Shows
Beyond BeliefCultural ReligiosityGiles Fraser meets columnist Giles Coren, who was raised in the Jewish tradition, became an atheist and who now feels at home in a Christian church, to explore what it means to be culturally religious.Is cultural religiosity an oxymoron and totally untenable? Is it on the rise or has it always been there? Is it damaging to traditional religious practices? And, does it really matter?To examine these questions, Giles is joined by:
Michael Rosen, author and poet, known for his work exploring humanism and atheism. He has co-written a book, "What is Humanism...2025-04-2227 minBeyond BeliefClaiming ChristianityGiles Fraser meets the Revd Canon Fr Phil Harris, of the Anglican Church in North America, to discuss defending Britain’s Christian heritage.Christianity has been deployed as a tool by those who have been labelled as far-right by their opponents, or by people supporting far-right views. Is right-wing appropriation of the faith a problem that needs solving and what issues does this claim to Christianity pose? To explore Giles is joined by:Dr Maria Power, Senior Research Fellow in Human Dignity at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford and a Research Fellow at the Centre fo...2025-04-1527 minBeyond BeliefMixed BlessingsGiles Fraser and guests hear from novelist and opinion writer Lisa Solod on her negative experience of marrying outside of her Jewish faith, and from Amy and Takbir, on how they navigate marriage between a Christian and Muslim. What if your Mr or Mrs Right doesn't share your religious tradition and values? Is interfaith marriage a problem? And, what are religious traditions doing in an increasingly liberal, secular society to help couples navigate mixed relationships? To explore Giles is joined by:
Eleanor Nesbitt, a Professor in Religions and Education at Warwick University, a Quaker who...2025-04-0127 min
Should I Delete That?Ozempic: miracle or myth? ... with Dr Giles YeoIt’s time to address the elephant in the room - Ozempic. We know that Ozempic will change - and is already changing - the body image landscape. There is so much noise online, in the media and in our personal lives about the so called ‘miracle’ drug - so we decided to call in the help of an expert, to clear up the myths from the facts. Dr Giles Yeo is a professor at the University of Cambridge, whose research focuses on food intake, genetics and obesity. We got him in the studio t...2025-02-201h 02Beyond BeliefThe Religion of DetectionGiles Fraser and guests hear from authors of detective fiction, Kate Charles and Martin Edwards, on the subtle ways they weave faith into the crime puzzles in their novels. Why is religious detective fiction so popular in our increasingly secular society? Did the detective replace the priest as the one who looked into the mysteries of life and battled with good and evil? Why do religion and detective fiction share so many noble pursuits in common? And, what is it about the detective genre that lends itself to such deep ethical and spiritual questions? To...2024-12-3127 minBeyond BeliefReligious FreedomGiles Fraser meets Stephen Schneck, Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, to explore the impact of globalisation on religious freedom.Restrictions on religious freedom are increasing. What impact has the spread of religious traditions had on freedom of belief? How does the secularisation of religion contribute? Should states be forced to adopt norms of religious rights and freedoms to meet international pressure? And what can be done about the perceived threat communities feel when they are exposed to other religions?To discuss Giles is joined by HRH Prince Khalid bin Bandar...2024-12-0527 min
Jewish Mother MeSeries 4 - Episode 2: The Joy Of Mixed BlessingsJournalist and Christian priest Giles Fraser has a Jewish wife, and their children are being raised in both traditions. Giles shares with us the blessings of this blended life2024-09-1628 min
The Country House PodcastWalled Kitchen Gardens With Giles Godfrey (Harvest Special Part 1) | 43Giles Godfrey from Keythorpe Hall in Leicestershire joins Geoff and Rory in the first part of a Harvest Special to discuss walled kitchen gardens. You can learn more about Keythorpe Hall at https://www.keythorpehall.co.uk/Remember to send questions for our Q&A episodes to admin@thecountryhousepodcast.com2024-09-1040 minBeyond BeliefThe Gift of the GardenIn her poem 'God's Garden', Dorothy Frances Gurney writes:'One is nearer God’s heart in a garden
Than anywhere else on earth.’Join Giles Fraser and a panel of green-fingered guests as they gather together at the Aga Khan Centre in Kings Cross to reflect on the theological significance of gardens and gardening.From Eden and Gethsemane, to the ancient Islamic gardens of Andalusia, to the Japanese Gardens of Zen Buddhism; temples to churchyards, these sacred zones have been places of solace and reflection for millennia; places of life and death, of peac...2024-08-2027 minBeyond BeliefReligion in the therapy roomGiles Fraser explores the parallels and overlaps between spirituality/religion and psychotherapy. Professor Josh Cohen is a psychotherapist, who believes that God can be a problematic figure in the therapy room.Joining the discussion with Giles is Dr Jeremy Holmes, British Psychiatrist and author of -The Spirit of Psychotherapy- which examines the parallels, contrasts, and overlaps between the secular world of psychotherapy and the realm of spirituality. Dr Rania Awaad; Stanford University Professor, Psychiatry, Islamic Law & Theology. And Canon Leanne Roberts; Church of England priest and psychotherapist (Jungian) Dean of Clergy well-being for the Diocese...2024-08-1327 minBeyond BeliefA Suffering GodGiles Fraser hears about the revolutionary ideas of late theologian Jürgen Moltmann, whose work challenged and transformed Christian ideas of God in the twentieth century.Hamburg, July 1943. The combined might of the Allies rains bombs down on the city causing a catastrophic firestorm. A young German anti-aircraft bomber cries out to God in the midst of devastation. He would go on to be one of the most important Christian theologians of the twentieth century.Giles Fraser recounts how he first started to develop his ideas at a Prisoner of War camp in Scotland after t...2024-08-0627 minBeyond BeliefWine of the GodsGiles Fraser explores the place of wine in some religious traditions, as the blood of Christ, the nectar of the Greek Gods or Persian poets, to something forbidden or proscribed.We start on a balmy evening in Napa Valley, with a sea breeze blowing through the vines at Marinda Kruger's vineyard. For her, life as a viticulturalist has an intimate connection to her faith. Gisela H Kreglinger, theologian from a wine-making family, Catholic Priest, Father Marc Lyden-Smith and Muhammad Ali Mojaradi, translator of the Persian Sufi poets under the moniker Persian Poetics on social media...2024-07-3027 minBeyond BeliefSpreading the WordStreet evangelist Marios Kaikitis tells Giles Fraser why he stands on Leicester Square with a sketch board trying to engage passers by with his message of Jesus Christ. And Giles explores how different religious groups, within Christianity and Islam, evangelise today. Perhaps crucially, does it work?He's joined by Daryl A Watson, a mission leader at the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, also known as the Mormon church, Dr Shuruq Naguib, a lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Lancaster University and Reverend Dr Hannah Steele, Director of St Mellitus...2024-07-2327 minBeyond BeliefPoetry: Reaching for Divine HeightsRecorded live at the Bradford Literature Festival three poets join Giles Fraser to consider the relationship between poetry and the divine.Some of our most feted poets, from Rumi to John Donne, Tagore to William Blake – have found that poetry opens up a space to explore the divine. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare praised the poet’s eye, glancing ‘from heaven to earth, from earth to heaven’ as ‘imagination bodies forth the forms of things unknown’.In front of a live audience, a fascinating panel of contemporary poets and wordsmiths join Giles to discuss whe...2024-07-2327 minBeyond BeliefWhy We WalkWhy is walking spiritual? Giles Fraser asks if the power of pilgrimage in it's destination, or along the pathway. Alice Sainsbury was recovering from a serious neurological illness when she slowly started to walk again. Step by step she found herself again through walking, and small pilgrimages near her home in Cornwall. It wasn't just a physical journey for her, but a spiritual one as well.She tells Giles Fraser why she walks. And Giles asks a panel of enthusiastic pilgrims from different faiths about the religious beliefs behind walking and pilgrimage.Phil...2024-07-1027 minBeyond BeliefMore Than One WifeGiles Fraser meets Hafsa Rizki, a British Muslim women who coaches women in polygamous relationships. Her husband was already married when they met and got married themselves. She doesn't like the term, but she says she is a second wife and tells Giles about why it's a successful relationship, and how it's part of her spiritual journey. Perhaps surprisingly, polygamy is 'more commonplace' than might be expected in the UK, according to Dame Louise Casey in her government review on integration and equality in 2016. In a society where the model of monogamy has dominated for centuries, what...2024-07-1027 minBeyond BeliefAyodhya’s Ram Mandir: Religion and Politics in IndiaIn a temple in Southall, west London, Giles Fraser hears about the spiritual significance for British Hindus of the opening of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, consecrated with much fanfare in January 2024 by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As Indians go to the polls in the largest democratic election in history, what is the relationship between religion and politics in the country?Giles is joined by Professor Shruti Kapila, Associate Professor Ashraf Hoque and Dr Prakash Shah to discuss the temple's significance and the controversy that surrounded it, built on the site of a...2024-05-2027 minBeyond BeliefSpiritual SeekersEddy Elsey, an estate agent in London, was struggling with his mental health and looking for support. Like 37% of people, according to the last census in England and Wales, traditional religion wasn’t a place he turned to. But, as he tells Giles Fraser, he did find a spiritual connection through shamanism, which has helped him. When people say they are "spiritual but not religious", what do they mean and what do they believe?A group of people who make use of spiritual ideologies describe their practices, from sound healing to astrology. What are oracle ca...2024-05-0827 minBeyond BeliefEmbracing NeurodiversityGiles Fraser hears from a Mum of two who describes how her family’s neurodivergence has affected their practice of faith. Carolina Mountford has recently been diagnosed with ADHD and strong autistic traits. Her two sons are also neurodivergent and Carolina describes some of the challenges that poses in their Christian evangelical church.A panel discusses what faith leaders and communities can learn about spirituality by embracing neurodiversity, in children and adults. What is the relationship between spirituality and the neurodiverse brain? Is there a different relationship with theology, and with God?Giles is joined by...2024-05-0727 minBeyond BeliefFaithful FeetIn our society feet are often hidden away in shoes, perhaps to make an odd appearance post pedicure… but they can be an incredibly powerful symbol within many religions. Giles Fraser meets Kai Bridges, a Shamanic practitioner who guides people through firewalks as part of his spiritual practice. For him firewalking goes beyond an exercise in empowerment and grounds him in the moment, connecting him to the elements. Our panel Sughra Ahmed, Priyesh Patel and Lucy Winkett walk us through what feet symbolise in their respective faith traditions, and the different ways feet are a pa...2024-04-1627 minBeyond BeliefAssisted DyingGiles Fraser hears about Alison Davis, who was in pain, very unwell and wanted to die. Her friend and carer Colin Harte describes how she changed her mind and went on to campaign against euthanasia, or assisted dying, and also developed a Catholic faith. The debate about assisted dying, the right to choose when and how we die if we're terminally ill, is back in the political spotlight. Life, death and attitudes to suffering are at the heart of all religions. After hearing Alison's story, a panel of people of faith discuss how their beliefs shape their...2024-04-1627 minBeyond BeliefInterfaith: Can We Still Talk?People of faith who have pro-actively built bridges with those from other religions say their work is the most difficult it's ever been. Since the Hamas attack of October 7th 2023 and the conflict in Gaza, previously friendly relations between British Jews and Muslims have been strained. Separately, the British government has withdrawn funding from one national network. Interfaith work can span gatherings in places of worship, sharing bagels and samosas to women's discussion groups, debates and shared charity work.Giles Fraser asks if this effort is in crisis? And with many feeling disillusioned, is interfaith work worth...2024-04-0827 min
Narelle Fraser InterviewsGiles Easton - Prison Officer/Corrections Victoria Part 2Giles was Prison Officer with Corrections Victoria for 12 years.for 6 of these years he worked in the Operations Team for Corrections Victoria Intelligence Unit. His role was to investigate prison offences, drug trafficking into prisons, disrupt prison gang activity, investigate staff misconduct and to provide intelligence information to law enforcement agencies. Giles discovered a love of investigating and has recently landed a great role as an investigator for another government organisation.But it is his role within Corrections Victoria we are going to talk about today. His inside knowledge of many prisoners we have...2024-02-2047 minNarelle Fraser InterviewsGiles Easton - Prison Officer/Corrections Victoria Part !Giles was Prison Officer with Corrections Victoria for 12 years.for 6 of these years he worked in the Operations Team for Corrections Victoria Intelligence Unit. His role was to investigate prison offences, drug trafficking into prisons, disrupt prison gang activity, investigate staff misconduct and to provide intelligence information to law enforcement agencies. Giles discovered a love of investigating and has recently landed a great role as an investigator for another government organisation.But it is his role within Corrections Victoria we are going to talk about today. His inside knowledge of many prisoners we have...2024-02-131h 02
Mother of All SolutionsSpecial Episode - Creativity Found with Caro GilesI am delighted to share this episode from the Creativity Found podcast…
Claire Waite Brown interviews Caro Giles, author of Twelve Moons. I loved this conversation and love Caro’s book, which outlines her life as a single mother of four daughters living in rural Northumberland. There is family, nature, isolation, rediscovery - it’s practical and emotional.
I hope you enjoy Claire’s interview about Caro’s life and work, here on my podcast feed.
To connect with them both:
https://www.creativityfound.co.uk/Podcast @creativityfoundpodcast
https://www.carogiles.com/ @carogileswrites
Mother of All Solutions is hosted and produced by Laura...2023-08-2138 min
Call To ActionWhy the 'London bubble' is a myth with research duo, Andrew Tenzer & Ian Murray
This week, we cast a spell of double double toil and trouble and caught the pair from Burst Your Bubble; it’s Andrew Tenzer and Ian Murray.
The duo behind a treasure trove of award-winning research on the culture of marketing, Andrew and Ian have recently launched a radical new consultancy powered by the art and science of perspective-taking.
There’s no eye of newt or toe of frog in this cauldron of conversation topics, but the duo turned up the heat on studying politics, when their paths first crossed, monkeys, bananas, and pandas, provocative research, why Ia...2023-07-281h 01
Men, Sex & Pleasure with Cam Fraser#172 Giles Brindley, the Needle, and the Penis (with Callum Fraser)On this special episode of #mensexpleasure, I welcome with my brother, Callum, and we do something a little different. I regale him with a story about British physiologist, Giles Brindley. This is our foray into the history/comedy genre of podcasting. As such, we have a few drinks and a bit of fun.
Key points:
- Welcome Callum
- Who is Giles Brindley?
- Visual prostheses and eye experiments
- Spinal prostheses and side effects
- The hour lecture that changed sexual medicine
2023-07-131h 09
Billy Gilmore Podcast · An Adam Sandler Appreciation ShowBonus Episode: AIRHEADSIn celebration of AIRHEADS star Brendan Fraser's Academy Award nomination for THE WHALE, we revisit the 1994 film starring Fraser, Adam Sandler, and Steve Buscemi, among many other favorites. You may have a hard time watching this one on a streaming service as of February 2023, but we invite you to listen along as we discuss AIRHEADS.2023-02-141h 16
The Filmmakers Podcast'The Whale' - screenwriter Samuel D Hunter on making his Oscar and Bafta nominated debut featureSamuel D Hunter on writing 'The Whale'. He sits down with Giles Alderson and Dom Lenoir to chat:Adapting his own play into a feature screenplayCreating charactersWorking on dialogueBrendan Fraser and Sadie Sink& working with director Darren AronofskyThe Whale is our in cinemas on Friday 3rd FebruarySPONSORCheck out Q SCRIPTSBig thank you to:Lee HutchingsMarli J MonroeKaren N...2023-01-311h 02
Word In Your EarFarewell Jerry Lee Lewis and is ‘Talking Book’ the most influential record ever made?… in which we remember the luminous music and diabolical life of the last of the old rock and roll guard standing. And this includes … the weird old America he came from (backwoods country, religious sects with their transporting songs), the career-cancelling British tour in 1958, the electrifying Live at The Star Club album, the Steve Allen Show breakthrough and the Seven Wives of Jerry Lee Lewis. Much to applaud, much to deplore. … and some of his deathless lyrics eg ‘39 And Holding’ – ‘Dim lights hide the mileage line/ Clairol hides the grey/ And he won't mention anything to give his old...2022-11-0150 minWord In Your EarFarewell Jerry Lee Lewis and is ‘Talking Book’ the most influential record ever made?… in which we remember the luminous music and diabolical life of the last of the old rock and roll guard standing. And this includes … the weird old America he came from (backwoods country, religious sects with their transporting songs), the career-cancelling British tour in 1958, the electrifying Live at The Star Club album, the Steve Allen Show breakthrough and the Seven Wives of Jerry Lee Lewis. Much to applaud, much to deplore. … and some of his deathless lyrics eg ‘39 And Holding’ – ‘Dim lights hide the mileage line/ Clairol hides the grey/ And he won't mention anything to give his old...2022-11-0150 minWord In Your EarFarewell Jerry Lee Lewis and is ‘Talking Book’ the most influential record ever made?… in which we remember the luminous music and diabolical life of the last of the old rock and roll guard standing. And this includes … the weird old America he came from (backwoods country, religious sects with their transporting songs), the career-cancelling British tour in 1958, the electrifying Live at The Star Club album, the Steve Allen Show breakthrough and the Seven Wives of Jerry Lee Lewis. Much to applaud, much to deplore. … and some of his deathless lyrics eg ‘39 And Holding’ – ‘Dim lights hide the mileage line/ Clairol hides the grey/ And he won't mention anything to give his old...2022-11-0150 min
Queen Mary History of EmotionsChildhood TraumaWhen it comes to childhood trauma, do our bodies keep the score, and with what emotional impacts?
Historian of child psychology Emma Sutton finds out about the recent explosion of interest in "trauma-informed" approaches and their impact on family relationships. She tries out some trauma-informed therapy herself, and discusses with therapists and experts what this approach can mean for dealing with the aftermath of adverse childhood experiences - including the additional harm done to families when someone decides to "go no contact" with a parent.
Emma discusses with Reverend Giles Fraser the dangers of overly medicalising painful experiences - and...2022-08-1242 min
Queen Mary History of EmotionsRethinking EmotionsIn this first episode of "Living With Feeling" - our new series about emotions in the 21st century - priest and writer Giles Fraser and psychotherapist Philippa Perry join Thomas Dixon for a lively conversation, tackling some big questions about the place of emotions in modern culture.
Philippa, Giles, and Thomas discuss whether people are too ready to interpret painful or difficult emotions as signs of mental illness, and whether it is always true that "Your emotions are valid".
Giles confesses to an emotional outburst in the middle of the night, and suggests we should all try to be a...2022-07-2244 min
Wander Your WayExploring Edinburgh Scotland with Bo FraserYes, Edinburgh Scotland has a castle.And yes, it has the famous street, the Royal Mile.But there is so much more to the capital of Scotland that you should put on your list.Tune in as Blue Badge guide, Bo Fraser, joins me again to talk about this incredible city.From fabulous museums to hidden nooks and crannies to charming neighborhoods, Edinburgh is a city that definitely has something for everyone.Want to chat about Scotland's capital more?Email me at lynne@wanderyourway.com.2022-05-171h 12