Rephonic
Artwork for Parenting Today's Teens

Parenting Today's Teens

Mark Gregston
Parenting
Heartlight
Social Media
Adolescence
Mental Health
Teen Culture
Depression
Teen Mental Health
Family Dynamics
Parental Guidance
Teen Development
Teenage Relationships
Suicide Prevention
Christianity
Pain
Self-Harm
Anxiety
Digital Privacy
Parenting Challenges
Trauma

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, r... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes1516Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligion & SpiritualityParentingKids & Family

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Parenting Today's Teens

Latest Episodes

In this Q&A episode, Mark dives into more pressing questions from parents grappling with the realities of raising teens today. From concerns about vaping, toxic relationships and sibling conflicts to heavy issues like depression and adoption struggle... more

If you’ve ever wondered why some teens turn to risky behaviors, there’s usually a story beneath the surface. On today’s episode, Mark sits down with Jack, a Heartlight resident who shares his journey through family trauma, isolation and struggles wit... more

What shapes a teen’s path through life? So often, it’s the quiet influence of people who stand by them, offering wisdom, encouragement and an open ear. In today’s episode, Mark shares personal stories about the adults who made a difference in his lif... more

Risky behavior is often more than just "acting out." For many teens, it’s a desperate attempt to fill an inner void or prove themselves to their peers. In today’s episode, Mark sits down with two young men from Heartlight who share their journeys thr... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Chelsea Cameron
Chelsea Cameron (Kirk Cameron's wife)
Noted guest in retreat lineup
Episode: Navigating Teen Romance
Rory Fiek
Special guest mentioned in intro segment
Heartlight / Retreat speaker
Episode: Navigating Teen Romance
Courtney Lafleur
Licensed Professional Counselor, Heartlight counselor
Heartlight Ministries
Episode: Mean Girls, Social Media and Building Resilience
Unnamed Teen Guest
A teenager discussing their personal experiences with family relationships and phone usage
Heartlight
Episode: Managing Your Teen's Phone
Unnamed Teen 2
Another teen sharing personal struggles with low self-worth and relationships
Episode: Teen Stories: Battling Low Self-Worth
Anonymous Guest
Teenager sharing her personal story of drug use and family dynamics
Episode: Is Your Teen Spinning Out of Control?
Wayne Shepard
Co-host of Parenting Today's Teens and facilitator of discussions with guests.
Episode: Attention-Seeking Teens
Unnamed Teen Speaker 1
Teen who has experienced family instability and struggles with substance abuse
Episode: Teen Stories: Talking It Out
Unnamed Teen Speaker 2
Teen who has faced family issues and rebellion, seeking independence
Episode: Teen Stories: Talking It Out

Host

Mark Gregston
Host of Parenting Today's Teens; founder of Heartlight Ministries; veteran parenting expert

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 468 ratings
  • Podcast is great

    I have gleaned many things from this podcast that I apply regularly to parenting. The only issue I have is that when our family looked into Heartlight for our struggling teen, we learned it was $70,000+ per year. Who can afford that??? Praise God we found another Christian ministry called Clearfork.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    CEVP1
    United States5 months ago
  • So encouraging

    Thanks so much for the godly wisdom and encouragement you provide in this podcast. The topics, Mark’s experience working alongside teens, and hearing from the teens themselves, is so helpful as a parent. I will definitely recommend to other parents.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Subtle lift
    Australia8 months ago
  • Teens and money

    Love the pod. I'm curious about how other parents instill money budgeting and allowances/chores. This is a constant contention in our relationship with our son because he's also committed to many sports obligations and fundraisers. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dunkin Do
    United States9 months ago
  • My new favorite podcast

    My children are in their early 20s, but I still find the podcast to be helpful to me as a parent. I also find it to be helpful for me as a person and a Christian.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    noway all taken
    Canadaa year ago
  • Great advice

    I’m not a religious person, but I love this podcast!

    I have a teen boy who’s father passed away when he was 12, so went searching for some guidance and landed here. The topics are relevant and not to long. I’ve even got my boy to listen to a couple of episodes (on becoming more independent) and he was pleasantly surprised also. Having a son who doesn’t have a male role model permanently around I look for mostly male advice on parenting a boy, and this is a great one!

    Thank you gentleman.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Koakleysmummasboy
    Australia2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise practical, faith-aligned parenting wisdom and real-life teen perspectives.
Some critiques note the religious framing may not suit non-faith audiences, and there are occasional concerns about cost or emphasis on Heartlight-related approaches.
Many find the host's experience and candor helpful for navigating difficult family dynamics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

I Mustache Mark a Question: Setting Rules, Seeking Connection and Staying Calm
Q: What are some ways to get my child to come to me for answers instead of Alexa or Google?
Be a source of wisdom, not just information; model reflection and experience, ask questions, and invite dialogue that helps them think rather than just providing data.
I Mustache Mark a Question: Setting Rules, Seeking Connection and Staying Calm
Q: How do you stay calm when a kid is pushing your buttons? Do you ever get annoyed or angry?
Anger happens, but it often signals you're not getting what you want; respond with attention to the child's needs, not your own, and practice slow, measured responses.
I Mustache Mark a Question: Setting Rules, Seeking Connection and Staying Calm
Q: Patterns and habits of communication are hard to change. How to begin making changes?
Stop what isn't working and try a different approach; avoid angry, lecturing, shaming communication and instead cultivate calm, reflective dialogue and mutual understanding.
I Mustache Mark a Question: Setting Rules, Seeking Connection and Staying Calm
Q: Tips on how to deal with a kid who doesn't seem to learn after multiple consequences.
Start by assessing whether the child has internal control; if not, external boundaries are needed, and you should examine the underlying motivation for their behavior to tailor consequences that actually grab attention.
I Mustache Mark a Question: Respect, Rebellion and Raising Responsible Kids
Q: My 16-year-old grandson is not engaging with friends or school and is being homeschool-channeled; how can I help him dream again without pushing too hard?
Encourage balanced activities, limit online time, invest in meaningful family time without nagging, and connect through listening and consistent presence; seek counseling if behavioral patterns persist and involve supportive extended-family dynamics rather than confrontation.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Parenting Today's Teens

What is Parenting Today's Teens about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A daily resource for parents navigating teenage years, featuring Mark Gregston with periodic input from Courtney LaFleur, LPC. The show blends practical parenting strategies with real-life counseling insights from Heartlight Ministries, focusing on relationship-first approaches to teen challenges such as mental health, technology, dating, and family transitions. Episodes often include Q&A, teen perspectives, and crisis-planning tips, all framed through a Christian lens to help families stay connected, set boundaries, and guide adolescents toward responsible independence. A notable strength is the seamless integration of expert counseling with seasoned parental wisdom, which can be especially helpful for listeners seeking actionable steps an... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Parenting Today's Teens?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Parenting Today's Teens. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Parenting Today's Teens and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Parenting Today's Teens get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Parenting Today's Teens, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Parenting Today's Teens?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Parenting Today's Teens, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Parenting Today's Teens have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Parenting Today's Teens has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Parenting Today's Teens?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Parenting Today's Teens:

1. Feeding The Mouth That Bites You: Parenting Teens Into Adulthood
2. Don't Mom Alone Podcast
3. Focus on the Family Parenting Podcast
4. Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
5. Focus on the Family Strengthening Marriage Podcast

How many episodes of Parenting Today's Teens are there?

Parenting Today's Teens launched 6 years ago and published 1516 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Parenting Today's Teens?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Parenting Today's Teens?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Parenting Today's Teens from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Parenting Today's Teens?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Parenting Today's Teens. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Parenting Today's Teens?

Recent guests on Parenting Today's Teens include:

1. Chelsea Cameron
2. Rory Fiek
3. Courtney Lafleur
4. Unnamed Teen Guest
5. Unnamed Teen 2
6. Anonymous Guest
7. Wayne Shepard
8. Unnamed Teen Speaker 1

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days