S2 E26. Grief, Hope... and Teddy Bears: Simon Thomas, Julie Tatchell & Amanda Middleditch. Big Church Festival Pt 2

S2 E26. Grief, Hope... and Teddy Bears: Simon Thomas, Julie Tatchell & Amanda Middleditch. Big Church Festival Pt 2

Author: Justin Brierley November 4, 2025 Duration: 1:37:59
TV sports presenter Simon Thomas joins Justin on The Big Church Festival podcast stage to share his love of football and faith. He also talks about the death of his wife Gemma and how faith in Christ helped him put the pieces of his life back together. In part 2 Justin is joined by the 'Teddy Bear Ladies' - Julie Tatchell and Amanda Middleditch - stars of the BBC 'Repair Shop' show. They share their love of crafting and how mending treasured toys reflects their own adult journeys to Christian faith. 'Responding To The Rebirth' Conference: http://rebirthconference.net/ More info, book & newsletter: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/ Support via Patreon for early access to new episodes and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/justinbrierley/membership Support via Tax-deductible (USA) and get the same perks: https://defendersmedia.com/portfolio/justin-brierley/ Give a one-off gift via PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/brierleyjustin Buy the book or get a signed copy: https://justinbrierley.com/the-surprising-rebirth-of-belief-in-god/ Got feedback? Share it with us by emailing: feedback@think.faith Ep 26 show notes: https://justinbrierley.com/surprisingrebirth/season-2-episode-26-big-church-2 Also, check out our show ‘Uncommon Ground’ for discussion and debates: ⁠https://justinbrierley.com/uncommon-ground-podcast/⁠ The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God is a production of Think Faith in partnership with Genexis, and support from The Jerusalem Trust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A cultural shift is quietly unfolding, one where the loudest voices of disbelief have lost their momentum and a genuine, often unexpected, reconsideration of faith is taking root. The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God, hosted by Justin Brierley, explores this fascinating terrain. This isn't about preaching, but about listening to the conversations happening at the edges of our secular age. Each episode delves into why prominent thinkers, artists, and scientists who once aligned with new atheism are now asking different questions and finding compelling, sometimes unsettling, answers within the Christian framework. You'll hear long-form interviews and discussions that go beyond soundbites, examining the intellectual and cultural currents making belief in God a live option again for many. The podcast provides a space where doubt is respected, arguments are examined fairly, and the historical and philosophical depth of Christianity gets a fresh hearing. It's for the curious, the skeptical, and those who sense that the story of faith and reason is far from over. Tune in for thoughtful dialogue that challenges assumptions on all sides.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Surprising Rebirth Of Belief In God
Podcast Episodes
S2 E12. The Catholic Revival: A church reborn from the ashes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:34
The fire of Notre Dame in Paris seemed to embody the decline of Catholicism in France. However, just as the cathedral has risen from the ashes, so too has the Catholic church with record numbers of adults baptised in the…
S2 E11. The Future of AI: Live In London With John Wyatt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:39:21
Is Artificial Intelligence overtaking our culture? Is an AI girlfriend a legitimate relationship? How should Christians respond to the promise and perils of new technology? And what will the dehumanising of society mean…
S2 E10. Larry Sanger: The rebirth of Wikipedia's co-founder [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:55
When the co-founder of Wikipedia announced his Christian conversion in an online essay, it lit up the internet. Larry Sanger tells Justin Brierley the surprising story of his journey from skeptical philosopher to Christi…
S2 E09. Surprising Conversations: Jonathan Pageau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:24
Orthodox thinker and icon carver Jonathan Pageau joins Justin to talk about why the God conversation has been intensifying in recent years. Along with Belle Tindall, they also cover atheism, the resurrection, the Bible a…
S2 E04. Live in Dallas: Why Belief In God Is Back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:26:39
Is the tide of faith coming back in on our post-Christian culture? Justin Brierley speaks on why the search to make sense of human existence, human value and human purpose are pointing many people back towards God. This…