Being Human

We're back with Season 8 of the Being Human podcast! In this episode, Peter Lynas is joined by new co-host Katherine Brown to explore "spiritual curiosity" across popular culture. From feminists and historians to podcasters and footballers it seems like many people are curious about faith. They discuss the Bible Society’s “Quiet Revival” report and its retraction, while pointing to other research and many UK stories of people praying, buying Bibles, and simply showing up at church. The episode also highlights challenges like pick-and-mix spirituality and online-only discipleship and stresses the value of local church community. Finally, they introduce Ethos, a digital pathway which includes a quiz, personalised insights and suggested Christian practices to help spiritually curious people explore the way of Jesus. 00:00 Celebs are spiritually curious 01:19 Welcome to Being Human 01:42 Meet the new co-host 03:11 The Jordan Peterson effect 05:18 Theo Von and prayer 06:39 Bryan Johnson tries prayer 08:21 Steven Bartlett is spiritually curious 11:24 Feminist author Louise Perry becomes a Christian 13:11 Ayaan Hirsi Ali: from Islam to Christianity 15:08 The Alex O'Connor effect 17:02 Quiet Revival or a loud awakening? 19:44 Stats and stories of people coming to church 23:29 Cultural shifts in faith 26:45 Pick-and-mix spirituality 28:10 Online discipleship challenges 30:27 Why local church matters 32:56 What's next? 35:18 Ethos: for the spiritually curious 37:20 Connect with us online

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!

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!

In this episode Jo and Peter use the apologetics tool - the Being Humans Lens - to chat all-things artificial intelligence (AI). They ask: does AI know us better than we know ourselves? Can AI really become a source for our relationships? And how might we draw on the wisdom of the God Story when it comes to navigating the future of tech? Through exploring significance, connection, participation and presence the conversation covers AI’s benefits and challenges, from ChatGPT and self-driving cars to ethical dilemmas and the potential for deep fakes. They also consider the environmental impact of AI and the questions around ethical frameworks to guide its development. Ultimately, we dive back to the better story found in the pages of scripture for a hopeful perspective on integrity, empathy and wisdom in this digital age. Part one (00:00) 01:06 Welcome back and introducing today’s topic: AI 03:03 Putting AI at the focal point of the Being Human Lens. 05:01 Significance: AI bias, data and ethics. 12:45 The God story: Genesis and wisdom. Part two (17:03) 17:06 AI and connection: how do we build an ethnical framework? 25:36 Loneliness: is AI really a source for relationship? 27:31 Biblical empathy and ethics: relational beings in a digital world. 29:27 Real vs fake: presence and digital deconstruction. 35:38 The environmental cost of AI. 38:10 A better story: stewarding God’s creation, pursing truth and encounter. 40:51 Participation and creativity: does AI really know us better than we know ourselves? 44:50 ‘Hypersuasion’: AI's influence on our choices. 49:08 Wisdom and integrity in the age of AI. 51:12 Three spiritual habits: digital abstinence, worship and examen.

This episode explores the limits and boundaries of human life, particularly when it comes to abortion and euthanasia. Jo and Peter use the Being Human lens as a tool to help us think faithfully and compassionately about the start and end of life, recognising these are hugely contested areas in public debate. They take a look at the law surrounding abortion and euthanasia as well as stories from around the world on where these debates are bubbling up across the media. The conversation touches on justice and autonomy from women, dignity in suffering, and the deeply personal dilemmas individuals face. They bring us back the story of God and his people, taking note of the role of the early church in caring for babies and the promise of hope woven throughout scripture. The episode lands on how we might navigate these conversations well in our own lives and sharing a better story through practices of hospitality, different forms of prayer and gratitude. Part one (00:00) 01:24 Diving into the debate: are there limits on life? Both entry to life and exiting from life are two of the most contested areas in public debate. 02:46 Stories of abortion and euthanasia in UK media and policy. 06:03 The Being Human Lens: a tool for this discussion. 07:49 Understanding statistics and the law around abortion in the UK. 12:37 Significance and abortion: considering a woman’s autonomy over her own body and the life of a baby. 14:05 Moving to euthanasia – why is it such a hot topic at the moment? 16:00 Dignity and death: having compassion for those suffering and the promise of hope in the Christian story. Part two (21:59) 22:00 Connection: How does the start and end of life affect our relationships with each other, with God and with our world? 24:38 Is abortion the pinnacle of the justice for women or is it perpetuating further injustices in new forms? 28:06 Navigating the euthanasia debate in Canada 32:58 The early church: revisiting ancient values and practices of our forefathers. 35:20 Presence and the recognising the cost of caring for our loved ones. 41:03 Participation and the story of Sarah and Paul Williams. Does purpose necessitate being human? 47:21 Practising and inhabiting a better story: hospitality, gratitude, intercession and examen prayer. Interested in taking this conversation further? Take a look at some resources and organisations mentioned in the episode: Both Lives Matter Home for good Safer families Perfectly Human: Nine Months with Cerian (Shaming the Strong) by Sarah Williams

In episode three, Jo and Peter tackle one of the most contested topics in our culture today – the trans debate. They explore the complex questions surrounding sex, gender and being embodied humans. With the transgender and feminism conversations often feeling charged and toxic, it can be difficult to know how to engage when this issue can affect us personally and divide opinion so quickly. So, this episode provides a hopeful look at what it means to be human when it comes to such a contested issue. Engaging with topics like the Barbie movie, gender and sport, controversies surrounding those in the public eye – like JK Rowling or Dylan Mulvaney – and the treatment of transgender children, this episode looks at where we find the gender debate bubbling up across culture today. Jo and Peter, using the Being Human lens, keep bringing it back to God Story; how it speaks to feminism, equality, human dignity and understanding the importance of our bodies. This conversation reminds us of importance of thinking through our theology and recognising the significance and dignity of one another, particularly when we might disagree. Show notes 00:00 Welcome back to Being Human and catching up on Peter’s chocolate and sugar sacrifices in preparation for a mountain marathon 02:20 ‘I am kenough’: exploring the cultural phenomenon of last year’s Barbie movie and questions it posed about what it means to be a woman and a man. 05:14 From JK Rowling to Dylan Mulvaney, introducing one the most contested issues of today: male, female, sex and gender identities. 11:46 Looking through the Being Human lens and kicking off with significance: who matters, and do we matter when it comes to our bodies? Navigating the often-emotive topic of trans rights and human rights. 20:03 Recognising the significance and dignity of one another, particularly when we disagree. 23:41Feminism meets Christianity: in the book of Genesis, are women really just “an afterthought”? Part two (26:25) 26:25 Finding common ground: when different sides of the trans debate seek to cancel, push out and disown one another, is there a possibility of reconciliation when it comes to our connections to one another? 40:05 Presence and reflecting on the Cass Review: a key moment for the conversation on transgender care for children. 44:03 Recognising bad theology and reclaiming good theology when it comes to thinking through our bodies and our spirits. 46:45 How might we attempt to participate in the gender identity conversation when it so fraught with emotion, sensitivity and difference? 53:00 Theological study, fasting and hospitality: three practices for navigating cultural conversations and reorientating us back to God.

Welcome back to season five! Jo Frost and Peter Lynas return, exploring what it means to be human in 2024. In this first episode, Jo and Peter are chatting all things elections, democracy and nationalism. With four billion people headed to the polls this year, how does the God story affect our engagement with politics? From Taiwan and India to the Trump vs Biden rematch and our own issues on domestic soil, this is shaping up to be a big year. This season we’re going to be using the Being Human Lens, which focuses on four core aspects of humanity: significance, connection, presence, and participation, as a framework to help think through these big issues. Amongst divisive issues like abortion and Israel-Palestine, the concerning rise of Christian nationalism and the votes of young people in the UK – is it possible for our connections, place, and participation to play a positive role in our lives and politics? We’re asking how we as followers of Jesus can model a better story when it comes to disagreeing well and being others-orientated, as well as exploring some everyday spiritual habits to help us follow the way of Jesus as we engage with our democracy. Part 1 (00:00) 00:00 Welcome to season five: exploring what it means to be human in 2024! 01:41 This season, we are taking the big issues of our day and looking through the Being Human Lens to understand how we form and shape our humanity. 03:24 With four billion people heading to the polls this year, lets deep dive on elections, democracy, and nationalism. From Taiwan and India to the Trump vs Biden rematch and our home soil: the elections we can anticipate this year. 09:53 Refresher: what is the Being Human Lens? How might we use it to understand our world? 12:26 Israel-Palestine, US polarisation and exploring significance in divisive political landscapes. How might an identity in Christ affect our engagement in politics? Part 2 (20:37) 20:54 Connection in democracy: building coalitions and community amidst a society that emphasises the needs of the individual above others. 28:58 Nationalism and migration – is it possible for place and presence to play a positive role in our lives and politics? 36:36 As Christians, how might we creatively and compassionately participate in democracy beyond just voting? 42:30 Intercessory prayer, digital abstinence, and hospitality: everyday spiritual habits to help us grow into the likeness of Jesus as we engage with politics.

Are we becoming more anxious as a society? And how can following Jesus build resilience in the face of increasing mental fragility? In our final interview of the season, Jo and Peter are joined by Will van der Hart. Anglican priest, author, coach and pastoral specialist, he brings a breadth and depth of knowledge to conversations surrounding faith and mental health. Having suffered from PTSD and an acute anxiety breakdown following his involvement in the London 2005 bombings recovery, Will is now a leading voice on equipping leaders to look after their emotional health. This interview covers a lot of ground, spanning from deep theology to psychology to cultural commentary, as well as practical advice on building resilience. Ultimately, Will shares that belonging to Jesus can help us in the way we view our psychological health and our ability to battle shame. If you would like to explore more of the themes of this episode, do check out Christian mental health charity Mind and Soul Foundation, where Will is a director. Will’s book, talks and further resources can all be found there. Part one (00:00)00:35 – Two very different stories to get to know Will: an all-inclusive holiday gone wrong, and the impact the 2005 London bombings had on his mental health.05:14 – Will's own experience of complex PTSD and anxiety led to a ministry integrating and advocating for faith and mental health. But in wider society, are we becoming more anxious or are we just talking about anxiety more?13:00 – As Christians, do we recognise that we are truly forgiven and free? What is ‘disassociated guilt’ and why is it ‘the culture war of old’?19:00 – “If it's not a paradox, then it's probably not God”. Learning to hold the mind, spirit and body together in unity, even if that causes tension. Part two (21:10)21:20 – The power of ‘unbelonging’: much of today's cultural stories surrounding ‘the self’ are rooted in a deep desire for belonging and fear of shame.27:00 – Why belonging to Jesus can benefit our psychological health.29:00 – Unpicking the challenges that Christian leaders are facing and dismantling the ‘catastrophe of leadership narrative’.35:30 – To build resilience against a culture of shame, we must share grace often and seek a soft heart in the centre of the church.40:00 – Where to go next – Will’s books and further resources, as well as an important reminder for prioritising recreation.