Swearing around members of a congregation? "Parish" the thought. But could profanity sometimes have a place on the pulpit?

Rev. Dr. Allan Rudy-Froese of the Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary believes swear words can sometimes be the most honest words. Daniel Benson, a minister in the United Church of Canada, says swear words can express moments when other words won't do it. 

Two spiritual leaders discuss swearing and the role it plays in society and in the authenticity of their ministry. Plus, Olly Robertson, a researcher at Oxford who specializes in swearing, weighs in on the science of swearing.

Swear to God

Tapestry is your guide through the messy business of being human. You’ll hear surprising conversations and rediscover your connection to something larger than yourself. Tapestry: your time to pause and go deep.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

In this finale episode of Tapestry, Mary Hynes and co-host Chris Howden send off the show in style with some of our favourite interview moments, well wishes from past guests, and emotional calls from listeners —  all in front of a live studio audience.

Tapestry: Thanks for listening

For Tapestry's penultimate episode, we peek behind the curtain. Tapestry producers Rosie Fernandez, Arman Aghbali, and McKenna Hadley-Burke take the hosting reins to share what the show has meant to them, alongside three stories on unexpected gifts and goodbyes.

Saying goodbye

The Irish poet John O'Donohue is in a league of his own here at Tapestry — he stars in the single most requested episode we’ve ever broadcast. 

O’Donohue, an ex-priest, was also a beautiful writer, and a wildly eloquent partner in conversation. Talking to Mary Hynes in 2004, O’Donohue shares his poetry and soulful wisdom about what it means to live a good life and die a good death.

Our most requested interview: John O'Donohue

When he reached the peak of Snowmass Mountain, Fred Bryant made sure the moment lived with him forever. Bryant is a social psychologist and a leading expert on the science of savouring.

Later, Shane Sinclair is the founder and director of the Compassion Research Lab at the University of Calgary. He is putting compassion under the microscope to understand how healthcare workers can provide better experiences for their patients.

The science of sweetness

Writer, artist and priest Malcolm Doney has been tackling life's biggest questions about love, loss, meaning and purpose. Together with co-author Martin Wroe, Doney wrote a guide to living in harmony with the unknown called Hold On, Let Go: How to Find Your Life.

Swear to God

Download our free app to listen on your phone