Middle age gets a bad press. For men, it's the sports car and midlife crisis; for women, it's the menopause and fears of becoming invisible. But with people living longer than ever, where does middle age really begin—and is it time for a rebrand? Esther Higham and Guest Editor Rt Rev Emma Ineson were joined by author of The Dark Night of the Shed and co-host of the Mid-Faith Crisis podcast, Nick Page, to find out.
When disagreement turns into division, can Christians choose a better way? Esther Higham was joined by Guest Editor Rt Rev Emma Ineson, alongside Rev Christina Rees and Fr David Houlding—who hold diametrically opposed views on women in church leadership. Despite standing on opposite sides of one of the Church's most contentious debates, they shared how an unlikely friendship blossomed!
Frustration. Impatience. Irritation. Last week, Ofcom fined Virgin Media £28 million after customers were repeatedly kept on hold or disconnected when trying to cancel contracts. James 1:19 urges us to be "quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry"—but that's not always easy. Youth pastor Dwaine Morgan joined Esther to explore how faith shapes our response when our patience is tested.
Nigel Farage has framed his upcoming by-election as 'the people vs the establishment' – but who does he mean by that? And is this helpful language to use? Esther spoke to Nick Spencer from think tank Theos and Reform UK's Dan Barker to unpack the broad term, explore its history, and ask whether the Church itself is part of the establishment.
25 years on from The Fellowship of the Ring, why does Tolkien’s Middle-earth still captivate millions? Esther spoke to theologian and Tolkien scholar David Rowe about the Christian ideas woven into Tolkien’s world. They discuss the story’s ‘ugly duckling’ nature, how The Lord of the Rings can accompany and enrich faith, and why he believes the author is “one of the greatest writers of goodness”.
Days after hopes of a ceasefire, President Donald Trump has threatened further strikes on Iran, while Tehran warned it would respond "fearlessly" to any new US military action. Mal Pope was joined by Professor Nick Megoran and Dr John Heathershaw to unpack what happens next, what it could mean for global stability, and how Christians can respond with wisdom, hope and prayer.
As Christians, should we be competitive in the workplace? The Bible makes it clear that we should respect those in positions of authority, but what if you feel you are more competent than those above you? When is the right time to challenge a leader? Esther spoke to Martyn Link, founder of Business Connection and a member of the team at Thrive Scotland, to hear his experiences with workplace competition.
Is there a North-South divide in our churches? Incoming Labour leader Andy Burnham says Britain needs the biggest rebalancing of power in generations — but is the same true for the Church? Esther spoke to Anthony Delaney, founder of Ivy Church in Manchester, and the Reverend Dr Cris Rogers, newly appointed Director of Mission for the Church of England Birmingham, about class prejudice, accents, and how church mission is about uncovering rough diamonds.
Do you ever get intrusive thoughts? Wondering whether you locked the door, left the oven on, or even thinking, "What if I shouted on this crowded train?" Most people experience thoughts like these, but for around 1 in 100 people, they become overwhelming, leading to OCD. For Christians, this can raise difficult questions: Are these thoughts from the enemy, or do they mean my faith is weak? Esther spoke to Rev. Will Van der Hart and Dr Thea Joshi.
Tyler Staton, leader of 24-7 Prayer USA, joined Esther to share how prayer can last beyond "Amen" and sustain us through life's challenges, from being cut off in traffic to a cancer diagnosis.
How do you know you're hearing from God when you pray? In John's Gospel (8:47), Jesus says, "Whoever is of God hears the words of God." But sometimes, when we feel God has spoken, our first response is to brush it off and assume it's just our imagination. To explore how we can better recognise God's voice, Premier's Esther Higham spoke to Pete Greig, founder of 24-7 Prayer and author of How to Hear from God for Young Explorers.
King Charles has updated the wording of his role in the annual Sovereign Report. Instead of simply describing himself as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, it now says he "protects the space for faith within the multi-faith nation." Is this a sensible recognition of modern Britain's religious diversity, or does it dilute Christianity's constitutional place? Gavin Ashenden argues it marks a worrying shift, while Bishop Mike Royal believes it reflects the King's role in today's society.
Last week, more than 700 UK schools closed fully or partially because of the heat, and scientists warn Britain isn't prepared for extreme temperatures. If hotter summers are here to stay, how should we adapt? Has the Church been too slow to respond to climate change? Joining Esther were Andy Lester from A Rocha UK, and Clare Fussell from Operation Noah to discuss what practical action we can take.
Football is dominating the headlines, so how do faith, football and politics intertwine? Tim Farron is not only an MP but also a lifelong Blackburn Rovers fan. He shared how football plays an important role in his political world, and also brought along former footballer and pastor Gavin Peacock to talk all things World Cup and what it was like sharing faith with his teammates in the 1990s.
How do we honour Britain's farmers while also caring for God's creation? Esther was joined by special guest editor and MP Tim Farron, who brought along Baron Curry of Kirkharle CBE to explore the future of farming, food security, climate change and what good stewardship looks like in an increasingly uncertain world.
