The Culture Translator: Recent Episodes
Axis
We look into teen culture every week to help parents and faith leaders have meaningful conversations with Gen Z.
Bruce McCluggage is a Professor of Philosophy at Pikes Peak State College, and a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary.
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Three Big Conversations:
- Ariana Grande announces a break from public life - 7:56
- history writer and influencer Hank Green faces backlash for using AI tools - 22:08
- Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a wild opening weekend - 33:02
Slang of the Week: Larping - 00:58
In Other News: - 47:40
The current owners of Myspace (Tim and Chris Vanderhook) announced that they plan to relaunch the classic social media platform, though they did not say when. Let the record reflect that we are on the edge of our seats. According to the Wall Street Journal, this summer's "hottest drink" is officially a bottle of water. Try some today for $6!Vogue, on the other hand, has argued that the drink of the summer is "banana-milk coffee." And right behind that one: durian-mustard maté. Netflix is getting sued for $105 million for losing an unencrypted copy of Nicolas Cage's WWII film Fortitude. Kind of like we might lose a few subscribers after that obscure fruit-caffeine joke in point three. Finally, Christianity Today agrees with us that Instagram Plus is really just Instagram Minus. So glad our own Jenna Mindel was on the case!
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Ariana Grande announces a break from public life, history writer and influencer Hank Green faces backlash for using AI tools, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a wild opening weekend.
Slang of the Week: Larping
→ Click to see our interview on Educating Humans in the Age of AI (with Professor Jeffrey Bilbro)
In Other News:
The current owners of Myspace (Tim and Chris Vanderhook) announced that they plan to relaunch the classic social media platform, though they did not say when. Let the record reflect that we are on the edge of our seats. According to the Wall Street Journal, this summer's "hottest drink" is officially a bottle of water. Try some today for $6!Vogue, on the other hand, has argued that the drink of the summer is "banana-milk coffee." And right behind that one: durian-mustard maté. Netflix is getting sued for $105 million for losing an unencrypted copy of Nicolas Cage's WWII film Fortitude. Kind of like we might lose a few subscribers after that obscure fruit-caffeine joke in point three. Finally, Christianity Today agrees with us that Instagram Plus is really just Instagram Minus. So glad our own Jenna Mindel was on the case!
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Jeffrey is the editor-in-chief of Front Porch Republic and associate professor of English at Grove City College. He is the author of several books, including Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry Into the News, which we'll be discussing today.
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Three Big Conversations:
- Arizona State University offers a B.A. in Content Creation - 11:26
- AI-generated videos of Christians getting bullied go viral - 20:48
- What The Odyssey and C.S. Lewis have in common - 29:12
Song of the Week: "Be Her" by Ella Langley - 01:10
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News: - 37:24
Marvel will re-release Avengers: Endgame in theaters on September 25 with seven minutes of extra footage and a never-before-seen ending, connecting the movie to Avengers: Doomsday, giving fans another reason to spend money revisit the highest-grossing superhero movie of all time. Nearly half of middle and high school-aged teens have seen what they believed to be AI-generated sexual content, according to a new Common Sense Media survey. At Comic-Con this year, Marvel announced that Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a movie directed by Sean Levy, and that Ryan Coogler will return to direct Black Panther 3, with David Jonsson playing the next Black Panther. According to The New York Times, using the phrase "Google it" officially makes you sound old, and the phrase "search it up" is now preferred. Ariana Grande's new album, petal (language), comes out today.
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Arizona State University offers a B.A. in Content Creation, AI-generated videos of Christians getting bullied go viral, and what The Odyssey and C.S. Lewis have in common.
Song of the Week: "Be Her" by Ella Langley
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News:
Marvel will re-release Avengers: Endgame in theaters on September 25 with seven minutes of extra footage and a never-before-seen ending, connecting the movie to Avengers: Doomsday, giving fans another reason to spend money revisit the highest-grossing superhero movie of all time. Nearly half of middle and high school-aged teens have seen what they believed to be AI-generated sexual content, according to a new Common Sense Media survey. At Comic-Con this year, Marvel announced that Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a movie directed by Sean Levy, and that Ryan Coogler will return to direct Black Panther 3, with David Jonsson playing the next Black Panther. According to The New York Times, using the phrase "Google it" officially makes you sound old, and the phrase "search it up" is now preferred. Ariana Grande's new album, petal (language), comes out today.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"Our daughter has a neurological condition called misophonia which causes severe pain, panic and anger over certain common sounds like chewing and typing. One of the sounds that started triggering her a few years ago was the sound of my husband's voice. How do we navigate this as a family?" - Maria
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Three Big Conversations:
- Gen Z musician Gracie Abrams releases an album-long apology to her mom - 05:22
- TikTok influencers are promoting injectable weight loss peptides - 16:00
- What parents should know about Kylie Jenner's new collaboration with Meta smartglasses - 30:06
Slang of the Week: Quiet on the Creek - 1:06
In Other News: - 49:40
According to the Wall Street Journal, the popularity of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is convincing many students to finally read the epic poem that many English teachers couldn't coax them into reading. A wild raccoon in Seattle with a deformed spine has been dubbed "Jimothy," and has become an inspiration for perseverance in the face of setbacks, with some even getting tattoos (language) of said raccoon. Infamous online "manfluencers" Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami this Saturday, and await extradition to the U.K. for prosecution on rape and sex trafficking grounds. About one-third of people under 35 now live with their parents, according to survey data published by Realtor.com. Several members of Spain's World Cup-winning team, like Torres and Rodri, are publicly crediting God and their Catholic faith for the team's World Cup victory.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Gen Z musician Gracie Abrams releases an album-long apology to her mom, TikTok influencers are promoting injectable weight loss peptides, and what parents should know about Kylie Jenner's new collaboration with Meta smartglasses.
Slang of the Week: Quiet on the Creek
In Other News:
According to the Wall Street Journal, the popularity of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is convincing many students to finally read the epic poem that many English teachers couldn't coax them into reading. A wild raccoon in Seattle with a deformed spine has been dubbed "Jimothy," and has become an inspiration for perseverance in the face of setbacks, with some even getting tattoos (language) of said raccoon. Infamous online "manfluencers" Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami this Saturday, and await extradition to the U.K. for prosecution on rape and sex trafficking grounds. About one-third of people under 35 now live with their parents, according to survey data published by Realtor.com. Several members of Spain's World Cup-winning team, like Torres and Rodri, are publicly crediting God and their Catholic faith for the team's World Cup victory.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Jay Stringer is a licensed therapist, researcher, and speaker who helps people uncover and reshape the story beneath self-sabotage, disconnection, and shame. He is the award-winning author of Unwanted and lives in New York City with his wife Heather, and their two children. We'll be talking today primarily about his new book Desire: The Longings Inside Us and the New Science of How We Love, Heal, and Grow.
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Three Big Conversations:
- Argentina is back in the World Cup final - 05:25
- MLB's All-Star competitions had some hiccups - 12:14
- Everyone online is auditioning for their Netflix documentary debut. - 22:53
Resource of the Week: The Conversation Starter - Where'd All the Tweens Go? - 0:31
In Other News: - 33:54
A parasite that causes extreme digestive upset is maybe the meme of the week (alongside Netflix documentaries). It certainly doesn't help that it's possibly connected to Taco Bell. Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey is out in theaters this weekend. We'll write more about it next week, but for now, the R-rated take on Homer's epic poem is reviewing quite well with critics and audiences. Letterboxd has opened itself (paywall) to being purchased. It's Gen Z's movie review app of choice, and considering how Gen Z showed up to theaters this year, it's pretty valuable to buyers like Netflix and Sony to understand the preferences of young people. Meta rolled out a "feature" that effectively lets you use their AI tools to deepfake users with public accounts. It was promptly rolled back after the internet (rightly) freaked out. Assassin's Creed is back? Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced (a remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag) sold 2 million copies in its first day.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Argentina is back in the World Cup final, the MLB's All-Star competitions had some hiccups, and everyone online is auditioning for their Netflix documentary debut.
Resource of the Week: The Conversation Starter - Where'd All the Tweens Go?
In Other News:
A parasite that causes extreme digestive upset is maybe the meme of the week (alongside Netflix documentaries). It certainly doesn't help that it's possibly connected to Taco Bell. Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey is out in theaters this weekend. We'll write more about it next week, but for now, the R-rated take on Homer's epic poem is reviewing quite well with critics and audiences. Letterboxd has opened itself (paywall) to being purchased. It's Gen Z's movie review app of choice, and considering how Gen Z showed up to theaters this year, it's pretty valuable to buyers like Netflix and Sony to understand the preferences of young people. Meta rolled out a "feature" that effectively lets you use their AI tools to deepfake users with public accounts. It was promptly rolled back after the internet (rightly) freaked out. Assassin's Creed is back? Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced (a remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag) sold 2 million copies in its first day.
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"We have been having some difficult and sometimes awkward conversations with our 17 yo old son about sax and masturbation. Along those lines, we've become intensely aware of the quantity of movies and shows with any kind of kissing, romantic or sex scenes. How do you draw boundaries and live in our sex saturated culture? Don't ever watch anything? Get filters and Vid Angel? Fast forward scenes? Just watch whatever and talk a lot? And how does that work when the dialogue seems one-sided? This feels so hard and confusing as a Christian, where do we go from here?" - Orange Worm
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Three Big Conversations:
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married in a garden in The Garden - 08:04
- So-called "butter moms" are setting the vibe for a deep-fried summer - 19:00
- New data from CIY and Barna gives us insight into how Christian teens are using AI. - 32:20
Slang of the Week: "NPC" - 00:56
In Other News:- 48:00
The round of 16 is officially wrapped in the 2026 World Cup, with all three host countries (Canada, Mexico, and the US) failing to continue. Another notable casualty is Portugal, with global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo saying goodbye to World Cup competition. Building on the trend of hosting in-person experiences, Charli xcx has announced official listening parties, hosted around the world, for her July 24th album, titled Music, Fashion, Film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members, perhaps as an attempt to regain relevance with the rising generation. The new Oscar voters will include Gen Z notables like Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, and Mia Goth. The video game industry continues to be volatile, as Xbox announced this week that they're laying off almost 5,000 employees and "resetting Xbox." While perhaps not indicative of all, trends where young people reject modern "big tech" continue to rise in popularity, like the "Luddite Festival" that took place in New York City last week.
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married in a garden in The Garden, so-called "butter moms" are setting the vibe for a deep-fried summer, and new data from CIY and Barna gives us insight into how Christian teens are using AI.
Slang of the Week: "NPC"
In Other News:
The round of 16 is officially wrapped in the 2026 World Cup, with all three host countries (Canada, Mexico, and the US) failing to continue. Another notable casualty is Portugal, with global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo saying goodbye to World Cup competition. Building on the trend of hosting in-person experiences, Charli xcx has announced official listening parties, hosted around the world, for her July 24th album, titled Music, Fashion, Film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members, perhaps as an attempt to regain relevance with the rising generation. The new Oscar voters will include Gen Z notables like Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, and Mia Goth. The video game industry continues to be volatile, as Xbox announced this week that they're laying off almost 5,000 employees and "resetting Xbox." While perhaps not indicative of all, trends where young people reject modern "big tech" continue to rise in popularity, like the "Luddite Festival" that took place in New York City last week.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Rob Stennett is a graduate of UCLA film school, filmmaker, novelist, and content creator. His work has been recognized with ADDYs for writing and directing. He won the Denver Film Race for best writing, and a SILVER TELLY at the Telly Awards for a feature documentary he wrote and directed. He's created story and video content for brands, churches, and nonprofits all over the world including National Geographic, Compassion International, One Chapel, New Life Church, DISH Network, MLB, Formula 1, and the Discovery Channel, and is also the Owner & Lead Creative of Storyize, and the co-host of the podcast Meaning of the Movie.
→ Click to check out Storyize
→ Click to check out The Meaning of the Movie podcast
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The "prediction market" site Polymarket is paying influencers to film themselves pretending to win money - 12:36
- Instagram Plus lets users see how many times others rewatched their stories - 24:28
- Gen Z faves Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan speak out on fans' bad bathroom habits - 32:36
Song of the Week: "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd - 01:54
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News: - 46:10
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are renting out Madison Square Garden this Fourth of July weekend. While they might be reliving the Knicks' miraculous NBA Finals victory, it's more likely to be related to her wedding. Whether shifting trends in moviegoers' tastes or continued superhero fatigue are to blame, Supergirl seems to be a miss at the box office this summer. Viewership is down significantly for season 2 of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it's far from the only show that seems to be losing viewer interest on Netflix. Sony announced that they are ending production of physical discs for PlayStation games in 2028, a clear marker of consumer preferences and another solemn ring in the death knell of physical media. WNBA star Sophie Cunningham went viral after defiantly pointing at opponent DeWanna Bonner for almost half a minute. Mature? Not really. Internet meme fodder? Absolutely.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The "prediction market" site Polymarket is paying influencers to film themselves pretending to win money, Instagram Plus lets users see how many times others rewatched their stories, and Gen Z faves Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan speak out on fans' bad bathroom habits.
Song of the Week: "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News:
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are renting out Madison Square Garden this Fourth of July weekend. While they might be reliving the Knicks' miraculous NBA Finals victory, it's more likely to be related to her wedding. Whether shifting trends in moviegoers' tastes or continued superhero fatigue are to blame, Supergirl seems to be a miss at the box office this summer. Viewership is down significantly for season 2 of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it's far from the only show that seems to be losing viewer interest on Netflix. Sony announced that they are ending production of physical discs for PlayStation games in 2028, a clear marker of consumer preferences and another solemn ring in the death knell of physical media. WNBA star Sophie Cunningham went viral after defiantly pointing at opponent DeWanna Bonner for almost half a minute. Mature? Not really. Internet meme fodder? Absolutely.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"As dads, how do we stay consistent as disciplers and spiritual taste-makers for our sons when life is chaotic — job transitions, legal battles, financial pressure? My boys are at three completely different stages, one of them neurodivergent, and I want to be shaping their hearts and minds toward Christ even when I'm running on empty. What does faithful fatherhood look like in the trenches?" - Jason
→ Click here for Russ's Book: He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself
→ Click here to see Russ's op-ed with Fox News
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- More and more Gen Zers embrace singleness - 06:56
- Toy Story 5 pits the classic cast of toys against modern technology - 20:32
- World Cup tourists go viral for loving the United States - 35:05
Slang of the Week: "Mogging" (language) - 00:53
In Other News: - 46:22
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to the Miami Heat in the biggest NBA trade since Luka Dončić and the Lakers. The deal sends the two- time MVP from Milwaukee to Miami, a change that significantly shifts the league's balance of power. A24, the studio behind Backrooms, is partnering with Google DeepMind in a research partnership to develop AI tools for filmmakers. The studio says the goal is to support artists rather than replace them. Still, the announcement has resulted in many fans canceling paid memberships to AAA24. MECCHA CHAMELEON, a hide- and- seek game where players can paint themselves to blend in, is the first breakout gaming hit of the summer, selling over 7 million copies in 12 days.Tom Holland has officially confirmed that he and Zendaya are married. Speculation about the couple has finally been put to rest as the news spread quickly across social media, where fans reacted to the milestone with excitement. Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are now live, but not without controversy. Many are frustrated by the lack of an actual physical disc in the "physical edition," and by the fact that the $80 version feels inferior, content-wise, to the $100 version.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
More and more Gen Zers embrace singleness, Toy Story 5 pits the classic cast of toys against modern technology, and World Cup tourists go viral for loving the United States.
Slang of the Week: "Mogging" (language)
In Other News:
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to the Miami Heat in the biggest NBA trade since Luka Dončić and the Lakers. The deal sends the two- time MVP from Milwaukee to Miami, a change that significantly shifts the league's balance of power. A24, the studio behind Backrooms, is partnering with Google DeepMind in a research partnership to develop AI tools for filmmakers. The studio says the goal is to support artists rather than replace them. Still, the announcement has resulted in many fans canceling paid memberships to AAA24. MECCHA CHAMELEON, a hide- and- seek game where players can paint themselves to blend in, is the first breakout gaming hit of the summer, selling over 7 million copies in 12 days.Tom Holland has officially confirmed that he and Zendaya are married. Speculation about the couple has finally been put to rest as the news spread quickly across social media, where fans reacted to the milestone with excitement. Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are now live, but not without controversy. Many are frustrated by the lack of an actual physical disc in the "physical edition," and by the fact that the $80 version feels inferior, content-wise, to the $100 version.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Russ Ewell is the Executive Minister of the Bay Area Christian Church and author of "He's Not Who You Think He Is," exploring faith at the edge of modern life. He's also the founder of Deep Spirituality, E-Life, Digital Scribbler, and Hope Technology Group—initiatives addressing spiritual formation, inclusive technologies, and life-span inclusion. With over four decades of leadership experience he helps people discover biblical Christianity that is intellectually serious, emotionally grounding, and transformative. Earlier this year he wrote an op-ed for Fox News about how 40 years as a pastor is shaping his perspective on why so many young men in America are struggling. We'll primarily be talking about that today.
→ Click here for Russ's Book: He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself
→ Click here to see Russ's op-ed with Fox News
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Olivia Rodrigo's new album soars to the top of the charts - 08:52
- More dads seem to be opting way into fatherhood - 19:14
- Disclosure Day raises important questions about faith - 40:42
Song of the Week: I Knew It, I Knew You - Taylor Swift - 02:16
→ Click here to read the lyrics.
In Other News: - 48:50
The United Kingdom has introduced a law to ban social media access for children under 16 in early 2027, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and X. "Overstimulated" has become the most used "therapy speak" (paywall) term among Gen Z (ages 13-24), often used as a shorthand for feeling overwhelmed. Kool-Aid-soaked pineapple has become one of summer's biggest TikTok food trends. Inspiring thousands of videos and turning one kid's review, "dat bih gah" (that b** is gas) into a viral meme. Malls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, theme parks, and even many stores are banning teens who aren't accompanied by an adult, pointing out concerns about fights, theft, and disruptive behavior. With fewer third spaces available, many teens are finding it harder to connect with friends in person. Lionel Messi scored three goals (a "hat trick") in Argentina's World Cup opener, matching Miroslav Klose's record for the most goals in World Cup History. At 38 years old, Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup and many consider him to be one of the greatest athletes of all time.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Olivia Rodrigo's new album soars to the top of the charts, more dads seem to be opting way into fatherhood, and Disclosure Day raises important questions about faith.
Song of the Week: I Knew It, I Knew You - Taylor Swift
→ Click here to read the lyrics.
In Other News:
The United Kingdom has introduced a law to ban social media access for children under 16 in early 2027, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and X. "Overstimulated" has become the most used "therapy speak" (paywall) term among Gen Z (ages 13-24), often used as a shorthand for feeling overwhelmed. Kool-Aid-soaked pineapple has become one of summer's biggest TikTok food trends. Inspiring thousands of videos and turning one kid's review, "dat bih gah" (that b** is gas) into a viral meme. Malls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, theme parks, and even many stores are banning teens who aren't accompanied by an adult, pointing out concerns about fights, theft, and disruptive behavior. With fewer third spaces available, many teens are finding it harder to connect with friends in person. Lionel Messi scored three goals (a "hat trick") in Argentina's World Cup opener, matching Miroslav Klose's record for the most goals in World Cup History. At 38 years old, Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup and many consider him to be one of the greatest athletes of all time.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
"My husband and I are expecting our first child next week, so he will be a first-time dad. But he never knew his own father, so he'll be learning how to be a dad without any sort of first-hand example. How can he navigate being a dad when he never had one?" - Erin
After 20 years in the corporate world (with IBM, Pepsi and Goldman Sachs), Roland Warren spent 11 years as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative before joining Care Net in 2012 as president and CEO. A graduate of Princeton University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Roland is an inspirational servant leader with a heart for Christ and a mind for business. As part of our lead up to Father's Day this month, we'll be talking with Roland primarily about the difference a dad can make, drawing on insights from his work with the National Fatherhood Initiative as well as how the impact of fathers informs his work at Care Net.
→ Click here for Roland's Book, Bad Dads of the Bible
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→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Three Big Conversations:
- Social media companies are being sued for engaging students during school hours - 04:14
- Gen Z is more comfortable disclosing their personal finances than any other generation - 17:28
- Why a chip being inserted into our brains might be the least of our problems - 26:38
Resource of the Week - The Sermon on the Mount Experience - 02:02
In Other News: - 37:54
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, kicked off this Thursday in Mexico City. If it matches 2022's viewing numbers, the tournament will attract 5 and a half billion global viewers. Popular and sometimes controversial teen fast-fashion store Brandy Melville announced they're removing their fitting rooms, a decision that's been particularly derided on TikTok. It doesn't help that the store also has a limited in-person return policy. "Dirty sodas" are rising in popularity, but these drinks, which combine soda with things like flavored syrups and cream, can often be metabolic catastrophes with absurd amounts of sugar and calories. The first week of June is all about announcements of upcoming video games, with the highlights this year being a remake of Ocarina of Time, a new Spyro game, and a single-player, story-based Among Us game. There's also what feels like 100 other games coming out this September, a strategy to avoid competing with October's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and November's Grand Theft Auto 6. Are board shorts the look of the summer? Some think so. We'll let you know if you should buy puka shell necklaces again, too.
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Social media companies are being sued for engaging students during school hours, Gen Z is more comfortable disclosing their personal finances than any other generation, and why a chip being inserted into our brains might be the least of our problems.
Resource of the Week - The Sermon on the Mount Experience
In Other News:
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, kicked off this Thursday in Mexico City. If it matches 2022's viewing numbers, the tournament will attract 5 and a half billion global viewers. Popular and sometimes controversial teen fast-fashion store Brandy Melville announced they're removing their fitting rooms, a decision that's been particularly derided on TikTok. It doesn't help that the store also has a limited in-person return policy. "Dirty sodas" are rising in popularity, but these drinks, which combine soda with things like flavored syrups and cream, can often be metabolic catastrophes with absurd amounts of sugar and calories. The first week of June is all about announcements of upcoming video games, with the highlights this year being a remake of Ocarina of Time, a new Spyro game, and a single-player, story-based Among Us game. There's also what feels like 100 other games coming out this September, a strategy to avoid competing with October's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and November's Grand Theft Auto 6. Are board shorts the look of the summer? Some think so. We'll let you know if you should buy puka shell necklaces again, too.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
After 20 years in the corporate world (with IBM, Pepsi and Goldman Sachs), Roland spent 11 years as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative before joining Care Net in 2012 as president and CEO. A graduate of Princeton University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Roland is an inspirational servant leader with a heart for Christ and a mind for business. As part of our lead up to Father's Day this month, we'll be talking with Roland primarily about the difference a dad can make, drawing on insights from his work with the National Fatherhood Initiative as well as how the impact of fathers informs his work at Care Net.
→ Click here for Roland's Book, Bad Dads of the Bible
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
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Three Big Conversations:
- Off Campus is already a frontrunner for teen show of the summer - 10:16
- Students are scared to eat in front of their peers - 24:32
- What the success of Backrooms says about the state of the movies - 34:20
Slang of the Week - Lida Bida Boda Butt - 2:18
→ Mike Novotny's NEW BOOK - Newlywed: A Christian Guide for Loving Year One
In Other News: - 43:20
Taylor Swift's new song "I Knew It, I Knew You" comes out today and was inspired by an early screening of Toy Story. PlayStation's "State of Play" gaming showcase happened this week, with most of the buzz being around an announcement of a new God of War game where you play as Kratos' wife, Faye, and an extended look at the M-rated Marvel's Wolverine game, coming out in September. Recent releases of UAP footage from the US government have some Christians debating whether these supposed alien visitations could actually represent demonic activity. Indie group Boards of Canada's first album since 2013, Inferno, explores faith, spirituality, and existential dread over eerie electronic beats. A YouTuber known as "Reckless Ben" was arrested for trespassing in his attempt to pursue justice against the Bricks & Minifigs store after the store allegedly stole $200,000 (language) worth of LEGO sets from an elderly man.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Off Campus is already a frontrunner for teen show of the summer, students are scared to eat in front of their peers, and what the success of Backrooms says about the state of the movies.
Slang of the Week - Lida Bida Boda Butt
In Other News:
Taylor Swift's new song "I Knew It, I Knew You" comes out today and was inspired by an early screening of Toy Story. PlayStation's "State of Play" gaming showcase happened this week, with most of the buzz being around an announcement of a new God of War game where you play as Kratos' wife, Faye, and an extended look at the M-rated Marvel's Wolverine game, coming out in September. Recent releases of UAP footage from the US government have some Christians debating whether these supposed alien visitations could actually represent demonic activity. Indie group Boards of Canada's first album since 2013, Inferno, explores faith, spirituality, and existential dread over eerie electronic beats. A YouTuber known as "Reckless Ben" was arrested for trespassing in his attempt to pursue justice against the Bricks & Minifigs store after the store allegedly stole $200,000 (language) worth of LEGO sets from an elderly man.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
"How can I instill a good work ethic in my 14 year old son? I have tried to model this for him and we talk about the importance of putting in the work to be good at sports, music, etc. However, he seems to give minimal effort on these pursuits and becomes frustrated and makes excuses when we encourage him to apply himself." - Eddie
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
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Three Big Conversations:
- The OKC Thunder have become the NBA's favorite villain - 10:00
- Pope Leo publishes an AI manifesto - 20:14
- The Mandalorian and Grogu had a disappointing first weekend. - 35:50
Song of the Week - "the cure" by Olivia Rodrigo - 3:16
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here to listen to the song (language)
In Other News: - 42:40
- Small "dot cakes," baked in cups, and covered in frosting and rainbow nonpareil sprinkles, are going viral. The colorful aesthetic of these cakes is just half of the appeal, with the other part being the satisfying scrape of a spoon being dragged across the top.
- A new YPulse report found that 87% of 13- to 24-year-old guys agree with the statement, "I am a gamer," suggesting that online gaming continues to be one of the fastest-growing social spaces for boys and young men.
- A newly published report from the American Bible Society found that 38% of parents are regularly engaged with the Bible, as opposed to 23% of nonparents. A ton of other interesting statistics are included in the latest chapter of their State of the Bible report, linked here.
- DIY "cyberdecks" are the latest tech trend on TikTok. Creators are using Raspberry Pi mini computers to build whimsical homemade devices inside of retro purses, Game Boys, or briefcases.
- Off Campus has become Gen Z's latest #BookTok-adapted TV obsession, landing as Prime Video's biggest debut ever among viewers aged 18-34. Common Sense Media flagged the series for extreme explicit sexual content.
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→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The OKC Thunder have become the NBA's favorite villain, Pope Leo publishes an AI manifesto, and The Mandalorian and Grogu had a disappointing first weekend.
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Song of the Week - "the cure" by Olivia Rodrigo
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here to listen to the song (language)
In Other News:
- Small "dot cakes," baked in cups, and covered in frosting and rainbow nonpareil sprinkles, are going viral. The colorful aesthetic of these cakes is just half of the appeal, with the other part being the satisfying scrape of a spoon being dragged across the top.
- A new YPulse report found that 87% of 13- to 24-year-old guys agree with the statement, "I am a gamer," suggesting that online gaming continues to be one of the fastest-growing social spaces for boys and young men.
- A newly published report from the American Bible Society found that 38% of parents are regularly engaged with the Bible, as opposed to 23% of nonparents. A ton of other interesting statistics are included in the latest chapter of their State of the Bible report, linked here.
- DIY "cyberdecks" are the latest tech trend on TikTok. Creators are using Raspberry Pi mini computers to build whimsical homemade devices inside of retro purses, Game Boys, or briefcases.
- Off Campus has become Gen Z's latest #BookTok-adapted TV obsession, landing as Prime Video's biggest debut ever among viewers aged 18-34. Common Sense Media flagged the series for extreme explicit sexual content.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Ashlee has spent years helping moms navigate the tension between modern motherhood and creativity. She's a writer, editor, and the founder of Coffee + Crumbs, the home of essays that have resonated across the internet, meeting millennial moms where they are. She's also the writer of Create Anyway, a book about nurturing creativity in the margins. The Coffee and Crumbs writers' collective has created two beautiful books, The Magic of Motherhood. You're In Good Company, their latest collection of essays about how community shapes motherhood, was just released last month.
We are also joined by author and speaker Katie Blackburn, whose writing has encouraged so many readers through its honesty about motherhood, disability, faith, and how to keep creating when life takes an unexpected turn. Katie has this rare ability to write about difficult things with both depth and warmth, and her story touches on everything from foster care and adoption to resilience and the everyday grace that carries families through impossible seasons. Katie is also a mom of six, a devoted cyclist, and the writer of three books: an essay collection called Gluing the Cracks, a children's book about adaptive sports called The Very Best Baseball Game, and the forthcoming essay collection, Grace Will Be There.
→ Click here to check out the Coffee and Crumbs Podcast
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Three Big Conversations:
- The Freemasons are recruiting heavily from Gen Z - 10:22
- What parents need to know about how gore travels online - 25:26
- A brand called Fear of God sells must-have hoodies - 39:12
Song of the Week: "Janice ST*U" by Drake - 3:04
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News: - 51:28
The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Star Wars adventure starring Pedro Pascal and his travel-sized "baby Yoda" sidekick, is expected to earn $160 million this weekend. A new Instagram feature called "Instants" allows users to send quick, unedited photos through direct messages. Similar to features on Snapchat and BeReal, Instants disappear within 24 hours, or after they're viewed. The American Music Awards (AMAs) will air on Monday, May 25, and feature performances from KATSEYE, Teddy Swims, and sombr—as well as the Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes. Spotify celebrated its app's twentieth anniversary with a suite of special listening history features, and also temporarily switched its icon to a glowing green mirror ball. But the logo switch was confusing, and users became irate. Teen Vogue predicts that the wave of preppy, 90s fashion nostalgia will continue to swell into the summer, with bandanas, sweaters tied around the waist, checkered and polka-dotted prints, and loafers with socks all trending.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
A brand called Fear of God sells must-have hoodies, the Freemasons are recruiting heavily from Gen Z, and what parents need to know about how gore travels online.
Song of the Week: "Janice ST*U" by Drake
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here for A Parent's Guide to Loneliness
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
In Other News:
The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Star Wars adventure starring Pedro Pascal and his travel-sized "baby Yoda" sidekick, is expected to earn $160 million this weekend. A new Instagram feature called "Instants" allows users to send quick, unedited photos through direct messages. Similar to features on Snapchat and BeReal, Instants disappear within 24 hours, or after they're viewed. The American Music Awards (AMAs) will air on Monday, May 25, and feature performances from KATSEYE, Teddy Swims, and sombr—as well as the Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes. Spotify celebrated its app's twentieth anniversary with a suite of special listening history features, and also temporarily switched its icon to a glowing green mirror ball. But the logo switch was confusing, and users became irate. Teen Vogue predicts that the wave of preppy, 90s fashion nostalgia will continue to swell into the summer, with bandanas, sweaters tied around the waist, checkered and polka-dotted prints, and loafers with socks all trending.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"Would you share ideas and council on navigating the fine line between keeping church attendance and spiritual disciplines as a family pritory (i.e. wanting to establish and model this as a lifelong priority for our kids), and not turning your teen off from Christianity, where your teen runs away from the faith because of you "making them go" to church every Sunday. Drawing from Paul's words, how can we parent in regards to church attendance in the spirit of Colossians 4:2-6, especially verse 6?" - Aileen
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→ This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Gen Z hits the track (and the tracking apps) - 02:42
- A new Lord of the Flies adaptation hits home - 17:30
- Pop songstresses say they are manifesting their dream lives - 31:04
Resource of the Week: Faith and Life Survey - 01:54
→ Click here to watch our video about manifesting.
→ Click here to watch our video about Looksmaxxing.
→ Click here to read the article about these local running clubs.
In Other News: - 45:00
Teen boys and young men are turning to injectable peptide stacks in order to achieve physical transformations and faster muscle recovery, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal (paywall), in a trend being fueled by looksmaxxing culture. The latest Gen Z trend is the comeback of the hacky sack. Teens are starting clubs at schools, making TikToks about their newest hobby, and the footbags are already selling out in stores. Winning out over MrBeast, LeBron James, and Taylor Swift, the celebrity young people want to emulate most is Zendaya, who came in second to "none of the above". With age verification requirements on the rise, some kids are fooling age-checking technology with a fake mustache. Subnautica 2, the sequel to Subnautica, a quiet hit about crafting, exploring, and avoiding giant leviathans in an underwater world, releases this week in early access.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Gen Z hits the track (and the tracking apps), a new Lord of the Flies adaptation hits home, and pop songstresses say they are manifesting their dream lives.
Resource of the Week: Faith and Life Survey
→ Click here to watch our video about manifesting.
In Other News:
Teen boys and young men are turning to injectable peptide stacks in order to achieve physical transformations and faster muscle recovery, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal (paywall), in a trend being fueled by looksmaxxing culture. The latest Gen Z trend is the comeback of the hacky sack. Teens are starting clubs at schools, making TikToks about their newest hobby, and the footbags are already selling out in stores. Winning out over MrBeast, LeBron James, and Taylor Swift, the celebrity young people want to emulate most is Zendaya, who came in second to "none of the above". With age verification requirements on the rise, some kids are fooling age-checking technology with a fake mustache. Subnautica 2, the sequel to Subnautica, a quiet hit about crafting, exploring, and avoiding giant leviathans in an underwater world, releases this week in early access.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Jen Pollock Michel is the award-winning author of six books: A Rule for the Rest of US, Teach Us to Want (Christianity Today's Book of the Year), Keeping Place, Surprised by Paradox (Christianity Today's Book of the Year Award of Merit—Beautiful Orthodoxy), A Habit Called Faith, and In Good Time (Canada's Word Guild Book of the Year Award).
Jen is a sought-after contributor to publications like Christianity Today, The Christian Century, The Gospel Coalition, Mockingbird, and The Dispatch, among others. She is also a first-year mentor in Whitworth University's MFA in Creative Writing program, and she travels to speak at churches, conferences, and retreats. Over the past several years, she has been teaching rule-of-life workshops to hundreds of people across various life stages. The mother of five children, she is married to Ryan, and they live in Cincinatti, Ohio.
→ Click here to preorder A Rule For the Rest of Us, which will be published in September.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The jury is out for The Devil Wears Prada 2- 06:18
- The Met Gala made people mad for different reasons - 21:00
- Moms are ready to organize—so they can boycott school events- 29:06
Slang of the Week: "Chud"- 1:28
In Other News: - 42:58
The Savannah Bananas, an "exhibition baseball" team that includes comedy and choreographed dances in games of what they call Banana Ball, played in front of 102,000 fans this past Saturday with a cameo from the Dude Perfect team. Angel Studios' new adaptation of Animal Farm (paywall) hit theaters this past weekend, uniting George Orwell's classic critique of totalitarianism with fart jokes and other trappings of modern kids' movies. Scalpers are purchasing the new Pokémon Pop-Tarts from Target and selling them for up to eight times their worth (with their original price being $2.89 per box of 12). After Justin Bieber's performance at Coachella, he became the artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, with just over 141 million monthly listeners as of this week. While the Taylor Swifts and Harry Styleses of the world may still get away with charging obscene prices for concert tickets, many other artists (like Post Malone and Kid Cudi) are also trying to increase sale prices—and then often cancelling concerts after low sales.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The jury is out for The Devil Wears Prada 2, the Met Gala made people mad for different reasons, and moms are ready to organize—so they can boycott school events.
Slang of the Week: "Chud"
In Other News:
The Savannah Bananas, an "exhibition baseball" team that includes comedy and choreographed dances in games of what they call Banana Ball, played in front of 102,000 fans this past Saturday with a cameo from the Dude Perfect team. Angel Studios' new adaptation of Animal Farm (paywall) hit theaters this past weekend, uniting George Orwell's classic critique of totalitarianism with fart jokes and other trappings of modern kids' movies. Scalpers are purchasing the new Pokémon Pop-Tarts from Target and selling them for up to eight times their worth (with their original price being $2.89 per box of 12). After Justin Bieber's performance at Coachella, he became the artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, with just over 141 million monthly listeners as of this week. While the Taylor Swifts and Harry Styleses of the world may still get away with charging obscene prices for concert tickets, many other artists (like Post Malone and Kid Cudi) are also trying to increase sale prices—and then often cancelling concerts after low sales.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Parenting right now just feels… different.
We're doing it in the middle of smartphones, social media, and nonstop input. We're thinking about safety, screen time, mental health, cyberbullying… all of it, all at once aaand probably even before 9am. So this question keeps coming up: is it actually harder to raise kids now, or was it just a different kind of hard back then?
Did previous generations have more freedom because they weren't monitoring devices or even getting pulled into doomscrolling themselves? Or were they carrying a weight we might underestimate? Less support, less language for mental health, less flexibility at work?
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Tweens are grabbing an iced latte to get a hit of belonging. - 7:24
- Third of Gen Z believe they have "psychic abilities." - 20:10
- Nearly half of young adults say they'd live in the past if they could. - 33:20
Slang of the Week: "You the birthday." - 1:57
→ Click here to see the video high school in the 90's
→ Click here to listen to our podcast episode Freya India on How to Care for Teen Girls in a Digital Age
In Other News: - 46:14
The Devil Wears Prada 2, which comes out today, is projected to make $180 million on its opening weekend. The original film is a cult classic with younger viewers, and the trailer for this sequel set a record of getting 181 million views within 24 hours. Michael, a movie about pop star Michael Jackson, set its own record for musical biopics with a $97 million opening last weekend. The film, which stars Jackson's nephew, has been criticized for sanitizing parts of the origin story of the one-time King of Pop. Stranger Things: Tales from '85, an animated spinoff series that continues to explore the world of Eleven and Mike in Hawkins, Indiana, is now streaming on Netflix. The music video for Laufey's new single "Madwoman" highlights a lineup of Asian American Gen Alpha favorites, including figure skating gold medalist Alysa Liu, The Summer I Turned Pretty's Lola Tung, and Katseye's Megan Skiendiel. The discontinued iPod has a nostalgic aesthetic and analog-esque appeal, according to several young people interviewed by the New York Times who got the devices second-hand. One summed it up: "I find this modern even though it's really old."
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tweens are grabbing an iced latte to get a hit of belonging, a third of Gen Z believe they have "psychic abilities," and nearly half of young adults say they'd live in the past if they could.
Slang of the Week: "You the birthday."
→Click here to see the video high school in the 90's
→Click here to listen to our podcast episode Freya India on How to Care for Teen Girls in a Digital Age
In Other News:
The Devil Wears Prada 2, which comes out today, is projected to make $180 million on its opening weekend. The original film is a cult classic with younger viewers, and the trailer for this sequel set a record of getting 181 million views within 24 hours. Michael, a movie about pop star Michael Jackson, set its own record for musical biopics with a $97 million opening last weekend. The film, which stars Jackson's nephew, has been criticized for sanitizing parts of the origin story of the one-time King of Pop. Stranger Things: Tales from '85, an animated spinoff series that continues to explore the world of Eleven and Mike in Hawkins, Indiana, is now streaming on Netflix. The music video for Laufey's new single "Madwoman" highlights a lineup of Asian American Gen Alpha favorites, including figure skating gold medalist Alysa Liu, The Summer I Turned Pretty's Lola Tung, and Katseye's Megan Skiendiel. The discontinued iPod has a nostalgic aesthetic and analog-esque appeal, according to several young people interviewed by the New York Times who got the devices second-hand. One summed it up: "I find this modern even though it's really old."
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Freya is the author of the Substack GIRLS, where she writes about the challenges girls and young women face in the modern world. She's also a staff writer for Jonathan Haidt's newsletter, After Babel. She has contributed to publications including The New Statesman, The Spectator, and The Free Press.
Today, we are going to be discussing her debut book, GIRLS, Generation Z and the commodification of everything, which will be out in the US in May. Her book serves as both an account of her upbringing in the digital age, as well as an inside look for parents and caring adults about what adolescence online is like right now.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Teens are birdwatching - 13:12
- Posting on Snapchat - 26:50
- Learning to slow down from John Mark Comer - 41:34
Song of the Week: "drop dead" by Olivia Rodrigo - 2:08
→ Click here to read the lyrics (language).
→ Click here to watch The Conversation Starter on Offline Hobbies.
In other news: - 58:36
- Young people are speedrunning their Bachelor's or Master's degrees, finishing them in as quickly as three months, as less traditional forms of University attendance become more popular.
- Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the newest game in Nintendo's oddest series, which plays as a mix between The Sims and Animal Crossing, and its brand of social engineering makes for a lot of internet hilarity.
- Coachella continued into its second weekend, highlighted by Justin Bieber inviting Billie Eilish on stage, Madonna joining Sabrina Carpenter, and Karol G as the first Latina artist to headline.
- Some trendspotters are calling rainbow flip-flops the "shoe of the summer," as young people continue to reclaim 90s fashion.
- The meteoric rise of the band Geese has led some to wonder if there's some conspiracy behind their popularity. To be fair, social media marketing can sometimes feel more CIA than Don Draper, and streaming numbers are often manipulated.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Teens are birdwatching, posting on Snapchat, and learning to slow down from John Mark Comer.
Song of the Week: "drop dead" by Olivia Rodrigo
→ Click here to read the lyrics (language).
In other news:
- Young people are speedrunning their Bachelor's or Master's degrees, finishing them in as quickly as three months, as less traditional forms of University attendance become more popular.
- Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the newest game in Nintendo's oddest series, which plays as a mix between The Sims and Animal Crossing, and its brand of social engineering makes for a lot of internet hilarity.
- Coachella continued into its second weekend, highlighted by Justin Bieber inviting Billie Eilish on stage, Madonna joining Sabrina Carpenter, and Karol G as the first Latina artist to headline.
- Some trendspotters are calling rainbow flip-flops the "shoe of the summer," as young people continue to reclaim 90s fashion.
- The meteoric rise of the band Geese has led some to wonder if there's some conspiracy behind their popularity. To be fair, social media marketing can sometimes feel more CIA than Don Draper, and streaming numbers are often manipulated.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week, we're taking a break from the Axis Conversations podcast—including the Roundtable, Ask Axis, and our interview series. We are meeting with members of our Axis community to dream and pray together about this upcoming year and beyond. We appreciate your support, and we're excited to see you back here next Thursday and Friday, when our regular schedule will resume—including the CT Audio Podcast and the Culture Translator Roundtable! See you then! - The Axis Team
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People are paying to talk to an AI avatar of Jesus, texts from teens make perfect emo songs, and Justin Bieber reminds everyone of why he became a pop star in the first place. But first:
Resource of the Week - Parent Guide to Gen Alpha
Check out our YouTube Episode → What Christians Are Missing About Gen Alpha
In Other News:
In a strange TikTok trend (as opposed to a normal one), young men are seeing how far they can run into Scientology centers for social media clout as they film themselves dodging security and sprinting deep into the buildings of the secretive pseudoreligion. The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, is on track to become the fifth A24 title to cross the $100 million mark, according to IMDB. Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games movie installment, just dropped its official trailer. The film will be released on November 20, 2026. Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, a new Star Wars animated series on Disney+, appears to be resonating with viewers. The show's four episodes have already earned a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes—better, even, than the finale of the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi. For several of the Artemis II astronauts, outer space was a religious experience. Pilot Victor Glover emphasized how special life on Earth really is in an Easter message sent from the craft, saying, "In all of this emptiness — this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe — you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist (in) together."
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Amy Amy Adamczykis Professor of Sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Programs of Doctoral Study in Sociology and Criminal Justice at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Trained as a sociologist of religion, her research focuses on how different contexts (such as nations, counties, friendship groups), and personal religious beliefs shape people's deviant, moral, and health-related attitudes and behaviors. We'll be talking today primarily about the findings from her book Handing Down the Faith.
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Three Big Conversations:
- The Night We Met is BookTok's latest darling - 6:30
- teenagers are wearing pimple patches in public - 20:16
- Super Mario Galaxy brought tweens to the box office on Easter weekend - 28:16
Slang of the Week - "Clipped" - 1:58
In Other News: - 41:34
A squishy stress-relieving toy has taken over the internet, and they are sold out everywhere. It's safe to say that teens and tweens are obsessed. Olivia Rodrigo announced her first single from the album is called "drop dead" and will be out on April 17. Anticipation is building for I Have Proof, a new horror movie that will be recording on old VHS tapes. The filmmaker purchased 30 tapes from eBay and recorded the movie over people's old home movies—feel old yet? RAYE's new album, "THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE." is all about how faith in God pulled the singer out of darkness. The show might be over, but the movie is still ahead of us. The Summer I Turned Pretty will begin filming in Wilmington on April 27.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The Night We Met is BookTok's latest darling, teenagers are wearing pimple patches in public, and Super Mario Galaxy brought tweens to the box office on Easter weekend.
Slang of the Week - "Clipped"
In Other News:
A squishy stress-relieving toy has taken over the internet, and they are sold out everywhere. It's safe to say that teens and tweens are obsessed. Olivia Rodrigo announced her first single from the album is called "drop dead" and will be out on April 17. Anticipation is building for I Have Proof, a new horror movie that will be recording on old VHS tapes. The filmmaker purchased 30 tapes from eBay and recorded the movie over people's old home movies—feel old yet? RAYE's new album, "THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE." is all about how faith in God pulled the singer out of darkness. The show might be over, but the movie is still ahead of us. The Summer I Turned Pretty will begin filming in Wilmington on April 27.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"Thanks for your awesome content. As a father of 3 girls in a hybrid homeschool setting (they are in a classroom two days a week), we are fairly sheltered from outside influences/influencers. I would love practical advice on how and when to guide my girls in developing good judgement and discernment regarding which influences to embrace and which to ignore." - Matthew
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Three Big Conversations:
- Teens are inspired by the fashion in Love Story - 08:22
- Everybody, everywhere is maxxing - 21:34
- The meaning of Easter might feel lost somewhere in the baskets and plastic grass - 37:28
Song of the Week - "Babydoll" by Dominic Fike - 02:50
→ Click here for the lyrics
In Other News: - 54:16
If you thought the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters wouldn't survive into 2026, look no further than your local McDonald's, which has Huntr/x and Saja Boys themed meals (and a Derpy the Tiger McFlurry). With the Artemis II mission, NASA is sending astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions (over 50 years ago!). The four astronauts won't land on Luna, just journey around it, but it's an exciting moment, as the prep, launch, and journey are all livestreamed and accessible for those curious. An AI fruit-themed take on reality shows like Love Island has surged in popularity in the last few weeks, with videos getting tens of millions of views on TikTok. Teens are "mallmaxxing" as young people are driving an in-person shopping comeback, including, yes, malls. YouTube is rolling out a survey asking users if what they watched felt like "AI slop." It could be a way for YouTube to enforce its own AI policy, or, as some have hypothesized, it could be a way for Google to train its own AI video models for free.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Teens are inspired by the fashion in Love Story, everybody, everywhere, is maxxing, and the meaning of Easter might feel lost somewhere in the baskets and plastic grass.
Song of the Week - "Babydoll" by Dominic Fike
→ Click here for the lyrics
In Other News:
If you thought the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters wouldn't survive into 2026, look no further than your local McDonald's, which has Huntr/x and Saja Boys themed meals (and a Derpy the Tiger McFlurry). With the Artemis II mission, NASA is sending astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions (over 50 years ago!). The four astronauts won't land on Luna, just journey around it, but it's an exciting moment, as the prep, launch, and journey are all livestreamed and accessible for those curious. An AI fruit-themed take on reality shows like Love Island has surged in popularity in the last few weeks, with videos getting tens of millions of views on TikTok. Teens are "mallmaxxing" as young people are driving an in-person shopping comeback, including, yes, malls. YouTube is rolling out a survey asking users if what they watched felt like "AI slop." It could be a way for YouTube to enforce its own AI policy, or, as some have hypothesized, it could be a way for Google to train its own AI video models for free.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
CJ Fant is one of our own team members at Axis. As basically our resident gaming aficionado, I wanted to bring CJ on to talk about how parents can understand this medium a little better and enter into some intentional conversation around video games with the next generation.
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Three Big Conversations:
- Epic Games lays off 1,000 employees - 04:31
- Gen Z is posing like a platypus - 15:61
- BTS releases their first album since 2020 - 43:24
Resource of the Week - The Pour Over - 02:21
In Other News: - 55:50
It's sequel season for Kirsten Dunst. The actress just signed on for the untitled Minecraft movie sequel and The Housemaid 2 alongside Sydney Sweeney. The actress said in an interview with Town and Country that she just wants to make a "pile of cash." A new Chappell Roan drama is trending after a claim that her security guard yelled at Jude Law's 11-year-old daughter at a hotel in Brazil. Roan says the guard wasn't with her team and that she never even saw what happened, but the internet has already turned it into a round of who's to blame. Sora, OpenAI's video app, is on the chopping block. The company is shutting it down, and Disney has walked away from its billion-dollar plan to put its characters in Sora clips after months of pushback over deepfakes, consent, and AI slop in entertainment. Chuck Norris, the martial arts star behind Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at 86. His family says he passed away on March 19 in Hawaii after a medical emergency. People are saying goodbye by bringing the classic "Chuck Norris facts" jokes as a way to honor the icon who inspired them. ABC has pulled Taylor Frankie Paul's upcoming season of The Bachelorette,, and Hulu has paused filming on the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, after a domestic violence video involving Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, resurfaced.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Epic Games lays off 1,000 employees, Gen Z is posing like a platypus, and BTS releases their first album since 2020.
Resource of the Week - The Pour Over
In Other News:
It's sequel season for Kirsten Dunst. The actress just signed on for the untitled Minecraft movie sequel and The Housemaid 2 alongside Sydney Sweeney. The actress said in an interview with Town and Country that she just wants to make a "pile of cash." A new Chappell Roan drama is trending after a claim that her security guard yelled at Jude Law's 11-year-old daughter at a hotel in Brazil. Roan says the guard wasn't with her team and that she never even saw what happened, but the internet has already turned it into a round of who's to blame. Sora, OpenAI's video app, is on the chopping block. The company is shutting it down, and Disney has walked away from its billion-dollar plan to put its characters in Sora clips after months of pushback over deepfakes, consent, and AI slop in entertainment. Chuck Norris, the martial arts star behind Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at 86. His family says he passed away on March 19 in Hawaii after a medical emergency. People are saying goodbye by bringing the classic "Chuck Norris facts" jokes as a way to honor the icon who inspired them. ABC has pulled Taylor Frankie Paul's upcoming season of The Bachelorette,, and Hulu has paused filming on the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, after a domestic violence video involving Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, resurfaced.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"My kids go to church because that is what we do as a family. They know God is good and Jesus is the Messiah because of what they have been taught and how my husband and I center our lives on Jesus. But how can I encourage them to seek a personal relationship with the Lord that isn't built on what they've done all their lives and been told? To instead, build it out of an independent, self-driven desire to know the God of all creation? How can I help them from deconstructing their faith in the future when they are out on their own and encounter questions set out to attack their belief?" - Tana
Kara is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, the founder of the TENx10 Collaboration, and the Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Her team has been doing some groundbreaking research on who Gen Alpha is and how faith formation looks different for this new rising generation.
→ Listen to Kara's Interview Episode
→ Check out Fuller's Research and Resources
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Three Big Conversations:
- The latest TikTok trend involves sounding like a brainless sycophant to mimic ChatGPT - 07:16
- senior prank goes wrong in Georgia - 20:18
- Project Hail Mary packs art, science, and Ryan Gosling into a family-friendly movie - 34:28
Song of the Week - "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley - 01:58
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here for reviews of Project Hail Mary
In Other News: - 44:30
The Oscars happened. Ryan Coogler was the second Black screenwriter to win Best Original Screenplay. Plus, for the seventh time in the history of the award show, there was a tie. youraislopbores.me is a new website where users can role-play as AI, with users playing the human or AI role. People are posting screenshots of the humorous human responses and bonding over their shared dislike for AI slop. It's time to make your brackets, because March Madness is here! The annual college basketball tournaments will be dominating TV screens until the national championship game in early April. NVIDIA announced a new feature that uses AI to make games look "better." Backlash ensued, with some users calling it a "slop" AI filter for games."Noah Kahan: Out of Body," a documentary following the singer-songwriter's mental health journey on tour, will be out in April.
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The latest TikTok trend involves sounding like a brainless sycophant to mimic ChatGPT, a senior prank goes wrong in Georgia, and Project Hail Mary packs art, science, and Ryan Gosling into a family-friendly movie.
Song of the Week - "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here for reviews of Project Hail Mary
In Other News:
The Oscars happened. Ryan Coogler was the second Black screenwriter to win Best Original Screenplay. Plus, for the seventh time in the history of the award show, there was a tie. youraislopbores.me is a new website where users can role-play as AI, with users playing the human or AI role. People are posting screenshots of the humorous human responses and bonding over their shared dislike for AI slop. It's time to make your brackets, because March Madness is here! The annual college basketball tournaments will be dominating TV screens until the national championship game in early April. NVIDIA announced a new feature that uses AI to make games look "better." Backlash ensued, with some users calling it a "slop" AI filter for games."Noah Kahan: Out of Body," a documentary following the singer-songwriter's mental health journey on tour, will be out in April.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Dr. Kara Powell is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, the founder of the TENx10 Collaboration, and the Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary. We'll be talking today about some of the Fuller Youth Institute's new research on Gen Alpha—including how exactly they're different from previous generations of teens (including Gen Z), and what faith formation looks like for the world's youngest generation.
→ Check out Fuller's Research and Resources
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Timothée Chalamet angers opera singers and ballerinas - 06:46
- Harry Styles' new album debuts to middling reviews - 19:00
- Donna Kelce's home renovation becomes the internet's favorite distraction - 30:26
Slang of the Week: "Big Chungus Life" - 01:34
In Other News: - 45:45
Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in a game this week, passing Kobe Bryant's 81 points for the second-most points in a single game in NBA history. (Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game from 1962 still stands as the #1 record.) According to the Wall Street Journal (paywall), Gen Z is driving a resurgence in mall shopping, with many malls redesigning public spaces to be more "photogenic" and social-media friendly, as well as popular online stores like Edikted opening brick-and-mortar locations. For some middle schoolers, the word "burger" is now funny, thanks to a clip from Disney+'s show Just Beyond going viral, alongside absurd TikTok edits like this one. The controversial AI-generated "actress" Tilly Norwood was featured in a new music video, in which she was made to sing verses like "AI's not the enemy, it's the key." According to an article from Fortune (paywall), Gen Z is becoming more skeptical of TikTok, with 53 percent saying TikTok feels more commercial than it did a year ago, and 72 percent agreeing that content now feels more staged and performative.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Timothée Chalamet angers opera singers and ballerinas, Harry Styles' new album debuts to middling reviews, and Donna Kelce's home renovation becomes the internet's favorite distraction.
Slang of the Week: "Big Chungus Life"
In Other News:
Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in a game this week, passing Kobe Bryant's 81 points for the second-most points in a single game in NBA history. (Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game from 1962 still stands as the #1 record.) According to the Wall Street Journal (paywall), Gen Z is driving a resurgence in mall shopping, with many malls redesigning public spaces to be more "photogenic" and social-media friendly, as well as popular online stores like Edikted opening brick-and-mortar locations. For some middle schoolers, the word "burger" is now funny, thanks to a clip from Disney+'s show Just Beyond going viral, alongside absurd TikTok edits like this one. The controversial AI-generated "actress" Tilly Norwood was featured in a new music video, in which she was made to sing verses like "AI's not the enemy, it's the key." According to an article from Fortune (paywall), Gen Z is becoming more skeptical of TikTok, with 53 percent saying TikTok feels more commercial than it did a year ago, and 72 percent agreeing that content now feels more staged and performative.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"How do we talk to a skeptical generation about discipleship, and the reality of the spiritual world?"
This month, we're spotlighting the work of discipleship that parents, youth pastors, and other adults do in the lives of the next generation. We've got an upcoming podcast conversation with Dr. Kara Powell about faith formation in Gen Alpha, a new episode of our YouTube show about how Gen Alpha processes life and faith, and another on the philosophical and theological question of why does God allow pain and suffering; we're promoting a new video Conversation Kit on the topic of miracles and what God's involvement in the world looks like today.
Resources → A Parent's Guide to Discipling Teens
A Conversation Kit on Miracles
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Jim Carrey reacts to being called a clone - 12:30
- What parents should know about the new Resident Evil video game - 26:42
- Why people are still talking about Alysa Liu's Olympic performance - 45:48
Slang of the Week: Moving in silence - 01:14
In Other News: - 1:02:00
Early reviews for the new game Pokémon Pokopia have been enthusiastic, with critics comparing it to a blend of Minecraft creative mode and Animal Crossing's relaxed village life. The game focuses more on building and exploration than traditional Pokémon battles. Apple is stepping into the budget laptop market with the new $599 MacBook Neo. The price places it much closer to the Chromebooks and Windows laptops that many schools recommend for students. Rumors that Zendaya and Tom Holland secretly got married started after Zendaya's stylist casually told reporters the wedding had "already happened." The couple hasn't confirmed anything, but fans online are already in full detective mode. About 40% of Gen Z and millennials say spiritual advice from AI can be just as trustworthy as advice from a pastor, according to a recent survey by Barna and tech platform Gloo. Many young adults say they already use AI tools for prayer, Bible study, and spiritual questions. Energy drinks were once marketed almost entirely to young men, with branding tied to extreme sports and masculinity. Now companies are launching pastel-colored cans and fruitier flavors aimed at women, including cotton candy, which is delicious at a carnival and deeply questionable as a beverage.
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Jim Carrey reacts to being called a clone, what parents should know about the new Resident Evil video game, and why people are still talking about Alysa Liu's Olympic performance.
Slang of the Week: Moving in silence
In Other News:
Early reviews for the new game Pokémon Pokopia have been enthusiastic, with critics comparing it to a blend of Minecraft creative mode and Animal Crossing's relaxed village life. The game focuses more on building and exploration than traditional Pokémon battles. Apple is stepping into the budget laptop market with the new $599 MacBook Neo. The price places it much closer to the Chromebooks and Windows laptops that many schools recommend for students. Rumors that Zendaya and Tom Holland secretly got married started after Zendaya's stylist casually told reporters the wedding had "already happened." The couple hasn't confirmed anything, but fans online are already in full detective mode. About 40% of Gen Z and millennials say spiritual advice from AI can be just as trustworthy as advice from a pastor, according to a recent survey by Barna and tech platform Gloo. Many young adults say they already use AI tools for prayer, Bible study, and spiritual questions. Energy drinks were once marketed almost entirely to young men, with branding tied to extreme sports and masculinity. Now companies are launching pastel-colored cans and fruitier flavors aimed at women, including cotton candy, which is delicious at a carnival and deeply questionable as a beverage.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"I have a newly 8 year old male. Honesty has been a major struggle in our home because he hides the truth in order to avoid punishment. I feel that I have created an environment at home that doesn't feel safe enough to express mistakes. How should dad and I proceed to raise 2 sons that have the fruit of The Spirit?" - Marie
→ Read about the "authoritative" parenting style
→ Click here for the Barna research for indicating resiliant familes
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Three Big Conversations:
- A Pokémon card sells for $16.4 million - 3:15
- Barna research sheds light on the three things resilient families prioritize - 19:04
- Everyone seems to relate to an abandoned monkey in a Japanese zoo - 33:22
Resource of the Week - Conversation Starter - YouTube Video - 1:42
In Other News.. - 46:06
USA hockey set viewership records at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, with both men's and women's teams winning gold, setting hockey up to hang on to its place as the fourth most-followed sport in the US—at least, until the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles enters the chat. The so-called "boy blush" trend is gaining traction, with artists like Sangwon and Bad Bunny wearing noticeable blush on major stages, and teen boys increasingly experimenting with makeup as part of their personal style. A TikTok meme called "baby boo" started with people dancing to a clip that repeats "she gon' call me baby boo" and has since morphed into users calling it "baby boo syndrome." Eric Dane, known for his roles in Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, passed away on February 19, one year after announcing his ALS diagnosis. Since then, TikTok has filled with edits of his most emotional scenes. At the BAFTA film awards, a guest with Tourette's syndrome involuntarily shouted a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage. The moment sparked conversations about the real harm that racial slurs carry for Black people, alongside questions about the awareness around Tourette's and the responsibility of live broadcasting.
→ Click here to check out the Pour Over Newsletter
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
A Pokémon card sells for $16.4 million, Barna research sheds light on the three things resilient families prioritize, and everyone seems to relate to an abandoned monkey in a Japanese zoo.
Resource of the Week - Conversation Starter - YouTube Video
In Other News..
USA hockey set viewership records at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, with both men's and women's teams winning gold, setting hockey up to hang on to its place as the fourth most-followed sport in the US—at least, until the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles enters the chat. The so-called "boy blush" trend is gaining traction, with artists like Sangwon and Bad Bunny wearing noticeable blush on major stages, and teen boys increasingly experimenting with makeup as part of their personal style. A TikTok meme called "baby boo" started with people dancing to a clip that repeats "she gon' call me baby boo" and has since morphed into users calling it "baby boo syndrome." Eric Dane, known for his roles in Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, passed away on February 19, one year after announcing his ALS diagnosis. Since then, TikTok has filled with edits of his most emotional scenes. At the BAFTA film awards, a guest with Tourette's syndrome involuntarily shouted a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage. The moment sparked conversations about the real harm that racial slurs carry for Black people, alongside questions about the awareness around Tourette's and the responsibility of live broadcasting.
→ Click here to check out the Pour Over Newsletter
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"I struggle to find reputable, biblically based resources from a child of divorce POV - specifically navigating through talking about the sanctity of marriage when I'm speaking from a place of separation myself (and keeping parent's "adult issues" out of it so I never want my kids to think our problems have anything to do with them). I know one of the first questions my teen will ask will involve "...but you and Dad didn't stay married," or some version of that. It would be great to hear a podcast speaking about this topic!" - Jacquie
Brand New Axis Resource → How To Talk About Divorce With Your Teen
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→ This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Southeastern University cancels class to pray and worship Jesus. - 07:54
- "Smart glasses" with AI take creepiness to a new level. - 17:14
- What parents should know about the new Wuthering Heights movie. - 29:10
Slang of the Week: lowkenuinely - 01:11
In Other News: - 42:08
Sony Animation Studios (the team behind Into the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters) has a new animated film called GOAT, starring Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin and NBA star Stephen Curry. A new video game in the "Roguelite" genre called Mewgenics had an incredibly successful release last week, but parents should know the game features a lot of questionable—even sacreligious—content. A new TikTok account called @DanySlicer started with two short videos of a man whose face is obscured in shadow. Inexplicably, both videos got millions of views, and many started referring to this completely silent character as the "internet's new villain." Netflix is diving into mixed martial arts, kicking off with a fight between two pioneering and sometimes controversial fighters, Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey. This month on our podcast we explored romantasy and the question many parents are asking: Why are teens and adults so drawn to fantasy and romance novels? Check it out here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Southeastern University cancels class to pray and worship Jesus, "smart glasses" with AI take creepiness to a new level, and what parents should know about the new Wuthering Heights movie.
Slang of the Week: lowkenuinely
In Other News:
Sony Animation Studios (the team behind Into the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters) has a new animated film called GOAT, starring Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin and NBA star Stephen Curry. A new video game in the "Roguelite" genre called Mewgenics had an incredibly successful release last week, but parents should know the game features a lot of questionable—even sacreligious—content. A new TikTok account called @DanySlicer started with two short videos of a man whose face is obscured in shadow. Inexplicably, both videos got millions of views, and many started referring to this completely silent character as the "internet's new villain." Netflix is diving into mixed martial arts, kicking off with a fight between two pioneering and sometimes controversial fighters, Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey. This month on our podcast we explored romantasy and the question many parents are asking: Why are teens and adults so drawn to fantasy and romance novels? Check it out here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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The Big Conversation:
This month we're focusing on relationships, and we're tackling a question many parents are asking: "Why are teens and adults so drawn to romantasy books?"
Axis Resources → A Parent's Guide to Teen Dating
→ A Conversation Kit on Dating
→ A Parent's Guide to Kicking Off the Sex Talk
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The hills are alive with the sound of kids saying "chicken, banana," - 14:38
- A new AI tool called OpenClaw has an iron grasp on data - 20:20
- Backlash took center stage after Bad Bunny's halftime show. - 49:04
Song of the Week: "The Great Divide" - Noah Kahan - 01:16
Click here to read the lyrics.
In Other News.. - 1:04:02
James Van Der Beek passed away this week after battling colorectal cancer. Best known for his role as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, he helped define late 90s teen drama, and his legacy continues through streaming nostalgia and even one of the internet's earliest viral reaction GIFs. At a congressional hearing last week, self-driving car company Waymo admitted that sometimes its cars are being remote-controlled by workers based in the Philippines. An emerging star of the 2026 Winter Olympics is American figure skater Alysa Liu, who won gold and then promptly broke her medal. Cool guys have bangs now, according to GQ. Fellas are trading the long-popular long-on the-top, short-on-the sides haircut for softer, more lived-in fringe. This weekend, the long-awaited, R-rated adaptation of the gothic romance novel Wuthering Heights will hit 3,600 screens and is projected to hit $50 million on its opening weekend.
Axis Resource → A Parent's Guide to Talking About Hell
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The hills are alive with the sound of kids saying "chicken, banana," a new AI tool called OpenClaw has an iron grasp on data, and backlash took center stage after Bad Bunny's halftime show.
Song of the Week: "The Great Divide" - Noah Kahan
Click here to read the lyrics.
In Other News..
James Van Der Beek passed away this week after battling colorectal cancer. Best known for his role as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, he helped define late 90s teen drama, and his legacy continues through streaming nostalgia and even one of the internet's earliest viral reaction GIFs. At a congressional hearing last week, self-driving car company Waymo admitted that sometimes its cars are being remote-controlled by workers based in the Philippines. An emerging star of the 2026 Winter Olympics is American figure skater Alysa Liu, who won gold and then promptly broke her medal. Cool guys have bangs now, according to GQ. Fellas are trading the long-popular long-on the-top, short-on-the sides haircut for softer, more lived-in fringe. This weekend, the long-awaited, R-rated adaptation of the gothic romance novel Wuthering Heights will hit 3,600 screens and is projected to hit $50 million on its opening weekend.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"Today's teens, especially those who are too young to drive, enter what they call "talking stages," which seem to be a substitute for dating. It's basically a stream of conciousness texting session with one another. I have a 14 year old son. Girls are coming out of the wood work trying to enter a "talking stage" with him. Right now he is talking to 4 girls. He has decided he really likes one of these girls. So the question is, should he continue talking to the other girls, or let them know that he really likes someone other than them? What he has done is ghost the other girls, he simply doesn't answer their texts; this doesn't feel right. What do you think the right way is to handle the situation? I have no idea where girls are getting his number but every week someone new is texting him out of the blue. It usually starts with, "I thought you were cute so I asked for your number." To me this is also concerning. I think the type of girls he should be looking for are not the ones chasing boys." - Michelle
Axis Resource → A Parent's Guide to Teen Dating
Axis Resource → A Conversation Kit on Dating
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→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The Grammys offered a chaotic celebration of modern music. - 8:08
- "Etsy witches" are getting kicked off of Etsy. - 21:12
- Sports betting looms large over Super Bowl LX this Sunday. - 35:06
Song of the Week: "Aperture" by Harry Styles -1:25
Click here for the lyrics.
In Other News: - 53:08
"She's free" is a TikTok trend where friends line up, clap and shine phone flashlights as someone walks a celebratory runway after a breakup. The 2026 Winter Olympics in the Italian cities of Milano and Cortina begin today. If the 2024 Summer Olympics were any indication, teens will probably be fascinated by the athletes and their respective social media presences. A new platform called Moltbook is designed to be a Reddit-style social media forum for AI bots to publicly chat with each other. The Lunar New Year is coming up soon, which brings a new Chinese zodiac. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, and people on TikTok are freaking out about it. Iron Lung, a sci-fi horror film that stars YouTuber Markiplier (who also wrote, directed, and financed it), was a surprise box office success that almost beat Disney's Send Help in its opening weekend.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The Grammys offered a chaotic celebration of modern music, "Etsy witches" are getting kicked off of Etsy, and sports betting looms large over Super Bowl LX this Sunday.
Song of the Week: "Aperture" by Harry Styles
Click here for the lyrics.
In Other News:
"She's free" is a TikTok trend where friends line up, clap and shine phone flashlights as someone walks a celebratory runway after a breakup. The 2026 Winter Olympics in the Italian cities of Milano and Cortina begin today. If the 2024 Summer Olympics were any indication, teens will probably be fascinated by the athletes and their respective social media presences. A new platform called Moltbook is designed to be a Reddit-style social media forum for AI bots to publicly chat with each other. The Lunar New Year is coming up soon, which brings a new Chinese zodiac. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, and people on TikTok are freaking out about it. Iron Lung, a sci-fi horror film that stars YouTuber Markiplier (who also wrote, directed, and financed it), was a surprise box office success that almost beat Disney's Send Help in its opening weekend.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Nick Stumbo is the Executive Director of Pure Desire, an organization that exists to provide hope, freedom, and healing from compulsive sexual behavior and betrayal trauma through Jesus Christ. Their work at Pure Desire is clinically informed and biblically based. As a third-generation pastor, Nick Stumbo started his ministry career at the East Hills Alliance Church in Kelso, Washington, where he observed the fallout of sexual brokenness and devastation in the lives of men and women in the church. Confronted with his own addiction to pornography, Nick and his wife, Michelle, found hope and healing through the counseling and group ministries of Pure Desire, which, again, he is now the Executive Director of.
--> Check out Pure Desire Ministries
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- TikTok has a new US owner, which users worry is muddying the platform's approach to censorship. - 10:16
- Data shows that sad and angsty songs are ruling the streaming charts. - 29:28
- It's official: our algorithms are making us lonelier. - 40:12
Emoji of the Week: 🙂 - 01:19
Axis Resource--> Check out A Parent's Guide to Emoji
In Other News: - 52:04
Last week, Alex Honnold free-soloed Taipei 101 live on Netflix, with roughly 6.2 million people watching him climb a 1,667-foot skyscraper without a rope. The 2026 Oscar nominations dropped last week, with director Ryan Coogler's horror-thriller Sinners receiving a record-breaking 16 nominations. Speaking of awards season, after a long hiatus, Justin Bieber is slated to return to the Grammys stage this Sunday night. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal on Monday to apologize for his antisemitic comments and psychotic behavior. Athleisure is out for 2026. Some Gen Z creators are leaning into vintage (meaning 90s and early 2000s) sportswear and putting their matching workout sets out to pasture.
--> Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
--> Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
--> Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
--> For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
TikTok has a new US owner, which users worry is muddying the platform's approach to censorship; data shows that sad and angsty songs are ruling the streaming charts, and it's official: our algorithms are making us lonelier.
Emoji of the Week: 🙂
Axis Resource--> Check out A Parent's Guide to Emoji
In Other News:
Last week, Alex Honnold free-soloed Taipei 101 live on Netflix, with roughly 6.2 million people watching him climb a 1,667-foot skyscraper without a rope. The 2026 Oscar nominations dropped last week, with director Ryan Coogler's horror-thriller Sinners receiving a record-breaking 16 nominations. Speaking of awards season, after a long hiatus, Justin Bieber is slated to return to the Grammys stage this Sunday night. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, took out a full-page ad in the Wall Street Journal on Monday to apologize for his antisemitic comments and psychotic behavior. Athleisure is out for 2026. Some Gen Z creators are leaning into vintage (meaning 90s and early 2000s) sportswear and putting their matching workout sets out to pasture.
--> Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
--> Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
--> Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
--> For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Jenna is a writer and content creator based in Orange County, California. She works at Axis as a content specialist. She is currently working on a Master's in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care at Talbot School of Theology. She also runs a Substack publication called "Jenna's Column" where she writes about faith from a Gen Z perspective. In her free time she loves to read (preferably at the beach) and hang out with her husband Parker and their cat, Dolly.
Check out our updated Parent's Guide to Teen Slang
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Nostalgia for 2016 hits social media. - 8:54
- Some hopeful, if complicated, mental health statistics about college students. - 24:40
- Teens would rather send a voice note than make a phone call. - 38:08
Slang of the Week - Ragebait - 1:48
In Other News: - 54:22
The Indiana Hoosiers won an electrifying College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, punctuated by an iconic, fourth-down touchdown run from Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. BookTok's beloved People We Meet on Vacation, an Emily Henry book-to-movie adaptation, has debuted at No.1 on the Netflix film chart with 17.2m views. A new trend on TikTok involves impersonating owls. "Bringing random items to school" is a TikTok trend where kids pull increasingly unhinged objects out of their backpacks purely for laughs. The tremendous success of a stationery store in Chicago is being hailed as indicative of the "return to analog" trend, as the popularity of journals, calligraphy, and sending snail mail letters surges.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Nostalgia for 2016 hits social media, some hopeful, if complicated, mental health statistics about college students, and teens would rather send a voice note than make a phone call.
Slang of the Week - Ragebait
In Other News:
The Indiana Hoosiers won an electrifying College Football Playoff National Championship on Monday, punctuated by an iconic, fourth-down touchdown run from Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza. BookTok's beloved People We Meet on Vacation, an Emily Henry book-to-movie adaptation, has debuted at No.1 on the Netflix film chart with 17.2m views. A new trend on TikTok involves impersonating owls. "Bringing random items to school" is a TikTok trend where kids pull increasingly unhinged objects out of their backpacks purely for laughs. The tremendous success of a stationery store in Chicago is being hailed as indicative of the "return to analog" trend, as the popularity of journals, calligraphy, and sending snail mail letters surges.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
A question on "camp skits not aging well." Libby asks, "We generally have just substituted current pop culture references into old skits to bring them up to date. But it's so necessary right now to help kids engage with culture instead of vilifying it. A recent skit we were planning made it seem like the student was nailing Jesus to the cross by going to a party, hanging out with friends instead of staying home with Jesus—and we want our kids to socialize with real people more! But we are also finding way more extreme drug and alcohol content at parties for the kids who do socialize IRL. How to navigate?" - Libby
This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Gen Z heads to trade school en masse - 05:14
- The controversy around Grok's creation of deepfake images - 21:26
- Fiber is the new protein - 42:00
Slang of the Week: "Choppelganger" - 20:20
--> Check out the definition in our resource The Parent Guide to Teen Slang
In Other News: - 55:06
Harry Styles just dropped a mysterious website called WeBelongTogether.co filled with crowd footage and the words "We belong together," and fans are losing their minds trying to decode what it means. The year in anime is kicking off with a bang, with new episodes of popular on-going shows like Jujutsu Keisen, Freiren: Beyond Journey's End, Fire Force, and premieres of highly anticipated newcomers like Sentenced to Be a Hero. The Golden Globes awards declared KPop Demon Hunters 2025's best animated film, and Gen Z favorite Timothée Chalamet won best actor for his turn in Marty Supreme. Survey data from Talker Research found that 63% of Gen Z now intentionally carves out screen-free windows in their days, a higher percentage than any other generation. Popular comedian and influencer Druski has been bouncing around the internet this week because of his skit poking fun at (or perhaps critiquing) the over-the-top production and performative pastors of some mega-churches.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
Click to check out The Pour Over
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Gen Z heads to trade school en masse, fiber is the new protein, and the controversy around Grok's creation of deepfake images.
Slang of the Week: "Choppelganger"
--> Check out the defenition in our resource The Parent Guide to Teen Slang
In Other News:
Harry Styles just dropped a mysterious website called WeBelongTogether.co filled with crowd footage and the words "We belong together," and fans are losing their minds trying to decode what it means. The year in anime is kicking off with a bang, with new episodes of popular on-going shows like Jujutsu Keisen, Freiren: Beyond Journey's End, Fire Force, and premieres of highly anticipated newcomers like Sentenced to Be a Hero. The Golden Globes awards declared KPop Demon Hunters 2025's best animated film, and Gen Z favorite Timothée Chalamet won best actor for his turn in Marty Supreme. Survey data from Talker Research found that 63% of Gen Z now intentionally carves out screen-free windows in their days, a higher percentage than any other generation. Popular comedian and influencer Druski has been bouncing around the internet this week because of his skit poking fun at (or perhaps critiquing) the over-the-top production and performative pastors of some mega-churches.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
Click to check out The Pour Over
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"I recently had a conversation with my teen son about how words he (and everyone else) uses regularly were not considered ok when I was growing up. Can you speak to how language has changed and what is and isn't acceptable? I generally go back to the Bible saying not to use coarse or filthy language (Ephesians and Colossians) when redirecting him but when everyone is using it maybe it's not how I view it anymore? We also discussed how much more we're exposed, essentially desensitizing us. When you're looking at reels or shorts you can't tell if it's coming. I think I said something along the lines of, "My phone is always swearing at me!" My family says I'm sensitive but it just bothers me where we are now. Why can't we just use appropriate language? And is there a good way to handle this?" - Christal
Click Here --> A Parent's Guide to Profanity
This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Stranger Things star Joe Keery's synthpop song tops the charts - 12:55
- Sushi is the new pizza for Gen Alpha - 22:46
- the Great Meme Reset that wasn't.- 31:18
Slang of the Week: "Flow State"- 5:16
In Other News: - 39:06
Mr. Beast's competition show Beast Games is back on Amazon Prime this week. The twist this time? Brains versus brawn. Will Mr. Beast commit more war crimes? Tune in to find out. The French parliament has proposed a bill that, if passed, would ban social media access for everyone under age fifteen, and ban phones from all schools. TikTok's New Year trend is punch cards for resolutions, making goals feel tangible and within reach. Now that they're all back from South Korea's mandatory military service, the K-pop band BTS has officially announced their fifth album, which is set to be released on March 20th. Videos saying "Your sign to not bring your boyfriend with you to watch The Housemaid" are drawing attention to an explicit scene with Sydney Sweeney and the male lead, Brandon Sklenar.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Stranger Things star Joe Keery's synthpop song tops the charts, sushi is the new pizza for Gen Alpha, and the Great Meme Reset that wasn't.
Slang of the Week: "Flow State"
In Other News:
Mr. Beast's competition show Beast Games is back on Amazon Prime this week. The twist this time? Brains versus brawn. Will Mr. Beast commit more war crimes? Tune in to find out. The French parliament has proposed a bill that, if passed, would ban social media access for everyone under age fifteen, and ban phones from all schools. TikTok's New Year trend is punch cards for resolutions, making goals feel tangible and within reach. Now that they're all back from South Korea's mandatory military service, the K-pop band BTS has officially announced their fifth album, which is set to be released on March 20th. Videos saying "Your sign to not bring your boyfriend with you to watch The Housemaid" are drawing attention to an explicit scene with Sydney Sweeney and the male lead, Brandon Sklenar.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
We're ready to dive into 2026 and continue supporting you in ways that matter to you and the teens in your life. As you step into the new year and start thinking about your goals for your family and how to build deeper connections with the next generation, we've put together 5 conversation starters you can use to jump-start moments of depth and honesty.
CT of the top 20 (Short and sweet)
--> The 20 Biggest Cultural Events of 2025, PART 1: Top 20-11
--> The 20 Biggest Cultural Events of 2025, PART 2: Top 10
Roundtable of the top 20 (Here how we picked our favorites)
--> The 20 Biggest Cultural Events of 2025, PART 1: Top 20-11
--> The 20 Biggest Cultural Events of 2025, PART 2: Top 10
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"I have two grandchildren, both teenagers, who have had smartphones since before they were 12. I am concerned by some of the behaviors you described in your Smartphone September podcasts. When I pick them up from school, their eyes are glued to their phones as soon as they get in the car and they get annoyed when I ask them questions about their day. Since we are not the parents, we have no control or even influence regarding their cellphone use. Yet we love them and are worried about what they are accessing on their phones. Any thoughts or suggestions?" - John
Axis Resource --> An Experience on Everything Smartphone
Podcast Episode --> What do we do about smartphones?!?!
Click here --> for the Everything Smartphone Guide on Amazon
This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
Double your impact with End of Year Giving! Every dollar you give will be mathched dollar for dollar until the end of 2025!
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
At the end of every year, we take a few weeks to reset and reflect on everything that happened in culture over the past twelve months. We share our reflections with you in the form of our Top 20 Annual Countdown. This week, the Top 10!
After much deliberation (heard in the Roundtable Episode) here is the list of the Top 10!
-
AI video slop (Sora, VEO3, Vibes)
-
Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show
-
The American Pope
-
Taylor Swift's engagement
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Man's Best Friend by Sabrina Carpenter
-
Stranger Things season 5
-
A Minecraft Movie
-
6-7
-
Videos of the assassination of Charlie Kirk on social media
-
KPop Demon Hunters
Double your impact with End of Year Giving! Every dollar you give will be mathched dollar for dollar until the end of 2025!
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
At the end of every year, we take a few weeks to reset and reflect on everything that happened in culture over the past twelve months. We share our reflections with you in the form of our Top 20 Annual Countdown. This week, the Top 10!
Listen as Evan, CJ, and Irene make their case for the top spot!
Double your impact with End of Year Giving! Every dollar you give will be mathched dollar for dollar until the end of 2025!
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Mike and Becky McNamee are the founders of Legacy of Faith, an organization dedicated to hosting retreats for grandparents who seek to leave a lasting spiritual legacy for future generations. Before founding Legacy of Faith, Mike served with the Navigators as General Manager of the Glen Eyrie Conference Center in Colorado Springs. Becky has devoted her life to being a loving wife, homemaker, homeschool mom, and proud Grammy. Together, they are blessed with three married children and six wonderful grandchildren.
---> Learn mor about Legacy of Faith
---> See upcoming retreat dates
Double your impact with End of Year Giving! Every dollar you give will be mathched dollar for dollar until the end of 2025!
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
At the end of every year, we take a few weeks to reset and reflect on everything that happened in culture over the past twelve months. We share our reflections with you in the form of our Top 20 Annual Countdown. This week, you'll receive 20-11; next week, you'll get the top ten.
After much deliberation (heard in the Roundtable Episode) here is the list of the Top 20-11!
-
Hailey and Justin Bieber drama
-
The LA Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani winning the World Series
-
The rise of smartphone bans in schools
-
Forrest Frank breaking his back
-
The fall of Sydney Sweeney
-
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle
-
Labubu Dolls
13. Adolescence
-
The Coldplay concert cheating scandal
-
Season three of The Summer I Turned Pretty
--> Check out our Conversation Kit on Miracles
Double your impact with End of Year Giving! Every dollar you give will be mathched dollar for dollar until the end of 2025!
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
At the end of every year, we take a few weeks to reset and reflect on everything that happened in culture over the past twelve months. We share our reflections with you in the form of our Top 20 Annual Countdown. This week, you'll receive 20-11; next week, you'll get the top ten.
Listen as Evan, CJ, and Irene discuss their top picks!
- Moving 10 up and moving 10 down - 0:41
- Ranking 20-11 - 27:55
Double your impact with End of Year Giving! Every dollar you give will be mathched dollar for dollar until the end of 2025!
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"Our oldest is a 14 year old boy so we're still newbies to parenting teens. Our 8th grader teen seems, in mom and dad's opinion, overly concerned with materialism (things like shoes and iphone model etc). We've heard that this is pretty typical for middle school boys; do teen boys tend to become less materialistic after middle school/once they're in high school? We try to talk with him about materialism not being a healthy priority but it doesn't seem to be sinking in yet." - Sarah
Scientific Paper --> Growing up in a Material World: Age Differences in Materialism
Scientific Paper --> Effects of Materialism on Adolescents'
Book Reference --> The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Dr. Lisa Damour
Axis Resource --> A Parent's Guide to Teen Identity
This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
Double your impact with End of Year Giving! Every dollar you give will be mathched dollar for dollar until the end of 2025!
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- TikTok's most-used sound in 2025 was a 63-year-old love song - 8:40
- Netflix and Paramount are in a bidding war for Warner Bros. - 22:38
- Hollywood might be having a "God moment." - 35:52
Song of the Week: "Santa Tell Me" - by Ariana Grande - 1:02
Click here for the lyrics.
In Other News: - 52:20
Taylor Swift will officially conclude her Eras era today, releasing a six-episode docuseries about her record-setting tour as well as "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show," both streaming on Disney+. The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York took several big steps toward resolving 1,300 sex abuse claims against clergy. Australia's blanket ban of social media for all users under 16 took effect on Wednesday. Pop-folk artist Noah Kahan is dropping hints about his next album, and considering the popularity of his 2022 release Stick Season, it could be one of the biggest releases of 2026. Pantone named "Cloud Dancer"—a shade of natural white—as its color for 2026, stating that the shade represents "a calming influence in a frenetic society."
Double your impact with End of Year Giving! Every dollar you give will be mathched dollar for dollar until the end of 2025!
Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The AI-generated “actress” Tilly Norwood sparks controversy in the film industry. - 9:48
- The band HUNTR/X from Kpop Demon Hunters makes its live debut. - 24:44
- Our review of Taylor Swift’s newest album The Life of a Showgirl. - 39:00
Resource of the Week: The Conversation Starter, Just One Weird Trick to Manifest Your Dreams And Ruin Your Life - 2:00
Elsewhere in culture: - 55:36
Lebron James baited the world by announcing a “Second Decision” which ended up not being his retirement, but just an alcohol promotion. Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to over four years of prison, wrapping up (at least in terms of verdict) a very public and very scandalous trial. OpenAI’s video tooI, Sora 2, is out in the world, and it’s full of slop and copyrighted material. The meme phrase “The lion does not concern himself with…” followed by (usually) an innocuous task someone doesn’t like to do has been rising in popularity on TikTok. Netflix has renewed One Piece through season 3, keeping the Straw Hat Crew’s story of loyalty and found family alive for its growing teen fanbase.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The AI-generated “actress” Tilly Norwood sparks controversy in the film industry, the band HUNTR/X from Kpop Demon Hunters makes its live debut, and our review of Taylor Swift’s newest album The Life of a Showgirl.
Resource of the Week: The Conversation Starter, which is all about the difference between manifesting and prayer.
Elsewhere in culture:
Lebron James baited the world by announcing a “Second Decision” which ended up not being his retirement, but just an alcohol promotion. Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced to over four years of prison, wrapping up (at least in terms of verdict) a very public and very scandalous trial. OpenAI’s video tooI, Sora 2, is out in the world, and it’s full of slop and copyrighted material. The meme phrase “The lion does not concern himself with…” followed by (usually) an innocuous task someone doesn’t like to do has been rising in popularity on TikTok. Netflix has renewed One Piece through season 3, keeping the Straw Hat Crew’s story of loyalty and found family alive for its growing teen fanbase.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Melissa Dougherty is a Christian apologist best known for her YouTube channel with over 285,000 subscribers and counting. Her videos, which primarily cover New Age and New Thought, have been viewed over 18 million times. Melissa is highly regarded and connected in the apologetics community. She has a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Southern Evangelical Seminary, where she’s also pursuing her master’s degree in religious studies. We’ll be talking today primarily about her new book, Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard of Shaped our Self-Obsessed World.
Click HERE for Melissa's New Book.
Click HERE for Melissa's Youtube Channel.
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For more parenting resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Mr. Beast chains two exes together for 30 days. - 8:10
- A new study finds increasing amounts of cognitive decline in young people. - 19:52
- What terms like “sneaky links,” “zombie,” and “breadcrumbing” mean in the Gen Z dating landscape. - 41:02
Slang of the Week - "Bread" - 1:33
Elsewhere in Culture: - 57:22
K-Pop group HUNTR/X, of KPop Demon Hunters fame, will debut as a live band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this coming week. Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are officially married, with Vogue unveiling their first set of breathtaking wedding photos. Young people had many opinions about the union. JK Rowling sparked controversy after publishing a lengthy essay targeting Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, igniting fresh backlash online. Gaming giant Electronic Arts, the studio behind The Sims and Madden, has been acquired in a record-breaking $55 billion deal. Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, releases today. Look for our review next week!
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
Mr. Beast chains two exes together for 30 days, a new study finds increasing amounts of cognitive decline in young people, and what terms like “sneaky links,” “zombie,” and “breadcrumbing” mean in the Gen Z dating landscape.
Slang of the Week - "Bread"
Elsewhere in Culture:
K-Pop group HUNTR/X, of KPop Demon Hunters fame, will debut as a live band on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon this coming week. Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco are officially married, with Vogue unveiling their first set of breathtaking wedding photos. Young people had many opinions about the union. JK Rowling sparked controversy after publishing a lengthy essay targeting Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe, igniting fresh backlash online. Gaming giant Electronic Arts, the studio behind The Sims and Madden, has been acquired in a record-breaking $55 billion deal. Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl, releases today. Look for our review next week!
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
"My 21 year old is battling screen addiction. How can we help reach our now adult child's heart in order for him to see the garbage he is seeing on his phone? We know he is batteling porn but he feels helpless. How can we raise our other boys to respect the dangers of these devices?"
Click to check out Porn Free Radio.
Click to check out 7 Pillars of Freedom Group.
Click to check out Protect Young Eyes.
Here is Irene's Video about What Social Media Steals From You.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- RaptureTok reacts to the failed prediction of the rapture happening this past Tuesday. - 8:14
- The R-rated anime movie Demon Slayer debuts at #1 in theaters. - 16:34
- Ways parents can find solutions to the problem of parental loneliness.- 26:34
Song of the Week - “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean - 1:46
To read the lyrics, click here.
Elsewhere in culture: - 42:12
- Fourteen-year-old influencer Zuza Beine from the Glow House passed away this week after an 11-year battle with leukemia.
- Robot umpires are officially coming to Major League Baseball in 2026.
- The Summer I Turned Pretty will return as a Prime movie, bringing Belly, Conrad, and the rest of the Cousins Beach crew back for the final chapter.
- The “pier” trend has hit college campuses, with students posting viral clips of public urination and even sparking “pier hunter” accounts trying to track them down.
- Axis’s new Conversation Starter video, “What Social Media Steals From You,” looks at how scrolling on our smartphones shapes our presence, our kids, and even our faith.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
RaptureTok reacts to the failed prediction of the rapture happening this past Tuesday, the R-rated anime movie Demon Slayer debuts at #1 in theaters, and ways parents can find solutions to the problem of parental loneliness.
Song of the Week - “Man I Need” by Olivia Dean
To read the lyrics, click here.
Elsewhere in culture:
- Fourteen-year-old influencer Zuza Beine from the Glow House passed away this week after an 11-year battle with leukemia.
- Robot umpires are officially coming to Major League Baseball in 2026.
- The Summer I Turned Pretty will return as a Prime movie, bringing Belly, Conrad, and the rest of the Cousins Beach crew back for the final chapter.
- The “pier” trend has hit college campuses, with students posting viral clips of public urination and even sparking “pier hunter” accounts trying to track them down.
- Axis’s new Conversation Starter video, “What Social Media Steals From You,” looks at how scrolling on our smartphones shapes our presence, our kids, and even our faith.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Dr. Jean Twenge is a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, and is the author of more than 190 scientific publications and several books based on her research, including Generations, iGen, Generation Me, and her latest book 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World, which we’ll be talking about today. Her research has been covered in Time, The Atlantic, Newsweek, The New York Times, USA TODAY, and The Washington Post. She has also been featured on Today, Good Morning America, Fox and Friends, CBS This Morning, Real Time with Bill Maher, Meet the Press, and NPR. She lives in San Diego with her husband and three daughters.
Check out Dr. Jean Twenge's book here: 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The wilted rose emoji is the new broken heart emoji. - 12:32
- The aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting. - 23:00
- A new study about why the so-called “unhappiness hump” of midlife is shifting. - 43:36
Song of the Week - "Back to Friends" - sombr - 1:36
To read the lyrics click here.
Elsewhere in culture: - 1:01:26
As of this past Sunday, Turning Point USA had reported 54,000 new inquiries from people wanting to start chapters of the organization Charlie Kirk helped to cofound. The game Borderlands 4 has been released, but it has several performance issues on gaming consoles. So-called “green witchcraft” is now trending, which is supposed to involve a mixture of herbalism and eco-friendly rituals. Apple’s iOS 26, with its new Liquid Glass design style, is now available to anyone with iPhone 11 or later. The new Gen Z trend of “reverse catfishing” involves deliberately underselling oneself online, in the hopes of finding a connection with someone based on more than just edited images.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
The wilted rose emoji is the new broken heart emoji, a new study about why the so-called “unhappiness hump” of midlife is shifting, and the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting.
Song of the Week - "Back to Friends" - sombr
Elsewhere in culture:
As of this past Sunday, Turning Point USA had reported 54,000 new inquiries from people wanting to start chapters of the organization Charlie Kirk helped to cofound. The game Borderlands 4 has been released, but it has several performance issues on gaming consoles. So-called “green witchcraft” is now trending, which is supposed to involve a mixture of herbalism and eco-friendly rituals. Apple’s iOS 26, with its new Liquid Glass design style, is now available to anyone with iPhone 11 or later. The new Gen Z trend of “reverse catfishing” involves deliberately underselling oneself online, in the hopes of finding a connection with someone based on more than just edited images.
To read the lyrics click here.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
“We are very strict with our daughter about her presence on social media. However we often find that friends help her create accounts with Instagram and Snapchat on their phones and tablets. Just this morning I discovered an account (it isn't hard to find them) on Instagram where she was chatting with a boy from Miami she has never met. She was talking about how strict we are. He told her she needs to break free from her prison. The topic came up because he was wondering why she didn't have any photos of herself up. He also asked if she has a snapchat account. She doesn't realize how dangerous that very conversation is. This of all things is my "paranoid parent" issue. So I am reaching out to you Axis… how can we get our kids to understand how dangerous these conversations with strangers are. Sometimes I get afraid that the only way I can get her to understand would be to be far more graphic than I ever want to be. Can you discuss ways to have this conversation?” - Joy
Click here for the Everything Smartphone Guide on Amazon
Or experience it here.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Sabrina Carpenter’s new album pushes predictable buttons. - 9:22
- Why Gen Alpha loves throwing up peace signs. -24:44
- Why some people think online age verification is a dangerous idea. - 36:16
Song of the Week - "Dead Dance" - Lady Gaga-2:22
To read the lyrics click here.
Elsewhere in culture: - 56:10
This week, Apple announced the next generation of iPhone, as well as new Airpods that feature live language translation. Ariana Grande is opting not to use dynamic pricing for her upcoming shows, ensuring tickets remain the same price regardless of demand. MTV’s Video Music Awards happened this week, with Lady Gaga winning “Artist of the Year.”AI videos stylized like video game cutscenes (specifically Final Fantasy) are being created to bring “Bible stories to life like no one’s ever seen before.” “Ranch Style,” i.e. fashion that focuses on looking like you work or live on a ranch, may be the hottest fashion trend in the upcoming months.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
Sabrina Carpenter’s new album pushes predictable buttons, why Gen Alpha loves throwing up peace signs, and why some people think online age verification is a dangerous idea.
Song of the Week - "Dead Dance" - Lady Gaga
To read the lyrics click here.
Elsewhere in culture:
This week, Apple announced the next generation of iPhone, as well as new Airpods that feature live language translation. Ariana Grande is opting not to use dynamic pricing for her upcoming shows, ensuring tickets remain the same price regardless of demand. MTV’s Video Music Awards happened this week, with Lady Gaga winning “Artist of the Year.”AI videos stylized like video game cutscenes (specifically Final Fantasy) are being created to bring “Bible stories to life like no one’s ever seen before.” “Ranch Style,” i.e. fashion that focuses on looking like you work or live on a ranch, may be the hottest fashion trend in the upcoming months.
Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Clare is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, where she directs EPPC’s Technology and Human Flourishing Project. Prior to joining the EPPC, Mrs. Morell worked in both the White House Counsel’s Office and the Department of Justice, as well as in the private and non-profit sectors. She is the author of The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones, which we’ll be talking about today.
Click here for Clare's book: The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones
Learn more about Clare:
https://thetechexit.com https://claremorell.substack.com https://eppc.org/author/clare_morell/ Donate today through The Table
For more resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- A solution to the problem of what to do when our kids have friends we don’t like
- Why some high school and college students are giving up the use of AI
- The aftermath of the tragic shooting at Annunciation.
Resource of the Week - The Table
Elsewhere in culture:
Sabrina Carpenter said that her new album Man’s Best Friend was “not for any pearl clutchers,” as reported by The Hollywood Reporter (strong language and sexual content). Memes about Wal-Mart’s recall of “radioactive shrimp” started trending. Episode 1 of the new season of The Great British Baking Show will be released tonight in the United States. TCU destroyed North Carolina 48-14 in Bill Belichick’s college football coaching debut. Long-awaited indie game Hollow Knight: Silksong was released yesterday and was so popular it was crashing digital storefronts.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
A solution to the problem of what to do when our kids have friends we don’t like, why some high school and college students are giving up the use of AI, and the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Annunciation.
Resource of the Week - The Table
Elsewhere in culture:
Sabrina Carpenter said that her new album Man’s Best Friend was “not for any pearl clutchers,” as reported by The Hollywood Reporter (strong language and sexual content). Memes about Wal-Mart’s recall of “radioactive shrimp” started trending. Episode 1 of the new season of The Great British Baking Show will be released tonight in the United States. TCU destroyed North Carolina 48-14 in Bill Belichick’s college football coaching debut. Long-awaited indie game Hollow Knight: Silksong was released yesterday and was so popular it was crashing digital storefronts.
“I’m sure people are asking this but I am overwhelmed with technology. I have put into place the parental controls on the iPhone and my 15 yr old hacks around it. I bought him a bark phone now. But I can’t seem to make him “get it”. To know and feel integrity and make wise choices when nobody is looking. It seems no matter what I do, the tech outsmarts me and I feel like a failure as a parent that my son has somehow gotten addicted to porn behind my back. I hope you can address this in a podcast.” - Cara
This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
Resources from the episode:
Click here for the Everything Smartphone Guide on Amazon
Or experience it here.
Sherry Turkle's book: Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age
Brain, Heart, World Documentary
Axis: Talking to Your Teen About Pornography
Pure Desire - Ministry and Resources
Donate today through The Table
For more resources, go to axis.org.
It’s Smartphone September, and we’re releasing a whole suite of new content aimed at the glowing rectangles that dominate so much of our lives, and how families can navigate these devices with wisdom.
Click here for the Everything Smartphone Guide on Amazon
Or experience it here.
Donate today through The Table.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Roblox is getting sued for failing to protect children from online predators. - 6:58
- Jazz-pop musician Laufey sings about self-worth on her new album (language). - 26:48
- What the celebration of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement says about our culture. - 39:20
Slang of the Week - “41” (language) - 1:40
Elsewhere in culture: - 53:40
The music-streaming app Spotify will soon roll out a direct messaging function for app users. Forrest Frank created a video offering forgiveness to the other Christians—particularly Cory Asbury—who have been making parody videos about his back injury. A California family is suing OpenAI for ChatGPT’s role in their son’s suicide. Many people on YouTube and other platforms are changing their profile pictures to images of the once-hated Clippy to protest ethical failures in modern tech companies. Our newest episode of the Conversation Starter is all about the hit zombie show, and game, The Last of Us.
Check out our video on Roblox here.
Become a monthly donor today with the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Roblox is getting sued for failing to protect children from online predators, jazz-pop musician Laufey sings about self-worth on her new album (language), and what the celebration of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement says about our culture.
Slang of the Week - “41” (language)
Elsewhere in culture:
The music-streaming app Spotify will soon roll out a direct messaging function for app users. Forrest Frank created a video offering forgiveness to the other Christians—particularly Cory Asbury—who have been making parody videos about his back injury. A California family is suing OpenAI for ChatGPT’s role in their son’s suicide. Many people on YouTube and other platforms are changing their profile pictures to images of the once-hated Clippy to protest ethical failures in modern tech companies. Our newest episode of the Conversation Starter is all about the hit zombie show, and game, The Last of Us.
Check out our video on Roblox here.
Become a monthly donor today with the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
I’m here today with Dr. Preston Sprinkle and Laurie Krieg, the President and Director of Parent Programs respectively for the Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. Preston is a New York Times–bestselling author who’s written over a dozen books, and got his PhD in New Testament from Aberdeen University. Laurie has a master’s in evangelism and leadership from Wheaton Graduate School, and hosts the Hole in My Heart podcast with her husband Matt, with whom she also co-authored the book An Impossible Marriage, and the upcoming book Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World with Matt Krieg. Today we’ll be talking about the new, upcoming resource from the Center for Faith, Sexuality and Gender called Christian Sexuality: Raising Kids, which is designed to be a comprehensive discipleship resource for parents, and will be coming out next week, on September 1.
To check out the resource, click here.
Click here to check out Laurie's new book: Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World
Become a monthly donor today with the Table.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The Queen of RichTok makes $500,000 necklaces seem boring. - 07:34
- Back-to-school trends come with a Y2K flair. - 25:50
- AI researchers are preparing for the worst.- 39:34
Slang of the Week - “6-7”- 1:20
Elsewhere in culture: - 57:30
Europe’s premiere gaming conference, Gamescom, kicked off this week, with new games being detailed and announced, including a new Lego Batman game. Christian musician Forrest Frank has surpassed Drake in terms of monthly listeners on YouTube Music. The Cambridge Dictionary has officially added the words skibidi and delulu. Educator and influencer Hank Green helped create a successful productivity app called Focus Friend, in which going to distracting apps prevents your cute pet bean from being able to finish knitting. A 2017 book about resisting tyranny has sold over 250,000 copies this year after going viral on TikTok.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The Queen of RichTok makes $500,000 necklaces seem boring, back-to-school trends come with a Y2K flair, and AI researchers are preparing for the worst.
Slang of the Week - “6-7”
Elsewhere in culture:
Europe’s premiere gaming conference, Gamescom, kicked off this week, with new games being detailed and announced, including a new Lego Batman game. Christian musician Forrest Frank has surpassed Drake in terms of monthly listeners on YouTube Music. The Cambridge Dictionary has officially added the words skibidi and delulu. Educator and influencer Hank Green helped create a successful productivity app called Focus Friend, in which going to distracting apps prevents your cute pet bean from being able to finish knitting. A 2017 book about resisting tyranny has sold over 250,000 copies this year after going viral on TikTok.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"How do you think artificial general intelligence will affect our children? How do we prepare our families for AGI's advent in 2 to 3 years?" - Christina
Ai will change what it is to be human. Are we ready? - Article
This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
-
- The “Nicki Minaj stiletto challenge” encourages influencers to film themselves balancing on one stiletto-clad foot. - 05:50
- OpenAI released GPT-5 and users hate it. - 16:08
- Why time (unfortunately) flies when we’re using social media. - 43:22
Slang of the Week - "Dogwater" - 01:25
Elsewhere in culture: - 53:06
Taylor Swift announced (on her boyfriend’s football podcast) that her 12th album will be titled The Life of a Showgirl, and available for pre-order soon. Popular TikTok couple Nick and Cassie, featured on @cassiesbooktok, are breaking up—and the video announcing it has almost 8 million likes and numerous comments, each with hundreds of thousands of likes. An article in Airmail connects the trend of brides planning wedding proposals for themselves to the fact that proposal content tends to get more likes on social media. The phrase “just found out I’m chopped and also unc” is trending, and jokingly refers to someone being both unattractive (chopped) and old (unc). Chappell Roan’s new song “The Subway” is about struggling to get over a breakup (language and sexual content).
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
OpenAI released GPT-5 and users hate it, the “Nicki Minaj stiletto challenge” encourages influencers to film themselves balancing on one stiletto-clad foot, and why time (unfortunately) flies when we’re using social media.
Slang of the Week - "Dogwater"
Elsewhere in culture:
Taylor Swift announced (on her boyfriend’s football podcast) that her 12th album will be titled The Life of a Showgirl, and available for pre-order soon. Popular TikTok couple Nick and Cassie, featured on @cassiesbooktok, are breaking up—and the video announcing it has almost 8 million likes and numerous comments, each with hundreds of thousands of likes. An article in Airmail connects the trend of brides planning wedding proposals for themselves to the fact that proposal content tends to get more likes on social media. The phrase “just found out I’m chopped and also unc” is trending, and jokingly refers to someone being both unattractive (chopped) and old (unc). Chappell Roan’s new song “The Subway” is about struggling to get over a breakup (language and sexual content).
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
After earning a journalism degree at the University of Missouri, Strobel was awarded a Ford Foundation fellowship to study at Yale Law School, where he received a Master of Studies in Law degree. For fourteen years he was a journalist at the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers, winning Illinois’ top honors for investigative reporting (which he shared with a team he led) and public service journalism from United Press International. He is a New York Times bestselling author whose books have sold millions of copies worldwide. We’ll be talking today primarily about his new book Seeing the Supernatural: Investigating Angels, Demons, Mystical Dreams, Near-Death Encounters, and Other Mysteries of the Unseen World.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The Summer I Turned Pretty is back for its 3rd season and is taking over Amazon Prime. - 3:00
- What it means that 40% of 18 to 29-year-olds get their news from TikTok. - 25:32
- Why it feels like most people aren’t paying attention to the same parts of culture this summer. - 46:04
Survey of the Week - The Miraculous- 01:18
Elsewhere in culture:- 58:28
Gen Alpha now drives almost half of household spending, at least in the US. Vodka seltzer company High Noon recently issued a recall after some of their vodka products were mistakenly labeled as Celsius energy drinks. The first half of Wednesday Season 2 officially dropped on Netflix this week. The phrase “you need to nerd out” is being used as a new social media flex, helping to make obsessive, niche fandom cool again. “Clanker,” originally a Star Wars diss for droids, is now trending as a meme insult for AI and robots.
The Summer I Turned Pretty is back for its 3rd season and is taking over Amazon Prime, what it means that 40% of 18 to 29-year-olds get their news from TikTok, and why it feels like most people aren’t paying attention to the same parts of culture this summer.
Survey of the Week - The Miraculous
Elsewhere in culture:
Gen Alpha now drives almost half of household spending, at least in the US. Vodka seltzer company High Noon recently issued a recall after some of their vodka products were mistakenly labeled as Celsius energy drinks. The first half of Wednesday Season 2 officially dropped on Netflix this week. The phrase “you need to nerd out” is being used as a new social media flex, helping to make obsessive, niche fandom cool again. “Clanker,” originally a Star Wars diss for droids, is now trending as a meme insult for AI and robots.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Pheba writes in to say: “Hi! I’m excited about the podcast. I’d like to hear about navigating body image issues with teen girls.”
This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- A TikTok creator named Lewky takes idiotic dating app exchanges and turns them into musical skits
- the social media app Tea which allows women to share red flags about specific men gets hacked
- Marvel’s Fantastic Four explores the power of family bonds in the face of total annihilation
Slang of the Week - "Chopped"
Elsewhere in culture:
- Memes about Ozzy Osbourne dying and being reincarnated as a baby named Aquaman started trending.
- Twitch streamer Ninja shared his Christian faith with 19 million followers.
- Labubu plushies are now luxury items, selling for up to $170,000.
- The book series Fourth Wing will be adapted into an Amazon TV show.
- “Proximity posting” is the new social media flex.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
A TikTok creator named Lewky takes idiotic dating app exchanges and turns them into musical skits, the social media app Tea which allows women to share red flags about specific men gets hacked, and Marvel’s Fantastic Four explores the power of family bonds in the face of total annihilation. Welcome to the Roundtable.
Slang of the Week - "Chopped"
Elsewhere in culture:
- Memes about Ozzy Osbourne dying and being reincarnated as a baby named Aquaman started trending.
- Twitch streamer Ninja shared his Christian faith with 19 million followers.
- Labubu plushies are now luxury items, selling for up to $170,000.
- The book series Fourth Wing will be adapted into an Amazon TV show.
- “Proximity posting” is the new social media flex.
After 20 years in the corporate world (with IBM, Pepsi and Goldman Sachs), Roland Warren spent 11 years as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative before joining Care Net in 2012 as president and CEO. A graduate of Princeton University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Roland is an inspirational servant leader with a heart for Christ and a mind for business. His new book is called The Alternative to Abortion: Why We Must Be Pro Abundant Life.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The term “septum theory” is being used online to suggest that women with septum piercings make trauma their whole personality - 13:16
- What the Coldplay Kiss Cam footage going viral says about our culture - 32:44
- Why short-form videos are going from social media to news outlets and other publications - 50:44
Song of the Week - "Big Poe" (feat. Sk8brd) - Tyler the Creator -1:12
Elsewhere in culture: - 1:02:46
Netflix officially announced an Assassin’s Creed live-action series, IGN said the new Donkey Kong Bananza game is “shockingly good,” Superman may have just murdered the traditional press junket, Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is executive producing a modern reimagining of The Crucible called John Proctor Is the Villain, and comedian Shane Gillis made awkward fun of dozens of athletes in his opening monologue (language) for the ESPYs.
The term “septum theory” is being used online to suggest that women with septum piercings make trauma their whole personality, what the Coldplay Kiss Cam footage going viral says about our culture, and why short-form videos are going from social media to news outlets and other publications.
Song of the Week - "Big Poe" (feat. Sk8brd) - Tyler the Creator
To read the lyrics click here (language).
Elsewhere in culture:
Netflix officially announced an Assassin’s Creed live-action series, IGN said the new Donkey Kong Bananza game is “shockingly good,” Superman may have just murdered the traditional press junket, Stranger Things star Sadie Sink is executive producing a modern reimagining of The Crucible called John Proctor Is the Villain, and comedian Shane Gillis made awkward fun of dozens of athletes in his opening monologue (language) for the ESPYs.
Eric writes in with this question: “We have had issues with seeking to encourage the type of free play that Jonathan Haidt discusses in the Anxious Generation with children AND their parents who have not done the moral formation to know what is appropriate on the playground or in free spaces. When parents haven’t done the formative work, those kids seem to struggle the most with free play with others. Would love to know more about how to square that circle of less oversight when kids don’t have the “chests” to use Lewis’ language of moral character and formation.”
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Converserations:
- The “Gen Z Stare” was a big topic of discussion on TikTok this week, as generations debated social expectations and faux pas - 22:12
- What it is: James Gunn’s Superman is the genesis for a new DC universe, making $122 million domestically and $217 million worldwide in its opening weekend - 40:40
- A recent update to xAI’s chatbot Grok resulted in the AI praising Hitler and sexually harassing others on X - 57:08
Song of the Week: DAISIES - Justin Bieber - 0:24
Click here for the lyrics.
Elsewhere in culture: - 13:54
An AI-generated protest song called “Dust on the Wind” is trending on Spotify, the 2025 Emmy nominees were announced with the show Severance receiving a 27 different nominations, people online debated whether giving girlfriends the “princess treatment” was chivalrous or patronizing, more people started using the “Solid Snake method" of conversation which involves repeating the last word someone else says and adding a question mark, and Fortune explored why Gen Z men are still obsessed with Pokémon cards.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Generations are debating why Gen Z so often blankly stares at people who ask them questions, the new Superman movie is celebrated for its sincerity, and what it means that the AI chatbot Grok went rogue and started praising Hitler.
Song of the Week: DAISIES - Justin Bieber
Click here for the lyrics.
Elsewhere in culture:
An AI-generated protest song called “Dust on the Wind” is trending on Spotify, the 2025 Emmy nominees were announced with the show Severance receiving a 27 different nominations, people online debated whether giving girlfriends the “princess treatment” was chivalrous or patronizing, more people started using the “Solid Snake method" of conversation which involves repeating the last word someone else says and adding a question mark, and Fortune explored why Gen Z men are still obsessed with Pokémon cards.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Dr. Tim Mackie serves as the lead scholar and creative director for BibleProject. Tim’s spiritual journey began when, as a teenager, he met a group of skateboarders who were creatively communicating the story of the Bible. With his brand-new faith, Tim enrolled at Multnomah University. After taking classes in biblical studies, he became fascinated with the Scriptural story of Jesus. Determined to deepen his understanding of Jesus’ cultural and historical context, Tim went on to pursue a degree in theology at Western Seminary in Portland, and a PhD in Hebrew Bible and Jewish Studies at University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to his work with BibleProject, Tim has also served as a local church pastor and a professor at Western Seminary, and he now lives in Portland with his wife Jessica and their two sons.
To check out BibleProject click here.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a Texas law requiring actual age verification for access to pornographic websites - 13:58
- An animated film called “KPop Demon Hunters” released on Netflix, and it's been dominating both music and video streaming charts - 32:28
- Communities in Texas are reeling from grief as the death toll from last weekend’s flash floods continues to climb. At least two dozen victims were children attending the Christian, all-girls camp known as Camp Mystic - 44:54
Resource of the Week - The Conversation Starter (Youtube) - 0:25
Elsewhere in culture: - 08:57
A new report claims that TikTok is building a U.S.-based app to launch in September, a 14-second video featuring Howie Mandel telling a 4-year-old that he is the “youngest person ever” was viewed and liked millions of times, podcaster Joe Rogan speculated that perhaps humans creating AI will be what “the second coming of Christ” was supposed to refer to, the English port of a “horseracing game” involving anime girls as horses started trending in the U.S., and Morning Consult reported that the youngest voting cohort (currently Gen Z) is 12% less likely to identify as liberal than the youngest cohort was in 2016.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
An animated film called KPop Demon Hunters is dominating both music and video streaming charts, A new supreme court ruling could pave the way to federally mandated ID verification on all pornographic sites, and mourning the tragic losses in Texas’s Camp Mystic after their historic flash floods.
Resource of the Week - The Conversaton Starter (Youtube)
Elsewhere in culture:
A new report claims that TikTok is building a U.S.-based app to launch in September, a 14-second video featuring Howie Mandel telling a 4-year-old that he is the “youngest person ever” was viewed and liked millions of times, podcaster Joe Rogan speculated that perhaps humans creating AI will be what “the second coming of Christ” was supposed to refer to, the English port of a “horseracing game” involving anime girls as horses started trending in the U.S., and Morning Consult reported that the youngest voting cohort (currently Gen Z) is 12% less likely to identify as liberal than the youngest cohort was in 2016.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"How do you get your tween daughter to talk and share things about her day, her friends and school?" - Erin
This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Converserations:
- A new cooperative game called Peak requires players to climb a mountain together - 10:00
- the psychological thriller We Were Liars has teens weeping on TikTok - 22:14
- posts about going #monkmode are romanticizing the minimalistic life of the monastery - 31:40
Resource of the Week - The Pour Over- 9:07
Elsewhere in culture:
A new TikTok trend involves saying the phrase “bacon avocado” as a prelude to your actual message, Jurassic Park: Rebirth debuts in theaters this week, the humanoid robot Neo is learning how to do laundry and walk up stairs, a Supreme Court ruling will allow parents to opt their elementary-aged kids out of LGBTQ+ instruction, and today marks the 249th 4th of July holiday in the United States!
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
A new cooperative game called Peak requires players to climb a mountain together, the psychological thriller We Were Liars has teens weeping on TikTok, and posts about going #monkmode are romanticizing the minimalistic life of the monastery.
Resource of the Week - The Pour Over
Elsewhere in culture:
A new TikTok trend involves saying the phrase “bacon avocado” as a prelude to your actual message, Jurassic Park: Rebirth debuts in theaters this week, the humanoid robot Neo is learning how to do laundry and walk up stairs, a Supreme Court ruling will allow parents to opt their elementary-aged kids out of LGBTQ+ instruction, and today marks the 249th 4th of July holiday in the United States!
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Molly Worthen is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a freelance journalist. She teaches courses on North American religion and politics, global Christianity, and the history of ideas. She writes on these themes for The New York Times and has contributed to The New Yorker, Slate, The American Prospect, Foreign Policy, and other publications. She has also created video and audio courses on the history of Christianity and the history of charismatic leadership for the Great Courses and Audible. Her new book is called Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump.
Check out the book Spellbound.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- AI-generated videos of people cutting and eating glass fruit are trending on social media - 18:55
- the movie 28 Years Later makes the 28-numbered zombie saga worse - 30:10
- TikTokers are reminiscing about 90s summer—whether or not they actually experienced it - 52:38
Song of the Week: “Manchild” - Sabrina Carpenter - 0:35
Click here for the lyrics.
Elsewhere in culture: - 12:38
AI-generated “Would You Rather?” videos involving fruit with special powers began trending on TikTok, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie continued to be a theatrical success, Netflix’s “Trainwreck” anthology landed documentaries about Astroworld and the so-called “Poop Cruise” in the top 10, people on #BookTok defended annotating books, and teens shared memes about World War 3.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
AI-generated videos of people cutting and sometimes eating glass fruit are trending on social media, the movie 28 Years Later makes the 28-numbered zombie saga worse, and TikTokers are reminiscing about 90s summer—whether or not they actually experienced it.
Song of the Week: “Manchild” - Sabrina Carpenter
Click here for the lyrics.
Elsewhere in culture:
AI-generated “Would You Rather?” videos involving fruit with special powers began trending on TikTok, the live-action How to Train Your Dragon movie continued to be a theatrical success, Netflix’s “Trainwreck” anthology landed documentaries about Astroworld and the so-called “Poop Cruise” in the top 10, people on #BookTok defended annotating books, and teens shared memes about World War 3.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
"I’ve been struck lately about how much teenage boys are getting into poker and gambling, even from good Christian families. Unfortunately, some of them are doing well, and gaining money doing it… I feel that is dangerous. Is it just something fun to do, or is it a bad habit that will develop into something else? These boys come from very well to do families, so I feel that they don’t know how to work for money, or would prefer to just gamble in poker, or in the stock market to get their money.” - Anita
This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
And for more resources, go to axis.org.
As we broaden the scope of this podcast to include some fun new things, you will see this feed has changed to Axis Conversations!
This will be the schedule you can expect:
Interviews - Every other Tuesday
Ask Axis (Our new show!) - Every other Tuesday (Alternating)
The Culture Translator (CT Audio) - Every Thursday
The Culture Translator Roundtable - Every Friday
We are excited to continue to provide engaging resources including our new show Ask Axis premiering tomorrow!
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Summertime provides new opportunities to connect with teens - 14:33
- TikTokers are enjoying something they call “fridge cigs”- 25:08
- Some people think ChatGPT is giving them access to the spiritual realm.- 34:34
Slang of the Week - Blackpill- 01:20
Elsewhere in culture: - 11:40
19-year-old Kane Parsons signed on to direct a horror movie for A24 based off his YouTube series “The Backrooms,” AI-generated ASMR videos of people cutting glass fruit began trending on social media, TikTok got another 90-day extension, the third and final season of Squid Game was announced for next Friday (June 27), and our newest episode of The Conversation Starter gave some advice for those who can’t seem to quit doomscrolling.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Summertime provides new opportunities connet talk with teens, TikTokers are enjoying something they call “fridge cigs”, and some people think ChatGPT is giving them access to the spiritual realm.
Slang of the Week - Blackpill
Elsewhere in culture:
19-year-old Kane Parsons signed on to direct a horror movie for A24 based off his YouTube series “The Backrooms,” AI-generated ASMR videos of people cutting glass fruit began trending on social media, TikTok got another 90-day extension, the third and final season of Squid Game was announced for next Friday (June 27), and our newest episode of The Conversation Starter gave some advice for those who can’t seem to quit doomscrolling.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
New episodes in this feed every other Tuesday!
Have you ever wished that you had a personalized parenting podcast based on the questions you were having about your own family? A place where you could ask experts and get guidance about what the Bible actually says about how you're raising your teen in today's world?
That's why we are launching our new podcast show, which we're calling Ask Axis, so we get a chance to hear from you.
We'd love to hear from you! Submit your questions at ask@axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- New Roblox called “Grow a Garden” takes off - 09:10
- Gen Z enjoys nautical-themed knitwear - 20:15
- An article about how young men need heroes - 31:04
Resource of the Week - Parent’s Guide to TikTok - 0:18
Elsewhere in culture: - 2:12
AI renderings of Bible characters as influencers went viral, TikTok’s most-followed influencer Khaby Lame was detained (and released) by ICE, an apparent trend of using no-contact orders to avoid conflict on college campuses started catching on, Apple’s WWDC 25 conference mostly focused on upcoming design changes and AI tweaks for their devices, and pop star Sabrina Carpenter announced a new album called “Man’s Best Friend.”
7-Minute Video - Is Roblox Safe?
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
A new game on Roblox called “Grow a Garden” takes off, Gen Z enjoys wearing nautical-themed knitwear in the summer, and as Father’s Day approaches, an article about how young men need heroes to look up to.
Resource of the Week - Parent’s Guide to TikTok
Elsewhere in culture:
AI renderings of Bible characters as influencers went viral, TikTok’s most-followed influencer Khaby Lame was detained (and released) by ICE, an apparent trend of using no-contact orders to avoid conflict on college campuses started catching on, Apple’s WWDC 25 conference mostly focused on upcoming design changes and AI tweaks for their devices, and pop star Sabrina Carpenter announced a new album called “Man’s Best Friend.”
7-Minute Video - Is Roblox Safe?
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Nathan studied Preaching Ministry at Lincoln Christian University, and served on staff at two churches in New England, while attending the New York Film Academy in Boston, where he discovered his passion for filmmaking and storytelling. In 2005, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in film and entertainment, and ended up getting a job at Disney, where he worked for 16 years, most recently as an executive in Cinema Partnerships, leading in-theater marketing campaigns for Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney films. Then, in January of last year, he joined The Chosen as their Head of Marketing Strategy and Operations. He has an MBA and also holds an MA in Mythological Studies, and is currently working on his dissertation on humanity's narrative sense and how stories shape our understanding of the world.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations:
- Switch Up - 13:24
- New Attitude - 24:48
- Ties That Bind - 38:30
Resource of the Week: Anime + Manga: What parents NEED to know (YouTube)-0:30
Elsewhere in culture: 6:18
A song by Brendan Abernathy was relentlessly mocked on TikTok this week, rumors are swirling about the SEC potentially leaving the NCAA, a cooperative Elden Ring spinoff called Nightreign has taken off in the video game space, stuffed keychain monsters called Labubu are getting insanely popular, and an interview with OKC Star Chet Holmgren where he describes his favorite books has resurfaced as his team heads to the NBA finals. You can find links to these topics in the show notes.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
There’s a brand new Nintendo console out in the world, Gen Z is beginning to reject that narrative that pornography is empowering, or good at all, and a story in the New York Times talks about the joy and exhaustion of grandparents being the primary caregivers of their grandkids.
Resource of the Week: Anime + Manga: What parents NEED to know (YouTube)
Elsewhere in culture:
A song by Brendan Abernathy was relentlessly mocked on TikTok this week, rumors are swirling about the SEC potentially leaving the NCAA, a cooperative Elden Ring spinoff called Nightreign has taken off in the video game space, stuffed keychain monsters called Labubu are getting insanely popular, and an interview with OKC Star Chet Holmgren where he describes his favorite books has resurfaced as his team heads to the NBA finals. You can find links to these topics in the show notes.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Three Big Conversations: 1. A new trend involves young men calling each other to say goodnight (11:22) 2. A supposedly haunted doll named Annabelle is blamed for a plantation burning down (33:20) 3. Gen Zers explain why they would give significant restrictions on technology to their own kids (48:28)
Meme of the Week: "Holy Airball" (0:26)
Elsewhere in culture (5:02):
- Lilo & Stitch had a bigger box office opening than the new Mission: Impossible movie
- A newly published study from JAMA found that social media use can predict depression but that depression doesn't necessarily predict social media use
- Transformers Director Michael Bay plans to direct a Skibidi Toilet movie
- Dr. Jordan Peterson debated 20 atheists simultaneously in a Jubilee video
- And, New York influencer @justjazzzyidk posted 20 TikToks on her own wedding day.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
A new trend involves young men calling each other to say goodnight, a supposedly haunted doll named Annabelle is blamed for a plantation burning down, and Gen Zers explain why they would give significant restrictions on technology to their own kids.
Elsewhere in culture: Lilo & Stitch had a bigger box office opening than the new Mission: Impossible movie, a newly published study from JAMA found that social media use can predict depression but that depression doesn’t necessarily predict social media use, Transformers Director Michael Bay plans to direct a Skibidi Toilet movie, Dr. Jordan Peterson debated 20 atheists simultaneously in a Jubilee video, and New York influencer @justjazzzyidk posted 20 TikToks on her own wedding day.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Jake is a professional artist and is certified as one of only nine Master Penman in the world. He is self-taught in each of his disciplines (calligraphy, painting, drawing, woodworking, and engraving). While he typically works with private clients, he has also worked with Apple, Inc., Crossway Books, and Biola University, has spoken from countless stages including Tedx and Q and was featured on PBS Television. His new book is called Old Soul, New Creation: Experiencing God Through A Life of Art and Faith.
Oxford Academic publishes an analysis of an infamous subreddit’s moral dilemmas, TikTok releases a 10pm bedtime meditation, and Netflix’s adaptation of “Forever” unpacks teens’ desire for romantic intimacy while still needing the support that parents provide.
Song of the Week: “What I Want (feat. Tate McRae)” by Morgan Wallen-0:30
To read the lyrics, click here.
- Mob Morality - 19:40
- Inhale (Tik), Exhale (Tok) - 39:23
- Not Quite Forever - 50:28
Check our new Youtube video - "Why Did Teens Cry When TikTok Was Banned?"
Other Trending Topics: -12:22 * TikTok’s “AI Sway Dance” * Fortnite's AI Darth Vader swearing * Apple agreed to pay out $95 million * President Trump made posting “revenge porn” a federal crime * “Italian Brainrot” continued to trend
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Oxford Academic publishes an analysis of an infamous subreddit’s moral dilemmas, TikTok releases a 10pm bedtime meditation, and Netflix’s adaptation of “Forever” unpacks teens’ desire for romantic intimacy while still needing the support that parents provide.
Song of the Week: “What I Want (feat. Tate McRae)” by Morgan Wallen
To read the lyrics click here.
Check our new Youtube video - "Why Did Teens Cry When TikTok Was Banned?"
Other Trending Topics: * TikTok’s “AI Sway Dance” * Fortnite's AI Darth Vader swearing * Apple agreed to pay out $95 million * President Trump made posting “revenge porn” a federal crime * “Italian Brainrot” continued to trend
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Pope Leo XIV becomes pope with a social media timeline, young people are using Reddit to help quit Zyn tobacco pouches, and our take on the second season of the Star Wars show Andor.
Slang of the Week - Aura Farming - 0:17
The Top 3:
- The American Pope - 15:48
- Zynned Out - 25:15
- It’s a Star War After All - 41:14
Other Trending Topics: * Netflix's "Forever" * Hasan Piker was detained and questioned * Thunderbolts as the New Avengers * “I’m so hungry..." trend * 100 men fighting a gorilla debate
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Pope Leo XIV becomes pope with a social media timeline, young people are using Reddit to help quit Zyn tobacco pouches, and our take on the second season of the Star Wars show Andor.
Slang of the Week - Aura Farming
Other Trending Topics: * Netflix's "Forever" * Hasan Piker was detained and questioned * Thunderbolts as the New Avengers * “I’m so hungry..." trend * 100 men fighting a gorilla debate
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Dr. West is a Harvard and Johns Hopkins-trained oncologist and researcher, and has advanced cancer care and research for over three decades. As a native of Memphis, Tennessee, Dr. West founded the West Clinic there in 1979, growing it from a single practice into a network of five locations with 25 physicians and 273 support staff, treating 300 to 400 patients weekly. As a Christian and lifelong member of one of the largest Methodist Churches in the U.S., he has lectured for more than forty years on the myth of science and faith being at odds, believing they support one another and that science reveals God. His book is called Sacred Science: Understanding Divine Creation.
Click here to purchase the book.
“Another Simple Favor” has teens talking, lots of young people are turning the volume down to zero, and it’s Mother’s Day, but are moms… okay?
Song of the Week - “Ribs” by Lorde - 0:22
-
blessed - 09:20
- Yet Another Simple Favor - 26:24
- Please Don’t Stop the Music - 41:02
To read the lyrics click here.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
“Another Simple Favor” has teens talking, lots of young people are turning the volume down to zero, and it’s Mother’s Day, but are moms… okay? To hear Kate’s pitch for rebranding motherhood, check out our Roundtable podcast, available of Friday!
Song of the Week - “Ribs” by Lorde
To read the lyrics click here.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Teens are talking about Shedeur Sanders’ dramatic draft slide, Benson Boone is the internet’s least favorite good guy, and Gen Z could be the most gullible generation—depending on what you choose to believe.
Song of the Week - “Ordinary” - Alex Warren - 0:36
- Shedeur’s Slide - 15:40
- Boone Backlash - 28:32
- Hard to Believe - 44:00
To see the lyrics, click here.
Click here for the Media Literacy Kit.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org.
Teens are talking about Shedeur Sanders’ dramatic draft slide, Benson Boone is the internet’s least favorite good guy, and Gen Z could be the most gullible generation—depending on what you choose to believe. To hear CJ rant about music designed for search engine optimization, check out our Roundtable podcast available on Friday.
Song of the Week - “Ordinary” - Alex Warren
To see the lyrics, click here.
Click here for the Media Literacy Kit.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org.
Born in the desert southwest and raised in a middle-class mining family, Walter Hill volunteered for the US Navy immediately after graduating high school. Deployments took him all over Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle-East. During this time his gift for communicating faith emerged, and he now has over 25 years of ministry experience navigating the trials and triumphs of faith. Walter’s new book is called Amazed Again: Reclaiming Christ’s Joy in a Fading World and in it he’s sharing some of the lessons he’s learned about joy and resilience.
Click here for Walter's book Amazed Again: Reclaiming Christ’s Joy in a Fading World
Prom season is once again upon us, 1 in 7 teens have participated in a “commodified sexual interaction”, and the return of the Ice Bucket Challenge.
Slang of the Week - “Plot armor” 1:04
- Dreams, Dresses, and Drama 10:36
- Sexting for Clout 28:00
- Ice Breaker 43:48
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Prom season is once again upon us, 1 in 7 teens have participated in a “commodified sexual interaction”, and the return of the Ice Bucket Challenge. To hear Irene’s perspective as a mother on Prom, check out our Roundtable podcast, available on Friday.
Slang of the Week - “Plot armor”
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Blue Origin sent Jeff Bezos’ girlfriend into the atmosphere, a theory called “Let Them” is being widely practiced (and parodied), and more and more young people are happy to declare their allegiance to Christ—but not Christianity.
Song of the Week - Abracadabra by Lady Gaga - 0:25
Click here to see the lyrics.
- Origin Theory - 14:51
- Let Them - 30:11
- Christ is Risen - 51:30
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Blue Origin sent Jeff Bezos’ girlfriend into the atmosphere, a theory called “Let Them” is being widely practiced (and parodied), and more and more young people are happy to declare their allegiance to Christ—but not Christianity.
Song of the Week - Abracadabra by Lady Gaga
Click here to see the lyrics.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Melanie is a dedicated life coach and holistic wellness professional with a Bachelor's in Psychology from Colorado Christian University. Passionate about personal growth and transformation, she brings a wealth of expertise as a certified life coach, HeartMath Biofeedback practitioner, and yoga instructor. Drawing from her own experiences of overcoming stress and developing healthy habits, Melanie is committed to helping adults and teenagers reshape their perspectives, unlock personal potential, and create meaningful change in their lives. Her practice is called The Unearthed Life.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Teens want to smell like sugary things, March Madness comes to an end, and viewers throw their popcorn over A Minecraft Movie.
Resource of the Week - Ask Axis Podcast - 0:30
Submit your questions to ask@axis.org
- On the Scent - 1:43
- Sheer Madness - 16:00
- A Minecraft Movie - 26:40
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Teens want to smell like sugary things, March Madness comes to an end, and viewers throw their popcorn over A Minecraft Movie. To hear Evan yearn for the mines, listen to our Culture Translator Roundtable podcast aviable on Fridays!
Resource of the Week - Ask Axis Podcast
Submit your questions to ask@axis.org
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Solo Leveling airs its season 2 finale, orthodontia becomes a status symbol, and a stranded astronaut finds solace in livestreaming Sunday services.
Song of the Week - “NOKIA” by Drake -0:25
Read the lyrics here (language)
- Leveled - 15:20
- The Other Side of the Tracks - 35:48
- Rocketman - 46:45
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Solo Leveling airs its season 2 finale, orthodontia becomes a status symbol, and a stranded astronaut finds solace in livestreaming Sunday services. To hear Irene describe what it’s like to watch gory anime with teen boys, check out the Roundtable podcast available on Friday!
Song of the Week - “NOKIA” by Drake
Read the lyrics here (language)
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tanita is the national director for generational impact for Young Life, where she has been a leader working with adolescents for over twenty-six years. With an expertise in contextualizing the gospel for Gen Z, Tanita has been featured on The Holy Post podcast and has been published in The Great Commission Research Journal, the Journal of Youth and Theology, and more. Tanita continues to serve as a volunteer leader for Young Life in her local community of Spokan, Washington, where she lives with her husband and two children. We’ll be talking today primarily about her upcoming book, What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God: Seven Questions About Life and Faith.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
TikTokers are writing songs about LeBron, Snow White’s sleepy box office debut, and Adolescence is a journey through the travails of modern boyhood.
Resource of the Week - A Parent's Guide To: Kicking Off The Sex Talk: Six Conversations - 0:42
- The Man on the Lakers 9:33
- Waking Beauty - 21:32
- Adolescence - 35:06
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
TikTokers are writing songs about LeBron, Snow White’s sleepy box office debut, and Adolescence is a journey through the travails of modern boyhood. To hear Toben sing songs about basketball, click here for our Culture Translator Roundtable podcast!
Resource of the Week - A Parent's Guide To: Kicking Off The Sex Talk: Six Conversations
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Gen Z prefers baggy clothes to slim-fitting athleisure, public conversations are becoming the medium of choice for obtaining information, and therapy culture tries to replace religion.
Song of the Week - "The Giver" by Chapel Roan -0:22
Click here to see the lyrics.
- Fitter… Happier? - 17:06
- The Art of Conversation - 27:26
- Searching for a Savior - 37:22
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Gen Z prefers baggy clothes to slim-fitting athleisure, public conversations are becoming the medium of choice for obtaining information, and therapy culture tries to replace religion. [For more nuance, including CJ's spirited take on baggy gym clothes, you can listen to our Culture Translator Roundtable available on Friday].
Song of the Week - "The Giver" by Chapel Roan
Click here to see the lyrics.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
John is a New York Times bestselling author, counselor, and teacher who has inspired millions to go deeper in their relationship with Jesus. He is also president of Wild at Heart, a ministry devoted to helping people discover the heart of God, recover their own hearts in God's love, and learn to live in God's kingdom. We’ll be talking today primarily about his new book Experience Jesus. Really.: Finding Refuge, Strength, and Wonder Through Everyday Encounters with God.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Trend fatigue takes over, teens are taking a pass on dating, and House of David debuts on Amazon Prime.
Song of the week- "Anxiety" by Doechii - 0:19
Click to see the Lyrics (Language)
- Core Today, Gone Tomorrow - 9:40
- Falling Out of Love - 24:28
- Desert Stream - 42:57
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Trend fatigue takes over, teens are taking a pass on dating, and House of David debuts on Amazon Prime. To hear Kate share why she personally relates to King Agag, be sure to tune in to our Culture Translator Roundtable podcast on Friday.
Song of the week - "Anxiety" by Doechii
Click to see the Lyrics (Language)
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Reels loses control of its recommendations, the number of Christians in the United States is increasing, and what parents should know about the Oscars’ Best Picture winner Anora.
Resource of the Week - 7 Minutes on Teen Slang - Video - 0:38
- First Up this week Reeling - 8:10
- The Upward Spiral - 29:32
- The Oscars and Anora - 45:25
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Reels loses control of its recommendations, the number of Christians in the United States is increasing, and what parents should know about the Oscars’ Best Picture winner Anora.
Resource of the Week - 7 Minutes on Teen Slang - Video
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
On February 8, 2023, Zach had a front row seat to see God move in what has been called the Asbury Revival or the Asbury Outpouring, where a small town and university experienced sixteen days of unending prayer and worship. More than one hundred thousand guests from around the country—and the world—experienced the peace and power of God there in that place. Zach is the proud husband of Kristin and father to three little girls: Eden, Esther, and Mercy. We’ll be talking today about Zach’s experiences at Asbury, as well as his new book Lower: Igniting Spiritual Awakening Through Radical Humility.
Click here for Zach Meerkreebs' new book.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
“Monster Hunter Wilds” has teens battling beasts, the new iPhone is a lot like the old iPhone, and a docuseries on Gabby Petito’s death highlights the differences between social media and reality. But First:
Slang of the week: "huzz": 0:32
- Battling Monsters: 09:10
- History Repeating: 25:32
- Hidden in Plain Sight: 42:46
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
“Monster Hunter Wilds” has teens battling beasts, the new iPhone is a lot like the old iPhone, and a docuseries on Gabby Petito’s death highlights the differences between social media and reality. To hear Evan make fun of the new iPhone, be sure to check out our Culture Translator Roundtable podcast!
Slang of the Week: "Huzz"
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The new Captain America movie explores moral grey areas, young people prefer lowercase text, and an anglerfish has captured the internet’s heart.
Song of the Week: "I'm the Problem" by Morgan Wallen (lyrics here) 0:24
- Who Captains America? 6:54
- the case for lowercase: 20:19
- Angling Toward the Light: 32:22
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The new Captain America movie explores moral grey areas, young people prefer lowercase text, and an anglerfish has captured the internet’s heart. Plus, to hear Evan argue that the tale of the anglerfish was actually a comedy, make sure to listen to this week’s Culture Translator Roundtable!
Song of the Week: "I'm the Problem" - Morgan Wallen
Click here to see the lyrics.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Gary is a bestselling author and international speaker whose ministry brings people closer to Christ and closer to others. His writings have established him as a thought-leader in the areas of marriage, parenting, and spiritual formation. His books have sold over two million copies, been translated into more than a dozen languages, and won numerous awards. We’ll be talking today primarily about one of his newer books, called When to Walk Away, which is all about how to handle what are often called “toxic relationships.”
Click here for Gary Thomas's book.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In this Valentine’s Day issue of the Culture Translator, we unpack “the anti-social century,” a quarter of people admit they have flirted with AI chatbots, and Drake might have been the real loser of Super Bowl LIX.
Slang of the Week: “Bop”: 00:50
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“the anti-social century,” 18:15
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flirting with AI chatbots? 37:33
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Drake losing Super Bowl LIX 52:36
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In this Valentine’s Day issue of the Culture Translator, we unpack “the anti-social century,” a quarter of people admit they have flirted with AI chatbots, and Drake might have been the real loser of Super Bowl LIX.
Slang of the Week: “Bop”
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The Grammy Awards were held on Sunday, Summit summer scholarships are available, and everyone’s talking about Justin Baldoni’s new “evidence” website in his countersuit vs. Blake Lively.
Song of the Week: "Denial is a River" - Doechii: 0:27
Click Here to see the lyrics.
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Music’s Biggest Night: 08:26
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Summit Scholarship: 33:00
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Suit, Countersuit: 33:50
Click to Here see the Summit summer scholarship information. Use promo code AXIS.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
The Grammy Awards were held on Sunday, Summit summer scholarships are available, and everyone’s talking about Justin Baldoni’s new “evidence” website in his countersuit vs. Blake Lively.
Song of the Week: "Denial is a River" - Doechii
Click Here to see the lyrics.
Click to Here see the Summit summer scholorship video.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Ross Douthat has been a New York Times Opinion columnist since April 2009. Previously, he was a senior editor at the Atlantic. He is the author of The Deep Places; The Decadent Society; To Change the Church; Bad Religion; Privilege; and, with Reihan Salam, Grand New Party. He is the film critic for National Review, and lives with his wife and five children in New Haven, Connecticut. We’ll be talking today primarily about his new book Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org.
DeepSeek makes waves with its innovative AI, teens are using Life360 to track each other, and one ninth-grade teacher hits a nerve with a TikTok about boys wanting to be billionaires.
Song of the Week: "DtMF" Bad Bunny: 0:28
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DeepSeeking: 07:36
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How Teens are Rewriting the Rules of Life360: 27:23
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Do 9th Graders Dream of Ten-Digit Wealth?: 42:25
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week an emerging AI tool tops the app store, how teens are rewriting the rules of Life360, and do 9th graders dream of ten-digit wealth?
Song of the Week: "DtMF" - Bad Bunny
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Ian Morgan Cron is a bestselling author, psychotherapist, Enneagram teacher, Episcopal priest, and the host of the popular podcast Typology. His books include the Enneagram primer The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery, which has sold over one million copies; the novel Chasing Francis; the spiritual memoir Jesus, My Father, the CIA, and Me; The Story of You: An Enneagram Journey to Becoming Your True Self, and now his most recent book which is called The Fix: How the Twelve Steps Offer A Surprising Path of Transformation for the Well-Adjusted, the Down and Out, and Everyone in Between, which we’ll be talking about today.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org.
Shopping malls appear to be on the rise, the future of TikTok leaves users uncertain, and state legislation may be enforcing stricter age verification for online porn companies.
Resource of the Week - Parents Guide to 2025: 0:28
- All Y’all at the Mall: 01:15
- Reports of TikTok’s Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated: 19:44
- Age Verification, For Real: 35:55
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Parents Guide to 2025
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week shopping malls appear to be on the rise, the future of TikTok leaves users uncertain, and state legislation may be enforncing stricter age verification for online porn companies.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Parents Guide to 2025
Melissa Dougherty is a Christian apologist best known for her YouTube channel with over 285,000 subscribers and counting. Her videos, which primarily cover New Age and New Thought, have been viewed over 18 million times. Melissa is highly regarded and connected in the apologetics community. She has a bachelor’s degree in religious studies from Southern Evangelical Seminary, where she’s also pursuing her master’s degree in religious studies. We’ll be talking today primarily about her new book, Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard of Shaped our Self-Obsessed World.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org.
TikTok refugees head to RedNote, wildfires bring heartbreak to Southern California, and Marvel Rivals takes off with teens. Welcome to the Roundtable.
Song of the Week: 0:24
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Heroes Never Die: 10:05
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Fiery Discourse: 21:49
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Tick…Tock: 40:56
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week TikTok refugees head to RedNote, wildfires bring heartbreak to Southern California, and Marvel Rivals takes off with teens.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Laila Mickelwait. Laila is the Co-Founder and CEO of the Justice Defense Fund, the Founder and leader of the Traffickinghub movement supported by millions around the world, and the national bestselling author of Takedown: Inside the Fight to Shut Down Pornhub for Child Abuse, Rape, and Sex Trafficking. She has been researching and combating the injustice of sex trafficking since 2006 and is a leading expert in the field.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
Young men are converting to Orthodoxy, Squid Game returns, and the Beast Games are… beastly. Welcome to the Roundtable.
Slang of the Week: 0:51
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The Harder Road: 9:43
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Squid Game Season: 31:19
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Feed the Beast: 43:20
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Young men are converting to Orthodoxy, Squid Game returns, and the Beast Games are… beastly.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Skye Jethani. An award-winning author, speaker, and co-host of the Holy Post Podcast, Skye has written more than a dozen books, and also served as an editor and executive at Christianity Today for more than a decade. Raised in a religiously and ethnically diverse family, his curiosity about faith led him to study comparative religion before entering seminary and pastoral ministry. We’ll be talking today primarily about his series on miracles and wonders, published originally on his With God Daily platform, which provides daily devotionals for people who hate daily devotionals.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
As you step into 2025 and start thinking about your goals for your family and how to build deeper connections with your teens—connections that ultimately draw them closer to Jesus— we’ve put together some conversation starters you can use to jump-start moments of depth and honesty.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week, we share what we believe were the top 20 biggest cultural events that shaped the world teens are growing up in. This is #10-1, thanks for tuning in!
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
At the end of each year, we share what we believe were the top 20 biggest cultural events that shaped the world teens are growing up in. This year, we wanted to give readers a peek behind the curtain of how we decide on this list. This is part two of our Roundtable podcast's (at times slightly heated) debate about which events mattered the most, we hope you enjoy it!
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
From all of us here at Axis, Merry Christmas! We're taking a small break from our usual Culture Translator Interviews for the next two weeks, but we'll return in January with new content!
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week, we share what we believe were the top 20 biggest cultural events that shaped the world teens are growing up in. This is #20-11, tune in next week to see what cultural events made the top 10!
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
At the end of each year, we share what we believe were the top 20 biggest cultural events that shaped the world teens are growing up in. This year, we wanted to give readers a peek behind the curtain of how we decide on this list. This is part one of our (at times slightly heated) debate about which events mattered the most, we hope you enjoy it!
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Dr. Derek Schuurman. Derek is the author of the book Shaping a Digital World and co-author of A Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and Designers, both published by IVP Academic. He is a professor at Calvin University where he teaches on the intersection between faith, culture, and technology. We’ll be talking today primarily about how Christians should think about AI.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
Check out our Resource of the Week here: https://youtu.be/pp724HnyDIg?si=20gwjPy80m7cpikC
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Resource of the Week: 0:25
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Golden Glove: 1:36
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Troubling Response: 19:07
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Don't Believe Your Eyes: 34:25
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week The Mets welcome Juan Soto, the alleged murderer of the UnitedHealthcare CEO is celebrated online, and Sora is here to convert text to video.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Mike Novotny. Mike is an author, pastor, and speaker who holds a Master of Divinity from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He’s the lead speaker for Time of Grace, a global media ministry that is committed to ensuring that God’s grace, love, glory, and power are accessible around the world. We’ll be talking today primarily about his new book Lonely Less: 6 Steps to a Less Lonely Life.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:19
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Driving Lessons: 11:11
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Australia's Social Media Ban: 20:02
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Defying Gravity: 38:03
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week we talk about a short film about parenting teens, Australia votes for age limits on social media, and Wicked earns a lot of green.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Kathy Gibbens, host of the Filter It Through A Brain Cell podcast, which is designed to teach listeners all about logical fallacies, how to think clearly, and how to spot misleading information in our culture. She also hosts a Meme Fallacy Quiz on her website, where participants are asked to identify what logical fallacies are at play in popular memes. Kathy is a homeschool mom of 13 years, a business owner, Bible study creator, speaker and podcast host. Kathy has a burden for Gen Z & Gen Alpha A to be equipped with the discernment they'll need to navigate a world where it's getting harder & harder to tell what's true and what's not.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
The Roundtable is off this week, but we'll return next week. We hope you had a great Thanksgiving!
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
Check out our Resource of the week here: https://axis.org/advent/
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Resource of the Week: 1:16
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Fight Night: 4:51
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Big Boredom: 18:43
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Man Alive: 37:19
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Young men say they are modeling themselves on fictional characters, Tyson vs. Paul breaks Netflix, and boredom is on the rise.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Tony DeWeese from XP Church. XP Church exists to help share the gospel with gamers around the world, equipping them to know God, experience community, discover purpose, and make a difference. Growing up, Tony attended church but viewed God as just an apathetic overseer of his life. He also faced significant challenges in his early childhood, grappling with a physical disability and deep loneliness. Drawing from his own story, Tony is passionate about helping gamers find community and discover their purpose. Tony serves at XP Church as the Connections Pastor, hosting events, and helping gamers get connected and plugged in.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:24
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Bloomin' Onion: 13:16
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Spam Texts: 24:13
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Lighting Up: 38:58
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Gen Z is enthralled by the taste and sounds of onions, threatening spam texts are being sent to Black teenagers, and parents are the new lighthouses.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast, today, we’re reposting our conversation with Parker Hymas from Fight the New Drug. Parker is the Director of Public Outreach at Fight the New Drug, which is a non-religious, non-legislative, educational organization that works with experts, researchers, celebrities, professional athletes, award-winning journalists, CEOs, authors, influencers, and advocates from across all industries to share about the harms of pornography, and how we can address it in our society.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 0:22
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The Death of a Squirrel: 7:55
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Well Versed: 20:12
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Wild Thing: 41:45
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Julie Yonker. Julie is a professor and Public Health Department Chair at Calvin University, where she teaches classes in psychology, gender studies, and public health. She received her B.A. from Calvin in Biology and Chemistry; then pursued teratology research (the study of birth defects) at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Procter & Gamble; received her Ph.D. from Stockholm University in cognitive and experimental psychology; and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in substance abuse at the University of Cincinnati, Department of Psychiatry. We’ll be talking today primarily about how mental health issues show up differently between young men and women—and how to help them get the help they need.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:28
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Crying for the Camera: 16:43
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Baking Brits: 34:31
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Peak Sports: 42:22
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Games for all four major sports leagues happened on the same night, breakup songs are going viral on TikTok, and a Gen Z competitor is winning hearts in the Great British Baking Show.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today we’re reposting our conversation with Lisa Fields. Lisa is one of the world’s most sought-after Christian apologists, and combines her passion for biblical literacy with her heart for sharing God’s love with all those she meets. She has received several honors, including being recognized in Christianity Today for her work as an apologist in the African American community. She helped produce and create two documentaries, Unspoken, which is an in-depth look into the Christian heritage of Africa and people of African descent, and Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom, through her partnership with Our Daily Bread. Lisa has a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Religious studies from the University of North Florida, and a Master of Divinity with a focus in Theology from Liberty University. Finally, she is the founder and CEO of the Jude 3 Project, which Axis recently got to partner with to create a resource on talking with Gen Z about sexuality and gender. We’ll be talking primarily today about Lisa’s work with Jude 3 Project.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:26
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A Little Spooky: 12:30
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So "Espresso": 28:49
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Digital Detox: 46:30
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Holloween is looking less spooky these days, an SNL spoof of "Espresso" is trending on TikTok, and one church in Nashville has leaned fully into digital fasting.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Derek Mason. Derek is the founder and president of Identity In Christ, Inc. and Identity In Christ Media. Since 2013, he has guided hundreds of people through extraordinary spiritual challenges, including overcoming the effects of sexual abuse, severe trauma, temptations, anxieties, and psychological barriers. His ministry has also helped individuals break free from enslavement to pornography, PTSD, schizophrenia, suicidal thoughts, severe depression, and addictions. One of very few pastors delving deeply into the study and teaching of spiritual warfare today, Derek addresses the very real and dark spiritual forces at work in the world today and employs a Biblically grounded approach that has consistently helped hundreds.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 1:21
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Bewitched: 14:15
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Paranoid Android: 36:04
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Arrested Development: 57:41
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week “Agatha All Along” takes the Marvel Universe to its darkest place yet, Elon Musk previews droids that he says will perform every household task, and a survey shows that Gen Z defines 27 as the age of adulthood.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today we’re reposting our conversation with Jeremiah Parks. Jeremiah has been described as a fiery Texas-born, Oral Roberts University graduate. He is a pastor to the core and has loved living and ministering in Colorado Springs, raising 3 kids and founding a nonprofit called Heartwork with his wife, Niki. He is a passionate and inspiring father, friend, handyman, hiker, dreamer, and preacher. He’s always learning, most recently becoming bi-lingual, as part of serving orphans and widows in the mountains of Guatemala half of each year.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:41
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Boys' Skincare: 12:54
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Courting Trouble: 36:09
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"English or Spanish?": 47:50
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week The “English or Spanish” TikTok trend has strangers freezing up, Gen Z guys are embracing skincare routines, and YouTuber MrBeast could be in some legal trouble.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today we’re reposting our conversation with Danny Huerta. Danny is the Vice President of Parenting and Youth at Focus on the Family. He oversees Focus’ initiatives to equip mothers and fathers with biblical principles and counsel for raising healthy, resilient children rooted in a thriving faith. He is also a bilingual, licensed clinical social worker. For many years, he has provided families with practical parenting advice on topics ranging from media discernment, discipline, and communication to mental health issues, conflict resolution, and healthy sexuality in the home. He and his wife, Heather, have been married since 1997 and have two children, Alex and Lexi. In this interview, We’ll be speaking about his book, 7 Traits of Effective Parenting.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Resource of the Week: 0:31
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Pork Roll: 2:17
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Hurricane Helene: 8:21
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Outnumbered: 26:19
Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast, and today we’re reposting our conversation with the Director of Content for Dark Room Faith, Mary Jo Sharp. A former atheist, Mary was raised without religion. She is now an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University, and as well as the founder of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry. She also is the author of the Zondervan book Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist’s Reckoning With the Bad Reputation Christians Give a Good God and the LifeWay bible study Why Do You Believe That? She is an itinerant speaker on apologetics and has engaged in formal debates on Islam, and she focuses on using love and logic to uncover truth.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 1:20
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Bad Boy Gets Life?: 12:36
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Soup Season: 28:09
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The Best Offense: 47:29
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Strega Nona kicks off the fall meme season, one writer reconsiders the phrase “defending the faith,” and teens are talking about Diddy on TikTok.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we’re reposting an interview with Elliot Campbell. Elliot is on the pastoral advisory board for Alpha Youth USA. He has collaborated with the Bible Project and various other national leaders for the sake of reaching Gen Z and has a decade in pastoral experience working specifically with young adults. Elliot studied comparative religion and philosophy at the University of Virginia and graduated from Denver Seminary as a Kern Scholar with an MDiv in 2018. He and his wife Madison are currently church planting in the Denver Metroplex.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Meme of the Week: 0:29
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Time to Waste: 2:02
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Out to Lunch: 23:18
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Keeping Accounts: 38:13
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Instagram will debut “teen accounts” for users 18 and below, a new poll indicates that lots of teens spend seven hours or more a day on social media, and some powerful influencers are launching a Lunchable competitor.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we’re reposting an interview with Laurence Koo. After coming to terms with his own experience of same-sex attraction, Laurence eventually committed himself to celibacy, out of a conviction that that’s what Jesus was calling him to. Since then he has become an international speaker and consultant on the topic of sexuality and same-sex attraction. He also leads training and development for young missionaries with the Navigators, and recently became the director of iEDGE, which sends teams of young adults into other nations to do cross-cultural discipleship ministry.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Resource of the Week: 0:30
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Impossible Creatures: 2:23
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Young Americans, Online: 9:10
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Blockheads: 24:23
Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week a trailer for the Minecraft movie makes waves, Gen Alpha’s favorite fantasy series is flying off the shelves, and young people say they like their online selves better than their offline personas.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Jason Woodruff. Jason is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Pour Over, a politically neutral, Christ-centered news source. Their goal is to cover the same events that readers would learn about from major news sources, but to help their readers process those events from a foundation of faith. Axis recently collaborated with The Pour Over for a short course on Media Literacy that we’re excited to release here in a couple of weeks.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:26
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An Open World: 16:02
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Powering Down: 28:58
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In Grand Fashion: 50:21
Welcome to The Culture Translator. This week Star Wars: Outlaws makes its debut, Rings of Power returns for season two, and grandparents are the unsung heroes of the legacy of faith.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we’re reposting an interview with Nancy Pearcey. Professor Pearcey is the author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, as well as Love Thy Body, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Total Truth. She is a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's preeminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual." We’ll be talking primarily about her new book, The Toxic War on Masculinity.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 1:50
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Dauber's Delight: 6:02
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Parental Advisory: 19:45
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Sweet n/ Spicy: 36:09
Welcome to The Culture Translator. This week Gen Z takes to the bingo hall, parents in 2024 feel like they can’t win, and Sabrina Carpenter’s new album is more salty than sweet.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Sam Jolman. Sam is a trauma therapist with over twenty years of experience specializing in men’s issues and sexual trauma recovery. Being a therapist has given him a front-row seat to hear hundreds of men and women share their stories. His writing flows out of this unique opportunity to help people know and heal their stories, and find greater sexual wholeness and aliveness. He received his master’s in counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary and was further trained in Narrative Focused Trauma Care through the Allender Center at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. We’ll be talking today primarily about his book The Sex Talk You Never Got.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 1:05
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"Very Mindful, Very Demure": 8:02
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The Sounds of Summer: 18:05
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ChatGP-Cheat: 38:11
Welcome to The Culture Translator. This week "being demure" is the new "being brat," "MILLION DOLLAR BABY" was the top TikTok sound of the summer, and the way students are using ChatGPT might surprise (and concern) caring adults.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Dr. Carl Trueman. Dr. Trueman is a professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College. He’s also a contributing editor at First Things, an esteemed church historian, and a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Trueman has authored or edited more than a dozen books; we’ll be talking today primarily about the ideas from his books The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self and Strange New World, which explore the cultural shifts that paved the way for that idea that someone could be “a man trapped in a woman’s body,” or vice versa.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:31
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It Ends With Bucks: 15:01
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Hauls of Learning: 32:23
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Tough Topics: 45:31
Welcome to the Culture Translator. This week It Ends With Us finds box office success and behind the scenes drama, “back to school” season is in full swing, and parents worry most about their teens’ mental health and their plans for the future.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Dr. Authur Satterwhite III. Dr. Satterwhite is the Vice President for Strategy at Young Life. With a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership, a Masters in Religious Education, and a Bachelors in Business/Marketing, Dr. Satterwhite combines more than a decade of professional and ministerial experience with a keen sense of strategy to both inspire and equip individuals to serve their communities better.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 1:06
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PowerPoint Parties: 5:55
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Not Impressed: 16:25
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The Olympics in Memes: 35:15
Welcome to the Culture Translator. This week we talk about Roblox, The Olympics, and PowerPoint Parties.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
In 2023, the church lost one of its great thinkers. Dr. Tim Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. For 28 years he led a diverse congregation of young professionals that grew to a weekly attendance of over 5,000. His books, including the New York Times bestselling The Reason for God and The Prodigal God, have sold over 2 million copies and been translated into 25 languages.
Several years before Dr. Keller’s passing, our CEO David Eaton had the chance to join him for a wide-ranging conversation about freedom, pleasure, truth, parenting, whether we should force teens to go to church, and how our culture shapes which feelings we interpret as representing our identity, among many other things. We hope you’ll enjoy it.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 1:05
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Sweet and Sour: 9:20
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Blushing Hard: 24:58
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Deadpool & Wolverine: 38:09
This week Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman team up for a blockbuster movie opening, Gen Z wonders how much is too much blush, and candy bowl salad is trending.
Today we are posting an interview with Dr. Bill Brown. Dr. Brown is Senior Fellow of Worldview and Culture and Dean of the Colson Fellows Program. Prior to joining the Colson Center, Dr. Brown was President of Cedarville University and Bryan College. As a nationally recognized speaker and expert in culture and worldview, Dr. Brown has authored several books and more than a hundred articles for journals, magazines, encyclopedias, and newspapers.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:37
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Really Anxious: 8:48
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BRAT Packed: 28:54
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Standing on Ceremony: 44:08
This week we talk about Gen Z's Olympics, Charli XCX the political pundit, and how digital tools make parents more anxious.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we’re reposting an interview with Curry Kennedy. Curry is an assistant professor of English, rhetoric, and humanistic studies at the Virginia Military Institute. He earned his PhD in rhetoric from Penn State. We think you’ll really appreciate Curry’s insights about bullying, social media, and the power of words.
For more parenting resources, go to Axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org
Resource of the Week: 0:29
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Curled Up: 4:14
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Auramaxxed: 12:27
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MAGA Zoomers: 25:32
This week Zoomers are getting excited to vote for Trump, young men are getting perms, and teens are working on their "aura points."
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Andy Crouch. Andy is partner for theology and culture at Praxis, a venture-building ecosystem advancing redemptive entrepreneurship. His writing explores faith, culture, and the image of God in the domains of technology, power, leadership, and the arts. He is the author of five books, including most recently The Life We’re Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 0:39
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Nobody Wants to Be Real: 7:42
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Of Minions and Men: 22:52
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Risky Business: 43:12
This week Gru and the Minions are back for more insanity, Dave & Busters continues the cultural normalization of gambling, and the rise and fall of BeReal.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we’re reposting an older interview with Dr. Dan Allender. Dr Allender is a renowned psychologist, author, and educator who has pioneered an innovative approach to trauma and abuse therapy over the past 30 years. He is the founder of The Allender Center and a professor of Counseling Psychology at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology. And while the sound quality of this interview is a little rough, we think you’ll appreciate his insights and perspective all the same.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 0:29
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Hyperlinked: 4:27
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There's No Place like NoPlace: 17:23
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Lover Lost: 35:34
This week we talk about teens connecting over the broken chain emoji, NoSpace being the place to be, and romantic love is not (yet) dead. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Joey Odom. Joey is the co-founder of Aro, a disruptive technology company that uses technology to help us put down our phones and be fully present in the moment with the people who matter most. The Aro platform leverages the science of habit formation to create patterns and rhythms of presence for families.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 1:36 1. The Tour Is Ruined: 13:05 2. Phone Speak: 27:48 3. Tall Order: 48:43
This week we talk about Justin Timberlake, social media slang, and Gen Z and Gen Alpha's socks.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Aeron Sullivan, who went from being the co-founder of what might have been “the Amazon of marijuana sales” to the CMO and CTO at The Bible Project—to now cofounding a financial technology startup that serves global ministries and non-profits. Join us as we dive into a unique episode about substance abuse, the mystery of faith, and how God meets us in unexpected places. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 1:10
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Blocked and Reported: 14:20
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Inside Out 2: 31:08
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A Cautionary Tale: 47:39
This week new laws require porn sites to (actually) verify users' ages, Riley hits puberty in Inside Out 2, and the Surgeon General proposes a tobacco-like warning label for social media.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week on the Deep Dive we're talking about Disney Pixar's newest film Inside Out 2. Joy and all the other motions are back, and they've got some new friends like Anxiety, Embarrassment, and Ennui? Join us as we discuss the movie's themes, and the ways it explores the inner workings of our minds and our emotions. Also, is Envy an emotion? In the Shallow End, we discuss The Acolyte on Disney+ and the Tony Awards. Also, this is our last Deep Dive for a couple of months as we take a bit of a break over the summer.
Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
Come watch our weekly roundtable discussions on YouTube!
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Resource of the Week: 0:40
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Chappell Roan: 1:59
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Fizzing Out: 28:30
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Family Guy and Fatherhood: 51:26
This week we talk about the an Chappell Roan, a new private messaging app, and fatherhood. Check out our video podcast on YouTube! Our full podcast conversation with Kent Evans this week is well worth your time. We hope you'll enjoy listening to it! For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview Kent Evans, the Executive Director and co-founder of Manhood Journey, a ministry that helps dads become disciple-makers. He’s appeared on television, radio, web outlets, and podcasts, often speaking for parenting programs and men’s events. He’s the author of three books about manhood and biblical fatherhood; and as part of his Manhood Journey program, he’s engaged with many individuals who say anger is a huge challenge and are looking for a Biblical response for their anger.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 0:42
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Relig-Iish: 6:05
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Marshall Matters: 29:52
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All Eyes on Rafah: 55:45
This week we talk about the an AI-generated image, a need for religion, and Eminem
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
We've got a unique episode of the Deep Dive this week! Instead of focusing on a singular piece of culture, we decided to look back at the first half of 2024 and discuss some of the important trends and media in culture that we may have missed along the way. So join us as we discuss Madame Web and the slow death of movie theaters, Chappell Roan, Prime Video's Fallout show, Bridgerton, Challengers, and Helldivers 2. It's jam-packed!
Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. Check out our Resource of the Week: 7 Minute Video on Pride Month For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Resource of the Week: 0:55 1. A Dangerous Dance: 4:52 2. FindMySense: 32:22 3. Hanging Up the Cleats: 52:23
This week we talk about the a new Netflix documentary, athletic careers of teens, and location sharing.
Resource of the week: https://youtu.be/mYFBJ4zsN80?si=uEsRcCNLkCcSNM9W
We hope you’ll take the time to listen to our full podcast conversation with Lindsey Medenwaldt.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview Lindsey Medenwaldt, Director of Ministry Operations at Mama Bear Apologetics. She’s written a new book about how to overcome relational barriers and graciously reach out to those with whom we disagree, specifically as it relates to sharing aspects of our faith. Her book is called Bridge-Building Apologetics. Lindsey also serves as a consulting editor for the Christian Research Journal; she holds a Master’s in Apologetics and Ethics from Denver Seminary, a JD from St. Mary’s School of Law and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Midwestern State University. Her primary apologetics focus is on world religions and how we talk to people of other faiths.
For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:33
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A Bridge Too Far: 10:08
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Failing the Alphabet: 26:25
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Prosperity Parenting: 45:14
This week we talk about the Netflix's Bridgerton, a report from GLAAD, and prosperity parenting. For the full podcast review of HIT ME HARD AND SOFT, click here. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
HIT ME HARD AND SOFT is the newest album from Billie Eilish, and it's our topic of discussion on this week's Deep Dive. We discuss the complexities of Billie Eilish as an artist, the ways her music represents said complexity, and the very sexual song LUNCH. In our Shallow End, we discuss the odd resurgence of the movie Madame Web on Netflix. Also, Hannah has thoughts about defamiliarization. Do you?
Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:39
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A Real Kicker: 9:21
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Summer of Sabrina: 29:50
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Best Dressed: 55:11
This week we talk about the kicker for the Kansas City Chiefs, Sabrina Carpenter, and senior prom.
For our full podcast interview with Sam Black, click here.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Sam Black, the Director of Recovery Education at Covenant Eyes. Sam is a renowned author and expert in the field of pornography recovery. After a distinguished 18-year career as an award-winning journalist, Sam joined up with Covenant Eyes. He has edited 16 books on the impact of pornography, regularly speaks at parenting, leadership and men’s events across the country. He’s also the author of "The Porn Circuit: Understand Your Brain and Break Porn Habits,” as well his most recent book, "The Healing Church: What Churches Get Wrong About Pornography and How to Fix It.” For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
Make sure to check out our resource of the week here: Parent Guide to Summer 2024
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Resource of the Week: 0:28
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Meet Me at the Met: 2:26
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Meatfluencers: 22:48
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Moms Make it Happen: 47:12
This week we talk about this year's Met Gala, Meatfluencers, and "kinkeeping".
Check out our new Parent's Guide to Summer: https://axis.org/parents-guide-to-summer/
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Are action-adventure comedies back? This week on the Deep Dive, we're talking about the new film "The Fall Guy" starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. Join us as we discuss the movie's themes and characters, and how we really liked it! In our shallow end, we talk about about Dua Lipa's new album "Radical Optimisim" and the 2024 Met Gala. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:45 1. Well Coached: 31:59 2. Under Protest: 42:59 3. May the Fourthnite: 1:00:00
This week we talk about May 4th, Stagecoach, and student protests. We hope you'll take time to listen to the full interview with Ron Deal. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are reposting an interview with Ron Deal. Ron is one of the most widely read authors on blended families in the United States, and directs the international blended family ministry of FamilyLife out of Little Rock, Arkansas. Ron is a podcaster, bestselling author, conference speaker, and family therapist who specializes in marriage enrichment and stepfamily education. He is husband to Nan (since 1986) and father to three boys. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
Check out our Resource of the Week here: The Generosity Project
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Resource of the Week: 1:16
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Under Review: 4:41
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Up All Night: 31:42
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The Tik Tok Killer: 50:34
This week we talk about The Cass Review, Gallop polling about stress and sleep, and The Biden Administration and Tik Tok.
Check out our resource of the week here: The Generosity Project
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Taylor Swift is the biggest music artist in the world and maybe the biggest ever, and this week on the Deep Dive, we're joined by Kate to talk about her newest album "The Tortured Poets Department." We discuss Swift's celebrity and the way the album sometimes harmoniously, sometimes dissonantly, blends themes of audience, expectation, and artistic vulnerability. In our Shallow End, we discuss the NBA and NHL playoffs happening right now, MLB umpires being criticized, and women ruling in the desert at Coachella. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 1:40 1. Instant Karma: 10:19 2. Paying the Piper: 28:09 3. She Shoots, She Scores: 40:03
This week we talk about JoJo Siwa's new look and song, a survey of modern teen trends, and WNBA super star Caitlin Clark. Check out the full interview with Mike Novotny, available on our Culture Translator podcast For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Mike Novotny. Mike is an author, pastor, and speaker who holds a Master of Divinity from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He’s the lead speaker for Time of Grace, a global media ministry that is committed to ensuring that God’s grace, love, glory, and power are accessible around the world. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Slang of the Week: 1:12 1. Incelpilled: 3:00 2. Worried Sick: 19:28 3. Trade's Cool: 33:37
This week we talk about slang term origins, young adults anxiety, and choosing trade school over college. For the full episode on “Older,” click here. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
We're back with another Deep Dive and special guest Mariah! This week we're talking about Lizzy McAlpine's newest album "Older," its melancholic themes, and McAlpine's impact on the singer/songwriter genre. In our Shallow End we discuss the new movie "Civil War," Disney's "Wish" coming to Disney+, and Kacey Musgraves' newest album. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:59 1. Meet the Baxters: 7:50 2. Absent Minded: 24:20 3. Empty Pews: 43:16
This week we talk about students being "chronically absent," church attendance declining, and an adaptation of a wildly popular Christian novel series. We hope you’ll take the time to listen to the full interview with Amy Adamczyk, available on our Culture Translator podcast. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Amy Adamczyk. Amy is Professor of Sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Programs of Doctoral Study in Sociology and Criminal Justice at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Trained as a sociologist of religion, her research focuses on how different contexts (such as nations, counties, friendship groups), and personal religious beliefs shape people’s deviant, moral, and health-related attitudes and behaviors. We’ll be talking today primarily about the findings from her book Handing Down the Faith. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 1:15 1. A Rising Tide: 10:47 2. Split Screen Sadness: 33:00 3. Redemption Songs: 56:33
This week we talk about a new book by Jonathan Haidt, Nickelodeon show secrets, and Easter weekend. For more on “Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End,” you can check out the full podcast episode here For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
It's another Wednesday and it's another Deep Dive. This week we're talking about a current and acclaimed anime, "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End." Join as we talk about the popularity of anime and its themes of time, legacy, and making fields of flowers with magic. In our Shallow End, we talk about Hozier's new EP album, X-Men '97, and Beyoncé's upcoming album. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. Check out our Resource of the Week here: 7 Minute video For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Resource of the Week: 0:22 1. Babysitter's Snub: 3:15 2. Roe vs. Rates: 16:57 3. Showing Off: 35:28
This week we talk about the decline of babysitting in the US, an increase in US abortions, and MrBeast's latest content. Resource of the Week: 7 Minute video Check out the full interview with David Galvan on our Culture Translator podcast For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with David Galvan. David has been speaking, training and facilitating conversations about whole-person health for nearly 15 years. In that time, David has personally spoken to over 30,000 students along the front range of Colorado and across the country. David is a certified trainer in ACEs, QPR, and both Youth & Teen Mental Health First Aid, where he has trained over 1,500 individuals—he is also a Director/Trainer with Soul Shop, a faith based initiative that equips faith leaders to minister to those that have been impacted by suicide. He is personally and professionally dedicated to the mission that every person should have access to help, healing and hope. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:28 1. Clocking Out?: 10:35 2. Discorded: 30:18 3. FAFSA Fail: 55:00
This week we talk about a possible Tik Tok ban, targeting of minors on Discord and Telegram, and chaos with the FAFSA form. Check out the full Deep Dive episode on Dune: Part Two For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week on the Deep Dive we're talking about one of the biggest movie releases of the year, Dune: Part Two. Join as we discuss the film's themes of religious fanaticism, the anti-hero, and what, exactly, the movie is trying to say about bald people. In our Shallow End, we talk about the 2024 Academy Awards and the new Netflix film "Damsel". Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. Check out our Resource of the Week here: Cognitive Distortions Course For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Resource of the Week: 0:26 1. BC Goes OTC: 1:55 2. Willy Wonkish: 22:02 3. Clock is Tikking: 49:30
This week we talk about a restriction free birth control pill, "Willy's Chocolate Experience," and Tik Tok losing control. Reource of the Week: Cognitive Distortions Course The full interview with Preston Sprinkle is available on our Culture Translator podcast For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Dr. Preston Sprinkle. Preston is the president of the Center for Faith, Sexuality, and Gender and a New York Times–bestselling author who’s written a dozen books, including People to Be Loved, an award-winning book on faith and homosexuality, and the book which we’ll be talking about today, which is called Does the Bible Support Same-Sex Marriage? For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:39 1. Thorny Therapies: 11:19 2. High Roller: 29:05 3. Unmanageable: 43:32
This week we talk about "social-emotional learning," Crunchyroll, and Instagram accounts for underage girls. Check out the full Deep Dive on the Live-Action Avatar here For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
On this week's Deep Dive we talk about Netflix's highly-anticipated live-action adaptation of the beloved kid's show Avatar: The Last Airbender. Join us as we talk about the growth that comes from overcoming temptation. Like the temptation to get mad about a bad Netflix adaptation, which we (mostly) overcome. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Slang of the Week: 1:02 1. Tween Shopping Network: 8:36 2. New Shade: 21:21 3. Who's Watching: 41:58
This week we talk about Gen Alpha's attitudes on shopping, a new internet insult, and AI monitoring tools. The full interview with Mark Mayfield is available on our Culture Translator podcast For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Dr. Mark Mayfield. Dr. Mayfield is a former pastor, award winning author, speaker, leadership coach, counselor, and professor. Clinically, Dr. Mayfield is an expert in working with families affected by trauma. He is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at CCU and also partners with the AACC as the Director of Practice and Ministry Development and Editor of Marriage & Family: A Christian Journal. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:35 1. Country Roads: 19:35 2. Who's Paying?: 30:21 3. Language Arts: 47:58
This week we talk about Beyoncé crossing into country music, who pays on a first date, and The Five Love Languages. Check out the full Valentine's Day Deep Dive here: https://axis.org/resource/the-culture-translator-podcast/deep-dive-valentines-day/ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week, in honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re talking about how our culture’s perspective of love affects friendships and identity. Also, Hannah has money in bitcoin. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:54 1. Taylor's Travails: 7:15 2. Fliff Flaff: 16:58 3. A Magical Investment: 28:51
This week we talk about the app Fliff, Taylor Swift, and Disney's new deal with Epic Games. The full conversation with Asam Pelser is available on our Culture Translator podcast. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Adam Pelser. Adam is a professor of philosophy at the United States Air Force Academy. He holds a Masters degree and a PhD in Philosophy from Baylor University and a Masters degree in Religion from Wake Forest University. He teaches courses in Ethics, Philosophy of Religion, Comparative Religion, and C.S. Lewis, and he is a Fellow of the Inklings Project, an international group of scholars who teach college courses on the works of Lewis, Tolkien, and other members of the Inklings. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 1:00 1. Chasing Paper: 12:55 2. Declarations of Codependence: 30:19 3. Beef (Megan's Version): 50:52
This week we talk about Gen Z's perception of money, young adults dependence on their parents, and beef between Megan Thee Stallion and Cardi B. Check out this week’s episode of the Deep Dive on Percy Jackson and the Olympians. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
There's a new Disney+ show based on the popular Percy Jackson book series, and we're talking about it this week on the Deep Dive! Join as we discuss the show, its themes of bravery and friendship, and how, uh, not great the movies were. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. Access our Resource of the Week here: 7 Minute Video on Roblox For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Resource of the Week: 0:57 1. Daylist Discourse: 13:25 2. Mobbed Up: 29:04 3. Guns Blazing: 43:12
This week we talk about Palworld, Spotify Daylists, and the latest TikTok trend "mob wife." Resource of the week: 7 Minute Video on Roblox Also, check out Wednesday's interview with Dr. Jeff Myers on our Culture Translator podcast For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we are posting an interview with Dr. Jeff Myers, who is the president of Summit Ministries. He’s also the author of 16 books, including the Understanding the Faith, Understanding the Times, and Understanding the Culture textbooks which are studied by tens of thousands of students. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Denver, and also hosts an exclusive Signature Leadership Course with Unbound, which prepares high school and college students to become leaders for Christ in the real world. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 1:20 1. Zyn Trouble 11:39 2. Musically Mean: 29:03 3. Gypsy Breaks Out: 48:07
This week we talk about Zyn Pouches, Mean Girls, and Gypsy Rose Blanchard. Check out this Wednesday's Deep Dive on our Culture Translator podcast here: https://axis.org/resource/the-culture-translator-podcast/booktok/ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
booktok is the reading corner of TikTok, but it seems like only a few specific books are highlighted. This week, we are reposting an exploration of some of those books, their authors, and reading fiction as a whole. Also Hannah is allergic to Burt's Bees, I guess. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:25 1. Pay-to-See TV: 17:40 2. Discontented: 34:28 3. Who's Afraid of Andrew Tate?: 56:25
This week we talk about, streaming service changes, Mata's content restrictions, and Andrew Tate. For the full conversation with Jay Stringer, check out this Wednesday’s episode of our Culture Translator podcast. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Today we’re reposting our conversation with Jay Stringer, who helps us understand why, and what approaches are actually useful in dealing with sexual brokenness. Jay is a licensed mental health counselor, an ordained minister, and an acclaimed international speaker dedicated to helping both men and women find freedom from sexual brokenness and pursue the life they truly desire. For more resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:46 1. Airwrapped: 16:26 2. Over Yondr: 37:17 3. The Alphas Have Arrived: 56:35
This week we talk about one of teens top Christmas list items for 2023, Yondr pouches, and Gen Alpha's style. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Welcome back to our countdown of the biggest cultural events of 2023. This week, we’re counting down the Top 10 cultural moments that impacted teens and the people who care about them over the past year. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we are reposting a conversation that Evan had with Yana Conner. Yana is a writer and Bible teacher who seeks to help others think well about faith and culture. By God’s grace, she has served in full-time ministry for the past fifteen years in both the church and parachurch context and earned a Master in Divinity in Christian Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She currently serves at Vertical Church as the Discipleship Director and hosts a podcast called Living Single. You can find more of her writing and teaching at yanajenay.com. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
This week and next, we're counting down the Top 20 cultural events that impacted teens and families this year. Some of these stories are silly, some are sad, and some are just starting to unfold. But we found all of them to be relevant to family life in 2023 and the way we're called to live as Christians in a complicated culture. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
It's our final Deep Dive of the year, and to close it out, we're talking about Studio Ghibli's and Hayao Miyazaki's new movie "The Boy and the Heron." Join us as we discuss the movie itself, its themes, and why Parakeets are suddenly so scary when you make them human-sized. In our Shallow End, we take a look back at 2023 and the media we thought was significant this year. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Slang of the Week: 0:29 Swiftcraft: 6:45 LEGO Fortnite: 37:14 Content Warning: 52:19
This week we talk about Taylor Swift, Fortnite's partnershp with LEGO, and social media's effect on the discussion of mental health. To check out the resource of the week click here: https://axis.org/resource/the-culture-translator-podcast/matt-markins-on-what-it-takes-to-disciple-gen-z/ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we are reposting a conversation that Evan had with Matt Markins, President and CEO of Awana, a global leader in child discipleship. In this conversation, Matt talks about what it means to disciple Gen Z, what it takes, and how to navigate it. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Slang of the Week: 0:36 The Mental Health Paradox: 9:09 Everyone Buying Everything: 27:26 A Charismatic Selection: 44:35
This week we talk about unhelpful mental health help, Tik Tok boosting consumerism, and Oxford Univeristy Press's word of the year. To check out the resource of the week click here: https://axis.org/resource/the-culture-translator-podcast/deep-dive-hallmark-christmas-movies/ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Christmas is in the air, and this week on the Deep Dive we're talking about Hallmark Christmas movies. We discuss their themes and why those themes often lend to their seasonal popularity. Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Resource of the Week: 0:20 https://axis.org/resource/a-parents-guide-to-manifesting/ Not Kidding: 6:24 Welcome to Sound Town: 25:09 Watermelon Activism: 34:08
This week we talk about Gen Z's complaints about "iPad Kids", Spotify Wrapped, and Watermelon Activism. To check out the resource of the week click here: https://axis.org/resource/a-parents-guide-to-manifesting/ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
This week we are reposting a conversation that Evan had with Toben Heim, COO of Axis, talking about how the idea of 'The One Conversation' impacted his own way of parenting his kids changing it forever. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org.
We are stepping away from translating culture this week so we can focus on reflection, gratitude, and giving thanks. But we wouldn’t dream of leaving you without some conversation starters on one of the most family-oriented days of the US calendar. We’ve put together some ideas for sparking meaningful, memorable, and fun discussions around the Thanksgiving table. Thanks for being a part of the Axis family! The Culture Translator Team For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. Because of the nature of this CT, there will be no Roundtable podcast on Monday, November 27th. The Roundtable will be back on Monday, December 4th!
This week on the Deep Dive we're talking about the new Hunger Games movie, "The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes." The movie is a prequel to the original series that follows the rise of Coriolanus Snow and his descent into being the brutal leader we know. We discuss the movie's themes and ideas, and CJ struggles to pronounce "Sejanus."
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 2:16 Groupthink: 8:52 Generation Expat: 23:32 Born to Serve?: 40:22
This week we talk about Facebook Groups and chats for parents of college students gen Zers future in America, and eldest daughters in family dynamics. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
Today we are joined by Dr. Kara Powell. Dr. Powell is the Chief of Leadership Formation and Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary. Named by Christianity Today as one of “50 Women to Watch,” she serves as a Youth and Family Strategist for Orange and speaks regularly at parenting and leadership conferences. Kara has authored or coauthored numerous books, including Faith in an Anxious World, Growing With, Growing Young, The Sticky Faith Guide for Your Family, Can I Ask That?, 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager, and her book, 3 Big Questions That Shape Your Future, which we’ll be talking about today. For more parenting resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Slang of the Week: 0:51 Fake Photos, Real Fallout: 9:01 Creator Camps: 30:32 To the Maxx 53:13
This week we talk about Ai-Generated nudes, camps and programs for influencers, and looksmaxxing. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
We're back with another Deep Dive! This week, we're talking a break from talking about a specific piece of media, and, instead, we're looking at the social media trend of oversharing and creating a digital footprint. In the Shallow End, we discuss the plethora of albums releasing this week, Sofia Coppola's new movie "Priscilla," and Marvel's "The Marvels." Here are the timestamps for this episode: Albums releasing this week: 3:45 Priscilla: 7:30 The Marvels: 12:50 Digital Footprints and Oversharing: 14:50
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 1:00 Is Everybody Texting Without Me?: 5:44 "After Death": 16:52 Steam-Free TV: 28:46
This week we talk about group texting, the film “After Death” and the desire for steam-free TV. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
Today we are joined by Kate Watson. Kate is a culture writer and reporter who focuses on lifestyle, ethics, and religion. Her work has covered a wide array of subjects, from atheist pro life groups to the Christian criminal justice reform effort. Kate has written for religious and secular outlets, including Christianity Today, Relevant, SELF, Allure, and Insider, and she is continually drawn to stories about how people live out their convictions. A pastor's daughter who grew up in New York City, she is working on a book of essays about communities and culture in the early 2000s. Kate is married to a Brooklyn firefighter and lives in the Hudson Valley with her three kids, ages 9, 6, and 2. She’s also the primary writer for our Culture Translator newsletter and a regular contributor to our Culture Translator Roundtable podcast. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Slang of the Week: 0:48 This Means War: 13:40 No More Pay to Play: 34:22 Gradeflation: 46:02
This week we talk about Twitch and YouTube pulling back on offering hefty contracts to livestreamers, how everybody is getting an A, and spiritual warfare. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
Spider-Man media is inevitable, and thus, so are Deep Dives about Spider-Man. This week we're talking about Marvel's Spider-Man 2 for the Playstation 5. Join us as we discuss the game, its plot, and its themes of second chances and the ways we deal with grief. In our Shallow End this week, we talk about the new Five Nights at Freddy's movie and Taylor Swift's rerelease of her abum 1989. Here's the timestamps for the episode: Five Nights at Freddy's: 4:10 1989 (Taylor's Version): 9:46 Marvel's Spider-Man 2: 15:30 Thanks as always for listening! If you want to find more free Axis resources or give a gift of support, you can check out our website at axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:26 Forever Young: 7:18 A Hill of Beans: 26:42 Leftie Language Model: 41:41
This week we talk about skincare for social media, bean soup, and concern over ChatGPT’s possible biases. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:24 War on TikTok: 9:49 The Cost of a Bargain: 35:06 The Mind-Spirit Connection: 47:55
This week we talk about the Israel-Hamas war, Temu, and how church may improve your mental health. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Slang of the Week: 0:27 Extinguishing Sextiortion: 11:31 Red Flags: 27:39 The Education Choice Equation: 42:53
This week we talk about sextortion, #traylor, and that choosing Christian school or homeschooling won’t necessarily serve as an insurance policy for a child’s faith. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Slang of the Week: 0:29 In Their Own Words: 7:59 Don't Call Me: 25:14 Wanting More: 40:30
This week we talk about what it’s like for teens growing up online, avoiding voicemails, and #yearnposting. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:52 An Empirical Question: 8:20 Party Animals: 21:33 Gentleman Prefer Podcasts: 32:11
This week we talk about the Roman Empire, Party Animals, and red flag podcasts. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org Song of the Week: 0:38 Rage Against the PR Machine: 11:07 Not So Fast: 28:50 What TikTok Did: 51:19
This week we talk about the legacy of TikTok, celebrity gossip, and if there is a right amount of money to have before having children. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org. To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here. To watch our 7 Minute Video on Threads, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 0:26
Quiet on Campus: 6:00
Stars Afield: 27:23
Searching for Sad: 45:03
This week we talk about “Free Speech Rankings”, the most anticipated video game release of the year, and how data from Spotify shows that Gen Z’s most popular music search term is the word “sad.”
The Free Speech Rankings full methodology is explained here.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
This week, as we take Labor Day off, we will not have our regular Roundtable episode. Instead we are excited to share an early release of our One Conversation podcast episode with Nancy Pearcey. Professor Pearcey shares about her new book, "The Toxic War on Masculinity".
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about AI Dreams, pickles and the impact of pornography on a teen’s developing brain.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:27
Something in the Air: 18:10
Alien Landing: 37:13
Non-Playable: 46:49
This week we talk about school air, Ahsoka and NPCs.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:52
Chef's Kiss: 18:42
Decking Out The Dorms: 31:55
A Shorts Story: 43:33
This week we talk about how physical gestures that originated on TikTok are an integral part of how Gen Z communicates in real life, how college students are spending a lot more on their dorm rooms, and Youtube’s TikTok competitor, Shorts.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 0:50
Who Are They Talking To?: 7:37
IJBOL: 27:20
Back To Backpacking: 37:18
This week we talk about #lightlanguage, IJBOL, and how teens might have mixed feelings of excitement, anxiety, and overwhelm as the new school year starts.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:50
Circling the Drain: 6:35
The Dechurched: 17:50
Going Paul Out: 39:54
This week we talk about Skibidi Toilet, Jake Paul, and how Americans are becoming less likely to have church homes that they are deeply committed to.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:47
Alien Activity: 7:09
De-Generation: 21:50
Destination Uncertain: 33:11
This week we talk about a decision by the Pew Research Center to stop using generational labels, how belief in heaven, hell, and other spiritual “entities” is on the decline, and Aliens?! For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:28
The Pink Apocalypse: 9:30
Seeing Red: 25:40
Hanging By A Thread: 39:55
This week we talk about Barbenhiemer, how Gen Z blames the Supreme Court and Republicans for blocked student loan relief, and Meta’s Twitter competitor, Threads.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:52
Looking Like a Snack: 10:10
Thumbscrollers: 18:47
Main Events: 27:56
This week we talk about Girl Dinners, Thumbscrollers, and Canon Events.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:58
That's Hot: 11:53
Court vs. the Culture: 25:33
The Sound of Freedom: 38:40
This week we talk about supreme court rulings, a world on fire, and the theatrical release of a movie shining a spotlight on human trafficking in the US.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:56
Depths of Cruelty: 9:31
Up For Debate: 34:00
Shameless: 48:29
This week we talk about the Titan submersible, how some high school students are losing debates due to their personal beliefs, and how a TikTok influencer is going viral for reading her embarrassing diary posts.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 0:32
Personal Jesus: 4:25
Elemental: 26:14
#!@*&%-Gender: 44:26
This week we talk about an AI-generated version of Jesus, Pixar’s new movie “Elemental”, and how Elon Musk is turning the term "cisgender" into a slur.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week: 0:24
Baby Gronk + Livvy: 10:00
Dressed Like a Fish: 24:54
Dating (Conversations) Made Easy: 39:00
This week we talk about Baby Gronk, the #barbiecore and #mermaidcore trends, and dating (conversations) made easy.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the Week: 0:36
Waiting Until 8th: 12:53
The Life Begoggled: 30:56
#hopecore: 52:16
This week we talk about the parents delaying their child’s first smartphone, Apple’s new Vision Pro, and #hopecore.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week - 0:26
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Making it Happen - 8:41
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Missing the Target - 26:40
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All About Evie - 39:34
This week we talk about Target’s pride section, Evie, and the spiritual practice of manifestation.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
This week the regular Roundtable is off for Memorial Day so we wanted to share one of our One Conversation podcast episodes with you! Evan and Nathan Davis have a conversation on culture, creativity and what it's like to be a Christian in Hollywood.
Join us next week as we get back to our regular Roundtable episode and every other Wednesday for our One Conversation Podcast.
This week we talk about The Surgeon General's warning on the dangers of social media for teenagers, how teens with low follower counts are posting like influencers, and how teens are discovering their parents facebook posts about them from when they were younger.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week - 0:51
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Giving Players and Ultrahand - 10:50
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A Diet of Darkness - 23:30
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High School Horror - 37:46
This week we talk about the new Zelda game, how TikTok continues to affect mental health, and how a growing number of students are avoiding school because of panic attacks and anxiety.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week - 0:43
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Social Media Rules - 7:38
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Whispers of Wealth - 28:57
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Overlooking the Obvious - 42:56
This week we talk about the American Psychological Association’s advisory about social media, “quiet luxury” clothing trends, along with how an anti-lonliness campaign seems to omit the nuclear family.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week - 1:14
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Mental Health Awareness Month - 5:59
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A Wider Rainbow - 25:49
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Terrif-AI-d - 43:37
This week we talk about mental health, how many teens are questioning their sexuality and AI fears.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Slang of the week - 0:30
#ActuallyAutistic - 8:15
Wilbur's Force - 35:36
Repair, Reparent, Repeat - 50:12
This week we talk about the band Lovejoy, #ActuallyAutistic, and breaking negative parenting cycles.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org
Song of the Week - 0:23
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More Mandalore - 8:56
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Beastie's Boys - 19:17
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Grossed Over - 40:10
This week we talk about the third season of "The Mandalorian", how one of MrBeast's core crew members is transitioning from male to female, and how Youth Ministry is changing.
To submit a question that will be discussed on Monday's Roundtable episode, click here.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to Axis.org
Slang of the Week - 0:21
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"Super" Satisfying - 5:15
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This Trend is Making Me Thirsty - 23:02
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Ex-Lover - 36:53
This week we talk about the "Super Mario Brothers" movie, flavored water and Taylor Swift’s possible break up.
For more written, audio, and video resources, go to axis.org.
To submit a question for the Monday Roundtable episode, click here.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to Axis.org
Song of the Week - 0:28
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A Faith for the Ages - 7:37
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CollegeAdmissions TikTok - 30:05
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Work vs. Worship - 48:53
This week we talk about #collegeadmissions on TikTok, workism, and a faith for the ages.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org
Song of the Week - 0:28
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Tragedy in Nashville - 10:14
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Back in the Fold - 28:04
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Self-Harm on the Rise - 43:29
This week we talk about a tragedy in Nashville, the high-trending TV version of Shadow and Bone, and how self-harm is on the rise.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org
Slang of the Week - 0:22
1. Tikked Off - 5:46
2. Who Wants to be a Shillionaire - 21:38
3. Subtitled - 43:15
This week we talk about the possibility of a US ban on TikTok, how male influencers in their twenties are making a fortune on YouTube telling other young men how to make a fortune and how young people are watching television with the subtitles on.
For more written, audio and video resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org
Song of the week - 0:30
1. Risk vs. Reward - 8:46
2. Evangelical Ratings - 26:53
3. No, Please - 46:30
This week we talk about Americans feeling more positive than negative about most religious affiliations, how fewer opportunities for independent activity could be contributing to the overall decline in teen mental health, and how the word “please” has officially taken on a passive-aggressive connotations.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org
This week we talk about remembering your teenage years, cluttered aesthetic winning out over carefully curated and sparse homes, and some insight into how products like Snapchat are developed and designed.
If you enjoy listening, we'd love to invite you to experience Axis in a whole new way. We've recently launched a brand new web experience that provides free access to all of our resources. And as a donor-supported 501c3, we need partners like you to keep these podcasts and others resources going, equipping parents with the tools they need to engage their kids and lead them to lifelong faith in Jesus. Visit axis.org to check out more parenting resources and to give a gift of support today!
Also, for more context and nuance around this week's topics, we’d love for you to join us for our Roundtable episode on Monday.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org
This week we talk about Tiktok time restrictions, cheating becoming more in common in higher education, and the rise of gore and disturbing content on Instagram.
For more free Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org
This week we talk about revival, #morningroutine, and “The Witch Trials of JK Rowling.”
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resoures, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about a 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Influencers who are de-influencing, and how teens are losing interest in getting a Drivers' License.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resoures, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about a new type of relationship, deaths of despair, and the performance of “Unholy” at the 2023 grammys.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resoures, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about products that are “dupes”, if the line between entertainment and real life has become blurred beyond recognition, and making a hangout house for your teenagers.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resoures, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about if parents should expect schools to keep them in the loop when a child decides to change their gender identity, Youtube University, and how gun violence is off to a disturbing start this year.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about how some young women are eager to embrace a more traditional gender role, how some universities have banned TikTok, and social fitness.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about Lucky Girl Syndrome, Gen Z’s New Year's resolutions, and church attendance returning to pre-pandemic levels - mostly.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about how social media use in teens could alter how their brains respond to social rewards, the murder mystery, Glass Onion, and a possible lack of resilience among young people.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
For 2022's last two Culture Translators, we're doing a top 20 countdown of the biggest culture makers of 2022. Last week we covered 20-11, and this week we are doing 10-1. All of these people made a profound impact on the world your teens are growing up in. We hope you enjoy!
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
For 2022's last two Culture Translators, we're doing a top 20 countdown of the biggest culture makers of 2022. This week we cover 20-11, and next week we'll do 10-1. All of these people made a profound impact on the world your teens are growing up in. We hope you enjoy!
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we talk about Gen Z’s Christmas wishlist, the Liver King getting caught in a lie, and pilk.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week on the Culture Translator, we’re talking about the ChatGPT AI, Missing the old Kanye, and the magic avatars of the AI-Generated Lensa.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we talk about the loneliness epidemic, how China’s Gen Z citizens are protesting “zero-COVID" policies, and the decline of Instagram.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
We are taking this week off to be with our families, but we will be back at it again next week!
This week we talk about how Twitter has become a source of entertainment for all the wrong reasons, how social media may be strengthening your teen's friendships and how a survey is encouraging families to talk with elder members about their history.
Click here to view the survey.
For more Axis resources, or to make a donation, visit axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
Note: We apologize for Kate's audio, we are working to resolve this issue!
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we talk about how TikTokers are going viral with teary break up posts, how users are leaving Twitter for Mastadon, and how the midterm election and GenZ intersected.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we talk about how “healthy” TikTok content is mostly just about losing weight, what shapes young evangelicals’ civic engagement and political opinions and how maybe the parenting model you choose is less relevant than choosing one, any one.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
For more Axis resources, check out Axis.org
This week we talk about backlash from Taylor Swift's new album, a more serious Star Wars story, and why getting spooked can sometimes feel pretty good.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
For more Axis resources, check out Axis.org
This week we talk about an app that allows you to send anonymous compliments, figuring out the skills your children are going to need if they are going to live independently, and ebay banning the purchase of the Jeffrey Dahmer halloween costume.
Vox article for The Adulting Bucket List.
For more resources, go to Axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Roundtable we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator newsletter.
For more Axis resources, check out Axis.org
This week we talk about trouble inside inpatient mental health facilities, the shocking netflix movie, Luckiest Girl Alive, and Gen Z seeing the Bible as a justice manual.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about Christianity’s shrinking share in the religious landscape, the identity of young men and church altar calls.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org.
This week we talk about the argument for more traditional forms of dating, how using tech to communicate can make our interactions more shallow, and the anime series, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.
NYT op-ed
Arthur C. Brooks Atlantic article
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we talk about the "Mappiness Project", the productivity tool, Notion, and how Twitch is banning streams that feature unlicensed gambling websites.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about the "Mappiness Project", the productivity tool, Notion, and how Twitch is banning streams that feature unlicensed gambling websites.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about how pandemic stress has increased nightmares, the new IOS update, and tips for how to spot a teen who may be headed for a mental health crisis.
Mashable Article
Six Screening Questions
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we talk about how pandemic stress has increased nightmares, the new IOS update, and tips for how to spot a teen who may be headed for a mental health crisis.
Mashable Article
Six Screening Questions
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we talk about an online community of young women called "spoonies", Mr. Beast and his burger joint, and Amazon’s new series “The Rings of Power”.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about an online community of young women called "spoonies", Mr. Beast and his burger joint, and Amazon’s new series “The Rings of Power”.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about brightly-colored pills and powders containing fentanyl being sold to young consumers, the hashtag indicating “Self Harm Twitter”, and teens being prescribed multiple drugs for mental health conditions.
For more Axis resources and other help navigating these issues, go to Axis.org.
This week we talk about brightly-colored pills and powders containing fentanyl being sold to young consumers, the hashtag indicating “Self Harm Twitter”, and teens being prescribed multiple drugs for mental health conditions.
For more Axis resources and other help navigating these issues, go to Axis.org.
This week we talk about the "Close Friends" feature on Instagram, why certain soundbytes make TikTok super addictive and the phrase “Back to School Necklace”.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about the "Close Friends" feature on Instagram, why certain soundbytes make TikTok super addictive and the phrase “Back to School Necklace”.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about people boycotting Amazon because of perceived employee abuses, the #NoSleepovers movement amongst parents, and Snapchat’s first set of parental controls.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about TikTok’s new third party vendor used to moderate the platform and the challenges they face, teens wearing hoodies in the summer, and new hashtags minors are using to avoid TikTok moderators.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about our new podcast, The Culture Translator Roundtable, how inflation is affecting teens, and "revenge porn".
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about why 40% of young people are using TikTok like google, why some parents are deleting posts of past children, and why Instagram is trying to be like TikTok, even though users just want it to be itself.
For more resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about the "Not Gonna Lie" app, the word "hot" becoming uncoupled from the idea of sexuality, and sexual consent with a caveat.
For more Axis resources go to axis.org.
This week we talk about American Girl Doll memes, the new James Webb telescope, and how TikTok influencers are not always following the rules of sponsorship disclosure.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about a popular meme exploring possible relationship dealbreakers, a TikTok trend from the opening weekend of "Minions: Rise of Gru", and the term 'gatekeeper'.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about celebrity singers criticising the Supreme Court, dangerous alternatives to clinical abortions, and research on the public opinion on abortion.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
This week we talk about a new low in American's belief in God, dissatisfaction in Google’s search engine, and a look into the life of a high school boy who was “canceled” by his peers because of his actions.
For more Axis resources go to axis.org.
This week we talk about an AI ethics researcher from Google being put on leave for publicly expressing concerns over an AI project becoming sentient, a report saying how more people of all ages are avoiding the news, and Gen Z’s memes, featuring Catholicism.
For more Axis resources, go to Axis.org
This week we talk about California schools starting later, Tish Harrison Warren's idea of normalizing some dissatisfaction and disappointment in marriage, and a new viral hack for “healthy” coke.
For more Axis resources go to axis.org.
This week we talk about the new Obi-Wan Kenobi mini series, sextortion, and K-pop super group BTS meeting President Biden.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In this week's Culture Translator, we only talk about one thing.
I am so tired of waiting,
Aren't you,
for the world to become good
and beautiful and kind?
Let us take a knife
and cut the world in two—
and see what worms are eating
at the rind.
- Langston Hughes
For more Axis resources go to axis.org.
This week we talk about New A.I. Relationships, Algo-Speak, and Sports Illustrated's new Swimsuit Issue.
For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about romanticizing your life, trends in bible reading, and the idea that where your children grow up might be one of the most important indicators of their earning potential and stability. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about Johnny Depp’s defamation suit against his ex-wife Amber Heard, Roe V Wade, and a new short form video series called "Dark Room Faith". To discover more Axis resources or to sign up for our free weekly newsletter, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Plus, Evan, Toben, Hannah, and CJ take a deeper dive into the top three topics in the Culture Translator.
This week we talk about Elon Musk buying Twitter, astrology and new perspectives on the mental health crisis in today's teenagers.
To sign up for our weekly newsletter or to discover more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about Elon Musk buying Twitter, astrology, and how the onset of puberty continues to drop to an earlier age. To sign up for our free weekly newsletter, or to discover more axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Plus, Evan, Toben, Hannah, and CJ take a deeper dive into the top three topics in the Culture Translator. This week we talk about teens opting out of social media, influencer combat at Coachella and Revolve, and an increase in teen overdoses on fentanyl.
To sign up for our free weekly newsletter or to disover more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about teens opting out of social media, Scamchella, and how drug use among teens is down, statistically, but overdose deaths are up. For more Axis resources go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Plus, Evan, Toben, Hannah, and CJ take a deeper dive into the top three topics in the Culture Translator.
This week we talk about Stan Mail, a unified theory of the teenage mental health crisis and ideas for how to more productively remind your kids to do things.
To sign up for our free weekly newsletter or to discover more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about Stan Mail, a unified theory of the teenage mental health crisis and ideas for how to more productively remind your kids to do things. To sign up for our free weekly newsletter or to discover more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Plus, Evan, Toben, Hannah, and CJ take a deeper dive into the top three topics in the Culture Translator. This week we talk about the more authentic social media app, BeReal, the education crisis in the US, and a study that paid participants who normally watch Fox to watch CNN.
For more resources or to sign up for the email version of our weekly Culture Translator, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about the more authentic social media app, BeReal, the education crisis in the US, and a study that paid participants who normally watch Fox to watch CNN.
To sign up for our weekly newsletter or to discover more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Plus, Evan, Toben, Hannah and CJ take a deeper dive into the top three topics in the Culture Translator. This week we hear about Disney's company values, Meta partnering with local media outlets to make TikTok look bad, and #spiritual.
For more resources or to sign up for the email version of our weekly Culture Translator, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about Disney's company values, Meta partnering with local media outlets to make TikTok look bad, and #spiritual.
To sign up for our weekly newsletter or to discover more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
In the Culture Translator Plus,Evan, Toben Hannah and CJ take a deeper dive into the top three topics in the Culture Translator.
This week we hear about how Disney+ is adding more content with a mature rating, why hour long youtube content has become so popular, and an article in The Washington Post that says that consent isn't enough for healthy sexuality.
For more resources or to sign up for the email version of our culture translator, go to axis.org.
This week we talk about longer form Youtube content, beyond consent, and the addition of more mature content on Disney+.
For more resources check out axis.org.
This week we talk about TikTokers briefed by the White House, the evangelistic ad campaign He Gets Us, and Pixar'sTurning Red.
Check out more of our resources at Axis.org.
This week we talk about #Tourettes, the Parental Rights in Education Bill, and the fallout from two years of limited in-person schooling and pandemic restrictions.
Sign up for our free newsletter at axis.org/ct.
This week we dive into Big Sis Tok, Fake Breaking News, and Gen Z Psychology 101!
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This week we here about The Pressure to Post, Make Memes, Not War and Me, not an Empath. Sign up for our weekly email newsletter at axis.org
Uncharted, Is Deconstruction the Enemy?, and Remote Reiki.
To sign up for the email newsletter, go to axis.org/ct.
Betting It All, I Do, Already and Class is Uncancelled. Sign up for the weekly newsletter at axis.org/ct
The Curriculum Wars, TikTok Wave Feminism, and Brick and Uproar.
Sign up for the weekly newsletter at axis.org/ct
A State of Emergency, High School Hero, Purity Culture The Sequel| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V | Parent’s Guide to Purity: bit.ly/3DIl70P
Taylor Swift and Adele, #MaskStringCutting, the Opioid Epidemic| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Astroworld Tragedy, Popping the Filter Bubble, and Shifting Values| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
The great resignation, #witchtok, and the church of social justice.| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
The Movie Dune, The Song No Children, and Ungoogle Me| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
TikTok Tics, #pronounsday, Netflix Walkout, and Becoming What We Behold | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| Parents guide to LGBTQ+: bit.ly/3pFEjsL | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Jon Gruden, Shelley Meyer, and Couch Guy get cancelled. | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Netflix’s squid game, Twitch data leaks, and Facebook's very bad week. | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Meg Ryan, Calling, Certified Lover Boy, TikTok Hits 1 Billion Users | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
#EatTheRich, Social Media, Nineties Country, #TrueCrimeTok | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Famous Streamers, Instagram Toxicity, Roblox Underground, Twitter Jail | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Famous Streamers: bit.ly/3nFXdP6 | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
TikTok Screentime, 9/11 Documentaries, Spiderman: No Way Home, College Admissions | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Teen Celebrities, He’s All That, The D'Amelios, and Online Spaces| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
OnlyFans, Milk Crate Challenge, Old Money Aesthetic, Hollowed Out | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Emojis ,#Rushtok, Gen Z Evangelism, Afghanistan | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Depop Mode, Bible Curious, The Age of Chaos, The World to Come | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V | American Bible Society State of the Bible Report: bit.ly/3jLIdLW
Honey, Going Antiviral, Pray Away, Moral Philosophy | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
#didtok, Y2K Thrifting, phone worship, and Simone Biles | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Future Conversation Kit topics survey: bit.ly/3zVTf8M
Sex Miseducation, #narcissisticparent, Post-Cool World, Opioid Epidemic | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Photo-dumps, Swimwear, Code Red, Songs of the Summer
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | 6 Steps to Culture Translation: bit.ly/3wLDLBa | Axis.org/Membership
Cuomo comes out, catfishing, watermelon, and 3 Big Questions.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
| Parent’s Guide to Teen Identity: bit.ly/3wuyuxT
Secret vaccinations, American friendship, the TikTok purge, and Britney Spears.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| Slang of the Week survey: bit.ly/3jEqt6V
Twitch streamers in hot water, sexuality at Christian colleges, modern loneliness, and niche culture.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| Future Conversation Kit topics survey: bit.ly/3zVTf8M
Apple app store safety, Chrissy Teigen’s apology, Billie Eilish’s new video, and Juneteenth.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| Parent’s Guide to LGBTQ+ and Your Teen: bit.ly/3xoVn6A
| Conversation Kit on Racism: bit.ly/3wNLkrO
| Parent’s Guide to Racism in the U.S.: bit.ly/3qgOX7z
Loki, Ivy Leagues, #CoupleGoals, and Glow Ups
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Blog on Eating Disorders: info.axis.org/blog/adeles-weight-loss-sparked-a-heated-debate
“Kickback” Parties, Pride Month, Teen Parenting, Memes and Messengers. | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Gospel Coalition Parenting List: thegospelcoalition.org/article/teens-need/
Student Bodies, #What I Eat In A Day, Detransitioners, and Olivia Rodrigo | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
The achievement-resilience ratio, a place for pronouns, redeeming forgiveness, and Critical Race Theory.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| Unbelievable? podcast episode on Critical Race Theory: youtu.be/KbzPDoEgO_s
| CRT interview with Dr. Neil Shenvi on Relatable: youtu.be/Kie9r89naF0
| How to talk with teens and tweens about CRT: youtu.be/lroR6Q5Shzs
Embracing the cheug, the rise of parasocial relationships, Billie can’t win, and The Mitchells vs. The Machines.
From Snapchat to SCOTUS, Willow Smith gets candid, TikTokTarot, and New Atheism isn’t woke enough.
Audio Apps, Roblox, Demi Lovato, and Money Management
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Parent Guide on Money: bit.ly/3eki1Fi | Conversation Kit on Money: https://app.axis.org/learn/840/money-ck-1 | Mashable Budgeting Apps: mashable.com/article/money-allowance-apps/ | Axis Membership: axis.org/membership/
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Help crowdfund the Culture Translator: bit.ly/3kNnyar | Axis Membership: axis.org/membership
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Abraham Piper, OnlyFans, Axis Membership
Post-pandemic parties, the prank industrial complex, Khloe’s photoflop, and comic book identity politics.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| How was this week’s CT? Let us know in a quick survey: bit.ly/3t4x8cb
Addison Rae, Church Membership, #EveryonesInvited, Lil Nas X | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Support the Culture Translator: bit.ly/3kNnyar
Digital Branding, Cinnamon Toast Shrimp, Kidstagram, Racialization | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Help crowdfund the Culture Translator: bit.ly/3kNnyar
Squishmallow, Bank Account: $1400, Cardi B vs Candace Owens, Caught in 4k | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Parent’s Guide to Talking About Pornography | Help crowdfund the Culture Translator: bit.ly/3kNnyar
Content Creators for Sale, Mental Health Professionals, Sports Gambling, and Deepfakes. | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Support the Culture Translator: bit.ly/3kNnyar | 15 Tips to Discern Deep Fakery: https://nr.tn/30zr2UK
The original Problematic Fave, Tom Cruise deepfakes, #CancelP*rn, and canceling Dr. Seuss.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| Help crowdfund the Culture Translator: bit.ly/3kNnyar
How Gen Z tips, LGBTQ+ stats, the loneliness pandemic, and confession.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| Axis Membership: axis.org/membership
TikTok meets Tinder, pandemic tech crackup, Gen Z knows everything, and the anti-institutional teen.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| Springtide Research Institute Report: bit.ly/2OQAdNX
| First Things interview: bit.ly/3bhViIv
| Axis Membership: axis.org/membership
Framing Britney Spears, TikTok pasta, cat lawyer, data collection.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
| SpreadPrivacy.com article: bit.ly/3rHY3tm
| Parent’s Guide to A Doubting Teen: bit.ly/3tS18cj
Halftime Weeknd, WallStreetBets, lockdown suicide “surge,” and Fake Famous.
| Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct
Tempest in a Tee Shirt, Your Laugh is Cringe, Bright Hair, Fate: The Winx Saga | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | LGBTQ+ PG: bit.ly/3r1dNqV | Join the Axis Legacy Club: axis.org/donate
FinTok, Life in WandaVision, FYP and Your Teen, Spotify’s Top 10 Songs | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Join the Axis Legacy Club: axis.org/donate
NoseJobCheck, When Family Ties Don’t Bind, Trolling the Trolls on Omegle, #SeaShantyTok | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Join the Axis Legacy Club: axis.org/donate
Bean Dad Gets Canned, Helen Keller Hoax, Twitch Bans, Soul | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Join the Axis Legacy Club: axis.org/donate
Brand Comedy, Wonder Woman, Facebook, and Christmas | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Donate: bit.ly/2KAjjB9 | Axis Survey: bit.ly/3oY8Ez0
Perez Hilton, Instagram, Cyberpunk 2077, Evermore | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Donate: bit.ly/2KAjjB9 | Taylor Swift’s Evermore: info.axis.org/blog/review-taylor-swifts-evermore
TikTok Top 100, the dark(er) side of P*rnhub, poison in the microphone, and the challenges of “cuffing season.”
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Mandalorian+Fortnite, searching for God knows what, TikTok shot, and mind vs. body.
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Charli D’Amelio, embarrassing TikToks, Thanksgiving, Permission to Struggle | Free Culture Translator Newsletter: axis.org/ct | Giving Tuesday!: axis.org/givingtuesday
Animal Crossing, Harry Styles, Parler Games, Holidays during a Pandemic. | Free Culture Translator Newsletter: axis.org/ct | Parenting Pivot LIVE!: bit.ly/3eXS3aT
United in Despair, Ballot Count Memes, Young Adults Are DTRing, LGBT Christians and the Church | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Parenting Pivot LIVE!: bit.ly/3eXS3aT | Axis Conversation Kits: https://bit.ly/3pnZCMG
Tuesday Night Fever, United States of Self-Care, The Dispensary Is Open, Positions | Free Culture Translator newsletter: axis.org/ct | Search “Axis One” in the app store to download our app! | Axis Membership: Axis.org
Fortnitemares, lessons from the pandemic, the TikTok election, and The Queen’s Gambit.
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makeJesusviral, a theology of strength, teenagers feeling old, and Twitch ministry.
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This week’s big meme, sweet dreams for quaran-teens, Zoomtopia, and Gen Z’s sudden love for Fleetwood Mac.
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Rules of the Digital Classroom, Conway vs. Conway, POV TikTok, and Facebook banning QAnon.
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Among Us, Youtube Battleground State, Youth Voter Registration, The Art of Conversation
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Video Game Money, iPhone Home Screen, Screen-Time Audits, Ruth Bader Ginsburg
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TikTok, Social Media Fake News, Keeping the Faith, and The Social Dilemma
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America Runs on Charli, TikTok Fails Its Users, Singing the Screentime Blues, The Cost of Unity
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newteacherchallenge, Cyberbullying, School starts again, MTV’s Video Music Awards
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Punctuation intimidation, AI moderation, social media censorship, and handling anxiety.
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Corporate battle royale, pasta takes a dark turn, Instagram as a political PowerPoint, and Jesus Tok.
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| “Prepare your child for the path” episode: bbva.info/329Yy4m
New song by Cardi B/Megan Thee Stallion, vaping and COVID, #InfluencerChallenge, and TikTok evangelism.
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TikTok ban, the Content Authenticity Initiative, seven ways to misery, and National Book Lovers Day.
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| Thought patterns article: bit.ly/33DAZTJ
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Microsoft Family Safety, Teenager Therapy, TikTok pregnancy, and getting into good trouble.
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Body image, Instagram Reels, Normalcy in uncertain times, and teen politics.
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The New Fake ID, Lil Nas X, Roblox, and hope during dark times.
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“Whats Poppin,” the “TicTokalypse,” Our Kids Online, and safety schools.
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Kanye’s big week, Hamilton comes home, “Kids, Race and Unity,” and Coach K’s prayer.
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BullyMillennials, video game news, “I Just Wanna Live,” and summer streaming.
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The newest teen drama, digilantes, keeping the Culture Translator free, and VeggieTales on racism in the U.S.
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Nintendo’s data breach, YouTube vs. TikTok, Gen Z’s biggest problem, and a tale of two Independence Days.
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| Qustodio report on teen screen time: bit.ly/2XTvvkv
| Museums to visit on Juneteenth: bit.ly/2BZVher
TikTok’s censorship and its new competition, #BlackOutTuesday backfiring, and why Juneteenth is even more significant this year.
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| Talking with Your Children About Protests and Racism: cnn.it/3cClMmG
| A Collection of Resources for Teaching Social Justice: bit.ly/2XB06TY
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Financial advice for graduates, the consequences of sitting, the downsides of social media fame, and this summer’s (potential) top songs.
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Teens reaching out to senior citizens, a Minecraft music festival, video chat’s pressure on women, and how to disciple your teens during quarantine.
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Helping your teen transition from adolescence to adulthood, remaking religion, Ahmaud Arbery, and why you deserve a break.
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| Adolescence to adulthood from The Art of Manliness: apple.co/3fNFEpV
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Gen Z’s DIY fashion, digital well-being, a “body editor” app, and a summer book club for your family.
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| The Center for Humane Technology guidelines: bit.ly/2L9Q9po
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Netflix’s newest teen comedy, monitoring TikTok, digital beauty, and The Last Dance.
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Travis Scott’s Fortnite concert, teens worried about the pandemic, the up-and-coming app Cameo, and why Gen Z loves Dr. Fauci.
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COVID’s future impact on Gen Z, teens addicted to socializing, Pandemic Parenting, and why we shouldn’t go back to normal life.
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Easter in exile, virtual prom, Gen Z helping others, and the benefits of boredom.
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| Christianity Today’s Easter article: bit.ly/3a2dvYd
Teens abandoning their phones, Some Good News from John Krasinski, video games during quarantine, and finding relief in the world outside.
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| youtu.be/zXg28CEcgQI Video games and your family during quarantine
Stay At Home challenge, sheltering without screens, mental health, and the crucible of COVID-19.
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Christianity Today on sheltering without screens: https://bit.ly/2ycjwnQ
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Filling the sports void, productivity pressure, digital vigilance, and handling anxiety during a pandemic.
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14 Things to Do with Teens If You’re Quarantined: bit.ly/2U3RL9v
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This week we will talk about Billie Eilish’s bold move, how to handle kids stuck at home, and what to do in the face of coronavirus cancellations.
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This week we talk about intrusive advertising, Twitter’s new trick to stay relevant, a new social media platform deliberately filled with bots, and the need to unplug from all of these things.
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This week we cover an odd new dating app, teens seeking new vaping options, raising thoughtful citizens, and the fickle nature of stardom on Tik Tok.
To learn more about how to talk with your teen about vaping, check out our Parent's Guide to Vaping.
You can find all of the articles and websites mentioned in this episode here.