Why do so many young people walk away from their faith after high school? And what can families, schools, and churches do to change that trajectory?

In this episode of Conquering Conversations, we sit down with Desert Christian Academy’s Chaplain, LaNej Garrison, to tackle one of the most important questions facing Christian families today. Together we explore the growing trend of faith disengagement among young adults and discuss the deeper reasons many students struggle to carry their faith with them beyond their teenage years.

LaNej shares practical insight on how schools, churches, and—most importantly—families can work together to cultivate a faith that lasts. From creating spaces where students can ask hard questions, to modeling authentic faith at home, this conversation offers encouragement and practical guidance for parents who want to see their children build a lifelong relationship with Christ.

If you care about raising students who don’t just graduate with knowledge, but with a resilient and personal faith, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Artificial Intelligence is no longer the future of education — it’s the present.

In this episode of Conquering Conversations, we sit down with Alli Lipsher from The Social Institute to unpack how AI is rapidly transforming the educational landscape. From tools like ChatGPT to AI-powered study platforms and writing assistants, today’s students have unprecedented access to technology that can either enhance learning — or quietly replace it.

How should parents respond? Is AI a threat to academic integrity, or a powerful tool to steward wisely? And what skills will truly matter in an AI-driven world?

This conversation equips parents with practical guidance for helping their students navigate AI ethically, think critically, and grow in character. We discuss how to set healthy guardrails at home, how schools are adapting, and why wisdom, discernment, and leadership will matter more than ever in the years ahead.

AI isn’t going away. The question is whether we will fear it — or teach our children to conquer it.

Resources from The Social Institute:

• Our A.I. Literacy White Paper, Ready For Now: How A.I., Media, and Digital Literacy are shaping K-12 student learning and well-being, Download it here
• Another great download for educators and families is our playbook Fostering Student Excellence: How to Empower Students to Play to Their Core as They Navigate A.I. for actionable strategies to guide students toward ethical choices and academic success
• This is a recording of one of our previous webinars on Harnessing A.I. to Combat Misinformation: Essential Tools & Strategies for Educators that specifically focused on on misinformation and deepfakes.
• Our Chat GPT Playbook for a look at how one of our most popular family resources break down the apps and devices that students are using

In Part 2 of our conversation with Beth Aune from Desert Occupational Therapy for Kids, we move from understanding big emotions to building long-term strategies at home.

Beth shares practical, doable tools to help parents reduce power struggles, establish healthy boundaries, and coach their children toward emotional regulation and resilience. We discuss proactive routines, consistent responses, and how to stay calm and steady when your child is anything but.

If you’re raising a strong-willed child, this episode will help you lead with confidence, clarity, and connection—especially in the moments that matter most.

In this episode of Conquering Conversations, we sit down with Beth Aune, from Desert Occupational Therapy for Kids, to tackle one of the most common—and challenging—parenting realities: the strong-willed child.

Beth brings practical, research-informed insight to help parents understand what’s really happening beneath intense emotions, power struggles, and big reactions. This conversation equips parents with clear tools to navigate moments of high emotion, de-escalate conflict, and respond in ways that build connection rather than control. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure how to respond when emotions run high, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and a practical path forward.

In this episode of Conquering Conversations, we dive into one of the most common questions parents ask: How is my child’s learning being measured?

In this episode, we sit down with Renee Loewen, DCA’s Director of Educational Programming, to explore student grading and the school’s transition from traditional letter grades to proficiency-based grading. Renee explains how this approach focuses on clearly defined learning standards and skills, giving parents a more accurate and helpful picture of student progress. You’ll learn why this shift matters, how it benefits students, and what parents should look for when reviewing progress reports.

Whether you’re new to proficiency-based grading or simply want to better understand how to better support student growth, this conversation will equip you with clarity and confidence.