10KQ Podcast

Val O'Brien

Welcome to the 10,000 Questions podcast. A podcast for students where we answer your hardest questions about God, faith and life. Hosted by Val O’Brien, the director of the 10,000 Questions project and personal friend, and general fan of young people. Listen to hear conversations that are full of genuine curiosity, intellectual honesty, and a sincere desire to know what is true and make sense of the world. Everyone has questions, what are yours?

  1. May 19

    Shame, Identity & Forgiveness — Real Questions from Real Students | 10KQ Podcast Ep. 15

    Welcome to this student Q&A episode on the 10,000 Questions Podcast, Val O'Brien is joined by Jordan Francis — counselor, youth ministry leader, and founder of Reframe — to tackle some of the rawest, most honest questions students are asking about shame, identity, grief, forgiveness, and faith. In this episode, we cover: - How do you not feel ashamed or embarrassed for the things you've done or that have happened to you? - Why can't people ever see the good in me? - How do you let bad things make you and not break you? - Why can't I forgive my mom for all the bad things she's done to me? - How do I spread the gospel when my life is a mess? - Is it okay to be an atheist and go to church? 📌 If you've ever felt like your past defines you, like no one sees your worth, or like your life is too messy to follow Jesus — this episode is for you. Learn more about the 10,000 Questions project: https://ask10KQ.org Check out Jordan's work: https://www.reframeyouth.com/ Subscribe for more student-driven conversations about faith and real life. Comment your question for our next Q&A. Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement. #ChristianPodcast #StudentFaith #10KQ #Identity #Forgiveness #GriefAndFaith #JesusAndMentalHealth

    1 hr

  2. Apr 28

    Feeling Far from God? Here's How to Grow Closer | 10KQ Podcast Ep. 14

    Welcome to this Q&A episode on the 10,000 Questions Podcast—a podcast for students where we answer your hardest questions about God, faith, and life. Host Val O'Bryan is joined by Chad Huffman, high school teacher, coach, department head, and Christianity & Culture instructor with over 13 years in education. How do you grow closer to God and what does that actually look like in real life? Whether you've been following Jesus for years or you're just beginning to explore faith, this episode is for you. We recorded it for anyone ready to take one more step toward knowing God. In this episode, we cover: - What to do when you feel far from God in your faith - Whether spiritual distance is something you caused—or something worth paying attention to - How relationship habits (prayer, Scripture, community) shape your walk with God - The difference between building healthy spiritual habits and falling into legalism - How the people and patterns in your life affect your closeness to God - What it looks like to grow at different stages of following Jesus - Why students' hardest faith questions deserve honest answers—not just the "party line" - How a Christianity & Culture class brings real-world topics into faith conversations 📌 If you've ever wondered why God feels distant, or what you're actually supposed to do about it—this episode is for you. Learn more: https://ask10KQ.org Subscribe for more student-driven conversations about faith and real life. Comment your question for our next Q&A. Share with a friend who needs encouragement. #ChristianPodcast #StudentFaith #10KQ #GrowingCloserToGod #FaithQuestions #ChristianStudents #HighSchoolFaith #KnowingGod

    53 min

  3. Mar 24

    Jesus: Who He Is, What He Was Like, and Why It Matters | 10KQ Podcast Ep. 13

    Welcome to this student Q&A episode on Jesus on the 10,000 Questions Podcast—a podcast for students where we answer your hardest questions about God, faith, and life. Val O’Brien is joined by Dr. Mikel Del Rosario (Moody Bible Institute) to explore one of the biggest questions ever asked: Who is Jesus? From history to theology to personal faith, this conversation dives deep into the person of Jesus from every angle. In this episode, we cover: Who is Jesus? (historically, theologically, and personally) What do non-Christian historians say about Jesus? What was Jesus’s life like before his ministry? Did Jesus know he was the Messiah as a child? What did Jesus actually look like? How was Jesus fully human and fully God at the same time? Was Jesus “talking back” to God in the Garden of Gethsemane? Does Jesus regret dying for our sins? Did Jesus teleport after the resurrection? Why does it matter what you believe about Jesus? This episode tackles real questions with intellectual honesty and points to the deeper truth at the center of Christianity. 📌 If you’ve ever wondered whether Jesus was just a historical figure—or something more—this episode is for you. Learn more about the 10,000 Questions project: https://ask10KQ.org Check out Dr. Del Rosario’s work: https://apologeticssky.com

    40 min

  4. Mar 3

    Sexuality Q&A (Part 2): Culture vs Purity vs Biblical Narrative | 10KQ Podcast Ep. 12

    Welcome to Part 2 of our student Q&A series on sexuality on the 10,000 Questions Podcast—a podcast for students where we answer your hardest questions about God, faith, and life. Val O’Brien is joined again by Ian and Jordan from Authentic Intimacy to answer real student questions and unpack a framework that changes everything: In this episode, we cover: - Who taught you about sex? (Why everyone has a “sexuality narrative”) - The three narratives: the cultural narrative, the purity narrative, and the biblical narrative - Why “purity culture” can miss the reason behind God’s design - Why does it matter if someone wants to be transgender? (How to respond with compassion + truth) - Weird modesty rules (what the Bible actually emphasizes) - Why do some Christians hate or mistreat LGBTQ people? (and why that’s incompatible with Jesus) - Why not live together before marriage? (statistics + covenant commitment) 📌 Important: If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there first. Part 2 builds on the biblical framework laid in the first episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRjKap33ogo Resources & Links: Learn more about the 10,000 Questions project: https://ask10KQ.org Subscribe for more student-driven conversations about faith and real life. Comment your question for our next Q&A. Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement.

    34 min

  5. Feb 17

    Sexuality Q&A (Part 1): Sex, Porn, Masturbation & God’s Design | 10KQ Podcast Ep. 11

    Sex. Porn. Masturbation. Waiting. Shame. Healing. In Part 1 of this student Q&A episode of the 10,000 Questions Podcast, Val O’Brien is joined by Ian Shy and Jordyn Gent from Authentic Intimacy to talk about what the Bible actually teaches about sexuality and to answer the real, raw questions students are asking. Before jumping into the Q&A, this episode sets a foundation: sex isn’t just a rule list or a random urge—God designed sexuality with a purpose that runs from Genesis to Revelation. From there, we get honest about pornography, shame cycles, desire, boundaries, and what to do when your story doesn’t match the “ideal.” In this episode, we cover: - The Bible’s big-picture story of sex: what it’s for and why it matters - What’s the point of waiting until marriage? - If I’ve had sex before… will God forgive me? - What if I felt forced but never said anything? - Why am I so addicted to porn? (and what might be underneath the behavior) - Is masturbation okay? (how to think biblically in a “gray area”) If you feel stuck, ashamed, confused, or tired—don’t quit. You’re not alone. Jesus isn’t afraid of these questions, and you don’t have to be either. Resources & Links: Learn more about the 10,000 Questions project: https://ask10KQ.org Subscribe for more student-driven conversations about faith and real life. Comment your question for our next Q&A. Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement.

    39 min

  6. Jan 20

    Saved, Heaven, and Eternity: What Happens When We Die? | 10KQ Podcast Ep. 9

    Does it all go black when we die? Is life just a test to see if we’re “good enough” for heaven? And how do you actually know you’re saved? In this student-driven Q&A episode of the 10,000 Questions Podcast, Val O’Brien sits down with Kyle Hoffsmith and Mike McGarry (Youth Theologian) to tackle some of the biggest, most anxiety-inducing questions students ask about salvation, eternity, heaven, sin, and what happens after death. Chapters: 00:00 - Intro 04:57 - “Does it just turn black and I’m stuck in eternity?” 08:26 - “Is life just a test to see if we’re good enough to make it to heaven?” 11:31 - “How do I know I’m truly saved?” 18:56 - “Can I be punished for something I didn’t know was a sin?” 25:08 - “What if I believe in two religions?” 37:06 - Outro If these questions stress you out—you’re not alone. Don’t quit. Lean in. Your questions matter, and Christianity offers compelling hope for what comes next. Resources & Links: Learn more about Aspen Ministry: https://aspenministry.org/ Learn more about the 10,000 Questions project: ask10KQ.org Subscribe for more student-driven conversations about faith and real life. Comment your question for our next Q&A. Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement.

    38 min

  7. Jan 6

    Where Was God When I Was Suffering? | Interview with Jordyn Gent | 10KQ Podcast Ep.8

    What do you do when your faith collides with deep pain? In this powerful and honest episode of the 10,000 Questions Podcast, Val O’Brien sits down with author and speaker Jordan Amari to talk about trauma, mental health, doubt, and the hard questions that surface when suffering feels unbearable. Jordan shares her journey as a survivor of sexual abuse, depression, and suicidal ideation—and how God met her not with easy answers, but with presence, healing, and hope. Together, they wrestle with questions students ask all the time: - Where was God when I was hurting? - Why doesn’t God stop suffering? - Can faith survive trauma and doubt? - How do you heal when the pain feels too deep? This episode is for anyone who feels stuck, angry, numb, or unsure what to believe anymore—and for those who want to understand how faith and healing can coexist. If you or someone you love is struggling, you are not alone—and there is hope on the other side of the questions. Resources & Links: Learn more about Aspen Ministry: https://aspenministry.org/ Learn more about the 10,000 Questions project: ask10KQ.org Subscribe for more student-driven conversations about faith and real life. Comment your question for our next Q&A. Share this episode with a friend who needs encouragement.

    33 min

  8. 12/02/2025

    Is the Bible Reliable or Just Old? Your Questions Answered | 10KQ Podcast Ep. 7

    What do you do when you’re told the Bible is important…but you’re not actually sure you trust it (or even like reading it)? In this Q&A episode of the 10,000 Questions Podcast, Val sits down with Shawn Maybe and Johnny Fielding to tackle your real questions about the Bible, where it came from, why there are so many versions, and what to do when it just feels…boring. We talk about: 📖 Who decided what books are in the Bible? 🧩 If the Bible is “God-breathed,” why did humans pick the books? 🔁 Why are there so many different translations (ESV, NIV, NLT, etc.) and can we trust them? 😴 Is it bad if the Bible feels boring sometimes? 🚩 Where should I start reading if I’ve barely read the Bible before? ⚔️ How do we deal with the weird / dark / violent parts of the Old Testament? ❤️ How the Bible is both deep enough to study for a lifetime and simple enough to start today. 6 Practical Questions to ask yourself while your reading the Bible (Johnny Fielding) What stands out to you? (Seems interesting, Peculiar, Odd, or Striking) Whats confusing? (What are you striggling to understand, having a hard time accepting as true, what seems contradictory) What do I learn about God? (How can I know God better through this passage) What did I learn about People? (Is there an example of somebody showing me a good way to follow God. Or maybe something I shouldn't be doing. Or revealing some of our hearts of how we act as humans as we relate to God What is the Main Point. (Narrow what you read down into a sentence or two. What is the Key Idea?) How can I apply this to my life? (Look at the main point (Q5) and ask yourself, what would it look like for me to live out that main point?)

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to the 10,000 Questions podcast. A podcast for students where we answer your hardest questions about God, faith and life. Hosted by Val O’Brien, the director of the 10,000 Questions project and personal friend, and general fan of young people. Listen to hear conversations that are full of genuine curiosity, intellectual honesty, and a sincere desire to know what is true and make sense of the world. Everyone has questions, what are yours?

Information

  • Creator
    Val O'Brien
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Val O'Brien
  • Show Website
    10KQ Podcast