This week’s episode of the Christian Parenting Podcast is such a life-giving conversation, one that will fill your heart and equip you with fresh encouragement for the days ahead. I got to sit down with Hosanna Wong, who is a powerhouse of wisdom and truth. She’s a spoken word artist, pastor, and author, and she joined me to talk about raising kids who know who they are and whose they are.

Hosanna shares her own story of growing up in a ministry family, the challenges she faced with identity and belonging, and the deep healing she found in God’s love. She also gives us a peek into her brand-new children’s book, What God Says About You, and let me tell you, it’s a gem.

Here’s a glimpse of what we cover in today’s episode:

• The importance of repeating truth until it takes root

• How to help your kids find their identity in Christ, not culture

• Why building a church community matters even if it looks unconventional

• Simple ways to navigate big topics like social media with grace and guidance

This is such a rich, encouraging conversation especially for those of us wanting to raise kids who walk in confidence, knowing they are deeply loved by God.

Meet Hosanna Wong:

Hosanna is an international speaker, spoken word artist, and best-selling author known for bringing the Word of God to life through creative teaching. She’s the author of How (Not) to Save the World, and her latest project, a children’s book called What God Says About You helps parents speak biblical identity into their kids’ lives. Her ministry is passionate about equipping people to live boldly in the love and truth of Jesus.

I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did. And as always, if it blesses you, would you leave a quick review or share it with a friend? Your support helps more parents find these conversations and I’m so grateful for you.

(00:00) Introduction and Background

(03:0) Journey Through Spoken Word Poetry

(05:54) Experiences with Church and Community

(09:01) The Impact of Parents on Faith

(12:02) Understanding Spoken Word Poetry

(15:11) The Power of Identity in Christ

(18:03) Engaging the Younger Generation

(21:00) Practical Tips for Parents

(24:03) The Names God Calls Us

(27:11) Conclusion and Resources

Connect with Hosanna

https://www.hosannawong.com/

YouTube

Instagram

Resources Mentioned

I Have a New Name video

I Have a New Name Coloring Book

Christian Parenting Christmas Gift Guide

Christian Parenting resources

Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In this week’s episode Brendt Blanks shares how so many of us, especially moms, wrestle with thoughts that aren’t true. And if we’re not careful, those thoughts become beliefs. Brendt helps us learn how to pause, notice, and replace those lies with God’s truth, and her insight is incredibly freeing.

Here are a few things we talk about:

• How to recognize and disrupt negative thought cycles

• Why scripture and worship are powerful tools for mental renewal

• What it looks like to replace cultural lies with biblical truth

• The importance of grace when change feels hard or slow

This episode is full of practical steps and hopeful reminders and I hope it feels like a deep breath for your soul today.

Brendt spent 17 years as a licensed marriage and family therapist before stepping into her new role as an author and content creator. Her debut book, Listen Closer: Believing God's Truth Over the World's Lies, invites women to quiet the noise of the world and tune in to the voice of God. She’s passionate about helping others understand their worth, embrace truth, and live with freedom.

Listen in and don’t forget to check out the link to her book below! And if you’re enjoying these episodes, it means so much when you leave a review or share it with a friend.

(00:00) Introduction to Family and Change

(02:46) Navigating Parenting Transitions

(05:35) From Therapist to Content Creator

(08:38) Embracing Change and Fear

(11:28) Common Lies Women Believe

(14:14) Recognizing Negative Cycles

(17:07) The Power of Scripture and Music

(19:43) Practical Steps to Replace Lies

(22:46) Final Encouragement for Parents

Connect with Brendt

https://shegaveitago.com

Facebook

Instagram

Resources Mentioned

Listen Closer audio book

Listen Closer book

Christian Parenting resources

Subscribe to Christian Parenting’s Friday Favorites

Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to help your kids navigate their big feelings, or if you’re still figuring out your own emotional landscape, this episode is for you.

I’m joined by Debra Fileta, and she’s bringing a fresh perspective from her brand-new children’s book, Any Day Emotions. We talk about raising emotionally healthy families, what it looks like to model emotional regulation as a parent, and why emotional intelligence is just as important as spiritual formation in our homes.

Here are a few things you’ll take away from this conversation:

• Why our kids need names for their emotions and how language helps them grow
• What it means to do your own inner work as a parent so you can show up with calm and compassion
• How to model emotional resilience by being honest, but not heavy, with your kids
• Why helping kids manage emotions is not coddling, but preparing them for life and faith

If you want practical tools, biblical encouragement, and a gentle nudge to grow alongside your kids emotionally, this episode is packed with wisdom. And don’t forget to check out Debra’s new book Any Day Emotions, a beautiful resource for helping children learn to feel and heal.

Debra Fileta is a licensed professional counselor, speaker, and author of multiple books, including Are You Really OK?, Reset, and Choosing Marriage. Her work focuses on emotional and spiritual wellness, helping individuals and families heal from the inside out. Any Day Emotions is her first children’s book, written to empower kids with the tools they need to understand and manage their emotions in healthy, faith-filled ways.

00:00 Introduction to Emotional Health in Families

05:49 The Importance of Early Conversations

12:00 Encouraging Healthy Emotional Expression

18:05 Navigating Parent-Child Emotional Dynamics

23:55 Resources for Parents on Emotional Health

Connect with Debra

https://debrafileta.com/

Podcast

Instagram

Resources Mentioned

Any Day Emotions

Christian Parenting resources

Subscribe to Christian Parenting’s Friday Favorites

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

This episode is for every parent who has ever felt helpless watching their child go through something hard. You know that ache, that deep desire to step in and fix it all?

Today’s guest is Vanessa Siso, a registered psychologist and author, and she brings such a gentle, wise, and hope-filled perspective. She reminds us that while we can’t always protect our kids from hardship, we can walk with them through it in a way that strengthens their faith and resilience.

Here’s what you’ll take away from this episode:

• Why it’s more powerful to be present than to offer quick fixes
• How simple role play helps kids process and respond to hard things biblically
• The difference between helping and rescuing, and how rescuing can hinder growth
• A practical tool: narrating your own coping strategies to model emotional resilience

If this conversation speaks to you, be sure to check out Vanessa’s children's book, Elizabeth’s Miracle, which helps kids process challenges through a faith-based lens.

About Vanessa Siso:

Vanessa is a registered psychologist, children’s book author, and mom who is passionate about helping families navigate mental health and spiritual growth with compassion and confidence. Her work blends clinical insight with biblical wisdom, giving parents the tools to walk with their children through life’s ups and downs with grace.

Thanks for being here, let’s keep walking this parenting path together.

(01:51) The Importance of Allowing Kids to Experience Hardships

(05:52) The Long-Term Effects of Shielding Kids from Pain

(09:52) Understanding Kids' Feelings of Loneliness and Isolation

(14:08) The Power of Presence in Parenting

(18:15) Teaching Kids to Trust God Through Struggles

(21:56) Role-Playing as a Tool for Learning

(26:05) Vanessa's Book: A Resource for Parents

(30:02) Conclusion and Resources

Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!

Connect with Vanessa

https://www.vanessasiso.com/

Instagram

Resources mentioned

Elisabeth’s Miracle

Make your own sock puppets and coloring pages

Christian Parenting resources

Subscribe to Christian Parenting’s Friday Favorites

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Welcome back to the Christian Parenting Podcast! I hope you’re ready for a really fun, really doable conversation that might just spark your next memory-making moment.

This week, I’m chatting with Dan and Sam Matthews. They are parents, content creators, and big believers in family adventures. You might know them from their videos online, but today, we’re going beyond the highlight reel and digging into what it really looks like to choose adventure in your everyday life.

Whether you’re dreaming of a road trip or just looking to make Saturday pizza night more intentional, this episode is packed with practical encouragement.

Here’s what we covered:

• How to create a family culture of adventure (even if you’re not an “adventure person”)

• Why small moments, like a backyard campout matter just as much as big vacations

• Tips for staying flexible and faithful when kids melt down or plans fall apart

• How saying yes to adventure helps our kids grow in resilience and trust

If your family feels stuck in the same old routine, this episode is your reminder that adventure doesn’t require plane tickets or perfect weather, just a little intention and a lot of grace.

Dan and Sam are a husband and wife duo passionate about family, faith, and making the most of every moment. Known for their joyful content and honest approach to parenting, they’re the authors of Always Choose Adventure, a book filled with practical tips and inspiring stories to help you build a family life full of purpose, connection, and fun. You can follow them online and grab their book via the link in the show notes!

Until next week, keep parenting with purpose and choosing the adventure—big or small.

(03:00) The Importance of Family Adventures

(06:13) Creating Lasting Memories Through Adventure

(09:01) Navigating Challenges and Learning from Experiences

(11:48) Faith and Family: Exploring Spirituality Through Adventure

(15:11) Intentional Living: Simplifying Life and Giving Back

(19:14) Expanding Perspectives Through Travel

(20:12) Teaching Values: Tithing and Giving

(21:49) Experiencing Service: Family Missions

(22:45) Pursuing Time Freedom: A New Lifestyle

(24:35) Finding Adventure in Everyday Life

(31:32) Encouragement for Families: Breaking the Routine

Connect with Dan and Sam

Website

Instagram

Facebook

We Are Dan and Sam YouTube

Resources Mentioned

Always Choose Adventure book

Christian Parenting resources

Subscribe to Christian Parenting’s Friday Favorites

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Hey friends, today we’ve got something special for you: a bonus episode straight from the Pardon the Mess podcast!

Every Monday, host Courtney DeFeo shares a short prayer to help you lift up your kids. This year’s series follows Christian Parenting’s brand new prayer journal, A Great Cloud of Witnesses.

Each week highlights a biblical hero of the faith, paired with Scripture-based prayers for your kids. Here is a sneak peek into week one:

This first week is all about Noah—a man of incredible faith and obedience. While the world around him turned away from God, Noah walked in righteousness. Building the ark probably looked foolish to everyone else, but Noah trusted God’s word even when it didn’t make sense. That’s the kind of faith we want for our kids: to listen to God’s voice over any others and walk confidently with Him even when it means standing apart.

If you love this episode and don’t have your copy of A Great Cloud of Witnesses yet, it’s not too late to get yours! Go ChristianParenting.org to get your copy and follow along. And don’t forget to tune in to Pardon the Mess every Monday for more prayer episodes.

Order A Great Cloud of Witnesses today

Follow Pardon the Mess on Apple or Spotify

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

This week’s episode is one that speaks straight to the heart especially for those of us raising kids in a digital world.

I’m joined by joy-filled Emma Mae McDaniel, a speaker and writer who shares her powerful story of navigating cyberbullying and learning to root her identity in Christ rather than the words of others. Her story is raw, redemptive, and full of practical encouragement.

We talked about:

• How Emma learned to respond to cruelty with grace

• The importance of building a daily habit of being in God’s Word

• What it looks like to help our kids form their own faith, not just borrow ours

• How God uses our pain for His glory and purpose

Whether you’re parenting a teen who’s struggling with identity or walking through your own healing, this episode is going to speak life over you.

Emma is a speaker, author, and passionate encourager who loves pointing people to Jesus. She is the author of The Girl in the Middle and travels around the country sharing messages of identity, faith, and courage with teens and women. Her authenticity and joy are contagious, and her wisdom is rooted deeply in scripture.

00:00 Introduction to Emma Mae

02:58 Emma's Journey into Ministry

06:00 The Impact of Cyberbullying

11:53 Finding Identity in Christ

18:05 Encouragement for Parents

24:00 Daily Habits for Spiritual Growth

Connect with Emma Mae

Website

Instagram

The Compelled Podcast with Emma Mae

The Girl in the Middle book

Resources Mentioned

Praise God, All Creatures book

Christian Parenting resources

Subscribe to Christian Parenting’s Friday Favorites

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

In a world that constantly pushes us to hustle harder and do more, this week’s conversation is a breath of fresh air. I sat down with the wise and grace-filled Kari Kampakis, and she reminded us of something so important: sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is make peace with accomplishing less in a day.

As parents, it's easy to feel like we need to keep up with everything: our careers, commitments, expectations, and a perfectly run household. But what if slowing down is actually the bravest and most obedient thing we can do? Kari gives us permission to step back, breathe, and create space for the things that really matter.

Here are four takeaways from our conversation:

• How doing less can actually strengthen your parenting and your peace
• Why margin in your schedule creates more room for spiritual growth
• Ways to listen to God's leading in the pace of your family life
• The freedom that comes when you stop chasing “shoulds” and start embracing “enough”

Kari Kampakis is a mom of four daughters, a bestselling author, speaker, and host of The Girl Mom Podcast. Her books, including Love Her Well and More Than a Mom, have encouraged countless women to parent with purpose, grace, and deep faith. Kari’s message is always full of wisdom and grounded in truth and this conversation is no different.

I hope this episode helps you take a deep breath and remember: you don’t have to do it all to be a faithful parent.

(00:00) Introduction to Parenting Dynamics

(03:08) Navigating the Challenges of Modern Parenting

(05:58) Building Lifelong Relationships with Our Children

(08:47) The Importance of Connection in Parenting

(12:07) Embracing Imperfection in Parenting

(16:24) Embracing Vulnerability in Parenting

(17:16) Navigating Big Emotions

(18:40) Understanding Adolescent Emotional Development

(20:32) Staying Grounded as a Parent

(24:01) Connecting Before Correcting

(27:32) Self-Care for Moms

(30:00) Modeling Healthy Behaviors for Future Generations

Connect with Kari

KariKampakis.com

Instagram

Girl Mom podcast

Resources Mentioned

Kari’s books

Raising Kind Daughters episode on The Christian Parenting Podcast

Christian Parenting resources

A Great Cloud of Witnesses prayer journal

The Christian Parenting Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org