The Culture Translator

We look into teen culture every week to help parents and faith leaders have meaningful conversations with Gen Z.

Who’s Cutting Onions? 11/15/2024

Who’s Cutting Onions? Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Gen Z is enthralled by the taste and sounds of onions, threatening spam texts are being sent to Black teenagers, and parents are the new lighthouses. For more Axis resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33948362

Parker Hymas (Fight the New Drug) on How to Talk About Porn with Gen Z 11/13/2024

Parker Hymas (Fight the New Drug) on How to Talk About Porn with Gen Z Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast, today, we’re reposting our conversation with Parker Hymas from Fight the New Drug. Parker is the Director of Public Outreach at Fight the New Drug, which is a non-religious, non-legislative, educational organization that works with experts, researchers, celebrities, professional athletes, award-winning journalists, CEOs, authors, influencers, and advocates from across all industries to share about the harms of pornography, and how we can address it in our society. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33906452

Roundtable: Robot Moms and Comfort Verses 11/11/2024

Roundtable: Robot Moms and Comfort Verses In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Slang of the Week: 0:22 1. The Death of a Squirrel: 7:55 2. Well Versed: 20:12 3. Wild Thing: 41:45 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33888622

Dr. Julie Yonker on Mental Health for Boys vs. Girls 11/06/2024

Dr. Julie Yonker on Mental Health for Boys vs. Girls Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Julie Yonker. Julie is a professor and Public Health Department Chair at Calvin University, where she teaches classes in psychology, gender studies, and public health. She received her B.A. from Calvin in Biology and Chemistry; then pursued teratology research (the study of birth defects) at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and Procter & Gamble; received her Ph.D. from Stockholm University in cognitive and experimental psychology; and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in substance abuse at the University of Cincinnati, Department of Psychiatry. We’ll be talking today primarily about how mental health issues show up differently between young men and women—and how to help them get the help they need. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33817366

Roundtable: Breakup Songs and Baking Brits 11/04/2024

Roundtable: Breakup Songs and Baking Brits In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Song of the Week: 0:28 1. Crying for the Camera: 16:43 2. Baking Brits: 34:31 3. Peak Sports: 42:22 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33783167

Breakup Songs and Baking Brits 11/01/2024

Breakup Songs and Baking Brits Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Games for all four major sports leagues happened on the same night, breakup songs are going viral on TikTok, and a Gen Z competitor is winning hearts in the Great British Baking Show. For more Axis resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33735112

Lisa Fields on Doubt, Church, and Race 10/30/2024

Lisa Fields on Doubt, Church, and Race Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today we’re reposting our conversation with Lisa Fields. Lisa is one of the world’s most sought-after Christian apologists, and combines her passion for biblical literacy with her heart for sharing God’s love with all those she meets. She has received several honors, including being recognized in Christianity Today for her work as an apologist in the African American community. She helped produce and create two documentaries, Unspoken, which is an in-depth look into the Christian heritage of Africa and people of African descent, and Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom, through her partnership with Our Daily Bread. Lisa has a Bachelor of Science in Communications and Religious studies from the University of North Florida, and a Master of Divinity with a focus in Theology from Liberty University. Finally, she is the founder and CEO of the Jude 3 Project, which Axis recently got to partner with to create a resource on talking with Gen Z about sexuality and gender. We’ll be talking primarily today about Lisa’s work with Jude 3 Project. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33675982

Roundtable: The Megachurch That Quit Social Media 10/28/2024

Roundtable: The Megachurch That Quit Social Media In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Song of the Week: 0:26 1. A Little Spooky: 12:30 2. So "Espresso": 28:49 3. Digital Detox: 46:30 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33647417

The Megachurch That Quit Social Media 10/25/2024

The Megachurch That Quit Social Media Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Holloween is looking less spooky these days, an SNL spoof of "Espresso" is trending on TikTok, and one church in Nashville has leaned fully into digital fasting. For more Axis resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33601107

Derek Mason on Spiritual Warfare in the Modern World 10/23/2024

Derek Mason on Spiritual Warfare in the Modern World Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today, we are posting an interview with Derek Mason. Derek is the founder and president of Identity In Christ, Inc. and Identity In Christ Media. Since 2013, he has guided hundreds of people through extraordinary spiritual challenges, including overcoming the effects of sexual abuse, severe trauma, temptations, anxieties, and psychological barriers. His ministry has also helped individuals break free from enslavement to pornography, PTSD, schizophrenia, suicidal thoughts, severe depression, and addictions. One of very few pastors delving deeply into the study and teaching of spiritual warfare today, Derek addresses the very real and dark spiritual forces at work in the world today and employs a Biblically grounded approach that has consistently helped hundreds. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33572902

Roundtable: Does Adulthood Really Start at 27? 10/21/2024

Roundtable: Does Adulthood Really Start at 27? In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Slang of the Week: 1:21 1. Bewitched: 14:15 2. Paranoid Android: 36:04 3. Arrested Development: 57:41 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33556112

Does Adulthood Really Start at 27? 10/18/2024

Does Adulthood Really Start at 27? Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week “Agatha All Along” takes the Marvel Universe to its darkest place yet, Elon Musk previews droids that he says will perform every household task, and a survey shows that Gen Z defines 27 as the age of adulthood. For more Axis resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33513817

Jeremiah Parks on Poverty, Social Justice, and the Gospel 10/16/2024

Jeremiah Parks on Poverty, Social Justice, and the Gospel Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today we’re reposting our conversation with Jeremiah Parks. Jeremiah has been described as a fiery Texas-born, Oral Roberts University graduate. He is a pastor to the core and has loved living and ministering in Colorado Springs, raising 3 kids and founding a nonprofit called Heartwork with his wife, Niki. He is a passionate and inspiring father, friend, handyman, hiker, dreamer, and preacher. He’s always learning, most recently becoming bi-lingual, as part of serving orphans and widows in the mountains of Guatemala half of each year. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33467792

Roundtable: Gen Z Boys Are in Their Skincare Era 10/14/2024

Roundtable: Gen Z Boys Are in Their Skincare Era In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Song of the Week: 0:41 1. Boys' Skincare: 12:54 2. Courting Trouble: 36:09 3. "English or Spanish?": 47:50 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33456227

Gen Z Boys Are in Their Skincare Era 10/11/2024

Gen Z Boys Are in Their Skincare Era Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week The “English or Spanish” TikTok trend has strangers freezing up, Gen Z guys are embracing skincare routines, and YouTuber MrBeast could be in some legal trouble. For more Axis resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33420272

Dr. Danny Huerta on 7 Traits of Effective Parenting 10/09/2024

Dr. Danny Huerta on 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast. Today we’re reposting our conversation with Danny Huerta. Danny is the Vice President of Parenting and Youth at Focus on the Family. He oversees Focus’ initiatives to equip mothers and fathers with biblical principles and counsel for raising healthy, resilient children rooted in a thriving faith. He is also a bilingual, licensed clinical social worker. For many years, he has provided families with practical parenting advice on topics ranging from media discernment, discipline, and communication to mental health issues, conflict resolution, and healthy sexuality in the home. He and his wife, Heather, have been married since 1997 and have two children, Alex and Lexi. In this interview, We’ll be speaking about his book, 7 Traits of Effective Parenting. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33382437

Roundtable: We Have Reached Peak Hippo Memes 10/07/2024

Roundtable: We Have Reached Peak Hippo Memes In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Resource of the Week: 0:31 1. Pork Roll: 2:17 2. Hurricane Helene: 8:21 3. Outnumbered: 26:19 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33366117

Mary Jo Sharp on Doubt, Deconstruction, and Darkroom Faith 10/02/2024

Mary Jo Sharp on Doubt, Deconstruction, and Darkroom Faith Welcome to The Culture Translator podcast, and today we’re reposting our conversation with the Director of Content for Dark Room Faith, Mary Jo Sharp. A former atheist, Mary was raised without religion. She is now an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University, and as well as the founder of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry. She also is the author of the Zondervan book Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist’s Reckoning With the Bad Reputation Christians Give a Good God and the LifeWay bible study Why Do You Believe That? She is an itinerant speaker on apologetics and has engaged in formal debates on Islam, and she focuses on using love and logic to uncover truth. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33284257

Roundtable: Pasta Witchcraft Memes and Diddy on TikTok 09/30/2024

Roundtable: Pasta Witchcraft Memes and Diddy on TikTok In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Song of the Week: 1:20 1. Bad Boy Gets Life?: 12:36 2. Soup Season: 28:09 3. The Best Offense: 47:29 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33268712

Pasta Witchcraft Memes and Diddy on TikTok 09/27/2024

Pasta Witchcraft Memes and Diddy on TikTok Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Strega Nona kicks off the fall meme season, one writer reconsiders the phrase “defending the faith,” and teens are talking about Diddy on TikTok. For more Axis resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33232722

Elliot Campbell on Heresy, Hospitality, and Meeting Gen Z Where They Are 09/25/2024

Elliot Campbell on Heresy, Hospitality, and Meeting Gen Z Where They Are Today we’re reposting an interview with Elliot Campbell. Elliot is on the pastoral advisory board for Alpha Youth USA. He has collaborated with the Bible Project and various other national leaders for the sake of reaching Gen Z and has a decade in pastoral experience working specifically with young adults. Elliot studied comparative religion and philosophy at the University of Virginia and graduated from Denver Seminary as a Kern Scholar with an MDiv in 2018. He and his wife Madison are currently church planting in the Denver Metroplex. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33194062

Roundtable: Lunchly and Social Media 09/23/2024

Roundtable: Lunchly and Social Media In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Meme of the Week: 0:29 1. Time to Waste: 2:02 2. Out to Lunch: 23:18 3. Keeping Accounts: 38:13 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33175747

Lunchly and Social Media 09/20/2024

Lunchly and Social Media Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week Instagram will debut “teen accounts” for users 18 and below, a new poll indicates that lots of teens spend seven hours or more a day on social media, and some powerful influencers are launching a Lunchable competitor. For more Axis resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33138762

Laurence Koo on Same-Sex Attraction, Celibacy, and the Gospel 09/18/2024

Laurence Koo on Same-Sex Attraction, Celibacy, and the Gospel Today we’re reposting an interview with Laurence Koo. After coming to terms with his own experience of same-sex attraction, Laurence eventually committed himself to celibacy, out of a conviction that that’s what Jesus was calling him to. Since then he has become an international speaker and consultant on the topic of sexuality and same-sex attraction. He also leads training and development for young missionaries with the Navigators, and recently became the director of iEDGE, which sends teams of young adults into other nations to do cross-cultural discipleship ministry. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33096422

Roundtable: Impossible Creatures and Online Personas 09/16/2024

Roundtable: Impossible Creatures and Online Personas In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Resource of the Week: 0:30 1. Impossible Creatures: 2:23 2. Young Americans, Online: 9:10 3. Blockheads: 24:23 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33079607

Impossible Creatures and Online Personas 09/13/2024

Impossible Creatures and Online Personas Welcome to The Culture Translator Audio Version. This week a trailer for the Minecraft movie makes waves, Gen Alpha’s favorite fantasy series is flying off the shelves, and young people say they like their online selves better than their offline personas. For more Axis resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/33041212

Jason Woodruff (from The Pour Over) on How to Engage the News With Discernment 09/11/2024

Jason Woodruff (from The Pour Over) on How to Engage the News With Discernment Today we are posting an interview with Jason Woodruff. Jason is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Pour Over, a politically neutral, Christ-centered news source. Their goal is to cover the same events that readers would learn about from major news sources, but to help their readers process those events from a foundation of faith. Axis recently collaborated with The Pour Over for a short course on Media Literacy that we’re excited to release here in a couple of weeks. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/32999877

Roundtable: Grandparents Day and Rings of Power 09/09/2024

Roundtable: Grandparents Day and Rings of Power In the Culture Translator Roundtable, we dive deeper into the context and nuance around the critical conversations and topics written about in the Culture Translator Newsletter. For more written, audio, and video resources, go to Song of the Week: 0:26 1. An Open World: 16:02 2. Powering Down: 28:58 3. In Grand Fashion: 50:21 /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/32971662

Grandparents Day and Rings of Power 09/06/2024

Grandparents Day and Rings of Power Welcome to The Culture Translator. This week Star Wars: Outlaws makes its debut, Rings of Power returns for season two, and grandparents are the unsung heroes of the legacy of faith. For more Axis resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/32943607

Nancy Pearcey on The Toxic War on Masculinity 09/04/2024

Nancy Pearcey on The Toxic War on Masculinity Today we’re reposting an interview with Nancy Pearcey. Professor Pearcey is the author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, as well as Love Thy Body, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Total Truth. She is a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's preeminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual." We’ll be talking primarily about her new book, The Toxic War on Masculinity. For more parenting resources, go to /episode/index/show/culturetranslator/id/32886802

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