The C.S. Lewis podcast
- Episodes
- 288
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Nov 9, 2026
About the podcast
A weekly podcast from Premier Unbelievable? with Professor Alister McGrath exploring C.S. Lewis’ thought, theology and teaching. C.S. Lewis is one of the most influential voices in modern Christianity. The 20th Century British writer and lay theologian has profoundly impacted Christians around the world and brought many atheists and agnostics to faith in Jesus. One person whose faith was greatly encouraged by the writings of C.S. Lewis is Professor Alister McGrath. Both men were raised in Northern Ireland, studied at Oxford University and went on to become professors there. They also both came to faith from atheism slightly later in life. Alister has written numerous books on C.S. Lewis, including a seminal biography C.S. Lewis – A Life. Every Monday, Ruth Jackson and Professor Alister McGrath will reflect on C.S. Lewis’ ideas, life and influence as well as trying to answer questions that impact culture today.
Episodes 288
Bruce Johnson on C.S. Lewis in wartime: Why carry on when the world is falling apart?
As we approach Remembrance Day and Veterans Day on 11th November, we echo C.S. Lewis’ question: What is the point of studying, working or making plans when the world is at war? In September 1939, C.S. Lewis was …
Show notes
As we approach Remembrance Day and Veterans Day on 11th November, we echo C.S. Lewis’ question: What is the point of studying, working or making plans when the world is at war? In September 1939, C.S. Lewis was an Oxford academic, a veteran of the First World War and a relatively recent convert to Christianity. As Britain entered another global conflict, evacuee children arrived at his home, his brother returned to military service and Lewis began asking how Christians should respond to a world in crisis. Ruth Jackson is joined by C.S. Lewis researcher Bruce Johnson, author of From Airmen to Aslan with C.S. Lewis, to explore Lewis' life at the outbreak of the Second World War and the enduring relevance of his sermon Learning in Wartime. Why should we carry on with ordinary responsibilities when the future feels uncertain? And what can Lewis' reflections on war, danger and the atomic age teach us today? This is the first in a special series with Bruce Johnson.The undiscovered C.S. Lewis: Bruce Johnson on lost letters, faith and the man behind the books
How much do we really know about C.S. Lewis? Is there anything left to discover about one of Christianity's most influential writers? Ruth Jackson is joined by Bruce Johnson, a Lewis scholar and author of From …
Show notes
How much do we really know about C.S. Lewis? Is there anything left to discover about one of Christianity's most influential writers? Ruth Jackson is joined by Bruce Johnson, a Lewis scholar and author of From Airmen to Aslan with C.S. Lewis. Bruce shares why he has devoted years to researching the writer's life, what some of the most remarkable discoveries are and what thousands of surviving – and still missing – letters might reveal. They also explore the importance of questioning our heroes, Lewis' own mistakes, and the remarkable story of how Bruce came to research Lewis' little-known work with the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. This is the first in a special series with Bruce Johnson.Alister McGrath: What if the world isn't what we think it is?
What if everything we think we know about reality is only part of the story? Could the stories we dismiss as fantasy actually reveal something true about the world? And have we become so accustomed to seeing …
Show notes
What if everything we think we know about reality is only part of the story? Could the stories we dismiss as fantasy actually reveal something true about the world? And have we become so accustomed to seeing life in a particular way that we're missing something extraordinary? C.S. Lewis scholar Alister McGrath joins Ruth Jackson to explore why Lewis believed stories could challenge our assumptions about reality, break the spell of a purely materialist worldview and help us see the world in a completely different way. From ordinary children discovering an extraordinary world to Lewis' conviction that our lives are part of a much bigger story, they explore why imagination can sometimes communicate things that arguments alone cannot. Plus, with Greta Gerwig bringing The Magician's Nephew to the screen, what happens when a beloved book becomes a film? How much can a filmmaker change before the original story loses something essential? And why do Lewis' stories continue to capture our imaginations more than 70 years later? Subscribe & Support 🎥 Never miss an episode! Subscribe on YouTube: The C.S. Lewis Podcast🎙️ 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE) Aslan picture credit: Lloyd KinsleyAlister McGrath: Has technology outgrown our ability to control it?
Just because we can do something, does that mean we should? What happens when our technology advances faster than our ability to control it? And have we created things we may no longer be able to stop? C.S …
Show notes
Just because we can do something, does that mean we should? What happens when our technology advances faster than our ability to control it? And have we created things we may no longer be able to stop? C.S. Lewis scholar Alister McGrath joins Ruth Jackson to explore the striking warnings about science, power and unintended consequences hidden within The Magician's Nephew and what they might have to say to a world grappling with AI and rapidly advancing technology. But Lewis' story also confronts a much older problem: suffering. Drawing on the devastating loss of his mother as a child, Lewis knew that pain couldn't simply be explained away. So why does Aslan weep? Can suffering ever be understood? And what kind of hope is possible when there isn't an easy answer? + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/Alister McGrath: Why are we attracted to things that aren't good for us? [Magician's Nephew part 1]
Can something – or someone – be beautiful, charismatic and deeply dangerous at the same time? And why is the world so rarely as simple as “good people” and “bad people”? With Greta Gerwig bringing The …
Show notes
Can something – or someone – be beautiful, charismatic and deeply dangerous at the same time? And why is the world so rarely as simple as “good people” and “bad people”? With Greta Gerwig bringing The Magician's Nephew to the screen, C.S. Lewis scholar Alister McGrath joins Ruth Jackson to explore the surprisingly grown-up questions hiding inside one of Lewis' children's stories. From a world literally sung into existence to a beautiful but terrifying villain, they explore why Lewis believed imagination and beauty can reveal things that reason alone cannot. And why beauty should never be confused with goodness. Plus, why are Lewis' most dangerous characters often his most charismatic? And what can Narnia teach us about our own vulnerability to power, temptation and people who aren't quite what they seem? Subscribe & Support 🎥 Never miss an episode! Subscribe on YouTube: The C.S. Lewis Podcast🎙️ 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow us Instagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)Andrew Lazo: Can atheism actually lead you to God?
Can becoming an atheist ever be a step towards God? What if walking away from religion is sometimes more honest than pretending to believe? Are reason and evidence really enough to explain why we change our …
Show notes
Can becoming an atheist ever be a step towards God? What if walking away from religion is sometimes more honest than pretending to believe? Are reason and evidence really enough to explain why we change our minds? In Early Prose Joy, Lewis wrote: "It is time, for religion’s sake, to hymn the joys of atheism.” For him, rejecting shallow, superstitious or half-hearted religion could sometimes be an intellectually honest step towards discovering something deeper. But, what eventually changed Lewis’ mind? C.S. Lewis scholar and Episcopal priest Andrew Lazo joins Ruth Jackson to explore how reason, imagination, longing and experience came together in Lewis’ journey from atheism to Christianity and why changing his beliefs ultimately changed the way he lived. Plus, what might Lewis make of today’s spiritually curious generation? Could our hunger for beauty, nature, relationships, music and meaning be clues pointing towards something more? For Early Prose Joy: https://www.jstor.org/stable/48599470 Subscribe & Support 🎥 Never miss an episode! Subscribe on YouTube: The C.S. Lewis Podcast🎙️ 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)Andrew Lazo: Did C.S. Lewis get his own conversion story wrong?
What can Lewis' journey from atheism to belief tell us about how and why we change our minds? C.S. Lewis famously described himself as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England”. But an …
Show notes
What can Lewis' journey from atheism to belief tell us about how and why we change our minds? C.S. Lewis famously described himself as “the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England”. But an unpublished manuscript appears to reveal something extraordinary: Lewis may have misremembered when his conversion actually happened. Lewis scholar and Episcopal priest Andrew Lazo joins Ruth Jackson to tell the remarkable story of Early Prose Joy - Lewis’ previously unpublished account of his journey from atheism to belief - and the moment he realised: “Lewis got it wrong!” Yet, this is about much more than correcting a date. What really caused Lewis to abandon atheism? What role did grief, reason and desire play? Why did he keep rewriting the story of his conversion? And did Lewis eventually discover that what he had been searching for all along wasn’t actually joy, but love? Subscribe & Support 🎥 Never miss an episode! Subscribe on YouTube: The C.S. Lewis Podcast🎙️ 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Andrew Lazo: How C.S. Lewis changed the minds of atheists, scientists and prisoners
What do an atheist scientist, a Watergate prisoner and the author of Interview with the Vampire have in common? C.S. Lewis changed the way they thought. Lewis scholar and Episcopal priest Andrew Lazo grew up in …
Show notes
What do an atheist scientist, a Watergate prisoner and the author of Interview with the Vampire have in common? C.S. Lewis changed the way they thought. Lewis scholar and Episcopal priest Andrew Lazo grew up in an unbelieving home and first encountered Narnia simply as a great adventure. Years later, during a crisis of faith, Lewis saved Andrew's intellectual life. He joins Ruth Jackson to uncover the remarkable stories of people whose lives took unexpected turns after encountering Lewis, from Interview with the Vampire author Anne Rice and pioneering geneticist Francis Collins, to Watergate figure Chuck Colson and former white supremacist Joseph Pearce. Plus, hear Andrew's fascinating experience of C.S. Lewis the matchmaker! Why can a writer who died more than 60 years ago still have this effect on people? And what was it about Lewis’s approach to doubt, reason, beauty and belief that continues to resonate today? Subscribe & Support 🎥 Never miss an episode! Subscribe on YouTube: The C.S. Lewis Podcast🎙️ 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)Has God slammed a door in your face? Tyler Staton on suffering
Why does C.S. Lewis still speak so powerfully to people decades after his death? Tyler Staton, lead pastor of Bridgetown Church and author of After Amen, joins Ruth Jackson to explore what Lewis can still teach …
Show notes
Why does C.S. Lewis still speak so powerfully to people decades after his death? Tyler Staton, lead pastor of Bridgetown Church and author of After Amen, joins Ruth Jackson to explore what Lewis can still teach us about prayer, suffering, desire, imagination and finding God when he seems absent. From Mere Christianity and The Weight of Glory to A Grief Observed, The Screwtape Letters and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Tyler reflects on the Lewis ideas that have shaped his own faith and helped him through cancer. They discuss: • Why imagination matters for faith • What apologetics can learn from Lewis’s storytelling • Whether our deepest desires point to God • How to notice God in ordinary life • What to do when prayer feels unanswered • Why honest doubt can itself become prayer • Where to start if you are new to C.S. Lewis Tyler’s advice when God feels absent is striking: “We pray our doubt.” Subscribe to The C.S. Lewis Podcast for conversations exploring the life, theology, imagination and enduring influence of C.S. Lewis. Discover more at cslewispodcast.com Subscribe & Support 🎥 Never miss an episode! Subscribe on YouTube: The C.S. Lewis Podcast🎙️ 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
C.S. Lewis: How an atheist became the man behind Narnia | Alister McGrath
You’ve listened. Now you can watch. The C.S. Lewis Podcast is coming to YouTube, bringing the life, imagination and extraordinary ideas of the man behind Narnia to video for the first time. In our first …
Show notes
You’ve listened. Now you can watch. The C.S. Lewis Podcast is coming to YouTube, bringing the life, imagination and extraordinary ideas of the man behind Narnia to video for the first time. In our first episode, host Ruth Jackson sits down with renowned C.S. Lewis scholar Professor Alister McGrath to explore one of the biggest questions of all: What is life actually for? They uncover Lewis’s remarkable journey from aggressive atheism to Christianity, the impact of war and suffering on his beliefs, why books became “dangerous” to his atheism, and how he brought reason and imagination together. And what would Lewis make of us today? Instagram, selfie culture, anxiety, identity and our constant need to prove ourselves? From The Chronicles of Narnia to Mere Christianity, discover why Lewis still speaks so powerfully to the modern world. Subscribe to the new C.S. Lewis Podcast YouTube channel for conversations exploring Lewis, Narnia, faith, doubt, suffering, imagination and much more. Already a listener? Welcome. Now you can watch. Subscribe & Support 🎥 Never miss an episode! Subscribe on YouTube: The C.S. Lewis Podcast🎙️ 👉 Support thought-provoking conversations and help keep the show going at www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate💡 🔗 Get bonus content, updates, fascinating articles, and early access to new episodes - absolutely free! Join now at www.premierunbelievable.com 📢 Follow usInstagram: https://instagram.com/premierunbelievable Facebook: https://facebook.com/premierunbelievable Tik Tok: https://tiktok.com/@premier.unbelievable X: Premier Unbelievable? (@UnbelievableFE)
Why does Philip Pullman hate The Magician's Nephew?
Is it our fault when something bad happens? Can suffering ever be redeemed? In the final part of their discussion, Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter unpack Philp Pullman's critique of one of CS Lewis' most …
Show notes
Is it our fault when something bad happens? Can suffering ever be redeemed? In the final part of their discussion, Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter unpack Philp Pullman's critique of one of CS Lewis' most beloved Narnia stories. Along the way, they venture into the worlds of Star Trek and Lewis' Ransom Trilogy, asking whether science fiction can offer the hope and meaning we long for or whether we're still searching for a bigger story to live by. Plus, what did JRR Tolkien think of Dune? + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/Philip Pullman vs CS Lewis: Do we need a true myth?
Is Christianity judgemental? Was Lewis too quick to judge his own characters? Can our imagination point us to the truth? From Star Wars and Doctor Who to His Dark Materials, Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter …
Show notes
Is Christianity judgemental? Was Lewis too quick to judge his own characters? Can our imagination point us to the truth? From Star Wars and Doctor Who to His Dark Materials, Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter explore why myths continue to shape our imagination. Is there a "myth-shaped hole" in the human mind? Are we wired to search for meaning through story? Their discussion ranges from Lewis' idea of Christianity as the "true myth" to liberal humanism, imagination, truth and some of the most common criticisms levelled at Lewis. This is the second part of a programme originally broadcast on the Unbelievable? podcast. Listen next week to hear the final part of the conversation. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/Why did Philip Pullman call Narnia a "filthy lie"?
Did CS Lewis really get Susan so wrong? Philip Pullman's famous attack on The Chronicles of Narnia sparks a fascinating discussion as Christian writer Caleb Woodbridge and science-fiction critic Damien Walter …
Show notes
Did CS Lewis really get Susan so wrong? Philip Pullman's famous attack on The Chronicles of Narnia sparks a fascinating discussion as Christian writer Caleb Woodbridge and science-fiction critic Damien Walter unpack the infamous "problem of Susan", accusations of sexism and whether CS Lewis' stories are morally dangerous. This is the first part of a programme originally broadcast on the Unbelievable? podcast. Listen next week to hear part two of the conversation. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter, visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/Peter S Williams: CS Lewis, Richard Dawkins and Jesus
How would CS Lewis respond to Richard Dawkins' views about Jesus? Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or Lord'. Here, Peter S …
Show notes
How would CS Lewis respond to Richard Dawkins' views about Jesus? Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or Lord'. Here, Peter S Williams, a Christian philosopher and apologist, gave a seminar on the topic: 'If CS Lewis met Dawkins, how would he respond to the New Atheists?' This is the third part of his presentation and includes audience Q&A. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/Peter S Williams: CS Lewis, Richard Dawkins and ethics
What would CS Lewis have thought about Dawkins' view of freedom, responsibility and ethics? Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or …
Show notes
What would CS Lewis have thought about Dawkins' view of freedom, responsibility and ethics? Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or Lord'. Here, Peter S Williams, a Christian philosopher and apologist, gave a seminar on the topic: 'If CS Lewis met Dawkins, how would he respond to the New Atheists?' This is the second part of his presentation. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/Peter S Williams: How would CS Lewis respond to Richard Dawkins and the New Atheists?
Does Dawkins have a self-contradictory view of faith and knowledge? CS Lewis would likely have thought so according to Peter S Williams, a Christian philosopher and apologist. Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a …
Show notes
Does Dawkins have a self-contradictory view of faith and knowledge? CS Lewis would likely have thought so according to Peter S Williams, a Christian philosopher and apologist. Back in 2013, Unbelievable held a conference around apologetics and CS Lewis called 'Jesus: liar, lunatic, legend or Lord'. Here, Peter gave a seminar on the topic: 'If CS Lewis met Dawkins, how would he respond to the New Atheists?' This is the first part of his presentation. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.comLaura Miller and Michael Ward: Was Lewis racist and sexist?
Are The Narnia Chronicles sexist and racist? Did Lewis explicitly avoid sexuality in the novels? In the final part of their discussion (originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009), literary critic Laura …
Show notes
Are The Narnia Chronicles sexist and racist? Did Lewis explicitly avoid sexuality in the novels? In the final part of their discussion (originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009), literary critic Laura Miller and CS Lewis expert Michael Ward explore some of the criticisms levelled against Lewis and his fiction. For a recent discussion around these issues, check out Caleb Woodbridge and Damien Walter on Unbelievable here https://www.premierunbelievable.com/unbelievable/should-the-fall-be-celebrated-caleb-woodbridge-and-damien-walter-on-pullman/cslewis-hosted-by-john-nelson/21747.article + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/Laura Miller and Michael Ward: Is Christianity good?
In the second part of their discussion (originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009), literary critic Laura Miller and CS Lewis expert Michael Ward explore Narnia, Christianity and myth. + Support us …
Show notes
In the second part of their discussion (originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009), literary critic Laura Miller and CS Lewis expert Michael Ward explore Narnia, Christianity and myth. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#269 Laura Miller and Michael Ward: A sceptic in Narnia
Literary critic Laura Miller was captivated by Lewis’ Narnia stories as a child. As a teenager, she learnt of the Christian parallels in the books and felt “cheated and betrayed”. She was joined by Michael …
Show notes
Literary critic Laura Miller was captivated by Lewis’ Narnia stories as a child. As a teenager, she learnt of the Christian parallels in the books and felt “cheated and betrayed”. She was joined by Michael Ward, a leading expert on CS Lewis and author of Planet Narnia. This episode was originally broadcast on Unbelievable? back in 2009 + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#268 Alister McGrath: Is Christianity rational?
How important are facts and reason? Is science alone enough? What role does imagination play in apologetics? How do we maintain a strong faith when engaging with sceptics? Alister McGrath shares his insight …
Show notes
How important are facts and reason? Is science alone enough? What role does imagination play in apologetics? How do we maintain a strong faith when engaging with sceptics? Alister McGrath shares his insight into Lewis' thinking on important questions in our final episode on Lewis and apologetics. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#267 Alister McGrath: Suffering, hell and the hope of heaven
Does my life have any meaning? If God exists, why has he allowed my suffering? How can a good God allow hell? Alister McGrath explores whether Lewis can speak into any contemporary theological, ethical and …
Show notes
Does my life have any meaning? If God exists, why has he allowed my suffering? How can a good God allow hell? Alister McGrath explores whether Lewis can speak into any contemporary theological, ethical and cultural questions or concerns. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#266 Alister McGrath: Was CS Lewis an effective apologist?
What is apologetics? Why does it matter? Can Christianity speak into the dominant narratives of our culture? Ruth Jackson is joined by Alister McGrath to reflect on what we can learn from Lewis' unique approach …
Show notes
What is apologetics? Why does it matter? Can Christianity speak into the dominant narratives of our culture? Ruth Jackson is joined by Alister McGrath to reflect on what we can learn from Lewis' unique approach to apologetics. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#265 Dr Crystal Hurd: How Paternal Literary Habits Influenced CS Lewis
In today’s episode, we welcome back Dr. Crystal Hurd, an educator, poet, and researcher from Virginia. Crystal shares insights from her paper, which was presented at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference at …
Show notes
In today’s episode, we welcome back Dr. Crystal Hurd, an educator, poet, and researcher from Virginia. Crystal shares insights from her paper, which was presented at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference at George Fox University. We also feature a reading of her paper, 'How Paternal Literary Habits Influenced CS Lewis', marking the final instalment in our series with Dr. Crystal Hurd. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter, visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#264 Dr Crystal Hurd: CS Lewis’s Family, Faith, and the Literary Legacy of Albert Lewis
Dr Crystal Hurd - educator, poet, and researcher—joins Ruth Jackson to uncover the family story behind C.S. Lewis’s imagination, faith, and values. Drawing on her research and a paper from the 2024 Undiscovered …
Show notes
Dr Crystal Hurd - educator, poet, and researcher—joins Ruth Jackson to uncover the family story behind C.S. Lewis’s imagination, faith, and values. Drawing on her research and a paper from the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference, Crystal explores the literary ambitions and deep faith of Lewis’s father, Albert, and how both Albert and his father Richard shaped Lewis’s worldview and writing. Together, they discuss the joys and tensions of the Lewis household, the Victorian ideals that marked Albert’s life, and the imaginative world-building that began with childhood stories like “Boxen.” Discover how family, faith, and literature intertwined to shape one of the twentieth century’s most beloved Christian writers. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter, visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/ + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, a free ebook and newsletter, visit our website#263 Dr Crystal Hurd: C.S. Lewis’s Family, Albert & Flora, and the Power of Literature
Dr Crystal Hurd - educator, poet, and researcher - joins Ruth Jackson to uncover the family roots behind C.S. Lewis’s imagination and character. Drawing on her latest research and a paper from the 2024 …
Show notes
Dr Crystal Hurd - educator, poet, and researcher - joins Ruth Jackson to uncover the family roots behind C.S. Lewis’s imagination and character. Drawing on her latest research and a paper from the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference, Crystal explores the impact of Lewis’s father Albert’s work ethic, moral integrity, and love of books, as well as the remarkable story of his parents’ courtship and marriage. Together, they reflect on how both Albert and Flora shaped Lewis’s literary passions, his values, and his lifelong relationships. Discover how the Lewis family’s love of literature, resilience amid hardship, and everyday faith shaped one of the twentieth century’s greatest Christian writers. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter, visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/ + Support us here + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, a free ebook and newsletter, visit our website#262 Dr Crystal Hurd: CS Lewis, Flora Lewis, and the Quiet Strength of Family
Dr Crystal Hurd, educator and poet, joins Ruth Jackson to explore the formative influence of C.S. Lewis’s mother, Flora, on Lewis’s life, work, and relationships. Drawing on her research and her paper from the …
Show notes
Dr Crystal Hurd, educator and poet, joins Ruth Jackson to explore the formative influence of C.S. Lewis’s mother, Flora, on Lewis’s life, work, and relationships. Drawing on her research and her paper from the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference, Crystal discusses Flora’s character, wit, and impact on the Lewis family after her untimely death. Together, they examine how Flora shaped Lewis’s respect for women, the depiction of mothers in his fiction, and his evolving relationships across a lifetime marked by loss and learning. Along the way, Ruth and Crystal reflect on grief, humility, family dynamics, and the quiet legacy of women often overlooked in great men’s stories. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter, visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#261 Dr Crystal Hurd: CS Lewis on Quiet Influence, Humility & Lighting Your Corner
Dr Crystal Hurd - an educator, poet, and researcher from Virginia - and host Ruth Jackson explore what leadership looks like through the lens of CS Lewis, not as power or prominence, but as quiet faithfulness …
Show notes
Dr Crystal Hurd - an educator, poet, and researcher from Virginia - and host Ruth Jackson explore what leadership looks like through the lens of CS Lewis, not as power or prominence, but as quiet faithfulness in everyday life. Crystal reflects on Lewis’ conviction that most leadership happens far from the spotlight: in homes, classrooms, churches, and communities, where ordinary people shape others through character, humility, and care. The discussion ranges from Lewis’ fictional leaders such as Lucy Pevensie and Orual, to his warnings about the temptations of authority and the need to remain grounded in God. Crystal also addresses accusations of misogyny, drawing on Lewis’ letters, friendships, and advocacy for women such as Elizabeth Anscombe. Together, Ruth Jackson and Crystal Hurd ask what it means to “light the corner you’re in”—and why Lewis believed such leadership still has the power to change the world. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#260 Jim Stockton: Research opportunities and the Oxford University Socractic club, 1942-1972 (workshop)
Ruth Jackson is joined by Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy at Boise State University and author of 'The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life.' In the final episode of this series, we …
Show notes
Ruth Jackson is joined by Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy at Boise State University and author of 'The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life.' In the final episode of this series, we hear the workshop Jim delivered at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, titled "Research opportunities and the Oxford University Socractic club, 1942-1972." The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oxford-university-socratic-club-19421972-9781978762602/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#259 Jim Stockton: Inside the Oxford Socratic Club - Tea, Minutes & the Lives Behind the Debates
In this episode of The CS Lewis Podcast, Ruth Jackson welcomes philosopher and author Jim Stockton to share new research on the Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972. Recorded at the 2024 Undiscovered CS …
Show notes
In this episode of The CS Lewis Podcast, Ruth Jackson welcomes philosopher and author Jim Stockton to share new research on the Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972. Recorded at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, Jim paints a vivid picture of what weekly meetings were really like—from crowded, smoky rooms and lively teas to the unsung heroes who kept minutes and kept the club alive. Discover the club’s lesser-known traditions, its role as a living intellectual community, and why its archives still matter for Lewis scholarship today. Along the way, hear stories of friendship, debate, and the vibrant humanity behind one of Oxford’s most influential societies. The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oxford-university-socratic-club-19421972-9781978762602/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/#258 Jim Stockton: What Happened Beyond the Debates? C.S. Lewis’s Socratic Club
In this episode of The CS Lewis Podcast, Ruth Jackson introduces a fascinating paper from Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy and author of The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life …
Show notes
In this episode of The CS Lewis Podcast, Ruth Jackson introduces a fascinating paper from Jim Stockton, emeritus lecturer in philosophy and author of The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942–1972: A Life. Recorded at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference at George Fox University, Stockton explores the lesser-known events of the Oxford University Socratic Club beyond its famous debates. He highlights conferences, discussion teas, and study groups that reveal the club’s wider intellectual and spiritual life. Along the way, listeners hear fresh insights into Lewis’s talks on faith, the church, reason, and “the real”. This episode offers a rich glimpse into the remarkable world of the Socratic Club and the continuing research opportunities surrounding Lewis and his circle. The Oxford University Socratic Club, 1942-1972: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/oxford-university-socratic-club-19421972-9781978762602/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/
These are the latest 40 of 288 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
Similar podcasts
More Religion & Spirituality podcasts
Is this your podcast?
Confirm it with an entry in your feed: you get a code here, add it as podcast:txt to the channel of your feed, and we check it. Your podcast is then shown as “verified” on SoundNode.