How good were you at handling exam season pressure? Right now, thousands of young people across the UK are carrying revision, deadlines, big decisions and questions about the future as we come towards the end of the academic year. Maybe you're a parent, grandparent, or remember it yourself. So how do we support students in these moments? Rob Colwell and Chizi Phiri from Fusion, a student mission organisation, joined Lydia to share some practical tips for handing exam pressure.
Jackie Mouradian felt God was distant and didn't want to be near church. But God sent friends who invited her to church, and it led to a moment of encounter. Jackie is now a writer, actor, film editor, and community facilitator. Her latest project, Following the Son, is a devotional that combines the Bible and her love for drama. She joined Lydia Bennett to share her story.
What happens when the place meant to feel safe becomes the place that hurts you most? For many Christians, church is a place of belonging and healing. But for others, it’s been marked by rejection, burnout, gossip or spiritual manipulation. So how do we process church hurt without becoming cynical? And how can churches become safer, healthier places? Shaun Lambert joined Lydia Bennett to unpack.
Phillip Goss is a musician and producer, and part of the band As If… His latest project, The Waving Man, has been years in the making, but it unfolded against the backdrop of a cancer diagnosis around 18 months ago. This season inevitably reshaped the way Phillip approached life, faith and music. He joined Lydia Bennett to share his remarkable story.
Paul Murray and Russell Horton are Christian Entrepreneurs and part of The Lions 2026 cohort, a space for Christian pioneers and entrepreneurs to dream, prepare, and connect with Kingdom‑minded people while building strong foundations for what lies ahead. They joined Lydia Bennett to talk about their story and testimony of God at work.
With Pentecost fast approaching, now is the time to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit might be doing in our lives! Do we really recognise the spiritual gifts God has given us? And how do we cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in our everyday walk with Jesus? Retreat leader, speaker, author and spiritual director Amy Boucher Pye joined Lydia to unpack these questions, before leading a beautiful extended time of meditation and reflection.
This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week. While progress has been made, there are still spaces within the Church where speaking openly about mental health can feel taboo. Caleb Nyanni has chosen to be candid about his journey. Now Principal of Waverley Abbey College and Senior Pastor of Elim Church Sparkbrook in Birmingham, he joined Lydia Bennett to reflect on his experiences and how God has met him in that space
Should Christians accept an invitation to an Iftar meal, an Eid celebration, or another festival connected to a different faith? Does saying yes compromise our faith, or could it open the door to friendship, hospitality and conversations about Jesus? The line can be blurry - Is attending something like Iftar simply an act of friendship and respect, or are there theological boundaries Christians should think carefully about? Andy Bannister from Solas joined Lydia to unpack.
We all have a different relationship with food - whether it’s simply fuel or something that brings joy and connection. But what we consume, physically and spiritually, shapes more than we realise, affecting our wellbeing, mood, and focus. Emma Maitland-Carew, a registered Nutritional Therapist and accredited Wellbeing Coach, joined Lydia to explore the connection between caring for our bodies and caring for our souls.
For many of us, our understanding of Scripture is shaped by Sunday school, society, or even the media. But what if some of the images we hold close to our hearts aren’t entirely accurate? That’s what the Red-Haired Archaeologist, Amanda Hope Haley explores in her new book, 'Stones Still Speak'. A Harvard-educated archaeologist and theologian, Amanda joined Lydia Bennett to discuss how archaeological evidence can strengthen our faith in Scripture.
Imagine you had to rate your pursuit of God on a faith appraisal form - what score would you give yourself? Convicting, isn’t it? In a culture that constantly tells us to do more and be more, many Christians end up feeling spiritually exhausted. But what if pursuing God wholeheartedly isn’t about doing more? Texas-based Bible teacher and women's minister Cheryl Marshall joined Lydia to chat about her new book 'All of Me' and what it really looks like to give God every part of ourselves.
When was the last time you had a proper health check? Not with your GP... but a spiritual check up. Rev Rachel Bedford has just published her first book, Spiritual Health: In Pursuit of Resilient Wellbeing and she joined Lydia to unpack why looking after our spiritual wellbeing is just as vital, if not more so, than caring for our mental or physical health.
Small groups are often the heartbeat of church life. Yet for many churches, small groups don’t always live up to that hope. So, how can we foster true discipleship and build thriving small groups? Derek Hughes, who has led Life Church Eccles for over three decades, with on‑the‑ground experience in building small groups, joined Lydia Bennett to unpack this
After encountering Jesus for the first time in her 50s, Rev’d Claire McEnery’s life took a dramatic turn. Following a distinguished 30-year career in policing, she felt God calling her into ordained ministry in the Church of England. Claire joined Lydia to share the remarkable story of her late-in-life faith journey, her deep passion for Jesus, her commitment to police welfare, and her heart for seeing the Church bring hope and healing to people today.
Helen Thorne‑Allenson, who has spent years helping churches think carefully and compassionately about this, has written a new book, A Church That Cares: A Biblical Guide to Loving One Another Well. She joined Lydia Bennett to unpack mental health in the life of the church and the practical building blocks needed to create communities where people don’t carry their burdens alone.
