S6 E1: Parenting with Discernment
The InFormed Parent with Suzanne Phillips
Release Date: 01/15/2026
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
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 ahead, and why being informed is not optional for parents who want to lead with wisdom rather than react from fear. She addresses the subtle ways culture disciples families, the danger of passive parenting, and the urgent need for parents to reclaim their role as leaders, protectors, and disciplers in their homes.
Season 6 is about discernment — learning to recognize what is shaping our children, understanding where ideas come from, and choosing intentional formation over cultural default.
If you’ve felt overwhelmed, behind, unsure, or simply tired — this episode will remind you that you are not alone, and that clarity is possible.
Episode Highlights
✔️ Why Season 6 was created and what prompted its focus
✔️ The difference between reacting to culture and discerning it
✔️ How parents are being discipled — often without realizing it
✔️ Why “busy” is one of the enemy’s most effective tools
✔️ The cost of passive parenting in a high-pressure culture
✔️ Why informed parents make different decisions
✔️ What listeners can expect from Season 6 conversation
✔️ An invitation to slow down, listen, and lead with clarity
🎧 Listen Now
Featured Resource: Beacon Parent
Beacon Parent exists to equip parents to parent with purpose, disciple with direction, and lead their families with clarity and conviction in an increasingly confusing world.
This season, Beacon Parent resources are designed to help you:
• understand cultural influence
• strengthen identity formation
• disciple intentionally at home
• make informed decisions for your family
👉 Learn more → www.beaconparent.com
Call-to-Actions (CTAs)
📲 Stay Connected with Suzanne & Beacon Parent
• Instagram: @suzannephillips_
• Instagram: @beacon_parent
• Website: www.beaconparent.com
📚 Beacon Parent Free Resource Hub
Practical tools, teaching guides, and identity-building resources for parents.
👉 Access free resources → https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/7dFPbYXY/checkout/
✨ Parent Club (Monthly Membership)
Ongoing discipleship, community, teaching, and support for parents who want to lead well — not alone.
👉 Join the Parent Club →https://community.beaconparent.com/offers/mLSFLoXT/checkout/
🏫 Exploring Education Alternatives?
From pods to hybrids, The Pod Packet helps families take intentional next steps.
👉 Learn more → www.thepodpacket.com
Identity Truth for the Family
Parents were never meant to follow culture — they were called to lead their children.
Discernment is not fear.
Being informed is not reactionary.
Intentional parenting is an act of love.
Closing CTA
Season 6 is an invitation to slow down, open your eyes, and lead with wisdom.
If this episode resonated with you, share it with another parent who feels the weight of these decisions — a friend, a small group, or someone who needs encouragement to step out of autopilot and into intentional leadership.
🎧 Listen Now →