Thought Factory Podcast

#406 || Students' View | Behind Closed Doors on the School Campus

It may be difficult to understand what happens in the hallways and classrooms of schools, or even what happens between friends and classmates behind the doors of a school campus.  Today’s episode is brought to you from the student perspective. You will hear about the current culture at a variety of schools around the country and how a student's faith is making a difference in these schools.

#405 || Teacher's View | Behind Closed Doors on the School Campus

The things that happen behind the closed doors of the school campus goes beyond just math problems & adolescent crushes – there are deeper issues that only teachers know about when they are with students the majority of the day.  Today, Jayson Brewer has a conversation with Jeff Henderson, a middle school teacher in the public school system who lives out his Christian faith in his classroom, and how that faith has brought upon attacks to him and his entire school district.

#404 || Digital Life Series | The Internet Never Forgets

In this episode, we continue giving students survival skills to help them forge their digital footprint through the world they live in.  The internet is more of a reflection of who we are than what we say we are.  How we navigate technology gives us insight into our heart because every click makes a mark, what is called Internet Permanence, even if we delete our history, the Internet never forgets.  How can we help students understand this concept and give them tools to succeed in navigating this digital world?

#403 || Code Red Response to the School Shooting

In the wake of the horrific and tragic school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, hosts Jeff Eckart and Jayson Brewer talk to Joshua Liggins, a teacher at Coral Springs Middle School.  Coral Springs Middle is a feeder school into Douglas High, located down the road from where the shooting occurred.  Josh gives his account from the day as the code red was given and his classroom's response to the news of the tragedy, as well as his response to the news of a former student attending Douglas High.  It is a response of faith amongst the tragedy.  Our prayers go out to the families of the victims, the community of Parkland, and for healing to the countless lives that were shattered on February 14, 2018.

#402 || Digital Life Series | Students' Social Currency

Students' social status is a major part of their lives.  Their appearance, their branding, their amount of likes and re-tweets become the elements of a transaction in regards to their interaction with others.  Just like we place value on a currency, students place value on their social standing.  In an attempt to get students to understand and realize that they are greater than their likes, we blend science and research to the digital life of a student to help them navigate the technological world.

#401 || Digital Life Series | Screen Science

We cannot go through a day without the digital world impacting our existence.  If students don’t have the survival skills of navigating the digital life, they won’t survive in this modern world.  We are evaluating how students interact with technology and how to help them learn these digital survival skills in the next few episodes.  In today's episode, we discuss screen science with an interview with Protect Young Eyes founder, Chris McKenna, as well as discussing areas where digital technology is shaping students’ world & relationships. 

#310 || Part 2: Is Jesus too PC for Gen Z?

The conversation continues about students sharing their faith with others.  In this episode, hosts Jeff Eckart and Jayson Brewer discuss the importance of clarity when it comes to what we believe.  They share a simple method that allows anyone to remember how to share and to be confident in sharing the gospel.  It is called THE FOUR, and Jayson has a conversation with the founder, Andreas "Boppi" Boppart, about its use in Switzerland and throughout Europe.

#309 || Is Jesus too PC for Gen Z?

Do students find it offensive to talk about Jesus?  Is evangelism dead?  Is this generation of students too afraid to share their faith with others?  Do they even care?  It appears we are in the middle of a pendulum swing between two extremes.  The tactics used in the past may have been birthed out of fear and guilt, causing people to simply be saved from Hell, but not for the life God grants us.  It was based on a confrontational approach using words only.  Has the pendulum swung so far to the other extreme that we now have removed the words, essentially the gospel, completely from our approach and only rely on our actions?  In this episode, we explore students' thoughts on sharing their faith and where we are going in regards to the state of evangelism in youth ministry.

#308 || These Habits Can Change Your Home

What habits at home attribute to lowering the high-risk behaviors in teenagers? Research has shown that this one habit can lower the things that many parents fear will happen to their adolescent.  In this episode, the habits of the home are discussed, with our own research as well as outside research to support the conversation of why these habits can change your home and your children.

#307 || Best Way to Come Alongside Parents | Dan Seaborn Interview

Whether you are a parent or leading students who have parents, this episode is for you.  Hosts Jeff Eckart and Jayson Brewer interview the founder of Winning At Home, Dan Seaborn, who was also the creator of the W.W.J.D bracelet phenomenon.  Questions include, "What kinds of things should youth workers be thinking about when it comes to working with parents?" "What are ways that youth workers can help equip families to have intentional family conversations?" & "How can youth workers 'fill in the gaps' with students who don't have parental support for their faith?"