Teen Runaways: What Parents Need to Know

Teen Runaways: What Parents Need to Know

Author: Mark Gregston May 11, 2026 Duration: 26:52

Few things shake a parent more than realizing their teen has run away. In this episode, Mark and Wayne explore the deeper reasons teens leave home. Often, they’re running from pain, conflict, shame or consequences — or running to freedom, attention or a place they believe feels better. You’ll learn how to respond wisely when your teen returns, what family patterns may need to change, and how grace and truth can help rebuild trust. Plus, Heartlight teen Anna shares her story of pain, attention-seeking and healing.

Learn to identify the pain that may be driving your teen’s behavior and some practical steps for getting to the heart of the matter at bit.ly/the-hurt-behind-the-behavior

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.


Raising a teenager can feel like navigating uncharted territory every single day. Parenting Today's Teens is here to walk that path with you, offering a steady voice amid the chaos. Mark Gregston brings more than four decades of direct experience working with families to each conversation, translating complex adolescent behaviors into understandable insights. You’ll hear honest discussions about defiance, screen time, emotional withdrawal, and the search for identity, all framed with a perspective that is both pragmatic and hopeful. This isn’t about quick fixes or perfect formulas; it’s about building a lasting, authentic connection with your teen even when it’s difficult. Mark’s approach is grounded in real-world application, offering strategies you can consider and adapt the very same day. The podcast draws from a well of wisdom that respects the spiritual and personal growth of the entire family, recognizing that parenting a teen often means revisiting your own beliefs and reactions. Tune in for a resource that feels like a thoughtful conversation with a trusted guide, one that acknowledges the struggles while consistently pointing toward practical solutions and renewed understanding for the modern parent.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Parenting Today's Teens
Podcast Episodes
The Hidden Damage of Social Media Drama [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:36
What happens when social media turns everyday teenage drama into nonstop emotional pressure? In this episode, Mark, Wayne Shepherd and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur discuss the emotional toll of mean girls, onlin…
I Mustache Mark a Question: Boundaries, Loss and Letting Go [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:59
On today’s Q&A episode, Mark tackles a variety of real issues families face with teens, including anxiety, depression, substance use, relationship struggles and the pitfalls of entitlement. We'll discuss healthy ways to…
What’s Standing Between You and Your Teen? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:36
Why do some parent-teen relationships slowly drift apart — even when both sides still care deeply? In this episode, Mark and Wayne unpack some of the biggest barriers that can damage connection with teens, including misu…
Why Teens Need Someone Who Will Listen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:24
Could one simple parenting skill completely change your relationship with your teen? In this episode, Mark shares why listening may be the most powerful way to connect with today’s adolescents. In a culture full of noise…
Teen Stories: Alone in a Crowd [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:40
Sometimes, being surrounded by people isn’t enough to shake off the feeling of isolation. In this episode, Mark chats with two teens from Heartlight who know that struggle all too well. Despite their different background…
What Your Teen Wishes You Would Hear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:59
Could the biggest change in your relationship with your teen begin with simply listening better? In this episode, Mark and Wayne explore why today’s teens are desperate to feel heard, and why many stop talking when they…
Teaching, Training and Transferring Faith [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:27
How do you help your teen build a faith that truly becomes their own? In this episode, Mark, Wayne and Heartlight Counselor Courtney LaFleur discuss why parents must move from simply teaching faith to gradually transferr…
When Parenting Feels Like Rejection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:31
What if your teen’s struggles are also revealing something deeper in you? In this episode, Mark shares a deeply personal devotional about rejection, failure and the lifelong journey toward authenticity. Reflecting on bei…
Teen Stories: When Life Feels Too Heavy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:11
Sometimes, the pain teens carry becomes so overwhelming that they feel there’s no way out. In today’s show, we share Mark's interviews with two young women at Heartlight who both faced those darkest moments and attempted…