Your kid asks to watch the show everyone else is watching, and you want to say yes. But should you? Paul and Cindy Karos understand the tension of that moment, and they're here to help. In this episode, they explore practical ways to guard your child's heart when the world walks through your front door without knocking. If you're tired of saying no, take heart. You don't need more rules—you just need a different approach. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we're talking with Paul and Cindy Karos about the daily decisions that help our kids grow into adults who can discern what is good, noble and lovely. (0:00)
• Is there a one-size-fits-all rulebook for parents, or is it different for every family? (2:16)
• Are there some things that are always off-limits, or is everything case-by-case? (4:26)
• What happens the day a kid leaves a rules-only home and the gate finally comes down? (10:49)
• Why is it important to ask open-ended questions after watching a show? (12:00)
• How do you teach a kid to recognize what's harmful without slipping into judging other families? (16:47)
• How much is a steady media diet forming our children? (20:26)
• What can families do instead of defaulting to screen time? (21:58)
• Which resources can help you vet a show or game before you press play? (26:21)
• How do you raise kids with genuine conviction rather than surface-level compliance? (30:42)
• Is it healthy to shield our kids from every disappointment, or does some struggle do them good? (33:03)

Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• “Navigating the Digital Tsunami”
• Monthly Guides from Faithtree and Axis
• Get The Relationship Project
• Donate to support the podcast

Can one parent—or even two—raise a faithful son alone? Father Jacob Saylor says no family was ever meant to. In this episode, he explains why boys need faithful men beyond their own father to show them Christ's version of masculinity, and how priests, godfathers, uncles and parish friends can help form the next generation. He also offers real encouragement to moms doing this without a father present in the home. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Father Jacob Saylor about the importance of surrounding our sons with holy men.
• How do we help young men discover who God has created them to be?
• What can we do to help young people encounter Christ?
• How can single moms surround their sons with men to look up to?
• How can we support our Church community without overstepping?
• When should we encourage young people to talk to their priests?
• What do parents need to know about handing down the faith?
• What words of encouragement can you give to a mom who’s struggling with this?
• What have you learned from your own mentoring relationships?
• Can you share advice for a single parent who is co-parenting with someone outside the Church?

Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Donate to support the podcast
• Get the Lionheart Sessions
• Get the Foundations of Faith Cards
• Learn about Arizona Christian Academy

Some days the sacred feels impossibly far away—buried under the laundry, the backpacks, the dishes in the sink. In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis returns to the podcast with practical wisdom for parents worn thin by the chaos of daily life. He reminds us that a peaceful parent is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, and offers a way to leave guilt and shame behind for good. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking about finding peace in the midst of chaos with Dr. Philip Mamalakis.
• How can we stay focused on the sacred when we’re surrounded by mess?
• Our kids don’t need a clean house, but they do need a peaceful parent.
• How should we respond when we feel we’re about to snap?
• What might it look like to build a little breathing room into our days?
• How can we combat guilt and shame to show up as healthier parents?
• Where can we find peace when we’re feeling stressed or anxious?
• When things feel dark, how can we respond with light?
• How can we support single parents who are doing the work of two?
• How can we walk alongside our kids as they explore new ideas?

Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Donate to support the podcast
• Get the Foundations of Faith Cards
• Download The Encounter app
• “Parenting Toward the Kingdom” by Dr. Philip Mamalakis

When their daughter needed a heart transplant, Elias and Joy Hajjar learned what it looks like for an Orthodox Church community to truly show up. In part two of this conversation, they share the next chapter of their journey including the remarkable relationship they built with the donor's family. They also speak directly to parents caring for a sick child and to the communities trying to love them well. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re continuing our conversation about parenting through a child’s illness with Elias and Joy Hajjar.
• Tell us about your transplant experience.
• How did you build a relationship with Rosie’s donor’s family?
• How can we best show up for people as they’re walking through hardship?
• What would you say to someone going through this experience right now?
• What do families in the middle of a crisis need most?
• Can you give us an update on Rosie?

Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Donate to support the podcast
• Get the Foundations of Faith Cards

As parents, we all have a plan for how our lives will unfold. But how do we hold onto faith when those plans shatter? In this episode, Elias and Joy Hajjar share their story of raising a child with a heart defect and navigating surgeries, hospital stays and eventually a transplant. They explain how their Church community held them up during the most difficult moments and discuss the steps they’ve taken to keep their marriage strong in times of chaos and calm. Make sure to follow the podcast so you don’t miss part 2 of this conversation, and download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Elias and Joy Hajjar about holding onto faith in the midst of a child’s illness.
• Tell us about your experience of giving birth to Rosie.
• How did your Church family surround you in such a challenging time?
• How did Rosie’s health impact your younger daughters?
• Did navigating these challenges together make your marriage stronger?
• How did the lessons of faith you grew up with carry you through?
• Did you ever find yourself feeling angry at God?
• Can you tell us about the transplant process?

Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Donate to support the podcast

How do we raise children who love the Faith and aren't afraid to talk about it? Fr. Constantine Nasr, a ninth-generation priest, shares why we don't need to turn our children into little evangelists. Instead, he says, we need to live the Faith with enough joy, humility and love for them to see something worth embracing. He also reveals three questions his father passed down to him that are simple enough for children to remember but deep enough for all of us to live by. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Fr. Constantine Nasr about teaching our children to share their faith.
• There’s enormous power in sharing our faith stories.
• How do we help our children confidently share their faith?
• What would you say to parents who are too hard on themselves?
• How do we make the Faith a thing of joy and not obligation?
• You can’t save the world, but you might be able to save one person in your world.
• How do we help our children handle questions from people outside the Orthodox Church?
• What’s the one thing you want parents to teach their children about the faith?

Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Order the Foundations of Faith Cards
• Donate to support the podcast
• Father Nasr’s podcast

One of the greatest gifts you can give your children is a healthy marriage. In this episode, Paul and Karen Kinan join the podcast to explain how investing in their marriage has helped them raise a family who loves God and each other. As parents of adult children—and now grandparents—Paul and Karen also reflect on what worked well when they were raising their kids as well as what they would do differently if they could go back in time. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we're talking with Paul and Karen Kinan, who have what most of us are desperate for—the hindsight that comes from decades of parenting experience.
• Tell us about your family and how you met.
• When you look at your adult children, what tells you something went right?
• How did you surround your family with other Orthodox Christians?
• Why is leading by example so important for parents?
• What is village living and how do you create it?
• Why did focusing on your marriage make you better parents?
• How have you established a peaceful home?
• What role does forgiveness play in your parenting?
• How do you use the Jesus prayer in your daily life?
• If you could go back in time, what would you do differently?
• How do we help our kids develop relationships with the saints?
• Has becoming a grandparent changed your perspective on anything?
• What would you say to young parents today?
• Can you share advice for parents when kids don’t want to go to church?
• What do you do when your kids ask questions you don’t have the answers to?

Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Order the Foundations of Faith Cards
• Download The Encounter App
• Donate to support the podcast

Church camp offers an incredible opportunity to give your children a break from the noise of the world and surround them with a community of believers. In this episode, Father Andrew Andrews explains how camp can transform lives and form a faith that lasts beyond the weeks of summer. He also shares practical guidance for parents about who camp is for and how to overcome common fears around sending your kids to camp. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.

Episode Recap:

• Today we’re talking with Fr. Andrew Andrews about the role of church camp in spiritual formation.
• What sets this generation of Orthodox kids apart?
• How can camp strip away some of the falsehoods of the modern world?
• Can you share a story that exemplifies why camp matters?
• What does liturgical life look like at camp?
• How can parents extend the impact of camp when kids come home?
• What would you say to parents who are scared to send their kids to camp?
• How do we teach our kids to love people while holding firm to their beliefs?
• How can church camp help kids who don’t have Orthodox friends at school?
• Is camp helpful for kids who are new to the Church?
• How can I get my spouse on board with the idea of camp?
• What if my teenagers don’t want to go to camp?
• Lightning round camp questions

Resources:

• Follow and rate the podcast on Apple, Spotify or YouTube
• Download this episode’s free Discussion Guide
• Explore the full library of Faithtree Resources
• Download The Encounter App
• Order the Foundations of Faith Cards