Rephonic
Artwork for Holy Smoke

Holy Smoke

The Spectator
Catholic Church
Republican Party
Pope Francis
Evangelical Christians
Donald Trump
Religion and Politics
Anton Bruckner
Christianity
Church Of England
Catholicism
Integralism
Political Polarization
Cultural Conservatism
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes205Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ChristianityReligion & SpiritualityReligion

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Holy Smoke

Latest Episodes

October marks the month of Edwardtide – a series of celebrations commemorating St Edward the Confessor, the King that ruled England in the 11th century for over two decades. Nowadays, he is remembered for three reasons: as one of the last Anglo-Saxon... more

In the space of a month, the Church of England has acquired its first female Archbishop of Canterbury, a majority of the world’s Anglicans have left the Anglican Communion in protest at the mother Church’s willingness to bless same-sex relationships ... more

How did faith shape Margaret Thatcher’s politics? To mark the centenary month of Margaret Thatcher’s birth, Damian Thompson introduces a conversation between the Spectator’s Natasha Feroze, Thatcher’s biographer Lord Moore and Bishop Chartres who del... more

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

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Americano
AmericanoThe Spectator
The Edition
The EditionThe Spectator
Coffee House Shots
Coffee House ShotsThe Spectator
Quite right!
Quite right!The Spectator

Recent Guests

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'?
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?
Fergus Butler-Gallie
Anglican priest, writer, and author of Twelve Churches, An Unlikely History of the Buildings That Made Christianity
Episode: Which are the 'Twelve Churches' that made Christianity?
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

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
  • 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 Kingdom14 days 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 Kingdoma month 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 Kingdom6 months ago
  • Great Conversations

    Excellent episode with Luke Coppen on the 7 May conclave.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    andhiggins
    United States6 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

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.

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.
Is the cult of St Edward the Confessor justified?
Q: To what extent was Edward a ruthless monarch of the period?
Edward's reputation is somewhat whitewashed; he distanced himself from direct violence, but the evidence of his involvement in assassinations and political maneuvers is complex and contested.
Is the cult of St Edward the Confessor justified?
Q: Is Edward's posthumous reputation as a saint, justified by the historical record?
There are glimmerings of that in his lifetime, suggesting some elements of divine power and a developing image of sanctity even before he became king.
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.

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 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?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Holy Smoke, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Holy Smoke?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Holy Smoke, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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 205 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.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Holy Smoke?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Holy Smoke. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Holy Smoke?

Recent guests on Holy Smoke include:

1. Professor Tom Licence
2. Professor Everett Worthington
3. Father Gregory Pine
4. Fergus Butler-Gallie
5. Tom Ayling
6. Father Benedict Kiely
7. Daniel Taub
8. Bijan Omrani

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days