Religion & SpiritualityChristianityEducation

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

THINQ Media

Parenting is no joke! Suzanne Phillips has spent years coaching intentional, legacy-minded parents—helping them overcome our increasingly confusing culture and connect the dots between faith, family, freedom and their child's future. Because informed parents make informed decisions. And let's face it, ages 0-25 are called formative years for a reason. Your children are being shaped! What goes in WILL come out. So, tune in to The InFormed Parent, from the THINQ Media Podcast Network, to get the guidance you need to parent with purpose, disciple with direction and leave an intentional legacy.

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Yesterday · 25 min
S7 Ep1 | Parent With Eyes Open: Protection, Provision & the Threats We Can't Ignore
Welcome to Season 7 of The InFormed Parent. In this opening episode, host and Beacon Parent founder Suzanne Phillips shares what God has been showing her as she continues helping parents navigate an increasingly complex culture. From education and comprehensive sex education to pornography, online dangers, and child trafficking, Suzanne reflects on how her assignment has expanded into conversations she never expected to lead. The common thread? Parents cannot protect and prepare their children for what they do not understand. But this isn't a call to fear or perfect parenting. It's an invitation to become more aware, intentional, and prayerful — trusting that when God reveals a threat, He also provides wisdom and opportunity. Suzanne also introduces a simple S.W.O.T. framework families can use to consider their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats as they lead their homes with greater clarity and purpose. In This Episode → Why Suzanne believes informing parents is an essential part of helping families thrive → How her work moved from education into conversations around sex education, pornography, online safety, and trafficking → Why awareness of cultural threats is different from parenting out of fear → The role of parents as protectors, providers, and prayer warriors → How to use a simple S.W.O.T. framework to evaluate your family → What to expect from Season 7: warning and direction, problems and solutions, danger and hope Meet Suzanne Suzanne Phillips is the founder and CEO of Beacon Parent, host of The InFormed Parent Podcast, speaker, coach, writer, and advocate for families and education. With more than 20 years of leadership across education, ministry, and parent coaching, Suzanne equips families to navigate culture through a biblical worldview and live out God's intentional design for the family. Her work centers on spiritual formation, family vision, intentional parenting, and helping parents lead with greater clarity and conviction. (SuzanneP) Connect with Suzanne + Beacon Parent Beacon Parent exists to help families move from cultural chaos toward biblical clarity — equipping parents to lead on purpose, disciple with wisdom, and raise children grounded in truth. (Beacon Parent) → Beacon Parent Resources: www.beaconparent.com → Suzanne's trusted books: Beacon Parent Vetted List → Get practical tools + biblical insight sent to your inbox: Subscribe → Hear More on Instagram: @beacon_parent → Work with Suzanne Phillips: SuzannePhillips.net 🎧 Season 7 is about staying curious, thinking well, recognizing what is shaping our children, and choosing to do good with what we learn. Follow The InFormed Parent, leave a review, and share this episode with another parent who wants to lead with wisdom instead of fear.
S6 · E13
April 9 · 35 min
S6 E13: Family: God's Divine Design
Episode Summary As we wrap up this season, Suzanne Phillips brings it all home with a powerful, reflective episode centered on one foundational truth: Family is not accidental — it is designed. Throughout this season, you've heard conversations around culture, education, identity, technology, and parenting challenges. But this episode asks a deeper question: What will you actually do with what you've learned? Because information alone doesn't change a family. Inspiration alone doesn't transform a life. Application does. This episode tackles three major barriers parents face: "I don't have time" "I don't have what it takes" "I'm not sure there's a clear design for family" …and replaces them with truth, clarity, and confidence. With practical insight, biblical grounding, and a deeply moving closing reflection, Suzanne reminds parents: You already have the greatest influence in your child's life. The question is whether you will use it intentionally. Episode Highlights ✔️ Why information and inspiration are not enough without application ✔️ The shift from knowledge to transformation through revelation ✔️ The three biggest barriers parents face (time, confidence, and belief) ✔️ Why the home is the primary place of discipleship ✔️ The difference between managing a home and leading people ✔️ Everyday moments as the true curriculum for your children ✔️ The concept of intentional parenting vs. drifting parenting ✔️ God's divine design for family: purpose, calling, and assignment ✔️ The role of parents as primary disciple-makers ✔️ The importance of aligning rhythms, values, and daily life ✔️ A practical framework: Look Up (God's vision) Look In (heart & values) Look Out (calling & awareness) ✔️ The reality that legacy is being built — whether intentional or not Featured Reflection: Time & Influence Parents spend 90,000–100,000 hours with their children from birth to age 18. That is: 6x more than school 40x more than church You don't need more time. You need more intentionality with the time you already have. Core Truth for the Family Family has a divine design. Purpose: Be fruitful and multiply Calling: Grow deeper in relationship with God Assignment: Make disciples — starting with your children Identity Truth for the Family You are not just raising children — you are raising future adults, leaders, and parents. And whether you realize it or not: You are shaping them every single day. Closing Encouragement You don't need to: replace the church outperform the school or become a perfect parent You simply need to: Activate the influence God has already given you. Your home is the most powerful discipleship environment on earth. The question is not: "Am I doing enough?" The question is: "Am I leading with intention?" A Parents' Call-to-Action 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent Instagram → @suzannephillips_ Instagram → @beacon_parent Website → www.beaconparent.com ✨ Join Parent Club Ongoing discipleship, clarity, and support as you lead your family with purpose: 👉 www.beaconparent.com/parentclub Final Thoughts The light doesn't come from doing more. It comes from becoming who God has called you to be. Let's become Beacons — and raise a generation that shines.
April 2 · 50 min
S6 E12: Raising Free Thinkers: Education, Freedom, and the Next Generation
Episode Summary What if education wasn't just about academics — but about preparing children to think clearly, live responsibly, and understand the world around them? In this thought-provoking episode, Suzanne sits down with Connor Boyack, bestselling author of the Tuttle Twins series and founder of Libertas Network, to explore how education, freedom, and worldview intersect in raising the next generation. Connor has reached millions of families through books, media, and policy work designed to help children understand the principles of a free society. But at the heart of his work is a deeper question: Who is shaping how our children think? From homeschooling to public policy, from economics to personal responsibility, this conversation challenges parents to engage intentionally — not just academically, but philosophically — in their children's formation. This episode is not about politics for the sake of debate—it's about equipping parents to raise thoughtful, capable, and grounded young people in an increasingly complex world. Episode Highlights ✔️ The heart behind the Tuttle Twins series and who it's for ✔️ Why teaching children about freedom and responsibility matters ✔️ Connor's decision to homeschool and his perspective on modern education ✔️ How parents should think about politics and its influence on education ✔️ The intersection of education, culture, and worldview formation ✔️ Connor's work in policy and why it matters for families ✔️ Key concerns and threats facing family freedom today ✔️ The future of education and the role of school choice ✔️ Encouragement for parents raising children in today's cultural landscape Featured Resource: Tuttle Twins A bestselling book series and educational platform helping families teach kids about responsibility, entrepreneurship, and the principles of a free society. 👉 Website → https://tuttletwins.com/ 👉 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/tuttletwins 👉 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@TheTuttleTwins Links 👉 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/TuttleTwins 👉 X → https://x.com/tuttletwins 👉 TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@tuttle_twins 👉 Pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/TuttleTwin Call-to-Action For Parents 📲 Connect with Connor Boyack & Tuttle Twins Instagram → @tuttletwins Website → tuttletwins.com 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent Instagram → @suzannephillips_ Instagram → @beacon_parent Website → www.beaconparent.com ✨ GET ONGOING PARENTING SUPPORT Ongoing coaching, encouragement, and biblical clarity as you navigate education, culture, and parenting: 👉 www.beaconparent.com/parentclub Identity Truth for the Family Children are not just being educated — they are being formed. When parents take an active role in shaping how their children think, not just what they learn, they prepare them for a life of purpose, responsibility, and wisdom. In Closing Parents — your influence matters more than any system. If this episode gave you clarity or challenged how you think about education and culture, share it with another parent who is asking similar questions. 🎧 Listen Now →
S6 · E11
March 26 · 46 min
S6 E11: Blended Families: Building Strong Foundations in Complex Homes
Episode Summary Marriage is the foundation of family — and parenting flows from that foundation. But what happens when that foundation is built within a blended or stepfamily? In this insightful and practical episode, Suzanne is joined by Ron Deal, one of the nation's leading experts on blended families. With decades of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist, author, and director of FamilyLife Blended, Ron brings clarity to one of the most complex family dynamics parents face today. Blended families are not rare — they are increasingly common — yet many parents enter them without the tools, discipleship, or understanding needed to navigate the unique challenges they bring. From dating and remarriage to discipline, school decisions, and family culture, this conversation explores the realities that many families don't anticipate — but must learn to navigate. Ron also speaks into marriage itself, sharing warning signs couples should not ignore, common struggles that lead to breakdown, and how intentionality and awareness can build stronger relationships. This episode is both a wake-up call and a roadmap — helping parents move from confusion to clarity in building healthy, God-centered families. Episode Highlights ✔️ Why blended families require intentional discipleship ✔️ Divorce rates among Christians vs. non-believers ✔️ The difference between stepfamilies and blended families ✔️ Why marriage in a blended family is a "package deal" ✔️ Key considerations when dating, remarrying, and involving children ✔️ How school, discipline, and parenting decisions are more complex in blended homes ✔️ Common stumbling blocks families face when they aren't prepared ✔️ Warning signs in marriage that can lead toward divorce ✔️ Insights from The Mindful Marriage ✔️ The role of the Church in supporting blended families ✔️ Practical resources and tools for families navigating this journey Featured Resources 📚 The Smart Stepfamily 📚 The Mindful Marriage Practical, research-based, and biblically grounded resources to help couples and families thrive. 👉 Learn more → https://rondeal.org 👉 FamilyLife Blended → https://familylife.com/blended Links 👉 Website → https://familylife.com/blended 👉 Ron Deal → https://rondeal.org 👉 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/familylifeblended 👉 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/familylifeblended Call-to-Action 📲 Connect with Ron Deal & FamilyLife Blended Instagram → @familylifeblended Website → familylife.com/blended 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent Instagram → @suzannephillips_ Instagram → @beacon_parent Website → www.beaconparent.com ✨ JOIN PARENT CLUB TODAY FOR MORE If you're navigating parenting, marriage, or family complexity and want ongoing support and biblical clarity: 👉 www.beaconparent.com/parentclub Identity Truth for the Family Strong families are not built by accident — they are built with intention. In blended families especially, clarity, patience, and wisdom are essential to creating unity and stability for both marriage and children. HEY PARENTS! Parents — if your family is navigating remarriage, blending, or complexity, you are not alone. Share this episode with someone who needs encouragement, clarity, or practical tools for building a strong family foundation.
March 19 · 35 min
S6 E10: The Well Lit Home
Episode Summary Parenting today can feel overwhelming. The conversations are heavier. The culture is louder. The pressure is constant. In this personal and powerful solo episode, Suzanne pauses from interviewing guests to speak directly to parents — not about what to do, but about who we are becoming. Because our doing flows from our being… And our being flows from what we believe. Drawing from over 25 years of experience coaching, teaching, and raising her own family, Suzanne shares a defining vision: the call to build a Well Lit Home. In a world that feels increasingly dark, the brightest light our children should experience is inside our homes. Through a vivid story from Easter morning and a deeply practical framework, Suzanne introduces the 7 Facets of a Beacon Parent — the qualities that anchor parents in truth and empower them to lead with clarity, courage, and peace. This episode is an invitation to step out of pressure, step into purpose, and become the steady light your family needs. Episode Highlights ✔️ Why parenting today feels heavier and more complex than ever ✔️ The shift from focusing on what to do → to who we are becoming ✔️ The vision of a Well Lit Home in a dark world ✔️ A powerful real-life story that shaped the Beacon Parent message ✔️ Why parents are not responsible for outcomes — but to their children ✔️ The role of trust in releasing control and fear ✔️ The importance of anchoring parenting in biblical truth ✔️ Why formation matters more than information The 7 Facets of a Beacon Parent These are the qualities that create a home that shines: 1. Supremacy of Christ Christ is central — above every circumstance Releases pressure and the illusion of control Anchors parents in truth during uncertainty 2. Expressed Honor Honor God, others, and family Teach children to value and respect authority and people Strengthens the fabric of family and society 3. Intentional Legacy What you do today shapes tomorrow Parenting is always forming a legacy Your daily choices matter 4. Transformative Wisdom Wisdom changes how we live, not just what we know Seeks truth and applies it Invites intentional, thoughtful decision-making 5. Humble Courage Following God requires action Standing firm often requires courage Leads with patience, curiosity, and conviction 6. Secure Identity Rooted first as a child of God Embraces uniqueness in family and calling Provides stability in a shifting culture 7. Personal Responsibility Parents are the primary shaping influence Formation is happening — intentionally or unintentionally It is an honor to lead and steward a family Key Takeaway A well-lit home doesn't happen by accident. It is built by parents who stay connected to the Source of light — and choose, day by day, to become a steady beacon for their children. Call-to-Actions (CTAs) 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent Instagram → @suzannephillips_ Instagram → @beacon_parent Website → www.beaconparent.com ✨ Join Parent Club Ongoing encouragement, biblical clarity, and practical guidance for parents navigating today's world. 👉 www.beaconparent.com/parentclub Identity Truth for the Family The world may grow darker — but light shines brighter in the darkness. When parents stay anchored in Christ, their homes become places of warmth, clarity, and truth. SHARE THE LIGHT Parents — take a breath. The to-do list will still be there. But who you are becoming matters more than anything you accomplish. If this episode encouraged you, share it with another parent who needs hope and perspective today.
S6 · E9
March 12 · 51 min
S6 E9: School Choice and What It Really Means
Episode Summary School choice is one of the most talked-about education topics in the country right now — but many parents are still unclear about what it actually means. In this episode, Suzanne is joined by Corey DeAngelis, widely known as the "school choice evangelist," to unpack the realities behind the policies, politics, and possibilities surrounding educational freedom. Corey is a leading advocate for parental rights in education and the national bestselling author of The Parent Revolution. With a Ph.D. in education policy and years of research and advocacy, he brings clarity to a conversation that is often filled with confusing rhetoric. But this conversation goes deeper than politics. At its core, school choice is about recognizing that children learn differently. Not every student thrives in the same environment, and the traditional system often fails to consider the diverse ways children grow and learn. Suzanne and Corey discuss why families are increasingly leaving traditional school systems, how school choice policies impact homeschooling families, which states are leading the movement, and what parents can do if they want to take action. This episode will challenge assumptions and encourage parents to think carefully about the future of education. Episode Highlights ✔️ Corey DeAngelis' personal journey into school choice advocacy ✔️ Why many now refer to public schools as "government schools" ✔️ The real reasons families are leaving traditional school systems ✔️ How school choice policies work and who they impact ✔️ Why these policies can benefit homeschool families ✔️ The number of states currently offering school choice options ✔️ Which states offer the most generous programs — and which resist change ✔️ The biggest barriers to passing school choice legislation ✔️ The practical benefits of educational freedom for families ✔️ Concerns homeschool families sometimes raise about these policies ✔️ How parents can take action and advocate for their children ✔️ What the future of school choice could look like in 2026 Featured Resource 📚 The Parent Revolution by Corey DeAngelis A national bestselling book explaining how parents can reclaim control of their children's education. 👉 Learn more → https://amzn.to/47mZXqM A Call-to-Action 📲 Connect with Corey DeAngelis Follow Corey for ongoing insights and updates on school choice policy and education reform. 👉 X (Twitter): https://x.com/DeAngelisCorey?t=uogaiJZlZh2DMPlmWltEjg&s=09 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent Instagram → @suzannephillips_ Instagram → @beacon_parent Website → www.beaconparent.com ✨ Join Parent Club If you want ongoing encouragement, biblical clarity, and community as you navigate parenting and education decisions: 👉 Join here: www.beaconparent.com/parentclub Identity Truth for the Family Every child is uniquely created and designed to learn differently. When parents have the freedom to pursue the environment that best fits their child's gifts and needs, education becomes formation — not just information. In Closing Parents — conversations like this matter because the future of education directly impacts the future of our children. If this episode helped you think more clearly about school choice, share it with another parent navigating education decisions. 🎧 Share Now →
S6 · E8
March 5 · 39 min
S6 E8: Innovative Next Steps After High School Graduation
Episode Summary For decades, the path after high school seemed obvious: graduate, go to college, get a degree. But today, families are asking better questions. In this refreshing and inspiring episode, Suzanne sits down with Jonathan Brush to explore a bold alternative to traditional college pathways. Jonathan brings nearly 25 years of experience helping young adults ask the right questions, take action, and build lives of meaning and purpose. Unbound is not anti-college — it's pro-intentionality. It challenges the assumption that information equals formation and instead focuses on habits, mentorship, real-world experience, and a biblical worldview as the foundation for adult life. As more parents reconsider what success looks like after graduation, this episode offers clarity, confidence, and a compelling alternative. Because education is not one-size-fits-all — and formation matters as much as information. Episode Highlights ✔️ Jonathan's background and journey into alternative higher education ✔️ What Unbound is — and how it works ✔️ Why questioning the traditional college model is healthy ✔️ How Unbound combines academics, mentorship, and real-world experience ✔️ Retention rates and student outcomes ✔️ What students consistently say about the experience ✔️ The most important takeaway students leave with ✔️ The overall vision: formation, not just credentialing ✔️ Class size and community culture ✔️ What parents and communities are noticing about Unbound graduates ✔️ Why this model works so effectively ✔️ Encouragement for hesitant parents considering a nontraditional path Featured Resource: Unbound A nontraditional, biblically grounded approach to post-high school education focused on formation, mentorship, and real-world learning. 👉 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/be.unbound/ 👉 Website → https://beunbound.us Call-to-Actions (CTAs) 📲 Connect with Unbound Instagram: @be.unbound Website: beunbound.us 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent Instagram → @suzannephillips_ Instagram → @beacon_parent Website → www.beaconparent.com ✨ Join Parent Club Ongoing support, biblical clarity, and practical guidance for parents navigating education and cultural conversations. 👉 Join here: www.beaconparent.com/parentclub Identity Truth for the Family Success is not defined by a diploma alone. When parents prioritize formation, mentorship, character, and calling, young adults are prepared not just for careers — but for life. In Closing Parents — before you default to the expected path, ask better questions. If this episode gave you fresh vision for your student's next step, share it with another family navigating post-graduation decisions.
S6 · E7
February 26 · 51 min
S6 E7: Sexual Identity: Truth, Love and Hope
Episode Summary Sexual identity conversations are no longer rare or distant — they are happening in classrooms, friend groups, churches, youth ministries, and homes. In this deeply thoughtful and compassionate episode, Suzanne is joined by Elizabeth Woning, Co-Executive Director of the CHANGED Movement — a community of individuals who once identified as LGBTQ+ and now testify to experiencing transformation through their faith in Jesus Christ. Elizabeth shares her powerful personal story — from openly identifying as lesbian, advocating for LGBTQ affirmation in seminary and church spaces, to a life-altering encounter with Jesus that reshaped her theology, identity, and direction. Today, she works with pastors, parents, and church leaders to navigate one of the most emotionally charged and culturally dominant issues of our time. This episode does not aim to inflame — it aims to equip. With 26% of Gen Z identifying as LGBTQ+, many families feel blindsided and unprepared. Suzanne and Elizabeth discuss how believers can hold firm to biblical convictions while extending grace, patience, and love — especially when the conversation becomes personal. This is an episode about truth without cruelty. Love without compromise. And hope for families walking through difficult identity conversations. Episode Highlights ✔️ Elizabeth's personal story and transformation ✔️ The founding and mission of the CHANGED Movement ✔️ Why sexual identity conversations are accelerating among Gen Z ✔️ The spiritual and emotional layers beneath identity struggles ✔️ How schools and cultural messaging shape identity formation ✔️ The most pressing needs facing families navigating LGBTQ issues ✔️ Trends parents must be aware of in today's cultural climate ✔️ Supporting pastors, parents, and churches with compassion and clarity ✔️ Practical guidance for parents whose child identifies as LGBTQ+ ✔️ Stories of transformation and reconciliation ✔️ The importance of holding truth and love together 🎧 Listen Now Featured Resource: CHANGED Movement A community of friends who once identified as LGBTQ+ and now celebrate the freedom and comfort found in Jesus Christ. 👉 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/changedmvmt 👉 Elizabeth → https://www.instagram.com/elizabethwoning 👉 Website → https://changedmovement.com 👉 Elizabeth's Website → https://elizabethwoning.com Call-to-Actions (CTAs) 📲 Connect with Elizabeth Woning @elizabethwoning elizabethwoning.com 📲 Learn More About CHANGED Movement @changedmvmt changedmovement.com 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent Instagram → @suzannephillips_ Instagram → @beacon_parent Website → www.beaconparent.com ✨ Join Parent Club If you want ongoing support, biblical clarity, and a community of parents navigating cultural conversations together: 👉 Join here: www.beaconparent.com/parentclub Identity Truth for the Family Truth and love are not enemies. Compassion and conviction are not opposites. Parents who remain anchored in Christ can create homes where hard conversations are met with both grace and clarity. In Closing Parents — this is not a topic to avoid. It is a topic to approach thoughtfully. If this episode brought perspective, courage, or language to a conversation you've been afraid to have, share it with a trusted friend, small group, or fellow parent. 🎧 Listen Now
S6 · E6
February 19 · 50 min
S6 E6: Can Pro-Kingdom and Pro-America Co-Exist?: Where Grace and Gratitude Collide
Episode Summary Can we raise children who are deeply rooted in the Kingdom of God and grateful for the country they live in? In this important and thought-provoking episode, Suzanne sits down with Jill Simonian, Director of Outreach and co-creator of PragerU Kids. With over 20 years of experience in media, parenting commentary, and education advocacy, Jill brings clarity and courage to conversations surrounding merit-based education, patriotism, parenting trends, and digital culture. Together, Suzanne and Jill unpack a bold question: Can America survive with unpatriotic youth? This conversation explores the tension parents often feel — wanting to raise children who serve God first while also teaching gratitude, civic responsibility, and love for the freedoms we've been given. From divisive policies in schools to the erosion of merit standards, from grit and self-reliance to digital overconsumption, this episode challenges parents to think clearly and lead intentionally. Because what happens under our roof shapes what happens in our nation. ⸻ Episode Highlights ✔️ The mission and "why" behind PragerU and PragerU Kids ✔️ Over 1,200 free pro-America resources for families and schools ✔️ What "merit-based education" really means — and why it matters ✔️ Why children cannot afford to "make zeros" academically or character-wise ✔️ How divisive school policies (DEI mandates, restorative discipline, gender ideology) impact students ✔️ Teaching capability, self-reliance, resilience, and grit at home ✔️ Digital consumption — where parents must draw lines ✔️ Can America survive with unpatriotic youth? ✔️ How PragerU Kids resources are being used in education (including Oklahoma) ✔️ What's next for PragerU Kids 🎧 Listen Now ⸻ Featured Resource: PragerU Kids Over 1,200 pro-America videos, books, lesson plans, worksheets, and character-building resources — available FREE for families and schools. Resources teach: Values & character U.S. & world history Civics Financial literacy Cultural literacy 👉 Website: PragerUkids.com ⸻ Call-to-Action 📲 Connect with Jill Simonian Instagram: instagram.com/jillsimonian X: x.com/jillsimonian 📲 Explore PragerU Kids Instagram: instagram.com/pragerukids Website: PragerUkids.com 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent Instagram: @suzannephillips_ Instagram: @beacon_parent Website: www.beaconparent.com ✨ Join Parent Club Biblical clarity, cultural discernment, and practical leadership support for parents navigating today's world. 👉 Join here → https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/mLSFLoXT/checkout 🏫 Considering Alternative Education or Homeschool Pod? Explore The Pod Packet — a step-by-step guide for creating simple, intentional learning communities for your family. 👉 https://www.thepodpacket.com ⸻ Identity Truth for the Family Gratitude for our nation does not compete with allegiance to God's Kingdom. Children can be formed with humility before God and appreciation for the freedoms that allow them to live it out. Parents who teach truth, history, gratitude, and responsibility raise leaders — not spectators ⸻ In Closing Parents — the future of our nation is shaped in living rooms long before it's shaped in legislatures. If this episode encouraged you to think more intentionally about how you're forming your children, share it with another family, educator, or small group.
S6 · E5
February 12 · 50 min
S6 E5: Preparing Families for the Age of AI
Episode Summary Artificial intelligence is advancing faster than most parents can track — and it will shape our children's future far more than it will ever shape ours. In this essential episode, Suzanne Phillips is joined by Ryan Findley — a Christian, husband, father of three, former teacher turned tech professional, and founder of Evergreen Faith. Having spent six years working in Silicon Valley, Ryan has seen firsthand how quickly AI capabilities are expanding and how easily they could follow the same dangerous trajectory as social media and smartphones if parents don't act now. This conversation moves beyond fear or hype and equips parents with a biblically grounded framework for thinking clearly about AI. Together, Suzanne and Ryan explore how to prepare children for a world we haven't lived in — not just practically, but spiritually — by addressing the root issues of discernment, formation, and worldview. If you feel overwhelmed, uncertain, or underprepared for the Age of AI, this episode will bring clarity, language, and direction. ⸻ Episode Highlights ✔️ Ryan's journey from education into the tech world ✔️ Why AI will impact our children more than any generation before them ✔️ How Christians should approach AI from a biblical worldview ✔️ A helpful framework for parents: shortcuts, supports, and superpowers ✔️ Why "doing nothing" is not a neutral option ✔️ How parents can begin setting boundaries and forming discernment now ✔️ What churches and schools must consider in the Age of AI ✔️ Practical steps families can take today — without panic ✔️ The shadow side of AI: Stunted development & digital sloth Siloed and severed lives Substitution of AI for human growth Superiority thinking & detachment from reality 🎧 Listen Now: ⸻ Featured Resources AI Parenting Course A comprehensive course equipping parents to navigate AI wisely and biblically. 👉 www.aiparentingcourse.com 💸 Use Code BEACON1 for $10 off AI Self Defense (For Kids & Families) Tools to help children understand, recognize, and respond to AI risks. 👉 www.aiselfdefense.kids 💸 Use Code BEACON1 for $5 off Evergreen Faith A hub for parents, churches, and schools seeking support in the Age of AI. 👉 Visit evergreen.faith online for guidance and resources ⸻ A Call-to-Action 📲 Learn More from Ryan Findley & Evergreen Faith Explore resources that help families integrate AI safely and intentionally. 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent Instagram: @suzannephillips_ Instagram: @beacon_parent Website: www.beaconparent.com ✨ Join Parent Club Foundational discipleship, cultural clarity, and community support for parents navigating today's challenges. 👉 Join here → https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/mLSFLoXT/checkout 🏫 Considering Alternative Education or Homeschool Pod? Explore The Pod Packet — a step-by-step guide for creating simple, intentional learning communities for your family. 👉 https://www.thepodpacket.com ⸻ Identity Truth for the Family Technology will shape the future — but formation shapes discernment. When parents lead with truth, wisdom, and intentional boundaries, children learn to engage innovation without losing their humanity or their faith. ⸻ In Closing Parents, you were not called to raise children who simply keep up with the future — but children who can discern it. If this episode helped you think more clearly about AI, share it with another parent, pastor, or educator who needs language and confidence for this conversation.
S6 · E4
February 5 · 45 min
S6 E4: Taking Back Gaming: Biblically Authentic Entertainment for Families
Episode Summary Screens are not going away — but what our children consume on them matters more than ever. In this timely and encouraging episode, Suzanne Phillips sits down with Brent Dusing, founder and CEO of TruPlay, a Christian entertainment platform created by parents, for parents. Brent shares his remarkable journey from venture capital and major tech exits to building a biblically grounded gaming platform that protects children while reinforcing faith, character, and joy. At the same time, this conversation exposes the real battle happening behind the scenes: faith-based content being flagged, throttled, or banned — while sexually explicit, violent, and agenda-driven material is freely promoted to children through algorithms. This episode offers parents both clear warning and practical direction — reminding families that while reducing screen time is wise, having aligned, trustworthy options is essential in a digital world children already inhabit. Episode Highlights ✔️ Brent's entrepreneurial journey — and why TruPlay was born ✔️ Why "safer" entertainment isn't enough — alignment matters ✔️ What TruPlay Games actually is and how it works ✔️ The resistance faith-based platforms face from Big Tech ✔️ How algorithms push sexualized and violent content to kids ✔️ Three key ways parents can protect children in digital spaces ✔️ The hidden mental health cost of toxic screen exposure ✔️ Why faith-based entertainment reinforces discipleship at home ✔️ How gaming can nurture character instead of eroding it ✔️ Encouragement for parents who feel exhausted and behind 🎧 Listen Now! Featured Resource: TruPlay A safe, ad-free, biblically authentic entertainment platform where kids can play, learn, and grow in faith — without hidden agendas or chat rooms. 👉 Website → https://www.truplaygames.com 👉 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/truplaygames 👉 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/truplaygames 👉 YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCutwcoaalmdoIoxaZ2coQhA Call-to-Action 📲 Connect with TruPlay: @truplaygames https://www.truplaygames.com 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent: Instagram → @suzannephillips_ Instagram → @beacon_parent Website → https://www.beaconparent.com ✨ Parent Club (Monthly Membership) Ongoing discipleship, teaching, community, and support for parents navigating culture, technology, and family formation with clarity and conviction. 👉 Join here → https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/mLSFLoXT/checkout 🏫 Considering Alternative Education or Homeschool Pod? Explore The Pod Packet — a step-by-step guide for creating simple, intentional learning communities for your family. 👉 https://www.thepodpacket.com Identity Truth for the Family Entertainment shapes imagination — and imagination shapes belief. When parents choose content that aligns with truth, beauty, and goodness, screens can become tools for reinforcement rather than erosion of faith. In Closing Parents, you don't have to choose between total screen shutdown and surrendering your children to digital chaos. There are better options — and choosing them is an act of leadership. If this episode encouraged or equipped you, share it with another parent who is navigating screens, gaming, and digital boundaries in their home.
S6 · E3
January 29 · 48 min
S6 E3: Scrolling to Death: The Dangers of Social Media
Episode Summary Social media is no longer just a distraction — it is shaping identity, behavior, mental health, and safety for an entire generation. In this eye-opening episode, Suzanne Phillips is joined by Nicki Petrossi, a former social media executive turned national advocate for child safety online. Nicki is the founder of Scrolling 2 Death, co-founder of the Tech-Safe Learning Coalition, and a leading voice helping parents understand what is actually happening behind screens. Nicki brings insider knowledge from her time working inside social media platforms — paired with real-world stories, research, and current cases that reveal how algorithms, AI, gaming, and school-issued devices are putting children at risk. This conversation moves beyond fear into clarity — offering parents both warnings and solutions, so they can lead their families with confidence instead of overwhelm. Episode Highlights ✔️ Nicki's journey from social media executive to child safety advocate ✔️ What parents need to understand about Meta trials and fraud allegations ✔️ AI dangers — including Character AI and emotionally manipulative chatbots ✔️ Whether ChatGPT and AI companions are harming vulnerable users ✔️ How Instagram ranks content and why it matters for kids ✔️ The Motion Picture Association's influence on content normalization ✔️ "The Heat Is On" — what it means and why parents should pay attention ✔️ Snapchat and its connection to sex trafficking ✔️ Sextortion schemes using platforms like GroupMe ✔️ UNESCO testing and global digital experimentation ✔️ AI-generated nudes, "Sharenting," and image exploitation ✔️ Video game addiction and dopamine-driven design ✔️ How parents can stay informed without living in fear Featured Resource: Scrolling 2 Death A parent-focused platform providing education, advocacy, and real-time insights into social media risks and digital culture. 👉 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/scrolling2death 👉 Learn more → via Nicki's resources and coalition work Take Action 📲 Connect with Nicki Petrossi: • Instagram → @scrolling2death 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent: • Instagram → @suzannephillips_ • Instagram → @beacon_parent • Website → www.beaconparent.com 📚 Beacon Parent Parent Club Ongoing discipleship, teaching, and community for parents navigating cultural pressure and digital challenges. 👉 Join here → www.beaconparent.com 🏫 Concerned About Screens in Education? Explore tools that help parents create safer learning environments. 👉 Learn more → www.beaconparent.com/podpacket Identity Truth for the Family Children were not designed to be raised by algorithms. Parents who stay informed, engaged, and courageous can interrupt harmful digital patterns and restore real connection, security, and discernment in their homes. Parents, the digital world moves fast — but you are not powerless. If this episode gave you language, clarity, or courage to engage your child's online world more intentionally, share it with another parent who feels overwhelmed or unsure where to start. 🎧 Listen Now
S6 · E2
January 22 · 1 hr 24 min
S6 E2: An Inconvenient Study: Uncomfortable Questions, Personal Choices
Episode Summary This is one of the most consequential and challenging conversations ever hosted on The InFormed Parent Podcast. In this episode, Suzanne Phillips is joined by Del Bigtree — journalist, filmmaker, former Emmy-winning producer, and one of the most influential voices calling for transparency in public health and medical science today. Del is the founder and CEO of Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), host of The HighWire, and Executive Producer of the documentary An Inconvenient Study. This episode centers on a never-published vaccinated-versus-unvaccinated study conducted within the Henry Ford Health System — a study Del challenged the institution to run in 2016, with a simple condition: publish the results no matter what they show. The study was completed. It was never submitted for publication. Through legal action, FOIA requests, investigative journalism, and now film, Del walks parents through what the study revealed, why it matters, and why asking questions in medicine has become controversial — even dangerous — for those inside the system. This is not an episode telling parents what to think. It is an episode that insists parents must be allowed to ask questions, see data, and make informed decisions for their families. Episode Highlights ✔️ Del Bigtree's background — from mainstream media to investigative journalism ✔️ The fallout from Vaxxed and the professional backlash Del experienced ✔️ The connection between politics, public health agencies, and vaccine policy ✔️ Inside An Inconvenient Study — how the film came to be and why it matters ✔️ What the unpublished vaccinated vs. unvaccinated data reveals ✔️ The dramatic rise in chronic conditions among children ✔️ Questions surrounding infant health, SIDS, and NICU outcomes ✔️ Genetic susceptibility and MTHFR considerations ✔️ Why the study was never submitted for publication ✔️ Dr. Marcus Zervos' on-camera admissions and their implications ✔️ The collapse of open scientific debate — and why it matters for families ✔️ Rebooting the scientific method through transparency and accountability ✔️ ICAN's legal, media, and legislative response to criticism ✔️ How parents can engage, learn more, and take responsibility without fear 🎧 Listen Now Featured Resource: An Inconvenient Study A documentary by Del Bigtree and ICAN examining an unpublished vaccinated-versus-unvaccinated study and the broader implications for public health transparency. 👉 Watch & Learn More → https://www.aninconvenientstudy.com Call-to-Actions (CTAs) 📲 Connect with Del Bigtree & ICAN: • The HighWire → https://thehighwire.com • ICAN → https://icandecide.org • X (Twitter) → https://x.com/delbigtree • Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/delbigtree 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent: • Instagram → @suzannephillips_ • Instagram → @beacon_parent • Website → www.beaconparent.com ✨ Parent Club (Monthly Membership) Ongoing discipleship, teaching, and community for parents navigating complex cultural issues. 👉 Join here →https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/mLSFLoXT/checkout 🏫 Exploring Educational Freedom? The Pod Packet helps parents create small, intentional learning communities with confidence. 👉 Learn more → www.beaconparent.com/podpacket Identity Truth for the Family Informed consent is not rebellion. Asking questions is not disobedience. Parents were entrusted with the responsibility to protect, steward, and advocate for their children — especially when systems grow complex and opaque. Closing CTA Parents, this episode may challenge you — and that's the point. You don't have to agree with every conclusion to recognize the importance of transparency, open debate, and informed decision-making. If this conversation stirred questions, sparked reflection, or helped you feel less alone in asking hard things, share it with another parent who needs space to think critically and courageously. 🎧 Listen Now
S6 · E1
January 15 · 38 min
S6 E1: Parenting with Discernment
Episode Summary Season 6 opens with a powerful solo episode from Suzanne Phillips, founder of Beacon Parent, setting the tone for what lies ahead. In this monologue, Suzanne reflects on the cultural moment parents are navigating right now — one marked by confusion, exhaustion, pressure, and noise. From education and technology to identity, sexuality, and discipleship, parents are being asked to make high-stakes decisions without clarity or support. This episode is both an invitation and a reset. Suzanne explains why this season exists, what has shaped the direction of the conversations ahead, and why being informed is not optional for parents who want to lead with wisdom rather than react from fear. She addresses the subtle ways culture disciples families, the danger of passive parenting, and the urgent need for parents to reclaim their role as leaders, protectors, and disciplers in their homes. Season 6 is about discernment — learning to recognize what is shaping our children, understanding where ideas come from, and choosing intentional formation over cultural default. If you've felt overwhelmed, behind, unsure, or simply tired — this episode will remind you that you are not alone, and that clarity is possible. Episode Highlights ✔️ Why Season 6 was created and what prompted its focus ✔️ The difference between reacting to culture and discerning it ✔️ How parents are being discipled — often without realizing it ✔️ Why "busy" is one of the enemy's most effective tools ✔️ The cost of passive parenting in a high-pressure culture ✔️ Why informed parents make different decisions ✔️ What listeners can expect from Season 6 conversation ✔️ An invitation to slow down, listen, and lead with clarity 🎧 Listen Now Featured Resource: Beacon Parent Beacon Parent exists to equip parents to parent with purpose, disciple with direction, and lead their families with clarity and conviction in an increasingly confusing world. This season, Beacon Parent resources are designed to help you: • understand cultural influence • strengthen identity formation • disciple intentionally at home • make informed decisions for your family 👉 Learn more → www.beaconparent.com Call-to-Actions (CTAs) 📲 Stay Connected with Suzanne & Beacon Parent • Instagram: @suzannephillips_ • Instagram: @beacon_parent • Website: www.beaconparent.com 📚 Beacon Parent Free Resource Hub Practical tools, teaching guides, and identity-building resources for parents. 👉 Access free resources → https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/7dFPbYXY/checkout/ ✨ Parent Club (Monthly Membership) Ongoing discipleship, community, teaching, and support for parents who want to lead well — not alone. 👉 Join the Parent Club →https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/mLSFLoXT/checkout/ 🏫 Exploring Education Alternatives? From pods to hybrids, The Pod Packet helps families take intentional next steps. 👉 Learn more → www.thepodpacket.com Identity Truth for the Family Parents were never meant to follow culture — they were called to lead their children. Discernment is not fear. Being informed is not reactionary. Intentional parenting is an act of love. Closing CTA Season 6 is an invitation to slow down, open your eyes, and lead with wisdom. If this episode resonated with you, share it with another parent who feels the weight of these decisions — a friend, a small group, or someone who needs encouragement to step out of autopilot and into intentional leadership. 🎧 Listen Now →
S5 · E14
Dec 4, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
S5 E14: Creating Freedom in Education: How a Pod Can Change Everything
Episode Summary: In this powerful and timely episode, Suzanne sits down with two moms who have lived what so many parents are only beginning to consider: you can change your child's educational story — and it doesn't have to be complicated. Today's guests, Lauren Tatum and Brandy Hansen, both stepped out of traditional education pathways to create thriving, faith-filled homeschool pods for their children and communities. From fear and overwhelm to clarity and confidence, their journeys reveal what is possible when parents refuse to believe the cultural lie that there is only one way to educate kids. This conversation explores the cultural pressure surrounding education, the rise of therapeutic and agenda-driven classrooms, and why more families every year are discovering freedom through pods, microschools, hybrid models, and custom learning environments. Suzanne also introduces The Pod Packet, a practical, step-by-step resource created to help parents launch their own simple-but-powerful pod—without needing to build a full school or reinvent the wheel. Whether you're curious, cautious, overwhelmed, or ready to take action, this episode will give you vision, options, and encouragement for the educational future of your family. Episode Highlights: ✔️ Lauren & Brandy's personal journeys into alternative education ✔️ Public, private, homeschool — and why they chose something different ✔️ The cultural lies that pressure parents into traditional schooling ✔️ Why pods work — and how simple they can be ✔️ The story behind The Pod Packet and how it equips families ✔️ How to structure a pod, build rhythms, and set expectations ✔️ Real results: confidence, community, joy ✔️ How pods grow into hybrids, microschools, or academies ✔️ Encouragement for parents feeling the nudge to make a change 🎧 Listen Now: [Insert Podcast Link] Featured Resource: The Pod Packet A practical, step-by-step guide to help families create a simple, effective homeschool pod rooted in vision, community, and clarity. Perfect for: parents teachers churches entrepreneurs hybrid or microschool starters 👉 Learn More → www.beaconparent.com/podpacket 👉 Instagram → @thepodpacket Call-to-Actions (CTAs): 📲 Connect with Today's Guests: @thepodpacket www.beaconparent.com/podpacket 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent: Instagram: @suzannephillips_ Instagram: @beacon_parent Website: www.beaconparent.com 📚 Beacon Parent Free Resource Hub: Tools for discipleship, identity, parenting, culture conversations & more. 👉 Download free resources → www.beaconparent.com/thehub ✨ Parent Club (Monthly Membership): Foundational discipleship, community, teaching, and support for parents. 👉 Join the club → www.beaconparent.com/parentclub 🏫 Considering Alternative Education? Explore The Pod Packet — your first step toward building a meaningful, small-scale educational community. 👉 Get the packet → www.beaconparent.com/podpacket Identity Truth for the Family: You don't have to choose what culture tells you is "normal." Parents have God-given authority, creativity, and freedom to shape an environment where their children can grow in truth, purpose, and joy. Closing CTA: Parents — you have more options than ever, and more influence than you know. If this episode encouraged you, share it with another family exploring educational alternatives or seeking clarity for next year. 🎧 Listen Now →
S5 · E13
Nov 27, 2025 · 39 min
S5 E13: Affirming Girls, Building Secure Women
Episode Summary: In this heartfelt and deeply practical episode, Suzanne Phillips sits down with Jonathan Pitts—author, speaker, ministry executive, father of five, and President of For Girls Like You, a ministry serving tween girls and their parents. Jonathan has spent nearly two decades in Christian leadership, including serving as Executive Director of Dr. Tony Evans' ministry (The Urban Alternative), managing recording artist Anthony Evans, Jr., and now serving in pastoral leadership at Church of the City in Franklin, TN. As a father of four daughters and a newly welcomed baby boy, Jonathan brings real-life wisdom, raw honesty, and a deeply redemptive story following the loss of his late wife, Wynter Pitts. This episode is essential for any parent raising girls in a culture that is rapidly shifting and increasingly confusing. From identity and confidence to cultural pressures and discipleship at home, Jonathan offers encouragement, clarity, and tools to help parents raise secure daughters who stand firm in truth. Episode Highlights: ✔️ Why Pop Culture Parenting is dangerous—especially for girls ✔️ The rise of cultural insecurity, comparison, and identity distortion ✔️ Why For Girls Like You focuses on tweens — and how it helps parents ✔️ The father–daughter dynamic and how dads impact girls' identity ✔️ Raising a boy now — what's different, what's the same ✔️ Encouragement for parents raising girls who need grounding in truth Featured Resource: For Girls Like You A Christ-centered ministry equipping parents of tween girls with resources that build identity, confidence, and discipleship at home. 👉 Website → www.forgirlslikeyou.com 👉 Instagram → @forgirlslikeyou 👉 Jonathan's Instagram → @pittsjr26 👉 Books → She Is Yours & My Wynter Season 💸 Use Code: BEACON20 for 20% off Call-to-Actions (CTAs): 📲 Connect with Jonathan Pitts: Instagram (Personal): @pittsjr26 Ministry: @forgirlslikeyou Website: www.forgirlslikeyou.com 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent: Instagram: @suzannephillips_ Instagram: @beacon_parent Website: www.beaconparent.com 📚 Beacon Parent Free Resource Hub: Your place for discipleship tools, identity-building worksheets, and family formation resources. 👉 Download resources → ✨ Parent Club (Monthly Membership): Ongoing discipleship, teaching, support, and community for moms & dads. 👉 Join now → 📥 Thinking About Homeschooling or Hybrid Learning? The Pod Packet walks you step-by-step through creating your own homeschool pod. 👉 Get The Pod Packet → www.beaconparent.com/podpacket Identity Truth for the Family: Girls become secure when they hear truth from the people they trust most. Parents who affirm identity before culture tries to distort it lay foundations for strong, confident, Christ-centered women. Closing CTA: Parents, your voice matters. Your presence matters. The world is loud — but truth is louder when it's lived out in your home. If this episode encouraged you or gave you language for raising girls in today's culture, share it with a friend, your small group, or another parent who needs this hope. 🎧 Listen Now →
S5 · E12
Nov 20, 2025 · 42 min
S5 E12: Education Beyond a Degree
Episode Summary: In today's episode of The InFormed Parent Podcast, Suzanne Phillips sits down with Andrew Chambers, the Head of Campus Life at Excel College, one of the most innovative and biblically grounded higher education models in the country. With many parents questioning traditional college pathways — rising costs, secular influence, lack of discipleship, cultural pressure — this conversation opens the door to a revolutionary alternative designed to help students become wise, mature, productive adults who live purposeful and fulfilling lives. Andrew shares how Excel College is rethinking higher education by prioritizing mentorship, community, real-world skills, spiritual formation, and integrated learning — all through a distinctly Christian worldview. Whether your child plans to attend college or pursue another path, this episode will inspire and equip you to think differently about what higher education can look like. Episode Highlights: ✔️ How Excel College is redefining Christian higher education ✔️ Why so many families are rethinking traditional college pathways ✔️ The hesitations many parents have — and the truths that ease those fears ✔️ Why a biblical worldview is essential in higher education today ✔️ How parents can guide teens through major decisions with confidence ✔️ A hopeful vision for raising the next generation of kingdom leaders 🎧 Listen Now Featured Resource: Excel College An innovative, Christ-centered college dedicated to forming wise, mature, purposeful adults through community, mentorship, and integrated education. 👉 Website → theexcelcollege.com 👉 Instagram → @theexcelcollege 👉 Facebook → facebook.com/theexcelcollege 👉 X (Twitter) → x.com/TheExcelCollege Call-to-Actions (CTAs): 📲 Connect with Excel College: Instagram: @theexcelcollege Website: theexcelcollege.com 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent: Instagram: @suzannephillips_ Instagram: @beacon_parent Website: www.beaconparent.com 📚 Beacon Parent Resource Hub: Free tools for discipleship, identity formation, family culture, and parenting with biblical wisdom. 👉 Download free resources → https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/7dFPbYXY/checkout/ ✨ Join the Parent Club (Monthly Membership): Parenting support, community, teaching, coaching, and discipleship for moms and dads who want to lead with confidence and without the overwhelm. 👉 Join now → https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/mLSFLoXT/checkout/ 📥 Starting a Homeschool Pod? The Pod Packet is a step-by-step guide to help you build, launch, and lead your own alternative education option with confidence and clarity. 👉 Download The Pod Packet → www.beaconparent.com/podpacket Identity Truth for the Family: Education is more than academics — it's discipleship. Parents who guide their children with wisdom, truth, and courage prepare them to walk in purpose, freedom, and maturity. Closing CTA: Parents, you don't have to settle for the cultural default. Higher education can be purposeful, biblical, personal, and transformative. Explore, ask questions, and lead with confidence as you help your children discern their next steps. If this episode gave you insight or opened your eyes to new possibilities, share it with another parent, pastor, or teen who's navigating the college conversation.
S5 · E11
Nov 13, 2025 · 59 min
S5 E11: Raising Leaders: Innovative Education
Episode Summary: In this energizing and visionary episode of The InFormed Parent Podcast, Suzanne Phillips is joined by Justin MacDonald, award-winning educator, coach, entrepreneur, global executive, and founder of The Academy at District Church. Justin brings a bold, fresh perspective on what education could be — and what's possible when the Church, families, and innovative thinkers reclaim learning for the next generation With a model that blends individualized learning, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and Christ-centered formation, The Academy is proving that children thrive when they are known, challenged, equipped, and expected to lead. Parents, pastors, educators, innovators — this conversation will inspire you, stretch your imagination, and call you to action. The education system may be broken, but solutions already exist — and Justin is living out one of the most compelling models today. Episode Highlights: ✔️ The story of how a local church stepped out to lead and provide solutions for education in its community. ✔️ Why the next generation of leaders must be trained with a biblical worldview and an entrepreneurial spirit. ✔️ How students learn through 6-week sprints, real projects, and leadership ✔️ Why pastors and parents must reclaim education as discipleship ✔️ Encouragement for parents who feel powerless in today's educational climate 🎧 Listen Now! Featured Resource: The Academy at District Church A bold, Christ-centered K–12 leadership academy helping raise confident, joyful, purpose-driven students. 🔗 Visit → www.districtchristianacademy.com 🔗 Follow → @theacademyatdistrict Call-to-Actions (CTAs): 📲 Follow Justin MacDonald & The Academy at District Church: • Instagram: / jmacleads / theacademyatdistrict • Website: https://www.theacademyatdistrict.com/ 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent: • / suzannephillips_ • / beacon_parent • Website: https://www.beaconparent.com 📚 Free Resource Hub: Download guides, conversation starters, and digital wellness tools → The Hub: https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/7dFPbYXY/checkout/ ✨ Join the Parent Club (Monthly Membership): Access Christ-centered coaching, community, and exclusive resources for parents → The Parent Club: https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/7dFPbYXY/checkout/ 📥 Thinking About Homeschooling or Hybrid Models? Download The Pod Packet—a complete guide to starting and managing your own homeschool pod with confidence → https://www.beaconparent.com/podpacket/ Identity Truth for the Family: "Leaders aren't born—they're discipled." Families who build a culture of responsibility, curiosity, and biblical identity prepare children to lead with wisdom and courage. Closing CTA: Parents, pastors, and leaders — the future belongs to those willing to build it. Education is not neutral. It's discipleship. If this episode gave you vision or stirred something in you, share it with a pastor, parent, or educator who needs to hear what's possible.
S5 · E10
Nov 6, 2025 · 59 min
S5 E10: Vertical Parenting
Episode Summary: In this heartfelt and wisdom-filled episode, Suzanne Phillips sits down with her own pastor, Chuck Ramsey, Lead Pastor of Restoration Church, for a conversation on building strong families through biblical parenting and discipleship. As a father of seven and grandfather of five, Pastor Chuck shares both personal and pastoral insights on what it means to raise children with a "vertical" mindset—anchored in God's Word, guided by His Spirit, and grounded in eternal truth. Together, they discuss the power of a Vertical Church, how its principles build strong families at home, and why now more than ever parents must return to Scripture as their foundation for leadership and love. Whether you're raising little ones or leading grown children, this episode will refresh your faith and refocus your parenting around the One who holds it all together. Episode Highlights: ✔️ What it means to build and lead a Vertical Church ✔️ How the same principles of a vertical church apply to parenting at home ✔️ The 5 pillars that strengthen families and churches alike ✔️ Why parents must root their family life in Scripture—not social media trends ✔️ The importance of discipleship and honoring spiritual fathers and mothers ✔️ Why prayer, community, and men's ministry are vital in today's culture ✔️ How Restoration Church's growth reflects God's hand and healthy leadership ✔️ Encouragement for parents who want to raise their children to follow Christ ✔️ A powerful prayer Pastor Chuck prayed over his children growing up 📖 Featured Resource: Restoration Church Discover the heart behind a Vertical Church—one built on truth, prayer, and discipleship that leads people to Jesus. 👉 Visit: www.restorationchurch.faith 👉 Follow: @restorationchurch.faith 📣 Call-to-Actions (CTAs): 📲 Follow Pastor Chuck Ramsey & Restoration Church: Instagram: @restorationchurch.faith Website: www.restorationchurch.faith 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent: @suzannephillips_ @beacon_parent Website: www.beaconparent.com 📚 Free Resource Hub: Download guides, conversation starters, and digital wellness tools → The Hub ✨ Join the Parent Club (Monthly Membership): Access Christ-centered coaching, community, and exclusive resources for parents → The Parent Club 📥 Thinking About Homeschooling or Hybrid Models? Download The Pod Packet—a complete guide to starting and managing your own homeschool pod with confidence → www.beaconparent.com/podpacket 📖 Identity Truth for the Family: ✅ Families who look vertically to God find peace, purpose, and power to lead with conviction. ✅ A vertical home reflects a vertical heart—rooted in prayer and truth, producing legacy and fruit. 🔔 Closing Call-to-Action (CTA): Culture changes, but God's design for family does not. Parents, you are called to lead from the Word—not the world. Build vertically, lead intentionally, and pray fervently over your children. If this episode encouraged or challenged you, share it with another parent, small group, or pastor who's passionate about raising strong families in faith.
S5 · E9
Oct 30, 2025 · 57 min
S5 E9: Digital Wellness for Your Children
Episode Summary: In this eye-opening and deeply practical episode of The InFormed Parent Podcast, Suzanne Phillips is joined by Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes—a leading organization helping families, schools, and churches navigate the complex world of technology, internet safety, and digital wellness. Chris's work has reached hundreds of thousands of students and families nationwide and even led him to conversations at the White House about the dangers of AI and child safety online. This episode equips parents to take actionable steps toward creating safer digital environments at home and in schools. From the most dangerous apps to the latest AI threats, this conversation empowers you to protect your children without fear—through awareness, wisdom, and boundaries rooted in truth. ⸻ Episode Highlights: ✔️ How Protect Young Eyes began and the mission behind it ✔️ Why tech is one of the most critical parenting conversations today ✔️ Chris's "10 Before 10" rule and other practical safety habits ✔️ The most dangerous apps parents need to know about—and why ✔️ The truth about Gemini AI, KIK, and other high-risk platforms ✔️ Understanding sextortion and how to protect your children ✔️ The importance of parental involvement in tech at school ✔️ Encouragement for parents feeling overwhelmed by technology ✔️ Hope and confidence for families navigating the digital age ⸻ 💡 Featured Resource: Protect Young Eyes Founded by Chris McKenna, Protect Young Eyes provides families, schools, and churches with the most up-to-date tools and strategies for digital safety and wellness. 👉 Visit → www.ProtectYoungEyes.com 👉 Follow → @protectyoungeyes ⸻ 📣 Call-to-Actions (CTAs): 📲 Follow Chris McKenna & Protect Young Eyes: Instagram: @protectyoungeyes Website: www.ProtectYoungEyes.com 📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent: @suzannephillips_ @beacon_parent Website: www.beaconparent.com 📚 Free Resource Hub: Download guides, conversation starters, and digital wellness tools → The Hub ✨ Join the Parent Club (Monthly Membership): Access Christ-centered coaching, community, and exclusive resources for parents → The Parent Club 📥 Starting a Homeschool Pod? Grab The Pod Packet—a step-by-step guide to building and managing your own pod with confidence → www.beaconparent.com/podpacket ⸻ 📖 Identity Truth for the Family: ✅ Wisdom, not fear, leads families to peace in the digital age. ✅ Parents are the gatekeepers of influence—digital wellness begins with discipleship. ⸻ 🔔 Closing Call-to-Action (CTA): Technology is powerful—but so is your voice as a parent. Don't hand the digital steering wheel to the world. Be intentional, stay informed, and lead your family with conviction and grace. If this episode equipped or encouraged you, share it with another parent, teacher, or youth leader who's navigating these same challenges.

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