Mid-faith Crisis

We talk about the virtuous circle of comfort: how what we receive we can share with others. Also whether the real purpose of the Holy… Read More »Episode 302: Be generous with comfort

Nick has had a bad week. We talk about approaches to resilience, the meanings we attach to events, our tendency to project bad stories, what… Read More »Episode 301: Nick’s less-than-resilient week

Three. Hundred. Episodes. Who’d have thought it? We think about some of the key things we have learned, and are still learning through doing this… Read More »Episode 300: What we’ve learned so far…

Joe interviews John Philip Newell about his new book The Great Search. What are the things we are really yearning for? Who are the prophets… Read More »Episode 299: The Great Search – an interview with John Philip Newell

Yes! The brothers have reconciled and the podcast band is back together. So, in this week’s show we talk about redeeming the word ‘religion’, what… Read More »Episode 298: We defer to Jesus

This week’s episode is all about money. Why are we so embarrassed by it? Why do we fear dealing with it? Is ethical investing worth… Read More »Episode 297: Jesus was not an accountant: an interview with Sian MacInnes

We talk about the benefits of belonging, and not belonging, to a church. Are there perspectives and opportunities that we can get from a church… Read More »Episode 296: I belong, help thou my unbelonging

Yes, we’re talking again about the Bible, this time discussing how the Bible was compiled and what Paul meant by the line ‘All the writings… Read More »Episode 295: You say inspired, I say God-breathed

A mixed bag this week. We talk about Christian outrage over the Olympics, about the need to belong (without being defined by our belonging) and… Read More »Episode 294: Thank you for being some people out there

In this episode we dive deep into the idea of the wrathful God. Can we understand it in a different way? And what do we… Read More »Episode 293: Now with added wrath

We’re back! And after a long break there is a lot of catching up to do. Has Nick really stopped watching the news? Is there… Read More »Episode 292: Decluttering, deconstructing and sorting your life out

Joe interviews friend and fellow celebrant Claire Bradford about her experiences walking the Camino. They discuss the importance of doing things when you can, the… Read More »Episode 291: Walking the Camino with Claire Bradford

Joe talks to friend of the podcast Dave Tomlinson about his book ‘OMG, A Bad Christian’s Prayer Book’. Dave also chats about prayer, and about… Read More »Episode 290: OMG – A Bad Christian’s Prayer Book with Dave Tomlinson

We discuss the concept of the sabbath, mainly because Nick has heard an interesting sermon on the topic. What if we see sabbath as the… Read More »Episode 289: Start the week with a sabbath

We carry on our discussion about churches and church leadership. Do churches need visible locations? How do we preserve their communal identity without creating barriers… Read More »Episode 288: Happy Be Kind to Clergy Day!

In keeping with his theme, Joe has been nature churching. We discuss his experiences so far, what makes something ‘church’, the importance of your spiritual… Read More »Episode 287: It’s nature, but is it churching?

We have a think about Pentecost. What was it all about? Was it really the birthday of the church? Is it an eschatological thing? Actually,… Read More »Episode 286: God is speaking our language

Following his year of wisdomness, Nick wrote an article on wisdom. We discuss whether the church downplays wisdom in favour of revelation, the steps we… Read More »Episode 285: How to be wise

In a feedback-fuelled episode, we chat about heresy, gratitude, and the circuit board of love. Is heresy just speculation that is not the official speculation?… Read More »Episode 284: It’s theological correctness gone mad

Brian McLaren talks about his new book, ‘Life After Doom: Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart’.He and Joe discuss how denial is exhausting,… Read More »Episode 283: Life After Doom – an interview with Brian McLaren

This week we discuss the relationship between human skills and endeavour and the work of God. Or as Nick put it, ‘Why does God get… Read More »Episode 282: Custard is holy ground

There’s a lot about depth this week. We talk about dusting off the Bible and reading more deeply, and how the mid-faith crisis can be… Read More »Episode 281: The desire to go deeper

We thought it was time to revisit the stages of faith – which is really what this podcast is all about. Joe takes us through… Read More »Episode 280: Throbbingly unsettling

It’s our new year themes episode. Joe’s had a bad week so is behind with his homework. Nick has broken his Lenten fast from anger… Read More »Episode 279: Focus and … er… something else

It’s Easter! And we reflect on what Easter means for us this year and how we can see our own faith journeys patterned in the… Read More »Episode 278: The Easter Journey

As the song goes, ‘Praise him on the trumpet, the psaltery and harp!’ But why? In another of our excitingly named Moderately Interesting Questions, we… Read More »Episode 277: Does God really need praise?

We delve into the feedback this week, especially various reflections on the What is the Point of Joe?’ episode. Also we talk about being the… Read More »Episode 276: Gold, Silver and Beryl

Joe talks to Jo about the menopause. And perimenopause. And post-menopause. What is it and why does it matter? And why don’t we talk about… Read More »Episode 275: What the fog? An interview with Jo Ibbott

Joe is having an existential crisis and, worryingly, is asking Nick to help. So we discuss meaning and purpose. What are we here for? What… Read More »Episode 274: What is the point of Joe?

We discuss Lent, Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. We reflect on the purpose of fasting, the way that Lent creates contours in the year, and… Read More »Episode 273: You are a pile of precious dust

Last week we talked about lots of different kinds of church. This week we’re thinking about the purpose. What, actually, is the point of church?… Read More »Episode 272: What is church actually for?

Last week we asked what people would like to see in a church. Turns out a lot of people have an opinion. A lot. We… Read More »Episode 271: A festival of feedback

Welcome to our first ever publicly broadcast planning meeting. And just to get us started, Nick has a few of what he is calling ‘Mid-faith… Read More »Episode 270: The Mid-faith Crisis planning meeting

We’re back! And we talk about what life has been like in the past week or so. We discuss how we can support one another… Read More »Episode 269: Episode ‘I don’t give a monkeys’

Happy Not-the-actual New Year! We start this year with an interview with Paul McGee, aka The SUMO Guy. Among other things, Paul talks about his… Read More »Episode 268: Mancunian Motivation with Paul McGee

Joe is back from Mexico and Nick has got out of bed. We think briefly about our highlights of the podcasting year, before going on… Read More »Episode 267: Happy Christmas to bacteria everywhere

Joe is in Mexico where, assisted by Harvey the dog and an un-named cat we reflect briefly on the importance of knowing that, wherever we… Read More »Episode 266: Emmanuel in Mexico

After a brief bout of illness, we’re back. As well as catching up with each other, we talk about leaving and returning, and ponder on… Read More »Episode 265: I almost raised my Ebenezer

Nick has been to a leadership summit and the results are mixed, to say the least. We talk about how to build an environment which… Read More »Episode 264: Being stoned to death with fridge magnets

This week we have an interview with poet Harry Baker. As well as performing some of his poetry, he talks about faith and prayer, and… Read More »Episode 263: An interview with Harry Baker

We reflect on the interview with Olivia Jackson, and explore the need for us to have more confidence, and the way in which so many… Read More »Episode 262: This drivel may not be for you

This week we have a fascinating interview with Olivia Jackson, author of (Un)certain. Described as ‘A Collective Memoir of Deconstructing Faith’ it’s a fascinating insight… Read More »Episode 261: (Un)certain – an interview with Olivia Jackson

In this episode, we talk about the pain of the mid-faith crisis, and the difficulty of dealing with the loss of what you used to… Read More »Episode 260: Do you suffer from doctrinal dysfunction?

We discuss Bible translations among other things. Why are verses translated in different ways? Which is the ‘correct’ version? And can we trust the translators?… Read More »Episode 259: Owning my worminess

How do you deal with the tough times when the old ways of praying and responding no longer work? We talk about finding God in… Read More »Episode 258: You are not your feelings

We’re back! And in a largely content-free episode, we reflect on our time away. Joe is thinking about construction rather than deconstruction and claims to… Read More »Episode 257: Grumpily grateful

Joe interviews Joanna Godfrey Wood about her book In Search of Stillness. What is the difference between stillness and silence? How can we find inner… Read More »Episode 256: In Search of Stillness – an interview with Joanna Godfrey Wood

Joe interviews Dr Ali Male who takes us through the Enneagram. Or, to put it another way, it’s a conversation between a number one and… Read More »Episode 255: Introducing the Enneagram with Ali Male

We have some listener reaction to the interview with Lacey Finn Borgo on the feminine divine. Along the way we talk about whether the church… Read More »Episode 254: Reconstructing not deconstructing

Joe talks to our friend Lacey about the feminine divine, the effect of patriarchy on faith, and how ‘anger is not your enemy, bitterness is.’… Read More »Episode 253: Mothering Father – an interview with Lacey Finn Borgo

It’s Joe’s turn to reflect on his version of the good news. What would he change? What has been his journey so far? Is he… Read More »Episode 252: Revisiting the good news Pt 2

Half a podcast lifetime ago (episode 125 to be precise) we put forward our versions of the good news. This week we revisit them –… Read More »Episode 251: Revisiting the good news Pt. 1

It’s episode 250! But there’s no time for celebration, as we discuss the issue of whether the Lords Prayer needs updating. Should we start ‘Our… Read More »Episode 250: Our emotional frisson is out of control

In this episode we discuss the role of music as a place of spiritual encounter. We touch on the need for authenticity in worship and… Read More »Episode 249: Drawing out our tears

We’re back! And we have an episode of top-notch feedback on peoples’ sacred spaces. We think about sacred memories, gardening with God, and encountering the… Read More »Episode 248: We’re here, and that’s just how it is

We talk about how we experience God in nature. If your ‘church’ is the mountains or the countryside what does that mean? Is there anything… Read More »Episode 247: Nature boy v Churchy boy

Wassail! It’s the height of Summer which as everyone knows is the traditional time for the Midfaith Crisis Christmas Special! As usual we dive into… Read More »Episode 246: The 2023 Christmas Special

Joe is back from holiday and Nick is recovering from some cricket. Meanwhile we tackle some of the difficult questions. What empowers us to be… Read More »Episode 245: Carry on up the Spider-verse

We discuss our responses to the interview with Chris Scott in the last episode. Is it possible that the gospels could be both historical truth… Read More »Episode 244: Responding to the Jesus Myth

Joe interviews Chris Scott, psychologist, psychotherapist and priest about his book The Jesus Myth. It’s a thought-provoking exploration of how myth can carry deep truth,… Read More »Episode 243: The Jesus Myth – an interview with Chris Scott

We discuss speaking in tongues. Is there a place for it in public worship? Or should it only be exercised in the privacy of your… Read More »Episode 242: We’ve got glossolalia growing up the trellis

Joe and Nick have both been on retreat, so this week we talk about our different approaches, what works for us, and why we find… Read More »Episode 241: Your spiritual happy place

We reflect on the Coronation service. Was it weird or wonderful? Amazing or anachronistic? Holy or hypocritical? Or was it just like every other church… Read More »Episode 240: Man in hat sits on chair

We discuss different ideas of heaven and the afterlife. Will we have bodies? Do we go to heaven? Will it be largely standing around on… Read More »Episode 239: The Messianic Buffet

Cheer up everyone, it’s an episode all about hell. We reflect on the Staying Defiantly event that Joe hosted earlier in the week. In other… Read More »Episode 238: An eternity in the soft furnishing department

Nick has been useless. Joe has been watching an eagle. We discuss the role of imagination in faith, whether wishful thinking is always bad and… Read More »Episode 237: Attack with love

Joe isn’t feeling Eastery yet. Nick’s valves are burning out. Meanwhile we talk about how we want to be when things go wrong, how Christianity… Read More »Episode 236: The cross and the circle

Happy Easter! And while we’re at it, Happy New Year and Happy Nard-day! Joe is back from his travels and Nick is in a cupboard.… Read More »Episode 235: Too much nard

Just a very quick update. Joe is in Mexico and Nick is in a dangerously low house. We talk about recognising our need for sleep… Read More »Episode 234: The protestant sleep ethic

We talk a bit about politics this week, particularly the conflict between private morality and public leadership. Can we learn to listen to people with… Read More »Episode 233: Being more other-centred

Joe is enjoying his birthday. Nick has been immersed in art. And we discuss the difference between judgement and condemnation, whether tradition and religion are… Read More »Episode 232: Church is not a washing machine

Nick’s life is chaotic. Joe has escaped a fire. And meanwhile, we discuss whether to choose a local or non-local church, how do we actually… Read More »Episode 231: We need a spreadsheet

Life is heavy. Life is stressful. It’s hard to respond wisely, when anger is easier. In this episode we talk about responding to stress, Christianity… Read More »Episode 230: The BP Blessing

We discuss the crucial questions: Is God just some kind of cosmic life-force? Was Jesus just God in a man-shaped onesie? How do we avoid… Read More »Episode 229: Putting our heads above the parakeet

Nick is depressed by a worship song, Joe is frustrated by the church and the feedback sends us off in all directions. Enjoy – because,… Read More »Episode 228: Just a couple of tossed waves

At the third – or possibly fourth – attempt, Nick and Joe return. In an episode which has been dogged by disease, broadband failure, diary… Read More »Episode 227: Service and Wisdomness

What gifts did 2022 bring us? And what were the hardships? We share our experiences this year and reflect on how our themes worked out.… Read More »Episode 226: The gifts of the year

It’s a final, bonus episode for the year. And one recorded in a storm of technical challenges (sorry about that). Do we need to find… Read More »Episode 225: Bonus Christmas episode!

We return to the topic of paying attention and Joe’s latest pier-based epiphanies. We chat about how attention can be a kind of prayer and… Read More »Episode 224: Waiting for the impending failure

Yes, it’s our now annual disagreement about the birth narratives in the gospels. Along the way we discuss the problems of inculturation, why hospitality, celebration… Read More »Episode 223: The rules for Christmas

Nick has been thinking about spirituality and sport. Joe has had a transcendent moment on the pier. We ramble on about advent as a time… Read More »Episode 222: Moments of exaltation

As we head into Advent, we have an interview with Brian Draper. Brian talks about wonder, hope, leaning into the darkness, sharing the inherited riches… Read More »Episode 221: Into Advent with Brian Draper

We talk about the complexities of being Christlike, the joy of temperance and the idea of a self-limiting God. Also, Joe wants to be both… Read More »Episode 220: A lot of wind and no answers

We talk about how we can use outrage to avoid dealing with our own pain, finding peace in the difficult times, not giving up on… Read More »Episode 219: Leaning in to goodness

We discuss some big issues this week: anger, empathy, hope, the prophetic act of listening, the difficulty of making life choices and, most importantly, whether… Read More »Episode 218: The Mid-faith Permacrisis

This week we talk about the need for lament, how Jesus spoke about fear more than anything else, and what we can learn from our… Read More »Episode 217: Welcome back, wristbands

In this episode we talk about hope. In the midst of the chaos and anxiety surrounding us, how do we have hope? What does it… Read More »Episode 216: Fix your mind upon cheeses