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A podcast about our Sacred values and how we can talk to people who are different from ourselves. 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 Oldf... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes244Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RelationshipsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Sacred

Latest Episodes

Why do stories matter? Why have human beings always told stories - and what if the oldest stories still have something vital to teach us?

In this episode of The Sacred, Elizabeth Oldfield sits down with psychologist, mythologist and bestselling auth... more

Whether we know it or not, economics shapes almost every part of our lives - where we live, whether we can afford children, how much time we have with the people we love, and even the choices we think are available to us. But most of us rarely stop t... more

What does it mean to be visibly Muslim in British public life right now?

Mehreen Khan has been living that question since she was eleven years old - when 9/11 turned her faith into something she had to defend.

She's now Economics Editor at The Tim... more

Hugo Rifkind has spent his career observing power. He also grew up inside it — and never quite felt he belonged there.

In this episode, he talks about:

• The Scottish boarding school where violence was a point of pride... until a public inquiry fo... more

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Recent Guests

Mehreen Khan
Economics editor at The Times, journalist
The Times
Episode: "I'm Painfully British": What it Means to be British and Muslim Right Now | Mehreen Khan
Hugo Rifkind
Journalist and author
The Times (columnist)
Episode: Boarding School Britain and The Things We Normalise | Hugo Rifkind
Michael Pollan
Author and journalist known for exploring food systems, psychedelics, and consciousness
New York Times bestselling author
Episode: Psychedelics, Consciousness and Changing Your Mind | Michael Pollan
Jasmine Mitchell
Alopecia-affected medical student and Bake Off contestant
Medical student; Bake Off contestant
Episode: Bake Off, Alopecia & Learning to Be Yourself with Jasmine Mitchell
Leah Libresco Sargeant
Writer and policy thinker, author of The Dignity of Dependence and Other Feminisms
Writer; Family Policy advocate; Substack Other Feminisms
Episode: The Myth of the Neutral Human with Leah Libresco Sargeant
Rangan Chatterjee
GP, author, presenter and podcaster
Dr Rangan Chatterjee (self)
Episode: Are You Living a Life You Didn’t Choose? With Dr Rangan Chatterjee
Stig Abell
Former editor and media figure, novelist
The Times Literary Supplement; The Sun; Press Complaints Commission; Times Radio
Episode: I Don’t Believe in the Sacred | Doubt, Reading and Muddling Through with Stig Abell
Sophie Lewis
A writer, author, theorist, and teacher
Episode: Can We Save the Family by Abolishing It? With Sophie Lewis
Jo Colman
Chief Mint Officer at Summerdown, an advocate for love-based familial structures through adoption.
Summerdown
Episode: Why Love, Not Wealth, Changes Everything with Jo Colman

Host

Elizabeth Oldfield
Host of The Sacred, previously affiliated with Theos/The Think Tank; engages guests with empathy, curiosity, and rigorous questioning.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 549 ratings
  • Deepens your spiritual reflection

    A wonderful podcast which has a wide range of thinkers speaking on many topics around faith and ethics. They challenge you to think deeply about the sacred. It’s really helped me to look at my beliefs and values more deeply in our difficult world.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Redhead71
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Refreshing and thought provoking

    In the current climate it’s wonderful to hear an interviewer let her guests speak even when they might be expressing controversial or uncomfortable opinions on difficult topics. Always respectful sometimes challenging this is a stimulating thought provoking podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Florentine Gold
    Irelanda year ago
  • Thoughtful podcast

    Christianity wouldn’t appear so lame and inconsiderate if only more Christian’s took a leaf out of Elizabeth Oldfield’s book.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Oldskoolfragger
    New Zealanda year ago
  • Engaging Show

    I enjoy listening to all sorts of people on this podcast, and Elizabeth really allows her guests to speak their mind. I appreciate how Elizabeth works to understand her guests and only challenges them in order to clarify what they are saying. That does mean that show guests often say things I disagree with, that are factually wrong, or just plain crazy; but that’s the whole point, to engage with a variety of people and try to understand and appreciate their point of view.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Madman calling
    Australiaa year ago
  • Enabling understanding

    I am learning so much from hearing these conversations. Understanding others with different views is so important. We can still love and respect as Jesus taught us.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PND62
    United Kingdoma year ago

Listeners Say

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

Hosts and guests are thoughtful and respectful, often challenging ideas while inviting empathy.
Audiences feel the show fosters understanding across religious and ideological divides.
Listeners praise the breadth of perspectives and the host's skill in guiding conversations.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

"I'm Painfully British": What it Means to be British and Muslim Right Now | Mehreen Khan
Q: How has your sense of your Muslim identity developed since then?
Her identity evolves from a provocative, rebellious youth toward a more mature, faith-centered worldview that seeks balance between political engagement and spiritual Certainty, while maintaining responsibility in public discourse.
"I'm Painfully British": What it Means to be British and Muslim Right Now | Mehreen Khan
Q: Tell me what is sacred for you.
She frames the sacred as consciousness, comparing its mystery to God and discussing how Islam grounds her worldview, ethics, and approach to life and journalism.
"I'm Painfully British": What it Means to be British and Muslim Right Now | Mehreen Khan
Q: What does it mean to be British right now?
Mehreen describes a deep, unapologetic Britishness that coexists with her Muslim identity, embracing the country's quirks, wit, and ability to push boundaries while remaining committed to dialogue and fairness.
Psychedelics, Consciousness and Changing Your Mind | Michael Pollan
Q: How did your approach to writing about consciousness evolve over time?
He describes moving from a traditional, authoritative writer to a more exploratory, first-person, narrative-driven approach that invites readers along on a journey rather than lecturing, which made his work more accessible and influential.
Psychedelics, Consciousness and Changing Your Mind | Michael Pollan
Q: What sparked your interest in consciousness beyond the laboratory?
Pollan explains that his curiosity grew from personal experience, mentorship, and a sense that science often overlooks embodied and contemplative dimensions of consciousness, leading him to seek a broader, more integrated understanding.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Sacred

What is The Sacred about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview series centered on deep values, ethics, and meaning, drawing in guests from medicine, journalism, policy, religion, and the arts to explore how personal histories shape public life. Conversations tend toward compassion, curiosity, and a desire to bridge divides, with host-led probes that balance respect with challenging questions. Notable throughlines include faith and spirituality, care and interdependence, and the role of public figures in shaping moral discourse. The show's warmth, openness to diverse perspectives, and emphasis on listening make it a compelling fit for listeners seeking meaningful conversations that illuminate how beliefs guide everyday decisions and leadership.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Sacred?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Sacred. 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 The Sacred and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Sacred get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Sacred, 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 The Sacred?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Sacred, 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 The Sacred have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Sacred 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 The Sacred?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Sacred:

1. Nomad Podcast
2. Uncommon Ground with Justin Brierley
3. Trinity Forum Conversations
4. Inspired... with Simon Guillebaud
5. Unbelievable?

How many episodes of The Sacred are there?

The Sacred launched 9 years ago and published 244 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 The Sacred?

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 The Sacred?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Sacred 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 The Sacred?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Sacred. 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 The Sacred?

Recent guests on The Sacred include:

1. Mehreen Khan
2. Hugo Rifkind
3. Michael Pollan
4. Jasmine Mitchell
5. Leah Libresco Sargeant
6. Rangan Chatterjee
7. Stig Abell
8. Sophie Lewis

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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