The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. 10:00 Why self-esteem didn’t deliver  12:15 Kids find fulfillment when they discover this  14:00 How to guide children to be respectful  16:30 Which is most important: humility, respect or resiliency?  18:00 A working definition of humility  21:10 Train, don’t entertain  23:30 When a teenager goes sideways  25:00 My twins entered high school and I had a panic attack  29:00 Instilling courage through trying  32:00 Using persuasive pressure on kids  Jill Garner is the founder of Manners of the Heart, a non-profit to re-awake respect in our society. She has been featured by Focus on the Family and FamilyLife Today. She is an accomplished speaker, advocate, and author. Learn more about Jill Garner and her non-profit, Manners of the Heart https://mannersoftheheart.org/ Learn more about Jill Garner and her latest book, StrongHeart: Cultivating Humility, Respect, and Resiliency in Your Child. https://jillgarnercontent.org/books Did you miss Reset Your Tech month? Go back to last month's episodes, and you can still get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Coming September 6, 2025 - Arlene's next Parents Rising Conference in San Diego. Save the date!  Get your copy of Parents Rising here https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0802416608/?tag=arlenpelli-20 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

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. It's RESET YOUR TECH month! Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Kids and teens are being absorbed, entranced and harmed by technology use. Mental health problems are multiplying and there is no solution in sight. If we don't act, kids will be even more dependent on tech in the years ahead. What can we do to rescue this anxious generation? Arlene shares what you can do starting today to reverse the trend of harmful social media and gaming in your home.  Commenting about the findings in Jonathan Haidt's important book, The Anxious Generation, Arlene addresses:  5:00 Why is a rescue for our kids needed? 10:24 What does social media do to my child’s sleep and well-being?  16:51 But I've heard about the benefits of social media for teens  18:45 How to help your teen change social media use  23:50 Why we overprotect our kids in the real world, and under protect them in the virtual world Watch Arlene's free video Screen Kids: In Their Own Words about her kids going through high school without phones https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/film 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 Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet 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

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. It's RESET YOUR TECH month! Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe If you keep your kids off social media and video games, will you be ruining their childhood? With the pressure for teens to engage online, is it really a good idea for a parent to delay the smartphone? College student Evan Hempe says yes. After seeing his older brother crash and burn because of video games, Evan's mom Melanie Hempe (last week's podcast guest and founder of ScreenStrong) vowed to raise Evan and his twin brother differently. Evan shares why his phone-free childhood was a remarkable gift as we talk about:  4:39 I was afraid of my older brother because of what the games did to him  7:08 Having a “real” childhood  14:37 There's such a difference between kids who grew up with phones and kids who didn’t  17:08 How you can get your kids interested in hobbies other than video games  22:04 The truth is social media is not essential for socializing Evan Hempe is a student at Liberty University who has a wide range of interests such as piano and art. If you're at a major sports event at Liberty, you'll hear him on the mic welcoming the crowd and kicking off the game. He has spoken alongside his mom, Melanie Hempe, founder of ScreenStrong.  Learn how to raise your child the ScreenStrong way at https://screenstrong.org/ Learn more about the Kids' Brains and Screens Student Course https://kidsbrainsandscreens.com/ Watch Arlene's free video Screen Kids: In Their Own Words about her kids also going through high school without phones https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/film 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 Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet 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

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. It's RESET YOUR TECH month! Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Imagine if your son went from well-rounded and healthy to completely obsessed with video games. This story isn't unusual anymore. Melanie Hempe, mom and and founder of Screen Strong, shares how her oldest son was almost wrecked by video games and how he got his life back. You'll learn how to reverse screen addiction and also how to prevent it. Today you'll learn:  2:13 I watched my child be addicted to video games  7:07 You can choose the course of your child’s life  13:18 There is a giant myth around your child’s social life 21:35 The best gift you can give your child 24:09 I’ve already given my teen social media, what do I do? 35:12 How the older sibling’s behavior will trickle down to the younger sibling Melanie Hempe is a registered nurse and the founder of Screen Strong, a nonprofit committed to giving you the fastest way to resolve screen conflicts and build strong families. She is the host of the ScreenStrong Families podcast and has been featured in the WSJ, CBS, CNN, NPR and Psychology Today. She and her husband have four children.  Learn more about Screen Strong https://screenstrong.org/ Learn more about the Kids' Brains and Screens Student Course https://kidsbrainsandscreens.com/ 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 Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet 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

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. It's RESET YOUR TECH month! Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet at https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Today's average teenager is spending hours on a phone, immersed in social media, entertainment, and gaming every day. The result has been a mental health epidemic. If normal isn't working, why not be a screen rebel? My daughter Noelle joins us today to talk about her journey through public high school in Southern California without a smartphone or social media. If your child says it's impossible to exist without a phone, you're about to find out it can actually be amazing. In today's conversation, you'll learn:  3:18 Social interactions for your child are possible without having a smartphone??? 8:24 Why social media is so dangerous 15:17 How your kids can find friends that respect them, even if they don’t have social media  17:17 What happens if I tell my kids they can’t have phones? 21:15 Do not be afraid to protect your kids from addictive technology  24:32 Finding connection in God, not social media  29:04 Seeing the fruit of honoring your parents Noelle Pellicane is a high school graduate who thrived without a cell phone or social media. She excelled in school, taking five Advanced Placement exams her senior year and being awarded the sportsmanship award and #1 singles player in tennis. She is currently studying mechanical engineering at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. She has a smartphone now but has opted out of social media. She enjoys using her phone to call her mom. Want to know the secret sauce? Read my 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 Learn more about Summit Student Conference (Biblical worldview conference Noelle recommends) https://www.summit.org/programs/student-conferences/ 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 More Resources for Your Family: Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet at https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

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! This month's theme is RESET YOUR TECH. Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet at https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe 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 new book (which is launching 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 Get your free "Reset Your Tech" tip sheet at https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Our kids aren't growing up in a culture that supports following Jesus. Yet kids and teens are spiritually curious. How can we reach the spiritual curious with the good news of Jesus? How can we help our kids engage their friends about faith? Mark Matlock, senior fellow at Barna, is here to explain the culture we live in and why spiritual openness is on the rise. Sharing from his book, Faith for the Curious, you'll learn:  2:05 What does it really mean to be curious? 8:30 How do we give space for curiosity and still give our kids guidance? 13:05 How to have essential conversations with your kids when they are curious about the “wrong” things  18:36 Living in Digital Babylon  21:28 Helping our kids reach their spiritually curious friends  26:48 How to create opportunities to talk about faith using curiosity Mark Matlock is an author, senior fellow at Barna, the founder of WisdomWorks, and currently serves as the Executive Director of Urbana for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Mark's books include Faith for Exiles, and today we're talking about his new book, Faith for the Curious.  Learn more about Mark Matlock and his book Faith for the Curious on his website. https://markmatlock.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! speaking@arlenepellicane.com More Resources for Your Family: Subscribe to Arlene's free email list where she shares what she is learning in her home for yours. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. We may live in a broken world, but that doesn't mean the goodness of God is out of reach. We can live with joy, abundance, and confidence right now! Beloved Bible teacher Carol McLeod is here to encourage your heart with truth from the book of Colossians and her own experience raising five children. Based on Carol's new book, Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture, you'll learn how to flourish as a family. We'll talk about:   2:22 How can you live abundantly as a family in this broken, toxic culture?    6:29 Do you live in an invisible prison?   8:45 What does walking with the Lord look like day-to-day?   13:30 Practical tips for loving difficult people in your life (especially when they are your kids or spouse)   18:26 Kids have superpowers (but it's not what you think)   23:32 How can we cultivate more gratitude in the home   26:25 Living in God’s will doesn't have to be a mystery   29:24 Never nag about chores again   Bible teacher Carol McLeod is a mom to five grown children and Marmee to 10 grandchildren. Her YouVersion devotionals have been downloaded more than 4 million times. Carol has devoted her life to teaching women the Word of God. She is the author of several books included her new book based on the Book of Colossians, Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture.  Learn more about Carol McLeod and her book here https://www.carolmcleodministries.com/ Learn more about Carol's video teaching here https://www.carolmcleodministries.com/shop-main/p/overflowing-bundle Getting into fights with your kids over screen time? 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 More Resources for Your Family:  Subscribe to Arlene's free email list where she shares what she is learning in her home for yours. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. Playing on a sports team can be a great learning experience for your child, but it can also lead to overcommitment and exhaustion. How can you tell if your commitment to sports is working for or against your family? Dr. David Fraze is here to coach us up. He has a new book full of good advice for student athletes and the families who are cheering for them (and driving them to games). The book is Practical Wisdom for Athletes and Their Families (co-authored with Dr. Monica Williams). During today's interview, David will answer many questions like:  3:20 Wait, I don’t have to go crazy driving my kids to all different sports?  5:00 Look at your pocketbook… 6:00 Start here if you are struggling with juggling sports  8:20 What if the sports schedule conflicts with church or other Christian activities?  12:00 If you have a problem with the coach, how should you approach him or her?  15:30 How can we bring glory to God through sports?   17:50 What if your child is becoming more vulgar / less godly because of the team?  20:00 My kid wants to quit, what should I do? 23:00 When parents act poorly in the stands  25:30 How to reset while you’re playing a game Dr. David Fraze is an associate professor and Endowed Chair of Youth and Family ministry at Lubbock Christian University. He has worked for more than 35 years with youth in church, school, and athletic settings, working with coaches, student athletes and families specifically for the last 15 years. Learn more about his book, Practical Wisdom for Athletes and Their Families here https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Wisdom-Families-Athletes-Ultimate/dp/1684260035/ Need solid teaching to up your game as a parent? Get access to all the sessions of this year's Parents Rising Conference with Dr. Gary Chapman, Bill and Pam Farrel, Sally Burke, and Arlene Pellicane here. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/conference 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 More Resources for Your Family: Subscribe to Arlene's free email list where she shares what she is learning in her home for yours. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Watch a VIDEO clip from the podcast on Arlene's Happy Home YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@arlenehappyhome

Discover the way ahead at Indiana Wesleyan University. Learn more here. On most days, do you feel like a success or a failure as a mom? It can be easy to feel lost and alone, but we don't have to stay that way. Mother and grandmother Karen Stubbs is the ideal mentor to provide inspiration for parenting, backed up with practical tips that will make motherhood easier. Sharing from her new book, Survival Guide to Motherhood, you'll learn about:  3:00 Recognizing the dangers of self-pity  8:00 How to take charge - but not control - your home  14:43 Why being clear in discipline is essential 15:55 What to do if you haven’t been consistent in discipline with your kids  21:00 Building confidence in your child to overcome   27:22 You don’t do the parenting journey alone! Karen Stubbs is an author and speaker who loves equipping moms. In 2011, she founded Birds on a Wire, a ministry to help moms with practical and Biblical truth so they can parent with confidence. When Karen was a young mom, her husband Greg was a fighter pilot in the Navy and she knows what it’s like to struggle with young kids.  Learn more about Karen Stubbs and her new book, Survival Guide to Motherhood here. https://birdsonawiremoms.com/ Need solid teaching to up your game as a parent? Get access to all the sessions of this year's Parents Rising Conference with Dr. Gary Chapman, Bill and Pam Farrel, Sally Burke, and Arlene Pellicane here. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/conference 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 More Resources for Your Family: Subscribe to Arlene's free email list where she shares what she is learning in her home for yours. https://www.happyhomeuniversity.com/subscribe Watch a VIDEO clip from the podcast on Arlene's Happy Home YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@arlenehappyhome