Ever wonder how the college your teen is considering will continue to shape their faith? Or if questioning their faith is a natural part of going to college? Deconstruction is not just “asking questions.” Sometimes it's what happens when we judge biblical faith with a measuring stick that never came from the Bible in the first place. That single shift can quietly move a teen from honest curiosity to a full-blown crisis of confidence, especially once they hit the college years and are surrounded by new definitions of truth, love, identity, and belonging.

On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy talk and laugh with returning guest Dr. Renton Rathbun, pastor, longtime college professor, and host of The Renton Rathbun Show, to break down the difference between examining your faith and deconstruction through the lens of logic, worldview, and critical thinking. He explains how the campus challenge usually is not open hostility, but a calmer strategy: build trust, introduce a “neutral” standard, then use that standard to imply the Bible cannot be taken seriously. We talk about why that lands so effectively, why kids often cannot explain the doubt to parents, and how cultural incentives reward outrage over clarity.

Then we get practical for Christian parenting. We discuss teaching teens to analyze ideas (Bloom’s taxonomy), ask “who says?” when claims feel self-evident, and defend Christianity without becoming harsh or performative. We also share concrete college guidance: do not assume a Christian college equals Christian formation, assess maturity honestly, and help your teen treat the local church as home while college is a tool.

Production note: We had to edit this episode down because we spent so much time chatting and laughing in between serious topics. If the transitions are a little abrupt at times, that's why...it happens when friends try to catch up AND record a show at the same time. We appreciate the grace!

Subscribe for more conversations on raising thoughtful kids, share this with a parent of a high schooler, and leave a review so more families can find the show.

ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms

Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter

Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

Enjoying our conversations about play? Let's talk about playful homeschooling, sensory play, and screens. Last week, early childhood educator Gennie Gorback helped us understand why child-led, open-ended play is so important for children’s learning, development, and joy. Today, we’re continuing that conversation with her co-author, Kate Allen Fox, who brings a homeschooling-family perspective and plenty of practical ideas for putting those principles into action at home.

In Part 2 of our conversation about their book Go Play: How Parents Can Empower Kids to Build Their Own Worlds, co-author and homeschooling parent Kate Allen Fox explores what it can look like to prioritize play in real family life. For homeschooling parents especially, the pressure to choose the “right” curriculum, cover every subject, and make every moment educational can be overwhelming. Kate offers a refreshing reminder: play is not separate from learning—it is often the foundation for it.

Kate shares her own journey from feeling unsure how to engage and regulate her high-energy children to discovering the power of simple, open-ended play experiences. We discuss sensory play, nature play, messy creativity, big multi-day building projects, and practical strategies for making room for children’s interests without needing expensive toys or Pinterest-perfect setups. You’ll hear why a bin-within-a-bin, a cafeteria tray, cardboard boxes, sticks, water, and pantry basics may be all you need to get started.

We also have an honest, judgment-free conversation about screens. Kate encourages parents to consider the role screen time plays in their particular family, distinguish between active and passive use, and make intentional choices that support both children’s needs and parents’ well-being. Whether you homeschool, use another educational model, or simply want more joy and connection at home, this episode will help you notice what your child’s play may be telling you.

If you want practical homeschool support, playful learning ideas, and a calmer home rhythm, press play. Subscribe, share this with a homeschool friend, and leave a review so more parents can find the show.

ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms

Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter

Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com

The truth is, there are moms way worse than you! And the fastest way to feel like a better parent might be a laugh you did not expect. On this episode of The Brainy Moms Podcast. Dr. Amy and Sandy talk with Glenn Boozan, an Emmy-nominated, WGA award-winning comedy writer and the author of the New York Times bestselling gift book There Are Moms Way Worse Than You, to talk about why modern parenting can feel like a constant test you can never pass, even when you are pouring your whole heart into your kids.

Glenn explains how a simple joke for her sister during the pandemic turned into a wildly popular, science fact-checked, rhyming reminder that perfection is not the goal. We dig into the mom guilt spiral, why shame keeps parents stuck in their heads, and how humor can loosen that grip long enough for you to breathe and reconnect. Glenn shares some of the most unbelievable animal parenting facts in the book, the kind that instantly reset your perspective and make your own messy day feel a lot more survivable.

We go behind the scenes on comedy writing: what joke punch-up really is, how writers learn to capture someone else’s “voice,” and why a well-timed laugh can feel like a turning point after a hard moment. If you are tired of chasing perfect parenting standards, overwhelmed by nonstop advice, or just craving a kind, funny reality check, this conversation is for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a lift, and leave a review so more parents can find the exhale.

ABOUT US:
The Brainy Moms is a parenting podcast hosted by cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis. Dr. Amy and Sandy have conversations with experts in parenting, child development, education, homeschooling, psychology, mental health, and neuroscience. Listeners leave with tips and advice for helping parents and kids thrive. If you love us, add us to your playlist and follow us on social media!

CONNECT WITH US:
Website: www.TheBrainyMoms.com
Email: BrainyMoms@gmail.com
Social Media: @TheBrainyMoms

Subscribe to our free monthly newsletter

Visit our sponsor's website: www.LearningRx.com