Parenting City Kids Podcast

City on a Hill

Parenting is harder than we expected. From screens, anxiety, marriage pressure, mental health, and faith at home, this podcast tackles the real issues parents are facing today, without shame or shortcuts. Featuring pastors, psychologists, theologians, youth leaders, and parents with lived experience, each episode offers honest conversations and practical wisdom grounded in the gospel. This podcast is part of City on a Hill Melbourne, helping families live out faith where it matters most, at home. For more details visit cityonahill.com.au

  1. "She’ll Be Right, Mate!" - Brett & Kate Ryan

    Episode 1

    "She’ll Be Right, Mate!" - Brett & Kate Ryan

    Your marriage isn’t the bonus, it’s the backbone. Parenting today can feel overwhelming; screens everywhere, pressure from all sides, and the quiet fear of getting it wrong. In this episode, Brett and Kate Ryan from Focus on the Family Australia share grounded, hope-filled wisdom on raising resilient kids, strengthening marriage, navigating technology, and parenting with faith in real life. families.org.au: The website for Focus on the Family Australia, where listeners can find a variety of free resources, including videos, courses, downloadable PDFs, and e-books.familycast.com.au: The free video platform mentioned, which offers parenting classes on topics like navigating sexuality, social media, anxiety, and raising pre-teens.Adventures in Odyssey and Radio Theatre: These are specific programs or series available on the Family Cast platform for children.https://families.org.au/article/how-birth-order-affects-your-marriage/https://families.org.au/article/how-birth-order-affects-sibling-conflicts/https://families.org.au/broadcast/how-your-birth-order-shapes-your-marriage/https://families.org.au/broadcast/understanding-how-birth-order-impacts-your-marriage/https://families.org.au/broadcast/understanding-how-birth-order-impacts-your-marriage-0/

    1h 6m
  2. "Beyond the Screen" - Jeff Lloyd

    Episode 2

    "Beyond the Screen" - Jeff Lloyd

    Feeling overwhelmed by the constant battle over screen time? You're not alone. In this episode, pastor and researcher Jeff Lloyd helps parents understand Generation Alpha, the hidden ways technology shapes our children’s hearts, and how faith, boundaries, and presence can form resilient kids in a digital age. Internet Filters: https://www.bark.us/ https://www.linewize.io/ Reviews: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ Books: The Anxious Generation, Jonathan HaidtSuperbloom, Nicholas CarrThe Tech-wise Family, Andy CrouchScrolling Ourselves to Death, Brett McCracken Blogs: https://screenstrong.substack.com/ https://www.generationtechblog.com/ https://www.anxiousgeneration.com/resources https://www.afterbabel.com/

    53 min
  3. "You're Not Failing..." - Rob Keller

    Episode 3

    "You're Not Failing..." - Rob Keller

    You’re not crazy, parenting today really is harder. What if godly parenting isn’t about getting everything right, but faithfully stewarding children who belong to God? In this episode, pastor and family ministry leader Rob Keller who has been married to Ruth for 54 years, shares decades of wisdom on biblical family discipleship, the role of parents as primary disciple-makers, and why Scripture, not strategies, must shape our homes. Uncle Arthur Stories: Rob mentions that his mother-in-law gifted him these books, which he used to teach his children about biblical truths and virtues.

    40 min
  4. "Raising Kids in a Be-Yourself World" - Graham Stanton

    Episode 4

    "Raising Kids in a Be-Yourself World" - Graham Stanton

    If identity is something kids have to invent, no wonder they’re exhausted. Our kids are growing up in a world that says: look inside, be true to yourself, express who you are. But what happens when that message collides with the gospel? ISCAST: Science and Christianity - ⁠www.iscast.org/⁠Fuller Youth Institute book: Three Big Questions that Change Every Teenager -www.fulleryouthinstitute.org/3-big-questions#3BQ⁠,www.amazon.com.au/dp/0801093384?ref_=mr_referred_us_au_au⁠ ⁠www.understandingteenagers.com.au/⁠ ⁠www.ridleycollege.transistor.fm/episodes/can-i-buy-myself-flowers-with-dr-fiona-isaacs⁠Youth Ministry Futures: ⁠www.ymfutures.com.au/

    55 min
  5. "Teen Social Media Ban" - Dave Chiswell

    Episode 5

    "Teen Social Media Ban" - Dave Chiswell

    Why Teenagers Are 'Relieved' About the Social Media Ban. Social media isn’t neutral; it’s forming your teen’s identity, attention, and faith faster than you think. Teenagers aren’t just “on their phones,” they’re being shaped by them. Youth minister Dave Chiswell unpacks how social media accelerates identity formation, drives comparison and anxiety, and makes faith feel harder in a world of constant noise. Plus: practical ways parents can build trust, start better conversations, and reclaim real-life community.

    49 min
  6. "Depression in a Christian Home" - Sam & Janet Reeve

    Episode 6

    "Depression in a Christian Home" - Sam & Janet Reeve

    Depression isn’t proof of weak faith, it’s where grace has to get real. Sam and Janet Reeve were missionaries with years of experience raising children and mentoring Christian families. A key highlight of their conversation is their openness in sharing their personal journey supporting their daughter through severe, treatment-resistant depression. Discover why Sam and Janet believe prioritising your marriage is foundational to a secure family, and gain practical insights into modelling repentance and forgiveness for your children. This is a must-listen for every parent seeking to cultivate a Christ-centred home and navigate mental health challenges with faith and love.

    1h 3m
  7. "30 Kids Later" - Matt Keller

    Episode 7

    "30 Kids Later" - Matt Keller

    They’ve welcomed 30 foster kids, and Matt says the biggest threat to Christian families isn’t ‘bad parenting’… it’s busyness. We sit down with Matt Keller, Executive Pastor of City on A Hill, Geelong, father to five, and a foster parent to over 30 children in the last 14 years. In this episode we talk fostering realities, why busyness quietly disciples your family, how to build a “church village” around parents, and the tension of being a friend to your kids while still providing steady leadership. Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family by Paul David TrippIt Takes a Church to Raise a Parent: Creating a Culture where Parenting for Faith can Flourish by Rachel Turner

    40 min
  8. Patricia Weerakoon discusses talking to children about sex, identity, and God’s design

    Episode 8

    Patricia Weerakoon discusses talking to children about sex, identity, and God’s design

    What should a parent do when their child sees pornography, accidentally or repeatedly Sexologist and Christian educator Patricia Weerakoon explains why panic and shame make things worse, how porn rewires young brains, and how parents can respond with calm, clarity, and gospel-shaped wisdom. A must-listen for parents who want to protect their children without losing their trust. Books by Patricia Weerakoon: Teen Sex by the Book: For teenagers navigating puberty and sexual ethics.Growing Up by the Book: For pre-teens.Talking Sex by the Book: A guide for parents on how to have these conversations.Birds and Bees by the Book: A set of books for primary school-aged children.You and Me by the Book: A picture book for preschoolers about bodies.The Best Sex for Life: A book for married couples.An upcoming book titled Parenting in the Gender Revolution. Website: ⁠patriciaweerakoon.com

    45 min
See All Season 1 (18)

About

Parenting is harder than we expected. From screens, anxiety, marriage pressure, mental health, and faith at home, this podcast tackles the real issues parents are facing today, without shame or shortcuts. Featuring pastors, psychologists, theologians, youth leaders, and parents with lived experience, each episode offers honest conversations and practical wisdom grounded in the gospel. This podcast is part of City on a Hill Melbourne, helping families live out faith where it matters most, at home. For more details visit cityonahill.com.au

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