The Culture Translator

Today my guests are Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski. They are the authors of a book called Away Game, and they also are a part of Athletes in Action and organization that helps parents and coaches disciple teens through sports. Click here to get their book!

Three Big Conversations: Meta settles lawsuits with an $18 billion pledge to make social media safer - 06:08 what Gen Alpha is wearing for the back-to-school season - 18:30 the legacy of the beloved country music singer Dolly Parton - 29:52 Song of the Week: "Loser" by Tame Impala - 00:46 → Click here to read the lyrics (language) → Click here to see the video (language) In Other News: - 39:48 Australia's much-touted social media ban for teenagers is falling apart (paywall) as state authorities find it impossible to outsmart the tech prowess of fifteen-year-olds. Naur! China's big box office winner this week was made on a shoestring budget. The plot is a dream about a cow, or a dream of a cow, or perhaps a cow's dream. The movie was praised for its "craftsmanship." According to data from Eventbrite, events advertising shared hobbies (think mahjong or birdwatching) as "meet cutes," or chances to meet potential romantic partners, increased by 117% over the last year. Fanfiction publishing platform Wattpad, a longtime haven for teens experimenting with fanfiction, updated its content guidelines. Some users were convinced (incorrectly) that Wattpad would no longer host sexually explicit content and fled to another platform called AO3. The Olivia Rodrigo-backed Daisy Chain Festival will take place in Irvine, California, this weekend. The music festival is also a charity benefit and will feature an all-female lineup of musicians, including Doechii, Bikini Kill, Mitski, Katseye, and even the OG female-led festival queen, Sarah McLachlan.

Meta settles lawsuits with an $18 billion pledge to make social media safer, what Gen Alpha is wearing for the back-to-school season, and the legacy of the beloved country music singer Dolly Parton. Song of the Week: "Loser" by Tame Impala → Click here to read the lyrics (language) → Click here to see the video (language) In Other News: Australia's much-touted social media ban for teenagers is falling apart (paywall) as state authorities find it impossible to outsmart the tech prowess of fifteen-year-olds. Naur! China's big box office winner this week was made on a shoestring budget. The plot is a dream about a cow, or a dream of a cow, or perhaps a cow's dream. The movie was praised for its "craftsmanship." According to data from Eventbrite, events advertising shared hobbies (think mahjong or birdwatching) as "meet cutes," or chances to meet potential romantic partners, increased by 117% over the last year. Fanfiction publishing platform Wattpad, a longtime haven for teens experimenting with fanfiction, updated its content guidelines. Some users were convinced (incorrectly) that Wattpad would no longer host sexually explicit content and fled to another platform called AO3. The Olivia Rodrigo-backed Daisy Chain Festival will take place in Irvine, California, this weekend. The music festival is also a charity benefit and will feature an all-female lineup of musicians, including Doechii, Bikini Kill, Mitski, Katseye, and even the OG female-led festival queen, Sarah McLachlan.  

Katie M. Kelley is a writer, teacher, a lifelong learner, and a mother to eight in a beautifully blended family. She has been a longtime member of the Coffee + Crumbs writing team as well as the podcast co-host, and is the author of three books: Gluing the Cracks, The Very Best Baseball Game, and her most recent book, Grace Will Be There.

Three Big Conversations: Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor debut their new dinosaur movie - 02:32 "that's AI" is the ultimate burn from Gen Alpha - 14:22 how one teacher found a way to get his students reading again. - 29:30 Resource of the Week: Podcast Episode - How to Do What We Do - 00:58 → Click here to listen to our episode on: Educating Humans in the Age of AI (with Professor Jeffrey Bilbro) In Other News: - 43:00 This week in AI: In light of concerns about romantic involvement with chatbots, "ChatGPT for Teens" is being marketed as a homework helper that limits "the emotional and intimate exchanges between young people and AI." Robbie Torney from Common Sense Media argues that we should remain cautious until we have actual evidence that these features have been turned off. This week in dopamine: South Korean websites like "Dopamine Shop" and "FoodNeverComes" allow users to "pay" for clothes or food, and still feel like they're getting "retail therapy," without having to spend any money (because the products aren't real). This week in arson: "Prediction market" Polymarket has enabled users to bet on the outcome of wildfires, which historian Jamie Pietruska rightly labels as a "perverse incentive." This week in fabric: The word "polyester" has become a new way for Gen Z to call something out as low-quality or cheap. But you know what's worse than that? Wool and linen, woven together. This week in fabric, again: An article in Teen Vogue suggests that "poetcore" (aka Dark Academia's "cozier, more relaxed cousin") and "vintage 90s mall fashion" will be some of the biggest fashion trends this semester. On a completely unrelated note, here's The Guardian on how social media has "automated individual taste into oblivion."

Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor debut their new dinosaur movie, "that's AI" is the ultimate burn from Gen Alpha, and how one teacher found a way to get his students reading again.  Resource of the Week: Podcast Episode - How to Do What We Do → Click here to listen to our episode on: Educating Humans in the Age of AI (with Professor Jeffrey Bilbro) In Other News: This week in AI: In light of concerns about romantic involvement with chatbots, "ChatGPT for Teens" is being marketed as a homework helper that limits "the emotional and intimate exchanges between young people and AI." Robbie Torney from Common Sense Media argues that we should remain cautious until we have actual evidence that these features have been turned off. This week in dopamine: South Korean websites like "Dopamine Shop" and "FoodNeverComes" allow users to "pay" for clothes or food, and still feel like they're getting "retail therapy," without having to spend any money (because the products aren't real). This week in arson: "Prediction market" Polymarket has enabled users to bet on the outcome of wildfires, which historian Jamie Pietruska rightly labels as a "perverse incentive." This week in fabric: The word "polyester" has become a new way for Gen Z to call something out as low-quality or cheap. But you know what's worse than that? Wool and linen, woven together. This week in fabric, again: An article in Teen Vogue suggests that "poetcore" (aka Dark Academia's "cozier, more relaxed cousin") and "vintage 90s mall fashion" will be some of the biggest fashion trends this semester. On a completely unrelated note, here's The Guardian on how social media has "automated individual taste into oblivion."

This week, the Axis team pulls back the curtain on how and why we do culture research. That's right, we're sharing all our secrets.

Three Big Conversations: Back to school season is officially upon us - 11:42 Hoodies are the new T-shirt for Gen Z - 23:31 A store in Nantucket's "No Influencers" sign sparks a debate - 35:26 Song of the Week: "oh yeah?" by Steve Lacy (language) - 1:00 → Click here to read the lyrics In Other News: - 46:10 Spotify will add an "AI Persona" label on AI artists. In addition to flagging AI-generated content for users, these personas will be excluded from the company's algorithmic recommendations. The summer box office has earned $4 billion for the second time since COVID, thanks to hits like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, and other blockbusters. Olivia Rodrigo played for a crowd of 1,000 in Brooklyn last week. Tickets were purchased at the box office that day for only $25. Compare this to her ticket prices for The Unraveled Tour (up to $1,100). Some grandparents have taken to unknowingly gifting their grandkids AI-generated slop books, to the consternation of many parents. A new rom-com, One Night Only, imagines a world where Congress has outlawed premarital sex. But for one night a year, the ban is lifted. You can read the content warnings here.

Hoodies are the new T-shirt for Gen Z, a store in Nantucket's "No Influencers" sign sparks a debate, and back to school season is officially upon us.   Song of the Week: "oh yeah?" by Steve Lacy (language) → Click here to read the lyrics   In Other News: Spotify will add an "AI Persona" label on AI artists. In addition to flagging AI-generated content for users, these personas will be excluded from the company's algorithmic recommendations. The summer box office has earned $4 billion for the second time since COVID, thanks to hits like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, and other blockbusters. Olivia Rodrigo played for a crowd of 1,000 in Brooklyn last week. Tickets were purchased at the box office that day for only $25. Compare this to her ticket prices for The Unraveled Tour (up to $1,100). Some grandparents have taken to unknowingly gifting their grandkids AI-generated slop books, to the consternation of many parents. A new rom-com, One Night Only, imagines a world where Congress has outlawed premarital sex. But for one night a year, the ban is lifted. You can read the content warnings here.

Bruce McCluggage is a Professor of Philosophy at Pikes Peak State College, and a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary.

Three Big Conversations: Ariana Grande announces a break from public life - 7:56 history writer and influencer Hank Green faces backlash for using AI tools - 22:08 Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a wild opening weekend - 33:02 Slang of the Week: Larping - 00:58 In Other News: - 47:40 The current owners of Myspace (Tim and Chris Vanderhook) announced that they plan to relaunch the classic social media platform, though they did not say when. Let the record reflect that we are on the edge of our seats. According to the Wall Street Journal, this summer's "hottest drink" is officially a bottle of water. Try some today for $6!Vogue, on the other hand, has argued that the drink of the summer is "banana-milk coffee." And right behind that one: durian-mustard maté. Netflix is getting sued for $105 million for losing an unencrypted copy of Nicolas Cage's WWII film Fortitude. Kind of like we might lose a few subscribers after that obscure fruit-caffeine joke in point three. Finally, Christianity Today agrees with us that Instagram Plus is really just Instagram Minus. So glad our own Jenna Mindel was on the case!

Ariana Grande announces a break from public life, history writer and influencer Hank Green faces backlash for using AI tools, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a wild opening weekend. Slang of the Week: Larping → Click to see our interview on Educating Humans in the Age of AI (with Professor Jeffrey Bilbro) In Other News: The current owners of Myspace (Tim and Chris Vanderhook) announced that they plan to relaunch the classic social media platform, though they did not say when. Let the record reflect that we are on the edge of our seats. According to the Wall Street Journal, this summer's "hottest drink" is officially a bottle of water. Try some today for $6!Vogue, on the other hand, has argued that the drink of the summer is "banana-milk coffee." And right behind that one: durian-mustard maté. Netflix is getting sued for $105 million for losing an unencrypted copy of Nicolas Cage's WWII film Fortitude. Kind of like we might lose a few subscribers after that obscure fruit-caffeine joke in point three. Finally, Christianity Today agrees with us that Instagram Plus is really just Instagram Minus. So glad our own Jenna Mindel was on the case!

Jeffrey is the editor-in-chief of Front Porch Republic and associate professor of English at Grove City College. He is the author of several books, including Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry Into the News, which we'll be discussing today.  

Three Big Conversations: Arizona State University offers a B.A. in Content Creation - 11:26 AI-generated videos of Christians getting bullied go viral - 20:48 What The Odyssey and C.S. Lewis have in common - 29:12 Song of the Week: "Be Her" by Ella Langley  - 01:10 → Click here to read the lyrics In Other News: - 37:24 Marvel will re-release Avengers: Endgame in theaters on September 25 with seven minutes of extra footage and a never-before-seen ending, connecting the movie to Avengers: Doomsday, giving fans another reason to spend money revisit the highest-grossing superhero movie of all time. Nearly half of middle and high school-aged teens have seen what they believed to be AI-generated sexual content, according to a new Common Sense Media survey.  At Comic-Con this year, Marvel announced that Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a movie directed by Sean Levy, and that Ryan Coogler will return to direct Black Panther 3, with David Jonsson playing the next Black Panther. According to The New York Times, using the phrase "Google it" officially makes you sound old, and the phrase "search it up" is now preferred. Ariana Grande's new album, petal (language), comes out today.

Arizona State University offers a B.A. in Content Creation, AI-generated videos of Christians getting bullied go viral, and what The Odyssey and C.S. Lewis have in common. Song of the Week: "Be Her" by Ella Langley  → Click here to read the lyrics In Other News: Marvel will re-release Avengers: Endgame in theaters on September 25 with seven minutes of extra footage and a never-before-seen ending, connecting the movie to Avengers: Doomsday, giving fans another reason to spend money revisit the highest-grossing superhero movie of all time. Nearly half of middle and high school-aged teens have seen what they believed to be AI-generated sexual content, according to a new Common Sense Media survey.  At Comic-Con this year, Marvel announced that Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a movie directed by Sean Levy, and that Ryan Coogler will return to direct Black Panther 3, with David Jonsson playing the next Black Panther. According to The New York Times, using the phrase "Google it" officially makes you sound old, and the phrase "search it up" is now preferred. Ariana Grande's new album, petal (language), comes out today.

"Our daughter has a neurological condition called misophonia which causes severe pain, panic and anger over certain common sounds like chewing and typing. One of the sounds that started triggering her a few years ago was the sound of my husband's voice. How do we navigate this as a family?" - Maria

Three Big Conversations: Gen Z musician Gracie Abrams releases an album-long apology to her mom - 05:22 TikTok influencers are promoting injectable weight loss peptides - 16:00 What parents should know about Kylie Jenner's new collaboration with Meta smartglasses - 30:06 Slang of the Week: Quiet on the Creek - 1:06 In Other News: - 49:40 According to the Wall Street Journal, the popularity of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is convincing many students to finally read the epic poem that many English teachers couldn't coax them into reading. A wild raccoon in Seattle with a deformed spine has been dubbed "Jimothy," and has become an inspiration for perseverance in the face of setbacks, with some even getting tattoos (language) of said raccoon. Infamous online "manfluencers" Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami this Saturday, and await extradition to the U.K. for prosecution on rape and sex trafficking grounds. About one-third of people under 35 now live with their parents, according to survey data published by Realtor.com. Several members of Spain's World Cup-winning team, like Torres and Rodri, are publicly crediting God and their Catholic faith for the team's World Cup victory.

Gen Z musician Gracie Abrams releases an album-long apology to her mom, TikTok influencers are promoting injectable weight loss peptides, and what parents should know about Kylie Jenner's new collaboration with Meta smartglasses. Slang of the Week: Quiet on the Creek In Other News: According to the Wall Street Journal, the popularity of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is convincing many students to finally read the epic poem that many English teachers couldn't coax them into reading. A wild raccoon in Seattle with a deformed spine has been dubbed "Jimothy," and has become an inspiration for perseverance in the face of setbacks, with some even getting tattoos (language) of said raccoon. Infamous online "manfluencers" Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami this Saturday, and await extradition to the U.K. for prosecution on rape and sex trafficking grounds. About one-third of people under 35 now live with their parents, according to survey data published by Realtor.com. Several members of Spain's World Cup-winning team, like Torres and Rodri, are publicly crediting God and their Catholic faith for the team's World Cup victory.

Jay Stringer is a licensed therapist, researcher, and speaker who helps people uncover and reshape the story beneath self-sabotage, disconnection, and shame. He is the award-winning author of Unwanted and lives in New York City with his wife Heather, and their two children. We'll be talking today primarily about his new book Desire: The Longings Inside Us and the New Science of How We Love, Heal, and Grow. 

Three Big Conversations: Argentina is back in the World Cup final - 05:25 MLB's All-Star competitions had some hiccups - 12:14 Everyone online is auditioning for their Netflix documentary debut. - 22:53 Resource of the Week: The Conversation Starter - Where'd All the Tweens Go? - 0:31 In Other News: - 33:54 A parasite that causes extreme digestive upset is maybe the meme of the week (alongside Netflix documentaries). It certainly doesn't help that it's possibly connected to Taco Bell. Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey is out in theaters this weekend. We'll write more about it next week, but for now, the R-rated take on Homer's epic poem is reviewing quite well with critics and audiences. Letterboxd has opened itself (paywall) to being purchased. It's Gen Z's movie review app of choice, and considering how Gen Z showed up to theaters this year, it's pretty valuable to buyers like Netflix and Sony to understand the preferences of young people. Meta rolled out a "feature" that effectively lets you use their AI tools to deepfake users with public accounts. It was promptly rolled back after the internet (rightly) freaked out. Assassin's Creed is back? Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced (a remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag) sold 2 million copies in its first day.

Argentina is back in the World Cup final, the MLB's All-Star competitions had some hiccups, and everyone online is auditioning for their Netflix documentary debut. Resource of the Week: The Conversation Starter - Where'd All the Tweens Go? In Other News: A parasite that causes extreme digestive upset is maybe the meme of the week (alongside Netflix documentaries). It certainly doesn't help that it's possibly connected to Taco Bell. Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey is out in theaters this weekend. We'll write more about it next week, but for now, the R-rated take on Homer's epic poem is reviewing quite well with critics and audiences. Letterboxd has opened itself (paywall) to being purchased. It's Gen Z's movie review app of choice, and considering how Gen Z showed up to theaters this year, it's pretty valuable to buyers like Netflix and Sony to understand the preferences of young people. Meta rolled out a "feature" that effectively lets you use their AI tools to deepfake users with public accounts. It was promptly rolled back after the internet (rightly) freaked out. Assassin's Creed is back? Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced (a remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag) sold 2 million copies in its first day.

"We have been having some difficult and sometimes awkward conversations with our 17 yo old son about sax and masturbation. Along those lines, we've become intensely aware of the quantity of movies and shows with any kind of kissing, romantic or sex scenes. How do you draw boundaries and live in our sex saturated culture? Don't ever watch anything? Get filters and Vid Angel? Fast forward scenes? Just watch whatever and talk a lot? And how does that work when the dialogue seems one-sided? This feels so hard and confusing as a Christian, where do we go from here?" - Orange Worm

→ The podcast has a new YouTube Channel! @axisconversationspodcast Three Big Conversations: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married in a garden in The Garden - 08:04 So-called "butter moms" are setting the vibe for a deep-fried summer - 19:00 New data from CIY and Barna gives us insight into how Christian teens are using AI. - 32:20 Slang of the Week: "NPC" - 00:56 In Other News:- 48:00 The round of 16 is officially wrapped in the 2026 World Cup, with all three host countries (Canada, Mexico, and the US) failing to continue. Another notable casualty is Portugal, with global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo saying goodbye to World Cup competition. Building on the trend of hosting in-person experiences, Charli xcx has announced official listening parties, hosted around the world, for her July 24th album, titled Music, Fashion, Film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members, perhaps as an attempt to regain relevance with the rising generation. The new Oscar voters will include Gen Z notables like Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, and Mia Goth. The video game industry continues to be volatile, as Xbox announced this week that they're laying off almost 5,000 employees and "resetting Xbox." While perhaps not indicative of all, trends where young people reject modern "big tech" continue to rise in popularity, like the "Luddite Festival" that took place in New York City last week.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married in a garden in The Garden, so-called "butter moms" are setting the vibe for a deep-fried summer, and new data from CIY and Barna gives us insight into how Christian teens are using AI. Slang of the Week: "NPC" In Other News: The round of 16 is officially wrapped in the 2026 World Cup, with all three host countries (Canada, Mexico, and the US) failing to continue. Another notable casualty is Portugal, with global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo saying goodbye to World Cup competition. Building on the trend of hosting in-person experiences, Charli xcx has announced official listening parties, hosted around the world, for her July 24th album, titled Music, Fashion, Film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members, perhaps as an attempt to regain relevance with the rising generation. The new Oscar voters will include Gen Z notables like Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, and Mia Goth. The video game industry continues to be volatile, as Xbox announced this week that they're laying off almost 5,000 employees and "resetting Xbox." While perhaps not indicative of all, trends where young people reject modern "big tech" continue to rise in popularity, like the "Luddite Festival" that took place in New York City last week.

Rob Stennett is a graduate of UCLA film school, filmmaker, novelist, and content creator. His work has been recognized with ADDYs for writing and directing. He won the Denver Film Race for best writing, and a SILVER TELLY at the Telly Awards for a feature documentary he wrote and directed. He's created story and video content for brands, churches, and nonprofits all over the world including National Geographic, Compassion International, One Chapel, New Life Church, DISH Network, MLB, Formula 1, and the Discovery Channel, and is also the Owner & Lead Creative of Storyize, and the co-host of the podcast Meaning of the Movie.  → Click to check out Storyize → Click to check out The Meaning of the Movie podcast  

Three Big Conversations: The "prediction market" site Polymarket is paying influencers to film themselves pretending to win money - 12:36 Instagram Plus lets users see how many times others rewatched their stories - 24:28 Gen Z faves Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan speak out on fans' bad bathroom habits - 32:36 Song of the Week: "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd - 01:54 → Click here to read the lyrics In Other News: - 46:10 Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are renting out Madison Square Garden this Fourth of July weekend. While they might be reliving the Knicks' miraculous NBA Finals victory, it's more likely to be related to her wedding. Whether shifting trends in moviegoers' tastes or continued superhero fatigue are to blame, Supergirl seems to be a miss at the box office this summer. Viewership is down significantly for season 2 of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it's far from the only show that seems to be losing viewer interest on Netflix. Sony announced that they are ending production of physical discs for PlayStation games in 2028, a clear marker of consumer preferences and another solemn ring in the death knell of physical media. WNBA star Sophie Cunningham went viral after defiantly pointing at opponent DeWanna Bonner for almost half a minute. Mature? Not really. Internet meme fodder? Absolutely.

The "prediction market" site Polymarket is paying influencers to film themselves pretending to win money, Instagram Plus lets users see how many times others rewatched their stories, and Gen Z faves Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan speak out on fans' bad bathroom habits. Song of the Week: "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd → Click here to read the lyrics In Other News: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are renting out Madison Square Garden this Fourth of July weekend. While they might be reliving the Knicks' miraculous NBA Finals victory, it's more likely to be related to her wedding. Whether shifting trends in moviegoers' tastes or continued superhero fatigue are to blame, Supergirl seems to be a miss at the box office this summer. Viewership is down significantly for season 2 of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it's far from the only show that seems to be losing viewer interest on Netflix. Sony announced that they are ending production of physical discs for PlayStation games in 2028, a clear marker of consumer preferences and another solemn ring in the death knell of physical media. WNBA star Sophie Cunningham went viral after defiantly pointing at opponent DeWanna Bonner for almost half a minute. Mature? Not really. Internet meme fodder? Absolutely.

"As dads, how do we stay consistent as disciplers and spiritual taste-makers for our sons when life is chaotic — job transitions, legal battles, financial pressure? My boys are at three completely different stages, one of them neurodivergent, and I want to be shaping their hearts and minds toward Christ even when I'm running on empty. What does faithful fatherhood look like in the trenches?" - Jason → Click here for Russ's Book: He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself → Click here to see Russ's op-ed with Fox News

Three Big Conversations: More and more Gen Zers embrace singleness - 06:56 Toy Story 5 pits the classic cast of toys against modern technology - 20:32 World Cup tourists go viral for loving the United States - 35:05 Slang of the Week: "Mogging" (language) - 00:53 In Other News: - 46:22 Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to the Miami Heat in the biggest NBA trade since Luka Dončić and the Lakers. The deal sends the two- time MVP from Milwaukee to Miami, a change that significantly shifts the league's balance of power. A24, the studio behind Backrooms, is partnering with Google DeepMind in a research partnership to develop AI tools for filmmakers. The studio says the goal is to support artists rather than replace them. Still, the announcement has resulted in many fans canceling paid memberships to AAA24. MECCHA CHAMELEON, a hide- and- seek game where players can paint themselves to blend in, is the first breakout gaming hit of the summer, selling over 7 million copies in 12 days.Tom Holland has officially confirmed that he and Zendaya are married. Speculation about the couple has finally been put to rest as the news spread quickly across social media, where fans reacted to the milestone with excitement.  Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are now live, but not without controversy. Many are frustrated by the lack of an actual physical disc in the "physical edition," and by the fact that the $80 version feels inferior, content-wise, to the $100 version.

More and more Gen Zers embrace singleness, Toy Story 5 pits the classic cast of toys against modern technology, and World Cup tourists go viral for loving the United States. Slang of the Week: "Mogging" (language) In Other News: Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to the Miami Heat in the biggest NBA trade since Luka Dončić and the Lakers. The deal sends the two- time MVP from Milwaukee to Miami, a change that significantly shifts the league's balance of power.  A24, the studio behind Backrooms, is partnering with Google DeepMind in a research partnership to develop AI tools for filmmakers. The studio says the goal is to support artists rather than replace them. Still, the announcement has resulted in many fans canceling paid memberships to AAA24.  MECCHA CHAMELEON, a hide- and- seek game where players can paint themselves to blend in, is the first breakout gaming hit of the summer, selling over 7 million copies in 12 days. Tom Holland has officially confirmed that he and Zendaya are married. Speculation about the couple has finally been put to rest as the news spread quickly across social media, where fans reacted to the milestone with excitement.   Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are now live, but not without controversy. Many are frustrated by the lack of an actual physical disc in the "physical edition," and by the fact that the $80 version feels inferior, content-wise, to the $100 version.

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. Russ Ewell is the Executive Minister of the Bay Area Christian Church and author of "He's Not Who You Think He Is," exploring faith at the edge of modern life. He's also the founder of Deep Spirituality, E-Life, Digital Scribbler, and Hope Technology Group—initiatives addressing spiritual formation, inclusive technologies, and life-span inclusion. With over four decades of leadership experience he helps people discover biblical Christianity that is intellectually serious, emotionally grounding, and transformative. Earlier this year he wrote an op-ed for Fox News about how 40 years as a pastor is shaping his perspective on why so many young men in America are struggling. We'll primarily be talking about that today.    → Click here for Russ's Book: He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself → Click here to see Russ's op-ed with Fox News  

Three Big Conversations: Olivia Rodrigo's new album soars to the top of the charts - 08:52 More dads seem to be opting way into fatherhood - 19:14 Disclosure Day raises important questions about faith - 40:42 Song of the Week: I Knew It, I Knew You - Taylor Swift - 02:16 → Click here to read the lyrics. In Other News: - 48:50 The United Kingdom has introduced a law to ban social media access for children under 16 in early 2027, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and X. "Overstimulated" has become the most used "therapy speak" (paywall) term among Gen Z (ages 13-24), often used as a shorthand for feeling overwhelmed.  Kool-Aid-soaked pineapple has become one of summer's biggest TikTok food trends. Inspiring thousands of videos and turning one kid's review, "dat bih gah" (that b**** is gas) into a viral meme. Malls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, theme parks, and even many stores are banning teens who aren't accompanied by an adult, pointing out concerns about fights, theft, and disruptive behavior. With fewer third spaces available, many teens are finding it harder to connect with friends in person. Lionel Messi scored three goals (a "hat trick") in Argentina's World Cup opener, matching Miroslav Klose's record for the most goals in World Cup History. At 38 years old, Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup and many consider him to be one of the greatest athletes of all time.

Olivia Rodrigo's new album soars to the top of the charts, more dads seem to be opting way into fatherhood, and Disclosure Day raises important questions about faith. Song of the Week: I Knew It, I Knew You - Taylor Swift → Click here to read the lyrics. In Other News: The United Kingdom has introduced a law to ban social media access for children under 16 in early 2027, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and X. "Overstimulated" has become the most used "therapy speak" (paywall) term among Gen Z (ages 13-24), often used as a shorthand for feeling overwhelmed.  Kool-Aid-soaked pineapple has become one of summer's biggest TikTok food trends. Inspiring thousands of videos and turning one kid's review, "dat bih gah" (that b**** is gas) into a viral meme. Malls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, theme parks, and even many stores are banning teens who aren't accompanied by an adult, pointing out concerns about fights, theft, and disruptive behavior. With fewer third spaces available, many teens are finding it harder to connect with friends in person. Lionel Messi scored three goals (a "hat trick") in Argentina's World Cup opener, matching Miroslav Klose's record for the most goals in World Cup History. At 38 years old, Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup and many consider him to be one of the greatest athletes of all time.

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. "My husband and I are expecting our first child next week, so he will be a first-time dad. But he never knew his own father, so he'll be learning how to be a dad without any sort of first-hand example. How can he navigate being a dad when he never had one?" - Erin After 20 years in the corporate world (with IBM, Pepsi and Goldman Sachs), Roland Warren spent 11 years as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative before joining Care Net in 2012 as president and CEO. A graduate of Princeton University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Roland is an inspirational servant leader with a heart for Christ and a mind for business. As part of our lead up to Father's Day this month, we'll be talking with Roland primarily about the difference a dad can make, drawing on insights from his work with the National Fatherhood Initiative as well as how the impact of fathers informs his work at Care Net.  → Click here for Roland's Book, Bad Dads of the Bible

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. Three Big Conversations: Social media companies are being sued for engaging students during school hours - 04:14 Gen Z is more comfortable disclosing their personal finances than any other generation - 17:28 Why a chip being inserted into our brains might be the least of our problems - 26:38 Resource of the Week - The Sermon on the Mount Experience - 02:02 In Other News: - 37:54 The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, kicked off this Thursday in Mexico City. If it matches 2022's viewing numbers, the tournament will attract 5 and a half billion global viewers. Popular and sometimes controversial teen fast-fashion store Brandy Melville announced they're removing their fitting rooms, a decision that's been particularly derided on TikTok.  It doesn't help that the store also has a limited in-person return policy. "Dirty sodas" are rising in popularity, but these drinks, which combine soda with things like flavored syrups and cream, can often be metabolic catastrophes with absurd amounts of sugar and calories. The first week of June is all about announcements of upcoming video games, with the highlights this year being a remake of Ocarina of Time, a new Spyro game, and a single-player, story-based Among Us game. There's also what feels like 100 other games coming out this September, a strategy to avoid competing with October's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and November's Grand Theft Auto 6. Are board shorts the look of the summer? Some think so. We'll let you know if you should buy puka shell necklaces again, too.

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. Social media companies are being sued for engaging students during school hours, Gen Z is more comfortable disclosing their personal finances than any other generation, and why a chip being inserted into our brains might be the least of our problems. Resource of the Week - The Sermon on the Mount Experience In Other News: The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, kicked off this Thursday in Mexico City. If it matches 2022's viewing numbers, the tournament will attract 5 and a half billion global viewers. Popular and sometimes controversial teen fast-fashion store Brandy Melville announced they're removing their fitting rooms, a decision that's been particularly derided on TikTok.  It doesn't help that the store also has a limited in-person return policy. "Dirty sodas" are rising in popularity, but these drinks, which combine soda with things like flavored syrups and cream, can often be metabolic catastrophes with absurd amounts of sugar and calories. The first week of June is all about announcements of upcoming video games, with the highlights this year being a remake of Ocarina of Time, a new Spyro game, and a single-player, story-based Among Us game. There's also what feels like 100 other games coming out this September, a strategy to avoid competing with October's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and November's Grand Theft Auto 6. Are board shorts the look of the summer? Some think so. We'll let you know if you should buy puka shell necklaces again, too.

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. After 20 years in the corporate world (with IBM, Pepsi and Goldman Sachs), Roland spent 11 years as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative before joining Care Net in 2012 as president and CEO. A graduate of Princeton University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Roland is an inspirational servant leader with a heart for Christ and a mind for business. As part of our lead up to Father's Day this month, we'll be talking with Roland primarily about the difference a dad can make, drawing on insights from his work with the National Fatherhood Initiative as well as how the impact of fathers informs his work at Care Net.  → Click here for Roland's Book, Bad Dads of the Bible

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. Three Big Conversations: Off Campus is already a frontrunner for teen show of the summer - 10:16 Students are scared to eat in front of their peers - 24:32 What the success of Backrooms says about the state of the movies - 34:20 Slang of the Week - Lida Bida Boda Butt - 2:18 → Mike Novotny's NEW BOOK - Newlywed: A Christian Guide for Loving Year One In Other News: - 43:20 Taylor Swift's new song "I Knew It, I Knew You" comes out today and was inspired by an early screening of Toy Story. PlayStation's "State of Play" gaming showcase happened this week, with most of the buzz being around an announcement of a new God of War game where you play as Kratos' wife, Faye, and an extended look at the M-rated Marvel's Wolverine game, coming out in September. Recent releases of UAP footage from the US government have some Christians debating whether these supposed alien visitations could actually represent demonic activity. Indie group Boards of Canada's first album since 2013, Inferno, explores faith, spirituality, and existential dread over eerie electronic beats. A YouTuber known as "Reckless Ben" was arrested for trespassing in his attempt to pursue justice against the Bricks & Minifigs store after the store allegedly stole $200,000 (language) worth of LEGO sets from an elderly man.

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. Off Campus is already a frontrunner for teen show of the summer, students are scared to eat in front of their peers, and what the success of Backrooms says about the state of the movies. Slang of the Week - Lida Bida Boda Butt In Other News: Taylor Swift's new song "I Knew It, I Knew You" comes out today and was inspired by an early screening of Toy Story. PlayStation's "State of Play" gaming showcase happened this week, with most of the buzz being around an announcement of a new God of War game where you play as Kratos' wife, Faye, and an extended look at the M-rated Marvel's Wolverine game, coming out in September. Recent releases of UAP footage from the US government have some Christians debating whether these supposed alien visitations could actually represent demonic activity. Indie group Boards of Canada's first album since 2013, Inferno, explores faith, spirituality, and existential dread over eerie electronic beats. A YouTuber known as "Reckless Ben" was arrested for trespassing in his attempt to pursue justice against the Bricks & Minifigs store after the store allegedly stole $200,000 (language) worth of LEGO sets from an elderly man.

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. "How can I instill a good work ethic in my 14 year old son? I have tried to model this for him and we talk about the importance of putting in the work to be good at sports, music, etc. However, he seems to give minimal effort on these pursuits and becomes frustrated and makes excuses when we encourage him to apply himself." - Eddie

Three Big Conversations: The OKC Thunder have become the NBA's favorite villain - 10:00 Pope Leo publishes an AI manifesto - 20:14 The Mandalorian and Grogu had a disappointing first weekend. - 35:50 → Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. Song of the Week - "the cure" by Olivia Rodrigo - 3:16 → Click here to read the lyrics → Click here to listen to the song (language) In Other News: - 42:40 Small "dot cakes," baked in cups, and covered in frosting and rainbow nonpareil sprinkles, are going viral. The colorful aesthetic of these cakes is just half of the appeal, with the other part being the satisfying scrape of a spoon being dragged across the top.  A new YPulse report found that 87% of 13- to 24-year-old guys agree with the statement, "I am a gamer," suggesting that online gaming continues to be one of the fastest-growing social spaces for boys and young men. A newly published report from the American Bible Society found that 38% of parents are regularly engaged with the Bible, as opposed to 23% of nonparents. A ton of other interesting statistics are included in the latest chapter of their State of the Bible report, linked here. DIY "cyberdecks" are the latest tech trend on TikTok. Creators are using Raspberry Pi mini computers to build whimsical homemade devices inside of retro purses, Game Boys, or briefcases. Off Campus has become Gen Z's latest #BookTok-adapted TV obsession, landing as Prime Video's biggest debut ever among viewers aged 18-34. Common Sense Media flagged the series for extreme explicit sexual content.

The OKC Thunder have become the NBA's favorite villain, Pope Leo publishes an AI manifesto, and The Mandalorian and Grogu had a disappointing first weekend. → Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. Song of the Week - "the cure" by Olivia Rodrigo → Click here to read the lyrics → Click here to listen to the song (language) In Other News: Small "dot cakes," baked in cups, and covered in frosting and rainbow nonpareil sprinkles, are going viral. The colorful aesthetic of these cakes is just half of the appeal, with the other part being the satisfying scrape of a spoon being dragged across the top.  A new YPulse report found that 87% of 13- to 24-year-old guys agree with the statement, "I am a gamer," suggesting that online gaming continues to be one of the fastest-growing social spaces for boys and young men. A newly published report from the American Bible Society found that 38% of parents are regularly engaged with the Bible, as opposed to 23% of nonparents. A ton of other interesting statistics are included in the latest chapter of their State of the Bible report, linked here. DIY "cyberdecks" are the latest tech trend on TikTok. Creators are using Raspberry Pi mini computers to build whimsical homemade devices inside of retro purses, Game Boys, or briefcases. Off Campus has become Gen Z's latest #BookTok-adapted TV obsession, landing as Prime Video's biggest debut ever among viewers aged 18-34. Common Sense Media flagged the series for extreme explicit sexual content.

Ashlee has spent years helping moms navigate the tension between modern motherhood and creativity. She's a writer, editor, and the founder of Coffee + Crumbs, the home of essays that have resonated across the internet, meeting millennial moms where they are. She's also the writer of Create Anyway, a book about nurturing creativity in the margins. The Coffee and Crumbs writers' collective has created two beautiful books, The Magic of Motherhood. You're In Good Company, their latest collection of essays about how community shapes motherhood, was just released last month.  We are also joined by author and speaker Katie Blackburn, whose writing has encouraged so many readers through its honesty about motherhood, disability, faith, and how to keep creating when life takes an unexpected turn. Katie has this rare ability to write about difficult things with both depth and warmth, and her story touches on everything from foster care and adoption to resilience and the everyday grace that carries families through impossible seasons. Katie is also a mom of six, a devoted cyclist, and the writer of three books: an essay collection called Gluing the Cracks, a children's book about adaptive sports called The Very Best Baseball Game, and the forthcoming essay collection, Grace Will Be There.  → Click here to check out the Coffee and Crumbs Podcast

Three Big Conversations: A brand called Fear of God sells must-have hoodies - 10:22 The Freemasons are recruiting heavily from Gen Z - 25:26 What parents need to know about how gore travels online - 39:12 Song of the Week: "Janice ST*U" by Drake - 3:04 → Click here to read the lyrics → Click here for A Parent's Guide to Loneliness → Click here for A Parent's Guide to TikTok → Click here for A Parent's Guide to Instagram → Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. In Other News: - 51:28 The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Star Wars adventure starring Pedro Pascal and his travel-sized "baby Yoda" sidekick, is expected to earn $160 million this weekend. A new Instagram feature called "Instants" allows users to send quick, unedited photos through direct messages. Similar to features on Snapchat and BeReal, Instants disappear within 24 hours, or after they're viewed. The American Music Awards (AMAs) will air on Monday, May 25, and feature performances from KATSEYE, Teddy Swims, and sombr—as well as the Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes. Spotify celebrated its app's twentieth anniversary with a suite of special listening history features, and also temporarily switched its icon to a glowing green mirror ball. But the logo switch was confusing, and users became irate. Teen Vogue predicts that the wave of preppy, 90s fashion nostalgia will continue to swell into the summer, with bandanas, sweaters tied around the waist, checkered and polka-dotted prints, and loafers with socks all trending.

A brand called Fear of God sells must-have hoodies, the Freemasons are recruiting heavily from Gen Z, and what parents need to know about how gore travels online. Song of the Week: "Janice ST*U" by Drake → Click here to read the lyrics → Click here for A Parent's Guide to Loneliness → Click here for A Parent's Guide to TikTok → Click here for A Parent's Guide to Instagram → Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. In Other News: The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Star Wars adventure starring Pedro Pascal and his travel-sized "baby Yoda" sidekick, is expected to earn $160 million this weekend. A new Instagram feature called "Instants" allows users to send quick, unedited photos through direct messages. Similar to features on Snapchat and BeReal, Instants disappear within 24 hours, or after they're viewed. The American Music Awards (AMAs) will air on Monday, May 25, and feature performances from KATSEYE, Teddy Swims, and sombr—as well as the Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes. Spotify celebrated its app's twentieth anniversary with a suite of special listening history features, and also temporarily switched its icon to a glowing green mirror ball. But the logo switch was confusing, and users became irate. Teen Vogue predicts that the wave of preppy, 90s fashion nostalgia will continue to swell into the summer, with bandanas, sweaters tied around the waist, checkered and polka-dotted prints, and loafers with socks all trending.

"Would you share ideas and council on navigating the fine line between keeping church attendance and spiritual disciplines as a family pritory (i.e. wanting to establish and model this as a lifelong priority for our kids), and not turning your teen off from Christianity, where your teen runs away from the faith because of you "making them go" to church every Sunday. Drawing from Paul's words, how can we parent in regards to church attendance in the spirit of Colossians 4:2-6, especially verse 6?" - Aileen

Three Big Conversations: Gen Z hits the track (and the tracking apps) - 02:42 A new Lord of the Flies adaptation hits home - 17:30 Pop songstresses say they are manifesting their dream lives - 31:04 Resource of the Week: Faith and Life Survey - 01:54 → Click here to watch our video about manifesting. → Click here to watch our video about Looksmaxxing. → Click here to read the article about these local running clubs. In Other News: - 45:00 Teen boys and young men are turning to injectable peptide stacks in order to achieve physical transformations and faster muscle recovery, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal (paywall), in a trend being fueled by looksmaxxing culture. The latest Gen Z trend is the comeback of the hacky sack. Teens are starting clubs at schools, making TikToks about their newest hobby, and the footbags are already selling out in stores. Winning out over MrBeast, LeBron James, and Taylor Swift, the celebrity young people want to emulate most is Zendaya, who came in second to "none of the above". With age verification requirements on the rise, some kids are fooling age-checking technology with a fake mustache. Subnautica 2, the sequel to Subnautica, a quiet hit about crafting, exploring, and avoiding giant leviathans in an underwater world, releases this week in early access.

Gen Z hits the track (and the tracking apps), a new Lord of the Flies adaptation hits home, and pop songstresses say they are manifesting their dream lives. Resource of the Week: Faith and Life Survey → Click here to watch our video about manifesting. In Other News: Teen boys and young men are turning to injectable peptide stacks in order to achieve physical transformations and faster muscle recovery, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal (paywall), in a trend being fueled by looksmaxxing culture. The latest Gen Z trend is the comeback of the hacky sack. Teens are starting clubs at schools, making TikToks about their newest hobby, and the footbags are already selling out in stores. Winning out over MrBeast, LeBron James, and Taylor Swift, the celebrity young people want to emulate most is Zendaya, who came in second to "none of the above". With age verification requirements on the rise, some kids are fooling age-checking technology with a fake mustache. Subnautica 2, the sequel to Subnautica, a quiet hit about crafting, exploring, and avoiding giant leviathans in an underwater world, releases this week in early access.

Jen Pollock Michel is the award-winning author of six books: A Rule for the Rest of US, Teach Us to Want (Christianity Today's Book of the Year), Keeping Place, Surprised by Paradox (Christianity Today's Book of the Year Award of Merit—Beautiful Orthodoxy), A Habit Called Faith, and In Good Time (Canada's Word Guild Book of the Year Award).  Jen is a sought-after contributor to publications like Christianity Today, The Christian Century, The Gospel Coalition, Mockingbird, and The Dispatch, among others. She is also a first-year mentor in Whitworth University's MFA in Creative Writing program, and she travels to speak at churches, conferences, and retreats. Over the past several years, she has been teaching rule-of-life workshops to hundreds of people across various life stages. The mother of five children, she is married to Ryan, and they live in Cincinatti, Ohio. → Click here to preorder A Rule For the Rest of Us, which will be published in September.

Three Big Conversations: The jury is out for The Devil Wears Prada 2- 06:18 The Met Gala made people mad for different reasons - 21:00 Moms are ready to organize—so they can boycott school events- 29:06 Slang of the Week: "Chud"- 1:28 In Other News: - 42:58 The Savannah Bananas, an "exhibition baseball" team that includes comedy and choreographed dances in games of what they call Banana Ball, played in front of 102,000 fans this past Saturday with a cameo from the Dude Perfect team. Angel Studios' new adaptation of Animal Farm (paywall) hit theaters this past weekend, uniting George Orwell's classic critique of totalitarianism with fart jokes and other trappings of modern kids' movies. Scalpers are purchasing the new Pokémon Pop-Tarts from Target and selling them for up to eight times their worth (with their original price being $2.89 per box of 12). After Justin Bieber's performance at Coachella, he became the artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, with just over 141 million monthly listeners as of this week. While the Taylor Swifts and Harry Styleses of the world may still get away with charging obscene prices for concert tickets, many other artists (like Post Malone and Kid Cudi) are also trying to increase sale prices—and then often cancelling concerts after low sales.

The jury is out for The Devil Wears Prada 2, the Met Gala made people mad for different reasons, and moms are ready to organize—so they can boycott school events. Slang of the Week: "Chud" In Other News: The Savannah Bananas, an "exhibition baseball" team that includes comedy and choreographed dances in games of what they call Banana Ball, played in front of 102,000 fans this past Saturday with a cameo from the Dude Perfect team. Angel Studios' new adaptation of Animal Farm (paywall) hit theaters this past weekend, uniting George Orwell's classic critique of totalitarianism with fart jokes and other trappings of modern kids' movies. Scalpers are purchasing the new Pokémon Pop-Tarts from Target and selling them for up to eight times their worth (with their original price being $2.89 per box of 12). After Justin Bieber's performance at Coachella, he became the artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, with just over 141 million monthly listeners as of this week. While the Taylor Swifts and Harry Styleses of the world may still get away with charging obscene prices for concert tickets, many other artists (like Post Malone and Kid Cudi) are also trying to increase sale prices—and then often cancelling concerts after low sales.