Episodes

That is certainly a deep question to ask! Most people spend more time planning a two week holiday than the purpose of their one precious life. In our third and final conversation with Kary Oberbrunner we explore this rich and fascinating subject from his book ‘The Deeper Path’. For a 2 minute preview see the video below: https://youtu.be/HigCN7CUm00 On the podcast we unpack the following inspiring quote: “The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play;...

That may well seem a strange question to ask. It comes from my conversation with Kary Oberbrunner (who I introduced in Podcast #051). Kary has released the second edition of his book, “Your Secret Name: An Uncommon Quest To Stop Pretending, Shed The Labels and Discover Your True Identity.” You can get a flavour of our conversation from the 2 minute video conversation with Kary below (apologies for the lighting changes towards the end and yes I do need to tidy up my office!): https://youtu.be/OL...

What does it take to live a full life? Rather than think about that in an abstract or theoretical sense, on today’s podcast I interview someone who I am proud to say has become a mentor and good friend, Kary Oberbrunner. The 2 minute video below will give you a flavour of our podcast conversation: Kary lives in Columbus, Ohio, is married to Kelly and together they have three children. He is an author of ten books, a coach and public speaker. He helps individuals and organisations clarify who t...

As we continue our conversation with John Wyatt on his book ‘Dying Well’ on this podcast we look at the specific temptations and fears that can come to occupy our minds at the end of life. In podcast #049 we looked at the positive opportunities and expectation that dying well can bring. On this podcast discussion with John we unpack the following challenges at the end of life: Doubt and questioning the presence of God. How the antidote to doubt is honesty which can lead to a deeper more hone...

Its not the subject of polite conversation and yet it is relevant to us all. What does it mean to not only live life well, but also to die and end this life well? On this podcast we welcome back John Wyatt. John is Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics at University College, London and a Senior Research Fellow at the Faraday Institute, Cambridge University. He is married to Celia and and they have three grown-up sons. John has written extensively on the subject of medical ethics and his latest boo...

The pace and rate of technological change over the last few decades has been extraordinary. We have the potential to be and do things faster, better and more efficiently in ways previous generations could never have dreamed possible. But there is also a sense that there has to be something more than just what we see around us. One writer, Tom Wright puts it in terms of four areas of concern in our culture. In these areas just being or doing faster, better or more efficiently is inadequate: – t...

As we continue in our conversation with the author Andy Parnham we come to the subject of healthy relationships. How do they work and how do we restore them when they go wrong? We know from our own experience that relationships are important, but the research of the psychiatrist Robert Waldinger goes as far as to say it is the number one strongest predictor of good health. Do come and join Andy Parnham and I as we look at: The following 5 principles for healthy relationships: 1. Prioritising ...

Longing. Its something we all experience at one time or another, but find so hard to explain or define. On this podcast Andy Parnham and I discuss this “reaching out towards or yearning for something that you can’t describe but which draws you very powerfully with a mixture of joy and sadness.” The writer C. S. Lewis put it even more potently when he called this longing ‘joy’ and described it as ‘an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction…… anyone who has e...

That seems an almost ridiculous question. Of course you want to be happy! Our world is obsessed with wanting to be happy. But what do we actually mean by happiness? Especially in our complex, challenging and chaotic world where we have so many things that promise happiness, but often fail to deliver what they promise. Do join Andrew Parnham and I as we continue to unpack this important subject from his book, “Lasting Happiness: In Search of Deeper Meaning and Fulfilment.” Together we explore: ...

Happiness! Who doesn’t want it? A recent google search on ‘how to be happy’ turned up 626 million results. Compare that to typing in ‘Donald Trump’ and you get 237 million items or ‘Brexit news’ where there is just 90 million! We all want to be happy. But what do we mean by happiness? I can be happy eating an ice cream and I can be happy meeting a long lost friend. But those two experiences are clearly very different. How can I find a happiness that leads to deeper meaning and fulfilment? On th...

If your mother, father, brother or sister was rushed into hospital what kind of doctor or nurse would you want them to see? The answer to that question has been a passion 0f Dr John Geater for many years. So much so in fact that it led him to, with others, set up the organisation PRIME – Partnerships in International Medical Education. In 2006 John received an MBE for his contribution. Do join John and I as we discuss: How the foundation of his relationship with God, his wife Jane and family m...

Dr John Geater is at the time of writing aged 73. He is married to Jane and has three adult children. He is a medical doctor and has worked in Bhutan, New Zealand and in England. In 2006 he received an MBE from the Queen for his work in setting up the postgraduate medical education charity, PRIME (Partnerships in International Medical Education). He has taught holistic medical education in 26 different countries around the world. Just before Christmas 2017 he was diagnosed with metastatic pancre...

I was recently pleasantly surprised to be invited by a prestigious financial institution to speak on the subject of how prayer and faith can enhance mental health. It was a wonderful privilege. On this podcast I unpack the main elements of my talk along with exploring how money is such a helpful analogy in pointing to understanding spiritual treasure. In particular we explore: How faith and prayer enhance mental health as I am able to delight in God for who He is rather than what I can get ou...

How far have we come! We have reached 40 episodes on this journey at the Making Sense of Life Podcast! Its time to celebrate and give thanks. On this special episode I especially want to thank: You the listener for entrusting me with your time and attention. In a world of such overwhelming choice and distraction I trust these episodes have truly helped you to make sense of life in an increasingly challenging and complex world. My co-host Andrew Horton for his work both back stage and front st...

“Everyone has their own Mount Everest they were put on this earth to climb.” (Seth Godin) Failure. How do you handle it? The 2 minute video below by Will Smith is an encouragement to view failure in a positive way. As he says – fail early, fail often and fail forward. In this podcast my co-host Andrew Horton and I discuss how failure is not something to be feared, but actually an opportunity to grow and learn. https://youtu.be/vEhoc_zGeN0 Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball play o...

“The new is always better than the old.” Do you agree? Disagree? As the impact of technology on our lives has accelerated this assumption has become increasingly taken for granted. In our third and final conversation with Pete Nicholas about his book ‘Virtually Human: Flourishing In A Digital World’ we explore the powerful messages that come to us through technology around the subjects of time and sexuality. While technology presents a narrative of never-ending progress when it comes to new de...

Technology impacts and influences our lives in increasingly powerful and profound ways. How do I make sense of technology in a way that truly enhances and enriches my life? This podcast is a continuation of my conversation with author Pete Nicholas on the book he has co-authored with Ed Brooks called “Virtually Human: Flourishing In a Digital World”. In our earlier discussion (Podcast #036: Virtually Human Part 1) we looked at while new technologies hold awesome potential for good there is anot...

Technology is now such a fundamental part of our lives that we so often take it completely for granted. From the moment we wake up to to check our clocks, or more likely our smartphones, to then often seamlessly go onto the Internet, social media and email, we hardly give a moment’s thought to the incredible power we have available to us. Today’s teenagers have never known a time when the Internet was not there. But how do we navigate with discernment and wisdom through the vast plethora of info...

Rico Tice is a senior minister at the church my family and I attend at All Souls, Langham Place in Central London. Rico is married to Lucy and they have three children. He is a Bible teacher and founder of the Christianity Explored course. This is a seven week study through the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament. At any one time there are 10,000 courses running around the world in over 100 countries with 122 official translations. More recently Rico has helped to develop two further courses, D...

We hear a lot about balancing life and work in our day and age. Wherever you look and whoever you talk to, getting the right balance in life is something many people are hungry for. With so many priorities and responsibilities in our lives this is becoming for many of us increasingly important and relevant. But what do we actually mean when we say we want balance in our lives? Do come and join my co-host Andrew Horton and I as we unpack this important subject. In particular we discuss: How ba...

Disappointment. We all experience it. We all know what if feels like. We have all at some time or other said and done things when disappointed with our circumstances or other people that we have later regretted. But what are healthy ways to handle disappointment in our lives? On this podcast I continue my conversation with the author John Hindley on his book, “Dealing With Disappointment: How To Know Joy When Life Doesn’t Feel Great“. (Our earlier conversation at Podcast #032 is here). Disappo...

Life can certainly be challenging at times. There are the unexpected setbacks that occur, but more than that there are also the general frustrations of day to day living. What do we mean? When we talk about disappointment we are not referring to major calamities or disasters, but things maybe not going the way we expected or success not bringing the fulfilment we thought we might achieve. How do you handle life when things don’t go the way you expect? How can we develop healthy ways to handle ...

Psychologists, psychiatrists, politicians and theologians may differ in their opinion on many things, But one thing they would all seem to agree on is the importance of hope. “Human beings can live about forty days without food, about three days without water, about eight minutes without air…but only for one second without hope.” Do join my co-host Andrew Horton and I as we discuss: Why hope in the true sense of the word is much more than wishful thinking, but instead a joyful expectation abou...

“If you want to be a billionaire, sleep as little as possible.” Donald Trump. “Sleep is a criminal waste of time. A heritage from our cave days.” Thomas Edison. “Every important mistake I’ve made in my life, I’ve made because I was too tired.” Bill Clinton Sleep. So easy to take for granted, but so essential – especially if you are not getting enough. And yet there is so much bravado and neglect when we think about sleep. Whatever you may think of Donald Trump and Thomas Edison, their opinion...