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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
Catholicism
Integralism
Cultural Conservatism
Political Polarization
America
Abortion
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes217Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligionReligion & Spirituality

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Artwork for Holy Smoke

Latest Episodes

On the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Dr Yuri Stoyanov – of SOAS university in London – joins Damian Thompson to reflect on the religious dimensions of the war once again. The theological gulf between Russia and Ukrain... more

There has been a lot of speculation about a 'quiet revival' of Christianity happening amongst the younger generations – including on this podcast. Much of this traces back to a survey conducted by the Bible Society last year. Respected demographer Co... more

What did you most recently use Artificial Intelligence for? For most people, the answer would be as a glorified search function, using services like Chat GPT to ask questions, draft text and even produce images – like the Chat GPT generated thumbnail... more

The next Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Richard Moth, will be installed in his cathedral on February 14. Bishop Moth, formerly of Arundel and Brighton, is seen as a ‘safe pair of hands’. But why didn’t the job go to a more charismatic figure, su... more

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Recent Guests

Dr. Conrad Hackett
Associate Director of Research and Senior Demographer at the Pew Research Center
Pew Research Center
Episode: Is there any truth in the Christian revival?
Daniel Wilson
23-year-old advocate for the preservation of medieval churches
Episode: The historic value of English churches – with Daniel Wilson
Peter Frankopan
A foremost historian of the Middle East and Professor of Global History at Worcester College, Oxford.
Worcester College, Oxford, and Cambridge University
Episode: Iran: why theocracies survive – with Peter Frankopan
Rory Sutherland
Britain's most charismatic advertising guru, vice-chairman of the Ogilvie and Mailer Group
Ogilvie and Mailer Group
Episode: Why religious societies succeed – with Rory Sutherland
Charles Coulombe
Proud American monarchist, a conservative, an orthodox Catholic, and an author
Pelican Plus
Episode: How was Commercial Christmas born?
Iben Thranholm
Danish theologian and journalist
The Spectator
Episode: Why did the Danish PM call for a 'spiritual rearmament'?
Luke Lyman
Art editor at Spectator World and writer discussing the intersection of spirituality and technology.
Spectator World
Episode: Have the culture wars gone spiritual?
Professor Tom Licence
Authority on Edward the Confessor
University of East Anglia
Episode: Is the cult of St Edward the Confessor justified?
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'?

Host

Damian Thompson
Host of Holy Smoke, known for engaging in critical discussions on religious topics with notable guests.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 485 ratings
  • Askew

    I’ve always loved this podcast until recently. I’ve sensed a decline in the quality of the guests. The extraordinarily vulgar and ignorant commentator Fleur Meston is a case in point. She has no sophisticated sense of who the Holy Father is. She rants and raves that he cannot interpret the meaning of the scriptures. I suppose that’s to be left to the genius of social media, The View, and other trashy uneducated brats rather than the successors to the apostles. Scripture and Tradition means Apos... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Abdellat
    United States2 months ago
  • Latest episode on the Anglican communion

    It felt like a sneering attitude to genuine theological dispute. Take on African churches not a good look in particular. Not what I expected at all.

    Could have been so much better if both sides fairly represented. Have another go as there are interesting things to be said.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Really your best effort?
    United Kingdom4 months ago
  • Shame you can’t hear the guest

    I was listening to this podcast on full volume (I don’t have a hearing problem) and I couldn’t hear Rev’d Marcus Walker. He swallows his words.

    It got marginally better towards the end but should be looked into.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Amelia22222
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • 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 Kingdom10 months ago
  • Great Conversations

    Excellent episode with Luke Coppen on the 7 May conclave.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andhiggins
    United States10 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the depth and insight of the conversations, noting that they raise important and sometimes controversial questions.
The host is often praised for his articulate and engaging style, though there are calls for more diversity in opinion among guests.
Overall, many find the podcast to be a valuable resource for understanding contemporary religious issues.
Some reviews highlight a perceived bias, particularly towards conservative views, which may not resonate with all audiences.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Is there any truth in the Christian revival?
Q: Is the rise of secularism mostly confined to the West?
Dr. Hackett discusses the notion of secularization occurring at different speeds, noting signs of decline in religiosity even in non-Western countries.
Is there any truth in the Christian revival?
Q: Could you take us through that for a second?
Dr. Hackett explains the demographic changes, including a decrease in the share of Christians due to various factors, including immigration.
Iran: why theocracies survive – with Peter Frankopan
Q: What does the future of theocracies look like?
Peter Frankopan discusses that while theocracies have seen a resurgence, demographic changes and the younger population's aspirations for freedom suggest a potential shift in Iran's future.
Iran: why theocracies survive – with Peter Frankopan
Q: How representative of Iran's Islamic traditions is the theocratic rule of the mullahs introduced by Khomeini?
Peter Frankopan suggests that the question can be answered in different ways, emphasizing the impact of theocracy on daily life and how it is shaped by the state.
Is the cult of St Edward the Confessor justified?
Q: How can one reflect on the life of an individual who achieved a saintly reputation in tumultuous times?
Reflecting on Edward's ability to walk the tightrope between rulership and sanctity offers valuable insights into the human experience across history.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Holy Smoke

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

The content focuses on significant and often contentious issues within world religions, particularly Christianity, analyzing their impact on contemporary society. Common themes include the intersection of faith and politics, historical context of religious practices, and discussions on societal norms shaped by religious beliefs. A distinctive aspect is the inclusion of high-profile guests from various backgrounds, providing diverse perspectives and insights into the evolving dialogue surrounding these significant topics. This podcast seems designed for listeners who appreciate in-depth discussions around faith and its social ramifications.

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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What are the audience demographics for Holy Smoke?

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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. Coffee House Shots
2. Quite right!
3. UnHerd with Freddie Sayers
4. Planet Normal
5. The spiked podcast

How many episodes of Holy Smoke are there?

Holy Smoke launched 9 years ago and published 217 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. Dr. Conrad Hackett
2. Daniel Wilson
3. Peter Frankopan
4. Rory Sutherland
5. Charles Coulombe
6. Iben Thranholm
7. Luke Lyman
8. Professor Tom Licence

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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