THE world has grown slightly dimmer with the loss of Pope Francis. The Life and Legacy of Pope Francis, from RMC Briefings, features a comprehensive range of informed thinkers, hosted by Ruth Peacock. What changes did he implement, and what remained undone? A key factor was his commitment to seeking out and including the marginalised.
A group that is currently a political football is trans people. The Rest is Politics podcast episode Pope Francis, the Supreme Court Gender Ruling, and Trump’s International Populist Network considers the impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling on transgender individuals, and helps to unpack the reasons behind such polarisation.
The conversation also includes an interesting perspective on Pope Francis. At one point, they explore whether he was conservative or radical by comparing his early life in the Jesuits with his later adoption of Franciscan values. Additionally, there is some analysis of Donald Trump.
For an audio drama, I recommend Discretion, on BBC Sounds: a smart, tense thriller centred on Maria, a British diplomat in a former Soviet-style country. The writing is sharp, and the characterisation of Maria as an underestimated woman dropped into a dysfunctional strongman’s world is excellent. Will she navigate her way out of the mess created by the men around her? You’ll have to listen to find out.
A woman in the real world who I wish had experienced some of Maria’s agency and greater protection is Hannah Mossman Moore, whose story is documented in Stalked, on BBC Sounds. She is bombarded for three years by digital assailants, pushing her to the brink of her mental health. She embodies the aspirational “I want it all, and I want it now” mentality. Then, an older man ingratiates himself as a mentor figure and exploits her. It serves as a powerful warning about how vulnerable one can become without a mutual and trusted community.
While it seems that the show seeks to expose the villain, I find the damsel in distress, along with her silent but suspecting friends and family, implicated as well. This made me question when an intervention might be necessary in the life of someone you love.
The Sacred, with a skilful Elizabeth Oldfield at the helm, is a goldmine. I recommend listening to Israel-Gaza: Can two things be true? With Richard Allen Greene. Greene, a seasoned journalist in the early stages of rabbinic training, does not shy away from describing the trauma and reality of the current situation in Israel and Gaza. He argues for distinguishing between the actions of a far-right Israeli government, and the thoughts and feelings of Jewish people more generally.
He recounts movingly how he once led a team of Israeli and Palestinian journalists as a bureau chief gathering stories for CNN. Each team member had experienced deep personal losses, leading him to take on a secondary role as chaplain. Keep listening, keep learning.