The Families First Podcast

Episode 9: Talking to Your Kids About Sex with Hillary Morgan Ferrer

Talking to your kids about sex doesn’t have to be awkward—or avoided. In this episode, host Pastor Jonathan Olavarria sits down with Hillary Morgan Ferrer, founder of Mama Bear Apologetics, to share practical, biblical ways to guide conversations about sex, gender, and God’s design. We’ll tackle when to start, how to talk to boys and girls differently, navigating gender confusion, and what to do if you feel like you’ve “missed the moment.” About Hillary: Hillary is the bestselling author of Mama Bear Apologetics and Mama Bear Apologetics Guide to Sexuality. She equips parents to discern truth from lies in today’s culture, drawing from her background in biology and her passion for faith-based family discipleship.

Episode 8: Dealing with Difficult Faith Questions with Pastor Curtis Dunlap

What do you do when your child asks, “Why does God allow suffering?” or “Is Jesus the only way?” In this honest and hope-filled conversation, Pastor Curtis Dunlap helps parents navigate the hard questions kids are asking about faith, culture, and truth. Pastor Curt serves as the Family Life and Teaching Pastor at Epiphany Fellowship Church in Philadelphia, where he leads ministries for men, marriages, and youth. He’s also the founder of the Resolve Youth Conference and a passionate discipler of the next generation. With a heart for urban ministry and deep experience as a husband, father, and pastor, he brings both biblical depth and practical wisdom.

Episode 7: Fathering Generation Alpha: Leading with Love, Faith, and Grit

As Father’s Day approaches, we’re sitting down with three incredible dads and ministry leaders—Bishop Daniel Felipe, Pastor Mark Wagnon, and Pastor Carlos Perez—for a real and refreshing conversation on what it means to father Generation Alpha. From digital distractions to shifting family dynamics, these leaders unpack the joys and challenges of raising kids in today’s world while staying grounded in biblical truth. Whether you’re a dad, a mentor, or a church leader walking alongside parents, this episode offers wisdom, humor, and encouragement for anyone shaping the hearts of the next generation.

Episode 6: Understanding AI's Impact on Family Life

In this powerful episode, Arlene Pellicane shares insight on how families can raise emotionally healthy and spiritually strong children in a screen-saturated, AI-driven world. From her book Screen Kids (coauthored with Dr. Gary Chapman) to her wisdom as a mother and advocate for delayed tech, Arlene equips parents and grandparents with practical tools to help kids thrive in real life—not just the digital one. Resources Mentioned:  For information and resources sponsored by Child Discipleship & Faith Formation, visit us at www.cogop.org/children [http://www.cogop.org/children].  * Screen Kids [https://www.amazon.com/Screen-Kids-Skills-Every-Tech-Driven/dp/0802422209]by Arlene Pellicane & Dr. Gary Chapman * Grandparenting Screen Kids [https://www.amazon.com/dp/0802420702/ref=mes-dp?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=krsOc&content-id=amzn1.sym.8572ac08-6096-4eb6-b32e-2c759cc3eb5b&pf_rd_p=8572ac08-6096-4eb6-b32e-2c759cc3eb5b&pf_rd_r=DGZWAYWAC913PFP5Y2N8&pd_rd_wg=Z1bf5&pd_rd_r=7c251520-47e6-4cf3-89c7-7271301e3461] by Arlene Pellicane & Dr. Gary Chapman * Arlene’s Podcast: Happy Home Podcast [https://arlenepellicane.com/podcasts/] * The Social Dilemma [https://www.netflix.com/title/81254224] (Netflix Documentary)

Episode 5: Teaching Our Kids to Defend Their Faith with Dr. Brian Dembowczyk

In this episode, Pastor Jonathan Olavarria interviews Dr. Brian Dembowczyk, who joins us to discuss practical ways families can cultivate a strong, enduring faith in their children. Tune in to discover how you can guide your children to stand confidently in their faith and stay rooted in God’s Word. Dr. Brian Dembowczyk, associate publisher for Thomas Nelson Bibles and author of Family Discipleship That Works. Dr. Dembowczyk previously served as managing editor of The Gospel Project, a Bible study curriculum reaching over 1.6 million participants each week, and has held pastoral roles focused on discipleship and family ministry. Follow along with SHOW NOTES [https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/e6bva7navg72mzd0lclxs/Episode-5-Teaching-Kids-to-Defend-Faith.pdf?rlkey=kmu54rj1kwwvkcuu8syha0j0r&st=0yut3v0d&dl=0].  Resources mentioned: Family Discipleship That Works [https://www.amazon.com/Family-Discipleship-That-Works-Guiding/dp/151400996X] The Gospel: God's Plan for Me [https://www.lifeway.com/en/product-family/the-gospel-gods-plan-for-me]