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A swashbuckling South African expat, Benjamin Mauerberger, rose up as a boiler-room stock hustler in Southeast Asia, then reappeared years later with a diplomatic passport and extraordinary wealth. When reporters start pulling at threads, they uncover an entirely new identity: this stock scammer seems to now be a key player in the industrial “pig butchering” scam economy. How does a small-time con artist end up orbiting political dynasties, buying yachts and private jets?… And what happens when the doors finally start to close? To learn more about Tom Wright and his team's work on this story: Project Brazen reporting on Mauerberger Read the US Department of Justice's announcement of their crackdown on the Prince Group Chameleon is a production of Campside Media and Audiochuck. Follow Chameleon on Instagram @chameleonpod Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
On the eve of the upcoming Trump-Xi summit, Donald Trump's approach to China looks less like strategic competition and more like a search for a deal. In this episode, Richard McGregor speaks with Lowy Institute Nonresident Fellow and former Biden White House official, Thomas Wright, about what the Trump–Xi summit reveals, why the 2025 tariff war ended badly for Washington, and how the Democratic Party is reckoning with its own foreign policy legacy. Wright also makes the case that the world now faces not one American foreign policy, but two — and must plan accordingly. You can access Tom Wright’s Lowy Institute Paper Inflection Point: Biden, Trump, and the Future World Order here: https://www.lowyinstitute.org/publications/inflection-point-biden-trump-future-world-order More episodes of the Lowy Institute's podcasts are available on your favourite podcast apps, including Spotify, YouTube and Apple. Follow the Lowy Institute on our website, X, Instagram or LinkedIn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
As the Trump administration is in the process of revamping Penn Station, Tom Wright, CEO and president of the Regional Plan Association (RPA), talks about a new report that offers the RPA's ideas for how to increase capacity and make the transit hub work for commuters. Photo: A clock at Penn Station. (Credit: Boaventuravinicius via Wikimedia Commons CC BY 4.0) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Tom Sutcliffe is joined by playwright Mark Ravenhill and academic and critic Maria Delgado to review:The first major UK exhibition of Spanish master Francisco de Zurbarán at the National Gallery.A new Spanish language series adaptation of Isabel Allende's The House of the Spirits on Amazon Prime video.Please Please Me by Tom Wright, a play about manager Brian Epstein and The Beatles at the Kiln Theatre in London.Plus Tom speaks to the winner of the prestigious Donatella Flick Conducting Competition, seen on the series Making of a Maestro. Presenter: Tom Sutcliffe Producer: Lucy Collingwood
N.T. (Tom) Wright is Research Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St Andrews and Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. Having written close to one hundred books, he is, undoubtedly, one of the most trusted and influential teachers of the Christian story in the 21st Century. In this conversation, he joins Belle and Justin to speak of 'God's Homecoming', arguably one of the most forgotten elements of the Christian worldview.For 'God's Homecoming' https://spckpublishing.co.uk/when-god-comes-home If you found this conversation interesting, Seen & Unseen, the creators of Re-Enchanting, offers thousands of articles exploring how the Christian faith helps us understand the modern world. Discover more here: www.seenandunseen.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Just as the Messiah Loved Us Ephesians 4:25-5:2 by William Klock Fourth of July weekend in 1998 I had to go on a service call to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. I did not want to brave the ferries for a one-day round trip to Friday Harbor on a holiday weekend, but this print shop was desperate, so the owner suggested I bring my wife and daughter—Alexandra wasn't even two months old at the time—and they'd put us up for the whole weekend. That sounded a lot better. And, conveniently, the Episcopal church was literally next door to the place we were staying. Sunday morning we walked over for the service. The second lesson was from Ephesians—the part of Ephesians we're just now getting into today with Chapter 4. And their deacon got up to preach and said, “This morning's lesson was written by Paul. I don't like Paul very much and I know that's true for all of us. Paul says mean, nasty, bigoted things.” He went on to pit Paul against Jesus as he described Paul as a “Pharisaical moralising Puritan”—like Paul had never really understood Jesus' gospel of grace and made it all about works instead—and a lot of “works” that are just plain offensive to modern sensibilities: stuff that comes up particularly in Chapter 5, like “don't let sexual immorality be named among you” or “wives, be subject to your husbands”. I bit my tongue after church as we filed past him. I really wanted to say, “It's not Paul who never grasped the gospel; it's you!” Because you can't separate the gospel from ethics as if living out the implications of the gospel is an optional add-on, or something less important that we'll work on later, or a body of “rules” from which we can arbitrarily pick and choose based on the sensibilities of current secular culture and values—which is exactly what that preacher was doing. That was the day I realised that even a lot of Christian don't understand the connection between ethics and the gospel. In contrast to that deacon, lot of us want to be obedient and we are obedient, so we do what God tells us in the Bible, but we don't really understand—maybe we've never even thought about—why right is right and wrong is wrong. We just think, “Well, God said so,” and we do our best to obey. That's better than disobeying, but it would be better if we actually understood why. The church has often unintentionally fostered this sort of moralism. Back in 1560 Queen Elizabeth ordered that plaques be installed at the front of every church displaying the Ten Commandments. Most churches also included plaques alongside with the Lord's Prayer and the Creed. It sent a message: Do this, believe that, and pray this here.” You could certainly do worse. Elizabeth was trying to help a people who were largely biblically illiterate. But then the local pastors need to do their part and show how what we believe—the gospel—makes sense of and ties together how we live and what we pray. And that often doesn't happen—or it doesn't happen very well. And people start to think that when Paul gives us a list of dos and don'ts, that this is just Paul, not Jesus, and, well, maybe his moralising isn't totally arbitrary, but it's probably culture-bound so we can feel free to pick and choose what seems right to us. A big part of the problem is that we've sometimes got the gospel—and the big story of God and his people—wrong. Not totally wrong. But enough that we no longer understand why right is right and wrong is wrong and why it matters. I've talked before about two sorts of gospel worldviews that we find in the church today. On the one hand is a view embodied by a famous quote from Dwight Moody. After surviving a shipwreck he preached, “I look upon this world as a wrecked vessel. God has given me a lifeboat and said to me, ‘Moody, save all you can.'” The other is a quote by Abraham Kuyper. It's worth noting that both these men were contemporaries, but came from very different church backgrounds. Kuyper wrote, “There is not one square inch in the whole domain of our existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!'” Those are two very different understandings of God's plan. Moody, shaped by 19th Century Revivalism and Dispensationalism saw the world as corrupted, evil, a problem that God would one day destroy. The job of the church was to preach the good news and to save as many people as we can from the coming judgement so that we can go to heaven. At least the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen, saviour and lord is still clearly here. But Moody's thinking about the world and his vision of the future was basically gnostic—more pagan than biblical in many ways. In contrast, Kuyper understood that because God created the world, it is good. It's we who have fallen and put it in bondage to corruption and tears. And because God loves what he has made, he won't throw it away. To the contrary, God is very much in the process of redeeming and renewing it. And so in Jesus he provided a new Adam to lead a redeemed and renewed humanity, washed clean by his blood and filled with his Spirit, a new humanity to pick up where Adam failed. Kuyper knew that if Jesus has ascended and is now enthroned in heaven, he is the world's true lord and sovereign and he will not let one square inch of his beloved creation fall through his fingers. Brothers and Sisters, that is the good news. It's about God reclaiming what he's created and what belongs to him. We've seen already that this theme of new creation and the temple run all through Ephesians. The church is the working model of God's new creation. And the church is the temple in which God dwells. And that just absolutely shouts “Genesis!” at us. Go back to the beginning and make sure you've got the story right to start with. Consider how the story begins. God creates human beings, Adam and Eve, and he places them in his garden to live in his presence and to steward it. The garden is God's temple. Humans are his stewards, his image bearers who represent his sovereign rule there. And not just that, but his only command to them—and it's more blessing than it is command—but he tells them to be fruitful and to multiply and to fill the earth. In other words, keep having children who will have children who will have children who will steward the garden and grow that garden until it fills the whole earth. Until, to use the language of the Prophet Habakkuk, the glory of the Lord fills the earth as the waters cover the sea.” That would have been an easy task for Adam and Eve. All they had to do was steward the garden and have children. There was no sin, no death, no tears, no brokenness, no opposition. Just fellowship with God, take care of the garden, make babies and the mission takes care of itself. But no. Humanity rebelled and broke everything. Now the least of our difficulties in accomplishing the mission are weeds and pain in childbirth. We've become sinful, rebellious, self-centred, angry, greedy, idolators. We not only lost our knowledge of the mission, we even lost our knowledge of God. So in he stepped, into the darkness, and called Abraham. And through Abraham he created a people to be light in the darkness. And he gave them a law. Not arbitrary rules, but a way of life meant to teach the people his character and to keep them pure and holy so that he could live in their midst. Preparing a people to become his temple. God was taking the first steps toward creating a renewed humanity to whom he could restore Adam's vocation and mission to fill the earth with his presence and his glory. And that's just what he's done in Jesus. We've seen in Ephesians: In Jesus, God has taken on our flesh, he has died and been resurrected to be the new Adam, to be the firstborn of God's new creation. And he calls us to himself and he purifies us with his blood and once we're clean and fit for God's presence, he fills us with God's Spirit. And he makes us the temple: the place of God's presence, a people called to be stewards of God's wisdom—of his good and just plan to renew his creation. Brothers and Sisters, our vocation, our mission is Adam and Eve's vocation and mission: to serve as the priests and stewards of God's temple, to proclaim and to live out his wisdom, and to be fruitful and to multiply—through our own children and through the proclamation and living out of the good news—until God's presence and the knowledge of his glory cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Until that day when creation no longer groans under the weight of corruption, because the sons and daughters of God have accomplished the task entrusted to us and finally been fully renewed—resurrected—ourselves. Of course, the difference is that the mission should have been easy for Adam. Ethics didn't matter. Just steward the temple and have children. It's so very, very hard for us. We've filled the world with sin and corruption and they push back. The false kings and the false gods we created will not go away easily. And we ourselves, face the daily challenge to, as Paul put it in last week's lesson, to put off that old way of being human and to put on the new one that we've learned in Jesus. And all of this, Brothers and Sisters, is my long way of helping you to understand that ethics, that right and wrong, that how we live as Jesus' people is bound up in that mission and in our vocation as stewards of the gospel, of God's presence, of his new creation. You know how architects build models so that people can see what the finished building will look like? That's what the church is supposed to be: God's working model today of his coming new creation. The world should be able to look at us and know—or least get a pretty good idea—of what God is planning for the future. Ethics—the way of life in God's new world—is not an add-on to the gospel. It's at the heart of the gospel. And it's why we cannot pick and choose or cobble together our own ethical codes. Because there's the fallen world, as Paul said in 4:17-18, cut off from the life of God, foolish-minded, ignorant, and darkened in understanding—the fallen world that cause all the pain and tears—and there's God's new creation, the world set to rights as God's wisdom and justice give it shape and direction. The two aren't compatible. It's light and wisdom or it's darkness and ignorance. It's God's way which leads to life or it's pain and tears and ultimately death. We will never accomplish the mission God has given us if we compromise with the dark foolishness and ignorance of a fallen world that does not know him. This is why the church cannot take its moral cues from secular, unredeemed culture. So, now that I'm halfway through the sermon, let's pick up with our text in Ephesians 4, at verse 25. [Page 1161 in the pew Bibles.] Again, Paul's just said that if we have been renewed by the Spirit, we need to put off the old way of being human and to put on the new, displaying genuine justice and genuine holiness. Showing the world what God's future looks like. Now he goes on: “Put away lies, then. ‘Each of you, speak the truth with your neighbour,' because we are members of one another. ‘Be angry, but do not sin'; don't let the sun go down on you while you're angry, and do not leave any opportunity for the devil. The thief shouldn't steal anymore, but should rather get on with some honest manual labour, so as to be able to share with anyone in need. Don't let any unwholesome words escape your lips. Instead, say whatever is good and will be useful in building people up, so that you will give grace to those who listen. “And don't disappoint God's holy Spirit—the Spirit who sealed you for the day of redemption. All bitterness and rage, all anger and yelling, and all blasphemy—put it all away from you, with all wickedness. Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, just as God forgave you in the Messiah.” Notice where Paul's going here. He's going from old humanity to new humanity, from dark, fallen world full of sin and death to new creation full of light and life. From lies and rage to kindness. A lot of people, when they think about “ethics” or “thou shalt” and “thou shalt not”, they immediately think of some kind of moralising killjoy—like that deacon who said that Paul was just stuck in his Pharisaical puritanism and never got his head around the concept of grace. I want to ask, “Did you even read what Paul wrote?” Because I just can't figure how you get “killjoy” or “puritan” out of someone whose saying we need to leave behind anger and wrath to embrace kindness and tender-heartedness, to leave behind the darkness of sin and death and to embrace light and life—and grace—God's new creation. “Be angry, but don't sin.” Paul quotes straight from Psalm 4:4. He knows that we're all going to deal with anger from time to time—sometimes even righteous anger over sin and wrong and injustice. But don't let it smoulder—righteous or not—because letting it fester like that leaves the door open for the devil to come in and do his work. And don't steal. I assume that if Paul's warning about something specific, that specific thing must have been a problem. Maybe some of the very poor in the church or some who were recently freed slaves were stealing to get by. No, says Paul, that's not what new creation looks like. But he doesn't just say: Stop stealing. He tells them to get an honest job, so that they can give to the poor. Because, you see—and this is really important, Brothers and Sisters—new creation isn't just an absence of sin; it's also the positive presence of goodness and virtue. But what Paul has to say to start with is mostly about speech, about words. He starts with telling the truth in verse 25 and then there's the bit about being angry but not sinning. Being angry isn't always about words, but I bet for most of us it usually is. That's the old humanity that Paul's told us we need to put off. Instead, he's saying in verse 29, as someone redeemed by Jesus and full of God's holy Spirit, consider that every time you open your mouth it's an opportunity to speak grace to someone. Again, just as with the bit about stealing, living out new creation isn't just the absence of sin. Living out new creation is about positively stewarding God's grace to others. So, he says, we shouldn't be squandering that chance to speak grace by wasting our breath on unwholesome words. “Unwholesome words” is a broad category, but that's why he puts it that way. You fill in the black with whatever kind of unwholesome words you're inclined to speak. No, Paul goes on, don't disappoint, don't grieve the Holy Spirit who has marked you out as God's new creation. Don't just leave unwholesome speech behind. Put away—verse 31—put away all bitterness and rage, all anger and yelling, and all blasphemy. Paul describes this crescendo of sinful speech that starts maybe with dirty jokes, casual jibes, or swearing through outbursts of rage, shouting matches, and finally blasphemy—blaspheming God or blaspheming a fellow human who bears his image—either way, that's the worst way you can abuse God's gift of speech. Brothers and Sisters, if we're going to be living out and modelling God's new creation, we've got put away all behaviour—starting with speech—that hurts and destroys, that tears apart relationships, families, churches. Put aside anything that makes the darkness around you darker, anything that's going to bring pain and tears to others, and instead use your God-given faculties of speech to build others up. Paul makes this point really dramatically. Again, he works up this crescendo, from bitterness to rage to anger to yelling and finally to blasphemy. You can feel the rage storm getting stronger. Most of us have been there—sometimes more than we'd care to admit. You get angry and then things get worse or someone says something that just throws gas on your rage and you explode. But then in verse 31, the rage storm blows itself out and Paul shows us, in stark contrast, what new creation and the life of the Spirit are like. The rage storm stops and everything is calm: Kindness, tender-heartedness, forgiveness. I like how Tom Wright reflections on this. “Feel the sigh of relief. Then cherish that feeling. Then reflect on what brings it about. Then make a habit of it.” But why? It's not just about the sigh of relief that comes with new creation. Paul says to do these things—and here he zeroes in on forgiving others “just as God forgave you in the Messiah” And we might not realise it, but this idea of imitating God would have been absolutely radical to these gentile Ephesians. Not quite so much to Jews. God had been telling them for centuries through the Old Testament: Be holy, for I am holy. That made the Jews unique. But few if any pagans would ever have thought that the world might be a better place if we imitated the gods. No way. Because the pagans were just like us, but with unlimited power to unleash those rage storm, to abuse people for their whims, to kill and to destroy. But the God of Israel, revealed in Jesus the Messiah is different. A God who is himself holy and, even more radical, a God who gives himself for the sake of his people. A God who gives his life that he might set sinners to rights. Look at 5:1-2 and we'll close with this. Paul writes, “So you should be imitators of God, like dear children. Conduct yourselves in love, just as the Messiah loved us, and gave himself for us, as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to God.” Again, it can't be stressed strongly enough just how radical this idea was to First Century pagans. Not only were their gods unworthy of imitation, the way the pagans viewed the world gave no hope. Some saw everything as a never-ending and inescapable cycle. Others saw the world as a shadowy and bleak existence from which death releases us into the “real” spirit world. No one had a hope the world actually being set to rights, of a world without sin and sorrow, pain and tears, let alone a world delivered from death. And no one would have dreamed that a god would love us so much that he would give his own life to do this. Until the good news about Jesus began to spread. Until the pagans began to see these little churches popping up around the world, churches full of people who not only believed in this Jesus and this God of redeeming love, but who lived out that love—who stopped the rage cycle with kindness and forgiveness; who refused to use and abuse other people; who weren't greedy and selfish, but instead gave generously to others; whose families and households were overflowing with love. A people who lived in hope of a world set to rights full life and light instead of death and darkness. And the pagans took note. Just before we moved here they tore down the Palace Theatre downtown. I'm glad I had a chance to see it before it was just a vacant lot. But for what, sixteen or seventeen years, there was just a vacant lot where a wonderful historic building had been. And everyone knew that wasn't right. And after a few years we all started to wonder, “Will this ever be made right?” After a while you start to lose hope. Will it be a vacant lot with a fence around it forever? But then a big sign when up and on that sign was an architects rendering: a fancy new building full of businesses and homes. And you'd see it as you walked past that corner on Fifth Street and it started to feel like things might get back to the way they're supposed to be in that spot. Maybe that's not the best illustration. It's just a building. A vacant lot isn't that big of a deal and neither is a new building—unless of course you live or work in it. But it does highlight what Paul wants us to understand here. In the midst of a world filled with darkness and death, the church is meant to be the sign showing the world that God is at work to set it all to rights. We are the sign meant to show the world what the project will look like when it's finally done. As we embody the gospel and God's new creation, we ought to be an attractive advertisement that draws the world in—making them constructively curious, showing them a God they never could have fathomed, and hope they never dreamed of. To be God's temple. Paul closes this part here with more temple language. As Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was a sweet-smelling sacrifice and offering to God, so our life together imitating him should be too. And, Brothers and Sisters, if our life together is a pleasing sacrifice to God, we can be sure that we're on mission to bring God's presence to the world, to carry his glory to the ends of the earth. Let's pray: Almighty God, you show to those who are in error the light of your truth, that they may return to the way of righteousness: Grant to all those who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ's religion, that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession, and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through our Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
This episode of Whale Hunting explores the intricate web of illicit activities surrounding Benjamin Mauerberger, a South African involved in high-stakes financial crimes across Asia. Hosted by Journalists Bradley Hope and Tom Wright, the discussion delves into money laundering, scam industries, and geopolitical implications. Key Topics Benjamin Malberger's background and rise in illicit finance The role of scam centers and crypto in money laundering Connections between criminal networks and political figures in Asia The use of luxury assets and real estate for money laundering International efforts and challenges in tracking illicit financial flows Episode Breakdown 00:00 Introduction to Benjamin Mauerberger and his criminal network 01:48 The origins of Mauerberger and his early career in boiler rooms 04:04 Red flags: Excessive spending and anonymous identities 06:35 The meeting with Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra 08:53 Malberger's connections to Cambodia and illicit asset purchases 10:55 The rise of scam industries and crypto laundering during COVID-19 13:14 The structure of Asian scam centers and organized crime 17:02 Malberger as a money laundering officer for Asian crime groups 19:58 State capture and political corruption in Thailand and Cambodia 22:15 The assets, investments, and global reach of Mauerberger 29:48 Legal challenges, investigations, and the future of Mauerberger 34:01 The impact of journalism and investigative efforts 41:41 Mauerberger's current whereabouts and ongoing investigations Keywords Money Laundering, Scams, Asia Crime Networks, Benjamin Mauerberger, Financial Crime, Investigative Journalism, Geopolitics, Asset Seizures, Thailand, Dubai Follow the investigation updates at whalehunting.projectbrazen.com To stay informed about geopolitical developments affecting illicit finance Share tips or information via hello@projectbrazen.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://brazen.fm/plus/
Matt Dunning is back with Sean & Morgs to break down an incredible weekend of rugby. Lomax's starting debut is reviewed, superstar Tom Wright returns & the Drua win in Canberra for the first time ever! Plus, the boys go around the grounds looking at Hong Kong 7s, Wallaroos & club rugby. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Olivier winner Eleanor Worthington-Cox is starring as Cilla Black and Cynthia Powell, John Lennon's first wife, in the world premiere of Tom Wright's play Please Please Me at the Kiln Theatre. Directed by Amit Sharma, the play tells the story of Brian Epstein, the influential manager often described as the “fifth Beatle”.Eleanor won an Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical when she was one of the original Matilda Wormwoods in the West End production of Matilda The Musical.As a child, her credits also include: Chorus in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Liverpool Empire), Jean Louise “Scout” Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre), Blousey Brown in Bugsy Malone (Lyric Hammersmith) and Jess in Tomcat (Southwark Playhouse).More recently her theatre credits have included: Phaedra Cox in Jerusalem (Apollo Theatre), Lily in The Secret Life of Bees (Almeida Theatre), Alexandra Giddens in The Little Foxes (Young Vic), Hero in Much Ado About Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company) and Mary Page Marlowe in Mary Page Marlowe (The Old Vic).Eleanor starred as Natalie Goodman in Next to Normal at the Donmar Warehouse and in the West End at the Wyndham's Theatre, receiving an Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role In a Musical. The production was filmed and has been released internationally to huge acclaim. She has worked across film and television too, with projects including Maleficent, Cucumber, The Enfield Haunting, Hetty Feather, Action Point, Britannia, Gwen, The Irregulars and About A Bell.Recorded during a break from rehearsals, in this episode Eleanor discusses all-things Please Please Me including how she's perfecting her portrayal of Cilla and why it's important for her to champion queer storytelling. She also reflects on the impact of Next To Normal, and her journey from Matilda to sustaining a career across stage and screen. Please Please Me runs at the Kiln Theatre until 29th May. Visit www.kilntheatre.com for info and tickets. This podcast is hosted by Andrew Tomlins @AndrewTomlins32 Thanks for listening! Email: andrew@westendframe.co.uk Visit westendframe.co.uk for more info about our podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The N.L. Historic Heritage recently gave out awards to people whose projects were on preserving, restoring or designing buildings with N.L. heritage in mind. From a hundred year old homes to memorials, todays' panel talks about their projects and the importance of keeping remnants of history alive. GUESTS - Luke Quinton, President of the NL Historic Trust; the wiiners of the Southcott Awards: Matthew Mills and Tom Wright with Mills&Wright Landscape Architecture, Kris Drodger and Amy Chislet, Stephanie Moyst and Tyler Stapleton.
On this bonus episode, we talk to Calam Lynch and Noah Ritter, two of the stars of Please Please Me, Tom Wright's play about Brian Epstein, often known as the "fifth Beatle." Lynch plays Epstein, with Ritter as the iconic John Lennon, with the play having its world premiere at the Kiln Theatre later this month. Ritter explains why he was destined to play John Lennon, while Lynch celebrates a return to the Kiln. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The US and Iran struck a deal late on Tuesday for a two-week ceasefire to allow negotiations to proceed and to see the Strait of Hormuz reopened.However, Israel has continued to bombard Lebanon, one of Iran's key allies, raising concerns about how long this peace can last. Fawaz Gerges, professor of international relations at the London School of Economics, journalist Marion McKeone, and Tom Wright, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, join The Last Word to discuss.Hear the full discussion by pressing the 'Play' button on this page!
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha moderated a discussion with Dr. Tom Wright and Dr. Kristi Govella on examining Washington's failed pivot to Asia, expectations for Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's visit to Washington, and its potential impact on the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region, and broader regional dynamics.
For some analysis, Tom Wright, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington. Tom also worked on the US National Security policy for the Biden Administration.
Send a textSee our faces! Watch this episode on YouTube.In this episode of the Cloud Conversations Podcast, host Tom Wright is joined by Patrick Watson to unpack the key insights from Cavell Summit Asia‑Pacific, recently held in Sydney. Bringing together service providers, vendors and industry leaders from across the region, the Summit explored how APAC markets are evolving across UCaaS, CCaaS, AI, customer experience and partner models.Patrick shares his perspective on the overarching themes from the event, highlighting how APAC providers are thinking differently from their European and North American counterparts. The discussion looks at where AI is moving beyond hype into practical deployment, what Cavell's latest research reveals about enterprise priorities in Australia and New Zealand, and how market dynamics differ across Southeast Asia.The episode also draws on Cavell's ongoing APAC research, offering listeners a data‑led view of market maturity, buyer behaviour and growth opportunities across the region. Patrick explains how providers can use Cavell's insights to shape strategy, refine go‑to‑market approaches and prioritise investment as cloud communications demand continues to evolve across Asia‑Pacific.Next up: Cavell Summit Europe on 25th March! Want to come along? Click here.
Hey everyone! In this episode, I'm joined by UK-based photographer and educator Tom Wright, who often refers to himself as a therapist for photographers. Tom works with creatives to help them move through creative blocks, gain clarity in their work, and reconnect with why they picked up a camera in the first place. We talk about balancing art and business, understanding your brand, and finding the moments in photography that bring you the most joy.Meet Tom:Tom Wright is like a therapist for your photography business. He calls it therapy because he helps you work out obstacles, creative block, learning new skills, build systems, experiment with new mediums and provide support on an ongoing basis.He's not a doctor, but you'll feel better!Connect with Me:Join us at Summer Camp!Become a Member of Summer SchoolJoin me at WPPI and get 20% off your ticket using code SUMMER26Subscribe here to our emails for updates on all things Summer School!Instagram: @summergrace.photo @the_summerschool Shop My Products:Summer Grace x G-Presets (discount code: SUMMERSCHOOL)Pricing GuideSummer Camp (2026)*Summer School is powered by Narrative — the AI culling and editing tool I use that supports my workflow without replacing my creativity. Try Narrative for free today using the link above!Connect with Tom:Website: https://www.bytomw.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bytomwYoutube: https://youtube.com/@bytomw
Prisoner of Jesus the Messiah Ephesians 3:1-13 by William Klock Ask yourself what happens when the church is being faithful in its gospel calling and life. As we've worked through the first two chapter of Ephesians, Paul has explained that the church is God's new temple. It's a people purified by the blood of Jesus so that God can draw near in the person of his Spirit to dwell with us. That's always been God's plan for humanity and for creation. The garden was his temple and he placed us there to steward it well, on the one hand, and on the other, to dwell with him and to enjoy his presence—life with him. And ever since we rejected that calling, God has been working to restore us to it. And so the church, this people washed clean of sin and death by Jesus, and then filled with his Spirit, this new temple, we're the working model of God's coming new creation in the here and now. And if we're faithful in being that working model, what happens? The ideal, the hope is that people hear our proclamation of the kingdom and they see the first beginning of God's new creation when they look at the church. In the midst of the darkness, the church should be light. In the midst of death, the church should be life. The church should be here to show a better way through the cross. To prophetically wipe away the tears of the hurt and mourning and to confront the principalities and powers, the false lords and the corrupt systems of the world with the truth of the gospel and the lordship of Jesus. And people do hear and see and experience the faithfulness of the church. In us they meet the living God and the Lord who died for them and they encounter his glory and they kneel in faith and are, themselves washed by Jesus and filled with the Spirit. But our idea of the faithful church often stops there. Maybe that's because we think of the church, not in terms of faithfulness, but in terms of success. Butts in the pews. Money in the plate. Acclaim by the world. And yet for the first Christians the opposite was true. They were small. They were poor. They were persecuted and imprisoned and martyred by the world around them. And that's because, when the church is faithful in living and proclaiming and witnessing the presence of God's new creation and the Lordship of Jesus, the principalities and powers—that was how Jews like Paul thought of the unseen powers, once placed by God to oversee peoples and nations, but now in rebellion against him—those principalities and powers, earthly kings, and the powerful people invested in those kingdoms and the corrupt systems that run them—Brothers and Sisters, if we're doing our job showing that God's new world is breaking in and that Jesus is setting things to rights, those powers will fight back. They will try to shut us up or shut us down. They will throw us in prison. They will kill us. Or they will try to corrupt us. They'll divide our loyalties: Sure you can worship Jesus, but you'll also need to kneel to Caesar. They'll get us to adulterate the gospel with materialism and commercialism or politics. They'll convince us we can have one set of values in the church and another in business or in government. With that in mind, look at Ephesians 3. Paul rites, “It is because of all this that I, Paul, the prisoner of Messiah Jesus on behalf of you gnetiles…” Paul sort of interrupts himself there for rhetorical purposes, but we should pause here too. Paul was in prison. Probably this is when he was in prison in Rome, but it could have been in Ephesus. And for a lot of people in his word, that meant that Paul was out of favour with God. How often do we hear that sort of thing today? There are parts of the church that have been corrupted and compromised by the idea that faith means health and wealth, happiness and prosperity. That you can name it and, by faith, claim it. And if you don't get it, well, then you don't have enough faith or you're out of favour with God. If we were to turn over to Second Corinthians we'd see that that's how the Corinthians interpreted Paul's imprisonment. But this is pagan thinking. But Paul knew better. In verse 13 he tells them, “Don't lose heart because of my sufferings on your behalf. That's your glory!” In other words, he's imprisoned because he's been faithful to the calling God gave him. He's imprisoned because of his great faith. He wants the Ephesians to understand the paradox of the cross: God's power is made perfect in weakness. We're prone to forgetting this. When we bail on a church because we think it's too small, when we start adopting sales tactics as if the gospel is something to sell, when we cozy up to corrupt leaders and rulers looking for favour, when we think we have to project or pursue strength in order to win, we've lost the plot that is centred on the cross of Jesus. You can't adulterate God's new creation with the old. If we do, we lose our witness and we stop challenging the principalities and power of the old with the lordship of Jesus and the glory of the kingdom. So Paul was in prison because he was being faithful, because he was establishing, just as God had called him to do, these little communities that were breaking the rules of the old order: bringing Jews and gentiles, men and women, slave and free together into a single family. This was the family through which God will make his glory known throughout the earth. Remember the priests mocking Jesus on the cross, to come down if he was really the son of God, then they would believe. But Paul knew—and the people in those little churches in Ephesus knew—it was because Jesus is the son of God that he had to stay on the cross. It was through his weakness, through his death that the great enemy, death itself, would be defeated and the battle won. Weakness is the powerful way of the cross. Paul had got the attention of the powers of the present evil age and it landed him in prison, but instead of thinking that God had failed, Paul knew that this was actually the sign, the proof that the gospel and the Spirit were doing their work, that they were truly rising to challenge the old gods and kings. So he goes on in verse 3, “I'm assuming, by the way, that you've heard about the plan of Gods' grace that was given to me to pass on to you? You know, the mystery that God revealed to me, as I wrote briefly just now. Anyway… When you read this you'll be able to understand the special insight I have into the Messiah's mystery. This wasn't made known to human beings in previous generations, but now it's been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. The mystery is this, that, through the gospel, the gentiles are to share Israel's inheritance. They are to become fellow members of the body, along with them, and fellow sharers of the promise of Jesus the Messiah.” God's great mystery, his secret purpose that was there all along, promised to Abraham and to Moses, to David and to the Prophets, but missed by so many people in Israel—and of course totally unknown to the gentiles who did know about those promises—that mystery hit Paul like a ton of bricks the day he met the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus—or maybe it was three days later when Ananias prayed for him and his eyes were opened. Paul started to rethink everything his Jewish Pharisee brain knew—and it knew the whole story—but suddenly he was looking it at through a new lens, through the reality that this Jesus who was crucified as a false Messiah had been raised and was, in fact, the Messiah after all. And if that were true—well, that wall outside the temple, the one carved with the warning that gentile must not pass on pain of death—that wall was now irrelevant. In fact, that whole temple had become irrelevant because of Jesus. He's said this back in 2:19 and now he says pretty much the same thing again, “The mystery is this, that through the gospel, the gentiles are to share in Israel's inheritance. They are to become fellow members of the body…fellow sharers of the promise in Messiah Jesus.” In Greek he drives this point home with real force using three words that all begin with the prefix syn that means “with”. The gentiles are with-inheritors, with-body, and with-partakers—to put it very literally in English. For those in the Messiah, the distinction between the Jews and the rest of the world is gone. And we often read right past it, but this was absolutely key, heart of the gospel stuff for Paul. Israel's story reached its climax and the promises were fulfilled in the Messiah and in his death for the sins of the whole world. In that moment the whole sacrificial system, the whole system of purity and impurity, the temple itself became irrelevant for everyone—whether or Jew or gentile—for anyone who throws himself or herself at the feet of Jesus in faith and love to be purified once and for all and forever by his blood, to be filled by God's Spirit, and thereby to become a part of God's new temple. When the scales fell from Paul's eyes, he was the first to really grasp all this. The other apostles back in Jerusalem were still debating whether gentile believers had to be circumcised or not. So Jesus sent Paul to go announce to the gentiles that it's not necessary. There's now a single people defined by faith in the risen Messiah. Of course, Paul first went back to Jerusalem to make sure his fellow apostles understood this, too. But his mission was to proclaim the good news to the nations. I expect most of the his first converts were those gentiles who were already on the fringe. The “god fearers” as the Jews called them. Greeks and Romans who encountered Jewish society and saw something they'd never seen before. In a world of moral filth, they saw in Israel a passion for holiness, a desire for justice, a hope of God setting the world to rights—a hope few in the gentile world had. And they couldn't go to the temple, but they could sit in the synagogues and hear the scriptures read and there they heard about the faithfulness of Israel's God. And so they hung around, on the fringe, longing for what this family had, but knowing it was not theirs and thinking it never could belong to them. Hoping that maybe there could be a place for them, even if on the fringe, in this story of hope. And Paul came to them excited, to announce that in Jesus, they were co-inheritors, fellow body-members, and fellow partakers of all those promises God had made to his people. That in Jesus and the Spirit, the could actually become the temple of the living God…not on the fringe, but actually the temple in which he dwells. Imagine the excitement those first gentile believers felt. Like children in an orphanage, waiting and longing for years to have a place in and the love of a family, now they were part of the family. They'd escaped from the fickle gods and moral filth and hopelessness of paganism and were now sons and daughters of God. So having made clear this point that is so central to everything, Paul goes on in verse 7: “This is the gospel that I was appointed to serve, in line with the free gift of God's grace that was given to me. It was backed up with the power through which God accomplishes his work.” I have to think that Paul never ceased to marvel at this. The guy who made it his career to round up Christians so they could be brought before the Jewish council—and stoned like Stephen—that evil guy was called and chosen by God to proclaim this good news. Washed clean by the blood of Jesus and made an apostle. If anyone understood grace, it was Paul. If anyone knew the power of God made perfect in weakness, it was Paul. And so he goes on in verse 8: “I am the very least of all God's people. However, he gave me this task as a gift: that I should be the one to tell the gentiles the good news of the Messiah's riches, riches no one could begin to count. My job is to make clear to everyone just what the mystery is, the purpose that's been hidden from the very beginning of the world in God who created all things.” Paul, the least deserving of anyone having been such a great persecutor of Jesus and his church, has been given the grace to proclaim the riches of God, his immense wealth. The riches of the Messiah. Sonship in God's family. The inheritance of the word. And one day that world set to rights and fellowship with the living God forever. This is good news. Not good advice, like, “Hey, let me tell you about Jesus. Try him out and see if he works for you and if not, oh well.” No this is good news. Sin and death are defeated, the corrupt principalities and powers are on borrowed time, God's kingdom has come. And those powers have heard the proclamation of Paul and his churches and they're angry. Maybe if it had just been all talk, maybe if they'd just proclaimed it as good advice, maybe if they'd let themselves be corrupted by the desire for strength and power, but no…the principalities and powers, the king and gods of the present age are angry, because they've seen this good news at work. Caesar was the great peacemaker who had forged all the peoples of his vast empire into one with his sword and his armies. But this crucified Messiah who came out of a weak and conquered people, whose missionaries had gathered a bunch of largely poor people, women, and slaves—their unity across all their difference brought about by a message of grace—that was a real threat to the order of the old world. The Lord Jesus was the real deal. Caesar was a cheap copy. And while the Caesars of the world will one day be brought down, they won't go down easily. And yet, it's in just this that the church has its greatest witness the power of God, the power of the cross, the power of the good news. God's power is made most manifest when we are at our weakest—laughed at, imprisoned, martyred. Those things are proof of the power of the gospel. And now Paul brings the first part of the chapter to its climax in verse 10: “This is it: that God's wisdom, in all its rich variety, was to be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places—through the church! This is God's eternal purpose, and he's accomplished it in Messiah Jesus our Lord. We have confidence and access to God in him, in full assurance, through his faithfulness.” I've heard and read Tom Wright say that if you want to understand what Paul is really getting at in this first half of Ephesians, look at the 10s: 1:10, 2:10, and 3:10. In 1:10 we see God's purpose to bring all things together in heaven and on earth in the Messiah. In 2:10 we see the church today, justified by grace through faith, called to have the vital role to play in God's plan to bring everything together in the Messiah. And here in 3:10 Paul reminds us that when the church is faithfully the church—that fellowship of people from every nation, tribe, and tongue who have given their allegiance to the Messiah, then the principalities and powers are put on notice and called to account. As Paul says here: “God's wisdom, in all its rich variety, was to be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places—through the church!” For two thousand years God's promises to set creation and humanity rights was out there, but how was it going to happen? Brothers and Sisters, it's through the church being the church, with uncompromising allegiance to Jesus, living in the power of the Spirit, refusing to compromise, refusing to give an inch to evil men, to wicked systems, to the gods of the present age. Not one inch. Because, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus tell us, in those famous words of Abrham Kuyper, “there is not one inch in the whole domain of human existence over which Christ, who is sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” And knowing that with full assurance, uncompromisingly living that out, we the church are, as Paul put it in Chapter 2, we're God's poiema, his beautiful, finely crafted handywork. We put on display God's wisdom in all its polypoikilos, the ESV translates it “manifold”. I'm tempted to translate it a little more freely as something like “all the colours of the rainbow”. Think of the vision of the church in Revelation 7—an uncountable multitude from every nation, tribe and tongue. The church is meant to display the polychromed, Technicolor glory of God's new creation and, in doing so, to reveal the shabby drabness of this wicked old age and its gods and kings. But what the church has done instead is to fracture. This colour here and that colour over there. It's to our shame. And perhaps it's because we ourselves have lost the glory of that Technicolor world the church is meant to represent, we seem to be perpetually drawn back to the shabby drabness of the present age and it's cheap attempts to do what only Jesus and the Spirit can do. Again, we treat the church and the gospel like commodities to marketed and to be bought and sold. We try to divide our loyalty between Jesus and mammon or sex or power. We become captivated by the ugliness of violence and war. Or we sell our souls for a mess of political pottage, losing our vision of new creation and our passion for goodness, truth, and beauty and instead of trusting in the God who will bring it about, we trust in horses and chariots and chase after lesser evils instead of the good. Brothers and Sisters, that what the principalities and powers, that's what the devils want. They want us to think that we can bring God's kingdom by using the world's ways. But it won't, it can't work. Because doing so simply paints the church with the same shabby drabnesss of their world and casts a veil over the glory of God and the goodness of the gospel. It removes us as a threat to those powers. But when we are faithful to being the church. When we are uncompromising in our loyalty to Jesus. When love one another and are truly one, instead of fracturing our witness to the unity of the people of God, that's when the world and its rulers take notice. They recognise that, as Paul wrote back in 2:6, we are already seated with God in the heavenly places in the Messiah. That doesn't mean we're somehow above the mess. Instead it means we're right here in the midst of the mess, taking on the corrupt and evil powers of this age with power of the cross of Jesus for the sake of the people around us. We're here, with the authority of heaven, to shine the light of the gospel and to put on full display the Technicolor glory of God. Even as the powers fight back. We've all seen it. It's not always as obvious as Paul being in prison. More often than not, it seems that when a church being faithful to preach God's word and to live out the gospel and the life of the Spirit, all hell comes at us out of nowhere. People start grumbling and creating divisions. People leave over stupid things. World or national events distract us from the gospel. or divisions become obstacles to faithfulness. Those are times for prayer and to double-down on faithfulness to Jesus and the gospel when we're tempted to give up or tempted to compromise. But Paul would tell us to be prepared. When you're being faithful, when a church is putting on display the manifold wisdom of God—new creation—the enemies of the gospel will see, they'll feel the threat, they will strike back. That's why Paul was in prison. And he tells them, “That's your glory.” Think again back to the Solomon's dedication of the temple. That stunningly grand and beautiful building, skilfully and purposefully crafted so that the glorious presence of God could dwell with in it. So that God could shine forth from it. That was the glory of his people on display for the sake of the whole world. And Solomon and all Israel watched as the cloud of glory descended and filled the temple. I always struggle to visualize just how amazing that must have been. But the key takeaway here is this, Brothers and Sisters: that glory now indwells us. We are now God's temple, his skilfully and purposefully crafted handiwork, purified by the blood of Jesus, so that he can dwell in us. And if we, by his grace and sure of promises, are faithful to be what he has made, we will shine forth that glory: life in the midst of death, light in the midst of darkness, hope in the midst of despair, glorious Technicolour in the midst of dreary mud puddles, new creation in the midst of the hold. Let's pray: Almighty God, consider the heartfelt desires of your servants, we pray, and stretch out the right hand of your majesty to defend us against all our enemies, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
N. T. Wright is perhaps the most influential New Testament scholar of our generation. He is an Anglican bishop, having served as the Bishop of Durham and as a Lord Spiritual in the UK Parliament. He then became a research professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Mary's College at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, and later a senior research fellow at Wycliffe Hall at Oxford.Bishop Wright is the author of over seventy books, many of which are highly regarded as top academic scholarship. But his influence on regular run-of-the-mill Christians is greatest through his many books written at a more popular level, including the three books Simply Christian, Simply Jesus, and After You Believe, which guide readers in faith and Christian living.And, of course, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. In that groundbreaking book, Tom Wright dismantled the narrative we all assumed was the gospel story: that we are saved in order to go to heaven. He wrote that our hope for the future is our physical resurrection to live with God in the New Heavens and New Earth.This new book, God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal (HarperOne, 2025), almost serves as a sequel to that. He returns to the grand narrative of the Bible and explains that God's promise has always been that he would dwell with humans in a renewed creation. God's home has been, and always will be, with us.Thanks for listening!If you enjoyed this podcast, please share it with your friends!Your hosts are Dr. Bob Robinson and David Loughney. For further resources on reintegrating all of life with God's mission, go to re-integrate.org.Support independent booksellers! Please consider purchasing Tom Wright's books from Byron and Beth Borger at Hearts & Minds Bookstore. They are eager to serve God's people with great books. Order online through their secure server or call 717-246-3333. Ask for 20% OFF by mentioning that you heard about these books on the Reintegrate Podcast! Get full access to Bob Robinson's Substack at bobrobinsonre.substack.com/subscribe
In this engaging conversation, N.T. Wright (Tom Wright) discusses his new book 'Homecoming', which builds on themes from his previous work 'Surprised by Hope'. He explores the biblical narrative of God's homecoming, critiques common misconceptions about heaven and the afterlife, and emphasizes the importance of accurate theology in worship. Wright also reflects on the renewal of heaven and earth, the implications of rapture theology, and the church's role in cultural reconciliation. Personal insights into his life and the work of the Holy Spirit are shared, providing a holistic view of faith and literature. Links Help keep this podcast on the web by simply buying me a coffee https://www.buymeacoffee.com/mattmcchlery Sponsor an episode of this podcast Click for Advertising info Visit Matt McChlery's website mattmcchlery.com Get a copy of God's Homecoming from SPCK Takeaways N.T. Wright discusses the significance of his name and its variations. His new book 'Homecoming' builds on themes from 'Surprised by Hope'. The biblical narrative emphasizes God's homecoming rather than souls going to heaven. Wright critiques common Christian beliefs about heaven and the afterlife. The importance of accurate theology in worship songs is highlighted. Heaven and earth will be renewed, not completely replaced. Rapture theology is critiqued as a misinterpretation of biblical texts. The concept of paradise is explored as an intermediate state before resurrection. The church should model reconciliation and diversity in worship. Wright shares personal reflections on aging and the Holy Spirit's work. Sound Bites "This is the story of God's homecoming." "We've got the story the wrong way up." "The church should model reconciliation." Chapters 00:00 Introduction to N.T. Wright and His Work 02:31 Exploring 'God's Homecoming' and Its Connection to 'Surprised by Hope' 06:33 Revisiting Christian Eschatology: Heaven and New Creation 09:28 The Importance of Theology in Worship Songs 13:43 Understanding the Renewal of Heaven and Earth 20:17 Rapture Theology and Its Implications 25:02 Paradise and the Intermediate State 27:59 The Church's Role in Cultural Reconciliation 35:33 Personal Insights and Hobbies of Tom Wright 41:44 Reflections on the Holy Spirit's Work in Our Lives
On the latest episode of the podcast, Jamie reveals how long it takes before her attention drifts from movies (these Pluto commercials aren't helping), Doug believes two characters in this film are auditioning for a sitcom that never happened, and we both agree that not much has changed in society over the past 40 years (some for better but far more for worse). Pay for your fresh fruits before eating them, take off your fake eyelashes before bed, and join us as we celebrate Black History Month with a movie far more thoughtful and prescient than the title would have you believe, The Brother from Another Planet!The Brother from Another Planet is a 1984 film written and directed by John Sayles and starring Joe Morton, Steve James, Leonard Jackson, Maggie Renzi, Renn Woods, Tom Wright, David Strathairn, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rosetta LeNoire, Fischer Stevens & Bill Cobbs.Visit our YouTube ChannelMerch on TeePublic Follow us on TwitterFollow on InstagramFind us on FacebookDoug's Schitt's Creek podcast, Schitt's & Giggles can be found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/schitts-and-giggles-a-schitts-creek-podcast/id1490637008
Is The Greatest Shift in Christian Theology Going From Heaven to Earth? Heaven isn't the point of the gospel—and N.T. Wright challenges the "accept Jesus and escape earth" narrative of Christianity. Curtis Chang talks with Wright, leading theologian and prolific author, about New Creation and his latest book God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal, asking whether the Bible's promise is the Kingdom of God on earth—or simply going to heaven when you die. They examine the "royal priesthood" calling, what this means for life after death and suffering now, and the true purpose of Christian faith. Sign up for the Good Faith Newsletter Learn more about George Fox Talks Register for the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference 03:43 - The Continuity Between Old and New Testaments 05:05 - Reject Platonism and Embracing New Creation? 08:04 - A Vision More Demanding Than The "Ticket To Heaven" Gospel 13:48 - What Does This Mean For Grace, Works, and Human Vocation? 19:53 - Divergence on the Meaning of The Kingdom of God 27:24 - The Problem of Evil and the "Now and Not Yet" 34:59 - A Pastoral Response to Heaven-Focused Theology 40:41 - How Are Heaven and Earth Interlocking Realities? 47:59 - The Royal Priesthood: Humanity's Biblical Mandate 51:47 - Tom Wright's Future Projects and Reflections Scriptures: Revelation 5:9-10 (ESV) - kingdom + priests reign on the earth Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6; 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV) - royal priesthood Genesis 1-2 (ESV) - creation "very good"; humanity's vocation Revelation 21–22 (ESV) - new heaven/new earth; God dwelling with humanity Romans 12:2 (ESV) - renewing of the mind Romans 8:21–23 (ESV) - creation set free; redemption of bodies Malachi 3:1 + Isaiah 40:3 (ESV) - prepare the way; the Lord coming to his temple Psalm 8 (ESV) - humanity crowned with glory/honor; vocation Ephesians 4 (ESV) - new humanity; community ethics Mentioned in This Episode: N.T. Wright's book God's Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal N.T. Wright's book Surprised by Hope What is the Bar Kokhba Revolt? What is the Mishnah? "Teach Me, My God and King" (George Herbert / "The Elixir") Tom Holland's book Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World C.S. Lewis' book Miracles Scot McKnight's book Reading Romans Backwards: A Gospel of Peace in the Midst of Empire More from N.T. Wright: N.T. Wright Online N.T. Wright's Speaking engagements N.T. Wright's books (Amazon) Past Conversations with N.T. Wright: Good Faith ep. 207: N.T. Wright Explains Ephesians: The Church, Christian Nationalism, & the Armor of God Good Faith ep. 128: The Unseen Spiritual Powers Shaping Our World (with N.T. Wright) Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
What if Christianity was never meant to be about escaping earth for heaven, but about God coming home to the world? In this episode, I sit down with N. T. Wright for a wide-ranging conversation that reclaims the Bible's larger story: heaven and earth meant to overlap, God dwelling with humanity, and new creation beginning now. We explore temples and tabernacles, resurrection and judgment, what it truly means to be human, and how the church is called to reflect God's presence in a fractured world. Drawing from Wright's latest book God's Homecoming, this conversation invites youto rethink faith, hope, justice, and the future of the world and to rediscover a gospel that is far bigger, richer, and more grounded than we thought.N. T. Wright is the former Bishop of Durham in the Church of England and one of the world's leading Bible scholars. He is Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University, and Senior Editor at Saint Andrews. He has been featured on ABC News, Dateline, The Colbert Report, and NPR's Fresh Air. Wright is the award-winning author of many books, including Paul: A Biography, Simply Christian, Surprised by Hope, The Day the Revolution Began, Simply Jesus, After You Believe, and Scripture and the Authority of God.N.T. Wright's Book:God's HomecomingConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowGet Your Sidekick Support the show
Not in Print: playwrights off script - on inspiration, process and theatre itself
Recorded at the Currency Press Festival of Playwrights 2025 AUSTRALIAN PLAYWRIGHTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE: Not only are Australian plays being lauded on international stages, but Australian playwrights are also finding a place at leading theatre companies around the world 'on attachment', where they can hone their skills while making important connections for future possibilities. This panel discusses what it means for Australian plays and playwrights to be part of the international scene, the rewards and challenges of it, and the practicalities of making it happen. FEATURING: Anthony Blair, Jane Harrison, and Tom Wright CHAIR: Tommy Murphy *** currency.com.au
It is with great pleasure that I have invited my colleague Tom Wright back into the Virtual Studio for this episode of ‘Shaking the Global Order', the first of the new season. With Tom today I am particularly interested in how he sees the current Trump administration's efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but also take a ‘peek' at President Trump's ‘New Imperialism' examining Venezuela, Iran, Greenland and more. Today, Tom is a senior fellow with the Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy and Technology at the Brookings Institution. In the Biden administration, Tom served as special assistant to the president and senior director for strategic planning at the National Security Council. At the White House, Tom worked on a wide range of projects and issues, including the 2022 U.S. National Security Strategy, the Russia-Ukraine war, European security and U.S.-China relations among other issues. Tom continues his writing and has published relatively recently in Foreign Affairs and he contributes also to The Atlantic magazine.
On this segment of Copper Country Today, Clayton Gomez and Tom Wright from the Quincy Mine Hoist Association join host Todd VanDyke to talk about the history of the Quincy Mine, and the association's 65 years of preserving its legacy.Copper Country Today airs throughout Michigan's Keweenaw Peninsula Sunday mornings at 7:00 on WOLV 97.7 FM, 8:00 on WCCY 99.3 FM and 1400 AM, 9:00 on WHKB 102.3 FM, and 10:00 on WHBS 96.3 FM. The program is sponsored by the Copper Shores Community Health Foundation. Copyright © 2025, ListenUpRadio, Houghton, MI.
A Sermon for the Feast of the Holy Innocents St. Matthew 2:13-18 by William Klock Have you read a great book and then gone to see the movie and the movie totally lost the plot? Or maybe you got into a TV show, but then the longer the show ran, the more it seemed to lose the original plot? We've been watching one show that started out spectacularly, but now I'm starting wish they'd just ended it after the first season, because lately it feels like the original plot has been hijacked by today's obligatory plot about sexuality. I found myself thinking how ironic it is that in a postmodern culture that claims to hate metanarratives and insists we all write our own stories, its stories all seem to go the same way. And in the midst of it all, as we all try to write our own stories while having our stories hijacked by the various commercial, political, and sexual plot-writers of our culture, often without our even realising it's happened, well, Christmas comes. And if we'll listen, we just might hear, we must might realise that there's a greater story and a greater drama with a happier ending. A story so wonderful, so masterfully written, that it shows up just what fools we've been to try to writer our own stories. A story, too, that's full of grace. A story in which God himself has come into the midst of our mangled plotlines to forgive our bad writing, to remind us how the story is supposed to go and what a truly good story looks like, even to welcome us back into his great drama of love and faithfulness and redemption and glory. Genesis reminds us how the story was supposed to go: human beings created by God, mortals made of the same stuff as the rest of creation, but animated and brought to life by the very breath of God. And then we were placed in his temple. In the spot where pagans would place their idols to represent the presence and rule of their gods, the living God placed us. To represent his good and sovereign rule over creation, to act as his stewards, and to know the goodness and the life only found in his presence. It was a story in which we knew all those things we've recalled when lighting the Advent candles—a story of perfect love, peace, joy, and hope. And we were to be fruitful and to multiply so that we might ever expand the Lord's temple until it filled all of creation with his glory. And then we tried to hijack the temple for ourselves. Instead of being the image of God, we tried to become gods ourselves. And immediately we began to accuse each other. We began to exploit and dominate each other. Within a single generation, as Genesis tells it, we were murdering each other. We were at each other's throats. Everyone out for himself, no matter who he had to step on or exploit or enslave or kill. I talked last week about the darkness of the pagan world into which Jesus came. A world of petty and fickle gods, constantly fighting amongst themselves. Gods representing the idols of the human heart: power, sex, money, war…you name it. If it can be used to exploit others, we made a god for it. The world was dark. But there was a light—or there was supposed to be. Two millennia before, the living God had called Abraham out of the darkness of pagan Ur and set him up to be a light in the midst of the darkness. A man who knew the light of the living God and became, himself a light to the nations. At first just one man, but then a growing family, and eventually a whole nation—set apart by God and living around a temple in which that light was manifest as a visible and awe-inspiring cloud of glory. But even Israel succumbed to the darkness. The kings and people of Israel did what rebellious humanity had always done: they tried to write their own script. And so Jesus came not only to the dark world of the pagans; he also came to the dark world of Israel. Our Gospel today is a stark reminder of just how off-script things had gone for God's own people. It picks up immediately after the wise men had visited Jesus. Remember that they had travelled to Jerusalem from somewhere in the east, probably Persia, following a star that somehow told them that a king had been born. They went to the palace of Herod, who was the King of the Jews—at least in title. And when they asked where they might find the new-born King of the Jews, of course, he had no idea what they were talking about. These foreigners had to remind him of his own scriptures about the coming king, the one who would finally shepherd God's people aright, and how he would be born at Bethlehem. From Jerusalem, the wise men travelled to Bethlehem where they became the first of the gentiles to worship Jesus the Messiah. And you'll remember that an angel came to them and warned them to avoid Jerusalem on their way home. But Herod didn't forget the prophecy or the wise men. He bore the title “King of the Jews”, but he wasn't really Jewish. He was the child of a forbidden marriage between a Jew and a gentile. He was a puppet king set up by the Romans. He tried to win the people over with grand building projects and public works. The most important was a renovation of the temple. But no one like him and no one really thought he was the legitimate king. And so he was also paranoid. He wasn't above murdering his own sons just to make sure he had no rivals. And so, St. Matthew tells us, “After the wise men had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. ‘Get up,' he said, ‘and take the child and his mother and hurry too Egypt. Stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to hunt for the child, to kill him.'” Tom Wright tells a story that I expect must have happened when he was Bishop of Durham. A prominent historian who was well-known for his scepticism about the Bible showed up at church one Christmas. Wright was preaching. And when the service was over, the historian approached him and said something to the effect of, “I've got it all figured out why people love Christmas so much. It's about a baby and babies threaten no one, and so we all feel good, but in the end it's really all about nothing.” And Wright goes on to say just how dumbfounded he was. Had this man not heard the Christmas story? Right here from the get-go, an evil king—a king who insisted on writing his own story—did everything he could to stop God's rewrite before it could even be started. Considering how impious Herod was, I suspect he didn't even really believe the prophecy about Bethlehem and a king. He was just a paranoid despot who had it in his power to murder people frivolously, so…why not? You know, just in case. “So,” Matthew goes on, “Joseph got up and took the child and his mother by night and went off to Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod. This happened to fulfil what the Lord said through the prophet [Hosea]: ‘Out of Egypt I called my son.' And so Jesus escapes, but there's no good news here. Herod just lashes out blindly. He's powerful, he can, and he does. And so Matthew tells us, “When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he flew into a great rage. He dispatched men to kill all the boys of Bethlehem, and in all the surrounding districts, from two years old and under, according to the time the wise men had told him. That was when the word that came through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: ‘There was heard a voice in Rama, crying and loud lamentation. Rachel is weeping for her children, and will not let anyone comfort her, because they are no more.'” Tell me again how this baby threatens no one. The shadow of the cross hangs over Jesus' story before he can even walk or talk. Because Herod couldn't stand the thought of not being the master of his own story. And under threat, he did what he always did: he murdered. How many? Bethlehem was likely a town of about a thousand people in those days. There were probably somewhere between a dozen and two dozen boys there two years old and younger. And Herod didn't give it a thought to have them killed. And apparently neither did his soldiers. That, or they feared Herod more than they feared God. Again, Herod reminds us that it wasn't just a dark pagan world into which Jesus was born. The same darkness hung over Israel. Because Herod's problem is a universal one. Ever since Adam and Eve, we've all been trying to write our own stories and to put ourselves in the place of God. To define for ourselves who we are and what our purpose is. To define for ourselves what is right and what is wrong. And the end result of all of our self-serving stories is that we trample and abuse and exploit others to further our own ends. None of us has the relatively unchecked power of an ancient near eastern despot like Herod and so we balk at his evil. And yet here in Canada the official statics show that about 20% of pregnancies in any given year are ended by abortion. And that number is low, because it under-reports at-home chemical abortions. If we can get away with it, if we can dehumanise another person in our minds, and if that child threatens the story we're trying to write for ourselves, many, many, many of us will do precisely what Herod did and kill an innocent. And many will and have done it repeatedly. Abortion is an extreme example. Maybe we'd never dream of going that far to guard the narrative we write for ourselves. Maybe we'd never go that far in our attempt to play God. But this rot, this rebellion that corrupts human relationships spreads its roots through our society in all sorts of ways. Maybe it's the influence of the wicked principalities and powers that St. Paul writes about in Ephesians—trying to corrupt everything, even the good systems we try to put in place. But the rot spread. Recently I was listening to a friend tell me the havoc pornography has wreaked in her life. We tend to think of pornography use as a personal sexual sin—and that's certainly part of it—but this conversation had me thinking that at the heart of pornography is a dehumanising exploitation of others. It turns fellow human beings into objects to be used to fulfil our own ends, human beings turned into non-player characters in the sinful and self-gratifying stories we write for ourselves. It's not just about sex or sexual immorality. It's about the abuse and exploitation for our own ends of fellow human beings, created by God, meant to bear his image, fellow priests of his temple to whom we have an obligation of love and humility and grace and respect. And when you think about it in those terms, you start to see just how much our rebellion against God, just how much our desire to write our own stories and to be our own gods infects and corrupts our network of relationships. Our marriages and our families break down because we choose to use our husbands or our wives or our children to fill roles in the stories we write for ourselves, instead of being the fellow players we're meant to be in God's great drama. We do the same thing in business and with the people we employ—as if they exist to serve us, to meet our needs, to act their parts in our stories. And then we get into economics and politics and without even realising it, we've let the powerful and the well-placed convince us to live out their stories—that we have to be this and buy that in order to be fulfilled and happy. That we have to support this and vote for that, that we have to hate this person over here and that person over there because they have the wrong values, support the wrong thing, or are playing parts in the wrong narrative. And so we write those people into our stories as the bad guys or the guys to be exploited or the guys to be hated or the guys who aren't really human at all—they're garbage, trash, something sub-human. And they do the same to us and it spiral and spirals and the pain and the sorrow and the hurt and tears just get worse and worse. And we get caught up in all of this and forget that none of these stories, none of these narratives, none of these dramas matter one whit. Brothers and Sisters, it's God's great drama that matters; it's God's drama that we need to remember and live. And God knows all this. He knows how we've fallen. He knows how we so want to write our stories for ourselves. He knows—better than we do—the pain and the misery and the tears that we inflict on others and that they inflict on us. And so he comes, as the baby, into the midst of the darkness and the tears and, again, before he can even walk or talk, he's a homeless refugee in a foreign land with a king looking to kill him. This was the thing no one expected of the Messiah. They expected a great king, like David, but greater. Born in a place. Eventually riding in to Jerusalem in a chariot to bash Roman heads and to set the world to rights by putting Israel on the top of the heap. They expect that because the people of Israel were still trying to write their own story for themselves. But, instead, Jesus is born in humility to ordinary parents. From his birth he knows the danger and the tears of being part of someone else's wicked story. All things that Israel should have known. This is what Matthew is getting at when he quotes Hoses saying, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” That's who Israel was. They were God's beloved son and they were the rescued-form-Egyptian-slavery people, born in sorrow and tears and pain, exploited and abused by a king who thought he was a god and who forced them to live his drama. Jesus came the same way. He knew the pain of sin. He knew the pain of abuse. He knew what it meant to be forced to live as someone else's non-player character. And in that echo of Israel's past and Israel's identity, there's hope. Again, Matthew cites the prophets—this time Jeremiah—as he recounts the horrible murder of the holy innocents of Bethlehem. Think again of Pharoah, threatened by the fruitfulness of the Israelites. Pretty soon there would be more of them than there were Egyptians. And so he ordered their baby boys to be drowned in the Nile. Rachel wept for her children, as Jeremiah said. But Moses, Israel's deliverer—Israel's first “messiah”, if you will—escaped in the Lord's providence, and rose up to challenge Pharoah and his gods and to lead the people out of their bondage in Egypt. Just so, Matthew wants us to hear that story echoing in the story of Jesus. Like Pharoah, Herod tried to write his own story, he tried to stamp out the Lord's deliverer, but the Lord is sovereign and somehow always manages to take our bad and pathetic rewrites and bring them into his own great drama to further his own ends and to reveal his glory to the world. He did this at the cross, Brothers and Sisters. The people of Judaea, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the priest and Levites and scribes together with Pilate as the representative of Rome and the pagan nations, they tried to write their own story—a story in which Jesus was a pretend king and a blasphemer of the temple and the things of God, a story in which they were right and Jesus was wrong, a story in which they were justified in rejecting and mocking and crucifying the son of God as a false messiah. And that Friday when Jesus gasped out, “It is finished” and his friends took him down from the cross and buried him in a tomb, the people of Judaea, the Pharisees and the Sadducees, Pilate and Rome all thought they had the happy ending they wanted. They were the heroes of their own stories and Jesus was dead, but all the while God was using their rebellion and their grasping at godhood to his own ends. They rebelled, but God in his sovereign grace, incorporated their stories into his own to serve his own ends. A story in which evil and sin and death foolishly concentrated themselves all in one place, in which evil and sin and death did their worst—and failed—as three days later Jesus burst out of the tomb with the power of God's life and his new creation. Burst from the tomb alive to sweep the whole of creation itself up into God's great drama of light and life. Brother and Sisters, that's grace. If this were one of our stories, we'd fire the writers who made such a mess of it and consign them to oblivion, but God instead comes in love and grace to forgive and to set right. He takes our horrible stories and, master storyteller that he is, he uses them for good and instead of consigning us to oblivion, he offers us our places back in the great divine drama we once rejected…if we will only trust that he is the way and the truth and the life, if we will give him our allegiance and pledge to live out his story instead of ours. It should be such an easy choice when see the wake of destruction our stories have left in contrast to his great story of love and grace that leads to life and new creation and all the sad things we've written for ourselves somehow one day becoming all untrue. Brothers and Sisters, hear the Christmas story again this year. Really and truly hear it so that it drowns out and overcomes all the other narratives and stories and dramas you've been hearing and living. Let it be a reset. Let this story of God, humbly incarnate who humbly dies for rebellious sinners, let this truth become the truth by which you measure everything. Let the glorious light of resurrection and new creation and the presence of God be your hope and your only hope and be so overcome by it that you lose all desire to write your story for yourself, and choose to become a faithful player in Jesus' drama of love and peace, of joy and hope. Let's pray: Almighty God, whose loving purposes cannot be frustrated by the wickedness of men, so that even infants may glorify you by their deaths: strengthen us by your grace, that by the innocency of our lives and constancy of our faith even to death, we may glorify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Recorded live in Melbourne, this week's Bugle is a full-throttle Rage Bait Special, with Andy Zaltzman joined by Lloyd Langford, Sami Shah, and Alice Fraser to chew through the year's biggest stories with fury, confusion, and jokes of questionable legality.
For IRM's 99th episode, Pax covers one of his holy grail novelizations, Midnight Madness from 1980!
N.T. Wright returns to the podcast for round three—no Malibu rooftop this time, but plenty of theological fireworks. We dig into Tom's new book on Ephesians, starting with why he thinks the scholarly consensus dismissing Pauline authorship is more about 19th-century German liberal Protestant hangover than good historical work. From there, we get into the real meat: Ephesians isn't answering the question "how do I get to heaven?" It's painting this massive cosmic picture of God's plan to unite heaven and earth in Christ—and the church's wild vocation to be what Tom calls "a small working model of new creation." We talk about how Western Christianity has shrunk Paul's vision into individual soul-sorting when the text is way more interested in what it looks like when formerly irreconcilable people come together as one new humanity. Tom pushes back on how both conservatives and liberals read their politics into the text, and we wrestle with the marriage passage in chapter 5 as the theological climax of the letter (not the culture war flashpoint we've made it). We close with a beautiful reflection on Ephesians 6 as an Advent text—the church holding the line between Christ's victory and his return. Plus, Tom's grandson sings in the New College Oxford choir, and honestly, that's the kind of intergenerational beauty Ephesians is pointing toward. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube Prof. N.T. (Tom) Wright is Senior Research Fellow at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford University. He is one of the world's leading Bible scholars, with expertise in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity, the New Testament, and Biblical Studies. He is also Emeritus Professor at the University of St. Andrews and the former Bishop of Durham. Tom's Previous Visits to the Podcast Devilpalooza NT Wright Talks Jesus and the scholars who discuss him UPCOMING ONLINE ADVENT CLASS w/ Diana Butler Bass Join us for a transformative four-week Advent journey exploring how the four gospels speak their own revolutionary word against empire—both in their ancient context under Roman occupation and for our contemporary world shaped by capitalism, militarism, and nationalism. This course invites you into an alternative calendar and rhythm. We'll discover how these ancient texts of resistance offer wisdom for our own moment of political turmoil, economic inequality, and ecological crisis. This class is donation-based, including 0. You can sign-up at www.HomebrewedClasses.com This podcast is a Homebrewed Christianity production. Follow the Homebrewed Christianity, Theology Nerd Throwdown, & The Rise of Bonhoeffer podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our Substack - Process This! Get instant access to over 50 classes at www.TheologyClass.com Follow the podcast, drop a review, send feedback/questions or become a member of the HBC Community. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alasdair Black, our lead pastor, continues the series based on Tom Wright's book.
Alasdair Black, our lead pastor, continues the series based on a Tom Wright book.
Piper speaks with top hunter rider and trainer Havens Schatt of Milestone Farm about her most recent big win at HITS Hudson Valley in the $200,000 ClipMyHorse.TV Hunter Classic and her approach on bringing along green horses. Brought to you by Taylor, Harris Insurance Services.Host: Piper Klemm, publisher of The Plaid HorseGuest: Havens Schatt is a top hunter rider and trainer that owns and operates Milestone Farm LLC. Havens had a very successful junior career, then trained under top trainer Tom Wright for nine years before starting her own business in 2001. Havens has consistently won championships at all of the top horse shows including the Devon Horse Show and Indoors as well as many hunter derby wins. Listen to Havens in her first Plaidcast episode hereSubscribe To: The Plaid Horse MagazineTitle Sponsor: Taylor, Harris Insurance ServicesSponsors: Purina, Washington International Horse Show, Great American Insurance Group and Capital Challenge Horse Show Join us at an upcoming Plaidcast in Person live event!
Injury strikes Camp Wallaby and the Roo Crew gets off to a World Cup flyer!Welcome back to Scrumbags - your one-stop shop for all things Aussie Rugby - and strap yourselves in for a double Test review with Mitch, Lachie and Ando.The boys unpack the Wallabies 30-22 loss in Cape Town and who'll donate an ACL to Tom Wright before breaking down that massive 73-0 Wallaroos win over Samoa and why their winning the 2025 World Cup is just a formality from here.LINKSWorld Cup Fantasy - http://play.world.rugby/fantasy/leagues/join/NAXK6YJMTRC Fantasy - http://playfantasyrugby.com/leagues/join/XGJYCL78Wallaby Shop - https://wallaby.sjv.io/WyRyVGLinktree - https://linktr.ee/Scrumbags_rugbyInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/scrumbagsrugby/Twitter/X - @scrumbagsrugby Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Join Miles Witt Boyer and Jared Mark Fincher on the Photographic Collective Podcast for a deep dive with acclaimed photographer and educator Tom Wright. In this conversation, Tom unpacks how to design a streamlined photography workflow that protects your creativity, enhances your client experience, and fuels long-term business growth. Whether you're shooting weddings, portraits, or commercial projects, you'll walk away with practical strategies to refine your process, market your brand, and deliver images that resonate long after delivery day.Follow & Connect:
It's the Maul or Nothing Season Finale — and the Wallabies have the final word. Australia take the Third Test 22–12 in a weather-soaked Sydney to deny the Lions a 3–0 whitewash… the Series ends with just a ONE point swing on aggregate
Fresh off another stellar year for the Brumbies, Tom Wright is out to make sure the British and Irish Lions aren't leaving Australia with a 3-0 whitewash. Talking to Declan Byrne on 'The Saturday Sledge', Wright talks about farewelling Nic White, what Joseph Suaalii has added to the Wallaby group, why life and rugby looks different these days with his first kid watching on and how he dealt with the pain of last week's non-decision at the MCG.
For today's episode in the history of bad ideas David talks to cultural historian Tom Wright about charisma, a term that often feels essential for understanding modern politics but which ends up obscuring far more than it explains. How did an old idea from Christian theology get used to explain the hold that political leaders have over crowds? Why is it so important not to confuse charm with charisma? What has made a word from early twentieth-century social science ubiquitous on twenty-first-century dating sites? And if Trump hasn't got charisma, then what has he got? Out now on PPF+: A bonus bad ideas episode in which David and Dan Snow talk about all sorts of ‘decisive battles' that weren't what they seem: Yarmuk, Hastings, Agincourt, Trafalgar, Warsaw 1920, Stalingrad, and more. To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up now to PPF+ https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus Next time on The History of Bad Ideas: Meritocracy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sandy takes you with her as we discover a private beach in Malibu's beautiful Point Dume area to discuss Elli Mae McNulty, an actor turned screenwriter who allegedly exploits California's tenancy laws to turn casual stays into protracted eviction wars. When asked to leave the premises, this English Rose transforms into a nasty piece of work. You wouldn't want to have tea with this woman at separate restaurants. Quoting Vanity Fair writers, Bradley Hope and Tom Wright, “Sure, let a neighbor use the guest room for a few nights. What could go wrong?”Executive Producer Kristin OvernExecutive Producer Sandy AdomaitisProducer Terry SampsonMusic by Ethan StollerVanity Fair Article by BRADLEY HOPE AND TOM WRIGHT.https://www.vanityfair.com/style/story/serial-squatter-malibu-point-dume?srsltid=AfmBOoqdAQrmQmjiVZHtHCVV9o00imDc44tlluoRCh4xD8HdfPrE33bh
In this special CSIS crossover episode with Russian Roulette's sister podcast, The Eurofile, Max Bergmann and co-host Donatienne Ruy welcome Tom Wright, senior fellow at Brookings and former Senior Director for Strategic Planning at the United States National Security Council (NSC) in the Biden administration, to discuss his recent article in Foreign Affairs outlining a U.S. strategy for Russia-Ukraine negotiations. The interview covers the current state of play in negotiations, Trump and Biden's respective strategies toward Europe, and Tom's experience in government on a range of issues, including countering alignment between U.S. adversaries and competitors. For the complete episode, covering big news in European defense and more, visit The Eurofile
This week, Max and Donatienne discuss the state of Turkey's democracy after the jailing of Istanbul's mayor days before becoming presidential candidate, the latest European Council meeting and a new EU white paper for European defense. Then, our hosts turn to a conversation with Tom Wright, senior fellow at Brookings and former Senior Director for Strategic Planning at the United States National Security Council (NSC) in the Biden administration, to discuss his recent article in Foreign Affairs outlining a U.S. strategy for Russia-Ukraine negotiations. Learn more: Russian Roulette | CSIS Podcasts The Right U.S. Strategy for Russia-Ukraine Negotiations | Foreign Affairs
The idea that a country can't increase the size of its territory by taking it over another has been a principle of Western foreign policy for decades. If that changes it will be a profound shift. "Once that genie's out of the bottle, it will be very hard to put back in", says Tom Wright, the Irishman who was a member of Joe Biden's National Security Council and is now a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a foreign policy think-tank. He talks to Hugh about foreign policy under Biden and Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In this episode, Tom Wright, a former professional baseball player and health expert, shares his remarkable journey and insights into healthy living. Despite being in his sixties, Tom is pursuing a career in Major League Baseball, exemplifying his belief that age should not limit ambitions. He emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to health, integrating fitness, nutrition, mental strength, and spirituality. Tom discusses the significance of setting actionable goals, maintaining consistency in fitness, and embracing challenges as opportunities for growth. Tom's insights encourage listeners to pursue their passions without shortcuts and live a balanced, faith-driven life.wave4life.comBook: https://www.amazon.com/Wave-Healthy-Living-PRINCIPLES-NUTRITION/dp/B0CGKH6N48
Chapter 1 What's Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright"Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World" is a nonfiction book co-authored by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope, detailing the infamous 1MDB scandal. The book chronicles the rise and fall of Malaysian financier Jho Low, who allegedly masterminded a massive embezzlement scheme involving the Malaysian government, diverting billions of dollars from a state investment fund, 1MDB. Wright and Hope expose how Low manipulated influential figures across finance and entertainment, including Hollywood stars and major banks, to cement his lavish lifestyle fueled by the stolen funds. Through meticulous investigative reporting, the authors reveal the intricate web of deceit that captivated global attention, showcasing the impact of greed and corruption at the highest levels of power. The book is an engaging read that highlights the lavish spending sprees, extravagant parties, and the eventual unraveling of the scheme leading to international investigations.Chapter 2 Billion Dollar Whale by Tom Wright Summary"Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World" is a non-fiction book co-authored by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope that tells the fascinating and shocking true story of the 1MDB scandal, a massive financial fraud in Malaysia that involved billions of dollars. Overview:The book centers around Jho Low, a Malaysian financier who masterminded the largest theft in the history of finance, stealing an estimated $4.5 billion from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state investment fund. Low's operation involved a complex series of financial maneuvers that fooled governments, banks, and high-profile celebrities. Key Themes:Fraud and Deception: The book delves into how Low used deception and manipulation to create an elaborate scheme that defrauded investors and institutions worldwide.Corruption and Power: Wright and Hope examine the interconnectedness of power and money, detailing how Low cultivated relationships with influential figures including politicians, celebrities, and business tycoons to further his schemes.Global Finance and Regulation: The story reveals the weaknesses in global financial systems that allowed such a massive fraud to go undetected for years, raising questions about the effectiveness of regulatory bodies and financial institutions.Political Ramifications: The book illustrates how the scandal affected Malaysian politics, contributing to the downfall of then-Prime Minister Najib Razak and sparking a global investigation into corruption. Structure:The narrative is structured chronologically, tracing the rise of Jho Low from a wealthy Malaysian family to an international financier who lived a life of luxury. It includes gripping anecdotes about extravagant parties, high-profile investments, and the eventual fallout as the scheme unraveled. Impact:"Billion Dollar Whale" not only tells the story of an audacious fraud but also serves as a cautionary tale about greed and the fragility of the financial system. It highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability in international finance, illustrating how easily trust can be exploited. Conclusion:The book concludes with the ongoing repercussions of the 1MDB scandal and the ongoing efforts to recover the stolen funds, emphasizing the complexity and global nature of financial crimes in the modern world.Chapter 3 Billion Dollar Whale AuthorTom Wright is an investigative journalist known for his work with prominent publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He co-authored the book "Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World" with fellow journalist Bradley Hope. The book was published on August 13, 2018, and it details the elaborate fraud involving...
Join Caroline Hirons, the UK's leading skincare expert as she takes Glad We Had This Chat to the Big Apple! For 5 special episodes Caroline meets up with some of the biggest names in the beauty and skincare industry stateside. It's the last episode of our New York Special and it's only right to go out with a big JVN shaped bang! Caroline sits down with the one and only hair genius Jonathan Van Ness to discuss JVN hair, Queer Eye in Vegas and which controversial celebrities and politicians he has a crush on.. Don't miss an episode, published weekly on Monday and Wednesdays. Presented By: Caroline Hirons Ad Details: Glad We Had This Chat Tour: I'm going on TOUR for the first time ever, and I'm here for it—bringing my wild and wonderful Glad We Had This Chat podcast to a venue near you. Promising you an unforgettable night of unbridled honesty, unfiltered opinions, F-bombs and fearlessness, come join me and a stellar line up of special guests as we talk all things skincare and beauty, along with frank discussions about life's adventures, challenges, highlights and joys. With exclusive on-stage skincare demos, entertaining Q&As and a healthy dose of unscripted hilarity, this is Caroline Hirons, me, live and on steroids. Get your tickets now: https://www.carolinehirons.com/pages/caroline-hirons-podcast-tour?srsltid=AfmBOooL3vtiJ15O5hHW9WLCHGLnzmAJ3kfP-24e3Kcx20VlHABRIEpc Skin Rocks Cleansing Balm: The Skin Rocks Cleansing Balm is THE most insanely efficacious, sensorial, luxurious cleansing balm in the world has landed. I don't need to tell you what it takes to put my name to a cleansing balm, and this had one mother of a brief: The best balm ever created, and one I would choose every single time over anything I've ever used. 5 rollercoaster years of fearless ambition, sky high expectation, tears, triumphs and F-bombs…no pressure then, but WOW, the result. The texture and ‘crunch', its ability to decimate literally everything from your face, the ‘ahh in a jar' scent, the paperweight-heavy hot pink glass …I mean, literally everything I adore in a cleanser has been distilled into this one glorious jar and it is absolutely spectacular. Transforming from a solid balm to a rich, replenishing oil, this barrier-nourishing balm is formulated with the same innovative Lipid-Advanced Complex as The Support Oil to deliver supreme skin barrier support and help improve skin firmness, elasticity and hydration. There is simply nothing like it. It's £55, it's ready and waiting, and THERE IS NO DUPE: https://skinrocks.com/products/the-cleansing-balm Skin Rocks App: Few things in life keep on giving for just £3.99 a month. One cup of overpriced coffee? I don't think so. OR you could get a month's Premium access to the multi-award-winning Skin Rocks app. With a free version for the skincare novice, to an upgraded Premium experience that offers deep scientific expertise, expertly-written insights, beauty newness, and access to my exclusive articles, reviews and recommendations, it's all in one pocket-friendly place on the Skin Rocks App. Premium is just £3.99 a month or £34.99 a year, and I'm offering a special discount via the podcast for £10 off your annual subscription with code CHPOD. LINK TO DOWNLOAD: https://skinrocks.com/pages/the-skin-rocks-app Editors: Danielle Bondzie & Max Hirons With Thanks to: Olivia Morris, Tom Wright, Aoife Rice Murphy
The iconic Star Trek: Voyager episode "Tuvix" continues to spark ethical debates nearly 30 years after its original airing. In this episode of Superhero Ethics, hosts Matthew and Riki dive deep into one of Star Trek's most morally complex stories, examining Captain Janeway's controversial decision to effectively end one life to restore two others.The hosts explore how the episode's unique twist on the classic trolley problem, where instead of choosing between strangers, the decision involves deeply personal relationships and crew dynamics. They discuss how Janeway's emotional connection to Tuvok and her responsibility as captain influenced her judgment.What role do emotions play in ethical decision-making? The hosts examine how the episode challenges the common practice of trying to divorce emotions from moral choices, particularly through the powerful performances of the cast and the way Tuvix's plea for his life forces the crew to confront their complicity through their silence.Other key topics discussed:The brilliant performance by Tom Wright as Tuvix and how he created a distinct character while incorporating elements of both Tuvok and NeelixHow modern TV storytelling might have handled this plot differentlyThe significance of the doctor's refusal to participate and Janeway's choice to perform the procedure herselfThe show's failure to address the emotional aftermath in subsequent episodesComparisons to other ethical dilemmas in Star Trek and science fictionThe hosts conclude that while they may disagree on whether Janeway made the right choice, the episode's enduring legacy lies in its ability to present a moral dilemma with no clear right answer – one that continues to challenge viewers and spark discussions decades after its original airing. **************************************************************************This episode is a production of Superhero Ethics, a The Ethical Panda Podcast and part of the TruStory FM Entertainment Podcast Network. Check our our website to find out more about this and our sister podcast Star Wars Generations.We want to hear from you! You can keep up with our latest news, and send us feedback, questions, or comments via social media or email.Email: Matthew@TheEthicalPanda.comFacebook: TheEthicalPandaInstagram: TheEthicalPandaPodcastsTwitter: EthicalPanda77Or you can join jump into the Star Wars Generations and Superhero Ethics channels on the TruStory FM Discord.Want to get access to even more content while supporting the podcast? Become a member! For $5 a month, or $55 a year you get access to bonus episodes and bonus content at the end of most episodes. Sign up on the podcast's main page. You can even give membership as a gift!You can also support our podcasts through our sponsors:Purchase a lightsaber from Level Up Sabers run by friend of the podcast Neighborhood Master AlanUse Audible for audiobooks. Sign up for a one year membership or gift one through this link.Purchase any media discussed this week through our sponsored links.
‘This has been the scariest, weirdest and certainly the most important work of my life. It's been an investigation where lives were, at times, literally on the line, and one that has profoundly altered many of the people who were a part of it'. Carl Miller The final minutes of the first episode of Carl Miller's new Wondery and Novel podcast on stumbling across a secret online ‘kill list' will stop you in your tracks. It's a remarkable moment of storytelling and reporting – where Carl is forced to cold call innocent members of the public to tell them that someone wants them dead. From that moment the story just keeps getting more dramatic. The podcast series, which has already reached number 1 in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland Apple podcast charts, is an astonishing five-year investigation into the targeting of hundreds of innocent people on a murder-for-hire website. When the police are slow to investigate, Carl has to take it upon himself in a race against time to try and save innocent lives – potentially putting himself and others in danger. In December 2024, Carl Miller and the show's producers Caroline Thornham and Tom Wright brought Kill List live to the Intelligence Squared stage in London. Using audio clips, outtakes and sharing previously untold backstories about the making of the series they told this almost unbelievable story, revealed new twists and answered audience questions in a live Q&A. This event was in partnership with Wondery and Novel. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
‘This has been the scariest, weirdest and certainly the most important work of my life. It's been an investigation where lives were, at times, literally on the line, and one that has profoundly altered many of the people who were a part of it'. Carl Miller The final minutes of the first episode of Carl Miller's new Wondery and Novel podcast on stumbling across a secret online ‘kill list' will stop you in your tracks. It's a remarkable moment of storytelling and reporting – where Carl is forced to cold call innocent members of the public to tell them that someone wants them dead. From that moment the story just keeps getting more dramatic. The podcast series, which has already reached number 1 in the UK, US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Ireland Apple podcast charts, is an astonishing five-year investigation into the targeting of hundreds of innocent people on a murder-for-hire website. When the police are slow to investigate, Carl has to take it upon himself in a race against time to try and save innocent lives – potentially putting himself and others in danger. In December 2024, Carl Miller and the show's producers Caroline Thornham and Tom Wright brought Kill List live to the Intelligence Squared stage in London. Using audio clips, outtakes and sharing previously untold backstories about the making of the series they told this almost unbelievable story, revealed new twists and answered audience questions in a live Q&A. This event is in partnership with Wondery and Novel This is the first instalment of a two-part episode. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events ... Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Why bother with earth and not just create heaven? Why try to make the world a better place if God is going to fix it? Is the world getting better or worse because of Christianity? Can Christians achieve perfection in this life, as Wesley claimed? Tom Wright answers listeners questions on the ‘now-and-not-yet' of new creation. • Subscribe to the Ask NT Wright Anything podcast: https://pod.link/1441656192 • More shows, free eBook, newsletter, and sign up to ask Tom your questions: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate