
The Sacred
The Sacred is a podcast about our deepest values, the stories that shape us and how we can build empathy and understanding between people who are very different.
Each episode features a conversation with someone who has a public voice, from academics to journalists, playwrights and politicians. We ask them where they have come from, what they are trying to do and what might help heal our very divided public conversations.
The Sacred is hosted by Elizabeth Oldfield, former director of Theos.
For more information about the people and ideas behind the podcast, visit https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/about/who-we-are or follow us on Twitter @theosthinktank, @sacred_podcast and @ESOldfield.
Latest episodes

8 snips
Jun 12, 2024 • 59min
Leading Psychologist on The Transformative Power of Awe
Dacher Keltner, a Berkeley psychology professor and leading Emotion Scientist, shares insights on the profound effects of awe in our lives. He discusses how awe can counter feelings of gluttony and disconnection, promoting emotional awareness and deeper relationships. Keltner reflects on the transformative power of moral beauty, emphasizing interconnectedness in a chaotic world. He explores the role of trauma, community, and personal values in shaping our understanding of self and the necessity of fostering genuine relationships for healing and fulfillment.

Jun 5, 2024 • 1h 8min
Luke Turner on Sexuality, Overcoming Shame, and Surviving Abuse
Luke is a Music Journalist, Co-Founder of The Quietus and Writer of 'Out of the Woods', a memoir about sexuality, shame and the lure of the trees.
🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast
📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/
💡 Produced by the Theos Think Tank: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/
✨ Find out more about Luke's work: https://twitter.com/LukeTurnerEsq

May 29, 2024 • 55min
Gretchen Rubin on How to Find Happiness in the Ordinary
In this episode, Gretchen speaks about her love of children's literature, why St Therese of Lisieux is her spiritual teacher, and why we might need a seminary for accidental gurus.
🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast
📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/
💡 Produced by the Theos Think Tank: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/
✨ Find out more about Gretchen's work: https://gretchenrubin.com/

May 22, 2024 • 38min
How to Become Fully Alive with Elizabeth Oldfield
Elizabeth Oldfield, writer and host of The Sacred podcast, alongside The Sacred producer Daniel Turner introduce a brand new series of The Sacred. Themed around her latest book ‘Fully Alive’, Elizabeth speaks about finding steadiness in our turbulent times, community and the desperate need for a rebranding of the word ‘sin’. She also discusses her hopes and fears for the release of her book.
🎙️ Follow The Sacred: www.linktr.ee/sacredpodcast
📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/
💡 Produced by the Theos Think Tank: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

Apr 3, 2024 • 18min
Elizabeth Oldfield on Values, Vulnerability, and the Limitations of Social Media
The podcast reflects on conversations about values with guests like Greg Wise and Chris Packham. They explore vulnerability, childhood influences, and the impact of social media on values. Themes of fully aliveness, authenticity, and online spaces are discussed.

13 snips
Mar 27, 2024 • 1h 19min
Jonathan Haidt on Religion, Psychedelics and the Anxious Generation
Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt discusses truth, atheism, psychedelics, and overprotection of children in physical vs. digital spaces. He highlights the importance of understanding diverse perspectives, embracing a centrist position, and engaging with differing viewpoints in academia. Jonathan also explores ethical challenges in research, brain hemisphere dynamics, spirituality, and the role of communication in creating a connected society.

5 snips
Mar 20, 2024 • 56min
Sunder Katwala on Race, Identity and Reimagining Patriotism
Sunder Katwala is the Director of the think tank, British Future. who have worked on issues such as immigration and identity. He was formerly General Secretary of the Fabian Society, and before that, he was a journalist and a leader writer for The Observer.
Sunder spoke about growing up Irish Catholic, why he's broadly optimistic about the trajectory around race and identity in the UK, and why football is so central to who he is.
You can buy Sunder's book How to be a Patriot here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Patriot-country-British-culture/dp/0008553866#:~:text=Book%20overview&text=How%20to%20be%20a%20Patriot%20offers%20a%20new%20way%20of,some%20questions%20to%20work%20through.
Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2024/03/20/sunder-katwala-on-race-identity-and-reimagining-patriotism
*****
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/
Substack: https://morefullyalive.substack.com/
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

Mar 13, 2024 • 56min
Elizabeth Alker on Fairness, Foster Care, and Accent Stigma
Elizabeth Alker is a BBC Radio 3 presenter, and previously spent several years working at BBC Radio 6 Music.
Elizabeth spoke about growing up with parents who fostered, the role of faith in her life, fairness as a sacred value and her reflections on being northern.
Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2024/03/13/elizabeth-alker-on-fairness-foster-care-and-accent-stigma
*****
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/
Substack: https://morefullyalive.substack.com/
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

Mar 6, 2024 • 1h 4min
Freddie Sayers on Political Tribalism and Questioning the Status Quo
Freddie Sayers is Editor-in-Chief of UnHerd and host of the podcast UnHerd with Freddie Sayers. He was the former Editor-in-Chief of YouGov and founder of Politics Home.
Freddie spoke about his sacred value of beauty, his unconventional path into political journalism, why he began to question some of the underlying logic and culture of liberalism, his outspoken criticism of lockdown policy's during COVID-19, and how he navigates being unorthodox and questioning without descending into tribalism.
Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2024/03/06/freddie-sayers-on-political-tribalism-and-questioning-the-status-quo
** Listen to Freddie's podcast UnHerd with Freddie Sayers here https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/unherd-with-freddie-sayers/id1540134798
*****
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/
Substack: https://morefullyalive.substack.com/
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

8 snips
Feb 28, 2024 • 1h 11min
Katherine May on Everyday Wonder and How to Not Be a Guru
Katherine May is the author of multiple books, both fiction and memoir, including the much celebrated Wintering and The Electricity of Every Living Thing. She most recently authored the book Enchantment: Reawakening Wonder in an Exhausted Age, and is the host of the very popular podcast How We Live Now.
Katherine spoke about seasons of life, finding wonder in the everyday, class, autism, the weirdness of becoming a 'person of wisdom' to many and how to avoid becoming an internet guru.
** You can buy a copy of Katherine's book 'Enchantment' here: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571378357-enchantment/ **
** And check out her podcast How We Live Now here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-we-live-now-with-katherine-may/id1516642192 **
Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2024/02/28/katherine-may-on-everyday-wonder-and-how-to-not-be-a-guru
*****
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/
Substack: https://morefullyalive.substack.com/
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
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