Accelerating Bible Translation in Sensitive Contexts

Accelerating Bible Translation in Sensitive Contexts

Sensitive contexts present some of the greatest challenges in Bible translation, especially for the remaining All Access Goal languages. In this episode of the Bible Translation Innovation Podcast, Joel Mathew, Chris “Klappy” Klapp, and Isabella Scarinzi explore the cultural, political, and technological realities facing translation teams working in regions where Christianity is restricted or opposed. They discuss modern security challenges from protecting translators' identities to securing communication and translation data. The conversation examines ways to navigate these barriers by combining secure technology and encouraging collaboration with local leadership so that more communities will have access to Scripture.   Have questions? Send us an email at lab@eten.bible and we'll answer them on the show! Subscribe to hear more conversations, updates, and experiments on new methodologies and technologies advancing Scripture accessibility worldwide.

How Product Management Assists Bible Translation

Product management can shape how Bible translation tools are built and refined across the global translation ecosystem. In this episode of the Bible Translation Innovation Podcast, Joel Mathew, Chris “Klappy” Klapp, Isabella Scarinzi, and special guest Chad White from Gloo explore the role of product management in accelerating Bible translation. Chad explains how user-centered design and field feedback help teams focus on solving real problems. The episode also highlights lessons learned from projects like Aquifer and Fluent, as well as designing for low-resource, oral-first communities while leveraging AI for development. Have questions? Send us an email at lab@eten.bible and we'll answer them on the show! Subscribe to hear more conversations, updates, and experiments on new methodologies and technologies advancing Scripture accessibility worldwide.

Speech-to-Speech Bible Translation

Speech-to-speech translation is in early experimentation, with initial indications of how it could shape Scripture accessibility for oral-first communities. In this episode of the Bible Translation Innovation Podcast, Joel Mathews and Chris “Klappy” Klapp, alongside Communications Strategist Isabella Scarinzi, explore the current state of this emerging approach and its potential role in oral Bible translation. They explain how speech-to-speech systems work, why most approaches rely on multi-step processes, and where these systems fall short—especially in low-resource languages. The conversation surfaces practical challenges while also pointing to ongoing research and emerging approaches being tested across the ecosystem. Have questions? Send us an email at lab@eten.bible and we'll answer them on the show! Subscribe to hear more conversations, updates, and experiments on new methodologies and technologies advancing Scripture accessibility worldwide.

What Is Iterative Publishing and Why is it Misunderstood?

Iterative publishing in Bible translation can help place Scripture in people’s hands sooner, when supported by strong processes. In this episode of the Bible Translation Innovation Podcast, Joel Mathews and Chris “Klappy” Klapp, alongside Communications Strategist Isabella Scarinzi, explore why iterative publishing is often misunderstood. They discuss questions around theological accuracy and the practical tensions translation teams navigate, while pointing to the role of community feedback, digital distribution, and evolving tools—including AI—in strengthening both pace and quality. Drawing on real-world experiences, they argue that iterative publishing, when done thoughtfully, can accelerate access to Scripture while strengthening the translation process through ongoing revision and collaboration. Register for the OBTC Hackathon 2026 here [https://unfoldingword.notion.site/2fc72d5af2de80819d21e24d107721ef]. Have questions? Send us an email at lab@eten.bible and we'll answer them on the show! Subscribe to hear more conversations, updates, and experiments on new methodologies and technologies advancing Scripture accessibility worldwide.

Navigating Change and Innovation in Bible Translation

Change in Bible translation is rarely simple—balancing urgency, quality, and risk requires careful judgment. In this episode of the Bible Translation Innovation Podcast, hosts Joel Mathews and Chris Klapp ("Klappy") from the ETEN Innovation Lab, along with Communications Strategist Isabella Scarinzi, discuss common barriers to change, including stewardship concerns, training costs, fear of reduced quality, and resistance to new technology. Drawing on field experiments with tools, process improvements, and product development, they highlight the importance of starting small, running controlled tests, iterating quickly, and matching innovation efforts to the right projects and people.  Have questions? Send us an email at lab@eten.bible and we'll answer them on the show! Subscribe to hear more conversations, updates, and experiments on new methodologies and technologies advancing Scripture accessibility worldwide.