The C.S. Lewis podcast

In this episode of The CS Lewis Podcast, Ruth Jackson is joined by Charlie Reeder, a recent Oxford graduate whose award-winning research explores the theme of longing in the work of CS Lewis. Drawing on his dissertation and a paper presented at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference, Charlie unpacks Lewis’s early poetry collection 'Spirits in Bondage' and its surprising connections to Lewis’s later Christian vision. The conversation explores the idea of Sehnsucht that deep, aching desire for something beyond this world and how Lewis wrestled with it long before his conversion. From the Marion E. Wade Center archives to 'The Pilgrim’s Regress' and 'The Weight of Glory', this episode reveals how longing for the “hidden country” runs like a golden thread through Lewis’s life, faith, and imagination. For Charlie's Substack: https://theoxfordreeder.substack.com/ + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/

Ruth Jackson is joined by theologian and Lewis scholar Stefan Knibbe to explore “revolutions” in CS Lewis’ thinking about freedom, suffering and hell. Drawing on 'The Problem of Pain', 'Surprised by Joy' and 'Till We Have Faces', Stefan traces how Lewis moves from a focus on free will as the right to accept or reject God, towards freedom as liberation from sin by God’s grace. He shows how George MacDonald’s vision of God’s relentless love and even his view of hell helped reshape Lewis’ later work, and why encountering God himself rather than neat arguments becomes Lewis’ deepest answer to the problem of evil. Recorded at the 2024 “Undiscovered CS Lewis” conference at George Fox University, this episode will send you back to Lewis with fresh eyes again. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/

Stefan Knibbe joins to share how his studies led him to focus on the works of CS Lewis and how Lewis has shaped his thinking and faith. He speaks about his paper, “Freedom, Suffering, and Hell in Till We Have Faces: Lewis’ Shifting Views,” and why Lewis’ ideas on freedom shifted over time. Stefan also discusses the influence of George MacDonald and why the connection between freedom, suffering, and hell is so central to Lewis’ theology. + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/

Ruth Jackson is joined by Joseph Weigel, firefighter and podcast host, for the final episode of this series. Joseph gives insight into his paper, titled 'Dr. Dimble's Neutrals', that he presented at the 2024 Undiscovered CS Lewis Conference. We then get to hear his paper live from the conference, which was held at Geroge Fox University. 'Men with Chests' podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6otTZ3UJZONxUQVCONKHko + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/

Ruth Jackson is joined by Joseph Weigel, a firefighter and host of the podcast "Men with Chests". They explore Dr Dimble’s role in 'That Hideous Strength' and his intriguing idea of “neutral” spiritual beings. They discuss how these neutrals draw on medieval thought, whether Lewis intended readers to take them seriously, and what this reveals about his wider views on the supernatural. Their conversation also touches on Merlin’s place in the story and how Lewis blends ancient magic with Christian themes. Finally, they consider why Lewis’ ideas about spiritual beings still matter today and how might speak into modern questions about technology, ethics, and even AI. 'Men with Chests' podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/6otTZ3UJZONxUQVCONKHko + Support us here: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/geolink/donate + Subscribe to The CS Lewis podcast: https://www.premier.plus/cs-lewis-podcast + For more shows, free ebook and newsletter visit our website: https://premierunbelievable.com/