The Ben Peterson Show

Why You Feel Lost, Angry & Disconnected

This week on The Ben Peterson Show, we dive into one of the most important conversations happening in our culture today, the hidden science behind violence, identity, and human behavior. Ben sits down with violence prevention expert Robert Mahoney to unpack why violence is rarely random, how people slowly spiral toward destruction, and what society continues to misunderstand about anger, trauma, isolation, and belonging. From mass shootings and gang culture to AI addiction and emotional isolation, this conversation reveals the deeper psychological and spiritual crisis shaping modern culture. Robert explains how identity, purpose, and community can either heal people, or pull them toward darkness. Together, Ben and Robert explore the warning signs most people miss, why technology is reshaping human connection, and how AI is beginning to replace real relationships for an entire generation. This episode is more than a conversation about violence, it’s about what happens when people lose meaning, lose connection, and lose hope. WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.  📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: http://engageyourdestiny.org/becomeaguardian 📕 PRE-ORDER BEN’S NEW BOOK:  https://whenintelligenceisnthuman.com NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow us on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow us on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/   Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to the science behind violence 02:00 – Why violence is rarely random 05:00 – The broken systems failing people in crisis 10:00 – Identity, purpose, and community explained 12:00 – Deconstructing radicalization and grievance culture 15:00 – The Dayton shooter case study 19:00 – Why prevention matters more than response 22:00 – The connection between suicide and violence 25:00 – Ben shares his Iraq combat anger experience 27:00 – Why society misunderstands aggressive behavior 31:00 – Intervention vs negotiation psychology 35:00 – AI, Gen Z, and emotional dependency 38:00 – How chatbots create emotional attachment 40:00 – Dopamine addiction and social media 42:00 – The terrifying unknown future of AI 44:00 – Why AI struggles with contextual understanding 46:00 – Surveillance culture and predictive technology 50:00 – Why human connection still matters most 53:00 – Helping struggling people before violence happens

13,000 Messages to Plan a Mass Shooting... WHO's RESPONSIBLE?!

This week on The Ben Peterson Show, we confront one of the most unsettling questions of the AI era: what happens when artificial intelligence begins influencing darkness instead of restraining it? After reports surfaced involving mass shooting suspects allegedly using ChatGPT to help strategize attacks, Ben Peterson breaks down the deeper spiritual, cultural, and moral implications behind the rise of artificial intelligence. From emotional manipulation algorithms to the collapse of moral absolutes, this conversation explores how technology is shaping the next generation, and why discernment has never mattered more. This is not just a conversation about AI. It’s a conversation about truth, human nature, spiritual warfare, and the future of society. Ben challenges listeners to think critically about the technologies they trust, the voices shaping culture, and the urgency of staying grounded in faith during one of the most rapidly changing moments in human history. WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.  📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: http://engageyourdestiny.org/becomeaguardian 📕 PRE-ORDER BEN’S NEW BOOK:  https://whenintelligenceisnthuman.com NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow us on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow us on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/   Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to The Ben Peterson Show 01:15 – The mission of Engage Your Destiny 02:20 – Prayer for revival, the military, and America 03:30 – Reports of AI-assisted mass shooting planning 06:00 – How AI algorithms and language models work 07:45 – The 13,000-message ChatGPT controversy 09:00 – Moral relativism and the dangers of AI without safeguards 10:45 – “The speed to sin is only gonna get faster” 11:40 – Relationship with God vs relationship with technology 13:00 – Introducing “When Intelligence Isn’t Human” 14:20 – The real-world consequences for families 15:00 – OpenAI, responsibility, and the future of AI ethics 15:45 – AI robots, morality, and dangerous future questions 16:20 – Spiritual preparedness in the age of AI 17:00 – Final challenge and call to action

AI Religion: Trillion Dollar Business? Be Prepared for Great Deception!

This week on The Ben Peterson Show, we confront one of the most dangerous spiritual and cultural shifts of our generation: artificial intelligence becoming a false source of truth, purpose, and even worship. As AI rapidly advances, some of the world’s leading technologists are already discussing AI-generated religions, AI “Messiah” figures, and the future of digital spirituality. What happens when faith becomes a trillion-dollar business model? What happens when people begin turning to machines for guidance meant to come from God? Ben Peterson breaks down the rise of AI religion, the commercialization of faith, the dangers of deception, and why this generation must learn to use AI as a tool — not a guide for the soul. From AI avatars of Jesus and Buddha, to the growing conversation around AI consciousness and purpose, this episode explores why humanity is entering a defining moment unlike anything we’ve seen before. WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.  📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: http://engageyourdestiny.org/becomeaguardian 📕 PRE-ORDER BEN’S NEW BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1637636237?tag=simonsayscom NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow us on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow us on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/   Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: AI, faith, and the future of culture 01:30 – Engage Your Destiny’s mission and the Guardian program 02:15 – Ben’s new AI book and helping families navigate technology 03:30 – AI-generated Jesus and Buddha avatars 04:30 – Religion becoming a trillion-dollar business 05:45 – Why AI cannot replace a relationship with God 06:30 – Pendulum Theory and generational collapse cycles 08:00 – “Me” generations vs “We” generations 08:45 – Prosperity gospel and commercialization of faith 10:30 – The dangers of turning religion into entertainment 11:15 – Anthropic, Claude AI, and “child of God” discussions 12:15 – Technology accelerating human sin 13:00 – AI relationships, sex robots, and moral collapse 13:45 – “The Great Deception” and Matthew 24 14:30 – AI-created religions and digital messiahs 15:15 – Why people will begin worshiping AI 16:00 – Wars, rumors of wars, and the birth pains of the end times 16:45 – Rachel’s childbirth story and spiritual preparation 17:30 – Awakening your spirit in the age of AI 18:15 – Final warning: use AI as a tool, not your guide

ANNOUNCING: The Ben Peterson Show!

This week, we step into a pivotal moment on the Engage Your Destiny Podcast as we introduce The Ben Peterson Show—a new chapter focused on faith, culture, and the rising influence of artificial intelligence. As technology rapidly reshapes the world, a deeper question emerges: are we using AI as a tool… or allowing it to become our guide? In this episode, Ben Peterson shares the heart behind the rebrand and unpacks a critical tension facing this generation—how to navigate faith in an age where answers are instant, but wisdom is often missing. Through real-life stories and personal conviction, he reveals the difference between creating with purpose and outsourcing the very voice God placed within us. This message goes beyond technology. It’s about identity, discernment, and the responsibility of believers to remain grounded in truth while engaging a changing world. 📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: http://engageyourdestiny.org/becomeaguardian 📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow us on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow us on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/   Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to The Ben Peterson Show 01:00 – Why the rebrand from Engage Your Destiny Podcast 02:00 – Faith in the age of AI and cultural shifts 03:00 – The critical question: tool or guide? 04:00 – Using AI as a tool (real-world business example) 05:30 – The danger of using AI as a guide 06:30 – Choosing prayer over instant answers 07:30 – Waiting, seeking, and receiving clarity 08:00 – The growing reliance on AI for direction 08:30 – Gen Z, AI, and the crisis of guidance 09:00 – A call to lead, think, and live differently

How To Heal From Trauma, Core Wounds And Lies

This week on the Engage Your Destiny Podcast, we sit down with Andrea Hand, artist, songwriter, and founder of Sound of Hope, for a powerful conversation about suicide, trauma, mental health, and the healing power of faith. Andrea shares how her life changed after losing three people to suicide in a single year, including her cousin. What began as a calling in music became a mission to confront the silence around mental health and help people find hope, healing, and freedom. From touring with Carrie Underwood and appearing on The Voice, to building a nonprofit that helps remove the stigma around emotional pain, Andrea opens up about what unresolved trauma, hidden wounds, and core lies can do to a person’s life if left unaddressed. This conversation goes deeper than mental health awareness. It is about truth, inner healing, community, and learning how to walk with God in a world filled with noise, distraction, isolation, and artificial intelligence. Andrea shares why faith matters, why healing is often a process, and why no one should suffer in silence. 📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-      ❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/suicideispreventable     📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.   Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! LET'S CONNECT:      Follow us on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny     Follow us on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/   Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction 00:45 Andrea Hand’s background in music and ministry 02:00 Losing three people to suicide in one year 05:00 The beginning of Sound of Hope 06:00 Suicide, mental health, and the church’s blind spot 07:30 The vision for the Sound of Hope docuseries 10:00 Trauma, core lies, and inner healing 18:30 Rejection, identity, and the music industry 27:00 Why Andrea is passionate about removing the stigma 30:00 AI, isolation, and protecting the human soul 38:00 Hearing God in a distracted world 43:00 Final message of hope for those who are struggling