Uncommon Ground with Justin Brierley is a long-form podcast and YouTube series dedicated to thoughtful dialogue between leading thinkers who hold differing perspectives on faith, science, philosophy and culture. Hosted by Christian broadcaster and writer Justin Brierley, the programme brings together respected voices from across the belief spectrum for deep, respectful conversations about life’s most significant questions.

Recorded in the historic setting of Yarnton Manor near Oxford, each episode features two prominent guests engaging in extended dialogue moderated by Brierley. The aim of the series is not simply debate, but understanding – creating space where participants with profoundly different viewpoints can explore ideas with curiosity, clarity and mutual respect.

Brierley is widely known for his two decades of experience moderating conversations between Christians and sceptics in media contexts. With Uncommon Ground, he continues this tradition by inviting thinkers from Christianity, atheism, psychology, science, literature and philosophy to discuss topics such as the existence of God, morality, consciousness, purpose and the meaning of life.

A distinctive feature of the programme is its commitment to “disagreeing well”. Guests are encouraged to articulate their opponent’s perspective fairly before responding to it – an approach designed to foster genuine understanding and move beyond the polarisation often found in public debates.

The inaugural season includes conversations between influential figures from both Christian and secular backgrounds. Early episodes feature dialogues such as:

• Richard Dawkins with Rowan Williams discussing whether science or belief in God best explains the “poetry of reality”.
• Alex O’Connor with Glen Scrivener debating whether modern moral values owe their origins to Christianity.

Other planned conversations explore questions about consciousness, cosmology, art, literature and the search for meaning, featuring thinkers such as Iain McGilchrist, Anil Seth and Philip Pullman alongside Christian scholars and communicators.

The programme is produced by Think Faith, a media initiative founded by Brierley that explores the interaction between Christianity and contemporary culture through podcasts, writing and public dialogue.

By bringing together influential voices from across the intellectual landscape, Uncommon Ground seeks to demonstrate that honest dialogue can still flourish in a divided cultural environment. In doing so, it reflects a Christian commitment to truth pursued with humility, echoing the biblical encouragement to “speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15).

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