Sleep can sometimes feel unproductive, but believe it or not, sleep is valuable in more ways than we realize!  Sure there are many physical benefits, but there are also important spiritual benefits. 

Brett McCracken, author of The Wisdom of Sleep: How Rest Reveals God's Truth and Revives Weary Souls, joins Arlene to explore why God designed humans to need sleep at all. They discuss sleep as a gift of grace that can't be earned, the vulnerability of nighttime and what it teaches about dependence on God, and practical tips for helping both adults and children sleep better. The conversation also turns to how screens have replaced older nighttime dangers, and how sleep itself pushes back against an AI-driven culture that prizes constant productivity. Brett shares personal reflections as a father of four on choosing rest over an ever-growing to-do list.

03:53 — The central question: why did God design humans to need sleep?

05:52 — Sleep as an ungratefully-received gift of grace

06:38 — Nighttime vulnerability and learning to trust God's protection

10:03 — Practical sleep tips for adults and kids

15:27 — Phones and screens as the new "danger of the night"

18:23 — John Piper's quote on sleep as a corrective to pride

26:21 — AI, human limitation, and what sleep reveals about being human

Get a copy of Brett McCracken's book, The Wisdom of Sleep, on Amazon and everywhere books are sold. 

Connect with Brett at https://www.brettmccracken.com/

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you ever wonder, Will my kids turn out okay? Am I messing them up? 

Get ready to be encouraged and empowered by today's conversation with mom, nana, and bestselling author of 60+ books Pam Farrel. You're going to learn how to be a proactive, unworried, confident parent as we head into a new school year.

Pam explains the Learner-Leader framework she and her husband Bill developed to raise their three sons, including gift-giving traditions, age-specific contracts, and decision-making exercises. Pam shares two memorable stories from her own family: Brock's prayer on the 50-yard line after a huge football loss, and Zach's turnaround after he punched through a wall at age eight. The conversation covers how to start being proactive with a teenager, the role of prayer in parenting, and more. 

03:00 – Proactive vs. passive parenting: the key difference

04:34 – The Learner-Leader Day tradition

08:14 – Where "Learner, Leader, Lover of God" came from: Pam's prayer over newborn Brock

13:02 – One step for parents who haven't been proactive with a teen

16:51 – The movie night story: letting Zach make (and own) the call

28:00 – The 50-yard line: Brock's prayer after a 48-0 loss

31:16 – Zach's rock-bottom moment and the "treasure map" turnaround

Connect and find out more about Pam Farrel at love-wise.com

Find the parenting resources mentioned on the podcast here: https://www.love-wise.com/parenting/

Get Pam & Bill Farrel's book, The 10 Best Decisions Every Parent Can Make here. 

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Sometimes God's presence and glory seems separated from everyday life, but what if daily grace can be experienced in the mundane?  

In this episode, Arlene talks with beloved author and artist Ruth Chou Simons about her new book, This Moment Matters: 100 Ways to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life. Ruth shares how raising six boys reshaped her expectations of motherhood, and how she turns ordinary tasks — cooking, closets, evening routines — into moments of discipleship.

They discuss scripture memory that adapts to different seasons of life, stewarding a home without chasing perfection, and the practice of looking your children in the eye instead of calling out instructions across the room. The conversation offers practical ways to notice God's presence in daily, unremarkable moments.  

01:43 – Raising six boys and letting go of the story she expected

04:12 – Turning kitchen prep time into discipleship moments

 07:11 – Teaching multiple kids at once without needing to be perfect

09:58 – Scripture memory that fits your actual season, not a perfect system

12:32 – Stewarding your home as a haven, not a showcase

16:37 – Simplifying your closet and choosing a signature accessory

20:41 – Why looking your kids in the eye changes everything

Connect with Ruth Chou Simons on her website

Shop Ruth Chou Simons' art and more at GraceLaced 

Follow Ruth Chou Simons on Instagram 

Learn more about Ruth's new book, This Moment Matters: 100 Ways to Cultivate a Grace-Laced Life 

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What heroes do your kids look up to? 

Boys and girls need better examples than secular YouTube celebrities and pop music stars. They need real heroes that will inspire courage, truth, charity, and perseverance. 

The popularity of the Odyssey shows us how we long for moral heroes. The ultimate place to find heroes is in the Bible.  How can we help Biblical heroes come alive for boys and girls? 

New York Times bestselling author Joshua Cooley joins Arlene to unpack his Heroes of the Bible devotionals. You'll hear why figures like Gideon prove that God works through weakness rather than natural strength, and get practical ideas for building a family Bible-reading rhythm, managing kids' phone use, and helping young athletes root their identity in Christ instead of their sport. Joshua serves at the editor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes magazine. If your kid has ever faced disappointment on a team, Josh also offers a Bible-based way to talk them through it. He also shares the story behind the football memoir he co-authored with Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles.

03:56 – Why boys need heroes right now

05:36 – Gideon: hiding in a ditch and becoming a "mighty man of valor"

07:27 – Inside the Heroes of the Bible devotional format

14:06 – Building a family Bible-reading rhythm that actually sticks

20:00 – What worries Josh about kids and phone use today

21:58 – Sports, identity, and glorifying God through athletics

27:27 – Helping a kid handle not making the team

Find out more about Joshua Cooley and his books on his website.

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Why does God allow us to suffer? 

Glenna Marshall spent six years chasing a diagnosis and sixteen years living with a painful autoimmune disease before writing Praying in Pain. In this conversation, she explores this question and walks us through what God has taught her through it all. Glenna talks through the four-part pattern of the biblical lament psalms — cry out, remember, resolve — and how they became her lifeline during sleepless nights of suffering. Glenna opens up about the pride that kept her silent from her church, the tension chronic illness can create in a marriage, and what she's learned about complaining honestly to God instead of everyone else. Listen in for a hard-won perspective on healing, hope, and raising children who've watched a parent suffer well.

02:04 – Glenna describes the onset of her mystery illness at age 29

09:30 – The four-part pattern of lament psalms: cry out, remember, resolve

13:37 – "You don't have to stop complaining — you just have to complain differently"

16:12 – The story of snapping at a friend who complained about a sore back

20:16 – Hiding her flare-up from her church during a leaf-raking outreach

22:36 – The three ways Glenna believes God heals

27:03 – Navigating marriage when one spouse is in chronic pain and the other isn't

31:59 – Glenna's closing word to anyone suffering in isolation

Check out Glenna Marshall's blog: https://www.glennamarshall.com/

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What if the secret to raising a confident, faith-filled learner has been sitting in history books all along? 

Jennifer Pepito, host of Restoration Home and author of The Inspired Homeschool, joins Arlene to explore how homeschooled figures from history — including Leonardo da Vinci, C.S. Lewis, and Laura Ingalls Wilder — offer a roadmap for joyful, confident learning today. Jennifer shares the warning signs of a homeschool that's lost its spark, why she chose to homeschool her seven children, and practical tools like notebooking that help kids make learning their own. This conversation will help you raise curious kids who are able to think on their own. 

This episode isn't just for homeschoolers - it's for any parent who wants to help their children love learning. 

02:12 – Warning signs your homeschool needs "fresh fire"

04:18 – Jennifer's home motto: "Earth's crammed with heaven"

11:23 – Encouragement for moms who feel ill-equipped to homeschool

17:15 – Why notebooking is such a powerful learning tool

19:56 – What C.S. Lewis's homeschool/tutoring years can teach us

23:51 – Avoiding the "screen time trap" and the truth about reading timelines

27:41 – Practical advice on screen time: productive vs. consumptive use

31:06 – Laura Ingalls Wilder and the idea that "Ma embraced her work"

Learn more about Jennifer Pepito's book, The Inspired Homeschool.

Get access to other homeschooling resources at https://thepeacefulpress.com/

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

It seems like technology is always bad, especially when it comes to impacting the hearts of kids. But is there a way to use technology to strengthen your family values? 

Jess Wolstenholm, VP of Education and Research at Minno, joins Arlene to talk about how parents can use media intentionally during the most formative years of a child's faith. They dig into the "4 to 14 window," why young children need predictable rhythms, and how to have real conversations with teens about what they're watching. Jess also walks through how to evaluate media choices for different ages and why small, consistent habits add up more than parents often realize.

1:32 — What Minno is and how it differs from YouTube Kids and Netflix

4:28 — Why preschoolers and older kids need to be taught differently

5:13 — The 4 to 14 window: how a child's worldview is formed

7:08 — Why predictable rhythms matter so much in early faith formation

9:45 — How to have faith conversations with teens without it feeling like a quiz

12:49 — Why parents should narrate their own screen use in front of their kids

16:53 — Start small: why 10 consistent minutes beats occasional big efforts

23:02 — What to look for (and avoid) when evaluating media for your kids

Minno is the #1 media source for Christian content for kids. Start your free trial and learn more at gominno.com

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Go to Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When faced with parenting crises, special-needs challenges, fear, and exhaustion, how do you keep moving forward?

Today's guest Sarah Walton is an author, wife, and mom of four whose family has faced chronic illness, a son with severe behavioral episodes, and years of uncertainty without answers. In this conversation, Sarah talks about what it looked like to survive the hardest seasons of motherhood and how her faith carried her through.

She shares how she learned to grieve her expectations, hold hope and acceptance together, and find small joys when everything felt dark. She also offers practical words for how to support a friend who is suffering — and what not to say. Her new book is "Jesus Will Meet You There." 

03:14 — Sarah shares what happened when her oldest son spiked a severe fever at 7 weeks old and what followed in the years after

06:11 — The family's Lyme disease diagnosis and how it connected the dots across years of unexplained health struggles

08:19 — How Sarah stayed spiritually afloat — opening her Bible daily, journaling, and talking to God about how awful things felt

10:37 — What to say to the parent who is disappointed and asking why they got a hard child

17:44 — Holding hope and acceptance at the same time: the balance of praying for a miracle while being at peace if it doesn't come

21:05 — How Sarah talks to her kids about suffering and why she lets them see her struggle with hard questions too

26:15 — Why God doesn't always give us the "why" — and why that's actually a gift to our faith

30:02 — Listen, learn, lean in: what to do (and not do) when a friend is going through something hard

Grab a copy of Sarah Walton's book at JesusWillMeetYouThere.com

Sarah Walton's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahpwalton/?hl=en

Substack: https://substack.com/@sarahpwalton

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Life isn't all about us. But have you tried teaching that to your kids?!

Pastor, author, and super dad Dave Stone will help you raise kids who are humble, generous, and others-focused. He's raised three kids and can walk alongside us, guiding us through stages of parenting, from discipline to friendship. He encourages parents in the hard seasons and reminds us that our family investment is never wasted.

You won't want to miss the personal stories (you might need a tissue) and the sage wisdom of this pastor to pastors. Dave is the host of the Pastor to Pastor podcast and author of How to Raise Selfless Kids in a Self-Centered World. Whether you are in formal ministry or not, Dave is a role model worth following. He believes the most practical way to spread the gospel is through moms and dads who model a genuine faith for their children. On today's episode, we'll talk about: 

02:21  Why humility is such an attractive quality

05:18  The "two questions" practice: how Dave trained his kids to ask guests questions before every meal

06:27  The Bible study story: Dave leaves mid-lesson to apologize to his son Sam

11:26  Advice for pastors' families on navigating the fishbowl and helping kids find joy in ministry

15:46  Sam pledges his entire allowance to a church building campaign

19:18  God sends Sam a check for exactly $200 — the story of a 10-year-old learning you can't out-give God

20:47  Dave speaks directly to parents in the hard seasons: each stage has its fulfillment, and it is worth it

29:51  The blindfold reveal: how Sam surprised his parents by buying a house six doors down

Listen to Dave Stone's podcast: Pastor to Pastor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pastortopastorpodcast/?hl=en

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Go to Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Larry McCall has been married to his high school sweetheart for more than 50 years and pastored the same church for over 40. He knows firsthand what it takes to enjoy a marriage that lasts. He's also seen the bad things that happen to marriages in the middle and later years.

In his book A Seasoned Marriage, he walks couples through the seasons that can quietly undo a marriage: empty nests, adult kids moving back home, aging parents, and the slow drift from spouse to roommate. He and Arlene talk about why putting Christ at the center of marriage matters more than ever as the years go on, and how couples can become closer friends instead of growing apart. If your kids are young, this episode is still for you — what you build now is what you'll have later. 

1:28 — Why the gospel has to be at the center of marriage, not just the beginning of it

3:28 — The "happiness trap" — what couples reveal when they pursue divorce

6:39 — When your spouse's faith is weak and you're carrying the marriage alone

8:25 — The story of a woman whose non-Christian husband came to faith after decades of prayer

10:31 — The low point in Larry and Gladine's marriage, and what turned it around

16:02 — Navigating adult kids moving back home without it wedging the marriage

23:38 — The difference between a Christian grandparent and an intentional Christian grandparent

Grab a copy of Larry McCall's book: A Seasoned Marriage

Learn more about Walking with Jesus Ministries: http://www.wljministries.org/

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Go to Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Guest favorite Dr. Kathy Koch joins Arlene to explain the changes that happen when your kids grow up. Dr. Kathy's book Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children walks parents through the hard work of releasing control, grieving unmet expectations, and learning to communicate in ways that actually keep the door open. They cover topics like helicoptering through the teen years, using "I statements" instead of "you statements," staying connected with kids who've walked away from faith, and how to pray through the grief of it all.

If your kids are still young, don't skip this episode. It's great to prepare you for the future by preventing common problems in the first place. In this episode, you'll learn:

3:06  Parent as a noun vs. parent as a verb — what changes when kids grow up

4:31  The long-term effects of helicoptering through the teen years

6:20  How to recognize when you're idolizing your kids

9:47  The "Isaac on the altar" release practice — surrendering your adult child to God

13:06  Staying connected with a child who has walked away from faith

15:37  "I statements" vs. "you statements" and why it matters

26:16  The monthly curiosity coffee — how to ask questions that open doors instead of closing them

Find out more about Dr. Kathy Koch's ministry and get her book Resolve Conflict and Find Peace and Hope with Adult Children at https://celebratekids.com/

Connect with Dr. Kathy on Instagram and Facebook.

More Resources from Arlene Pellicane:

SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse.

Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier.

Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook

Go to Arlene's YouTube Channel

How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words.

Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected]

Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE)

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.