Bestselling author Rod Dreher starts our holiday season by describing the wonders and miracles that led him and others out of depression, chronic illness, and unbelief. How to recapture the enchantment ofchildhood? It could involve aliens, the Jesus Prayer, or going on a bus tour of Paris....

Additional resources:

Living in Wonder: Finding Mystery and Meaning in a Secular Age by Rod Dreher

Franny and Zooey by J. D. Salinger

The band Hanson went from child stars in the 90's to dads of teens themselves today as they still record and perform around the world. Isaac Hanson candidly talks about growing up famous and instilling virtue in his kids. Isaac's warmth and humility made him one of our favorite guests!

Additional Resources:

Hanson.net

The hit that started it all: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHozn0YXAeE

This interview with Dr. Steven Stosny was so packed with insights that Leah was taking notes as he spoke. Abusive anger, violence, compassion, resentment, narcissism, and fear are examined in fresh and practical ways. You may want to listen twice; you'll definitely want to share this episode with those wanting help with marriage, parenting, or intimate relationships.

Additional resources: Compassionpower.org

Love without Hurt

Soar AboveEmpowered Love

How to Improve Your Marriage without Talking about It

Conversation Balloons Episode 60: "Say Less" with Dr. Stosny https://open.spotify.com/episode/7HTwjwzSbCWIqg1fKZDvLt?si=WfjErb6RSGeZBJEoaQykvQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJxOpzD_I-U

Parents, especially moms, may hurt longer and deeper than they expected when they waved goodby to their college student kids. Jodi Silverman guides empty nesters out of sadness or worries over their young adult children launching into college or moving out of the home.

Additional Resources:

Jodisilverman.com

Moms Who Dare Facebook community

Beyond Empty Nest podcast

Marilyn Raichle compares notes with Leah on the benefits to kids of acting lessons and theater projects. Marilyn has been one of America's most successful children's theater producers, while never being an actor and not having children of her own. Find out how she created "an explosion of good will, an explosion of happiness" for kids onstage.

Youth advocate Emma Lembke returns to the show, digging into how and why big tech creates addicts of kids who use social media. Technology, she says, dumbs down Gen Z while it consumes their mental health and privacy. Co-founder of the Log Off Movement, Emma discusses how legislation and lawsuits could protect children from the predatory tactics of Big Tech.

Additional resources:

Episode 59, "Media Mirage" on Conversation Balloons https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jw8ky4z4YGSk6EZcS8NEO

Log Off Movement, logoffmovement.org

Design It for Us, designitforus.org

Tech(nically) Politics, technicallypolitics.org

Socialmediasafety.org

Scrolling2death.com

DeMarco Taylor, Dean of Students at an all-boy school in a predominantly Black neighborhood, outlines their manhood program. How does it avoid teaching toxic masculinity, and how does it give boys what gang life offers?

Additional resources:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/conversationballoons/episodes/61--Rites-of-Passage-Into-Manhood--Part-1-e2mia8r

Crossoverprep.org

Crossing Over into Manhood--
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=8fa3744389&attid=0.0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1802051357277744999&th=19022c29698cef67&view=att&disp=inline
Let's Save our Sons--Conversation Balloons Episode 29-- https://open.spotify.com/episode/5cMzsrVq0dZWTW5VrLUCXQ Innovative Schools in a Struggling Neighborhood--Conversation Balloons Episode 52-- https://open.spotify.com/episode/2OWRkTmpeEeIbmPw7lGlc6Niobe Way, "The Crisis of Connection for Adolescent Boys" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ScAvJ0KiyU

Aussie Darren Lewis describes his fatherhood adventure program in Australia--its importance for maturing boys and why creature comforts, ceremony, and grandfathers are important in rites of passage.

Additional resources:

Fatheringadventures.com

Fatheringadventures.com.au/blog

Milestone to Manhood by Steven Arms and David Arms