Following The Chosen

Episode 1 available April 7 The New Christian is a podcast for anyone exploring faith — asking big questions about who God is, who Jesus is, and what it really means to call yourself a Christian. Hosted by Chris Jolly, Drive announcer on Hope 1032 and a relatively new Christian himself, this podcast follows a journey of discovery as Chris sits down with seasoned Christian leaders, mentors, and thinkers to explore the foundations of faith. Season One covers questions like: Who is God? Who is Jesus? Who is the Holy Spirit? Why church? Why prayer? Why does evil exist? Even… how do you read the Bible? Each episode is an honest, thoughtful conversation designed for the curious, the seeker, the new believer — and even the lifelong Christian wanting to go deeper. No jargon. No assumptions. Just real questions, trusted voices, and a growing faith. Whether you’re exploring Christianity for the first time or rediscovering it, you’re invited to learn alongside Chris — one conversation at a time. Because some questions don’t have quick answers… but they’re worth asking. Listen wherever you get your podcasts or at hope1032.com.au/podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest: Brandon Robbins is a dynamic Pastor and YouTuber with a deep passion for exploring and teaching the stories of Jesus and his disciples. He has been an enthusiastic follower of the Chosen series, dedicated to analysing and expanding on its theological and historical themes. Brandon is the author of "The Forgotten Teachings of Jesus," a book that dives deeper into the Chosen's episodes to enrich the understanding of Jesus's teachings. He is known for his insightful and engaging content that resonates with both the religious and mainstream audiences alike. Key Takeaways: The Chosen series integrates modern entertainment with historical depth, providing a riveting portrayal of Jesus and his disciples. Understanding Jewish customs enriches the viewing experience, making connections with scripture more profound and insightful. The unique storytelling framework of the Chosen prioritises human experiences, drawing deeper personal connections to the events. Significant aspects of Christian spirituality, such as prayer and understanding scripture, are explored in depth to enhance spiritual transformation. The Chosen generates a community-driven movement, expanding biblical narratives into other media forms and platforms, fostering a global conversation. Notable Quotes: "It focuses not just on telling the story of Jesus, but really telling the story of Jesus through the eyes of his disciples." – Brandon Robbins "Jewish people could do that with the whole Bible. And so when you see something quoted in Scripture… everybody knew what that meant." – Brandon Robbins “It was just beautiful to watch her eyes as she viewed Jesus in this way that is even different than what she experiences in church." – Brandon Robbins “The Chosen has been all about connecting with people. And that is what has caused them to just be evangelistic about it." – Brandon Robbins “When you can put that sort of stuff into a story and understand how it relates to people now, you'll see people dig into scriptures that nobody's ever really touched before.” – Brandon Robbins Resources: Brandon Robbins's Book: The Forgotten Teachings of Jesus  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

About the Guest Shereen Khan is an accomplished actress best known for her role as Miriam in the hit series "The Promised Land." With a background in studio executive positions, Khan has transitioned into acting while maintaining a strong influence in the entertainment industry. Her portrayal of Miriam has been lauded for its depth and nuance, capturing the complexity of a revered biblical figure while bringing a fresh comedic angle to the story. Her career showcases her versatility and innovative approach to storytelling, making her a celebrated figure in both acting and production circles. Key Takeaways: Innovative Storytelling: "The Promised Land" offers a fresh comedic take on biblical tales, blending reverence with humor to explore human stories within extraordinary events. Growth of Faith-Based Content: There is a rising demand for high-quality productions that engage audiences through innovative storytelling while respecting scriptural origins. Miriam's Leadership Journey: Shereen Khan highlights Miriam's development from an introverted character to a community leader, finding her voice and tackling leadership challenges. Female Empowerment: The show captures the nuances of female leadership in a patriarchal society, offering insights into standing up for oneself and others. Communal and Personal Worship: The series' finale exemplifies how communal worship and personal devotion can coexist, showing God’s presence in community. Notable Quotes: "It is unexpected to take a beloved biblical story… and create a self-reflexive comedy out of it." – Shereen Khan "Miriam is sometimes the most intelligent person in the room, fiercely passionate not only in her faith but in her music." – Shereen Khan "With newfound gifts comes a lot of responsibility… handle that gift well and gracefully." – Shereen Khan "The takeaway here is listening is one of those things… it's really step one in good leadership." – Shereen Khan "God wants your devotion to be open and communal as much as anything else." – Shereen Khan  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways: The Promised Land cleverly balances humor and deep theological themes, making Old Testament stories engaging for modern viewers. The dynamic between Moses and Bezalel offers profound insights into themes of redemption, worthiness, and divine calling. There's an underlying commentary on the simplicity of faith—emphasizing love for God and others as central to biblical messages. The interactions among characters like Joshua, Caleb, and Aaron add lightness and relatable dynamics reminiscent of workplace scenarios. The show effectively transforms nuanced biblical stories into poignant, teaching moments for contemporary audiences. Notable Quotes: "It's not about being worthy… but about being faithful." — Ben McEachen on the conversation between Moses and Bezalel. "The Promised Land gives context for scripture, helping us understand why details matter and bringing the Old Testament to life." — Laura Bennett "Caleb asks, 'Is this for the Lord?' That's so key—it reminds us why we're doing what we're doing." — Ben McEachen "The humor of the Promised Land is in the detail of these big instructions." — Laura Bennett "The life of following God is really simple, but we've overcomplicated it." — Laura Bennett See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SPECIAL: Following The Chosen explores first season of The Promised Land (watch episodes of the show for FREE on Youtube!) Key Takeaways: "The Promised Land" delivers a compelling comedic take on Moses' leadership journey, emphasizing various leadership styles. The series parallels aspects of "The Office," presenting relatable workplace dynamics in a biblical context. The show thoughtfully addresses themes of delegation, ego, and leadership, considering how different abilities contribute to team success. Central to the narrative is the integration of spiritual elements, maintaining a reverence for God's role in the Exodus story. Exploration into the role of women and their voice in the series sparks curiosity, challenging historical and modern perspectives on women's roles. Notable Quotes: "And yet I sit here impressed. But enough of being impressed. If I'm impressed with that, then surely I'm going to be impressed with what you've got to say about episode two of 'The Promised Land.'" - Ben McEachen "It's easy to be popular, but it's harder to lead." - Laura Bennett "The leadership lessons in this episode were just so noteworthy." - Laura Bennett "I'm pretty sure this is going to work out. I'm just going to wing it." - Ben McEachen "It's fun, but I feel like you would miss some of the details." - Laura Bennett  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways: The season five finale of "The Chosen" provides a strong and emotional portrayal of Jesus’ experiences leading to the crucifixion, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane. Laura and Ben highlight the creative liberties taken by the show's creators in illustrating biblical themes, particularly the traumatic events surrounding Jesus' betrayal. The flashbacks and imaginative backstories of the disciples serve to deepen understanding, although not always directly woven from scripture. The inclusion of significant Old Testament imagery and its implications for Jesus' mission are critically analyzed by the hosts. Notable Quotes: "The Chosen team wanted to give us these imagined embellished backstories on the disciples before they met Jesus in black and white." – Ben McEachen "Was his sorrow more anchored in knowing that he was about to be the source of so much pain for what everybody else was about to witness?" – Laura Bennett "This is why I'm not writing for The Chosen." – Ben McEachen "You could have the best, most A-plus Bible knowledge, but if you don't actually understand the person of who Jesus is, that does not matter." – Laura Bennett "The opposites happened for me in this episode with the Chosen… here I am again in another moment of the Chosen, appreciating that you're presenting something to us." – Ben McEachen   Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade. Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032. Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here! Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways: "The Chosen" uses flashbacks as a narrative device, but their effectiveness is questioned in this episode. Significant moments, such as Jesus washing the disciples’ feet, underscore themes of servant leadership. The narrative choices in the episode invite viewers to revisit and explore biblical texts in greater depth. We discuss how well the show balances creative storytelling with maintaining theological accuracy. Notable Quotes: "The Chosen is prompting us to dig a little deeper into the assumptions we make about the Bible." — Laura Bennett "We set the table anyway: a reflection on obedience when we don't understand God's plan." — Ben McEachen "I find myself with less moments of deep reflection and more thinking about creative storytelling." — Laura Bennett "Using visions and dreams to guide the Last Supper setting was a fresh insight." — Ben McEachen "This episode is one of the more messy, disjointed, and odd seasons out of all of them." — Laura Bennett   Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade. Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032. Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here! Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Key Takeaways: The Last Supper is effectively employed as a recurring framing device, resonating spiritual significance. Current season episodes serve as narrative bridges, setting the stage for upcoming pivotal events. John’s portrayal reveals profound emotional interaction, enhancing understanding of key Biblical moments. The depiction of Mary Magdalene’s scene provokes reflection on storytelling methods and audience perception. Notable Quotes: "Watching this show makes you just double check that you know what you know or that you think you read what you thought you read." – Laura Bennett "Whoops. We're always meant to come back to the Last Supper. That's what our faith should sort of, you know, kind of hinge upon in some respects." – Laura Bennett "God could have stopped Jesus crucifixion and didn't. But there was reasoning behind that." – Laura Bennett "Can we take him literally? What does he mean? What is going to happen?" – Ben McEachen "He has actually said it, but also why wouldn't we take him at his word?" – Ben McEachen   Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade. Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032. Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here! Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Takeaways: The disciples are confused by Jesus' actions and seek understanding. Historical context enriches the narrative of Jesus' time. Understanding is a recurring theme in the episode. Matthew's conversation with Jesus highlights the difference between surprise and shock. The Last Supper serves as a recurring narrative device. The portrayal of Jesus' interactions with Jewish leaders is significant. The emotional turmoil of Jesus is palpable in this episode. The relationship between Jesus and his disciples is central to the narrative. Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade. Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032. Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here! Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ben and Laura share their first impressions and honest critiques, as they set the stage for an engaging discourse on expectations and storytelling in this widely popular series. The episode explores key elements from its cinematic release approach to how it channels the duality of joy and sorrow experienced by Jesus. Highlighting the show's ambitious promotional strategies, the hosts discuss the balance between artistic execution and thematic fidelity. The candid dissection of what works and what doesn't in this episode of The Chosen offers listeners an insightful look into narrative dynamics and spiritual interpretation.  Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade. Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032. Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here! Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Ben McEachen and Laura Bennett as they discuss differing views on the Season Four finale of The Chosen. Ben praises its convergence of storylines and Laura critiques its ending. They delve into significant scenes, including Mary’s profound gesture with expensive perfume and the ongoing debate around Jesus' teachings. The episode highlights contemporary faith dilemmas and the complexities of unity within the disciples and broader community. Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade. Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032. Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here! Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Ben McEachen and Laura Bennett as they dive into episodes five and six of The Chosen’s season four. Explore the nuanced portrayal of Mary and Martha, Jesus' teachings on service, the tension with Roman soldiers, and the evolving dynamics among the disciples. The discussion includes the deepening backstory of Judas and Thomas, and reflections on the purpose of parables and grief's role in faith. This episode intricately examines how The Chosen captures and conveys profound biblical themes while hinting at the season's climactic focus on Lazarus. Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade. Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032. Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here! Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With already quite a lot of discussion and controversy around this Episode, Ben and Laura have plenty to chat about. After the long-awaited return to Season 4, the episode contains a bombshell that will be sure to cause ripples for the rest of the series. Healing of the blind man and the actions of Quintus just pack this episode to bursting, leaving us all desperate for more. Laura Bennett hosts Hope Afternoons in Sydney, Australia, and UNDISTRACTED podcast. Laura has reviewed TV and movies for Hope 1032 for more than a decade. Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings in Sydney, Australia, and co-hosts Money: Faith and Finance. Ben has reviewed TV and movies for Empire, News Ltd and Hope 1032. Have you heard of The Watchlist? Catch this amazing podcast here! Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.