Teen Stories: The Disconnection Dilemma

Teen Stories: The Disconnection Dilemma

Author: Mark Gregston April 14, 2026 Duration: 24:02

Many of today’s teens are searching for where they fit in. Sometimes they pull away from family, dive too deep into the digital world or don't know how to reach out for help. On this episode, Mark sits down with two young ladies from Heartlight who get honest about feeling misunderstood and cut off — whether that came from changing schools, substance use or hours spent glued to a phone. They reveal how their search for belonging led them down difficult paths, but with time and honest conversations, they’ve discovered the importance of rebuilding real connections — with their families and with themselves. 

Know a young adult who loves working with teens? We may have a spot for them among our residential staff! Go to heartlight.jobs to learn more. 

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
A Fresh Start for Your Family [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:59
As a new year begins, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur encourage families to pause and have honest, grace-filled conversations with their teens. This is a powerful opportunity to listen to what your tee…
Knowing What’s Normal in the Teen Years [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:03
Mark Gregston reminds parents that many frustrating teen behaviors are actually normal parts of adolescence and part of how kids learn to grow into adulthood. Understanding what’s normal can lower anxiety and help parent…
Teen Stories: Weathering the Storm [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:02
Family relationships aren’t always easy, and sometimes the toughest struggles can lead to the strongest connections. On today’s episode, Mark sits down with two young women at Heartlight who have walked through dark seas…
Help for When Parents Feel Hopeless [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:10
On today's episode, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur remind parents who feel overwhelmed by a child’s struggles — whether addiction, pregnancy or deep emotional pain — that their situation is not hopele…
Grandparenting During the Holidays [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:54
Merry Christmas! The holidays can unite families, and grandparents play a unique role in setting a warm, meaningful tone for those gatherings. Today, Mark Gregston, Wayne Shepherd and Courtney Lafleur explain that grandp…
Giving Teens Certainty in an Uncertain World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:08
Join Mark Gregston as he talks about how Luke’s account of Christ’s birth highlights a powerful idea often overlooked. Mark explains that modern adolescents live with unprecedented exposure to uncertainty — from social p…
Teen Stories: When Parents Really Listen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:39
What happens when teens feel unheard at home? This week, Mark talks with two Heartlight teens, who bravely share their battles with depression, insecurity and the search for real connection. Beneath struggles with anger,…
Allowing Teens to Control Their Lives [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:21
Today, Mark Gregston and Wayne Shepherd discuss how parents often hold tightly to control out of fear, but doing so can stunt a teen’s ability to develop maturity and self-control. Mark explains that healthy independence…