
Inside Ridley: Books, Graduation & the AI Question with Hannah Craven & Mike Bird
Ridley College PodcastShow Notes
🎙️ S4 E3 Inside Ridley: Books, Graduation & the AI Question with Hannah Craven & Mike Bird
Episode Description In this episode of our Inside Ridley sub-series, faculty members Hannah Craven and Michael Bird sit down for a lively, wide-ranging conversation about what's been happening at Ridley. Mike shares highlights from his OSP — including finishing a new book on the Roman Empire and the early church, visiting the city of his birth in Germany, and lecturing across India, the US and UK. Hannah reflects on the landmark new intensive, Women in the New Testament, and her new role supporting the Anglican Institute. They celebrate Ridley's biggest ever graduation cohort, before diving into one of the most pressing conversations in theological education right now — artificial intelligence. Mike's an enthusiastic early adopter; Hannah's a self-described "friction-maxxer." Together they make for a genuinely fun and thought-provoking conversation about what AI means for learning, character formation, and the future of theological education. Got Questions? Got questions about Ridley College? We'd love to hear from you! Whether you're thinking about studying with us or just want to know what life at Ridley is really like. No question is too big or too small. Drop your questions in the comments below or email us at [email protected] and we'll do our best to answer every single one. 👇
Study With Ridley If you are interested in finding out more about studying at Ridley College or have any questions regarding any courses or units, we invite you to contact us via this link: https://www.ridley.edu.au/study/ Ridley Chapel Podcast Be sure to check out our Ridley Chapel Sermons Podcast through this link: https://ridleychapel.transistor.fm/ Donate This podcast is made possible through the generous donations of our alumni and supporters. We welcome your partnership with us in our mission of equipping men and women for God’s mission in our rapidly changing and increasingly complex world. If you’d like to contribute to our work, you can donate by clicking this link if you wish to donate: https://www.ridley.edu.au/donate/ Connect with Ridley College Website: https://www.ridley.edu.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/collegeridley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ridleycollegemelbourne/ Study at Ridley: https://www.ridley.edu.au/study/
More from Ridley College Podcast
The Alf Stanway Lecture in Mission 2026 🎙️ S4 E14 — Creation Care: Integral to the Great Commission or Optional Extra? with Anna Radkovic and Revd Dr Wei-Han Kuan
🎙️ S4 E13 — Inside Ridley: A Conversation with Archbishop Ric Thorpe Episode Description In this special edition of Inside Ridley, our Principal, Rhys Bezzant, sits down with the Archbishop of Melbourne, Archbishop Ric Thorpe, for a warm and wide-ranging conversation about the church, leadership, and what the next season holds for the Diocese of Melbourne. Ten months into his time in Melbourne, Ric is already brimming with vision and energy. He shares what he's been discovering across the diocese, what excites and challenges him, and where he believes God is at work. They also talk about what it takes to raise leaders at every level, the upcoming church planting intensive at Ridley, and what he'd say to every theological student sitting in a lecture right now. Genuine, energising, and full of hope for the future of the church in Melbourne.
🎙️ S4 E12 — Inside Ridley: Semester Two, Reformation Tour & Women's Writing Retreat with Rhys Bezzant & Bec Muir Episode Description In this episode of Inside Ridley, our Principal, Rhys Bezzant, sits down once again with faculty member Bec Muir for a warm catch-up on everything that's been happening at Ridley over the mid-year break. They cover a lot of ground, from the new kitchen and caterers on campus, to a new COO and CFO joining the executive team, to a long-awaited upgrade of the library catalogue that's already making life easier for students on campus and online. Bec shares highlights from Ridley's Women's Writing Retreat, a two-day gathering that brought together 40 women for focused writing time, workshops, and the kind of encouragement that's hard to find elsewhere. Rhys then takes listeners along on his recent Reformation tour through Germany, France and Switzerland, sharing two standout moments: Luther burning the papal bull at the spot where the local hospital burned its rags, and a centuries-old procession at the abbey church where Zwingli was radicalised. They also look ahead to Open Day, and give a shout-out to Ridley's often-invisible doctoral community, currently 28 strong and researching across the globe. A warm, wide-ranging, and genuinely enjoyable episode.
🎙️ S4 E11 — The Leon Morris Lecture in New Testament Studies 2026 “I live by the faith of God and Christ: A Deep Dive into Galatians 2:20.” With Stephen Carlson Episode Description In Paul’s letters there are debates about whether certain Greek phrases should be translated as “faith in Christ” or “Christ’s faithfulness.” In this presentation, Dr. Stephen Carlson provides a comprehensive analysis of Galatians 2:20 to show how a close reading of the text, including some very interest textual variants, gives us a fresh perspective on Paul’s account of faith and faithfulness in Galatians. Speaker Bio: Dr Stephen C. Carlson is Associate Professor in the Biblical and Early Christianity program in the Institute for Religion and Critical Inquiry at the Australian Catholic University. He is author of three books, The Gospel Hoax: Morton Smith’s Invention of Secret Mark (2005), The Text of Galatians and its History (2015), and Papias of Hierapolis, Exposition of Dominical Oracles: The Fragments, Testimonia, and Reception of a Second-Century Commentator (2021). He is also the author of numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, including those on the so-called "inn" in Luke's infancy account and the donkeys in Matthew's triumphal entry. Got Questions? Got questions about Ridley College? We'd love to hear from you! Whether you're thinking about studying with us or just want to know what life at Ridley is really like. No question is too big or too small. Drop your questions in the comments below or email us at [email protected] and we'll do our best to answer every single one. 👇
🎙️ S4 E10 A Third Way: The Text and Theology of Galatians 2:20 with Stephen Carlson