#specialfeature – Page 2 – Family Life Podcasts

Choices toward planning for college – 2/15/24

By Family Life News | February 15, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:09 — 13.9MB)

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This is the time of year when many college-bound students are finalizing applications for which school they intend to go to in the fall.

Also at issue: how to pay for higher education, whether that is for incoming first-year students or those who are already at a college or university.

For advice on the decision-making processes, we sought the perspective of President Wayne Lewis of Houghton University in Houghton, New York. In this Family Life Interview, you will hear:

How the federal delays in this year’s one-application for financial aid computations (the online FAFSA form) has affected students, families and the schools — and best “next steps to take”
Timelines for applying to your preferred school(s), when financial aid determinations are made, and when someone can change their mind about which college to attend
How current students are great resources for sorting out where a new student can attend a place which fits them — whether they are liberal or conservative or moderate, whether they are Christian or not
The difference being colleges which teach their students “to think” versus places which teach students “what to think”

Super Bowl Sunday – A Faith-Based Vantage Point – Paul Asay – 2/09/24

By Family Life News | February 9, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:53 — 14.9MB)

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With 70 percent of American TV households plugged in, the Super Bowl draws millions of eyeballs, adjusts peoples social schedules, and dominates public discussion throughout an early February weekend. It consistently is #1-watched TV show of the year. (Plus all that doesn’t even include the people who listen on the radio, watch through streaming, or just look up the Super Bowl ads on the internet!)

Family Life News talked with movie & television reviewer Paul Asay about how the Super Bowl broadcast has become such a huge event. We especially wanted a faith-based angle on the hype, from this editor of the Christian media site Plugged In.

Paul Asay gives his take on how massive the Super Bowl has become, including its role as one of the few broadcasts which remind us of a “monolithic culture…where people would all watch the same sitcoms and same adventure shows.” There are lessons from the Big Game weekend for Christian individuals and households, as well as for churches.

Another Family Life Interview about the Super Bowl, its commercials, and its hype aired Thursday (February 7). Hear commentary from Robert Thompson, the well-respected Television & Culture professor at Syracuse University. That conversation is available separately on the Family Life news podcasts page.

Making Sense of the Super Bowl Hype – Robert Thompson – 2/08/24

By Family Life News | February 8, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:55 — 13.6MB)

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It annually is the biggest American television program of the year. (Not even counting the global audience.)

It’s commercials are anticipated, reviewed, over-analyzed, and cost $7,000,000 for 30 seconds.

Even even non-football-fans get drawn into the hype.

Businesses and churches and groups adjust their schedules to avoid conflicting with one of the nation’s hugest non-holiday holidays.

The Super Bowl has come to have a massive influence on American society. For perspectives on how the game became so big, Family Life’s Greg Gillispie talks with Robert Thompson, an expert of television and its effects on culture. Among the topics:

How the calendar and the NFL’s creativity have moved Super Bowl Sunday to such a national festival day
What is it that makes Super Bowl commercials such a topic of conversation
Why those advertisers see enough value to make it worth paying so much to buy the ad slot and produce a “film-festival-worthy” commercial
How the Super Bowl has become one of the few “shared experiences” Americans have, in our fractured media landscape

Robert Thompson is director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. He teaches courses on the impact of media and has written five books and edited an ongoing series about television and society.

Also from Family Life’s News Podcasts: Paul Asay of “Plugged In” offers his insights on Super Bowls — including a Christian angle on the widespread popularity of the Super Bowl as a national event, how we need a few shared experiences across a wide swath of the culture, and how Christian messages like “HeGetsUs” can share the Gospel with millions in a single broadcast. Listen for that additional interview here.

Faith Under Fire – PA Prolife – Maria Gallagher – 2/01/24

By Family Life News | February 1, 2024

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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court this week, by a narrow 4-3 vote, ruled that a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood is to be heard by a lower court. At issue is a question about whether Pennsylvania can restrict the state’s Medicaid funds only to pay for the abortions which are directly related to situations of rape, incest, or if the pregancy is a risk to the mother’s life. The dominant provider of abortions contends that Pennsylvania’s Medicaid policies over the past 20 years unconstitutionally harm the “rights” of poorer people.

The Commonwealth Court trial has not happened to decide the issue; the Supreme Court majority merely ruled that the case must be tried.

For an interpretation and perspectives on the case and its related issues, Family Life news producer Greg Gillispie spoke Monday with Maria Gallagher, legislative director of the PA Prolife Federation.

You can find more about PA Prolife’s work beyond this one court case on their website.

Thrive Singles Conference – a conversation with Sherrie Holloway – 1/31/24

By Family Life News | January 31, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:54 — 16.3MB)

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Today’s Family Life News Feature offers insights from the leader of our January 2024 Thrive Singles Conference.

Professor Sherrie Holloway of Clark’s Summit University offers a recap of the conference’s theme, assurance and reminders for people who are single (in all the forms that takes), and advice and reminders for married people too.

Family Life Ministries and its supporters sponsor this annual event, typically early in each year.

Christian Culture, Pop Culture, and navigating the world where Taylor Swift is “everywhere” – 1/29/24

By Family Life News | January 29, 2024

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Keeping Pop Culture in check,

Spiritual truths, amid Taylor Swift’s popularity,

And helping children and teens to prioritize their faith, even using lessons from celebrities.

We have an exclusive interview with Paul Asay of the PLUGGED IN entertainment reviews, a Family Life Interview from the January 29 Noon Report.

Paul Asay is the supervising editor of PLUGGED IN, which offers family-friendly reviews of movies, television, streamed programs, social media, music, video games, and other entertainment content. An outreach of Focus on the Family, PLUGGED IN provides short reviews (with an eye and ear toward Christian parents and their children), expanded conversations about media and culture, and blog posts to help mindful parents guide their children’s choices — and insightful household discussions about the media surrounding us.

PLUGGED IN also regularly features their recommendations on the best entertainment options for young audiences.

Faith Under Fire – A local take on pro-life/pro-abortion debates – 1/25/24

By Family Life News | January 25, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:04 — 13.8MB)

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As the abortion industry and many politicians look to put abortion into state constitutions, many in the pro-life movement seek to redefine the debate.

Christina Fadden is president of Syracuse Right to Life. The day after the National March for Life in DC, that group and its partners held a local rally and March for the Onandaga County region. The Syracuse March (held Saturday, January 20) is the longest-running march in New York State.

In this Family Life interview leading up to that event, Fadden talks about the “right” to have an abortion, and how that belief system has become embedded in many people’s thoughts and much of the media coverage. Local groups are working to clarify and correct the terms, so that people go beyond a “right to choose” and more toward “human rights” for everyone, including unborn children.

Additional information:

Video of the 2024 Syracuse March
Syracuse Right to Life on Facebook

Max Lucado – A Family Life News interview – 01/05/24

By Family Life News | January 5, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:37 — 14.6MB)

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Prominent Christian speaker, author (and advisor to presidents) Max Lucado is sharing a message of reassurance to anyone who feels they have strayed far from God:

“God never gives up on you”

Hear new comments from Max Lucado — for people who find themselves discouraged or hopeless, be that from personal situations, or exasperation about the tone of today’s culture. Using the Biblical story of God’s continual presence and grace in Jacob’s life, Lucado finds assurance that God relentlessly offers constant presence and new beginnings for all of us.


During this conversation, Greg also asked Lucado if he would offer a prayer for Family Life's listeners and web visitors, especially those who feel like they are facing the doubts and despairs which his Bible study addresses. Here is that prayer for you.

Family Life’s Greg Gillispie also interviewed Max Lucado when his book on Jacob was first released. We had that interview on the air in September 2023, and it is available among the podcasts of our News Features. You can listen to, download, or share that discussion here.

For further information:

Max answers readers’ questions about this theme
Lucado Bible Study: God Never Gives Up On You
Max’s biography, vision, beliefs, and book list

2024, A Preview – Special Edition of the Noon Report – 01/02/24

By Family Life News | January 2, 2024

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:14 — 22.1MB)

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With the start of this new year, what can we expect for 2024?

What are some decisions we can make now — regarding our personal health, our pocketbooks, and our politics?

Bob Price, anchor of the Family Life Noon Report, hosts this special 2024 preview. Included in this half hour:

MONEY: Grove City Economics Professor Shawn Ritenour analyzes trends for consumers and the overall economy expected for 2024 — dollars and cents for the new year
CULTURE: Commentator John Stonestreet says problems with responsible free speech go beyond a few Ivy League presidents, but all of higher education needs to be watched
POLITICS: Big issues coming up in this election year in Harrisburg, Albany and the entire USA, including analysis by retired Political Science Professor Steve Coleman
HEALTH: Encouragement for your 2024 fitness, faith and fortitude for 2024 — from Christian fitness expert Tom Nicolla (who also tells us his inspirational personal story, fighting through a childhood disease and recovery from a delibitating mountain biking accident)