Podcast
Parenting Today's Teens
Hosted by Mark Gregston · EN
The Parenting Today's Teens Podcast is a daily resource for parents raising teenagers. Hosted by Mark Gregston, a renowned parenting expert with over 45 years of experience, this podcast provides practical, expert advice for navigating the challenges of parenting teens. Whether you're struggling with defiance, emotional issues, or just want to understand your teen better, Mark’s guidance is raw, real, and always hopeful.
Some episodes are co-hosted by Courtney LaFleur, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and on-staff counselor at Heartlight, adding professional counseling insights to the conversation. Together, Mark and Courtney provide expert tips and real-life solutions to help you build stronger relationships with your teen and navigate the complexities of today’s adolescent culture.
If you’re looking for guidance on how to connect with your teen, improve family dynamics, and raise a confident, well-adjusted teen, this podcast is for you.
For more parenting tools and expert advice, visit www.ParentingTodaysTeens.org.
Parenting Today's Teens is part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information, visit www.ChristianParenting.org.
53episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Relationship Is Your Greatest Legacy
1w ago00:21:16Tap to summarizeWhat will your teen remember most about you years from now? In this episode, Mark shares a devotional on legacy, influence and the power of relationship. While many parents focus on rules, performance or getting everything right, Mark reminds us that what lasts longest is connection. He explores why listening matters, how love can remain strong even through disagreements and why your relationship with your teen may be the greatest source of guidance they have. Because legacies aren’t built through perfection, they’re built through presence, grace and love that endures.Find out the influence grandparents can have in the lives of their teenaged grandchildren at bit.ly/grandparents-have-what-a-teen-needsParenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →
Teen Stories: From Hiding Hurt to Finding Healing
1w ago00:23:37Tap to summarizePushing parents away or being disrespectful usually isn’t about just being rebellious. Sometimes, it’s a defense — a way to survive when trust has been broken or home life feels like a battleground. In today’s episode, Mark talks with two teens from Heartlight who open up about keeping people at arm’s length, struggling with anger and wrestling with family changes that left them feeling alone. Both girls share why shutting down or lashing out became their way of dealing with hurt, and how Heartlight has given them the tools to finally start letting people in.Want to learn more about the Heartlight program? Visit heartlightministries.org today!Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →
When Your Teen Doesn’t Want to Go to School
1w ago00:27:30Tap to summarizeIs school only about grades — or is there something more important your teen is learning there? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur explore the bigger purpose of school. From social development and resilience to responsibility and real-world skills, education goes far beyond academics. They also discuss what to do when your teen resists school, how to uncover what’s really behind the struggle and when alternative paths may be a better fit. Because helping your teen thrive isn’t just about report cards — it’s about preparing them for life.Do you know what's behind your teen's aversion to school? Read more here: bit.ly/how-important-is-schoolParenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →
I Mustache Mark a Question: Family Friction, Fearful Teens and Finding Respect
2w ago00:24:03Tap to summarizeIn today's show, Mark tackles some more of the most pressing and complex questions parents face with their teenagers today. From addressing issues of lying and integrity, to navigating sibling conflicts and strained parent-teen relationships, Mark offers practical wisdom rooted in experience and compassion. Today's questions explore how to approach teens struggling with anxiety and fear of the outside world, ways to handle feelings of rejection and unfair treatment, and thoughtful advice for parents of transgender young adults seeking understanding and connection. At your wit's end with your teen? Ask Mark about it! Send in your question at markgregston.com and it may be featured on an upcoming episode. Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →
What Your Teen Needs Most from You, Dad
2w ago00:28:36Tap to summarizeWhat kind of impact does a father really have on a teen’s life? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur talk about the unique and powerful role dads play in shaping their teens’ identity, confidence and sense of worth. You’ll hear how time, presence and genuine interest can transform even strained relationships. When dads show up — especially in the small, everyday moments — it creates lasting connection. Because what you give your teen today can shape the direction of their life for years to come.Dads, how would you describe your parenting style? Learn ways to have a positive influence on your teen here: bit.ly/dads-build-strong-relationships-with-their-teensParenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →
A Parent’s Greatest Challenge
2w ago00:30:45Tap to summarizeAre you trying to guide your teen? Or just frustrated by the culture they’re growing up in? In this episode, Mark shares what may be the greatest challenge parents face today: staying connected in a rapidly changing world. It’s easy to criticize the next generation, but that often pushes teens further away. Mark unpacks five practical ways to build real connection, from showing genuine interest to adapting your message and inviting meaningful conversations. When connection is strong, your influence grows. Because in the end, it’s not just what you say — it’s who you are in your teen’s life that matters most.Explore four common relationship barriers and how you can overcome them to reconnect with your teen at bit.ly/breaking-down-the-walls-with-your-teenParenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →
Teen Stories: The Battle to Be Understood
2w ago00:21:10Tap to summarizeBehind every broken rule or secret kept, there’s often a story of a teen who just wants to be seen. In today’s episode, Mark sits down with two young ladies at Heartlight who open up about their struggles with honesty, their search for acceptance and the ways family dynamics shaped their choices. Whether it’s sneaking around out of fear of rejection or using substances as a way to fit in, they remind us that the journey to connection is rarely simple. Listen in as they share how miscommunication pushed them further from their parents — and how understanding and grace became the first steps to healing.Heartlight is hiring! Know a young adult who's excellent at working with teens? We'd love to hear from them. Go to heartlight.jobs to learn more.Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →
Raising Socially Awkward Teens
2w ago00:26:57Tap to summarizeIs your teen struggling to connect with others or retreating into screens instead of real relationships? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur talk about what’s behind social awkwardness in today’s teens. From constant digital entertainment to lack of real-life interaction, many teens are missing the experiences that build confidence and connection. You’ll learn how to gently push your teen out of isolation, model healthy relationships and help them develop the social skills they need to thrive. Plus, a teen’s story reveals how isolation, curiosity and family dynamics can shape behavior — and what it takes to turn things around.Some isolation is healthy, but sometimes it signals deeper struggles. Learn six things to know about teen isolation and how to respond here: parentingtodaysteens.org/articles/6-things-to-know-about-teen-isolationParenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →
I Mustache Mark a Question: Respect, Identity Struggles and Building Real Relationships
3w ago00:29:22Tap to summarizeEvery teen faces tough questions about who they are, but for some, the journey is especially complicated. In today's Q&A episode, topics range from navigating conversations about gender identity and supporting teens with dyslexia, to handling anger, anxiety and the impact of listening to explicit music. Mark also shares insights on the right age for teens to start dating, how to foster respect and responsibility, and offers guidance for parents dealing with complex situations such as an 18-year-old dating a much older partner. Don't miss this episode!Have a parenting question for Mark? We'd love to hear it! Go to markgregston.com to submit your questions.Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →
When Your Teen Thinks Differently Than You
3w ago00:26:20Tap to summarizeWhat’s shaping your teen’s beliefs, and why do they sometimes latch onto ideas that create tension at home? In this episode, Mark and Wayne unpack how today’s teens are influenced by culture, peers and a deep desire to belong. When teens adopt strong opinions or causes, it’s often less about the issue and more about identity and connection. You’ll learn how to respond without overreacting, keep conversations open and stay relational even when you disagree. Plus, Mark and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur talk to a teen about how struggles with acceptance can shape behavior — and how real change begins.If your home feels like Groundhog Day — same arguments, same frustrations, same exhausting cycle — it’s time to do something different. Visit bit.ly/constant-conflict-exhausted-parents for more!Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.
Transcribe →