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!
How much of the Bible could you recite in one go? A couple of verses? A chapter? A whole book? Actor and spoken-word artist Errol McGlashan learnt every single word of the Gospel of Mark — and spent the last few weeks performing it at the Edinburgh Fringe in his show Whoever Has Ears To Hear. Errol joined Esther live to prove how much of Mark he could still recite in one go!
The ADHD Myth? has already become one of the most controversial shows of the year — labelled “inaccurate” and “dangerous” by various charities and sparking widespread backlash online. But is there any truth to the programme’s claims? And how should we talk about and adapt to ADHD in our churches? Esther spoke to psychiatrist Philippa Savage, psychologist Dr Jeremy Rowe and author Sophie Killingley to unpack the nuances of ADHD, the rise in diagnoses, and why it's never something to be 'prayed away'.
A couple set up a church lunch club offering free meals to children in Sheffield — but hardly anyone came. So, what went wrong? If you have the faith and the calling, is that enough? Or does effective social action require more? Esther Higham spoke to Graeme Hodge, who has decades of experience leading social action projects, and Daniel Jones from Stewardship, which supports thousands of churches, charities and charity workers to turn their ideas into effective, lasting projects.
Stephen Sneed from Samaritan’s Purse joined Esther to share what life looks like in the aftermath of a major earthquake, and how relief efforts are supporting communities across Colombia, Venezuela and the Philippines. Plus, how prayer helped open the way for vital food aid to reach people living in conflict zones.
New research has revealed that we're using 388 fewer words per day every year. We're texting more, calling less, wearing headphones at the bus stop and even choosing self-service tills rather than speaking to a human being! So could Christians be the people who still stop for a natter? Esther spoke to Sheridan Voysey, founder of The Friendship Lab, and Nick Amis from the Hive Network, which helps reach communities for Jesus, to share the importance of a good conversation!
The White House has called opposition comments about the relationship between Donald Trump and aide Natalie Harp “cringeworthy”, but should the president be following the Billy Graham Rule — the idea of avoiding time alone with someone of the opposite sex. But is that wise for every couple? Salomé Criddle, relationship expert, joined Esther to discuss the rule, healthy boundaries, and whether Jesus would have followed it.
