One in four mothers faces pre- and post-partum depression across the UK, and yet it so often remains hidden behind the expectation that this should be a purely joyful time. Becky Douglas-Jones is the Acting Director of Acacia Family Support, based in Birmingham, and Laura Swinburn is a mother who was supported by the charity. Becky and Laura joined Lydia Bennett to unpack how churches can play a role.
Have you ever walked into a church and felt like everyone already knew each other? Most of us naturally gravitate towards people like us, but the Church is called to be something different: a diverse family united by Jesus. So how do we stop friendship groups becoming cliques? And in an increasingly divided culture, how do we stay united with Christians when we disagree on politics, theology, or other important issues? Phil Knox joined Lydia to unpack.
New York Times Bestseller and former Chicago Cubs outfielder Jim Murphy's new book, The Best Possible Life, draws on over 2,000 years of Christian wisdom along with hard-won lessons from his own journey. As a performance coach, Jim shares the path to a life of genuine peace, joy, and confidence. He spoke to Lydia Bennett about the idea of Inner Excellence and how it took off in his life.
Tim Challies is a pastor and author who has consistently blogged every single day since 2003. Tim’s latest book, God’s Great Big Global Church, invites us to lift our eyes as he opens a window for kids and adults alike to see the church as vast, diverse, and deeply united. Lydia Bennett caught up with Tim earlier to unpack the story behind the book and his story of faith and journey through tough seasons of grief and loss.
Are we really compassionate when someone is going through a storm in life? Think of Job and his friends - what felt like support wasn’t what Job needed. It can be incredibly isolating if you're navigating a difficult season alone. Vaneetha Rendall-Risner knows this well: childhood polio, loss of her infant son, an unwanted divorce and single parenting. And yet she points to hope in Christ. Vaneetha joined Lydia to chat about remaining anchored in Jesus through the storm.
Libby Thompson is a beauty therapist from Kenilworth, Warwickshire and author of the book Undone, but for years, Libby battled abuse and addiction. Childhood trauma led her into alcoholism and a life marked by deep despair. But everything changed when she prayed a prayer in church, and in an instant, she felt free! Libby and her husband Phil joined Lydia Bennett to share her powerful story.
Niki Hardy became a Christian on an Alpha course in London. Not long after, she and her husband moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to plant a church and start a new chapter of life. But the journey that followed brought unexpected challenges - culture shock, cancer, doubt and difficult questions about God. She joined Lydia to share her testimony and to chat about her latest book, 'God, Can We Chat?' an honest and encouraging invitation to bring your real questionS to God.
We all want to be able to answer “yes”, but sometimes the momentum feels slow, and the fire of the Spirit feels low. So, what do you do in those moments? And can we really keep the fire of faith burning all day, every day? Pastor and author Steve Uppal joined Lydia Bennett to unpack how to be revival-ready as individuals, families, and Churches living in these times of transformation.
In Acts, the Holy Spirit didn’t just create a moment, it transformed how believers lived and related to one another. That same Spirit is still with Christians today, yet faith can often feel disconnected from daily life. How can we rediscover the experience of Acts 2? Paul Coulter joined Mal Pope to explore how this applies to everyday choices.
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.
