Unpacking Freedom: Cultural stories and biblical practices
Jo and Peter return to unpack freedom, chatting through insights on the topics of free speech, social justice and asking if it's okay to stop others from exercising their freedom to protect your own.
Explore the dynamic exchange between Jo Frost and Peter Lynas as they delve into cultural conversations and biblical practices to explore what freedom, faith, and being truly, fully human looks like today in our latest podcast episode! Tune in for an engaging discussion that resonates with current debates and timeless truths.
00:00 Introduction: Absolute freedom is a myth
00:33: JD Vance and free speech
01:35: What is freedom?
02:12: Freedom and Individualism
06:58: Are our freedoms under threat?
07:03: Coercion and Assisted Suicide
10:57: Freedom in the Digital Age
13:42: Biblical Perspective on Freedom
25:41: Christian Practices for Freedom
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33:37
Being Human in the chaos of Trump, tech bros and global crisis
In the first episode of the Being Human podcast season six, Jo Frost and Peter Lynas dive into the widespread feeling of chaos in today's world, exploring its implications on personal, cultural, and societal levels. Chatting through the different cultural stories, from politics to technology that contribute to this sense of chaotic madness, they pull on the threads of the God story to help us make sense of what’s happening and ask how practices such as fasting, hospitality, and worship can bring order and peace.
Time stamps
00:00 Introduction: It’s a mad, mad world
00:47 Exploring Cultural Stories
01:55 Understanding Chaosity
04:08 Global and Technological Chaos
10:48 Personal and Community Chaos
13:24 Biblical Perspective on Chaos
25:54 Christian Practices for Order
36:10 Conclusion and Call to Action
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37:22
Health and wellness
In the final episode of the season, hosts Jo Frost and Peter Lynas discuss the intricate relationship between health, wellness, and what it means to be truly, fully human. Exploring the cultural stories that shape our view of health and wellness, they delve into topics such as nutrition, sleep, body image, and mental well-being.
As with all episodes in this season, Jo and Peter use the Being Human lens to analyse these aspects through the aspects of presence, significance, participation, and connection. They highlight the cultural contradictions surrounding health and wellness and emphasise the importance of community, hospitality, and generosity for a holistic and healthier life. Practical applications like fasting, simplicity, and hospitality are recommended to cultivate wholeness and better health.
00:00 Season Finale Announcement
01:13 Today we’re chatting health and wellness
02:23 Recap on the Being Human lens
04:07 The importance of sleep
07:50 Health span vs. Life span
09:17 Holistic health and wellness
12:57 What does the God story tell us about healthy bodies?
19:18 Health inequality and the challenge of dignity and respect
23:33 Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit
24:26 Participation and the sedentary lifestyle
26:27 Health data and health tracking
29:22 The influence of social media on health
31:27 Connection through food and relationships
34:45 Health as a justice issue
37:33 Practices for health and wellness
43:51 That’s a wrap!
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45:13
Race and ethnicity
In this episode Jo and Peter welcome their friend and head of public policy, Alicia to the conversation. This time ethnicity is placed the centre of the lens and through significance, connection, presence and participation, they track some of the major cultural shifts in this vital and global conversation. From the murder of George Floyd in the US to the case of Child Q in the UK, they lament over the prevalence of injustice, while looking to the God Story for a more hopeful narrative. Alongside personal stories the conversation touches on how Christians might seek wisdom when it comes to language and ideas like intersectionality. And admits a culture that so often only wants to deconstruct, they look to the opportunity for hospitality, relationship and rebuilding in Jesus’ name to bridge divides. They ask what can the story found in scripture tell us about difference, identity and community when it comes to thinking about ethnicity?
Part one (00:00)
00:07 Welcome and introductions with Alicia.
01:43 Framing today’s topic: ethnicity and identity.
06:17 Looking at language: race, ethnicity and nationality.
12:18 Putting ethnicity in the centre of the lens.
13:18 Significance and the murder of George Floyd.
18:19 Why we might struggle to recognise our own sin and prejudice.
21:12 The God story: liberation, redeeming identity and the story of Hagar.
Part two (26:17)
26:20 Connection, Christian global community and building peace.
30:01 Friendship and combatting the fear of misspeaking.
33:11 Biblical mandate: being sanctification and made holy.
36:11 Presence: Child Q as a moment of reckoning.
41:28 Deconstruction, intersectionality and rebuilding in Jesus's name.
45:35 The good shepherd.
48:05 Participation: migration and the mandate of hospitality.
52:55 Practicing gratitude.
54:12 Practicing study and intercession.
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57:35
Generational perspectives on work, rest and play
In this episode of Being Human, Jo and Peter are joined by their twenty-five-year-old team member Emma to discuss the generational shift in perspectives on work, rest, and play. From Baby Boomers to Gen Z, they explore how different age groups approach work-life balance, purpose, and identity. Diving into the world of intergenerational workplace dynamics, the impact of digital culture, hobbies, mental health and the quest for a meaningful rest vs work ethic, they draw on the wisdom of the God Story to seek a better narrative. The episode wraps up with three practical spiritual habits – rest, solitude and communion - for navigating these challenges.
Part one (00:00)
00:40 Meet Emma: behind the scenes to on the mic.
01:10 Today’s topic: generational perspectives on work, rest, and play.
02:39 Gen-z, millennials, Gen-x and boomers: understanding the generational categories.
05:06 The Being Human lens: a way to explore the cultural stories.
07:06 Participation: what does each generation look for in work?
14:31 Play and rest: hobby and volunteering culture across generations.
16:40 The God Story: purpose and gifting.
Part two (19:58)
20:00 Significance: does your identity come from your work?
25:52 Anxious generations: shifts in work perception and uncertainty.
29:05 Work, identity, and rest: a biblical perspective.
33:30 Connection: gen-z in the digital age and conflict in relationships.
38:50 Presence and place: flexibility and the future of work.
45:15 A better story with three spiritual practices: rest, solitude and communion.
49:22 Finishing up: do get in touch!
Join Jo Frost and Peter Lynas for a conversation asking what it really means to be human. Listen in as they discuss some of the biggest issues of our day, all the while exploring how we can ensure that it’s God’s story that ultimately defines who we are and how we live our lives.
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