The Journey Parent Podcast

The State of the American Family | Good, Bad, and What We Can Do to Improve

 

Host: Dan Panetti

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

Parents, the research is in and there are many things to be concerned about as we look at the “state of the American family.” Yet, at the same time, the most important take-away, in my opinion, is that once again children select their parents as the most influential people in their spiritual lives - don’t miss that! When it seems that your children are listening more to their peers, social media influences, or just zoning out - remember that the truth you are sharing is having an impact even if you can’t see it right away!

 

The research also shows that parents talk about the importance of teaching their children the Word of God, saying prayers with their kids, and making sure that as a family they are in church…BUT, less than half of the professing Christian parents actually followed through and did those things! Parents, these should be none-negotiable things in your home - nothing is more important than the spiritual wellbeing of your family…nothing. Take time to reflect on how you’re doing as a husband/father or wife/mother and where you can improve - then take those important steps to grow in your own faith and show your children how to grow in their walk with the Lord.

Classroom Culture in 2026 | Seismic Shift of Responsibility from Student to Teacher

 

Guest: Eric Leininger, teacher in the classroom for 14 years

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

Parents, one of the primary “shifts” we’ve seen in education deals with the issue of where the responsibility lies. In the old days, students were primarily responsible for their actions; today if students have a problem, the responsibility falls on the shoulders of the teachers. 

 

Parents, when your son or daughter has an issue in the classroom, Eric’s wisdom on how to best handle these situations is to address the problem at home and help your child learn how this situation can best shape their character. Eric does not recommend contacting the teacher unless the situation/problem is egregious. Disciplinary issues at a school or on the court/field are opportunities to train your children about how to better handle situations or how to work through a seeming (or real) injustice.

 

Before contacting a teacher, Eric recommends that you examine Scripture and pray for God’s wisdom in how to best proceed. As a parent, Eric also recommends that you should look to trust those who are partnering with you in the discipleship process. Modeling for your students that we respect the authority of our teachers is a valuable life lesson.

 

Here is the link to a video/article of Hannah, a young former high school English teacher who quit after 3 years because of technology and general apathy/laziness of students in the classroom.

All Hard Work Brings a Profit | How to Train Your Children to Value Hard Work

 

Guest: Will May

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

Proverbs 14:23 says “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.” Today, the proverbial Protestant Work Ethic seems like an ancient relic - but with AI and smart phones is hard work a thing of the past? Jump into the conversation with Will May and myself as we dive into the biblical worldview of work - what does the Bible say and how can we as parents instill the value for hard work in our children?

 

How Do You Define Success | Measuring What Really Matters in Life

 

Guests: Parker and Abbi Panetti

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

This is the fourth and final installment of our amazing series with Parker and Abbi examining a variety of angles of college life so that you, as parents, can prepare your students for the various obstacles and opportunities awaiting them on a college campus. The question we ask and answer in this episode is “what does success look like” on a college campus? Some may think that success is getting a 4.0 GPA or landing the “right” job when you graduate…but there’s more…much more to God’s design for your student. Listen and learn in this great final conversation with Parker and Abbi.

What is the MOST Important Thing about College | It Might Not be What You Expect

 

Guest: Parker and Abbi Panetti

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

This is the third installment of our four-part series with Parker and Abbi examining a variety of angles of college life so that you, as parents, can prepare your students for the various obstacles and opportunities awaiting them on a college campus. Some studies show that 60-80% of Christians students “walk away” from their faith - that statistic is alarming and unacceptable…but what can we do to counter this mass exodus? That’s the conversation for today’s episode…

 

Coming Home from College| Preparing Your Home to be a Place of Grace and Growth

 

Guests: Parker and Abbi Panetti

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

Hope your family has a Happy Thanksgiving!

This is the second installment of our four-part series with Parker and Abbi examining a variety of angles of college life so that you, as parents, can prepare your students for the various obstacles and opportunities awaiting them on a college campus…or, for this week, preparing your home for when they return! Whether your child is a senior in high school or in first grade, there are important elements of their faith that will ground them regardless of the environment around them.

 

One resource that I can highly recommend is The Most Important Place on Earth: What a Christian Home Looks Like and How to Build One by Robert Wohlgemuth. Great reminder about the opportunity to build our children on God’s Word in our homes…as we send them out into the world…and when they return.

Equipped to be a Christian on a College Campus| How to Prepare Your Students for the Obstacles and Opportunities

 

 

Guest: Parker and Abbi Panetti

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

This will be a four-part series with Parker and Abbi examining a variety of angles of college life so that you, as parents, can prepare your students for the various obstacles and opportunities awaiting them on a college campus. Whether your child is a senior in high school or in first grade, there are important elements of their faith that will ground them regardless of the environment around them. In addition, with a biblical worldview, they will not merely survive the college experience, but thrive in their faith journey while in college.

 

Are Sports Everything?| The Priority and Prominence of Athletics for a Christian Family

 

 

Guest: Jason Illian, CEO Highmount Capital

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

Great conversation with good friend Jason Illian - he’s right in the thick of it with three great kids who are also great athletes. How do you prioritize eternal things over temporary, spiritual life over athletics - many parents are far more concerned with their child’s performance on the court and less concerned with their character. Can your kids love Jesus…and be great at sports? Listen as we wrestle with these concepts and navigate the “wide world of sports” from a Biblical perspective.

2025 Election Reflections| What the Vote Means to You and Your Family

 

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

We went LIVE to record this week’s podcast exploring election returns from Texas and across the country - what happened and what can we learn from these events? Always looking to examine issues from a biblical worldview, hopefully our election reflection was valuable and entertaining for you!

Why Vote?| Religion and Education in America

 

Guest: Audrey Sol (Loyola) Diaz

 

If you’d like to watch this podcast, check out the PCA YouTube page.

 

This week we continued our conversation about all things political with Audrey Diaz. Audrey is a great, young voice for truth with a solid background in politics from her family’s involvement growing up to her time working on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Aubrey is also an alumnus from Prestonwood Christian Academy graduating in 2015 before she went on to attend college at Baylor University.