The Incredible Journey

Space is awesome. Just think of the immensity of space. For example, our earth could fit into the sun 1.3 million times. And one of the closest large galaxies to us is the Andromeda galaxy which is 2.5 million light-years away. Do you get what that means? Travelling at the speed of light –18 million km per minute –it would take us two and half million years to reach our nearest neighbour galaxy, Andromeda. And then we’re only on the edge of the Universe. Yes, it’s all enough to boggle the mind, but by understanding our galaxy we may be able to better understand our place in it, and how this world came to be. To find out more in our program, The Wonders of Space.

The Internet. It’s our gateway to a wealth of knowledge and social connection. From the invention of the world-wide web in 1990, to the current day, technology has taken the world by storm and in some ways taken over our lives. Almost all teenagers and around 2/3 of primary school kids now have their own mobile screen-based device, spending as many as 5 hours a day on social media, texting, video chatting, viewing content, and playing multi-platform video games. In this program we uncover research on the impact all of this technology is having on our lives and on our kid’s mental health. 

James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens grew up in a poor, small town in Alabama in the early 1900s, where he faced racial discrimination and health issues. Despite these challenges, Owens' Christian family believed in a better future. When he was nine, they moved to Cleveland, Ohio, seeking better opportunities. In Cleveland, Owens excelled in school sports, setting national high school records in track events. He later attended Ohio State University, where he continued to shine as an athlete.

In 1935, despite an injury, Owens achieved remarkable success, setting multiple world records. His athletic prowess earned him a place in the 1936 Berlin Olympics, held under the Nazi regime. Owens' stunning performances at the Olympics, winning four gold medals, defied Nazi propaganda and made him a global icon.

While in Berlin, Owens formed an unlikely friendship with German athlete Luz Long, who offered him crucial advice during the long jump competition, helping Owens secure the gold medal. This act of sportsmanship transcended racial and political barriers, highlighting the human spirit's capacity for connection and compassion.

Join us on this fascinating journey as we unravel the life of one of the best-selling authors in history, John Bunyan, the man responsible for penning "Pilgrim's Progress," a literary masterpiece that has sold more copies than almost any other book in publishing history, second only to the Bible itself. Bunyan's early years were far from the conventional path to fame from a poor, unknown family, mending pots by day and getting into trouble with local gangs by night. But his destiny took an unexpected turn when he found himself behind bars, not for his hooliganism, but for something far more profound.

The Tour De France has been revered as one of the most significant feats of human endurance for over one hundred years. A gruelling multiple-week race, with long distances and enormous elevation gains and losses, brings nothing but the highest quality athletes together to compete. Inspired by this world-class journey, a group of 24 cyclists will also embark on a charity bike ride from London to Paris in time to welcome home the Tour De France athletes. Whether we realise it or not, we are all in the race of life and like the cycling team, we will need endurance, perseverance, and resilience to keep on going.

Jesus Christ may be the most famous person who ever lived. But how do we know he did? While billions of people believe Jesus was the most important figure in world history, many others reject the idea that he even existed at all. Join Gary Kent on a journey through the land of Israel as we follow in the footsteps of Jesus, and look at the top 10 discoveries related to him and consider the evidence to determine if Jesus was a real person who actually lived.

On the shores of the Red Sea, God performed his final act of judgment against the Egyptians and his most powerful act of deliverance on behalf of the Israelites. While the Egyptian armies rushed to slaughter their recently released slaves, God parted the waters of the Red Sea and commanded the Israelites to cross on dry land. The very path that offered the Israelites their freedom turned into a watery grave for their enemies when the Egyptians raced into the middle of the sea only to have the walls of water collapse around them. From the Red Sea, God led the Israelites through the wilderness, performing one miracle after another. Instead of trusting God, the Israelites constantly complained when faced with challenges. Moses was receiving much of their disgruntlement, largely because he was their visible leader. Despite all his challenges, however, Moses remained faithful to God and cared for the Israelites as tenderly as a shepherd caring for his sheep. 

After fleeing Egypt, Moses wandered through the desert to Midian, where he was welcomed by Jethro, the high priest of Midian. Moses spent forty years in Midian, tending Jethro’s sheep, marrying, having children, and writing the first five books of the Bible. Despite this new life, God had other plans. Appearing in a burning bush, God called Moses to liberate the Hebrews and establish the nation of Israel. Though initially reluctant, Moses accepted and returned to Egypt, becoming God’s spokesman and revealing His power to the ancient world’s mightiest superpower.

The story of Moses and the Exodus is central to the faith of millions of Christians and Jews. It has captivated people with its messages of freedom and deliverance. In this program we’ll explore Moses’ early life. Hidden by his mother as an infant to save him, Moses was rescued by an unlikely heroine—the daughter of the man who threatened his life. Adopted by Egyptian Princess Hatshepsut, Moses grew up as a Prince of Egypt but retained his Hebrew identity. After a series of events turned him from a prince into a fugitive, Moses ended up in the wilds of Midian with nothing but the clothes on his back.

In today's hectic and demanding society, we often feel overwhelmed, anxious and stressed. It is reported that over a quarter of the population is suffering from severe stress at any time. And 51% of adults who felt stressed reported feeling depressed, and 61% reported feeling anxious. Of the people who said they had felt stress at some point in their lives, 16% had self-harmed, and 32% said they had had suicidal thoughts and feelings.

These are alarming statistics. Stress is a big issue in our lives. Stress triggers may be small or huge events, and they can come from one or many possible sources. Overcoming stress can be difficult, and if the stress is ongoing or chronic, it can slowly drain away our joy in life, energy, and feelings of purpose and fulfilment.

When the body finds stress debilitating and cannot handle the emotional overload of conflict and stress, it simply lets us know by not functioning at its best. We may feel tired and exhausted, try to find ways to help ourselves, or even look for an escape. 

But is there a way to handle the stress in our lives? And if so, what is the best way to deal with stress? Join me as we chat with Dr. Delia McCabe, a nutritional neuroscience specialist who will share with us what happens in our bodies and brains when stressed.