Let's Talk TCA Podcast

This summer, Tom Landry Stadium had new state-of-the-art turf installed that is arguably the best playing surface at any school, anywhere. In this episode, Steve Hayes, TCA’s football head coach and newly appointed athletic director, talks about the new playing field and other recent improvements to the athletics facilities. He is joined by TCA alum and former football player Jason Delph ’07, the co-founder (along with fellow ’07 classmate Nick Pavey) of ForeverLawn Texas, as well as ForeverLawn’s Director of Marketing Derek Taylor and Installation Support Team Leader Aaron Gressel. Together, they explain what makes the new field best-in-class. The new combination of padding and turf provides better safety and traction than other fields, reducing the potential for injuries and fatigue and helping our athletes perform better. It is approved by both the NFL and FIFA, and TCA is the first school in Texas to have this new turf.

Are you addicted to your phone? As parents, how should we be thinking about smartphone use? In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof talks with Joey Odom, co-founder of technology company Aro, about how to build a healthy relationship with your smartphone. Many of us often find ourselves distracted by our phones, focused on social media or other apps instead of interacting with the people around us. Phones can take our attention away from being present with our spouse or kids, and our kids themselves run the danger of being the first generation to die with more of other people’s memories than memories of their own. We may think we are addicted to our phones, but this is not an addiction we are powerless over; it is a habit that we can change. Mr. Odom talks about the importance of modeling healthy smartphone use for our children, as well as the realization that smartphone use can take away from the limited and precious time we have with our kids before they are grown. When you change your relationship with your phone, you change your relationship with everyone around you, including yourself. Mr. Odom lays out four simple ways to change your relationship with your phone: 1. Start with yourself and what you are modeling for others. 2. Spend one hour a day physically distant from your phone. 3. Establish sacred times and spaces that are phone-free. 4. Search for moments of connection with your family or friends. Joey Odom's company, Aro, helps people change phone habits throught the use of an app and a device that stores and charges your phone. You can learn more about it at goaro.com [https://www.goaro.com/].

TCA is a college preparatory school, and that preparation begins long before college applications are filled out. In this episode, Tracy Bartholomew, part of TCA’s college counseling team, discusses how parents can help their children start thinking about the future and taking their first steps towards college and career decisions. Tracy and host Cynthia Yanof talk about: * How parents can help their children discover God’s calling for their lives. * How students can begin exploring different interests and fields of study. * How TCA’s college counselors help students each year along the way. * An easy way for students to document their activities and achievements throughout Upper School to aid in the college application process. * When students should start visiting colleges. * The honors leadership class that Tracy teaches. * A reminder that college is a match to be made, not a prize to be won. Tracy also lists some recommended resources, including the College Essay Guy (collegeessayguy.com [https://www.collegeessayguy.com/]); Never Enough [https://www.jenniferbwallace.com/about-never-enough] by Jennifer Wallace; and Untangled [https://drlisadamour.com/books/untangled/], Under Pressure [https://drlisadamour.com/books/under-pressure/] and  The Emotional Lives of Teenagers [https://drlisadamour.com/books/the-emotional-lives-of-teenagers/] by Lisa Damour, Ph.D.

In this episode, host Cynthia Yanof talks with people all over TCA to get the scoop on some new things that have happened or will happen soon. This top 10 list includes: * An increased emphasis and investment in biblical worldview * The addition of a full-time athletics chaplain  * Upgrades to the baseball and softball fields * The addition of a new preK section and a new playground * New dining options in the cafeterias * Invisible security upgrades to the campus * Adjusting the cell phone policy to improve student well-being * An upcoming month of prayer on the TCA campus * The first class of senior prefects * Updates on leadership hires We appreciate your prayers and support as we continually strive to make the TCA experience the best it can be.

In this episode of Let’s Talk TCA, the tables are turned as our regular host, Cynthia Yanof, becomes a guest on the podcast. TCA student Ella Eubanks interviews Cynthia about her new book, “Life Is Messy, God Is Good,” and her experiences as a podcaster, a foster mom, and a TCA parent.   Life is hard, and it often goes “off script.” Cynthia talks about having a theology that lines up with reality and finding God at work in the middle of our messes. She shares “messy truths” from her book, heartwarming stories from the TCA community, and insights from being “the oldest mom on the playground.”   As a special treat to our listeners, we are also giving away 20 signed copies of Cynthia’s book. To enter your name into a drawing for the books, simply email podcast@trinitychristian.org [podcast@trinitychristian.org] with a suggestion for a future podcast topic or guest. Out of everyone who emails an idea, 20 people will be randomly selected to receive a free book.   You can order Cynthia’s book and find more of her podcasts at cynthiayanof.com [https://cynthiayanof.com/].