Through today’s podcast, feel equipped with parenting ideas that transform chaotic summer days and summer boredom into opportunities for family connection and growth. In this episode, host Stacey Bellward interviews Connected Families certified parent coaches Nicole Gillette and Lyssa Stoyko. They share real-world and practical wisdom for summer success with kids at home during the break.



Key Points:




* Acknowledging your beliefs and expectations about summer can mean addressing how it looks different from what you expected, and that’s okay.



* Maintaining routines and flexible structure can help kids during the summer



* Scheduling activities that intentionally help posture your family for success by balancing what they need and what you are able to provide as a parent



* Using questions and narration can be really helpful during challenging times of transition




Mentioned in this podcast:




* The Peace Process



* Sibling Conflict Online Course (Coupon Code: Sib19)



* Power of Questions Online Course



* Luke 8:22-25




Visit our website for additional resources to support your parenting needs.Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!



*This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*



Guest Bio:



Lyssa Stoyko is a wife, foster, and adoptive mama of three children who are six, six and a half, and seven years old. Her house is active and noisy! Along with her parent coaching company, she hosts the podcast “Moms Take Ten.”



Nicole Gillette is a teacher, Connected Families certified parent coach, and nonprofit founder with experience supporting educators, families, and children. After working for over a decade in a wide variety of schools, Nicole now focuses on equipping adults with tools for connection, communication, and confidence as they raise and love the kids in their lives. She is also helping lead a local nonprofit that offers an indoor playspace designed to foster community and play-based learning for young children and their caregivers. Nicole is a mom of two kids!



© 2025 Connected Families







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Homeschooling can be delightful, beautiful, and an amazing privilege! It can also be hard. You can move beyond homeschool stress and experience peace in your home. Today we’ve got Marni Love and Amy Nyvall, homeschool moms and Connected Families certified parent coaches, here to address the real challenges homeschool families face daily. From sibling conflicts, pushback during lessons, and the toxic beliefs about ourselves and our children, they share vulnerable stories and practical strategies for creating a peaceful learning environment.



This episode serves as an introduction to their upcoming LIVE Homeschooling Webinar “Homeschool Discipline: 4 Ways to Cultivate Calm, Connection, and Confidence“. In the webinar they’ll dive deeper into practical tools for homeschool families seeking to apply the Connected Families Framework.



Key Points:




* Common challenges homeschool families face that are different than the ideals in our minds



* Replacing toxic beliefs about yourself and your children with grace-filled truths that you review regularly



* Practical strategies for handling pushback and emotional moments during lessons



* How the concept of “slow, low, and listen” can help families when tensions rise during the day



* Creating margin in your school day for connection and conflict resolution




Mentioned in this podcast:




* Connected Families Parent Coach Certification Program



* Sensitive & Intense Kids online course



* FREE PDF: Slow/Low/Listen



* You Lost Your Temper with Your Child: How to Make Things Better Again



* Marni Love Website



* Learn more about Amy Nyvall: Coach Profile



* REGISTER NOW: Homeschool Discipline: 4 Ways to Cultivate Calm, Connection, and Confidence July 16th 10:00am CST




Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!



Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!



*This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*



Guest Bio:



Marni Love is a former public school teacher who has been a home educator for 14 years. She is a Homeschool Mentor, a Certified Connected Families Parent Coach, and an instructor for CF coaches-in-training. Marni enjoys spending time with her husband, Eric, and their three sons in the beautiful mountains and beaches of Northern California. You can connect with her through her website, marnilove.com.

In honor of Father’s Day, Jim Jackson and Mike Tobie have a conversation about empathy. Mike Tobie shares his authentic journey in developing grace and empathy with his family. This powerful conversation explores how showing God’s grace and empathy can be applied in equipping our children and how that models Christ to them. In this episode, you’ll discover the transformational healing that can happen when parents move toward their children in a way that connects with their hearts.



Key Points:




* Offering understanding helps our children feel safe and supported rather than alone and ashamed



* Understanding God’s unconditional grace can deepen our capacity to extend empathy and grace to our children



* These principles of empathy can apply to marriages, ministry, and all other relationships as we become “a light of the Gospel.”




Mentioned in this podcast:




* Philippians 4:8



* Hebrews 4:15



* 1 Kings 19:11-13



* Connected Families Parent Coach Certification Program




Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!



Rate this podcast to help others discover the show easily!



*This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*



Guest Bio:



Born and raised in Chicagoland, Mike has been in Sacramento, CA for 10 years. He has been married to Kelly for 9 years, and they have three children, ages 1, 3, and 6. Mike has been in full-time sport ministry for the past 3 years, and is preparing to move to Guatemala this summer to launch a sports ministry. He is currently in Phase 2 of the Connected Families Parent Coach Program.



© 2025 Connected Families







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.stk-e1i3ugd .stk-block-heading__text{color:var(--theme-palette-color-8, #ffffff) !important;}Parenting is 24/7. Parenting resources and support should be too.



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Even if your kids aren’t struggling with screen addiction, Connected Families co-founders Jim and Lynne Jackson want to help you shift the conversation away from a big “No” to a big “Yes!” In this episode, you will discover how to apply this transformative approach to managing screen time in your family. Listen in to help your children find their God-given purpose and calling beyond screens!



Key Points:




* Jim and Lynne share how their initial parenting approach toward screens escalated with their son, leading them back to the Foundation level of the framework



* Mutual accountability with daily screen usage creates trust and open dialogue in a world where screens are here to stay



* Helping your children discover real-world activities that align with their God-given gifts




Mentioned in this podcast:




* The Mindful Marriage by Ron & Nan Deal and Terry & Sharon Hargrave



* Driver’s Training for Social Media Online Course



* Screens Webinar with Matt & Jill Reed



* Good Pictures, Bad Pictures



* 1 Corinthians 6:12



* Luke 2:52




Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!



Love the podcast? Leave a review to help other parents discover the show!



*This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*



Guest Bio:



Jim and Lynne Jackson are the Co-Founders of Connected Families in Plymouth, MN. With over 50 combined years of professionally helping families and a love for working in the church, Jim and Lynne have been dedicated to bringing reliable, God-centered, research-based parenting resources to all families since 2002.



© 2025 Connected Families







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Today we’ve got the author of Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, Kristen A. Jensen, here with us to help us navigate how to talk to your kids about porn and protect them. Stacy and Kristen discuss how parents can proactively prepare children to recognize and reject pornography in our digital world. Listen in to be equipped to start the conversation with your kids.



Key points:




* Start conversations about pornography as soon as children access the internet, even at ages 2-3.



* Talking with kids about porn must include 3 key parts: defining, warning and making a plan



* Understand the ways pornography can lead to addiction, increase vulnerability to abuse, and distort healthy views of relationships.



* Use age-appropriate resources: books and tools make these difficult conversations easier and provide structured language for you to use




Mentioned in this podcast:




* Screens Webinar with Matt & Jill Reed – Register Today!



* Drivers Training for Social Media Online Course



* Good Pictures, Bad Pictures (Ages 7-11)



* Good Pictures, Bad Pictures Jr. (Ages 3-6)




Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!



Rate this podcast to help others discover the show easily!



*This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*



Guest Bio:



Kristen A. Jenson is the founder of Defend Young Minds and best-selling author of the Good Pictures Bad Pictures series of read-aloud books. She is also the executive producer of the Brain Defense: Digital Safety curriculum and the owner and CEO of Glen Cove Press, LLC. Kristen is a positive voice for raising empowered, resilient, screen-smart kids who know how to reject pornography. Kristen received her bachelor’s degree in English Literature and her master’s degree in Organizational Communication. She is a mother of three and grandmother of two, and currently lives with her husband and awfully cute dog in Washington State. Connect with Kristen at:




* defendyoungminds.com



* Facebook: DefendYM



* Instagram: @DefendYoungMinds

Screens cause issues for families everywhere! The full scope of what social media is in today’s world is complex and can be overwhelming. It goes way beyond the typical social media platforms and games we usually hear about. That’s why we’re bringing in Matt & Jill Reed, founders of Know Curtains, who have created an online course for parents to help you parent wisely and put you in the driver’s seat around technology. The Reeds share insights from their “Driver’s Training for Social Media” course, discussing how families can work together to develop healthy digital habits. Matt & Jill emphasize the importance of what we model as parents and creating fun alternatives when it comes to kids & technology.



Key Points:




* Parents and kids can work as a team to manage technology, rather than parents simply imposing rules



* Kids observe parents’ screen behaviors from a very young age, so your modeling is crucial



* Social media is far more than just the popular social networking sites



* Intentionally growing your family’s fun and engaging activities without screens




Mentioned in this podcast:




* Driver’s Training for Social Media



* Screens Webinar with Matt & Jill Reed – Register Today!




Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!



Share encouragement with other parents–leave a review where you listen most.



*This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*



Guest Bio:



Know Curtains was founded in 2024 by Matt and Jill Reed. As parents, they saw a huge void in tech resources for families and made it their mission to see past the hype, curate news that keeps tech wizards honest, and produce independent resources to render the public powerful. Tech Insight and Guidance for the Rest of Us. No hype. Know curtains.



In their first online course, “Driver’s Training for Social Media,” you and your family will learn how to navigate the digital world safely, manage screen time, and avoid online traps with a customizable plan you create together. Find it online at training.knowcurtains.com.



Matt & Jill are filmmakers with nearly twenty years of experience in media and communications, plus a rich background in pastoral and volunteer ministry. They have two boys, and they’re based in Minnesota. They love food, travel, history, and sharing adventures on their @wildgooselife YouTube channel.



© 2025 Connected Families







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In this bonus episode, Jim Jackson and Ron Deal discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of blended families through the lens of the Connected Families Framework. Ron, a bestselling author and host of the Family Life Blended podcast, shares his 30+ years of expertise in step-family dynamics. The conversation explores how step-parents can build emotional safety with children who may be resistant to new relationships. Ron emphasizes that safety must precede love, explaining that children often bristle against a step-parent’s affection due to grief, loyalty conflicts, or simply not being ready for that relationship.



Key insights include:




* The importance of “pacing” with children at their readiness level



* How step-parents can acknowledge their role without trying to replace biological parents



* Practical approaches to discipline and household rules when facing resistance



* Building respectful relationships with biological parents in the other household




Mentioned in this podcast:




* Join the Table community by June 1st for a chance to win a copy of The Mindful Marriage



* Galatians 6:1



* Romans 12



* The Smart Step Family – Ron’s comprehensive book on blended family dynamics



* Building Love Together in Blended Families – Ron co-authored with Gary Chapman, integrating love languages with step-family principles



* FamilyLife Blended Podcast



* The Smart Step Family video curriculum – Email blended@familylife.org for free online access



* The Mindful Marriage



* Certificate in Blended Family Ministry – online training through FamilyLife




Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!Share encouragement with other parents–leave a review where you listen most.



*This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!*



Guest Bio:



Ron is the bestselling author of more than a dozen books and resources, a licensed marriage and family therapist, podcast host, and a Senior Director for the ministry of FamilyLife®. In addition,

Do you feel like you are in an emotionally distant marriage? In this special episode, Jim and Lynne Jackson interview Ron and Nan Deal about their new book, The Mindful Marriage, which combines biblical foundations with brain science. The authors vulnerably share how their marriage hit a crisis point after 20 years, leading them to seek help from a therapist (who later co-authored the book with them). They explain how our “pain cycles” develop from childhood and manifest in four reactive coping styles: blame, shame, control, and escape. The conversation explores their four-step process for moving from destructive pain cycles to “peace cycles.” This approach isn’t just for marriage but applies to all relationships as it’s fundamentally about discipleship—bringing your best self to relationships by following Jesus.



Key points:




* How family-of-origin issues affect marriage



* Four reactive coping styles when triggered



* Breaking free from destructive pain cycles



* Nurturing your marriage “us-ness”




Mentioned in this podcast:




* The Mindful Marriage by Ron & Nan Deal and Terry & Sharon Hargrave



* FREE: Learn your reactive coping style



* Join the Table community by May 31st for a chance to win a copy of The Mindful Marriage



* Galatians 5:22-23



* Romans 7




Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!



Share encouragement with other parents–leave a review where you listen most.



This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!



Guest Bio:



Married since 1986, Ron and Nan Deal are the authors of The Mindful Marriage: Create Your Best Relationship Through Understanding and Managing Yourself, as well as popular marriage conference speakers. Ron is the bestselling author of more than a dozen books and resources, a licensed marriage and family therapist, a podcast host, and a Senior Director for the ministry of FamilyLife. Nan retired from teaching after 25 years and currently works for a Christian non-profit ministry. They have three sons, a daughter-in-law, one grandson, and a Golden Retriever and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Learn more at RonDeal.org.







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¡Escucha este nuevo episodio en español del pódcast de Familias Conectadas! Esther Reich conversa con Luisa Wendt acerca de cómo la empatía es la llave al corazón de tus hijos en momentos de mal comportamiento. Y de cómo esta llave te ayudará a guiarlos mejor.







Temas mencionados en esta pódcast:




* 20 Oraciones que Comunican Empatía



* Primer Episodio 2025 “De la Ira a la Paz: Cambiando la Forma de Criar”



* Primer Episodio en Español: Principios para la crianza de una familia conectada



* Segundo Episodio en Español: Principios para la crianza de una familia conectada parte 2



* Marco de referencia para una familia conectada




Descubre más recursos que te apoyarán en la crianza.



¿Te pareció útil este episodio? ¡Por favor compártelo con tus amigos!



*Este podcast fue hecho posible por miembros de La Mesa, cuyo apoyo mensual crea un efecto multiplicador de cambio para futuras generaciones. ¡Nos encantaría que tome un asiento en La Mesa!*



.stk-oys7uen {border-style:solid !important;border-color:var(--theme-palette-color-4, #1e3f52) !important;}
¿Necesita un recordatorio?



Aproveche el Imán del Marco de Referencia de Familias Conectadas para ánimo en medio de sus desafíos diarios.




.stk-a9dog7l , .stk-a9dog7l .stk-button{width:100% !important;}.stk-a9dog7l {flex:1 0 var(--stk-button-group-flex-wrap, 0) !important;}Comprar el Imán





Acerca de Esther:



Esther Reich es Asesora de Crianza Certificada por Connected Families. Ella es enfermera profesional especializada en asesoría de lactancia materna y ella y su esposo, Roberto, tienen tres hijos y sirven como misioneros con Serge en Guatemala desde 2018. A través de enfrentar retos en la crianza de sus hijos acudieron a Connected Families para recibir coaching/apoyo. El apoyo que recibieron de Chad Hayenga y de Lynne Jackson les ayudó a ver cambios significativos en ellos mismos y en sus hijos. Todavía hay mucho espacio para crecer como familia, pero la diferencia de antes y después de la intervención de Connected Families es significativa. Además de servir con otros ministerios en Guatemala (Sigo Vivo y Servant Harts), apoyan a padres e iglesias a través de talleres y coaching/apoyo individual para los que enfrentan retos en su crianza de sus hijos incluyendo los que son muy sensibles o intensos. El correo de Esther es esther.e.cummings@gmail.com



Acerca de Luisa:

Julie Fowler, speaker and bible curriculum writer, joins us for a meaningful conversation about her journey of infertility and the resources she’s created for other couples coping with infertility and loss. Julie shares how scripture helped her in her grief and how she wove her faith into intentional community connections that served as a lifeline during her years of loss and struggle. Whether you’re supporting a friend or infertility is part of your personal story, you’ll find helpful wisdom in this conversation.







Podcast Key Points:




* A raw, honest account of one woman’s journey through infertility to parenthood



* Practical ways to maintain faith while acknowledging grief during difficult seasons



* Specific strategies for building supportive relationships by clearly expressing your needs



* Information about valuable resources designed specifically for those navigating infertility




Mentioned in this podcast:




* Treasures in the Waiting – Bible Study for Women by Julie Fowler



* Navigating Infertility & Loss – Bible Study for Men by Julie Fowler



* Attachment Webinar with Dr. Nicole Wilke – Wednesday, May 14th – Register Here



* Connected Families’ Spanish-language podcast episodes



* Join the Table – Connected Families’ monthly donor community



* Episode 224 | Attachment Myths Busted: How Your Attachment Style Shapes Everything



* John 11



* Romans 12:15



* Job 17:11




Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!



Share encouragement with other parents–leave a review where you listen most.



*This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table! *



Guest Bio:



Julie is a curriculum writer, speaker, pastoral care leader, and executive director of Julie Fowler Ministries.



Through her years of infertility, failed adoptions, miscarriages, premature birth and loss of identical twins,

In this episode, Megan Thorp, MA and Certified Connected Families Parent Coach, joins us to explore why listening is the jet fuel in our relationships with our kids. We examine how effective listening can bridge the disconnect between us and our kids and foster emotional intelligence. We also talk about the importance of being present, understanding underlying beliefs, and the spiritual aspect of listening as a reflection of God’s character. And finally, we share practical tips for improving your listening skills and the hope that it’s never too late to grow in this essential skill.







Key Takeaways:




* Listening communicates to kids that they are valued, liked, and that you care about what’s happening inside them



* Active listening builds relational influence that becomes crucial during challenging moments



* Active listening grows your child’s confidence by showing them they are “called and capable”



* God models perfect listening for us – He is fully present, understands our circumstances, and feels what we feel.




Mentioned in this podcast:




* New! Slow, Low, Listen 4-Day Mini Course–only $9! Register here!



* Attachment Webinar with Dr. Nicole Wilke – May 14th–Register here!



* James 1:19-20



* John 11:41



* Ep. 167 | Kids’ Arguments: Establish Peace with 4 Steps



* Connected Families Certified Parent Coach Program




Check out our website for more resources to support your parenting!



Share encouragement with other parents–leave a review where you listen most.



This podcast was made possible by members of The Table, whose monthly support creates a ripple effect of change for generations to come. We’d love to have you take a seat at The Table!



Guest Bio:



As a parent coach, Megan’s desire is to come alongside parents and help them gain confidence and equip them to lead their families. She will help you create an environment in your home where everyone feels valued and connected, and skills for you to build a relationship with your kids that will last long after they leave your home. She strongly believes that you are the expert on your child, and I would love to walk with you as you bring more peace and joy into your home.



Megan has a Master’s in Counseling Psychology from Bethel University and is a Certified Parent Coach and Parent Coach Trainer through Connected Families. She loves to spend time with her husband and 3 kids. Connect with Megan at: Show more...