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Holy Smoke

The Spectator
Catholic Church
Republican Party
Pope Francis
Religion and Politics
Evangelical Christians
Donald Trump
Anton Bruckner
Christianity
Church Of England
Integralism
Catholicism
Cultural Conservatism
Political Polarization
Abortion
America
Funerals
Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez
Jewish Schools
Christmas Carols
Frank Sinatra

The most important and controversial topics in world religion, thoroughly dissected by a range of high profile guests. Presented by Damian Thompson.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes202Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualityChristianityReligion

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Artwork for Holy Smoke

Latest Episodes

The announcement by Erika Kirk – the widow of assassinated political activist Charlie Kirk – that she forgave her husband's killer, has led many to question the nature of Christian forgiveness. Granting forgiveness can seem hard for the smallest of c... more

Dame Sarah Mullally has been announced as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Previously the Bishop of London, she becomes the first woman to lead the Church in its almost 500 year history. She also had a 40 year career as a professional nurse, rising ... more

The past few years have seen growing calls for countries in the global west to pay reparations to former colonies for their role in the transatlantic slave trade. The debate over reparations was already part of the so-called ‘culture wars’, but becam... more

This year marks 800 years since the birth of the theologian St Thomas Aquinas. Aquinas, best known for his theory of natural law and his magnum opus the Summa Theologia, argued for the existence of God through faith-based reason. The influence of the... more

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Recent Guests

Professor Everett Worthington
Commonwealth Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia Commonwealth and a clinical psychologist specializing in forgiveness.
University of Virginia
Episode: What does it mean 'to forgive'?
Marcus Walker
Rector of St Bartholomew the Great, the oldest parish church in the Diocese of London
Episode: What can we expect from the first female Archbishop of Canterbury?
Father Gregory Pine
A member of the Order of Preachers, an intellectual, and a popular exponent of Aquinas' thought on YouTube
Thomistic Institute
Episode: 800 years on, why is Aquinas Gen Z’s favourite philosopher?
Tom Ayling
A young antiquarian bookseller based in Oxfordshire
Tom Ayling Books
Episode: From the Bible to Tolkien: the risks & rewards of collecting rare books
Father Benedict Kiely
Founder of Nazarene.org, a leading campaign for the rights of religious believers around the world.
Nazarene.org
Episode: Massacres in Syria & the Congo: why aren't Western elites drawing attention to religious persecution?
Daniel Taub
Author and former Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom
Episode: A Jewish guide to arguing
Bijan Omrani
Author of 'God is an Englishman, Christianity and the Creation of England'
Forum Books
Episode: Is God an Englishman?
Ariel Lanyi
Brilliant young British-Israeli pianist
Linn Records
Episode: Finding spiritual treasure in César Franck
Luke Coppen
Editor of The Pillar and former editor of The Catholic Herald
The Pillar
Episode: Conclave: who is likely to succeed Francis?

Host

Damian Thompson
Host of insightful discussions surrounding contentious religious topics with a range of high-profile guests.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 471 ratings
  • Utterly facile, biased journalism

    My goodness this is a ridiculous little podcast. Utterly biased towards more ultra conservative Catholics, repugnant in its really not even veiled hatred for anything or anyone associated with the late Pope Francis’s pontificate. Pathetic in its childish fetishisation of the Tridentine Mass. Only listened to a couple of episodes. Don’t expect to listen to many more.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    saintlymark
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Great Conversations

    Excellent episode with Luke Coppen on the 7 May conclave.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andhiggins
    United States5 months ago
  • Conclave

    Conclave is a sacrilegious film. Not something you should be promoting as a “great film”

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    welcomeday05
    United States8 months ago
  • Highly Recommend

    Very much insightful and needed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cm9S_0
    United States8 months ago
  • Interesting and uncompromising

    The last two episodes have been excellent. Damian Thompson conducted a robust interview with a slippery character and it was a breath of fresh air to not hear the usual platitudes. No, it’s not all. But it is a lot - and they’ve had help. The episode about the Vatican scandal was eye-opening! Will carry on listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    marbrid
    United Kingdom9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many value the entertaining yet informative style of the host, noting his ability to tackle controversial topics with insight.
Listeners appreciate the depth and thoroughness of discussions, often highlighting the quality and expertise of guests.
Critiques mention a perceived bias towards conservative viewpoints, with some suggesting a desire for more diverse opinions in discussions.
Overall, feedback indicates a loyal audience that finds the content engaging and relevant to contemporary faith-related issues.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

What does it mean 'to forgive'?
Q: What advice would you give listeners who might be thinking, well, I'd like to be a more forgiving person?
We have to deal with specific events and can apply the Reach Forgiveness model to those events.
What does it mean 'to forgive'?
Q: How long did the process take before you found yourself in a position where you can say, well, I have forgiven the person who did this?
I was able to forgive the young man that night, really, within 24 hours.
800 years on, why is Aquinas Gen Z’s favourite philosopher?
Q: Could you give people some advice on how to approach the intimidating figure of St. Thomas Aquinas?
Approaching Aquinas can be daunting, but engaging with his homilies or simpler texts can be a great start for those interested.
800 years on, why is Aquinas Gen Z’s favourite philosopher?
Q: Do you think the popularity of Aquinas among younger people reflects exhaustion with postmodern thinking?
Yes, the appeal lies in its ability to offer a deeper, more satisfying intellectual engagement with the realities of existence.
800 years on, why is Aquinas Gen Z’s favourite philosopher?
Q: Could you help introduce us to St Thomas Aquinas and his thinking?
Aquinas offers a systematic approach that is disciplined and orderly, greatly affecting Christian thought in profound ways.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Holy Smoke

What is Holy Smoke about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content primarily revolves around significant and sometimes contentious subjects in global religion, featuring in-depth discussions with influential guests from various backgrounds. Key themes include the impact of historical figures such as St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John Henry Newman, explorations of contemporary religious challenges, including the persecution of religious minorities, and debates surrounding the future of the Anglican and Catholic churches. Throughout the episodes, there's a notable emphasis on traditional practices, the evolving role of faith in modern society, and how younger generations are re-engaging with religious roots amidst secular trends.

Where can I find podcast stats for Holy Smoke?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Holy Smoke. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Holy Smoke and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Holy Smoke get?

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How many subscribers and views does Holy Smoke have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Holy Smoke has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Holy Smoke?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Holy Smoke:

1. Americano
2. Best of the Spectator
3. The Edition
4. Coffee House Shots
5. Quite right!

How many episodes of Holy Smoke are there?

Holy Smoke launched 9 years ago and published 202 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Holy Smoke?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Holy Smoke?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Holy Smoke from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Holy Smoke?

Recent guests on Holy Smoke include:

1. Professor Everett Worthington
2. Marcus Walker
3. Father Gregory Pine
4. Tom Ayling
5. Father Benedict Kiely
6. Daniel Taub
7. Bijan Omrani
8. Ariel Lanyi

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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