The Sacred

In this special end-of-year reflection episode of The Sacred, we're slowing down and seeing the season out with some of Elizabeth's favourite poems. Take a moment to sit with darkness and light, to reflect on the year, and to rest in words that have carried us through conversations about grief, migration, identity, hope and moral courage.Elizabeth reads some of the poems that have steadied her this season, from William Stafford and W.H. Auden to John Donne and Alfred Lord Tennyson.Poem credits: 'A Ritual to Read to Each other' from book 'Ask Me' by William Stafford from Graywolf Press. 'September 1, 1939' by W.H. Auden.'Nativity' by John DonneExcerpt from 'In Memoriam' by Alfred Lord Tennyson.📝 We’d be so grateful if you could fill out out listener survey. If you’ve been nourished by The Sacred, we’d really love to hear from you. We'd love to know what’s helping, or what’s not and what you’d like to see more of. Here's the link: https://biblesociety.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3WMJCr2xnXcxIq2🌟Wherever you are, we hope you find rest and time to slow down in this season. We’re grateful to be on this journey with you and we’ll see you in the new year!

Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Andrew Graystone about his role in uncovering the serial abuser John Smyth and the institutional cover-ups within the Church that kept the truth hidden.

Andrew is a Writer, Broadcaster and Activist. He shares the story behind his new book Bleeding for Jesus and the hidden patterns that shape the lives of Christian leaders.

He reflects on why institutions so often cover up wrongdoing, what it really costs to tell the truth, and how ordinary people can resist cultures of fear.

He speaks about his own experiences of humiliation and redemption, how shame shapes our public life, and why hospitality - opening your door, your life, your table - can be a radical spiritual act.

This is a tender and hopeful conversation about what it means to live with courage and integrity when systems around us bend towards self-protection.

Please could you fill out our listener survey? We’d be so grateful. https://biblesociety.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3WMJCr2xnXcxIq2

🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast

📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

👉 Follow and Buy Andrew’s book ‘Bleeding for Jesus’: https://x.com/AndrewGraystone

Support links:

- Minister and Clergy Sexual Abuse Survivors (MACSAS)⁠www.macsas.org.uk⁠

- National Association for People Abused in Childhood⁠www.napac.org.uk⁠

- Samaritans⁠www.samaritans.org⁠ or by phone on 116 123

- The Survivors Trust⁠www.thesurvivorstrust.org⁠

- Safe Spaces⁠www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk ⁠or by phone 0300 303 1566

- British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy⁠www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/information-about-counselling⁠

Chapters:

00:00 Could you fill out our listener survey?

01:15 Trailer and intro

02:24 What is Sacred to you? Andrew Graystone answers

10:00 Navigating Privilege and Inequality

13:17 Principles of Living and Values

18:00 Challenges of Hospitality and Community

20:23 The Titus Trust and John Smyth Abuse Revelation

31:49 Understanding Abuse and Its Impacts

38:40 The Role of Institutions in Abuse

43:09 Bystander Effect and Institutional Failures

51:36 Anger, Gentleness, and Advocacy

56:43 Closing Reflections on Power and Presence

Keywords:

Andrew Graystone, Elizabeth Oldfield, The Sacred podcast, John Smyth abuse, Church abuse cover-up, Christian leaders accountability, False Profit book, exposing institutional abuse, faith and courage, standing up to power, moral courage, church scandals, abuse in Christian institutions, protecting the vulnerable, institutional failure, covering up wrongdoing, speaking truth to power, courage in faith, navigating shame, humiliation and redemption, pastoral accountability, moral imagination, ethical leadership, Christian ethics, religious institutions and abuse, confronting toxic power, survivors of abuse, advocating for victims, truth-telling in institutions, faith and justice, everyday courage, confronting secrecy, resisting culture of fear, hospitality as spiritual act, radical hospitality, opening your home to others, integrity and faith, walking with survivors, spiritual formation, institutional reform, uncovering abuse, moral responsibility, restorative justice, rebuilding trust, abuse survivors stories, church accountability, ethical decision making, courage under pressure, exposing wrongdoing, Christian leadership lessons, protecting the marginalized, personal integrity, confronting moral failure, courage in difficult times, learning from shame, Cathay Newman, Channel 4

In this live episode of The Sacred, Elizabeth Oldfield sits down with Channel 4 journalist Cathy Newman to the moments that guided her toward investigative journalism and a lifelong commitment to seeking truth.

They talk about:

✍️Investigative journalism and its role in holding power accountable

⛪ Investigating John Smyth's abuse in the Church of England

✖️Navigating public scrutiny, social media abuse, and global debates

🌍The importance of diverse perspectives in newsrooms for more accurate reporting

Cathy shares candid insights about truth, bias, and the pursuit of justice in journalism, highlighting the human stories behind the headlines and why public service media matters now more than ever.

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📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

👉 Follow Cathy: https://x.com/cathynewman?lang=en

Hosted by How the Light Gets In

Keywords:

Cathy Newman, Cathy Newman interview, Channel 4 News, Investigative journalism, Holding power to account, Accountability journalism, Truth in journalism, Media bias, Bias and perspective, Post-truth world, Public trust in media, Ethics in journalism, Moral courage, Whistleblowers, Abuse of power, Church abuse investigations, John Smyth investigation, Political scandals UK, Truth seekers, Journalism and justice, Cathy Newman The Sacred, The Sacred podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield, Courageous conversations, Speaking truth to power, Newsroom diversity, Media responsibility, Reporting on conflict, Gaza reporting ethics, War reporting challenges, Human nature and journalism, The human condition, Understanding truth, Misogyny in media, Online abuse journalists, Jordan Peterson interview, Public backlash, Investigative reporting stories, Exposing wrongdoing, Social justice journalism, Fact-based reporting, Trustworthy journalism, Impactful storytelling, Power dynamics, UK journalism, Female journalists UK, Journalism values, Holding leaders accountable, Media integrity, Hard-hitting interviews

The world is overwhelming. Every day we’re bombarded with noise, outrage, and content designed to distract, numb, or divide us. It’s changing us...and not always for the better.We created the Sacred Podcast as a response to the chaos. It’s more than a podcast - it’s a space to slow down, reflect, and listen deeply. A place to practice empathy, curiosity, and understanding in a world that often rewards the opposite.In each episode, we sit down with someone who has a public voice and ask them: What’s sacred to you? We explore their ideas and practice genuine curiosity and engagement. No rage bait or arguing. Along the way, we’re learning to build our tolerance, understanding, and empathy for people who see the world differently to us.If you feel you need this too, come join us at The Sacred 💛🔔 Make sure you're subscribed to us to never miss an episode!🤝 Find us on IG:   / sacred_podcast  🎥 Liike Agency Keywords:The world feels overwhelming right now, too much noise, too much division, too many opinions. Many of us are searching for calm, meaning, and a deeper kind of strength. The Sacred Podcast is a space to slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with what truly matters. It’s for anyone feeling anxious about the state of the world, craving stillness, or seeking emotional and spiritual resilience. This film shares our vision: to find steadiness amid chaos, to rebuild empathy, and to remember our shared humanity. If you’re longing for grounding and hope in uncertain times, you’re in the right place.Echoes of the Rift by Author Fields of Ethera, licensed under Track Club by Marmoset LLCEclipse" by Khamsin, licensed by The Music Bed LLC

How can you reconcile all parts of your identity in an increasingly polarised landscape?

After a mystical experience in a Sydney bar, David Bennett found himself shifting from queer theory and student politics towards a surprising new centre of gravity: the Christian faith. Today he describes himself as a gay celibate Christian, someone living between two tribes often assumed to be incompatible.In this deep and tender conversation, theologian David speaks with Elizabeth Oldfield about his long wrestle with desire, queer identity and Scripture; why he believes celibacy can be liberating rather than repressive; and how he hopes to build bridges across an increasingly polarised landscape.They explore what happens when your story becomes symbolic in the culture wars, how to refuse weaponisation from both left and right, and what it means to live as a pilgrim - someone always on the way, always becoming.---🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow David: https://www.instagram.com/davidacbennett/?hl=enChapters:00:00 - Intro

00:48 - What is Sacred to you? David Bennett answers02:00 - Growing Up and Not Fitting In

05:00 - Coming Out & the Shockwaves at Home

08:00 - Searching for Meaning: A Tour Through Belief Systems

11:00 - Encountering God: The Moment Everything Shifted

17:00 - Queer and Christian: Living in the Tension

20:00 - Queer Side A and B Explained

23:00 - Love, Honesty, Humility: The Values That Ground Him

26:00 - Navigating criticism from Progressives and Conservatives

29:00 - Living authentically with both identities

32:00 - Final Reflections: Hope, Courage & Spiritual Belonging

49:00 - David's message to the LGBTQI+ community58:30 - Elizabeth's reflectionsKeywords:David Bennett, gay Christian, celibate gay Christian, Side B Christianity, Side A vs Side B, queer Christianity, queer theology, queerness and faith, LGBTQ and religion, gay and Christian, Christianity and sexuality, Christian celibacy, re-sublimation of desire, same-sex attracted Christian, spiritual pilgrimage, faith and identity, culture war debates, progressive vs conservative Christianity, gay celibacy debate, queer identity and church, sexual ethics in Christianity, Romans 8:20 interpretation, Christian views on sexuality, LGBTQ inclusion in church, modern Christian ethics, religious trauma, faith deconstruction, faith reconstruction, conversion experience, encountering God, Christian testimony, reconciling faith and sexuality, Christian community rejection, building bridges across divides, Christian identity struggles, Oxford theology, queer theory and Christianity, celibacy as vocation, Christian friendship and community, Augustine and pilgrimage, Christian witness, culture wars and faith, LGBTQ spiritual journeys, progressive Christian critique, conservative Christian critique, Christian ethics of desire, healthy celibacy, alternative Christian vocations, strangeness of God’s love, living between two tribes

Award-winning journalist and filmmaker Mobeen Azhar and Elizabeth Oldfield to talk about his extraordinary career telling hidden and untold stories - from interviewing white supremacists, extremists, drug dealers, and killers; exposing police corruption, cults, and cover-ups; and told raw stories from inside prisons, mosques, and nightclubs.

In an age of outrage and dehumanisation, Mobeen's journalism combats hate and demonisation with empathy and understanding to reveal the human story beyond the headlines.

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📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

👉 Follow Mobeen: https://www.instagram.com/mobeen_azhar/?hl=en-gb

Keywords:

His award-winning documentaries include Small Town, Big Riot (BBC), uncovering how racism and misinformation fuelled a violent protest in Merseyside; The Battle for Britney, going inside the global #FreeBritney movement; The Satanic Verses: 30 Years On, exploring faith, art, and offence; Hometown: A Killing, investigating a murder in his own community; The Men Who Sell Sex; The Mosque Next Door; The Black and White Killing; The Soldiers That Saved Britain; and The Kandahar Killings. In this episode of The Sacred, journalist and documentary filmmaker Mobeen Azhar talks about racism, faith, and moral courage. Known for BBC documentaries like Small Town, Big Riot, Hometown: A Killing, and The Battle for Britney, Mobeen shares what it’s like to be a Muslim journalist in Britain interviewing racists, extremists, and people on the margins of society. He discusses empathy over outrage, understanding hate, and finding transcendence on the techno rave dance floor. This powerful conversation explores race, religion, identity, decency, and compassion in a divided world — and asks how we can stay human in the face of injustice and polarisation.

Grief, peace, and the search for steadiness of soul - comedian, writer and Griefcast host Cariad Lloyd joins Elizabeth Oldfield to talk about the gift and absurdity of grief.

Cariad opens up about her father’s death, comedy as survival, and the small, sacred acts that keep her grounded. She also shares what it means to raise her kids with honesty about loss and how humour helps us stay human in the face of death.

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📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

👉 Listen to Cariad's Griefcast Podcast: https://cariadlloyd.com/griefcast

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:42 What is Sacred to you? Cariad Lloyd answers

11:43 Growing up spiritual

18:30 Grief, Spirituality and Doubt

24:32 Grief becomes a part of you

27:14 The Role of Comedy in Grief

35:00 Sharing Grief Stories

38:52 How to be there for people who are grieving

44:07 Are there gifts in grief?

50:02 Death in children's books?

Keywords:

Cariad Lloyd interview, The Sacred podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield, grief podcast, grief and loss, dealing with grief, how to talk about death, finding peace, mental health, anxiety, parenting, motherhood, faith, spirituality, meaning, purpose, finding what’s sacred, inner peace, steadiness of soul, moral courage, emotional resilience, grief and comedy, using humor to heal, British comedian, Griefcast host, You Are Not Alone book, Where Did She Go book, grief for children, death in children’s books, coping with bereavement, mindfulness, self-compassion, anxiety and rest, the power of rituals, modern spirituality, finding calm, spiritual grounding, how to support someone grieving, death and culture, secular spirituality, community and loss, talking about death honestly, creative process, storytelling and healing, grief and art, grief and performance, how to live with loss, moral honesty, authenticity, being a decent human, emotional honesty, spiritual strength, learning from pain, comedy and tragedy, British podcasts about meaning

Why honest conversations about race, class and power make us defensive - and why should we face them anyway.

Author, teacher and broadcaster Jeffrey Boakye joins Elizabeth Oldfield to talk about truth, joy, race and power and why he believes we can’t fix what we’re too scared to face.

We speak about:

👊🏾 Jeffrey's fusion of Black British identities from growing up in Brixton

✏️ The role of a teacher and finding his voice in a mostly white education system

⚡ Learning how to challenge dominant power structures like whiteness, class and Britishness

This is a conversation about courage, fear, and how we can talk about race, class and identity without tearing each other apart.

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📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

👉 Follow Jeffrey Boakye: https://x.com/jeffreykboakye

Chapters:

00:00 - Intro

01:06 - What is Sacred to you? Jeffrey Boakye answers

06:23 - Growing up in Brixton as a Ghanaian Catholic

15:30 - Cultural Identities: Black Britishness and Jamaican youth culture

26:00 - “I became a white woman” teaching while Black

33:00 - Why conversations about race make us defensive and what to do about it

42:00 - Power, fear, and the culture wars

50:00 - Why it’s race and class - not race or class

55:47 - Class and it's connection to the slave trade

56:27 - Anti-immigrant propaganda targeted at the working class

57:54 - Reflection by Elizabeth

Keywords:

Jeffrey Boakye delves into the complexities of power dynamics and the importance of challenging power through truth and joy. He explores cultural identity, drawing from his experiences growing up in Brixton, and discusses the intersectionality of race and class within the education system. The conversation touches on societal structures, the role of religion and community, and the need for empathy in public discourse. Boakye highlights the influence of Caribbean culture and the significance of language in shaping identity. As a teacher, he emphasises the importance of education as a tool for social change, advocating for educational reform and equity. The discussion also covers themes of privilege, patriarchy, white supremacy, colonialism, homophobia, and misogyny, while celebrating the richness of Black British culture and multiculturalism. Through storytelling and narrative, Boakye shares his personal values and life philosophy, encouraging social justice, diversity, and inclusion. The episode invites listeners to reflect on social norms, personal growth, and the power of dialogue, understanding, and compassion in fostering human connection and systemic change. With a focus on critical thinking, reflective practice, and educational equity, Boakye inspires empowerment, creativity, and collaboration, urging us to embrace curiosity, exploration, and authenticity in our pursuit of knowledge and wisdom

What can an ancient tradition like Druidry teach us about living well today?

In this episode of The Sacred Podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Philip Carr-Gomm, psychologist, author, and longtime leader of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.

They explore how trees and nature are sacred, the meaning of magic in everyday life, and why ancient wisdom traditions might be exactly what we need in an age of ecological crisis and polarisation.

🌳 Why trees, forests, and nature are sacred

🤝 Why Buddhism felt more appealing than Christianity in his early years

✨ What “magic” really means in psychology and spirituality

🌍 How ancient wisdom, Celtic spirituality, and eco-spirituality can guide us today

This conversation touches on modern druidry, earth-based spirituality, mindfulness, interfaith dialogue, and spiritual growth with insight into how we can find the sacred in everyday life and respond with wisdom to our times.

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📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

🌀 Follow Philip Carr-Gomm's work: https://philipcarr-gomm.com/

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:10 What is Sacred to you? Philip Carr-Gomm answers

03:00 Why Trees Hold the Secret to Spiritual Enlightenment

09:00 The Influences of a Druid's Childhood

18:00 Diversity and Inclusivity in Druidry

27:00 Art and Nature Collide: The Untold Story of Druidry

36:00 Magic and The Transformative Secrets of Druidry

45:00 Masculine and Feminine Energies

54:00 Druidry's Historical Tapestry

01:03:00 The Divine Child: A Controversial Bridge Between Faiths

01:12:00 Gender in Spirituality: The Debate That’s Changing Everything

01:21:00 Can Spiritual Dialogue Break Down Barriers?

Keywords

In this conversation, Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Philip Carr-Gomm, psychologist, author, and modern druid, about the wisdom of Druidry, Celtic spirituality, and the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. They explore why trees are sacred, the role of nature in spirituality, and how ancient wisdom traditions can guide us today. Philip explains the meaning of magic, the connections between Buddhism, Christianity, and earth-based spirituality, and how practices of eco-spirituality, mindfulness, and nature connection can help us find the sacred in everyday life. This episode of The Sacred Podcast is for anyone curious about spiritual growth, interfaith dialogue, ancient traditions, modern druidry, psychology and spirituality, exploring faith, and spiritual wisdom in an age of ecological crisis and cultural polarization, polarisation.

Elizabeth Oldfield and Rod Dreher tackle one of the most urgent and contentious questions of our time: how should nations, and individuals, relate to migrants in our midst? How do we balance compassion for migrants with the protection of vulnerable citizens? How does Christianity shape responsibilities to strangers? And why do honest conversations about these issues so often spiral into demonisation and division?

🤝This bonus episode is taken from Midwestuary 2025 and models honest disagreement without dehumanisation, showing a different way to engage with hard topics in our societies.

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📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

🎙️ Follow Midwestuary: https://www.midwestuary.com/

Keywords:

Immigration is one of the most divisive issues of our time, raising questions of compassion, fear, morality, and national security. In this conversation, Elizabeth Oldfield and Rod Dreher explore how Christianity shapes our response to the stranger, what it means to love our neighbor, and how to hold moral dilemmas around migration without demonizing each other. Together they model how to disagree well, listen across divides, and search for common ground in the middle of a polarized immigration debate, polarised immigration debate