Welcome to 2026! This episode is special for us—not just because it’s our first episode of the new year, but because we get to kick things off with a conversation we’ve been looking forward to for a long time.

We’re joined by Andrew Pudewa, and if you’ve ever heard him teach, you know that when Andrew starts talking about education, language, and the human mind, you lean in. This conversation ranges widely from AI and education, to reading and writing, to entertainment, creativity, and what it actually means to live a full human life in a hyper-digital age.

Along the way, we wrestle with questions like:

• What happens to the soul when entertainment replaces creation?
• Why does reading a book change the way we think in ways videos never do?
• How does writing force clarity in a world that rewards speed and shortcuts?
• Why using AI as a counselor or companion should deeply concern us
• And what it looks like to be deliberate rather than reactive in how we use technology

This isn’t an anti-technology episode. We’re not calling for retreat or nostalgia. We are calling for discernment. We believe AI, like every powerful tool before it, will do both good and harm—and Christians shouldn’t be surprised by that. The real question is whether we’ll choose to stay fully human in the middle of it.

If you’re a parent, educator, student, or simply someone trying to think clearly in a noisy world, this episode will challenge you, encourage you, and probably make you reconsider how you spend your time and attention.

We’re grateful to start the year with this conversation, grateful for Andrew, and grateful for you for listening with us.

Welcome to 2026. As always, Be Unbound.

Learn more about Unbound: https://beunbound.us/

Hosts: Jonathan Brush, David Rethemeyer

Producer: Kyle Hill