The C.S. Lewis podcast

In part 1 of our new series on science, Ruth Jackson is joined by Alister McGrath to explore how CS Lewis approached the relationship between science and religion. A former atheist and Oxford-trained scientist, McGrath unpacks how Lewis combined reason and imagination to challenge scientific materialism while affirming science’s value within a broader vision of reality. From Mere Christianity to That Hideous Strength they discuss Lewis’s enduring relevance in today’s science-faith debates. McGrath also shares insights from his forthcoming OUP book on Lewis’s influence in this area.

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Ahead of Tolkien Reading Day on 25th March, Dr Holly Ordway, author of Tolkien’s Faith, explores the contrasting spiritual journeys of J.R.R. Tolkien and CS Lewis—both of whom experienced the profound early loss of their mothers. While Tolkien’s faith deepened through suffering, Lewis famously declared that even amid the horrors of World War I, he "never sank so low as to pray." Dr Ordway reflects on Tolkien’s response to suffering, the problem of evil, and the role Lewis played in strengthening his faith.

Buy Holly Ordway's wonderful book on Tolkien's faith here https://amzn.to/43QhKoY

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Ruth Jackson shares some of her favourite moments from the podcast to celebrate the 200th episode. We will be revisiting conversations with Alister McGrath discussing CS Lewis' relevance and mental health, hearing stories on how Lewis helped bring people to faith, his correspondence with Kathy Keller, and his impact on the creative works of film director Matthew Brown and singer songwriter Sarah Hawkyard.

For Carloyn Webber: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-129-dr-carolyn-weber-surprised-by-oxford/16637.article

For Kathy Keller: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-157-kathy-keller-one-of-the-last-people-to-correspond-with-lewis-before-his-death/17625.article

For Scott Tuohy: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-178-scott-tuohy-a-lewis-quotation-changed-my-life/18303.article

For Professor Alister McGrath (1): https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-175-alister-mcgrath-what-would-lewis-think-of-jordan-peterson/18192.article

For Sarah Hawkyard: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-182-sarah-hawkyard-cs-lewis-changed-everything/18443.article

For Matthew Brown: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-163-matthew-brown-what-would-sigmund-freud-and-cs-lewis-discuss/17843.article

For Professor Alister McGrath (2): https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-134-alister-mcgrath-is-there-an-expiry-date-on-lewis-relevance/16838.article

+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545

+ For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website

+ For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events

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In this third and final episode with Michael Oppizzi, Ruth Jackson asks about his groundbreaking research on planetary symbolism in Till We Have Faces, CS Lewis’s final and often misunderstood novel.

Did Lewis truly abandon his fascination with planetary imagery after The Chronicles of Narnia? How does medieval cosmology shape the novel’s themes of love, self-deception, and transformation? And why does Till We Have Faces still resonate so powerfully with modern readers?

Michael shares insights from his paper, presented at the Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, and his upcoming book project, revealing how planetary themes structure the novel’s vision of truth and divine encounter. Can Lewis’s work still teach us today about faith, myth, and the nature of human longing?

For the Mere Christians conference in May: https://www.merechristians.net/

+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545

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CS Lewis considered Till We Have Faces his best work, yet it remains one of his least understood. Why did he write it in the 1950s, and why does it still resonate today? In this episode, Ruth Jackson speaks with Michael Oppizzi about the novel’s historical and literary context, its deep psychological and spiritual themes, and how its exploration of self-deception, silence, and the search for truth speaks powerfully to modern readers. They also dive into the presence of medieval planetary imagery in the novel and discuss why Till We Have Faces remains one of Lewis’s most profound—and relevant—works.

For the Mere Christians conference in May: https://www.merechristians.net/

+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545

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In this episode, host Ruth Jackson speaks with Michael Oppizzi, an educator and cultural apologist, about the enduring relevance of CS Lewis. They discuss Lewis’s impact on faith, imagination, and intellect, with a deep dive into Till We Have Faces, the role of letters in shaping thought, and the significance of cultural apologetics today. From planetary imagery to organic farming, this conversation explores the intersection of literature, theology, and real-world experience.

For the Mere Christians conference in May: https://www.merechristians.net/

+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545

+ For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website

+ For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training

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How did "great myths" shape Lewis' understanding of Christian truth? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Stirling College, Kansas, continues to explore the intriguing intersection between Shakespeare's literary genius and CS Lewis' spiritual journey. Sarah recently presented this paper at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference, which was held at George Fox University. The title of Sarah’s paper was 'An Undiscovered Source in Lewis’ Conversion Narrative'.

For more on Sarah Waters: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361

For the volume of An Unexpected Journal that Sarah co-edited: An Unexpected Journal

For her article on Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves - An Unexpected Journal

For Sarah on Lewis and Hamlet: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol43/iss1/4/

For Sarah's article on Lewis' rhetoric in Linguaculture: https://journal.linguaculture.ro/index.php/home/article/view/355

+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545

+ For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website

+ For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training

+ For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events

+ Support the podcast from the USA

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​How did William Shakespeare influence CS Lewis’ conversion to Christianity? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Sterling College, Kansas, draws connections between Lewis’ faith journey and his engagement with Shakespeare’s works. How do Hamlet and The Winter’s Tale connect to his famous conversation with JRR Tolkien and Hugo Dyson? Were there particular insights Dyson offered Lewis that have previously gone largely unnoticed? Why have both Lewis and Shakespeare stood the test of time?

For the ‘CS Lewis You Never Knew’ live event in Oxford: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cs-lewis-you-never-knew-exploring-meaning-truth-and-technology-tickets-1205320709689?aff=oddtdtcreator

For more on Sarah Waters: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361

For the volume of An Unexpected Journal that Sarah co-edited: An Unexpected Journal

For her article on Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves - An Unexpected Journal

For Sarah on Lewis and Hamlet: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol43/iss1/4/

For Sarah’s article on Lewis’ rhetoric in Linguaculture: https://journal.linguaculture.ro/index.php/home/article/view/355

+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545

+ For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website

+ For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training

+ For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events

+ Support the podcast from the USA

+ Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

What was Lewis' favourite Shakespeare play? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Sterling College, Kansas, delves into Lewis' literary accessibility and theological insights, uncovering the timeless relevance of his work. What moved Lewis from disliking Shakespeare as a child to incorporating numerous references in his own work? Are there any obvious parallels between Shakespeare and Lewis?

Come and be part of an as live recording of The CS Lewis Podcast with Alister McGrath and Ruth Jackson on Wednesday, February 5 2025 at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. You need to book here to attend:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1205320709689?aff=oddtdtcreator

The event is entitled ‘The CS Lewis you never knew’. There will q and a, book signing followed by refreshments. This event at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford is part of their New Renaissance project. Wycliffe Hall’s Summer School delves deeper into C.S Lewis’ theology and explores his footsteps in Oxford and Cambridge. Find out more here: https://www.wycliffe.ox.ac.uk/summerschool2025

For more on Sarah Waters: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361

For the volume of An Unexpected Journal that Sarah co-edited: An Unexpected Journal

For her article on Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves - An Unexpected Journal

For Sarah on Lewis and Hamlet: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol43/iss1/4/

For Sarah's article on Lewis' rhetoric in Linguaculture: https://journal.linguaculture.ro/index.php/home/article/view/355

+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545

+ For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website

+ For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training

+ For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events

+ Support the podcast from the USA

+ Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

What did Warnie and Lewis get up to while holidaying in County Louth? How did he encounter leprechauns, fairies and the Holy Ghost? Plus, we hear about some of the key women in Lewis' life: Mrs Moore, Joy and their housekeeper Vera Henry. Rev Paul Clayton-Lea, author of CS Lewis and the Wee County shares the second half of his talk given at the CS Lewis Group at Ulster’s spring mini symposium and answers audience questions. The event was entitled ‘CS Lewis and the Land of His Birth: Re-rooting Lewis in Ulster & the Island of Ireland’.

To book a (free) ticket for the live event in Oxford with Professor Alister McGrath on Wednesday 5th February: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cs-lewis-you-never-knew-exploring-meaning-truth-and-technology-tickets-1205320709689?aff=oddtdtcreator

For CS Lewis Group at Ulster: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/cs-lewis

+ Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545

+ For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website

+ For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training

+ For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events

+ Support the podcast from the USA

+ Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world