Best Matthew Ellison Podcasts (2026)

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244: The Sending Shepherd with Denny Spitters and Matthew Ellison 47:49

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17d ago47:49

47:49

In this episode of the Global Missions Podcast, Maggie sits down with Denny Spitters and Matthew Ellison to unpack key findings from a Barna study on U.S. Protestant pastors and explore the heart behind their book The Sending Shepherd. Together, they discuss how pastoral leadership and church culture shape global missions engagement—and offer pract…

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The Ellison Empire Strikes Back: Paramount Goes Hostile 36:00

24d ago36:00

36:00

Matt is joined by Peter Supino from Wolfe Research to discuss Paramount launching a hostile takeover of Warner Bros., days after they agreed to a deal with Netflix. Peter maps out the differences in each bid and makes the case for and against each bidder. They also talk about the latest comments by David Ellison, Ted Sarandos, and Donald Trump, whe…

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Who Won (and Lost) the Year in Streaming? 36:26

2d ago36:26

36:26

Matt is joined by Puck media correspondent Julia Alexander to recap the year in streaming, and hand out awards for Streamer of the Year, Most Disappointing Streamer, Show of the Year, Biggest Surprise Hit, and highlight the most interesting trends in streaming (01:48). Matt finishes the show with a prediction about the 'Stranger Things' finale in t…

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The End-of-Year Exec Survey: Next Disney CEO, Where to Sell Your Movie, and Worst Media Exec 31:12

4d ago31:12

31:12

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the big Christmas weekend at the box office, including the big ‘Marty Supreme’ win and Sydney Sweeney’s box office bounce. Then they dive into Lucas’s recent Bloomberg survey polling 700 industry experts to answer the biggest burning questions around town, including who will end up owning Warner B…

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609. Stephen King Movies: The Running Man, The Long Walk, The Dead Zone, The Mist (with Andrea Kail, Matthew Kressel, Tom Gerencer) 2:05:01

10d ago2:05:01

2:05:01

Andrea Kail, Matthew Kressel, and Tom Gerencer join us to discuss the Stephen King movie adaptations The Running Man, The Long Walk, The Dead Zone, and The Mist. Time stamps: The Running Man (17:44), The Long Walk (47:14), The Dead Zone (1:10:45), The Mist (1:30:20). Ad-free episodes are available to our paid supporters over at patreon.com/geeks. L…

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The Townies, Part 2: Who Won the Year in Hollywood? 44:27

10d ago44:27

44:27

In Part 2 of podcasting's biggest night, Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw hand out the Executive Fail of the Year Award; the Savviest PR Move Award; the Mea Culpa I Was Wrong Award; the Suck It Haters, I Was Right Award; and the Biggest Self-Inflicted Wound Award. Then they declare which executive and talent won 2025 (00:07). Matt finishes the show …

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The Townies: Hollywood’s Best and Worst of 2025 48:46

11d ago48:46

48:46

It’s podcasting’s most exclusive event of the year: the fourth annual Townies! Join Matt and Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw as they recap the year in Hollywood with exciting and hilarious categories like Biggest Flex, Most Destructive Behind-the-Scenes Drama, Most Baffling Success, Most Annoying Media Narrative, Deal of the Year, and much more in Part 1 of…

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Full Circle: A Return to Nazareth Matthew 2:19-23 36:55

12d ago36:55

36:55

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible,' co-hosts Ken Corkins and Rocky Ellison dissect Matthew 2:19-23. They discuss the historical context of Herod's death and his chaotic reign, including his brutal acts against his family. The episode elaborates on Joseph's return to Israel with Mary and Jesus after Herod's demise, navigating fe…

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Paramount Isn’t Giving up Warner Bros. to Netflix Just Yet 37:09

15d ago37:09

37:09

Matt is joined by Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital, to discuss Paramount’s bid for Warner Bros., why their bid is superior to Netflix’s bid, Larry Ellison and the Middle East's involvement, whether they will look to raise their bid, and what the next steps will be (02:33). Matt finishes the show with an opening weeke…

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A Warner Bros. Antitrust Debate With Senator Elizabeth Warren, and the Oscars Go to... YouTube 35:34

16d ago35:34

35:34

Matt is joined by United States Senator Elizabeth Warren to discuss what should happen to Warner Bros., why it should not go to Netflix or Paramount Skydance, whether Democrats and Republicans could unite to block this sale, and how Hollywood should fight to survive in the era of big tech consolidation (02:08). Matt finishes the show reacting to th…

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Why Iger Gave OpenAI the Keys to Disney’s Vault 32:53

18d ago32:53

32:53

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Disney entering a licensing agreement with Sora and investing $1 billion in OpenAI. The deal allows OpenAI to use characters from Disney’s deep pocket of popular IP in its Sora AI video generator. They break down the details of the deal, why Disney did it, how CEO Bob Iger handled the announcement…

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608. The Best of Larry Niven Part 3 Review (with Mercurio D. Rivera) 1:40:34

18d ago1:40:34

1:40:34

Mercurio D. Rivera joins us to discuss the last nine stories from the book The Best of Larry Niven. Stories discussed: “Flatlander” (2:06), “The Borderland of Sol” (17:15), “The Magic Goes Away” (31:40), “A Teardrop Falls” (44:00), “The Return of William Proxmire” (49:43), “Limits” (57:45), “Smut Talk” (1:07:21), “The Missing Mass” (1:12:35), “Caut…

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Prophecies and Dreams in Bethlehem 40:15

19d ago40:15

40:15

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible,' Ken Corkins and Pastor Rocky Ellison explore Matthew 2:13-18, discussing the flight of Jesus' family to Egypt and Herod's brutal massacre of Bethlehem's infant boys. The discussion highlights the significance of God's intervention through dreams, the providence shown in the Magi's gifts, and …

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Ariana in Wicked and How to Cast a Billion-Dollar Movie 35:04

22d ago35:04

35:04

Matt is joined by casting director Tiffany Little Canfield (‘Wicked’) to discuss casting major franchise roles that draw thousands of auditions like Elphaba and Glinda in ‘Wicked,’ the challenges of casting stars vs. unknowns, misconceptions about the casting process and how it has changed, Hollywood’s lack of young movie stars, the new achievement…

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Ancient Prophecies and Modern Misconceptions 47:28

26d ago47:28

47:28

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible,' co-hosts Ken Corkins and Rocky Ellison delve into Matthew Chapter 2, focusing on the wise men's visit to Jesus. They discuss the timing of Jesus' birth, the historical inaccuracies of the December 25th date, the significance of Bethlehem, and the wise men's journey from the East guided by a d…

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Netflix Buys Warner Bros. Emergency Pod!!! 41:03

27d ago41:03

41:03

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to break down every angle of Netflix agreeing to buy the Warner Bros. film and streaming business. They dig into why Netflix made this deal, why David Ellison and Paramount lost out, the threat to moviemaking and movie theaters, what will happen to HBO Max, and possible roadblocks that could prevent this dea…

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Is Film School Still Worth It? With a Top Dean. 35:20

28d ago35:20

35:20

Matt is joined by Stephen Galloway, the dean of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, to discuss the state of film school education in 2025, how it has evolved, and the increasingly high tuition costs (02:22) Matt finishes the show by predicting whether 'Rush Hour 4' will actually get made (27:09). For a 20 percent discount on …

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Why the NFL (and Everything Else) Keeps Breaking Ratings Records 32:26

29d ago32:26

32:26

Matt is joined by Nielsen Global Media executive Brian Fuhrer to discuss why NFL ratings seem to be setting new viewership records all the time, how sports-ratings measurements have changed, why these numbers are so important for sports leagues, and which leagues are growing the fastest (02:35). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box of…

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243: Discovering Education as Mission – Howard Dueck 27:56

30d ago27:56

27:56

Howard Dueck joins us to unpack the growing movement of education as mission, offering a vision for teaching and training can bless churches, shape communities, and advance the Kingdom. Join us as we explore why education matters, how God is using it around the world, and what it might look like for your church to catch this vision. [et_social_shar…

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Would Netflix Really Embrace Theaters to Buy Warner Bros.? 37:01

1M ago37:01

37:01

Matt is joined by Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw to discuss Lucas’s recent report that Netflix would continue to release Warner Bros. movies in theaters if it were to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. They talk about whether they actually believe Netflix, how theatrical movies at Netflix would work, and possible conditions that could accompany a Netflix–Warn…

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An Advent Revelation 41:55

1M ago41:55

41:55

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible,' hosts Ken Corkins and Pastor Rocky Ellison discuss the meaning of Advent, focusing on the birth narrative of Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Matthew. They explore the cultural context of marriage during Jesus's time, the prophecy from Isaiah 7:14 concerning the virgin birth, and the significanc…

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Commercial Vs. Arthouse, Going Marvel, and Notes From Spielberg With ‘Hamnet’ Director Chloé Zhao 30:05

1M ago30:05

30:05

Live from Los Angeles, Matt is joined by director Chloe Zhao ('Hamnet') to discuss what she learned from Steven Spielberg producing her movie, how she developed her visual style, directing a Marvel movie, casting ‘Hamnet’, the COVID Oscars, and her plans to work in anime (00:41). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction …

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607. Jean-Claude Van Damme Movies: Timecop, Universal Soldier, Cyborg, Replicant (with Andrea Kail, Matthew Kressel, Tom Gerencer) 2:01:34

1M ago2:01:34

2:01:34

Andrea Kail, Matthew Kressel, and Tom Gerencer join us to discuss the Jean-Claude Van Damme movies Timecop, Universal Soldier, Cyborg, and Replicant. Time stamps: Timecop (15:21), Universal Soldier (41:27), Cyborg (1:01:35), Replicant (1:19:53). Ad-free episodes are available to our paid supporters over at patreon.com/geeks. Learn more about your a…

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Part 2: James Cameron on ‘Avatar 4’ and ‘5,’ Movie Biz Fears, 3D, Netflix, and Aliens 37:56

1M ago37:56

37:56

In part two, Matt and director James Cameron talk about how much ‘Avatar’ really costs to produce, whether he has plans for a fourth and fifth movie, his relationship with Disney and Bob Iger, what COVID and streaming did to the industry, who should buy Warner Bros. (and why it’s definitely not Netflix), why 3D never took off, the Sphere, aliens, h…

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Part 1: James Cameron on Avatar Misconceptions, AI’s Skynet Moment, and His Elon Musk Friendship 39:19

1M ago39:19

39:19

Matt and director James Cameron sit down for a wide-ranging conversation on the misconceptions about the filmmaking of the 'Avatar' franchise, how it landed at Fox/Disney, why Jim prefers using performance capture technology, the cost of CGI, the threat of AI in Hollywood, his relationship with Elon Musk, whether Jim agrees that he is a “difficult”…

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From Lament to Thanksgiving: Psalm 28 Explored 39:34

1M ago39:34

39:34

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible,' co-hosts Ken Corkins and Rocky Ellison discuss Psalm 28 in the context of Thanksgiving. They examine how King David's lament about his tumultuous life transitions into a prayer of gratitude, reflecting his reassurance of salvation. They delve into the various categories of Psalms, the context…

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Did Hollywood Ever Have a Chance Against YouTube? 31:59

1M ago31:59

31:59

Matt is joined by Tom Freston, former CEO of Viacom and MTV Networks, to discuss why legacy companies missed the boat with YouTube in the early aughts, the similarities YouTube from the aughts shares with the AI boom of today, why MTV died, and whether it can be revived (02:13). Matt finishes the show with a prediction on the hottest story in town:…

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The Brewing Backlash to Hollywood Consolidation 37:26

1M ago37:26

37:26

Matt is joined by Jonathan Kanter, a lawyer who served as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 2021 to 2024, to look at the looming Warner Bros. Discovery sale from an antitrust perspective, highlight the biggest antitrust issues for each potential bidder (Paramount, Comcast, Netflix), whether…

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242: The Case for Co-vocational Ministry – Brad Brisco 40:37

1M ago40:37

40:37

This episode explores the growing movement of co-vocational ministry, a model that intentionally integrates one’s everyday work with missional engagement in both local churches and global contexts. Dr. Brad Brisco joins the conversation to unpack the theology of work, clarify the differences between bi-vocational and co-vocational ministry, and sha…

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The Fall Box Office Crisis: A Phase, a Fluke, or the Future? 33:28

2M ago33:28

33:28

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to investigate a historically bad fall season at the box office by highlighting which issues are actually real and which are insignificant. They look at larger industry-wide trends, like the shortening of theatrical windows and the rise of streaming, as well as smaller, more recent developments like releasin…

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S17 Ep. 05 Final Thoughts on Jude: Guidance and Hope" 22:24

2M ago22:24

22:24

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible,' co-hosts Ken Corkins and Pastor Rocky Ellison conclude their study of the Book of Jude, focusing on verses 17-25 from the New Living Translation. They discuss Jude's emphasis on the warnings and predictions of the apostles, the presence of scoffers in the last times, and the need for Christia…

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Why Anime Is Becoming Undeniable in Hollywood 31:50

2M ago31:50

31:50

Matt is joined by Rahul Purini, the president of Crunchyroll, to discuss the anime boom both globally and in America, the rise of global streaming services and its role in spreading anime and manga content, and what is it about the anime content itself that appeals to audiences (03:49). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office pred…

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Tubi Takes on YouTube, and a Michael Jackson Movie Update 36:08

2M ago36:08

36:08

Matt is joined by Tubi CEO Anjali Sud to discuss how Tubi reached profitability, its push to bring in original creators, the growth of ad-supported streaming, how the FAST landscape is evolving, and why everyone is competing with YouTube (01:55). Later, Matt discusses a few details about the upcoming Michael Jackson biopic, ‘Michael,’ and gives an …

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606. Alien: Earth Season 1 Review (with Andrea Kail, Matthew Kressel, Anthony Ha) 1:51:44

2M ago1:51:44

1:51:44

Andrea Kail, Matthew Kressel, and Anthony Ha join us to discuss Season 1 of the FX series Alien: Earth, a prequel to the classic films Alien and Aliens. Ad-free episodes are available to our paid supporters over at patreon.com/geeks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy David Barr Kirtley

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YouTube vs. Disney: Who Needs Whom More? 30:48

2M ago30:48

30:48

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss the ongoing dispute between YouTube and Disney, which has resulted in the removal of ESPN and other Disney properties from YouTube TV for the past week. They break down why this dispute is different from others that have come before it, focusing on the leverage a tech company like Google has over …

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S17 Ep. 04 Orthodoxy vs. Antinomianism: A Deep Dive 32:55

2M ago32:55

32:55

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible,' co-hosts Ken Corkins and Rocky Ellison explore Jude verses 8-16 from the New Living Translation. They discuss how false teachings, particularly those of the antinomians advocating for licentious behavior, are criticized and warned against by Jude. Drawing parallels from biblical figures like …

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241 : A Vision for Transformational Churches – Dr. Craig Ott 41:28

2M ago41:28

41:28

In this episode, Dr. Craig Ott unpacks what it means for churches to be truly transformational—rooted in personal and corporate spiritual renewal that reflects God’s glory to the world. He and Mags explore how a church’s communal witness can become a tangible expression of the Kingdom, inspiring believers to live out and multiply transformational m…

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Mailbag! 'Star Wars' and Soderbergh, the Best Home for Warner Bros., and Netflix vs. Theaters. 31:30

2M ago31:30

31:30

Matt opens up the mailbag for another Town Hall and answers listener questions about Disney turning down a Steven Soderbergh–penned 'Star Wars' script, the possibility of Netflix and Comcast splitting Warner Bros. Discovery, whether Netflix will ever release movies in theaters, who the best home for Warner Bros. is from the perspective of the talen…

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The 2025 Movie Franchise Draft 41:13

2M ago41:13

41:13

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to draft which movie franchises they would most want to start a movie studio with in 2025. They each select five franchises, as well as one TV franchise, and make the case for why they are best suited to succeed over the next 10-20 years. For a 20 percent discount on Matt’s Hollywood insider newsletter, ‘Wha…

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S17 Ep. 03 The Consequences of Disobedience 34:54

2M ago34:54

34:54

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible,' co-hosts Ken Corkins and Rocky Ellison dive deeper into the Book of Jude, specifically covering verses 3 through 7. They discuss Jude's urgent shift from writing about salvation to addressing the issue of antinomianism—wrongly believing that grace allows for immoral living. Key examples inclu…

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Will Big Tech and AI Save or Kill Hollywood? 35:27

2M ago35:27

35:27

Matt is joined by Andrew Ross Sorkin ('Squawk Box,' The New York Times) to discuss how the tech boom has affected Hollywood and what new power players like David Ellison really want with the media industry. They also discuss the potential impact of the AI bubble bursting, whether the Middle East will ever make a big splash in Hollywood, and whether…

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The Risks and Rewards of Self-Distributing Movies, With Black Bear’s Teddy Schwarzman 32:28

2M ago32:28

32:28

Matt is joined by Teddy Schwarzman, the founder of Black Bear Pictures, to discuss the challenges and strategies behind an independent production company launching its own distribution division. They talk about the risk of making big bets on small movies in theaters, how the industry has evolved, and whether Teddy sees A24 and Neon as competitors (…

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Savvy or Desperate? NBCU Poaches Taylor Sheridan From Paramount. 32:21

2M ago32:21

32:21

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Matt’s report that Taylor Sheridan will be leaving Paramount to join NBCU starting in 2029. They break down the details of the deal, whether this should be considered savvy or desperate for NBCU and Peacock, how big of a risk this is, and whether this portends a larger splash coming from NBCU (02:…

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605. The Best of Greg Egan Part 3 Review (with Anthony Ha) 1:54:14

2M ago1:54:14

1:54:14

Anthony Ha joins us to discuss the last six stories from the book The Best of Greg Egan. Stories discussed: "Crystal Nights" (1:27), "Zero for Conduct" (19:18), "Uncanny Valley" (37:31), "Bit Players" (52:11), "3-adica" (1:05:17), "Instantiation" (1:19:51). Ad-free episodes are available to our paid supporters over at patreon.com/geeks. Learn more …

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S17 Ep. 02 Understanding Jude: A Study of Authorship and Antinomianism 49:24

2M ago49:24

49:24

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible', co-hosts Ken Corkins and Pastor Rocky Ellison introduce the epistle of Jude. They cover the authorship controversy, specifically addressing who Jude is and the historical context of the letter, including its association with the brother of Jesus, James. They also delve into the dating of the …

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Do Standing Ovations at Film Festivals Mean Anything? The Town Investigates. 35:19

2M ago35:19

35:19

Matt is joined by film data analyst Stephen Follows to dig into one of Hollywood’s most ridiculous phenomenons, the film festival standing ovation. Stephen gathered over 500 reported standing ovations across five of the world’s biggest film festivals to see whether the length of applause tells us anything meaningful about a film’s future (02:26). M…

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Warner Bros. Is Officially for Sale. It's Paramount vs. ... Whom? 36:48

2M ago36:48

36:48

Matt is joined by Peter Supino, a managing director and senior analyst at Wolfe Research, to unpack the deal market for Warner Bros. Discovery, running through each potential bidder, who makes the most sense, and what a merger would look like in each scenario (03:13). Matt finishes the show with an opening weekend box office prediction for ‘Springs…

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240 : Mobilizing the Dreamer Generation – Billy McMahan 37:59

2M ago37:59

37:59

In this episode, Billy McMahan invites church leaders to see the potential of Gen Z—the “Dreamer Generation”—and challenges us to disciple and send them with intentionality and hope. Together, we explore what this generation is longing for, the shifts churches can make to engage them deeply, and how mentorship can unlock their passion for God’s mis…

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Netflix Adds Podcasts and Makes a Deal With AMC Theatres. Why? 35:27

2M ago35:27

35:27

Matt is joined by Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw to discuss Netflix diving into the podcast business by striking a deal to stream a group of original podcasts from Spotify and The Ringer. They break down what this signals for the future of Netflix, the likelihood that people will watch podcasts on Netflix, and what’s in it for Spotify. Later, they touch on…

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S17 Ep. 01: Katie Bristow on Prayer 37:55

2M ago37:55

37:55

Send us a text In this episode of 'Pondering the Bible', co-hosts Ken Corkins and Rocky Ellison welcome guest speaker Katie Bristow for Laity Sunday. Katie introduces the week's sermon, which focuses on prayer and is based on Psalm 17:1. She aims to clear up common misconceptions about prayer, emphasizing that prayer is a personal conversation with…