The Church of England has faced criticism after Sir Paul Marshall donated more than £28 million to church projects. Some Christians argue his ownership of GB News and views expressed on the channel about climate change sit uneasily with the CofE's own commitments. So, where should churches draw the line? Should any donation be accepted? Rebecca McGoff, a philanthropy and fundraising strategist, and Rosie Venner from Christian charity JustMoney joined Michael to discuss.
Leading AI systems show consistent bias when answering questions about religion and ethics, according to a new study. Researchers found AI rarely includes faith perspectives in moral discussions, despite people expecting it to. So, is this a warning sign or a challenge for Christians to engage with AI? James Poulter, AI innovation expert and author of AI at Work, joined Michael to talk about a new conference aiming to use cutting-edge AI for mission.
John and Sally Childress from the Free! Recovery course join Michael to chat about a surprising new internet trend from South Korea allowing users to experience the feeling of shopping, ordering food, or tracking deliveries without actually spending any money. They chat about whether these websites are a harmless way to manage our cravings, breaking dopamine cycles, and renewing our mind through the Bible.
Have you ever considered how vital grandparents are in the spiritual development of our children? What is the biblical role which they have been called into? Michael Fanstone talked with Olly Goldenberg, from Christian Grandparents UK to understand better the unique position grandparents are in to benefit all other generations around them, not just within their own families but in the wider church community.
The South African Netflix drama The Polygamist has climbed to No. 3 globally, sparking debate over polygamy, infidelity and the future of marriage. As many question whether marriage is outdated, Christians continue to point to Genesis 2:24 and God's design for lifelong, faithful union. But how can the Biblical case for marriage win over today's culture? Michael spoke to Dr Harry Benson from the Marriage Foundation.
Does the Church need to become more familiar with cryptocurrency? Blockchain engineer Charlie Benson and Myles Dhillon, founder of Faith and Bitcoin, spoke to Michael Fanstone about the risks and potential of crypto, whether it's for the fringes or the future, and why Myles believes our current financial system is fundamentally immoral.
Do you have a suitable summer playlist to match the hot weather? Music featured heavily in the Bible, with around 400 references to singing and over 50 commands to make music, from Jubal in Genesis 4:21 to Jesus singing a hymn in Matthew 26:30. Micah Joseph, COO of A Step Fwd and later on Premier Praise's Josh Carr gave tips on building the best playlist, from what makes a Christian summer hit to the pitfalls of AI!
Jesus’ life has been retold many times on screen. Does each generation need its own portrayal, or does repeated retelling risk overexposure? How can filmmakers balance biblical accuracy while still bringing something new? Michael was joined by Unbelievable? host Dr John Nelson and former BBC Head of Religion and Ethics Michael Wakelin, who during his tenure commissioned a Jesus series of his own, to explore how that balance.
Recent debate in the US over the classification of Latter-day Saints in the military has renewed questions about whether Mormonism is part of historic Christianity. Michael Thomas spent 14 years as a Mormon before becoming a Christian in 1986 and now chairs Reachout Trust, a charity that evangelises to different religious groups. He spoke to Mal Pope to explain what's similar and what's very different.
Following the death of MOBO founder Kanya King after a battle with colon cancer, and after Jeremy Clarkson revealed he is now in remission from prostate cancer, questions about illness, faith and support are back in focus. Psalm 23 reminds us that God is with us in the darkest valleys. But what does pastoral care really look like during a cancer journey? Mal Pope was joined by Baptist minister Andy Percey and Marcia Jones, who runs a women's ministry, who have both faced cancer personally.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced plans to ban under-16s from using social media from next spring. The proposal has sparked debate, with some young people joking that they'll have nothing left to do but "stare at a wall". But if the plans do go ahead, how should parents, churches and communities respond? Michael heard from some young people about their views before speaking to experts in youth ministry about the challenges and opportunities a social media ban could bring.
Next month, retired nurse Chris Faldon will set off on an extraordinary challenge. At the age of 66, he'll walk 700 miles across Zambia – the equivalent of walking from Edinburgh to Paris – raising money for a faith-based hospital serving some of the country's poorest communities. But before he embarked in July, he stopped to chat with Michael about how it would affect him not just physically, but spiritually!
With recent cases of a junior analyst at Southampton Football Club claiming he "didn't really have an option" but to spy on the club's Championship rivals, to Peter Murrell admitting in court to embezzling more than £400,000 from SNP party funds, are we too quick to trust those who lead—and too slow to challenge them? Michael Fanstone was joined by Paul Anderson-Walsh, CEO of ENOLLA Consulting, Rachael Ita, Senior Pastor at New Life Church.
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16) The Bible repeatedly calls us to pray — yet in times of unrest and violence, like we’ve seen in Northern Ireland this week, we can so easily forget. Peter Lynas, UK Director of the Evangelical Alliance, joined Michael Fanstone to help us reflect on these events — and to pray.
Sales of Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses are rising sharply, with reports suggesting over 7 million were sold last year. The glasses look like regular eyewear but contain built-in cameras, microphones and AI assistants, allowing users to record, take photos, and respond to voice commands — often without those nearby being aware. Professor Pete Phillips joined Michael Fanstone to discuss the implications of this growing trend.
