It’s the beginning of Lent, and Rachel, Martin and Lucy pack away the crisps and biscuits to ask: do we sometimes get this moment in the church calendar all wrong? Are there better ways to talk about and practice Lent with young people, and how do we make sure we’re not just dishing out a Christianised version of popular self-help? Plus there’s a discussion around how we handle healing, and the emergence of a new kind of super hero…

Do get in touch with us by emailing us podcast@youthscape.co.uk or commenting on individual Spotify episodes.

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Martin sits down with David Howell to talk about whether meeting in homes is still a safe and effective way of doing youth ministry in 2026 after concerns from the NYA. The team are divided over the best way to get a group of noisy lads’ attention and give grace to a listener’s feeling of just plodding on. And of course Organised Fun descends into chaos… or should that be Fuganised Orn?

Do get in touch with us by emailing us podcast@youthscape.co.uk or commenting on individual Spotify episodes.

To hear more episodes like this, search for Talking Youth Ministry: A Youthscape Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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Lucy, Rachel and Martin discuss recent stories alleging that American charismatic minister Shawn Bolz used information from social media to inform 'prophetic words'. How does this challenging conversation help inform better charismatic youth ministry practice, and does it suggest that we need a better model than 'words from the stage'? There's an Ask Us Anything question about finishing well, and a renewed commitment from the team to make the 'organised fun' section genuinely useful in your youth work. Time will tell.

Do get in touch with us by emailing us podcast@youthscape.co.uk or commenting on individual Spotify episodes.

To hear more episodes like this, search for Talking Youth Ministry: A Youthscape Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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It’s a packed pod today, as Youthscape CEO Chris Curtis makes his Talking Youth Ministry debut to discuss the organisation’s new ‘Troubling Jesus’ research. Martin, Lucy and Rachel ask how you can get parents on board with your youth work- wherever they’re coming from- and there’s some anarchic IKEA-based organised fun. Eclectic.

Do get in touch with us by emailing us podcast@youthscape.co.uk or commenting on individual Spotify episodes.

To hear more episodes like this, search for Talking Youth Ministry: A Youthscape Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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This week Martin and Rachel explore how our youth work values and principles can change and evolve over time. Why did we once embrace purity culture? What’s the correct order of “believe, belong and behave”? And should we have ever wanted to be History Makers? Plus there’s a discussion- and vaguely linked game- around what makes for a great youth-led church service.

Do get in touch with us by emailing us podcast@youthscape.co.uk or commenting on individual Spotify episodes.

To hear more episodes like this, search for Talking Youth Ministry: A Youthscape Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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Martin and Rachel discuss two apparently-contradictory struggles for youth ministers: believing it’s all on us, and worrying we’re not even worthy of doing it. They also discuss their unlikely starts in youth ministry, share a few surprise revelations, and end up in a brain-twisting, time-travelling challenge, in organised fun.

Do get in touch with us by emailing us podcast@youthscape.co.uk or commenting on individual Spotify episodes.

To hear more episodes like this, search for Talking Youth Ministry: A Youthscape Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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To kick off the new term, Rachel, Lucy and Martin share the things they think we should all be thinking about as we focus on the year ahead. There will be predictions; there will be controversy; there may even be some unwarranted singing. And as always, we’ll share lots of your feedback and engage in a particularly well-researched bout of organised fun.

Do get in touch with us by emailing us podcast@youthscape.co.uk or commenting on individual Spotify episodes.

To hear more episodes like this, search for Talking Youth Ministry: A Youthscape Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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Happy New Year! Today we present a special treat to kick off 2026- the live recording of our special ‘Talking Youth Ministry’ event at November’s National Youth Ministry Weekend. If you’re looking for serious youth ministry content, maybe give this one a miss; if you’re in the mood for silly games and a dramatised reading from Hagbane’s Doom… listen in!

Charles Merritt's 'The Anxious Man' - listen here https://open.spotify.com/album/3LyCv99SCt2nZzAx9qG1V5?si=8ddKZ6KeSDqj13mc49lyqw

Do get in touch with us by emailing us podcast@youthscape.co.uk or commenting on individual Spotify episodes.

To hear more episodes like this, search for Talking Youth Ministry: A Youthscape Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.