Beauty for Ashes

This week we look at a significant event in each month of 2025 including President Trump; the Death of Woke;  the election of Mark Carney as Premier of Canada; Censorship in the UK; The EU and Free Speech; the Iran-Israel war; Massacre of Christians in Nigeria; Cambodia/Thailand war; Immigration in the UK; the Assassination of Charlie Kirk; US attempts to end the war in Ukraine; the Intifada is globalised in Australia; the death of Brigitte Bardot; the Final Word - Romans 8.with music from Tom Macdonald, Taylor Swift, Metallica, Oasis,  Village People, Neil Young, The Sex Pistols, and the Gettys. 

As this weeks podcast goes out on Christmas Day we take a break from the news - and look at some Christmas songs, films and culture.   Including Justin Biebers rules for life;  It's a Wonderful Life; Chitty Chitty Bang Bang; Die Hard; Pride and Prejudice; Joyeux Noel; Lord of the Rings; Country of the Week - Australia; and the Last Word - Matthew 2. with music fromSlade; John Williamson; Justin Bieber; Theocracy; Enya; Steeleye Span;  and Boney M.

This week we look at the Bondi massacres and the rise of anti-semitism in Australia and the Western world;  Amsterdam; Belgium; Germany; France; England;  Country of the Week - Bulgaria; Chile turns Conservative; The unelected EU President argues for elected democracies;  Tommy Robinson's Carol Service;  with music from Annie Lennox; Joshua Aaron; Mystery of Bulgaria Voices;  Booker T and the MGs;  The Ramones;  and Dave Henderson 

This week we look at Christmas, clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan; attempted coup in Benin; Country of the week - Northern Ireland;  Males banned from Girl Guides; Rob Smith - The Body God Gives; The end of trial by jury?;  Climate Change - Deforestation in Indonesia; the humility of Mitchell Starc; The Queens Gambit and Nona Gaprindashvili; Radiohead and Gaelic Psalm 9; Rainn Wilson and Alex O'Connor;  Conversations with Geoff Bullock; Suffering with Steve Laws; and the Final Word.with music from Bob Dylan, Colin Buchanan,  Stiff Little Fingers, Anonymous Ulster, Radiohead, Back Gaelic Psalm Singers; Geoff Bullock;  and the Gettys.

This is a fascinating interview with Geoff Bullock, one of the founders of Hillsong - and a great musician/songwriter in his own right.  We talk about his life, the beginning of Hillsong, what went wrong....why he left....and how he is recovering now....includes the songs - The Power of Your Love; I am Carried; and the Great Southland