I HAVE been actively avoiding this trend, but here we go. Many podcasts now incorporate a video element known as visualisation, and more podcast consumers are watching these conversations.
Nevertheless, despite my old-school belief that podcasts are primarily for listening, this trend isn’t all bad. Sam Howson, a filmmaker and ex-Evangelical, has produced a podcast that I can find only on YouTube. I introduce you to Sacrosanct, which chronicles his journey through faith, talking to people in the Church and tackling various exposés. The podcast looks good; and it provides thoughtful analysis that is quite engaging.
In the episode from 13 January 2025, “Will the Next Archbishop Save the Divided Church of England?”, featuring the Revd Robert Thompson (Part 1) (Comment, 16 January), themes emerge that might provoke strong reactions. They analyse the old boys’ club, discuss safeguarding, and examine the Anglican Communion globally — particularly looking at how the culture in New Zealand is more collegial and less corporate. Fr Thompson considers the power of bishops to promote, drawing attention to the disincentives for criticism. I noticed some misinformation regarding Pastor Rick Warren, but I was glad to see Mr Howson correct and apologise for this in the comments. A podcast focused on transparency and accountability must uphold these values in both directions.
Reflecting on cultures and safety, “The Birth Keepers: Choose this” is the first episode produced by The Guardian Investigates, and tells a troubling story about an extreme natural-birth movement. Pregnant mothers are encouraged to shun medical assistance — no doctors, no midwives — and to go it alone. This podcast sheds light on what can be a dangerous practice, especially when women are vulnerable.
Poetry Unbound in Conversation, from 12 December, features Pádraig Ó Tuama with Lorna Goodison, Jamaica’s former Poet Laureate. Although this conversation falls under the Poetry Unbound banner, it was originally recorded at the Greenbelt Festival. They discuss Goodison’s reworking of Dante’s Inferno, delving into Dante’s incorporation of contemporary topics and figures of his time — an approach that Goodison has also adopted. It is a cross-cultural, in-depth conversation about the power of words to recreate worlds, serving as a revisionist historical project that takes old words and presents them to new audiences.
Considering the power of words, I discovered The Jefferson Fisher Podcast, which has a straightforward goal: to enhance how people communicate.
In the episode from 6 January 2026, “3 Communication Habits to Change This Year”, he addresses listeners’ questions, some related to estrangement, offering wisdom for when relationships are in crisis. He provides practical phrases, such as: “I know there is a lot of distance between us, and I have said many things that I regret.” Jefferson encourages people to swap “I’m willing to talk” with “I am willing to listen when you are ready.” This simple, practical wisdom could have a positive effect on one’s relationships in just 32 minutes. There are a few ads sprinkled throughout: the creators, I suppose, have to make their money somehow.
