Ever look around and think, "What is this nonsense?" The news is a disaster. Politicians disappoint. Pastors fall. The economy's a mess. And you're supposed to be joyful because... why exactly?

If you're tired of being told to "just choose joy" when the world feels like a dumpster fire, this conversation is for you.

In this episode with Brant Hansen (author of Life Is Hard, God Is Good, Let's Dance and host of The Brant Hansen Show), we're talking about how to actually experience joy without being fake, how to navigate Christian ministry and culture without becoming cynical and jaded, and why the children Brant serves through CURE International—kids facing severe medical challenges in some of the hardest places on earth—have more joy than most Christians in America.

Brant shares what he's witnessed behind the scenes in Christian America that makes cynicism so tempting, how to build something God-honoring without falling into the traps so many encounter, and why joy isn't about pretending everything is fine—it's about something much deeper and more real.

We talk about why grouchiness and jadedness are so easy right now (and honestly, understandable), what's different about the joy Brant sees in children who have every reason to be bitter, and how to maintain hope and perspective when you're watching people make terrible decisions and the world seems to be falling apart.

This episode is for you if:

• You're grouchy and cynical about everything right now (the world, the church, people)

• You feel guilty because you know you "should" be joyful but you're just... not

• You're tired of toxic positivity and fake Christian cheerfulness

• You're in Christian ministry/writing/influencing and struggling with what you see behind the scenes

• You're watching Christian leaders fall and wondering what the point even is

• You want real joy, not performed joy—but don't know how to get there

• You're exhausted by the state of the world and need a perspective shift

Brant gives honest, clear, practical guidance for anyone struggling with cynicism and jadedness right now—which is most of us. This conversation offers a much-needed change in perspective without the fluff or the guilt trip.

If you're thinking "I know I should be joyful, but the world is a dumpster fire"—this one's for you.

📖 RESOURCE MENTIONED:

Brant's book: "Life Is Hard, God Is Good, Let's Dance: Experiencing Real Joy in a World Gone Mad" https://amzn.to/4d81dAZ

🔗 CONNECT WITH BRANT:

https://www.instagram.com/branthansen/

Learn more about CURE International: https://CURE.org

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Ever ask your teenager "How was your day?" and get nothing but a grunt and "fine?" You miss the days when they were little and told you everything. Now they've gone quiet right when you need to know what's going on most.

In this conversation with Tim and Mark Shoemaker (father-son duo and authors of "What to Say and How to Say It to Your Teen"), we're talking about how to get your teenager to open up, what conversations you need to be having before they leave home, and how to reach their heart instead of just winning arguments.

Tim and Mark share why the tactics that worked in elementary school backfire with teens, how to avoid conversation killers (interrupting, sarcasm, claiming to know their motives), and why atmosphere, timing, and tone matter more than you think (hint: take them to a restaurant, not their bedroom).

We talk about the 30 tricky conversations parents need to have (friends, dating, screens, faith, anxiety, gender, church pushback), when to deal with something immediately versus waiting for the right moment (the Jesus-in-the-temple lesson you've never heard), and what to do when you've already blown it so many times you feel like you've lost their trust.

This episode is for you if:

• Your teenager has stopped talking to you and you don't know how to connect
• You're terrified of having "the big conversations" (sex, faith, mental health, culture)
• You resort to lecturing and then wonder why they tune you out
• You've already blown it multiple times and don't know how to rebuild trust
• You interrupt them because you "already know" what they're going to say
• You don't know when something is urgent versus when it can wait
• You're watching the teenage years slip by and know you need to speak into their life NOW

Tim and Mark give practical guidance on asking questions first (not lecturing), how to truly listen (Mark's dad took notes while he talked!), and why teenagers are incredibly forgiving when you genuinely apologize and try again.

Plus, the rat trap object lesson that shows your teen you're trying to protect them, not control them.

Remember: This isn't about winning an argument. It's about reaching their heart. And there's still time.

📖 RESOURCE MENTIONED:
Tim and Mark's book: "What to Say and How to Say It to Your Teen: A Parent's Guide to 30 Tricky Conversations" https://amzn.to/42r7B01 (affiliate)

🔗 CONNECT WITH TIM & MARK:
Tim's website: https://www.TimShoemaker.com
Mark on Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/MarkShoemaker3/

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Ever feel crushing pressure to get parenting exactly right—but the advice you're following just isn't working for your family? Or worse, it's causing harm?

In this conversation with Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis (authors of The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families), we're talking about the hidden history behind popular Christian parenting advice, why methods from the 1970s are still shaping how we parent today, and how to tell what's actually biblical versus what's just cultural baggage.

Marissa and Kelsey share how the Christian parenting industry emerged as a reaction to 1960s social upheaval, why James Dobson's Dare to Discipline set the tone for decades of authoritarian parenting methods, and how ideas about authority, compliance, and control became marketed as "God's way" to parent even though the New Testament only gives one direct instruction to Christian parents.

We talk about why mothers are told not to trust themselves (you'll be too soft, too empathetic), how "prosperity gospel parenting" promises specific outcomes if you follow the formula, and why treating the Bible as an instruction manual for parenting robs families of freedom, connection, and relationship.

This episode is for you if:

• You're following Christian parenting advice that doesn't feel right in your gut

• Everything you try seems to conflict with other "biblical" advice

• You feel like a failure because methods that work for others don't work for you

• You're terrified of damaging your kids by getting it wrong

• You can't tell what's actually biblical versus what's just one person's opinion

• You're recovering from a strict religious upbringing and rethinking how to parent

• You want freedom to parent your actual children, not follow a formula

Marissa and Kelsey give research-backed clarity on evaluating parenting resources (check credentials, theology, how it lands in your body), why there's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all parenting expert, and how to reclaim your agency as a parent who knows your children better than any author.

Plus, why God gently leads those who have young—you are seen, known, and trusted with your particular children.

Remember: Your children are whole people and you can connect with them. You don't need a formula; you need freedom to parent the real kids in front of you.

📖 RESOURCE MENTIONED:

Marissa and Kelsey's book: "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting: How False Promises Betrayed a Generation of Evangelical Families" https://amzn.to/4vu7L4d (affiliate)

🔗 CONNECT WITH MARISSA & KELSEY:

Marissa's website: https://www.MarissaBBurt.com

Marissa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mburtwrites/

Kelsey on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseykmcginnis/

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