The C.S. Lewis podcast

Latest Episodes:

#200 Ruth Jackson: 200th Episode Special Mar 10, 2025

Show notes

Ruth Jackson shares some of her favourite moments from the podcast to celebrate the 200th episode. We will be revisiting conversations with Alister McGrath discussing CS Lewis' relevance and mental health, hearing stories on how Lewis helped bring people to faith, his correspondence with Kathy Keller, and his impact on the creative works of film director Matthew Brown and singer songwriter Sarah Hawkyard. For Carloyn Webber: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-129-dr-carolyn-weber-surprised-by-oxford/16637.article For Kathy Keller: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-157-kathy-keller-one-of-the-last-people-to-correspond-with-lewis-before-his-death/17625.article For Scott Tuohy: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-178-scott-tuohy-a-lewis-quotation-changed-my-life/18303.article For Professor Alister McGrath (1): https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-175-alister-mcgrath-what-would-lewis-think-of-jordan-peterson/18192.article For Sarah Hawkyard: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-182-sarah-hawkyard-cs-lewis-changed-everything/18443.article For Matthew Brown: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-163-matthew-brown-what-would-sigmund-freud-and-cs-lewis-discuss/17843.article For Professor Alister McGrath (2): https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-134-alister-mcgrath-is-there-an-expiry-date-on-lewis-relevance/16838.article + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

#199 Michael Oppizzi: Why Till We Have Faces Still Speaks to Us Today Mar 03, 2025

Show notes

In this third and final episode with Michael Oppizzi, Ruth Jackson asks about his groundbreaking research on planetary symbolism in Till We Have Faces, CS Lewis’s final and often misunderstood novel. Did Lewis truly abandon his fascination with planetary imagery after The Chronicles of Narnia? How does medieval cosmology shape the novel’s themes of love, self-deception, and transformation? And why does Till We Have Faces still resonate so powerfully with modern readers? Michael shares insights from his paper, presented at the Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, and his upcoming book project, revealing how planetary themes structure the novel’s vision of truth and divine encounter. Can Lewis’s work still teach us today about faith, myth, and the nature of human longing? For the Mere Christians conference in May: https://www.merechristians.net/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

#198 CS Lewis’ Final Novel: Ancient Myth and Modern Relevance Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

CS Lewis considered Till We Have Faces his best work, yet it remains one of his least understood. Why did he write it in the 1950s, and why does it still resonate today? In this episode, Ruth Jackson speaks with Michael Oppizzi about the novel’s historical and literary context, its deep psychological and spiritual themes, and how its exploration of self-deception, silence, and the search for truth speaks powerfully to modern readers. They also dive into the presence of medieval planetary imagery in the novel and discuss why Till We Have Faces remains one of Lewis’s most profound—and relevant—works. For the Mere Christians conference in May: https://www.merechristians.net/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

#197 The Many Faces of CS Lewis: A Conversation with Michael Oppizzi Feb 17, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, host Ruth Jackson speaks with Michael Oppizzi, an educator and cultural apologist, about the enduring relevance of CS Lewis. They discuss Lewis’s impact on faith, imagination, and intellect, with a deep dive into Till We Have Faces, the role of letters in shaping thought, and the significance of cultural apologetics today. From planetary imagery to organic farming, this conversation explores the intersection of literature, theology, and real-world experience. For the Mere Christians conference in May: https://www.merechristians.net/ + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

#196 How did Shakespeare influence Lewis' exploration of death, resurrection and the human condition? Feb 10, 2025

Show notes

How did "great myths" shape Lewis' understanding of Christian truth? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Stirling College, Kansas, continues to explore the intriguing intersection between Shakespeare's literary genius and CS Lewis' spiritual journey. Sarah recently presented this paper at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis conference, which was held at George Fox University. The title of Sarah’s paper was 'An Undiscovered Source in Lewis’ Conversion Narrative'. For more on Sarah Waters: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361 For the volume of An Unexpected Journal that Sarah co-edited: An Unexpected Journal For her article on Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves - An Unexpected Journal For Sarah on Lewis and Hamlet: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol43/iss1/4/ For Sarah's article on Lewis' rhetoric in Linguaculture: https://journal.linguaculture.ro/index.php/home/article/view/355 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

#195 Sarah Waters: Did Shakespeare play a role in Lewis' conversion? Feb 03, 2025

Show notes

How did William Shakespeare influence CS Lewis’ conversion to Christianity? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Sterling College, Kansas, draws connections between Lewis’ faith journey and his engagement with Shakespeare’s works. How do Hamlet and The Winter’s Tale connect to his famous conversation with JRR Tolkien and Hugo Dyson? Were there particular insights Dyson offered Lewis that have previously gone largely unnoticed? Why have both Lewis and Shakespeare stood the test of time? For the ‘CS Lewis You Never Knew’ live event in Oxford: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cs-lewis-you-never-knew-exploring-meaning-truth-and-technology-tickets-1205320709689?aff=oddtdtcreator For more on Sarah Waters: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361 For the volume of An Unexpected Journal that Sarah co-edited: An Unexpected Journal For her article on Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves - An Unexpected Journal For Sarah on Lewis and Hamlet: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol43/iss1/4/ For Sarah’s article on Lewis’ rhetoric in Linguaculture: https://journal.linguaculture.ro/index.php/home/article/view/355 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

#194 Sarah Waters: How Lewis grew to love Shakespeare Jan 27, 2025

Show notes

What was Lewis' favourite Shakespeare play? Dr Sarah Waters, assistant professor of language and literature at Sterling College, Kansas, delves into Lewis' literary accessibility and theological insights, uncovering the timeless relevance of his work. What moved Lewis from disliking Shakespeare as a child to incorporating numerous references in his own work? Are there any obvious parallels between Shakespeare and Lewis? Come and be part of an as live recording of The CS Lewis Podcast with Alister McGrath and Ruth Jackson on Wednesday, February 5 2025 at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford. You need to book here to attend:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1205320709689?aff=oddtdtcreator The event is entitled ‘The CS Lewis you never knew’. There will q and a, book signing followed by refreshments. This event at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford is part of their New Renaissance project. Wycliffe Hall’s Summer School delves deeper into C.S Lewis’ theology and explores his footsteps in Oxford and Cambridge. Find out more here: https://www.wycliffe.ox.ac.uk/summerschool2025 For more on Sarah Waters: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9681-3361 For the volume of An Unexpected Journal that Sarah co-edited: An Unexpected Journal For her article on Lewis, Lear, and The Four Loves - An Unexpected Journal For Sarah on Lewis and Hamlet: https://dc.swosu.edu/mythlore/vol43/iss1/4/ For Sarah's article on Lewis' rhetoric in Linguaculture: https://journal.linguaculture.ro/index.php/home/article/view/355 + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

#193 Leprechauns, fairies and the Holy Ghost Jan 20, 2025

Show notes

What did Warnie and Lewis get up to while holidaying in County Louth? How did he encounter leprechauns, fairies and the Holy Ghost? Plus, we hear about some of the key women in Lewis' life: Mrs Moore, Joy and their housekeeper Vera Henry. Rev Paul Clayton-Lea, author of CS Lewis and the Wee County shares the second half of his talk given at the CS Lewis Group at Ulster’s spring mini symposium and answers audience questions. The event was entitled ‘CS Lewis and the Land of His Birth: Re-rooting Lewis in Ulster & the Island of Ireland’. To book a (free) ticket for the live event in Oxford with Professor Alister McGrath on Wednesday 5th February: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-cs-lewis-you-never-knew-exploring-meaning-truth-and-technology-tickets-1205320709689?aff=oddtdtcreator For CS Lewis Group at Ulster: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/cs-lewis + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

#192 Warnie, alcoholism and Country Louth Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

Lewis' life was not a bed of roses. However, he was still able to find joy in dark situations. For example, discovering beauty and friendship in Ireland's Country Louth while his brother Warnie was being nursed there for alcohol addiction. Rev Paul Clayton-Lea, author of CS Lewis and the Wee County shares some fascinating personal stories from the Lewis brothers in a talk given at the CS Lewis Group at Ulster’s spring mini symposium. The event was entitled ‘CS Lewis and the Land of His Birth: Re-rooting Lewis in Ulster & the Island of Ireland’. For the CS Lewis Group at Ulster: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/cs-lewis + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

#191 New Atheism, Sigmund Freud and Narnia: Does CS Lewis still matter? Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

Is CS Lewis relevant today? Can he speak to a post-Christian culture? We hear from Meg Thomson, producer of Freud’s Last Session, a film starring Anthony Hopkins as Sigmund Freud and Matthew Goode as CS Lewis, Dr Jem Bloomfield, an assistant professor at the University of Nottingham and author of Paths in the Snow and Justin Brierley, author of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God. They joined Ruth on a programme called Free Thinking, which was originally broadcast on the BBC in December 2023 and focused on CS Lewis and his impact today. It was presented by Dr Chris Harding, a cultural historian of Japan, India and East-West connections, based at the University of Edinburgh and was produced by Ruth Watts. The BBC have kindly given us permission to republish the clips featured in this show, but we highly recommend you listen to the full programme. Free Thinking airs on BBC radio 4 on Fridays at 9pm and you can also listen online or on podcast via BBC sounds. To listen to the whole episode of this special CS Lewis Free Thinking on BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0gy290n For more on Freud's Last Session, listen to director Matthew Brown speaking to Ruth on episode 163: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-163-matthew-brown-what-would-sigmund-freud-and-cs-lewis-discuss/17843.article For more on New Atheism, check out https://www.premierunbelievable.com/, particularly this episode on Coming To Faith Through Dawkins with atheist Alex O'Connor and Professor Alister McGrath: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/unbelievable/unbelievable-coming-to-faith-through-dawkins-part-2-is-there-a-new-new-atheism-alister-mcgrath-and-alex-oconnor/16306.article To hear further insights from Dr Jem Bloomfield on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe on episode 188: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/the-cs-lewis-podcast/the-cs-lewis-podcast-188-jem-bloomfield-christmas-in-narnia/18656.article + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://pod.link/1560959545 + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our new website + For online learning https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training + For our Premier Unbelievable? Live events + Support the podcast from the USA + Support the podcast from UK and rest of the world

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