logo
episode-header-image
Today
27m 31s

Teen Stories: Looking For Answers

MARK GREGSTON
About this episode

Most struggling teens hold a story inside their hearts: a story of searching, hurt and hope. In today’s episode, Mark sits down with two Heartlight teens who open up about their personal battles with loneliness, depression and not feeling “good enough.” Both teens carried the weight of fractured relationships and unmet needs — one longing for a father’s involvement, the other wrestling with feelings of isolation and the pain of not being seen. Now, at Heartlight, they’re learning that true belonging and healing begin with understanding their own stories, and discovering they’re not alone on the journey.

Want to learn more about the Heartlight residential program? Visit heartlightministries.org today!

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. 

Up next
Yesterday
Decisions That Shape Generations
In this episode, Mark and Wayne talk about the profound impact that tough parenting decisions can have on a family's future. Through personal stories — including Mark's life-saving decision for his daughter decades ago — they explore how setting boundaries, having hard conversati ... Show More
28m 55s
Mar 20
I Mustache Mark a Question: Respect, Rebellion and Raising Responsible Kids
In today's Q&A episode, Mark tackles some more tough questions submitted by listeners about raising teens and young adults. From dealing with a disrespectful 19-year-old living at home, to concerns about a grandson's lack of motivation, to navigating the complexities of drug use ... Show More
27m 2s
Mar 19
Navigating Teen Romance
In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight counselor Courtney Lafleur tackle teens and dating, exploring what it means for parents to set realistic boundaries and stay involved as their children begin to experience romance. They share relatable stories about early dating experie ... Show More
27m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Sexually Assaulted by my Adoption Father
Exclusive $35-off Carver Mat at AuraFrames.com. Use code [INSANE] at checkout to save! Following the story of Elizabeth, who was adopted at the age of 19, she embarks on a new chapter in her life, discovering what it truly means to find a family. From the challenges of transi ... Show More
57m 38s
Jun 2024
Adoption and Addiction: LC Coppola
<p>This week, Jenna sits down with LC Coppola, author and program director of the Voices Unheard Storytelling Program, for an intimate conversation on adoption and addiction. LC shares her own journey as an adoptee grappling with addiction, and how she now supports other adoptees ... Show More
58m 42s
Dec 2010
Adoption and Social Networking
Adoption These days the secrecy surrounding adoption has lessened and many children are interested to know where they come from and may receive letters from their birth families or even meet up with them. Claudia Hammond reviews the evidence for this approach and also looks at ho ... Show More
28m 13s
Jul 2025
The Father Who Married HIS OWN Daughter & Killed 3 People
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/HOTC and get on your way to being your best self.What began as a long-awaited reunion between a teenager and her birth family spiraled into one of the most disturbing true crime cases in recent h ... Show More
38m 10s
Nov 2023
The Girl Dads Share Their Adoption Journey
<p>This week on Barely Famous, Kail is joined by Chris and Travis Sneath and they share their inspiring journey towards adopting their daughter, Hartley. The Girl Dads explain why they adopted sooner than expected, the difference between going private and using an agency, the fru ... Show More
1h 16m
Jun 2025
I Was Adopted 21 Times
#podcast #adoption #family #trauma #healing In this episode of We’re All Insane, we sit down with Jessica who was adopted 21 different times. She opens up about her journey through each home, what it was like adjusting to new families over and over again, and the deep emotional ... Show More
3h 11m
Mar 2025
Pregnant at 17, adoption & overcoming addiction w/ Danielle Sylvester & Thyri
Danielle Sylvester’s journey into motherhood was anything but traditional. Pregnant at 17 by a 29-year-old, she was fully set on giving her baby up for adoption—until one life-changing moment in the hospital. From working as a stripper as a minor to selling pills at the club, Dan ... Show More
1h 20m
May 2020
Blooming When Kids Lead to Jannah
A mother who adopted her child thought she would walk away and enjoy her life with her new family, but she was never more wrong. In this episode of Mommying While Muslim, find out what happened that changed this mother's life forever, what she's doing now to help future generatio ... Show More
28m 38s
Jul 2022
Second Child Guilt
On this episode: Jamilah, Zak, and Elizabeth share their triumphs and fails, including how Talking Heads came to the rescue—at least temporarily. Then they tackle a question from a listener who is feeling guilt about bringing a second child into their family. They obviously love ... Show More
21m 33s