The Happy Home Podcast with Arlene Pellicane

The Happy Home with Arlene Pellicane

Details

A happy home doesn't happen by accident, but it can be created with love, intention, and good family habits. If you need encouragement and guidance as a parent and/or spouse, this show is for you! Arlene will help you bridge the gap between your present reality and ideal family. Your host Arlene Pellicane is a speaker and author of several books, including Making Marriage Easier, Screen Kids and Parents Rising. She and her husband James have been married for more than 27 years and have three children. Inside this podcast, you’ll meet some of the kindest and smartest experts when it comes to marriage and parenting. Get ready for fun, Biblical insights, and practical conversations that will change your thinking, give you hope, and spark positive change. Let's do this together!

Recent Episodes

NOV 2, 2026
Luke Smallbone on Drummer Boy: Forgiveness, Family, and Getting Your Brother Back
We dive into the journey of Luke Smallbone (For King + Country) and the making of the movie, Drummer Boy. In this episode, Luke shares the incredible eight-year process behind the film, working with his brothers Joel and Ben, the importance of family, and how music can heal deep wounds. Discover the powerful message of forgiveness and reconciliation that resonates not only on the big screen, but personally for Luke. 01:35 – A 2018 photo of Luke with Noelle and Lucy, and the dream of making Drummer Boy 02:56 – How the song was chosen and why Luke relates to the little drummer boy 06:53 – What Luke said at age five about drums and singing 17:14 – Working with his brother Ben 18:06 – Family bonds, and how Drummer Boy brought the brothers back together 21:21 – Forgiveness and family estrangement 23:51 – “Are you who you hope to be?” 27:47 – Rick Warren’s parenting advice: side by side, not across a table 29:41 – Luke’s favorite scene in the movie Learn how to watch the Drummer Boy movie at Angel.com/DrummerBoy Use promo code GIFT to get a buy one/get one free ticket on opening weekend Nov 6, 7, 8. Get Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families. Free while supplies last from Summit Ministries http://techresetbook.com/ More Resources from Arlene Pellicane: SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse. Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier. Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words. Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected] Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
33 MIN
OCT 26, 2026
Theology Isn't Just for Scholars: Teaching Kids Who God is with Lisa Harper
Long theological terms and phrases can be intimidating and seem unconnected to daily life. Not many viral reels about anthropomorphism! Enter beloved Bible teacher and author Lisa Harper and her new book,Theology for the Rest of Us. Lisa explains theological terms in a way you (and your kids) will understand. As you understand more about the Bible, your heart and gratitude towards God will grow. Whether she's breaking down the Trinity or the hypostatic union, you'll love this fun conversation with master storyteller and proud mama of Missy. You'll learn how theology is meant for everyday life with God, not only for scholars, but for all of us. Lisa says it's not about being smarter. It's about growing closer to God. 1:30 Arlene's name and the meaning of pelican (who knew???) 4:00 Adopting Missy from Haiti and one animal she was afraid of 8:25 Why theological words feel distant, and what “theology” means 9:50 Anthropomorphism: describing God in human terms 15:40 How Lisa explains the Trinity to a child 17:42 The women’s conference story and that infamous hug 21:45 The hypostatic union in plain terms 23:38 Teaching Missy about God while looking at the stars Learn more about Lisa Harper, her Back Porch Theology podcast, and new book, Theology for the Rest of Us at LisaHarper.org Get Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families. Free while supplies last from Summit Ministries TechResetBook.com More Resources from Arlene Pellicane: SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse. Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier. Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words. Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected] Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
26 MIN
OCT 19, 2026
The Ladder of Love: Growing Closer to Jesus with Stasi Eldredge
Many of us long for a deeper, more experiential life with Jesus. Might God be inviting us higher up and closer still? In today's episode, Stasi Eldredge, author of The Ladder of Love: A Pathway to Emotional Healing and Spiritual Intimacy with Jesus, joins Arlene to talk about emotional healing and spiritual intimacy with Jesus. Stasi shares how she came to faith at 21 after a turbulent childhood, and what helped her through the early years of motherhood, including prayer, a Christian counselor, and friendship. She explains the ladder of love, which moves from clay and sheep to child, friend, and bride, and why she took a sabbatical instead of quitting her work. She also covers daily quiet time at home, playing with your spouse, and becoming the supporting cast in your adult children's lives. Join us for an encouraging and inspiring conversation centered on God's character and our relationship with Him. 03:39 Stasi's story: a broken family and coming to Jesus at 21 09:06 First step in healing: invite Jesus into your pain 11:33 Why Stasi sought out a Christian counselor 14:02 Surviving the hidden years of young motherhood 15:56 What the ladder of love is and why it's a ladder 22:10 Rest, don't quit: Stasi's sabbatical 29:21 Play with your spouse: ping pong and cribbage 31:11 Becoming the supporting cast in your adult children's lives Find out more about Stasi Eldredge and her book, The Ladder of Love: A Pathway to Emotional Healing and Spiritual Intimacy with Jesus at WildatHeart.org Get Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families. Free while supplies last from Summit Ministries TechResetBook.com More Resources from Arlene Pellicane: SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse. Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier. Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words. Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected] Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
35 MIN
OCT 12, 2026
Grace is Not Permissiveness: Raising Spiritually Strong Kids with Dr. Charles Fay
Bringing up spiritually strong kids in today's world can seem like a daunting challenge. Dr. Charles Fay, a psychologist and president of the Love and Logic Institute, joins Arlene to discuss his book Raising Spiritually Strong Kids. He explains Ephesians 2:8-10, the difference between grace and permissiveness, and how rescuing kids from every problem interrupts the trust cycle. He describes the Love and Logic approach of setting limits with few words and letting empathy and consequences teach, along with a five-step process for helping older kids with problems. He also covers parenting without shame, staying connected with kids, and what to do when spouses disagree about discipline. 1:15 – A toddler meltdown in a restaurant and a neighbor’s advice: “be loving and strong” 5:18 – Ephesians 2:8-10: saved by grace, saved to do good works 10:12 – A candy lesson: letting kids make affordable mistakes 18:18 – The “parenting prosperity gospel” and why doing everything right doesn’t guarantee results 20:00 – The trust cycle, why rescuing kids stunts it, and the five steps for helping with big problems 25:01 – Love and Logic in a nutshell: set limits with few words, let empathy and consequences teach 26:50 – How modern psychology has encouraged idolizing children 29:12 – Parenting without shame and building connection at home 32:25 – When spouses disagree on discipline Learn more about Love and Logic, and Dr. Charles Fay's book, Raising Spiritually Strong Kids Get Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families. Free while supplies last from Summit Ministries TechResetBook.com More Resources from Arlene Pellicane: SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse. Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier. Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words. Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected] Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
34 MIN
OCT 5, 2026
Helping Kids Through Grief with Sissy Goff
Because kids experience and express grief differently than adults, we can feel unprepared to handle our kids' emotions. We hardly know how to grieve ourselves, so how can we help our kids through the death of a loved one or divorce? Arlene talks with counselor and New York Times Bestselling Author, Sissy Goff about her new book, Helping Kids Through Grief: A Parent's Guide for Making Sense of Death, Processing Loss, and Finding Hope. As a therapist with over 30 years of experience, Sissy has seen firsthand the impact of grief on kids and families, and she's here to offer guidance and hope. Sissy discusses the importance of understanding the grieving process, how to validate a child's emotions, and the value of creating memories to honor loved ones who have passed away. We'll also explore the differences in how boys and girls grieve, and how to support kids through various types of loss, from the death of a loved one to the end of a sports season. 03:00 – Why Sissy wrote the book and the sixth stage of grief: meaning 06:10 – Anger and "all feelings are okay, but not all behaviors" 07:12 – What to say to a grieving child: "It won't always feel like this" 10:32 – Kids grieve in doses 11:57 – Answering "When is Papa coming back?" 13:18 – How boys and girls grieve differently 14:44 – Divorce and secondary losses 20:21 – Keeping memories alive with memory boxes 23:00 – When the parent is grieving too: accepting help from community Get Sissy Goff's book, Helping Kids Through Grief, and learn more at RaisingBoysandGirls.com Push back against too much screen time and read Arlene's new book, The Great Tech Reset: Reclaiming Real Life for Christian Families. Free while supplies last from Summit Ministries TechResetBook.com More Resources from Arlene Pellicane: SUBSCRIBE to Arlene's newsletter "What I'm Learning This Week" and get the checklist, 7 Warning Signs of Screen Overuse. Check out Arlene's BOOKS including Parents Rising, Screen Kids, and Making Marriage Easier. Follow Arlene on Instagram and/or Facebook Watch the podcast on Arlene's YouTube Channel How did Arlene's kids adapt to not having phones, video games or social media? Watch the free video, Screen Kids: In Their Own Words. Have a question for Arlene to address on the podcast? Want to invite Arlene to speak to your group? Email [email protected] Not sure about a smartphone for your child? Check out the Gabb Wireless phone for kids and teens (use the promo code ARLENE) Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
26 MIN