Youth Culture Matters - A CPYU Podcast

Walt and Jason discuss news related to selfies, YouTube celebrities, sexuality, reading, stories, weak handshakes and more. Then Dr. Marv Penner joins the podcast to talk about self-injury, self-mutilation, cutting, and what parents and youth workers can do to understand this behavior and move kids into healing. He takes a look at how the understanding of self-harm has changed over the last few decades and shares the insights he has gained over the years of counseling students who practice various forms of self-injury.

Walt and Jason discuss the latest in youth culture including stories about a new dating app for teens, Miss Teen USA, children, teens and resiliency, Draymond Green and naughty photos, Pokemon Go and trampoline parks. The rest of the podcast focuses on CPYU's most popular resource, "How to Use Your Head to Guard Your Heart: A 3(D) Guide to Making Responsible Media Choices." Walt talks about how the resource came about and provides a brief overview of the 3(D) steps and the role media discernment should play in student's lives. In the final segment, Walt uses the 3(D) review approach to mindfully critique the song and music video by popular artist Fergie called "M.I.L.F. $."

Walt and Jason have some fun looking back down memory lane and their athletic accomplishments but also take the time to reflect on people in their lives who greatly influenced their spiritual development. They then turn the conversation to speak with Dan Dupee, author of a new book titled "It's Not Too Late: The Essential Part You Play in Shaping Your Teen's Faith." Dan is also the former president and current Chairman of the Coalition for Christian Outreach. Dan discusses some of the surprise findings reported in his book and the role parents can have in the spiritual development of their children, even when their teenagers are getting older and parents may think they're "too late."

Walt and Jason speak with Dr. Virginia Ward, Director of Leadership and Mentored Ministry Initiatives, Youth and Family and Ministry Leadership Studies, for Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Boston, also called the Center for Urban Ministerial Education (CUME). Dr. Ward discusses what it was like growing up as an African American female, what systemic racism looks like, what we can do in the world of youth ministry and The Church to build relationships between urban and suburban communities, the Black Lives Matter movement, the O.J. Simpson documentary and much more.

Walt and Jason discuss the latest news in youth culture, including pre-marital sex and divorce rates, vegan teenagers, youth broadcasting crimes on social media and more. Then Dr. Diane Langberg joins the podcast to talk about trauma being the mission field of the 21st century and the role of suffering. Walt and Dr. Langberg also discuss her new book titled Suffering and the Heart of God: How Trauma Destroys and Christ Restores. They also discuss how church leaders must guard themselves from abusing their power.

Walt and Jason forgo the normal youth culture news section to dive right into a conversation about transgender issues. Chap Clark of Fuller Theological Seminary and Duffy Robbins of Eastern University join the conversation to discuss what it looks like for The Church, and youth ministry in particular, to address issues related to gender and gender identity. What approach should we take when thinking about these topics? What do we do when we have a transgender student in our ministry? These questions and more are addressed throughout this podcast episode.

Walt and Jason discuss the latest news in youth culture, including legalized marijuana, sleep problems, cultural morality, social media and anxiousness, the spending habits of Millennials and more. Then veteran youth workers Jodi Chung of West Houston Chinese Church and Danny Kwon of Young Sang Presbyterian Church join the podcast to talk about cross-cultural youth ministry with Asian students. Danny and Jodi help inform us of cultural issues such as academic pressure, the role of shame, ministry to Asian parents, language barriers, the value of family and issues related to identity that are unique to Asian students.

Walt and Jason discuss the latest news in youth culture, including pornography, concussion recovery, a look at teenagers 50 years ago, fentanyl and cultural lies. Then Dr. Dennis Hollinger, President of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and author of The Meaning of Sex: Christian Ethics and the Moral Life joins the podcast to talk about Christian ethics are how a Christian worldview should help inform the Church's response to current cultural hot topics such as homosexual marriage, sexual identity and transgender issues.

Walt and Jason discuss the latest news in youth culture, such as video game research, texting while driving, double standards regarding sex, monkey selfies and more. Then Amy Flavin joins the podcast to talk about the digital playground our teenagers grow up in today and how that plays a role in their identity formation. Amy brings insights from her counseling practice, her doctoral research and her 30+ years in youth ministry alongside her husband Mike.

Walt and Jason discuss the latest news in youth culture, such as Nordstrom using Snapchat, "The Curse of Being Cool," social media, moral values and more. Then Greg and Rebecca Sparks talk about their journey through the contemporary Christian music scene, leading people in worship, and connecting with others through local community ministry.