Episodes

Do you want your family to do more "spiritual" things? This is the show for you! Danny and Rebecca welcome Pastor Chris Papao and Clayton Green, authors of 'Building Spiritual Habits in the Home.' They share easy-to-implement steps parents can take to cultivate a spiritual environment in their homes. These are simple, tangible, timely, playful, and community-oriented habits that you're family will love. We also answer a listener's question on dealing with a teenager's rebellion against the faith...

We always say, "parenting is more about transformation than perfection." The discussion explores feelings of failure, shame, fear, and regret that many parents experience. Lauren Whitman, author and counselor, shares insights, and talks about the importance of naming deeper emotions, repairing relationships through apology, and maintaining a gospel-shaped identity to combat negative self-talk. We also take a listener question about parental overwhelm and reactive behavior, offering compassionate...

Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James discuss the challenges and philosophies of faith-based parenting. Dr. Juan and Janine Sanchez share insights and emphasize the importance of shepherding a child's heart, setting positive biblical instructions, and maintaining a home of repentance. The Sanchez's advise on dealing with discipline, boundary setting, and building strong relationships with children of all ages. They also highlight the necessity of prayer, Godly examples, and church community sup...

If you're looking for simple habits to up your parenting game, this is the episode for you! Dr. Danny and Rebecca hear from parenting expert, Dr. Randy Schroeder. The discussion focuses on the importance of building strong relationships with children through small, consistent actions and positive reinforcement. Dr. Schrader highlights the 'three Rs': relationship, rules, and responsible decision-making, and introduces 'three T's': talk, touch, and time together. The conversation emphasizes the p...

If you're uncomfortable in your parenting, you're doing it right! Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James discuss the challenges and transformations in parenting, highlighting the importance of grace and faith. Cynthia Yanoff shares insights from her book 'Life is Messy, God is Good', emphasizing that messiness in parenting does not equate to failure. They explore practical strategies for accepting the mess, fostering humility, and daring to do something differently. Learn how to handle unmet exp...

Even if you don't have a teenager, the information that Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James share today can help your children of any age. Today we discuss the importance of teaching healthy communication and conflict resolution skills. We'll emphasize the current societal challenges with divisive communication and introduce their guests, Dr. Gary Chapman and psychologist Jennifer Thomas. Get ready for practical tools for teens to handle communication and conflict effectively, including the f...

There's something exciting happening and you could call it an Adventure In Odyssey! This is a special release to talk about the brand new animated feature film that will release in the Fall of 2026. See Behind The Scenes of Journey Into The Impossible Donate To The Making of Journey Into The Impossible! Listen to Adventures In Odyssey Support the show! Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email If you enjoyed listening to Practice Makes Parent with Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James, ...

Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James discuss the transformative power and significance of storytelling in parenting. Special guests, Dave Arnold, Executive Creative Director of Adventures in Odyssey, and John Pomeroy, the Director of Animation for the new feature length animated Adventures in Odyssey film called 'Journey Into the Impossible." The episode concludes with a listener's question about handling Greek mythology from a Christian perspective, and teaching a Christian worldview. Articl...

And now its time for something a little different... Soup! Kathi Lipp, the author of Sabbath Soup joins Danny and Rebecca to share the importance of families coming together for meals, but also incorporating rhythms into our lives that allow us to break away from the hussle and bussle of everyday life. It's a great conversation about rest, and we'll also answer a listener question about picky eaters! Support the show! Ask Us Your Question via Voicemail or Email If you enjoyed listening to Pra...

Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James answer your questions. It's an episode of Practice Makes Parent shaped by our community—addressing real questions, exploring fresh perspectives, and continuing the dialogue together! If you’ve ever wondered how your voice fits into the show, this episode is proof that it does. And because he's silly, Dr. Danny tells Dad Jokes in between your questions about aggressive toddlers, separation anxiety, showering with children, grandparents disciplining, and enco...

This episode of Practice Makes Parent will give you and your family a fresh take on the Lenten season. Don't just fast chocolate or screen time this year. Decrease life's unnecessary details and increase your relationship with the Lord so you can live in awe of Christ's resurrection! Danny and Rebecca speak with Dr. Alicia Britt Chole about 40 Days of Decrease, a guide for those hungering for a fresh Lenten/Easter experience. We also take a listener question about the gentile parenting movement....

It's all about the joys and challenges of raising preteen and teenage daughters on this edition of Practice Makes Parent. Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James emphasize the importance of building strong relationships, identity in Christ, and practical parenting techniques with Kari Kampakis. She shares insights from her experiences as a mother, highlighting the need for connection over correction and the importance of perseverance, integrity, and discernment. The conversation also touches on t...

Don't be nervous moms and dads! We're talking about how to discuss sexuality with your kids. Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James talk with Dr. Jim Burns, an expert in Christian parenting and sexuality. He shares how to have the ongoing conversations, the peer pressure influence, and emotional maturity. We also answer a listener question on how to handle emotional and moody preteen behavior without shaming the child. A Student's Guide to Sexual Integrity: God's Plan for Sex and Your Body Lau...

The episode emphasizes authenticity, connections, and the importance of self-compassion in the parenting journey. Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James explore the 'comparison trap' and how it impacts parents, with Kate Strickler, author of 'I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen.' They discuss the negative effects of constantly comparing oneself to others, the importance of contentment, and practical steps to shift mindsets towards gratitude. They also address how these issues manifest in family l...

Get ready for a strong episode of Practice Makes Parent. We're going to discuss theology and its importance in both religious education and practical life application. Our guests are Sam Luce and Hunter Williams authors of the book, 'How to Teach Kids Theology: Deep Truths for Growing Faith.' They discuss the lack of theological training resources for children's pastors, and techniques for teaching complex concepts like the Trinity to children. They also highlight the importance of catechisms an...

In this episode of Practice Makes Parent, Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James continue their discussion on raising gender-confident children with Dr. Jeff Myers and Dr. Kathy Koch, co-authors of Raising Gender Confident Kids. We continue to discuss the sensitive topics of gender identity, understanding gender differences, and teaching children to respect and harmonize with each other's unique qualities. We'll address how parents can maintain a healthy communication framework with their childr...

Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James discuss the importance of raising children with confidence and clarity in a world filled with misinformation with Dr. Jeff Meyers and Dr. Kathy Cook, who have extensive experience in child development and biblical parenting. They emphasize the significance of providing correct information on gender identity and the importance of parent-child conversations to counter cultural lies. We're giving loving, practical advice on establishing trust, being observant,...

How do the unpredictable life events challenge and transform us? Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James speak with Sheila Walsh, an author, bible teacher, and speaker, whose life story revolves around overcoming adversity. Sheila discusses the importance of gratitude, forgiveness, and trust in God, sharing personal anecdotes and insights on how to instill these values in children. We'll also answer a listener's question about how to handle unfairness and fostering a household culture of gratitud...

Have you ever thought about serving your community as a family? On this episode, Danny and Rebecca speak with Justin Knoop, the founder of Blessing Boys. Justin and his four sons perform free lawn care services for those in need, inspired by their mission work and personal transformation through faith. Justin explains the profound impact of these acts of service on both his family and the community, and we encourage you to explore this idea in your home. We talk about overcoming the awkwardness ...

Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James share amusing 'genius parenting wins' from listeners before introducing their guest, Darby Strickland, who offers expertise in counseling with over 22 years of experience. Darby discusses how to help children navigate life changes, trauma, and sadness. She shares insights on handling children's emotions during changes like moves, school transitions, and parental divorce. We answer a listener's email about the appropriateness of mental health questions asked...

Merry Christmas from the entire Practice Makes Parent team! On this episode Danny and Rebecca discuss the joys and complexities of Christmas. They share personal stories, family traditions, and the challenges of maintaining a Christ-centered, less materialistic holiday. We touch on family dynamics, managing expectations, and the impact of grief during the holiday season with commentary from Mary Hunt, Kathy Lip, Greg and Erin Smalley, and Levi and Jenny Lesco. We also talk about how parents can ...

Do you ever feel guilty because your family isn't "spiritual enough"? On this episode of Practice Makes Parent, Rebecca St. James and Dr. Danny Huerta discuss the pursuit of creating a Christ-centered home with guest Don Everts, a senior pastor and author of 'The Spiritually Vibrant Home.' We'll talk about how Jesus used household images to represent the Kingdom of God and delves into the structure of ancient households compared to modern ones. Evers shares insights from his research with Barna ...

Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James discuss the significance of transforming parenting through the lens of faith, focusing on the true meaning of Christmas with special guest Lee Strobel. He shares insights on nurturing children’s faith, particularly during the Christmas season, recounting personal experiences and the story of St. Nicholas. The discussion shifts to how parents can counter consumerism and instill values of generosity and humility in their children, suggesting practical activit...

On this episode of Practice Makes Parent, Dr. Danny Huerta and Rebecca St. James, welcome Brandon and David Lindell to discuss the challenges and responsibilities of modern fatherhood. We'll talk about the importance of self-awareness, character, and heart formation in men and their sons. It highlights the pressures men face today, such as isolation, economic stress, and toxic online influences, and emphasizes that true strength lies in vulnerability and emotional engagement. Lionhearted: A Man...