The One Conversation

Thanks for listening to our One Conversation podcast! This is a reminder that we have moved all of our podcasts, including the One Conversation, to our Culture Translator podcast feed!

Thanks for listening to our One Conversation podcast! We have decided to move all of our podcasts, including the One Conversation, to our Culture Translator podcast feed. You can find the Culture Translator podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts! 

This week we are joined by Chris Gonzales. After working in law enforcement for 19 years, Chris felt God was calling him to a new fight to protect children in the digital realm. As a father, he understands firsthand why so many parents feel like they have nowhere to turn to find good content in a safe environment, so he launched a platform called GoodTube Kids to create a safe place for kids and a resource for parents all in one place. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Jeremiah Parks. Jeremiah has been described as a fiery Texas-born, Oral Roberts University graduate. He is a pastor to the core and has loved living and ministering in Colorado Springs, raising 3 kids and founding a nonprofit called Heartwork with his wife, Niki. He is a passionate and inspiring father, friend, handyman, hiker, dreamer, and preacher. He's always learning, most recently becoming bi-lingual, as part of serving orphans and widows in the mountains of Guatemala half of each year. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by the Director of Content for Dark Room Faith, Mary Jo Sharp. A former atheist, Mary was raised without religion. She is now an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University, and as well as the founder of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry. She also is the author of the Zondervan book Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist's Reckoning With the Bad Reputation Christians Give a Good God and the LifeWay bible study Why Do You Believe That? She is an itinerant speaker on apologetics and has engaged in formal debates on Islam, and she focuses on using love and logic to uncover truth. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.

In this episode we are joined by Professor Nancy Pearcey. Professor Pearcey is the author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, as well as Love Thy Body, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Total Truth. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's preeminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual." We'll be talking primarily about her new book, The Toxic War on Masculinity.    For more resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Jay Stringer. Jay is a licensed mental health counselor, an ordained minister, and an acclaimed international speaker dedicated to helping both men and women find freedom from sexual brokenness and pursue the life they truly desire. Through his clinical work, he offers a comprehensive understanding of the origins of sexual brokenness, shedding light on the factors that sustain these struggles. Jay's academic background includes an MDiv and a master's degree in counseling psychology from the renowned Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. We'll be talking today about his book Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Dr. Preston Sprinkle. Preston is the president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender and a New York Times–bestselling author who's written a dozen books, including People to Be Loved, an award-winning book on faith and homosexuality, and his newest book which we'll be talking about today, which is called Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? Preston and his wife, Chris, live in Boise, Idaho, with their four kids. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Parker Hymas. Parker is the Director of Public Outreach at Fight the New Drug. Fight the New Drug is a non-religious, non-legislative, educational organization that works with experts, researchers, celebrities, professional athletes, award-winning journalists, CEO's, authors, influencers, and advocates from across all industries to share about the harms of pornography, and how we can address it in our society. For more written, audio or video resources, go to axis.org.

Today we are joined by Elizabeth Flora-Swick. Elizabeth has a Master's of social work from the University of Illinois, and is a graduate student at Global Awakening Theological Seminary. She works at a not-for-profit, serves her local church, and recently wrote a book called Undefiled Access: Healing the Worldview Divide between Charismatic Christianity and the Disability Community. As someone who lives with a visible disability herself, Elizabeth is passionate about encouraging all Christians to biblically approach conversations surrounding disability, suffering, and healing, and wants to make space specifically within charismatic theology and practice for people who experience disabilities.    For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org

Today we're joined by Lisa Fields. Lisa is one of the world's most sought-after Christian apologists, and combines her passion for biblical literacy with her heart for sharing God's love with all those she meets. She has received several honors, including being recognized in Christianity Today for her work as an apologist in the African American community. She helped produce and create two documentaries, Unspoken, which is an in-depth look into the Christian heritage of Africa and people of African descent, and Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom, through her partnership with Our Daily Bread. Lisa has a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Religious studies from the University of North Florida, and a Master of Divinity with a focus in Theology from Liberty University. Finally, she is the founder and CEO of the Jude 3 Project, which Axis recently got to partner with to create a resource on talking with Gen Z about sexuality and gender. We'll be talking primarily today about Lisa's work with Jude 3 Project. For more written, audio, and video resources go to axis.org.

Today we are joined by Matt Markins. Matt serves as the President and CEO of Awana, a global leader in child discipleship. As a leading researcher in child discipleship and children's ministry, Matt has commissioned nine research projects since 2013, including a study conducted by Barna Group called, “Children's Ministry in a New Reality.” He's the co-author of three books, most notably “RESILIENT: Child Discipleship and the Fearless Future of the Church.” He's also the co-founder of the Child Discipleship Forum and D6 Conference. Matt appreciates art and carpentry, and enjoys travel and long breakfasts with his wife, Katie. He and Katie have been involved in children's ministry for more than 25 years and spend their time in Nashville with their two sons.   For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.

Today we are joined by Nathan Davis. Nathan studied Preaching Ministry at Lincoln Christian University, and moved to New England where he served on staff at two churches. Meanwhile he also started attending the New York Film Academy in Boston, where he discovered his passion for filmmaking and storytelling. In 2005, he packed up his car and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and entertainment, and ended up getting a job at Disney, where he worked for 16 years, most recently as an executive in Cinema Partnerships, leading in-theater marketing campaigns for Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney films. Then, in January of this year, he joined The Chosen as their Head of Marketing Strategy and Operations. He has an MBA and also holds an MA in Mythological Studies, and is currently working on his dissertation on humanity's narrative sense and how stories shape our understanding of the world. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Yesenia, and his five-month-old Labrador puppy, Walt. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.

Today we are joined by Kate Watson. Kate is a culture writer and reporter who focuses on lifestyle, ethics, and religion. Her work has covered a wide array of subjects, from atheist pro life groups to the Christian criminal justice reform effort. Kate has written for religious and secular outlets, including Christianity Today, Relevant, SELF, Allure, and Insider, and she is continually drawn to stories about how people live out their convictions. A pastor's daughter who grew up in New York City, she is working on a book of essays about communities and culture in the early 2000s. Kate is married to a Brooklyn firefighter and lives in the Hudson Valley with her three kids, ages 9, 6, and 2. She's also the primary writer for our Culture Translator newsletter and a regular contributor to our Culture Translator Roundtable podcast.    For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.

Today we're joined by Yana Conner. Yana is a writer and Bible teacher who seeks to help others think well about faith and culture. By God's grace, she has served in full-time ministry for the past fifteen years in both the church and parachurch context and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She currently serves at Vertical Church as the Discipleship Director and hosts a podcast called Living Single. You can find more of her writing and teaching at yanajenay.com. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.

Today we're joined by Reed Hermstad. Reed is the Founder and Executive Director of 4Gens, which is an international ministry focused on Equipping and Encouraging Youth to be Disciples of Christ.  4Gens engages families to be disciplers, or Spiritual Coaches of their youth, grandchildren and future generations. They utilize a Discovery Learning computer application called P/elements to provide the foundation and framework of faith to families. Reed and his wife Judy have spiritually coached families for over 30 years in one-to-one, group and virtual formats. We'll be talking primarily today about grandparents, and the role they get to play in faith formation for teens. For more written, audio and video resouces, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Curry Kennedy. Curry is an assistant professor of English, rhetoric, and humanistic studies at the Virginia Military Institute. He earned his PhD in rhetoric from Penn State. He writes about faith, communication, and culture on his Substack, Steward of Mystery. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Dr. Jeff Myers. Dr. Myers is the president of Summit Ministries. He's also the author of 14 books, including the Understanding the Faith, Understanding the Times, and Understanding the Culture textbooks which are studied by tens of thousands of students. We'll be talking today primarily about his work with Summit Ministries. Student Conferences at Summit Ministries give students, ages 16-to-22, an unshakeable faith at their summer worldview conferences. Use code CULTURE to get an exclusive discount to attend a session in Georgia or Colorado. Learn more at summit.org/students. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Mike Su. Mike is a Product and Digital Media executive, and spent the past five years at Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, where he led the Yellow Accelerator, investing in early stage companies that aligned with the mission of Snap. In the decade prior, he led Product at some of the fastest growing digital media companies like mitú, Upworthy, and Defy Media. He's also the founder of Massive Joe Studios, which is a mobile gaming company. Mike and his wife Christine have three teenage children, and serve as a foster family through the Asian Foster Family Initiative. Mike also volunteers with and served on the SoCal board of Defy Ventures, a prison entrepreneurship program. When not working or spending time with family, Mike likes to subject himself to the unending disappointment of cheering for Philadelphia sports teams. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Diane Ferraro. Diane is the CEO of Save the Storks, a nonprofit whose mission is to create a story of hope and empowerment for every woman in an unplanned pregnancy. Save the Storks empowers women with resources, education and support to help them choose life. She has over 25 years of business and marketing experience and has held leadership roles as a chief communications officer and vice president of marketing in a variety of industries including nonprofit, luxury retail, tech and education. As an adopted child and a foster and adoptive mother, she is a lifelong advocate for life and adoption. Ferraro is especially grateful to her birth mom who walked away from her scheduled abortion at a clinic in Mexico and instead made the choice to find a family to adopt her "unwanted" baby girl.    For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Laurence Koo. After coming to terms with his own experience of same-sex attraction, Laurence eventually committed himself to celibacy, out of a conviction that that's what Jesus was calling him to. Since then he has become an international speaker and consultant on the topic of sexuality and same-sex attraction. He also leads training and development for young missionaries with the Navigators, and recently became the director of iEDGE, which sends teams of young adults into other nations to do cross-cultural discipleship ministry. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Dr. Danny Huerta. Danny is the Vice President of Parenting and Youth at Focus on the Family. He oversees Focus' initiatives to equip mothers and fathers with biblical principles and counsel for raising healthy, resilient children rooted in a thriving faith. He is also a bilingual, licensed clinical social worker. For many years, he has provided families with practical parenting advice on topics ranging from media discernment, discipline and communication to mental health issues, conflict resolution and healthy sexuality in the home. He and his wife, Heather, have been married since 1997 and have two children, Alex and Lexi. We'll be speaking today about his book, 7 Traits of Effective Parenting. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Dr. Kara Powell. Dr. Powell is the Chief of Leadership Formation and Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary. Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women to Watch,” Kara serves as a Youth and Family Strategist for Orange and speaks regularly at parenting and leadership conferences. Kara has authored or coauthored numerous books, including Faith in an Anxious World, Growing With, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Can I Ask That?, 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, and her most recent book, 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future, which we'll be talking about today. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Ron Deal. Ron Deal is one of the most widely read authors on blended families in the country and directs the international blended family ministry of FamilyLife out of Little Rock, Arkansas. Ron is a podcaster, bestselling author, conference speaker, and family therapist who specializes in marriage enrichment and stepfamily education. He is husband to Nan (since 1986) and father to three boys. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Jean Park. After working as an analyst for a litigation consulting firm in Los Angeles, Jean decided her career wasn't worth braving the 405's dreadful traffic for. She became a teacher at a non-public school for emotionally disturbed kids, which led her eventually to pursue a Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller Seminary, specializing in child therapy. Jean is a friend of Axis, she's on the board for Young Life Global Cities, she's also now a mom of three kids, and practices what she calls “Soul Coaching” to help parents and anyone who's hurting get set free from their shame and past wounds.

This week we are joined by Elliot Campbell. Elliot is on the pastoral advisory board for Alpha Youth USA.  He has collaborated with the Bible Project and various other national leaders for the sake of reaching Gen Z and has a decade in pastoral experience working specifically with students and young adults. Elliot studied comparative religion and philosophy at the University of Virgina and graduated Denver Seminary as a Kern Scholar with his Master of Divinity in 2018.  He and his wife Madison are currently church planting in the Denver Metroplex. Elliot shares about Alpha Youth along with the openness of Gen Z.

This week we are joined by Dr. Juli Slattery. Dr. Slattery is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker and the president/co-founder of Authentic Intimacy, a ministry devoted to reclaiming God's design for sexuality. In this conversation we get a glimpse into talking about sexuality through a gospel lens. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Dr. Jessica Peck. Dr. Peck has been a pediatric nurse practitioner for nearly twenty years. In her work, she has spent countless hours advising and encouraging parents after talking to their teens behind closed doors. In the privacy of her exam room, she has treated teens with mental illnesses, responded to suicide attempts, treated self-harm wounds as well as the emotional trauma of cyberbullying, sexting, pornography addictions and numerous other issues. Her new book is called Behind Closed Doors: A Guide to Help Parents and Teens Navigate Through Life's Toughest Issues. In our conversation with Dr. Peck we talk about walking the road of mental illness and other crucial issues with your teen, learning to listen well, and ultimately finding hope on the journey. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org

This week Evan talks with Toben Heim, COO of Axis, about what it looks like to practically engage in 'The One Conversation.' For more Axis resources go to axis.org.

This week we are joined by Cameron Cole. Cameron is the Director of Children, Youth, and Family at Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama. He's also the founding chairman of Rooted Ministry, which is all about equipping parents and youth leaders for gospel-centered ministry. Among other things, Cameron is the co-host of the Rooted Parent Podcast, and an editor of the books Gospel-Centered Youth Ministry and The Jesus I Wish I Knew In High School, which came out last year.  In our conversation with Cameron, we get the opportunity to talk about the importance of leading with the gospel in conversations with the next generation. 

This week we are joined by David Eaton, the CEO and Co-Founder of Axis, and the visionary behind 'The One Conversation Journey'. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.