Mama Bear Apologetics
Mama Bear Apologetics is a podcast for mothers of biological, adopted, or spiritual children who want to learn about how to defend the Christian faith, help give their children reasons for faith, and understand the worldviews that challenge Christian faith in the first place.
Episode 160: Are we raising resilient daughters or mommy martyrs? Four things every woman needs to cultivate in herself and her daughter.
Amy Davison examines the rise of “mommy martyr” content—social media posts that portray motherhood, marriage, and family life through a lens of victimhood, resentment, and emotional collapse. She explains how co-rumination and social media validation can reinforce negative thinking rather than promote healing. As an alternative, Amy encourages women to cultivate four things in themselves and their daughters: a biblical worldview, homemaking skills, resilience, and Christ-like community. Ultimately, she encourages struggling moms to seek genuine help and godly community rather than allowing online venting to shape their identity or view of their families.
Main Points Covered
Wha...Mama Bear Movie Minute: In your Dreams
In this Mama Bear Movie Minute, Hillary, Alexa, and Anja examine Netflix’s In Your Dreams through worldview insights, potential issues, and invitations for conversation. One of the movie’s strongest themes is the contrast between a perfect fantasy and an imperfect but meaningful reality. Stevie ultimately realizes that having everything she wants isn’t worthwhile if it means giving up her real relationships. The hosts connect this to free will, suffering, and the value of authentic relationships.
The movie also creates an opportunity to discuss occultism and spiritual discernment. The children pursue magical help because it promis...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: The Magic Faraway Tree
The Magical Faraway Tree gets an enthusiastic 11/10 from the Mama Bears for offering something increasingly rare: a whimsical, genuinely family-friendly story centered on imagination, family, and character rather than a heavy-handed agenda.
One of the movie’s strongest themes is family unity during hardship. After the Thompson family loses nearly everything because the mother refuses to compromise her moral convictions at work, the parents choose to face the consequences together. Rather than responding with bitterness or victimhood, they turn their circumstances into an adventure. The hosts connect this to Ecclesiastes 4:9 and the importance of spouses remembering that th...
Episode 159: Can your kid answer why the Bible is true without saying, "Because Mom said so?"
Can your kids explain why they trust the Bible without answering, “Because Mom said so”?
In this episode, Amy and Tricia Scribner tackle the first of two big questions about the reliability of the New Testament: Do we actually have what the original authors wrote?
Skeptics sometimes compare the transmission of Scripture to a giant, centuries-long game of telephone—one person passes a message to another, mistakes pile up, and eventually the message bears little resemblance to the original. But that analogy misses some important facts. The New Testament wasn’t transmitted through one fragile chain of...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: The Sandlot
In this first “classic edition” of Mama Bear Movie Moment, Hillary, Alexa, and Anja revisit The Sandlot and discover that there’s a lot more hiding underneath the baseball, childhood insults, giant dogs, and infamous Tilt-A-Whirl scene. The conversation centers on friendship, resilience, childhood play, consequences, inclusion, and what it looks like to use our influence to bring outsiders into the fold.
That doesn't mean everything in this nostalgic classic gets a free pass. We flag the pool scene as an opportunity to discuss consent, push back against the assumption that sexualized material is simply something “everybody” encounters...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: Michael
In this Mama Bear Movie Minute we explore Michael. We saw opportunities to talk with our kids about fatherhood, freedom, God’s glory, celebrity worship, and the cost of fame. We contrasted Joseph Jackson’s harsh, authoritarian parenting with a producer who recognizes Michael’s talent and helps cultivate it, giving us a powerful picture for discussing how earthly fathers can shape the way we view God.
We also explored what it means to do everything “for God’s glory,” focusing on God’s goodness, beauty, and excellence rather than an ego-driven need for recognition. Michael’s incredible talen...
Summer Rewind: ROARing Through K-Pop Demon Hunters
In this episode of the Mama Bear Apologetics podcast, Hillary, Amy and Alexa analyze the animated movie KPop Demon Hunters using their ROAR method: Recognize the message, Offer objective discernment, Argue for a healthier approach, and Reinforce through discussion, discipleship, and prayer. With the film gaining popularity among teens and younger audiences, they break down the worldview behind the catchy music, vibrant visuals, and overarching narrative. They highlight both accurate portrayals of spiritual warfare and problematic messages such as redefining sin, the role and reality of the demonic and fighting shame with pride...which is counter to the Gospel...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: Project Hail Mary
Project Hail Mary offers families a fun opportunity to talk about self-sacrifice, friendship, courage, and hope. Grace's journey from cowardice to risking himself for Rocky echoes John 15:13 and points toward Christ's ultimate sacrifice. The movie also challenges the assumption that faith and science are incompatible, showing that scientific inquiry doesn't necessarily exclude belief in God.
The hosts also identify worldview issues worth discussing. Stratt's decision to force Grace onto the mission raises the question of whether the ends justify the means, while the larger “save the world” narrative invites conversations about human limitations and God's sovereignty. Finally, the...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: Spiderman A Brand New Day
In this Mama Bear Movie Minute, Hilary, Alexa, and Anja examine Spider-Man through a Christian worldview, discussing identity, sacrifice, burnout, community, spiritual warfare, genetic manipulation, and the cultural idea of embracing one’s “dark side.” They contrast discovering an inner “true self” with choosing to live according to one’s identity in Christ, using Peter Parker’s loneliness and exhaustion to show the dangers of serving in one’s own strength without rest or relationships. The hosts also explore Spider-Man’s humility, sacrificial love for enemies, cultural redefinitions of bravery, distrust of authority, the ethics of altering human genetics, and the biblical c...
Summer Rewind: How to Witness to Unbelieving Friends and Family
In this episode, Amy and Lindsey discuss practical, biblical ways to share the Christian faith with unbelieving family members, friends, coworkers, and others. Rather than relying on debates or overwhelming people with apologetics arguments, they encourage Christians to begin with prayer, humility, genuine friendships, and a firm foundation in Scripture.
The conversation emphasizes that believers are already representing Christ through their daily actions. Effective evangelism is less about "winning" arguments and more about faithfully building bridges through authentic relationships, listening well, and treating every person as an image-bearer of God.
They also address common misconceptions...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: Devil Wears Prada 2
In this Movie Minute episode, Alexa and Anja discuss The Devil Wears Prada 2 through a biblical worldview lens. They explore how the film raises questions about vocation, purpose, validation, fashion, ambition, and the cost of success. While appreciating the movie's nuanced characters and opportunities for meaningful conversations with teens, they also critique its moral relativism—particularly a scene that implies Jesus was merely another flawed human being. The hosts encourage listeners to help their children think critically about where they find their identity, how they view work, and how Christians can glorify God in any vocation.
Mama Bear Movie Minute: Sheep Detectives
In this Movie Minute episode, Alexa and Anja discuss Sheep Detectives, a charming mystery centered around a flock of sheep investigating the murder of their beloved shepherd, George. While the film is humorous and beautifully filmed, the hosts highlight its deeper themes of justice, grief, belonging, critical thinking, and biblical imagery.
The conversation explores how George's relationship with his sheep mirrors God's relationship with His people, drawing connections to Scripture about the Good Shepherd and God's intimate knowledge of His children. They also examine the film's handling of memory, death, and justice, discussing where its worldview aligns...
Summer Rewind: Understanding Deconstruction. A Conversation with Alisa Childers
Amy welcomes Christian apologist Alisa Childers for an in-depth discussion on the growing phenomenon of "deconstruction." Alisa shares her personal testimony of experiencing a faith crisis after attending a church led by an agnostic pastor, explaining how studying apologetics ultimately strengthened rather than destroyed her faith.
The conversation carefully distinguishes between genuine biblical questioning and what Alisa defines as modern deconstruction. According to her research, deconstruction is not simply wrestling with doubts but is fundamentally a self-directed process that leads away from historic Christianity. She explains that many Christians mistakenly use the term to describe healthy examination...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: Moana
In this Mama Bear Movie Minute, Hillary, Alexa, and Anja discuss Disney's live-action Moana through a biblical worldview. While noting that the live-action version closely follows the animated film, they explore how the story contains echoes of biblical truth alongside significant worldview differences.
The hosts highlight themes such as creation longing for redemption, God's calling on our lives, repentance, contentment, and using our gifts for God's glory rather than personal recognition. They point out that many cultures recognize that something is fundamentally wrong with the world—a truth that aligns with the biblical account of the Fall.
...Mama Bear Movie Minute: Young Washington
In this Mama Bear Movie Minute, Hilary, Alexa, and Anja discuss Young Washington, a historical drama chronicling George Washington's early military career during the French and Indian War. Rather than portraying Washington as an untouchable hero, the film highlights his youthful ambition, repeated failures, and gradual transformation into a servant leader.
The hosts appreciate that the movie avoids romanticizing history, acknowledging difficult subjects like Native American land disputes and slavery while still presenting an inspiring account of perseverance, humility, leadership, and God's providence. Throughout the discussion they connect Washington's character development to biblical principles about discipline, repentance...
Summer Rewind: Linguistic Theft - What it is and Why it Matters
As part of our Summer Rewind Series, Hillary and Amy revisit the concept of linguistic theft—the intentional redefining of familiar words and virtues to persuade people to accept ideas they might otherwise reject. They argue that while Christians often teach biblical truths and virtues, today's culture increasingly redefines words like love, justice, equality, violence, and tolerance, making it difficult for believers—especially children—to recognize when biblical concepts have been replaced with counterfeit meanings.
Using 2 Corinthians 11, they explain that Satan often works through deception rather than obvious evil, disguising false ideas as righteousness. The hosts distinguish betwee...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: Minions and Monsters
In this Movie Minute, Hillary, Alexa, and Anja discuss Minions and Monsters, exploring both its entertaining elements and the worldview questions it raises. While the hosts praise the film's humor, historical film references, charming moments, and opportunities for family discussion, they also examine concerns about slapstick humor, crude jokes, fast-paced children's entertainment, and especially the movie's extensive use of occult imagery.
Throughout the discussion, the hosts encourage parents to move beyond simply deciding whether to watch a movie. Instead, they recommend using films as conversation starters to help children think critically about morality, humor, discernment, and biblical...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: Toy Story 5
In this Mama Bear Movie Minute, Hillary, Alexa, and Anja review Toy Story 5 and discuss why they believe Disney recaptured the heart of the original franchise. Rather than focusing on spectacle, the film explores the value of childhood imagination, the dangers of technology replacing play, and the importance of meaningful friendships. The hosts praise the movie for presenting a balanced view of technology—acknowledging its benefits while warning against allowing devices to dominate childhood.
The conversation goes beyond a movie review, using the film as a springboard for biblical worldview discussions. The hosts explore themes like humanity's Go...
Summer Rewind: Digitally Detoxing Your Kids for Clearer Thinking with Molly DeFrank
As we head into the summer months, we'll be revisiting some of our most popular and impactful Mama Bear Apologetics podcast episodes. These conversations continue to offer timely wisdom and practical encouragement for parents navigating today's cultural challenges. In this replay episode, Amy sits down with Molly DeFrank to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing families today: technology's influence on our children and how a digital detox can help restore healthier relationships, clearer thinking, and stronger family connections.
In todays episode, Amy interviews author and parenting advocate Molly DeFrank about the growing influence of screens...
Mama Bear Movie Minute: Remarkably Bright Creatures
Show NotesIn this Mama Bear Movie Minute, we discuss Remarkably Bright Creatures—a touching story about grief, purpose, friendship, and one unforgettable octopus. We explore the beautiful relationship between Tova, Cameron, and Marcellus, discuss themes of intergenerational mentorship, serving others, finding identity, and embracing the season God has placed us in. We also highlight a few worldview concerns, including the normalization of drug use in media, and share conversation starters to help families engage thoughtfully with the film.
In this Episode
01:08 Meet Tova, Cameron & Marcellus
04:00 Grief, Identity & the Search for Purpose
07:00 Th...
Episode 153. Living Faith Boldly as a Father and Man of Christ
In this Father’s Day-focused episode, Amy welcomes her husband, Michael Davison, to discuss the restoration of biblical manhood, fatherhood, and discipleship in the home. Michael shares how a coworker’s assumption that he was an atheist became a profound wake-up call, revealing that he had compartmentalized his faith and failed to visibly represent Christ in his workplace.
The conversation explores the dangers of separating faith from everyday life, the cultural decline of male spiritual leadership, and the need for Christian men to reclaim their God-given role as disciples and leaders within their families. Michael explains how lean...
Episode 152. Are Miracles Possible?
In this episode, Amy and Tricia continue their apologetics series exploring the top reasons Christianity is true by examining the possibility, purpose, and discernment of miracles. They discuss why belief in miracles is foundational to Christianity, particularly because the faith depends upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The conversation contrasts biblical miracles with frauds, paranormal claims, psychosomatic experiences, providential events, and demonic counterfeits. Using the example of John of God, a Brazilian faith healer later exposed as a fraud, they emphasize the importance of discernment in evaluating miracle claims. They explain how biblical miracles reveal God's character, authenticate His...
Episode 151. The Problem of Evil
This episode of the Mama Bear Apologetics podcast explores one of the biggest challenges to the Christian faith: the problem of evil. Amy & Tricia discuss how both children and adults wrestle with suffering, tragedy, and the existence of evil in a world created by a good and all-powerful God. Using scripture, philosophy, practical examples, and personal stories, they explain the difference between natural evil and moral evil, define goodness and evil from a biblical worldview, and demonstrate why evil actually points toward the existence of God rather than disproving Him.
The conversation emphasizes the importance of proactively...
Episode 150. The Moral Argument for God
In this episode of the Mama Bear Apologetics podcast, Amy and Tricia Scribner continue their series on arguments for the existence of God by exploring the moral argument, also called the “right and wrong argument.” They explain that if objective moral laws exist, then there must be a moral lawgiver behind them. The conversation carefully distinguishes between descriptive statements (“what is”) and moral or prescriptive statements (“what ought to be”), arguing that morality cannot arise from impersonal forces or mere social convention.
Amy and Tricia address several common objections to objective morality, including moral relativism, emotional subjectivism, and Darwinia...
Episode 149. Proof Of God through Order and Design: The Teleological Argument
In this episode, Amy and Tricia Scribner explore how order and design in the universe point to an intelligent Creator. Building on prior discussions of truth and causation, they introduce the teleological argument—the idea that purposeful design requires a designer. From microscopic bacteria to the fine-tuning of the cosmos, the hosts demonstrate that both the smallest and largest aspects of reality exhibit complex, specified, and ordered patterns that cannot reasonably arise by chance. They connect science, logic, and everyday analogies (like puzzles and pickup sticks) to show that design implies intelligence, encouraging parents to help their children recognize God...
Episode 148. Daily Discipleship Rhythms With Leslie Nunnery from Teach Them Diligently
Amy sits down with Leslie Nunnery from Teach Them Diligently to re-center the conversation around discipleship as the true goal of parenting—not homeschooling itself. While many families consider homeschooling as a solution for raising faithful children, Leslie gently corrects this mindset: education is a tool, not the savior. The heart of the discussion is a shift from performance-based parenting (checking boxes, academic success) to relationship-driven discipleship (shaping hearts for Christ). Leslie introduces the idea of “heart schooling,” emphasizing that parents are called first to point their children to Jesus, not merely manage their education.
The conversation also h...
Episode 147. The Cause & Effect Argument for God: How the Beginning of the Universe Points to the Existence
This episode walks listeners through one of the most foundational and powerful arguments for God’s existence—the cosmological (cause-and-effect) argument. Amy and Tricia build on earlier discussions about truth, logic, and worldview, showing that belief in God isn’t a leap in the dark but a conclusion supported by both reason and scientific evidence. They explain that everything that begins to exist must have a cause—and since the universe began to exist, it must also have a cause. Through accessible examples (like hot coffee cooling or balloons expanding), they demonstrate how scientific observations align with this logic.
The...
Episode 146. Let's Talk About Easter (Re-Broadcast)
This episode lovingly equips parents to navigate the tension between fun Easter traditions and the truth of the resurrection. The hosts affirm that while eggs, bunnies, and cultural practices can be enjoyed, they should never overshadow the central claim of Christianity: Jesus truly lived, died, and rose again.
Lindsey and Robin address common internet claims about Easter’s supposed pagan origins, showing that much of the argument rests on weak historical evidence and linguistic confusion. The conversation then shifts to the heart of apologetics—can we trust the resurrection? Through historical references, medical analysis of crucifixion, and eyew...
Episode 145. 6 Questions Every Worldview Answers
In this episode, the focus is on worldviews—the lens through which people interpret reality. Tricia Scribner explains that everyone has a worldview, whether they realize it or not, and that lens shapes how we answer life’s biggest questions. The discussion centers on three foundational worldviews: theism, atheism, and pantheism, and how each one answers six essential questions about life: origins, identity, meaning, morality, knowledge, and destiny. By learning these six questions, parents can train their children to recognize the assumptions behind the messages they hear in music, social media, classrooms, and entertainment.
Rather than passively abso...
Episode 144. Self-Refuting Statements with Tricia Scribner
In this episode, the Mama Bears continue laying the groundwork for raising children who can stand firm in a culture that often sounds persuasive but isn’t logically sound. The focus is on self-refuting (or self-defeating) statements — claims that collapse under their own weight because they contradict themselves in the very act of being spoken. Our kids are growing up in a world saturated with emotionally charged slogans and viral soundbites. They are told things like “truth is relative,” “we can’t know truth,” or “science is the only source of truth.” These statements are often presented as intellectual or compassionate...
Episode 143. Inductive and Deductive Reasoning with Tricia Scribner
Amy and Tricia continue their classical apologetics series, diving into discursive reasoning—the step-by-step thinking process that distinguishes humans as rational beings made in God’s image.
This conversation is a mental workout (in the best way possible!). The mamas unpack the difference between deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning. They emphasize that Christianity does not require blind faith—it calls us to love God with our minds and think well. With practical examples—from the cosmological argument to presidential debates, to lipstick on the wall—the mamas show how logic protects our children from being swayed by emotional m...
Episode 142. Understanding the Nature of Truth with Tricia Scribner
In this foundational episode of the Mama Bear Apologetics podcast Amy Davison and Tricia Scribner tackle the concept of truth in an age dominated by relativism and subjectivism. Drawing from Scripture, personal anecdotes, and years of experience in apologetics and teaching, the conversation provides a powerful defense of truth as objective, absolute, and rooted in God’s nature. The episode dismantles cultural misconceptions like "my truth" and "perception is reality" and explains why these ideas, though popular, are intellectually inconsistent and dangerous. The offer practical strategies for parents and grandparents to help their kids develop a clear, biblical understanding of...
Episode 141. The Role of Logic in Christianity with Tricia Scribner
Amy and Tricia, two of our Mama Bears, define logic and explain why it’s essential for critical thinking, biblical reasoning, and defending the Christian faith. They stress that logic isn’t made by humans—it’s discovered—and reflects an objective reality that testifies to the existence of God. The conversation explores the three foundational laws of logic (identity, excluded middle, non‑contradiction), shows how logic applies in everyday life and worldview discussions (including gender, truth claims, language, and worldview differences), and gives practical guidance for parents on how to help children recognize sound reasoning vs. faulty logic. They also ta...
Episode 140. Why Theology Matters with Krista Bontrager
In this episode of Mama Bear Apologetics, Amy hosts Krista Bontrager (a public theologian with decades of experience) to unpack why theology is foundational for Christian living. They define theology, remove intimidation around it, talk about practical ways families can study theology with kids, and point listeners to resources that make theology accessible. The big idea centers around this: theology equips Christians to think well about God so that apologetics isn’t just reactive but rooted in truth. They stress that theology is not just for “academics in tweed jackets,” is essential for discipling children, and that everyday families can be...
Episode 139. Re-Broadcast: Did Christmas Start Out as a Pagan Holiday (And Other Questions about Christmas)
In this Christmas‑themed podcast, the Mama Bear team addresses the biggest questions Christian parents often hear around the holiday season. They explain what Christmas is truly about, how to talk to children about Jesus and Christmas, and address common controversies like whether Christmas is pagan, the role of Santa Claus, and what phrases like “Happy Holidays” mean. They also share practical tradition ideas families can adopt, and recommend books and resources that help keep Christ at the center of the season.
Main Points Covered
What Christmas Truly CelebratesIs Christmas Pagan?Origins of the Ch...Episode 138. Cultivating a Heart for Advent
In this episode, Amy reflect on the season of Advent and how it points believers toward four core spiritual truths — hope, spiritual warfare (peace), worship (joy), and human dignity (love). Christmas is not about the trappings of the season (lights, gifts, cookies), but about celebrating the coming of Christ, renewing hope, engaging in the cosmic battle against evil, worshiping God, and affirming the value of every human life. She encourages listeners to live out these truths practically — through grief with hope, spiritual headship and discipleship at home, heartfelt worship amid busyness, and compassionate generosity toward the vulnerable — so that their f...
Episode 137: How Can We Know Christianity is True?
In this episode, Amy is joined by Tricia Scribner, a classical apologist, to explore how we can know Christianity is true. They walk through a systematic, logical framework known as classical apologetics, beginning with the existence of truth and culminating in the evidence for Christ's resurrection and divinity. They compare this approach with cultural apologetics and emphasize the importance of understanding presuppositions in conversations about faith. The episode provides a high-level overview of the evidential and logical basis for Christianity’s truth claims and previews an upcoming series that will break down 20 evidences for the Christian faith.
Ma...
Episode 136: ROAR'ing Through the Concept of Ghosts (rebroadcast)
On this episode, we are revisiting the concept of ghosts. Every year around this time, we start to see more depictions, decorations, and stories about ghosts —and your kids may be hearing more about them at school. But what are they? We will be examining the idea of ghosts using our ROAR method. What are they? What are the common misconceptions around ghosts and the supernatural? What does the bible say about ghosts and how are Christians supposed to engage this topic? Our hope is that you will be able to use the tools outlined in this episode to he...
Episode 135. How Enneagram and Richard Rohr Deconstruct Jesus with Alexa Cramer
This episode of Mama Bear Apologetics explores the spiritual dangers behind the Enneagram and the teachings of Richard Rohr, particularly how they subtly oppose biblical Christianity. Amy is joined by fellow Mama Bear Alexa Cramer, who explains how Rohr redefines key Christian concepts like Jesus, sin, salvation, and the Bible itself. While Rohr’s language may sound Christian, his theology is rooted in mysticism, perennialism, and a pantheistic view of God—where all people and things are seen as inherently divine. The episode outlines how such teachings undermine the gospel and can mislead Christians, especially children, who may encounter the...
Episode 134. Grandparent Revival: How to Use Your Retirement to Pass Down a Legacy of Faith
Amy is joined by Tricia Scribner to encourage and equip grandparents for intentional discipleship. Using the cultural moment sparked by Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Tricia challenges older believers not to “pass the baton,” but to “get in the game.”Grandparents often underestimate their influence, yet they are among the top voices teens turn to for questions about faith and life. Tricia emphasizes that this season of life—with more free time and hard-earned wisdom—is ideal for re-engaging in spiritual formation. She counters the lies that older Christians “can’t learn” or are “no longer relevant,” offering practical ways to grow in apologetics...