Best Kayla Craig And Christian Parenting Podcasts (2024)

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33. A Holistic Theology Leads us Vulnerable Children (and Their Parents, too) with Dr. Krish Kandiah 51:20

17d ago51:20

51:20

This episode may be the most spiritually rich conversation to date on the Upwardly Dependent podcast. Dr. Krish Kandiah, and Officer of the British Empire and long-time advocate for refugees and orphans, shares incredible stories and deep reflections from his love for God’s word. As the last guest in this series on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, …

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32. Tell Compelling Adoption Stories, but First Make Sure They’re True with Nick Runyon 46:40

17d ago46:40

46:40

Lauren was first introduced to Nick and Whitney Runyon a decade ago, and was drawn to their videography and storytelling across the globe. Both the Pinkstons and the Runyons entered into their own adoption journeys soon after, and as Lauren’s mind has expanded on the issue of orphan care, so has the work and advocacy of the Runyon’s organization, T…

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31. The Failures of U.S. Child Protection, and What Christians Should Know About Safe Families with Sarah Winograd-Babayeuski 54:50

18d ago54:50

54:50

As Lauren says again and again, if you want to see less human trafficking in the USA, start by surrounding vulnerable families while children are young. The majority of domestic trafficking cases involve children who have aged out of or who have interacted with the U.S. foster system. Lauren was eager to interview Sarah because of her extensive exp…

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30. To the Women who Mother the World's Children with Kayla Craig 43:46

5M ago43:46

43:46

Kayla and Lauren have been online friends for 10 years, writing and mothering in similar spaces. This conversation takes a deep dive into the relationships parents have with others who mothered our children both before and after they joined our families. Kayla writes heartfelt prayers for parents who are in need of a ministry of words in seasons of…

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29. Helping Organizations Transition to Better Care with Brent Phillips 34:35

5M ago34:35

34:35

Once you see how institutionalizing children can be harmful to their development, how do you continue to be involved with the care of orphans and vulnerable children? Brent Phillips, CEO and Programs Manager at Cherish Uganda, shares how this organization has evolved over the years to best center families within their care strategy. Brent speaks ca…

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28. The Other Side of the Story: Caregivers & Residents Share Their Experiences with Orphanage Tourism with David Sanon & Steph DeLuca Robinson 49:05

5M ago49:05

49:05

It is critical to center the voices of lived experience experts in any human rights conversation. This episode is sure to give you pause at different moments, as David Sanon shares his experience growing up in a boarding school in Haiti, where American donors sponsored his education. After meeting Steph DeLuca Robinson and other trusted partners, h…

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27. Effective Environments for Care in Therapy, Parenting, and Churches with Eric Gott, LPC 2:56:03

5M ago2:56:03

2:56:03

Eric Gott began working with kids who hold difficult narratives as a play therapist in Nashville, Tennessee. He then became a foster dad, and after 3.5 years of courtroom appointments, he and his wife, Leah, became the legal parents of four young children. Eric now serves as a Children’s Minister in Birmingham, Alabama, where he has brought trauma-…

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26. Normalizing the Attachment Journey with Jamie Finn 46:56

5M ago46:56

46:56

Jamie Finn is no stranger to the attachment journey for children and families. Having shared her life as a foster mother for a decade, Jamie knows the beauty and the sorrow of loving kids with difficult beginnings. In this episode, you’ll hear Jamie share the ways her heart posture has changed over the years. If you’re considering becoming a foster…

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25. How Should Foster Care and Adoption Policies Evolve in a Post-Dobbs United States? with Elizabeth Kirk, JD 44:44

6M ago44:44

44:44

In a law-oriented society like the United States, it is critical to engage legal professionals who frame our understanding of adoption and foster care policies in the field of child advocacy. Elizabeth Kirk, who holds a doctorate in law from Notre Dame, is passionate about adoption policy because of the way her own life started and the way she and …

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24. Theological Frames, Medical Ethics, & Embryo Adoption with Dr. Nicholas Darby 51:12

6M ago51:12

51:12

Dr. Nicholas Darby obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Alabama School of Medicine and is a distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is a managing partner of Florence Medical Associates, where he practices primary care in Florence, Alabama. He served as chief resident during his time at Cahaba-UAB Fami…

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23. A Mother’s Ethical Journey to IVF with Ansley Smith 42:53

6M ago42:53

42:53

As medicine continues to advance, reproductive technologies provide more options to hopeful parents. Lauren’s sister, Ansley, shares her journey to motherhood with great vulnerability. This episode provides a frame for those who have wandered through ethical questions of in vitro fertilization. The things Ansley discusses here offer both challenge …

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A Prayer for a New Year 11:01

6M ago11:01

11:01

Another year has gone, and we greet a new one with reflective hearts. Parenting, like faith, is a constant remembering. We hope you take some time with us this week for a simple breath prayer to remember God’s constant presence with us and another prayer asking for help in remembering the faithfulness of the God of the past and present. May you rem…

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A Prayer for Christmas 15:25

6M ago15:25

15:25

Merry Christmas, friends. Today, we celebrate Jesus embracing humanity—knit together in his mother’s womb, coming into this world as a newborn, and being swaddled and held close to his mother. Pause with us today and this week to reflect on this extraordinary mystery, one that transcends any greeting card scene, holiday movie, or glittering Christm…

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22. Forming Our Theology as we Form our Families with Shannan Martin 51:08

6M ago51:08

51:08

As the mother of four children who joined her family through adoption, Shannan Martin shares how loving and walking alongside the marginalized of her community not only revolutionized her faith, but also made her an unapologetic ally with those who are negatively impacted by the U.S. prison system. Shannan, whose husband is a chaplain in their loca…

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A Prayer for Grief During the Holidays 16:53

6M ago16:53

16:53

The holidays aren’t always the most wonderful time of year. For many, this season is wrapped up in grief and sorrow. This week features a prayer by guest liturgist Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, a foodie, runner, speaker, podcaster, and the award-winning author of numerous books for kids of all ages. She is a remarried widow who is raising three daught…

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21. Reimagining the U.S. Justice System Informed By Survivors of Childhood Trauma with Cyntoia Brown Long 57:41

6M ago57:41

57:41

Since her release in 2019, Cyntoia Brown Long has been able to travel the U.S. speaking about her experience within the criminal justice system where she was tried as an adult and placed in a womens’ prison at the age of 16. Her story started long before her arrest, however, and long before she found herself fearing for her life in the home of a ma…

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20. Stories from Death Row: How ‘Criminal Justice’ is Failing Adult Children of Trauma with Patti van Eys, PhD 1:20:33

6M ago1:20:33

1:20:33

In this episode, Dr. Patt van Eys provides an incredible foundation of understanding about psychiatric illnesses and the U.S. system for diagnosing and treating mental health concerns. Listeners will find this conversation SO helpful as Dr. Patti connects child development, attachment, and dissociation to the critical ages of neurological growth fo…

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A Prayer for Unpacking Advent 13:24

6M ago13:24

13:24

Advent presents us with a sacred invitation: to embark inside an ancient story of what was and somehow is, too. Whether you are moving through this season by lighting Advent wreaths or engaging in other traditions, may you become more aware of the Light of the world. Pray with us as we ask Jesus to help us orient our hearts, letting this time spark…

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A Prayer for Help in the Holidays 15:35

7M ago15:35

15:35

The season of Advent has arrived. We invite you to slow down and soak in the anticipation of this time of year with two breath prayers. As you navigate the holidays and all of the bustle of shuttling kids to and from gatherings, filling up stockings, navigating travel logistics, and so on, we hope you lean into the tenderness of Christ. Kayla’s new…

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19. Understanding the Power of Racial Identity for Transracial Adoptees with Angela Tucker 44:06

7M ago44:06

44:06

Angela Tucker has been a long-time trusted voice in the space of transracial adoption. As an advocate for children growing up in foster and adoptive homes, she shares her own experience of finding her safest place amongst others who were raised apart from their birth families. Angela facilitates the connection of a vibrant adoptee community full of…

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A Prayer for Unmet Expectations 13:42

7M ago13:42

13:42

This time of year is often loaded with expectations. Many of us feel we need to come up with unique holiday cards, find the perfect Christmas gifts, make sure our homes look social-media worthy. These expectations can rob us of the joy and magic of the season. Join us in a prayer asking God to help us lay down these expectations, seeing the good th…

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18. Understanding the Power of Racial Identity for Transracial Adoptees with Milton Washington 49:33

7M ago49:33

49:33

***This episode contains themes of self harm, some mild language, and other concepts that may be sensitive to listeners.*** ... Milton Washington leads a number of ventures as he shares a powerful narrative of an identity formed through transnational and transracial experiences. In this episode, he sheds light on the unique origin to his story, and…

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A Prayer for Gratitude 14:42

7M ago14:42

14:42

As we reflect on thankfulness this week, let us forgo the surface-level gratitude that seems pervasive in our consumer culture. Join us as we come to the God of goodness, giving thanks for all that is seen and unseen in our everyday lives. May our rhythms of gratitude be an outpouring of the love we have for God and one another, freeing us from the…

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17. How might the American Church Apologize for Institutionalizing Children? with Kimberly Quinley 54:10

7M ago54:10

54:10

Kimberly and Lauren discuss the particular landscape of orphanages in Thailand, where $40M is donated to homes in 2 of the 76 provinces alone. Kim, a veteran advocate for reformed care led by Thai churches and families, shares how she’s seen practices shift over the years, and where donor churches still need to evolve in their understanding of chil…

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A Prayer for Parenting in an Overwhelming World 12:41

7M ago12:41

12:41

The weight of parenting in a complicated and chaotic world can feel like so much, and it’s easy to lose sight of the glimmers of God’s glory around us. Join us as we pray for help in noticing and choosing to trust, even in the darkest moments. May you sense God’s presence with you and your family and experience the gift of wonder, even when things …

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16. Caring for Vulnerable Families Demands a Church-Wide Response with Jedd Medefind 38:10

8M ago38:10

38:10

As the President of CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans), Jedd Medefind invites people with any skill set or particular burden to care for the needs of vulnerable children and families. Whether that is through offering prepared meals, financial support, intercessory prayer, physical space, or emotional respite, there are things anyone in the Churc…

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A Prayer for All Saints’ Day 13:50

8M ago13:50

13:50

This week, we spend time reflecting on All Saints’ Day, a holy day that commemorates all the people of God who have gone before us. We invite you to consider what God may be speaking into your life of faith as you think of the faithful lives of others who have gone before you. We give thanks that we—and our children—are never alone and are surround…

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15. Shouldn’t we be Qualified Before We’re Called? An Academic Approach to Reforming Care with Dr. Kristen Cheney 1:11:48

8M ago1:11:48

1:11:48

When Lauren was in graduate school, she committed herself to bringing research and data to inform the ways Christians engage with humanitarian issues. Dr. Kristen Cheney is an incredible resource for Churches to understand the psychology of attachment, best practices around child protection, and the need for excellent qualifications in the field of…

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14. Family Preservation and the Complications of International Church Involvement with Megan Boudreaux 36:30

8M ago36:30

36:30

Like many guests on this season, Megan Boudreaux found herself swept up into the church industry or orphanages. The longer she stayed in Haiti, the more she noticed that something was awry with the North American approach to placing children in institutionalized care. Megan and Lauren discuss the crisis of children aging out of orphanages with no c…

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13. Why Revisit Orphan Care? with Brandon Stiver 40:26

8M ago40:26

40:26

If there is a good place to start this conversation for our season on Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Brandon Stiver is the right person to set the tone. With years of experience in this space, Brandon helped Lauren curate this episode through his knowledge and his connections to voices in this space. He is a co-host of the Think Orphan podcast, a…

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A Prayer for What Haunts Us 13:46

8M ago13:46

13:46

Though we are not immune to fear—and there is much to fear in this world—we are not held captive by it. Pray with us this week as we ask the Light of the World to remind us that love and goodness have the final say, no matter how dark things feel. May we be comforted and also be a comfort to others, bringing light to the darkness together. Kayla’s …

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A Prayer for When Praying is Hard 12:50

8M ago12:50

12:50

Sometimes, praying feels hard to reach for. Maybe this is where you find yourself today or a feeling you often have. Perhaps your silence contains your prayers, or all you can manage to utter is a single sentence. This week, we offer a simple breath prayer and another short prayer asking the One who is with us to help us communicate love and compas…

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Season Two: Reforming Orphan Care 8:00

8M ago8:00

8:00

Lauren is back with another season exploring the complexities of a global issue that engages many churches, but not always with a cohesive impact. As we follow the mandate of ‘pure religion’ outlined in James 1:27, what does it really mean to care for orphans and widows? What is the invitation to this work, and why isn’t it as simple as a few words…

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A Prayer for Raising Peacemakers 13:28

8M ago13:28

13:28

We are not immune to the chaos that swirls around us. It’s too tempting to want to stick our heads in the sand, to try to ignore the violence and conflict in the world, or to not do or say anything in order to “keep the peace.” Yet keeping the peace is not the same as being peacemakers: pursuing justice, healing, and wholeness. Join us as we come b…

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A Prayer for Choosing Welcome 19:34

9M ago19:34

19:34

Throughout scripture, we see that God deeply cares about welcoming the stranger, the refugee, and the foreigner. Yet how do we extend that welcome to the neighbors around us, amidst the busyness of parenting and the weight of distressing headlines? This week’s prayer was written by Laura Hornby, a community liaison for We Welcome, a Christian group…

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A Prayer for Holy Curiosity 18:42

9M ago18:42

18:42

As grown-ups, we can often unlearn the curiosity our children naturally have and express. They freely ask questions about anything from the ordinary to the disarmingly complex. Today, we’re sharing a prayer about holy curiosity by guest liturgist Kat Armas. You’re invited to pray alongside us as we ask the God of divine creativity to reconnect us t…

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A Prayer for Fall 21:21

9M ago21:21

21:21

It’s officially autumn. Perhaps you’re starting to notice the days getting a bit shorter or a certain crispness in the air coming through. As we witness trees burst into color and shed their leaves, may we join in this letting go and making space for new possibilities. We offer this prayer for fall, asking the God of all seasons to help us rest, ma…

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A Prayer for Every Season Sacred 20:42

9M ago20:42

20:42

We’ve got exciting news: Kayla’s newest book, Every Season Sacred, releases this week! This book is an invitation to ask big questions, embrace faithful rhythms, and experience God’s mysterious, loving presence together. For this episode, we’re sharing a blessing found at the beginning of Every Season Sacred about moving through the seasons of our …

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A Prayer for Struggling with Control 18:14

9M ago18:14

18:14

One of the scariest truths about parenting is that so much is out of our control. As the new school year rolls along and our children experience invitations to independence, we’re reminded that we can’t always be there. In this episode, we’re praying to remember God’s trustworthiness and love—and how we might empower our children to experience all …

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A Prayer for Moms of Spicy Ones™ 19:47

10M ago19:47

19:47

Parenting can be a pressure cooker, revealing the limits of our humanity like nothing else. This week, we’re praying for those of us raising “Spicy Ones,” a term our guest liturgist Mary Van Geffen coined. Mary is a friend and parenting coach who is well-versed in this area, and she sees raising a Spicy One™ as an invitation to grow our love for ou…

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A Prayer for When We’re Distracted 15:39

10M ago15:39

15:39

When we practice pausing and holding still, do we also practice noticing? How often do we stop and pay attention—taking in the details of a moment, truly seeing the person in front of us, tuning our ears to what’s beneath the noise? We invite you to come before the God of presence, praying that we would notice the life going on around us and be a f…

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A Prayer for the Memories We Hold 14:01

10M ago14:01

14:01

There are countless moments we long to hold onto so that we remember them—your child waving bye to you as they step into their first day of school, watching them open presents on Christmas morning, a sweet smile stretching across their face one afternoon. We want to keep these memories close for the warmth, comfort, and joy they give us. This week,…

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A Prayer for Passing on Our Faith 18:19

10M ago18:19

18:19

What if Christian parenting wasn’t about ensuring your children are obedient and using their obedience as a measurement of faith? For this week’s episode, guest liturgist Meredith Miller shares a prayer with us about helping our children really know God and nurturing who they are. Her upcoming book Woven is for parents who want to pass along a resi…

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A Prayer for Our Neighborhoods 18:31

11M ago18:31

18:31

What does it mean for our families to love our neighbors? It doesn’t need to be grand gestures aimed at solving the world’s most complex issues. Loving our neighbors can simply look like showing up in the world—ordering extra pizza to share with others, hosting a game of pickup basketball in your front yard, learning the names of those who live on …

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A Prayer for Divine Interruptions 16:11

11M ago16:11

16:11

What if we reframed the interruptions we as parents experience? This week, we pause to consider how interruptions may be times when God is speaking to us. Perhaps they’re actually invitations to pay attention. Join us as we ask the One who is always with us for help noticing the divine in all the parts of our lives, especially in the changed plans …

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A Prayer for Those Who Serve 16:11

11M ago16:11

16:11

This week, we offer a prayer for those who serve and care for others. We come to the God who parents us, giving thanks for the ways in which we are so dearly loved as children. We ask for help to dwell in wonder so that we may never lose sight of the sacred in everything from sanctuaries to hospital rooms. May this prayer bless you, and may you min…

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A Prayer for the Fears Our Kids Have (And We Do Too) 20:55

11M ago20:55

20:55

Our guest liturgist for this episode is author, speaker, and songwriter Amanda Held Opelt, who writes about faith, grief, and creativity—believing in the power of community, ritual, shared worship, and storytelling to heal even our deepest wounds. Amanda wrote and shared this heartfelt prayer with us about coming before God with all of our apprehen…

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A Prayer for Those Who Wait 16:37

12M ago16:37

16:37

For this week’s episode, poet and speaker Tanner Olson shares a beautiful blessing with us in our waiting. Tanner’s writing weaves together faith, questions, humor, and hope as he encourages us to slow down and remember that life is meant to be enjoyed, even amidst all of the unknowns. If you find yourself in a season of waiting, may these words sp…

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A Prayer for Freedom & Flourishing for All 17:53

12M ago17:53

17:53

As we take time to celebrate freedom this week, we invite you to reflect on what freedom means for you and what living into God’s freedom looks like. May you and your family embrace a posture of abundance, extending love to others and working toward their flourishing. Kayla’s new book, Every Season Sacred, is an invitation to ask big questions, emb…

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A Prayer for Summer Vacation 15:54

12M ago15:54

15:54

Whether you’re setting off on a faraway destination, enjoying a staycation, or doing something in between, family vacations are an adventure. This week, we offer this prayer for your time together. May you savor the details of road trip snacks and unexpected pit stops and delight in the memories you’re making with your children. May your family pra…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Kayla Craig And Christian Parenting Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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