Podcasts by Category
- 880 - Roundtable: The Cornell Seven, Chivalrymaxxing, and The Love Hypothesis
Three Big Conversations:
- The Love Hypothesis proves true on Amazon - 12:14 Match goes all in on a Christian dating app called Upward- 24:10 a civil lawsuit against Cornell raises hard questions about rape culture. - 47:28
Song of the Week - Patient Zero by Taylor Swift - 1:04
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here for the content warnings for The Love Hypothesis
In Other News: - 54:12
An AI influencer named Jean Philanthrope has been going viral, and large swathes of the internet seem to believe that this ridiculously haired shadow-boxing character is real. He (it) also recently began promoting a cryptocurrency meme coin. The US Senate approved a bill to help regulate the wild world of the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era of college sports.YouTube now has streaming rights to Coachella through 2030. So in the future, if you want to watch Justin Bieber singing along to his old YouTube videos, you'll also have to be on YouTube.The MTV VMAs took place this weekend. The New York Times said the entire show begs the question, "Remember when MTV still mattered?" Ouch. Now that he has conquered the medium of writing with the help of James Patterson('s ghostwriter), MrBeast continues to diversify his brand. Next up, he has filed a trademark application for "Beast Bands," which are wearable activity trackers à la Oura rings or Fitbits.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 02 Oct 2026 - 59min - 879 - CT: The Cornell Seven, Chivalrymaxxing, and The Love Hypothesis
The Love Hypothesis proves true on Amazon, Match goes all in on a Christian dating app called Upward, and a civil lawsuit against Cornell raises hard questions about rape culture.
Song of the Week - "Patient Zero" by Taylor Swift
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here for the content warnings for The Love Hypothesis
In Other News:
An AI influencer named Jean Philanthrope has been going viral, and large swathes of the internet seem to believe that this ridiculously haired shadow-boxing character is real. He (it) also recently began promoting a cryptocurrency meme coin. The US Senate approved a bill to help regulate the wild world of the NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) era of college sports.YouTube now has streaming rights to Coachella through 2030. So in the future, if you want to watch Justin Bieber singing along to his old YouTube videos, you'll also have to be on YouTube.The MTV VMAs took place this weekend. The New York Times said the entire show begs the question, "Remember when MTV still mattered?" Ouch. Now that he has conquered the medium of writing with the help of James Patterson('s ghostwriter), MrBeast continues to diversify his brand. Next up, he has filed a trademark application for "Beast Bands," which are wearable activity trackers à la Oura rings or Fitbits.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 01 Oct 2026 - 14min - 878 - Roundtable: Gerwig's Narnia, Sports Betting, and Iced Lattes in Job Interviews
Three Big Conversations:
- Generations are divided over bringing iced coffee to job interviews - 6:33 new details about Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Narnia are making some fans uncomfortable - 21:01 sports betting is being called "the new opioid crisis." - 33:20
Meme of the Week: Verity - 1:08
Click → Parent Guide to Sports Betting
Click → The Conversation Starter
Click → The Gospel of Risk-Taking: What Gambling Apps Get Wrong (and Right) with Abby Perry
In Other News: - 45:34
Taylor Swift released four new songs today as part of her The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore album, including a song called "Cleveland!" CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are suing the Trump administration on First Amendment grounds to regain White House access. President Trump said the ban was due to "negative coverage." After 23 weeks, Ella Langley's song "Choosin' Texas" has been crowned the longest-running No. 1 U.S. hit of all time. A new app called ScrollEd is turning textbooks into TikTok-inspired FYP feeds full of summaries and micro-quizzes. Purple, plaid, and zebra print are in for fall, according to InStyle. Skinny jeans are also back. We're sorry.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 25 Sep 2026 - 48min - 877 - CT: Gerwig's Narnia, Sports Betting, and Iced Lattes in Job Interviews
Generations are divided over bringing iced coffee to job interviews, new details about Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Narnia are making some fans uncomfortable, and sports betting is being called "the new opioid crisis."
Meme of the Week: Verity
Click → Parent Guide to Sports Betting
Click → The Conversation Starter
Click → The Gospel of Risk-Taking: What Gambling Apps Get Wrong (and Right) with Abby Perry
In Other News:
Taylor Swift released four new songs today as part of her The Life of a Showgirl: The Encore album, including a song called "Cleveland!" CNN, MS NOW, and Politico are suing the Trump administration on First Amendment grounds to regain White House access. President Trump said the ban was due to "negative coverage." After 23 weeks, Ella Langley's song "Choosin' Texas" has been crowned the longest-running No. 1 U.S. hit of all time. A new app called ScrollEd is turning textbooks into TikTok-inspired FYP feeds full of summaries and micro-quizzes. Purple, plaid, and zebra print are in for fall, according to InStyle. Skinny jeans are also back. We're sorry.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 24 Sep 2026 - 09min - 876 - Roundtable: Another Sydney Sweeney Ad, Charlie Kirk Memes, and Why Kids Don't Want to Be Influencers
Three Big Conversations:
- Sydney Sweeney released a borderline pornographic commercial for Novig - 3:18 what the memes about Charlie Kirk may really mean - 19:52 why not every tween wants to grow up to be a YouTuber. - 33:20
Resource of the Week: "Breaking the Algorithm" - 00:46
→ Click here to watch the first episode
→ Click here to read the discussion guide
In Other News: - 46:38
Whispering the phrase "go play" has become a way to tell someone to leave you alone, with the implication that they are being childish.
Rapper Macklemore was removed from being the opening act for Ed Sheeran's tour after saying "Free Palestine" from the stage.
The comedy-horror series Widow's Bay dominated the Emmys this past Monday, taking home 14 total awards—including the top prize for the comedy genre, Outstanding Comedy Series.
A recent study from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression asked college students whether violence was an acceptable way to stop controversial speakers. 3% said "always," 12% said "sometimes," and 16% said "rarely." These numbers are down from last year, in which 34% total agreed that violence may sometimes be acceptable.
The indie band Bon Iver has apparently written a jingle to help promote "meatloaf dippers" at Howard's Bar in Minnesota.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 18 Sep 2026 - 49min - 875 - CT: Another Sydney Sweeney Ad, Charlie Kirk Memes, and Why Kids Don't Want to Be Influencers
Sydney Sweeney released a borderline pornographic commercial for Novig, what the memes about Charlie Kirk may really mean, and why not every tween wants to grow up to be a YouTuber.
Resource of the Week: "Breaking the Algorithm"
→ Click here to watch the first episode
→ Click here to read the discussion guide
In Other News:
Whispering the phrase "go play" has become a way to tell someone to leave you alone, with the implication that they are being childish.
Rapper Macklemore was removed from being the opening act for Ed Sheeran's tour after saying "Free Palestine" from the stage.
The comedy-horror series Widow's Bay dominated the Emmys this past Monday, taking home 14 total awards—including the top prize for the comedy genre, Outstanding Comedy Series.
A recent study from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression asked college students whether violence was an acceptable way to stop controversial speakers. 3% said "always," 12% said "sometimes," and 16% said "rarely." These numbers are down from last year, in which 34% total agreed that violence may sometimes be acceptable.
The indie band Bon Iver has apparently written a jingle to help promote "meatloaf dippers" at Howard's Bar in Minnesota.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 17 Sep 2026 - 08min - 874 - Roundtable: The Lindsay Clancy Mistrial, Alix Earle, and 9/11
Three Big Conversations:
- Polymarket bettors made money off the Lindsay Clancy mistrial- 05:21 an immersive history project is about to recap 9/11 for an audience who can't remember it - 28:28 Alix Earle's reality show focuses on her family - 38:06
Meme of the Week: "We'll Drive A Funky Ehh" - 00:48
In Other News: - 51:50
Teens are reading plenty of texts, but maybe not the kind of texts we'd wish for. A new assessment found that reading slumped to its very lowest levels this century, with a surge in screen time linked to the decline. Goodbye Shakespeare. A recent article in The Guardian made the case that the podcast "Girls Gone Bible" is basically the conservative Christian version of Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast.Olivia Rodrigo has officially entered her LEGO era. She is the first musician to have multiple LEGO sets based around her music, with 5 builds inspired by her albums and some of her most iconic tour moments. We wouldn't be surprised if these start showing up on Christmas lists! Apple is making foldable iPhones now. Grab one on October 23 for the low, low price of $1,999. When asked his favorite book in an interview with his wife Hailey, Justin Bieber said, "The Bible." Same.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 11 Sep 2026 - 57min - 873 - CT: The Lindsay Clancy Mistrial, Alix Earle, and 9/11
Alix Earle's reality show focuses on her family, Polymarket bettors made money off the Lindsay Clancy mistrial, and an immersive history project is about to recap 9/11 for an audience who can't remember it.
Meme of the Week: "We'll Drive A Funky Ehh"
In Other News:
Teens are reading plenty of texts, but maybe not the kind of texts we'd wish for. A new assessment found that reading slumped to its very lowest levels this century, with a surge in screen time linked to the decline. Goodbye Shakespeare. A recent article in The Guardian made the case that the podcast "Girls Gone Bible" is basically the conservative Christian version of Alex Cooper's "Call Her Daddy" podcast.Olivia Rodrigo has officially entered her LEGO era. She is the first musician to have multiple LEGO sets based around her music, with 5 builds inspired by her albums and some of her most iconic tour moments. We wouldn't be surprised if these start showing up on Christmas lists! Apple is making foldable iPhones now. Grab one on October 23 for the low, low price of $1,999. When asked his favorite book in an interview with his wife Hailey, Justin Bieber said, "The Bible." Same.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 11 Sep 2026 - 09min - 872 - The Gospel of Risk-Taking: What Gambling Apps Get Wrong (and Right) with Abby Perry
Abby Perry is a writer, editor, researcher, and reporter based in Texas. She has collaborated with Bustle, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Sojourners, Christ and Pop Culture, and Common Good Magazine, among many other organizations. She is also a mom of two boys. And she was the lead writer and researcher for our new Parent's Guide to Betting Apps (coming soon), which we'll be talking about today.
→ Click here for our Parent's Guide to Betting Apps
→ Click here to see Abby's work
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 08 Sep 2026 - 31min - 871 - Roundtable: Intuition vs. Anxiety, Gen Z Foragers, and Nimrod Workman
Three Big Conversations:
- Gen Z is discovering that intuition is not the same as anxiety - 13:45 poor dead Nimrod Workman never stood a chance - 29:22 the foraging trend is more than just a recession indicator - 37:40
Song of the Week: "serena joy" - 00:46
Click here for the lyrics.
Click here to watch the Conversation Starter episode on analog hobbies amongst teens.
Click here to read the article about Gen Z and foraging from Dazed.
In Other News: - 47:18
People on TikTok are wondering if their boyfriends can read. A new trend involves women filming their boyfriends as they attempt to say words like "epitome," "fuchsia," or "paradigm" correctly. Pumpkin spice is over. Matcha and chai seem to be outperforming the once-beloved fall beverage. Other novelty flavors like miso-caramel, brown-butter honey and smoked butterscotch are also crowding out the once-beloved PSL, according to The Washington Post. Searches for CD players are up 96% since July, The Guardian reports. Demand for CD recordings of artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, and Olivia Dean is driving the skyrocketing demand. Professional gamers, also called esports players, are dealing with injuries similar to those of assembly-line workers: hand and wrist pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis. A new term just dropped. A "meat proxy" is someone who shares AI-generated text with somebody without reading it—operating as the go-between for the other person and the AI system, according to Business Insider (paywall).
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 04 Sep 2026 - 51min - 870 - CT: Intuition vs. Anxiety, Gen Z Foragers, and Nimrod Workman
Gen Z is discovering that intuition is not the same as anxiety, poor dead Nimrod Workman never stood a chance, and the foraging trend is more than just a recession indicator.
Song of the Week:"serena joy"
Click here for the lyrics.
Click here to watch the Conversation Starter episode on analog hobbies amongst teens.
Click here to read the article about Gen Z and foraging from Dazed.
In Other News:
People on TikTok are wondering if their boyfriends can read. A new trend involves women filming their boyfriends as they attempt to say words like "epitome," "fuchsia," or "paradigm" correctly. Pumpkin spice is over. Matcha and chai seem to be outperforming the once-beloved fall beverage. Other novelty flavors like miso-caramel, brown-butter honey and smoked butterscotch are also crowding out the once-beloved PSL, according to The Washington Post. Searches for CD players are up 96% since July, The Guardian reports. Demand for CD recordings of artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Ariana Grande, and Olivia Dean is driving the skyrocketing demand. Professional gamers, also called esports players, are dealing with injuries similar to those of assembly-line workers: hand and wrist pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and tendonitis. A new term just dropped. A "meat proxy" is someone who shares AI-generated text with somebody without reading it—operating as the go-between for the other person and the AI system, according to Business Insider (paywall).
memes about World War 3.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 03 Sep 2026 - 13min - 869 - The Invitation for Ministry and Discipleship in Youth Sports with Brian Smith + Ed Uszynski
Today my guests are Brian Smith and Ed Uszynski. They are the authors of a book called Away Game, and they also are a part of Athletes in Action and organization that helps parents and coaches disciple teens through sports.
Click here to get their book!
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 01 Sep 2026 - 53min - 868 - Roundtable: Dolly Parton, Meta's Lawsuit Settlement, and Back-to-School Fashion
Three Big Conversations:
- Meta settles lawsuits with an $18 billion pledge to make social media safer - 06:08 what Gen Alpha is wearing for the back-to-school season - 18:30 the legacy of the beloved country music singer Dolly Parton - 29:52
Song of the Week: "Loser" by Tame Impala - 00:46
→ Click here to read the lyrics (language)
→ Click here to see the video (language)
In Other News: - 39:48
Australia's much-touted social media ban for teenagers is falling apart (paywall) as state authorities find it impossible to outsmart the tech prowess of fifteen-year-olds. Naur! China's big box office winner this week was made on a shoestring budget. The plot is a dream about a cow, or a dream of a cow, or perhaps a cow's dream. The movie was praised for its "craftsmanship." According to data from Eventbrite, events advertising shared hobbies (think mahjong or birdwatching) as "meet cutes," or chances to meet potential romantic partners, increased by 117% over the last year. Fanfiction publishing platform Wattpad, a longtime haven for teens experimenting with fanfiction, updated its content guidelines. Some users were convinced (incorrectly) that Wattpad would no longer host sexually explicit content and fled to another platform called AO3. The Olivia Rodrigo-backed Daisy Chain Festival will take place in Irvine, California, this weekend. The music festival is also a charity benefit and will feature an all-female lineup of musicians, including Doechii, Bikini Kill, Mitski, Katseye, and even the OG female-led festival queen, Sarah McLachlan.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 28 Aug 2026 - 46min - 867 - CT: Dolly Parton, Meta's Lawsuit Settlement, and Back-to-School Fashion
Meta settles lawsuits with an $18 billion pledge to make social media safer, what Gen Alpha is wearing for the back-to-school season, and the legacy of the beloved country music singer Dolly Parton.
Song of the Week: "Loser" by Tame Impala
→ Click here to read the lyrics (language)
→ Click here to see the video (language)
In Other News:
Australia's much-touted social media ban for teenagers is falling apart (paywall) as state authorities find it impossible to outsmart the tech prowess of fifteen-year-olds. Naur! China's big box office winner this week was made on a shoestring budget. The plot is a dream about a cow, or a dream of a cow, or perhaps a cow's dream. The movie was praised for its "craftsmanship." According to data from Eventbrite, events advertising shared hobbies (think mahjong or birdwatching) as "meet cutes," or chances to meet potential romantic partners, increased by 117% over the last year. Fanfiction publishing platform Wattpad, a longtime haven for teens experimenting with fanfiction, updated its content guidelines. Some users were convinced (incorrectly) that Wattpad would no longer host sexually explicit content and fled to another platform called AO3. The Olivia Rodrigo-backed Daisy Chain Festival will take place in Irvine, California, this weekend. The music festival is also a charity benefit and will feature an all-female lineup of musicians, including Doechii, Bikini Kill, Mitski, Katseye, and even the OG female-led festival queen, Sarah McLachlan.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 27 Aug 2026 - 09min - 866 - Katie Kelley on Tech in Schools, Rescuing Critical Thinking, and What Gives Her Hope
Katie M. Kelley is a writer, teacher, a lifelong learner, and a mother to eight in a beautifully blended family. She has been a longtime member of the Coffee + Crumbs writing team as well as the podcast co-host, and is the author of three books: Gluing the Cracks, The Very Best Baseball Game, and her most recent book, Grace Will Be There.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 25 Aug 2026 - 33min - 865 - Roundtable: That's AI, The End of Oak Street, and Student Literacy Rates
Three Big Conversations:
- Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor debut their new dinosaur movie - 02:32 "that's AI" is the ultimate burn from Gen Alpha - 14:22 how one teacher found a way to get his students reading again.- 29:30
Resource of the Week: Podcast Episode - How to Do What We Do - 00:58
→ Click here to listen to our episode on: Educating Humans in the Age of AI (with Professor Jeffrey Bilbro)
In Other News: - 43:00
This week in AI: In light of concerns about romantic involvement with chatbots, "ChatGPT for Teens" is being marketed as a homework helper that limits "the emotional and intimate exchanges between young people and AI." Robbie Torney from Common Sense Media argues that we should remain cautious until we have actual evidence that these features have been turned off. This week in dopamine: South Korean websites like "Dopamine Shop" and "FoodNeverComes" allow users to "pay" for clothes or food, and still feel like they're getting "retail therapy," without having to spend any money (because the products aren't real). This week in arson: "Prediction market" Polymarket has enabled users to bet on the outcome of wildfires, which historian Jamie Pietruska rightly labels as a "perverse incentive." This week in fabric: The word "polyester" has become a new way for Gen Z to call something out as low-quality or cheap. But you know what's worse than that? Wool and linen, woven together. This week in fabric, again: An article in Teen Vogue suggests that "poetcore" (aka Dark Academia's "cozier, more relaxed cousin") and "vintage 90s mall fashion" will be some of the biggest fashion trends this semester. On a completely unrelated note, here's The Guardian on how social media has "automated individual taste into oblivion."
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 21 Aug 2026 - 47min - 864 - CT: That's AI, The End of Oak Street, and Student Literacy Rates
Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor debut their new dinosaur movie, "that's AI" is the ultimate burn from Gen Alpha, and how one teacher found a way to get his students reading again.
Resource of the Week: Podcast Episode - How to Do What We Do
→ Click here to listen to our episode on: Educating Humans in the Age of AI (with Professor Jeffrey Bilbro)
In Other News:
This week in AI: In light of concerns about romantic involvement with chatbots, "ChatGPT for Teens" is being marketed as a homework helper that limits "the emotional and intimate exchanges between young people and AI." Robbie Torney from Common Sense Media argues that we should remain cautious until we have actual evidence that these features have been turned off. This week in dopamine: South Korean websites like "Dopamine Shop" and "FoodNeverComes" allow users to "pay" for clothes or food, and still feel like they're getting "retail therapy," without having to spend any money (because the products aren't real). This week in arson: "Prediction market" Polymarket has enabled users to bet on the outcome of wildfires, which historian Jamie Pietruska rightly labels as a "perverse incentive." This week in fabric: The word "polyester" has become a new way for Gen Z to call something out as low-quality or cheap. But you know what's worse than that? Wool and linen, woven together. This week in fabric, again: An article in Teen Vogue suggests that "poetcore" (aka Dark Academia's "cozier, more relaxed cousin") and "vintage 90s mall fashion" will be some of the biggest fashion trends this semester. On a completely unrelated note, here's The Guardian on how social media has "automated individual taste into oblivion."
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 20 Aug 2026 - 10min - 863 - Keeping Up With Culture 101: How to Do What We Do
This week, the Axis team pulls back the curtain on how and why we do culture research. That's right, we're sharing all our secrets.
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 18 Aug 2026 - 21min - 862 - Roundtable: Hoodies, Back to School, and the "No Influencers" Sign
Three Big Conversations:
- Back to school season is officially upon us - 11:42 Hoodies are the new T-shirt for Gen Z - 23:31 A store in Nantucket's "No Influencers" sign sparks a debate - 35:26
Song of the Week: "oh yeah?" by Steve Lacy (language) - 1:00
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News: - 46:10
Spotify will add an "AI Persona" label on AI artists. In addition to flagging AI-generated content for users, these personas will be excluded from the company's algorithmic recommendations. The summer box office has earned $4 billion for the second time since COVID, thanks to hits like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, and other blockbusters. Olivia Rodrigo played for a crowd of 1,000 in Brooklyn last week. Tickets were purchased at the box office that day for only $25. Compare this to her ticket prices for The Unraveled Tour (up to $1,100). Some grandparents have taken to unknowingly gifting their grandkids AI-generated slop books, to the consternation of many parents. A new rom-com, One Night Only, imagines a world where Congress has outlawed premarital sex. But for one night a year, the ban is lifted. You can read the content warnings here.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 14 Aug 2026 - 49min - 861 - CT: Hoodies, Back to School, and the "No Influencers" Sign
Hoodies are the new T-shirt for Gen Z, a store in Nantucket's "No Influencers" sign sparks a debate, and back to school season is officially upon us.
Song of the Week: "oh yeah?" by Steve Lacy (language)
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News:
Spotify will add an "AI Persona" label on AI artists. In addition to flagging AI-generated content for users, these personas will be excluded from the company's algorithmic recommendations. The summer box office has earned $4 billion for the second time since COVID, thanks to hits like Spider-Man: Brand New Day, The Odyssey, and other blockbusters. Olivia Rodrigo played for a crowd of 1,000 in Brooklyn last week. Tickets were purchased at the box office that day for only $25. Compare this to her ticket prices for The Unraveled Tour (up to $1,100). Some grandparents have taken to unknowingly gifting their grandkids AI-generated slop books, to the consternation of many parents. A new rom-com, One Night Only, imagines a world where Congress has outlawed premarital sex. But for one night a year, the ban is lifted. You can read the content warnings here.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 - 11min - 860 - Pop Culture, Propaganda, and Philosophy (with Professor Bruce McCluggage)
Bruce McCluggage is a Professor of Philosophy at Pikes Peak State College, and a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary.
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→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 11 Aug 2026 - 48min - 859 - Roundtable: Spider-Man, Ariana Grande, and Hank Green
Three Big Conversations:
- Ariana Grande announces a break from public life - 7:56 history writer and influencer Hank Green faces backlash for using AI tools - 22:08 Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a wild opening weekend - 33:02
Slang of the Week: Larping - 00:58
In Other News: - 47:40
The current owners of Myspace (Tim and Chris Vanderhook) announced that they plan to relaunch the classic social media platform, though they did not say when. Let the record reflect that we are on the edge of our seats. According to the Wall Street Journal, this summer's "hottest drink" is officially a bottle of water. Try some today for $6!Vogue, on the other hand, has argued that the drink of the summer is "banana-milk coffee." And right behind that one: durian-mustard maté. Netflix is getting sued for $105 million for losing an unencrypted copy of Nicolas Cage's WWII film Fortitude. Kind of like we might lose a few subscribers after that obscure fruit-caffeine joke in point three. Finally, Christianity Today agrees with us that Instagram Plus is really just Instagram Minus. So glad our own Jenna Mindel was on the case!
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Fri, 07 Aug 2026 - 51min - 858 - CT: Spider-Man, Ariana Grande, and Hank Green
Ariana Grande announces a break from public life, history writer and influencer Hank Green faces backlash for using AI tools, and Spider-Man: Brand New Day has a wild opening weekend.
Slang of the Week: Larping
→ Click to see our interview on Educating Humans in the Age of AI (with Professor Jeffrey Bilbro)
In Other News:
The current owners of Myspace (Tim and Chris Vanderhook) announced that they plan to relaunch the classic social media platform, though they did not say when. Let the record reflect that we are on the edge of our seats. According to the Wall Street Journal, this summer's "hottest drink" is officially a bottle of water. Try some today for $6!Vogue, on the other hand, has argued that the drink of the summer is "banana-milk coffee." And right behind that one: durian-mustard maté. Netflix is getting sued for $105 million for losing an unencrypted copy of Nicolas Cage's WWII film Fortitude. Kind of like we might lose a few subscribers after that obscure fruit-caffeine joke in point three. Finally, Christianity Today agrees with us that Instagram Plus is really just Instagram Minus. So glad our own Jenna Mindel was on the case!
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 06 Aug 2026 - 09min - 857 - Educating Humans in the Age of AI (with Professor Jeffrey Bilbro)
Jeffrey is the editor-in-chief of Front Porch Republic and associate professor of English at Grove City College. He is the author of several books, including Reading the Times: A Literary and Theological Inquiry Into the News, which we'll be discussing today.
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Tue, 04 Aug 2026 - 33min - 856 - Roundtable: The Odyssey, AI Videos of Christians Getting Bullied, and Majoring in Content Creation
Three Big Conversations:
- Arizona State University offers a B.A. in Content Creation - 11:26 AI-generated videos of Christians getting bullied go viral - 20:48 What The Odyssey and C.S. Lewis have in common - 29:12
Song of the Week: "Be Her" by Ella Langley - 01:10
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News: - 37:24
Marvel will re-release Avengers: Endgame in theaters on September 25 with seven minutes of extra footage and a never-before-seen ending, connecting the movie to Avengers: Doomsday, giving fans another reason to spend money revisit the highest-grossing superhero movie of all time. Nearly half of middle and high school-aged teens have seen what they believed to be AI-generated sexual content, according to a new Common Sense Media survey. At Comic-Con this year, Marvel announced that Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a movie directed by Sean Levy, and that Ryan Coogler will return to direct Black Panther 3, with David Jonsson playing the next Black Panther. According to The New York Times, using the phrase "Google it" officially makes you sound old, and the phrase "search it up" is now preferred. Ariana Grande's new album, petal (language), comes out today.
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Fri, 31 Jul 2026 - 41min - 855 - CT: The Odyssey, AI Videos of Christians Getting Bullied, and Majoring in Content Creation
Arizona State University offers a B.A. in Content Creation, AI-generated videos of Christians getting bullied go viral, and what The Odyssey and C.S. Lewis have in common.
Song of the Week: "Be Her" by Ella Langley
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News:
Marvel will re-release Avengers: Endgame in theaters on September 25 with seven minutes of extra footage and a never-before-seen ending, connecting the movie to Avengers: Doomsday, giving fans another reason to spend money revisit the highest-grossing superhero movie of all time. Nearly half of middle and high school-aged teens have seen what they believed to be AI-generated sexual content, according to a new Common Sense Media survey. At Comic-Con this year, Marvel announced that Ryan Gosling will star as Ghost Rider in a movie directed by Sean Levy, and that Ryan Coogler will return to direct Black Panther 3, with David Jonsson playing the next Black Panther. According to The New York Times, using the phrase "Google it" officially makes you sound old, and the phrase "search it up" is now preferred. Ariana Grande's new album, petal (language), comes out today.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 30 Jul 2026 - 12min - 854 - Ask Axis: "The sound of my husband's voice fills my daughter with fear and panic. What do we do?"
"Our daughter has a neurological condition called misophonia which causes severe pain, panic and anger over certain common sounds like chewing and typing. One of the sounds that started triggering her a few years ago was the sound of my husband's voice. How do we navigate this as a family?" - Maria
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 28 Jul 2026 - 16min - 853 - Roundtable: Gracie Abrams, Injectable Peptides, and Kylie Jenner Smartglasses
Three Big Conversations:
- Gen Z musician Gracie Abrams releases an album-long apology to her mom - 05:22 TikTok influencers are promoting injectable weight loss peptides - 16:00 What parents should know about Kylie Jenner's new collaboration with Meta smartglasses - 30:06
Slang of the Week: Quiet on the Creek - 1:06
In Other News: - 49:40
According to the Wall Street Journal, the popularity of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is convincing many students to finally read the epic poem that many English teachers couldn't coax them into reading. A wild raccoon in Seattle with a deformed spine has been dubbed "Jimothy," and has become an inspiration for perseverance in the face of setbacks, with some even getting tattoos (language) of said raccoon. Infamous online "manfluencers" Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami this Saturday, and await extradition to the U.K. for prosecution on rape and sex trafficking grounds. About one-third of people under 35 now live with their parents, according to survey data published by Realtor.com. Several members of Spain's World Cup-winning team, like Torres and Rodri, are publicly crediting God and their Catholic faith for the team's World Cup victory.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 24 Jul 2026 - 53min - 852 - CT: Gracie Abrams, Injectable Peptides, and Kylie Jenner Smartglasses
Gen Z musician Gracie Abrams releases an album-long apology to her mom, TikTok influencers are promoting injectable weight loss peptides, and what parents should know about Kylie Jenner's new collaboration with Meta smartglasses.
Slang of the Week: Quiet on the Creek
In Other News:
According to the Wall Street Journal, the popularity of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is convincing many students to finally read the epic poem that many English teachers couldn't coax them into reading. A wild raccoon in Seattle with a deformed spine has been dubbed "Jimothy," and has become an inspiration for perseverance in the face of setbacks, with some even getting tattoos (language) of said raccoon. Infamous online "manfluencers" Andrew and Tristan Tate were arrested in Miami this Saturday, and await extradition to the U.K. for prosecution on rape and sex trafficking grounds. About one-third of people under 35 now live with their parents, according to survey data published by Realtor.com. Several members of Spain's World Cup-winning team, like Torres and Rodri, are publicly crediting God and their Catholic faith for the team's World Cup victory.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 23 Jul 2026 - 08min - 851 - Jay Stringer on How to Shape Our Kids' Desires
Jay Stringer is a licensed therapist, researcher, and speaker who helps people uncover and reshape the story beneath self-sabotage, disconnection, and shame. He is the award-winning author of Unwanted and lives in New York City with his wife Heather, and their two children. We'll be talking today primarily about his new book Desire: The Longings Inside Us and the New Science of How We Love, Heal, and Grow.
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Tue, 21 Jul 2026 - 52min - 850 - Roundtable: World Cup Semifinals, All-Star Break Complaints, and the Netflix Documentary Trend
Three Big Conversations:
- Argentina is back in the World Cup final - 05:25 MLB's All-Star competitions had some hiccups - 12:14 Everyone online is auditioning for their Netflix documentary debut. - 22:53
Resource of the Week: The Conversation Starter - Where'd All the Tweens Go? - 0:31
In Other News: - 33:54
A parasite that causes extreme digestive upset is maybe the meme of the week (alongside Netflix documentaries). It certainly doesn't help that it's possibly connected to Taco Bell. Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey is out in theaters this weekend. We'll write more about it next week, but for now, the R-rated take on Homer's epic poem is reviewing quite well with critics and audiences. Letterboxd has opened itself (paywall) to being purchased. It's Gen Z's movie review app of choice, and considering how Gen Z showed up to theaters this year, it's pretty valuable to buyers like Netflix and Sony to understand the preferences of young people. Meta rolled out a "feature" that effectively lets you use their AI tools to deepfake users with public accounts. It was promptly rolled back after the internet (rightly) freaked out. Assassin's Creed is back? Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced (a remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag) sold 2 million copies in its first day.
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Fri, 17 Jul 2026 - 36min - 849 - World Cup Semifinals, All-Star Break Complaints, and the Netflix Documentary Trend
Argentina is back in the World Cup final, the MLB's All-Star competitions had some hiccups, and everyone online is auditioning for their Netflix documentary debut.
Resource of the Week: The Conversation Starter - Where'd All the Tweens Go?
In Other News:
A parasite that causes extreme digestive upset is maybe the meme of the week (alongside Netflix documentaries). It certainly doesn't help that it's possibly connected to Taco Bell. Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey is out in theaters this weekend. We'll write more about it next week, but for now, the R-rated take on Homer's epic poem is reviewing quite well with critics and audiences. Letterboxd has opened itself (paywall) to being purchased. It's Gen Z's movie review app of choice, and considering how Gen Z showed up to theaters this year, it's pretty valuable to buyers like Netflix and Sony to understand the preferences of young people. Meta rolled out a "feature" that effectively lets you use their AI tools to deepfake users with public accounts. It was promptly rolled back after the internet (rightly) freaked out. Assassin's Creed is back? Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced (a remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag) sold 2 million copies in its first day.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 16 Jul 2026 - 09min - 848 - "How to Draw Boundaries with media in a Sex Saturated Culture" (w/ Rob Stennett)
"We have been having some difficult and sometimes awkward conversations with our 17 yo old son about sax and masturbation. Along those lines, we've become intensely aware of the quantity of movies and shows with any kind of kissing, romantic or sex scenes. How do you draw boundaries and live in our sex saturated culture? Don't ever watch anything? Get filters and Vid Angel? Fast forward scenes? Just watch whatever and talk a lot? And how does that work when the dialogue seems one-sided? This feels so hard and confusing as a Christian, where do we go from here?" - Orange Worm
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Tue, 14 Jul 2026 - 10min - 847 - Roundtable: Taylor Swift's Wedding, Butter Moms, and Christian Teens Say They Trust AI
→ The podcast has a new YouTube Channel! @axisconversationspodcast
Three Big Conversations:
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married in a garden in The Garden - 08:04 So-called "butter moms" are setting the vibe for a deep-fried summer - 19:00 New data from CIY and Barna gives us insight into how Christian teens are using AI. - 32:20
Slang of the Week: "NPC" - 00:56
In Other News:- 48:00
The round of 16 is officially wrapped in the 2026 World Cup, with all three host countries (Canada, Mexico, and the US) failing to continue. Another notable casualty is Portugal, with global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo saying goodbye to World Cup competition. Building on the trend of hosting in-person experiences, Charli xcx has announced official listening parties, hosted around the world, for her July 24th album, titled Music, Fashion, Film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members, perhaps as an attempt to regain relevance with the rising generation. The new Oscar voters will include Gen Z notables like Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, and Mia Goth. The video game industry continues to be volatile, as Xbox announced this week that they're laying off almost 5,000 employees and "resetting Xbox." While perhaps not indicative of all, trends where young people reject modern "big tech" continue to rise in popularity, like the "Luddite Festival" that took place in New York City last week.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 10 Jul 2026 - 50min - 846 - CT: Taylor Swift's Wedding, Butter Moms, and Christian Teens Say They Trust AI
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married in a garden in The Garden, so-called "butter moms" are setting the vibe for a deep-fried summer, and new data from CIY and Barna gives us insight into how Christian teens are using AI.
Slang of the Week: "NPC"
In Other News:
The round of 16 is officially wrapped in the 2026 World Cup, with all three host countries (Canada, Mexico, and the US) failing to continue. Another notable casualty is Portugal, with global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo saying goodbye to World Cup competition. Building on the trend of hosting in-person experiences, Charli xcx has announced official listening parties, hosted around the world, for her July 24th album, titled Music, Fashion, Film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members, perhaps as an attempt to regain relevance with the rising generation. The new Oscar voters will include Gen Z notables like Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, and Mia Goth. The video game industry continues to be volatile, as Xbox announced this week that they're laying off almost 5,000 employees and "resetting Xbox." While perhaps not indicative of all, trends where young people reject modern "big tech" continue to rise in popularity, like the "Luddite Festival" that took place in New York City last week.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 09 Jul 2026 - 11min - 845 - Rob Stennett on Understanding the Meaning and Impact of the Movies We Watch
Rob Stennett is a graduate of UCLA film school, filmmaker, novelist, and content creator. His work has been recognized with ADDYs for writing and directing. He won the Denver Film Race for best writing, and a SILVER TELLY at the Telly Awards for a feature documentary he wrote and directed. He's created story and video content for brands, churches, and nonprofits all over the world including National Geographic, Compassion International, One Chapel, New Life Church, DISH Network, MLB, Formula 1, and the Discovery Channel, and is also the Owner & Lead Creative of Storyize, and the co-host of the podcast Meaning of the Movie.
→ Click to check out Storyize
→ Click to check out The Meaning of the Movie podcast
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 07 Jul 2026 - 35min - 844 - Roundtable: Gambling Influencers, Concert Diapers, and Instagram Plus
Three Big Conversations:
- The "prediction market" site Polymarket is paying influencers to film themselves pretending to win money - 12:36 Instagram Plus lets users see how many times others rewatched their stories - 24:28 Gen Z faves Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan speak out on fans' bad bathroom habits - 32:36
Song of the Week: "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd - 01:54
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News: - 46:10
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are renting out Madison Square Garden this Fourth of July weekend. While they might be reliving the Knicks' miraculous NBA Finals victory, it's more likely to be related to her wedding. Whether shifting trends in moviegoers' tastes or continued superhero fatigue are to blame, Supergirl seems to be a miss at the box office this summer. Viewership is down significantly for season 2 of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it's far from the only show that seems to be losing viewer interest on Netflix. Sony announced that they are ending production of physical discs for PlayStation games in 2028, a clear marker of consumer preferences and another solemn ring in the death knell of physical media. WNBA star Sophie Cunningham went viral after defiantly pointing at opponent DeWanna Bonner for almost half a minute. Mature? Not really. Internet meme fodder? Absolutely.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 03 Jul 2026 - 49min - 843 - CT: Gambling Influencers, Concert Diapers, and Instagram Plus
The "prediction market" site Polymarket is paying influencers to film themselves pretending to win money, Instagram Plus lets users see how many times others rewatched their stories, and Gen Z faves Olivia Rodrigo and Noah Kahan speak out on fans' bad bathroom habits.
Song of the Week: "Earrings" by Malcolm Todd
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News:
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are renting out Madison Square Garden this Fourth of July weekend. While they might be reliving the Knicks' miraculous NBA Finals victory, it's more likely to be related to her wedding. Whether shifting trends in moviegoers' tastes or continued superhero fatigue are to blame, Supergirl seems to be a miss at the box office this summer. Viewership is down significantly for season 2 of the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender, and it's far from the only show that seems to be losing viewer interest on Netflix. Sony announced that they are ending production of physical discs for PlayStation games in 2028, a clear marker of consumer preferences and another solemn ring in the death knell of physical media. WNBA star Sophie Cunningham went viral after defiantly pointing at opponent DeWanna Bonner for almost half a minute. Mature? Not really. Internet meme fodder? Absolutely.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 02 Jul 2026 - 08min - 842 - "One of my kids is neurodivergent. What does faithful fatherhood look like in the trenches?" (w/ Russ Ewell)
"As dads, how do we stay consistent as disciplers and spiritual taste-makers for our sons when life is chaotic — job transitions, legal battles, financial pressure? My boys are at three completely different stages, one of them neurodivergent, and I want to be shaping their hearts and minds toward Christ even when I'm running on empty. What does faithful fatherhood look like in the trenches?" - Jason
→ Click here for Russ's Book: He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself
→ Click here to see Russ's op-ed with Fox News
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 30 Jun 2026 - 09min - 841 - Roundtable: The World Cup, Toy Story 5, and Solomaxxing
Three Big Conversations:
- More and more Gen Zers embrace singleness - 06:56 Toy Story 5 pits the classic cast of toys against modern technology - 20:32 World Cup tourists go viral for loving the United States - 35:05
Slang of the Week: "Mogging" (language) - 00:53
In Other News: - 46:22
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to the Miami Heat in the biggest NBA trade since Luka Dončić and the Lakers. The deal sends the two- time MVP from Milwaukee to Miami, a change that significantly shifts the league's balance of power. A24, the studio behind Backrooms, is partnering with Google DeepMind in a research partnership to develop AI tools for filmmakers. The studio says the goal is to support artists rather than replace them. Still, the announcement has resulted in many fans canceling paid memberships to AAA24. MECCHA CHAMELEON, a hide- and- seek game where players can paint themselves to blend in, is the first breakout gaming hit of the summer, selling over 7 million copies in 12 days.Tom Holland has officially confirmed that he and Zendaya are married. Speculation about the couple has finally been put to rest as the news spread quickly across social media, where fans reacted to the milestone with excitement. Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are now live, but not without controversy. Many are frustrated by the lack of an actual physical disc in the "physical edition," and by the fact that the $80 version feels inferior, content-wise, to the $100 version.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 26 Jun 2026 - 51min - 840 - CT: The World Cup, Toy Story 5, and Solomaxxing
More and more Gen Zers embrace singleness, Toy Story 5 pits the classic cast of toys against modern technology, and World Cup tourists go viral for loving the United States.
Slang of the Week: "Mogging" (language)
In Other News:
Giannis Antetokounmpo has been traded to the Miami Heat in the biggest NBA trade since Luka Dončić and the Lakers. The deal sends the two- time MVP from Milwaukee to Miami, a change that significantly shifts the league's balance of power. A24, the studio behind Backrooms, is partnering with Google DeepMind in a research partnership to develop AI tools for filmmakers. The studio says the goal is to support artists rather than replace them. Still, the announcement has resulted in many fans canceling paid memberships to AAA24. MECCHA CHAMELEON, a hide- and- seek game where players can paint themselves to blend in, is the first breakout gaming hit of the summer, selling over 7 million copies in 12 days.Tom Holland has officially confirmed that he and Zendaya are married. Speculation about the couple has finally been put to rest as the news spread quickly across social media, where fans reacted to the milestone with excitement. Grand Theft Auto VI pre-orders are now live, but not without controversy. Many are frustrated by the lack of an actual physical disc in the "physical edition," and by the fact that the $80 version feels inferior, content-wise, to the $100 version.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 25 Jun 2026 - 10min - 839 - "I Am a Failure": Inside the Minds of Young Men with Russ Ewell
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Russ Ewell is the Executive Minister of the Bay Area Christian Church and author of "He's Not Who You Think He Is," exploring faith at the edge of modern life. He's also the founder of Deep Spirituality, E-Life, Digital Scribbler, and Hope Technology Group—initiatives addressing spiritual formation, inclusive technologies, and life-span inclusion. With over four decades of leadership experience he helps people discover biblical Christianity that is intellectually serious, emotionally grounding, and transformative. Earlier this year he wrote an op-ed for Fox News about how 40 years as a pastor is shaping his perspective on why so many young men in America are struggling. We'll primarily be talking about that today.
→ Click here for Russ's Book: He's Not Who You Think He Is: Dropping Your Assumptions and Discovering God for Yourself
→ Click here to see Russ's op-ed with Fox News
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 23 Jun 2026 - 38min - 838 - Roundtable: Olivia Rodrigo, Disclosure Day, and Fatherhood
Three Big Conversations:
- Olivia Rodrigo's new album soars to the top of the charts - 08:52 More dads seem to be opting way into fatherhood - 19:14 Disclosure Day raises important questions about faith - 40:42
Song of the Week: I Knew It, I Knew You - Taylor Swift - 02:16
→ Click here to read the lyrics.
In Other News: - 48:50
The United Kingdom has introduced a law to ban social media access for children under 16 in early 2027, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and X. "Overstimulated" has become the most used "therapy speak" (paywall) term among Gen Z (ages 13-24), often used as a shorthand for feeling overwhelmed. Kool-Aid-soaked pineapple has become one of summer's biggest TikTok food trends. Inspiring thousands of videos and turning one kid's review, "dat bih gah" (that b**** is gas) into a viral meme. Malls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, theme parks, and even many stores are banning teens who aren't accompanied by an adult, pointing out concerns about fights, theft, and disruptive behavior. With fewer third spaces available, many teens are finding it harder to connect with friends in person. Lionel Messi scored three goals (a "hat trick") in Argentina's World Cup opener, matching Miroslav Klose's record for the most goals in World Cup History. At 38 years old, Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup and many consider him to be one of the greatest athletes of all time.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 19 Jun 2026 - 52min - 837 - CT: Olivia Rodrigo, Disclosure Day, and Fatherhood
Olivia Rodrigo's new album soars to the top of the charts, more dads seem to be opting way into fatherhood, and Disclosure Day raises important questions about faith.
Song of the Week: I Knew It, I Knew You - Taylor Swift
→ Click here to read the lyrics.
In Other News:
The United Kingdom has introduced a law to ban social media access for children under 16 in early 2027, including TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Facebook, and X. "Overstimulated" has become the most used "therapy speak" (paywall) term among Gen Z (ages 13-24), often used as a shorthand for feeling overwhelmed. Kool-Aid-soaked pineapple has become one of summer's biggest TikTok food trends. Inspiring thousands of videos and turning one kid's review, "dat bih gah" (that b**** is gas) into a viral meme. Malls, bowling alleys, skating rinks, theme parks, and even many stores are banning teens who aren't accompanied by an adult, pointing out concerns about fights, theft, and disruptive behavior. With fewer third spaces available, many teens are finding it harder to connect with friends in person. Lionel Messi scored three goals (a "hat trick") in Argentina's World Cup opener, matching Miroslav Klose's record for the most goals in World Cup History. At 38 years old, Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup and many consider him to be one of the greatest athletes of all time.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 18 Jun 2026 - 10min - 836 - Ask Axis (ft. Roland Warren): "My husband is a first-time dad but never knew his own father. What does he need to know?"
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
"My husband and I are expecting our first child next week, so he will be a first-time dad. But he never knew his own father, so he'll be learning how to be a dad without any sort of first-hand example. How can he navigate being a dad when he never had one?" - Erin
After 20 years in the corporate world (with IBM, Pepsi and Goldman Sachs), Roland Warren spent 11 years as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative before joining Care Net in 2012 as president and CEO. A graduate of Princeton University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Roland is an inspirational servant leader with a heart for Christ and a mind for business. As part of our lead up to Father's Day this month, we'll be talking with Roland primarily about the difference a dad can make, drawing on insights from his work with the National Fatherhood Initiative as well as how the impact of fathers informs his work at Care Net.
→ Click here for Roland's Book, Bad Dads of the Bible
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 16 Jun 2026 - 09min - 835 - Roundtable: Notifications In Class, Gen Z's Financial Openness, and Brain Implants
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Three Big Conversations:
- Social media companies are being sued for engaging students during school hours - 04:14 Gen Z is more comfortable disclosing their personal finances than any other generation - 17:28 Why a chip being inserted into our brains might be the least of our problems - 26:38
Resource of the Week - The Sermon on the Mount Experience - 02:02
In Other News: - 37:54
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, kicked off this Thursday in Mexico City. If it matches 2022's viewing numbers, the tournament will attract 5 and a half billion global viewers. Popular and sometimes controversial teen fast-fashion store Brandy Melville announced they're removing their fitting rooms, a decision that's been particularly derided on TikTok. It doesn't help that the store also has a limited in-person return policy. "Dirty sodas" are rising in popularity, but these drinks, which combine soda with things like flavored syrups and cream, can often be metabolic catastrophes with absurd amounts of sugar and calories. The first week of June is all about announcements of upcoming video games, with the highlights this year being a remake of Ocarina of Time, a new Spyro game, and a single-player, story-based Among Us game. There's also what feels like 100 other games coming out this September, a strategy to avoid competing with October's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and November's Grand Theft Auto 6. Are board shorts the look of the summer? Some think so. We'll let you know if you should buy puka shell necklaces again, too.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 12 Jun 2026 - 41min - 834 - CT: Notifications In Class, Gen Z's Financial Openness, and Brain Implants
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Social media companies are being sued for engaging students during school hours, Gen Z is more comfortable disclosing their personal finances than any other generation, and why a chip being inserted into our brains might be the least of our problems.
Resource of the Week - The Sermon on the Mount Experience
In Other News:
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, kicked off this Thursday in Mexico City. If it matches 2022's viewing numbers, the tournament will attract 5 and a half billion global viewers. Popular and sometimes controversial teen fast-fashion store Brandy Melville announced they're removing their fitting rooms, a decision that's been particularly derided on TikTok. It doesn't help that the store also has a limited in-person return policy. "Dirty sodas" are rising in popularity, but these drinks, which combine soda with things like flavored syrups and cream, can often be metabolic catastrophes with absurd amounts of sugar and calories. The first week of June is all about announcements of upcoming video games, with the highlights this year being a remake of Ocarina of Time, a new Spyro game, and a single-player, story-based Among Us game. There's also what feels like 100 other games coming out this September, a strategy to avoid competing with October's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and November's Grand Theft Auto 6. Are board shorts the look of the summer? Some think so. We'll let you know if you should buy puka shell necklaces again, too.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 11 Jun 2026 - 13min - 833 - Roland Warren on The Difference A Dad Makes
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
After 20 years in the corporate world (with IBM, Pepsi and Goldman Sachs), Roland spent 11 years as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative before joining Care Net in 2012 as president and CEO. A graduate of Princeton University and the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Roland is an inspirational servant leader with a heart for Christ and a mind for business. As part of our lead up to Father's Day this month, we'll be talking with Roland primarily about the difference a dad can make, drawing on insights from his work with the National Fatherhood Initiative as well as how the impact of fathers informs his work at Care Net.
→ Click here for Roland's Book, Bad Dads of the Bible
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 09 Jun 2026 - 41min - 832 - Roundtable (Ft. Mike Novotny): Off Campus, Lunch Shaming, and Backrooms
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Three Big Conversations:
- Off Campus is already a frontrunner for teen show of the summer - 10:16 Students are scared to eat in front of their peers - 24:32 What the success of Backrooms says about the state of the movies - 34:20
Slang of the Week - Lida Bida Boda Butt - 2:18
→ Mike Novotny's NEW BOOK - Newlywed: A Christian Guide for Loving Year One
In Other News: - 43:20
Taylor Swift's new song "I Knew It, I Knew You" comes out today and was inspired by an early screening of Toy Story. PlayStation's "State of Play" gaming showcase happened this week, with most of the buzz being around an announcement of a new God of War game where you play as Kratos' wife, Faye, and an extended look at the M-rated Marvel's Wolverine game, coming out in September. Recent releases of UAP footage from the US government have some Christians debating whether these supposed alien visitations could actually represent demonic activity. Indie group Boards of Canada's first album since 2013, Inferno, explores faith, spirituality, and existential dread over eerie electronic beats. A YouTuber known as "Reckless Ben" was arrested for trespassing in his attempt to pursue justice against the Bricks & Minifigs store after the store allegedly stole $200,000 (language) worth of LEGO sets from an elderly man.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 05 Jun 2026 - 46min - 831 - CT: Off Campus, Lunch Shaming, and Backrooms
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Off Campus is already a frontrunner for teen show of the summer, students are scared to eat in front of their peers, and what the success of Backrooms says about the state of the movies.
Slang of the Week - Lida Bida Boda Butt
In Other News:
Taylor Swift's new song "I Knew It, I Knew You" comes out today and was inspired by an early screening of Toy Story. PlayStation's "State of Play" gaming showcase happened this week, with most of the buzz being around an announcement of a new God of War game where you play as Kratos' wife, Faye, and an extended look at the M-rated Marvel's Wolverine game, coming out in September. Recent releases of UAP footage from the US government have some Christians debating whether these supposed alien visitations could actually represent demonic activity. Indie group Boards of Canada's first album since 2013, Inferno, explores faith, spirituality, and existential dread over eerie electronic beats. A YouTuber known as "Reckless Ben" was arrested for trespassing in his attempt to pursue justice against the Bricks & Minifigs store after the store allegedly stole $200,000 (language) worth of LEGO sets from an elderly man.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 04 Jun 2026 - 10min - 830 - Ask Axis: "How can I instill a good work ethic in my 14 year old son?"
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
"How can I instill a good work ethic in my 14 year old son? I have tried to model this for him and we talk about the importance of putting in the work to be good at sports, music, etc. However, he seems to give minimal effort on these pursuits and becomes frustrated and makes excuses when we encourage him to apply himself." - Eddie
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 02 Jun 2026 - 14min - 829 - Roundtable: NBA Playoffs, Magnifica Humanitas, and The Mandalorian and Grogu
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Three Big Conversations:
- The OKC Thunder have become the NBA's favorite villain - 10:00 Pope Leo publishes an AI manifesto - 20:14 The Mandalorian and Grogu had a disappointing first weekend. - 35:50
Song of the Week - "the cure" by Olivia Rodrigo - 3:16
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here to listen to the song (language)
In Other News: - 42:40
Small "dot cakes," baked in cups, and covered in frosting and rainbow nonpareil sprinkles, are going viral. The colorful aesthetic of these cakes is just half of the appeal, with the other part being the satisfying scrape of a spoon being dragged across the top.
A new YPulse report found that 87% of 13- to 24-year-old guys agree with the statement, "I am a gamer," suggesting that online gaming continues to be one of the fastest-growing social spaces for boys and young men.
A newly published report from the American Bible Society found that 38% of parents are regularly engaged with the Bible, as opposed to 23% of nonparents. A ton of other interesting statistics are included in the latest chapter of their State of the Bible report, linked here.
DIY "cyberdecks" are the latest tech trend on TikTok. Creators are using Raspberry Pi mini computers to build whimsical homemade devices inside of retro purses, Game Boys, or briefcases.
Off Campus has become Gen Z's latest #BookTok-adapted TV obsession, landing as Prime Video's biggest debut ever among viewers aged 18-34. Common Sense Media flagged the series for extreme explicit sexual content.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 29 May 2026 - 47min - 828 - CT: NBA Playoffs, Magnifica Humanitas, and The Mandalorian and Grogu
The OKC Thunder have become the NBA's favorite villain, Pope Leo publishes an AI manifesto, and The Mandalorian and Grogu had a disappointing first weekend.
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Song of the Week - "the cure" by Olivia Rodrigo
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here to listen to the song (language)
In Other News:
Small "dot cakes," baked in cups, and covered in frosting and rainbow nonpareil sprinkles, are going viral. The colorful aesthetic of these cakes is just half of the appeal, with the other part being the satisfying scrape of a spoon being dragged across the top.
A new YPulse report found that 87% of 13- to 24-year-old guys agree with the statement, "I am a gamer," suggesting that online gaming continues to be one of the fastest-growing social spaces for boys and young men.
A newly published report from the American Bible Society found that 38% of parents are regularly engaged with the Bible, as opposed to 23% of nonparents. A ton of other interesting statistics are included in the latest chapter of their State of the Bible report, linked here.
DIY "cyberdecks" are the latest tech trend on TikTok. Creators are using Raspberry Pi mini computers to build whimsical homemade devices inside of retro purses, Game Boys, or briefcases.
Off Campus has become Gen Z's latest #BookTok-adapted TV obsession, landing as Prime Video's biggest debut ever among viewers aged 18-34. Common Sense Media flagged the series for extreme explicit sexual content.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 28 May 2026 - 11min - 827 - Motherhood and Building Intentional Community with Ashlee Gadd and Katie Blackburn
Ashlee has spent years helping moms navigate the tension between modern motherhood and creativity. She's a writer, editor, and the founder of Coffee + Crumbs, the home of essays that have resonated across the internet, meeting millennial moms where they are. She's also the writer of Create Anyway, a book about nurturing creativity in the margins. The Coffee and Crumbs writers' collective has created two beautiful books, The Magic of Motherhood. You're In Good Company, their latest collection of essays about how community shapes motherhood, was just released last month.
We are also joined by author and speaker Katie Blackburn, whose writing has encouraged so many readers through its honesty about motherhood, disability, faith, and how to keep creating when life takes an unexpected turn. Katie has this rare ability to write about difficult things with both depth and warmth, and her story touches on everything from foster care and adoption to resilience and the everyday grace that carries families through impossible seasons. Katie is also a mom of six, a devoted cyclist, and the writer of three books: an essay collection called Gluing the Cracks, a children's book about adaptive sports called The Very Best Baseball Game, and the forthcoming essay collection, Grace Will Be There.
→ Click here to check out the Coffee and Crumbs Podcast
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 26 May 2026 - 32min - 826 - Roundtable: Fear of God Hoodies, Freemasonry, and Social Media Gore
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
Three Big Conversations:
- The Freemasons are recruiting heavily from Gen Z - 10:22 What parents need to know about how gore travels online - 25:26 A brand called Fear of God sells must-have hoodies - 39:12
Song of the Week: "Janice ST*U" by Drake - 3:04
→ Click here to read the lyrics
In Other News: - 51:28
The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Star Wars adventure starring Pedro Pascal and his travel-sized "baby Yoda" sidekick, is expected to earn $160 million this weekend. A new Instagram feature called "Instants" allows users to send quick, unedited photos through direct messages. Similar to features on Snapchat and BeReal, Instants disappear within 24 hours, or after they're viewed. The American Music Awards (AMAs) will air on Monday, May 25, and feature performances from KATSEYE, Teddy Swims, and sombr—as well as the Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes. Spotify celebrated its app's twentieth anniversary with a suite of special listening history features, and also temporarily switched its icon to a glowing green mirror ball. But the logo switch was confusing, and users became irate. Teen Vogue predicts that the wave of preppy, 90s fashion nostalgia will continue to swell into the summer, with bandanas, sweaters tied around the waist, checkered and polka-dotted prints, and loafers with socks all trending.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 22 May 2026 - 54min - 825 - CT: Fear of God Hoodies, Freemasonry, and Social Media Gore
A brand called Fear of God sells must-have hoodies, the Freemasons are recruiting heavily from Gen Z, and what parents need to know about how gore travels online.
Song of the Week: "Janice ST*U" by Drake
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here for A Parent's Guide to Loneliness
→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey.
In Other News:
The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Star Wars adventure starring Pedro Pascal and his travel-sized "baby Yoda" sidekick, is expected to earn $160 million this weekend. A new Instagram feature called "Instants" allows users to send quick, unedited photos through direct messages. Similar to features on Snapchat and BeReal, Instants disappear within 24 hours, or after they're viewed. The American Music Awards (AMAs) will air on Monday, May 25, and feature performances from KATSEYE, Teddy Swims, and sombr—as well as the Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes. Spotify celebrated its app's twentieth anniversary with a suite of special listening history features, and also temporarily switched its icon to a glowing green mirror ball. But the logo switch was confusing, and users became irate. Teen Vogue predicts that the wave of preppy, 90s fashion nostalgia will continue to swell into the summer, with bandanas, sweaters tied around the waist, checkered and polka-dotted prints, and loafers with socks all trending.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 21 May 2026 - 10min - 824 - Ask Axis: How Do I Make Church Attendance Feel Natural?
"Would you share ideas and council on navigating the fine line between keeping church attendance and spiritual disciplines as a family pritory (i.e. wanting to establish and model this as a lifelong priority for our kids), and not turning your teen off from Christianity, where your teen runs away from the faith because of you "making them go" to church every Sunday. Drawing from Paul's words, how can we parent in regards to church attendance in the spirit of Colossians 4:2-6, especially verse 6?" - Aileen
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 19 May 2026 - 11min - 823 - Roundtable: Runfluencers, Lord of the Flies, and Vision Boards
Three Big Conversations:
- Gen Z hits the track (and the tracking apps) - 02:42 A new Lord of the Flies adaptation hits home - 17:30 Pop songstresses say they are manifesting their dream lives - 31:04
Resource of the Week: Faith and Life Survey - 01:54
→ Click here to watch our video about manifesting.
→ Click here to watch our video about Looksmaxxing.
→ Click here to read the article about these local running clubs.
In Other News: - 45:00
Teen boys and young men are turning to injectable peptide stacks in order to achieve physical transformations and faster muscle recovery, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal (paywall), in a trend being fueled by looksmaxxing culture. The latest Gen Z trend is the comeback of the hacky sack. Teens are starting clubs at schools, making TikToks about their newest hobby, and the footbags are already selling out in stores. Winning out over MrBeast, LeBron James, and Taylor Swift, the celebrity young people want to emulate most is Zendaya, who came in second to "none of the above". With age verification requirements on the rise, some kids are fooling age-checking technology with a fake mustache. Subnautica 2, the sequel to Subnautica, a quiet hit about crafting, exploring, and avoiding giant leviathans in an underwater world, releases this week in early access.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 15 May 2026 - 45min - 822 - CT: Runfluencers, Lord of the Flies, and Vision Boards
Gen Z hits the track (and the tracking apps), a new Lord of the Flies adaptation hits home, and pop songstresses say they are manifesting their dream lives.
Resource of the Week: Faith and Life Survey
→ Click here to watch our video about manifesting.
In Other News:
Teen boys and young men are turning to injectable peptide stacks in order to achieve physical transformations and faster muscle recovery, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal (paywall), in a trend being fueled by looksmaxxing culture. The latest Gen Z trend is the comeback of the hacky sack. Teens are starting clubs at schools, making TikToks about their newest hobby, and the footbags are already selling out in stores. Winning out over MrBeast, LeBron James, and Taylor Swift, the celebrity young people want to emulate most is Zendaya, who came in second to "none of the above". With age verification requirements on the rise, some kids are fooling age-checking technology with a fake mustache. Subnautica 2, the sequel to Subnautica, a quiet hit about crafting, exploring, and avoiding giant leviathans in an underwater world, releases this week in early access.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 14 May 2026 - 10min - 821 - The Timeless Wisdom of the Rule of Life with Jen Pollock Michel
Jen Pollock Michel is the award-winning author of six books: A Rule for the Rest of US, Teach Us to Want (Christianity Today's Book of the Year), Keeping Place, Surprised by Paradox (Christianity Today's Book of the Year Award of Merit—Beautiful Orthodoxy), A Habit Called Faith, and In Good Time (Canada's Word Guild Book of the Year Award).
Jen is a sought-after contributor to publications like Christianity Today, The Christian Century, The Gospel Coalition, Mockingbird, and The Dispatch, among others. She is also a first-year mentor in Whitworth University's MFA in Creative Writing program, and she travels to speak at churches, conferences, and retreats. Over the past several years, she has been teaching rule-of-life workshops to hundreds of people across various life stages. The mother of five children, she is married to Ryan, and they live in Cincinatti, Ohio.
→ Click here to preorder A Rule For the Rest of Us, which will be published in September.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 12 May 2026 - 38min - 820 - Roundtable: The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Meta Gala, and Mother's Day
Three Big Conversations:
- The jury is out for The Devil Wears Prada 2- 06:18 The Met Gala made people mad for different reasons - 21:00 Moms are ready to organize—so they can boycott school events- 29:06
Slang of the Week: "Chud"- 1:28
In Other News: - 42:58
The Savannah Bananas, an "exhibition baseball" team that includes comedy and choreographed dances in games of what they call Banana Ball, played in front of 102,000 fans this past Saturday with a cameo from the Dude Perfect team. Angel Studios' new adaptation of Animal Farm (paywall) hit theaters this past weekend, uniting George Orwell's classic critique of totalitarianism with fart jokes and other trappings of modern kids' movies. Scalpers are purchasing the new Pokémon Pop-Tarts from Target and selling them for up to eight times their worth (with their original price being $2.89 per box of 12). After Justin Bieber's performance at Coachella, he became the artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, with just over 141 million monthly listeners as of this week. While the Taylor Swifts and Harry Styleses of the world may still get away with charging obscene prices for concert tickets, many other artists (like Post Malone and Kid Cudi) are also trying to increase sale prices—and then often cancelling concerts after low sales.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 08 May 2026 - 47min - 819 - CT: The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Meta Gala, and Mother's Day
The jury is out for The Devil Wears Prada 2, the Met Gala made people mad for different reasons, and moms are ready to organize—so they can boycott school events.
Slang of the Week: "Chud"
In Other News:
The Savannah Bananas, an "exhibition baseball" team that includes comedy and choreographed dances in games of what they call Banana Ball, played in front of 102,000 fans this past Saturday with a cameo from the Dude Perfect team. Angel Studios' new adaptation of Animal Farm (paywall) hit theaters this past weekend, uniting George Orwell's classic critique of totalitarianism with fart jokes and other trappings of modern kids' movies. Scalpers are purchasing the new Pokémon Pop-Tarts from Target and selling them for up to eight times their worth (with their original price being $2.89 per box of 12). After Justin Bieber's performance at Coachella, he became the artist with the most monthly listeners on Spotify, with just over 141 million monthly listeners as of this week. While the Taylor Swifts and Harry Styleses of the world may still get away with charging obscene prices for concert tickets, many other artists (like Post Malone and Kid Cudi) are also trying to increase sale prices—and then often cancelling concerts after low sales.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 07 May 2026 - 09min - 818 - The Big Conversation: Is Motherhood Harder than Ever?
Parenting right now just feels… different.
We're doing it in the middle of smartphones, social media, and nonstop input. We're thinking about safety, screen time, mental health, cyberbullying… all of it, all at once aaand probably even before 9am. So this question keeps coming up: is it actually harder to raise kids now, or was it just a different kind of hard back then?
Did previous generations have more freedom because they weren't monitoring devices or even getting pulled into doomscrolling themselves? Or were they carrying a weight we might underestimate? Less support, less language for mental health, less flexibility at work?
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 05 May 2026 - 51min - 817 - Roundtable: Starbucks, Intuition, and Being Born in the Wrong Decade
Three Big Conversations:
- Tweens are grabbing an iced latte to get a hit of belonging. - 7:24 Third of Gen Z believe they have "psychic abilities." - 20:10 Nearly half of young adults say they'd live in the past if they could. - 33:20
Slang of the Week: "You the birthday." - 1:57
→ Click here to see the video high school in the 90's
→ Click here to listen to our podcast episode Freya India on How to Care for Teen Girls in a Digital Age
In Other News: - 46:14
The Devil Wears Prada 2, which comes out today, is projected to make $180 million on its opening weekend. The original film is a cult classic with younger viewers, and the trailer for this sequel set a record of getting 181 million views within 24 hours. Michael, a movie about pop star Michael Jackson, set its own record for musical biopics with a $97 million opening last weekend. The film, which stars Jackson's nephew, has been criticized for sanitizing parts of the origin story of the one-time King of Pop. Stranger Things: Tales from '85, an animated spinoff series that continues to explore the world of Eleven and Mike in Hawkins, Indiana, is now streaming on Netflix. The music video for Laufey's new single "Madwoman" highlights a lineup of Asian American Gen Alpha favorites, including figure skating gold medalist Alysa Liu, The Summer I Turned Pretty's Lola Tung, and Katseye's Megan Skiendiel. The discontinued iPod has a nostalgic aesthetic and analog-esque appeal, according to several young people interviewed by the New York Times who got the devices second-hand. One summed it up: "I find this modern even though it's really old."
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 01 May 2026 - 49min - 816 - CT: Starbucks, Intuition, and Being Born in the Wrong Decade
Tweens are grabbing an iced latte to get a hit of belonging, a third of Gen Z believe they have "psychic abilities," and nearly half of young adults say they'd live in the past if they could.
Slang of the Week: "You the birthday."
→Click here to see the video high school in the 90's
→Click here to listen to our podcast episode Freya India on How to Care for Teen Girls in a Digital Age
In Other News:
The Devil Wears Prada 2, which comes out today, is projected to make $180 million on its opening weekend. The original film is a cult classic with younger viewers, and the trailer for this sequel set a record of getting 181 million views within 24 hours. Michael, a movie about pop star Michael Jackson, set its own record for musical biopics with a $97 million opening last weekend. The film, which stars Jackson's nephew, has been criticized for sanitizing parts of the origin story of the one-time King of Pop. Stranger Things: Tales from '85, an animated spinoff series that continues to explore the world of Eleven and Mike in Hawkins, Indiana, is now streaming on Netflix. The music video for Laufey's new single "Madwoman" highlights a lineup of Asian American Gen Alpha favorites, including figure skating gold medalist Alysa Liu, The Summer I Turned Pretty's Lola Tung, and Katseye's Megan Skiendiel. The discontinued iPod has a nostalgic aesthetic and analog-esque appeal, according to several young people interviewed by the New York Times who got the devices second-hand. One summed it up: "I find this modern even though it's really old."
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Thu, 30 Apr 2026 - 08min - 815 - Freya India on How to Care for Teen Girls in a Digital Age
Freya is the author of the Substack GIRLS, where she writes about the challenges girls and young women face in the modern world. She's also a staff writer for Jonathan Haidt's newsletter, After Babel. She has contributed to publications including The New Statesman, The Spectator, and The Free Press.
Today, we are going to be discussing her debut book, GIRLS, Generation Z and the commodification of everything, which will be out in the US in May. Her book serves as both an account of her upbringing in the digital age, as well as an inside look for parents and caring adults about what adolescence online is like right now.
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Tue, 28 Apr 2026 - 49min - 814 - Roundtable: Birdwatching, Snapchat Posting, and Ruthlessly Eliminating Hurry
Three Big Conversations:
Teens are birdwatching - 13:12
Posting on Snapchat - 26:50
Learning to slow down from John Mark Comer - 41:34
Song of the Week: "drop dead" by Olivia Rodrigo - 2:08
→ Click here to read the lyrics (language).
→ Click here to watch The Conversation Starter on Offline Hobbies.
In other news: - 58:36
Young people are speedrunning their Bachelor's or Master's degrees, finishing them in as quickly as three months, as less traditional forms of University attendance become more popular.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the newest game in Nintendo's oddest series, which plays as a mix between The Sims and Animal Crossing, and its brand of social engineering makes for a lot of internet hilarity.
Coachella continued into its second weekend, highlighted by Justin Bieber inviting Billie Eilish on stage, Madonna joining Sabrina Carpenter, and Karol G as the first Latina artist to headline.
Some trendspotters are calling rainbow flip-flops the "shoe of the summer," as young people continue to reclaim 90s fashion.
The meteoric rise of the band Geese has led some to wonder if there's some conspiracy behind their popularity. To be fair, social media marketing can sometimes feel more CIA than Don Draper, and streaming numbers are often manipulated.
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Fri, 24 Apr 2026 - 1h 02min - 813 - CT: Birdwatching, Snapchat Posting, and Ruthlessly Eliminating Hurry
Teens are birdwatching, posting on Snapchat, and learning to slow down from John Mark Comer.
Song of the Week: "drop dead" by Olivia Rodrigo
→ Click here to read the lyrics (language).
In other news:
Young people are speedrunning their Bachelor's or Master's degrees, finishing them in as quickly as three months, as less traditional forms of University attendance become more popular.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is the newest game in Nintendo's oddest series, which plays as a mix between The Sims and Animal Crossing, and its brand of social engineering makes for a lot of internet hilarity.
Coachella continued into its second weekend, highlighted by Justin Bieber inviting Billie Eilish on stage, Madonna joining Sabrina Carpenter, and Karol G as the first Latina artist to headline.
Some trendspotters are calling rainbow flip-flops the "shoe of the summer," as young people continue to reclaim 90s fashion.
The meteoric rise of the band Geese has led some to wonder if there's some conspiracy behind their popularity. To be fair, social media marketing can sometimes feel more CIA than Don Draper, and streaming numbers are often manipulated.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 23 Apr 2026 - 11min - 812 - Roundtable: We will be back with you next week!
This week, we're taking a break from the Axis Conversations podcast—including the Roundtable, Ask Axis, and our interview series. We are meeting with members of our Axis community to dream and pray together about this upcoming year and beyond. We appreciate your support, and we're excited to see you back here next Thursday and Friday, when our regular schedule will resume—including the CT Audio Podcast and the Culture Translator Roundtable! See you then! - The Axis Team
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Fri, 17 Apr 2026 - 01min - 811 - CT: Bieber Headlines Coachella, Teen Texts Go Emo, and AI Jesus
People are paying to talk to an AI avatar of Jesus, texts from teens make perfect emo songs, and Justin Bieber reminds everyone of why he became a pop star in the first place. But first:
Resource of the Week - Parent Guide to Gen Alpha
Check out our YouTube Episode → What Christians Are Missing About Gen Alpha
In Other News:
In a strange TikTok trend (as opposed to a normal one), young men are seeing how far they can run into Scientology centers for social media clout as they film themselves dodging security and sprinting deep into the buildings of the secretive pseudoreligion. The Drama, starring Zendaya and Robert Pattinson, is on track to become the fifth A24 title to cross the $100 million mark, according to IMDB. Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest Hunger Games movie installment, just dropped its official trailer. The film will be released on November 20, 2026. Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord, a new Star Wars animated series on Disney+, appears to be resonating with viewers. The show's four episodes have already earned a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes—better, even, than the finale of the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi. For several of the Artemis II astronauts, outer space was a religious experience. Pilot Victor Glover emphasized how special life on Earth really is in an Easter message sent from the craft, saying, "In all of this emptiness — this is a whole bunch of nothing, this thing we call the universe — you have this oasis, this beautiful place that we get to exist (in) together."
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 16 Apr 2026 - 09min - 810 - Dr. Amy Adamczyk on The Scientifically Proven Influence of Parents
Amy Amy Adamczykis Professor of Sociology at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Programs of Doctoral Study in Sociology and Criminal Justice at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. Trained as a sociologist of religion, her research focuses on how different contexts (such as nations, counties, friendship groups), and personal religious beliefs shape people's deviant, moral, and health-related attitudes and behaviors. We'll be talking today primarily about the findings from her book Handing Down the Faith.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 14 Apr 2026 - 39min - 809 - Roundtable: The Night We Met, Pimple Patches, and Super Mario
Three Big Conversations:
- The Night We Met is BookTok's latest darling - 6:30 teenagers are wearing pimple patches in public - 20:16 Super Mario Galaxy brought tweens to the box office on Easter weekend - 28:16
Slang of the Week - "Clipped" - 1:58
In Other News: - 41:34
A squishy stress-relieving toy has taken over the internet, and they are sold out everywhere. It's safe to say that teens and tweens are obsessed. Olivia Rodrigo announced her first single from the album is called "drop dead" and will be out on April 17. Anticipation is building for I Have Proof, a new horror movie that will be recording on old VHS tapes. The filmmaker purchased 30 tapes from eBay and recorded the movie over people's old home movies—feel old yet? RAYE's new album, "THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE." is all about how faith in God pulled the singer out of darkness. The show might be over, but the movie is still ahead of us. The Summer I Turned Pretty will begin filming in Wilmington on April 27.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 - 49min - 808 - CT: The Night We Met, Pimple Patches, and Super Mario
The Night We Met is BookTok's latest darling, teenagers are wearing pimple patches in public, and Super Mario Galaxy brought tweens to the box office on Easter weekend.
Slang of the Week - "Clipped"
In Other News:
A squishy stress-relieving toy has taken over the internet, and they are sold out everywhere. It's safe to say that teens and tweens are obsessed. Olivia Rodrigo announced her first single from the album is called "drop dead" and will be out on April 17. Anticipation is building for I Have Proof, a new horror movie that will be recording on old VHS tapes. The filmmaker purchased 30 tapes from eBay and recorded the movie over people's old home movies—feel old yet? RAYE's new album, "THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE." is all about how faith in God pulled the singer out of darkness. The show might be over, but the movie is still ahead of us. The Summer I Turned Pretty will begin filming in Wilmington on April 27.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 09 Apr 2026 - 08min - 807 - Ask Axis: "How do I help my daughters decide which influences (and influencers) to embrace?"
"Thanks for your awesome content. As a father of 3 girls in a hybrid homeschool setting (they are in a classroom two days a week), we are fairly sheltered from outside influences/influencers. I would love practical advice on how and when to guide my girls in developing good judgement and discernment regarding which influences to embrace and which to ignore." - Matthew
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 07 Apr 2026 - 11min - 806 - Roundtable: 90s Fashion Boom, Meaningmaxxing, and Easter
Three Big Conversations:
- Teens are inspired by the fashion in Love Story - 08:22 Everybody, everywhere is maxxing - 21:34 The meaning of Easter might feel lost somewhere in the baskets and plastic grass - 37:28
Song of the Week - "Babydoll" by Dominic Fike - 02:50
→ Click here for the lyrics
In Other News: - 54:16
If you thought the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters wouldn't survive into 2026, look no further than your local McDonald's, which has Huntr/x and Saja Boys themed meals (and a Derpy the Tiger McFlurry). With the Artemis II mission, NASA is sending astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions (over 50 years ago!). The four astronauts won't land on Luna, just journey around it, but it's an exciting moment, as the prep, launch, and journey are all livestreamed and accessible for those curious. An AI fruit-themed take on reality shows like Love Island has surged in popularity in the last few weeks, with videos getting tens of millions of views on TikTok. Teens are "mallmaxxing" as young people are driving an in-person shopping comeback, including, yes, malls. YouTube is rolling out a survey asking users if what they watched felt like "AI slop." It could be a way for YouTube to enforce its own AI policy, or, as some have hypothesized, it could be a way for Google to train its own AI video models for free.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 03 Apr 2026 - 1h 02min - 805 - CT: 90s Fashion Boom, Meaningmaxxing, and Easter
Teens are inspired by the fashion in Love Story, everybody, everywhere, is maxxing, and the meaning of Easter might feel lost somewhere in the baskets and plastic grass.
Song of the Week - "Babydoll" by Dominic Fike
→ Click here for the lyrics
In Other News:
If you thought the popularity of KPop Demon Hunters wouldn't survive into 2026, look no further than your local McDonald's, which has Huntr/x and Saja Boys themed meals (and a Derpy the Tiger McFlurry). With the Artemis II mission, NASA is sending astronauts to the moon for the first time since the Apollo missions (over 50 years ago!). The four astronauts won't land on Luna, just journey around it, but it's an exciting moment, as the prep, launch, and journey are all livestreamed and accessible for those curious. An AI fruit-themed take on reality shows like Love Island has surged in popularity in the last few weeks, with videos getting tens of millions of views on TikTok. Teens are "mallmaxxing" as young people are driving an in-person shopping comeback, including, yes, malls. YouTube is rolling out a survey asking users if what they watched felt like "AI slop." It could be a way for YouTube to enforce its own AI policy, or, as some have hypothesized, it could be a way for Google to train its own AI video models for free.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 02 Apr 2026 - 09min - 804 - "How to Talk to Your Teen About Video Games" with CJ Fant
CJ Fant is one of our own team members at Axis. As basically our resident gaming aficionado, I wanted to bring CJ on to talk about how parents can understand this medium a little better and enter into some intentional conversation around video games with the next generation.
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 31 Mar 2026 - 49min - 803 - Roundtable: Epic Layoffs, the Gen Z Pout, and BTS Returns
Three Big Conversations:
- Epic Games lays off 1,000 employees - 04:31 Gen Z is posing like a platypus - 15:61 BTS releases their first album since 2020 - 43:24
Resource of the Week - The Pour Over - 02:21
In Other News: - 55:50
It's sequel season for Kirsten Dunst. The actress just signed on for the untitled Minecraft movie sequel and The Housemaid 2 alongside Sydney Sweeney. The actress said in an interview with Town and Country that she just wants to make a "pile of cash." A new Chappell Roan drama is trending after a claim that her security guard yelled at Jude Law's 11-year-old daughter at a hotel in Brazil. Roan says the guard wasn't with her team and that she never even saw what happened, but the internet has already turned it into a round of who's to blame. Sora, OpenAI's video app, is on the chopping block. The company is shutting it down, and Disney has walked away from its billion-dollar plan to put its characters in Sora clips after months of pushback over deepfakes, consent, and AI slop in entertainment. Chuck Norris, the martial arts star behind Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at 86. His family says he passed away on March 19 in Hawaii after a medical emergency. People are saying goodbye by bringing the classic "Chuck Norris facts" jokes as a way to honor the icon who inspired them. ABC has pulled Taylor Frankie Paul's upcoming season of The Bachelorette,, and Hulu has paused filming on the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, after a domestic violence video involving Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, resurfaced.
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 27 Mar 2026 - 1h 00min - 802 - CT: Epic Layoffs, the Gen Z Pout, and BTS Returns
Epic Games lays off 1,000 employees, Gen Z is posing like a platypus, and BTS releases their first album since 2020.
Resource of the Week - The Pour Over
In Other News:
It's sequel season for Kirsten Dunst. The actress just signed on for the untitled Minecraft movie sequel and The Housemaid 2 alongside Sydney Sweeney. The actress said in an interview with Town and Country that she just wants to make a "pile of cash." A new Chappell Roan drama is trending after a claim that her security guard yelled at Jude Law's 11-year-old daughter at a hotel in Brazil. Roan says the guard wasn't with her team and that she never even saw what happened, but the internet has already turned it into a round of who's to blame. Sora, OpenAI's video app, is on the chopping block. The company is shutting it down, and Disney has walked away from its billion-dollar plan to put its characters in Sora clips after months of pushback over deepfakes, consent, and AI slop in entertainment. Chuck Norris, the martial arts star behind Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at 86. His family says he passed away on March 19 in Hawaii after a medical emergency. People are saying goodbye by bringing the classic "Chuck Norris facts" jokes as a way to honor the icon who inspired them. ABC has pulled Taylor Frankie Paul's upcoming season of The Bachelorette,, and Hulu has paused filming on the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, after a domestic violence video involving Paul and her ex, Dakota Mortensen, resurfaced.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 26 Mar 2026 - 08min - 801 - Ask Axis (ft. Dr. Kara Powell): "How do I help my teen make their faith their own?"
"My kids go to church because that is what we do as a family. They know God is good and Jesus is the Messiah because of what they have been taught and how my husband and I center our lives on Jesus. But how can I encourage them to seek a personal relationship with the Lord that isn't built on what they've done all their lives and been told? To instead, build it out of an independent, self-driven desire to know the God of all creation? How can I help them from deconstructing their faith in the future when they are out on their own and encounter questions set out to attack their belief?" - Tana
Kara is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, the founder of the TENx10 Collaboration, and the Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary. Her team has been doing some groundbreaking research on who Gen Alpha is and how faith formation looks different for this new rising generation.
→ Listen to Kara's Interview Episode
→ Check out Fuller's Research and Resources
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
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Tue, 24 Mar 2026 - 09min - 800 - Roundtable: Project Hail Mary, Grace Through Tragedy, and AI Impersonating
Three Big Conversations:
- The latest TikTok trend involves sounding like a brainless sycophant to mimic ChatGPT - 07:16 senior prank goes wrong in Georgia - 20:18 Project Hail Mary packs art, science, and Ryan Gosling into a family-friendly movie - 34:28
Song of the Week - "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley - 01:58
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here for reviews of Project Hail Mary
In Other News: - 44:30
The Oscars happened. Ryan Coogler was the second Black screenwriter to win Best Original Screenplay. Plus, for the seventh time in the history of the award show, there was a tie. youraislopbores.me is a new website where users can role-play as AI, with users playing the human or AI role. People are posting screenshots of the humorous human responses and bonding over their shared dislike for AI slop. It's time to make your brackets, because March Madness is here! The annual college basketball tournaments will be dominating TV screens until the national championship game in early April. NVIDIA announced a new feature that uses AI to make games look "better." Backlash ensued, with some users calling it a "slop" AI filter for games."Noah Kahan: Out of Body," a documentary following the singer-songwriter's mental health journey on tour, will be out in April.
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 20 Mar 2026 - 49min - 799 - CT: Project Hail Mary, Grace Through Tragedy, and AI Impersonating
The latest TikTok trend involves sounding like a brainless sycophant to mimic ChatGPT, a senior prank goes wrong in Georgia, and Project Hail Mary packs art, science, and Ryan Gosling into a family-friendly movie.
Song of the Week - "Choosin' Texas" by Ella Langley
→ Click here to read the lyrics
→ Click here for reviews of Project Hail Mary
In Other News:
The Oscars happened. Ryan Coogler was the second Black screenwriter to win Best Original Screenplay. Plus, for the seventh time in the history of the award show, there was a tie. youraislopbores.me is a new website where users can role-play as AI, with users playing the human or AI role. People are posting screenshots of the humorous human responses and bonding over their shared dislike for AI slop. It's time to make your brackets, because March Madness is here! The annual college basketball tournaments will be dominating TV screens until the national championship game in early April. NVIDIA announced a new feature that uses AI to make games look "better." Backlash ensued, with some users calling it a "slop" AI filter for games."Noah Kahan: Out of Body," a documentary following the singer-songwriter's mental health journey on tour, will be out in April.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org
Thu, 19 Mar 2026 - 10min - 798 - Dr. Kara Powell on How Gen Alpha Does Faith Differently
Dr. Kara Powell is the Executive Director of the Fuller Youth Institute, the founder of the TENx10 Collaboration, and the Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Theological Seminary. We'll be talking today about some of the Fuller Youth Institute's new research on Gen Alpha—including how exactly they're different from previous generations of teens (including Gen Z), and what faith formation looks like for the world's youngest generation.
→ Check out Fuller's Research and Resources
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 17 Mar 2026 - 36min - 797 - Roundtable: Timothée Chalamet Hates Opera, Harry Styles' New Album, and Donna Kelce's Remodel
Three Big Conversations:
- Timothée Chalamet angers opera singers and ballerinas - 06:46 Harry Styles' new album debuts to middling reviews - 19:00 Donna Kelce's home renovation becomes the internet's favorite distraction - 30:26
Slang of the Week: "Big Chungus Life" - 01:34
In Other News: - 45:45
Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in a game this week, passing Kobe Bryant's 81 points for the second-most points in a single game in NBA history. (Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game from 1962 still stands as the #1 record.) According to the Wall Street Journal (paywall), Gen Z is driving a resurgence in mall shopping, with many malls redesigning public spaces to be more "photogenic" and social-media friendly, as well as popular online stores like Edikted opening brick-and-mortar locations. For some middle schoolers, the word "burger" is now funny, thanks to a clip from Disney+'s show Just Beyond going viral, alongside absurd TikTok edits like this one. The controversial AI-generated "actress" Tilly Norwood was featured in a new music video, in which she was made to sing verses like "AI's not the enemy, it's the key." According to an article from Fortune (paywall), Gen Z is becoming more skeptical of TikTok, with 53 percent saying TikTok feels more commercial than it did a year ago, and 72 percent agreeing that content now feels more staged and performative.
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→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 - 50min - 796 - CT: Timothée Chalamet Hates Opera, Harry Styles' New Album, and Donna Kelce's Remodel
Timothée Chalamet angers opera singers and ballerinas, Harry Styles' new album debuts to middling reviews, and Donna Kelce's home renovation becomes the internet's favorite distraction.
Slang of the Week: "Big Chungus Life"
In Other News:
Miami Heat player Bam Adebayo scored 83 points in a game this week, passing Kobe Bryant's 81 points for the second-most points in a single game in NBA history. (Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game from 1962 still stands as the #1 record.) According to the Wall Street Journal (paywall), Gen Z is driving a resurgence in mall shopping, with many malls redesigning public spaces to be more "photogenic" and social-media friendly, as well as popular online stores like Edikted opening brick-and-mortar locations. For some middle schoolers, the word "burger" is now funny, thanks to a clip from Disney+'s show Just Beyond going viral, alongside absurd TikTok edits like this one. The controversial AI-generated "actress" Tilly Norwood was featured in a new music video, in which she was made to sing verses like "AI's not the enemy, it's the key." According to an article from Fortune (paywall), Gen Z is becoming more skeptical of TikTok, with 53 percent saying TikTok feels more commercial than it did a year ago, and 72 percent agreeing that content now feels more staged and performative.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 12 Mar 2026 - 09min - 795 - The Big Conversation: Doubt, Discipleship, and Following Jesus in the Internet Age
"How do we talk to a skeptical generation about discipleship, and the reality of the spiritual world?"
This month, we're spotlighting the work of discipleship that parents, youth pastors, and other adults do in the lives of the next generation. We've got an upcoming podcast conversation with Dr. Kara Powell about faith formation in Gen Alpha, a new episode of our YouTube show about how Gen Alpha processes life and faith, and another on the philosophical and theological question of why does God allow pain and suffering; we're promoting a new video Conversation Kit on the topic of miracles and what God's involvement in the world looks like today.
Resources → A Parent's Guide to Discipling Teens
A Conversation Kit on Miracles
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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 10 Mar 2026 - 59min - 794 - Roundtable: The Jim Carrey Clone Conspiracy, Resident Evil, and Alysa Liu
Three Big Conversations:
- Jim Carrey reacts to being called a clone - 12:30 What parents should know about the new Resident Evil video game - 26:42 Why people are still talking about Alysa Liu's Olympic performance - 45:48
Slang of the Week: Moving in silence - 01:14
In Other News: - 1:02:00
Early reviews for the new game Pokémon Pokopia have been enthusiastic, with critics comparing it to a blend of Minecraft creative mode and Animal Crossing's relaxed village life. The game focuses more on building and exploration than traditional Pokémon battles. Apple is stepping into the budget laptop market with the new $599 MacBook Neo. The price places it much closer to the Chromebooks and Windows laptops that many schools recommend for students. Rumors that Zendaya and Tom Holland secretly got married started after Zendaya's stylist casually told reporters the wedding had "already happened." The couple hasn't confirmed anything, but fans online are already in full detective mode. About 40% of Gen Z and millennials say spiritual advice from AI can be just as trustworthy as advice from a pastor, according to a recent survey by Barna and tech platform Gloo. Many young adults say they already use AI tools for prayer, Bible study, and spiritual questions. Energy drinks were once marketed almost entirely to young men, with branding tied to extreme sports and masculinity. Now companies are launching pastel-colored cans and fruitier flavors aimed at women, including cotton candy, which is delicious at a carnival and deeply questionable as a beverage.
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 06 Mar 2026 - 1h 07min - 793 - CT: The Jim Carrey Clone Conspiracy, Resident Evil, and Alysa Liu
Jim Carrey reacts to being called a clone, what parents should know about the new Resident Evil video game, and why people are still talking about Alysa Liu's Olympic performance.
Slang of the Week: Moving in silence
In Other News:
Early reviews for the new game Pokémon Pokopia have been enthusiastic, with critics comparing it to a blend of Minecraft creative mode and Animal Crossing's relaxed village life. The game focuses more on building and exploration than traditional Pokémon battles. Apple is stepping into the budget laptop market with the new $599 MacBook Neo. The price places it much closer to the Chromebooks and Windows laptops that many schools recommend for students. Rumors that Zendaya and Tom Holland secretly got married started after Zendaya's stylist casually told reporters the wedding had "already happened." The couple hasn't confirmed anything, but fans online are already in full detective mode. About 40% of Gen Z and millennials say spiritual advice from AI can be just as trustworthy as advice from a pastor, according to a recent survey by Barna and tech platform Gloo. Many young adults say they already use AI tools for prayer, Bible study, and spiritual questions. Energy drinks were once marketed almost entirely to young men, with branding tied to extreme sports and masculinity. Now companies are launching pastel-colored cans and fruitier flavors aimed at women, including cotton candy, which is delicious at a carnival and deeply questionable as a beverage.
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Thu, 05 Mar 2026 - 09min - 792 - Ask Axis: "How do I create a home environment where my son feels safe to admit mistakes?"
"I have a newly 8 year old male. Honesty has been a major struggle in our home because he hides the truth in order to avoid punishment. I feel that I have created an environment at home that doesn't feel safe enough to express mistakes. How should dad and I proceed to raise 2 sons that have the fruit of The Spirit?" - Marie
→ Read about the "authoritative" parenting style
→ Click here for the Barna research for indicating resiliant familes
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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 03 Mar 2026 - 07min - 791 - Roundtable: Pokémon Cards, Punch the Monkey, and Family Resilience
Three Big Conversations:
- A Pokémon card sells for $16.4 million - 3:15 Barna research sheds light on the three things resilient families prioritize - 19:04 Everyone seems to relate to an abandoned monkey in a Japanese zoo - 33:22
Resource of the Week - Conversation Starter - YouTube Video - 1:42
In Other News.. - 46:06
USA hockey set viewership records at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, with both men's and women's teams winning gold, setting hockey up to hang on to its place as the fourth most-followed sport in the US—at least, until the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles enters the chat. The so-called "boy blush" trend is gaining traction, with artists like Sangwon and Bad Bunny wearing noticeable blush on major stages, and teen boys increasingly experimenting with makeup as part of their personal style. A TikTok meme called "baby boo" started with people dancing to a clip that repeats "she gon' call me baby boo" and has since morphed into users calling it "baby boo syndrome." Eric Dane, known for his roles in Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, passed away on February 19, one year after announcing his ALS diagnosis. Since then, TikTok has filled with edits of his most emotional scenes. At the BAFTA film awards, a guest with Tourette's syndrome involuntarily shouted a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage. The moment sparked conversations about the real harm that racial slurs carry for Black people, alongside questions about the awareness around Tourette's and the responsibility of live broadcasting.
→ Click here to check out the Pour Over Newsletter
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 27 Feb 2026 - 49min - 790 - CT: Pokémon Cards, Punch the Monkey, and Family Resilience
A Pokémon card sells for $16.4 million, Barna research sheds light on the three things resilient families prioritize, and everyone seems to relate to an abandoned monkey in a Japanese zoo.
Resource of the Week - Conversation Starter - YouTube Video
In Other News..
USA hockey set viewership records at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, with both men's and women's teams winning gold, setting hockey up to hang on to its place as the fourth most-followed sport in the US—at least, until the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles enters the chat. The so-called "boy blush" trend is gaining traction, with artists like Sangwon and Bad Bunny wearing noticeable blush on major stages, and teen boys increasingly experimenting with makeup as part of their personal style. A TikTok meme called "baby boo" started with people dancing to a clip that repeats "she gon' call me baby boo" and has since morphed into users calling it "baby boo syndrome." Eric Dane, known for his roles in Grey's Anatomy and Euphoria, passed away on February 19, one year after announcing his ALS diagnosis. Since then, TikTok has filled with edits of his most emotional scenes. At the BAFTA film awards, a guest with Tourette's syndrome involuntarily shouted a racial slur while Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo were onstage. The moment sparked conversations about the real harm that racial slurs carry for Black people, alongside questions about the awareness around Tourette's and the responsibility of live broadcasting.
→ Click here to check out the Pour Over Newsletter
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 26 Feb 2026 - 11min - 789 - Ask Axis: "How do I talk to my teens about the sanctity of marriage after my divorce?"
"I struggle to find reputable, biblically based resources from a child of divorce POV - specifically navigating through talking about the sanctity of marriage when I'm speaking from a place of separation myself (and keeping parent's "adult issues" out of it so I never want my kids to think our problems have anything to do with them). I know one of the first questions my teen will ask will involve "...but you and Dad didn't stay married," or some version of that. It would be great to hear a podcast speaking about this topic!" - Jacquie
Brand New Axis Resource → How To Talk About Divorce With Your Teen
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 24 Feb 2026 - 05min - 788 - Roundtable: Wuthering Heights, AI Smart Glasses, and the SEU Outpouring
Three Big Conversations:
- Southeastern University cancels class to pray and worship Jesus. - 07:54 "Smart glasses" with AI take creepiness to a new level. - 17:14 What parents should know about the new Wuthering Heights movie. - 29:10
Slang of the Week: lowkenuinely - 01:11
In Other News: - 42:08
Sony Animation Studios (the team behind Into the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters) has a new animated film called GOAT, starring Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin and NBA star Stephen Curry. A new video game in the "Roguelite" genre called Mewgenics had an incredibly successful release last week, but parents should know the game features a lot of questionable—even sacreligious—content. A new TikTok account called @DanySlicer started with two short videos of a man whose face is obscured in shadow. Inexplicably, both videos got millions of views, and many started referring to this completely silent character as the "internet's new villain." Netflix is diving into mixed martial arts, kicking off with a fight between two pioneering and sometimes controversial fighters, Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey. This month on our podcast we explored romantasy and the question many parents are asking: Why are teens and adults so drawn to fantasy and romance novels? Check it out here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 20 Feb 2026 - 45min - 787 - CT: Wuthering Heights, AI Smart Glasses, and the SEU Outpouring
Southeastern University cancels class to pray and worship Jesus, "smart glasses" with AI take creepiness to a new level, and what parents should know about the new Wuthering Heights movie.
Slang of the Week: lowkenuinely
In Other News:
Sony Animation Studios (the team behind Into the Spider-Verse and KPop Demon Hunters) has a new animated film called GOAT, starring Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin and NBA star Stephen Curry. A new video game in the "Roguelite" genre called Mewgenics had an incredibly successful release last week, but parents should know the game features a lot of questionable—even sacreligious—content. A new TikTok account called @DanySlicer started with two short videos of a man whose face is obscured in shadow. Inexplicably, both videos got millions of views, and many started referring to this completely silent character as the "internet's new villain." Netflix is diving into mixed martial arts, kicking off with a fight between two pioneering and sometimes controversial fighters, Gina Carano and Ronda Rousey. This month on our podcast we explored romantasy and the question many parents are asking: Why are teens and adults so drawn to fantasy and romance novels? Check it out here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 19 Feb 2026 - 09min - 786 - Big Conversation: What's the deal with dark romance?
The Big Conversation:
This month we're focusing on relationships, and we're tackling a question many parents are asking: "Why are teens and adults so drawn to romantasy books?"
Axis Resources → A Parent's Guide to Teen Dating
→ A Conversation Kit on Dating
→ A Parent's Guide to Kicking Off the Sex Talk
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 17 Feb 2026 - 50min - 785 - Roundtable: Chicken Banana, OpenClaw, and Bad Bunny
Three Big Conversations:
- The hills are alive with the sound of kids saying "chicken, banana," - 14:38 A new AI tool called OpenClaw has an iron grasp on data - 20:20 Backlash took center stage after Bad Bunny's halftime show. - 49:04
Song of the Week: "The Great Divide" - Noah Kahan - 01:16
Click here to read the lyrics.
In Other News.. - 1:04:02
James Van Der Beek passed away this week after battling colorectal cancer. Best known for his role as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, he helped define late 90s teen drama, and his legacy continues through streaming nostalgia and even one of the internet's earliest viral reaction GIFs. At a congressional hearing last week, self-driving car company Waymo admitted that sometimes its cars are being remote-controlled by workers based in the Philippines. An emerging star of the 2026 Winter Olympics is American figure skater Alysa Liu, who won gold and then promptly broke her medal. Cool guys have bangs now, according to GQ. Fellas are trading the long-popular long-on the-top, short-on-the sides haircut for softer, more lived-in fringe. This weekend, the long-awaited, R-rated adaptation of the gothic romance novel Wuthering Heights will hit 3,600 screens and is projected to hit $50 million on its opening weekend.
Axis Resource → A Parent's Guide to Talking About Hell
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 13 Feb 2026 - 1h 07min - 784 - CT: Chicken Banana, OpenClaw, and Bad Bunny
The hills are alive with the sound of kids saying "chicken, banana," a new AI tool called OpenClaw has an iron grasp on data, and backlash took center stage after Bad Bunny's halftime show.
Song of the Week: "The Great Divide" - Noah Kahan
Click here to read the lyrics.
In Other News..
James Van Der Beek passed away this week after battling colorectal cancer. Best known for his role as Dawson Leery on Dawson's Creek, he helped define late 90s teen drama, and his legacy continues through streaming nostalgia and even one of the internet's earliest viral reaction GIFs. At a congressional hearing last week, self-driving car company Waymo admitted that sometimes its cars are being remote-controlled by workers based in the Philippines. An emerging star of the 2026 Winter Olympics is American figure skater Alysa Liu, who won gold and then promptly broke her medal. Cool guys have bangs now, according to GQ. Fellas are trading the long-popular long-on the-top, short-on-the sides haircut for softer, more lived-in fringe. This weekend, the long-awaited, R-rated adaptation of the gothic romance novel Wuthering Heights will hit 3,600 screens and is projected to hit $50 million on its opening weekend.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 12 Feb 2026 - 11min - 783 - Ask Axis: "My 14-year-old is in the 'talking stage' with four girls. What should I do?"
"Today's teens, especially those who are too young to drive, enter what they call "talking stages," which seem to be a substitute for dating. It's basically a stream of conciousness texting session with one another. I have a 14 year old son. Girls are coming out of the wood work trying to enter a "talking stage" with him. Right now he is talking to 4 girls. He has decided he really likes one of these girls. So the question is, should he continue talking to the other girls, or let them know that he really likes someone other than them? What he has done is ghost the other girls, he simply doesn't answer their texts; this doesn't feel right. What do you think the right way is to handle the situation? I have no idea where girls are getting his number but every week someone new is texting him out of the blue. It usually starts with, "I thought you were cute so I asked for your number." To me this is also concerning. I think the type of girls he should be looking for are not the ones chasing boys." - Michelle
Axis Resource → A Parent's Guide to Teen Dating
Axis Resource → A Conversation Kit on Dating
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Tue, 10 Feb 2026 - 12min - 782 - Roundtable: The Super Bowl, The Grammys, and Etsy Witches
Three Big Conversations:
- The Grammys offered a chaotic celebration of modern music. - 8:08 "Etsy witches" are getting kicked off of Etsy. - 21:12 Sports betting looms large over Super Bowl LX this Sunday. - 35:06
Song of the Week: "Aperture" by Harry Styles -1:25
Click here for the lyrics.
In Other News: - 53:08
"She's free" is a TikTok trend where friends line up, clap and shine phone flashlights as someone walks a celebratory runway after a breakup. The 2026 Winter Olympics in the Italian cities of Milano and Cortina begin today. If the 2024 Summer Olympics were any indication, teens will probably be fascinated by the athletes and their respective social media presences. A new platform called Moltbook is designed to be a Reddit-style social media forum for AI bots to publicly chat with each other. The Lunar New Year is coming up soon, which brings a new Chinese zodiac. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, and people on TikTok are freaking out about it. Iron Lung, a sci-fi horror film that stars YouTuber Markiplier (who also wrote, directed, and financed it), was a surprise box office success that almost beat Disney's Send Help in its opening weekend.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Fri, 06 Feb 2026 - 55min - 781 - CT: The Super Bowl, The Grammys, and Etsy Witches
The Grammys offered a chaotic celebration of modern music, "Etsy witches" are getting kicked off of Etsy, and sports betting looms large over Super Bowl LX this Sunday.
Song of the Week: "Aperture" by Harry Styles
Click here for the lyrics.
In Other News:
"She's free" is a TikTok trend where friends line up, clap and shine phone flashlights as someone walks a celebratory runway after a breakup. The 2026 Winter Olympics in the Italian cities of Milano and Cortina begin today. If the 2024 Summer Olympics were any indication, teens will probably be fascinated by the athletes and their respective social media presences. A new platform called Moltbook is designed to be a Reddit-style social media forum for AI bots to publicly chat with each other. The Lunar New Year is coming up soon, which brings a new Chinese zodiac. 2026 is the year of the Fire Horse, and people on TikTok are freaking out about it. Iron Lung, a sci-fi horror film that stars YouTuber Markiplier (who also wrote, directed, and financed it), was a surprise box office success that almost beat Disney's Send Help in its opening weekend.
🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect
→ Become a monthly donor today, join the Table.
→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!
→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.
→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.
Thu, 05 Feb 2026 - 09min
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