In this episode, Suzanne has an important conversation with Britt Parramore, a licensed therapist and the Clinical Director of PathLight Counseling, Behavioral Health, and Treatment Services. Together they shine a light on the current landscape of drugs, specifically marijuana, and how it's severely impacting teen mental health.

Britt explains how the THC in today's marijuana is extraordinarily potent and not the "recreational" drug our culture maintains. He outlines how THC's potency has tripled and is causing psychotic disorders and diseases like schizophrenia in teens. It's also causing higher suicide rates.

Tune in to hear Britt share his personal story and an urgent message to parents on the destructive effects of marijuana.

An Urgent Conversation: Teen Trends Parents NEED to Know | S3 E5

Next Gen

If you’re a parent with a child about to graduate from high school and considering college, you’ll want to listen to this episode with Connor Champion, the President of Austin Christian University. Connor has a wealth of experience, from cognitive performance and leadership to coaching college football. Listen in as Connor explains how he is now using his expertise to lead a new kind of university that prepares students for business leadership, grounded in a biblical worldview. ACU regularly hosts top Christian executives from companies like Nike, Apple, and Chick-fil-A, giving students exposure to both timeless wisdom and cutting-edge practical insights.

An Innovative Approach for College: Austin Christian University | S3 E4

Education

In today's episode, we dive into the idea of parental sacrifice—but not just for our own children, for all children. Suzanne is joined by Katy Faust, Founder and President of Them Before Us, a global movement advocating for children's rights to both their mother and father. Katy discusses how her work prioritizes children's needs over adult desires, especially in the context of marriage, family, and societal norms. She also shares her personal journey and convictions that led her to this path. Suzanne and Katy delve into culturally relevant topics such as adoption and IVF, emphasizing the ethical and spiritual implications of these practices. Tune in as Katy shares her perspective on infertility and how to advocate for policy changes that can make adoption more accessible and affordable.

Them Before Us: The Parents Role | S3 E3

Parenting

In this episode of the InFormed Parent, Suzanne Phillips interviews Matt Beaudreau, founder of Apogee. Matt shares his story of excelling in the conventional school system but finding that it did not equip him or others with the real-world skills needed for life. Matt's experiences at Stanford University and in public education exposed him to systemic issues within traditional schooling, where students were often well-prepared for academic success but struggled with practical life skills. This led him to explore alternative educational models, leading to the founding of Apogee. Apogee focuses on personalized, self-directed learning and emphasizes holistic growth for both students and parents. Listen in as they highlight the importance of not only educating children, but also mentoring parents, strengthening families, and preparing individuals for sovereignty and personal responsibility in their lives.

Raising Heroes: Building Leaders and Character in Education | S3 E2

In this Season 3 opener of The InFormed Parent podcast, Suzanne Phillips dives into the theme of courage and sets the tone for all the exciting episodes ahead. She reveals the changes happening across the parenting landscape—from the almost extinct helicopter parent, to the lawnmower parent, to the beacon parent who makes informed decisions and lights the way for their family. She describes a new lineup of expert guests who will offer parents both warnings about current dangers in culture and guidance for how to safely navigate these dangers. And she encourages parents to be courageous and actively engage in shaping their children’s values and worldview, especially in the face of cultural challenges and societal pressures. Tune in to hear from Suzanne and get equipped with the knowledge and spiritual insight to lead your family with confidence and purpose in today's increasingly complex world.

Choosing Courage | S3 E1

Are you concerned about how our next generation is being educated? InFormed Parent Podcast host, Suzanne Phillips, interviews a panel of leaders engaged in creative and impactful work in the education space. 




As a new school year starts, become aware of the challenges and opportunities a new generation of parents and students are encountering. Learn from frontline practitioners, Joel Penton, Donna Martin, and Connor Champion on how they are finding opportunities for the Christian faith to continue making an impact.

Taking Back Education

Are you finding it hard to keep up with all the changes happening in your child's school and wondering how you can make a difference? It can be challenging to understand all the policy adjustments in your school district and where they originate from. In this episode, Suzanne interviews Sonja Shaw, President of the Chino Valley Unified School District Board, who advocates for parents to decide what's in their children's best interest instead of state bureaucrats. Tune in to hear Sonja's inspiring story of how she went from being a homeroom mom to fighting for accountability from elected officials and ensuring they serve the parents and children they represent well. You'll learn how you can take similar action in your child's school.

The Power of a Parent Who Takes Action | S2 E12

Many parents are concerned about the questionable agendas in schools across the United States. But where do these agendas stem from? These deep-rooted issues are being promoted and advocated for by teacher's unions, rather than by well-meaning educators. In this episode, Suzanne interviews Rebecca Friedrichs, a twenty-eight-year public school teacher who is part of a movement to restore the voices and authority of parents and teachers in America's schools. Listen in as they discuss the challenges posed by teacher's unions and the effect they can have on your child's education, the classroom environment, and the nation as a whole.

Teachers Unions: How They Impact Your Family | S2 E11

Teenagers are hungry for guidance and truth when it comes to relationships and sex. Whether Christian or not, teenagers are facing the same pressure to prioritize pleasure over purpose. In this episode, Suzanne talks to Jackie Brewton, a motivational speaker who empowers teenagers to make better decisions and equips parents to have difficult conversations about love, sex, and relationships. Tune in as they discuss creating safe environments where teens feel comfortable having open and honest conversations built on trust.

Supporting Teens to Make Wise Decisions in Sex, Love and Relationships | S2 E10

Have you ever considered who is providing healthcare to your child at school? You would never let a doctor treat your child without your consent, but what about a seemingly harmless School Health Center? In this episode, Suzanne interviews Valerie Borek, a Policy Analyst at Stand for Health Freedom, an organization committed to informing and mobilizing a grassroots movement to protect families' health. Join them as they delve into the risks posed by School-Based Health Centers that could affect your child's privacy and health, and how these centers can significantly impact the decisions you make as a parent.

What You Should Know About School-Based Health Centers | S2 E9

Believe it or not, there is a way for the Bible to be taught to public school students during school hours. In this episode, Suzanne interviews Joel Penton, Founder and CEO of LifeWise Academy, a program that offers Bible class as part of the public school day to more than 300 schools and 25,000 students across the U.S. each week. Listen in as they discuss how this legally works within the First Amendment’s guidelines of separation of church and state and how you could adopt this biblically based program for the children in your community.

How to Teach the Bible in Public Schools | S2 E8

There are things parents should know, and then there are things parents need to know. In this must-listen episode, Suzanne talks with attorney Vernadette Broyles about children and parental rights amidst the growing transgender movement. Vernadette is President and General Counsel of Child & Parental Rights Campaign, Inc., a not-for-profit public interest law firm that engages in litigation and advocacy across the country to protect children’s health and defend parental rights against the impacts of gender identity ideology. Listen in as Vernadette outlines the history of transgenderism and how it’s made its way into our public school systems. She shares specific examples of cases her team is currently addressing in courtrooms across the country, giving parents a better understanding of the depth of the transgender crisis and how they can best protect their children.

Gender Ideology: What’s a Parent to Do? | S2 E7

It's no secret that the curriculum and content our children are exposed to in classrooms today vary greatly from what many of us adults experienced in school. But what exactly is the difference and why should we be aware?  A huge part of the answer lies within the subjects of American history and civics. Listen in as Suzanne interviews author, attorney, and education advocate Jane Robbins and gets to the bottom of how American history and civics curriculum is changing, who is influencing the changes, and what the cultural and educational ramifications of those changes are. 

The Threat of Politicized Education | S2 E5

“The core issue people are dealing with is not gender, it’s identity,” says Dr. David Cooper,  lead pastor of Mount Paran Church in Atlanta, GA. In this episode, Suzanne and Dr. Cooper address three distinct aspects of gender–physiology, psychology and spirituality–in order to better understand genetic code, gender affirmation, gender dysphoria and emotionalism. Listen in as they bring clarity and scriptural truth to the confusion swirling around gender in today’s culture. You’ll leave  equipped with ways to help families and churches best respond. 

An Honest Take on Gender | S2 E6

“We need to turn our frustration into fascination,” said author and CEO of Growing Leaders, Dr. Tim Elmore, as he described how parents can best close the generational gaps with their children. Listen in as Suzanne and Tim discuss the differences parents and kids are experiencing across generations–including attitudes toward authority–and how best to make generational connection for the sake of generational impact. [Listener Discount Code from Summit Ministries: “INFORMED24” for $200 off Student Conferences at summit.org] 

Closing the Generational Gaps | S2 E4

“If you don’t ever teach your kids, ‘Here are the false worldviews and what they say,’ then they will be, in fact, more compelled by the false worldviews when they hear them,” said Dr. Jeff Myers, president of Summit Ministries. Listen in as Suzanne and Dr. Myers discuss the critical nuance of worldview and how important it is to teach our kids biblical truth in these concerning times. Plus, get the inside story of Dr. Myers new book, “The Truth Changes Everything” and learn about all the next gen programs offered through Summit Ministries–including a listener discount! [Listener Discount Code: “INFORMED24” for $200 off Student Conferences at summit.org] 

Gen Z: The Pursuit of Truth | S2 E3

Proverbs tells us there are four types of people: The wise, simpleton, fool and mocker. When it comes to parenting, which one are you? In this episode, Suzanne calls us to ask ourselves the hard questions as parents: What does it look like to steward our responsibility? Are we pursuing wisdom? Are our children growing like Jesus did, in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man? But she doesn’t just leave us hanging with questions! Tune in and hear the solutions Suzanne offers to help us develop the wisdom and biblical worldview we need to parent well.

The Pursuit of Wisdom | S2 E2

Gabe Lyons joins Suzanne Phillips to kick off Season 2 and highlight the new lineup of episodes ahead. They discuss frontline issues parents are facing in the current culture and how parents can rightfully guard and protect the true essence of childhood through a Christian worldview. Suzanne and Gabe call out some threats to be aware of, such as school-based health centers and gender ideology policies, and how parents can think well, make informed decisions, and exercise wisdom in seeking alternatives for their families. Listen in as Suzanne and Gabe encourage parents to see themselves as leaders, get educated on the policies that impact their kids, and take action as they are called.

Are kids experiencing childhood anymore? | S2 E1

“The church has done a disservice, if you will, in teaching us to understand that we should be obsolete from government. We have been taught to, in a great sense, turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to things that are happening, and I believe that’s why a lot of stuff is happening,” said Latasha Fields, a passionate advocate for parental rights, education, and community empowerment and a homeschooling mom of three. Latasha has founded the Christian Home Educators Support System, made a run for Illinois Lt. Governor, and many other endeavors in between. In this final episode of Season 1, Suzanne and Latasha talk solutions to traditional public education. Listen in as they discuss overcoming the fear of homeschooling and the opportunities that come from a discipleship-focused homeschool framework. You’re sure to be inspired by Latasha’s story and passion for restoring the family and the next generation of learners.

When a Mom Follows | Ep. 12

Did you know studies are now showing children are first exposed to porn as early as 8 years old? Titania Jordan, the CMO and Chief Parent Officer of Bark.us, joins Suzanne on this week’s episode to address the dark side of the fast-paced digital world our children are growing up in. They talk dangerous content, dangerous people, and dangerous apps–even the alarming rise of sextortion. Tune in to learn what to watch for and the internet safety solutions you can use to best protect your children across social media, text messaging, and email.