Faith with Haith

Have you seen the extraordinary post-9/11 image of two almighty searchlight-towers dominating the New York skyline?  The message to the world is clear: the light will ALWAYS break through and defeat the darkness.
As "Faith with Haith" returns for a second season, and on this 20th anniversary of 9/11, I interview an amazing woman who was in the White House on that darkest of days, but then responded to the evil by bringing light and hope to thousands worldwide.

I cannot believe that this is the 50th episode of the "Faith with Haith" podcast. By way of a celebration of that fact  I could think of no-one finer to share it with than the women of the Griffiths family. Rae and her two daughters, Phoebe and Fleur, have a wonderful dynamic together and by rights should have a podcast of their own. Listen in now to hear us talking about everything from navigating growing up in a Christian home to the everyday experience of being a woman in modern day Britain. This is the last episode for a while as I take a break and let you trawl through all the past episodes at your leisure.

This week on the "Faith with Haith" podcast: a total delight to welcome back Michael Emmett.
His new book, "Sins of Fathers", is flying off the shelves and you would be mad to miss out on this extraordinary story of crime and addiction, but also faith and connection.  He might look like he's carved from stone but today Michael is one of the kindest and most loving men you could ever meet. In this episode we explore together the nature of addiction, why we cling to substitutes, and the ultimate hope of living free.

Faith can and should push us out into the world, to bring friendship and comfort to those most in need. Patrick Regan has been doing that for years now, helping hundreds of thousands of people to understand and experience God's love. But Patrick would be the first to say (and does on this podcast) that it is so easy for the balance to go out of life, even when you are doing great works. A few years ago, Patrick hit a wall. Tune in now to hear what happened next.

Such a delight and honour to interview one of my heroes: Terry Virgo, the founder of the "New Frontiers" network of churches. Not only is he one of the finest Bible teachers you will ever get to hear, his legacy of church-planting and leadership development has impacted the entire globe, touching the lives of millions. But the main reason this podcast episode is so special to me is that I grew up in "Clarendon", the church Terry started in the '70s where my mum was a founder member.  Throughout my teens, my faith was given deep, deep roots and for that I will always be deeply grateful to this wonderful, brilliant and kind man.

Some people are just fascinating to talk to: Peter is most definitely one of them. You may have enjoyed studying literature at Uni, like me, but I guarantee you could not begin to come anywhere close to the depth and breadth of knowledge that he has. The way he talks about poetry makes you want to spend the rest of the day curled up reading in front of the fire. And then there's his spiritual insights as a prayerful priest. And then there's his practical experience of heartache and heartbreak...and the most beautiful metaphor for brokenness and gradual healing I've ever heard...

Singer-songwriter Matt Redman's music is both listened to and sung by millions around the world every day, especially the double-Grammy award winning "10,000 Reasons".  He's also  authored eight books and helped start three new churches, all whilst being a loving husband to Beth and a great dad to 5 kids. But, at the end of the day, he's just Matt and his honesty and vulnerability in this interview are deeply moving.

I remember the day when Julia Strachan (nee Immonen) announced to me with glee that she was going to row the Atlantic. And I especially remember my reaction...(let's just say I was rather sceptical and very nervous). But she only went and did it: she faced up to mountainous waves, endless technical failures and crushing self-doubt all in order to raise awareness about modern-day slavery. What a story. What a woman.

I find these weekly conversations so deeply humbling: to be able to talk with people at such an intimate level is such an honour. In this episode, Andy Henderson and his amazing son Archie share their life experiences which have been nothing short of excruciating. 
We get the word "excruciating" from the word "crucifixion": Andy and Archie, individually and together, have experienced the pain and yet also the power of the Cross. 
To witness their faith is searingly beautiful.

This week's conversation is with an extraordinary man: Andrew Steer, who heads up the World Resources Institute. He has had, to date, the most extraordinary career helping entire nations towards economic growth, reduced poverty, better healthcare and education and all whilst protecting the environment. Andrew believes that sustainable development goals are possible at the same time as working to stem the flow of climate change, and, crucially, that there is most definitely a spiritual element to it all.