In this episode, Mike and John talk with Dave Boden, author of Raising Gen Alpha: Helping Kids Navigate Everything from Anxiety to AI (New Growth Press, 2026). Dave explains the five core attributes of Gen Alpha with the acronym A.L.P.H.A

• Anxious Minded
• a Leading Influence
• Pandemic Impacted
• Hyperconnected
• AI Shaped

Go order and read his book this summer... even better, form a reading group with a few parents and volunteers and discuss it every-other week in order to discern how your church can disciple them well. (Affiliate link above, brings a small financial benefit to YPT).

Dave Boden leads the Grace Foundation, is a former pastor, and co-creator of the Kleer Series. Dave and his wife Leah and their four children live in the West Midlands, England. He’s written a few books but today we’ll be talking about his latest, Raising Gen Alpha.

Mike McGarry is the Founder and Director of Youth Pastor Theologian and served as a youth pastor for nearly twenty years. He's written four books for youth workers and teenagers, his latest is now available: Iconic: Being God's Image in Your World. Follow Mike on Instagram or X/Twitter.

John Gardner is the Pastor of Youth Ministries at Grace Church in Longmont, CO. John and his wife Jackie have been married for 15 years and love spending time trying out new food, exploring the national parks, and playing board games. Follow John on Instagram.

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