

The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane
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This show is for women and men who want a happier home life. Arlene will help you bridge the gap between your ideal family and the real thing. You don’t have to come from a happy home to create one. Your host Arlene Pellicane is a speaker and author of several books including 31 Days to a Happy Husband and Parents Rising. She and her husband James have been married more than 21 years and have three children. Inside this podcast, you’ll meet some of the kindest and smartest experts when it comes to marriage and parenting. Get ready for fun and practical conversations that will change your thinking, give you hope, and spark positive change.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 15, 2025 • 29min
Kerri and Lucy Pomarolli - Teens with No Social Media
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
Is it possible to delay social media for your teen, even your teen girl? My daughter Lucy and I are asking another mom/daughter duo about this. Today’s guests are comedian Kerri Pomarolli and her daughter Lucy. Two moms, two Lucys with no social media. It's going to be a fun ride. This month, we're kicking out harmful tech. On today's show, you'll learn:
3:28 The option that not many parents are aware of when raising their kids
8:52 From a teen’s perspective: The difference between life with or without social media
11:45 Won't my child feel left out without social media?
17:55 How time looks different with a phone in hand
21:40 How to help our girls not to have the “celebrity mentality”
Kerri Pomarolli grew up performing at a young age. Her first comedy gig was at the world-famous Hollywood Improv. Although she performed in front of a very secular crowd, she was the only performer asked to return. Kerri is a nationally headlining stand up comedian who has worked with everyone from Jay Leno, Jerry Lewis, and Candace Cameron Bure. She's been on the Tonight Show 29 times, and she's also an author (Mom's Night Out) and screenwriter (Hallmark Channel).
Learn more about Kerri Pomarolli at her website https://www.kerripom.com/
Need more reasons to put the pause on social media? Read Arlene's book Screen Kids or get the video course
https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/books
https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/course
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. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/film
Distracted on dates with your spouse? Get free date night ideas whether you have 15 minutes or one hour, small group questions for Making Marriage Easier and more
Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! Email speaking @ arlenepellicane.com

Sep 8, 2025 • 27min
Ian McCready - Should Boys Play Video Games?
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
How addicted is your son or daughter to video games? Today’s guest Ian McCready is a former video game addict who understands the lure of gaming. He’s found a way to redeem his time from technology (you and your kids can too).
This month we're kicking out the tech! We want to keep the tech that's helping us, but kick out the tech that’s hurting our families. On today's episode, you'll learn:
2:20 What’s wrong with video games?
6:36 How God spared Ian from the game
11:53 I can game while babysitting my child… right?
16:25 Getting your loved one on board with a hold on video games
21:27 What to do when time on video games competes with time with family
Ian McCready was crushing it in video games, but gaming was also crushing him. He was gaming 12-14 hours a day. Based on his own experience, he founded the nonprofit Selfctrl which focuses on helping people build self control and be set free from video game addiction. His teaching has been vetted by numerous addiction specialists and marriage & family therapists. He and his wife have two kids and live in Arkansas.
Learn more about Ian McCready and the many resources available to you at Selfctrl https://selfctrl.com/
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. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/film
Distracted on dates with your spouse? Get free date night ideas whether you have 15 minutes or one hour, small group questions for Making Marriage Easier and more
Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! Email speaking @ arlenepellicane.com

Sep 1, 2025 • 41min
Clare Morell - The Tech Exit
Clare Morell, a policy analyst and director of the Technology and Human Flourishing Project, shares her insights on the harmful impacts of smartphones on children. She reveals that TikTok is as addictive as digital fentanyl and argues that parental controls are largely ineffective. Morell advocates for phone-free schools, emphasizing the dangers of seemingly harmless apps like Roblox. Her practical guide, 'The Tech Exit,' offers families tangible steps to reduce screen time and foster better social connections, making a compelling case for a tech-free lifestyle.

Aug 25, 2025 • 35min
(Encore) Erin Loechner - Opt-Out Family
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
Are you 100 percent thrilled with how your family uses technology?
If you say no, then welcome to the club!
If your kids opted out of having a smartphone, social media and video games, would they be better or worse off? Imagine saying goodbye to parental controls, fights, and time limits. Today's guest Erin Loechner is the author of The Opt-Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't. As you can imagine, I love this book! Today's we're going to talk about:
3:00 What an “opt-out” family looks like
5:00 Why is social media so dangerous for children?
10:43 What the algorithm of social media does
14:10 The burden of social media on girls
21:00 Does having a smartphone truly help your child in their social life?
23:30 How can we “opt-in” to other things as we “opt-out” of social media?
27:10 The main concerns with AI
29:45 Why easier is not better
Erin Loechner is a former social media influencer who walked away from a million fans to live a low-tech lifestyle and is now teaching others to do the same. She's been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Huffington Post, the Today Show. Erin is the founder of the global tech-free movement the Opt-Out Family.
Learn more about Erin Loechner and her book (which launched with no social media of her own), The Opt Out Family: How to Give Your Kids What Technology Can't. https://www.optoutfamily.com/
Learn how to dumb down your smartphone https://www.optoutfamily.com/tip/
Read Arlene's book Screen Kids (co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802422209/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0802422209&linkCode=as2&tag=arlenpelli-20&linkId=837f2447fde5b4a57b13b75b78236083
Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! speaking@arlenepellicane.com

Aug 18, 2025 • 30min
(Encore) Jonny Ardavanis - What the Bible Says about Worry
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
Are your kids going to be all right? Is your job secure? Will your marriage get better? We live in an age marked by worry and anxiety for adults and kids. Many who wrestle with anxiety know the Bible calls them to trust God, but how does that actually work? Pastor and author Jonny Ardavanis invites us to open God's Word for answers. In this conversation about his book, Consider the Lilies, you'll learn: 3:30 I had a front row seat to teen anxiety as a camp director
5:25 If you’re a parent, this is what you need to know
7:00 Even if your child doesn’t suffer from anxiety, he or she lives in a performance stressful culture
8:30 How can we protect the minds of our kids?
10:45 One of the main schemes of Satan is to make sin look normal and righteousness seem strange
15:00 Every worry is an invitation to get closer to God
17:10 What’s the difference between a good godly concern and an ungodly worry?
20:00 We were told our daughter had a syndrome with strokes and seizures
24:00 When your kids have sports injuries
27:55 God allows you to go through trials because…
Jonny Ardavanis is the pastor of Stonebridge Bible Church in Franklin, TN. He’s the founder and president of Dial In Ministries serving the next generation. He has served as camp director at Hume Lake Christian Camps and as a dean at The Master’s College. He and his wife have two young daughters. Today, we're talking about his book, Consider the Lilies: Finding Perfect Peace in the Character of God.
Learn more about Dial In Ministries https://dialinministries.org/
Get Jonny's book, Consider the Lilies https://www.amazon.com/Consider-Lilies-Finding-Perfect-Character/dp/0310368243/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.yBlnH-e3bSsBJoLo-Hv3vz_bwdX2IgWB9ezQ8PNYtkaw7ElP9_sLVDpE9it02M9F.-mnpeyrtjwUwqjpImQmTFaHlktyPYWQe-SMuf20w318&qid=1722298799&sr=1-1&ref=dialinministries.org
Subscribe to Arlene's free email list https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe
Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! speaking@arlenepellicane.com
Save the date: Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025

Aug 11, 2025 • 32min
(Encore) Louie Giglio - Wonder of Creation
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
Do you feel comfortable talking with your kids about faith and science? Today's guest, Passion founder Louie Giglio, reminds us that God can handle scientific scrutiny as He is the creator of all things. In his book for kids, The Wonder of Creation, you'll find a great resource to share the world of science with your child from a Biblical worldview. We'll also talk about developing a passion for Christ that lasts.
Today you will learn:
5:30 The more is discovered in the universe, the more we see intelligent design
6:00 It’s okay to say, "I don’t know the answer to that. Let’s find out."
7:00 Let's dismantle the wall between God and science
9:45 Show your kids the James Webb telescope
10:50 Why you must begin with Genesis 1:1 for children
12:30 Valuing your children but not making them the center of the universe
14:45 Putting down screens and getting outside instead
18:00 How can we raise a worshipper? The power of a dad to influence his kids to follow Jesus
21:00 Your heart can still burn for God in your 40s, 50s, 60s
24:40 Prepare your kids for what the values they will learn in college so it will not rattle them to the core
27:00 Worldview is set young - don’t wait - get your young kids in a worship environment
Learn more about Louie Giglio's book, The Wonder of Creation
https://www.indescribablekids.com/
Need help with your child's media choices? Read Arlene's book co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman, Screen Kids and visit Happy Home University to take the free quiz - Is my child getting too much screen time? https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/

Aug 4, 2025 • 29min
(Encore) Karl Clauson - Defeating Sin in Your Family
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
Get Arlene's book, Making Marriage Easier: How to love (and like) your spouse for life https://makingmarriageeasier.com/
What's the one sin that is defeating you or your family? Karl Clauson knows what it's like to wrestle with sin, hit rock bottom, and find God's grace wider than he ever dared hope. His new book, Killing Sin: Conquer the one thing that is defeating you, will help you wage war on sin and find victory in Christ. In today's conversation, you'll learn about:
3:00 Racing the Iditarod, 1100 miles through the tundra with a dog sled team
6:22 What parenting with true power looks like
13:33 The transformative power of God’s grace
15:21 How to kill your sin
22:00 Hate can be good???
25:30 Why tackling one sin at a time is important
27:00 There is victory lying ahead of you
Karl Clauson is the host of Moody Radio’s Karl and Crew, a nationally syndicated radio program. He is the lead pastor of 180 Chicago Church. Karl and his bride Junanne have been married 37 years and have 2 adult kids.
Learn more about Karl and his new book, Killing Sin (and get free resources to help you fix broken systems and much more) https://killsin.com/
Get the help you need to take back your home from too much technology. Join Arlene for her masterclass, Screen Kids today https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/course
Get free date night ideas whether you have 15 minutes or one hour, small group questions for Making Marriage Easier and more https://makingmarriageeasier.com/
Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! Email speaking @ arlenepellicane.com
Tickets on sale now! You're invited to Arlene's Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025 http://parentsrisingconference.com/

Jul 28, 2025 • 31min
Julia Ubbenga - Declutter Your Heart and Home
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
Do you spend a lot of time managing stuff? Finding things? Storing things? Buying things? Julia Ubbenga has found a way to cut through the clutter - it turns out having more isn’t necessarily better. We're talking through Julia's book, Declutter Your Heart and Home: How a minimalist life yields maximum joy.
On today's episode, you'll learn:
3:00 Shopping is fun! Right???
7:30 Help! I’m attached to all of the things I need to declutter!
10:25 How decluttering affects your heart and your home
12:50 Short, practical ways to start decluttering your home
17:50 How do we prioritize people over possessions
22:45 Systems that can make decluttering easy for you and your kids
28:55 The key to decluttering
Julia Ubbenga's projects at Rich in What Matters have attracted over 50 million views and helped people restructure their lives around what matters most. She lives in Kansas City with her husband and five children.
Learn more about Julia Ubbenga at Rich in What Matters https://richinwhatmatters.com/Get Julia's book, Declutter Your Heart and Your Home https://www.amazon.com/Declutter-Your-Heart-Home-Minimalist/dp/0310368960
Follow Julia on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/richinwhatmatters/
Check out Arlene Pellicane's books Parents Rising and Screen Kids https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/books
You're invited to see David Thomas, Sissy Goff, and Arlene at the Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025. Get your ticket today. https://parentsrisingconference.com/

Jul 21, 2025 • 34min
Ann and Dave Wilson - Does Your Husband Hear Boo?
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
Ann Wilson spent more than a decade longing for a better marriage and for her husband to be more attentive. And every chance she got, she told him so! Turned out all her booing was pushing her husband even further away. FamilyLife Today hosts Ann and Dave Wilson explain how their marriage was turned around as Ann shares from her new book, How to Speak Life to Your Husband (When All You Want to do is Yell at Him).
On today's episode, you'll learn:
2:30 When getting 3rd place wasn’t even enough for my dad
5:10 My husband was playing sports, I was struggling to take care of the kids
7:50 Did Ann really boo her husband in public?
11:00 If you’re used to being negative about your husband, how do you change that?
14:38 The respect rebellion
22:20 Is being a helper a bad role?
29:30 Sophisticated nagging doesn’t work but this does
Ann and Dave Wilson are the hosts of the nationally syndicated radio show FamilyLife Today and cofounders of Kensington Community Church. Dave was the chaplain for the Detroit Lions for 33 seasons. They have three grown sons and seven grandchildren.
Learn more about Ann and Dave Wilson and FamilyLife Today https://www.familylife.com/Get Ann's book, How to Speak Life to Your Husband (When all you want to do is yell at him)https://shop.familylife.com/product/how-to-speak-life-to-your-husband-when-all-you-want-to-do-is-yell-at-him/
Follow Dave and Ann Wilson on Facebook or Instagramhttps://www.facebook.com/DaveAnnWilson https://www.instagram.com/daveannwilson
You're invited to see David Thomas, Sissy Goff, and Arlene at the Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025. Get your ticket today. https://parentsrisingconference.com/

Jul 14, 2025 • 31min
Allie Marie Smith - Social Media Reset
Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here.
If social media was completely erased from teen life, would that be a good thing for your kids? Allie Marie Smith knows what it’s like to scroll endlessly and get pulled under the tide of tech. It’s time for a reset for our kids: mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Allie’s here to show us how from her new book, Social Media Reset. On today's episode, you'll learn:
2:45 Is your time on social media affecting the memories you make with your children?
6:02 How does social media affect our lives spiritually
11:18 What does a 30-day reset look like?
17:33 How to set limits with social media
22:00 Are you “phubbing”?
28:40 Your life is precious
Allie Marie Smith is the founder and director of Wonderfully Made, a nonprofit dedicated to helping teen girls and young women. Allie is an award-winning author, speaker, podcast host, and certified life coach. Her newest book is Social Media Reset: A 30 Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God, and Reclaim Your Joy. Allie loves surfing and adventuring up and down the CA coast with her hubby Paul and golden retriever named Gidget. You can hear Allie’s testimony of how God saved her from depression and suicide in my earlier podcast with her titled Teen Girls are Wonderfully Made. https://www.accessmore.com/episode/Allie-Marie-Smith---Teen-Girls-are-Wonderfully-Made
Find out more about Allie Marie Smith and her book, Social Media Reset on her website https://wonderfullymade.org/
Get Arlene's free resource, 5 Ways to Reset Your Tech here https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe
You're invited to see David Thomas, Sissy Goff, and Arlene at the Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025. Get your ticket today. https://parentsrisingconference.com/
Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Please email Arlene your questions and the topics you want covered on the show! Email speaking @ arlenepellicane.com