 years running a social media marketing business, Nicki began researching the impact these platforms were having on children. Today, she speaks across the country about social media, technology, and protecting kids online.

📲 Instagram → @scrolling2death 🌐 Website → scrolling2death.com

Want more trusted resources to help you parent with clarity and confidence?

→ Beacon Parent: www.beaconparent.com → Suzanne's trusted books + parenting resources: Beacon Parent Vetted List → Get Practical Tools in Your Inbox: Subscribe → Hear More on Instagram: @beacon_parent → Work with Suzanne Phillips: SuzannePhillips.net

🎧 If this episode helped you, follow The InFormed Parent, leave a review, and share it with another parent.

Welcome to Season 7 of The InFormed Parent. In this opening episode, host and Beacon Parent founder Suzanne Phillips shares what God has been showing her as she continues helping parents navigate an increasingly complex culture. From education and comprehensive sex education to pornography, online dangers, and child trafficking, Suzanne reflects on how her assignment has expanded into conversations she never expected to lead. The common thread? Parents cannot protect and prepare their children for what they do not understand. But this isn't a call to fear or perfect parenting. It's an invitation to become more aware, intentional, and prayerful — trusting that when God reveals a threat, He also provides wisdom and opportunity. Suzanne also introduces a simple S.W.O.T. framework families can use to consider their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as they lead their homes with greater clarity and purpose. In This Episode

→ Why Suzanne believes informing parents is an essential part of helping families thrive

→ How her work moved from education into conversations around sex education, pornography, online safety, and trafficking

→ Why awareness of cultural threats is different from parenting out of fear

→ The role of parents as protectors, providers, and prayer warriors

→ How to use a simple S.W.O.T. framework to evaluate your family

→ What to expect from Season 7: warning and direction, problems and solutions, danger and hope

Meet Suzanne

Suzanne Phillips is the founder and CEO of Beacon Parent, host of The InFormed Parent Podcast, speaker, coach, writer, and advocate for families and education. With more than 20 years of leadership across education, ministry, and parent coaching, Suzanne equips families to navigate culture through a biblical worldview and live out God's intentional design for the family. Her work centers on spiritual formation, family vision, intentional parenting, and helping parents lead with greater clarity and conviction. (SuzanneP) Connect with Suzanne + Beacon Parent Beacon Parent exists to help families move from cultural chaos toward biblical clarity — equipping parents to lead on purpose, disciple with wisdom, and raise children grounded in truth. (Beacon Parent) → Beacon Parent Resources: www.beaconparent.com → Suzanne's trusted books: Beacon Parent Vetted List → Get practical tools + biblical insight sent to your inbox: Subscribe → Hear More on Instagram: @beacon_parent → Work with Suzanne Phillips: SuzannePhillips.net 🎧 Season 7 is about staying curious, thinking well, recognizing what is shaping our children, and choosing to do good with what we learn. Follow The InFormed Parent, leave a review, and share this episode with another parent who wants to lead with wisdom instead of fear.

Episode Summary As we wrap up this season, Suzanne Phillips brings it all home with a powerful, reflective episode centered on one foundational truth: Family is not accidental — it is designed. Throughout this season, you've heard conversations around culture, education, identity, technology, and parenting challenges. But this episode asks a deeper question: What will you actually do with what you've learned? Because information alone doesn't change a family. Inspiration alone doesn't transform a life. Application does. This episode tackles three major barriers parents face:

• "I don't have time"
• "I don't have what it takes"
• "I'm not sure there's a clear design for family"

…and replaces them with truth, clarity, and confidence. With practical insight, biblical grounding, and a deeply moving closing reflection, Suzanne reminds parents: You already have the greatest influence in your child's life. The question is whether you will use it intentionally. Episode Highlights ✔️ Why information and inspiration are not enough without application

✔️ The shift from knowledge to transformation through revelation

✔️ The three biggest barriers parents face (time, confidence, and belief)

✔️ Why the home is the primary place of discipleship

✔️ The difference between managing a home and leading people

✔️ Everyday moments as the true curriculum for your children

✔️ The concept of intentional parenting vs. drifting parenting

✔️ God's divine design for family: purpose, calling, and assignment

✔️ The role of parents as primary disciple-makers

✔️ The importance of aligning rhythms, values, and daily life

✔️ A practical framework:

• Look Up (God's vision)
• Look In (heart & values)
• Look Out (calling & awareness)

✔️ The reality that legacy is being built — whether intentional or not

Featured Reflection: Time & Influence Parents spend 90,000–100,000 hours with their children from birth to age 18. That is:

• 6x more than school
• 40x more than church

You don't need more time. You need more intentionality with the time you already have. Core Truth for the Family Family has a divine design.

• Purpose: Be fruitful and multiply
• Calling: Grow deeper in relationship with God
• Assignment: Make disciples — starting with your children

Identity Truth for the Family You are not just raising children — you are raising future adults, leaders, and parents. And whether you realize it or not: You are shaping them every single day. Closing Encouragement You don't need to: replace the church outperform the school or become a perfect parent You simply need to: Activate the influence God has already given you. Your home is the most powerful discipleship environment on earth. The question is not: "Am I doing enough?" The question is: "Am I leading with intention?" A Parents' Call-to-Action 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent

• Instagram → @suzannephillips_
• Instagram → @beacon_parent
• Website → www.beaconparent.com

✨ Join Parent Club Ongoing discipleship, clarity, and support as you lead your family with purpose: 👉 www.beaconparent.com/parentclub

Final Thoughts The light doesn't come from doing more. It comes from becoming who God has called you to be. Let's become Beacons — and raise a generation that shines.

Episode Summary What if education wasn't just about academics — but about preparing children to think clearly, live responsibly, and understand the world around them? In this thought-provoking episode, Suzanne sits down with Connor Boyack, bestselling author of the Tuttle Twins series and founder of Libertas Network, to explore how education, freedom, and worldview intersect in raising the next generation. Connor has reached millions of families through books, media, and policy work designed to help children understand the principles of a free society. But at the heart of his work is a deeper question: Who is shaping how our children think? From homeschooling to public policy, from economics to personal responsibility, this conversation challenges parents to engage intentionally — not just academically, but philosophically — in their children's formation. This episode is not about politics for the sake of debate—it's about equipping parents to raise thoughtful, capable, and grounded young people in an increasingly complex world.

Episode Highlights ✔️ The heart behind the Tuttle Twins series and who it's for ✔️ Why teaching children about freedom and responsibility matters ✔️ Connor's decision to homeschool and his perspective on modern education ✔️ How parents should think about politics and its influence on education ✔️ The intersection of education, culture, and worldview formation ✔️ Connor's work in policy and why it matters for families ✔️ Key concerns and threats facing family freedom today ✔️ The future of education and the role of school choice ✔️ Encouragement for parents raising children in today's cultural landscape

Featured Resource: Tuttle Twins A bestselling book series and educational platform helping families teach kids about responsibility, entrepreneurship, and the principles of a free society. 👉 Website → https://tuttletwins.com/ 👉 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/tuttletwins 👉 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@TheTuttleTwins Links 👉 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/TuttleTwins 👉 X → https://x.com/tuttletwins 👉 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@tuttle_twins 👉 Pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/TuttleTwin

Call-to-Action For Parents 📲 Connect with Connor Boyack & Tuttle Twins

• Instagram → @tuttletwins
• Website → tuttletwins.com

📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent

• Instagram → @suzannephillips_
• Instagram → @beacon_parent
• Website → www.beaconparent.com

✨ GET ONGOING PARENTING SUPPORT Ongoing coaching, encouragement, and biblical clarity as you navigate education, culture, and parenting: 👉 www.beaconparent.com/parentclub Identity Truth for the Family Children are not just being educated — they are being formed. When parents take an active role in shaping how their children think, not just what they learn, they prepare them for a life of purpose, responsibility, and wisdom. In Closing Parents — your influence matters more than any system. If this episode gave you clarity or challenged how you think about education and culture, share it with another parent who is asking similar questions. 🎧 Listen Now →

Marriage is the foundation of family — and parenting flows from that foundation. But what happens when that foundation is built within a blended or stepfamily? In this insightful and practical episode, Suzanne is joined by Ron Deal, one of the nation's leading experts on blended families. With decades of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and director of FamilyLife Blended, Ron brings clarity to one of the most complex family dynamics parents face today. Blended families are not rare — they are increasingly common — yet many parents enter them without the tools, discipleship, or understanding needed to navigate the unique challenges they bring. From dating and remarriage to discipline, school decisions, and family culture, this conversation explores the realities that many families don't anticipate — but must learn to navigate. Ron also speaks into marriage itself, sharing warning signs couples should not ignore, common struggles that lead to breakdown, and how intentionality and awareness can build stronger relationships. This episode is both a wake-up call and a roadmap — helping parents move from confusion to clarity in building healthy, God-centered families.

✔️ Why blended families require intentional discipleship ✔️ Divorce rates among Christians vs. non-believers ✔️ The difference between stepfamilies and blended families ✔️ Why marriage in a blended family is a "package deal" ✔️ Key considerations when dating, remarrying, and involving children ✔️ How school, discipline, and parenting decisions are more complex in blended homes ✔️ Common stumbling blocks families face when they aren't prepared ✔️ Warning signs in marriage that can lead toward divorce ✔️ Insights from The Mindful Marriage ✔️ The role of the Church in supporting blended families ✔️ Practical resources and tools for families navigating this journey

📚 The Smart Stepfamily 📚 The Mindful Marriage Practical, research-based, and biblically grounded resources to help couples and families thrive. 👉 Learn more → https://rondeal.org 👉 FamilyLife Blended → https://familylife.com/blended

👉 Website → https://familylife.com/blended 👉 Ron Deal → https://rondeal.org 👉 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/familylifeblended 👉 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/familylifeblended

📲 Connect with Ron Deal & FamilyLife Blended

• Instagram → @familylifeblended
• Website → familylife.com/blended

📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent

• Instagram → @suzannephillips_
• Instagram → @beacon_parent
• Website → www.beaconparent.com

✨ JOIN PARENT CLUB TODAY FOR MORE

If you're navigating parenting, marriage, or family complexity and want ongoing support and biblical clarity: 👉 www.beaconparent.com/parentclub

Strong families are not built by accident — they are built with intention. In blended families especially, clarity, patience, and wisdom are essential to creating unity and stability for both marriage and children.

Parents — if your family is navigating remarriage, blending, or complexity, you are not alone. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement, clarity, or practical tools for building a strong family foundation.

Parenting today can feel overwhelming. The conversations are heavier. The culture is louder. The pressure is constant. In this personal and powerful solo episode, Suzanne pauses from interviewing guests to speak directly to parents — not about what to do, but about who we are becoming. Because our doing flows from our being… And our being flows from what we believe. Drawing from over 25 years of experience coaching, teaching, and raising her own family, Suzanne shares a defining vision: the call to build a Well Lit Home. In a world that feels increasingly dark, the brightest light our children should experience is inside our homes. Through a vivid story from Easter morning and a deeply practical framework, Suzanne introduces the 7 Facets of a Beacon Parent — the qualities that anchor parents in truth and empower them to lead with clarity, courage, and peace. This episode is an invitation to step out of pressure, step into purpose, and become the steady light your family needs.

✔️ Why parenting today feels heavier and more complex than ever ✔️ The shift from focusing on what to do → to who we are becoming ✔️ The vision of a Well Lit Home in a dark world ✔️ A powerful real-life story that shaped the Beacon Parent message ✔️ Why parents are not responsible for outcomes — but to their children ✔️ The role of trust in releasing control and fear ✔️ The importance of anchoring parenting in biblical truth ✔️ Why formation matters more than information

These are the qualities that create a home that shines: 1. Supremacy of Christ

• Christ is central — above every circumstance
• Releases pressure and the illusion of control
• Anchors parents in truth during uncertainty

2. Expressed Honor

• Honor God, others, and family
• Teach children to value and respect authority and people
• Strengthens the fabric of family and society

3. Intentional Legacy

• What you do today shapes tomorrow
• Parenting is always forming a legacy
• Your daily choices matter

4. Transformative Wisdom

• Wisdom changes how we live, not just what we know Seeks truth and applies it
• Invites intentional, thoughtful decision-making

5. Humble Courage

• Following God requires action
• Standing firm often requires courage
• Leads with patience, curiosity, and conviction

6. Secure Identity

• Rooted first as a child of God
• Embraces uniqueness in family and calling
• Provides stability in a shifting culture

7. Personal Responsibility

• Parents are the primary shaping influence
• Formation is happening — intentionally or unintentionally
• It is an honor to lead and steward a family

A well-lit home doesn't happen by accident. It is built by parents who stay connected to the Source of light — and choose, day by day, to become a steady beacon for their children.

📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent

• Instagram → @suzannephillips_
• Instagram → @beacon_parent
• Website → www.beaconparent.com

✨ Join Parent Club Ongoing encouragement, biblical clarity, and practical guidance for parents navigating today's world.

👉 www.beaconparent.com/parentclub

The world may grow darker — but light shines brighter in the darkness. When parents stay anchored in Christ, their homes become places of warmth, clarity, and truth.

The to-do list will still be there. But who you are becoming matters more than anything you accomplish. If this episode encouraged you, share it with another parent who needs hope and perspective today.