Ep. 86: Staff Christmas Party

by Karlie Duke | Dec 20, 2022 | Mental Health, Podcast

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Summary:
Join us for a special episode where the Teen Life staff share their own Christmas traditions. Chris and Karlie are joined by Program Director, Tobin Hodges, and Development Director, Priscilla Morrison, who give their insights into ways to make the holidays fun (and less stressful) for the whole family.

In this episode, we mentioned or used the following resources:

Netflix: White Christmas
Disney+: Home Alone
Amazon: Jingle All the Way
HBO Max: Elf
Amazon: It’s a Wonderful Life
Lubbock Christian University: Youth Ministry Degree
LCU Contact: David Fraze
Podcast music by Luke Cabrera & Tobin Hodges

Have a question? If you have a question about something you heard or just want to give us some feedback, please leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you!

About Us:

Chris Robey

CEO

Chris has worked with teens from a variety of backgrounds for over a decade. He has a desire to help teenagers make good choices while also giving their families tools to communicate more effectively as choices are made.

Karlie Duke

Director of Communications

Karlie was in one of Teen Life’s original support groups and has always had a heart for teenagers and the vulnerable life stage they are in. She has a wealth of experience to share from working with teens in ministry and leading support groups.

Tobin Hodges

Program Director

Tobin graduated with a Bachelors of Music from Texas Tech University. A teacher’s kid twice over, he taught for 13 years before coming to Teen Life. His entire career has been centered around helping students and teens from all walks of life become the best version of themselves

Priscilla Morrison

Director of Development

Director of Development Priscilla Morrison is a mother to two teenagers with a wealth of personal experience in managing relationships. She believes it is our moral obligation to prepare young adults to face life’s challenges.

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Ep. 85: Christmas Activities & New Movies

by Kelly Fann | Dec 13, 2022 | Holidays, Mental Health, Parenting, Podcast

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Summary:
What Christmas traditions do you look forward to every year? Chris and Karlie share a plethora of great ideas for holiday traditions that will involve the teenagers in your family and create great memories for everyone. We’ve also got a great lineup of movies to see this season in theaters or on streaming. Be sure to stay tuned for our tip on how to make the holidays more meaningful.

In this episode, we mentioned or used the following resources:

Entertainment Weekly: Widows, meteorologists, and secret recipes: The biggest trends in new Christmas movies
PureWow: The 77 Best Family Christmas Movies to Watch with Your Kids This Holiday Season
Avatar: The Way of Water
I Wanna Dance with Somebody
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
A Man Called Otto
Lubbock Christian University: Youth Ministry Degree
LCU Contact: David Fraze
Podcast music by Luke Cabrera & Tobin Hodges

Have a question? If you have a question about something you heard or just want to give us some feedback, please leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you!

About Us:

Chris Robey

CEO

Karlie Duke

Director of Communications

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Ep. 36: Christmas Traditions

by Kelly Fann | Dec 7, 2021 | Holidays, Parenting, Podcast

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Summary:
What are your favorite Christmas traditions? Especially during the holidays, family traditions come to the forefront and every family is different. In episode 36, Chris and Karlie talk common Christmas traditions like matching pjs, movies to watch, and funny fails. Listen for fun ways to celebrate the holidays and get new ideas on how to make the most of your time together.

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Pickle Ornament
The Palace Theater
To Watch:
White Christmas
Elf
The Santa Clause
Home Alone
Home Sweet Home Alone
Christmas Vacation
It’s a Wonderful Life
Miracle on 34th Street
Die Hard
To Read:
The Polar Express
The Night Before Christmas
To Play:
Settlers of Catan
Oven Mitt Game
Podcast music by Luke Cabrera

Have a question? If you have a question about something you heard or just want to give us some feedback, please leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you!

About Us:

Chris Robey

CEO

Karlie Duke

Director of Communications

Karlie was in one of Teen Life’s original support groups and now is passionate about encouraging students to live better stories. She has gained experience working with teenagers through work, volunteer, and personal opportunities.

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2021 Christmas Gift Guide

by Kelly Fann | Nov 30, 2021 | Podcast

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Summary:
Still looking for the perfect gift for your teenager? We’ve got it covered with some great picks that even the hardest to shop for teen is sure to love. Listen along as Karlie and Chris talk through gift ideas by personality type and trend. This is a special Christmas episode you won’t want to miss!

In this episode, we mentioned the following resources:

Have a question? If you have a question about something you heard or just want to give us some feedback, please leave us a comment below. We would love to hear from you!

About Us:

Chris Robey

CEO

Karlie Duke

Director of Communications

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What Teens Want for Christmas in 2021

by Karlie Duke | Nov 25, 2021 | Blog, Resources

Buying gifts for teens can seem impossible, especially since they probably aren’t writing letters to Santa anymore. We’re here to help you build stronger connections with the teens in your life, so we’ve put together a list of gift ideas that are cool enough to impress without breaking your budget.

Make sure to scroll all the way to the trending gifts where you’ll find links too! We don’t receive any kind of compensation from your purchase.

Gift Ideas by Personality:

A laptop/tablet or fancy planner
Jewelry organizer or grooming kit
Self-Improvement lessons – voice lessons, golf lessons, photography webinar etc.
Organize their room/closet/car or create a space for them to stay organized at home.

Candles, decor, a backpack purse
A splurge item that they would like but wouldn’t ever buy themselves
A spa gift card so they can take care of themselves
A family cookbook or recipe box

Clothes (think something nice that will help them stand out – a jacket, fancy shoes, etc.); Birchbox Subscription
A nice wallet or custom jewelry
A shopping spree
A day helping them accomplish a goal – training for a 5K, washing/cleaning out their car, etc.

Unique graphic tee or tote bag with a fun saying
Record player and a few of their favorite albums or a Spotify subscription
Tickets to a concert or an art museum
A book of letters and memories from loved ones

Kindle or audiobook subscription
AirPods or a video game console
Movie tickets or a planned trip to tour something they are interested in (national parks, Hall of Fame, Presidential Library)
Spend a day learning about something they love. Let them educate you for once!

Weighted or super cozy blanket
Clothing that supports their favorite team or interest
Take them to a new restaurant or coffee shop that they would love but might never pick themselves.
Write them a letter that mentions all the ways you see and appreciate them.

Fujifilm Instax Mini 11 Camera
Weekender bag or fun luggage
A fun weekend away! Try an Airbnb gift card to give them a budget.
Surprise them with some quality time! Let them skip a day of school and just be together.

Nice watch or Fitness tracker
Something that they have mentioned that would be helpful or a gift card to their favorite store
Tickets to a concert or show that they would enjoy
Quality time – plan a day just for them. Be intentional about telling them how much you respect and appreciate them.

A coffee maker and a travel mug, a t-shirt quilt of their favorite old shirts
Something that supports their favorite habit (guitar, tools, nail polish, etc.)
A new book and gift card to their favorite coffee shop so they can go spend the day by themselves
Is there a project they have put off? Dedicate a weekend and help them finish anything they started but didn’t get around to completing.