UNDISTRACTED with Laura Bennett

If you could take a pill that would cure you of life’s ails: loneliness, addiction, worry, would you? Aussie businessman and author of 'No Other Success' Jim Penman is best known as the founder of Jims Group, a franchising company that specializes in everything from lawn mowing, to cleaning and pet grooming. Over 36 years in business, Jims learned a lot about the ideal of success, and import...

Bethel Music's Paul and Hannah McClure talk about the heart behind their latest album, After God’s Heart . The McClures share openly about life as pastors’ kids, moving to Redding more than a decade ago, and how worship has shaped both their family and their faith. Paul reflects on his journey from living with an “orphan mindset” to discovering God as a good Father, while H...

After over four decades in pastoral ministry, Max Lucado has found himself returning to the same three tools in counselling, conversation and sermons. Tools he believes can help anyone navigate their mental and spiritual wellbeing. Max unpacks them in his latest book, 'Tame Your Thoughts' and considers their spiritual implications.  Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at  ho...

Today, we chat with Jessica Seaborn, Sydney-based author and former journalist, about her new book 'Isn't it Great We Both Hate the Same Things' exploring the challenges and rewards of adult friendship—why making friends later in life is harder, but so deeply necessary. Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at  hopepodcasts.com.au . And send the team a message via Hope 103.2&...

Historian, author and theologian John Dickson joins us to talk about  The First Hymn —a new documentary uncovering the oldest known Christian song. Combining his love of ancient history and music, John explores how this 1,800-year-old hymn was rediscovered, reimagined, and returned to the church in a new way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DawnChere leads Vous Church in Miami alongside her husband Rich. In her debut book, 'Slow Burn' DawnChere explores the slow refining journey of surrender that can come in waiting, and what she learned through 8 years of infertility.  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 ....

Flying doctor and pediatrician Elizabeth Green talks about her years in rural and remote care and why she wrote 'NoTime for Makeup'. 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.

Jamila Risvi was 31 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Confiding in friend Rosie Waterland, who’d suffered PTSD and depression for years, the friends found the way they were supported in their illness varied greatly because of a perceived distinction between mental and physical illness. In their book 'Broken Brains', Jamila and Rosie walk us through their diagnoses and the nuances of...

Dr. Nick Hall talks about 'The Stress Recovery Effect' and how training our bodies to deal with stress is key to health and wellbeing. 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.

Levi Lusko has been a pastor since he was 20, but when his life spiraled at 38 it reset his approach to ministry and informed his latest book Blessed Are the Spiraling . 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.

Hosting Sober Awkward , a comedy podcast following two former party animals as they navigate life without booze, Victoria’s laid out her life again in Mumming. Tackling our perceptions of perfect parenting, the book lets you know you’re not the one “locking the door and crying alone on the toilet” or failing to get forms in on time and “excrete bliss balls”. The...

The last two years have been some of most significant for Australian singer and Hillsong alumni TAYA, as she officially leaves the church, releases her second solo album, has a baby, relocates to the US and prepares for her first headline tour. Add to that a skin cancer diagnosis and living out of suitcases for 5 months with baby Beau in tow, and understandably TAYA wanted to come back to basics w...

Husband and wife couple Rebecca St. James and Cubbie Fink talk about 'Lasting Ever' and how to date in a world ditching Christian ideals and the heartbreak - and healing - that came after "I do".  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 priva...

Is critical reasoning crushing our souls ability to thrive? Are we so informed we’re missing the benefits of embracing mystery and wonder? This week's guest is Christian counsellor and author John Eldredge. Known for his 'Wild at Heart' series which just reached 7 million sales globally, John’s latest release 'Experience Jesus, Really' pulls us back to the basics of human existence and...

Songwriter and worship leader Ben Fielding speaks about reimagining the oldest hymn for 'The First Hymn' project and, after years of change in the pentecostal church, what makes the new era of Christian song writing distinct. 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 omnystudi...

Have you ever experienced a dark night of the soul? A sense that God has left you, that you’re alone feeling heavy with sorrow or grief. Aubrey Sampson wrote 'What We Find in the Dark' after the death of two of the people closest to her. In this conversation she helps us deal with being angry at God but also wanting to trust him, the inauthenticity of joy and whether or not learning from los...

Songwriter and pastor Darlene Zschech reflects on 30 years of writing songs for the church and way pastoring has influenced her relationship to God. Through the process of creating her devotional series 'Testament' Darlene also speaks about the grief and joy stepping back in time has brought her. Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at  hopepodcasts.com.au . And send the team a me...

Are you familiar with the Bible verse that tells us to number our days? Essentially to have a consciousness of time and be wise with how we spend what we’re given. Author of 'Today is a Verb' Carol McLeod returns to the pod this week to talk about the actions we bring to our days and why we need to be more attentive to them. Listen to more from our Hope Podcasts collection at  hopepodca...

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...