Culture Brief - Christian perspectives on the week's biggest news, sports & pop-culture stories Gen Z turns to Jesus, trade war with China, Harvard conflict & Rory McIlroy | Ep. 15
In this episode of Culture Brief, Conner Jones and Micah Tomasella explore why more members of Gen Z are turning to Jesus, even as traditional religious affiliation continues to decline. They also talk through Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited victory at the Masters, the status of U.S.-Iran nuclear negotiations, and what’s behind the ongoing trade tensions with China. Plus, they examine new developments in the Trump administration’s response to antisemitism on Ivy League campuses and what we’re learning from the latest JFK files release. All that and more—filtered through a biblical lens and designed to help you think clearly in a complex world.
Topics
- (00:50): Gen Z's growing commitment to Jesus
- (05:32): Mental health and faith among Gen Z
- (08:30): Resurgence in church attendance
- (14:36): Trump's tariff policies and trade war with China
- (25:42): Trump's battle with Ivy League universities
- (31:18) The broader implications of government-university conflicts
- (36:16): Listener mailbag: JFK files
- (39:29): Masters tournament recap
- (43:14): Trump administration's deportation controversy
- (44:59): US-Iran nuclear negotiations update
- (45:49): Movie box office highlights
- (46:54) Easter weekend reflections
Resources
- Mailbag: culturebrief@denisonforum.org
- DenisonForum.org/subscribe
- Culture Brief on Instagram
- New Research: Belief in Jesus Rises, Fueled by Younger Adults | Barna Group
- Commitment to Jesus Reaches Decade-High Levels | Barna Group
- Number of Americans who don't identify as Christian but claim 'personal commitment to Jesus' nears record high: survey
- Is Gen Z a lost cause for the church?
- Why are teens sadder, lonelier, and more depressed than ever before?
- Why teens are growing up more anxious and depressed
- ‘The Quiet Revival’: huge increase in young people attending church - Religion Media Centre
- China suspends rare earth exports, kneecapping US industry reliant on Beijing's 'monopoly'
- China Exports to United States - 2025 Data 2026 Forecast 1992-2023 Historical
- US-China Trade Data: Import-Export Bilateral Trade Statistics - USImportData
- Trump threatens Harvard's tax-exempt status after freezing $2bn funding
- Trump Administration Will Freeze $2 Billion After Harvard Refuses Demands - The New York Times
- The Promise of American Higher Education - Harvard University President
- Barack Obama on X
- Rory McIlroy’s Masters win and a transforming life principle
- Rory McIlroy, Tom Cruise, and the power of persistence
- Exclusive: ICE decides who's linked to gangs, border czar says
- Is “The King of Kings” worth seeing?
- The God Who Feels Your Pain | Denison Ministries
About Micah Tomasella
Micah Tomasella is the Advancement Officer at Denison Ministries and co-hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. A graduate of Dallas Baptist University, Micah is married to Emily, and together they are the proud parents of two daughters. With an extensive background in nonprofit work, finance, and real estate, Micah also brings experience from his years in pastoral church ministry.
About Conner Jones
Conner Jones is the Director of Performance Marketing at Denison Ministries and Co-Hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. Conner passionately follows politics, sports, pop-culture, entertainment, and current events. He enjoys fishing, movie-going, and traveling the world with his wife and son.
About Denison Forum
Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Denison Forum Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.