The MAVEN Parent Podcast

What's the best way to respond when your teen lies, breaks trust, and refuses to listen? In this episode, Brett and Erin tackle a difficult—but common—parenting situation: a listener writes in about their teen repeatedly lying, pushing boundaries, and pursuing a relationship against their parents’ guidance. How should parents respond when trust is broken? What actually works when consequences don’t seem to stick? And how can you guide your teen towards better choices? Watch "Why We Need to Let Kids Ask Questions About Faith" - https://youtu.be/T9JyEltssGY Register for the 2026 MAVEN Gala: https://maventruth.ticketspice.com/2026-maven-gala Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at https://www.summit.org/promotions/maven/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

The modern church has sometimes struggled with encouraging artists to use their gifts for the glory of God. How do artists and art fit into the Great Commission? Also, who was St. Patrick and how can we pass along a knowledge of our church family to our kids? In this episode, Brett and Erin speak with author, graphic designer, and award-winning children's book illustrator Ned Bustard about art, his theology of art, church history, and his children's book "Saint Patrick the Forgiver." Watch the video of Ned working: https://vimeo.com/368367334 Get "St. Patrick the Forgiver:" https://a.co/d/09F3TKRn Find out more about Ned here: https://www.worldsendimages.com/ Follow Ned on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nedbustard/ Check out "Every Moment Holy" books: https://a.co/d/02vC5UUb Register for the 2026 MAVEN Gala: https://maventruth.ticketspice.com/2026-maven-gala Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at https://www.summit.org/promotions/maven/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

From the sexual revolution to no-fault divorce to the legalization of gay marriage, there's no mistake that the definition of marriage has dramatically shifted over the decades. What is marriage for? Is it primarily about adult fulfillment, or is marriage about protecting and nurturing the next generation? And what happens to society when those priorities shift? In this episode, we're playing a powerful talk from given at the 2026 California MAVEN Conference by Katy Faust, an author and founder of Them Before Us, on the connection between family structure and cultural stability. This conversation explores the major revolutions that brought our culture to it's current point and how modern cultural messages about family often overlook the needs of kids. Check out Katy's organization Them Before Us: https://thembeforeus.com/ Check out the Greater Than campaign: https://greaterthancampaign.com/ Get Katy's books: https://katyfaust.com/books/ Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at https://www.summit.org/promotions/maven/ Register for the 2026 MAVEN Gala: https://maventruth.ticketspice.com/2026-maven-gala MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

The data is in! Does Gentle Parenting really work? It may feel easier in the moment, but is it actually effective in raising resilient, respectful kids in the long run? In this episode, Brett and Erin take a close look at a new study from The Institute of Family Studies about strict parenting, structure, and its effect on long-term parent-child relationships. While modern culture often equates authority and firm consequences with harshness, the data paints a far more nuanced picture: one where saying “no,” enforcing boundaries, and following through on consequences may create short-term conflict but ultimately lead to long-term trust and respect. Read the study: https://ifstudies.org/blog/hard-parenting-better-relationships-new-evidence Read Dr. Danish's X post: https://x.com/operationdanish/status/2026438158989332842?s=20 Check out The Institute for Family Studies: https://ifstudies.org/ Register for the 2026 MAVEN Gala: https://maventruth.ticketspice.com/2026-maven-gala Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at https://www.summit.org/promotions/maven/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

Last week on the podcast, we spoke with Dr. Leonard Sax, a family doctor and author, about the key ideas from his book, "The Collapse of Parenting." In this episode, Brett and Erin debrief that conversation and reflect on how accurately his work diagnoses the problems with modern parenting, especially how today's culture often encourages disrespect in kids while simultaneously undermining parental authority. Listen to our interview with Dr. Sax: https://linktw.in/REIYnr Pick up Dr. Sax's book "The Collapse of Parenting": https://a.co/d/0jc50Z31 Listen to our recent episode on discipline and coddling: https://linktw.in/vJMKZm Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at www.summit.org/maven MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Parents, have you wondered how much modern culture—with its screens and shifting philosophies—has changed the way we raise our kids? The impact may be more serious than many of us realize. In this episode, Brett and Erin talk with Dr. Leonard Sax about his important book "The Collapse of Parenting" and how immensely the culture has shifted the parenting landscape leading to a collapse in parental authority. Together, they discuss practical ways parents can re-establish healthy leadership for a family culture where children can truly thrive. Get the "Collapse of Parenting" - https://a.co/d/0hBmRmuF Check out Jean Twenge's "10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World" - https://a.co/d/0cYiz9iB Join us THIS WEEKEND (Feb 21st) at the California MAVEN Conference! Register here: https://www.mavenconferences.com/california Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at www.summit.org/maven MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Should you discipline your kids in public? How do we navigate those situations when our kid talks back or kicks off a tantrum in the middle of the grocery store? In this episode, Brett and Erin dig into Ephesians 6:4 and address a tension many parents feel: how to practice strong, authoritative discipline without humiliating your child when they're losing it in public. Check out last week's podcast about why kids don't listen the first time: https://linktw.in/vJMKZm Join us at the California MAVEN Conference! Register here: https://www.mavenconferences.com/california Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at https://www.summit.org/promotions/maven/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

Parents, we've all been there: You’ve said "No" about five times at this point. You’ve given a warning. Maybe you've even explained the consequence…and still nothing changes! This cycle can feel exhausting and ineffective. How can we actually get discipline to work? In this episode, Brett and Erin talk about what actually makes discipline effective at home, explain why repeated warnings, empty consequences, and emotional reactions often undermine our authority, and how calm consistency builds respect over time. Check out the children's book "No, David" - https://a.co/d/06A6wtho Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at www.summit.org/maven Learn more about the MAVEN Conference here: https://www.mavenconferences.com/california MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

You don’t need a theology degree to help your kids understand the Bible. But you do need the right strategies. In this episode, Brett and Erin share some of the practical background questions parents can use at home to help their kids go deeper during family Bible time, followed by a recent sermon Brett gave that highlights what it looks like to apply these strategies in real study. These foundational tools will help you encourage your kids in their ability to think carefully about what Scripture is actually communicating. Check out Walt Russell's book "Playing With Fire" - https://a.co/d/4EpY5Xa Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at www.summit.org/maven Learn more about the MAVEN Conference here - https://www.mavenconferences.com/california MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

In this episode, Brett and Erin reflect on a real-life parenting mishap: a missed writing class, a dropped-off teenager, and a problem that had to be solved without a phone, an adult, or a rescue. What could have spiraled into panic instead became a powerful lesson in resilience and confidence. Through this real-life example, they explore why overprotecting our kids can actually hinder their growth and how small, age-appropriate responsibilities prepare children to become resilient problem-solvers later in life. Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today at www.summit.org/maven MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

As a new year begins, many of us are setting new goals, habits, and resolutions. But before we set goals for our spiritual growth, we need to examine our expectations. Are we challenging ourselves and our kids to goals that will really grow us in our relationship and knowledge of the Lord? In this episode, Brett and Erin reflect on a recent article by Bible teacher Jen Wilkin, discuss how the growing crisis of biblical literacy in the church and low expectations for discipleship and learning are failing both adults and the next generation. Read the article by Jen Wilkin: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/01/bible-reading-plan-literacy-jen-wilkin/ Read the State of Theology report: https://thestateoftheology.com/ Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Apathy and faith deconstruction are increasingly common among the next generation, while much of the biblical teaching and discipleship students receive remains shallow. So how can we help students move beyond indifference toward a faith that is thoughtful, resilient, and lived out? In this episode, Brett and Erin talk with Ryan Pauly, MAVEN’s Director of Immersive Experiences, about what he’s seen effectively help students move from apathy about their faith to genuine conviction, and even a desire to share it with others. Check out more about MAVEN's Immersive Experiences: https://maventruth.com/immersive-experience/ Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/m 

As Christmas and the end of the year approach, it’s easy to get caught up rushing from one holiday party to the next shopping trip and miss the deeper purpose of the season. In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss why Advent and Christmas are meaningful opportunities to slow down as a family, remember Christ’s birth, and intentionally look back on the year to see God’s faithfulness. They offer practical ideas and family traditions to help you do this together at home as the year comes to a close. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

The news never slows down! And if staying informed feels overwhelming for adults, it’s no wonder we may hesitate to bring global events into conversations with our kids. But God is at work everywhere—and our kids need to see that and build the skills they’ll need to navigate the news as adults. In this podcast, Brett and Erin are joined by Brian Basham and Caleb Bailey from WORLD Watch, a Christian news show that helps families explore world events together through short, compelling, 10-minute episodes. Check out WORLD Watch: https://worldwatch.news/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

If your kids ask, “Why can’t all religions lead to God?”, would you know how to answer? In this episode, Brett and Erin continue their discussion about why Jesus is the only way to salvation and illustrate how you can respond to the top 3 most common objections to this critical Christian doctrine. Watch our first conversation on this topic "What Does the Bible Teach About Jesus?": https://linktw.in/xGhuRL Learn more about the "Soul Searching" study of teens mentioned by Brett: https://a.co/d/0IY23Ya MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/  

Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to teach kids gratitude, but it’s easy for us to get distracted by busyness and miss those moments of reflection and thankfulness. In this episode, Brett and Erin share simple but meaningful family liturgies and traditions you can incorporate around the dinner table this Thanksgiving to help you reclaim the gratitude at the heart of the holiday. Get "The Thanksgiving Story" by Alice Dalgliesh - https://a.co/d/0plUxW2 Get "Thank You Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving" - https://a.co/d/6UgzQVb Get "The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving" by Ann Mcgovern - https://a.co/d/86NgDcA Get "Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience" by Melanie Kirkpatrick: https://a.co/d/9sLw7ZJ Check out the Erin's Strong Woman interview with Melanie Kirkpatrick: https://youtu.be/UdNP-2fBhCQ?si=tRUpv9VD7CBHfcxI Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

Christian pop star, Forrest Frank made some viral comments in recent months giving his reasons for why he doesn't drink anymore. Much of Evangelical Christianity would share Frank's view and advocate for total abstinence. But what does Scripture say about alcohol? Is it sinful to drink? In this episode, Brett and Erin look at Frank's reasons for abstaining from alcohol, what Scripture teaches, and what our view of alcohol says about our wider understanding of sanctification. Watch Forrest Frank's video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LXkmEa9goX8 Check out the book "What Would Jesus Drink?" by Joel McDermin: https://a.co/d/5RqZW4O Check out the book "Wine in the Word" by Gisela H. Kreglinger: https://a.co/d/d4MDqbW Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Parenting teenagers is intimidating. It's a whole new season that's full of change—one that can be both daunting and difficult. But beyond the teenage eye rolls and moodiness, there's real joy and opportunity to be found in this season. In this episode, Brett and Erin speak with Shelley Komoszewski, from Josh McDowell Ministries and a mom of two girls, about how you can navigate the task of being a parent to teenagers, how to set them up for successfully becoming adults, and the unexpected joy of this often tough season of growth. Watch Shelley's 2024 MAVEN Conference talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwyAk9xDPJg Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

A core Christian doctrine is that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. But in today's culture of pluralism and inclusivity, this is a widely unpopular belief—one that's often branded as unloving. So why do we, as Christians, hold to it? In this episode, Brett and Erin examine what the Bible says about who Jesus is and why He is the only way. They also share practical ways to help you answer your kids’ questions and objections about this crucial truth of the Christian faith. Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. Learn more about Impact 360 at https://www.impact360institute.org/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Parents, should you send your kids to a secular university? Increasingly, the recommendation from church leaders is a resounding no. Our culture is confused about everything—from gender to race—and academia sits at the epicenter of that confusion, influencing entertainment, politics, and even the church. But how did we get here? In this episode, Brett and Erin chat with Dr. Corey Miller, author and President of Ratio Christi, about his book "The Progressive Miseducation of America," which narrates how the cultural revolution changed universities and academia from schools founded by Christians to strongholds of Critical Theory. Get Dr. Miller's book here: https://a.co/d/5mppsYs Learn more about Ratio Christi here: https://ratiochristi.org/ Download Ratio Christi's PDF Booklets: https://press.ratiochristi.org/ Surveys Mentioned by Dr. Miller: Americans and Biblical Worldview: https://www.arizonachristian.edu/2023/02/28/biblical-worldview-among-u-s-adults-drops-33-since-start-of-covid-19-pandemic/ Pastors and Biblical Worldview: https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AWVI2022_Release05_Digital.pdf Evangelical Pastors and Biblical Worldview: https://www.arizonachristian.edu/2022/05/26/only-half-of-evangelical-pastors-hold-biblical-worldview/ Yale Student Survey: https://buckleyinstitute.com/annual-surveys/ Check out Impact360: https://www.impact360institute.org/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/