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PODCAST

Orthodox Christian Parenting

Faithtree Resources

Orthodox Christian Parenting, hosted by Faithtree Resources Executive Director (and mom of four!) Michelle Moujaes, is a weekly podcast for parents and grandparents navigating the holy struggle of raising kids in the Orthodox Faith. Each episode offers honesty, encouragement, and practical wisdom from the Church—creating space to exhale, freedom from the pressure to be perfect, and openness to grow as you raise children who are deepening their knowledge and love of Christ.

kids & family parenting

All Episodes

30:39

When Your Child Is Hurting and You Want To Fix It...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/10/06

Your daughter sits alone at lunch every day, and you’re lying awake wondering whether she’s going to be okay. You’re both struggling—but in different ways. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Philip Mamalakis about why your first move should be calming yourself down, not solving her problem. He also walks through the fears he gets asked about most: the phone your kid won’t put down, the teen who doesn’t want to go to church and the spouse who isn’t Orthodox. Download this week’s free

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58:40

Helping Your Child Develop a Love for Scripture With...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/09/29

Your 10-year-old daughter tells you straight up that Bible reading is boring. So do you push back or let it go? Tripp Prince, head of content at Dwell, says there’s a third answer—and it starts with taking her seriously. He explains why repetition matters more than quizzes, how Sunday readings can carry into the rest of the week, and what to do when a child finds the Bible hard to understand. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.Episode Recap:Today we’re talking with Tripp Prince

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41:40

Helping Your Child Find Their Place in the Church...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/09/22

Your son drapes a towel over his shoulders to bless the dog, and your daughter arranges her dolls on the bedroom floor for Sunday school. Are those just picture-worthy moments—or more? In this episode, we talk with Father Michael Prevas about cultivating our children’s God-given gifts. He explains what to do when gifts aren’t obvious, shares what brings them to the surface and walks us through helping a child find a place to serve in the Church. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide

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41:19

When Your Child’s Story Doesn’t Turn Out the Way You...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/09/15

Your son calls from his dorm and mentions casually that he hasn’t been to Liturgy for the last few weeks. What do you do when a call like that ends? In this episode, we talk with Pastor Will Browning about how to respond when a child walks away from the faith or makes choices we never expected. He names the shame that convinces parents they’re at fault, returns to the story of the prodigal son and offers ways to stay close without losing hope. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide

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51:37

Three Grown Kids Share What Made Their Orthodox Faith...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/09/08

The hardest part of raising kids in the Church is that you don’t find out whether it stuck for another 20 years. In Season 2, we talked with Paul and Karen Kinan about what they got right and what they’d do over—and now we’re sitting down with their three adult children to learn the other half of that story. They tell us about the traditions that lasted, the rules they didn’t appreciate at the time and what they’re repeating as parents themselves. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide

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33:51

How To Get Your Kids To Listen Without Yelling With...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/09/01

Listening can be hard, even for adults. So how can we raise children who listen well—to us and to the other people around them? In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis returns to the podcast to share his best advice for modeling and teaching the art of listening. He explains why actions matter more than words and reminds us that our goal should be learning, not just compliance. Download this week’s free Discussion Guide here.Episode Recap:Today we’re talking with Dr. Philip Mamalakis about

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12:45

What To Do When Your Child Is Angry | Season 2 Favorites

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/08/27

Have you ever yelled at your kid to stop yelling? Same. This week we're revisiting our conversation with Fr. Ted Pulcini about anger: the kind that shows up in our own kitchens and the kind we see in our culture. He traces anger back to a self-protective reflex we all share, explains why God never gets angry the way we do, and offers a question you can ask your child in the middle of a blowup.Listen to the full episode.Episode Recap:Today we're talking with Fr. Ted Pulcini about anger

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16:01

How Suffering Can Change the Way You Parent | Season...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/08/25

There are seasons when the most honest prayer you can manage is asking God to help you get through the next hour. This week we're revisiting highlights from our conversation with Dr. Rick and Dema Esper about the year that followed Rick's stroke. Rick tells us what got him out of bed on the mornings his body wouldn't cooperate, Dema describes how gratitude took the place of pride, and both explain why apologizing to your children teaches more than any lesson on forgiveness.Listen to the

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14:08

What Your Kids Learn From the Way You Spend | Season...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/08/20

Your kid begs for a new toy, plays with it for a week, and then starts begging for the next one. Rachel Cruze, a bestselling author, financial expert, and mom of four, joins us to talk about how gratitude—not more rules—can break that cycle. She explains what contentment really means, shares how small everyday moments shape kids' money habits, and responds to a parent asking how to hold the line on a tight budget.Listen to the full episode.Episode Recap:Today we're talking with Rachel Cruze

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15:48

How to Find Balance When Everything Feels Important |...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/08/18

One of you is strict, the other is more relaxed, and the kids are watching you sort it out in real time. In this episode, we revisit a favorite conversation with Cindy and Paul Karos about the Middle Way, the Orthodox practice of finding the path between two extremes. They explain how spouses who disagree can learn from each other, share a plan for scaling back an overloaded family calendar and offer practical advice on how to decide which shows are worth your kids' attention.Listen to the

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15:16

When the House Is a Mess and You Feel Like You’re...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/08/13

If you believe that being a Christian means a clean house, well-behaved kids and mostly happy feelings, this week's episode with Dr. Philip Mamalakis may come as a relief. We're counting down to the launch of season three by revisiting some of the most practical moments from our archives, and this conversation is one of our favorites. Dr. Mamalakis explains why peace isn't the absence of chaos, shares why our kids need a peaceful mother more than a spotless home and reminds us that naming

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18:11

When Your Child’s Life Is in God’s Hands | Season 2...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/08/11

If you've ever sat across from a doctor and heard news you weren't prepared for, you know how quickly your world can come apart. This week we're revisiting some of the most meaningful moments from our conversation with Elias and Joy Hajjar, whose daughter needed her first heart surgery at a week old and a transplant years later. They tell the story of a priest who came to pray over her in the middle of the night, explain what it looks like to show up well for a family in crisis and offer

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7:36

The Real Purpose of Your Child’s Education | Season 2...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/08/06

Ask most people what school is for, and they'll say it's about getting into a good college and landing a well-paying job. But Liz Caddow, founder and head of school at Trinity Classical Academy, says school is really about who our children are becoming. In these highlights from our full conversation with her, she shares the advice she now gives mothers of teenage sons, explains how education forms the whole child—heart, mind and soul—and reflects on what our children lose when we step in to

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15:34

What Your Marriages Teaches Your Children | Season 2...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/08/04

If you've ever apologized to your spouse in front of your kids, you've taught them something about forgiveness no lecture ever could. This week's episode revisits some of the best parts of our full conversation with Paul and Karen Kinan, who joined us to talk about how a strong marriage helps kids learn to love God and each other. They explain why the love between a husband and wife outweighs a lot of parenting mistakes, share what they'd change about their Sundays if they could go back,

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11:09

Why Perfectly Behaved Kids Aren’t the Goal | Season 2...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/07/30

If you've ever struggled to keep a wiggly four-year-old quiet during the Anaphora, you know how easily our sense of success as parents can get tangled up with how our kids behave. This week's episode revisits some of the best moments from our full conversation with Dr. Philip Mamalakis, who joined us to talk about what success really looks like for Orthodox Christian parents. He walks through how to handle a meltdown in church without losing your peace, why asking questions works better

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10:32

How to Repair the Moments You Get Wrong as a Parent |...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/07/28

If you've ever snapped at your child over nothing and then watched their face fall, you know how much damage one harsh word can do. This week's episode revisits some of the best moments from our full conversation with Father Stephen Muse, who joined us to talk about repentance. He tells a personal story about repairing a hard moment with his grandson, walks through how fear can quietly take over a household, and explains how our own children often help us heal the exiled parts of

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42:10

Why Harvard Isn’t the Goal: An Orthodox Christian...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/07/21

If you've got a teenager, you know how quickly the college search can take over: the rankings, the essays, the pressure to get into the "right" school. But what if this season is really a chance to help your child discern who God is calling them to be? In this episode, we talk with Christopher Chiakulas, a high school counselor and the founder of Orthodox Christian College Counseling, about walking through the college search with faith at the center. He shares the framework he created to

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41:01

What Should Orthodox Parents Let Their Kids Watch?...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/07/14

Your kid asks to watch the show everyone else is watching, and you want to say yes. But should you? Paul and Cindy Karos understand the tension of that moment, and they're here to help. In this episode, they explore practical ways to guard your child's heart when the world walks through your front door without knocking. If you're tired of saying no, take heart. You don't need more rules—you just need a different approach. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here. Episode Recap:Today

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50:33

Surrounding Your Son With Holy Men With Father Jacob...

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/07/07

Can one parent—or even two—raise a faithful son alone? Father Jacob Saylor says no family was ever meant to. In this episode, he explains why boys need faithful men beyond their own father to show them Christ's version of masculinity, and how priests, godfathers, uncles and parish friends can help form the next generation. He also offers real encouragement to moms doing this without a father present in the home. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.Episode Recap:Today we’re

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39:38

How to Stay Peaceful When Life Feels Chaotic With Dr....

Orthodox Christian Parenting ·

2026/06/30

Some days the sacred feels impossibly far away—buried under the laundry, the backpacks, the dishes in the sink. In this episode, Dr. Philip Mamalakis returns to the podcast with practical wisdom for parents worn thin by the chaos of daily life. He reminds us that a peaceful parent is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children, and offers a way to leave guilt and shame behind for good. Download this week's free Discussion Guide here.Episode Recap:Today we’re talking about finding

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