UNDISTRACTED with Laura Bennett

Today's guest is Californian author and mum of four Great Eskridge. After dealing with her husband’s porn addiction, Greta wanted to have better conversations about pornography with her kids. Her book 'It’s Time to Talk to Your Kids About Porn' makes those conversation easier and provides a framework for healthy sexual relationships.  This conversation is an unfiltered one about w...

Erwin McManus is an author, speaker, pastor, coach and world-renowned communicator. He’s been on the pod a number of times and is back to talk about communication frequencies. Have you ever felt misunderstood? Like your words were being twisted or that there are people who you just don’t get, you don’t resonate with. Erwin’s book 'The Seven Frequencies of Communication' loo...

Dr. Jo Brown is an elite performance physiotherapist and coach with over 20 years of experience enhancing athletic performance across multiple sports. She has worked with high-profile athletes including American sprinter Noah Lyles, the Australian Swim Team and the 2022 Jamaican Bobsleigh team building on the legacy of Cool Runnings. Dr. Brown’s book, 'See Your Elephant', explores the mindse...

Julie Sheehan spent 30 years in the New Age movement. While living the high life as a journalist for some of Australia’s biggest publications, Julie became trapped in what she calls “spiritual darkness and deception”. She led psychic readings, was an astrologer and delved into numerous self-help guides and practices to rid her of a deep feeling of brokenness and trauma. Her...

Ever feel distracted as a parent? Do you find a sense of purpose and calling in being a num or dad, but get overwhelmed by the details?  Today's guest is psychologist, author and qualified teacher Collett Smart. As host of the 'Raising Teens' podcast Collett helps us set foundations for the school year ahead, use values to shape the family calendar and find ways to be an undistracted parent....

Have you ever felt uneasy, or even distracted by, the way churches are run? Do the financial mechanics of the "business" of church make you uncomfortable?  Nathan Apffel is the director of 'The Religious Business', an upcoming documentary series examining the evolution of institutionalised Christianity and its resemblance to Jesus. Informed by the American system, Nathan’s quest for fin...

Today's guest is Steph Penny. Psychologist and author of 'Surviving Singledom', 'Surviving Childlessness' and now, 'Surviving Chronic Illness', Steph has had debilitating symptoms most of her life eventually being diagnosed with Lupus – an autoimmune condition where her body attacks itself, causing severe inflammation in her joints, tissues and organs. In this conversation Steph gets raw abo...

Ever had a really vivid dream and wondered if it was God speaking to you? Tania Harris is a pastor, practical theologian, author, broadcaster and the Director of God Conversations, a global ministry that equips people to recognise and respond to God’s voice. Her book 'God Dreams', explores how God’s voice shows up in dreams, how dreams can give us direction in life and what to do if yo...

Today’s guest is Bethel Music CEO, worship leader, mum, author and wife, Jenn Johnson. Together with the Bethel Music collective, Jenn is about to release 'We Must Respond' – an album about reacting to God’s goodness. Speaking with Laura from her family Christmas in Nashville, Jenn shared how the family continue to deal with the loss of Jenn's mother-in-law Beni Johnson, why we n...

Dru Hammer’s life sounds like a fairytale: raised in a humble American Christian home, a chance encounter on an airplane sees her married into the Hammer family dynasty, enjoying the bounty from an oil company, meeting royalty, running businesses and raising actor-son Armie Hammer who would become a Hollywood favourite after starring in 'The Social Network'. Things turned though, when Dru’s 25-yea...

Today we welcome back Debra Fileta, a licensed counsellor specialising in dating, marriage and relationship issues, along with a spectrum of mental health disorders and challenges. She's authored many books including 'True Love Dates', 'Are You Really Ok?’ and her latest ‘Soul Care’. Pulling from Jesus’ own life rhythms 'Soul Care' guides us to true health and rest, and in this episode, Laura talk...

If you’ve ever felt that irritable tug, a relentless ache burrowing into the unfulfilled areas of your life telling you there is more, this discussion is for you. Strahan Coleman is a musician and author and his latest book, 'Thirsting: Quenching Our Souls Deepest Desire' is about the drive to feel content and why we sometimes don't. Strahan shares the heartbreak behind ending his singing career,...

Laura Bennett chats with Ruth Chou Simons about her latest book, " Now and Not Yet ," focusing on navigating the challenging seasons of waiting and personal growth. Ruth shares insights on balancing ambition with patience, active trust versus passive waiting, and embracing life's intrinsic uncertainties. They explore the significance of being present, cultivating deep roots, and finding purpose in...

Max Lucado features on Undistracted and delves into the mysteries of the end times as described in the Bible. Lucado explores themes from his book, " What Happens Next ," discussing signs, tribulations, and the rapture. He shares insights on the Antichrist, the resurgence of Israel, and how Christians should live in anticipation of these events. Laura and Max also consider the modern-day relevance...

Simon Smart, Director of the Centre for Public Christianity, joins Laura Bennett to discuss his book, The End of Men, exploring the complex topic of masculinity today. They delve into how societal shifts have blurred traditional masculine roles, the pitfalls of toxic masculinity, and the importance of tender masculinity. Simon highlights the struggles boys face in current educational and social sp...

Laura shares a compelling conversation with Beryl Crosher-Segers about growing up during apartheid in South Africa and her journey to self-acceptance in Australia. Beryl shares how these experiences shaped her identity and the long path to healing, detailed in her memoirs and her latest book, "Living with Purpose." Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au . And send...

If you could fix one thing about the world, what would it be? Food insecurity? Loneliness? Political division? What about religious discrimination? We live in complex and, at times, really hopeless world. There’s a lot that’s broken, but there’s a lot that can be good. American Bible-teacher and author Carol McLeod has written ‘Overflowing: Living Abundantly in a Broken Culture’, using the book of...

Winner of 'The Voice' Australia in 2023, Tarryn Stokes talks to Laura about the release of her new single 'Hold You', breaking age-based barriers that hold us back and how finding confidence has helped her heal. Tarryn also shares the later-life health diagnosis that's given her a newfound freedom and the one thing that always gives her purpose.  Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at...

Since her debut album 'How Can it Be' in 2015, Grammy winner Lauren Daigle has brought joy and soul and seemingly boundless energy to stages globally. Her latest self-titled album was the first in 5 years, bringing new definition to Lauren's sound and identity as an artist. In this conversation Lauren speaks about the pressure of fame, the evolution of her calling and how she keeps her joy authent...

Josh Baldwin has been part of the Bethel Music collective since 2014. In recent years his wife Sheila experienced debilitating anxiety with effects that rippled through the family, and that now shape Josh’s songwriting and the couples desire to help others walking the same road. In this conversation Josh talks about the role of peace in healing, why worshipping matters to our soul and how knowing...

Geologist and environmental law attorney Cheryl Leutjen understands what it's like to have a passion for looking after the planet but not feeling like you've got time or emotional energy to deal with the job at hand. In 'Love Earth Now' Cheryl helps us address the mental hurdles that can hold us back and find ways to make eco-friendly living easier.  Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collectio...

Former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison joins Laura to talk about the intersection of faith and politics, the country's move away from Christianity and who he'd like forgiveness from now he's left office. Scott Morrison's memoir 'Plans for Your Good' is out now.  Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at hopepodcasts.com.au . And send the team a message via Hope 103.2’s app , Fac...

Former Buddhist now Chrisian pastor Steve Kang talks about the drug-induced near-death experience that led him to follow Christ, and how understanding eternity has affected the way he lives. Steve's story appears in 'After Death' a documentary exploring the afterlife with the guidance of New York Times bestselling authors, medical experts, scientists, and survivors that shed a light on what awaits...

UNDISTRACTED will be back late April while Laura's on holiday. Catch you then! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We enter and exit many rooms over the course of our life - jobs, relationships, communities, life stages - the transitional moments between them though can lack clarity. Our guest today is spiritual director and bestselling author Emily P. Freeman. Emily hosts 'The Next Right Thing' podcast and is passionate about helping people understand when it’s time to move on from a situation that no longer...