UNDISTRACTED with Laura Bennett

Bethel Music's Noah Paul Harrison discusses his debut album 'DO NOT GO GENTLE', and how God uses the seemingly wasted waiting seasons of our lives. Key Takeaways: Noah Paul Harrison's debut solo album "Do Not Go Gentle" is inspired by themes of faith, bravery, and perseverance, reflecting his journey in music and worship. Songwriting involves a delicate balance between personal experiences and universal messages, aiming to connect on both individual and communal levels. The album encompasses diverse themes, with each song tailored to resonate with specific life seasons, encouraging listeners through praise and worship. Noah emphasizes the importance of authenticity and remaining faithful to one's calling despite the pressures and comparisons that come with being a creative artist. In discussing AI in music, Noah shares a nuanced outlook, advocating for music rooted in genuine experience and personal testimony. Notable Quotes: "To me, it just had such a cool meaning of, like, bravery and not giving up." "I hope people feel just the presence of the Lord and that He is walking with them." "What do we want the mouths of our people to be singing and declaring?" “It's actually my honor that I need you and that I'm not doing it on my own.” Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashish Thomas is the International Head of Marketing for 'The Chosen'. Helping the hit show find its global audience, Ashish talks about the scene that made him want to work with the show, how his parents work in the Himalayas shaped his faith and the big question of season 6: why did Jesus have to die?Key Takeaways: Uniqueness of "The Chosen": The series provides a fresh narrative by telling biblical stories from the perspective of those around Jesus, making the stories feel more personal and relatable. Marketing a Significant Subject: Marketing "The Chosen" involves a dual challenge of remaining true to its message while engaging a diverse global audience. Personal Connection: Ashish Thomas shares his journey from skepticism to passionate advocacy for the series, revealing the power of storytelling in changing perceptions. Cultural Impact: The series has initiated a new wave of faith-inspired media content, transcending traditional storytelling by deeply engaging with both Christian and mainstream audiences. Exploring Profound Questions: By focusing on the 'why' of pivotal biblical events, "The Chosen" encourages viewers to explore significant existential and faith-related questions. Notable Quotes: "When you watch it, it's like the stained glass stories coming alive." - Ashish Thomas "The Chosen will explore the why. Why did Jesus have to die?" - Ashish Thomas "The pursuit of Jesus for the One that He always goes to." - Ashish Thomas "We just have to bring our five and our two and let God do the multiplication." - Ashish Thomas "It is a great way for someone to engage with the story of Jesus." - Ashish Thomas  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jonah Marais rose to fame as one-fifth of pop group Why Don’t We, building a global fanbase before legal issues forced the band into hiatus in 2022. Since then, he’s been redefining his identity beyond the group and found a faith that's alerted his artistic ambition. Jonah will bring The Dreamer Tour to Australia in November.Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australian Para-Athlete Matt Formston lost 95 percent of his vision at just five years old. Determined not to let his disability define him, he went on to become a champion cyclist and surfer, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2025 and now leads and trains global executive business teams. His memoir 'Why Not?' is a cure for the limited thinking that holds many of us back.Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By 2030, it’s estimated 45 percent of women will be single and child free. It a contrast to previous generations where marriage and kids was the expected norm, but for many reasons a lot of women aren’t in the relationships they were brought up to assume were guaranteed.Sydney author Sheree Joseph wants a husband and family, but an ill-timed breakup and medical diagnosis has so far sent her life in a different direction. Her memoir 'Juicy' offers a warm, hilarious and honest account of what it’s like to be single and child free when your stage of life dictates otherwise, and why we need to redefine what it means to have a thriving, happy life and celebrate the singles.Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

British cook Rachel Khoo is known to Australians fans for her work on 'The Great Australian Bakeoff', but many years before she appeared on our screens it was cooking out of a small kitchen in her Parisan flat that gave Rachel her first TV role. 'The Little Paris Kitchen' became a hit BBC series and now a memoir of the same name. Rachel speaks to us about the effect of food on culture, knowing which ideas to chase and why the story of this little kitchen took 5 years to tell.Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest today is author and former Hope 103.2 journalist Clare Bruce. In memoir 'Sinner, Saint, Servant', Clare tells the story of Troy White. A onetime policeman, pastor and military chaplain who struggled with PSTD, anxiety and depression, and a growing alcohol addiction his admirers had little awareness of.Clare talks about how to have faith in tandem with struggle, the pressure on ministry leaders, and goes into the world of a writer going from idea to execution and the delicacy of handling someone else’s life story.Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the #MeToo movement emboldened victims to speak up about gendered violence, survivors found themselves silenced by defamation laws being used to stop them sharing their experiences. In Silenced, International human rights lawyer and co-author of How Many More Women? Jennifer Robinson shows us how the legal system is used to discredit and financially ruin survivors and journalists reporting on their stories. Jennifer draws on her experience representing Hollywood actress Amber Heard in one of the most high-profile defamation battles in recent history, showing the personal cost of these cases on women like Amber, and locally, former Australian political staffer Brittany Higgins among many guests. Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our guest today is Embrace Grace founder Amy Ford. In her teens Amy fell pregnant unexpectedly and, as happens for many young women in the church, was met with judgement, shame and rejection. Her goal since, has been to equip churches to support women in choosing life at such a crucial time in their lives, and see the church as the first place women turn to and not run from.Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you ever feel stuck? You’re a Christian who loves Jesus, you believe God has a good plan for your life, and yet you feel like something has stalled. Today we’re welcoming back minister and host and author of the Heal with God podcast and book Heather O’Brien.   After years of struggling with depression and leaning into Scripture and prayer, Heather began hearing God’s voice and developing step-by-step tools to help Christians become unstuck – dealing with fear, procrastination, anger, a number of symptoms – that hold us back from living well.Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au. And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app, Facebook or Instagram.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.