The Sacred

The Sacred

A podcast about the things we hold sacred, and how to talk to people different from ourselves.

Rowan Deacon on the power of storytelling and the ethics of making a documentary

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Rowan Deacon is a documentary filmmaker. Her portfolio includes the multi award winning film How to Die: Simon's Choice, and most recently Jimmy Savile: A Very British Horror Story, which was in the top 10 globally on Netflix.

She spoke about what drew her to documentaries, the power of storytelling and the ethical questions at play when producing a documentary.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2022/10/26/rowan-deacon-on-the-power-of-storytelling-and-the-ethics-of-making-a-documentary

Danté Stewart on family, church and race in America

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Danté Stewart is a church leader and writer whose journalism has appeared in a variety of top newspapers across the America. His most recent book is Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle.

He spoke about his Southern Pentecostal childhood, his experience in a white majority church, parenting while black and much more.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2022/10/19/dant-stewart-on-family-church-and-race-in-america

Sarah Langford on the importance of meaningful work, and how not to change someone's mind

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Sarah Langford is a criminal and family barrister gone farmer, and the author of the best-selling book ‘In Your Defence: True Stories of Life and Law’. Her most recent book, 'Rooted: Stories of Life, Land and a Farming Revolution’, is an account of her experience farming after moving to the countryside in 2017 and the stories of the farmers she’s met at a time of unprecedented change in agriculture.

She spoke about the importance of meaningful work, how we should view those needing criminal defence with dignity, and why we should meet people where they are at when trying to change their mind.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2022/10/12/sarah-langford-on-the-importance-of-meaningful-work-and-how-not-to-change-someones-mind

Zara Mohammed on her muslim faith and the challenges of being a young woman leader

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Zara Mohammed is Secretary General for the Muslim Council of Britain. When elected, she was the youngest and first woman to lead the organisation.

She spoke about her childhood, her muslim faith and the significance of putting on the headscarf, and the challenges of being a young woman leader running an organisation.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2022/10/05/zara-mohammed-on-her-muslim-faith-and-the-challenges-of-being-a-young-woman-leader

Sathnam Sanghera on his Sikh faith, colonialism, and dealing with online abuse

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Sathnam Sanghera is journalist for The Times, and best-selling memoirist. His most recent book, Empireland: How Imperialism Has Shaped Modern Britain, has been showered with awards and endorsements.

He spoke about growing up in Wolverhampton, his Sikh faith, dealing with online abuse, and his exploration of the history of colonialism.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2022/09/28/sathnam-sanghera-on-his-sikh-faith-dealing-with-online-abuse-and-learning-about-colonialism

Paul Kingsnorth on environmentalism, converting to Christianity and his concerns about authoritarianism

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Paul is an award winning novelist and essaying, currently best known for his Substack - The Abbey of Misrule.

He spoke about his deep environmental commitments, his conversion to the Orthodox Church and his concerns about authoritarianism brought about through technological expansion.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2022/09/21/paul-kingsnorth-on-environmentalism-converting-to-christianity-and-his-concerns-about-authoritarianism

Sacred Reflection: Queen Elizabeth II and her role in reconciliation

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The United Kingdom, Commonwealth and indeed the entire world were sent into shock after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday 8 September at the age 96, and after 70 years on the throne.

Elizabeth Oldfield reflects on Her Majesty’s role in the area of reconciliation throughout the many years she reigned, and how we might show compassion to those who have responded differently to her death.

Jenny Odell on attention, where we put it, and how it can polarise society

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Jenny Odell is an American multi-disciplinary artist, former art teacher at Stanford University and author of the New York Times best selling book, How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy.

She spoke about attention, where we put it, how it shapes and forms us, and how it could be the key to understanding our increasingly polarised societies.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2022/06/08/jenny-odell-on-attention-where-we-put-it-and-how-it-forms-us

Kate Maltby on her Jewish heritage, identity issues and the power of live theatre

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Kate Maltby is a columnist for The i Paper, theatre critic and senior research associate at Jesus College Cambridge.

She spoke about her Jewish heritage, the power and (almost) sacredness of live theatre and of dealing with identity issues.

Read the full transcript here: https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/comment/2022/06/01/kate-maltby-on-her-jewish-heritage-identity-issues-and-the-power-of-live-theatre

About this podcast

The Sacred is a podcast about our deepest values, the stories that shape us and how we can build empathy and understanding between people who are very different.

Each episode features a conversation with someone who has a public voice, from academics to journalists, playwrights and politicians. We ask them where they have come from, what they are trying to do and what might help heal our very divided public conversations.

The Sacred is hosted by Elizabeth Oldfield, former director of Theos think tank.

For more information about the people and ideas behind the podcast, visit https://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/about/who-we-are or follow us on Twitter @theosthinktank, @sacred_podcast and @ESOldfield.

by Theos think tank

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