Episode 73

Today’s episode is a going to challenge you to think outside the box. Or at least outside of the way so many parents in America are parenting. My guest today is Claire Morell, author, mom, wife, policy creator, researcher and passionate about offering kids and families something different than the norm for growing up with tech. Through her work in the tech policy space, Claire recognized that kids’ health was in danger due to smart phones and being on social media. She finally decided to put her research into one place, her new book called, The Tech Exit.

It is the sobering and convicting guide we need.

But it is also really hopeful, helpful, practical and purposeful.

Based on dozens of interviews with families who really are living out a tech free childhood, this book shows parents that this lifestyle is possible and it allows kids to thrive.

My hope is that you’ll take some of the ideas Claire offers in this episode to help your kids begin taking a tech exit this summer:

Here are some ideas to consider:

*Focus on real life experiences that will overshadow the experience on a screen.

*Get lots of practical ideas for this way of life in my book Adventuring Together right here.

*Let your kids be bored and learn to play independently and creatively.

*Engage with them in play and experiences rather than sending them off to those things on their own.

*Or be even bolder and engage in the 30-day tech detox Claire mentions in this episode.

It might feel overwhelming or that you can’t make those changes now, but remember what Claire says, “it is never too late to reverse course!”

I know you’ll enjoy this episode and find it really encouraging, helpful and hopeful!

Where to find Claire and her work:

Find Claire’s book here

Find discussion questions for the book here

Find Claire’s Substack here

Find Claire’s work at the Ethics and Policy Center here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

A couple reminders I started this podcast with: if you are looking for a ticket to the Literature Soiree I am hosting with my dear friend Rea Berg, founder of Beautiful Feet Books, we have just a few tickets left. Please message me here to get all the info and to purchase your ticket! A

Also, if you’ve read my new book, It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn, I’d be so grateful if you leave a review. Leaving a review, especially given the topic of this book, is immensely helpful for getting others to be brave enough to read it. You can leave a review of the book here! Plus, the book is on sale this week for a really great price! Pick up a copy or 2 to share!

Now, onto the show!

I know you guys are going to love this podcast episode with Kara Stout. Kara vulnerably shares her story and in doing so, she shows us how doing this can bring healing and hope to others. Kara’s story reminds us that God comforts us in our troubles and brings peace, even when if we are dealing with anxiety. I found a lot of reminders of God’s comfort myself, both in talking with Kara and in reading her book. I hope you’ll get some of that same hope and help when you listen to this episode.

Where to find Kara:

Find Kara’s book here

Find Kara’s website here

Find Kara on Instagram here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Episode 71— This is the follow up episode to last week’s episode with John Begeman. If you have not listened to episode 70, go back and listen to that one now. In this episode, I am going over some of the things John talked about in more detail. Because he dropped some wisdom!

One of the most important things discussed are the power of going first—being willing to vulnerably share our story so that someone else has the courage to go next. Going first might also be the one to recommend the book first (like my book It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn) or the podcast episode (like this one!) to just start the conversation. Every one of us has the ability to go first and bring good to the people around us!

Additional things discussed were best practices for responding after your child has been exposed to porn, understanding why people use porn to medicate pain, the positive value in being the first one to talk to your kids about pornography, the importance of getting help for parents of kids who have used or are using porn, pornography does not mean your child’s story is over and so much more!

Like the last episode, this one is filled with hope. And that is possible because we serve One who is greater than he who is in the world! I hope you will listen and share this episode and the last one far and wide.

One last thing, if you appreciate this podcast, would you consider leaving a rating and review of it? You can do that on iTunes here and on Spotify here. On iTunes, scroll down to the reviews and look for button that says, “leave a review”. On Spotify, you just leave a rating. It’s easy! Doing this is one of the best ways for more people to discover the podcast. Thank you so much!

Resources mentioned in this episode and last week’s episode:

Find Pure Desire Ministries groups and books here

Find Summit Ministries here

Find my book It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here

Find Hopeful Mom here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Episode 70-- Friends, this may be one of the most important episodes I’ve ever recorded on the podcast. This is an episode that every parent, and probably every young adult and teen needs to hear. Please listen and then share with everyone you know who could benefit from it.

This episode is part 1of this conversation. Part 2 is coming next week where I go through some of the most important things John and I talked about, and I go into them with a little more depth. In part 1, this episode, John Begeman tells his story of pornography exposure as a child that led to years of addiction, shame and hiding. But then he shares the story of the healing he is walking in now as a man in his 20s, free from the bondage porn held in.

John also shares how his parents handled this issue of pornography exposure and addiction in his life—what didn’t help and what did. He is very honest, and I believe what he shares is incredibly helpful and important for every parent to hear.

You can’t see it because this is audio and not video, but I cried through this entire episode. I cried for John, for his mom, for every child that is exposed to porn and suffers as a result, and for every mom that finds her child has been exposed to porn and has to navigate the fear and hurt that comes from that. I cried for all of us and the way porn is devastating and destroying lives. This episode is raw and real and honest, but ultimately it is hopeful. YES! There is hope still in the darkness. There is always hope because there is always the love of God, which is bigger and stronger than any darkness.

And my hope is that with this episode and then with the next, you will feel empowered with tools to make the best choices to help your kids and yourself, wherever you see yourself in this story. John’s testimony as well as the resources he mentions will be such a great help. I pray this episode is a blessing to you and I am so grateful for John and the work he’s doing to help set people free.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Find Pure Desire Ministries here

Find Summit Ministries here

Find my book It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here

Find Hopeful Mom here

Find the 7 Pillars workbook and groups here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

When her ideal life as a stay-at-home mom didn’t pan out the way she hoped, Julia Ubbenga found herself pleading with God. Instead of the extra time with her kids that she’d been dreaming of, she felt more like a time stuff. And as she prayed to God about this, she read Luke 12:21, “be rich in what matters.” This planted a seed in her heart, knowing that something in her life around possessions needed to change.

Through a series of more learning and growing, Julia embraced minimalism where she got rid of 75% of her family’s things, downsized to a smaller home to reduce debt, and she and her family haven’t looked back. In this process, Julia realized that she needed to declutter her outer home but also her inner home—her heart.

She and I discuss the question: what is cluttering up our heart? What do we, and others, use, consume, buy, or do to fill that void?

Julia’s book, Declutter Your Heart and Your Home: How a Minimalist Life Yields Maximum Joy, made me face some uncomfortable truths about my own possessions. It was really eye opening and helpful. I really loved talking to Julia about those revelation, her book and so much more in this episode, and I know you will love listening to it!

If you loved this episode and you love this podcast, will you consider leaving a review?

It really helps the podcast grow and helps other people find it easily. Just go to your favorite podcast platform and leave a rating or a review, or both! Thanks so much!

Where you can find Julia:

Get Julia’s new book here

Find Julia’s website here

Find Julia on Instagram here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

As soon as I saw the title of the upcoming book by Dr. Thom Rainer, I knew I had to have him on the show. He told me right away to call him Thom and it was easy because he’s friendly and down to earth. But his newest book, “The Anxious Generation Goes to Church” is anything but down to earth. It is a compelling, well researched and fascinating look at what our kids are navigating with church involvement while growing up in a tech saturated world.

And while it would be easy to believe kids nowadays really aren’t interested in church, Thom’s research shows something different. He has found that kids today are interested in spiritual things and are longing for a place to belong. Inviting them to church is not something we should be afraid of. Rather, it should be at the top of our list of things to do to reach the hearts of today’s youth. And if it’s our own kids we’re talking about, Thom’s advice is that we model showing up for church and actually being involved in church. That is the best way for our kids to care about being part of church—by seeing that we care.

You will find this conversation encouraging and hopeful. Thom is a loving father and grandfather and his wisdom and kindness felt like a warm hug to me. I loved having him on the show and you will love hearing him share. Go pre-order his book today so you can read it as soon as it hits the shelves. You won’t be disappointed!

Where to find Thom:

Pre-order Thom’s new book here

Find Thom’s website, Church Answers, here

Where to find Greta:

Find Greta’s new book here

Find Greta’s website here

Find Greta’s other books here and here

Find Greta on Instagram here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

Well, cue all the tears, team. This episode is full of them.

It felt like it was time for a life update, so this episode catches you up on all the big happenings and some of the littler ones too.

The biggest one is our eldest son’s engagement to the love of his life, and a girl he’s known since they were both 5. It’s the sweetest story and I loved sharing some of it with you in this episode.

The rest of the episode is full of other life updates—trips and conferences where maybe we’ll get to hang out! And also, yes, why I changed my Instagram handle after 10 + years.

There is a lot here and you’ll want to check the show notes to links for all the things.

As always, thanks for listening and being a part of my community. It means the world!

Links mentioned in this podcast episode:

Find out more information about Forest Home Family Camp here. Mention my name for the 1st time family discount!

Message Greta to get tickets to the Literature Soirée or with questions here. (scroll to bottom of page)

Find out more about Greta’s women’s walking retreat through the Cotswolds here

Make sure you are keeping up with Greta and her new Instagram handle here

Check out Greta’s beautiful new website here

The Greta Eskridge Podcast is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

It's almost summer, so let’s talk about one of my favorite ways to pursue intentional connection with our kids and friends—having a book club! Reading books together has been one of the most connecting activities for me since I was a little girl and my mom read aloud with me. It has remained that in my life until now, as I have read books with my kids and with my friends. And then what has taken our reading together to the next level is to celebrate the books we’ve read together by having a book club meeting/celebration—you can call it what you want. These book club celebrations have been a huge part of my kids’ childhood. They have loved them! And still do. And the book club I have had with my own friends for 12 years is still going strong and bringing me so much joy!

Book clubs are a way to take reading to the next level and make it feel more special. Invite friends! Make fun snacks! Dress up! Or just gather some friends to sit around the picnic table, have some popsicles or iced tea, and talk about the book you read together. No matter how you do it, being intentional about gathering to read a book together and then celebrating it will be a gift in your life. And I am inviting you to try it this summer!

Some of the resources mentioned in this episode:

My book, Adventuring Together, that has a whole chapter with instructions for a kid or mom book club and book lists. Find it here.

My friend Ainsley’s inspiring Wild + Free book about book clubs. Find it here

Find some Instagram posts about our kids book club here, here,here, here and here, and the famous Hobbit book club here.

Find some Instagram posts about our moms book club here, here, here and here.