Welcome to Curious and Grounded. In a world that’s changing faster than we can keep up with, how do we stay informed without losing our footing? On this show, we take a humble but honest look at the cultural trends shaping our lives, using the Gospel as our bedrock. We’re here to be curious about the world God created, while we remain deeply grounded in our faith. #CuriousGrounded
93% of church leaders are already using AI. Only 9% of their churches have a policy for it. In this episode, Mark looks at what's actually happened in the last few months — Pope Leo XIV's first encyclical, the World Council of Churches' Geneva declaration, the Brentwood Statement, griefbots simulating the dead — and asks what it means that so many different faith traditions keep landing on the same word: dignity. Four ways forward, grounded in Scripture, for anyone trying to keep up.
Show Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v5_Z2rxWQwchcFsZQW_aQylPiGU8GLjB/view?usp=sharing
17 Aug 2026
Jason Arday's Tragic End
Days after we published an episode raising hard questions about Jason Arday, he was found dead in south London at 41. This follow-up episode sits with three things: blame (the media,Cambridge, Jason himself — everyone's got someone to point at, and it's not enough), fragility (what happens when the story we tell about ourselves comes apart in public), and hope (grace was never for people who have it together —it was always for the ones who've been found out).
We close in Psalm 139.
Condolences to Jason's family and everyone who loved him. If your own story feels like it's unraveling, please talk to someone today. You are fully known, and you are still loved by God.
11 Aug 2026
The Jason Arday Story: Integrity, Identity, and the Age of AI
Jason Arday's rise to become Cambridge's youngest Black professor was historic — his resignation amid plagiarism and fabrication claims made headlines for very different reasons. Mark Ambundo digs into what this really reveals: not just one man's choices, but the institutions and systems around him. A conversation about integrity, trust, and an eternal perspective in the age of AI.
Show Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UMG_s-54Cq6ZZYSXHCTa5UfjF9HhLAjg/view?usp=sharing
27 May 2026
Jacinda Ardern — Four Frames for New Zealand's Unfinished Conversation
Welcome back to Curious and Grounded — the podcast where we try to stay awake to the culture we live in, and stay rooted in the faith that makes sense of it all. Today's episode I look at Jacinda Ardern's leadership at the helm of NZ govt. I invite reflection on faith formation, anger, forgiveness, and letting go.
#CuriousGroundedResources:
Show Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sPj5t3dDxGKNa-flwyg6F6ZNy0yAP5kn/view?usp=sharing
NZ Covid Strategy Saved Lives: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sPj5t3dDxGKNa-flwyg6F6ZNy0yAP5kn/view?usp=sharing
Scorched Earth Approach - https://www.pastortheologians.com/articles/2020/10/7/politics-at-twilight-faithful-political-engagement-in-an-age-of-ideology
Volf, Tutu and Ilibagiza - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CdJoQ3QGdAvVhVdaTiOB1gX388YKyfKZ/view?usp=sharingSean McDowell on Faith and LGBTQIA+:
1. Dialogue with Preston Sprinkle: https://youtu.be/mGuxjNtHW5A?si=8zAm4NlNkKC55yc0
2. Interview Premiere Unbelievable UK: https://youtu.be/DOC84WiddQQ?si=Byh8yuddWxn3z7yu
3. Queer Pastor Vs Sean: https://youtu.be/YXnEb04zXCw?si=_fG3U8A0Ue56Miqu
4. Conference Teaching: https://youtu.be/O_aCWlvISzA?si=XK7T0Mrgm42bS9kQ
Other Links
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/prime_minister_2025
https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/dec/02/prime-minister-review-portrait-of-jacinda-ardern-shows-a-fully-human-being-in-charge-for-oncehttps://grantduncanphd.substack.com/p/prime-minister-a-movie-review
https://www.nzreviewofbooks.com/a-different-kind-of-power-by-jacinda-ardern/
https://cristinasanders.me/2025/06/19/a-different-kind-of-power-book-review/
https://youtu.be/dt4hZh2jgus?si=gc8N0ELcBhID0Wyxhttps://centrist.nz/was-jacinda-ardern-naive-or-machiavellian-david-cohen-on-the-question-dividing-new-zealand/
https://newsroom.co.nz/2025/12/02/david-cohens-biography-of-jacinda-ardern-reviewed/
https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/nights/audio/2019013071/cutting-through-spin-david-cohen-on-his-unauthorised-biography-of-jacinda-ardern
https://youtu.be/y7jTS6ZznG4?si=ZEh50OCylp14enGi
https://youtu.be/auvqMokRqUk?si=cZfPzHpjOq8JMm38
https://youtu.be/8j3xM-GdS3E?si=HCE6Gf4QxLEXDlyF
https://youtu.be/Kz2m7O3tfWo?si=s-SJMdVwk_S6RxAY
https://bbc.com/audio/play/w3ct7x0p
11 May 2026
When Love Gets Complicated — Marriage, Fidelity & the Culture We're All Living In
Stephen A. Smith admitted he never married because he couldn't be faithful. Megan Thee Stallion called fidelity "non-negotiable" — even as her music celebrated the opposite. And somewhere between those two headlines, millions of people are quietly wondering whether faithful, enduring love is even possible anymore.
In this episode of Curious and Grounded, we sit with the mess. We look honestly at the cultural forces working against marriage, the hidden wounds of infidelity on children and spouses, and the shame that doesn't go away just because you moved on. Then we turn to the most honest diagnosis ever written — Romans 7 — and explore why willpower alone was never going to be enough.
This episode is for the married and the struggling. For the hurt and the guilty. For the cynical and the hopeful. And for anyone who needs to hear that the God of Romans 8 hasn't given up on the covenant idea — even if the culture has.
Relatable. Honest. Hope-giving.
References: Stephen A. Smith, Megan Thee Stallion & Klay Thompson, Steph & Ayesha Curry, Romans 7:15–25, Romans 8:1
22 Apr 2026
Artificial Intelligence - Where To From Here? - Ep#6
Welcome to Curious and Grounded. This Episode we look at the advancement of AI Artificial Intelligence with Dr. Stephen Garner. Jump right in and let's learn, let's give our faith and AI a fresh look.Robots in Japan: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wdzyyglq5oElon Musk on Humanoid Robots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgifEgm1-e0Al Jazeera on AI alarm Bells: https://youtu.be/Y7W9Sbu1lYQ?si=fTLR1Xln7peqBAErKaren Hao Investigates Development of AI (Exploitation in Kenya): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd8ZTI2Ft0wStephen Garner Bios: University of Auckland: https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/stephen-garner/publications Laidlaw College: https://www.laidlaw.ac.nz/staff/stephen-garner/ Eva Burrows College: https://evaburrowscollege.edu.au/about-us/our-people/stephen-garner/#CuriousGroundedLike, subscribe and comment. Looking forward to hearing from you.
3 Apr 2026
Easter's Manosphere
Welcome to Curious and Grounded. This Episode I look at the Manosphere doco by Loius Theroux and ask 'What does Jesus have to offer men and boys caught up in it?' Jump right in! Show Notes: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-2YbDxsvxWz6f3qoi-97uAU2xf8VUKD3/view?usp=sharing
Does Gender Equality Benefit Everyone?: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pQoEMLZchiYBLbXz-Of6T0sza3PSbiI8/view?usp=sharing
Like, subscribe and comment. Looking forward to hearing from you.
16 Mar 2026
Wakanda is HERE!
Welcome to Curious and Grounded. This Episode we look at Africa's positioning in Artificial Intelligence development across the continent. MASSIVE investment is happening at the moment. I make a theological case and quasi manifesto to foster commitment. Jump right in and let's learn and enjoy.
Episode 2: A.I. as a layered cake: https://youtu.be/Y_qPmGzT5QU
Show Notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12tEFvP4KJFXR_NqYJOfpN-fuVAu54jAL/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110356249316073359854&rtpof=true&sd=true
Like, subscribe and comment. Looking forward to hearing from you.
#CuriousGrounded
5 Mar 2026
Faith For A.I. Cake?
Welcome to Curious and Grounded. This Episode we look at Jensen Huang's Cake illustration of stacked framework of Artificial Intelligence.
Jump right in and let's learn, let's see give our faith a fresh look.
Show notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sK9HnCXhaLjhn_g5CS4eLk9ErrqktDq01_IATL5PKNU/edit?usp=sharing
Follow, like, subscribe and comment.
#CuriousGrounded
Looking forward to hearing from you.
2 Mar 2026
Iranian Conflict - Faith Hope Love
Welcome to Curious and Grounded. This is a special episode looking at the conflict in Iran. How can the Christian faith help in processing the unfolding situation?
Show notes: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PICzFhKm-Pv0k8l5IBwwLh3MArqHa2pE/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110356249316073359854&rtpof=true&sd=true
Follow, Like, subscribe and comment. Looking forward to hearing from you.
#CuriousGrounded
7 Feb 2026
Why So Curious?
Today on Curious&Grounded I am setting the foundation on Curiosity, the kind that this podcast will seek to nurture in dialogue with you the listener and watcher. I am stoked you've chosen to be part of the curious and grounded experience.
Find the show notes here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HNidmqHsUb0tskwrlx1uzbKSHIHeIwYk59c20uojZOA/edit?usp=sharing
Remember to like, subscribe and hit the notification bell to get notified when more episodes are out. Share the pod with all who may benefit from this.
#CuriousGrounded
11 Jan 2026
Trailer - Curious & Grounded
Welcome to Curious and Grounded. I’m your host Mark Ambundo. In a world that’s changing faster than we can keep up with, how do we stay informed without losing our footing? On this show, we take a humble but honest look at the cultural trends shaping our lives, using the Gospel as our bedrock. We’re here to be curious about the world, but deeply grounded in our faith. #CuriousGrounded
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