The Power of Black Elephant

Martin Shaw is a mythologist and author of the award-winning, Branch from a Lightning Tree. Felix Marquardt has worn many hats over his career from author to entrepreneur to French rap producer. He is also the co-founder of Black Elephant - an experiential social network based on vulnerability. They spoke about their respective religious conversations to Orthodox Christianity and Islam, the power of myths and storytelling and the role of vulnerability in bridging divides. This recording took place in Patmos and is an audio only episode. Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/07/05/martin-shaw-felix-marquardt-on-religious-conversion-being-vulnerable-and-the-power-of-myths Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:47 What is sacred to you? Martin Shaw and Felix Marquardt’s answers. 00:06:59 Martin’s childhood: Christianity, punk rock, and holding onto conscience 00:10:26 Martin – turning down a career in music, tent living, and rediscovering myths 00:21:11 Martin – A hundred and one nights on Dartmoor and a transformational experience 00:30:36 Felix’s childhood: toxic French secularism, fear of eternity, and escapism through drugs 00:36:58 Felix – Faith through recovery, the 12 Step movement, and showing reverence for synchronicity 00:49:50 Black Elephant: well-sealed vessels, breaking down barriers and trading growth for depth 00:57:23 The Black Elephant Question: common ground beyond the topical and the superficial 01:09:13 Reflection and Outro ***** The Sacred is a podcast produced by the think tank Theos. Be sure to connect with us below to stay up-to-date with all our content, research and events. CONNECT WITH THE SACRED Twitter: https://twitter.com/sacred_podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacred_podcast/ CONNECT WITH ELIZABETH OLDFIELD Twitter: https://twitter.com/ESOldfield Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elizabethsaraholdfield/ CONNECT WITH THEOS Theos monthly newsletter: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/d/E9E17CAB71AC7464 Twitter: https://twitter.com/Theosthinktank Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theosthinktank LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/theos---the-think-tank/ Website: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ CHECK OUT OUR PODCASTS The Sacred: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-sacred/id1326888108 Reading Our Times: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/reading-our-times/id1530952185