Episodes

  • Do We Inherit Mental Illness? with ABC Journalist James Longman
    Jan 29 2025
    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 episode! 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ ✍️ See James' new book 'The Inherited Mind': https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211026628-the-inherited-mind CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:54 What is Sacred to you? James Longman responds 07:03 Childhood Influences and Family Dynamics 14:07 The Impact of Mental Health in Family History 18:58 The Journey into Journalism and Conflict Reporting 24:11 Ethics and Responsibilities in News Reporting 29:51 Cultural and Spiritual Influences on Identity 31:48 Navigating Identity in Hostile Environments 38:02 The Interplay of Genetics and Environment 45:11 Understanding Mental Illness and Suicide 48:30 The Power of Compassionate Support 52:00 Elizabeth's reflection Keywords: kindness, journalism, family, mental health, ethics, conflict reporting, Ukraine, storytelling, hope, authenticity, Catholicism, LGBTQ+, mental health, genetics, suicide, community, love, support, healing, identity, journalist, ethics, war, trauma, resilience, empathy, responsibility, mental, illness, family, spirituality, identity, sexuality, reporting, hope, grief, healing, understanding, community, compassion, depression, suicide, schizophrenia, bipolar, epigenetics, environment, genetics, inherited, sacred, values, storytelling, bearing, witness, gay, international, danger, intergenerational, legacy, support, care, privilege, resources, authenticity, vulnerability, forgiveness, redemption, transformation
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Why is Gen Z Having an Identity Crisis? With Freya India
    Jan 15 2025
    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 disenchanted world. Freya India is a Gen Z writer and journalist, featured in The Spectator, The New Statesman, The Independent and UnHerd, and known for her popular Substack, GIRLS. 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.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ ✍️ Subscribe to Freya's substack: https://www.freyaindia.co.uk?utm_source=navbar&utm_medium=web Keywords: family, divorce, social media, Generation Z, Gen Z, emotional pain, resilience, societal norms, childhood, identity, mental health, mental health, youth, culture, algorithms, social media, spirituality, community, generational divide, self-help, meaning crisis, instagram, identity, growth, self help, polarisation, conservative, religion
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Q&A: Faith vs Doubt, The Loneliness Crisis, Will I Convert to Islam?
    Jan 8 2025
    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? 00:04:09 - Navigating doubt and uncertainty in faith 00:12:00 - Is loneliness a chronic human problem? 00:18:00 - Authenticity and Self-Work 00:25:00 - Can people from other religions go to heaven? 00:33:00 - Avoiding projection on God 00:39:00 - Praying for specific things 00:45:00 - Prayer as Meditation and Attention Training 00:51:00 - What is Sacred to the Sacred Team? Keywords faith, doubt, community, loneliness, crisis, spirituality, uncertainty, conversion, intimacy, philosophy, Christianity, faith, prayer, inclusivity, exclusivism, Hinduism, spirituality, Jesus, interfaith dialogue, personal belief, sacredness, community, intimacy, loneliness, exclusivism, inclusivity, relationship, projection, prayer, meditation, sacred, dignity, beauty, humanity, theology, philosophy, religion, spirituality, Christianity, Hinduism, interfaith, deconstruction, authenticity, self-work
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    51 mins
  • Rethinking Sin with Clementine Morrigan (Bonus Episode)
    Dec 18 2024
    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 check out her episode discussing trauma, alcohol recovery, and challenging cancel culture from the left here: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/clementine-morrigan-on-trauma-alcohol-recovery-and/id1326888108?i=1000645258658 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 🎙️ Follow Fucking Cancelled: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/fucking-cancelled/id1549437914 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Ask us anything
    Dec 17 2024
    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 or Instagram - Email us at thesacredpodcast@gmail.com 📢 Don’t forget to subscribe and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss your question being answered
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    1 min
  • Between God and Atheism with Alex O'Connor, Rowan Williams, Philip Goff and Jack Symes
    Dec 11 2024
    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 the search for meaning and purpose. If you enjoy episodes of The Sacred please do subscribe to be notified whenever we release an episode! 🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast 📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ Keywords: God, Atheism, Theism, Christianity, Philosophy of religion, Meaning of life, Purpose of existence, Suffering, Problem of evil, Fine-tuning of the universe, Intelligent design, Creationism, Naturalism, Gnosticism, Cosmology, Metaphysics, Epistemology, Theology, Spiritual, Religious, Debate, Panel discussion, Royal Institution, Elizabeth Oldfield, Rowan Williams, Alex O'Connor (aka Cosmic Skeptic), Philip Gough, Faith, Belief, Doubt, Uncertainty, Morality, Ethics, Consciousness, Cosmos, Transcendence, Immanence, Relationship with God, Mysticism, Heresy
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Why we Stick to "People Like Us" (and Why That's a Problem) with Jon Yates
    Dec 4 2024
    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 the dangers of living in echo chambers, our innate desire for acceptance and discuss practical ways we can overcome our natural inclination towards the familiar and embrace meaningful connections across difference. 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.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 📕 See Jon Yates' Work: https://jonyates.org/ Keywords: Division, polarization, polarisation, homophily, bias, diversity, inclusion, empathy, understanding, connection, relationships, community, social dynamics, tribalism, echo chambers, prejudice, acceptance, belonging, difference, similarity, societal issues, conflict resolution, reconciliation, moral judgment, moral agency, parenting, authoritative, permissive, principles, values, discourse, perspective-taking, curiosity, vulnerability, insecurity, rejection, anxiety, comfort zone, interpersonal dynamics, social psychology, behavioural economics, behavioral economics, organisational behaviour, organizational behavior, civic engagement, social cohesion, collective identity, intergroup relations, bridging divides, shared experiences, common ground, nuance, emotional intelligence, community projects, youth charity, Youth Endowment Fund, division, people like me syndrome, social mobility, empathy and curiosity, moral agency, authoritative parenting, shared institutions, digital echo chambers, emotional challenge, moral value, societal division
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    40 mins
  • Befriending the KKK and Dismantling Racism with Daryl Davis
    Nov 13 2024
    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 racism, Daryl has taken an unconventional approach, choosing empathy and open communication over confrontation. Discover the profound impact one person can have in bridging the divide and fostering greater understanding between communities. 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.elizabetholdfield.com/ 💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/ 📕 See Daryl's work: https://www.daryldavis.com/
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    1 hr and 1 min