The Sacred

Theos

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.

Episodes

Mentioned books

May 24, 2023 • 1h 5min

Lizzie Damilola Blackburn on colourism, and the importance of representation in publishing

Lizzie Damilola Blackburn is a British Nigerian author, and writer of 'Yinka, Where is your Huzband?' a book which explores the experience of a young Nigerian woman living in London and wrestling societal/family expectations of faith, life and love. She spoke about her experience growing up in a Nigerian, Christian household, the way her faith shapes her writing, and why representation matters in the publishing industry. Buy a copy of Yinka, Where is your Huzband?' here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/yinka-where-is-your-huzband/lizzie-damilola-blackburn/2928377077259 Get tickets to our Sacred Live event with Oliver Burkeman using the promo code SACREDLIVE2023 here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sacred-live-feat-elizabeth-oldfield-and-oliver-burkeman-tickets-565116999157 CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 06:20 What is sacred to you? Lizzie Damilola Blackburn’s answer 09:18 Childhood: God’s love and discovering the third sector 11:59 The need for diverse stories and the divine call to become an author 17:18 Handholding readers and reactions to a Christian celibate protagonist 23:33 Colourism and the bias of beauty standards 27:54 Representation in publishing and the public service of rom-coms 35:13 Elizabeth Oldfield’s reflection on her conversation with Lizzie Damilola Blackburn ***** 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

Feb 22, 2023 • 1h 2min

Katharine Birbalsingh on small-c conservatism and the philosophy of Michaela Community School

Katharine Birbalsingh is the founder and headmistress of the Michaela Community School. She is known for promoting ’small-c’ conservative values in the her school, and has subsequently been dubbed Britain’s Strictest Headmistress, which later became the title of an ITV documentary exploring her and her methods. She spoke about the underlying philosophy of Michaela Community School, her journey from being a ‘lefty’ to now a ‘small-c’ conservative, and the lessons she learnt from her dad’s parenting. Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/02/22/katharine-birbalsingh-on-smallc-conservatism-and-the-philosophy-of-michaela-community-school CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 02:35 What is sacred to you? Tanni Grey Thompson’s answer 08:31 Childhood, privilege and dealing with nosiness 15:23 The surgery and about getting on 19:27 Faith, sport and self-discipline 25:33 Un-selfing in sport 32:13 The medical model and disabled people’s autonomy 41:08 Assisted suicide and proper care 44:24 Woke culture, de-platforming and listening to difference 48:50 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

Feb 15, 2023 • 56min

Tanni Grey Thompson on the joy of sport, and the trials disabled people face in society

Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson DBE DL is an 11 time gold-winning Paralympian, and cross-bench peer in the House of Lords. Her highly successful career has seen her become one of Great Britain's most accomplished athletes, to sitting on and chairing various boards, including @_ukactive, to politics, to her active role in politics. She spoke about the joy of sport and the role it plays in society, her dogged approach to politics, and what has and hasn't changed for disabled people in society. Read the full transcipt here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/02/15/tanni-grey-thompson-on-the-joy-of-sport-and-the-trials-disabled-people-face-in-society Here are some helpful guidelines to consider when when communicating with or about disabled people: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-communication/inclusive-language-words-to-use-and-avoid-when-writing-about-disability ***** 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

Feb 8, 2023 • 1h 6min

Yoram Hazony on Orthodox Judaism, Conservatism, and the true meaning of Nationalism

Yoram Hazony is a political analyst and writer from Israel. He is the President of the Herzl Institute, Chairman of the Edmund Burke, and author of a number of books, most recent of which is 'Conservatism: A Rediscovery'. He spoke about Orthodox Judaism and his path to reclaiming it, the fundamental differences between Conservatives and Marxists, and how Nationalism is frequently misunderstood. Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/02/08/yoram-hazony-on-orthodox-judaism-conservatism-and-the-true-meaning-of-nationalism You can buy his latest book, Conservatism: A Rediscovery, here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/conservatism/yoram-hazony/9781800752337 CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 02:00 What is sacred to you? Yoram Hazony’s answer 06:06 Liberal childhood and the Jewish tradition 09:25 Conservative Labour and teenage loyalism 17:02 Spiritual Homecoming 22:55 Conservatism versus Liberalism 29:04 Woke neo-Marxism 37:49 Gratitude in a just conservative society 44:26 The Biblical argument for nationalism 50:10 Different lessons of the Holocaust 55:08 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

Feb 1, 2023 • 1h

Jared Yates Sexton on escaping fundamentalism and the mythology of Marvel movies

Jared Yates Sexton is an American writer and political commentator. Having begun his career writing and teaching fiction, things changed as his investigative journaling in the run up to the 2016 Presidential election plunged him into the world of politics. He is also the host of the Muckrake Podcast. He spoke about his childhood in a fundamentalist Christian church, the need for 'good brokership' when engaging across the political divide, and why despite the joy they may bring, Marvel movies are still propaganda for the 'old order'. Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/02/01/jared-yates-sexton-on-escaping-fundamentalism-and-the-mythology-of-marvel-movies You can buy his latest book, The Midnight Kingdom here:https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673035/the-midnight-kingdom-by-jared-yates-sexton/ CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 01:20 What is sacred to you? Jared Yates Sexton’s answer 06:34 Religious childhood trauma and being curious 18:40 The original idea of God 23:38 From fiction writer to political commentator 29:02 Political storytelling and authoritarianism 36:12 The power of the people 46:41 Marvel movies and the mythology of the Old Order 51:40 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

Jan 25, 2023 • 1h 1min

Clover Stroud on grief, God, creativity and horses

Clover Stroud is a journalist and best-selling author of three books, the most recent of which is The Red of my Blood. She spoke about spoke about her upbringing, grappling with death, and the intertwined relationship between grief, God, creativity and horses. Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2023/01/25/clover-stroud-on-grief-god-creativity-and-horses Purchase The Red of My Blood, here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Red-Blood-Death-Life-Story/dp/0857527738/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:05 What is sacred to you? Clover Stroud’s response 07:14 Spirituality and horses 12:47 Grappling with grief 16:38 Growing up in the countryside 26:28 Faith is a lot like creativity 37:43 Nick Cave and the transcendent nature of grief 49:32 Sober intoxication of the Catholic Mass 43:49 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

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