The MAVEN Parent Podcast

As Christmas and the end of the year approach, it’s easy to get caught up rushing from one holiday party to the next shopping trip and miss the deeper purpose of the season. In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss why Advent and Christmas are meaningful opportunities to slow down as a family, remember Christ’s birth, and intentionally look back on the year to see God’s faithfulness. They offer practical ideas and family traditions to help you do this together at home as the year comes to a close. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

The news never slows down! And if staying informed feels overwhelming for adults, it’s no wonder we may hesitate to bring global events into conversations with our kids. But God is at work everywhere—and our kids need to see that and build the skills they’ll need to navigate the news as adults. In this podcast, Brett and Erin are joined by Brian Basham and Caleb Bailey from WORLD Watch, a Christian news show that helps families explore world events together through short, compelling, 10-minute episodes. Check out WORLD Watch: https://worldwatch.news/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

If your kids ask, “Why can’t all religions lead to God?”, would you know how to answer? In this episode, Brett and Erin continue their discussion about why Jesus is the only way to salvation and illustrate how you can respond to the top 3 most common objections to this critical Christian doctrine. Watch our first conversation on this topic "What Does the Bible Teach About Jesus?": https://linktw.in/xGhuRL Learn more about the "Soul Searching" study of teens mentioned by Brett: https://a.co/d/0IY23Ya MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/  

Thanksgiving is a perfect opportunity to teach kids gratitude, but it’s easy for us to get distracted by busyness and miss those moments of reflection and thankfulness. In this episode, Brett and Erin share simple but meaningful family liturgies and traditions you can incorporate around the dinner table this Thanksgiving to help you reclaim the gratitude at the heart of the holiday. Get "The Thanksgiving Story" by Alice Dalgliesh - https://a.co/d/0plUxW2 Get "Thank You Sarah: The Woman Who Saved Thanksgiving" - https://a.co/d/6UgzQVb Get "The Pilgrim's First Thanksgiving" by Ann Mcgovern - https://a.co/d/86NgDcA Get "Thanksgiving: The Holiday at the Heart of the American Experience" by Melanie Kirkpatrick: https://a.co/d/9sLw7ZJ Check out the Erin's Strong Woman interview with Melanie Kirkpatrick: https://youtu.be/UdNP-2fBhCQ?si=tRUpv9VD7CBHfcxI Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

Christian pop star, Forrest Frank made some viral comments in recent months giving his reasons for why he doesn't drink anymore. Much of Evangelical Christianity would share Frank's view and advocate for total abstinence. But what does Scripture say about alcohol? Is it sinful to drink? In this episode, Brett and Erin look at Frank's reasons for abstaining from alcohol, what Scripture teaches, and what our view of alcohol says about our wider understanding of sanctification. Watch Forrest Frank's video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LXkmEa9goX8 Check out the book "What Would Jesus Drink?" by Joel McDermin: https://a.co/d/5RqZW4O Check out the book "Wine in the Word" by Gisela H. Kreglinger: https://a.co/d/d4MDqbW Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Parenting teenagers is intimidating. It's a whole new season that's full of change—one that can be both daunting and difficult. But beyond the teenage eye rolls and moodiness, there's real joy and opportunity to be found in this season. In this episode, Brett and Erin speak with Shelley Komoszewski, from Josh McDowell Ministries and a mom of two girls, about how you can navigate the task of being a parent to teenagers, how to set them up for successfully becoming adults, and the unexpected joy of this often tough season of growth. Watch Shelley's 2024 MAVEN Conference talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwyAk9xDPJg Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

A core Christian doctrine is that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation. But in today's culture of pluralism and inclusivity, this is a widely unpopular belief—one that's often branded as unloving. So why do we, as Christians, hold to it? In this episode, Brett and Erin examine what the Bible says about who Jesus is and why He is the only way. They also share practical ways to help you answer your kids’ questions and objections about this crucial truth of the Christian faith. Invest in your student’s faith by sending them to Summit’s Student Conferences! Go to www.summit.org/maven and use code MAVEN26 to save $250 today. Learn more about Impact 360 at https://www.impact360institute.org/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Parents, should you send your kids to a secular university? Increasingly, the recommendation from church leaders is a resounding no. Our culture is confused about everything—from gender to race—and academia sits at the epicenter of that confusion, influencing entertainment, politics, and even the church. But how did we get here? In this episode, Brett and Erin chat with Dr. Corey Miller, author and President of Ratio Christi, about his book "The Progressive Miseducation of America," which narrates how the cultural revolution changed universities and academia from schools founded by Christians to strongholds of Critical Theory. Get Dr. Miller's book here: https://a.co/d/5mppsYs Learn more about Ratio Christi here: https://ratiochristi.org/ Download Ratio Christi's PDF Booklets: https://press.ratiochristi.org/ Surveys Mentioned by Dr. Miller: Americans and Biblical Worldview: https://www.arizonachristian.edu/2023/02/28/biblical-worldview-among-u-s-adults-drops-33-since-start-of-covid-19-pandemic/ Pastors and Biblical Worldview: https://www.arizonachristian.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AWVI2022_Release05_Digital.pdf Evangelical Pastors and Biblical Worldview: https://www.arizonachristian.edu/2022/05/26/only-half-of-evangelical-pastors-hold-biblical-worldview/ Yale Student Survey: https://buckleyinstitute.com/annual-surveys/ Check out Impact360: https://www.impact360institute.org/ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

We live in a media-saturated world. From endless movies and TV shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime to music and YouTube videos, our kids are constantly surrounded by content. Now more than ever, we need to equip them to do more than just consume. We need to help them engage with media worldviewishly. In this episode, Brett and Erin share strategies and questions you can use to turn your family movie nights into opportunities to help your kids analyze films and TV through the lens of the Christian worldview. Download the "Watching Movies Worldviewishly" worksheet: https://equip.maventruth.com/sign-up Get “Hollywood Heroes” by Frank Turek: https://a.co/d/0JAVRus Get “Hollywood Worldviews” by Brian Godawa: https://a.co/d/9uUO33q Get “Movies are Prayers” by Josh Larsen: https://a.co/d/aAIbMek Get “The Wisdom of Pixar” : https://a.co/d/7B2Ek1Y Get “Disney and Philosophy” : https://a.co/d/hikJPuD Get “Faith, Film, and Philosophy”: https://a.co/d/bFxwQKU MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Many Christians say they believe in the Trinity, but few can define it clearly or point to where it’s taught in Scripture. That needs to change! As parents, we must be equipped to help our kids understand and articulate what the Trinity is and how it’s rooted in Scripture. In this episode, Brett and Erin unpack the doctrine of the Trinity, walk through key biblical passages that support it, and share practical ways to help the next generation develop a firm grasp of this essential Christian belief. Check out James White's book on the Trinity: https://a.co/d/ecdWlE1 Check out the book "Putting Jesus in His Place": https://a.co/d/hyrC9WE Get "Big Thoughts for Little Thinkers": https://a.co/d/3Eh70Bi Get "God is Three Persons": https://a.co/d/3uwJEU7 Get "The Ology": https://a.co/d/a3t3kK7 Get "Big Truths for Little Hearts": https://a.co/d/c8yI3TK Get "Talking with Your Kids About God": https://a.co/d/3yHMqzm Check out Brett's booklet on Mormonism: https://a.co/d/aSqFhC6 Get "Delighting in the Trinity": https://a.co/d/eKZYveZ MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

The doctrine of the Trinity is one of Christianity's essential doctrines. It's one we need to be able to understand and articulate to others. But many of us (adults and students) don't have a well-formed view of the Trinity. If you heard one, would you be able to spot a Trinitarian heresy? Would your kids? In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss their own experiences in helping kids understand the Trinity in the field at MAVEN Immersive Experiences, and unpack why this doctrine is so essential for our kids (and us) to be able to define and understand. To learn more about MAVEN's Immersive Experiences, visit: https://maventruth.com/immersive-experience/ Join our email list so you don't miss the sign-up link announcement for next year's trips: https://maventruth.com/  MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

Gentle Parenting is all the rage right now as young parents are increasingly turning to social media influencers for advice. But does this parenting philosophy actually work? As Brett and Erin are traveling and speaking throughout September, this episode features Erin's talk on Gentle Parenting from the 2025 MAVEN Conference as she explores social media's influence on popularizing the philosophy and breaks down exactly why Gentle Parenting doesn't work when applied to real world situations. Check out our other conversations on Gentle Parenting: https://linktw.in/KnfkQI MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/  

On September 10th, Charlie Kirk—founder of Turning Point USA and Christian speaker—was shot and killed while publicly debating college students on faith and social issues. Kirk was a courageous leader who boldly proclaimed the truth of the Christian worldview to the next generation—something each of us is called to do with the kids and teens in our own spheres. His life and legacy challenge us to ask: How can we be courageous like Charlie? As Brett and Erin are traveling and speaking throughout September, this episode features Brett’s talk on courage from the 2025 MAVEN Conference—shared in honor of Charlie’s legacy—to explore how we can live with the same boldness and faith. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/  

As Christians, what should a home look like? We know that homes should be safe places, but Scripture calls us to something deeper. The way we establish and conduct our homes shapes how our children grow and how we experience life with our spouse. In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss what a theology of the home looks like and practical ways we can build a home that helps point our spouse and children to God. Check out MAVEN's online courses at https://equip.maventruth.com/store MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

Kids are curious—they're created in God's Image after all. So naturally, throughout the years they spend in our homes and churches, they will have many questions about the Christian faith and worldview. HOW adults respond to their questions and doubts can profoundly shape how intellectually strong and sturdy they perceive the Christian faith to be. In this episode, Brett and Erin read through the testimony of Larry Sanger, a philosopher and cofounder of Wikipedia, about what drove him to become a skeptic of Christianity and explore how critical it can be to provide sound answers to our children's faith questions. Listen to Larry Sanger's full testimony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fXQpccnc8U Find Dr. Craig's animated videos here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idDoRftSuRU&list=PL3gdeV4Rk9EfL-NyraEGXXwSjDNeMaRoX Check out MAVEN's online courses at https://equip.maventruth.com/store MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

The work of raising thankful kids—and avoiding entitlement—starts early. In this episode, Brett and Erin address 5 easy steps you can take if you want to raise entitled kids...which is 5 easy steps to AVOID if you want to raise thankful kids instead. Register for our upcoming MAVEN Conferences at https://www.mavenconferences.com/ Check out MAVEN's online courses at https://equip.maventruth.com/store MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/ 

The Center for Biblical Engagement surveyed more than 100,000 people and found that engaging the Bible four or more days per week has a profound impact on an individual’s life. Indeed, engaging God’s Word is the single most powerful predictor of spiritual growth. In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss the results of this ground-breaking study and outline practical steps to get your kids into the Bible. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Social scientist and cultural critic Jonathan Haidt recently wrote an important article entitled, “What Kids Told Us About How to Get Them Off Their Phones.” In this episode, Brett & Erin discuss Haidt’s piece and his research findings about kids, smartphones and the new phenomenon of a phone-based childhood. They also discuss how unstructured free time is key in getting kids off their phones and providing them with a healthy upbringing. Read the original article here: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/08/kids-smartphones-play-freedom/683742/  MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Are your kids ready for their Christian faith to be challenged? Is Christianity true? What’s the evidence? And do those questions even matter, if we cannot also make the case that Christianity is good? In this episode, Brett and Erin chat with Frank Turek, in-the-trenches apologist and author of the book “I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist,” about the contemporary objections to Christianity that our kids will face and how we can help them answer the challenges. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/

Summer is in full swing, and Brett and Erin are busy speaking to parents across the country! So, while they're on the road, we're diving into the MAVEN Parent Podcast archives to revisit some of Brett and Erin's favorite episodes. God has designed each and every human being in unique and wonderful ways, and that includes our kids! So how do we discover those things that are special about our children? And how can we be intentional in encouraging our kids in their God-given uniqueness? In this episode, Brett and Erin discuss these questions and offer practical tips from their own experiences for getting to know your kid's unique qualities. MAVEN...is donor-supported...DONATE HERE: https://maventruth.com/donation/