S5 E11: Raising Leaders: Innovative Education
The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips
Release Date: 11/13/2025
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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
info_outlineEpisode 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 thrive when they are known, challenged, equipped, and expected to lead.
Parents, pastors, educators, innovators — this conversation will inspire you, stretch your imagination, and call you to action. The education system may be broken, but solutions already exist — and Justin is living out one of the most compelling models today.
Episode Highlights:
✔️ The story of how a local church stepped out to lead and provide solutions for education in its community.
✔️ Why the next generation of leaders must be trained with a biblical worldview and an entrepreneurial spirit.
✔️ How students learn through 6-week sprints, real projects, and leadership
✔️ Why pastors and parents must reclaim education as discipleship
✔️ Encouragement for parents who feel powerless in today’s educational climate
🎧 Listen Now!
Featured Resource:
The Academy at District Church
A bold, Christ-centered K–12 leadership academy helping raise confident, joyful, purpose-driven students.
🔗 Visit → www.districtchristianacademy.com
🔗 Follow → @theacademyatdistrict
Call-to-Actions (CTAs):
📲 Follow Justin MacDonald & The Academy at District Church:
• Instagram: 
/ jmacleads / theacademyatdistrict
• Website: https://www.theacademyatdistrict.com/
📲 Stay Connected with Beacon Parent:
• / suzannephillips_
• / beacon_parent
• Website: https://www.beaconparent.com
📚 Free Resource Hub:
Download guides, conversation starters, and digital wellness tools → The Hub: https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/7dFPbYXY/checkout/
✨ Join the Parent Club (Monthly Membership):
Access Christ-centered coaching, community, and exclusive resources for parents → The Parent Club: https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/7dFPbYXY/checkout/
📥 Thinking About Homeschooling or Hybrid Models?
Download The Pod Packet—a complete guide to starting and managing your own homeschool pod with confidence → https://www.beaconparent.com/podpacket/
Identity Truth for the Family:
“Leaders aren’t born—they’re discipled.”
Families who build a culture of responsibility, curiosity, and biblical identity prepare children to lead with wisdom and courage.
Closing CTA:
Parents, pastors, and leaders — the future belongs to those willing to build it. Education is not neutral. It’s discipleship.
If this episode gave you vision or stirred something in you, share it with a pastor, parent, or educator who needs to hear what’s possible.