Plain Talking

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. In this episode, we begin with the newly released World Watch List 2026 from Open Doors — a ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the greatest persecution. I speak with Jim from Open Doors, who explains why North Korea once again tops the list – a country where even private expressions of faith can be treated a...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. In this latest podcast, I chat with Brother David Jardine who has recently published a new book, ‘Healing Words’ . ‘My book is 150 pages and is a practical book’, says Brother David. ‘It tells people how to pray, types of things we should include in prayer and how to do it.’ David says the ministry of healing section in hi...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. In this latest podcast, I raise the question: How does God interact with the world? To answer it, we hear from Professor David Wilkinson who is a British Methodist minister, theologian, astrophysicist and academic. Professor Wilkinson is Director of ‘Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science’ at St John’s College...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. In this latest podcast we learn about the dire humanitarian crisis facing the people of Myanmar following the recent earthquake which killed more than 3,800 people. We hear an extended interview from Ruth (her name and voice have been changed for security reasons) who works with Open Doors in Myanmar, informing us about be...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. In this latest podcast we hear from Lead Pastor Dave Clague who, with his wife Gail, founded the Bethania Church and Prayer House in Cardiff just over ten years ago. Their vision is to both gather for prayer and support gatherings of prayer in the City of Cardiff and beyond. Gethin caught up with Dave who gives an insight...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. In this latest podcast we hear about the disturbing situation in Mali, a country in West Africa. Pastor Charles Yabaga Diarra tells how Christians there have been given an ultimatum by terrorists – either help in their fight against the country’s military power and pay them a Zakat tax (an Islamic tithe) or leave their hom...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. We begin the podcast by hearing about a performing arts group called Ny Ako from Scripture Union Madagascar who have been touring Europe and Wales during the summer months. Miara Rabearisoa, Mission Enabler from the Presbyterian Church of Wales, tells of Ny Ako’s deep Christian connection with Wales that all started...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. In this special Podcast edition, we’re focusing on the troubling situation in Gaza, where more than 30,000 people have been killed as Israeli troops conduct their war against Hamas. I speak with Colin Chapman, author of the ground-breaking book Whose Promised Land? which explores the troubled history of Israel and Pa...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. In this latest podcast, we focus on persecution that’s taking place in countries where Christians count the highest cost for following Jesus. Gethin starts by talking with Jim, Open Doors Lead Officer for Wales, who discusses their latest World Watch List – an annual report listing the fifty countries in which Christ...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. In this latest podcast, we explore the ‘life of faith’ in different ways. During this Christmas season, church ministers are at their busiest time. How do they cope with their workload? We hear from two local ministers from different denominations who serve in Bethesda, located in the foothills of Eryri (Snowdo...

Welcome to the latest Plain Talking podcast, with me, Gethin Russell-Jones. Storm Daniel’s devastation – Christian Aid and the aftermath. Gethin chats with Jennie Weaver, Christian Aid’s Church Engagement and Fundraising Officer. Jennie talks about Christian Aid’s response (working with Dan Church Aid, their Act Alliance partner) to the extreme rainfall and floods that have devas...

Here’s the latest Plain Talking podcast, with host Gethin Russell-Jones. Can God turn a person’s life around from terrorist to Christian? Gethin hears how David Hamilton, a member of Northern Ireland’s Ulster Volunteer Force and terrorist bomber, was given a long prison sentence for his crimes. But it was during his time in Maze prison he experienced a total Christian conversion....

Join presenter Gethin Russell-Jones for another inspiring, informative and insightful podcast. We hear about the courage and resilience of a ‘wild’ swimmer, Dr Mary Self. At age 17, Mary was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer, resulting in mid-thigh amputation and months of gruelling chemotherapy. Having always loved open water ‘wild’ swimming, in June 2022 she swam the N...

In this special Easter episode of Plain Talking , we hear from Revd Canon Sheridan James, who has left SE London where she was Vicar of St Catherine in Hatcham to become the Canon Pastor for Parish and Pilgrims in the much smaller city of St Davids in SW Wales – home to the ancient St Davids Cathedral. And to provide us with his usual inspiring food for thought, Brother David Jardine has a word or...

In this episode of Plain Talking , Gethin begins by discussing the troubles in sub-Saharan Africa – an area facing ‘catastrophic collapse’ as Islamic violence sweeps across the region. John Samuel, Open Doors spokesperson for sub-Saharan Africa, highlights the situation facing Christians in this area. Then, Cardiff-based Dylan Moore chats with Gethin about the often bewildering world o...

In this episode of Plain Talking (our final podcast for 2022), Gethin chats to Jessica Foster, Head of Church Engagement at The Trussell Trust , who support a nationwide network of food banks and offer help to people locked in poverty for whatever reason. At this time of great need, Jessica outlines how local churches can get more involved with food banks – and also get rid of the ‘undeserving poo...

In this episode of Plain Talking , Gethin speaks to Henrietta Blyth, CEO at Open Doors UK & Ireland , about the recent passing of Brother Andrew, Founder of Open Doors and author of God’s Smuggler – his own account of how he hid Bibles in his car in order to bring them to persecuted Christians. He managed to smuggle the Bibles past border guards in countries like Poland, East Germany, Bulgari...

In our latest episode of Plain Talking , Gethin talks with the Right Reverend Bishop James Jones KBE about his recently-published book Justice for Christ’s sake . Bishop James writes of his involvement as Chair of the Independent Panel for the Hillsborough disaster which claimed the lives of 97 people. Listening to the families of the bereaved, and seeking the truth were high on his agenda. Follow...

In this episode of Plain Talking , Gethin chats with pioneering Yorkshire farmer Denys Fell , founder of Densholme Care Farm , a Hull-based commercial organic farm offering social, education, therapeutic and development opportunities. You can learn more by visiting the Densholme Farm website at Densholme Farm. Gethin then follows up his previous podcast with the Bible Society’s Jack Imbert-...

In this latest episode of Plain Talking , we focus on the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Gethin talks with Catherine Butcher , author of Our Faithful Queen: 70 Years of Faith and Service , and helps us gain an insight on the importance and significance the Queen’s Christian faith has had on her life as our Monarch. (You can read more about this in the current issue of The Plain Truth magazi...