The Sacred

What does it mean to prepare to die—and then discover that you need to prepare to live again? In this conversation, poet Christian Wiman reflects on faith, poetry, love, mortality, and his experience of living for more than 20 years with cancer. He talks about his turbulent childhood, how poetry transformed his anger into something creative, and why he believes poems can open us to something beyond ourselves. The conversation also explores: Wiman’s journey from economics to poetry What a poem actually is—and why sound can matter more than meaning Attention and his idea of “productive inattention” Faith, suffering, and writers including Simone Weil and Etty Hillesum Wiman also reads three poems: Five Houses Down , 2047 Grace Street , and In the Time of Fire . --- 🎙️ Listen to The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 The Sacred is produced by Theos Think Tank in partnership with Comment Magazine , and with support from The Jerusalem Trust and Open Society Foundations 👉 See Christian Wiman's Poetry: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/christian-wiman -- 👇 Our guests and listeners to our podcast come from all kinds of perspectives and what draws us together is a desire to be self-aware about our own values and curious about other peoples. Comment your reflections below, we read them all.

What are we losing by spending so much of our lives behind screens? COVID-19 brought the whole world online, and as a podcast we kind of stayed there. This season, we made a commitment to only recording in person, mostly at Elizabeth’s community house in south London. As a result, we sensed a big shift in our connection with guests and we thought we’d take an opportunity to reflect on a few things that we’d forgotten along the way: Being in-person is key to meeting people as real humans and creating non-transactional relationships Something shifts when we eat snacks together and see each other’s homes Screens and the ease of our digital lives mean we spend less time in our bodies. It’s much more convenient — but what’s the hidden cost? We shrink when were alone, and we trust others less We feel challenged to spend more time with people in our bodies — looking each other in the eye, sharing physical space, and being present. We’d love to hear whether you’ve sensed a difference in our latest in-person episodes and your thoughts on being together in person. --- 🎙️Listen to The Sacred Podcast: https://linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by Theos Think Tank in partnership with Comment Magazine and with support from The Jerusalem Trust and Open Society Foundations

What do you do when you feel like an outsider? We spoke to Rabbi Angela Buchdahl who turned her experience of being a cultural and religious outsider into a source of strength. Raised in a biracial, mixed-faith American-Korean family, her identity was both welcomed and questioned in Korean and Jewish communities. She later would later go on to become one of the most prominent and influential public rabbis in the United States, the first female East Asian senior rabbi at NYC's Central Synagogue, and writer of the bestselling memoir Heart of a Stranger . We spoke about: Owning multiple identities, not fitting in and how to create a steady sense of self The religious conversion instinct and how to have religious humility Key Hebrew ideas that Rabbi Angela lives by The radical offering of religious communities in our divided times: community, awe, proximity Navigating tokenism as the first East Asian ordained rabbi --- 🎙️Listen to ⁠The Sacred Podcast⁠: https://linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow ⁠Elizabeth Oldfield: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by ⁠⁠Theos Think Tank⁠⁠ in partnership with ⁠⁠Comment Magazine⁠⁠ and with support from ⁠⁠The Jerusalem Trust⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Open Society Foundations 👉 Follow Rabbi Angela Buchdahl: https://www.instagram.com/rabbibuchdahl/?hl=en Our guests and listeners to our podcast come from all kinds of perspectives and what draws us together is a desire to be self-aware about our own values and curious about other peoples. Comment your reflections below, we read them all👇

We talk a lot about the harms and benefits of AI, but we don’t talk enough about what the conversations about AI might actually be doing to us. Perhaps the biggest challenge in the mix may not be the technology itself, but how it changes the way we think, communicate, and relate to each other as humans. We’re creating some space for a different kind of conversation about AI with Jamie Bartlett on 8th September in London. We’d love to see you there! 🔗 Grab a ticket here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-sacred-live-ai-and-the-future-of-being-human-tickets-1994014009580 - use code: SACRED-EARLY-BIRD for a £12 ticket! Promo ends 8.08.26

Why do stories matter? Why have human beings always told stories - and what if the oldest stories still have something vital to teach us? In this episode of The Sacred, Elizabeth Oldfield sits down with psychologist, mythologist and bestselling author Dr Sharon Blackie to explore why myths and fairy tales aren't just relics of the past, but tools for making sense of life today. From a childhood marked by hardship to decades studying narrative psychology, Sharon shares how stories help us navigate change and uncertainty by showing us how people find courage, resilience and meaning in the face of life's hardest moments. ⚠️ Content note: This episode includes discussion of rape, sexual violence and domestic abuse. Listen with care. Together they explore: Why stories shape the way we understand ourselves What fairy tales can teach us about resilience and healing Why men need less heroic storylines The forgotten wisdom hidden in traditional myths Women's stories, identity and reclaiming lost voices Our relationship with nature and what ancient stories reveal about living well today Whether you love folklore or have never picked up a fairy tale since childhood, this conversation is ultimately about how to make sense of suffering, rediscover hope, or find meaning in uncertain times. — Dr Sharon Blackie is an award-winning psychologist, mythologist and author of If Women Rose Rooted , Hagitude , Wise Women and The Enchanted Life . Her work explores mythology, psychology, ecology and the stories that shape who we become. — Our guests and listeners to our podcast come from all kinds of perspectives and what draws us together is a desire to be self-aware about our own values and curious about other peoples. Comment your reflections below, we read them all👇 🎙️Listen to ⁠The Sacred Podcast⁠: https://linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow ⁠Elizabeth Oldfield: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by ⁠⁠Theos Think Tank⁠⁠ in partnership with ⁠⁠Comment Magazine⁠⁠ and with support from ⁠⁠The Jerusalem Trust⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Open Society Foundations 👉 See Dr Sharon Blackie's work: https://sharonblackie.net/ -- Chapters: 0:00 — What is Sacred to you? Dr Sharon Blackie answers 2:30 — Finding the divine in everything 4:16 — Growing up with poverty, violence, and resilience 5:43 — The working-class values we’ve forgotten 6:13 — The formidable women who raised her 8:29 — Living with an alcoholic parent 9:50 — The fairy tale that changed her life 10:47 — Why every great story begins with catastrophe 12:03 — Grimm’s fairy tales vs Disney 13:02 — Why we need the original fairy tales 14:10 — Fairy tales were never just for children 15:06 — What fairy tales teach us about surviving hard times 16:14 — Leaving corporate life to find her real calling 17:39 — Learning to stop being afraid of life 20:47 — From neuroscience to narrative therapy 26:39 — When women were the wisdom keepers 28:28 — Christianity, myth, and the loss of women’s voices 31:29 — Rethinking masculinity and femininity 33:08 — Can we still talk about "women"? 38:14 — What fairy tales teach us about work and resilience 39:57 — Healing without getting stuck in your wounds 43:15 — Becoming whole through story 45:06 — Why good parents are missing from fairy tales 49:44 — Beyond the Hero’s Journey: a new way to live COPYRIGHT: "Burn Out" - Victor Lundberg (Licensed by Epidemic) & "Beyond the Veil" (feat. Khamir Music) by Simon Wester (Licensed by Musicbed)

Whether we know it or not, economics shapes almost every part of our lives - where we live, whether we can afford children, how much time we have with the people we love, and even the choices we think are available to us. But most of us rarely stop to ask what economics is actually for. In this episode, Elizabeth Oldfield sits down with economist and Works in Progress editor Sam Bowman for a conversation that goes far beyond markets, GDP and public policy. Together we explore freedom, human flourishing, progress, and the surprising moral questions that sit beneath economic thinking. We spoke about: Why economics is really about people, not money The relationship between freedom, wealth and human flourishing Whether we really need wealth to be happy Does the pursuit of prosperity comes at the expense of the things that make life meaningful? Whether economics fascinates you or completely intimidates you, this conversation offers a fresh take on one of the most significant forces shaping modern life. --- Our guests and listeners to our podcast come from all kinds of perspectives and what draws us together is a desire to be self-aware about our own values and curious about other peoples. Comment your reflections below, we read them all👇 --- 🎙️Listen to ⁠The Sacred Podcast⁠: https://linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow ⁠Elizabeth Oldfield: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by ⁠⁠Theos Think Tank⁠⁠ in partnership with ⁠⁠Comment Magazine⁠⁠ and with support from ⁠⁠The Jerusalem Trust⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Open Society Foundations 👉 Follow Sam Bowman: https://x.com/s8mb Chapters: 0:00 — Intro: How Economics Is Secretly Shaping Your Life 1:37 — What Is Sacred To You? Sam Bowman Answers 6:50 — Why Freedom Isn’t Just “Leave People Alone” 8:48 — What If People Choose Harmful Things? 11:37 — Ozempic and the New Meaning of Self-Control 15:25 — Can You Have Morality Without God? 21:30 — No Child Should Grow Up Worried About Money 25:22 — Is Travel Overrated? 31:51 — Why Most People Are Too Risk-Averse 35:14 — The Real Purpose of Economics 38:42 — Who Gets to Decide What Gets Built? 43:32 — What “Neoliberal” Actually Means 50:31 — Can Growth Continue Forever? 54:11 — Are Emissions Rising Because of AI? 57:41 — Does Wealth Really Make Us Happier? 61:32 — Britain’s Biggest Problem: Housing 65:18 — Elizabeth's Reflections

What does it mean to be visibly Muslim in British public life right now? Mehreen Khan has been living that question since she was eleven years old - when 9/11 turned her faith into something she had to defend. She's now Economics Editor at The Times, the first woman and first person of colour in the role, and one of the most outspoken Muslim voices in mainstream British journalism. We cover: What Islam really means to her — the concept of fitrah and why faith makes you a better journalist How 9/11 turned Islam into a punk identity for Mehreen and ego death Being the first woman and first person of colour as Economics Editor at The Times Davos, elite financial circles, and what you see when you're inside the room Money: why economics is never morally neutral, and what it might look like to bring moral imagination back to capitalism What it means to be visibly Muslim in Britain right now Why Mehreen is quietly rooting for the revival of Christianity in British public life --- Our guests and listeners to our podcast come from all kinds of perspectives and what draws us together is a desire to be self-aware about our own values and curious about other peoples. Comment your reflections below, we read them all👇 🎙️Listen to ⁠The Sacred Podcast⁠: https://linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow ⁠Elizabeth Oldfield: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by ⁠⁠Theos Think Tank⁠⁠ in partnership with ⁠⁠Comment Magazine⁠⁠ and with support from ⁠⁠The Jerusalem Trust⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Open Society Foundations 👉 See Mehreen's work: https://www.thetimes.com/profile/mehreen-khan

Hugo Rifkind has spent his career observing power. He also grew up inside it — and never quite felt he belonged there. In this episode, he talks about: The Scottish boarding school where violence was a point of pride... until a public inquiry forced the question About being Jewish in public life since October 7th, and what it felt like when the people his community relied on weren't there The thing he values most — connection — and his honest admission that what he often really means is something more one-sided than that 🎙️Listen to ⁠The Sacred Podcast⁠: https://linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow ⁠Elizabeth Oldfield: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by ⁠⁠Theos Think Tank⁠⁠ in partnership with ⁠⁠Comment Magazine⁠⁠ and with support from ⁠⁠The Jerusalem Trust⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Open Society Foundations 👉 Follow Hugo Rifkind: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXmPHlqo1Jf/?hl=en-gb

Michael Pollan tried psychedelics at 55. What he found changed everything he thought he knew. Michael is not a mystic or a guru. He is the kind of writer that scientists, doctors and serious intellectuals trust - someone who changed the way millions of people think about food, farming and the natural world. So when Michael Pollan tried psychedelics at 55 and came back saying the certainties had started to dissolve - the world began to listen in a way they simply wouldn't have for anyone else. In this conversation, Michael and Elizabeth explore what it actually means to be conscious — and whether we're squandering it. Why does every psychedelic trip seem to arrive at the same slightly cliché and yet, beautiful conclusions? What have we lost by building a science of the mind that brackets out the body, the emotions and everything that actually feels like something? Why is the cool, analytical part of our brain so much louder than the part that knows how to be present — and who benefits from keeping it that way? And what are the algorithms really stealing when they steal our attention? They cover: Why science keeps getting within reach of explaining consciousness — and then losing its nerve What psychedelics reveal that embarrasses serious researchers (and why that embarrassment is the clue) The Silicon Valley bid to upload consciousness How to protect your attention in an age designed to steal it Why not-knowing might be the most important skill of our time -- Our guests and listeners to our podcast come from all kinds of perspectives and what draws us together is a desire to be self-aware about our own values and curious about other peoples. Comment your reflections below, we read them all👇 --- 🎙️Listen to ⁠The Sacred Podcast⁠: https://linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow ⁠Elizabeth Oldfield: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by ⁠⁠Theos Think Tank⁠⁠ in partnership with ⁠⁠Comment Magazine⁠⁠ and with support from ⁠⁠The Jerusalem Trust⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Open Society Foundations 👉 See Michael Pollan's work: https://michaelpollan.com/ -- Chapters: 0:00 - Intro trailer 01:45 - What is Sacred to you? Michael Pollan answers 3:45 - When the ego dissolves: what psychedelics actually do 4:25 - Growing up with an alcoholic father and becoming the man with all the answers 6:01 - 'How to Change Your Mind; shifted culture 6:25 - Michael's lifelong obsession with nature 7:22 - Why feelings became an embarrassment to science 8:16 - First experience of psychedelics 9:18 - Is consciousness being polluted — and do we even notice?10:18 - Silicon Valley wants to upload the soul. Here's why that's terrifying 26:13 - Why being a sceptic, not an expert, made the psychedelic book so influential 28:33 - How writers sense a cultural shift before it happens 30:25 - The president who colonised our consciousness and won't leave 32:06 - Elizabeth's encounter with God at age 11 36:33 - The Zen cave, Roshi Joan Halifax, and learning to not know 41:27 - We can't afford to be anything less than present 43:24 - How men get scripted out of their own inner lives 46:10 - Consciousness as the secular word for soul 49:04 - Protect your inner life from the algorithm 52:12 - Why don't they just make a baby? The funniest moment in the book 54:24 - Ayahuasca, idealism and the scientist who changed his mind twice 56:06 - Cultivating the don't-know mind 56:32 - Elizabeth's reflections

What happens after winning Bake Off? Jasmine Mitchell joins us to talk about perfectionism, alopecia, self-image, and learning to be fully yourself in a world obsessed with image. Jasmine reflects on growing up in a home shaped by hospitality, losing her hair as a teenager, learning to let go of perfection, and the unexpected journey that took her from medical school to winning British Bake Off 2025. Elizabeth Oldfield and Jasmine explore: Why “go slow” became Jasmine’s grounding philosophy Her journey with alopecia and being fully seen Reality TV, public image and is Bake Off different from the rest? Why hospitality and shared meals matter so deeply -- 🎙️Listen to ⁠The Sacred Podcast⁠: https://linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow ⁠Elizabeth Oldfield: https://www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by ⁠⁠Theos Think Tank⁠⁠ in partnership with ⁠⁠Comment Magazine⁠⁠ and with support from ⁠⁠The Jerusalem Trust⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Open Society Foundations 👉 Follow ⁠ Jasmine Mitchell: https://www.instagram.com/jasmine.mitchell/tagged/?hl=en

Nearly a decade into The Sacred, we’re still doing the same thing: having honest and curious conversations with people who see the world differently. We're wondering why - like the return of spring - seeking to understand another person at a deep level never seems to get old. There's something about learning to truly understand people outside our “tribe” that feels challenging and pleasurable all at once and we're seeing (nine years later!) just how much we need these conversations today. As Maff Potts says, “the answer to our problems is each other.” So this is a practice, a community and a place to sit with the hard questions and we're really glad you’re doing it with us. — The Sacred Team - Elizabeth, Josh, Amari & Joe 👀 You may notice that our visuals have been levelled up. We’re delighted that our team is growing and The Sacred will be getting a lot more beautiful and creative! ✍️ Substack: https://thesacredpodcast.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips 💡 Theos Think Tank: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

The world wasn’t built for everyone. Leah Libresco Sargeant on feminism, care, and the myth of the “neutral” human. Join our community of people listening curiously to different perspectives: https://www.youtube.com/@thesacredpodcast/videos Leah has spent her life following philosophy to its limits, from Kantian questions of moral truth to reckoning with human vulnerability. Her journey reveals what happens when the world is built for a ‘neutral human’ - and who it leaves behind. This conversation explores feminism, gender difference, care, and what it really means to take morality seriously. Leah is the writer of Dignity of Dependence, works in of family policy and is the host of Other Feminisms on Substack. -- ✍️ Find us on Substack: https://thesacredpodcast.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by Theos Think Tank: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/👉Check out Leah's substack: https://www.otherfeminisms.com/

What actually shapes the life you’re living - your own choices, or the ones you inherited? In this episode of The Sacred, we are with Dr Rangan Chatterjee exploring the moments that force our values to the surface - births, deaths and major life events - and how they can reset the direction of our lives. An Indian immigrant doctor, his father worked relentlessly to give his family opportunities — but it also came at a cost and contributed to the illness that ended his career and eventually his life. This left Dr Rangan with the question 'Dad, was it worth it?" This conversation opens up topics that many of us choose to avoid: • Workaholism and the drive for more • What it really means to define “success” for yourself • What it takes to consciously choose what we carry forward from our parents Dr Rangan Chatterjee is a former GP, bestselling author and one of the UK’s most recognisable voices on a holistic approach to health. -- 🎙️Listen to The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast\ 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by Theos Think Tank: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/👉 Check out Dr Rangan's podcast, Feel Better Live More: https://drchatterjee.com/podcast-epis... Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:50 What is Sacred to You? Dr. Rangan Chatterjee answers 1:31 Staying connected to family roots 2:09 Career sacrifices and setting boundaries 5:14 Being non-judgmental around boundaries 6:23 Understanding empathy from a most-wanted criminal 9:11 Everyone's story makes sense 12:06 Indian upbringing vs western culture at school 13:41 Integrating eastern values into modern life 15:35 Teaching respect and kindness to children 17:29 Father's work ethic and health impact 19:41 "Was it worth it?" 22:29 Recognising overworking and knowing what is enough 24:51 Surprising personal interests and finding joy 27:30 Spiritual awakening, introspection and personal growth 29:19 Whose life are you leading? 33:39 Are you religious? 36:23 Responding to negative comments with kindness 39:56 Meaningful living and the importance of relationships, humour, and belief Keywords:values, grief and growth, redefining success, what is enough, living with intention, family and sacrifice, work life balance, burnout and overwork, meaning of life, personal growth, self reflection, life purpose, inner work, emotional wellbeing, mental health, lifestyle medicine, holistic health, parenting and values, legacy and inheritance, immigrant family story, identity and belonging, cultural identity, compassion and empathy, curiosity over judgment, relationships and connection, modern life stress, slowing down, presence and mindfulness, gratitude practice, life transitions, dealing with loss, grief and clarity, success vs happiness, redefining ambition, work ethic rethink, conscious living, self awareness, asking better questions, deep conversations, philosophy of life, spirituality and meaning, living authentically, personal values, making better choices, life design, happiness and contentment, avoiding burnout, healing generational patterns, carrying forward what matters

We spoke to Stig Abell on how to live if nothing is ultimately sacred. Elizabeth Oldfield and Stig explore detective fiction and our longing for justice, the consolations of books in an age of infinite scroll, the quiet crises many of us are living through, and whether “muddling along” might be the most honest way live. This is a conversation about meaning and what remains when you’re not sure there is any. We talk about: • Why Stig feels more profane than sacred • Books as portals out of panic • Detective fiction and our longing for resolution • The exhausting, competitive condition of modern life --- 🎙️Listen to The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡Produced by Theos Think Tank: www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Check out Stig’s work: https://www.instagram.com/thestigabell/?hl=en Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:28 What is Sacred to You? Stig Abell Answers02:48 Questioning the Concept of the Sacred 04:32 Suspicion of Institutions and Freedom in Randomness 06:13 The Principles of Fairness and Kindness 08:56 Work ethics, Loughborough roots, and the story behind “Stig" 12:11 Reading and the Pre-internet childhood 14:35 Reading as Empathy and Sacred Practice 15:58 The Nature of Doubt and Certainty 17:42 Evolution, Randomness, and Meaning Without Agency 19:59 Do “holy” moments require God? 23:54 The Press and Public Appetite For Bad News 29:56 Navigating the Complexities of Journalism 32:02 Navigating the Media Landscape 36:05 Being unboxable, tribal politics, and scepticism as a way of life 37:58 Highbrow, Lowbrow, and the Freedom to Read Widely 39:32 Imposter Syndrome and Self-Perception 43:17 The Comfort of Genre Fiction 46:42 The Search for Justice in Storytelling 49:24 The Human Need for Narrative 54:03 The Crisis of Modern Existence 56:41 Quiet Struggles and the Fear of Being Useless 58:51 Recognising Flaws in Ourselves and Others Keywords: A wide-ranging conversation with Stig Abell on doubt, belief, meaning, secularism, faith and scepticism, fairness and kindness, journalism and media ethics, detective fiction and crime novels, books and reading as refuge, panic attacks and anxiety, modern life and burnout, human rights and Christianity’s cultural legacy, tribalism and political identity, institutions and individual conscience, and how to live well - or at least muddle through - in an age of uncertainty and infinite scroll.

In this episode, Elizabeth Oldfield is joined by political theorist and author Sophie Lewis to explore one of the most provocative ideas: the abolition of the family. Reflecting on her own complicated adolescence, Sophie asks what it would mean to reorganise society around love and collective care rather than accumulation? Drawing on her book, Abolish the Family, Sophie argues that the nuclear family carries impossible burdens in a capitalist society - privatising care, exhausting women, and quietly treating children as property. Could we imagine a world where love, care, and kinship extend beyond the walls of the nuclear family? Together, they talk about: • Why “utopia” is a practice, not a destination • The hidden labour inside the private household • Surrogacy, reproduction and the myth of “unassisted” motherhood • Are autonomy and care are opposites, or inseparable? • Jesus’ radical redefinition of family and the overlap between Christianity and communism • What Sophie really means by abolition --- 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Check out Sophie Lewis' work: https://www.instagram.com/reproutopia/?hl=en-- Chapters:00:00 Intro01:30 What is Sacred to you? Sophie Lewis answers12:15 - Sophie’s complex family history and personal struggles17:08 - Educational journey and radicalisation at university 20:28 - The meaning of utopia as a non-attachment process 24:22 - Connections between faith, love, and collective action 31:42 - Dissecting the concept of "Full Surrogacy Now" 36:39 - The biological myths around kinship and their political implications 43:46 - The paradox of abolition47:01 - Abolishing slavery through a radical reimagining of humanism 50:04 - Redefining family and kinship beyond blood ties 58:37 - How revolutionary care structures could have supported Sophie’s mother 60:45 - Sophie’s dedication to collective love and care as sacred practices 65:55 - The importance of shared purpose, synchronised action, and community Keywords: Sophie Lewis interview, abolish the family, radical feminist theory, Marxist feminism, political theory podcast, communisation of care, collective care, kinship networks, utopian thinking, libertarian communism, red love, family abolition, post-capitalist society, rethinking family, surrogacy ethics, gestational labor, parenthood and care, children belong to all of us, abolitionist thought, freedom and care, communal living, shared responsibility, parenting in modern society, radical theory for everyday life, anti-capitalist ideas, feminist politics, climate activism and radical thought, human geography theory, political philosophy podcast, queer runaway experiences, care as politics, social justice ideas, ethical community building, friendship as radical practice, collective freedom, family and society, abolitionist feminism, pregnancy and labor politics, communal childcare, mutual aid networks, parenting beyond the nuclear family, utopian visions, practical radicalism, human interconnection, radical love, ethics of kinship, parenting as shared labor, post-nuclear family ideas, political critique of capitalism, community-centered society, love and autonomy, humanism and care, social reproduction theory, feminist philosophy, radical theory conversation, future of family, abolitionist imagination

In this episode of The Sacred, Elizabeth Oldfield is joined by Jo Colman - great-great-great grandchild of the founder of Colman’s Mustard and now Chief Mint Officer of the family business, Summerdown - to explore a radically different story about generational wealth, power, business and belonging. Jo reflects on growing up with deep security and love, how that shaped his sense of responsibility, and why privilege doesn’t have to turn inward into status-seeking, but can instead become a platform for risk, generosity and service. Together, they talk about: • How power and privilege can be redirected outward rather than hoarded • Why Jo once rejected signet rings and why he now wears one • Building ethical, regenerative businesses that add value instead of extracting it • Adoption, family-making, and the real cost of inclusion • How to build families, institutions and communities that can truly hold human complexityThis is a conversation about the kind of wealth that doesn’t shrink the soul. -- 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Check out Summerdown: https://summerdown.com/?srsltid=AfmBOorjZKbSVC3rIhS42z-aqIhQWmr_CuCGtz24hUSKbzOuu8Lh_H-w -- Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:07 What is Sacred to You? Jo Colman answers 03:02 Staying Present in Parenting 05:49 Hope vs. Optimism: Embracing Life’s Paradoxes 12:14 Wealth as Formation: Privilege and Responsibility 15:14 Building a Regenerative, Ethical Business 31:26 Creativity, Purpose, and Social Responsibility 32:22 Our Adoption Journey 35:33 Training and Preparation for Adoptive Parenting 37:44 Parenting Adopted Children: Real Challenges 39:57 Trauma, Healing, and the Power of Love 45:31 Bureaucracy and the Adoption Process 47:35 Understanding the Stories of Biological Families 50:09 Adoption as Plan B: A Broader Perspective 51:53 Small-A Anarchism and Community Engagement 55:31 Listening, Assumptions, and Understanding Adoption 58:02 Slowing down in parenting Keywords: Jo Colman, Colman Mustard, Summerdown Mint, generational wealth, inheritance, privilege for good, ethical entrepreneurship, conscious capitalism, regenerative business, sustainable business, business with purpose, using wealth responsibly, family beyond blood, adoption stories, adoptive parenting, building family, radical generosity, love as action, belonging, human complexity, non-anxious presence, prophetic imagination, spiritual formation, formation through faith, stewardship of privilege, power and responsibility, ethical leadership, business for impact, social impact business, purposeful life, vocation and calling, family-making as vocation, living ethically, hope versus optimism, accompaniment, relational leadership, intentional parenting, high-needs adoption, inclusive families, inclusive communities, societal change, moral courage, compassionate leadership, human flourishing, social responsibility, giving back, life of service, risk for good, cultivating resilience, forming community, transformative love, radical hospitality

Elizabeth Neumann, a former senior official in the Trump Administration, reflects on why she felt called to serve, what she witnessed from inside government, and how her commitment to integrity ultimately led her to step away. In this conversation, she and Elizabeth Oldfield reflect on how extremism takes root, the role of integrity in polarised times, and why love, accountability, and formation matter more than outrage or power. Key moments: - Why Elizabeth Neumann worked in the Trump administration - and why she left - The difference between loyalty, obedience, and integrity - How fear drives polarisation and extremism - What 911 on January 6th revealed about institutional fragility - Why love is not soft, but essential for violence prevention - The cost of truth-telling inside communities you care about Chapters 00:00 Trailer 00:32 Intro 01:21 What is sacred to you? Elizabeth Neumann answers 03:34 Values in Hard Decision Making 08:47 Growing Up in the Bible Belt 14:06 Understanding Extremism and Fear 18:31 The Shift in Political Narratives 27:21 The Impact of 9/11 on National Security 32:02 The Psychological Drivers of Extremism 41:51 The Role of Love in Community Resilience 48:09 Navigating Political Loyalty in the Trump Administration 53:26 The January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol 01:00:18 Speaking Out Against Extremism 01:05:48 Engaging with Those at Risk of Radicalisation Keywords:John Kelly, Christian extremism, Bush, Trump, political extremism in America, faith and politics, Elizabeth Neumann interview, former Trump administration official, extremism and fear, radicalization and identity, preventing political violence, January 6 insurrection analysis, national security and extremism, Christian nationalism explained, moral courage in politics, integrity vs loyalty, obedience and conscience, fear-based politics, polarization in America, how extremism takes root, psychological drivers of extremism, love as violence prevention, community resilience against extremism, speaking out against extremism, truth-telling in polarized communities, cost of dissent, faith formation and identity, Bible Belt culture, 9/11 and national security policy, domestic extremism explained, religious identity and politics, political loyalty and integrity, navigating moral conflict at work, radicalization warning signs, de-escalation and prevention strategies, engaging people at risk of extremism, the role of fear in radicalization, democracy under threat, institutions under strain, January 6 lessons learned, Christian ethics in public life, power vs moral responsibility, extremism inside institutions, violence prevention strategies, faith-based approaches to peacebuilding, why people believe extreme ideologies, breaking cycles of outrage, love and accountability in community, political identity and belonging, courageous leadership in divided times, how narratives shape extremism, faith, fear, and power, rebuilding trust across difference

In this episode Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with writer, environmentalist, and activist George Monbiot - a fiercely anti-establishment voice shaped by resistance, trauma, and a refusal to become what Britain’s elite institutions tried to make him. We discuss: - Why the language we use around the environment and climate change, isn't sufficient - Growing up with buried histories of English fascism and Jewish refuge, and what Britain still refuses to face - Boarding school trauma, survival personalities, and opting out of elite power systems - Is faith needed for moral courage? - How real change happens without becoming the thing you’re fighting --- 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 👉 Follow George Monbiot: https://www.instagram.com/georgemonbiot/?hl=en Chapters: 00:00 Trailer and Intro 00:56 What is Sacred to you? George Monbiot answers 06:00 Language Shapes the Fight for Our Planet 09:00 Uncovering British Fascism and His Grandmother's Involvement 12:00 Boarding School and How Elitism Tried to Shape Him 15:00 Journalism and Environmental Campaigns 18:00 Why Society and Power Work the Way They Do 21:00 How to Speak Up as an Activist Without Losing People 24:00 Power, Purpose, and How to Live Differently Keywords:George Monbiot interview on The Sacred podcast, environmental activism and climate change discussion, how to live differently from the British elite, fighting for the living planet, rewilding and regenerative agriculture ideas, understanding neoliberalism and power, environmentalist’s guide to ethical living, grassroots activism for ecological justice, climate breakdown explained by George Monbiot, public luxury and private sufficiency philosophy, moral courage and personal growth stories, human nature and altruism debate, survival personality from boarding school trauma, family history of fascism and refugees, life lessons from an anti-establishment thinker, insights into environmental journalism, political resistance and direct action in Britain, lessons from activism in Brazil and West Papua, preserving biodiversity and ecosystems, transformative environmental philosophy, connecting with nature for mental health, environmental ethics for everyday life, how to persuade people about climate crisis, the role of empathy in social change, understanding the 1% and societal power, regenerative living and sustainable farming practices, ecological systems and life support functions, teaching community values and cooperation, overcoming fear and selfishness in society, personal transformation through nature, insights into British history and hidden fascism, activism strategies that work in practice, human impact on the natural world, fighting the system while staying honest, exploring moral and ethical values, climate emergency communication strategies, environmental storytelling for change, balancing anger and persuasion in activism, learning from liberation theology and social justice, life lessons from a radical environmentalist, tackling neoliberal myths about human nature, the role of courage in ethical action, George Monbiot on biodiversity recovery, understanding climate chaos, inspiring environmental leadership stories, how humans can live in harmony with the planet, the power of knowledge and curiosity in activism

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 Childhood ⁠www.napac.org.uk⁠ - Samaritans ⁠www.samaritans.org⁠ or by phone on 116 123 - The Survivors Trust ⁠www.thesurvivorstrust.org⁠ - Safe Spaces ⁠www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk ⁠ or by phone 0300 303 1566 - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy ⁠www.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