Northbrook Next Gen Podcast

Helping Your Child Win the Mental Health Battle

In this episode, Jenny Heckman, Pastor of Care, joins me for an honest and hopeful conversation designed to encourage and equip parents—not burden them.  In this episode, we talk about:• Why parents still know their kids best• Simple, powerful habits that support mental health• The real impact of social media on kids’ brains• When to step in—and when to seek help• How faith, hope, and connection make a difference.

Sports, Schedules, and Finding Sabbath

Between sports, school events, church activities, and everything in between—family life is BUSY. But is all this activity helping or hurting us?In this honest and practical episode, Pastor Jon Mahlstedt (NextGen Pastor at Northbrook Church) and Pastor Zack Casper (Associate Pastor at Fulton Church) sit down for a real conversation about the silent killer of busyness. They talk about the toll it’s taking on parents, kids, and faith—and how we can fight back with intentional rhythms that honor God.💬 Why is busyness so normalized in Christian families?🙇‍♂️ What does it look like to steward your time for God’s glory?📅 How can we start reclaiming margin in our homes?🎧 Tune in now and join the conversation.

Why are Students Leaving the Church?

Why are so many students walking away from their faith after high school? As a Next Gen Pastor, Pastor Jon has seen the trends, had the conversations, and wrestled with the reality that too many young people disengage from church after graduation. In this episode, he unpacks five key reasons why this is happening—and what we can do about it. Whether you're a parent, pastor, or student, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to rethink how we disciple the next generation.Tune in and let’s talk about it!

Interview with Terra Mattson

Today Pastor Jon interviews our upcoming Equip Parenting Conference speaker, Terra Mattson. Terra is a licensed marriage and family therapist, licensed professional counselor, clinical supervisor, executive coach, social entrepreneur, and co-founder of Living Wholehearted and Courageous Girls alongside her husband, Jeff.
We are thrilled she will be at Northbrook March 7/8 for our Equip parenting conference, and excited to let our audience get to know Terra a little bit before next month!
Here is the link to register for the conference and Pastor Jon's email to be entered into a drawing to win a free ticket to the conference!
Conference registration page (scroll to bottom of page)
Pastor Jon's email
Here is the link to Terra's book and website.
Courageous book
Terra's website

Four Battles Students Face

Welcome to helping students in 2025! We all want to help the young people in our lives, but helping starts with understanding. In this episode Pastor Jon dives into four battles students are facing right now and how parents and loved ones can support them.

Summer Book Recommendations

Pastor Jon and his wife Shalanna share over 20 of their favorite books for parents and teens in categories like parenting, spirituality, leadership, biographies, politics and more. Everyone is sure to hear at least one book they mention that sparks an interest! Find links to all the books they mention below:
The Anxious Generation
Books by David and Sissy
Your New Playlist
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Do Hard Things
Habitudes
The Dare
Truth Matters
Practicing the Way
Hidden Potential
The Road Back to You
Tired of Being Tired
Breaking Free from Body Shame
Not in it to Win it
Jesus and the Powers
Thirst
A Burning in My Bones
Love Does
Everybody Always

Q&A with David Thomas

David Thomas answers some of the questions we didn't get to at the Equip parenting conference. Great wisdom for any parent!
Road Back to You Enneagram Book
Enneagram Made Easy
Driven to Distraction Book
Raising Boys and Girls

An Interview with Northbrook Parent Mentors

Northbrook parent mentors John and Jill Peterson share their insights on what parent mentoring is, who would benefit from it, and other helpful parenting advice they've learned over the years!
Ben Pugh Podcast:
https://open.spotify.com/show/1ryt1j8QCaoseRPQHw9eSL
Books:
https://www.amazon.com/Doing-Life-Your-Adult-Children/dp/0310353777/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1707426179&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Raising-Girls-Melissa-Trevathan/dp/0310272890/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2GC7P6N7GWPAV&keywords=raising+girls+sissy+goff&qid=1707426157&s=books&sprefix=raising+girls+siss%2Cstripbooks%2C122&sr=1-1
https://www.amazon.com/Wild-Things-Art-Nurturing-Boys/dp/1414322275/ref=asc_df_1414322275/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312710253827&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11850429507258787461&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018754&hvtargid=pla-435818556871&psc=1&mcid=14ab79d5013234f1851aacb9691f796f&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=61681020945&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=312710253827&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11850429507258787461&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9018754&hvtargid=pla-435818556871&gclid=CjwKCAiAlJKuBhAdEiwAnZb7lTK38g8xqe6bwJp-btFv8MMBPkG02kiJGIrM0o3e_IQA4mwMuazAZBoCHEUQAvD_BwE
https://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Love-Logic-Teaching-Responsibility/dp/1631469061/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3TXXUQX3PN6Y&keywords=love+and+logic+parenting+book&qid=1707426206&s=books&sprefix=love+and+log%2Cstripbooks%2C132&sr=1-1

Healthy Marriages in 2024 with Pastor Jenny Heckman

Looking to work on your marriage? Whether you have a healthy marriage and want to keep it that way, your marriage is in crisis, or your marriage is somewhere in between, we're here to help! Join Pastor Jon and Pastor Jenny as they share resources provided by Northbrook for marriages in any state of health, and Jenny shares some simple advice to make your marriage healthier in the coming year.
Additional Resources:
https://www.gottman.com/couples/
https://www.amazon.com/Seven-Principles-Making-Marriage-Work/dp/0553447718/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3OX8LKG84YYB8&keywords=gottman+books&qid=1704731899&sprefix=gottman+book%2Caps%2C849&sr=8-3
https://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Marriage-Facing-Complexities-Commitment/dp/1594631875/ref=sr_1_1?crid=59L2R1IPVYC8&keywords=the+meaning+of+marriage+tim+keller&qid=1704731925&sprefix=the+meaning+of+%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-1
https://www.northbrookchurch.org/

Christmas Present Ideas for Parents/Grandparents

This Christmas season Pastor Jon and his wife Shalanna talk about great gift ideas to help kids birth through college grow in their spiritual development, improve mental health, or gifts that facilitate quality time as a family!
Next Gen Survey
Gift link list:
Parent Cue Gift List
Stair Slide
Beginner's Bible
Adventure Bible
Action Bible
NIV Teen Study Bible
God Speaks in Whispers Book
Indescribable for Little Ones Books
Indescribable 100 Devotions About God and Science
Ready Set Move Devotional
Into the Unknown Middle School Devotional
Your New Playlist Book
Do Hard Things Book
Truth Matters Book
Ruthless Elimination of Hurry Book
How to See God Devotional for High School
How to Be Human Book
Crazy Fort Glow in the Dark
Match Up Memory Snack Game
Bounce Game
Q's Race to the Top Board Game
Talking Points Card Game
Fat Brain Box and Balls Game
Hot Potato Game