Libsyn Directory

S5 E5: Education: Reclaimed, Revived and Restored

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Release Date: 10/03/2025

S6 E3: Scrolling to Death: The Dangers of Social Media

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary Social media is no longer just a distraction — it is shaping identity, behavior, mental health, and safety for an entire generation. In this eye-opening episode, Suzanne Phillips is joined by Nicki Petrossi, a former social media executive turned national advocate for child safety online. Nicki is the founder of Scrolling 2 Death, co-founder of the Tech-Safe Learning Coalition, and a leading voice helping parents understand what is actually happening behind screens. Nicki brings insider knowledge from her time working inside social media platforms — paired with real-world...

S6 E2: An Inconvenient Study: Uncomfortable Questions, Personal Choices

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary This is one of the most consequential and challenging conversations ever hosted on The InFormed Parent Podcast. In this episode, Suzanne Phillips is joined by Del Bigtree — journalist, filmmaker, former Emmy-winning producer, and one of the most influential voices calling for transparency in public health and medical science today. Del is the founder and CEO of Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), host of The HighWire, and Executive Producer of the documentary An Inconvenient Study. This episode centers on a never-published vaccinated-versus-unvaccinated study conducted...

S6 E1: Parenting with Discernment

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary Season 6 opens with a powerful solo episode from Suzanne Phillips, founder of Beacon Parent, setting the tone for what lies ahead. In this monologue, Suzanne reflects on the cultural moment parents are navigating right now — one marked by confusion, exhaustion, pressure, and noise. From education and technology to identity, sexuality, and discipleship, parents are being asked to make high-stakes decisions without clarity or support. This episode is both an invitation and a reset. Suzanne explains why this season exists, what has shaped the direction of the conversations...

S5 E14: Creating Freedom in Education: How a Pod Can Change Everything

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary: In this powerful and timely episode, Suzanne sits down with two moms who have lived what so many parents are only beginning to consider: you can change your child’s educational story — and it doesn’t have to be complicated. Today’s guests, Lauren Tatum and Brandy Hansen, both stepped out of traditional education pathways to create thriving, faith-filled homeschool pods for their children and communities. From fear and overwhelm to clarity and confidence, their journeys reveal what is possible when parents refuse to believe the cultural lie that there is only one way to...

S5 E13: Affirming Girls, Building Secure Women

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary: In this heartfelt and deeply practical episode, Suzanne Phillips sits down with Jonathan Pitts—author, speaker, ministry executive, father of five, and President of For Girls Like You, a ministry serving tween girls and their parents. Jonathan has spent nearly two decades in Christian leadership, including serving as Executive Director of Dr. Tony Evans’ ministry (The Urban Alternative), managing recording artist Anthony Evans, Jr., and now serving in pastoral leadership at Church of the City in Franklin, TN. As a father of four daughters and a newly welcomed baby boy,...

S5 E12: Education Beyond a Degree

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary: In today’s episode of The InFormed Parent Podcast, Suzanne Phillips sits down with Andrew Chambers, the Head of Campus Life at Excel College, one of the most innovative and biblically grounded higher education models in the country. With many parents questioning traditional college pathways — rising costs, secular influence, lack of discipleship, cultural pressure — this conversation opens the door to a revolutionary alternative designed to help students become wise, mature, productive adults who live purposeful and fulfilling lives. Andrew shares how Excel College is...

S5 E11: Raising Leaders: Innovative Education

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary: In this energizing and visionary episode of The InFormed Parent Podcast, Suzanne Phillips is joined by Justin MacDonald, award-winning educator, coach, entrepreneur, global executive, and founder of The Academy at District Church. Justin brings a bold, fresh perspective on what education could be — and what’s possible when the Church, families, and innovative thinkers reclaim learning for the next generation With a model that blends individualized learning, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and Christ-centered formation, The Academy is proving that children...

S5 E10: Vertical Parenting

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary: In this heartfelt and wisdom-filled episode, Suzanne Phillips sits down with her own pastor, Chuck Ramsey, Lead Pastor of Restoration Church, for a conversation on building strong families through biblical parenting and discipleship. As a father of seven and grandfather of five, Pastor Chuck shares both personal and pastoral insights on what it means to raise children with a “vertical” mindset—anchored in God’s Word, guided by His Spirit, and grounded in eternal truth. Together, they discuss the power of a Vertical Church, how its principles build strong families at...

S5 E9: Digital Wellness for Your Children

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary: In this eye-opening and deeply practical episode of The InFormed Parent Podcast, Suzanne Phillips is joined by Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes—a leading organization helping families, schools, and churches navigate the complex world of technology, internet safety, and digital wellness. Chris’s work has reached hundreds of thousands of students and families nationwide and even led him to conversations at the White House about the dangers of AI and child safety online. This episode equips parents to take actionable steps toward creating safer digital...

S5 E8: A Redemption Story: Parenting Forward

The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips

Episode Summary: In this powerful and redemptive episode of The InFormed Parent Podcast, Suzanne Phillips sits down with Joshua Broome—a bestselling author, speaker, and former adult film star whose life has been radically transformed by the love and truth of Jesus. Now serving as the Executive Director of Walk Worthy, a division of the American Association of Christian Counselors, Joshua uses his story to educate and inspire families to confront the dangers of pornography, protect their children online, and live out a biblically grounded vision of sexuality and purpose. This conversation...

More Episodes

In this episode of The InFormed Parent Podcast, host Suzanne Phillips is joined by Dr. Hutz Hertzberg and Jennifer Burns of Turning Point Education to explore the rising movement of classical education and why it’s gaining momentum among parents, homeschoolers, and schools across the nation.

For many parents, education is simply about curriculum and outcomes. But beneath every method lies a philosophy of education—Montessori, Charlotte Mason, Classical, and more—that shapes not just what students learn but how they think and live.

Together, Hutz and Jennifer share their rich backgrounds in Christian education and explain how classical education, rooted in virtue and wisdom, is equipping students to lead with clarity, confidence, and truth. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or school leader, this episode will inspire you to see education through a new lens—and offer practical next steps to get involved.

Episode Highlights:

✔️ Why education is more than just curriculum—it’s about philosophy

✔️ An overview of classical education and how it works in practice

✔️ The mission of Turning Point Education and who it serves

✔️ How hybrid schools and homeschool programs are shaping a new model for families

✔️ Why restoring virtuous education is so critical in today’s cultural moment

✔️ What trends are emerging in K-12 and higher education

✔️ How parents and educators can take part in this growing movement

🎧 Listen Now

📖 Featured Resource: Turning Point AcademyTurning Point Academy exists to restore virtuous, values-based education for families across America, offering classical curriculum and hybrid learning options.

👉 Learn More → Turning Point Education

📣 Call-to-Actions (CTAs):

📲 Follow Turning Point Education:

📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent:

📚 Free Resource Hub:Get access to parenting downloads, discipleship tools, and biblical worldview guides → The Hub

✨ Join the Parent Club (Monthly Membership):Exclusive resources, coaching, and community for faith-filled families → The Parent Club.

📥 Starting a Homeschool Pod?Download The Pod Packet—your free guide to launch and manage a homeschool pod with confidence → www.beaconparent.com/podpacket

📖 Identity Truth for the Family:

✅ Education shapes identity. Classical education equips children not only with knowledge but with virtue, purpose, and wisdom rooted in truth.

🔔 Closing Call-to-Action (CTA): Education isn’t neutral—it shapes how our children think, believe, and lead. Don’t leave it to chance. Explore classical education and learn how you can give your children the tools they need to stand firm in truth and live with purpose.Share this episode, subscribe for weekly encouragement, and join us as we continue to equip families to parent with purpose and disciple with direction

.🎧 Listen Now →

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