The Sacred

In this special end-of-year reflection episode of The Sacred, we're slowing down and seeing the season out with some of Elizabeth's favourite poems. Take a moment to sit with darkness and light, to reflect on the year, and to rest in words that have carried us through conversations about grief, migration, identity, hope and moral courage.Elizabeth reads some of the poems that have steadied her this season, from William Stafford and W.H. Auden to John Donne and Alfred Lord Tennyson.Poem credits: 'A Ritual to Read to Each other' from book 'Ask Me' by William Stafford from Graywolf Press. 'September 1, 1939' by W.H. Auden.'Nativity' by John DonneExcerpt from 'In Memoriam' by Alfred Lord Tennyson.📝 We’d be so grateful if you could fill out out listener survey. If you’ve been nourished by The Sacred, we’d really love to hear from you. We'd love to know what’s helping, or what’s not and what you’d like to see more of. Here's the link: https://biblesociety.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3WMJCr2xnXcxIq2🌟Wherever you are, we hope you find rest and time to slow down in this season. We’re grateful to be on this journey with you and we’ll see you in the new year!

Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Andrew Graystone about his role in uncovering the serial abuser John Smyth and the institutional cover-ups within the Church that kept the truth hidden.Andrew is a Writer, Broadcaster and Activist. He shares the story behind his new book Bleeding for Jesus and the hidden patterns that shape the lives of Christian leaders. He reflects on why institutions so often cover up wrongdoing, what it really costs to tell the truth, and how ordinary people can resist cultures of fear.He speaks about his own experiences of humiliation and redemption, how shame shapes our public life, and why hospitality - opening your door, your life, your table - can be a radical spiritual act. This is a tender and hopeful conversation about what it means to live with courage and integrity when systems around us bend towards self-protection.Please could you fill out our listener survey? We’d be so grateful. https://biblesociety.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3WMJCr2xnXcxIq2🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow and Buy Andrew’s book ‘Bleeding for Jesus’: https://x.com/AndrewGraystoneSupport links:- Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS)⁠www.macsas.org.uk⁠- National Association for People Abused in Childhood⁠www.napac.org.uk⁠- Samaritans⁠www.samaritans.org⁠ or by phone on 116 123- The Survivors Trust⁠www.thesurvivorstrust.org⁠- Safe Spaces⁠www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk ⁠or by phone 0300 303 1566- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy⁠www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/information-about-counselling⁠Chapters:00:00 Could you fill out our listener survey?01:15 Trailer and intro02:24 What is Sacred to you? Andrew Graystone answers10:00 Navigating Privilege and Inequality13:17 Principles of Living and Values18:00 Challenges of Hospitality and Community20:23 The Titus Trust and John Smyth Abuse Revelation31:49 Understanding Abuse and Its Impacts38:40 The Role of Institutions in Abuse43:09 Bystander Effect and Institutional Failures51:36 Anger, Gentleness, and Advocacy56:43 Closing Reflections on Power and PresenceKeywords:Andrew Graystone, Elizabeth Oldfield, The Sacred podcast, John Smyth abuse, Church abuse cover-up, Christian leaders accountability, False Profit book, exposing institutional abuse, faith and courage, standing up to power, moral courage, church scandals, abuse in Christian institutions, protecting the vulnerable, institutional failure, covering up wrongdoing, speaking truth to power, courage in faith, navigating shame, humiliation and redemption, pastoral accountability, moral imagination, ethical leadership, Christian ethics, religious institutions and abuse, confronting toxic power, survivors of abuse, advocating for victims, truth-telling in institutions, faith and justice, everyday courage, confronting secrecy, resisting culture of fear, hospitality as spiritual act, radical hospitality, opening your home to others, integrity and faith, walking with survivors, spiritual formation, institutional reform, uncovering abuse, moral responsibility, restorative justice, rebuilding trust, abuse survivors stories, church accountability, ethical decision making, courage under pressure, exposing wrongdoing, Christian leadership lessons, protecting the marginalized, personal integrity, confronting moral failure, courage in difficult times, learning from shame, Cathay Newman, Channel 4

In this live episode of The Sacred, Elizabeth Oldfield sits down with Channel 4 journalist Cathy Newman to the moments that guided her toward investigative journalism and a lifelong commitment to seeking truth. They talk about:✍️Investigative journalism and its role in holding power accountable ⛪ Investigating John Smyth's abuse in the Church of England✖️Navigating public scrutiny, social media abuse, and global debates 🌍The importance of diverse perspectives in newsrooms for more accurate reporting Cathy shares candid insights about truth, bias, and the pursuit of justice in journalism, highlighting the human stories behind the headlines and why public service media matters now more than ever. 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow Cathy: https://x.com/cathynewman?lang=enHosted by How the Light Gets In Keywords:Cathy Newman, Cathy Newman interview, Channel 4 News, Investigative journalism, Holding power to account, Accountability journalism, Truth in journalism, Media bias, Bias and perspective, Post-truth world, Public trust in media, Ethics in journalism, Moral courage, Whistleblowers, Abuse of power, Church abuse investigations, John Smyth investigation, Political scandals UK, Truth seekers, Journalism and justice, Cathy Newman The Sacred, The Sacred podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield, Courageous conversations, Speaking truth to power, Newsroom diversity, Media responsibility, Reporting on conflict, Gaza reporting ethics, War reporting challenges, Human nature and journalism, The human condition, Understanding truth, Misogyny in media, Online abuse journalists, Jordan Peterson interview, Public backlash, Investigative reporting stories, Exposing wrongdoing, Social justice journalism, Fact-based reporting, Trustworthy journalism, Impactful storytelling, Power dynamics, UK journalism, Female journalists UK, Journalism values, Holding leaders accountable, Media integrity, Hard-hitting interviews

In a world filled with noise and division, this podcast offers a refreshing space to slow down and listen. The host explores the profound impact of cultural chaos on our lives and the importance of reconnecting with empathy. Through deep conversations, the show aims to help us resist contempt and cultivate understanding. It’s a journey towards rebuilding our shared humanity amid the overwhelming distractions of modern life. Join the community to find grounding and hope in these uncertain times.

How can you reconcile all parts of your identity in an increasingly polarised landscape?After a mystical experience in a Sydney bar, David Bennett found himself shifting from queer theory and student politics towards a surprising new centre of gravity: the Christian faith. Today he describes himself as a gay celibate Christian, someone living between two tribes often assumed to be incompatible.In this deep and tender conversation, theologian David speaks with Elizabeth Oldfield about his long wrestle with desire, queer identity and Scripture; why he believes celibacy can be liberating rather than repressive; and how he hopes to build bridges across an increasingly polarised landscape.They explore what happens when your story becomes symbolic in the culture wars, how to refuse weaponisation from both left and right, and what it means to live as a pilgrim - someone always on the way, always becoming.---🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow David: https://www.instagram.com/davidacbennett/?hl=enChapters:00:00 - Intro 00:48 - What is Sacred to you? David Bennett answers02:00 - Growing Up and Not Fitting In05:00 - Coming Out & the Shockwaves at Home08:00 - Searching for Meaning: A Tour Through Belief Systems11:00 - Encountering God: The Moment Everything Shifted17:00 - Queer and Christian: Living in the Tension20:00 - Queer Side A and B Explained23:00 - Love, Honesty, Humility: The Values That Ground Him26:00 - Navigating criticism from Progressives and Conservatives29:00 - Living authentically with both identities32:00 - Final Reflections: Hope, Courage & Spiritual Belonging49:00 - David's message to the LGBTQI+ community58:30 - Elizabeth's reflectionsKeywords:David Bennett, gay Christian, celibate gay Christian, Side B Christianity, Side A vs Side B, queer Christianity, queer theology, queerness and faith, LGBTQ and religion, gay and Christian, Christianity and sexuality, Christian celibacy, re-sublimation of desire, same-sex attracted Christian, spiritual pilgrimage, faith and identity, culture war debates, progressive vs conservative Christianity, gay celibacy debate, queer identity and church, sexual ethics in Christianity, Romans 8:20 interpretation, Christian views on sexuality, LGBTQ inclusion in church, modern Christian ethics, religious trauma, faith deconstruction, faith reconstruction, conversion experience, encountering God, Christian testimony, reconciling faith and sexuality, Christian community rejection, building bridges across divides, Christian identity struggles, Oxford theology, queer theory and Christianity, celibacy as vocation, Christian friendship and community, Augustine and pilgrimage, Christian witness, culture wars and faith, LGBTQ spiritual journeys, progressive Christian critique, conservative Christian critique, Christian ethics of desire, healthy celibacy, alternative Christian vocations, strangeness of God’s love, living between two tribes

Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Mobeen Azhar and Elizabeth Oldfield to talk about his extraordinary career telling hidden and untold stories - from interviewing white supremacists, extremists, drug dealers, and killers; exposing police corruption, cults, and cover-ups; and told raw stories from inside prisons, mosques, and nightclubs. In an age of outrage and dehumanisation, Mobeen's journalism combats hate and demonisation with empathy and understanding to reveal the human story beyond the headlines.---🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow Mobeen: https://www.instagram.com/mobeen_azhar/?hl=en-gbKeywords:His award-winning documentaries include Small Town, Big Riot (BBC), uncovering how racism and misinformation fuelled a violent protest in Merseyside; The Battle for Britney, going inside the global #FreeBritney movement; The Satanic Verses: 30 Years On, exploring faith, art, and offence; Hometown: A Killing, investigating a murder in his own community; The Men Who Sell Sex; The Mosque Next Door; The Black and White Killing; The Soldiers That Saved Britain; and The Kandahar Killings. In this episode of The Sacred, journalist and documentary filmmaker Mobeen Azhar talks about racism, faith, and moral courage. Known for BBC documentaries like Small Town, Big Riot, Hometown: A Killing, and The Battle for Britney, Mobeen shares what it’s like to be a Muslim journalist in Britain interviewing racists, extremists, and people on the margins of society. He discusses empathy over outrage, understanding hate, and finding transcendence on the techno rave dance floor. This powerful conversation explores race, religion, identity, decency, and compassion in a divided world — and asks how we can stay human in the face of injustice and polarisation.

Cariad Lloyd, a talented comedian and host of Griefcast, delves into the profound intersection of grief and humor. She shares raw insights about her father's death and how comedy became her refuge, transforming pain into laughter. Cariad emphasizes the importance of honesty in raising her children about loss and the healing power of shared stories. With her unique perspective, she explores how humor can make the absurdity of death more bearable and discusses crafting children's books that address grief with sensitivity.

In this engaging discussion, author and educator Jeffrey Boakye explores the complexities of race, class, and identity. Growing up in Brixton shapes his view on Black British culture and the challenges within a predominantly white education system. He emphasizes the importance of confronting uncomfortable truths to foster genuine dialogue. Jeffrey discusses how fear and defensiveness can hinder conversations about power structures and the intersection of race and class, urging listeners to recognize shared struggles and challenge systemic inequalities.

What can an ancient tradition like Druidry teach us about living well today?In this episode of The Sacred Podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Philip Carr-Gomm, psychologist, author, and longtime leader of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. They explore how trees and nature are sacred, the meaning of magic in everyday life, and why ancient wisdom traditions might be exactly what we need in an age of ecological crisis and polarisation.🌳 Why trees, forests, and nature are sacred🤝 Why Buddhism felt more appealing than Christianity in his early years✨ What “magic” really means in psychology and spirituality🌍 How ancient wisdom, Celtic spirituality, and eco-spirituality can guide us todayThis conversation touches on modern druidry, earth-based spirituality, mindfulness, interfaith dialogue, and spiritual growth with insight into how we can find the sacred in everyday life and respond with wisdom to our times.---🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 🌀 Follow Philip Carr-Gomm's work: https://philipcarr-gomm.com/Chapters00:00 Intro01:10 What is Sacred to you? Philip Carr-Gomm answers 03:00 Why Trees Hold the Secret to Spiritual Enlightenment09:00 The Influences of a Druid's Childhood18:00 Diversity and Inclusivity in Druidry 27:00 Art and Nature Collide: The Untold Story of Druidry36:00 Magic and The Transformative Secrets of Druidry45:00 Masculine and Feminine Energies54:00 Druidry's Historical Tapestry01:03:00 The Divine Child: A Controversial Bridge Between Faiths01:12:00 Gender in Spirituality: The Debate That’s Changing Everything01:21:00 Can Spiritual Dialogue Break Down Barriers?KeywordsIn this conversation, Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Philip Carr-Gomm, psychologist, author, and modern druid, about the wisdom of Druidry, Celtic spirituality, and the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. They explore why trees are sacred, the role of nature in spirituality, and how ancient wisdom traditions can guide us today. Philip explains the meaning of magic, the connections between Buddhism, Christianity, and earth-based spirituality, and how practices of eco-spirituality, mindfulness, and nature connection can help us find the sacred in everyday life. This episode of The Sacred Podcast is for anyone curious about spiritual growth, interfaith dialogue, ancient traditions, modern druidry, psychology and spirituality, exploring faith, and spiritual wisdom in an age of ecological crisis and cultural polarization, polarisation.

Rod Dreher, a conservative writer and author, joins Elizabeth Oldfield to dissect the intricate dynamics of immigration. They explore the balance between compassion for migrants and the protection of citizens, highlighting biblical perspectives on welcoming the stranger. Dreher argues that unchecked migration threatens social cohesion, while Oldfield points to systemic failures as the true problem. Together, they emphasize the importance of respectful discourse, urging listeners to navigate this polarizing topic without dehumanization.