The Christian Parenting Podcast - Motherhood, Teaching kids about Jesus, Intentional parenting, Raising Christian kids

What does the Bible actually say about clothing?

In this episode, author and Bible teacher Caroline Saunders joins me to talk about her new book, But What Do I Wear?: The Biblical Story of Clothing, How It Helps Us Think About Getting Dressed, and Approximately Seventeen Stories I May Regret Telling.

We talk about modesty and appropriateness, helping our kids navigate clothing and brand names, enjoying beauty without finding our identity in it, and what it means to worship the God who covers.

If clothing, body image, or what your kids wear has...

In this episode, I’m talking with Janel Breitenstein, author of Emotionally Strongish Parenting: Seven Shifts for a More Resilient and Jesus-Centered Home, about why raising emotionally healthy kids often starts with paying attention to our own hearts.

Janel explains what happens in our brains when fear, anxiety, or anger takes over and why sometimes the best parenting decision we can make is to pause before responding. We talk about creating space for our kids’ doubts and questions, moving from behavior management toward heart change, and the important difference between guilt and shame.

We also talk...

Have you ever wondered what happens to an Operation Christmas Child shoebox after your family packs it?

In this episode, Dania Andraos shares her incredible story of growing up in the Middle East, where her family faced persecution for their Christian faith, and how receiving a shoebox gift became a powerful reminder that God saw her and heard her prayers.

We talk about how that simple gift opened doors for the gospel in her community, how Dania eventually became involved with Operation Christmas Child herself, and practical ways families can participate in this ministry together.<...

In this episode, Steph talks with Dana K. White, author of Procrastinators Get Stuff Done, about why procrastination isn't always laziness. Often, it comes from overwhelm, decision fatigue, perfectionism, and the feeling that we need to have everything figured out before we begin.

Dana shares her practical process for getting unstuck, starting with one surprisingly simple step: just look. They talk about why small wins matter, how “noncommittal experimentation” can help us move forward, and why making a big plan too early can actually become another form of procrastination.

Steph and Dana also talk about unde...

In this episode, Steph talks with psychologist, author, and Love and Logic expert Dr. Charles Fay about raising kids whose faith goes deeper than simply knowing how to behave like a Christian.

Charles shares why spiritually strong kids aren't perfect kids, why faith is ultimately a gift from God, and how parents can nurture faith without trying to control the outcome. They talk about allowing kids to make mistakes while the stakes are still small, holding boundaries with empathy, modeling repentance when we get it wrong, and helping kids learn to depend on God through life's struggles.<...

For many Christian parents, sending a child to public school can feel intimidating. Questions about faith, culture, religious freedom, and discipleship often create anxiety. In this episode, Steph sits down with Kori Pennypacker, CEO of Bible2School and author of Backpack Faith, to discuss practical ways parents can prepare their children to confidently follow Jesus in public school.

Kori shares why parents remain the primary disciplers of their children regardless of where they attend school, how Christian students can legally live out their faith at school, and why building relationships with teachers and administrators matters. She also...

In this episode, therapist and author Sissy Goff joins Steph to talk about what kids really need when they're experiencing loss and how their grief can look very different from ours.

Sissy explains why grief isn't linear, how kids often revisit loss as they grow and reach new developmental milestones, and why behaviors like anger, anxiety, or even risk-taking can sometimes be signs of sadness underneath. She also talks about secondary losses, why consistency and boundaries still matter during hard seasons, and the importance of surrounding our kids with safe, steady adults.

If your family...

What will heaven actually be like, and how do we talk to our kids about it?

In this episode, I’m sharing a conversation from the Faith & Clarity podcast with Dr. Mark Turman and author Randy Alcorn about his children’s book, Heaven on Earth, and the biblical promise of a new heaven and new earth.

We talk about resurrection, grief, losing loved ones, miscarriage, disabilities, animals, and some of the big questions kids ask about eternity.

If your family has ever wondered what happens after we die, this conversation will help you move...

As we wrap up our  discipleship series, we're talking about one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of raising children who continue following Jesus into adulthood: having meaningful spiritual conversations.

In this episode, Steph talks with Katheryn Saunders, author of Having Spiritual Conversations with Your Kids, about how parents can create safe spaces where children ask honest questions, wrestle with their faith, and ultimately build a relationship with Jesus that becomes their own.

This conversation beautifully ties together everything we've explored throughout the discipleship series. Reading Scripture, praying together, worshiping through music, serving other...

What if one of the simplest ways to disciple your children was as easy as pressing play?

In this episode of our discipleship series, we're looking at another practice that research from Lifeway identified as having a significant impact on helping children develop a lasting faith: listening to Christian music.

Steph is joined by Jason Houser, Executive Director of Seeds Kids Worship, a ministry that has spent more than two decades helping families hide God's Word in their hearts through Scripture-based worship music.

Together they explore why music has such a powerful influence...

What if one of the most important things you can do for your child’s faith is help them become part of the church, not just attend it?

In this episode of our discipleship series, I’m joined by Sarah and Eric Holmstrom to talk about why regularly serving in church can have such a lasting impact on our kids’ faith.

Sarah and Eric share how serving has shaped their own family, why kids are never too young to begin, and practical ways to help children discover where their gifts and personalities fit within the church...

In this episode, Steph continues the discipleship series by exploring one of the strongest predictors of lasting faith: regular prayer. We know prayer is important, but many parents feel unsure where to begin or worry they aren't "good enough" at praying out loud.

In this episode, Steph sits down with author Erica Renaud to talk about how prayer becomes the foundation of a child's relationship with God. Together they discuss practical ways families can incorporate prayer into everyday life, how to move beyond memorized prayers without abandoning them, and how to help children navigate unanswered prayer with...

The Bible can feel overwhelming, especially when you're trying to read it with your kids. Where do you start? How do you help them understand it? And how do you make it something they actually enjoy?

In this episode, Steph continues the discipleship series by exploring one of the strongest predictors of lasting faith: regularly reading Scripture at home. Joined by Andrew and Charlotte Ollerton, authors of God's Story, Our Story, they discuss why understanding the Bible as one unified story changes everything. They also share practical ways to make family Bible reading simple, engaging, and consistent...

Every Christian parent wants to raise kids with a lasting faith, but with so much parenting advice available, it's easy to wonder where to focus your time and energy.

In this episode, Steph kicks off a special discipleship series by sitting down with Janet Magruder of Lifeway Christian Resources to discuss the groundbreaking research behind the book Nothing Less. After years of studying what influences children who grow into adults with a vibrant, enduring faith, the research points to a handful of practices that consistently make the biggest difference.

If you've ever wondered what matters...

The college years can be one of the most defining seasons in a young person's faith. So how can parents prepare their kids to stand firm long before they leave home?

In this episode, Steph sits down with longtime college ministry leader Paul Worcester to discuss the spiritual habits that help faith last. They talk about the power of Scripture memory, daily time in God's Word, the challenges today's college students face, and practical ways parents can train, not just teach, their teens to follow Christ. Paul also shares how his new Bible study, Thrive, equips college...

Have you ever received an answer to prayer only to discover it was much harder than you expected?

In this episode, author Melissa Miller talks about "change fatigue," the emotional exhaustion that can come even during the seasons we've prayed for.

Melissa shares her family's adoption story, the surprising challenges that followed, and how God met her in the middle of overwhelming change. We talk about why Christians often feel guilty admitting that good change is still hard, how Scripture validates those experiences, and practical ways to process complicated emotions with God.

If...

Artificial intelligence is changing the way our families learn, work, communicate, and even seek advice. For many parents, it feels like this technology appeared overnight, leaving us wondering how to help our kids navigate it wisely.

In this episode, combat veteran, speaker, and author Ben Peterson sits down to discuss why AI is more than a technology conversation. It's a discipleship conversation. Together we explore how parents can embrace the benefits of AI while protecting the God-given roles of family, community, creativity, and the Holy Spirit in their children's lives.

If you've wondered where to...

Teaching our kids Bible stories is important, but discipleship doesn't stop there. We also want our children to recognize God's guidance in their own stories, bring him into everyday conversations, and develop a genuine relationship with him that grows over time.

In this episode, Bible teachers and co-authors Jen Weaver and Gayle Veitenheimer talk about helping kids move from simply knowing about God to experiencing life with Him. They discuss why stories are such powerful discipleship tools, how to answer kids' big questions about prayer and hearing God's voice, and simple ways parents can...

Today we are joined by Scarlet Hiltibidal, who is the new host of Pardon the Mess. 

Scarlet is a wife, mom of four, author, speaker, and follower of Jesus who is passionate about helping parents see the gospel in the middle of everyday family life.

In this episode, Scarlet shares about her own parenting messes, including loving each of her kids well in very different seasons and needs. We talk about the pressure moms feel to get everything right, the invisible report card so many of us carry, and the freedom that comes when we r...

Many Christian parents want to talk to their kids about sex and sexuality in healthy, biblical ways, but feel unsure where to begin. In today’s episode, Kelly Edmiston talks about how to move away from fear, silence, and shame-based messaging and instead help our kids understand the goodness of their bodies, God’s design for sex, and the importance of open, ongoing conversations in the home.

We discuss how purity culture shaped many parents’ own experiences, why discipleship matters so much in these conversations, and how parents can build trust with their kids while still holding biblic...

If you’ve ever felt weighed down by guilt after a hard parenting moment, this conversation will encourage your heart.

In this episode, Abbey Wedgeworth talks about the fear many parents carry that they’ve somehow “ruined” their kids. We discuss parenting failures, repentance, repair, and the freedom that comes when we stop trying to be perfect parents and start trusting God’s grace.

Abbey and I talk honestly about how community shapes us as moms, why repair matters so much in relationships with our kids, and how God can use both our faithfulness and our failur...

In today’s episode, Christie Thomas is back to talk about the quiet strength of gentleness and why it matters so deeply in our homes. Christie shares how gentleness is not weakness or passivity, but strength held under control for the good of others. We discuss parenting through the fruit of the Spirit, responding instead of reacting, and how our kids learn about the character of Jesus through the way we handle frustration, conflict, and mistakes. 

We also talk honestly about the exhaustion of parenting, spiritual dry seasons, postpartum anxiety, worship as prayer, and simple ways to sta...

Motherhood is beautiful, meaningful, and holy work, but it can also leave moms completely exhausted. Somewhere between raising kids, managing schedules, carrying the mental load, and taking care of everyone else, many women slowly lose sight of themselves.

In today’s episode, Allie Worthington is here for an honest conversation about burnout, identity, and why so many moms struggle to care for themselves without guilt. Allie shares wisdom from raising five boys into adulthood and offers practical encouragement for moms who feel overwhelmed, numb, or stuck in survival mode.

If you’ve been feeling exhausted, disc...

In this episode Michael and Angela DeAquino discuss the importance of pre-parental counseling, building a shared family vision, navigating disagreements in marriage, and understanding how our own upbringing shapes the way we parent. They talk honestly about family trauma, generational patterns, survival mode parenting, apologizing to our kids, and the freedom that comes from letting go of perfection.

Whether you are preparing for your first baby, parenting young kids, or realizing you want to become more intentional years into parenting, this conversation offers practical encouragement and hope for every season. 

Michael and Angela are the f...

In this episode, Brad and Heidi Mitchell share wisdom from over 40 years of marriage and ministry on what it looks like to build a marriage rooted in prayer. 

We talk about why prayer is so impactful for both marriage and parenting, why it can feel intimidating to pray with your spouse, and simple, practical ways to begin. 

Brad and Heidi also share encouragement for couples who feel spiritually mismatched and how small steps of faith can lead to lasting change. 

Brad and Heidi are the founders of Build Your Marriage, a ministry dedicated to...

In this episode, Steven Curtis Chapman and Mary Beth Chapman share honestly about what 40 years of marriage has looked like through parenting, grief, counseling, career changes, and the constant transition of family life. We talk about how differences that once felt charming can become challenging over time, why repentance and humility have been essential in their marriage, and how they’ve learned to “bear with one another in love” through every season.

Steven and Mary Beth also share about the role counseling, mentors, and Christian community have played in helping them navigate hard seasons together. They offer encour...

In this episode, Doug McKelvey shares how prayer and liturgy can become powerful tools for discipling kids through all of life’s stages, but specifically the transition to adulthood.

We talk about the value of written prayers alongside spontaneous prayer, how ancient rhythms can help reorient our hearts in a noisy world, and why giving our kids words for their faith matters more than we might realize. We also discuss the challenge of releasing control as parents and learning to trust God with our children’s stories in every season. 

Doug is the author of the E...

In this episode, I sit down with my two closest friends, Kelly Karpe and Kate Hann, for an honest conversation about how our parenting has changed over time. 

We talk about the expectations we had as young moms, how God reshaped our hearts through different seasons, and what it looks like to release control and trust God more as our kids grow.

These women have known me for a long time, so we share personal stories about comparison, surrender, friendship in motherhood, the importance of community in raising kids who love Jesus, and our hopes f...

What do you do with yourself as your kids get older and your roles and rhythms begin to change? Parenting our kids while managing the shifting seasons of motherhood can feel overwhelming and weird! 

In this episode, Sarah Colbert shares wisdom on navigating time, identity, and priorities in the in-between years of parenting. We talk about how to balance caring for yourself, your family, and the everyday responsibilities of life, why so many moms feel stretched thin in this season, and how small, consistent changes can lead to meaningful transformation. 

Sarah is the host of th...

Raising kids who are confident, resilient, and grounded in their faith is a deep desire for most parents, but in today’s world, it can feel like we’re constantly pulled between protecting our kids and preparing them for real life.

In this episode, Steph sits down with Sissy Goff and David Thomas to talk about what they call a “crisis of capability” in kids today. Steph, Sissy, and David talk about how our desire to keep kids happy can sometimes work against their long-term growth. They discuss the importance of allowing discomfort, setting boundaries, and helping kids bui...

As part of our Best of The Christian Parenting Podcast series, we’re revisiting some of our most helpful and encouraging conversations for families.

In a culture that often encourages entitlement, many parents wonder how to raise kids who are grateful, responsible, and grounded in strong character.

In this episode, Monica Swanson joins the conversation to talk about practical ways parents can push back against entitlement at home. We discuss the importance of teaching responsibility, giving kids opportunities to work hard, and helping them develop a genuine heart of gratitude.

Monica is an au...

As part of our Best of The Christian Parenting Podcast series, we’re revisiting some of our most helpful and encouraging conversations for families.

Raising emotionally healthy kids often begins with doing our own work as parents. When we address our own wounds and learn to set healthy boundaries, we create a stronger foundation for our children.

In this episode, Melanie Shankle shares insights on generational patterns, emotional healing, and the impact relationships can have on young girls. We also talk about how parents can help their kids navigate friendship challenges, like mean-girl culture, while mode...

As part of our Best of The Christian Parenting Podcast series, we’re revisiting some of our most helpful and encouraging conversations for families.

Discipling our kids to know, love, and follow Jesus is one of the most important callings of Christian parenting, but it can also feel complex and uncertain.

In this episode, Sarah Holmstrom shares wisdom on what discipleship can look like in everyday family life. We talk about how to approach discipleship with kids who have different personalities, what daily faith formation can look like at home, and why praying for our ch...

As part of our Best of The Christian Parenting Podcast series, we’re revisiting some of our most helpful and encouraging conversations for families.

Many parents feel the pressure to control outcomes, do everything perfectly, and make sure their kids turn out “right.” But the Christian life, and parenting within it, is ultimately a journey of trusting God.

In this episode, Ruth Chou Simons shares encouragement for parents who want to root their lives and families more deeply in God’s character. We talk about why following Jesus often feels like a pilgrimage, how time in God’s...

As part of our Best of The Christian Parenting Podcast series, we’re revisiting some of our most helpful and encouraging conversations for families.

Raising kids in the Christian faith often means balancing many priorities, family life, church involvement, and helping children build their own relationship with God.

In this episode, Lisa Clark shares practical encouragement for parents who want to make faith a natural part of everyday life. We talk about partnering with the church, helping kids prioritize time with God, and why nurturing your own faith is an essential part of guiding your ch...

As part of our Best of The Christian Parenting Podcast series, we’re revisiting some of our most helpful and encouraging conversations for families.

One of our most important callings as parents is discipling our kids in the Christian faith. To do that well, we need to understand what we believe, why we believe it, and be familiar with God’s Word.

In this episode, Jen Wilkin and J.T. English join me to talk about the relationship between Bible study and theology and why both matter as we raise the next generation of believers. Toge...

Hey friends,

What if discipling your kids didn’t feel heavy… but actually felt joyful again?

I don’t know about you, but sometimes the pressure to “do it right” as a Christian parent can slowly steal the fun and freedom out of faith. What starts as a beautiful calling can start to feel like another thing on the list. And that’s exactly why this conversation felt so refreshing.

Today I’m joined by my friend Amanda Jass, and she brings such a grace-filled, life-giving perspective to what it looks like to disciple our k...

Have you ever felt busy all day long but still wondered if any of it really mattered?

This week’s episode is a little different and so special. I’m sharing a conversation from another Christian Parenting podcast, Pardon the Mess, hosted by the wonderful Courtney DeFeo. I first heard her interview with Elaine Franklin years ago, and honestly, it stuck with me in such a meaningful way. So when I saw them sit down together again, I knew I had to share it with you.

This conversation is all about time, but not in the...

Hey friends,

Have you ever felt like you’re trying to pass on faith to your kids while quietly wrestling with your own? If so, this episode is for you.

This week I’m joined by Kristin LaValley, writer, retreat host, and mom of five, who brings so much vulnerability and hope to the table. Kristin’s story is one many of us can relate to: growing up in the church, facing seasons of doubt and deconstruction, and learning how to build a gentler, deeper faith in the aftermath. Her wisdom is rooted in real experi...

Hi friends,

This week’s episode is a little different and really special. It's just me, Steph, reflecting on the past three years of hosting the Christian Parenting Podcast. As I look back on the many conversations I’ve had with incredible guests, a few themes have come up over and over again. And I wanted to take a moment to name them, reflect on them, and remind you (and myself!) that faithful parenting is not about doing everything perfectly, it's about showing up with humility, love, and trust in God.

In this solo episode, I sh...