The Rabbit Hole Arms

The guest on this episode is Andy Brooks, the General Secretary of the New Communist Party.

Rico and JR sit down and have a pint with a person who they have significant political differences. But that's the point of the podcast, right? It doesn't matter how repellant something is, it's worth having a conversation to understand it from their perspective. You might learn something new, or indeed you might be reassured in your initial outlook. It's about going direct to the horse's mouth and seeing if its breath really stinks.

Few modern religious institutions have captured the public imagination—or attracted as much speculation—as Opus Dei. From best-selling novels and Hollywood thrillers depicting shadow networks and cloistered plots, to persistent questions about its real-world influence, the Catholic personal prelature remains deeply enigmatic to outsiders.

In this episode of The Rabbit Hole Arms, we look past the sensational headlines to examine what Opus Dei actually is, how it operates in the 21st century, and what daily life looks like for its members across the globe.

We’re joined at the table by Jack Valero, longtime UK spokesperson for Opus Dei and co-founder of Catholic Voices. Jack sits down with us to address the enduring myths born out of pop culture, the founding theology of finding holiness in ordinary professional work, the reality behind spiritual disciplines and mortification, and the institution’s evolving relationship with Rome and the wider Catholic Church.

Are the shadows surrounding Opus Dei merely a product of secular misunderstanding, or does a genuine institutional mystique still define its role?

Welcome to The Rabbit Hole Arms! Pull up a stool, today we've got Alan Murdie for you. He's the chairman of The Ghost Club - https://www.ghostclub.org.uk/ Charles Dickens was a member way back, and it's still going strong with regular meet-ups and investigations.

We get into famous haunted cases, why people see ghosts, the hoaxes that fooled everyone, and the stuff even the experts can't explain.

We challenge him too, it's not all plain-sailing for Alan but he fares well under the scrutiny of JR and Rico. If you want to learn more about our esteemed guest, go here https://alanmurdie.com/

Rico and JR on their way to meeting Alan Murdie, the Chairman of The Ghost Club, established 1862.