Roundtable: Runfluencers, Lord of the Flies, and Vision Boards

Motherhood and Building Intentional Community with Ashlee Gadd and Katie Blackburn

Ashlee has spent years helping moms navigate the tension between modern motherhood and creativity. She's a writer, editor, and the founder of Coffee + Crumbs [https://www.coffeeandcrumbs.net/], the home of essays that have resonated across the internet, meeting millennial moms where they are. She's also the writer of Create Anyway, [https://www.amazon.com/Create-Anyway-Pursuing-Creativity-Motherhood/dp/0764240048] a book about nurturing creativity in the margins. The Coffee and Crumbs writers' collective has created two beautiful books, The Magic of Motherhood [https://www.coffeeandcrumbs.net/book-old]. You're In Good Company [https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Good-Company-Friendship-Motherhood/dp/B0FMTGBN2J/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1IQN6NEL1UW71&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Mhr56FbFlhgnP2y9mG7NkIZhqFuUeybVOutOKwUxtOwF6up_25Fv3lS1aNSOrUW0yDg8EtAHy89YyDV3fTNPAmV0K6nEHnRrp8R8h5uKPQkm_OWPRQstkGsHTaeJ9I3aFNuwvxOg5cijpd-rDvdq8nKq8SPGN3nt8A9-heSp8v3TQQnWlV8nZ16y3PXe3VRfLnwLt4QUSlnJwEU7m0hO9v4MYiV4a88mYYdmiIY5eQs.An6ZNfPl3kCAYCBZkCWn5ntiljM-PbnxWmCLUHs-s0A&dib_tag=se&keywords=you%27re+in+good+company&qid=1779771093&s=books&sprefix=youre+in+good+company%2Cstripbooks%2C180&sr=1-1], their latest collection of essays about how community shapes motherhood, was just released last month. We are also joined by author and speaker Katie Blackburn, whose writing has encouraged so many readers through its honesty about motherhood, disability, faith, and how to keep creating when life takes an unexpected turn. Katie has this rare ability to write about difficult things with both depth and warmth, and her story touches on everything from foster care and adoption to resilience and the everyday grace that carries families through impossible seasons. Katie is also a mom of six, a devoted cyclist, and the writer of three books: an essay collection called Gluing the Cracks [https://www.amazon.com/Gluing-Cracks-Reflections-Motherhood-Disability/dp/B0BC59LZSY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GN4VL4YX4O9M&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7eKl-tet3CfgYVE4L3B8DtSuf0iduz4HSaheFbXeztPVg4HjVBurWoCvBkZnfGhKncJu1Hgi7LIymzOIPG6WTq_CDqKLAFG_fsglo1bwXhEtg7TCDZNFIIwB2LAJy5mOrLkgWAJnbWTwL2OA1ICkTZqLxOqQX7Y-I0WYzuJ9UyzqApiM6jYAjd0oaPiHCZXtLp7mVS4vOtyhKwq8BJFqGnUrZu88oOhjq_SlMAnkyao.US8DoCMF0D9vqQzeWJoNDzVV2B3578tbBnVA0lOO1cc&dib_tag=se&keywords=Gluing+the+Cracks&qid=1779771183&s=audible&sprefix=gluing+the+cracks%2Caudible%2C203&sr=1-1], a children's book about adaptive sports called The Very Best Baseball Game [https://www.amazon.com/Very-Best-Baseball-Game-Disability/dp/1430097337], and the forthcoming essay collection, Grace Will Be There. [https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Will-Be-There-Finding/dp/0802434045] → Click here to check out the Coffee and Crumbs Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-crumbs-podcast/id1093725475] 🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect → Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. [https://axis.org/thetable] → Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel! [https://www.youtube.com/@axisconversations/podcasts] → Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org [ask@axis.org]. → For more Axis resources, go to axis.org [http://axis.org/].

Roundtable: Fear of God Hoodies, Freemasonry, and Social Media Gore

→ Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. [https://forms.gle/LGhzMg5WUmJHMLqK9] Three Big Conversations: 1. The Freemasons are recruiting [https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/new-generation-freemasons-london-social-media-b1281264.html] heavily from Gen Z - 10:22 2. What parents need to know about how gore travels online [https://slate.com/technology/2026/05/teens-gore-violence-internet-cult.html] - 25:26 3. A brand called Fear of God sells must-have hoodies [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOBWM3ZApEk] - 39:12 Song of the Week: "Janice ST*U" by Drake [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOBWM3ZApEk] - 3:04 → Click here to read the lyrics [https://genius.com/Drake-janice-stfu-lyrics] In Other News: - 51:28 The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Star Wars adventure starring Pedro Pascal and his travel-sized "baby Yoda" sidekick, is expected [https://deadline.com/2026/05/box-office-star-wars-mandalorian-and-grogu-preview-1236915788/] to earn $160 million this weekend. A new Instagram feature called "Instants [https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2026/05/14/instagram-instants-reaction/90080295007/]" allows users to send quick, unedited photos through direct messages. Similar to features on Snapchat and BeReal, Instants disappear within 24 hours, or after they're viewed. The American Music Awards (AMAs) will air [https://www.theamas.com/2026/05/more-performers-announced-for-the-52nd-american-music-awards/] on Monday, May 25, and feature performances from KATSEYE, Teddy Swims, and sombr—as well as the Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes. Spotify celebrated its app's twentieth anniversary with a suite of special listening history features, and also temporarily switched its icon to a glowing green mirror ball. But the logo switch was confusing, and users became irate [https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/spotify-backlash-disco-ball-icon-regular-logo-return-1236752594/]. Teen Vogue predicts [https://www.teenvogue.com/story/biggest-fashion-trends] that the wave of preppy, 90s fashion nostalgia will continue to swell into the summer, with bandanas, sweaters tied around the waist, checkered and polka-dotted prints, and loafers with socks all trending. 🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect → Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. [https://axis.org/thetable] → Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel! [https://www.youtube.com/@axisconversations/podcasts] → Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org [ask@axis.org]. → For more Axis resources, go to axis.org [http://axis.org/].

CT: Fear of God Hoodies, Freemasonry, and Social Media Gore

A brand called Fear of God sells must-have hoodies [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOBWM3ZApEk], the Freemasons are recruiting [https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/new-generation-freemasons-london-social-media-b1281264.html] heavily from Gen Z, and what parents need to know about how gore travels online [https://slate.com/technology/2026/05/teens-gore-violence-internet-cult.html]. Song of the Week: "Janice ST*U" by Drake [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOBWM3ZApEk] → Click here to read the lyrics [https://genius.com/Drake-janice-stfu-lyrics] → Click here for A Parent's Guide to Loneliness [https://axis.org/resource/a-parent-guide-to-loneliness/] → Help us improve our podcast! Click here to fill out this three-minute survey. [https://forms.gle/LGhzMg5WUmJHMLqK9] In Other News: The Mandalorian and Grogu, a Star Wars adventure starring Pedro Pascal and his travel-sized "baby Yoda" sidekick, is expected [https://deadline.com/2026/05/box-office-star-wars-mandalorian-and-grogu-preview-1236915788/] to earn $160 million this weekend. A new Instagram feature called "Instants [https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2026/05/14/instagram-instants-reaction/90080295007/]" allows users to send quick, unedited photos through direct messages. Similar to features on Snapchat and BeReal, Instants disappear within 24 hours, or after they're viewed. The American Music Awards (AMAs) will air [https://www.theamas.com/2026/05/more-performers-announced-for-the-52nd-american-music-awards/] on Monday, May 25, and feature performances from KATSEYE, Teddy Swims, and sombr—as well as the Pussycat Dolls and Busta Rhymes. Spotify celebrated its app's twentieth anniversary with a suite of special listening history features, and also temporarily switched its icon to a glowing green mirror ball. But the logo switch was confusing, and users became irate [https://variety.com/2026/digital/news/spotify-backlash-disco-ball-icon-regular-logo-return-1236752594/]. Teen Vogue predicts [https://www.teenvogue.com/story/biggest-fashion-trends] that the wave of preppy, 90s fashion nostalgia will continue to swell into the summer, with bandanas, sweaters tied around the waist, checkered and polka-dotted prints, and loafers with socks all trending. 🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect → Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. [https://axis.org/thetable] → Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel! [https://www.youtube.com/@axisconversations/podcasts] → Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org [ask@axis.org]. → For more Axis resources, go to axis.org [http://axis.org/].

Ask Axis: How Do I Make Church Attendance Feel Natural?

"Would you share ideas and council on navigating the fine line between keeping church attendance and spiritual disciplines as a family pritory (i.e. wanting to establish and model this as a lifelong priority for our kids), and not turning your teen off from Christianity, where your teen runs away from the faith because of you "making them go" to church every Sunday. Drawing from Paul's words, how can we parent in regards to church attendance in the spirit of Colossians 4:2-6, especially verse 6?" - Aileen 🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect → This podcast is entirely Q&A based! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org [ask@axis.org]. → Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. [https://axis.org/thetable] → Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel! [https://www.youtube.com/@axisconversations/podcasts] → Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org [ask@axis.org]. → For more Axis resources, go to axis.org [http://axis.org/].

Roundtable: Runfluencers, Lord of the Flies, and Vision Boards

Three Big Conversations: 1. Gen Z hits the track [https://www.tiktok.com/@renee.noe/video/7324891711795186987] (and the tracking apps) - 02:42 2. A new Lord of the Flies adaptation hits home [https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/04/arts/television/lord-of-the-flies-tv-netflix-jack-thorne.html] - 17:30 3. Pop songstresses say they are manifesting their dream lives [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8ab1QrOpBM] - 31:04 Resource of the Week: F [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZJZS98L]aith and Life Survey [https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ZJZS98L] - 01:54 → Click here to watch our video about manifesting. [https://youtu.be/WNgr6uEzAzo] → Click here to watch our video about Looksmaxxing. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPHm-npfMJU] → Click here to read the article [https://www.runweekly.com/why-gen-z-is-choosing-pacing-over-pints/] about these local running clubs. In Other News: - 45:00 Teen boys and young men are turning to injectable peptide stacks [https://www.vogue.com/article/what-is-peptide-stacking-and-is-it-healthy] in order to achieve physical transformations and faster muscle recovery, according to an article [https://www.wsj.com/health/wellness/boys-peptides-stacks-looksmaxxing-trevor-larcom-835e58cd] in the Wall Street Journal (paywall), in a trend being fueled by looksmaxxing culture. The latest Gen Z trend is the comeback of the hacky sack [https://www.businessinsider.com/hacky-sack-footbag-newest-trend-high-school-gen-z-2026-5]. Teens are starting clubs at schools, making TikToks [https://www.tiktok.com/@ethantribuzz0/photo/7637921603635989790?q=hacky%20sack&t=1778678607032] about their newest hobby, and the footbags are already selling out [https://footbags.com/blogs/the-sack/when-did-the-2026-hacky-sack-craze-start] in stores. Winning out over MrBeast, LeBron James, and Taylor Swift, the celebrity young people want to emulate most [https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/family-relationships/article/the-celebrity-gen-z-wants-to-emulate-the-most-its-not-taylor-swift-lebron-james-or-mrbeast-110000472.html?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9zdWJzdGFjay5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAIeHBfVCau48dxJ_rSLSZfd1AF9eKig64HI_ZPdKHtDIJXIzAO9x55hnGYXWUzMcdxxYfi3UPpxri-lSXH1_EHrVEWmucFgB6CvLaLO3wnA2LU5csNucKYgqGxHLuvfACm51-iE1CWrUd9QUHNJvobVb-rm3vsIIOux15JcaE4KR] is Zendaya, who came in second to "none of the above". With age verification requirements on the rise, some kids [https://techcrunch.com/2026/05/06/some-kids-are-bypassing-age-verification-checks-with-a-fake-mustache/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email] are fooling age-checking technology with a fake mustache. Subnautica 2, the sequel to Subnautica, a quiet hit about crafting, exploring, and avoiding giant leviathans in an underwater world, releases this week [https://www.gamesradar.com/games/survival/subnautica-2-hit-5-million-steam-wishlists-days-before-its-early-access-launch-so-every-player-gets-a-special-gift/] in early access. 🎧 Listen / Follow / Connect → Become a monthly donor today, join the Table. [https://axis.org/thetable] → Check out the podcast now on our YouTube Channel! [https://www.youtube.com/@axisconversations/podcasts] → Get your question on Ask Axis! Send in your questions to ask@axis.org [ask@axis.org]. → For more Axis resources, go to axis.org [http://axis.org/].