The Alisa Childers Podcast

When YouTubers Jesse and Ashley Ridgeway announced that they had aborted their baby after receiving a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis, the story sparked intense online debate. But what if the voices most needed in that conversation were the parents who received similar diagnoses—and chose life?

In this episode, Alisa is joined by two mothers whose children were diagnosed with chromosomal abnormalities before birth. Carli's son, Shep, has Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), and Mandi's daughter, Ellie, has Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), a condition often described by medical professionals as "incompatible with life."

Together, they share their deeply personal journeys of receiving devastating prenatal diagnoses, navigating fear and uncertainty, confronting the messages they received from the medical community, and ultimately choosing to welcome their children into the world. They also respond to the Ridgeways' public statements and discuss the broader cultural implications of selective abortion based on disability.

This conversation explores suffering, trust in God, the value of every human life, and the unexpected joy that can emerge from circumstances many people are told to fear. Whether you're facing a difficult diagnosis, walking alongside someone who is, or simply seeking to think more deeply about these issues, this episode offers hope, perspective, and encouragement.

Mandi's resources:
* Instagram & YouTube: @alittleextramomming
* Website: extracarecollective.com

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This video is sponsored by:

SEVEN WEEKS COFFEE
Taste the Coffee that is Saving Lives.
Go to http://www.sevenweekscoffee.com/ for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

A'DEL NATURAL COSMETICS
Elevate your skincare routine with A'del's toxin-free cosmetics. 
Experience the difference in quality and purity. 
Go to www.adelnaturalcosmetics.com for more information. 
Use my code: ALISA 

GOOD RANCHERS
American Meat Delivered
Go to https://go.goodranchers.com/alisa for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

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Booking: www.alisachilders.com/booking

To help in your study of the Bible: www.logos.com/alisa

To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music
There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon:  www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”:  www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/
To order “Live Your Truth":  www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/
To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/

How do you share the gospel with someone who seems to have heard every argument and rejected every answer? What do you do when conversations with a skeptical friend, a deconstructed child, or even a hostile questioner seem to hit a brick wall?

In this episode, I sit down with apologist and pastor Jason Jimenez to explore how Christians can engage difficult conversations with wisdom, gentleness, and truth. Drawing from real-life experiences on college campuses, ministry events, and personal relationships, we discuss how to identify the deeper questions beneath people's objections and how to communicate in ways that foster understanding rather than defensiveness.

Topics include:

Reaching people who seem resistant to the gospel
Engaging skeptics with empathy and discernment
Practical insights for conversations with those on the autism spectrum
Navigating relationships with deconstructed family members
Understanding the difference between sheep and wolves
Responding to hostility without compromising truth
Why character matters as much as content in apologetics

Whether you're trying to reconnect with an estranged adult child, answer a skeptical friend, or simply become a more effective ambassador for Christ, this conversation offers biblical wisdom and practical encouragement for some of life's most challenging conversations.

Connect with Jason Jimenez:
Stand Strong Ministries
Books: Hijacking Jesus and Challenging Conversations

Resources Mentioned:
Another Gospel Student Edition (now available on Audible)

Subscribe to The Alisa Childers Podcast and share this episode with someone who wants to communicate truth with both conviction and grace.

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This video is sponsored by:

RANGE LEATHER
American-Made Craftsmanship from Wyoming
Go to www.rangeleather.com for more information
Use my code: ALISA

WE HEART NUTRITION
From Our Family to Yours, Whole Supplements for Every Age and Stage.
Go to http://www.weheartnutrition.com for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

FOUNDATION WORLDVIEW
Foundation Worldview creates curriculum series that will empower your child to think
Biblically in a deceptive world. 
Go to www.foundationworldview.com for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

ALLIANCE FAMILY SERVICES
Alliance Family Services is a Gospel-centered organization that relentlessly advocates for
preborn children, women, and families by providing exceptional reproductive healthcare, 
Biblical discipleship, and social support.
Go to www.alliancefamilyservices.org for more information

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Booking: www.alisachilders.com/booking

To help in your study of the Bible: www.logos.com/alisa

To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music
There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”: www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/
To order “Live Your Truth": www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/
To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/

Did I owe Sheila Gregoire a private conversation before critiquing The Great Sex Rescue? Am I unqualified to review her work because I haven't read other books in the Christian marriage genre? And is it fair to question the methodology behind her research?

In this episode, I respond to the most common objections raised after my conversation with Anne Kennedy about The Great Sex Rescue. We'll discuss whether public ideas require public critique, the difference between anecdotal evidence and sound research, and why Scripture, not personal experience, must remain the Christian's ultimate authority.

I'll also address the controversy surrounding comments by Al Mohler regarding women on church-sanctioned podcasts. Did he really say women shouldn't have podcasts? Is there a meaningful difference between a woman speaking publicly and a woman functioning in a pastoral role? And am I being inconsistent in the way I apply those principles?

These conversations touch on some of the most emotionally charged issues in the church today: sex, marriage, gender roles, authority, discernment, and biblical faithfulness. My goal isn't to win arguments but to model critical thinking, clarify what I actually believe, and encourage Christians to test every claim against the Word of God.

Let's sort through the controversy, examine the assumptions, and pursue truth with both conviction and grace.

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This video is sponsored by:

GOOD RANCHERS
American Meat Delivered
Go to https://go.goodranchers.com/alisa for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

SEVEN WEEKS COFFEE
Taste the Coffee that is Saving Lives.
Go to http://www.sevenweekscoffee.com/ for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

A'DEL NATURAL COSMETICS
Elevate your skincare routine with A'del's toxin-free cosmetics. 
Experience the difference in quality and purity. 
Go to www.adelnaturalcosmetics.com for more information. 
Use my code: ALISA 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Booking: www.alisachilders.com/booking

To help in your study of the Bible: www.logos.com/alisa

To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music
There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”: www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/
To order “Live Your Truth": www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/
To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/

Gentle parenting is everywhere—but is it biblical?

In this episode, I’m joined by Brett and Erin Kunkle of Maven to ask what’s really underneath one of today’s most popular parenting movements. Is gentle parenting just a kinder, more compassionate approach—or is it built on a worldview that quietly redefines sin, authority, discipline, and the role of parents?

We talk about the overlap between gentle parenting, progressive theology, critical theory, and expressive individualism. We also ask the big question: Who gets the final word in our homes—God and His Word, or our children and their feelings?

Brett and Erin help us break down the assumptions behind the movement, respond to popular gentle parenting videos, and explain why this conversation matters for parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers—and anyone who cares about the next generation.

The Truth About Gentle Parenting e-book: https://equip.maventruth.com/gentle-parenting-ebook

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This video is sponsored by:

WE HEART NUTRITION
From Our Family to Yours, Whole Supplements for Every Age and Stage.
Go to http://www.weheartnutrition.com for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

RANGE LEATHER
American-Made Craftsmanship from Wyoming
Go to www.rangeleather.com for more information
Use my code: ALISA

A'DEL NATURAL COSMETICS
Elevate your skincare routine with A'del's toxin-free cosmetics. 
Experience the difference in quality and purity. 
Go to www.adelnaturalcosmetics.com for more information. 
Use my code: ALISA 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Booking: www.alisachilders.com/booking

To help in your study of the Bible: www.logos.com/alisa

To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music
There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”: www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/
To order “Live Your Truth": www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/
To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/

How do Christians pursue truth without falling into paranoia, manipulation, or online radicalization?

In this personal episode, I share the story of how I once got swept into a conspiracy theory during a season of spiritual crisis and explain what eventually changed my mind. I also discuss the recent conspiracy narratives surrounding Charlie Kirk’s murder, Frank Turek, Candace Owens, and the rise of online suspicion culture.

I break down the common hallmarks of conspiracy thinking, including unfalsifiable claims, selective evidence, emotional reasoning, insinuation, hidden knowledge, moving goalposts, and the assumption of coordinated secret intent. I also explore how Gnosticism and “secret knowledge” continue to shape modern online culture.

Plus:
Why smart people fall for conspiracy theories
How AI and deepfakes are changing discernment
The difference between skepticism and cynicism
How social media algorithms reward outrage and certainty
What real evidence actually looks like
Questions Christians should ask before sharing claims online

This episode is not about mocking people or blindly trusting institutions. It’s about learning to think critically, pursue truth with humility, and avoid being manipulated by emotionally charged narratives.

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This video is sponsored by:

FOUNDATION WORLDVIEW
Foundation Worldview creates curriculum series that will empower your child to think
Biblically in a deceptive world. 
Go to www.foundationworldview.com for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

SEVEN WEEKS COFFEE
Taste the Coffee that is Saving Lives.
Go to http://www.sevenweekscoffee.com/ for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

GOOD RANCHERS
American Meat Delivered
Go to https://go.goodranchers.com/alisa for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Booking: www.alisachilders.com/booking

To help in your study of the Bible: www.logos.com/alisa

To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music
There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”: www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/
To order “Live Your Truth": www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/
To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/