Meet the team today! Logan, Courtney, Reesey, and Jason are on the road right now in Texas, and they're bringing you The Culture Translator this week from...what sounds like a water-side cafe. (Drop a comment if you're interested in joining a traveling team some day and speaking about these topics around the world!)

1) It's almost too easy to scare-monger with the topic of suicide, and we don't want to do that, but it MUST be acknowledged that the rates of teen (and younger) suicide are rising sharply over the last couple years (see article for more articulate stats: https://axis.org/vol-3-issue-42/)

If you're not talking about the stresses, pressures, and anxiety that seem overwhelmingly prevalent in the teen life today and causes/cures behind it with the teens in your world - please start today. Here's a little tool to help. https://axis.org/suicidepreview

2) Juuling, e-cigaretts, and vaping. It's a "brave new world" (Aldous Huxley, anyone?)

Please hear we're not preaching agains the evils of smoking with this section. "Smoking won't send you to hell, it'll just make you smell like you been there, Amen?" said a parody of a Southern preacher once...but parodies aside - there's a great deal of "the good life" discussion, peer pressure, what is "cool," and health/mind/body that can be brought in to this topic with your teen.

Ask them about juuling. Do they know what it is? Ever tried it out? Have you ever had a similar experience in your youth with smoking or substances? Here's a great opportunity to lead with vulnerability (and if that's not normal, try something new) and build some trust with your teen.

3) Destiny 2 is a visually spectacular and brand new game released recently. Everybody's loving it and everybody's playing it. It brings up old questions about retreating from reality, intentional sabbath, and how can video games be used well?

"Very good but cursed." - Axis

*** Search #metoo on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram ***

You'll see an immense amount of social media conversation around the topic of sexual harassment. This has emerged strongly in recent weeks as a conversation that stemmed originally from Hollywood circles and celebrities leading the talk to now the everyman and woman.

Check out that article for a more in-depth look at the current climate of the conversation on sexual harassment in the everyday world, how it might change and bring change, and some practicals for engaging this topic of cultural sexual treatment of genders and equality - it's a loaded one! This break down might help: https://axis.org/vol-3-issue-42/

PS - Need help with tricky teenage conversations about culture, substances, technology and sexuality axis.org/guides can help.

That title is not intended to be diminutive of Netflix, but I have no problem speaking out at the content and message of this show which the conclusion can be: It's profane visually, verbally, and simply deviant -- but "halfway to the gospel" (credit: David at Axis).

1) Last week, Netflix dropped the first season of its new animated show "Big Mouth." It's our job at Axis to offer you "culture translation" so here you go. This is a show children should not watch. That much is clear. It's rated 18+for good reason: open discussion and portrayal about anything and everything sexually related with mature depictions of the same any and every. That said, the show focuses around the topic of puberty and the extremities of sexual awakenings wrapping each character's motivations and identity within that blanket. Teens will be drawn to this like other mature animated shows before it such as Archer and BoJack Horseman. This is the more extreme artifact, though.

The writer of the Parent Guide on it (axis.org/guides) calls it everything above but also "halfway to the gospel" because the last few minutes of the show give a strong and emotional depiction why everything the show has focused on so far, all deviate sexual behaviors and the satisfaction each of them offered - are ultimately empty and meaningless without something more in one's life.

Take that how how you will and wrap a conversation about this show around to the gospel if you can. That conversation has to go deeper than "don't these people need Jesus?" though. Because the show shows this behavior to be fun but harmful, exciting but scary, and satisfying but empty. It gives a deep look at the topics. We have to take a conversation about Jesus or the Gospel related to "Big Mouth" equally as deep - and it's far from impossible. This is not something to be fearful of.

2) Clearly #1 is a favorite. If it's a favorite for you and you don't want to subject yourself to watching the show, get out guide to it (8 pages of summary and explication far better than you're getting in these show notes.) axis.org/guides

Now...really #2. Kids feel like they need to curate an individual brand centered around their name online. This is nothing new, but here's the research and presentation by Donna Freitas: http://qideas.org/videos/social-media-relationships/

One striking thing here is that when posting or appearing with their real name, there's a universal expectation that the material produced must appear happy of fulfilled. When using a pseudonym or anonymous on social media, these same teens were far more honest. A dated reference for you, think the notebooks in "Freedom Writers."

3) Amazon Households now let children have a separate but connected account from their parents with almost unrestrained purchasing power (parent has 30 minutes to veto a purchase) so I'll leave you to imagine the product of this development.

If you're techy or a parent who uses Amazon and might see this enter your family's life, here are two articles from CNN and Amazon to explain this new development a bit more:

- http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/11/news/amazon-prime-for-teens/index.html

- https://www.amazon.com/b/?&node=17249393011

Bonus: In the Culture Translator newsletter (this is the expansion, want the real, succinct version? https://axis.org/ct/ ) we like to occasionally update you on trending shows, music, movies with just a top 10 list. This was one of those weeks. Check it out in our archives: https://axis.org/ct/archive/

As always, we'll be live on Facebook (facebook.com/axisideas/) and post this podcast every week. If you're a regular you know how to reach us for our resources on "culture translation."

If you are a regular, though -- let us know! Drop a comment here so we can see who you are and how you're using this podcast. That helps us know how to produce it better and serve you and yours as best as we can. Thank you!

This week's Culture Translator was led off by a stunning survey from Josh Shipp showing...

1) ...what teens lied about most to their parents. Wouldn't you all like to know? We were fascinated by this - mainly because everyone's top guess - sexually related topics - came in second! The most popular topic was, in fact, and sadly so, suicidal thoughts. (31.6% suicide vs. 19.6% sex)

The cause behind this? That's too big of a question to have any succinct answer, but surely most people will give you their thoughts on it. We would answer with another question as to the relationships we're seeing with teens and their parents...teens and their technology...and the expectations placed on most maturing young minds today. What does their everyday world really look like? Do you feel like you have a good grasp of your teen's internal world as well as their external? Dive deep with them today - if you have the trust and relational equity, ask them something challenging but warm today.

2) A good foot in the door to ask them that challenging but warn question is this list of 50 pieces of advice from the elderly: https://thehustle.co/50-Pieces-Of-Life+Advice-From-People-Over-50

This thought came about because retired MLB pitcher Rick Ankiel penned a letter to his younger self https://www.theplayerstribune.com/rick-ankiel-letter-to-my-younger-self-cardinals/ and we wonder if you might consider something similar passed to your children or grandchildren - or even that young fella or lady that sticks out to you in town or church. Give it a try. When presented kindly, not many young minds will actually reject the offer of free truth from someone more experienced.

3) Our letter to you come this week and from now on in our newest project at Axis: Parent Guides. These are simple and clear 5-7ish page walk throughs of difficult and sometimes scary topics in the teen realm that you need to be talking about but just might not feel informed enough about to have brought it up yet in the car or while watching the game. Check them out here: https://axis.org/guides

To date, we've given you an introduction to the world of Snapchat, sexting, eating disorders, and a good window of understanding for teen slang (this year, it will change, you can be sure). They're $1.99 right now since we're just testing them out. That will go up in the future - but before that happens, shoot [email protected] a message with the topics you would want to see us tackle for these parent guides!

Bonus: If you're confused by the phrase ‘Cash Me Outside, Howbow Dah?’ feel free to be. It's an intriguing bit of pop culture that popped up earlier this year and has now resurged with the appearance of Bhad Bhabie. Yep. You've probably heard of her and you don't even know it. Check out this article to learn how an internet star is made today. http://nymag.com/selectall/2017/02/what-is-cash-me-outside-howbow-dat-meme-from-dr-phil.html

If you watched the Facebook version this week, what did you think about the floating video format?! Shoot us a message at [email protected]

As always, you can reach us anytime at axis.org or especially right now find our best newest resources on this material at axis.org/guides

Doing what we do, translating culture for parents, can bring with it a certain weight on the hearts of the good people of Axis. I've seen it and probably everyone in the office has. That's why it's a joint effort by everyone at the office to gather material - but our editors and writers tend to bear the brunt of that "prophetic weight" when collating that news and doing the translation.

That said, it's not all heavy material this week! There is hope. And ultimately, there is always hope in the darkness for the redemption of what is twisted in the world.

1) If you're a die-hard or even fair-weather fan, you may be familiar with the politics and money shifting between parties in the professional sports worlds.

Long story short: Colleges, high school athletes, and sportswear companies (aka sponsors) created a vicious circle of money changing hands for mutual benefit that always left the athlete under someone else's control and without many options. Fraud was committed, the FBI got involved, and people were arrested. Big deal.

This is your opportunity to learn about this (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/sports/ncaa-adidas-bribery.html ) and ask your sporty teens to explain it to you because they very well will know the story if they're into this world. Then, bring the conversation to cheating, pressure, and if they've ever seen that placed on themselves or their friends.

2)Hugh Hefner died last week and with his passing came a flurry of social media sympathy and gratitude for his work to liberate women of their sexual and societal bonds with his Playboy publication.

Is that REALLY this man's legacy? Really? I'm not going to cite statistics on porn addiction and the detriment it has been to countless marriages and psyches -- this is off brand -- Consider the opportunities to talk about these ideas with your teens and if you have not had a conversation about pornography it may very well be past time to do so - but never too late to bring restoration and hope to a part of humanity that is easily twisted particularly in young men and women.

3)The similarities in mindset and priorities for Gen-Z and Baby Boomers are stunning. Here are two articles to help you understand. Also, you can listen to this podcast.

- http://www.generationaledge.com/blog/posts/genz-like-grandparents

- https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/307976/common-threads-bind-gen-z-and-boomers.html

Basically, get the secret weapon out. (Our Axis teams have referred to grandparents like this for years! It's fun to see your messages confirmed.) It's good for everyone involved.

**Race: Quite simply, this is a dicey topic and the article in the newsletter is far more well worded than I can create here. I trust our editors, you probably can too -- but feel free to disagree with them.

Looking for more resources as a parent?? Our newest project at Axis is Parent Guides https://axis.org/guides on topics like Teen Slang, Sexting, Eating Disorders, Video Games, etc. They're on sale for $1.99 right now too!!