Axis Conversations

CT: Taylor Swift's Wedding, Butter Moms, and Christian Teens Say They Trust AI

Axis Conversations

Show Notes

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce got married in a garden in The Garden, so-called "butter moms" are setting the vibe for a deep-fried summer, and new data from CIY and Barna gives us insight into how Christian teens are using AI. Slang of the Week: "NPC" In Other News: The round of 16 is officially wrapped in the 2026 World Cup, with all three host countries (Canada, Mexico, and the US) failing to continue. Another notable casualty is Portugal, with global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo saying goodbye to World Cup competition. Building on the trend of hosting in-person experiences, Charli xcx has announced official listening parties, hosted around the world, for her July 24th album, titled Music, Fashion, Film. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 529 new members, perhaps as an attempt to regain relevance with the rising generation. The new Oscar voters will include Gen Z notables like Jacob Elordi, Jenna Ortega, and Mia Goth. The video game industry continues to be volatile, as Xbox announced this week that they're laying off almost 5,000 employees and "resetting Xbox." While perhaps not indicative of all, trends where young people reject modern "big tech" continue to rise in popularity, like the "Luddite Festival" that took place in New York City last week. 🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect → Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. → Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel! → Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to [email protected]. → For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

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Oct 16, 2026

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PlayStation 5 consoles cost more than they ever have, girls-only flag football leagues are taking root nationwide, and the surprising reason tech employees are taking up smoking. Song of the Week: "Boston" by Stella Lefty In Other News: The first trailer for Greta Gerwig's film adaptation of C.S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew, featuring Led Zeppelin and multi-colored, psychedelic visuals, is available for all to see (and have divided opinions about). Have you heard "Higher" by Creed more in the past two years than you ever did in the 2000s? Apparently Instagram was suggesting the song too much. We'll let you decide whether this was a genuine software bug or an intentional Creed psyop. Dressmaker, a video game about, well, making dresses, is the talk of the (internet) town this week. Even if consoles are getting more expensive, wholesome indie "cozy games" that run on your pre-COVID laptop will never die. Speaking of wholesome, "bloomscrolling," an awkwardly named counterpoint to doomscrolling, is catching on. The goal is to fill your feed with "uplifting, calming, or inspiring content." Will this make you feel better than doomscrolling? Probably. Would it be better to just go experience those things in person? Also probably. Mike Flanagan's television adaptation of Carrie has dominated Prime Video's streaming charts this week. It's a modern take on the twisted coming-of-age story and doesn't pull its punches with language and intense depictions of bullying. 🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect → Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. → Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel! → Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to [email protected]. → For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

Oct 9, 2026

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Oct 9, 2026

TikTok influencer Alix Earle brags about never having read a book, some good news about Gen Z and millennial church attendance, and how Gen Z is processing the failed execution of Christa Pike. Song of the Week: "Nicole Kidman" by ADÉLA Click here for the lyrics. In Other News: Choosin' Taylor: To the chagrin of some of the Axis podcast team, Taylor Swift's "Patient Zero" dethroned Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas," which had held its record-setting position as the #1 single on Billboard's Hot 100 for 24 weeks. Choosin' Eden: A new limited series adaptation of John Steinbeck's modern classic, East of Eden, hit 6.5 million viewers in four days since premiering on Netflix. The miniseries features Florence Pugh, violence, nudity, and, bizarrely, Hinge commercials. Choosin' maxxin': Clavicular, he of the self-smashed jawbone (and other, more horrific, allegations), has launched "Camp Looksmax," and the first session sold out in 72 hours. Read more about the influencer at The Gospel Coalition, where our own CJ Fant covers the rise of the looksmaxxer. Choosin' racin': Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a new racing game by Fuse Studio, is getting more buzz (and better reviews) than any game in recent memory set in the Star Wars galaxy. Choosin' flip phones: Gen Z writer August Lamm has released You Don't Need a Smartphone, an expanded version of her self-published pamphlet of the same name with practical tips for untethering from devices. Lamm has been named by the New York Times as the "bard" of the anti-smartphone scene. 🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect → Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. → Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel! → Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to [email protected]. → For more Axis resources, go to axis.org.

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