Concurrently: The News Coach Podcast

Free speech. Religious liberty. Where do these rights come from? We’re joined by WORLD’s Steve West to talk about our liberties and their origins.  Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: Read “Embattled on All Sides, Does Religious Liberty Have a Future?” by Andrew T. Walker at The Gospel Coalition. At Axis.org, read “A Parent’s Guide to Sabbath & Rest.”  Find more from Steve West at wng.org Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com.

Panda politics, bullfight bans, and Google’s big blunder. Read along online. Welcome to the Play-by-Play. Every other week, we’re taking three recent stories from our God’s WORLD News publications and breaking them down to help you spark conversation in the home or the classroom. Today's stories: Discover: Pandas are back. Read it at God’s Big WORLD. Explore: Bullfight ban. Read it at WORLDkids. Discern: Google AI Gets a Makeover. Read it at WORLDteen. Today's Conversation Kickoff: What are your favorite traditions? They could be family traditions, church traditions, or traditions in your local community! But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. — Ephesians 2:4-6

How do we cultivate a right understanding of disability? We’re joined by author Stephanie Hubach to explore culture’s shifting attitudes on this topic and discover a biblical alternative. Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: Read more from Steph Hubach at Engaging Disability. Hear the redemptive story of a young man with Down syndrome on The World and Everything In It. What do we mean by “made in God’s image”? Learn more at the Bible Project. Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sam Allberry’s God’s Go-Togethers. Author Sam Allberry has a new book for kids called God’s Go-Togethers. This colorful book features siblings Lila and Ethan as they visit the beach and discover that God not only made the sand and sea to go together, but He made men and women to go together, too. God’s Go-Togethers offers a thoughtful look at the biblical design for people and provides a helpful foundation for explaining why God made men and women as a special pair to complement each other in marriage and beyond. Learn more at GodsGoTogethers.com.

It’s a presidential election year in the United States. What discipleship pitfalls might election season bring–and what opportunities does it present? We’re joined by author Kaitlyn Schiess to explore whole-person politics. Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: Visit Kaitlyn Schiess’ website ro find more great resources for navigating election season. Check out Kaitlyn’s books, The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of our Neighbor and The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here. Read “Coming to Terms with Politics” at the News Coach blog. Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sam Allberry’s God’s Go-Togethers. Author Sam Allberry has a new book for kids called God’s Go-Togethers. This colorful book features siblings Lila and Ethan as they visit the beach and discover that God not only made the sand and sea to go together, but He made men and women to go together, too. God’s Go-Togethers offers a thoughtful look at the biblical design for people and provides a helpful foundation for explaining why God made men and women as a special pair to complement each other in marriage and beyond. Learn more at GodsGoTogethers.com.

Violins made from boats, AI country music, and Hong Kong’s protest anthem. Read along online. Welcome to the Play-by-Play. Every other week, we’re taking three recent stories from our God’s WORLD News publications and breaking them down to help you spark conversation in the home or the classroom. Today's stories: Discover: Sail into song. Read it at God’s Big WORLD. Explore: AI with a Twang. Read it at WORLDkids. Discern: No Protest Song Allowed. Read it at WORLDteen. Today's Conversation Kickoff: If you could learn to play any instrument, what instrument would you learn? Instruments you already know don’t count! Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. — Psalm 100:1-3

Another school year is ending. The news has us jumping from topic to topic, but we want to reflect, connect the dots, and trace the thread between the conversations. We’re joined by Amy Auten to look back at what we’ve learned in 2024 so far. Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: See Gavin Ortlund’s excellent exploration of a biblical view of mental health. Read more about mental health from counselor Michael Coggin at the News Coach blog. Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sam Allberry’s God’s Go-Togethers. Author Sam Allberry has a new book for kids called God’s Go-Togethers. This colorful book features siblings Lila and Ethan as they visit the beach and discover that God not only made the sand and sea to go together, but He made men and women to go together, too. God’s Go-Togethers offers a thoughtful look at the biblical design for people and provides a helpful foundation for explaining why God made men and women as a special pair to complement each other in marriage and beyond. Learn more at GodsGoTogethers.com. o complement each other in marriage and beyond. Learn more at GodsGoTogethers.com.

We’re joined by Professor Nancy Pearcey to talk about discipling boys in a culture opposed to masculinity. Where did the idea of “toxic masculinity” come from? How do we promote a biblical picture of masculinity? Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: Check out Nancy Pearcey’s book The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes. Listen to our previous episode about gender, Girl power and God’s purpose for gender. At The Atlantic, read Anne-Marie Slaughter’s “Why Women Still Can’t Have It All.” Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com.  Today’s episode is sponsored by Sam Allberry’s God’s Go-Togethers. Author Sam Allberry has a new book for kids called God’s Go-Togethers. This colorful book features siblings Lila and Ethan as they visit the beach and discover that God not only made the sand and sea to go together, but He made men and women to go together, too. God’s Go-Togethers offers a thoughtful look at the biblical design for people and provides a helpful foundation for explaining why God made men and women as a special pair to complement each other in marriage and beyond. Learn more at GodsGoTogethers.com.

Making light, swimming to sea, and seeking freedom. Read along online. Welcome to the Play-by-Play. Every other week, we’re taking three recent stories from our God’s WORLD News publications and breaking them down to help you spark conversation in the home or the classroom. Today's stories: Discover: He brings light to darkness. Read it at God’s Big WORLD. Explore: Swim Free, Baby Orca. Read it at WORLDkids. Discern: A Call for Release. Read it at WORLDteen. Today's Conversation Kickoff: Inventors use their God-given talents to improve daily life in all sorts of ways. Which technological invention could you simply not live without? It could be something from recent history or something invented waaaay in the past. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound. — Isaiah 61:1

How do we handle mystery and truth without falling for the temptation of conspiracy theories? What makes conspiracy theories so tantalizing? And how can we offer our kids a better story? Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: Read “A Parent’s Guide to Conspiracy Theories” at Axis. Learn more about the stages of conspiracy theory escalation at Scientific American. Read about the conspiracy theories surrounding the Baltimore bridge collapse and the solar eclipse. Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by Sam Allberry’s God’s Go-Togethers. Author Sam Allberry has a new book for kids called God’s Go-Togethers. This colorful book features siblings Lila and Ethan as they visit the beach and discover that God not only made the sand and sea to go together, but He made men and women to go together, too. God’s Go-Togethers offers a thoughtful look at the biblical design for people and provides a helpful foundation for explaining why God made men and women as a special pair to complement each other in marriage and beyond. Learn more at GodsGoTogethers.com.

What is materialism? How can we offer our kids and teens a better alternative? We’re joined by WORLD’s Max Belz and Amy Auten on today’s episode.  Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: Read author Marilynne Robinson’s interview with Ezra Klein for New York Times. At the Gospel Coalition, read “Materialism Is Easy to Decry and Hard to Avoid” by Kathy Keller. Learn more about worldview thinking at the News Coach blog. Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by New College Franklin. Through the college years, students go through an intense period of growth - intellectually, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. So as you are thinking about college options, consider not only what you want to do, but who you want to be. New College Franklin is dedicated to spiritually forming students by discipling them through the seven liberal arts for wisdom, virtue, and service. As a four-year classical, Christian, liberal arts college, nestled in downtown Franklin, Tennessee, New College Franklin focuses on the great ideas, the Trivium, and the Quadrivium; to contemplate the good, the true, and the beautiful, and to go out into the world for Christ's kingdom with humility and confidence. Applications are still open for the 2024-2025 school year. Find out more at newcollegefranklin.edu/world.

Fun with physics, inclusive classrooms, and homework no more. Read along online. Welcome to the Play-by-Play. Every other week, we’re taking three recent stories from our God’s WORLD News publications and breaking them down to help you spark conversation in the home or the classroom. Today's stories: Discover: Learn while you play. Read it at God’s Big WORLD. Explore: Have You Heard? Read it at WORLDkids. Discern: No More Homework. Read it at WORLDteen. Today's Conversation Kickoff: With a big enough tub of oobleck, you can make it feel like you’re walking on water! If you could have a superpower, like water walking, flight, or invisibility, what would you choose? Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. — Proverbs 1:8-9

In light of Jonathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation, we’re re-releasing our episode on social media. “YouTube/Social Media Influencer” has recently charted as the top vocational aspiration for teens and pre-teens in the U.S. and UK. Join Kelsey and Jonathan as they discuss this cultural phenomenon and what it means for discipleship. Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural events are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. Further Resources: Read “How to Gain an Audience and Lose Your Soul” by Patrick Miller on The Gospel Coalition. Learn more about the Harris Poll/LEGO Group’s global survey asking kids: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Learn more about healthy boundaries for social media at the News Coach Blog. Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by New College Franklin. Through the college years, students go through an intense period of growth - intellectually, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. So as you are thinking about college options, consider not only what you want to do, but who you want to be. New College Franklin is dedicated to spiritually forming students by discipling them through the seven liberal arts for wisdom, virtue, and service. As a four-year classical, Christian, liberal arts college, nestled in downtown Franklin, Tennessee, New College Franklin focuses on the great ideas, the Trivium, and the Quadrivium; to contemplate the good, the true, and the beautiful, and to go out into the world for Christ's kingdom with humility and confidence. Applications are still open for the 2024-2025 school year. Find out more at newcollegefranklin.edu/world.

What’s the difference between a device and a tool? How can families steward the power of technology for good? We’re joined by Andy Crouch to talk about technology, culture making, family, and more.  Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: See more from Andy Crouch at andy-crouch.com. See more from tech ethicist Tristan Harris. Learn more about redemptive entrepreneurship at Praxis. Learn more about the VSCO mobile app. Read more about Venus Aerospace.   Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by New College Franklin. Through the college years, students go through an intense period of growth - intellectually, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. So as you are thinking about college options, consider not only what you want to do, but who you want to be. New College Franklin is dedicated to spiritually forming students by discipling them through the seven liberal arts for wisdom, virtue, and service. As a four-year classical, Christian, liberal arts college, nestled in downtown Franklin, Tennessee, New College Franklin focuses on the great ideas, the Trivium, and the Quadrivium; to contemplate the good, the true, and the beautiful, and to go out into the world for Christ's kingdom with humility and confidence. Applications are still open for the 2024-2025 school year. Find out more at newcollegefranklin.edu/world.

Helping toddlers, hearing the eclipse, and getting arrested LEGO style. Read along online. Welcome to the Play-by-Play. Every other week, we’re taking three recent stories from our God’s WORLD News publications and breaking them down to help you spark conversation in the home or the classroom. Today's stories: Discover: Toddlers are on the move. Read it at God’s Big WORLD. Explore: Hearing and Feeling the Eclipse. Read it at WORLDkids. Discern: LEGO Loophole. Read it at WORLDteen. Today's Conversation Kickoff: If you could take a cosmic vacation—and the real rules of space travel didn’t apply—where would you want to go? The Moon? Mars? Gas giant ROXs 42Bb? Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. — Philippians 2:3-4  

How does America’s housing crisis affect our discipleship process with kids and teens? What does it mean to defend family, fight despair, and pursue contentment? We’re SOARing the State of the Nation’s Housing report on today’s episode. Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: Read along with us and SOAR with your kids and students! See Habitat for Humanity’s breakdown of the 2023 State of the Nation’s Housing report. Hear Harvard experts break down the report on YouTube. (Note: This is a YouTube link. The Concurrently team has no control over related content YouTube may suggest.) Learn more about the rising costs of rental housing. Read more about the SOAR method at the News Coach blog.   Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com. Today’s episode is sponsored by New College Franklin. Through the college years, students go through an intense period of growth - intellectually, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. So as you are thinking about college options, consider not only what you want to do, but who you want to be. New College Franklin is dedicated to spiritually forming students by discipling them through the seven liberal arts for wisdom, virtue, and service. As a four-year classical, Christian, liberal arts college, nestled in downtown Franklin, Tennessee, New College Franklin focuses on the great ideas, the Trivium, and the Quadrivium; to contemplate the good, the true, and the beautiful, and to go out into the world for Christ's kingdom with humility and confidence. Applications are still open for the 2024-2025 school year. Find out more at newcollegefranklin.edu/world.

How should parents and teachers understand the concept of trauma? What do we make of terms like “ghosting” and “gaslighting?” Pastor and licensed counselor Michael Coggin joins the podcast to walk us through these difficult ideas. Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources:   Learn more about trauma and PTSD at the Anxiety & Depression Association of America. Is it okay to judge those who have harmed us? Listen to Adam Young’s podcast. Hear Dr. Diane Langberg explore the idea of redeeming power.   Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com.

Geese police, sweltering heat, and a new NATO nation. Read along online. Welcome to the Play-by-Play. Every other week, we’re taking three recent stories from our God’s WORLD News publications and breaking them down to help you spark conversation in the home or the classroom. Today's stories: Discover: Meet the geese police. Read it at God’s Big WORLD. Explore: Too Hot for School Read it at WORLDkids. Discern: Sweden Joins NATO. Read it at WORLDteen. Today's Conversation Kickoff: What’s your favorite way to beat the heat on a summer day? Running through the sprinkler? Eating ice cream? Staying inside at all cost? The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. — Proverbs 18:10  

Is there ever a time to lie? We’re looking at an oft-misquoted commandment to see how ancient wisdom helps us solve modern dilemmas. Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources:   Listen to “Degrees of Truth” from Legal Docket on WORLD Radio. How should we think about Old Testament law? Read “The Threefold Use of the Law” at Ligonier Ministries.  Read more about the law at the Gospel Coalition.   Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com.

With so much cultural discussion around mental health, we’re re-releasing an early episode of Concurrently. The CDC and the American Psychological Association have declared a mental health crisis among kids and teens. How can parents and educators approach mental health from a biblical perspective? Check out The Concurrently Companion for this week’s downloadable episode guide including discussion questions and scripture for further study. Sign up for the News Coach Newsletter at gwnews.com/newsletters. We would love to hear from you. You can send us a message at newscoach@wng.org. What current events or cultural issues are you wrestling through with your kids and teens? Let us know. We want to work through it with you. See more from the News Coach, including episode transcripts. Further Resources: Read “Make resilience cool again” by Maria Baer at WORLD Opinion. Read A Parent's Guide to Anxiety, an excellent resource from Axis.org. From the Gospel Coalition, explore six questions to determine whether you need counseling. Learn more about Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions and the incredible range of emotions we and our children can experience.   Concurrently is produced by God’s WORLD News. We provide current events materials for kids and teens that show how God is working in the world. To learn more about God’s WORLD News and browse sample magazines, visit gwnews.com.

Robot companions, grocery inflation, and cutting cables. Read along online. Welcome to the Play-by-Play. Every other week, we’re taking three recent stories from our God’s WORLD News publications and breaking them down to help you spark conversation in the home or the classroom. Today's stories: Discover: Can a robot be a friend? Read it at God’s Big WORLD. Explore: Customers Fight Inflation. Read it at WORLDkids. Discern: Data Cables Cut in Red Sea. Read it at WORLDteen. Today's Conversation Kickoff: If you could design a useful robot, what sort of robot would you design? How would it help you or others? A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. — Proverbs 13:17   Together, let’s get the conversation started. He has equipped you for the work.