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We talk a lot about rules and doctrine this episode. What’s the balance between belief and behaviour? Should the church be an exclusive club? And… Read More »Episode 215: Spooking the theological markets

We’re back! Nick’s been in the West Country pondering the state of his aura. Joe’s been speaking at a conference and has caught the plague.… Read More »Episode 214: What we did on our holidays

In a temporally confused episode, we have an interview with Stuart Murray Williams. We talk about the idea of Christendom, and, more to the point,… Read More »Episode 213: An Interview with Stuart Murray Williams

We talk to Oliver Burkeman, author of the brilliant Four Thousand Weeks – Time Management for Mortals. We talk about mortality and finitude, the joy… Read More »Episode 212: An Interview with Oliver Burkeman

A globetrotting episode, with correspondence from around the world. We discuss the complicated relationship between those who attend church and those in authority, the need… Read More »Episode 211: We’re huge in Bucharest

Back together again, we reflect on the relationship between authenticity and vulnerability. We also talk about the need for patience, honesty and empathy when we… Read More »Episode 210: We have decided to follow Jesus

With one of the team taking a well-earned break we thought we’d repeat an episode from the mists of time. Or July 2019 to be… Read More »Episode 209: The Christmas Special. In July. In August.

Joe is struggling to concentrate. Nick is inadvisedly drinking limoncello. We talk about the confidence to be quiet, the origins of liturgy and how communities… Read More »Episode 208: Dealing with sadmin

We talk to Brian MacLaren about his new book – Do I Stay Christian? A Guide for the Doubters, the Disappointed, and the Disillusioned. The… Read More »Episode 207: Do I Stay Christian? An interview with Brian McLaren

A bit of a short episode today, for personal reasons which we talk about in the podcast. Thanks for all your support, as always. Support… Read More »Episode 206: ‘We sang together’

In a week where suddenly a lot of people are concerned about their integrity, we look at thankfulness in prayer, how silence is quite risky… Read More »Episode 205: The integrity alarm went off

Nick is tired, Joe is hangry, so in a slightly shorter than normal episode, we reflect on the recent interview with dave steell about leadership.… Read More »Episode 204: Lobbing proof texts at each other

In this second part we talk about dealing with conflict. How do you deal with conflict with staff members, other churches, and, most importantly, within… Read More »Episode 203: Leading a church in mid-faith crisis (part 2)

In the first of a two-part special, we interview Dave Steell, pastor of One Church Brighton on the challenges of leading a church through changing… Read More »Episode 202: Leading a church in mid-faith crisis (part 1)

It’s a tale of two Andrews this week, as we are mildly– and not so mildly – rebuked for previous episodes. We talk about John… Read More »Episode 201: Jesus gets a brief mention

It’s the 200th episode! So we spend some time looking back at the origins of the podcast, share some of the things we’ve learned and… Read More »Episode 200: The intros are still rubbish

Don your lycra, sew on your sequins and and prepare to give nil points to the podcast, because we have an interview with journalist Lisa-Jayne… Read More »Episode 199: Eurovision Denomination Contest

We explore the role of imagination in prayer, and how that can help us with a real relationship with God. Also why disputes might help… Read More »Episode 198: No such thing as the great commission

We think about why, throughout history, people have moved massive boulders in the name of religion. What boulders of doctrine or belief are we pushing… Read More »Episode 197: The boulders of faith

Lots of questions this week. Why do we sing things we don’t agree with? Have we misunderstood the writings of Paul? How do we know… Read More »Episode 196: I’ve forgotten the second thing

A bit of a catch-up. Joe is back from holiday and Nick’s been preaching over Easter. We chat about looking for the living among the… Read More »Episode 195: Looking for the Living

Joe is on holiday, recording (a) via some flaky internet and (b) on the world’s worst mic, so apologies for that. But consider this is… Read More »Episode 194: Postcard from Mexico

This week a really crucial question: what does God actually do? If he’s just love, what good is that? We talk about finding joy and… Read More »Episode 193: The joy is the relationship

We explore the idea of taking responsibility for God’s believability. If God is not going to intervene in a miraculous way, is it up to… Read More »Episode 192: Time for some prinking

More follow up this week on how to respond to peoples’ prayer requests. How are we supposed to discuss our spiritual journey without feeling superior?… Read More »Episode 191: Draining joy in the name of the Lord

It’s been a worrying week. How do we respond to big events? Can we get the balance right between ignorant bliss and doomscrolling despair? Also,… Read More »Episode 190: Doomscrolling is bad for you

After a deluge of theological cocktail suggestions – and some new TV shows as well – we turn our attention to outrage. Every day we… Read More »Episode 189: A nation of rageaholics

When we do something good is that just God pulling the strings? We explore our own kingdoms, the role of wisdom and suffering the continuing… Read More »Episode 188: A Total Depravity, please, Barman

We carry on exploring yet more fallout from ‘the now famous epiphany’. Joe changes his theme, Nick has learnt the benefit of staying put, and… Read More »Episode 187: The epiphany goes on and on

Last week Joe had an epiphany. This week Nick’s written a ‘poem-ish thing’. We talk more about the need for acceptance and how we so… Read More »Episode 186: Fragments of glory

Joe has had an epiphany. Nick has been to a baptism. We talk about the need for radical acceptance in life, about the difference between… Read More »Episode 185: A Worthing Pier experience

It’s our 2022 themes episode. We reflect on how our themes worked out last year, and look ahead to what we’re going to be concentrating… Read More »Episode 184: ‘Sort it Ahhht!’

Nick has some thoughts on the cricket and whether we can draw any spiritual lessons from sport. Can we plan for spiritual success? What would… Read More »Episode 183: Planning for spiritual success

It’s a Christmas Day episode. Nick has discovered cocktails, Joe has mastered snowballs. We discuss our suddenly altered Christmas plans, talk about what it means… Read More »Episode 182: ‘In a Galilee far far away…’

We talk about Christmas and mid-faith. How do we approach the nativity stories? Are they historic accounts or symbolic tales? What is striking us about… Read More »Episode 181: Reconnecting with Christmas

Yes, it’s here. We have an interview with Becky Francis, a sex therapist and relationships counsellor. What is the relationship between sex and mid-faith crisis?… Read More »Episode 180: The Special Cuddles Episode

There seem to be a lot of trigger words in this week’s podcast, some quite surprising. Mainly we talk about discipleship and whether trying to… Read More »Episode 179: Where’s my sabbatical?

More about how we approach our difficulties reading the Bible and the need to learn to live with uncertainty and mystery. Then we talk about… Read More »Episode 178: Mystery and naïveté

Is there any point going to church if it’s just going to add to our cognitive dissonance? We explore the idea of putting a bit… Read More »Episode 177: Attending resentfully

We were both a bit tired in this one. But before our batteries gave out entirely, we talked about how the wrong ways of reading… Read More »Episode 176 ‘As somebody said somewhere’

Author Matt Hyam talks about how justice lies at the very heart of the gospel – and how Jesus’ message is an invitation to experience… Read More »Episode 175: An interview with Matt Hyam

It’s a rather odd episode this week covering a bewildering range of topics, including Christian hairstyles, the Euthyphro dilemma, pluralistic ignorance, the unusual Christian fairytale… Read More »Episode 174: The grey world of faith

Yes! It’s the fifth anniversary of Japan’s 12th most-listened to Christian podcast. A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who supports us. This week we talk… Read More »Episode 173: Everything’s important, but none of it is very important

We talk about whether the stages of faith echo the stages of life. Is it possible to have your faith stage and your life stage… Read More »Episode 172: Using my power for good

It’s our Genesis episode. Or the beginning of our Genesis episodes, perhaps. We talk about why Genesis has such influence and power, reading it as… Read More »Episode 171: In the beginning…

All the ‘P’s this week as we talk about pensions, prayer, paradox, people, priests, providence, patience and perspective. We talk about how ‘mystery’ helps us… Read More »Episode 170: ‘Literally a P frenzy’

If we don’t believe in an interventionist God then why are we still driven to pray about world events? Why, despite the questions and the… Read More »Episode 169: A deep desire to pray

Joe and Nick have been visiting lots of old churches, making one of us very happy. We discuss our different ideas of sacred spaces. Then… Read More »Episode 168: It could do with some carpet

An episode in which Nick explains his aversion to the idea of Celtic spirituality. Following on from last week’s interview, we talk about whether new… Read More »Episode 167: The Chicken Tikka Masala of Spirituality

We are joined by John Philip Newell, who talks about his new book Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul. In a wide-ranging interview, John Philip talks about… Read More »Episode 166: An Interview with John Philip Newell

And we’re back. Interesting questions in the feedback this week. Is there is a one-size-fits-all salvation? Are we good citizens of the Kingdom of God… Read More »Episode 165: Being authentically authentic

Among this week’s topics, we discuss renaming the Old Testament, speaking in tongues, and whether Joe is a druid. Also there is more feedback from… Read More »Episode 164: I am a beloved wormy worm

Joe is back from holiday and has encountered a very angry version of the Lord’s Prayer. As well as the usual fascinating feedback, we talk… Read More »Episode 163: Practical salvation

This week we have an interview with Dave Tomlinson. Dave talks about Christian humanism, our ‘common origin in goodness’, the importance of holding your nerve,… Read More »Episode 162: Dave Tomlinson on Christian humanism

Nick’s been listening to God and God, appropriately enough, has been telling him to listen. So this week, helped by some great feedback on the… Read More »Episode 161: Give them a Damn Good Listening 2

This week’s feedback leads us to think about whether church is like a running club, how to use our stories and memories as soul places,… Read More »Episode 160: Dancing with the Bible

Joe has been traumatised by the dentist. Nick has had spiritual speech therapy. But apart from that we continue our discussion of soul places. What… Read More »Episode 159: ‘Give them a damn good listening to’

Nick is back and he’s been in lots of old churches. Joe is facing a highly invasive camera. We talk about whether God is all… Read More »Episode 158: Soul Rest

This week we start with an email on prophecy from someone who may or may not be related to one of the hosts. Should you… Read More »Episode 157: Emphasising the kingdom

We have feedback from the Brian McLaren interview, which leads into a discussion about whether we should all go to more than one church. Do… Read More »Episode 156: Seeking a Balanced Spiritual Diet

In the second part, author Brian McLaren explores how doubt is a friend of faith, and how the Bible itself reflects the four stages of… Read More »Episode 155: An Interview with Brian McLaren – Part 2

We reflect on the three acts of Easter – death, waiting, rebirth – and how this most profound of Christian festivals gives us permission to… Read More »Episode 153: The Journey of Easter

This week we are joined by Dave Steell, Minister of One Church, Brighton, one of the most exciting and innovative churches in the UK. Dave… Read More »Episode 152: Beyond the heaven and hell dynamic

This week we delve into the feedback about the names we use for God. Is using different names just making God conform to our own… Read More »Episode 151: Above our theological pay grade

Our 150th episode! And we pick up on the feedback about shopping, giving and whether tithing is a law, a burden or a cop out.… Read More »Episode 150: Licensed to Bless

We have an interview with Margaret Metcalfe, who talks about language and power. Do the words we use about God exclude others? What values do… Read More »Episode 149: Language to help people flourish

This week we talk about the spirituality of shopping. We discuss the rise of lockdown shopping and the idea of the messiah purchase – that… Read More »Episode 148: The Messiah Purchase

How do we make sense of Lent this year? To help us we have a great interview with our friend Lacy Finn Borgo. She talks… Read More »Episode 147: Making sense of Lent with Lacy Finn Borgo

Joe has hit clay bottom and is recharging about as effectively as an old Nokia phone. We talk about the difficulty of waiting and how… Read More »Episode 146: The Waterproof Trousers of Faith

After a brief sick leave we’re back, and considering if it’s OK to still enjoy the kinds of Christian practices we have rejected. Is it… Read More »Episode 145: Reverse Backsliding

Nick’s had a spiritually challenging experience at the chemist. So is it OK to complain? How would Jesus complain about bad service? Also we discuss… Read More »Episode 144: The spirituality of customer service

When does the mid-faith crisis end? Or is it ever, really, finished? We look at the idea of not so much moving on, but more… Read More »Episode 143: When does it end?

We’re back! We reflect on the treasure we found in 2020, and, more importantly, think about our guiding themes or words for 2021. Also, as… Read More »Episode 142: ‘Own Your Nickness’

It’s our final episode of the year. Nick has been self-isolating, Joe is uncharacteristically unChristmassy. We pick up on some feedback, explore how we can… Read More »Episode 141: Re-connecting with Christmas

More on Nick’s book and we discuss why Christians assume that Christmas trees, holly, ivy and general greenery are somehow pagan. Would Christmas olive trees… Read More »Episode 140: Christmas trees, eggnog and other baubles

We interrupt our series on Nick’s book because we’ve got an interview with Brian Draper about Advent. After a brief discussion of Jesus themed merchandise… Read More »Episode 139: Into Advent with Brian Draper

Nick has a new book out – Christmas: Tradition, Truth and Total Baubles. So we talk about that, mainly on the idea that we always… Read More »Episode 138: Utter Baubles about Christmas

The Bible is very clear that those who oppress the vulnerable, abuse power and cause injustice will face the judgement of God. So what do… Read More »Episode 137: Restorative Justice

Ruth Newton is parish priest of St John’s Sharow, a Silver Eco-Church and is currently undertaking a doctorate in the intersection between environmental activism and… Read More »Episode 136: Ruth Newton on ecology and the Kingdom of God

Welcome back to Lockdown everyone! And welcome back to our discussion of creation and where it all has come from. How do you square a… Read More »Episode 135: A space within God

It’s all gone a bit cosmic this week, as we discuss the creation of, well, everything. Did it all come out of nothing? Is creation… Read More »Episode 134: ‘You end up worshipping the shrubbery’

We talk about getting fresh ideas into the winter wellness plan, and building accountability. There’s a discussion about what the ‘essence’ of church really is,… Read More »Episode 133: The Jesus re-enactment society

It’s our fourth birthday! We listen back to the first episode and reflect on where it all went wrong – sorry – I mean, all… Read More »Episode 132: Reflections on our fourth birthday

This week we look a bit more at spiritual wellness plans. Joe shares a lot of ideas, while Nick is mainly focused on guttering. But… Read More »Episode 131: Wellness and winter thinking

We talk about the need for patience in a society that expects instant solutions. Why did the early church talk about patience much more than… Read More »Episode 130: ‘We have an Amazon Prime Spirituality’

We’re back! Yes, Luxembourg’s premier Christianity podcast returns and in a revolutionary new approach to podcasting, instead of discussing a topic, we are discussing what… Read More »Episode 129: We’ve forgotten what the podcast is about

There are some really horrible bits in the Bible. How are we to read them? Should we just ignore them? Or is our very response… Read More »Episode 128: Mansplaining the Bible

Some deep questions this week. Do miracles actually happen? And what about prophecy? Can we actually experience God’s love? Has Joe filled in a proper… Read More »Episode 127: Miracles and Prophecy

After waiting hours for some printing to get done we revisit our statements on the good news and ask a key question: where did it… Read More »Episode 126: Where has it all gone wrong?

Have you been mis-sold your personal salvation policy? In the midst of some pretty bongo-filled weeks, Joe and Nick finally get around to their versions… Read More »Episode 125: What is the good news? (Part Three)

Never has so much feedback been packed into one podcast. We’ve had so many responses to our question about ‘what is the good news?’ that… Read More »Episode 124: What is the good news? (Part Two)

Last episode Nick posed the question ‘what is the good news?’ This week – predictably – they completely fail to answer it. So this is… Read More »Episode 123: What is the good news? (Part One)

Back after a short break and we begin with an argument over courgettes of all things. After that, there’s some great feedback, with more on… Read More »Episode 122: A festival of courgettes

When is it right to leave a church? Is it ever right? Can you leave on good terms? A heartfelt email leads us into a… Read More »Episode 121: Should I stay or should I go?

Nick is being crushed by a deadline but fortunately we have feedback to come to our rescue. How do we deal people and churches who… Read More »Episode 120: Shall we debrief?

A great interview with Jeff Lucas. With his usual depth, humour and honesty, Jeff talks about prayer as a mix of gratitude and complaining, the… Read More »Episode 119: Jeff Lucas on the priceless gift of disillusionment.

The now usual batch of interesting, intelligent and often moving feedback. We look at beliefs versus action, beliefs versus knowledge, a four-person Trinity and speaking… Read More »Episode 118: Questions raised. No questions answered.

It’s Pentecost! And, in what must be the most disrupted podcast ever, we discuss the Holy Spirit, and how the church has never known quite… Read More »Episode 117: The theology of ‘I dunno’

Does it matter what you believe? Welcome to part two of our discussion – well, round two, maybe, since we end up having an argument… Read More »Episode 116: The thin spaces of doubt

Some good feedback this week, including news from down under, another question about hell, and a question that brings up some important questions. How can… Read More »Episode 115: More than just God in a bod

What is spirituality? Is it doing ‘spiritual things’ like praying, meditating, reading the Bible? Or is everything that we do spiritual? Also, some epic emails,… Read More »Episode 114: Grayson Perry’s Spiritual Art Club

We’d like to say that this is a deeply profound episode. but basically, it’s us mucking about. There’s a bit about quiet times, and we… Read More »Episode 113: The cheese stage of grief

What are the origins of Easter? Did Christians build their churches near sacred groves? We touch on Odin, the age of yew trees, and how… Read More »Episode 112: We’re always inventing tradition

We explore how scarcity and limitations make us more grateful, how we constantly need to re-learn forgotten skills and habits, and how we all need… Read More »Episode 111: Small Wonders of God

It’s Easter, everyone. We talk about celebrating the whole story – even the dark bits and, why, this year, Easter Saturday may be particularly relevant.… Read More »Episode 110: It’s our story as well

We have an interview with Dave Hopwood, who talks about how he uses film to communicate and explore deep truths about Christianity. Meanwhile, Joe is… Read More »Episode 109: At the movies with Dave Hopwood

A mixed bag of poetry, prayer and lots of good feedback. We talk briefly about paying attention and its relationship to prayer, and touch on… Read More »Episode 108: Attention, intention and self-isolation

What can you say in the face of everything that is happening in the world? In a time of lockdowns and self-isolation, we have more… Read More »Episode 107: Buying a field

Loads of great response to Ruth’s interview in episode 104: lots of praise, some questions and a bongo load of mystery. We talk about why… Read More »Episode 106: [Bongos] Happen

We have an interview with author and speaker Brian Draper, about how experiencing nature can open up spaces for us to make a deeper connection… Read More »Episode 105: Soulful Nature – An Interview with Brian Draper

How do we approach the subject of healing? Do miracles happen? Or is all of life a miracle anyway? We have a profound interview with… Read More »Episode 104: ‘Strength to walk the journey’

We discuss guilt and confession. Is guilt ever good? Can confession be therapeutic? If so, to whom do we confess? Also, we explore how we… Read More »Episode 103: Confess! Confess!

Along with some important, moving and actually quite hilarious emails, we talk a bit more about demons, Satan, and the lies which dominate both our… Read More »Episode 102: Stan has no authority

This week we’re thinking about involvement with the world. Should we just do the things that we’re passionate about? And if so, how do we… Read More »Episode 101: Demands and duties

We’ve reached three figures! In this episode we chat about why we started the podcast, what’s the best (and worst) thing about it, and where… Read More »Episode 100: Who’d have thought it?

It’s a mega-feedback episode. We explore whether silent retreats are really good for extroverts, what we think of demons and the demonic and pick up… Read More »Episode 99: Retreats for Extroverts and other issues

Happy New Year! We’re back with a discussion of how to reflect on last year using the examen approach. And we talk about setting themes… Read More »Episode 98: New year, new theme

In a strange reversal, Joe is quite grumpy, and Nick is quite upbeat. It’s the shortest day of the year, but there is light in… Read More »Episode 97: Hopes and fears and all that swaddling

Joe has been putting his coffee cup on the altar. Which is not a euphemism for some kind of spiritual discipline, but a real event,… Read More »Episode 96: A coffee cup on the altar!

We reflect on the profound effects that something as simple as kindness and hospitality can have. It’s all about being the Kingdom of God and… Read More »Episode 95: Being the Incarnation

It’s Advent – which is really the start of the liturgical year. It’s supposed to be a period of fasting and waiting and paying attention… Read More »Episode 94: Happy New (Liturgical) Year

More fantastic feedback. More hope in the darkness. Some tough, poignant and sacred stories this week. But we also talk about science, human growth, not… Read More »Episode 93: The reality of our hope

An interview with Lacy Finn Borgo, friend, teacher, author of famous emails, spiritual director and founder of Good Dirt ministries. Joe and Lacy pick up… Read More »Episode 92: Lacy Finn Borgo on Seasons of Silence

We have more wonderful, moving emails reflecting on last week’s episode about death. Thank you to the listeners who share such poignant, sacred things. Along… Read More »Episode 91: ‘He will wipe every tear from our eyes’

We discuss death, the afterlife and all that stuff. Basically because we have two fabulous emails. Can you really make friends with death? What happens… Read More »Episode 90: Making friends with death

Ruth is the Global Advocacy and Influencing Director with Tearfund – a job title which makes Nick and Joe quite jealous. She talks about her… Read More »Episode 89: Ruth Valerio on Creation and the Environment

We talk about disagreement within the church. Are the ideas we adopt in Mid-faith Crisis really new, or merely rediscovered? And in this new way… Read More »Episode 88: New paradigms and other mysteries

Order! Order! It’s a mid-faith crisis look at politics – or political debate and discussion to be precise. How can we disagree well with one… Read More »Episode 87: Look, what the people really want to know…

We’re back from our holidays with a bumper bag of feedback, including reaction to the Steve Chalke interview, questions about the Badly Behaved Bible and… Read More »Episode 86: Back with Feedback

We’re away on our holidays at the moment. But to keep you going, here’s a supercut of the best moments from long-time contributor to the… Read More »Episode 84: Now that’s what I call Ethel vol 1

In the final part of our romp through Nick’s book The Badly Behaved Bible, we look at the acts of violence in the Old Testament.… Read More »Episode 83: We need to talk about Jehovah

Continuing through The Badly Behaved Bible, we discuss the crucial role of doubt in the development of faith and how the authority of scripture actually… Read More »Episode 82: Authority and Doubt

Continuing through Nick’s book, The Badly Behaved Bible, we have reached some of the… er… murkier bits. We look at the rough, even rude bits… Read More »Episode 81: The Not-so-good Book

Or, canons, colons, unicorns and other stories. Continuing our relentless march through Nick’s book, The Badly Behaved Bible, we look at the formation of the… Read More »Episode 80: Reading and other acts of resistance

It’s the second in our series looking at Nick’s book, The Badly Behaved Bible. This time we’re looking at how the Bible was created and… Read More »Episode 79: Exile Stories

Happy Christmas everyone. For some reason Joe has decided that mid-July is the ideal time to reflect on Christmas. So grab a mince pie, pull… Read More »Episode 76: The Christmas Special. In July.

Nick’s been on a pilgrimage. (Or a pubgrimage as his wife called it). We talk about what defines a pilgrimage, and what makes it different… Read More »Episode 75: On Pubgrimage

Can we really say anything about God? We talk about the need to get rid of old images of God and replace them with new… Read More »Episode 74: Effing the Ineffable

A lot of feedback this episode, with people sharing their thin places, and questions about counselling and communities. We talk about the benefits of spiritual… Read More »Episode 73: Talking therapies

Yes, we’re back from our trip to the RSPB Minsmere Bird Reserve. And in this, short, but perfectly formed episode, we reflect on what we… Read More »Episode 72: Letting go in Minsmere

Nick interviews writer and all-round top bloke Adrian Plass. We talk about church, living in community, speaking honestly, some surprising answers to prayer and how… Read More »Episode 71: An Interview with Adrian Plass

Nick talks about his new book. Also we look at the importance of asking the right question, the need to recognise what path of life… Read More »Episode 69: The Badly Behaved Bible and other topics

Nick’s been on a course. On an island. An island off the coast of Ireland. We talk about different kinds of spirituality, about the need… Read More »Episode 68: Pay attention, everyone

Yes it’s here! Like a thief in the night, the second coming episode has actually arrived. We talk all things apocalyptic. Don’t get left behind… Read More »Episode 66(6) The Second Coming

A look at how Easter can help us explore our journey in a new way. There’s stuff on deconstructing faith, why victims of manflu need more help, the new Christian festivals of ‘Washing the Donkey Saturday’ and the Bifidus Digestum, Calvinist Kinder Eggs and the sheer joy of telling people to ‘bless off’. 

Nick has written an article. It’s about how psychology can help us not to sin quite so much. So Joe asks him questions about it. Oh… Read More »Episode 64: Seven Ways to Stop Sinning

We’re joined again by Alexander Shaia who reflects on a 55-day pilgrimage along the Camino way. He talks to Joe about the challenges of coming home… Read More »Episode 63: On Pilgrimage with Alexander Shaia

So, we’re in the mid-faith crisis. Do we still seek to make converts? And if so, what does conversion look like these days? The boys… Read More »Episode 62: Conversing about Converting

We’ve got follow up! Listeners send us great tips for being unhappy. Nick’s wife, Claire, sends in three pages of notes on his behaviour. Joe… Read More »Episode 61: How not to be happy part 2

We were going to do an episode on happiness, but then we realised we weren’t very good at that. So here are our top tips… Read More »Episode 60: How Not to be Happy

And we’re back! After a brief New Year break, we have an interview with Trevor Hudson. Trevor takes us through the cycle of grace, how God’s… Read More »Episode 59: The Cycle of Grace with Trevor Hudson

What actually is the real meaning of Christmas? What does it signify for those of us in the mid-faith crisis? In this yuletide episode we… Read More »Episode 58: Christmas and all that swaddling

An interview with Mark Scandrette about personal growth, the role of the enneagram in understanding ourselves and how through the beatitudes Jesus calls us back… Read More »Episode 57: Back to Reality with Mark Scandrette

It’s the long awaited (and quite long) film show. We pick our top films to help us think about spiritual formation. Typically, Joe’s all come… Read More »Episode 56: The Mid-faith Crisis Film Club

In the feedback from our personality episode, we discuss the ‘masks’ we wear in order to conform, their relationship to personality, and how they can… Read More »Episode 55: Taking off the masks

In this episode, Joe interviews theologian Bethany Sollereder to explore the issue of death and dying. Why is our culture so afraid of death? Why is grieving important?… Read More »Episode 54: ‘Death is a Very Good Part of Life’

What role does personality play in faith? We explore ideas about personality types, and how our different personalities affect what we believe and how we… Read More »Episode 53: Personality Types

Yes, it’s the second anniversary of the Mid-faith Crisis podcast. We reflect on why we started this, what, if anything, has changed in our lives… Read More »Episode 52: Now we are two!

In this second part of our discussion of the cross (recorded about 5 seconds after the end of the first part) we explore some of… Read More »Episode 51: The Mystery of the Cross

In the first of two-parts on this topic, we explore the cross – the event which lies at the heart of the Christian Gospel. In this… Read More »Episode 50: The Scandal of The Cross

It’s a feedback episode with great stories from the listeners about the power of forgiveness. We touch on the need to forgive ourselves, discuss whether… Read More »Episode 49: Serious stuff with jokes in it

Forgiveness is, perhaps, the most characteristically Christian thing that we do. But what does it look like? How do we go about forgiving those who have… Read More »Episode 48: Inching towards forgiveness

We say that ‘God is love’. But how do we know that? This episode explores the need for experiences, feelings and emotions. We look at the need… Read More »Episode 47: You have to leave in order to return

In which our heroes sit on a bench in the North Devon countryside, and ramble on about how the knowledge that God loves us can… Read More »Episode 46: Rambling in Lee Abbey

In which our heroes discuss the value and practice of going on retreat and the need for solitude, silence and reflection. Including our top tips… Read More »Episode 45: ‘A massive suitcase full of us’

In which we look at calling, guidance and all that stuff. Do you have to be called to the ministry or is it OK just to want… Read More »Episode 44: How big is your calling?

Joe interviews Steve Chalke. Always engaging and thought-provoking, he talks about how we wrongly define church, what the gospel is and the meaning of the Greek word, pistis. No,… Read More »Episode 43: Taking the Pistis with Steve Chalke

Along with a humungous amount of excellent, thought-provoking feedback this week, Joe temporarily masters technology enough to record an interview with listener Shane Styles, whose guidelines… Read More »Episode 42: Flippant Depth

In what can only be described as a ‘low-key’ episode, our heroes meet in a hotel in the countryside somewhere to discuss the future of… Read More »Episode 41.5: Bonus episode – Back to the future

In which our heroes discuss hell, damnation and other associated, cheery subjects. Is there such a thing as an orthodox view of hell? What are the… Read More »Episode 41: What the hell!

In which our heroes discuss the need to detach from distractions, especially social media and all that stuff. We talk about the need for space in… Read More »Episode 40: Detachment and Deep Work

Happy Easter, everyone. This week we have the second part of our interview with Alexander Shaia on his idea of the fourfold journey as it… Read More »Episode 39: Interview with Alexander Shaia Part 2

In the first of a two-part interview we hear from Alexander Shaia, author, teacher, speaker and, most remarkably, a person who is prepared to go… Read More »Episode 38: Interview with Alexander Shaia Part 1

In which we talk quite a lot about how a wrong image of God leads to problems with prayer. Plus lots of other topics, (not least why the mid-faith… Read More »Episode 37: The magic prayer word is banana

In which our heroes tackle a whole bunch of feedback on various topics, including stages of faith, the good and the bad side of beauty… Read More »Episode 36: ‘There is something hypnotic about your podcast…’

In which our heroes share their expertise about being parents. A short podcast, then. Anyway, we discuss how to talk to children about God in the Mid-faith Crisis, why pretending… Read More »Episode 35: How to succeed at parenting and other myths

In which our heroes discuss the body. Is dieting a spiritual discipline? Is it wrong to care about our appearance? How can we achieve a… Read More »Episode 34: How to Look Good Sacred

In which our heroes discuss different ways of building thankfulness into our lives. What difference does it make? And is Nick ever going to be… Read More »Episode 33: Practical Thankfulness

Yes, it’s the Christ-tide Eve-Eve show. In which our heroes discuss all things Christmassy. We focus on what’s really important about Christmas, the sparkliness or otherwise… Read More »Episode 32: Happy Christ-tide Eve-Eve!

In which our heroes reflect a bit on last episode’s arguments before going on to discuss the spirituality of… er… Paddington 2. Why do we… Read More »Episode 31: The Spirituality of Paddington

In a strangely argumentative episode, Nick and Joe talk about what it means to follow Jesus. Nick gets very insistent on the resurrection, Joe uses the word… Read More »Episode 30: Jesus Part 1

In which we have an interview with Roy Searle, one of the founders of the Northumbria Community. Roy talks about the importance of space, the… Read More »Episode 29: The Landscape of the Heart

In which our heroes talk about all the feedback from the last episode, reflect on the first ever Day for the Bewildered (including Ethel immortalised… Read More »Episode 27: We’ve got a big announcement

It’s our first anniversary! And to celebrate, we’ve got actual content, with an interview with the very wonderful Jill Rowe, in which she talks about women and… Read More »Episode 26: Walking each other home

In which our heroes deal with more feedback from recent episodes. How do we cope with the painful, destructive effects of sin? Do we hold our beliefs, or… Read More »Episode 25: ‘Weakness, negligence and deliberate fault’

In which our heroes discuss sin, guilt and other bad stuff. Do we take sin too seriously? Or not seriously enough? And is there anything we… Read More »Episode 24: It’s a sin!

In which our heroes deal with the excellent feedback from last episode. After our podcast on creeds, we hear from the listeners about their beliefs.… Read More »Episode 23: Definitely Maybe

In which our heroes try to come up with a creed for the Mid-faith crisis. In what will surely end up as a schism between… Read More »Episode 22: The schism starts here

In which our heroes record the podcast – in a Pod! On holiday! Yes, a bit of an unusual edition this one, recorded on holiday in Scotland. We… Read More »Episode 21: What we did on our holiday

In which our heroes write a letter to their younger, less bald versions. And, indeed, where we share some lovely letters that our listeners have… Read More »Episode 20: Letters to our younger selves

In which our heroes discuss change and transformation. How do we change? What does it look like? How can Nick claim to have changed when… Read More »Episode 19: Marginal Gains

In which our heroes sit in Joe’s garden, listen to the birdsong, chill out and discuss… er… anger. What makes us angry? Is it always… Read More »Episode 18: Don’t make me angry

In which our heroes discuss the use and abuse of labels. Are you liberal or conservative? Progressive or traditional? Catholic or evangelical? What do we… Read More »Episode 17: Lifting the Label

It’s our second ever interview! It’s another man called Dave! Joe interviews Dave Tomlinson, author of How to be a Bad Christian, The Bad Christian’s… Read More »Episode 16: How to be a Bad Christian

In which our heroes discuss how hard it is to be truly honest and what stops us from letting others see behind the masks we… Read More »Episode 15: Telling the Truth

In which our heroes discuss the necessity of waiting and the hope of resurrection. It’s Easter Saturday, a day when, in the gospels, nothing much happens. Hopes have… Read More »Episode 14: Waiting for Resurrection

In which we feature our very first interview! Joe interviews Dave Steell, who leads One Church, Brighton, and discusses the idea that, with the right values, the… Read More »Episode 13: Values, not vision

In which our heroes discuss one of the key practices of the Christian life. Yes, it’s the first of a series we’re calling by the… Read More »Episode 12: The Problem of Prayer

In which we look at what it means to belong. Joe shares his life story, Nick has been giving himself, and we discover the menopraise, which is like the… Read More »Episode 11: We all need to belong

In which our heroes look at what it means to be saved. What does it mean to be born again? Should we even still be using the… Read More »Episode 10: Yes, but are you ‘born again’?

It’s a feedback show! In which our heroes share some letters and emails from some of our listeners – all of which are more profound, intelligent… Read More »Episode 9: Get grumpy about something that matters

In which our heroes discuss the gospel. What’s so good about the good news? Along the way we explore the concept of a press release from… Read More »Episode 8: The good news, part one

In which our heroes discuss happiness. Happy new year, everyone! But what does it mean to be happy? Can we really pursue happiness? What really makes… Read More »Episode 7: I’m H.A.P.P.Y

In which our heroes celebrate Christmas. Why is it good news? It’s a special Christmas episode, enlivened by the fact that Joe and and Nick… Read More »Episode 6: ‘Do not be afraid…’

In which our heroes discuss church. What is it? Why do people stop going? This week’s podcast look at the strengths and limitations of church,… Read More »Episode 5: Church, and how to survive it

In which our heroes discuss what it means to have a dialogue with the Bible. How do we read the Bible? Why are people threatened… Read More »Episode 4: The Bible is a weird thing…

In which our heroes discuss the difficulties of having false and even pagan images of God. Are the images we have helpful? How do we change them?… Read More »Episode 3: Father, Son and Floaty Thing

In which, our heroes discuss Carl Jung’s ideas about mid-life and the masks we wear. Along the way, Nick and Joe discuss what realistic worship songs might sound like, whether Brian McClaren should have a performing goat, and Nick’s failure to preach enough about sin.

What are the symptoms of the mid-faith crisis? And what can we do about it? This introductory podcast looks at how we can respond when our faith seems to be in meltdown. Along the way Joe and Nick explore doubt and hope, the dangerously scary inner work of the heart, Nick’s experience dating Teresa of Avila, the possibilities of backsliding as an Olympic event and what it’s like to wear the trousers of ambiguity.