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.

There's a lot being said and shown about sex in our culture. Algorithms aren't delivering messages of sexual purity, freedom and health to teenagers. Quite the opposite. Yet purity is not an outdated idea, but it has been misunderstood. 

Dannah Gresh, founder of True Girl, is back to help us communicate to our kids with truth and grace about sex. She shares her freedom story of how God redeemed her past and healed her heart. She's revised her bestselling book, And The Bride Wore White: Seven Truths to Live in Sexual Integrity No Matter What Your Past.  

She walks through how the cultural conversation around sex and purity has shifted, what's at stake when moms stay silent, and how parents can talk to their kids about dating, modesty, and sexual integrity without legalism or fear. You won't want to miss this practical and biblical wisdom about a sensitive but needed topic. In today's conversation, you'll learn: 

1:43 — Why Dannah refreshed The Bride Wore White now

2:40 — The "silver letter" that changed everything

5:49 — Dannah's own story: falling short at 15 and finding healing

11:23 — "Sex is not a consumer good — it's a covenant good"

21:06 — The science of "sliding vs. deciding" in relationships

27:03 — What to do when your child is dating the wrong person

29:32 — How to teach girls dignity in a way that's actually attractive

Connect and find out more about Dannah Gresh, her ministry True Girl, and new book, And The Bride Wore White at https://mytruegirl.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.

Dallas Theological Seminary President, Dr. Mark Yarbrough, shares about keeping faith alive in the family. What does faith on fire look like?  What if your faith is waning? 

Dr. Yarbrough talks about his new book The Rekindled Heart: 6 Essentials for Reviving Your Faith. He shares how humility shaped a major family decision, why intentional parenting requires a plan, and the campfire story that launched his book. Join us for a great episode that will help you rekindle your fire for Jesus. 

1:47 Mark reveals he just became a grandparent two weeks ago 

3:25 He gave every family member veto power over his seminary presidency decision

5:58 Why Jesus used a child as the picture of humility (not innocence — dependence)

10:49 His mentor Howard Hendricks leans over his desk: "The Bible was not written to satisfy your curiosity. It was written to change your life."

15:21 Parenting is one of God's greatest schools — and your kids expose everything

17:05 If you don't have an intentional plan to raise your child, you will not hit the goal

24:04 The campfire moment: what sparked Mark's book

35:30 The costs of staying quiet 

Connect with Dr. Mark Yarbrough, president of Dallas Theological Seminary: https://www.dts.edu/

Get Mark’s book, The Rekindled Heart: 6 Essentials for Reviving Your Faith: https://www.amazon.com/Rekindled-Heart-Essentials-Reviving-Faith/dp/0802437710

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.

How can you pursue change as a mom without being crushed by guilt or shame? 

Abbey Wedgeworth brings a needed message: We don't need more willpower.  We need the power of the Gospel. 

Sharing from her book, Help, I'm Ruining My Kids, Abbey talks about her own experience with poor postpartum mental health, the pull between shame and blame, and why our weakness is not the enemy we think it is. If you've ever felt like you're failing your kids, this conversation will point you to the real hope in Jesus. On today's episode, we're talking honestly about: 

4:06 The "pendulum from shame to blame" — and what the Gospel offers instead

9:03 "We hate our weakness and tolerate our sin" — the powerful flip we need

10:20 Equating competence with righteousness — and learning to choose kindness over capability

19:00 Abbey opens up about postpartum suicidal ideations and how the Gospel gave her courage to get help

23:08 Running for the joy set before us — how a fitness competition became a spiritual metaphor

29:33 What your kids actually need isn't a mom who stops yelling — it's a mom who hungers for righteousness

37:39 The "3 to 5 method" for getting into scripture even in your most exhausted seasons (you'll love this)

Learn more about Abbey Wedgeworth and her book, Help I'm Ruining My Kids https://www.abbeywedgeworth.com/  

Connect with Abbey on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/abbeywedgeworth/

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.

Moms carry a lot on their shoulders from meal planning to sports shuttling, boo-boo kissing to homework prodding. What would happen in the home if mom didn't do all the things? 

In this Mother's Day episode, Arlene brings a message to make moms laugh and hopefully make them feel wildly appreciated. But she'll also share the dangers of being a helicopter mom and doing too much for your kids.

You'll hear personal stories of how she has seen her kids grow up - and what has worked to make them truly ready for life. No matter your parenting style, if you're married or single, this episode will remind you what's most important in your family.  This message was originally recorded at Bonita Valley Community Church in San Diego. 

1:30 What would actually happen if mom didn’t show up? 

5:20 Why your son needs you to step back - kids learn to problem solve in your absence

7:40 Launching adults requires less rescuing 

8:50 The link between helicopter parents and socially anxious kids 

11:30  Stop asking social media for advice - ask the generation ahead of you instead

13:33 What does the Bible say about launching kids into adulthood? 

18:30 What to do if your child says he doesn’t want to go to school

20:00 When Ethan broke his leg in kindergarten - and how it taught Arlene to let go 

23:30 I don’t want to carpool with that kid! 

25:30 What is your highest goal as a parent? 

29:50 Raising kids in Digital Babylon - what that means and what's at stake 

32:00 A special word for the single mom - you're not alone 

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.

Kristen Jenson, founder of Defend Young Minds and author of the bestselling Good Pictures, Bad Pictures series, joins Arlene to talk about her newest book written specifically for girls. She unpacks why girls are more vulnerable to pornography than most parents realize and how early, calm conversations are the most powerful protection a parent can give. This episode will give you the tools needed to understand and approach this topic with your kids without fear or shame. 

4:37 Pornography isn't just video — romance novels count too

7:43 Navigating wanting to protect your child's innocence

10:48 Keeping your daughter stay safe, smart, and confident

16:45 How to explain objectification to an 8-year-old

20:42 The thinking brain vs. the feeling brain explained

26:04 What to do if your daughter has already been exposed to pornography

Learn more about Kristen A. Jenson of Defend Young Minds and the book, Good Pictures Bad Pictures Guide for Girls: www.defendyoungminds.com/books

My kid saw porn - now what?  https://www.defendyoungminds.com/help-heal

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DefendYM/

Instagram: @defendyoungminds

X: @defendYM

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/defend-young-minds/

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.

Kristy Graham (Billy Graham's granddaughter-in-law) has a front row seat to what God is doing around the world. She's the podcast host of On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse. Maybe you've packed a shoebox with Operation Christmas Child to send the Gospel and gifts to children around the world. How can we raise kids who give generously at Christmas AND as a way of life?  

You'll hear about families who travel for the first time to get life-saving heart surgeries for their kids (for free!). And about women who have been rescued from poverty, abuse and war in Kenya at Amani ya Juu through the work of Samaritan's Purse. 

Kristy opens up about what it's like to grow up Graham for her kids, and the beautiful legacy of faithfulness she has experienced. But this doesn't mean her life is problem free. Like many of us, her kids have struggled with sickness. You'll find hope and encouragement from a fellow mom in the trenches. In this episode, Arlene and Kristy talk about: 

2:30 Life saving surgeries for kids (Children’s Heart Project) 

5:45 The power of generosity and how it reflects the gospel 

9:10 I didn’t want my kids to become resentful about ministry 

11:00 When we don’t have the answers about our children’s illnesses 

13:44 More than healing, I want you to want the Healer 

15:35 Amani ya Juu in Kenya (what it does for refugees)

20:15 What if we could be more like Ingrid (the Ingrid Effect)?

21:30 How a shoebox is changing families by giving gifts to kids 

24:41 What is like having Billy Graham as a grandfather? 

Learn more about Samaritan’s Purse: https://samaritanspurse.org/

On the Ground with Samaritan’s Purse Podcast:  https://ontheground.samaritanspurse.org/home

Follow on Instagram @onthegroundSP

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.

They're back!  Beloved counselors and bestselling authors David Thomas and Sissy Goff join Arlene to talk about their new book, Capable: How to Teach Your Kids Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience. After 30+ years of counseling, they're sounding the alarm on a generation of kids who are increasingly averse to risk, effort, and discomfort.

What if your child doesn't want to be capable, preferring convenience and entertainment instead? David and Sissy share practical tools from the book that will help you spark motivation and build resilient, capable kids (even when your kids are resistant). Whether your child is a toddler or a teenager, this episode will help you prepare your children for life and its challenges. This is such a needed conversation for today's family. 

2:14  What counselors are seeing after 30+ years: a generation avoiding discomfort

4:06  What to do with kids who say: "I don't want to be capable"

10:03  "Don't do for your kids what they can do for themselves"

10:41  Support vs. challenge equation: which one are you?

15:08  Trusting God and your own intuition over the apps

19:28  Screens, social anxiety, and the word "awkward"

21:34  "My job is not to make you happy — it's to develop your character"

25:10  Role-play: what to say when your kid refuses school, camp, or a new friend

28:09  Capable starts in the Costco cart

Connect with David & Sissy and get their book, Capable: How to Teach Your Kids Strengths, Skills, and Strategies to Build Resilience at raisingboysandgirls.com.

Instagram: @raisingboysandgirls and @sissygoff

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.

Contrary to what many say, most marriages aren't destroyed by parental wounds, unresolved anger, or a sinful past. 

Jim Ramos, founder of Men in the Arena, talks candidly with Arlene about his new book Guardrails: 10 Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage. They dive into practical wisdom for building a marriage that lasts, drawn from Jim's 34+ years of real-life experience. Jim has seen enough marriages crumble to know one thing: most of them didn't fail because of deep psychological wounds or unresolved trauma — they failed because of small, unwise decisions that compounded over time. Tune in for practical wisdom and ways to avoid these costly mistakes for marriages. 

2:08 Why Jim & Shannon created guardrails after 34 years

4:51 Navigating opposite-sex coworkers and professional boundaries

8:00 How to receive compliments without opening emotional doors

10:50 Guardrail #9: Always send gifts from us, never just from you

14:00 The story loop problem (King Solomon & the Queen of Sheba)

21:14 Guardrail #3: Staying emotionally connected 

24:07 Social media dangers: Jim's personal rules (150k followers, zero apps on his phone)

Get a copy of Jim's book, Guardrails: 10 Boundaries for an Unbreakable Marriage and find out more about his ministry at meninthearena.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.

Author Addison Bevere joins Arlene to talk about what honest, un-performative prayer actually looks like — for you and your kids. He shares why humility is a parenting superpower, how to guide children toward "second innocence," and why your morning routine might be the most spiritually significant part of your day. Join us for a truly wisdom-filled conversation about prayer and Addison's new book, Words with God.

02:02 The difference between complaining about God vs. going to God in messy intimacy

03:07 Humility creates safety — modeling authentic faith for your kids

08:37 First innocence vs. second innocence — the real goal of protecting your kids

10:39 God won't always deliver you from a thing when that thing will ultimately deliver you to him

12:40 Prayer is about presence, not performance

15:21 Morning routines, brain science, and how God designed us as receptors

20:52 Addison's no-phone morning ritual — and the neuroscience behind it

25:02 "Smart mornings do not include smartphones"

31:49 Insomnia and surrender: how waking up differently changed everything

Grab a copy Addison's books: Words With God (book and prayer journal) 

Connect with Addison at rediscoverprayer.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.