Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST
Host: Dr. Frank Turek
Episode: How to Raise Conservative Kids in a Woke World PLUS Charlie’s New Book with Katy Faust
Date: December 9, 2025
Guests: Katy Faust

Overview

This episode centers on practical strategies for raising conservative children amidst dominant progressive or "woke" influences, especially within secular and public school environments. Dr. Frank Turek and guest Katy Faust (co-author of "Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City") discuss equipping children with foundational truths, instilling a strong value system, handling modern cultural pressures (from sexuality to technology), and the ethical concerns around topics like IVF. The episode also highlights the release of Charlie Kirk’s new book on the Sabbath, personal tributes, and insight into pressing cultural debates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charlie Kirk’s New Book and His Legacy

• Tribute to Charlie Kirk: Frank shares a personal account of attending a TPUSA event and talking about Charlie’s posthumously published book "Stop in the Name of God."
• Book Highlights: The book focuses on Sabbath, but covers "why Christianity is true, evidence for Christianity, Christian worldview, and the need to reevaluate busyness and focus on family and God."
  • Frank notes:

    "It's really a book about why Christianity is true...there's a few chapters in the beginning about the evidence for Christianity." (00:03)

• Personal Practice: Charlie’s family dedicated intentional Sabbath time, emphasizing putting down technology and recharging spiritually and relationally.

2. Raising Conservative Kids: Strategies and Principles

• Broader Audience:
  • Katy Faust:

    “This book isn't just for parents who have kids...This book will prepare anybody to live in an anti-Christian environment.” (04:48)

• Teaching the ‘Founder's Principle’:
  • Who Gets to the Child First Wins:

    “The first person to introduce a challenging, controversial, emotional topic to a child automatically becomes the expert in their life…they need to hear about these things from you.” (10:17)

• Preparing for the Real World:
  • Real-life Story: Katy recounts her 15-year-old daughter’s experience with a doctor who asked invasive questions during a required private consultation, and how her daughter skillfully pushed back—a testament to long-term "discipleship" and parental preparation.

    “That doesn’t happen in an instant. It happens through a long, slow handoff that we identify as sort of a discipleship process.” (09:00)

• Stages of Engagement:
  • Elementary: Filter most content, give simple truthful introductions ("Some people think babies can be killed in the womb. It's called abortion. If you ever hear about it, talk to us.").
  • Middle School/High School: Download details, debate, establish yourself as the main authority.
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Better a year too early than five minutes too late...when somebody else introduces it, you are no longer the authority.” (13:17)

3. Principles Every Conservative Parent Should Teach

(Rapid-fire, but each given brief elaboration)

• Nature of America (16:39):

  • America’s founding principles are unique, freedom-based, and worth conserving.
  • "We're not colonizers...founders had some of the most distinct principles that led to freedom and prosperity." (16:59, Katy)

• Freedom of Religion/Conscience (19:15):

  • Foundational for flourishing humans, currently under attack.

• Nature of Man/Woman (20:00):

  • Understanding biological sex is core to addressing huge swaths of cultural issues (transgenderism, abortion, AI).

• Nature of Marriage (22:23):

  • Marriage is a matter of justice for children—the best context for their thriving.

• Parent-Child Relationship (23:53):

  • A "pre-political relationship" governments can't substitute; parents are the main shield against indoctrination.

• Right to Life (27:09):

  • The basis for all other rights; must teach dignity and value at every life stage.

• Race (28:24):

  • True progress is "not by equity, but by equality of opportunity." (28:01, Frank quoting the book)
  • Warns of fostering resentment with equity-based policies rather than equal opportunity.

• Economics (32:26):

  • Free markets lead to freedom/prosperity; socialism to tyranny/slavery.
  • “There is a moral system and an immoral system…your children need to be prepared to understand and fight [socialism].” (32:26)

4. Technology and Social Media

• Handling Phones: The 'Slow Handoff' Approach:

  • Katy: “When you give your kid a phone, you are very likely handing over your ability to be recognized as the authority...you need to train them.” (35:36)
  • Steps: I do/you watch → I do/you help → You do/I help → You do/I watch.
  • Emphasizes modeling, transparency (family shares phone passwords), and gradual responsibility.

• Pornography & Online Dangers

  • “Porn is looking for you...” (38:47)
  • Build an emotionally safe environment ("No Flinch Rule") so children disclose when they encounter explicit content and find relief in parental connection.

5. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF): Moral and Social Concerns

(49:38–63:00)

• Mass Destruction of Embryos: IVF results in the destruction of many more embryonic lives than abortion in the U.S.
  • “IVF destroys maybe four times the number of embryonic lives every year, as Planned Parenthood does.” (49:38)
• Eugenics and Commodification: Clinics encourage mass creation, screening, discarding, and freezing of embryos based on desired traits.
  • “What you’re talking about is mass-producing children so you can eliminate the ones you don’t want. It is eugenics.” (51:58)
• Rarity of “Pro-life IVF”: Only a handful of families create/implant embryos one at a time without elimination, but this is cost-prohibitive.
  • “That approach is simply out of reach for most people.” (53:02)
• Pastoral and Parental Responsibility: Many IVF users regret the frozen embryos left, feel paralyzed, and are often ill-informed going in.
• Moral Path Forward: Repentance, speaking out, and informing others.

6. Restorative Reproductive Medicine vs. IVF (63:53)

• IVF is often pushed as the only option, but underlying causes of infertility are often unexplored, not unexplained.
  • “Most of those people don’t have unexplained infertility, they have unexplored infertility.” (63:59)
• Restorative reproductive medicine seeks to identify, treat, and correct causes without destroying embryos, leading to healthier families and less debt.

7. Role of Pastors and Churches in the Pro-Life Conversation

• Many pastors don’t address life, family, or technological child threats; Christians should hold them to the same standard as politicians.

  • “If your pastor isn’t talking about these issues, why do you expect a politician to be more pro-life than your pastor?” (67:15)

• Christianity's legacy is protecting children from cultural threats; modern threats are life (abortion/IVF) and family (marriage redefinition).

  "Everywhere Christianity has existed...it confronts threats to children. The threats change...But everywhere Christians have gone, they have stood athwart whatever is the current cultural threat against children. And two things happen as a result: adults get pissed, and the rights and well-being of children are elevated." (67:35, Katy)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• The Founder’s Principle:

  "The first person to introduce a challenging, controversial, emotional topic to a child automatically becomes the expert in their life." – Katy Faust (10:17)

• On race and equity:

  "True racial progress is measured not by equity, but by equality of opportunity." – Frank Turek quoting the book (28:01)

• On economic systems:

  "There is a moral system and an immoral system...your children need to be prepared to understand and fight [socialism]." – Katy Faust (32:26)

• On technology:

  "When you give your kid a phone, you are very likely handing over your ability to be recognized as the authority on these topics." – Katy Faust (35:36)

• On how parents should react to tough disclosures:

  "You want your child to associate talking with you with relief." – Katy Faust (38:47)

• IVF critique:

  "If you believe life begins at conception, Big Fertility is a greater threat to children than abortion is." – Katy Faust (51:58)

• On Christianity's continuing mission:

  "Child protection is the business of the church. Everywhere Christianity has existed in every century and in every country, it confronts threats to children. The threats change." – Katy Faust (67:35)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:03] – Tribute to Charlie Kirk and intro to his new book
• [04:48] – Katy Faust on the purpose of "Raising Conservative Kids..." and real-life parenting scenarios
• [10:17] – Founder’s Principle: teaching controversial topics as the authority
• [13:17] – "Better a year too early than five minutes too late"—timing tough conversations
• [15:50] – Defining conservatism—conserving what is true, good, and beautiful
• [19:15] – Freedom of religion/conscience is foundational, under attack
• [20:00] – The importance of teaching the nature of man/woman
• [28:01] – On race, equity, and equality of opportunity
• [32:26] – Economics: free market vs. socialism
• [35:36] – Approach to kids and technology: the slow handoff
• [38:47] – Pornography, the no-flinch rule, and fostering honest disclosure
• [49:38] – IVF, the scope of embryo loss, pro-life dilemmas, and policy failures
• [63:59] – Restorative reproductive medicine (RRM) as an alternative to IVF
• [67:35] – The church’s historical role in protecting children, call for contemporary engagement
• [70:26] – Katy’s shout-out to Christians living in secular cities and encouragement to be "missionaries" at home

Final Thoughts and Resources

• Action Steps:

  • Prepare your children early; be the authoritative voice on controversial topics.
  • Model, then train, responsible tech use—don’t leave it to chance.
  • Understand and engage with bioethical issues like IVF from a pro-child perspective.
  • Encourage pastors and churches to lead on cultural challenges concerning life, family, and children’s rights.

• Resource Links (mentioned to be put in show notes):

  • Then Before Us – Katy Faust’s organization
  • "Raising Conservative Kids in a Woke City"
  • "Stop in the Name of God" by Charlie Kirk
  • Restorative Reproductive Medicine resources
  • Shows/interviews with Erica Kirk (Hannity, Fox & Friends)

• Encouragement:

  "Shout out to those who are living in hostile places...understand that this is their service to God—to carefully pray for the welfare of the city and transform the city by their presence." (70:26, Katy Faust)

For complete details, further reading, and supplemental interviews, check the show notes on the Cross Examined website.