Cut Through

Cut Through

Cut Through is a podcast for people who are tired of noise, outrage, and shallow thinking — and want clarity instead. Hosted by Christian Co, the show features honest, long-form conversations with thinkers, leaders, and everyday people who have lived through failure, doubt, faith, ambition, loss, and rebuilding. Together, they explore the ideas that shape a meaningful life — identity, purpose, power, truth, culture, work, and belief. While especially relevant for young men navigating adulthood in a fragmented culture, these conversations are for anyone who wants to cut through the noise and

  1. 6d ago

    32. Life Lessons from a Teenage Pharaoh

    What can a teenage pharaoh who died over 3,000 years ago teach us about life today? In this episode of Cut Through, we sit down with Wayne French—youth mentor, educator, creator of the Tutankhamun Roadshow, and a lifelong student of archaeology and ancient history. For decades, Wayne has travelled throughout Egypt, Israel, Turkey and the Middle East, studying ancient civilizations, collecting authentic artefacts, and bringing history to life for thousands of young people through his travelling museum and interactive presentations. Starting with the incredible discovery of King Tut’s tomb, this conversation explores one of history’s greatest mysteries before asking some even bigger questions. Can archaeology really help us understand the past? Can ancient discoveries strengthen the credibility of the Bible? And what can a teenage pharaoh, who died over 3,000 years ago, teach a generation searching for purpose, identity and truth? Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or simply searching for something real, this conversation will challenge you to think differently about history, evidence, faith and what actually gives life meaning. Key discussion points Why King Tut became history’s most famous teenage pharaohThe political mystery surrounding Tutankhamun’s deathHoward Carter’s discovery that changed archaeology foreverWhy archaeology is about much more than goldAncient Egypt’s beliefs about the afterlife—and why we’re still asking the same questions todayThe Dead Sea Scrolls and what they reveal about the Bible’s reliabilityArchaeological discoveries connected to King David, Babylon and ancient IsraelCan archaeology prove the Bible—or simply provide evidence?Why evidence doesn’t automatically produce beliefWhat ancient history teaches us about purpose, love and living a life that mattersWayne’s challenge to every young person searching for hope and truth 🎥 Watch the full video interview:https://youtu.be/b5Nr7CihgTQ

    32. Life Lessons from a Teenage Pharaoh

  2. Aug 7

    31. The Odds Against Our Universe Are Insane

    Most of us have grown up believing that science has answered life’s biggest questions. But what if the deeper we’ve looked into the universe, the more mysterious it has become? In this episode of Cut Through, we sit down with Dr Luke Barnes — theoretical astrophysicist, cosmologist, Senior Lecturer in Physics at Western Sydney University, and internationally recognised researcher in the fine-tuning of the universe. Luke has spent decades studying how galaxies form, how the universe works, and why many of the fundamental constants of physics appear remarkably suited for complexity and life. He is also the co-author of A Fortunate Universe, written with atheist physicist Geraint Lewis, exploring one of the biggest questions in modern science. This isn’t a debate about religion. It’s a conversation about reality. Together, we explore what modern physics has discovered, where science reaches its limits, and why some of the world’s leading scientists still believe the universe points beyond itself. In this conversation we explore: Why 95% of the universe is still a mystery to modern scienceThe strange discoveries that completely changed our understanding of realityWhat physicists mean by the “fine-tuning” of the universeWhether the multiverse really explains away fine-tuningWhy science can’t answer every question about existenceThe difference between scientific explanations and philosophical onesWhy Luke believes science and faith are not enemiesThe strongest criticisms of fine-tuning — including the multiverse and “God of the gaps”Whether morality, beauty and love can be explained by science aloneWhy so many intelligent scientists still believe in GodPractical advice for anyone who’s sceptical, curious and genuinely searchingWhether you’re convinced, unconvinced, or somewhere in between, this episode isn’t asking you to stop thinking. It’s an invitation to think more deeply.

    31. The Odds Against Our Universe Are Insane

  3. Jul 30

    30. I Was Pronounced Dead At 18

    She was 18 years old when doctors pronounced her dead. Before that moment, Benita’s life had already been marked by tragedy. After finding her mum dead from a heart attack at just five years old, she grew up in a chaotic home, searching for belonging, identity and an escape from the pain. Alcohol, depression, self-harm and repeated suicide attempts became her way of coping—until one night, after swallowing a bottle of medication, her heart stopped. Medical staff believed there was nothing more they could do. But one nurse refused to give up. In this conversation, Benita shares the full story of what led her there, what happened when she was clinically dead, and why surviving changed the direction of her entire life. Today, Benita isn’t speaking as someone with a theory about hope—she’s speaking as someone who has lived through profound trauma, severe depression, addiction, multiple suicide attempts, rehabilitation and recovery. Since then, she has dedicated her life to serving others, mentoring people, running community programs, raising a family, and helping those struggling with the same darkness she once faced. Whether you believe in God, doubt everything, or are simply trying to make sense of your own life, this conversation wrestles with questions every person eventually asks: • Why do bad things happen?• Can someone really change?• Is your past bigger than your future?• Where do identity and purpose actually come from?• And what if hope is more real than you think? This isn’t a debate. It’s the story of a young woman who reached the end of herself—and found a reason to live. Video story on Cut Through 👇 🎬 Watch the full interview:https://youtu.be/a13l5-BGKKM

    30. I Was Pronounced Dead At 18

  4. Jul 23

    29. The One Thing AI Can Never Fake with Ken Duncan

    Most people spend their lives chasing success, hoping it’ll finally give them purpose. Ken Duncan actually lived that dream—and discovered it wasn’t enough. Ken is one of Australia’s most celebrated photographers, with over 45 years behind the camera, an OAM, bestselling books, work alongside Mel Gibson on The Passion of the Christ, and photographs that have inspired millions around the world. But behind the success is a man who wrestled with the same questions many young people are asking today: Why am I here? Is there more to life? Can success actually satisfy? In this honest conversation, Ken shares the stories that shaped his life and faith, including: Why AI will never replace what makes humans truly creative.The hidden emptiness of chasing money, success and possessions.How leaving a successful career led him to discover real purpose.The life-threatening moments that completely changed his worldview.His battle with anxiety and the faith that helped him overcome it.What working on The Passion of the Christ taught him about Jesus.Behind-the-scenes stories from photographing around the world—including Africa, the Middle East and America.Why young people today are searching for peace more than anything else.Practical advice for finding meaning in an increasingly distracted world.Why he believes authentic creativity comes from connecting with the Creator.Whether you’re convinced, sceptical, or simply asking bigger questions about life, this episode is an invitation to think deeper, stay curious, and consider a perspective that transformed one of Australia’s most accomplished creatives.

    29. The One Thing AI Can Never Fake with Ken Duncan

  5. Jul 17

    28. I Got Tattoos For My Own Funeral

    Doctors gave Greg two years to live. After three catastrophic accidents, multiple traumatic brain injuries and severe epilepsy, they believed there was little more they could do. He was suffering multiple violent seizures every day, trapped in addiction, and convinced death was inevitable. So convinced, in fact, that he covered his body in tattoos designed for his own funeral. But Greg didn’t die. In this conversation, he shares the remarkable story of chasing fame through BMX, surviving devastating injuries, spiralling into drugs and alcohol, losing custody of his daughter, and the unexpected encounter that completely changed the direction of his life. Today, Greg has rebuilt what once seemed impossible. His health returned. His daughter came back into his life. And the man who once believed life had no meaning now spends his time helping others find hope in the middle of addiction, loss and suffering. Along the way, we explore some of life’s biggest questions: • Can people really change?• Why does suffering exist?• Can you come back after you’ve completely wrecked your life?• Are miracles still possible?• What if there’s more to reality than we can explain? Greg doesn’t offer easy answers. He offers a life that forces you to wrestle with the questions. Whether you’re sceptical, curious, or simply searching for hope, this is a conversation you won’t forget.

    28. I Got Tattoos For My Own Funeral

  6. Jul 9

    27. Military, Martial Arts & Mountains - Still Not Enough

    What happens when you finally achieve the things you thought would give your life meaning, only to discover you’re still empty? In this episode of Cut Through, Christian sits down with Trent Keegan, a former Australian Army reservist, outdoor wilderness instructor, martial arts instructor, personal trainer and self-confessed adrenaline junkie. Trent has spent years pushing himself to the limit through military service, extreme adventure, competition and relentless self-improvement, chasing the sense of purpose he thought was always just around the corner. But every new achievement left him asking the same question: Is this really it? Trent speaks candidly about the hidden search for identity behind ambition, the pressure many young men feel to prove themselves, his battles with depression, a teenage suicide attempt, the disappointment of hypocrisy within church, and why success, adventure and status ultimately couldn’t satisfy the deeper questions he was asking. Rather than walking away from faith forever, Trent decided to investigate it intellectually. His goal wasn’t to become a Christian. It was to prove Christianity wrong. Instead, his research into history, science, philosophy, biblical prophecy and apologetics led him to the opposite conclusion. Whether you’re interested in psychology, purpose, faith, leadership or simply trying to work out what life is actually about, this conversation explores questions that almost every young man wrestles with: • Why achievement often fails to satisfy• What extreme adventure reveals about fear, trust and character• The hidden costs of building your identity around career, status or performance• Why so many young men feel restless even when life looks successful• How to deal with disappointment, hypocrisy and unanswered questions about faith• The evidence that convinced a lifelong skeptic to take Christianity seriously• Why Trent believes your identity isn’t something you create, but something you discover This isn’t a conversation about becoming more religious. It’s a conversation about purpose, identity, meaning and whether the peace you’re searching for can actually be found. 📺 Watch the full video on YouTube:https://youtu.be/m54KN_02UIs If you’ve ever wondered, “Why do I still feel empty when life looks fine?”, this episode is for you.

    27. Military, Martial Arts & Mountains - Still Not Enough

  7. Jul 3

    26. Spiritual But Not Religious. Why?

    Why are so many young men walking away from religion while quietly searching for meaning, purpose and something bigger than themselves? In this conversation, we sit down with Dr. Quintin Betteridge to explore one of the defining questions of our generation: Why, in the most connected, wealthy and technologically advanced period in human history, are so many young people feeling more isolated, anxious and spiritually restless than ever before? Together we unpack the rise of what philosophers call “expressive individualism” — the belief that identity, truth, morality and meaning are things we create for ourselves rather than discover. The result? A generation told they can be anything they want, yet increasingly unsure who they are or what they’re living for.   We explore: Why trust in institutions, religion and authority has collapsed among younger generations.  Why “spiritual but not religious” has become the default worldview for millions of young people.  Why freedom and self-expression haven’t solved the problems of loneliness, anxiety and lack of purpose. Whether science and intellectual honesty still leave room for belief in God.  Why community and transcendence appear to be hardwired into human beings.  Why so many successful people eventually discover that achievement alone isn’t enough.  Whether Christianity offers something fundamentally different from religion as most people understand it.This isn’t a debate. It isn’t culture war commentary. And it isn’t an attempt to pressure anyone into belief. It’s an honest conversation for intellectually curious people who have questions about faith, scepticism, science, meaning and what it means to live a good life. If you’ve ever found yourself thinking: “Surely life is more than work, money, entertainment and distraction.” If you’ve ever achieved something you wanted only to discover the satisfaction disappeared faster than expected. If you’ve ever rejected religion but still felt drawn towards something transcendent. If you’ve ever wondered whether meaning is discovered rather than invented. This conversation is for you.

    26. Spiritual But Not Religious. Why?

  8. Jun 26

    25. Boom. Bust. Built Again.

    What do you listen to more: your fear, or your purpose? In this episode, Christian sits down with entrepreneur and business leader Warwick Schmitz for a conversation that cuts through hustle culture, self-help clichés, and the illusion that success solves the deeper questions of life. Warwick isn’t speaking from theory. He’s built and lost businesses multiple times. He started his first company at 20, went bankrupt more than once, rebuilt from rock bottom, worked labouring jobs to support his family, and eventually built businesses operating across Australia — to the point where buying an aircraft became a practical business decision, not a luxury.   But the most interesting part of his story isn’t the success. It’s what happened when success disappeared. After losing everything financially, facing bankruptcy, and then watching his wife battle cancer with two young boys at home, Warwick was forced to confront a question most young men spend years avoiding: What actually holds you together when your own strength isn’t enough anymore? This conversation explores: Why failure may be a better teacher than success.The hidden cost of comfort and safety.Why modern men are drowning in noise but starving for meaning.The difference between information, wisdom, and purpose.How resilience is less a personality trait and more a decision.Why faith became less of an idea and more of a necessity for Warwick.How prayer, peace, and purpose changed the way he approaches business, family, and risk.Whether you’re building a business, questioning your direction, wrestling with anxiety about the future, or simply wondering if there’s more to life than achievement and consumption, this episode offers something increasingly rare: An honest conversation about ambition, suffering, meaning, and faith from someone who’s lived through all four. Warwick’s credibility doesn’t come from credentials or theory. He left school early, never attended university, built national businesses, led major projects inside large organisations, survived multiple bankruptcies, rebuilt repeatedly, and now leads companies across multiple states. His perspective was earned the hard way — through responsibility, failure, rebuilding, and decades of experience carrying the weight of employees, family, and business decisions.   The challenge he leaves listeners with is simple: Cut through the noise. Work out what actually matters. Build your life around that.

    25. Boom. Bust. Built Again.
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About

Cut Through is a podcast for people who are tired of noise, outrage, and shallow thinking — and want clarity instead. Hosted by Christian Co, the show features honest, long-form conversations with thinkers, leaders, and everyday people who have lived through failure, doubt, faith, ambition, loss, and rebuilding. Together, they explore the ideas that shape a meaningful life — identity, purpose, power, truth, culture, work, and belief. While especially relevant for young men navigating adulthood in a fragmented culture, these conversations are for anyone who wants to cut through the noise and

Information

  • Creator
    Cut Through
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    32
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cut Through
  • Show Website
    Cut Through