The Southwark Cathedral Podcast

To celebrate 100 years since the birth of Kenneth Williams, Bill Holland, author of Beyond Our Kenneth: The Continued Diaries discusses Williams' beliefs, friendships, anecdotes and a fictional future with Gyles Brandreth and the Dean of Southwark. The evening explores Williams’ Christian faith, upbringing as a Wesleyan, and the way faith, love, friendship, work, loneliness, and guilt intersected in his life.

Kenneth Williams was one of the most distinctive voices in British entertainment, remembered for his scene-stealing turns in the Carry On films, his razor-sharp wit on radio's Just a Minute, and his memorable chat show appearances. His real diaries, published posthumously, captivated generations with their candour, humour and poignancy, ending abruptly with his final entry in 1988.

In this episode of the Southwark Cathedral Podcast, the Dean speaks with American journalist and author Jack El-Hai about his book 'The Nazi and the Psychiatrist' and its film adaptation, 'Nuremberg.' They discuss the psychiatric investigations behind the Nuremberg trials, particularly the relationship between U.S. military psychiatrist Dr. Douglas Kelley and Nazi defendant Hermann Göring, and Kelley's search for a psychiatric condition that might explain the 'Nazi Mind.' The conversation connects these findings to modern authoritarianism, and what we can learn from Kelley's work now.
 
01:55 Book Origins and Research
04:36 Who Was Douglas Kelly
06:08 Building the Nuremberg Trial
08:09 Meet the Defendants
12:56 Goring and Mind Games
15:20 Are Nazis Mentally Ill
17:34 Authoritarianism Today
20:33 Leaders vs Followers
24:13 Film Adaptation Reflections
26:22 Goring's Death and Aftermath
29:50 Closing Thanks and Farewell

In this episode of the Southwark Cathedral Podcast, the Dean, Mark Oakley, is joined by writer and priest Carys Walsh for a recorded conversation of the author's talk exploring the poetry and theology of Gerard Manley Hopkins.

Drawing on Walsh’s book Dappled Beauty, they reflect on Hopkins’ distinctive language and spiritual imagination. Together they consider how Hopkins’ vision of beauty, suffering, and renewal continues to speak to contemporary faith, offering a thoughtful and prayerful lens through which to approach the season of Lent.

In this episode of the Southwark Cathedral Podcast, the Dean speaks with American-British investment banker and philanthropist John Studzinski. As founder of the Arise Foundation, a charity working to combat modern slavery and human trafficking, John shares his conviction that modern slavery is a $250 billion organised crime industry: one that must be treated as a serious criminal issue rather than a “soft” social concern.
 
Together they explore the hidden reality of modern slavery, and the urgent need for accountability in the systems that sustain it. Grounded in a belief in human dignity, John frames the fight against modern slavery as both a moral and Christian imperative, calling for stronger legal accountability and collective action.
 
00:00 Meet John and Arise
01:42 How Arise Began
03:34 Lessons and Frustrations
04:04 Why Slavery Persists
06:39 What Governments Must Do
07:20 Supply Chain Reality Check
09:50 Consumers and Gen Z Power
15:16 The Myth of Slave Free
16:34 Treat It as a Crime
18:18 Policing and Prevention
20:04 Can We Be Optimistic
21:28 A Christian Call to Act

In this episode of the Southwark Cathedral Podcast, the Dean interviews Jo Berry, who shares her incredible journey of reconciliation and peacebuilding following the murder of her father, a Conservative MP, in the 1984 Brighton Hotel bombing. Jo discusses her vow to bring something positive out of her father's death, her meeting with Patrick Magee, the man responsible for planting the bomb, and the ongoing efforts of her charity, Building Bridges for Peace. The conversation also explores the broader themes of empathy, humanity, and the importance of creating a world where conflicts are resolved without violence. Jo's story is a powerful testament to the potential for transformation and healing, even in the face of profound trauma.

00:00 Introduction to the Southwark Cathedral Podcast

00:11 Jo Berry's Story

02:12 The Journey of Reconciliation Begins

05:05 Meeting Patrick McGee

11:14 The Impact of Reconciliation

14:32 Reflections on Peace and Violence

31:22 Building Bridges for Peace

33:48 Final Thoughts and Farewell