Rephonic
Artwork for The Sacred
Christianity
Mental Health
Spirituality
Empathy
Community
Ask Me Anything
Social Media
Artificial Intelligence
Grief
Motherhood
Trauma
Philosophy
Loneliness
Technology
Family Breakdown
Islam
Human Relationships
Brexit
Death
Kindness

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 monthlyEpisodes252Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RelationshipsSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Sacred

Latest Episodes

What happens when the person behind the punchlines isn't quite who you'd expect?

This week, comedian, satirist, pianist and novelist Rachel Parris joins us to talk about life in comedy, being a woman in the public eye, and the experience of living w... more

What happens when the AI tools we used to make life easier started to change the way we think?

Journalist and author Jamie Bartlett joins Elizabeth Oldfield for a live recording to explore what AI reveals about human nature, why we keep using tools ... more

YouTube

What Does It Take to Create a Shared Home in a Divided City?

In Jerusalem, two women from opposite sides of the Israeli-Palestinian divide, Riman Barakat and Karen Brunwasser, have spent more than a decade building FeelBeit, a shared arts and cultur... more

YouTube

Can you really vote your way to a good society - or does it have to be built house by house, street by street?

Dr James Vitali - Head of Political Economy at Policy Exchange, a Sandhurst-trained army reservist, local councillor, and author of The Ow... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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.

Recent Guests

Jamie Bartlett
Journalist and author exploring the social and political consequences of technology.
Episode: What AI Reveals About Human Nature with Jamie Bartlett | Recorded at The Sacred Live
Riman Barakat
Palestinian Muslim from East Jerusalem, co-founder of FeelBeit
FeelBeit (Israeli-Palestinian art center)
Episode: Art, Friendship and Trust Across the Israeli-Palestinian Divide | FeelBeit Founders
Karen Brunwasser
Co-founder of FeelBeit
FeelBeit
Episode: Art, Friendship and Trust Across the Israeli-Palestinian Divide | FeelBeit Founders
James Vitali
Local councillor in Dorset; former head of political economy at Policy Exchange; reservist army officer; author of The Ownership Society
Policy Exchange; The Think Tank
Episode: Can Bourgeois Values Save Britain? James Vitali on Ownership and Obligation
Christian Wiman
Poet, editor and professor, known for works on faith and mortality
Yale University (Professor of Poetry); former editor of Poetry magazine
Episode: Preparing to Die, Then Learning to Live Again with Poet Christian Wiman
Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Senior rabbi of New York's Central Synagogue; public faith leader
Central Synagogue, New York
Episode: How to Belong When You’ve Always Been An Outsider with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Dr. Sharon Blackie
Therapist, writer, and advocate for fairy tales and myth
Self-employed writer/therapist
Episode: The Ancient Wisdom in Fairy Tales | Dr Sharon Blackie
Sam Bowman
Economist focused on economic and technology policy in the UK
Independent economist/thinker
Episode: The Economics of the Life We Want with Sam Bowman
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

Host

Elizabeth Oldfield
Host of the series, guiding conversations with public figures across faith, academia, and journalism; known for empathetic yet probing interviews.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 566 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 Kingdom9 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
    Australia2 years 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 Kingdom2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Many find the conversations deepen ethical reflection and spiritual imagination.
Audience notes host fosters open conversation even when guests present controversial views.
Listeners praise its thoughtful, respectful dialogue that embraces diverse viewpoints.

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 AI Reveals About Human Nature with Jamie Bartlett | Recorded at The Sacred Live
Q: In an age of AI, how do we stay human?
Bartlett says people can learn from the effects of social media, remain skeptical of promises that convenience will make them happy, and focus on choices they can live with. He points to connection and taking responsibility for one's actions as important ways to retain a sense of humanity.
What AI Reveals About Human Nature with Jamie Bartlett | Recorded at The Sacred Live
Q: What, if you had to say what humans are like in that fuzzy mirror, what are they showing us about ourselves?
Bartlett says language models can expose human biases and weaknesses, including our tendency to hallucinate, accept flattery and be influenced by emotionally framed questions. He argues that the models reflect how people respond to affirmation and reduced conflict.
Can Bourgeois Values Save Britain? James Vitali on Ownership and Obligation
Q: What changes would you like to see in how we structure society so people can own and take responsibility?
He argues for empowering local institutions, enabling homeowners and communities to take initiative, and rebalancing state provision so that government supports rather than replaces voluntary action.
How to Belong When You’ve Always Been An Outsider with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Q: What does it mean to be a rabbi in today's world beyond study—how do you lead a diverse community?
Leadership is about drawing attention to awe and meaning, building lasting community, balancing budgets and human needs, and living out values through service, ritual, and inclusive practice that holds space for disagreement without demonizing others.
How to Belong When You’ve Always Been An Outsider with Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
Q: Can you explain how your personal journey shaped your sense of belonging and your leadership as a rabbi?
Her biracial, multi-faith upbringing taught her to own multiple identities fully, which informed her approach to leadership: create inclusive communities, welcome the other, and make space for dialogue and growth, rather than forcing assimilation.

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 The Sacred

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

A thought-provoking interview series that centers sacred values, dialogue, and humility in discussing topics across faith, philosophy, and public life. Guests span theologians, journalists, policymakers, and thinkers who speak candidly about identity, culture, and how to heal polarized public conversations. The host consistently prompts guests to share personal journeys, ethical commitments, and practical takeaways for living with care in a divided world. Noteworthy is the openness to voices from religious and secular backgrounds, framing conversations around belonging, empathy, and responsible leadership. This mix makes it appealing to listeners who value deep, respectful dialogue and insights into how beliefs shape public life.

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 four 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. The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God
3. Trinity Forum Conversations
4. No Small Endeavor with Lee C. Camp
5. The Bible For Normal People

How many episodes of The Sacred are there?

The Sacred launched 9 years ago and published 252 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. Jamie Bartlett
2. Riman Barakat
3. Karen Brunwasser
4. James Vitali
5. Christian Wiman
6. Rabbi Angela Buchdahl
7. Dr. Sharon Blackie
8. Sam Bowman

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