Best Autumn Ridge Podcasts (2025)

As the year comes to a close, Natalie Haynes joins Armando to discuss and dissect the words of 2025. Looking at official lists, and conjuring up some of their own, they set about breaking down the language that defined another frenetic year. We find out what links all of the official words of the year, and why we can learn a lesson from Austria whe…

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Church Is Messy: Answering your Questions #3 52:43

Play Pause

8d ago52:43

52:43

During the month of December Rick and Svea turn the microphone around and answer your questions on the podcast. Do you have a questions you'd like them to address in future episodes? Email your questions to [email protected]. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:40 Five questions for today's episode: 1) (04:37) God is all-knowi…

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JOHN 1: Received and Rejected 32:46

10d ago32:46

32:46

By Rick Henderson

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Civilisational Erasure (with Stewart Lee) 28:42

14d ago28:42

28:42

Is 'Civilisational Erasure' upon us? This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to look at this phrase, and others from the US' new National Security Strategy. Would this kind of language have been unthinkable even a few years ago? We also look at other elements of the strategy, and whether it's time to forget the idea that Trump is playing …

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Church Is Messy: Answering Your Questions #2 42:59

17d ago42:59

42:59

During the month of December Rick and Svea turn the microphone around and answer your questions on the podcast. Do you have a questions you'd like them to address? Email your questions to [email protected]. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:15 QUESTION 1: The discussion on not being able to lose one's salvation was new to me…

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JOHN 1: Light and Life 35:20

18d ago35:20

35:20

By Rick Henderson

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AI Hallucinations (with Stewart Lee and Sarah Wynn-Williams) 36:16

21d ago36:16

36:16

This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to discuss the language around AI. They are also joined by public policy expert and author of Careless People, A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism Sarah Wynn-Williams. For legal reasons, Sarah is not allowed to say anything negative about Meta, so we discuss lots of other areas arou…

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Church Is Messy: Answering Your Questions 56:18

24d ago56:18

56:18

During the month of December Rick and Svea turn the microphone around and answer your questions on the podcast. Do you have a questions you'd like them to address? Email your questions to [email protected]. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 01:55 Send your questions for the podcast to [email protected] 03:18 QUESTION 1…

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FOLLOWING JESUS: Luke 5 32:24

25d ago32:24

32:24

By Rick Henderson

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Spooking the Markets (with Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee) 32:35

28d ago32:35

32:35

It's budget week, Armando is joined by two members of the Strong Message Here commune, Natalie Haynes and Stewart Lee. How do markets get 'spooked'? Who has the broadest shoulders? And what does 'a Labour Budget with Labour values' actually mean? We discuss how taxes get their nicknames, why we know so much about the budget ahead of time these days…

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BACKSTORY: Rick Henderson 35:03

1M ago35:03

35:03

By Rick Henderson

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Moral Failure and Deadly Negligence (with Sara Pascoe and Matt Winning) 37:45

1M ago37:45

37:45

António Guterres has said that missing the 1.5 degree climate target is "a moral failure and deadly negligence". Is he right? Dr Matt Winning joins Sara Pascoe and Armando to discuss the language around climate change. Is it proportionately alarmist, or does it just scare us? Are we numb to the jaw-dropping headlines? Matt has some ideas of how to …

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Church Is Messy: Love Is The Agenda - The Origin of the Gospel Story 34:28

1M ago34:28

34:28

On this Love Is The Agenda weekend, Rick and Svea talk about our guest speaker, Dr. Walter Kim, and the message he had on living out the gospel. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:49 CIM is taking the 2025 Thanksgiving week off. During December we're going to answer your questions on ANY topic. Send questions to [email protected]…

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LOVE IS THE AGENDA: Global Health Week 34:39

1M ago34:39

34:39

By Rick Henderson

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The Buck Stops Here (with Ria Lina and Sophy Ridge) 34:24

1M ago34:24

34:24

This week, Armando is joined again by comedian Ria Lina, and Sky New's new breakfast host, Sophy Ridge. In the week with 2 big resignations at the BBC, news journalism and accuracy are under the spotlight. We discuss the pressures on live broadcasting, editing, and deciding what stories make it to air. When is something worthy of coverage? These de…

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Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership week 7 - Your Story to Tell 45:07

2M ago45:07

45:07

Rick and Svea close out the series on Acts of Leadership by looking at a powerful act of leadership: telling your story about your relationship with Jesus. No one knows your story better than you. No one will know your story unless you tell it. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:28 This passage resonated with a lot of people. It helps…

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ACTS OF LEADERSHIP: Leaders Are Gospel Fluent 34:10

2M ago34:10

34:10

By Rick Henderson

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Be Vigilant (with Phil Wang) 29:56

2M ago29:56

29:56

This week, Armando is joined by Phil Wang to look at the use and abuse of political language. Defence Secretary John Healy says we need to 'be vigilant', and Reform councillor Laila Cunningham says 'Labour want us to shut up and die' - we look at how the public and the police respond to horrific events, and at our relationship with the police. We a…

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Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership week 6 42:36

2M ago42:36

42:36

Rick and Svea spend much of the episode discussing Paul's warning to the church leaders in Ephesus as found in Acts 20:17-38: watch out for the wolves among you. A warning from Rick about this episode: It may contain meandering conversation with points of lucidity in a forest of discontinuity and convoluted word salads, but it has been fun. Topics …

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ACTS OF LEADERSHIP: Leaders Love the Church 32:08

2M ago32:08

32:08

By Rick Henderson

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Deep Disillusionment in This Country (with Stewart Lee) 28:46

2M ago28:46

28:46

This week, Armando is joined again by Stewart Lee to look at how political actors use language. Wes Streeting says there is a 'deep disillusionment in this country', and says there is a “growing sense of despair about whether anyone is capable of turning this country round". Why is that? And does politicians speaking in that way confound our misery…

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Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership - Move Toward the Messes part 2 43:26

2M ago43:26

43:26

This week the Acts of Leadership series takes us to Acts 15. Rick and Svea look at circumcision and the old covenant, the new covenant, and James' declaration in Acts 15:19, “It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God." Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:41 We will always…

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ACTS OF LEADERSHIP: Leaders Move Toward the Messes 34:49

2M ago34:49

34:49

By Rick Henderson

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In Hindsight (with Ria Lina and Tim Shipman) 34:13

2M ago34:13

34:13

This week, Armando is joined again by comedian Ria Lina, and Political Editor of The Spectator, Tim Shipman. We're looking back at looking back. In a week where a scandal-hit Prince renounces his titles and the Chinese spy case continues to pose questions of language for the government, people's previous decisions are being put under the spotlight,…

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Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership - Move Toward the Messes part 1 41:28

2M ago41:28

41:28

This week Rick and Svea look at Acts 10 and the story of Cornelius. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 06:11 Three questions about leadership: whom am I looking to for leadership, how am I leading myself, who looks to me for leadership. 07:31 Cornelius in Acts 10. He was a complex character, we're all complex characters. 10:12 We're neve…

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ACTS OF LEADERSHIP: Acts 10 34:18

2M ago34:18

34:18

By Rick Henderson

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The End of the Age of Terror and Death (with Stewart Lee) 29:27

2M ago29:27

29:27

One one hand, the world is going to hell, on the other, the age of terror and death has ended, so which is it? Stewart Lee joins Armando to take a look at this maximal approach to political language. How do you do moderate politics with caps lock on? What's the smart way to diffuse complex arguments about politics? And given the details still to be…

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Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership week 3 41:16

2M ago41:16

41:16

Pastor Caleb Smith joins Rick and Svea to dig into the story of Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro and Rick's Boundary Waters adventures. 03:50 Week three of Acts of Leadership: what jumped out of this week's passage? 07:43 Caleb's process in seeing discipleship in this passage. 14:16 Who you are is a gre…

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ACTS OF LEADERSHIP: Leaders Share What They Know 40:22

2M ago40:22

40:22

By Rick Henderson

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Repetition, Repetition, Repetition (with Natalie Haynes) 30:22

3M ago30:22

30:22

Did you know Keir Starmer's dad was a toolmaker? Of course you did, because he repeated it every time he was in front a microphone for years. Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes to discuss the use of repetition. How it can be an effective rhetorical technique for the likes of Cicero and Tony Blair, but grates when coming from others? We also look a…

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Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership - Deep Community 26:06

3M ago26:06

26:06

Today Rick and Svea talk about the challenges to developing authentic deep community and provide some ideas for developing this community. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 00:48 This week's focus is on community and the requirement for leadership decisions to shepherd each other. 02:15 We live in a culture that is driven by individuali…

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ACTS OF LEADERSHIP: Deep Community 35:44

3M ago35:44

35:44

By Rick Henderson

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ACTS OF LEADERSHIP: Am I a Leader 31:04

3M ago31:04

31:04

By Rick Henderson

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The Battle for the Soul of the Country (with Adam Fleming) 33:36

3M ago33:36

33:36

Armando is at the Labour Party conference (well, in a portakabin in a car park nearby - the glamour!), and is joined by Newscast's Adam Fleming to chat all things conference. Has message discipline killed the party conference? Or does their own momentum still make them newsworthy? Looking at conferences past, we look at what makes them an interesti…

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Church Is Messy: Acts of Leadership - Am I a Leader? 36:18

3M ago36:18

36:18

In today's episode Rick and Svea open discussion on our new series - a survey of the book of Acts: Acts of Leadership. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:22 Exciting news about Autumn Ridge and Practicing the Way. 05:18 Acts of Leadership message series: leadership is a destination of discipleship. 07:15 "I'm not really a natural lead…

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Hurty Words (with Stewart Lee) 29:03

3M ago29:03

29:03

Stewart Lee returns to the show, to join Armando in discussing 'hurty words'. With Jimmy Kimmel's suspension, and in the wake of Charlie Kirk's murder, free speech is in the spotlight again. Those who railed against 'cancel culture' are now getting into 'consequence culture'. We also discuss how Marvel's superheroes might respond to the actions of …

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Church Is Messy: Loving Our Enemies 32:16

3M ago32:16

32:16

In today's episode Rick and Svea have a discussion about loving our enemies and hating our enemies. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro - A Sunday afternoon gone wrong. 04:05 An illustration from Rick's Sunday experience. 06:11 Two visions: Love your enemy or hate your enemy. 08:23 What does it look like to love your enemy? 09:55 Paying a…

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BACKSTORY: Paul McDonald 38:08

3M ago38:08

38:08

By Rick Henderson

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Phase 2 (with Ria Lina) 29:15

3M ago29:15

29:15

In the first episode of the new series, Armando Iannucci and guest co-host, Ria Lina look at the use and abuse of political language. The political summer is often called 'silly season', but with global conflict and rising tensions at home, Armando and Ria look at the language that defined recent months including Keir Starmer's "Phase 2" and the wo…

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Church Is Messy: A Response to the Assassination of Charlie Kirk 48:13

3M ago48:13

48:13

We begin a new season of Church Is Messy on a very serious note: A response to the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro - welcome back after Rick's sabbatical. 01:46 A renewed sense of identity as a part of sabbatical. 08:05 The assassination of Charlie Kirk. 10:09 An email we received. 12:22 We're a church t…

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VISION WEEKEND 2025: Acts 15:36-41 31:10

3M ago31:10

31:10

By Rick Henderson

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Strong Recommend: Going Postal by Terry Pratchett 6:54

4M ago6:54

6:54

In the last of our summer mini-series, Helen brings a book by Terry Pratchett. To Helen's surprise, this is a blind spot for Armando, who hasn't read any despite being told to do so many times. Where do you start with such an extensive back catalogue? What makes Pratchett's satire so timeless? and has Helen found a new Pratchett super-fan in Armand…

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LIES CHRISTIANS BELIEVE: "God Cares More About Your Holiness Than Your Happiness" 32:54

4M ago32:54

32:54

By Rick Henderson

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Strong Recommend: Tehran (Apple TV+) 6:43

4M ago6:43

6:43

Armando has been watch Tehran on Apple TV. This multi-language show about spy agencies in Iran and Israel sheds gives you a glimpse in to life on the ground in these countries that you can't get from headlines alone. Like the Post Office scandal in the UK, why does it sometimes take a dramatisation to mobilise the public, and bring about change? Jo…

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Church Is Messy: Take Your Next Step and Trust the Process 35:58

4M ago35:58

35:58

In the final episode on our series on the mission, vision, and values of Autumn Ridge Church, Rick and Svea discuss values seven and eight: 7) take your next step and 8) trust the process. Topics discussed in this episode: 00:00 Intro 02:37 Values 7 and 8: 7) Take your next step, and 8) Trust the process. 07:28 Direction over speed. 08:17 There is …

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Strong Recommend: Elden Ring 10:36

4M ago10:36

10:36

If you're interested in fantasy, and fancy taking on a responsibility equivalent to a part-time job, Helen recommends Elden Ring. A wildly popular Japanese video game which allows you to live in a world created by George RR Martin. With place and character names reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, we ask why that is the accepted register of fantasy. …

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LOVE IS THE AGENDA: Lies We Tell Ourselves About Serving 39:59

4M ago39:59

39:59

By Rick Henderson

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Strong Recommend: The Contestant 10:02

4M ago10:02

10:02

In 1998, a Japanese man was filmed in solitary confinement for our entertainment. Naked as the day he was born, which led to his suggestive nickname, the Japanese people were gripped by Tomoaki Hamatsu's journey. Today, can we see how reality TV has infected our storytelling and our language? Whether it's someone in Big Brother proudly declaring th…