Spill The Spirituality

The Methodist Church
  • 5.0 (5)
  • Religion & Spirituality
  • Updated Weekly

Set sail for an unforgettable conversation! Spill The Spirituality, brought to you by Hope & Anchor, is the podcast that's not afraid to dive deep into the stories and issues that matter most. It's fun. It's vibrant. It's honest. Truthfully? It's a space where nothing is off-limits and where everyone is included.Hosted by Trey Hall and Jaz Ampaw-Farr, it's a space for honesty, authenticity, and a healthy dose of humour along the way. Inclusive to everyone – whether you're a person of faith, spirituality, no faith, or somewhere in between. If you're enjoying the show, make sure you connect with us and join the community at https://www.hopeandanchor.io/podcast or search for "spillthespirituality" on Instagram & TikTok.

  1. Liminal Spaces: Navigating Life's Transitions, Faith, and the Music That Carries Us | Spill the Spirituality Live at Cliff College

    1d ago

    Liminal Spaces: Navigating Life's Transitions, Faith, and the Music That Carries Us | Spill the Spirituality Live at Cliff College

    Hey Y'all, Recorded live at the Cliff College Festival on Pentecost Sunday in Derbyshire, hosts Trey Hall and Jaz Ampaw-Farr are joined by two brilliant guests - Methodist kayaker and dementia support worker Mary Sharples, and singer-songwriter Rob Halligan - for a deeply human conversation about change, faith, identity, and the songs that transport us through it all. Whether you're mid-transition or settled in a comfortable rut (and secretly love Last of the Summer Wine), this one's for you. Timestamps: 0:00 — Welcome & introducing the show: what is *Spill the Spirituality*? 1:38 — Live at Cliff College Festival: Pentecost, bank holidays, and "male adjacent activities" 2:53 — Today's theme: life transitions — big and small 4:02 — Introducing guests Mary Sharples and Rob Halligan 5:25 — Mary on being 27: constant change, accidental careers, and feeling transient 7:53 — "At what point do you feel grown up?" — pensions, volunteers, and the approval of teenagers 8:42 — Mary on needing roots: change is easier when you have a network around you 9:18 — Rob on 25 years as a self-employed musician: the constant life of change on the road 10:54 — Rob's project on liminal spaces: learning to value the in-between moments 11:56 — Spirituality across difference: how do you identify on the spiritual spectrum? 12:25 — Mary: "I say Methodist before Christian" — a denomination built on justice and action 13:22 — Rob: "I'm a musician who is a Christian" — still learning what it means to follow Jesus 15:00 — Rob's defining moment: losing his father in the 9/11 attacks on the 99th floor of the South Tower 15:36 — Standing in Coventry Cathedral: "Father, Forgive" — anger, faith, and a giant reality check 16:21 — Choosing to believe: "I think this God likes us" 17:31 — Injustice, Operation Enduring Freedom, and where Rob sees God *not* present 18:25 — "I love you in the Lord" — what it means when love is really just tolerance 19:18 — Mary on working in dementia care: it's not a sad job — it's a joyful one 20:16 — Weekly community groups, uninhibited characters, and the gift of being present 21:22 — "It's a lesson in just being present" — freedom from embarrassment and cringe 22:18 — Where Mary sees God: in diverse communities drawn together by care 23:12 — East Manchester's mishmash of volunteers and the intergenerational miracle of showing up 24:33 — Trey's aunt, Frank Sinatra, and the power of music for people with dementia 25:17 — Rob on music after 9/11: "I had something to say" 25:42 — The strange thing about songs: listeners hear something completely different to what you wrote 26:00 — Rob's song *It's Strange What a Song Can Do*: Flowers in the Rain, Radio 1, and a dad singing badly in a Toyota Avalon 27:23 — The panel's musical memory lane: The Bangles, Kids from Fame, Sharon Shannon, and Showaddywaddy 30:48 — Mary on body memory: why people with dementia remember how a song *feels* even when words are gone 32:29 — What takes you to a deep spiritual place? Folk music, R&B brunch clubs, and collective dancing 33:59 — Jaz on "Grace" in Tottenham Court Road: dancing in an old church at 3pm as a spiritual act 35:05 — Rob on art, creativity, and crying at a pot on the Great Pottery Throw Down 35:31 — Stairway to Heaven at the Kennedy Honors: when art does something you can't explain 36:40 — Coming in to land: what do you want to take into the next chapter — and what do you want to leave behind? 37:45 — Trey: leave the judgment, keep the good stories 38:10 — Jaz: hard-earned humility in, imposter syndrome out 39:06 — Mary: leave behind the constant questioning of every decision; go forward freely and tread lightly 40:17 — Wrap-up, thanks, and the parting benediction: "Go forward and eat toast with heavy amounts of butter. And be at peace." Featured guests: Mary Sharples — Methodist, kayaker, chaplain-turned-dementia-support-worker, champion of heavily buttered toastRob Halligan — Singer-songwriter and storyteller; on his 25th anniversary tour; described by the BBC as "Bruce Springsteen having English tea with Billy Bragg"Hosts: Trey Hall & Jaz Ampaw-Farr Recorded live at: Cliff College Festival, Derbyshire Produced by: Rachel Matthews | A project of the Methodist Church Join the Spill the Spirituality community, follow the show and reach out to the hosts - we'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and feedback! Learn about Spill the Spirituality Podcast, Community & EventsLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTok

    41 min
  2. Wild at Heart: Vets, Beavers, Grief, and the Church of Nature | Sean McCormack (That Vet Sean)

    May 21

    Wild at Heart: Vets, Beavers, Grief, and the Church of Nature | Sean McCormack (That Vet Sean)

    Hey Y'all, What happens when a vet, wildlife broadcaster, and nature mystic sits down with Jaz and Trey? This. Sean McCormack - known to many as That Vet Sean, familiar from Springwatch, The One Show, and his Sunday Times pets column - takes us on an extraordinary journey from cocaine-swallowing puppies to urban beavers, from speciesism to secret grief, and from Catholic Ireland to finding his church in the natural world. Expect big laughs, unexpected tears, and a conversation that might just change how you think about animals, the planet, and what it means to be human. Timestamps: 0:00 — Intro & welcome: Who is Sean McCormack (That Vet Sean)? 1:28 — Exotic pets, zoo vets & the wild beginning of Sean's career 3:00 — The late-night call: cocaine, a puppy, and a kitchen surgery request 4:11 — What drives a child to become a vet? Nature, family & being the "weird kid" 5:32 — The hidden mental health crisis in veterinary medicine 6:33 — Vets have the highest suicide rate of any profession — why? 6:39 — How our relationship with pets has transformed in one generation 8:19 — Do pets truly serve the animal, or just us? The ethics of pet-keeping 9:54 — Speciesism: Why do we eat cows but not dogs? 10:49 — Grass-fed beef vs. dairy and eggs: the counterintuitive truth about animal welfare 12:50 — "It's not the cow, it's the how" — regenerative agriculture explained 14:45 — Kids who don't know where potatoes come from: our disconnection from nature 15:20 — Nature is everywhere, even in cities — but we've stopped noticing 18:05 — The Ealing Beaver Project: bringing beavers back to zone 4 of London 19:51 — Beavers solving urban flooding better than engineers — and David Attenborough's reaction 20:16 — Working alongside Sir David Attenborough on *Wild London* 21:10 — Shifting to spirituality: what does nature mean to Sean? 22:13 — Trey's seal colony encounter on Caldey Island (and being gently told off by Sean) 23:47 — Sean's spirituality: "My church is the natural world" 29:37 — No Mow May, dominion, and why human superiority is destroying the planet 31:22 — The hypocrite's dilemma: flying to Costa Rica as a conservationist 33:06 — Grief, loss, and the partner who wasn't out: Sean opens up 34:23 — The Irish relationship with death, wakes, and why grief shouldn't be hidden 38:20 — Three years of secret grief — and why speaking his name finally brought healing 43:35 — The forest walk video that went viral: "There's no shame in this" 45:52 — Growing up gay in Catholic Ireland: denial, self-preservation, and coming out at 18 47:35 — A second coming out: burnout, identity crisis, and hating a career he'd built his life around 50:49 — Sean's advice for anyone stuck on the wrong path: listen to that voice sooner 53:34 — "You're only as sick as your secrets" — on sharing, therapy, and moving forward 54:07 — Closing reflections: spirituality, openness, and honoring connection Follow Sean: Instagram @thatvetSean Wild London (with David Attenborough) - available on BBC iPlayer The Ealing Beaver Project - Paradise Fields, Greenford, London Spill The Spirituality is a project of the Methodist Church in Britain. New episodes every week - subscribe and leave a review wherever you listen. Join the Spill the Spirituality community, follow the show and reach out to the hosts - we'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and feedback! Learn about Spill the Spirituality Podcast, Community & EventsLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTok

    58 min
  3. Ghosts, Quantum Physics, and What Consciousness Leaves Behind - A Supernatural Conversation With Evelyn Hollow

    May 14

    Ghosts, Quantum Physics, and What Consciousness Leaves Behind - A Supernatural Conversation With Evelyn Hollow

    Hey Y'all, In this episode, Trey and Jaz sit down with Scottish writer, broadcaster, and paranormal psychologist Evelyn Hollow — known for her work on Uncanny and The Battersea Poltergeist — for a wild, wide-ranging conversation about what ghosts might actually be, why consciousness is science's last great mystery, and whether the paranormal and the spiritual are closer than we think. Evelyn takes us from the Battersea poltergeist case that became the number one podcast in the world, to modern-day ghost sightings (yes, there are ghosts in hoodies), to a fascinating theory that what we call ghosts might not be dead people at all — but glimpses through time. Along the way, the conversation moves into quantum physics, the politics of who gets to define the sacred, why so many women are drawn to paganism, and what it means that every culture on Earth seems to be accessing the same mysterious thing and calling it by different names. Jaz also finally tells her abbey ghost story to an actual expert. The verdict? It's complicated. Funny, mind-bending, and unexpectedly moving — this one will have you side-eyeing empty rooms for weeks. Timestamps: 2:41 — Introducing Evelyn Hollow: paranormal psychologist and broadcaster3:00 — Growing up in Scotland; swapping forensic psychology for parapsychology5:05 — The Battersea Poltergeist and becoming the number one podcast in the world7:46 — Why aren't there modern ghosts? (There are — one wears a Nirvana T-shirt)11:28 — Do ghosts have an expiry date? The half-life of consciousness12:59 — Jaz's abbey ghost story: the woman at the foot of the bed15:00 — Sleep paralysis, the priming effect, and why Jaz's story is hard to explain20:15 — The Salem witch trials: mass hysteria or something more calculated?23:48 — Is everyone accessing the same spiritual reality?27:34 — Could consciousness be quantum? Why ghosts make scientific sense29:00 — Weighing the soul and the 0.7 gram preacher's tale32:24 — Paganism: pre-Christian faith and the power of the land34:56 — Feminism and faith: who wrote the book?38:09 — Local gods vs. universal truth41:29 — What comes after death? Where consciousness might go----- Guest: Evelyn Hollow Find her: Instagram @EvelynHollow Spill the Spirituality is a project of the Methodist Church in Britain. Produced by John Ryan and Rachel Matthews. Hosted by Trey Hall. Join the Spill the Spirituality community, follow the show and reach out to the hosts - we'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and feedback! Learn about Spill the Spirituality Podcast, Community & EventsLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTokJoin the Spill the Spirituality community, follow the show and reach out to the hosts - we'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and feedback! Learn about Spill the Spirituality Podcast, Community & EventsLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTok

    46 min
  4. Lost in Translation: Poet Jaspreet Kaur on Poetry as Therapy, Sikh Feminism, and Finding Spirituality in the Unexpected

    May 7

    Lost in Translation: Poet Jaspreet Kaur on Poetry as Therapy, Sikh Feminism, and Finding Spirituality in the Unexpected

    Hey Y'all, In this episode, Trey Hall sits down with poet, author, and educator Jaspreet Kaur - also known as Behind the Netra - for a rich, wide-ranging conversation about identity, faith, creativity, and what it means to go deeper than the surface of things. Jaspreet opens with a stunning reading of her poem Lost in Translation, a tribute to her mother and the experience of navigating intersectional identity as a British South Asian woman. From there, the conversation weaves through the healing power of poetry, the feminist roots of the Sikh faith, the book Brown Girl Like Me, and a deeply personal account of finding spirituality not in a place of worship — but in a library, a research project, and a girls' home in Punjab. Timestamps: 2:29 — Introducing guest Jaspreet Kaur / Behind the Netra; reading of Lost in Translation5:07 — Why do people love or hate poetry? How it was introduced in schools6:50 — Rediscovering poetry through the Sikh faith: scripture written entirely in poetic form7:31 — Poetry as therapy: using writing to manage anxiety at age 138:28 — The stigma around mental health in South Asian (and wider) communities9:06 — Anxiety attacks at 13, the journal she still has today, and the move from free writing to poetry9:46 — Pen to paper vs. typing: why handwriting feels therapeutic13:13 — What spirituality looks like in everyday life; lessons from a toddler noticing a snail16:14 — Brown Girl Like Me: writing the book, interviewing 150 Asian women, and why it was therapy22:44 — Spirituality and Sikh heritage: growing up in a Sikh household23:59 — The difference between practice and truly feeling faith25:39 — A master's in gender studies and researching son preference in South Asian communities26:24 — Finding spirituality through feminist research: the Sikh faith's founding principle of gender equality26:52 — Why Sikh women keep the name Kaur; removing caste through naming30:54 — Trey shares his own story: coming out as gay through scripture and direct experience of God32:09 — When faith and culture conflict: a shared challenge across all traditions33:23 — "Don't worry, next time you'll have a boy" — the rage of hearing that after a daughter's birth34:11 — Channelling holy rage into writing and advocacy39:18 — What does God feel like? Sun on your eyelids — a poetic description of the divine41:17 — Trey shares his 12-step recovery journey and experiencing God in the rooms of recovery41:59 — Powerlessness and surrender: the first steps and why a powerful God matters45:04 — Can you be a feminist and surrender to God? Yes — we are contradictions47:22 — Names for God that take energy and alertness to say; divine names across traditionsGuest: Jaspreet Kaur — poet, author, educator Find her: Instagram, X, YouTube, Facebook — @BehindtheNetra Book: Brown Girl Like Me Spill the Spirituality is a project of the Methodist Church in Britain. Produced by John Ryan and Rachel Matthews. Hosted by Trey Hall. Join the Spill the Spirituality community, follow the show and reach out to the hosts - we'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and feedback! Learn about Spill the Spirituality Podcast, Community & EventsLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTok

    50 min
  5. Elizabeth Oldfield - "Lash Yourself to Other People: Faith, Doubt, and the Practice of Being Human"

    Apr 30

    Elizabeth Oldfield - "Lash Yourself to Other People: Faith, Doubt, and the Practice of Being Human"

    Hey Y'all, What does it mean to be fully alive? Writer, broadcaster, and thinker Elizabeth Oldfield joins Trey Hall for a rich, searching conversation about the unravelling and reconstruction of faith, the radical politics of listening across difference, and why she's become a "fundamentalist communitarian" in the age of isolation. Elizabeth is the host of The Sacred podcast and author of Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times — a book that takes the unlikely route of the seven deadly sins as a map toward connection, aliveness, and grace. In this episode: 0:00 — Welcome to Spill the Spirituality; introducing Elizabeth Oldfield1:43 — Elizabeth's journey: growing up with "incredibly dilute background Christianity" and a brush with a youth festival that changed everything5:28 — Describing the ecstatic encounter: "encountering the love that is the fundamental logic of the universe" — and how it compares to psychedelic experiences8:28 — The unravelling, the "bad atheist" years, and cycling around Manchester in the rain arguing with a God she didn't believe in11:38 — What church looks like now: living in an intentional community in Peckham, South London, and why Elizabeth has fallen back in love with church by lowering her expectations13:52 — "I am a fundamentalist communitarian": why hyper-individualism is making us sick, lonely, and easy to politically manipulate — and why community is an act of resistance14:03 — "Lash yourself to other people": committing to people and places even when it's difficult21:05 — Elizabeth's podcast The Sacred: what she has learned from deep listening across the political and theological spectrum, and why she's "basically fallen in love with every guest"27:45 — Practical lesson 1-0-1: how to actually listen to people who trigger you — background practices, nervous system regulation, and the spiritual practice of staying curious28:28 — Understanding homophily (the love of the same): writing your "people like me" and "not like me" lists, and how to interrupt the body's threat response35:01 — The neuroscience of righteousness: why being confirmed in what we already think feels like a sugar rush, and why surprise and learning feel like a full meal39:53 — Introducing Fully Alive: why a book about aliveness unexpectedly became a book structured around the seven deadly sins43:11 — Elizabeth's definition of sin as disconnection and fracture — and why the desert monks had it right long before neuroscience caught up45:18 — On confession, lust, and bearing our darkness with grace rather than denial or dismissal49:41 — Why Elizabeth couldn't write a book until she found her own voice — weaving ideas and life together honestly52:12 — Elizabeth's benediction: "May we be brave and honest enough to be human together"Links & Resources: Elizabeth Oldfield's podcast: The SacredFully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times by Elizabeth OldfieldWintering by Katherine MayDon't Talk About Politics by Dr. Sarah Stein LubranoMichael Pollan's new book on consciousnessSpill the Spirituality is a project of the Methodist Church in Britain, produced by John Ryan and Rachel Matthews. Join the Spill the Spirituality community, follow the show and reach out to the hosts - we'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and feedback! Learn about Spill the Spirituality Podcast, Community & EventsLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTok

    53 min

  6. Apr 23

    What to Save in a Fire? Jaz and Trey Discuss.

    Hey Y’all,  Jaz and Trey dive into a thought provoking question: what would you save in a fire? What begins as a practical conversation quickly turns into something much deeper about memory, identity, and what truly matters. They reflect on the difference between sentimental and essential, and how faith shapes what we hold onto when everything else falls away. With honesty and warmth, this episode invites you to consider what you would carry, what you might need to let go of, and how spirituality reframes what is truly worth saving. Join the Spill the Spirituality community, follow the show and reach out to the hosts - we'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and feedback! Learn about Spill the Spirituality Podcast, Community & EventsLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTok

    25 min

  7. Apr 16

    Sitting Down with 2026 BBC's Pilgrimage Stars - Ashley Banjo, Hasan Al-Habib, and Tasha Ghouri - Part 2

    Hey Y’all, Jaz and Trey continue the conversation with 2026 BBC’s Pilgrimage stars Ashley Banjo, Hasan Al-Habib, and Tasha Ghouri in this powerful Part 2 episode. Picking up where they left off, the group dives deeper into the emotional and spiritual impact of the journey, reflecting on unexpected moments of vulnerability and connection. They unpack how pilgrimage challenged their assumptions, strengthened relationships, and opened space for honest conversations about belief. With warmth, humour, and depth, this episode explores what happens when different faith stories meet on the road together. Join the Spill the Spirituality community, follow the show and reach out to the hosts - we'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and feedback! Learn about Spill the Spirituality Podcast, Community & EventsLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTok

    11 min

  8. Apr 9

    Sitting Down with 2026 BBC's Pilgrimage Stars - Patsy Kensit, Hermione Norris, Jayne Middlemiss, and Ashley Blaker - Part 1

    Hey Y'all, In this special episode, we sit down with four of the stars from the BBC’s Pilgrimage 2026 - Patsy Kensit, Hermione Norris, Jayne Middlemiss, and Ashley Blaker - for an honest, reflective, and often deeply personal conversation about their journey. From questions of faith and identity to moments of vulnerability on the road, Part 1 explores what happens when very different lives and beliefs come together on a shared spiritual path. Key Themes Spiritual curiosity vs religious structureThe power of shared experienceVulnerability as a catalyst for connectionWalking as a metaphor for inner changeFinding common ground across different beliefsStandout Moments  Early conversations where differing beliefs are openly challenged  Moments of unexpected emotional honesty between participants  Reflections on why stepping outside everyday life creates space for deeper thinking  The first signs of group connection forming despite differences Join the Spill the Spirituality community, follow the show and reach out to the hosts - we'd love to hear your thoughts, stories and feedback! Learn about Spill the Spirituality Podcast, Community & EventsLike us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterFollow us on InstagramFind us on TikTok

    12 min
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Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Set sail for an unforgettable conversation! Spill The Spirituality, brought to you by Hope & Anchor, is the podcast that's not afraid to dive deep into the stories and issues that matter most. It's fun. It's vibrant. It's honest. Truthfully? It's a space where nothing is off-limits and where everyone is included.Hosted by Trey Hall and Jaz Ampaw-Farr, it's a space for honesty, authenticity, and a healthy dose of humour along the way. Inclusive to everyone – whether you're a person of faith, spirituality, no faith, or somewhere in between. If you're enjoying the show, make sure you connect with us and join the community at https://www.hopeandanchor.io/podcast or search for "spillthespirituality" on Instagram & TikTok.

Information

  • Creator
    The Methodist Church
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    127
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Spill The Spirituality
  • Show Website
    Spill The Spirituality

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