Sex is an opportunity to talk about Jesus

Episode 76 

Todays guest is Allie Marie Smith, life coach, founder and creator of Wonderfully Made and author of the new book, Social Media Reset: A 30 Day Guided Journey to Unplug, Reconnect with God and Reclaim Your Joy.  

In this episode, Allie and I talk about how so many young girls dont have a true understanding of who they are in the eyes of God. That can cause them to turn to other things to feel worthyalcohol, drugs, promiscuity and even social media. The problem is, of course, that those things dont satisfy.  

Since 2010 the suicide rates for young people ages 10-24 has gone up 62% and over 145% among girls. Some teen girls are spending more than 40 hours a week on social media. These numbers should make us sit up and take notice! Allie calls this a  technologically induced mental health crisis. Allis response to this crisis has been to share her own story of a mental health crisis and then to offer help to girls just like her to have something better. She wants to help them understand the truth of their worth to God in a world that is trying to tell them otherwise.  

In this episode, we discuss having radical boundaries with social media, how social media can be used for good, but it can be used for bad or can cause harm, and how social media can keep us from being present in the moment. We encourage you to delay social media for your kids as long as possible and explain why you should. This is an invitation to step away from the digital world and live the life we were intended to livedeeply connected to God and others. We are inviting you and the people you love to an unplugged and flourishing life. Please accept this invitation to lean into something better and start by tuning into this honest, helpful and hopeful episode! 

Resources mentioned in this episode 

Find the Gabb phone here  (Use the code GRETA for a discount) 

Find other safe phones here, here here and here 

Find The Anxious Generation book here 

Where to find Allie: 

Find Allies blog here 

Find Allies website here 

Find the Wonderfully Made website here 

Find Social Media Reset book here 

Find  Wonderfully Made book here 

Find her upcoming conference for girls here 

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

Episode 75 

Buckle up friends, this episode is wild! And it is honest and fun and so good! 

As the title suggests, we are talking about sex. More specifically, how to teach our kids about sex that is honoring to ourselves, others and God. 

Todays guest, Rodney Wright, is perfect for this job. He is honest, brave, kind and filled with joy! And as the author of the book, How to Talk with Your Kids About Sex, he has a lot to share. Rodney is passionate about helping people, families, and kids be healthy in their sexuality, because it is a God given gift.  He reminds us that we dont need to have negative thoughts about sexuality because God created it!  

So many of us are afraid to talk to our kids about sex because we have our own stories of sexual brokenness or sexual dysfunction of some kind. We want to do better for our kids but we dont know how. Rodney reminds us to look at our own story, not with shame but with compassion. And then we continue to learn and grow, because when we know better, we can do better! 

Ultimately, we need to give our kids a different view of sex than the world is giving them. We need them to know it is about dignity, honor and respect. That is not the worlds messaging about sex. Lets give our kids a better framework. 

I have so much more I want to say about this episode, but instead I am just going to have you listen to it! And please be sure to rate and review this podcast and share this episode! Oh, and then go do some puzzles for that healthy dopamine hit! (Youll get that when you listen to the episode) 

Where to find Rodney: 

Find the organization Rodney works for, Pure Desire, here 

Find Rodneys book here 

Find the Pure Desire Podcast here 

Find Gretas book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn here 

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

Episode 74 

Todays guest is the author of 10 books, a mom to 3, a wife to a fire chief of their small town, the founder of The Midnight Moms Devotional Community, has what she calls a neuro spicy brain, and is the author of the new book, Healing Rest: An Invitation for Mommas Who Carry So Much to Lean into the Arms of the One Who Holds It All. 

Becky and I have a lot of fun together in this episode. We met long ago at my beloved Forest Home camp and just click. But we also dove into deep conversation, like the topic of her new book, which calls us to true, deep rest. Spiritual rest. I resonated so much with the topic of this book. I think so many of us moms can. 

If youve been tempted to parent and live in anxiety, listen to this episode and get Beckys book. If youve been tempted to parent and live in fear, especially when it comes to protecting your kids from pornography, read my book Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn. Both these books will remind you of the truth that God really carries and protects your kids. Its not all on you. 

I know youll love this episode like I did! And if you do, please consider leaving a review of the podcast on iTunes. It only takes a moment but does a world of good. Thank you! 

Where to find Becky: 

Find Beckys new book here 

Find Becky on Instagram here 

Find Beckys Midnight Moms Devotional Community here 

Find Beckys website here 

Find Beckys Bible study here 

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

Episode 73 

Todays 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 youll 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 cant make those changes now, but remember what Claire says, it is never too late to reverse course!  

I know youll enjoy this episode and find it really encouraging, helpful and hopeful! 

Where to find Claire and her work: 

Find Claires book here 

Find discussion questions for the book here  

Find Claires Substack here 

Find Claires 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 youve read my new book, Its Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn, Id 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. Karas 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 Gods comfort myself, both in talking with Kara and in reading her book. I hope youll get some of that same hope and help when you listen to this episode. 

Where to find Kara:  

Find Karas book here 

Find Karas 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