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        <title>Fierce Grace - with Steve Taylor and Serge Beddington-Behrens.</title>
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        <description>This fortnightly podcast discusses spirituality, politics and the future of the human race. With fierce grace, we can aim to transcend our present crises and create a new harmonious future.</description>
        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:19:25 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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        <copyright>© 2026</copyright>
        
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                <title>Fierce Grace - with Steve Taylor and Serge Beddington-Behrens.</title>
                <link>https://stevesergepodcast.castos.com</link>
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                <itunes:subtitle>This fortnightly podcast discusses spirituality, politics and the future of the human race. With fierce grace, we can aim to transcend our present crises and create a new harmonious future.</itunes:subtitle>
        <itunes:author>Steve Taylor</itunes:author>
        <itunes:type>episodic</itunes:type>
        <itunes:summary>This fortnightly podcast discusses spirituality, politics and the future of the human race. With fierce grace, we can aim to transcend our present crises and create a new harmonious future.</itunes:summary>
        <itunes:owner>
            <itunes:name>Steve Taylor</itunes:name>
            <itunes:email>hughtaylor2003@icloud.com</itunes:email>
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                                    <itunes:category text="Religion &amp; Spirituality">
                                            <itunes:category text="Spirituality" />
                                    </itunes:category>
                                                <itunes:category text="Health &amp; Fitness">
                                            <itunes:category text="Mental Health" />
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        <podcast:locked>yes</podcast:locked>
                                    <item>
                <title>
                    <![CDATA[The Future of the Human Race - Catastrophe or Transformation?]]>
                </title>
                <pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 19:19:25 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>Steve Taylor</dc:creator>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">
                    https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/70329/episode/2587585</guid>
                                    <link>https://stevesergepodcast.castos.com/episodes/the-future-of-the-human-race-catastrophe-or-transformation</link>
                                <description>
                                            <![CDATA[<p>We are at a crisis point in the human race's history. There are many forces and trends that are progressing towards catastrophe, but also some positive trends, such as the increasing numbers of people who have spiritual experiences or undergo spiritual transformation. In Steve's book The Fall, he suggests that a trend towards the transcendence of ego-separation has been underway for at least 250 years. In Fierce Grace 6, Steve and Serge discusses our present predicament and their predictions for the future.</p>
<h3>Chapters</h3>
<ul><li>(00:00:00) - Foreigners talk about Austrian food</li><li>(00:00:58) - Steve Smith on D.H. lawrence</li><li>(00:06:49) - Will humanity Make It?</li><li>(00:15:37) - The Rise of the Positive</li><li>(00:24:21) - An Awakening of the Human Spirit</li><li>(00:33:14) - Peter Russell: Will we Die or Rise?</li><li>(00:42:22) - Hope is important in spirituality</li><li>(00:45:09) - Anticipation of the Next Decade</li></ul>]]>
                                    </description>
                <itunes:subtitle>
                    <![CDATA[We are at a crisis point in the human race's history. There are many forces and trends that are progressing towards catastrophe, but also some positive trends, such as the increasing numbers of people who have spiritual experiences or undergo spiritual transformation. In Steve's book The Fall, he suggests that a trend towards the transcendence of ego-separation has been underway for at least 250 years. In Fierce Grace 6, Steve and Serge discusses our present predicament and their predictions for the future.]]>
                </itunes:subtitle>
                                    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
                                <itunes:title>
                    <![CDATA[The Future of the Human Race - Catastrophe or Transformation?]]>
                </itunes:title>
                                    <itunes:episode>6</itunes:episode>
                                                    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
                                <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
                <content:encoded>
                    <![CDATA[<p>We are at a crisis point in the human race's history. There are many forces and trends that are progressing towards catastrophe, but also some positive trends, such as the increasing numbers of people who have spiritual experiences or undergo spiritual transformation. In Steve's book The Fall, he suggests that a trend towards the transcendence of ego-separation has been underway for at least 250 years. In Fierce Grace 6, Steve and Serge discusses our present predicament and their predictions for the future.</p>]]>
                </content:encoded>
                                    <enclosure url="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/2587585/c1e-5mzqh78konf0x25p-qdx2g54rswn0-pa7wat.mp3" length="49376299"
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                                <itunes:summary>
                    <![CDATA[We are at a crisis point in the human race's history. There are many forces and trends that are progressing towards catastrophe, but also some positive trends, such as the increasing numbers of people who have spiritual experiences or undergo spiritual transformation. In Steve's book The Fall, he suggests that a trend towards the transcendence of ego-separation has been underway for at least 250 years. In Fierce Grace 6, Steve and Serge discusses our present predicament and their predictions for the future.]]>
                </itunes:summary>
                                    <itunes:image href="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/images/2587585/c1a-71z8-mkq2rz1xik49-hanzxv.jpeg"></itunes:image>
                                                                            <itunes:duration>00:51:25</itunes:duration>
                                                    <itunes:author>
                    <![CDATA[Steve Taylor]]>
                </itunes:author>
                                    <podcast:chapters url="https://media-assets.castos.com/chapters/2587585/chapter-data.json"
                        type="application/json" />
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                    <item>
                <title>
                    <![CDATA[Religion and Spirituality - are they the same? Is religion damaging or healthy?]]>
                </title>
                <pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2026 19:38:22 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>Steve Taylor</dc:creator>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">
                    https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/70329/episode/2553006</guid>
                                    <link>https://stevesergepodcast.castos.com/episodes/religion-and-spirituality-are-they-the-same-is-religion-damaging-or-healthy</link>
                                <description>
                                            <![CDATA[<p>Steve and Serge discuss religion and spirituality, how religious people can be both spiritual and non-spiritual, and how religion can express both the best and worst in human nature. Religion is about supporting and strengthening the ego, while spirituality is about transcending it. Indigenous peoples' worldviews were essentially non-religious, and theistic worldviews developed at a fairly late stage in human history. Can religion help to heal the world, or do human beings need to transcend religion?</p>
<h3>Chapters</h3>
<ul><li>(00:00:00) - Talking about the weather in England</li><li>(00:00:44) - The Difference Between Religion and Spirituality</li><li>(00:08:09) - The mystical experiences of Christians</li><li>(00:11:09) - Christian Nationalists: Aberrational</li><li>(00:15:52) - The Religious Continuum of Connection</li><li>(00:22:05) - The trauma of spirituality in Northern Ireland</li><li>(00:29:31) - Monistic and Separation in Religion</li><li>(00:39:23) - The Desacralization of Nature</li><li>(00:44:10) - The Spirit of the Warrior</li><li>(00:52:00) - Understanding the despair of the Right</li><li>(00:55:03) - Steve Harris on Religion and the Future</li><li>(01:00:04) - THE HUMAN RACE WILL REBOUND</li></ul>]]>
                                    </description>
                <itunes:subtitle>
                    <![CDATA[Steve and Serge discuss religion and spirituality, how religious people can be both spiritual and non-spiritual, and how religion can express both the best and worst in human nature. Religion is about supporting and strengthening the ego, while spirituality is about transcending it. Indigenous peoples' worldviews were essentially non-religious, and theistic worldviews developed at a fairly late stage in human history. Can religion help to heal the world, or do human beings need to transcend religion?]]>
                </itunes:subtitle>
                                    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
                                <itunes:title>
                    <![CDATA[Religion and Spirituality - are they the same? Is religion damaging or healthy?]]>
                </itunes:title>
                                    <itunes:episode>5</itunes:episode>
                                                    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
                                <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
                <content:encoded>
                    <![CDATA[<p>Steve and Serge discuss religion and spirituality, how religious people can be both spiritual and non-spiritual, and how religion can express both the best and worst in human nature. Religion is about supporting and strengthening the ego, while spirituality is about transcending it. Indigenous peoples' worldviews were essentially non-religious, and theistic worldviews developed at a fairly late stage in human history. Can religion help to heal the world, or do human beings need to transcend religion?</p>]]>
                </content:encoded>
                                    <enclosure url="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/2553006/c1e-o5k0hj44j2u8n291-5zrdopz5s32w-3uik0n.mp3" length="61439437"
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                    </enclosure>
                                <itunes:summary>
                    <![CDATA[Steve and Serge discuss religion and spirituality, how religious people can be both spiritual and non-spiritual, and how religion can express both the best and worst in human nature. Religion is about supporting and strengthening the ego, while spirituality is about transcending it. Indigenous peoples' worldviews were essentially non-religious, and theistic worldviews developed at a fairly late stage in human history. Can religion help to heal the world, or do human beings need to transcend religion?]]>
                </itunes:summary>
                                    <itunes:image href="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/images/2553006/c1a-71z8-7znx97mkfxqr-wrmugl.jpeg"></itunes:image>
                                                                            <itunes:duration>01:03:59</itunes:duration>
                                                    <itunes:author>
                    <![CDATA[Steve Taylor]]>
                </itunes:author>
                                    <podcast:chapters url="https://media-assets.castos.com/chapters/2553006/chapter-data.json"
                        type="application/json" />
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>
                    <![CDATA[Healing Conflict through Authenticity - Interview with Susan Campbell]]>
                </title>
                <pubDate>Thu, 09 Jul 2026 16:40:39 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>Steve Taylor</dc:creator>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">
                    https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/70329/episode/2526647</guid>
                                    <link>https://stevesergepodcast.castos.com/episodes/healing-conflict-through-authenticity-interview-with-susan-campbell</link>
                                <description>
                                            <![CDATA[<p>Serge and Steve interview therapist and relationship coach Susan Campbell about the importance of authenticity and how a transformational approach can heal both interpersonal and international conflicts. As an 85 year old, Susan also shares the origins of her amazing vitality and positivity.</p>
<h3>Chapters</h3>
<ul><li>(00:00:00) - French President Serge</li><li>(00:00:16) - Susan Campbell</li><li>(00:02:24) - A visit from Susan after 40 years</li><li>(00:03:33) - Susan Flannery on Life at 85</li><li>(00:07:43) - Susan Flannery on Writing</li><li>(00:09:09) - Inspiring Women: Creativity and Service</li><li>(00:12:59) - The Pain of Parenting</li><li>(00:14:06) - Susan on Being a Selfish Woman</li><li>(00:17:59) - The Couple's Journey: Five Stages</li><li>(00:24:28) - The polarization of human groups</li><li>(00:31:35) - How to Realize the Need for Change</li><li>(00:38:12) - Serge on His Own Trauma</li><li>(00:45:09) - Can Being Authentic Hurt People's Feelings?</li><li>(00:50:07) - Coming to Terms With Old Age</li><li>(00:56:27) - What's Your Spiritual Challenge?</li><li>(01:03:13) - Susan, Do You Believe Death Is The End?</li><li>(01:08:32) - The Evolution of Psychedelia</li><li>(01:09:28) - In the Elevator With Susan Jones</li></ul>]]>
                                    </description>
                <itunes:subtitle>
                    <![CDATA[Serge and Steve interview therapist and relationship coach Susan Campbell about the importance of authenticity and how a transformational approach can heal both interpersonal and international conflicts. As an 85 year old, Susan also shares the origins of her amazing vitality and positivity.]]>
                </itunes:subtitle>
                                    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
                                <itunes:title>
                    <![CDATA[Healing Conflict through Authenticity - Interview with Susan Campbell]]>
                </itunes:title>
                                    <itunes:episode>4</itunes:episode>
                                                    <itunes:season>1</itunes:season>
                                <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
                <content:encoded>
                    <![CDATA[<p>Serge and Steve interview therapist and relationship coach Susan Campbell about the importance of authenticity and how a transformational approach can heal both interpersonal and international conflicts. As an 85 year old, Susan also shares the origins of her amazing vitality and positivity.</p>]]>
                </content:encoded>
                                    <enclosure url="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/2526647/c1e-98jgs2r0mkcdvm1z-0v0rr5q7f7nm-kjqrdx.mp3" length="69759750"
                        type="audio/mpeg">
                    </enclosure>
                                <itunes:summary>
                    <![CDATA[Serge and Steve interview therapist and relationship coach Susan Campbell about the importance of authenticity and how a transformational approach can heal both interpersonal and international conflicts. As an 85 year old, Susan also shares the origins of her amazing vitality and positivity.]]>
                </itunes:summary>
                                    <itunes:image href="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/images/2526647/c1a-71z8-rkgwwz5gfx-wohbjs.jpeg"></itunes:image>
                                                                            <itunes:duration>01:12:39</itunes:duration>
                                                    <itunes:author>
                    <![CDATA[Steve Taylor]]>
                </itunes:author>
                                    <podcast:chapters url="https://media-assets.castos.com/chapters/2526647/chapter-data.json"
                        type="application/json" />
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>
                    <![CDATA[Interview with Philip Carr-Gomm]]>
                </title>
                <pubDate>Tue, 23 Jun 2026 18:34:09 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>Steve Taylor</dc:creator>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">
                    https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/70329/episode/2503359</guid>
                                    <link>https://stevesergepodcast.castos.com/episodes/interview-with-philip-carr-gomm</link>
                                <description>
                                            <![CDATA[<p>Steve and Serge speak with author and teacher Philip Carr-Gomm about his life and work, spirituality and the state of the world. We also ask Philip about his most influential spiritual book, teacher and piece of music, and the most powerful place he has visited.</p>
<h3>Chapters</h3>
<ul><li>(00:00:00) - Hello, sir.</li></ul>]]>
                                    </description>
                <itunes:subtitle>
                    <![CDATA[Steve and Serge speak with author and teacher Philip Carr-Gomm about his life and work, spirituality and the state of the world. We also ask Philip about his most influential spiritual book, teacher and piece of music, and the most powerful place he has visited.]]>
                </itunes:subtitle>
                                    <itunes:episodeType>full</itunes:episodeType>
                                <itunes:title>
                    <![CDATA[Interview with Philip Carr-Gomm]]>
                </itunes:title>
                                                <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
                <content:encoded>
                    <![CDATA[<p>Steve and Serge speak with author and teacher Philip Carr-Gomm about his life and work, spirituality and the state of the world. We also ask Philip about his most influential spiritual book, teacher and piece of music, and the most powerful place he has visited.</p>]]>
                </content:encoded>
                                    <enclosure url="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/2503359/c1e-4n74c8dnn6hopw53-ndr887vvu3vx-adrpzh.mp3" length="57266950"
                        type="audio/mpeg">
                    </enclosure>
                                <itunes:summary>
                    <![CDATA[Steve and Serge speak with author and teacher Philip Carr-Gomm about his life and work, spirituality and the state of the world. We also ask Philip about his most influential spiritual book, teacher and piece of music, and the most powerful place he has visited.]]>
                </itunes:summary>
                                    <itunes:image href="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/images/2503359/c1a-71z8-ww4ooqgkt4k6-eu97cp.jpg"></itunes:image>
                                                                            <itunes:duration>00:59:39</itunes:duration>
                                                    <itunes:author>
                    <![CDATA[Steve Taylor]]>
                </itunes:author>
                                    <podcast:chapters url="https://media-assets.castos.com/chapters/2503359/chapter-data.json"
                        type="application/json" />
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>
                    <![CDATA[Why do so many spiritual teachers become corrupt?]]>
                </title>
                <pubDate>Sun, 07 Jun 2026 10:54:47 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>Steve Taylor</dc:creator>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">
                    https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/70329/episode/2485708</guid>
                                    <link>https://stevesergepodcast.castos.com/episodes/why-do-so-many-spiritual-teachers-become-corrupt</link>
                                <description>
                                            <![CDATA[<p style="text-align:left;">Steve and Serge discuss the meaning of spiritual awakening, why some people become disconnected, and why disconnected people gravitate to the role of spiritual teacher, then become more corrupt and disconnected. We also discuss some examples of genuine and benevolent teachers who have helped many people.</p>
<h3>Chapters</h3>
<ul><li>(00:00:00) - Fierce Grace</li><li>(00:07:01) - The Secret to Real Happiness</li><li>(00:11:23) - Becoming More Fully Human</li><li>(00:13:00) - Steve Almond on Connection and the Ego</li><li>(00:20:18) - How disconnected are spiritual teachers?</li><li>(00:27:48) - How spiritual people project their own soul</li><li>(00:33:51) - Have All Gurus Become corrupted?</li><li>(00:39:13) - What Do You Mean By Awakened and Enlightened?</li><li>(00:42:49) - The Secret Life of Spiritual Teachers</li><li>(00:50:07) - John Lennon: His ego boundaries</li><li>(00:55:03) - A talk by Philip Cargong</li><li>(00:56:08) - The Answer Lies In The Soil</li><li>(00:57:15) - Reasons for Being Realists</li><li>(00:59:15) - A Little Chat</li></ul>]]>
                                    </description>
                <itunes:subtitle>
                    <![CDATA[Steve and Serge discuss the meaning of spiritual awakening, why some people become disconnected, and why disconnected people gravitate to the role of spiritual teacher, then become more corrupt and disconnected. We also discuss some examples of genuine and benevolent teachers who have helped many people.]]>
                </itunes:subtitle>
                                <itunes:title>
                    <![CDATA[Why do so many spiritual teachers become corrupt?]]>
                </itunes:title>
                                                <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
                <content:encoded>
                    <![CDATA[<p style="text-align:left;">Steve and Serge discuss the meaning of spiritual awakening, why some people become disconnected, and why disconnected people gravitate to the role of spiritual teacher, then become more corrupt and disconnected. We also discuss some examples of genuine and benevolent teachers who have helped many people.</p>]]>
                </content:encoded>
                                    <enclosure url="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/2485708/c1e-xnxkc14w4pbrqpd4-8d8jn3gksw15-ikpyxv.mp3" length="57323784"
                        type="audio/mpeg">
                    </enclosure>
                                <itunes:summary>
                    <![CDATA[Steve and Serge discuss the meaning of spiritual awakening, why some people become disconnected, and why disconnected people gravitate to the role of spiritual teacher, then become more corrupt and disconnected. We also discuss some examples of genuine and benevolent teachers who have helped many people.]]>
                </itunes:summary>
                                                                            <itunes:duration>00:59:36</itunes:duration>
                                                    <itunes:author>
                    <![CDATA[Steve Taylor]]>
                </itunes:author>
                                    <podcast:chapters url="https://media-assets.castos.com/chapters/2485708/chapter-data.json"
                        type="application/json" />
                            </item>
                    <item>
                <title>
                    <![CDATA[Fierce Grace - Introduction]]>
                </title>
                <pubDate>Sun, 17 May 2026 13:56:36 +0000</pubDate>
                <dc:creator>Steve Taylor</dc:creator>
                <guid isPermaLink="true">
                    https://permalink.castos.com/podcast/70329/episode/2464970</guid>
                                    <link>https://stevesergepodcast.castos.com/episodes/fierce-grace-introduction</link>
                                <description>
                                            <![CDATA[<p>Steve and Serge discuss the crisis of disconnection, and how spirituality can connect us., </p>
<h3>Chapters</h3>
<ul><li>(00:00:00) - Introducing "Fierce Grace"</li><li>(00:03:05) - "Fierce Grace": Our Times</li><li>(00:04:29) - Slowness in the World</li><li>(00:06:28) - Why do we choose our own leaders?</li><li>(00:12:55) - Are Billionaires More Malevolent Than Others?</li><li>(00:21:08) - How to reconnect with the world</li><li>(00:26:26) - On spirituality and the environmental movement</li><li>(00:34:13) - Steve Jobs on Connections</li><li>(00:41:14) - The Power of the Heart</li><li>(00:48:45) - The Challenge of Life</li></ul>]]>
                                    </description>
                <itunes:subtitle>
                    <![CDATA[Steve and Serge discuss the crisis of disconnection, and how spirituality can connect us., ]]>
                </itunes:subtitle>
                                <itunes:title>
                    <![CDATA[Fierce Grace - Introduction]]>
                </itunes:title>
                                                <itunes:explicit>false</itunes:explicit>
                <content:encoded>
                    <![CDATA[<p>Steve and Serge discuss the crisis of disconnection, and how spirituality can connect us., </p>]]>
                </content:encoded>
                                    <enclosure url="https://episodes.castos.com/5f627d2e57b678-10661657/2464970/c1e-p7kncwxwn8c4zz9w-kpok44jqfgqd-b0mche.m4a" length="72370949"
                        type="audio/x-m4a">
                    </enclosure>
                                <itunes:summary>
                    <![CDATA[Steve and Serge discuss the crisis of disconnection, and how spirituality can connect us., ]]>
                </itunes:summary>
                                                                            <itunes:duration>00:49:47</itunes:duration>
                                                    <itunes:author>
                    <![CDATA[Steve Taylor]]>
                </itunes:author>
                                    <podcast:chapters url="https://media-assets.castos.com/chapters/2464970/chapter-data.json"
                        type="application/json" />
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