UNDISTRACTED with Laura Bennett

Today’s guest is Bethel Music CEO, worship leader, mum, author and wife, Jenn Johnson.

Together with the Bethel Music collective, Jenn is about to release 'We Must Respond' – an album about reacting to God’s goodness. Speaking with Laura from her family Christmas in Nashville, Jenn shared how the family continue to deal with the loss of Jenn's mother-in-law Beni Johnson, why we need to respect our capacity and the role of local churches in a complex word.

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Dru Hammer’s life sounds like a fairytale: raised in a humble American Christian home, a chance encounter on an airplane sees her married into the Hammer family dynasty, enjoying the bounty from an oil company, meeting royalty, running businesses and raising actor-son Armie Hammer who would become a Hollywood favourite after starring in 'The Social Network'.

Things turned though, when Dru’s 25-year marriage to Michael Hammer ended after serial infidelity, and more recently, when the ‘House of Hammer’ documentary aired confronting accusations about Armie's alleged mistreatment of women and disturbing private messages they’re said to have exchanged.  

While Armie was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, Dru witnessed his career plummet, family relationships strain and the Hammer’s having to answer for what the media called years of privilege.

Dru’s memoir 'Hammered', touches on the aftermath of that time, the complications of divorce and where faith fits when life’s giving you a beating.  

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Today we welcome back Debra Fileta, a licensed counsellor specialising in dating, marriage and relationship issues, along with a spectrum of mental health disorders and challenges. She's authored many books including 'True Love Dates', 'Are You Really Ok?’ and her latest ‘Soul Care’.

Pulling from Jesus’ own life rhythms 'Soul Care' guides us to true health and rest, and in this episode, Laura talks to Debra about soul care during dating: how we can look after souls when you face rejection, get caught up caring for people you date or struggle with varying definitions of healthy intimacy encountered along the way.  

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If you’ve ever felt that irritable tug, a relentless ache burrowing into the unfulfilled areas of your life telling you there is more, this discussion is for you. Strahan Coleman is a musician and author and his latest book, 'Thirsting: Quenching Our Souls Deepest Desire' is about the drive to feel content and why we sometimes don't.

Strahan shares the heartbreak behind ending his singing career, how to follow a God that doesn’t meet your desires and what leads us to a constant sense of longing.

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Laura Bennett chats with Ruth Chou Simons about her latest book, "Now and Not Yet," focusing on navigating the challenging seasons of waiting and personal growth. Ruth shares insights on balancing ambition with patience, active trust versus passive waiting, and embracing life's intrinsic uncertainties. They explore the significance of being present, cultivating deep roots, and finding purpose in hidden or seemingly insignificant moments. Ruth also emphasizes the power of meaningful relationships and daily practices in feeding our spiritual and emotional nourishment. 

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Max Lucado features on Undistracted and delves into the mysteries of the end times as described in the Bible. Lucado explores themes from his book, "What Happens Next," discussing signs, tribulations, and the rapture. He shares insights on the Antichrist, the resurgence of Israel, and how Christians should live in anticipation of these events. Laura and Max also consider the modern-day relevance of these prophecies, addressing the global rise in anxiety and how faith offers hope amidst uncertainty.

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Simon Smart, Director of the Centre for Public Christianity, joins Laura Bennett to discuss his book, The End of Men, exploring the complex topic of masculinity today. They delve into how societal shifts have blurred traditional masculine roles, the pitfalls of toxic masculinity, and the importance of tender masculinity. Simon highlights the struggles boys face in current educational and social spheres, drawing on the example of Jesus as a model for healthy masculinity.

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Laura shares a compelling conversation with Beryl Crosher-Segers about growing up during apartheid in South Africa and her journey to self-acceptance in Australia. Beryl shares how these experiences shaped her identity and the long path to healing, detailed in her memoirs and her latest book, "Living with Purpose."

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If you could fix one thing about the world, what would it be? Food insecurity? Loneliness? Political division? What about religious discrimination? We live in complex and, at times, really hopeless world. There’s a lot that’s broken, but there’s a lot that can be good. American Bible-teacher and author Carol McLeod has written ‘Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture’, using the book of Colossians as a pathway through times of personal loss and as a guide for the church's role in pursuing wholeness. 

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Winner of 'The Voice' Australia in 2023, Tarryn Stokes talks to Laura about the release of her new single 'Hold You', breaking age-based barriers that hold us back and how finding confidence has helped her heal. Tarryn also shares the later-life health diagnosis that's given her a newfound freedom and the one thing that always gives her purpose. 

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.