Faith with Haith

What is life and what is dying? Surely, in a world in which we as humans are used to being in control of so many things, why should we not be in charge of when and how we die? If you were diagnosed with a terminal illness, would you want the right to choose euthanasia? Through recent personal experience, Matthew uncovers the true reality for one family engaging in “MAID” (medical assistance in dying) in Canada.

Elizabeth Garnsey and her young son live in New Canaan, Connecticut, where she is Senior Associate Rector at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church.

Before that she was ordained to the priesthood in the diocese of New York in 2006 and went on to serve as an Associate Rector in two Manhattan churches, then as a chaplain and religion teacher at an Episcopal school.

Before that Elizabeth earned a Master of Divinity degree from Yale in 2005.

Before that she worked in New York as a magazine journalist at George and Travel + Leisure 

Before that she studied Spanish in Costa Rica, archeology in Wales, and the European Union at the Sciences Po in Paris and earned a degree in history from the University of Colorado

Elizabeth has led a very full life, and it's a joy to chat with her.

Dame Julia Cleverdon is a passionate and practical campaigner who has gained an international reputation for 'connecting the unconnected', inspiring individuals and organisations to work together for the common good. Tune in now to hear how Julia's faith compels her to reach out to the marginalised in society: bringing light to an often very dark world, she is truly a woman of sunshine.

We live in a world that is beautiful but brutal. No-one knows that more than war reporter Clarissa Ward, who has spent nearly two decades reporting from front lines around the world: from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan to Yemen, Ukraine, Israel and Gaza.

Within hours of Hamas’ terror attack on October 7, Ward traveled to the site of the Tribe of Nova music festival and Be’eri kibbutz massacres. Two months later, Ward and her team visited a UAE-run field hospital in southern Gaza as victims – young and old – poured in to receive treatment from wounds sustained in Israeli strikes.

Ward was on the ground in Ukraine as Russia began its invasion in February 2022 and has since spent more than five months crisscrossing the country to cover the now two-year war.

Clarissa Ward is  recipient of the National Press Club’s most esteemed prize, the Fourth Estate Award, and is the author of ‘On All Fronts: The Education of a Journalist’ (Penguin Press), a memoir that details her singular career as a conflict reporter and how she has documented the violent remaking of the world from close range.

The author Corrie Ten Boom wrote: "When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer."
That perspective on faith sounds all well and good in theory, but what does it actually look like in practice? I never cease to find it deeply humbling to speak with people who are right in the middle of that darkness and yet their trust in God remains. Patricia is most definitely one such person and I know that you will find this episode both deeply moving and hugely inspiring.

I've been off the airwaves for 18 months (I hope you've missed me?!)....and what better way to make a return to podcasting than to talk to the wonderfully inspiring Darleen Santore, known to those she helps as "Coach Dar". Author, speaker and mentor to global leaders, CEOs and athletes, Dar has helped thousands of people across the world with her message of resilience and purpose. Now she has captured her story of bravery and comeback in the book "The Art of Bouncing Back". It's really very good: you should buy it and read it. But first, sit back and enjoy this brand new episode. Here's to bouncing back!

Leader and lecturer Doug Holladay's life path has taken him from degrees at top universities to Goldman Sachs, then on to the White House and serving at the US State Department as a special ambassador to South Africa. He has met a lot of people and seen a lot of leadership along the way. What he's witnessed is that, all too often, "successful" people end up experiencing emptiness, isolation and depression as the unintended fruits of their very achievements. His new book, and this conversation, focus on how we all might go about "Rethinking Success".

A career in food was always more tempting than school for Camilla Stephens, who left halfway through her A-levels to attend Leith’s School of Food and Wine. She spent the next few years working in catering before joining Good Housekeeping magazine. Next came travel in America where she fell in love with coffee culture: returning to the UK, Camilla then  developed the food range for the Seattle Coffee Company and Starbucks.  
In 2003, the newly freelance Camilla set up the Higgidy brand, making handmade pies near her home in West Sussex. Today, the company range is available in most major food retailers. 
The business may have grown, but Camilla’s home-cooking philosophy and use of kitchen cupboard ingredients remain at the heart of the Higgidy kitchen. 
Camilla is married to James; they have two teenage children, Kate and Jack and a golden retriever who is very aware of being the most popular member of the family. 

My guest on the "Faith with Haith' podcast this week is Rachel Hughes, the Lead Pastor of Gas Street Church in Birmingham (alongside her husband Tim):  a brilliant communicator who is passionate about seeing young women released into leadership. She has recently pioneered a national ministry alongside her sister, called ‘The Orchard’, with the aim of encouraging and empowering women.  Rachel can also be found inspiring families into fostering & adopting, all whilst also raising five young children; Phoebe, Simeon, Lois, Judah & Summer.