Broadband internet expanded rapidly in the early 2010s, and teen mental health concerns rose alongside it. Is the internet the problem? Or is loneliness the deeper issue? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy unpack research, rural broadband history, teen identity formation, and what Psalm 42 teaches us about longing and connection.

Nearly 80% of high school students report getting less than the recommended amount of sleep. Is it puberty, caffeine, busy schedules, or digital distraction? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy explore the causes and dangers of teen sleep deprivation and how Psalm 127 reframes sleep as a gift from God.

More parents are pushing back against school issued devices, citing distraction, inappropriate access, and concerns about learning loss. Should schools count classroom screen time differently from recreational use? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy explore the formation question behind technology and what the Tower of Babel teaches us about tools and pride.

Why are so many kids picky eaters today? Is it selfishness, fear, lack of exposure, or something deeper? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy unpack cultural food trends, parenting pressure, restaurant frustration, and what the Israelites' craving for Egypt teaches us about control and growth.

In this special Saturday Q&A episode, Wayne and Dr. Kathy answer real parent questions from a Be Bold for Jesus event in Spokane. Topics include teenage hormonal rages, foster child grief, loud and goofy personalities, advanced toddlers, adult word-smart debates, and how the 8 Great Smarts apply for a lifetime.

Americans are marrying later than ever. But is delaying marriage actually costing young adults something deeper? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy unpack Brad Wilcox's warning about the "Midas mindset," the difference between marriage and idolatry, and how to talk to kids about family without making it an idol.

A new Institute for Family Studies report (surveying nearly 24,000 parents and more than 40,000 children, including 2,600 teens) argues that modern culture quietly rewards one kind of parenting: keeping kids quiet, often by putting them in front of a screen. In this conversation, Wayne and Dr. Kathy talk honestly about the moment we all recognize, when a baby cries in a restaurant, or a kid is "being a kid" in public, and why our irritation may reveal a deeper cultural drift toward convenience over community. Then they pivot to hope: why real world practice (restaurants, church, airports, sidewalks, teams, trees, and yes, even scraped knees) is one of God's most practical tools for building resilient kids.

Many parents want to give their children the childhood they never had. But can parenting from past pain unintentionally create new problems? In this episode of Facing the Dark, Wayne and Dr. Kathy explore how trauma, overcorrection, discernment, and security in God shape healthy parenting, and how to break cycles without parenting from fear.