Best Iris Murdoch Podcasts (2024)

1
Makin review and the Archbishop of Canterbury's resignation announcement 25:31

24h ago25:31

25:31

This week, the editor, Sarah Meyrick, is joined by senior writer Madeleine Davies and news reporter Francis Martin to discuss a momentous and turbulent week for the Church of England: the publication of the Makin review into the abuse carried out by John Smyth, which resulted, five days later, in the Archbishop of Canterbury announcing his resignat…

1
Ninety-Nine Novels: Life in the West by Brian Aldiss 54:10

1d ago54:10

54:10

In 1984, Anthony Burgess published Ninety-Nine Novels, a selection of his favourite novels in English since 1939. The list is typically idiosyncratic, and shows the breadth of Burgess's interest in fiction. This podcast, by the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, explores the novels on Burgess's list with the help of writers, critics and othe…

1
Ep. 95 The Self, Part Three: The Existentialist View 48:00

4d ago48:00

48:00

Send us a text Is the self a soul that is immortal? Is the self a thinking thing or a bundle of perceptions? The Existentialists take this question and place at the center the importance of choice. The self emerges through our experiences and the choices we make. Join us as we discuss Kierkegaard and Sartre in this final episode on The Self. Contac…

1
Archbishop of York on Praying By Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for everyone 21:47

7d ago21:47

21:47

On the podcast this week, the Archbishop of York, Stephen Cottrell, talks about his new book, Praying By Heart: The Lord’s Prayer for everyone.The book takes readers through the Lord’s Prayer phrase by phrase, exploring its meaning and significance for us today. The prayer, he writes, is a “declaration of intent”, which should come with a health wa…

1
Ninety-Nine Novels: At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O'Brien 53:11

8d ago53:11

53:11

In 1984, Anthony Burgess published Ninety-Nine Novels, a selection of his favourite novels in English since 1939. The list is typically idiosyncratic, and shows the breadth of Burgess's interest in fiction. This podcast, by the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, explores the novels on Burgess's list with the help of writers, critics and othe…

1
Book Club Podcast: Orbital by Samantha Harvey 34:37

13d ago34:37

34:37

Orbital by Samantha Harvey, shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. On the podcast this week, the Revd Gerry Lynch, who has written about the book in this week’s Church Times, discusses it with Ed Thornton. Read the essay here: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/1-november/books-arts/bo…

1
Ninety-Nine Novels: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 52:35

15d ago52:35

52:35

In 1984, Anthony Burgess published Ninety-Nine Novels, a selection of his favourite novels in English since 1939. The list is typically idiosyncratic, and shows the breadth of Burgess's interest in fiction. This podcast, by the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, explores the novels on Burgess's list with the help of writers, critics and othe…

1
Ep. 94 The Self, Part Two: The Early Modern Shift 51:19

16d ago51:19

51:19

Send us a text Ancient philosophers believed the self was an immortal soul. This began to shift in the late 16th century when the concept of the self began to radically change to a more abstracted, biological self. Join us as we look at Rene Descartes and David Hume's theories on the self. Contact us via email at contact@opendoorphilosophy.com Open…

1
Ninety-Nine Novels: The History Man by Malcolm Bradbury 51:23

24d ago51:23

51:23

In 1984, Anthony Burgess published Ninety-Nine Novels, a selection of his favourite novels in English since 1939. The list is typically idiosyncratic, and shows the breadth of Burgess's interest in fiction. This podcast, by the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, explores the novels on Burgess's list with the help of writers, critics and othe…

1
Ninety-Nine Novels: Darconville's Cat by Alexander Theroux 44:37

29d ago44:37

44:37

In 1984, Anthony Burgess published Ninety-Nine Novels, a selection of his favourite novels in English since 1939. The list is typically idiosyncratic, and shows the breadth of Burgess's interest in fiction. This podcast, by the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, explores the novels on Burgess's list with the help of writers, critics and othe…

1
Ep. 93 The Self, Part One: Ancient Conceptions 1:00:45

1M ago1:00:45

1:00:45

Send us a text What is the self? Something immaterial? Something like a soul? Or perhaps consciousness? Is it you? Join us for this episode as we look to ancient explanations of the self from Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, and Hinduism. Contact us via email at contact@opendoorphilosophy.com Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opendoorphilosophy Open D…

1
Iris Murdoch And Dogs Podcast 52:35

1M ago52:35

52:35

In this episode Miles is joined by Dr Frances White (University of Chichester) and Liz Whittome (Former Chief and Principal Examiner of English for Cambridge Examinations) to discuss dogs in Murdoch's Fiction. The episode covers Under the Net, The Sandcastle, The Nice and the Good, The Sacred and Profane Love Machine, The Green Knight and The Philo…

1
Rupert Shortt on The Eclipse of Christianity 31:48

1M ago31:48

31:48

This week, Rupert Shortt is interviewed about his latest book, The Eclipse of Christianity: And why it matters (Comment, 13 September, Books, 20 September).The wide-ranging book reports on the unsettling consequences of secularisation, but also offers a robust defence of the intellectual coherence of Christian belief and argues that Europe’s histor…

1
Ninety-Nine Novels: The Late Bourgeois World by Nadine Gordimer 50:48

1M ago50:48

50:48

In 1984, Anthony Burgess published Ninety-Nine Novels, a selection of his favourite novels in English since 1939. The list is typically idiosyncratic, and shows the breadth of Burgess's interest in fiction. This podcast, by the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, explores the novels on Burgess's list with the help of writers, critics and othe…

1
Book Club Podcast: The Bell by Iris Murdoch 27:20

1M ago27:20

27:20

The Bell by Iris Murdoch is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. On the podcast this week, the Revd Jeremy Davies, retired Canon Precentor of Salisbury Cathedral, who has a long and abiding interest in the works of Iris Murdoch, discusses the book with Francis Martin, who has written about the book in this week’s Church Times.Publish…

1
Ninety-Nine Novels: Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov 47:42

1M ago47:42

47:42

In 1984, Anthony Burgess published Ninety-Nine Novels, a selection of his favourite novels in English since 1939. The list is typically idiosyncratic, and shows the breadth of Burgess's interest in fiction. This podcast, by the International Anthony Burgess Foundation, explores the novels on Burgess's list with the help of writers, critics and othe…

1
Ep. 92 The Ladder of Love, Plato's Symposium, Part Three 1:09:19

2M ago1:09:19

1:09:19

Send us a text Ah love, a many splendored thing. At first you are attracted to their looks, but then you realize there's something more to them, something beautiful within, their beautiful soul. Join us for this third and final part on Plato's Symposium where we review the speech of Socrates. Contact us via email at contact@opendoorphilosophy.com O…

1
Iris Murdoch And Dorothy Emmet Podcast 54:28

2M ago54:28

54:28

In this episode Miles is joined by Prof. Larry Blum (U-Mass, USA) to discuss the intellectual and personal connections between Iris and Dorothy Emmet. This follows on from a previous episode on Emmet, which you can find in the Podcast archive.Professor Lawrence Blum is Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Education and Professor of Philosoph…

1
Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani: Encouraging the weary with a word 31:44

2M ago31:44

31:44

The Bishop of Chelmsford, Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani, gave the plenary lecture at the Church Times Festival of Preaching this month in Great St Mary’s, Cambridge (Features, 20 September).In the lecture, she spoke about the weariness she has detected in the Church and in society at large. She also explained why she worries, for practical and theologica…

1
Diarmaid MacCulloch on Lower Than the Angels: A history of sex and Christianity 43:59

2M ago43:59

43:59

On the podcast this week, Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch is interviewed by Paul Handley about his new book Lower Than the Angels: A history of sex and Christianity.In a review of the book in this week’s Church Times, Penelope Cowell Doe writes that “one of his main concerns . . . is to show that the Church has never been univocal in speaking about s…

1
Ep. 91 Plato's Symposium, Part Two 56:31

2M ago56:31

56:31

Send us a text Are you destined to be with someone? Is there a soul-mate out there, somewhere, just for you? Is love something that comes upon us, or is it something we cultivate within ourselves? Join us for this second episode on Plato's Symposium where we discuss the speeches of Aristophanes and Agathon. Contact us via email at contact@opendoorp…

1
Iris Murdoch And Moral Psychology Podcast 1:22:03

2M ago1:22:03

1:22:03

In this episode Miles is joined by Matt Congdon (Vanderbilt, USA), Sam Filby, (Northwestern, USA) and Francey Russell (Columbia, USA) to consider Murdoch's moral psychology. They discuss Murdoch's essay 'Vision and Choice in Morality' and 'On 'God' and 'Good''- you can find both in 'Existentialists and Mystics'.Also recommended is this article by C…

1
John Cottingham in conversation with Andrew Brown 48:45

2M ago48:45

48:45

Truth and morality are central to the thought of the Roman Catholic philosopher John Cottingham, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at the University of Reading and an honorary fellow of St John’s College, Oxford.Andrew Brown interviewed Professor Cottingham for the Church Times this week, and this podcast brings an extended version of the interview.…

1
Book Club Podcast: Sarah Tarlow on The Archaeology of Loss 29:24

2M ago29:24

29:24

Sarah Tarlow is on the podcast this week to talk about her memoir The Archaeology of Loss, this month’s Church Times book club title. Susan Gray has written a reflection on the book in the 6 September edition of the Church Times: https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/books-arts/book-clubIn her candid memoir, Sarah Tarlow excavates her memory to piece toget…

1
Ep. 90 Plato's Symposium, Part One 57:34

3M ago57:34

57:34

Send us a text What is love? Can it inspire us to be better? Can it bring harmony to opposites? These are of the most enduring questions we have, so much so that Plato wrote an entire dialogue about it called Symposium. Join us for this episode in which we give some background and discuss the first three speeches on love! Contact us via email at co…

1
Ep. 89 The Oxford Four, Part Four: Mary Midgley 1:10:17

3M ago1:10:17

1:10:17

Send us a text We finish our overview of The Oxford Four with Mr. Parsons' favorite, Mary Midgley. She wrote on the topic of metaphilosophy, championed a pluralistic view of morality, and raged against scientism and reductionism. AND she had swaggy hats! Contact us via email at contact@opendoorphilosophy.com Open Door Philosophy on Instagram @opend…

1
Iris Murdoch And The Political Podcast 1:16:37

3M ago1:16:37

1:16:37

In this episode Miles is joined by Gary Browning (Oxford Brookes, UK) to discuss his new book, Iris Murdoch and the Political.https://global.oup.com/academic/product/iris-murdoch-and-the-political-9780192844989?cc=sy&lang=en&Gary Browning is Emeritus Professor of Political Thought at Oxford Brookes University. Gary has worked at Oxford Brookes Univ…

1
Bishop Andrew Rumsey and David Watson on the value of church buildings 42:31

3M ago42:31

42:31

On the podcast this week, we bring a fascinating conversation between the Bishop of Ramsbury, in Salisbury diocese, Dr Andrew Rumsey, and the podcaster and mindset coach David Watson, about church buildings and the contribution that they make to communities.Dr Rumsey is the co-lead bishop for church buildings; his recent folk album, Evensongs, was …

1
Ep. 88 The Oxford Four, Part Three: Elizabeth Anscombe 59:51

3M ago59:51

59:51

Send us a text She protested WWII and abortion. She was the pupil of Ludwig Wittgenstein and the eventual conservator of his work. She turned moral philosophy on it's head with her paper Modern Moral Philosophy. She was a Catholic convert. And she's Andrew's philosophical hero. Join us this week for another installment of the Oxford Four series, th…

1
Birthday Lecture July 2024 45:12

4M ago45:12

45:12

Much of our conception of the relationship between Iris Murdoch and John Bayley, happily married for over forty years, comes from Bayley’s memoirs, and the Oscar-winning film adaptation of the first, Iris (2001). But what do we know of their life together outside of their public appearances and international travel? In this lecture Miles Leeson wil…

1
Book Club Podcast: The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell 19:54

4M ago19:54

19:54

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. On the podcast this week, Caroline Chartres, who has written this month’s Book Club reflection on the book, is in conversation with Sarah Meyrick. Maggie O’Farrell transports the reader to Renaissance Italy in her latest historical novel The Marriage Po…

1
Ep. 87 The Oxford Four, Part Two: Philippa Foot 1:01:40

4M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

Send us a text Ever heard of the Trolly Problem? Of course you have, even if you don't know you have. This episode we turn our attention to Philippa Foot, the originator of the famous thought experiment, but she was know for so much more. Her moral philosophy focusing on natural goodness helped usher in the revival of virtue ethics in the second ha…

1
Iris Murdoch And Remorse Podcast 55:31

4M ago55:31

55:31

In this episode Miles talks to Dr Frances White (University of Chichester) about her new book, Iris Murdoch and Remorse: Past Forgiving? They cover key Murdoch novels, philosophy, psychoanalysis, her play 'The One Alone', and connections with post-war history.https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-43013-8Frances White is a Visiting Resear…

1
Can traditional and contemporary styles of worship exist in harmony? 43:09

4M ago43:09

43:09

Can organs (and organists), choirs, instrumental music groups, and praise bands exist in harmony? This question was considered by an expert panel at the first Church Times Festival of Faith and Music in York (News, 3 May), held in partnership with the Royal School of Church Music.The panellists, who all have experience of traditional and contempora…

1
Ep. 86 The Oxford Four, Part One: Iris Murdoch 1:00:26

4M ago1:00:26

1:00:26

Send us a text Dive into the fascinating world of Iris Murdoch, one of four trailblazing women who revolutionized philosophy at Oxford University before and during World War II. These extraordinary friends reshaped philosophical thought with their groundbreaking ideas. In this episode, we explore Murdoch's impressive literary achievements and delve…

1
Under The Net Revisited Podcast 54:58

4M ago54:58

54:58

In this episode Miles is joined by Dr Lucy Oulton, Dr Frances White and Prof. Anne Rowe - all from the University of Chichester - to revisit Murdoch's first novel, Under the Net.The first ever Murdoch Podcast, with the same line-up, discussed the novel way back in 2020 (do listen to that episode before this one if you haven't before) and the team w…

1
Book Club Podcast: Isabelle Hamley on Struggling with God: Mental health and Christian spirituality 24:47

5M ago24:47

24:47

On the podcast this week, the Revd Dr Isabelle Hamley is interviewed about Struggling with God: Mental health and Christian spirituality, which she co-wrote with C. H. Cook and John Swinton. The book is the choice for this month’s Church Times Book Club. She is in conversation with Sarah Meyrick.Anne Holmes has written this month’s book club essay …

1
Bishop of Gloucester on listening to the voices of Palestinian Christians in the West Bank 39:09

5M ago39:09

39:09

On the podcast this week, the Bishop of Gloucester, the Rt Revd Rachel Treweek, is interviewed by Francis Martin about her visit this month to Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.Since the “awful atrocities” committed by Hamas on 7 October and the subsequent “horrors of the war in Gaza”, she said, “there has been an absence of a focus on the West …

1
A.S. Byatt Podcast 1:02:09

5M ago1:02:09

1:02:09

In this special episode Miles is join by Dr Leanne Bibby (Teeside University) and Dr Barbara Franchi (University of Durham) to celebrate the life, work and legacy of A.S. Byatt. Byatt was not only a significant novelist and biographer but also a close friend of Iris Murdoch - Byatt wrote the first significant work of criticism of Murdoch's work 'De…

1
Interview with the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church 33:36

5M ago33:36

33:36

This week’s episode is brought to you from Edinburgh, and features a conversation with the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Revd Mark Strange. It was recorded on Saturday, 15 June, at the conclusion of the Church’s General Synod meeting.The Primus spoke about the General Election campaign and Christians’ involvement in politics; th…

1
Stewart McCulloch, chief executive of Christians Against Poverty 28:41

5M ago28:41

28:41

Stewart McCulloch joined Christians Against Poverty (CAP) at the start of the year as its new chief executive. He previously led the charity Stewardship.CAP’s latest report says that 46 per cent of its clients have considered taking their own life as a way out of their debt, and nine out of ten have reported having sleepless nights from financial a…

1
Iris Murdoch And The Ancient Quarrel Podcast 39:19

5M ago39:19

39:19

In this episode Miles is joined Lyra Ekström Lindbäck (Centre for Ethics, Pardubice) to discuss the distinctions and connections between philosophy and literature, and why literature is not philosophy; focusing primarily on the work of Iris Murdoch which is the subject of Lyra's new book.Lyra is a Swedish novelist, literary critic, podcaster and ph…

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