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Welcome to Craftcast: The Freemasons Podcast. Craftcast is the official podcast of the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) - the governing body of Freemasonry in England, Wales, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Districts overseas. In every episode Shaun Butler, James Dalton and Stephen Whatley are chatting all things Freemasonry. They ask the big questions, talk about their experiences and interview special guests from across UGLE. Craftcast is the podcast for everyone from seasoned ...
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In this special edition episode, our hosts meet with Benjamin Pritchard, Paralympian and Freemason. A former cyclist and triathlete, Ben became paralysed from the waist down after a cycling crash in September 2016. He first took up indoor rowing during rehab and was soon noticed by British Rowing staff, joining the para development squad in 2017. H…
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S2 E12: Season Finale with the Pro Grand Master
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In this very special season finale of Craftcast, recorded just after the March Quarterly Communication of Grand Lodge, our hosts are joined once more by the Pro Grand Master, Jonathan Spence. Jonathan shares an update on the Strategy for Freemasonry: 2022 and Beyond, from initial reception to implementation across the organisation. Discover how the…
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Get ready for a fascinating journey into the exciting world of the Royal Arch featuring our special guest, Elliot Chevin. From personal anecdotes to the deeper meanings behind Masonic traditions, Elliot discusses the significance of the Royal Arch, its deep connection to the Craft, and the importance of companionship! Discover more about Archway, a…
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What do you really know about the role of the Grand Secretary? In this special episode of Craftcast, our hosts meet with Adrian Marsh, the current Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of England and Grand Scribe E of Supreme Grand Chapter. This discussion offers a unique glimpse into the structure of Grand Lodge and how UGLE is paving the way …
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S2 E9: Crafting Connections: The Universities Scheme Conference
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Join us on the road as the hosts of Craftcast travel to the Province of Berkshire for the 2024 Universities Scheme Conference! Recorded on location at Sindlesham Masonic Hall during the conference, Shaun, Stephen, and James explain what makes a University Lodge unique while still remaining a traditional Freemasons Lodge. Join them as they chat with…
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In our latest episode, Shaun, James, and Stephen discuss various terminology common in Freemasonry. Building on the foundation established in the season one episode ‘The one where they explain’, our hosts delve into the colloquialisms of Freemasonry, starting with Masonic abbreviations, and discussing terms like Volume of Sacred Law, Light Blue, As…
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S2 E7: Celebrating 20 Years of Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London
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In this episode of Craftcast, we're thrilled to mark a significant milestone: the 20th anniversary of Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London. Join us as we delve into the rich history of MetGL, exploring its unique characteristics and unravelling the complexities of its administration with our distinguished guests: Sir Michael Snyder, Metropolitan Gran…
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S2 E6: Walking the Path of Mental Health: A Freemason’s Journey
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In this poignant episode, our hosts delve into a heartfelt conversation with Chris Jones, a Lincolnshire Freemason on a mission. Embarking on a remarkable journey around the coast of Britain, Chris shares his motivations and experiences as he walks to raise funds for the Masonic Charitable Foundation. But beyond the miles travelled and funds raised…
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S2 E5: The Members’ Pathway, a year later
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In this informative episode, our hosts sit down with Chris Hirst nearly a year after his first appearance on the Season 1 episode 'The one about the Members' Pathway. They revisit the importance of the Members' Pathway in the context of the UGLE 7-Year Strategy and discuss its integral role in shaping the future of Freemasonry. Chris provides insig…
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Join the Craftcast hosts in their first virtual recording as they discuss their Masonic New Year's resolutions! In this exciting episode, James commits to a deeper exploration of the Royal Arch, Stephen shares his dedication to prioritising Masonic activities and creating a support network for university students interested in Freemasonry, while Sh…
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S2 E3: May the Craftcast be with you: An Interview with the Sci Fi and Fantasy Lodge
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Craftcast fans, assemble! Get ready for an out-of-this-world episode as our hosts sit down with David Leask, Secretary of the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Lodge. Discover how this unique group combines the ancient traditions of Freemasonry with their love for all things sci-fi and fantasy. From lively discussions about favourite characters to the not-so-grea…
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Join us for an emotional and heart-warming episode of Craftcast, where our hosts sit down with Frank Tiller, a London Freemason and prostate cancer survivor, on the occasion of International Men's Day. Frank takes us on a journey from his initial diagnosis to his recovery, and shares how he channelled his ordeal into an initiative to educate others…
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Welcome back to another exciting season of Craftcast, the official podcast of the United Grand Lodge of England! This introduction episode sees our hosts, Shaun, James, and Stephen, back in their newly-renovated studio as they discuss their plans for another series of informative and entertaining episodes. This season promises a deeper exploration …
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In this special finale episode, our hosts take a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reliving their most cherished moments, heartwarming memories, and side-splitting laughs that made this season truly one for the books! As they bid farewell to this chapter, they turn towards the future, sharing exciting plans, ambitious ideas, and fresh inspiration fo…
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In this episode of Craftcast, our hosts interview Anthony Howlett-Bolton and Omaid Hiwaizi, members of the Learning and Development group at UGLE. The episode focuses on Solomon, a virtual learning platform for Freemasons and non-Freemasons alike. Anthony and Omaid discuss the origins of Solomon, its purpose as a central repository for credible inf…
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S1 E15: The one about the Brothers in Alms Exhibition
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In this fascinating episode, our hosts are joined by Brian Deutsch, the curator of the ‘Brothers in Alms’ exhibition at Freemasons’ Hall. This innovative exhibition features a diverse range of photographs from the period spanning the Second Boer War to the end of the Second World War. Brian sheds light on the profound impact of war on the psycholog…
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S1: E13: The one about the Members’ Pathway
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In this captivating episode of Craftcast, our hosts delve into the significance of the Members' Pathway and its pivotal role in accomplishing UGLE's Seven-Year Strategy. Join us for this enlightening conversation with Steven Varley, Ian Copestake, and Chris Hirst, members of the Members' Pathway team, revealing its profound impact on Lodge and Memb…
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In this light-hearted episode of Craftcast, our usual hosts are joined by guest host Mitch Bryan to discuss one of the cornerstones of a Freemason’s experience: visiting another Lodge. Visiting is an integral part of Freemasonry. It provides an opportunity for Freemasons to connect and exchange ideas, knowledge, and experiences. Our hosts dive into…
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In this episode, co-hosts Shaun, Stephen, and James sit down to discuss the very important but often overlooked topic of mental health. They share their experiences and discuss the societal expectations that often prevent men from seeking help. Our hosts explore the concerns that often accompany discussions about mental health and emphasise the imp…
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Join us as we discuss the role of Special Interest Lodges in this special episode of Craftcast! Our hosts and guests delve into the world of Special Interest Lodges and their importance to Freemasonry. Together, they discuss how lodges focused on specific interests such as Football can be a hook for new members to consider joining the fraternity. T…
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S1 E9: The one about the 1723 Constitutions
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300 years ago, the 1723 Constitutions were penned. Revolutionary and ground breaking, they have provided the philosophical foundations of modern Freemasonry. In this episode, our hosts sit down with UGLE Head of Special Projects Dr Tim Myatt, and delve into the rich history of this Enlightenment Era document. Join us as they explore how the 1723 Co…
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S1 E7: The one with the female Grand Masters
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For the first time in the history of UGLE, our hosts sit with the two Grand Masters of Women's Freemasonry in the UK in a joint interview. Together, our guests dive deeper into the values and principles that guide Women Freemasonry, and they explain how they work to support and empower the members of their organisations. Join us as our hosts ask th…
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This touching episode sees our hosts share their experiences as younger Freemasons. Together, they recall moments of unexpected levels of support and satisfaction they felt as members and touch on the impact that deep bonds of friendship can have on a young person. Listen in as they explain Freemasonry's unique dignity and brotherhood and its abili…
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S1 E5: The one with a Provincial Grand Master
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Across the United Grand Lodge of England are dozens of Provinces and Districts. Each of these is led by a Provincial or District Grand Master. In this episode James, Stephen and Shaun sit down with RW Bro Ian Chandler, the Provincial Grand Master for Surrey. We explore his journey in Freemasonry and ask “how do you become a PGM?”. Ian talks to us a…
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In this episode - Stephen, James and Shaun discuss some of the different terminology used by Freemasons. What is a Lodge? Who is the Worshipful Master? Is a Festive Board something related to Christmas? We explore some of Freemasonry's most commonly used words and phrases to unpack the meaning behind the language we use. Get in touch with us by ema…
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Welcome back to Craftcast: The Freemasons Podcast. In this episode Shaun, James and Stephen sit down with Bro Shay Aziz, UGLE’s Social Media Executive. We explore the ways that social media has changed the public perception of Freemasonry and how it helps bring together people from across the world: Freemasons or otherwise. The team learn about the…
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Welcome back to Craftcast: The Freemasons Podcast. In this extra special episode, James, Shaun and Stephen sit down with the new Pro Grand Master Jonathan Spence to delve into his Masonic journey and explore his vision for the future of Freemasonry. How did he become a Freemason? How do you even become a ruler? How does Freemasonry need to evolve a…
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S1 E1: The one where they decide the name
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Welcome to the official podcast of the United Grand Lodge of England. In this introductory episode we’re sifting through the mountain of amazing name suggestions sent in by Freemasons across UGLE. What name will we choose? Did your suggestion get an honourable mention? Hosts Shaun, Stephen and James sit down to reflect on the good, the bad and the …
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