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! 20. Hailey and Justin Bieber drama 19. The LA Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani winning the World Series 18. The rise of smartphone bans in schools 17. Forrest Frank breaking his back 16. The fall of Sydney Sweeney 15. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle 14. Labubu Dolls 13. Adolescence 12. The Coldplay concert cheating scandal 11. 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.

TikTok's most-used sound in 2025 was a 63-year-old love song, Netflix and Paramount are in a bidding war for Warner Bros., and Hollywood might be having a "God moment."  Song of the Week: "Santa Tell Me" - by Ariana Grande Click here for the lyrics. In Other News: 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.

Justin Whitmel Earley is the creator of The Common Rule, a program of habits designed to form us in the love of God and neighbor. He is also a mergers and acquisitions lawyer in Richmond, Virginia. Justin and his wife, Lauren, have four sons.  Click here for The Common Rule Youth Edition: Growing Your Faith in a Distracted World. Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org. Click to join our Advent for the Record Listening Experience! For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

Three Big Conversations: Season 5 of Stranger Things is already Netflix's biggest English-language release. - 09:08 2025 Black Friday shopping cost more but yielded less. - 29:30 Making sense of expensive Christmas wish lists for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. - 29:30 Song of the Week - "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee - 1:10 In Other News... 53:52 Oxford named "rage bait" as its word of the year and the internet immediately proved their point by fighting about it. It's officially "Wrapped" season as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Twitch, and many others put nice packaging on all the user-data they gathered this year. Sabrina Carpenter and the White House have beef. On Monday, the White House social media team posted a video of ICE agents making arrests with Carpenter's song, "Juno" playing in the background. Carpenter responded with disgust. Do you know the band Geese? Some are calling them "Gen Z's Nirvana" and the generation's "first great rock band." On TikTok, the word "genuinely" (language) has now become a comically overused way to emphasize anything and everything. Click to join our Advent for the Record Listening Experience! 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.

Season 5 of Stranger Things is already Netflix's biggest English-language release, 2025 Black Friday shopping cost more but yielded less, and making sense of expensive Christmas wish lists for Gen Z and Gen Alpha.   Song of the Week - "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" by Brenda Lee   In Other News... Oxford named "rage bait" as its word of the year and the internet immediately proved their point by fighting about it. It's officially "Wrapped" season as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Twitch, and many others put nice packaging on all the user-data they gathered this year. Sabrina Carpenter and the White House have beef. On Monday, the White House social media team posted a video of ICE agents making arrests with Carpenter's song, "Juno" playing in the background. Carpenter responded with disgust. Do you know the band Geese? Some are calling them "Gen Z's Nirvana" and the generation's "first great rock band." On TikTok, the word "genuinely" (language) has now become a comically overused way to emphasize anything and everything. Click to join our Advent for the Record Listening Experience! 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.

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone here at Axis!  As part of our yearly tradition, instead of our normal issue of the Culture Translator, here are 15 conversation starters to help you make the most of time around the table with family and friends this year. Enjoy!   What's something you're really excited about right now?  What's the funniest trend or meme you've come across lately?  If you could permanently fix one issue in our culture, what would you choose?  What's one way you've changed this year?  If TEMU offered you $2,000 to represent their brand on your platform, would you do it?  What band or musician do you think is seriously overrated? What about underrated? Has anything you've watched, read, or listened to changed you this year? What was it and how did it change you?  What's one show that you think more people should watch?  Are there any new skills you're trying to develop, or want to try to develop? What's something you're looking forward to in 2026?  If you could be a social media influencer known for only one thing, what would that be?  Serious question: why do you think so many people started saying "67" this year? Why did that catch on?  Does a hot dog count as a sandwich? Why or why not?  When the history books mention 2025, what do you think will be included? What won't be?  How would you describe your relationship with God at this point in your life? Click to sign up for  our audio Advent experience, for the record—that launches on Sunday, November 30!   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.

"Could you speak to the subject of gossip? As we raise 2 girls this is something my husband and I talk about often. How can we explain the difference between venting and gossip? When does sharing about your day at school cross the line into gossip? How can we teach the idea of being loyal to the absent in the way we speak about others? When friends are gossiping, how can our kids redirect the conversation? How can our words be uplifting like we are called to in the Bible?" - Autumn Dr. Mayfield is a former pastor, award-winning author, speaker, certified master Christian coach, mental health counselor, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Colorado Christian University. To see more of Dr. Mayfield's resources click here. Click here to check out Dr. Mayfield's podcast - Mental Health Made simple 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: Celebrities are making cigarette smoking cool for a new generation - 9:50 Wicked 2 is poised to blow the box office back to Kansas - 26:54 This year's runaway bestseller is the Bible. - 37:28 Slang of the Week: "Cracked" - 1:10 In Other News: - 51:04 The United States House of Representatives and Senate almost unanimously agreed to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which now awaits President Trump's signature. A new study from Gallup found that in 2025, 40% of 15- to 44-year-old women would leave the U.S. permanently if given the opportunity (a slight decrease from 44% in 2024). The Game Awards has announced its nominations for 2025, with the turn-based role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 receiving 12 total nominations, more than any other game. Gaming company Valve has announced that it will release its own console, the "Steam Machine," which many expect to become a significant challenger to Xbox and PlayStation. The man who jumped the rope to embrace Ariana Grande at the Wicked: For Good movie premiere was sentenced to nine days in prison. Click to join the Pour Over's Newsletter We'd love to hear from you, fill out this form to share your Axis story. 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.

Celebrities are making cigarette smoking cool for a new generation, Wicked 2 is poised to blow the box office back to Kansas, and this year's runaway bestseller is the Bible. Slang of the Week: "Cracked" In Other News: The United States House of Representatives and Senate almost unanimously agreed to pass the Epstein Files Transparency Act, which now awaits President Trump's signature. A new study from Gallup found that in 2025, 40% of 15- to 44-year-old women would leave the U.S. permanently if given the opportunity (a slight decrease from 44% in 2024). The Game Awards has announced its nominations for 2025, with the turn-based role-playing game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 receiving 12 total nominations, more than any other game. Gaming company Valve has announced that it will release its own console, the "Steam Machine," which many expect to become a significant challenger to Xbox and PlayStation. The man who jumped the rope to embrace Ariana Grande at the Wicked: For Good movie premiere was sentenced to nine days in prison.   Click to join the Pour Over's Newsletter We'd love to hear from you, fill out this form to share your Axis story. 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.

This interview is with Sarah and Truman Wells, a mom and son who walked through a time of suicidal ideation together, and are now sharing their story together for the first time to help shed light on the real mental health issues that teens and parents are facing.  Axis Resources: Parent Guide to Suicide & Self-Harm Prevention How To Talk About Mental Health With Your Teen A Parent's Guide to Teen Emotion   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.

Three Big Conversations: The limited edition Bearista cup fosters true insanity. - 06:34  Article in Vogue suggests that "having a boyfriend is embarrassing,". - 15:04 The rising popularity of Contemporary Christian Music. - 35:50 Slang of the Week - "Twin" - 01:38 In Other News: - 57:18 The GRAMMY nominations were announced last week, with Gen Z and Alpha notables like sombr and KATSEYE being nominated for Best New Artist. MrBeast is launching a "Beast Land" theme park (in Saudi Arabia). The GOAT of League of Legends, Faker, led his team to their third consecutive World Championship win. The portion of actress Sydney Sweeney's interview with GQ where she was asked to apologize for her American Eagle ad has been turned into a meme format. Dictionary.com has announced its "Word of the Year," and we regret to inform you that it is "67." Click here to see Savannah Bananas - Your Way's Better Dance Click here for our Conversation Kit on Miracles. 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.

The limited edition Bearista cup fosters true insanity, an article in Vogue suggests that "having a boyfriend is embarrassing," and the rising popularity of Contemporary Christian Music. Slang of the Week - "Twin" In Other News: The GRAMMY nominations were announced last week, with Gen Z and Alpha notables like sombr and KATSEYE being nominated for Best New Artist. MrBeast is launching a "Beast Land" theme park (in Saudi Arabia). The GOAT of League of Legends, Faker, led his team to their third consecutive World Championship win. The portion of actress Sydney Sweeney's interview with GQ where she was asked to apologize for her American Eagle ad has been turned into a meme format. Dictionary.com has announced its "Word of the Year," and we regret to inform you that it is "67." Click here to see Savannah Bananas - Your Way's Better Dance Click here for our Conversation Kit on Miracles. 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 need some help! My son is struggling to make friends at his new school and is running to video games. It's hard to get him to share and open up. He's not eating a lot, I think he might be depressed. What should I do?" - Justin Dr. Mayfield is a former pastor, award-winning author, speaker, certified master Christian coach, mental health counselor, and Assistant Professor of Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Colorado Christian University. To see more of Dr. Mayfield's resources click here. Click here to check out Dr. Mayfield's podcast - Mental Health Made simple 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: Tech company 1X debuts a $20,000 robot to help with chores around the house. - 18:30 Changes in SNAP eligibility requirements will impact minors. - 39:17 Teens say luxury is a feeling, not a price tag.- 48:24 Song of the Week - "Dracula" - Tame Impala - 1:20 Elsewhere in culture: - 58:16 The video game Arc Raiders had a  very successful launch, signaling a growing preference in gaming for the "extraction shooter."Spotify is being sued for using bots to artificially increase streaming numbers, with rapper Drake being named as an artist who benefited. Popular and problematic AI chatbot site character.ai ended the ability for teens to chat with bots, a restriction that is likely to be ineffective, based on… all of internet history. Popular publication Teen Vogue is being absorbed into Vogue, but Axis will continue to help you understand teen culture, fear not! The LA Dodgers won the World Series this week as viewership for America's pastime surged back after weaker numbers in previous years. 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.

Tech company 1X debuts a $20,000 robot to help with chores around the house, changes in SNAP eligibility requirements will impact minors, and teens say luxury is a feeling, not a price tag. Song of the Week - "Dracula" - Tame Impala Elsewhere in culture: The video game Arc Raiders had a very successful launch, signaling a growing preference in gaming for the "extraction shooter."Spotify is being sued for using bots to artificially increase streaming numbers, with rapper Drake being named as an artist who benefited. Popular and problematic AI chatbot site character.ai ended the ability for teens to chat with bots, a restriction that is likely to be ineffective, based on… all of internet history. Popular publication Teen Vogue is being absorbed into Vogue, but Axis will continue to help you understand teen culture, fear not! The LA Dodgers won the World Series this week as viewership for America's pastime surged back after weaker numbers in previous years. 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.

The Big Conversation: It is Mental Health November and we're releasing a whole suite of content aimed to helping parents and caring adults enter into conversations about mental health with wisdom for the next generation. Look in this feed for many more episodes with resources regarding this topic!  Click here for A Parents Guide to Anxiety Click here for Dr. Preston Sprinkle & Laurie Krieg on Helping Kids Navigate a Sexually Broken Culture 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.

Three Big Conversations: The new Frankenstein movie hits theaters. -  Deep-dive into the pornography-obsessed subculture known as "gooning,". - Why high-potency marijuana use is landing some users in the ER. -  Song of the Week - "The Fate of Ophelia" - Taylor Swift - Click here for the lyrics. -  Elsewhere in Culture: -  For the first time since 1990, there are no rap songs on the Billboard Top 40—marking the end of a 35-year streak. K-pop sensation BTS will end their three-year hiatus next year, embarking on a tour and releasing new music. A high school teacher went viral with a post on TikTok that showed the extreme way students reacted to his instruction to write a five-sentence paragraph.The as-yet-unidentified jewelry robbers who pulled off a heist at the Louvre were the topic of this week's social media fascination. YouTube is adding more content restrictions to better protect minors from encountering two types of content: online gambling and video games that depict graphic violence.  Check out our Ask Axis episode "How do I talk to my adult son about porn and screen addiction?" Check out Fight the New Drug for teens. Check out Pure Desire for adults. Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

The new Frankenstein movie hits theaters, a deep-dive into the pornography-obsessed subculture known as "gooning," and why high-potency marijuana use is landing some users in the ER. Song of the Week - "The Fate of Ophelia" - Taylor Swift Click here for the lyrics. Elsewhere in Culture: For the first time since 1990, there are no rap songs on the Billboard Top 40—marking the end of a 35-year streak. K-pop sensation BTS will end their three-year hiatus next year, embarking on a tour and releasing new music. A high school teacher went viral with a post on TikTok that showed the extreme way students reacted to his instruction to write a five-sentence paragraph.The as-yet-unidentified jewelry robbers who pulled off a heist at the Louvre were the topic of this week's social media fascination. YouTube is adding more content restrictions to better protect minors from encountering two types of content: online gambling and video games that depict graphic violence.  Check out our Ask Axis episode "How do I talk to my adult son about porn and screen addiction?" Check out Fight the New Drug for teens. Check out Pure Desire for adults. Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

"My daughter was given a deck of tarot cards. She says that they are simply self refelction tools but there is a lot of information that says they are a dangerous form of divination. Can you elaborate on this and other popular practices that seem like witchcraft?" Click here for the book - The Gift of Being Yourself Click here for the Parents Guide to Hearding From God 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: Why TikTokers are talking about being in "Group 7". - 9:00 A decrease in the number of young people self-identifying as trans and nonbinary. - 17:30 What it means that over half of the internet's articles are now written by AI. - 33:20 Resource of the Week -  Conversation Kit on Miracles - 02:18 Elsewhere in culture: - 52:54 Colleen Hoover, the #BookTok author of It Ends With Us, has another movie adaptation coming out this week called Regretting You. Twitch streamer Emiru was forcefully grabbed by a large man at TwitchCon, and has sworn off future participation in their conference because of how Twitch handled it. The massive power outage at AWS (Amazon Web Services), impacting the functionality of apps, banks, and alarm clocks (just to name a few), is sparking new conversations about the potential dangers of tech monopoly. MrBeast reportedly filed a trademark application for "MrBeast Financial," leading many to suspect that Jimmy Donaldson's newest stunt might be starting his own bank. A trending meme uses a drawing of the White Rabbit (from Alice in Wonderland) pointing at a clock to joke about how much time people do (or don't) have left. Click here for the Interview Dr. Jean Twenge on 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World 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.

Why TikTokers are talking about being in "Group 7," a decrease in the number of young people self-identifying as trans and nonbinary, and what it means that over half of the internet's articles are now written by AI. Resource of the Week -  Conversation Kit on Miracles Elsewhere in culture: Colleen Hoover, the #BookTok author of It Ends With Us, has another movie adaptation coming out this week called Regretting You. Twitch streamer Emiru was forcefully grabbed by a large man at TwitchCon, and has sworn off future participation in their conference because of how Twitch handled it. The massive power outage at AWS (Amazon Web Services), impacting the functionality of apps, banks, and alarm clocks (just to name a few), is sparking new conversations about the potential dangers of tech monopoly. MrBeast reportedly filed a trademark application for "MrBeast Financial," leading many to suspect that Jimmy Donaldson's newest stunt might be starting his own bank. A trending meme uses a drawing of the White Rabbit (from Alice in Wonderland) pointing at a clock to joke about how much time people do (or don't) have left. Click here for the Interview Dr. Jean Twenge on 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.

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. Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

Three Big Conversations: #WitchTok is upset at Crock-Pot for not releasing a cauldron. - 07:50 New studies about how spiritual yearning changes with age. - 21:35 Sora becomes the most-downloaded free app in the Apple App Store. - 38:33 Meme of the Week: "The lion does not concern himself…" The phrase "the lion does not concern himself with [thing X]" has been gaining popularity on TikTok and Instagram over the last few weeks. The phrase itself entered the lexicon thanks to Game of Thrones. However, in recent days, it's turned into an ironic way to justify personal preferences (Ex. "The lioness does not concern herself with onions on her In-N-Out burgers.") or avoiding basic responsibilities (Ex. "The lion does not concern himself with folding laundry."). Elsewhere in culture:  Streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker sparked controversy in the streaming world after he appeared to use a shock collar on his dog while streaming. The new EA game Battlefield 6 is having a very successful first week, setting it up to potentially dethrone Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as the go-to first-person-shooter this holiday season. Popular shonen anime My Hero Academia begins its final season this weekend. In fact, it's a big season for season premieres of popular anime in general. Swifties are up-in-arms over Taylor Swift's alleged use of AI in her promo videos for her new album The Life of a Showgirl. Instagram announced a policy going into effect later this year that attempts to limit teens' accounts to only show content that would appear in PG-13 movies, a rating system Meta called "familiar to parents." Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

#WitchTok is upset at Crock-Pot for not releasing a cauldron, new studies about how spiritual yearning changes with age, and Sora becomes the most-downloaded free app in the Apple App Store. Meme of the Week: "The lion does not concern himself…"  The phrase "the lion does not concern himself with [thing X]" has been gaining popularity on TikTok and Instagram over the last few weeks. The phrase itself entered the lexicon thanks to Game of Thrones. However, in recent days, it's turned into an ironic way to justify personal preferences (Ex. "The lioness does not concern herself with onions on her In-N-Out burgers.") or avoiding basic responsibilities (Ex. "The lion does not concern himself with folding laundry."). Elsewhere in culture:  Streamer and political commentator Hasan Piker sparked controversy in the streaming world after he appeared to use a shock collar on his dog while streaming. The new EA game Battlefield 6 is having a very successful first week, setting it up to potentially dethrone Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 as the go-to first-person-shooter this holiday season. Popular shonen anime My Hero Academia begins its final season this weekend. In fact, it's a big season for season premieres of popular anime in general. Swifties are up-in-arms over Taylor Swift's alleged use of AI in her promo videos for her new album The Life of a Showgirl. Instagram announced a policy going into effect later this year that attempts to limit teens' accounts to only show content that would appear in PG-13 movies, a rating system Meta called "familiar to parents." Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

"My daughter has been trying to wear the gothic style in her clothes and makeup. I have explained several times the roots of this fashion but she doesn't believe me. How could I help her to understad and to follow the Bible messages about all this stuff?" - Laura Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. 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. Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. 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 "pi**er" trend has hit college campuses, with students posting viral clips of public urination and even sparking "pi**er 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 "pi**er" trend has hit college campuses, with students posting viral clips of public urination and even sparking "pi**er 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.

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:  A new trend involves young men calling each other to say goodnight (11:22) A supposedly haunted doll named Annabelle is blamed for a plantation burning down (33:20) 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.