A Minute with Mark

Mark Gregston
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A Minute With Mark is a short-form podcast for parents and grandparents raising teenagers in a culture that never slows down. Mark Gregston has worked with struggling adolescents for more than 45 years, and thousands of them have lived in his home. Each episode takes one issue, one question, or one moment you're facing with your teen or grandchild and gives you something you can actually use. No long interviews. Just Mark, one idea at a time. Some episodes speak to parents in the daily grind of raising a teenager. Some speak to grandparents looking for a way back into a grandchild's life. All of them are honest about how hard it is, and hopeful about what's still possible. Visit ParentingTodaysTeens.org for more resources.

  1. 1d ago

    Acceptance Isn’t Agreement

    "Acceptance is not the same as agreement." Many parents worry that accepting their teen means approving of everything they do. Mark Gregston says that's where people get confused. You can tell your teen, "I love you and I'm for you," even when you don't like the choice or share the view. In this Minute with Mark, he explains why "teens listen longer when they know they're not on trial." If you shut your teen down when they open up, they won't come back to you. Love them first, and you keep the door open for real influence. For more resources for parenting teens, visit https://parentingtodaysteens.org

  2. 3d ago

    Respect Starts With an Example

    "Respect doesn't start with demands. It starts with an example." Respect is foundational to a healthy home. When teens learn to honor authority, expectations, and boundaries, it brings stability and peace to family life. But Mark Gregston says you can't demand your way there. In this Minute with Mark, he explains how to model the respect you want to see: treat your teen with dignity, set realistic expectations, lead with integrity, and care about their heart, not just their behavior. "When you model respect, you become worthy of it." And when respect gets broken, address it on purpose, because it's one of the most important values you'll ever pass on. For more resources for parenting teens, visit https://parentingtodaysteens.org

  3. 6d ago

    Behind the Teen Scowl

    "Anger is a bodyguard for more vulnerable feelings like hurt, loss, or frustration." One day your teen is laughing at your jokes. The next, they're slamming doors and wearing a scowl that "could curdle milk from across the room." Mark Gregston says you're not alone, and that anger may not mean what you think it means. In this Minute with Mark, he explains why your teen's anger is actually an invitation to enter their world, even if it's an intimidating one. Your job is to get past the scowl and seek out your teen's heart, and to step in with compassion. For more resources for parenting teens, visit https://parentingtodaysteens.org

  4. Oct 28

    Ask Your Teen What Frustrates Them

    "Do you know what you do that frustrates your teen the most?" Every parent has habits that push their kids away without meaning to. Mark Gregston says if you want a relationship that grows stronger over time, you have to find out what's creating the distance. And sometimes the only way to know is to ask. In this Minute with Mark, he challenges moms, dads, and grandparents to ask that question and really listen to the answer. It might sting, but "listening without defensiveness can open the door to real change." When teens see that their words matter, trust and growth can take root for both of you. For more resources for parenting teens, visit https://parentingtodaysteens.org

  5. Oct 26

    When Nothing Matters to Your Teen

    "When a teen acts like nothing matters, it's usually because they don't think anything can change." Apathy can look like laziness or attitude. Mark Gregston says it's often something deeper: a teen who has lost hope. They don't believe things can change in themselves, their family, or the world around them. In this Minute with Mark, he explains what giving up really signals. In a teen's mind, their actions don't matter, nothing they do will change their situation, and no one can help them get to a better place. Mark says this is a critical time, because hopelessness is "one step closer to depression and the unthinkable." For more resources for parenting teens, visit https://parentingtodaysteens.org

  6. Oct 23

    Hopelessness Is a Gateway to Depression

    "Hopelessness is a gateway to depression." When a teen starts losing hope, it's tempting to wait it out or sweep it under the rug. Mark Gregston says getting more involved can sometimes prevent depression, but how you engage matters. In this Minute with Mark, he urges parents to talk with their teen, get to the heart of the matter, and "listen, listen, listen." If your teen won't talk to you, encourage them to talk with someone else: a friend, a youth pastor, another trusted adult, or a counselor who has experience working with teens. If needed, get professional medical help. Moving from hopeless to hopeful doesn't happen overnight. For more resources for parenting teens, visit https://parentingtodaysteens.org

  7. Oct 21

    A Gentle Tone Makes Room for Truth

    "A gentle tone makes room for truth. A harsh tone slams the door." Parents often worry about saying exactly the right thing. Mark Gregston says your teen may not remember your words at all. What they'll remember is how you made them feel. In this Minute with Mark, he shares what he remembers about his own mother: how kind she was, how she always wanted to listen, and how she gave him advice about Jan, the girl he'd dated since ninth grade and later married. Even when he told her things she didn't want to hear, she didn't slam the door. She loved him in spite of it. For more resources for parenting teens, visit https://parentingtodaysteens.org

  8. Oct 19

    Quit Giving Opinions. Share Your Stories.

    "So quit giving your opinion all the time... Share your stories." Teens have access to everything online, and they're hearing nothing but opinions. One more opinion from Mom, Dad, or Grandpa just adds to the noise. Mark Gregston says you have something better to offer. In this Minute with Mark, he asks parents and grandparents to "turn up your hearing aids" and catch this: your experiences, the Scripture you know to be true, the principles you've lived by, and the wisdom you've gained add up to a perspective only you can give. That's what gets heard. For more resources for parenting teens, visit https://parentingtodaysteens.org

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About

A Minute With Mark is a short-form podcast for parents and grandparents raising teenagers in a culture that never slows down. Mark Gregston has worked with struggling adolescents for more than 45 years, and thousands of them have lived in his home. Each episode takes one issue, one question, or one moment you're facing with your teen or grandchild and gives you something you can actually use. No long interviews. Just Mark, one idea at a time. Some episodes speak to parents in the daily grind of raising a teenager. Some speak to grandparents looking for a way back into a grandchild's life. All of them are honest about how hard it is, and hopeful about what's still possible. Visit ParentingTodaysTeens.org for more resources.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Gregston
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Mark Gregston
  • Show Website
    A Minute with Mark