AI is all around us. But what is the ethical response to its development, and what is the faith response? Can the Holy Spirit speak through Chat GPT? It’s the Life Issues podcast with Presenter Paul Hammond and Revd Dr Chris Goswami, Founder of AI Christian Partnership.

Our societal support systems, intended to protect the most vulnerable, are creaking at the seams. So, what is the solution? Could the clue be in the name: CARE? Tarn Bright, Co-CEO at Home for Good and Safe Families, tells Helen why LOVE must be at the centre of a redesign of the children’s care system in this week’s Life Issues.

There seems to be a growing passion for living in the moment, for seizing the day, Carpe` diem as it were. But it seems to be less about “redeeming the time” and more of an excuse to chase a consumerist or self-focused lifestyle… So, given that you only live once – how can we make that life the best and most productive it can be? It’s the LI podcast – available now on UCB player and this week entitled. YOLO – so could life be better? Cathy and Mark Madavan are authors of Up and Alive: Living...

[Originally broadcast the week of 12th September 2022] Kindness has connotations of sweetness and softness, but does this make us prone to overlook the dynamic power of kindness and the legacy it leaves? Paul takes up the discussion with Debbie Duncan and Cathy Le Feuvre in this week’s Life Issues.

Do you have unfulfilled dreams? Maybe life hasn't turned out as you'd hoped? From becoming a parent, to owning a home, getting married or pursuing a certain career... How do we deal with these unfulfilled desires?Can we rewrite the narrative and find a new vision for our lives? And is it ok to grieve something you've never had? Helen Lea is joined by midlife mindset coach Helen Louise Knight who's passionate about helping people who feel invisible - embrace and make the most of the life they...

Have you ever had a go at keeping a journal? What if it could be more than a record of what we’ve been up to and instead was used by God as a missional tool? On this week’s Life Issues, Vicky Gibbens speaks to Bishop Matthew Porter and Dr Christopher Williams on the role reflection can plays in our everyday lives.

Words are one of the most powerful tools we have but often they can escape us. Particularly when it comes to prayer. But what if we don't need the "right" words or even our words? In this week's Life Issues Helen Lea is exploring the ancient practice of liturgy with authors of Liturgies for Hope & Liturgies for Wholeness Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore.

As men, what do we do with mood swings, despair, anger? Particularly when we feel guilt at apparently not being able to cope? On this week’s Life Issues Paul Hammond is joined by Mercy UK’s Bryn Abbott and Paul Marshall to discuss why men find it so hard to talk about the impact of poor mental health and what God has to say about it.

There’s an old hymn that says – “Tis mercy all, immense and free; For, O my God, it found out me.” But what is mercy? Is it just a case of letting someone off with it? Where’s the justice in that? These days we’re more likely to see argument, cancelling or even aggression than mercy. So, where does it fit?  Paul is joined by Natalie Williams, Author of Tis Mercy All in this week’s Life Issues:  “Blessed are the merciful, even these days” to find out.

Has atheism lost its popularity? Is belief in God gaining interest and respect once again? Helen’s guest for this week's life issues is Justin Brierly, host of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God podcast. They discuss how the conversation around faith, reason and God has changed and why many sceptics are now pointing people back to Christianity.

We talk about comfort. We talk about being comfortable. We talk about giving comfort. We talk about our comfort zone. We even refer to the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. But given the Bible says we are to share in Christ’s sufferings, should our lives be comfortable? Do we not need sometimes to step out of that comfort zone – or away from the security blanket that is distracting us or holding us back? What is comfort really about and how do we comfort those in need? It’s the LI podcast – “are...

How often do you chat to your neighbour? On Life Issues this week we’re asking what was that ‘glue’ that seemed to stick people together bringing a sense of belonging and relationship to a community that doesn’t seem to exist anymore? Or does it? Joining Vicky Gibbens for the conversation is author Nigel Adams in our latest podcast episode, Communities of Hope.

Do you dream? Throughout the bible there are plenty of examples of dreams – Pharaoh’s cows, Jacob’s ladder, Nebuchadnezzar’s statue. They send the message that God speaks through dreams. So, could He be speaking through yours? Maybe not the ones about your teeth falling out or turning up at work with no trousers on! But could it be, that in a world where dream interpretation is big business, it might actually be God speaking to us? This week’s Life Issues, Paul is joined by Professor Mark...

[Originally broadcast the week of 20th May 2024] There are 16 million disabled people in the UK, many of whom continue to be at risk of poverty and exclusion from education and employment. So how can a Paralympian, whose resilience and adaptability has been celebrated, use their status to bring change and inclusivity for all? Vicky Gibbens is joined by Stef Reid MBE.

[Originally broadcast the week of 18th December 2023] Do you struggle to share your faith? Find it difficult to bring Jesus into every day conversations? Afraid you won't have the answer to a difficult question? Maybe you don't want to come across sounding preachy? But if the gospel is good news for EVERYONE and faith comes by hearing… how do we talk about Jesus without looking like an idiot? This week’s Life Issues with Andy Bannister, Author of How to talk about Jesus without looking like...

[Originally broadcast the week of 11th September 2023] What is burnout? Where does it come from? How does it work? What contributes to it? And how can we be ‘reignited’ and maintain a healthy work life? Paul asks Consultant Neuropsychologist Jo Johnson in this week’s Life Issues.

[Originally broadcast the week of 2nd October 2023] What's your worldview? We all have one - whether we are aware of it or not. A set of beliefs and ideas about the world and how it works. So how do we speak to someone who disagrees with our faith perspective? Helen explores the subject in this week's Life Issues with Peter Lynas, UK Director of the Evangelical Alliance.

[Originally broadcast the week of 23rd October 2023] What happens when we regularly doubt ourselves, allowing our fears and insecurities to take a hold of shaping who we are? Lucinda Smith was faithfully serving as a medical missionary in Pakistan, yet felt abandoned by God. But a life changing encounter with a little girl from China was to change that. Adopted by God is our Life Issues podcast this week.

[Originally broadcast the week of 20th November 2023] Wellbeing, there’s a lot of talk and advice about how we should be. Thankfully, we seem to be losing the stigmas that suggests people should admit such difficulties. But when the clouds press in, when the skies darken, when the fog seems impenetrable and the spiral seems ever downwards - How do we find the path to a brighter day? There is a new book out that offers a suggestion – 12 steps to strengthen your wellbeing in this week’s Life...

[Originally broadcast the week of 30th October 2023] We can often be made to feel like we have to choose between faith and science? But what if we don’t? What if science can actually prove God? Steph Bevan from God and the Big Bang joins Helen Lea for this week’s Life Issues conversation.

[Originally broadcast the week of 27th November 2023] What role do children have in your church? So often we look at them as to be “ministered to” but what if we started to recognise, respect and nurture their giftings and ability to minister? In a world where so many young people are disengaged from the church, what difference would it make to develop children’s ministry, that is ministry by children not to them? It’s the Life Issues podcast this week with Founder of Parenting for Faith,...

[Originally broadcast the week of 5th February 2024] Do you know the value of your attention? In an age where various forms of media compete to get it, Helen Lea asks Speak Life’s Nate Morgan Locke about the rise of the “attention economy” in this week’s Life Issues.

Sport, a universal language that unites people from all walks of life. But it can also divide us. Many fans hurl abuse, referees fear for their safety and hooligans use sport to incite violence and hate. So how do we create a more respectful and rewarding environment for everyone involved? Can Sport build hope AND teach us about the nature of God? This week's life issues, Helen Lea is joined by Joe Lowther CEO at youth charity KICK. Using sport to build hope and respect.

[Originally broadcast the week of 14th April 2024] Millions of people globally will be heading to the polls as part of national elections in 2024. But what about the sovereignty of God and understanding his will when it comes to voting? Vicky Gibbens is joined by Danny Webster, the Director of Advocacy at the Evangelical Alliance in this week’s Life Issues: Does God care about my vote?