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Parenting Today’s Teens — Kids & Family
Parenting Today’s Teens

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.

Copyright: © Mark Gregston

Latest Episodes:

Four Things Every Teen Needs From Their Parents Sep 03, 2026

Show notes

Your teen may not always know how to say it, but they're longing for more than rules, advice and correction. Mark and Wayne explore four things every teen deeply desires from their parents. Through practical wisdom and a powerful conversation with a Heartlight student, Mark explains how these foundational needs can transform a family's relationship and help teens find security at home instead of searching for it elsewhere. Tune in for practical encouragement on becoming the safe, steady presence your teen needs most.

Old-school communication tactics and lecturing fall flat with today’s teens. Learn more effective ways to draw out your teen at bit.ly/how-to-engage-differently-with-your-teen

Does Your Teen Feel They Have to Earn Your Love? Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Mark challenges parents to examine whether their words and actions unintentionally communicate that love is conditional. Through the heartbreaking story of a young woman who struggled with self-worth and rejection from her birth mother and others, Mark explains how performance-based relationships can leave lasting emotional wounds. He offers practical encouragement for separating your relationship from your teen’s performance, reflecting God’s unconditional love and creating a home where grace — not achievement — is the foundation.

For more help for parents of adopted teens, visit bit.ly/seeing-adoption-from-your-teens-perspective

Teen Stories: When Secrets Take Over Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Sometimes the battles our teens face are hidden — masked by distance, secrecy and behaviors we struggle to understand. On today’s show, Mark and Courtney sit down with two young women at Heartlight who share honest stories of pain, isolation and the search for trust. Whether it’s hiding self-harm or locking themselves away, both guests reveal how hard it was to let parents in — and how healing began when their families learned to listen and simply love. Tune in to hear their powerful journeys from silent suffering to finding hope for the future.

To learn more about the Heartlight program, visit heartlightministries.org today.

Helping Your Teen Survive the School Year Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

For many teens, going back to school means far more than buying new supplies and settling into a routine. It also brings pressure, comparison, loneliness and other new challenges. Mark and Wayne discuss how parents can help their teens navigate the emotional and social pressures of a new school year. Through practical advice and a powerful conversation with a Heartlight student, Mark reminds parents to focus on connection over performance, communicate with empathy and look beneath behaviors to understand what their teen is really experiencing. Tune in to help your teen face the school year with confidence, resilience and the support they need at home.

As your teen goes back to school, you may notice some behavioral changes that concern you. Get insights on keeping communication open with your child here: bit.ly/whats-going-on-with-my-teen

I Mustache Mark a Question: Open Doors, Open Minds and Challenging Choices Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

In this Q&A episode, Mark dives into more pressing parenting questions, covering everything from enforcing boundaries with teens who push limits to navigating tough conversations surrounding faith, identity and relationships. He shares real-world advice on how to keep teens accountable — like when a 16-year-old disregards bedroom door rules with a girlfriend — while preserving trust and respect at home. Mark also discusses shifting from teaching to training as your kids mature and finding healthy approaches for homeschool families. If you’re struggling to let go of control, manage kids’ risky behaviors or keep connection alive through the hard stuff, you’ll find practical encouragement in this episode.

Have a question for a future episode? Go to markgregston.com to send it in!

The Parenting Mistake That Prevents Growth Aug 27, 2026

Show notes

No parent wants to see their teen suffer. But could protecting them from every hardship actually keep them from growing? In this episode, Mark and Wayne discuss the important role pain plays in developing maturity, responsibility and resilience. Mark explains the difference between helping and rescuing, why natural consequences often become life's greatest teachers and how parents can walk alongside their teens without removing every obstacle. Most importantly, he reminds parents to be a consistent source of hope, even in the middle of difficult circumstances. Tune in for practical wisdom on helping your teen grow stronger through life's challenges while showing them they're never alone.

Trying to control your teen's life can show up in different ways, and it will likely lead to alienating them. See some of the most common pitfalls and ways to reverse the damage at bit.ly/tipping-points-in-a-teens-relationship

Don’t Save the Best for Last Aug 26, 2026

Show notes

What are you saving for someday that could be enriching your relationships today? Mark reflects on how quickly life passes and why the greatest inheritance we leave isn’t our possessions, but the time and experiences we share with the people we love. Through the moving story of a dear friend, Mark offers a powerful reminder not to postpone what matters most. He encourages parents and grandparents to invest their time, resources and presence in their families now. Tune in and be inspired to stop waiting for someday, because the special occasion is today.

It can be easy to take loved ones and life for granted when all is going well. Get tips for growing gratitude in your family at bit.ly/how-to-create-a-thankful-home

Teen Stories: Healing Starts With Honest Conversations Aug 25, 2026

Show notes

When life gets tough at home, teens can end up feeling alone and misunderstood — even by those who love them most. In today’s episode, Mark talks with two Heartlight residents who found themselves spiraling after family problems and personal struggles. Whether it was turning to substances or pushing people away, both realized their coping skills weren’t working. Through honest conversations at Heartlight, these teens share how they’ve learned to open up about their pain, rebuild trust and reconnect with family. Listen in for a down-to-earth look at why talking it out really does make a difference — and how healing starts when everyone feels heard.

For more information about the Heartlight program, visit heartlightministries.org today

Wisdom in the World of Foolishness Aug 24, 2026

Show notes

Your teen still needs your wisdom, even when it seems like they no longer want your advice. In this episode, Mark and Wayne discuss how parents can remain a trusted voice as their children move through adolescence. Mark explains why this season calls for a shift from lectures and instructions to thoughtful questions, genuine listening and conversations that help teens apply what they've already been taught. He also encourages parents to be honest about their own mistakes, creating room for teens to wrestle with choices without feeling they must be perfect. Listen in for practical ways to share wisdom your teen will be more likely to hear — and eventually seek out for themselves.

Your teen is getting plenty of messages, from just about everyone, but you still have more influence than you think. Wondering where to start? Get some tried and true advice at bit.ly/5-messages-your-teen-needs-to-hear

I Mustache Mark a Question: Video Games, Tattoos and Troubled Teens Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

In today's Q&A episode, Mark tackles topics like handling teens who are hooked on video games, managing tech boundaries when consequences have been lacking and helping kids who are losing motivation. Mark also discusses how to deal with the interim period when teens are almost adults — like when a daughter wants to get a tattoo as soon as she turns 18 — and how parents can navigate their mixed feelings on it. Through it all, Mark emphasizes keeping relationships first, balancing consequences with connection, and knowing when to step back and just listen.

Has parenting left you stumped? Ask Mark your questions! Send them in at markgregston.com

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