The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane

Complex problems don't always have to require complex solutions. A simple tweak in your marriage could make a world of difference. One of our favorite guests is back, Dr. Gary Chapman with proven marriage advice to make your marriage better starting today. Dr. Chapman has a new book, A Simple Guide for a Better Marriage: Quick Practical Insights Every Couple Needs to Thrive (co-authored with John Hinkley). On today's episode, we're talking about: 2:07 Help! I married the wrong person! 10:50 What to do when you are hurt by your spouse 12:45 Shifting from a contract marriage to a covenant marriage 15:22 How to be more patient with your spouse 18:30 Sex is not a taboo topic to God (and it shouldn't be for you either) 23:05 The ultimate way to communicate with your spouse Dr. Gary Chapman is an author, speaker, and marriage and family counselor. His bestselling Five Love Languages books have sold more than 20 million copies and have been translated into nearly 40 languages. Dr. Chapman and his wife Karolyn have been married more than 50 years. Learn more about Dr. Gary Chapman and his new book, A Simple Guide for a Better Marriage https://5lovelanguages.com/store/a-simple-guide-for-a-better-marriage 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 (early bird price through June 30) 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

If you could use more joy, purpose and hope as a mom, or if you’re a For King and Country fan, this episode with Courtney Smallbone is for you, We’re talking about her new devotional, Technicolor Woman and explaining what living in full color can look like for you. In this episode, you'll learn:  3:17 How do we keep ourselves humble? 6:09 Feeling way to busy?? How to handle pressure in your life  11:25 The Lord’s heart to nourish us  20:46 How to not succumb to social media 23:37 Our baby wasn't breathing  Courtney Smallbone is an author and speaker who wants to come alongside women and help them move from living in black and white to full color. She and her husband Luke Smallbone (one-half of the Grammy winning For King + Country) have four kids. When Courtney's not sipping coffee on her porch or traveling with the band, you'll find her raising cattle and kids on a farm in Tennessee.  Learn more about Courtney Smallbone and her book, Technicolor Woman https://technicolorwoman.com/ Technicolor Woman on Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Technicolor-Woman-Courtney-Smallbone-ebook/dp/B0F3W886TZ Shop For King + Country https://www.forkingandcountry.com/collections/books Tickets on sale now! You're invited to see David Thomas, Sissy Goff, and Arlene at the Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025 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

We live in a world that prizes hustle,and constant productivity. How do we break the habit of hurry? Eryn Lynum is here to show us from nature, God’s Word, and her own family life how to truly live more rested. If you're longing for a little bit of rest in your life, this is for you. We're sharing rich thoughts from Eryn's new book, The Nature of Rest: What the Bible and Creation Teach Us About Sabbath Living. On today's episode, you'll learn:  3:00 What we can learn from hummingbirds  8:00 How to practically honor the Sabbath  13:50 What does it mean for God to “stay us”? 17:43 How society lies to us about rest  23:07 How to get your kids outdoors more frequently 26:20 The two ways that God reveals Himself to us Eryn Lynum is a certified master naturalist and Bible teacher. She is the podcast host of the popular Nat Theo: Nature Lessons Rooted in the Bible. Her books include Rooted in Wonder and The Nature of Rest. She lives in Colorado with her husband and 4 kids.  Learn more about Eryn and her new book, The Nature of Rest https://erynlynum.com/ Check out Eryn's podcast, Nat Theo https://erynlynum.com/nattheo Can kids be happy without smartphones, social media or video games? Check out our family documentary, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words (it's free!) https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/film Tickets on sale now! You're invited to see David, Sissy, and Arlene at the Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025 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

See David Thomas, Sissy Goff, and Arlene Pellicane live at the Parents Rising Conference on September 6, 2025 in San Diego. Tickets on sale now http://parentsrisingconference.com/ Do you tend to think about what might go wrong instead of what might go right? Negativity is our default mode and can be disastrous for a family, but what if bad can sometimes be leveraged for good in your home? The power of bad can actually be leveraged for good. Learn when bad really is bad, and when it actually serves as a useful consequence for kids. This is a message Arlene shared on Mother's Day at Bonita Valley Community Church in San Diego. You'll hear about:  4:40 Would you drink juice that had a sterilized cockroach dipped in it?  7:50 The negativity effect and what it does to your thinking  9:50 How many positive comments are needed to cancel out a negative one?  12:20 One billion users on TikTok  15:15 How light acts as a disinfectant  19:00 When bad is actually helpful  23:00 Do not let your children do anything that makes you dislike them  25:15 Study of reward and punishment for kids  29:00 Arlene is rapping??? 33:00 Heart cracking goodness  Arlene Pellicane is the host of the Happy Home podcast, a speaker and author of several books including Making Marriage Easier, Screen Kids, and Parents Rising. She has been featured on FamilyLife Today, Focus on the Family, the Wall Street Journal, and The Today Show. She and her husband James have three children (two in college and one in high school).  Learn more at Happy Home University https://happyhomeuniversity.com/ Tickets on sale now! You're invited to see Arlene live with David Thomas and Sissy Goff at the Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025 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

See David Thomas, Sissy Goff, and Arlene Pellicane live at the Parents Rising Conference on September 6, 2025 in San Diego. Tickets on sale now http://parentsrisingconference.com/ What would happen if your child could trade insecurity for bravery, and giving up for resilience? Counselors and bestselling authors David Thomas and Sissy Goff can help you raise confident, worry free kids. Drawing from their vast experience at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, David and Sissy know how to help kids and parents deal with anxiety and worry. They have written two new children's books, Lucy Learns to Be Brave and Owen Learns He Has What it Takes. On today's episode, you'll learn:  5:25 Your dog could be more than a pet! 7:45 How to tell if your child is flourishing 14:36 Modeling emotions to your child  20:50 Are we giving anxiety too much attention? 24:53 Reversing the negative effects of COVID in our teenagers   31:00 What to do if your child won’t leave their room David Thomas is the director of family counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville. His books include Raising Emotionally Strong Boys and Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys. He and Sissy host the popular Raising Boys and Girls podcast. Sissy Goff is the director of child and adolescent counseling at Daystar. Her books include Raising Worry-Free Girls and The Worry-Free Parent.   Learn more about David Thomas and Sissy Goff and their new children's books, Lucy Learns to Be Brave and Owen Learns He Has What it Takes at Raising Boys and Girls https://www.raisingboysandgirls.com/ Tickets on sale now! You're invited to see David, Sissy, and Arlene at the Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025 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

As parents, we hope our children will follow Jesus forever. But maybe you worry sometimes that your child will grow up to walk away from the faith. Today's guest Justin Brierley has hosted radio conversations between Christians and non-Christians for more than 20 years. He's here to share the reasons why he still believes, and how your children can too. From his book, Why I'm Still a Christian, you'll be encouraged to raise your kids with confidence. We'll talk about: 4:07 Is raising your kids in a Christian bubble always the best for them? 6:46 How to answer your kids’ tough questions about God 10:45 What only the existence of God can explain 22:28 Helping your child through their doubts about God  30:45 The new hope for Christianity Justin Brierley is a UK-based author, speaker, and broadcaster known for hosting dialogues between Christians and non-Christians. He is passionate about creating conversations around faith, science, theology, and culture. He is the former host of the Unbelievable radio show, as well as the Ask NT Wright Anything podcast. He and his wife Lucy have 4 children. Justin is the author of many books including The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and the book we've talked about today, Why I'm Still a Christian.  Find out more about Justin Brierley on his website https://justinbrierley.com/ Get Justin's book, Why I'm Still a Christian https://www.amazon.com/Why-Still-Christian-Conversations-Atheists/dp/1496466934/ Too much screen time for your kids? Get Arlene's book written with Dr. Gary Chapman, Screen Kids https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802422209 Tickets on sale now! You're invited to Arlene's Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025 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

Would you like to have better conversations with your kids? If you're tired of conversations that are shallow or forced, you are going to love this episode with Heather Holleman as she shares from her book, The Six Conversations. You will be able to connect with your kids and spouse in new ways after learning better questions to ask. On this episode, you will learn:  3:40 The mindset you need to create a warm connection 6:14 The beauty of journaling and noting other's concerns   14:01 How to love with your face  19:04 Teaching your kids to have good conversations  23:30 Modeling curiosity to your children Dr. Heather Holleman is an associate teaching professor at Penn State, a speaker and an author. Her books include Seated with Christ: Lively freely in a culture of comparison, and today we’re talking about her book, The Six Conversations: Pathways to Connected in an Age of Isolation and Incivility. She serves alongside her husband Ashley in speaking and writing. They’ve been full time staff with Cru for 20 years. They have two daughters.   Find out more about Heather Holleman and her book, The Six Conversations https://heatherholleman.com/books-2/six-conversations/ Learn more about Seated & Sent, the speaking and coaching ministry of Heather and Ashley Holleman https://seatedandsent.com/ Want to have better conversations with your spouse? Read Arlene's book Making Marriage Easier and get the discussion rolling in a fun way! 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 https://parentsrisingconference.com/

Is it possible to create purpose and spiritual growth in your kids in the mess of everyday life? Bestselling author of Habits of the Household, Justin Whitmel Earley, will show you how to establish ordinary routines that make a big difference in the spiritual habits of your kids (and you too!). This is the book I wish I would have read when my kids were younger. Today you'll learn about:  2:11 From a missionary in China to a lawyer??? 4:35 Your new bedtime routine with your kids  7:07 What does it look like to adopt a liturgy? 9:30 Hectic mornings? Try this simple habit 17:40 How to form new habits  21:51 Why is kneeling in prayer so important? 25:10 Join the Hang 10 movement Justin Whitmel Earley is a writer, speaker, and lawyer from Richmond, Virginia. He's the award-winning author of books like The Common Rule and the book we're talking about today, Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms. He also has a children's book, The Big Mess. Justin and his wife Lauren have four boys.   Find out more about Justin Whitmel Earley and his books on his website https://www.justinwhitmelearley.com/ Learn about the Hang 10 Movement to change the next generation's relationship with technology https://www.hangtenmovement.com/ Can kids really have friends and thrive without social media or a smartphone? Watch Arlene's free documentary, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/film 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 https://parentsrisingconference.com/

Get Arlene's book, Making Marriage Easier: How to love (and like) your spouse for life https://makingmarriageeasier.com/ Did you grow up listening to Adventures in Odyssey? Focus on the Family's long running audio radio drama is filled with lovable characters, hilarious one-liners, fun and suspense. One of the main characters, Katie Leigh (aka Connie Kendall) joins us to talk about working in Hollywood as a Christian, using entertainment for good, and a behind the scenes look into Odyssey. We'll talk about:  3:17 The importance of humor 7:53 How parents play a huge role in shaping you 10:24 Why to stay childlike 12:05 Living out Christianity, even in Hollywood 14:55 What would Connie say about our kids on screens??? 23:52 What makes Adventures in Odyssey such a good listen  Today's guest Katie Leigh has been the voice of main character Connie Kendall on Focus on the Family’s audio radio drama, Adventures in Odyssey since the series first began in 1987. Her voice has been heard on Disney Junior, PBS Kids, Universal kids, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon. Learn more about Katie Leigh on her website https://www.katieleigh.com/ Learn more about Adventures in Odyssey, a Focus on the Family production here https://www.adventuresinodyssey.com/ Get the help you need to take back your home from too much negative 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/

You might think teaching theology is above your pay grade, but it's not! Pastor and author Sam Luce will explain how you can share God's Word with your kids from his book, How to Teach Kids Theology. You can take deep truths and share them in practical, actionable ways with your children and teens. In today's conversation, you'll learn:  5:00 The MOST important thing in the development of your child 7:55 How to teach your kids so that they don’t “grow out of their faith” 11:30 What is “cliff-note Christianity”? 15:35 How can I as a parent get closer to God? 21:20 Growing into the habit of teaching your kids the word of God  25:09 How to avoid over-simplifying theology for your kids Sam Luce is the pastor of global ministries at Redeemer Church in Utica NY. He’s a prolific writer and speaker, with a passion for children’s ministry and the next generation. His new book co-authored with Hunter Williams is How to Teach Kids Theology - Deep truths for growing faith. Sam and his wife have 4 kids. Learn more about Sam Luce and his book, How to Teach Kids Theology https://samluce.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 Tickets on sale now! You're invited to Arlene's Parents Rising Conference in San Diego, September 6, 2025 http://parentsrisingconference.com/ Get Arlene's book, Making Marriage Easier: How to love (and like) your spouse for life https://makingmarriageeasier.com/ 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