Are smartphones really that big of a deal… or is this just another cultural panic?

Is the concern over smartphones and Gen Z mental health just more noise — or is something truly different?

In this first episode of Season 2 of It Takes a Family, Andy and Kelly sit down with researcher and author Dr. Stephanie Shackelford to examine what the data actually says about technology and the rising mental health crisis among Gen Z.

This season is built on groundbreaking research conducted with the Barna Group, exploring why anxiety, depression, and loneliness have increased so dramatically among today’s teens and young adults.

Dr. Shackelford shares hopeful, research-backed starting points for parents who feel overwhelmed — including two simple boundaries that can make a measurable difference:

• No screens at family meals

• No devices in bedrooms overnight

If you’ve ever thought, “The ship has sailed,” this episode will remind you: it’s never too late to reset rhythms in your home.

This conversation kicks off our first Season 2 theme: Smart Tech Use — helping families create intentional tech-free spaces that foster connection, identity, and resilience.

Episode Highlights

[05:00] The mental health spike that correlates with smartphone adoption

[08:00] “Technology is designed to foster obsession.”

[10:00] Two research-backed starting points: no screens at meals, no screens in bedrooms

[13:00] Why even a phone on the table reduces relational attunement

[16:00] The powerful impact of removing phones from the bedroom — for parents too

[17:50] Time vs. type of screen use: why communal viewing differs from scrolling

[19:00] Is this just another cultural panic?

[21:00] Walking as wise in a digital age

[23:00] Why it’s never too late to reset boundaries

[27:00] The church as a sacred, screen-free refuge

[29:00] Teens actually want help being on their phones less

Resources Mentioned

• 📊 Gen Z Mental Health & Well-Being Report (Barna Group)Download the free report here:https://www.barna.com/mental-health/
• 📖 The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• 📖 You on Purpose by Dr. Stephanie Shackelford
• 📖 The Common Rule by Justin Whitmel Earley

Don’t Miss Out!

If this episode encouraged you, challenged you, or gave you a starting point:

• Subscribe so you don’t miss Part 2
• Leave a review on Apple or Spotify (it helps other parents find hope)
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And as always, connect with us on Facebook and Instagram. We’d love to hear how you’re implementing tech-free rhythms in your own family.

You don’t have to navigate modern parenting alone.

Let’s move from desperation to hope — together.

Every child is an image bearer of a creative God, and discovering their unique gifts is one of the most rewarding parts of parenting. In this episode, hosts Andy and Kelly talk with Wade Pearce, Senior Director of Program at Eagle Ranch, about how to stop trying to control your kids' future and start becoming their greatest talent agent.

Wade, an adoptive and foster parent who has welcomed over 40 children into his home, shares hard-won lessons on recognizing a child's passions, the danger of parental anxiety, and why your only vision for your child should be a healthy relationship. He breaks down the Circle of Courage philosophy and explains why embracing your child's interests—no matter how intense or fleeting—is the key to fostering mastery and a sense of self-worth.

Episode Highlights

• [01:36] Wade shares his upbringing, his journey as an educator, and his experience as an adoptive and foster parent of over 40 children.
• [03:45] Wade explains the concept of the "baby hero" role and his personal experience with striving to please his parents.
• [10:10] The key to stewarding a child's life: becoming a detective or a talent agent to discover what makes them tick.
• [14:15] Wade introduces the Circle of Courage and the four things every child needs to thrive: belonging, mastery, independence, and generosity.
• [17:58] Why getting out of the mode of living vicariously through your children is crucial for their long-term success.
• [19:00] Examples of following and supporting a child's mastery, from fishing to buying and selling shoes.
• [25:50] How parental anxiety is the enemy and why becoming a non-anxious presence is the key to breaking cycles of control.

Don’t Miss Out!

• Want more? Subscribe so you're notified of the next release!
• Join the conversation! Follow It Takes a Family on Facebook and Instagram, and let us know your thoughts or topics you'd like to hear about.

Help us reach more parents!

• If this episode helped you, please take a moment to leave us a review to help other families find us.

Resources Mentioned

• Concept: Circle of Courage (from Reclaiming Youth International)
• Author: Dallas Willard

This episode brings together the five core elements of whole family healing from Eagle Ranch—Your Story, Family Dynamics, Nurture & Structure, Child's Unique Gifts, and Community—and frames them through the lens of the Gospel.

Hosts Andy and Kelly welcome Davon Stack, a seasoned ministry leader from Perimeter Church, to discuss what "Gospel Parenting" truly means. Davon breaks down the powerful, simple truth of the Gospel ("We had it all. We lost it all. He did it all. We get it all.") and shares how relying on that truth can transform a parent's sense of helplessness into hope and reliance. He also shares a deeply personal story of how caring for his mother-in-law in her final days provided a profound, practical opportunity to teach his children love and forgiveness in a real-life crisis.

Episode Highlights

• [01:55] Davon shares his family of origin, marked by extreme hospitality and a rich family legacy of service.
• [08:45] The clear and concise definition of the Gospel and why recognizing "we lost it all" leads to true gratitude and reliance.
• [11:50] How the Gospel fundamentally shifts parenting from relying on personal strength to relying on the power of the Holy Spirit.
• [14:20] A tangible example of Gospel Parenting: Davon's family navigates the challenge of caring for his mother-in-law through early-onset Alzheimer's and how it taught their children kindness and forgiveness.
• [21:20] The difference between surface-level "Christian Parenting" (checking boxes) and Gospel Parenting (relying on a redeemed identity).
• [25:55] Davon shares words of hope for listeners who are struggling, pointing them to the power and promises already given to us through Christ.
• [28:15] Why it's vital to rely on the community of God's people and seek out those who are honestly relying on a greater power.

Don’t Miss Out!

• Want more? Subscribe so you're notified of the next release!
• Join the conversation! Follow It Takes a Family on Facebook and Instagram, and let us know your thoughts or topics you'd like to hear about.

Help us reach more parents!

• If this episode helped you, please take a moment to leave us a review to help other families find us.

Resources Mentioned

• Scripture References: 2 Peter 1:3-4, Acts 2:42-47
• Church: Perimeter Church