{"podcast":{"title":"Parenting Today's Teens","slug":"parenting-today-s-teens-297702","podcast_index_feed_id":297702,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/parenting-todays-teen/","website_url":"https://redcircle.com/shows/parenting-todays-teens","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/a2b9a8ef-f577-42da-bd93-cc427e5d9ed7/0b31c0dd-1f06-4e8c-8e05-7e652a94d0bb-cd-cbba198d-c2c7-4f5e-bc43.jpg","author":"Mark Gregston","episode_count":1578,"summary":"The Parenting Today's Teens Podcast is a daily resource for parents raising teenagers. Hosted by Mark Gregston, a renowned parenting expert with over 45 years of experience, this podcast provides practical, expert advice for navigating the challenges of parenting teens. Whether you're struggling with defiance, emotional issues, or just want to understand your teen better, Mark’s guidance is raw, real, and always hopeful. Some episodes are co-hosted by Courtney LaFleur, LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) and on-staff counselor at Heartlight, adding professional counseling insights to the conversation. Together, Mark and Courtney provide expert tips and real-life solutions to help you build stronger relationships with your teen and navigate the complexities of today’s adolescent culture. If you’re looking for guidance on how to connect with your teen, improve family dynamics, and raise a confident, well-adjusted teen, this podcast is for you. For more parenting tools and expert advice, visit www.ParentingTodaysTeens.org.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-07T16:20:49.575574+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/parenting-today-s-teens-297702"},"episode":{"title":"Raising Socially Awkward Teens","slug":"raising-socially-awkward-teens","published_at":"2026-04-27T07:00:03+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/parenting-today-s-teens-297702/raising-socially-awkward-teens","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/parenting-today-s-teens-297702","url":"https://parentingtodaysteens.org","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/pscrb.fm/rss/p/audio2.redcircle.com/episodes/e89b8764-e69b-4ce3-857a-6622e39b4a04/stream.mp3","summary":"Is your teen struggling to connect with others or retreating into screens instead of real relationships? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur talk about what’s behind social awkwardness in today’s teens. From constant digital entertainment to lack of real-life interaction, many teens are missing the experiences that build confidence and connection. You’ll learn how to gently push your teen out of isolation, model healthy relationships and help them develop the social skills they need to thrive. Plus, a teen’s story reveals how isolation, curiosity and family dynamics can shape behavior — and what it takes to turn things around. Some isolation is healthy, but sometimes it signals deeper struggles. Learn six things to know about teen isolation and how to respond here: parentingtodaysteens.org/articles/6-things-to-know-about-teen-isolation Parenting Today's Teens is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. To find practical and spiritual advice to help you grow into the parent you want to be, visit parentingtodayteens.org.","meta_description":"Is your teen struggling to connect with others or retreating into screens instead of real relationships? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight Couns…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1617,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/parenting-today-s-teens-297702/episodes/raising-socially-awkward-teens/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/parenting-today-s-teens-297702/raising-socially-awkward-teens.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}