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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 monthlyEpisodes242Founded9 years ago
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RelationshipsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for The Sacred

Latest Episodes

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

YouTube

Michael Pollan tried psychedelics at 55. What he found changed everything he thought he knew.

Michael is not a mystic or a guru. He is the kind of writer that scientists, doctors and serious intellectuals trust - someone who changed the way millions... more

What happens after winning Bake Off? Jasmine Mitchell joins us to talk about perfectionism, alopecia, self-image, and learning to be fully yourself in a world obsessed with image.

Jasmine reflects on growing up in a home shaped by hospitality, losin... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

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
Elizabeth Neumann
A lifelong senior homeland security official and expert on radicalization, extremism, and violence prevention.
Episode: The Cost of Integrity: Inside the Trump Administration with Elizabeth Neumann

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.

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.
Bake Off, Alopecia & Learning to Be Yourself with Jasmine Mitchell
Q: What role has faith played in navigating the pressures of fame and public scrutiny?
She described going from private faith to a more open conversation post-Bake Off, using prayer and the Lord's Prayer to stay grounded when overwhelmed and to guide how she loves others.
Bake Off, Alopecia & Learning to Be Yourself with Jasmine Mitchell
Q: How has alopecia influenced your sense of beauty and self-worth, especially on national TV?
Jasmine described a long journey from hiding with wigs to embracing no hair, aided by supportive relationships and faith; the experience reframed beauty as authenticity and inner worth rather than appearance.
Bake Off, Alopecia & Learning to Be Yourself with Jasmine Mitchell
Q: How deliberate was it to stay out of the show's drama and not let it define you?
She emphasized focusing on the cake, staying authentic, and trusting the process; the producers were supportive, and she felt the portrayal was fair when she stayed true to herself.

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. Re-Enchanting
3. Trinity Forum Conversations
4. The Bible For Normal People
5. Everything Belongs: Living the Teachings of Richard Rohr Forward

How many episodes of The Sacred are there?

The Sacred launched 9 years ago and published 242 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. Hugo Rifkind
2. Michael Pollan
3. Jasmine Mitchell
4. Leah Libresco Sargeant
5. Rangan Chatterjee
6. Stig Abell
7. Sophie Lewis
8. Jo Colman

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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