Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Life Issues

Which do you prioritise in your life: Bible or box set ? Prayer or playlist? Service or socials? In truth, for many of us streaming probably has a higher slice of our pie chart that the Spirit.

So in a world where priorities battle for our attention and demand our effort, what are the priorities that the Gospel might set for our lives and how can we use His Truth to get the right balance when it comes to our work, leisure, health, the world around us or even church?

Life Issues this week Gospel priorities in a uncertain world where Paul Hammond is joined by Peter Lynas and Jenine Main.

Ever feel like your own thoughts and emotions are holding you back? Drawing from the message of Disentangled, Author Jo Johnson joins Ashley Andrew to explore how to practically manage some of what’s going on inside us, so we can live with greater freedom, clarity, and as the bible says develop a sound mind. Not pretending everything’s fine, but learning how to respond well when it’s not. This week's Life Issues: Disentangling the mind

Do you think we should ban mobile phones in school? Do you think we should ban social media for under 16's? Should we all be pairing back on our social media use? Reports suggest that algorithams are addictive, so how do we guide young people through the hidden dangers of screens shaping their identity? It's been descirbed as a health emergency confronting children, with the claim that theres a stong link between this and substantial increase in rates of suicide, depression, anxiety, and self harm among teenagers. So who should have the final say on how young people access online content? That's the doomscroll dilemma. In this weeks Life Issues episode Ashley is joined by Content Writer for CARE, Dan Wells.

Lets be honest most of us want to be liked, valued, appreciated but how far are we prepared to go to make that happen? We’re told that, as far as we are able we should live at peace with all, but that’s different to living a life to “please people” in fact that’s something the bible warns against, so in a world that seems obsessed with impressing others, what does it mean to be a people pleaser? What does it do to us if we are & how does having a “servant heart” fit in? Paul is joined by UK and Ireland Directors for Ellel Ministries, Andy and Cath Taylor, in this weeks Life Issues episode 'People pleasers, is that really what we want to be'

Did you know horses, chickens, guinea pigs- even fish can be used in animal-assisted therapy? In this week’s Life Issues with Vicky Gibbens, she finds out about the journey of one Christian Mum, Ali Colley, who was unexpectedly called by God to train in this area of mental and emotional wellbeing. Her daughter, Hope, at seven years old, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain cancer.

We may have many dreams & expectations for our children, yet most of all we want them to be healthy. But for Karen & Gordon Palmer they discovered before their first daughter, Jennifer Grace, was even born, that she had multiple, life-threatening abnormalities. In this Life Issues episode with Vicky Gibbens, they share how God stepped in and carried them, as they carried Jennifer.

How much of our time do we focus on the here and now, and dealing with the everyday challenges, rather than looking to the future? Is eternity about our happiness, or God coming home to be truly with us? Is it even possible to live a heaven-soaked life now? The Right Reverend Professor N.T.Wright, a world-renowned Bible scholar and the former Bishop of Durham joins Vicky Gibbens for this Life Issues.

Around the world 1 in 7 Christians face persecution, so what is the hope we can offer to them – and given what the bible says about the expectation of persecution could their example, experience and theology be more in tune with biblical Christianity than our “comfortable” freedom based, western experience? In this week’s Life Issues, Hope for and from the Persecuted Church Paul is joined by Henrietta Blyth CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland.

Do you ever struggle with inconsistency of the Christian Walk? What if our “relaxed”, “I can pray anytime” attitude, towards spending time with God, that much of modern faith has come to inhabit, contributes to that?

In years gone by, the monastic rule of life provided a framework and focus through the day, that pointed towards our Father in heaven. So given that the bible tells us to Be still & know…. What if we could embrace a “rule” for life, that balanced the best of that history with the freedom of spontaneous spirituality?

This week’s Life Issues - A spiritual rule to make good faith habits.

When it comes to faith is it ok to say I don't always get it? I mean, can we ever fully understand God; the all-powerful all-knowing creator of the universe?

Maybe the mystery of God is why you struggle to believe? But what if we are not meant to figure it all out? In this week’s Life Issues Helen is joined by Zach Bolen who is lead singer and guitarist from Citizens, a band whose music delves into the relationship between doubt and faith…

With the fragility of international relationships, crisis fatigue, and financial instability, are we doing enough to care for the marginalised and oppressed? How can we counter attitudes of indifference when trying to overcome problems like poverty, and gender-violence, that persist across generations? In this week’s Life Issues, Vicky Gibbens speaks to Canon Bev Jullien, the Chief Executive of Mothers’ Union, and the charity’s Worldwide President, Kathleen Snow, as the organisation celebrates its 150th anniversary.

2026, is the national year of reading, have you got a favourite book? Well one book that seems to be enjoying a surge in popularity is the Bible – with 2025 UK sales at a “record high” & worth £6.3 million. So, if people are interested in the Bible, seeking value in its words – what does our attitude towards it say? What should our relationship be with God’s word? In this week’s Life Issues, The Bible - dusty book or living Word? Paul Hammond speaks to Dr John Andrews.

Is it time we rescued the idea of intimacy from being confined to the bedroom? How close do we really want to be to God? After all, God is omnipresent, but sometimes we question God’s proximity. In this week’s Life Issues, Vicky Gibbens speaks to Ed Shaw, pastor and the author of a book about the intimacy deficit in our world today.

Singleness is not a waiting room. You’re not on pause, singleness isn’t a placeholder, it’s a powerful chapter, it’s a season with meaning. It’s not the hallway before real life starts, it’s not God hitting pause until marriage shows up. You might be single, not by choice, but singleness isn’t a holding room, it’s holy ground. Reverend Eleanor Jeans, author of the Securely Single course, joins Ashley Andrew in this week’s Life Issues episode ‘Singleness is not a waiting room’.

God created it, society seems obsessed with it, so why do we struggle to talk about it. Maybe it’s time we found God’s perspective. It’s a frank, grown up and perhaps a little bit shocking conversation. Emma Waring from “the marriage course” joins Paul in this week’s Life Issues episode ‘Seasons of Sex and Intimacy’.

Every January, the volume gets turned all the way up on the how-to’s. How to be better. How to fix yourself. How to finally become the version of you that didn’t quite make it last year. In our Life Issues episode this week Ashley Andrew is joined by Tieler Giles, Author of How to Ditch the How To. We’re talking about ditching the how-to’s. Not because growth doesn’t matter—but because somewhere along the way, self-improvement turned into self-pressure. And resolutions stopped being hopeful invitations and started sounding like accusations. What if real transformation doesn’t start with a checklist? So, let’s talk about stepping off the hamster wheel. 'How to have grace over the grind, and leave the pressure of holding onto the New Years resolutions behind' it’s the Life Issues podcast available now on UCB player.

How do we live out what it means to be known, seen and loved by God, and what kind of life does it lead to? Helen invited Richard Porter, author of The Adventure-Driven Life in this week’s episode to share his perspective as a Vietnam war veteran turned hippie who became a follower of Jesus.

What must it be like to find and experience Jesus’ love, when you live under an oppressive regime in your country and your nearest and dearest don’t believe? Marziyeh Amirizadeh wanted others in Iran to have such a relationship, but her passion led her to be sentenced to death by hanging for the crime of converting to Christianity. Vicky Gibbens was joined by Marzi to find out how Jesus helped her to survive in this week’s Life Issues.

What does it mean to be known, seen and loved by God?

Should I be worried that God knows the secrets of my heart and hears the things my inside voice says? Or encouraged that He sees the true me when others don’t? It’s this week’s Life Issues podcast with Paul Hammond who is joined by Co-Team Leader at NXT Move Europe, Dan Randall.

We all want to be understood, cared for and valued. But why? Vicky Gibbens asks Biblical Counselling UK’s Helen Thorne-Allenson in the first episode of a four-part Life Issues series exploring what it means to be ‘known, seen, loved’, inspired by the lyrics of Christian artist MŌRIAH.

What does the imagery around Santa reveal about the attitudes and yearnings of our society?

And while we’re about it, what do we think about him, is he compatible with the reason for the season? What should Christians engage with and what should they reject? And…..what should we tell our children? The history, the culture and the confusion of “Santa” it’s the Life Issues podcast available now on UCB player.

What does it mean have hope? The Bible talks a lot about it. Jeremiah 29 – says God has plans to give us a hope and a future. So, in a world where often people feel hopeless- what can we do? Is there a way to hold on to hope, when the skies darken, the wind blows, and the storm roars? Howard Satterthwaite, Author of Hold on to Hope joins Paul for this week’s Life Issues A plan to give you a hope and a future.

What happened when God told Andrew Mitchell to stop releasing worship music, walk away from a record deal, and as a married couple, focus on deepening their faith roots? Andrew and Jill joined Vicky Gibbens for this week’s Life Issues as they discuss what it means to have ‘Christ in us,’ and to hope for true glory?

I confess that I have often struggled with the way Mary the mother of Jesus was portrayed by the church.

That ethereal/ “holy”/standing to one side with a radiant smile – insipid imagery of a white, often blue eyed, westernised Madonna with only her hair colour as a nod to her true ethnicity – often deified into an unattainable ideal by Catholicism, and sidelined into an image of subservience by the reformation – could we be hiding the true strength and influence of “the handmaid of the Lord” in Jesus life and ministry?

LI podcast – available now on UCB player - “the Virgin Mary..." disciple and prophet, as well as a mum

Have you ever thought about a title for your autobiography? When Bishop Rose Hudson Wilkin was appointed as Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons, the next morning in the paper she was referred to as “The girl from Montego Bay.” Though what she felt they meant to disparage, she made a thing of honour. Paul Hammond is joined by Bishop Rose to talk about racism, sexism and how your yesterday doesn’t have to define your today on this week’s Life Issues “Bishop Rose “The girl from Montego Bay.”

Do you struggle with the relentless demands of life?

Is it possible to live slower and freer but still keep up with all our responsibilities?

And what can ants teach us about living in freedom?

Katharine Hill, UK Director at Care for the Family and author of Born Free joins Helen Lea in this week’s Life Issues: How to flourish in a hectic world.

In 1995, the UK decided it was time to “provide a level playing field” for those living with the constrictions of disability. The Disability Discrimination Act was born - to end discrimination, to ensure fair treatment, to bring rights not charity, not to give special treatment but to give equal opportunity.

In this week’s Life Issues: Paul Hammond is joined by Rev Katie Tupling and Stef Benstead to ask, “30 years, but have our attitudes towards disability really improved?”

Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Maybe life hasn't turned out as you'd hoped? From becoming a parent, to owning a home, getting married or pursuing a certain career...

How do we deal with these unfulfilled desires?

Can we rewrite the narrative and find a new vision for our lives?

And is it ok to grieve something you've never had? Helen Lea is joined by midlife mindset coach Helen Louise Knight who's passionate about helping people who feel invisible - embrace and make the most of the life they have.

Hinduism is the 3rd largest faith group in the UK, but how much do we know or understand about it. It is so much more than Diwali or Hindu nationalism, in a very real sense it’s a different worldview. Rahil Patel is Paul Hammonds guest on this week’s Life Issues podcast entitled ‘The Christian said “Jesus is the answer,” the Hindu said “what’s the question?”’

In the 75th year of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, we ask what is it about the fictional land of Narnia in the classic novel by C.S. Lewis that continues to entice and entertain children and adults alike? Adventure and faith discovery in Narnia is the latest Life Issues podcast with Vicky Gibbens and her guest Dr Jem Bloomfield.

How often do you chat to your neighbour? On Life Issues this week we’re asking what was that ‘glue’ that seemed to stick people together bringing a sense of belonging and relationship to a community that doesn’t seem to exist anymore? Or does it? Joining Vicky Gibbens for the conversation is author Nigel Adams in our latest podcast episode, Communities of Hope.

(This episode was originally broadcast on w/c 9th September 2024)

David Peek from UCB News is joined in Life Issues by a range of guests as they discuss the legacy of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, what the process is like for selecting the 106th Archbishop, and the challenges the new leader of the Church of England and global Anglican church will face.

[Originally broadcast the week of 5th February 2024]

Do you know the value of your attention? In an age where various forms of media compete to get it, Helen Lea asks Speak Life’s Nate Morgan Locke about the rise of the “attention economy” in this week’s Life Issues.

Let’s be honest talking about the bible can be a complicated, even in the church there are an awful lot of opinions about theology, practice and relevance. And if we take it outside of church, well the usual expectation is something out of touch with a modern age. So how do we talk about the Bible & what it teaches; respond to accusations that it is irrelevant, a fantasy, filled with sexism, racism and homophobia.

This week on Life Issues we look at some of the Bibles toughest topics and ask how do we respond to the out of context misunderstandings?

[Originally broadcast the week of 21st October 2024]

Have you ever had a go at keeping a journal? What if it could be more than a record of what we’ve been up to and instead was used by God as a missional tool? On this week’s Life Issues, Vicky Gibbens speaks to Bishop Matthew Porter and Dr Christopher Williams on the role reflection can plays in our everyday lives.

It was the summer of ‘69 & Woodstock set the image that most of us have for a music festival and nowadays they are a staple of the summer months.

 But why do we want to go? Is it just about the music? And how do we manage, getting back to “ordinary” life after the festival high?

Which might be a good question for church life as well – with all the Christian festivals and Bible weeks.

So as some of us have already booked our tickets for next year – what do we think about the hopes, the hard work and the hangover of festivals & Bible weeks? This week’s Life Issues – “The morning after the festival high”

Two sisters have a remarkable guest arrive at their home, but the way they react is strikingly different. One sister is all preparation and distraction, and the other all stillness and devotion. What is the ‘better part’ Jesus wants us to choose? Vicky Gibbens is joined by Joanna Weaver, whose spent more than four decades in full-time ministry as a pastor’s wife, is a speaker, and the author of ‘Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life’.

[Originally broadcast the week of 9th October 2023]

Can Christians influence culture, without needing to label content as "Christian”?

Can we separate faith from our creativity?

And how do you shape culture rather than let culture shape you?

Helen is joined by Norman Stone, a BAFTA and Emmy-award winning Director, who doesn't make 'Christian films' but is a Christian who makes films in this week’s Life Issues.

This week on Life Issues we are boldly going where no one has gone before, except those who have. And while we might not visit a galaxy far far away – the truth is out there with a message from the stars that may show us the hand of an architect that made the sun 400 times bigger than the moon, but put the moon 400 times closer to the earth. It’s an unlikely coincidence resulting in a perfect eclipse - so is there a message there? Available now on UCB player it’s our latest podcast: Space, who’s really speaking to us?

[Originally broadcast the week of 31st May 2021]

To be a grandparent is a special thing and not to be taken lightly. It’s a position of privilege, so how do you be the Granny and Grandad that your children, as well as your grandchildren, need you to be?

In Ecclesiastes we read there is a time to be born and a time to die, but what about the middle phase of life? In this week’s Life Issues, Jayne Manfredi, an Anglican Deacon and author of Waking the Women: Faith, Menopause, and the Meaning of Midlife, shared with Vicky Gibbens how it should not be framed as a time of loss for women, but of discovery.

[Originally broadcast the week of 12th February 2024]

What is life like with a severe mental illness? And what stigma generated by news headlines might you still face? Sharon Hastings qualified as a doctor, but lives with a psychotic illness. In this week’s Life Issues with Paul Hammond, she challenges the misconceptions around psychosis and shares what we can do to help.

[Originally broadcast the week of 5th June 2023]

What stops you believing in God? Maybe unanswered questions? But what if doubt and the mystery of God is part of what makes faith so powerful? Helping Helen explore how we can embrace the unknown is Zach Bolan, lead singer of Indie-Rock group Citizens, in this week’s Life Issues.

When Lucy climbed into the wardrobe, C.S. Lewis opened a world that has enchanted children and adults for generations. And it’s why we dedicated a Life Issues to the 75th anniversary of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe. But the truth is there was so much more to C.S. Lewis than Narnia – books on faith/love and Sci fi – a boy from Belfast who could hold court in academia – and a man who gave hope to a nation in darkest times. So, in this week’s Life Issues join us as we discover C.S. Lewis: Beyond the wardrobe.

[Originally broadcast the week of 14th March 2022]

It can increasingly feel as if we are living in a society that has moved on from Christianity – either deeming it irrelevant or responsible for doing more harm than good. In this Life Issues, Sharon James encourages us to take confidence from and maybe shout about the way Christianity has changed the world, and share a Gospel that is and has always been a force for good.

In the 75th year of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, we ask what is it about the fictional land of Narnia in the classic novel by C.S. Lewis that continues to entice and entertain children and adults alike? Adventure and faith discovery in Narnia is the latest Life Issues podcast with Vicky Gibbens and her guest Dr Jem Bloomfield.

[Originally broadcast the week of 30th December 2019]

The night time economy - a catalyst for anti-social behaviour and debauchery, or a thirsty place for the message of Jesus? Joining Vicky Gibbens to share their insights are Carolyn Skinner, Founder of Third Space Ministries, and Ellie Barrett, who at the time of recording was the charity’s Night Life Ministries Assistant.

[Originally broadcast the week of 20th October 2024]

Words are one of the most powerful tools we have but often they can escape us. Particularly when it comes to prayer. But what if we don't need the "right" words or even our words? In this week's Life Issues Helen Lea is exploring the ancient practice of liturgy with authors of Liturgies for Hope & Liturgies for Wholeness Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore.

This week on Life Issues we’re asking - what makes a good dad? No dad’s perfect and becoming a dad can be one of the scariest things a man will do, with the sense of the endless opportunities to fall short, let them down, get it wrong. But if we all, like Jesus, need to hear a Father say you are my child, whom I love and I am pleased with you…. then what does it take to be a good dad, and is the way we treat dad’s in the media undermining the role at a time when youngsters need it most?

Thomas Aquinas once said: “There is nothing on this earth more to be prized than true friendship.”  And although there are plenty of examples of friends who desert – a friend who sticks closer than a brother is a thing of great value. So how much effort am I making to say “you’ve got a friend in me, yeah you got a friend in me”? It’s the Life Issues podcast this week entitled – “maybe I’ll get by, with a little help from my….”