Season: 22 Episode: 307
Summary
Why did Charlie Kirk resonate so deeply with young people, and what does that reveal about what’s missing in our homes today? In this episode, Shanda sits down with her husband, Dean Fulbright, to talk about the truths every young person should first hear around the dining room table – truths like God exists. They discuss why belief in God shapes a young man’s identity, responsibility, and courage, and how fathers and mentors can prepare the next generation to stand firm in a culture that denies Him.
Question One
Why do you think Charlie Kirk resonated so much with college students, and how does that connect to what’s missing at home today?
Question Two
What are some truths young people should first hear around the dining room table but aren’t?
Question Three
How does a belief in God shape a young man’s identity and sense of responsibility?
Question Four
Why do you think many parents, especially fathers, hesitate to disciple their sons at home?
Question Five
What does discipleship look like specifically when raising boys into men?
Question Six
How can fathers prepare their sons spiritually, emotionally, and practically for manhood in a world that discourages biblical masculinity?
Question Seven
If you could tell young men one thing about their calling as men of God, what would it be?
Question Eight
What encouragement do you have for parents raising boys who feel overwhelmed by the culture’s pressure against biblical manhood?
Mental Health & Loneliness Statistics
Men are nearly 80% of U.S. suicides and the male suicide rate is ~4x the female rate (2023 provisional).
1 in 4 young men (ages 15–35) felt lonely “a lot of the day” in Gallup data aggregated across 2023–2024 (higher than young women at 18%).
Among U.S. adults, 18–25 year-olds have the highest past-year major depressive episode prevalence (18.6%).
The U.S. Surgeon General warns loneliness carries health risks on par with smoking up to 15 cigarettes/day and is widespread among adults.
School & skills pipeline
National Assessment (NAEP) shows continued academic declines: 12th-grade reading and math are down vs. prior decades; 8th-grade science and 12th-grade reading/math underperform (2024 results).
College gender gap: post-secondary systems lost ~1.5M students in 5 years and men were 71% of the decline; women hit ~59.5% of enrollment (latest compiled figures).
The National Student Clearinghouse’s 2025 enrollment dashboards (current term estimates) track ongoing gender splits and recovery patterns—useful for state/sector breakdowns.
Work & economic footing
Labor force participation (men 20–24) is ~72.2% (Aug 2025); by contrast, teen male participation continues to hover in the mid-30s. (Seasonally adjusted CPS.)
Living with parents: In 2023, 20% of men ages 25–34 lived in a parent’s home (vs. 15% of women).
Family formation & purpose
Ever-married by age 25 is near historic lows (about 23% of men; 20% of women).
Desire for fatherhood remains high: ~57% of young men say they want to be fathers (contrast with lower intent among young women).
How to use these on the podcast
Setup: “If discipleship starts at the dining room table, what are our sons hearing today?”
Pivot lines:
Identity: “Before work or marriage, does he know God exists—and that loneliness is a spiritual and social warning light?” (Surgeon General & Gallup stats above.)
Discipline: “School and skills are sliding—how do we rebuild habits of hard work and learning?” (NAEP & college gap.)
Vocation & family: “Many men delay launch—living at home and delaying marriage—how do we cast a vision for husband/father as a calling?” (Pew living-at-home + marriage data.)
Thanks, Shanda.
Check out inductive Bible studies and supplies here!
Leave a Reply