The Sacred

Jameela Jamil joins us for a conversation about her rise to fame, the dangers of divisive echo chambers, and her decision to reject harmful beauty narratives. With her signature wit and vulnerability, Jameela’s dives into toxic beauty standards, the destructive anti-aging narrative that has plagued women for generations, and the deep-rooted values that inspire Jameela to use her platform as a forc...

Elizabeth Oldfield and James Orr discuss the relationship between the sacred and the secular, and his conservative political views on Brexit, and his critique of Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion policies. James Orr is the Associate Professor of the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Cambridge. This episode offers a unique and insightful exploration of the sacred in the modern world, tou...

ABC Foreign News Correspondent James Longman speaks to Elizabeth Oldfield about the emotional toll he faces as a journalist reporting from war zones, the challenges of being a gay journalist in dangerous regions abroad, and the intergenerational impact of mental illness within his own family. If you enjoy episodes of The Sacred don't forget to hit subscribe to be notified whenever we release an ep...

Why are resilience and mental health such critical issues for Generation Z? Elizabeth Oldfield and Freya India discuss the influence of social media, individualism, left-wing ideas and changes in parenting on Gen Z. We explore themes such as divorce and family breakdown, the pervasive influence of the mental health narratives on youth and the search for identity and spiritual meaning in a disencha...

Elizabeth, Dan and Amari discuss various questions from their audience such as, How did Elizabeth find the Atheism debate? How do I navigate uncertainty and doubt in my faith? Will humans always be a bit lonely? Can Christianity be inclusive of other religions? How can we avoid constructing our own God? And more! Chapters 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:08 - How did you find the Atheism panel debate? 00:04...

In this special bonus episode of The Sacred, we are glad to share a conversation Elizabeth had with writer and podcaster Clementine Morrigan on her podcast 'Fucking Cancelled'. In this conversation they discussed Elizabeth's book Fully Alive, taking a deep dive into her thinking around Lust, Wrath and what Christian's mean by 'God' at all. Clementine is a former guest on The Sacred. Be sure to che...

Send us your questions and thoughts that you'd like Elizabeth (+ the wider team) to cover in an upcoming Q+A episode! 💌 Whether it’s a question relating to an episode or guest, questions for our production team or about the Sacred project, we'd love to hear your thoughts. We'd happily accept voice notes or videos too. 📩 How to Send Your Questions: - Drop them in the comments below - DM us on X o...

Elizabeth Oldfield joins panel of leading thinkers from across the philosophical and religious spectrum come together to grapple with some of life's biggest questions on God, atheism, and the meaning of life. The panelists - including Elizabeth Oldfield, Rowan Williams, Alex O'Connor, and Philip Goff - engage in a lively debate exploring the origins of the universe, the problem of suffering, and t...

Why do we so often surround ourselves with people just like us? In this thought-provoking conversation, Elizabeth Oldfield speaks to author and social innovator Jon Yates about how 'people like me' syndrome plays out in our personal lives, communities, and society at large. We have noticed this theme pop up numerous times in our latest series and so join us as we look back on series 11 and explore...

Daryl Davis shares a unique perspective on the motivations behind white supremacy and what it takes to see the gradual transformation of KKK members. Hosts Elizabeth Oldfield and Alex Evans, delve into the extraordinary story of Daryl Davis, a Blues musician who has spent decades befriending and dialoguing with members of the Ku Klux Klan. Driven by a deep curiosity to understand the roots of raci...

Sarah Ditum delves into her journey through the strands of feminism, the misogynistic "upskirt decade" - the invasive celebrity culture of the late 90s and 2000s that often exploited and shamed young women, and her views on the role of pornography and its impact on mainstream culture. Sarah is a critic and columnist for The Times and The Sunday Times, and author of the book "Toxic: Women and the N...

Rod Dreher and Elizabeth Oldfield delve into Rod's coverage of the Catholic sex abuse scandal, converting to Eastern Orthodoxy, his views on immigration and Donald Trump and supernatural experiences. If you enjoy episodes of The Sacred don't forget to hit subscribe to be notified whenever we release an episode! 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabe...

Father James Martin and our host, Elizabeth Oldfield discuss his journey to becoming a Catholic priest and the Jesuit motto of finding God in everything. We spoke about the difficulty of living a life of chastity, becoming a vocal advocate for LGBTQ inclusion within the Catholic Church and navigating backlash as a public figure. If you enjoy episodes of The Sacred don't forget to hit subscribe to...

Elizabeth Oldfield sits down with renowned Islamic theologian Dr. Timothy Winter (Abdal Hakim Murad) to explore his journey to Islam and the depth and richness that he finds within the Islamic spiritual tradition. Dr. Winter shares the story of his own transformative journey, from attending a Christian school to a deep immersion in the world of Islam. Beyond his personal narrative, Dr. Winter delv...

From two different spiritual perspectives, we explore what it means to remain connected, rooted and to live a meaning-filled life in these turbulent times. Drawing from their personal experiences and spiritual journeys, they delve into the nature of the sacred, the importance of relationships and community, and the practical steps we can take to resist being poorly formed in these times of uncerta...

We sit down with Dr. Kate Tomas, a philosopher and spiritual mentor, to discuss her experience as a psychic, and the rising discussion about younger generations and New Age/spiritual practices. Elizabeth Oldfield speaks to Kate about her upbringing and what led her to psychic work, how 'intuitive wisdom' is used by many of the world's wealthiest people, why young people are drawn to astrology and...

We sit down with Dr. Gwen Adshead, a renowned forensic psychologist and psychotherapist, to explore her remarkable approach to understanding and treating the most disturbing human behaviours and experiences. Elizabeth Oldfield speaks to Gwen about finding the sacred and the transcendent even in the darkest corners of the human experience. Through her unique lens, she bridges the divide between vic...

In this episode, recorded at the 2024 Aspen Ideas Festival, Elizabeth Oldfield chats with Sam Kimbriel about how nature shapes his worldview, the growing loneliness epidemic, and the power of vulnerable friendships. Discover why philosophy is more than just an academic exercise—it’s a tool for thinking deeply and living fully. Sam Kimbriel is a political philosopher, author, and founding director...

Dear Sacred Podcast listeners, We are growing and we need your help! Whether you're a long-time listener or a new follower, we would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the podcast. Take the survey here👇 https://biblesociety.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0V8qbAgA8S3MIw6 A massive thank you for being here from Elizabeth and The Sacred Team 🌿🤍

Join Elizabeth Oldfield and her housemates as they dive into their unconventional living arrangement, where two couples share a home in a close-knit, intentional community. In this episode, we explore the motivations behind choosing such a radically interconnected lifestyle and the profound impact it has on combating loneliness, pride and fostering connection. We discuss the challenges and rewards...

In this episode, Elizabeth Oldfield interviewed Tim Dixon about the limitations of politics in creating change, the tragic death of friend Jo Cox, and the importance of addressing the issue of polarisation and division in politics. Tim Dixon is a social entrepreneur and the co-founder of More in Common, an organisation, in the US, UK, Germany and France, that is working to unite our increasing pol...

Elizabeth Oldfield speaks to Lakwena Maciver about processing emotions, navigating comparison and using her artwork to speak powerful messages to herself and wider culture. Lakwena is a London-based artist who combines colour and bold text to inspire joy and the gentle subversion of cultural messaging. Her work has been shown internationally with brands such as H&M, Fiorucci & Mini, and at institu...

Peter Hitchens, Conservative journalist and author, is interviewed by host of The Sacred podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield. In this episode, we spoke about Peter's finding and losing faith in socialism, the role of journalism in forming our opinions, and his unexpected encounter with God. 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced b...

Caroline Lucas, British Politician and former leader of the Green Party is interviewed by host of The Sacred podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield. In this episode, Caroline talks about the formation of an MP, the challenges of the political system, the role of imagination and spirituality in tackling the climate crisis, and how we can reimagine a different story about England. 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr....

Dacher Keltner is interviewed by Elizabeth Oldfield about counter-cultural upbringings, individualism awe, and the benefits of connecting to something bigger than yourself. Dacher is a Professor of Psychology and a leading Emotion Scientist. He hosts a podcast and has written the book 'Awe', calling us to cultivate lives that are guided by the powerful force of awe. 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee...