Castuner

Holy Smoke

The Spectator

The most important and controversial topics in world religion, thoroughly dissected by a range of high profile guests. Presented by Damian Thompson.

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Episodes

247 episodes

  1. Mishka Rushdie Momen: Where is the boundary between sacred and secular music? 23:43
  2. Anshel Pfeffer: is religion deciding Israel’s future? 34:13
  3. Could evangelical Christians decide Brazil's election? 14:30
  4. Should we worry about Pope Leo? 20:36
  5. Charles Owen: can you hear God in Franz Liszt’s music? 26:06
  6. Michael Nazir-Ali: Pakistani Christians fear backlash over Lambeth Palace award 22:23
  7. Catholic Burnham barred: should the law change? 14:43
  8. Are you having a 'nun girl summer'? 20:09
  9. Plastic Parsons: why Quentin Letts fears for the parish church 16:51
  10. Wandering bishops, rival popes & schismatic churches 29:49
  11. How Project Spire will hurt England's parishes 21:01
  12. Coffee House Shots: Britain's first Catholic PM 19:04
  13. When Mary Calls: why Protestants are praying to the Mother of God 35:57
  14. How religion shapes football 16:44
  15. Was America meant to be a Christian nation? 27:10
  16. The Pope & the SSPX: is this a permanent schism? 28:15
  17. Pope Leo, Max Weber & the dark side of charisma 29:49
  18. Are Mormons Christian? 21:07
  19. Mexico, the Catholic Church & the rise of the cartel cults 27:34
  20. Michael Gove on why the Pope's AI intervention shames our politicians 14:37
  21. One year of Pope Leo – a promising start? 37:39
  22. Is Pope Benedict’s Ordinariate for ex-Anglicans finally going to realise its potential? 30:12
  23. Why has Trump picked a fight with the Pope? 25:07
  24. How homosexuality has torn apart the United Methodist Church 19:02
  25. How would you sell Christianity today? with Rory Sutherland 28:21
  26. The truth about the quiet revival – with grounds for optimism 25:46
  27. Prince William resets faith – as Sarah Mullally enthroned 36:38
  28. Iran: why Shia Islam's tradition of martyrdom is key to understanding the conflict 28:44
  29. Who is Sarah Mullally? 44:57
  30. In defence of Christian monarchies 30:31
  31. How Russia is waging Holy War in Ukraine 32:02
  32. Is there any truth in the Christian revival? 32:13
  33. Moltbook: has AI created its own religion? 18:34
  34. Why did Pope Leo choose a 'safe pair of hands' for Westminster? 32:07
  35. The historic value of English churches – with Daniel Wilson 24:46
  36. Iran: why theocracies survive – with Peter Frankopan 24:20
  37. How transformative has 2025 been for Christianity? 20:56
  38. Why religious societies succeed – with Rory Sutherland 35:06
  39. How was Commercial Christmas born? 30:18
  40. Why is it left to Trump to highlight the persecution of Christians in Nigeria? 19:21
  41. Why did the Danish PM call for a 'spiritual rearmament'? 21:46
  42. Have the culture wars gone spiritual? 22:22
  43. Is the cult of St Edward the Confessor justified? 18:03
  44. Is the Anglican Communion dead? 26:25
  45. How did faith shape Thatcher? 38:06
  46. What does it mean 'to forgive'? 33:17
  47. What can we expect from the first female Archbishop of Canterbury? 18:21
  48. Reparations: the tyranny of imaginary guilt, with Nigel Biggar & Katie Lam 18:53
  49. 800 years on, why is Aquinas Gen Z’s favourite philosopher? 25:28
  50. Archbishop of Canterbury: who's on the shortlist? 21:47