Axis Conversations

Latest Episodes:

CT: The World Cup, Toy Story 5, and Solomaxxing Jun 25, 2026

Show notes

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.

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"I Am a Failure": Inside the Minds of Young Men with Russ Ewell Jun 23, 2026

Show notes

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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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→ 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.

Roundtable: Olivia Rodrigo, Disclosure Day, and Fatherhood Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

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.

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CT: Olivia Rodrigo, Disclosure Day, and Fatherhood Jun 18, 2026

Show notes

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:

🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect

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→ Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel!

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→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

Ask Axis (ft. Roland Warren): "My husband is a first-time dad but never knew his own father. What does he need to know?" Jun 16, 2026

Show notes

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"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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→ 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.

Roundtable: Notifications In Class, Gen Z's Financial Openness, and Brain Implants Jun 12, 2026

Show notes

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Three Big Conversations:

Social media companies are being sued for engaging students during school hours - 04:14
Gen Z is more comfortable disclosing their personal finances than any other generation - 17:28
Why a chip being inserted into our brains might be the least of our problems - 26:38

Resource of the Week - The Sermon on the Mount Experience - 02:02

In Other News: - 37:54

The 2026 World Cup, hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada, kicked off this Thursday in Mexico City. If it matches 2022's viewing numbers, the tournament will attract 5 and a half billion global viewers. Popular and sometimes controversial teen fast-fashion store Brandy Melville announced they're removing their fitting rooms, a decision that's been particularly derided on TikTok. It doesn't help that the store also has a limited in-person return policy. "Dirty sodas" are rising in popularity, but these drinks, which combine soda with things like flavored syrups and cream, can often be metabolic catastrophes with absurd amounts of sugar and calories. The first week of June is all about announcements of upcoming video games, with the highlights this year being a remake of Ocarina of Time, a new Spyro game, and a single-player, story-based Among Us game. There's also what feels like 100 other games coming out this September, a strategy to avoid competing with October's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and November's Grand Theft Auto 6. Are board shorts the look of the summer? Some think so. We'll let you know if you should buy puka shell necklaces again, too.

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→ Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org.

→ For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

CT: Notifications In Class, Gen Z's Financial Openness, and Brain Implants Jun 11, 2026

Show notes

→ 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:

🎧 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.

Roland Warren on The Difference A Dad Makes Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

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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.

Roundtable (Ft. Mike Novotny): Off Campus, Lunch Shaming, and Backrooms Jun 05, 2026

Show notes

→ 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.

CT: Off Campus, Lunch Shaming, and Backrooms Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

→ 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:

🎧 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.