ABC Foreign News Correspondent James Longman speaks to Elizabeth Oldfield about the emotional toll he faces as a journalist reporting from war zones, the challenges of being a gay journalist in dangerous regions abroad, and the intergenerational impact of mental illness within his own family.

If you enjoy episodes of The Sacred don't forget to hit subscribe to be notified whenever we release an episode!

🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast

📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

✍️ See James' new book 'The Inherited Mind': https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211026628-the-inherited-mind

CHAPTERS

00:00 Intro

00:54 What is Sacred to you? James Longman responds

07:03 Childhood Influences and Family Dynamics

14:07 The Impact of Mental Health in Family History

18:58 The Journey into Journalism and Conflict Reporting

24:11 Ethics and Responsibilities in News Reporting

29:51 Cultural and Spiritual Influences on Identity

31:48 Navigating Identity in Hostile Environments

38:02 The Interplay of Genetics and Environment

45:11 Understanding Mental Illness and Suicide

48:30 The Power of Compassionate Support

52:00 Elizabeth's reflection

Keywords:

kindness, journalism, family, mental health, ethics, conflict reporting, Ukraine, storytelling, hope, authenticity, Catholicism, LGBTQ+, mental health, genetics, suicide, community, love, support, healing, identity, journalist, ethics, war, trauma, resilience, empathy, responsibility, mental, illness, family, spirituality, identity, sexuality, reporting, hope, grief, healing, understanding, community, compassion, depression, suicide, schizophrenia, bipolar, epigenetics, environment, genetics, inherited, sacred, values, storytelling, bearing, witness, gay, international, danger, intergenerational, legacy, support, care, privilege, resources, authenticity, vulnerability, forgiveness, redemption, transformation