The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Is video gaming helping or hurting your child? If you’ve ever wondered if your son or daughter is addicted to video games, you must hear what Dr. Andrew and Julie Doan have to say. How did Andrew, a bright John Hopkins-educated doctor, survive as an adult gamer playing 80-100 hours a week? In today's interview, you'll discover:  3:30 How do you define digital addiction? Why are video games super attractive to kids?  5:50 The difference between the video games of yesterday and today  6:30 I was playing 80-100 hours a week and sleeping 2 hours a day… 8:50 How do you cope when your spouse is overusing media in a destructive way?  11:30 The role of prayer in breaking this video gaming habit  13:00 Kids growing up with a father who wasn’t present because of excessive game play  15:00 The dramatic physical breakdown that Dr. Doan experienced because of gaming  17:00 Guidelines for video gaming and kids at different ages, and warning  Dr. Andrew Doan is the author of Hooked on Games. He is an accomplished eye physician and surgeon with a doctoral degree in neuroscience from John Hopkins. He speaks with medical and scientific authority on brain development and how digital media reprograms the brain. His wife Julie is a registered nurse who is a digital media addiction specialist. Learn more about Hooked on Games here. Learn more about Arlene's Screen Kids masterclass at HappyHomeUniversity.comThe Happy Home is sponsored in part by Dwell Bible App. Save 30% off Dwell for Life at DwellApp.io/HappyHome.

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. What if being an introvert wasn't a struggle, but a superpower? Introverts are often told that they should act more outgoing like a brother or sister. Yet introverts come with a set of strengths that are very needed in our noisy world. Bestselling author (and introvert) Holley Gerth is here to help us nurture, champion, and understand the introverts in our lives. This introvert could be you! Sharing from her book, The Powerful Purpose of Introverts, you'll learn the following in this listener favorite, encore presentation:  3:30 How did you know you were an introvert?   5:00 The differences in the brains of introverts and extroverts  7:45 What if you are married to an extrovert and you’re an introvert, or vice versa?  9:00 Speaking the love languages to an introvert (the volume is different!)  13:00 Learning how to be direct as an introvert  14:00 A helpful question: How can I love you well right now?  17:30 Does my child have at least one quality connection with someone? It’s not about quantity, it’s about quality.  20:00 Social media and the introverted child  21:00 What has helped you in struggling with anxiety?  24:00 The difference between solitude and isolation  Holley Gerth is a Wall Street Journal bestselling author, life coach, and podcaster with a Masters of Science Degree in counseling. She's empowered more than a half million readers through her books like You're Already Amazing and the topic of today's conversation, The Powerful Purpose of Introverts.  Learn more about Holley on her website. HolleyGerth.com Need help managing your family's screen time? Arlene's book Screen Kids, along with the masterclass, can help. Also find free monthly resources for your home at HappyHomeUniversity.com

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. How do you engage your sorrow when the world tells you it's time to move on? Young widow Clarissa Moll shares her story of loss and the brutal truth about living with grief. Yet somehow she has found deep joy. In her book, Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Living with Grief & Thriving After Loss, Clarissa points your heart towards hope. Whether you have lost someone through death or divorce, or you are experiencing a painful situation, this conversation will speak to you. You'll learn:  3:00 How do you cope when your story is drastically different than you had hoped?  5:00 Receiving the tragic news of her husband’s death  7:30 Talking to kids about death with real words (not figures of speech) 10:00 How do you journey through your day with grief constantly showing up?    13:00 How to know when you need to reach out to others for help  17:20 The irony of her husband’s last book which was about the art of dying  22:00 How do you still find comfort after the cards and flowers of consolation have ceased? 23:50 Talking about the deceased with your kids in a healthy way  25:25 The heart compared to a classroom - a brilliant comparison  27:00 Your husband died - this didn’t destroy your faith. It strengthened it. How did this happen?  28:30 What happened to her wedding ring  Clarissa Moll (MA, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) is an author, a podcaster, and the young widow of author Rob Moll. Clarissa’s writing has appeared in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, RELEVANT, Modern Loss, Grief Digest and more. Her husband’s first book, The Art of Dying, was released in April 2021 with Clarissa’s new afterword. Clarissa’s debut book is Beyond the Darkness: A Gentle Guide for Walking with Grief and Thriving After Loss. Learn more about Clarissa on her website ClarissaMoll.com Get your free monthly resource for your home from Arlene at Happy Home University. HappyHomeUniversity.com

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Following Jesus is counter-cultural as we live in a time that chases fame, sheds traditional values, and shames those who don't fall in line. Hot button topics such as bullying, social media, loneliness, porn, anxiety, and defending Biblical views at school, online and with friends are all addressed in Sean McDowell's new book, A Rebel's Manifesto: Choosing Truth, Real Justice, and Love amid the Noise of Today's World. In today's very helpful conversation for parents, you'll learn:  3:00 What is a rebel’s manifesto about? What does it look like to be a rebel today?   4:30 How can you disagree with people and still like them? 7:41 What if your child has to do something immoral for a school assignment?   9:52 About public education in California  12:00 Take this advice about being involved in your child’s education  13:14 How do you respond to statements like: Who are you to judge me?  15:00 How do you respond to: You should not force your morals on me.   16:30 What if you are called a hater if you believe in marriage between a man and woman? 17:00 What if your child is labeled a hater?  20:00 What are unique challenges to Gen Z?   23:30 What does research say about the power of parents to influence our kids?  25:50 Tell me about Summit Ministries and why it’s so influential for teens Sean McDowell is an author, speaker, and associate professor at Talbot School of Theology at Biola. He has two masters degrees and a PhD in apologetics and worldview studies. He’s authored or edited more than 18 books. He married his high school sweetheart Stephanie and they have three children. His newest book is A Rebel’s Manifesto. Learn more at his website SeanMcdowell.org Want to learn more about Summit Ministries where Sean often speaks? Visit Summit.org Spending too much time on screens this summer? My book Screen Kids co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman will help, along with the masterclass. Find out more at HappyHomeUniversity.com

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Life can be hard. Relationships are broken. Responsibilities are piled high. How can you grow closer to God instead of falling away during times of struggle? New York Times bestselling author Karen Ehman has a new devotional for women (co-authored with Ruth Schwenk) to help you connect with Jesus everyday. It's called "Trusting God in All the Things." In today's conversation, you'll learn:   3:00 The difference between believing in God and trusting in Him  4:00 Ask this question to know if you’re having trouble trusting God  6:30 Practically speaking, how can you shift your trust in God?  7:30 When we are trying to manipulate outcomes for our kids, here’s a story to remember. 10:00 Key verses that will help you trust in God  14:50 How can you minister to your lonely daughter?  17:00 You might make the difference in bringing someone to Christ by befriending a neighbor  19:20 Lessons about soul control from the Psalms  20:45 About the “I Spy” journal  23:30 Ideas of spending time with God when you have kids and a crazy full schedule  Karen Ehman is a New York Times bestselling author with Proverbs 31 Ministries as well as a writer for Encouragement for Today, an online devotional that reaches more than four million women daily. She has authored eighteen books, including Keep It Shut. Married to her college sweetheart, Todd, she’s the mom of three adult children and two children-in-law, although she forgets which are which.  Learn more about Karen Ehman and her new devotional Trusting God in All Things on her website KarenEhman.com Spending too much time on screens this summer? My book Screen Kids co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman will help, along with the masterclass. Find out more at HappyHomeUniversity.com

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Are you tired of the screen time battles in your home? If you're constantly managing fights between your kids, meltdowns, or saying "put that away!" it may be time for a digital detox. Author and mom of six Molly DeFrank shares her family's journey of unplugging and outlines a detailed plan for you to do the same. Today's conversation is about:  2:30 Mother has had it! The birth of the digital detox 5:00 How do you present the digital detox to your kids? What does that talk sound like? 7:30 What are signs that your children need a detox from devices? 9:00 Mom, say this when your kids say I’m bored 12:00 The best part of the detox is noticing your child’s specific talents and interests 15:20 Do parents have to join the digital detox? If so, how? 17:30 Kids from foster care - adapting the digital detox for them 22:00 Here’s how you can continue the digital detox long term 25:20 You don’t have to be organized or a planner to do this digital detox because… Molly DeFrank is the mama of the digital detox. She's a stay home mom and foster mom of six kids ages 12 and under. She's been a guest on Good Morning America and her new book is Digital Detox: The 2 week tech reset for kids. Find out more on Molly's website Visit Happy Home University to subscribe to Arlene's free family monthly resources.  

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. This is the perfect episode to help you understand your son and/or your husband better!  What are the 5 masculine instincts? This week's guest, pastor and author Chase Replogle is here to explain what these instincts are and how to leverage them for good. In today's conversation, we're talking about:  3:00 What can we learn from Shakespeare’s stages of a man?  4:25 Instincts - are they good or bad?   6:00 The example of Cain and the instinct of sarcasm  9:30 How can we nudge our son to care instead of check out?   10:30 A working definition of humility: self-suspicion  14:30 What is C.S. Lewis talking about in the Abolition of Man when he refers to chestless men?   18:30 How can we make church more attractive for men? For boys?   22:00 Hunting for turkeys!  25:00 Men need adventures, extremes of too much adventure or too little (apathy)  27:00 The call of God on Samson’s life - the need to watch our spiritual lives carefully  Chase Replogle is a pastor and author of the 5 Masculine Instincts. He’s pastored the Bent Oak Church in Springfield, Missouri for 10 years. He is the host of the Pastor Writer podcast, a native of the Ozark woods, and he enjoys being outdoors with his wife and two kids. Find out more at pastorwriter.com. Do you have a happy husband? Take the free quiz at Happy Home University.

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Pornography is not what it used to be. Much more than just photos of unclothed adults, it's more violent and prevalent than ever. How can you keep your kids safe online? Expert and author Dr. John Foubert is here to explain how pornography is affecting the brains, hearts and future families of children and teens. On today's episode you'll learn:  3:00 What is happening in a child’s brain when they see pornography?  4:50 Can a brain reset back to a healthy level after porn use?   5:20 Why is porn especially dangerous to tween and teens?   7:10 How soon do you talk to your kids about this subject?  10:20 From 2008-2011, exposure to kids under 13 rose from 14% to 49%  13:00 What do studies show between the link between porn and sexual violence?   15:00 How should you respond when you catch your child looking at pictures of naked people? 16:20 Did you know there is a link between porn and depression and anxiety? 18:00 The physical damages that happen to kids when they view porn  21:50 How to best talk with your kids about porn in a way they will want to listen to you  Today's guest Dr. John Foubert is a thought leader who has testified before Congress and has been called on by the White House and the Pentagon about how to end sexual violence. He’s been a guest on CNN and NPR and is cited regularly in papers like the NY Times, US News and World Report, and the Washington Post. Dr. Foubert's newest book is Protecting Your Children from Internet Pornography - understanding the science, risks, and ways to protect your kids.  Learn more about Dr. John Foubert on his website. Visit Happy Home University for Arlene's free monthly resource. 

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. How can you get your teen girl more engaged with the Bible? Mom of three girls and founder of the ministry Love God Greatly, Angela Perritt, is here to share her enthusiasm for studying the Bible and how you can pass that love to your children and teenagers. We're talking about her new study Bible, the Young Women Love God Greatly Bible. In today's conversation, you'll learn:  5:00 How you can give girls a wider view of the world, a love for other nations   7:10 How to encourage kids who follow God because they WANT to, not because they HAVE to  9:00 What can a mom do to nudge a daughter to read God’s Word when she is not interested?   10:50 How can a Bible reading plan be a game changer in your family? 12:00 How do you apply the “SOAP” method of studying the Bible?  15:00 Let’s talk about the difference between reading the Bible in print or on the phone  17:50 This is one of the biggest lies this generation of girls is hearing 23:00 How can church history help our kids to be bolder about their faith?   26:00 Words of advice to moms who want to start a non-profit, ministry, or business  Angela Perritt is the founder and director of LoveGodGreatly.com, a nonprofit online Bible study ministry reaching thousands of women in over 200 countries around the world with God's Word through their translated Bible studies. Angela and her husband live in Dallas with their three daughters. Today we talked about her Young Women Love God Greatly Bible (it's a BEAUTIFUL study Bible).   Visit Happy Home University to subscribe to Arlene's email list and receive your free monthly resource, Five Stress Busters for Mom. 

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Friends, co-workers, and even family members are avoiding each other because they don't agree. We are struggling to get along. Bestselling author Jay Payleitner has a new book to help titled, Don't Take the Bait to Escalate. How can family members enjoy more peace and less fighting? In today's conversation, you'll learn:  3:45 How conflict can be a good thing 6:00 What are the four factors involved in conflict?  6:40 How did you and your wife settle your peanut butter dispute?  9:40 It might not be about compromise, it might mean taking turns to help your family member chase a dream  11:00 Escalation doesn't always involve getting louder  11:55 Re-connecting with someone you are estranged from  19:50 What do you do when your middle school aged girl is wearing shorts that are too short?  23:50 When you're in a pit in your marriage, do this... Jay Payleitner's new book is Don’t Take the Bait to Escalate: Conflict is inevitable, being a jerk is optional. Jay has worked with the National Center for Fathering, and has sold more than half a million books including 52 Things Kids Need from a Dad and Moms Bringing Out the Best in Dads. He and his wife Rita have raised five kids, loved on 10 foster babies, and are enjoying grandparenthood. Learn more at jaypayleitner.com. Visit Happy Home University to subscribe to Arlene's email list and receive your free monthly resource, Five Stress Busters for Mom.