What can an ancient tradition like Druidry teach us about living well today?

In this episode of The Sacred Podcast, Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Philip Carr-Gomm, psychologist, author, and longtime leader of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids.

They explore how trees and nature are sacred, the meaning of magic in everyday life, and why ancient wisdom traditions might be exactly what we need in an age of ecological crisis and polarisation.

🌳 Why trees, forests, and nature are sacred

🤝 Why Buddhism felt more appealing than Christianity in his early years

✨ What “magic” really means in psychology and spirituality

🌍 How ancient wisdom, Celtic spirituality, and eco-spirituality can guide us today

This conversation touches on modern druidry, earth-based spirituality, mindfulness, interfaith dialogue, and spiritual growth with insight into how we can find the sacred in everyday life and respond with wisdom to our times.

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🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast

📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

🌀 Follow Philip Carr-Gomm's work: https://philipcarr-gomm.com/

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:10 What is Sacred to you? Philip Carr-Gomm answers

03:00 Why Trees Hold the Secret to Spiritual Enlightenment

09:00 The Influences of a Druid's Childhood

18:00 Diversity and Inclusivity in Druidry

27:00 Art and Nature Collide: The Untold Story of Druidry

36:00 Magic and The Transformative Secrets of Druidry

45:00 Masculine and Feminine Energies

54:00 Druidry's Historical Tapestry

01:03:00 The Divine Child: A Controversial Bridge Between Faiths

01:12:00 Gender in Spirituality: The Debate That’s Changing Everything

01:21:00 Can Spiritual Dialogue Break Down Barriers?

Keywords

In this conversation, Elizabeth Oldfield speaks with Philip Carr-Gomm, psychologist, author, and modern druid, about the wisdom of Druidry, Celtic spirituality, and the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids. They explore why trees are sacred, the role of nature in spirituality, and how ancient wisdom traditions can guide us today. Philip explains the meaning of magic, the connections between Buddhism, Christianity, and earth-based spirituality, and how practices of eco-spirituality, mindfulness, and nature connection can help us find the sacred in everyday life. This episode of The Sacred Podcast is for anyone curious about spiritual growth, interfaith dialogue, ancient traditions, modern druidry, psychology and spirituality, exploring faith, and spiritual wisdom in an age of ecological crisis and cultural polarization, polarisation.

Elizabeth Oldfield and Rod Dreher tackle one of the most urgent and contentious questions of our time: how should nations, and individuals, relate to migrants in our midst? How do we balance compassion for migrants with the protection of vulnerable citizens? How does Christianity shape responsibilities to strangers? And why do honest conversations about these issues so often spiral into demonisation and division?

🤝This bonus episode is taken from Midwestuary 2025 and models honest disagreement without dehumanisation, showing a different way to engage with hard topics in our societies.

🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast

📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

🎙️ Follow Midwestuary: https://www.midwestuary.com/

Keywords:

Immigration is one of the most divisive issues of our time, raising questions of compassion, fear, morality, and national security. In this conversation, Elizabeth Oldfield and Rod Dreher explore how Christianity shapes our response to the stranger, what it means to love our neighbor, and how to hold moral dilemmas around migration without demonizing each other. Together they model how to disagree well, listen across divides, and search for common ground in the middle of a polarized immigration debate, polarised immigration debate

In a world where half of young people UK dream of becoming influencers, Jade Bowler delves into the hidden costs of this career - from burnout and loneliness to the struggle for authenticity.

Jade Bowler (@UnJadedJade ) is an author, content creator, podcaster, and one of the UK’s first “StudyTubers.” Since starting her YouTube channel at 16, Jade has built a global audience and is shaping a generation interested in spirituality, self-discovery in your 20s, productivity and finding "casual magic" in your every day.

Elizabeth Oldfield and Jade Bowler talk about:

🎙️The hidden costs of being a content creator, the pressures of social media and the responsibility of influencers

🌿 How to live authentically online and build genuine connection when millions are watching

🌈Jade’s journey of coming out and navigating internalised homophobia

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🎙️ Follow The Sacred: linktr.ee/sacredpodcast

📖 Follow Elizabeth Oldfield: www.elizabetholdfield.com/

💡 Produced by the ‪@thinktanktheos‬ www.theosthinktank.co.uk/

✨ Listen to Jade's podcast @findingyourcasualmagic

Chapters

00:00 Intro

01:16 What is Sacred to you? Jade Bowler Answers

02:35 Craving connection and finding it online

08:30 Jade reflects on her parents’ contrasting influences

11:11 Bullied for being "too academic"

13:53 Starting StudyTube at

16:56 The weight of fame, influence and responsibility

20:15 Algorithmic pressure vs creativity

26:10 Authenticity vs. Performance online

32:15 Searching to fill the wisdom-gap

38:11 Coming out online and internalised homophobia

43:52 The hidden cost of being a creator

Keywords

Jade Bowler (known online as UnJaded Jade) is one of the UK’s first StudyTubers who built a global audience sharing study tips, motivation, and her journey as a student. In this episode of The Sacred Podcast, Jade reflects on what it’s really like to grow up online and live as a content creator in a world driven by algorithms, short-form video, and the pressures of social media.We dive deep into the hidden costs of being an influencer: from creator burnout, loneliness, and mental health struggles, to the constant pressure to stay relevant on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Jade speaks honestly about the difference between being a StudyTuber at 16 and navigating life now as a young woman in her 20s.Jade also shares her coming out story as an LGBTQ+ creator, reflecting on her experience with internalised homophobia, the importance of authenticity online, and how to build genuine connection and community with an audience. She discusses what it means to be a Gen Z content creator, the challenges of making your personal life part of your brand, and how she finds balance, meaning, and even spirituality in the digital age.