Podcasts · Kids & Family · Religion & Spirituality
Parenting Today's Teens
Mark Gregston
300 episodes
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, real, and always hopeful.
More about the show
Some episodes are co-hosted by Courtney LaFleur, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and on-staff counselor at Heartlight, adding professional counseling insights to the conversation. Together, Mark and Courtney provide expert tips and real-life solutions to help you build stronger relationships with your teen and navigate the complexities of today’s adolescent culture.
If you’re looking for guidance on how to connect with your teen, improve family dynamics, and raise a confident, well-adjusted teen, this podcast is for you.
For more parenting tools and expert advice, visit www.ParentingTodaysTeens.org.
Episodes page 1 of 6
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How Will Your Children Remember You?
When your children look back on their lives, what will they remember most about you? Your rules, your advice and your accomplishments — or the relationship you built with them? Mark reflects on how becoming a…
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Teen Stories: Pushing People Away
When teens push others away, there’s usually more going on beneath the surface than meets the eye. Whether it’s anger, a need for independence or past hurts, these defensive walls can signal a deep need for connection.…
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Don't Miss Your Teen's Silent Cry for Help
Teen depression doesn't always look the way parents expect. Sometimes the warning signs are obvious, but other times a teen may be struggling deeply without showing any outward signs at all. Mark and Wayne discuss the…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: House Rules, Heartbreak and Hard Conversations
In this Q&A episode, Mark tackles some more parenting dilemmas you’re facing with your teens. He shares insight on navigating disagreements over values and lifestyle with adult children — especially when financial…
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Are You Preparing Your Teen to Leave the Nest?
Every parent wants their teen to become a responsible, independent adult. But could doing too much for your child actually be holding them back? Mark and Wayne discuss why preparing teens for adulthood needs to begin…
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Helping Your Teen Manage Anger
When your teen lashes out in anger, it's easy to focus on their behavior. But what if their frustration is telling you something deeper? Mark explores three common reasons teens become angry: feeling controlled,…
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Teen Stories: Searching for Connection in a Disconnected World
Behind every rebellious choice often lies a longing to belong. In today’s episode, Mark talks with two teens from Heartlight about the complicated reasons behind their struggles with drugs, running away and broken…
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Teen Dating: Stay Involved Without Taking Over
Dating can make parents nervous, but it can also give teens valuable opportunities to learn about relationships, communication and what they may eventually want in a spouse. Mark, Wayne and Courtney discuss the…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Adoption, Relationships and When to Back Off
In this week’s Q&A episode, Mark tackles some deeply personal challenges parents are facing with their teens. How do adoptive parents move forward after years of conflict and heartache? How should a parent respond when…
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Want Respect From Your Teen? Start Here.
Respect is essential to a healthy family, but demanding it from your teen isn’t enough. Parents also need to model the kind of respect they want to receive. Mark and Wayne discuss how parents can make respect a…
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When Parenting Feels Hopeless
When your family is in crisis, it can feel like the conflict, heartache and exhaustion will never end. But the difficult season you’re walking through today doesn’t have to define your relationship with your teen…
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Teen Stories: When Fitting in Feels Impossible
Growing up today means living in a world obsessed with appearances, fitting in and being “enough.” In this episode, Mark chats with two young women at Heartlight who open up about battling anxiety, insecurity and the…
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Making the Most of Time with Your Teen
The teen years go by faster than most parents realize. And while your schedule may be packed, the time you intentionally spend with your teen today can shape your relationship for years to come. Mark and Wayne discuss…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Motivation, Mental Health and Growing Up
In this insightful Q&A episode, Mark dives into some tough questions parents are facing with their older teens on the verge of adulthood. He tackles real-life situations like helping teens develop independence as they…
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Stop Doing Everything for Your Teen
Does your teen expect you to provide everything they want — and push back when you don’t? In this episode, Mark and Wayne tackle the problem of entitlement and share six practical ways parents can help teens become…
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Give Your Teen Something the Internet Can’t
Your teen is surrounded by voices competing for their attention, but what are they really looking for from you? In this episode, Mark explores how today’s culture of negativity, self-proclaimed experts and social media…
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Teen Stories: Numbing Reality
When teens spiral out — experimenting with drugs, running with the wrong crowd or shutting out family — there’s almost always a deeper hurt they’re trying to escape. On today’s show, we share Mark's interviews with two…
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When Your Teen’s Behavior Becomes a Cry for Help
How can you tell when typical teenage struggles have become something more serious? Mark and Wayne discuss the warning signs that a teen may be spinning out of control — from escalating rebellion, dishonesty and…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Independence, Relationships and a K-Pop Obsession
In this week’s Q&A episode, Mark tackles questions spanning nearly every stage of the teen years and beyond. How can grandparents build stronger relationships with their grandkids? Is it too late to shift from teaching…
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Knowing When Your Teen Needs Outside Help
How do you know when your teen’s struggles have reached the point where your family needs outside help? Mark, Wayne and Courtney discuss when residential counseling may be appropriate — and why lasting change requires…
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When High Standards Say, 'You’re Not Enough'
You want the best for your teen. But could your encouragement and high expectations be sending the message that they aren't good enough? Mark explores how well-meaning parents can unintentionally create a culture of…
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Teen Stories: When Discipline Distances
If you've ever wondered why a teen seems to pull away, sometimes the rules and consequences meant to help can actually drive a wedge. In today's episode, Mark sits down with two teens from Heartlight, Austin and…
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When Your Adopted Teen Feels Unwanted
Adoption can give a child a loving family and a place to belong, but the teen years may bring difficult questions about identity, loss and acceptance to the surface. In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Courtney explore…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Moods, Mental Health and Parenting Through Change
In this week’s Q&A episode, Mark dives into some more common challenges parents are facing with their teens today. From navigating the difference between sarcasm and disrespect to supporting kids through anxiety,…
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Is Your Teen Trying to Get Your Attention?
Every teen wants to feel seen, valued and noticed. But what happens when they start looking for that attention in unhealthy places? Mark and Wayne explore what can be behind attention-seeking behavior and why parents…
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Helping Teens Separate Real Life From Social Media
Is social media shaping the way your teen sees themselves — and convincing them they don’t measure up? In this episode, Mark Gregston explores how carefully curated posts, altered images and constant comparison can…
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Teen Stories: Feeling Hopeless at Home
Family conflict isn’t just loud arguments or silent standoffs — it can leave deep marks that shape the way teens see themselves and their future. In this episode, Mark sits down with two young ladies from Heartlight…
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When Good Kids Make Bad Choices
Your teen is going to make mistakes. How you respond can either deepen your relationship or create greater distance. Mark, Wayne and Courtney discuss what parents should do when they discover their teen has made a…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Double Lives, Depression and Difficult Conversations
In this Q&A episode, Mark addresses some tough challenges parents are facing with their teens today. He answers listener questions on supporting a teen dealing with depression and drug use, how to respond when teens…
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Are You Giving Your Teen Enough Responsibility?
Your job as a parent isn’t simply to teach your teen what to do — it’s to prepare them to eventually do it without you. Mark, Wayne and Courtney unpack the important progression from teaching to training to…
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Turning Life Lessons Into Lasting Wisdom
Your teen has access to more information than ever before. What they need from you is something Google can’t give them: wisdom. In this episode, Mark explains how parents and grandparents can turn biblical truth,…
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Teen Stories: Mending Complicated Relationships
Every teen has a story, and sometimes the pain they carry comes out in ways parents don’t expect. In today’s show, Mark sits down with two Heartlight teens who share how broken relationships at home — whether with…
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The Keys to Better Conversations With Your Teen
Does your teen feel truly heard — or are you already preparing your response while they're still talking? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Courtney explain why listening is one of the most powerful ways parents can…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Trust, Consequences and Second Chances
In this week’s episode, Mark dives into the complex world of trust between parents and teens. He tackles what to do when your teen keeps repeating behaviors that broke your trust, how to respond when lies have become a…
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Helping Your Teen Overcome Guilt and Shame
Every teen makes mistakes. The question is whether those mistakes become a source of growth or a burden of shame. Mark and Wayne discuss the important difference between guilt and shame and how parents can help their…
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Loving Your Teen Beyond Their Mistakes
Every parent wants the best for their teen. But could high expectations unintentionally leave them wondering if your love depends on their performance? In this episode, Mark challenges parents to distinguish between…
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Teen Stories: When Home Is a Battleground
Every family has its battles, but for some teens, the struggle goes way beyond curfews and chores. In today’s episode, Mark talks with two Heartlight teens who open up about what really drove their rebellious choices —…
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The Grandparent Advantage
Grandparents have a unique opportunity to influence the next generation in ways few others can. In this episode, Mark and Wayne explore the unique role grandparents play in the lives of teenagers. Mark explains why…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Discipline, Depression and Digital Dilemmas
In this Q&A episode, Mark dives into some more of your toughest parenting questions — tackling everything from handling teen anger and destructive behavior to navigating faith differences in the home. He covers what to…
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Four Things Every Teen Needs From Their Parents
Your teen may not always know how to say it, but they're longing for more than rules, advice and correction. Mark and Wayne explore four things every teen deeply desires from their parents. Through practical wisdom and…
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Does Your Teen Feel They Have to Earn Your Love?
In this episode, Mark challenges parents to examine whether their words and actions unintentionally communicate that love is conditional. Through the heartbreaking story of a young woman who struggled with self-worth…
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Teen Stories: When Secrets Take Over
Sometimes the battles our teens face are hidden — masked by distance, secrecy and behaviors we struggle to understand. On today’s show, Mark and Courtney sit down with two young women at Heartlight who share honest…
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Helping Your Teen Survive the School Year
For many teens, going back to school means far more than buying new supplies and settling into a routine. It also brings pressure, comparison, loneliness and other new challenges. Mark and Wayne discuss how parents can…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Open Doors, Open Minds and Challenging Choices
In this Q&A episode, Mark dives into more pressing parenting questions, covering everything from enforcing boundaries with teens who push limits to navigating tough conversations surrounding faith, identity and…
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The Parenting Mistake That Prevents Growth
No parent wants to see their teen suffer. But could protecting them from every hardship actually keep them from growing? In this episode, Mark and Wayne discuss the important role pain plays in developing maturity,…
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Don’t Save the Best for Last
What are you saving for someday that could be enriching your relationships today? Mark reflects on how quickly life passes and why the greatest inheritance we leave isn’t our possessions, but the time and experiences…
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Teen Stories: Healing Starts With Honest Conversations
When life gets tough at home, teens can end up feeling alone and misunderstood — even by those who love them most. In today’s episode, Mark talks with two Heartlight residents who found themselves spiraling after…
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Wisdom in the World of Foolishness
Your teen still needs your wisdom, even when it seems like they no longer want your advice. In this episode, Mark and Wayne discuss how parents can remain a trusted voice as their children move through adolescence.…
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I Mustache Mark a Question: Video Games, Tattoos and Troubled Teens
In today's Q&A episode, Mark tackles topics like handling teens who are hooked on video games, managing tech boundaries when consequences have been lacking and helping kids who are losing motivation. Mark also…
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How Your Imperfections Can Help Your Teen
Do your teens think they have to be perfect ... or do they know it's safe to make mistakes at home? Mark and Wayne discuss why striving for a "perfect family" can unintentionally create pressure, fear and distance.…
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