A group of high-profile women in their 50s say they’re being screened out of jobs despite years of experience, with AI picking up on age, language and career gaps linked to childcare. Job 12:12 says: “Wisdom belongs to the aged.” So how do we make sure older women’s wisdom is valued in church and the workplace? Menopause coach Jo Ibbot joined Esther to share where she’s seen women in midlife starting to fade away.
What do you want your entrance to say about you? Boxing champion Katie Taylor made her final walk into the ring at Croke Park in front of 83,000 people. But instead of a high-energy boxing anthem, she chose the worship song "All Hail King Jesus". Graham Daniels from Christians in Sport joined Esther to reflect on her final fight and living out faith in the spotlight.
What legacy would you like to leave behind, and how much would you risk for it? William Tyndale helped transform the English-speaking world by producing the first printed English Bible translated directly from the original Greek and Hebrew, a work that ultimately cost him his life. To mark 500 years since his translation, the Tyndale Society is holding a conference exploring his legacy. Andy Johnston, Senior Pastor at King’s Community Church, joined Esther to discuss Tyndale’s remarkable story.
The Financial Times reports that more than £1 billion is needed for major repairs across 16,000 Anglican churches. Should we move away from increasingly expensive church buildings into modern, cheaper spaces? Or would we lose something important? Michael was joined by Sir Philip Rutnam, Chair of the National Churches Trust, and Jo Trickey of the Gregory Centre for Church Multiplication to explore the issue.
What’s your earliest memory? Those early experiences can shape who we become. Experts say the first 1,001 days, from pregnancy to age two, are crucial for our physical, mental and spiritual development. Dame Andrea Leadsom, founder of 1001 Critical Days, joined Esther to explain why it matters — and how you can help ensure this stage gets the recognition it deserves.
Inspirational Breakfast meets the Life in the Uni-verse podcast as Esther welcomes graduates Lucy Robinson and David Colwill for an honest conversation about following Jesus as a student. Despite the stereotype that university can be a faith killer, surveys suggest most Christian students actually thrive. So what does it look like to pursue Jesus amid the pressures and opportunities of Freshers’ Week, flat life and studying — and avoid the clichés of being an over-partied, underslept and homesick student?
Could you fake your way into faith? That’s what New York influencer Brian Guan set out to discover. Fed up with life, he challenged himself to spend 30 days living out Christianity, without the faith — and documented it all online. Within weeks, he’d gained over 100,000 followers, including Christians encouraging him on. But after just 20 days, something happened. Producer Jamie Pratt caught up with him to find out the whole story.
Back to school can bring excitement – but also anxiety about money, friendships, exams and faith. The hovernment has announced new measures to ease the financial burden on families, but what difference will they actually make? Headteacher Miriam Manderson joined Esther to discuss the reforms and how parents and pupils can prepare for the year ahead, before former Young Preacher of the Year Grace Keir shared her advice for young people wanting to be bolder with their faith at school.
Government figures show more than a quarter of 20-to-34-year-olds were living with their parents in 2025. As housing costs continue to soar, what does the Bible say about leaving home, independence and family life? The team spoke with housing researcher David Corbett about the challenges facing young people, while parenting expert Dr Kathy Koch shares advice for navigating this new season with adult children.
Pope Leo has been named one of Vanity Fair’s best-dressed men — but can what we wear say something about our faith? Celebrity stylist joins Esther to explore why he thinks some Christians have misunderstood Biblical teaching on fashion, and the subtle fashion faux pas that could distract from our message when we’re preaching the good news.
Isaac Anup Rana, Field Operations Director at World Vision Nepal, joins Mal Pope to reflect on the devastating flash floods in the Nepal-Tibet border region, the ongoing rescue efforts in the country’s hydroelectric tunnels, and how the charity is responding to the crisis on the ground.
How much do statues of Jesus draw people to faith? The world’s tallest statue of Jesus is being built in Armenia, with the 33-metre figure standing on a 44-metre platform. Due for completion in 2027, it’s already attracted attention — including opposition from the Armenian Apostolic Church. So when does a statue become a symbol of faith, and when could it become idolatry? Esther was joined by Dr Ian Bullock, CEO of the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, to discuss.
How friendly is the place where you live? A new survey has ranked the friendliness of 296 places across England, looking at trust, connection and loneliness. The Isles of Scilly came top, while Barking in East London came bottom. Esther spoke to Barking resident, writer and actor Silvano Griffith about her hometown’s dubious accolade — before chatting to Andy Hawthorne, founder of The Message, for some practical tips on building stronger community.
What do you think of when you hear “social justice”? For many Christians, caring for the vulnerable is central to the Gospel. But others worry the term has become politicised, distracting from salvation. So how do we hold justice and the Gospel together? Father Joash P. Thomas, priest, theologian spoke to Jamie Pratt about his new book, The Justice of Jesus — and what Jesus’ approach to justice really looks like.
Following fatal crashes in Ireland and near Middlesbrough, concerns have grown over dangerous driving videos shared online for likes and attention. Risky trends are nothing new so how should Christians respond? And is the Church doing enough to help young people navigate the digital world? Digital Evangelist Ruth Weller and history student Austin Colwell joined Esther to explore how we can clean our feeds and solve this problem!
