Seen & Unseen Aloud: new episode

The companionship of reading, the benefit of enemies, and the power of mercy.

Natalie Garrett

Natalie produces and narrates The Seen & Unseen Aloud podcast. She's an Anglican minister and a trained actor.

A painting shows two 19th century women in a carriage, one reading as the others snoozes.

The Travelling Companions, Augustus Egg.

Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash.

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This week, we slow down with Jessica Brown and consider the companionship to be found in reading with others; Henna Cundill asks whether loving our enemies (even within the political realm) can be beneficial for personal growth and Natalie Williams contemplates the extraordinary power of mercy within the workings of society

Podcast

GodPod

Podcasts

5 September 2025

1 min read

Visionaries: Milton's indelible mark on poetry and politics

Jessica Martin discusses the writer's literary legacy with the GodPod hosts

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A painting of a young John Milton wearing a neck ruff.

National Portrait Gallery, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

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About this episode

In this episode of GodPod’s Visionaries series, we explore the profound impact of John Milton's personal life and Christian faith on his mighty literary works.

Milton's journey from a loyal servant of the crown to a passionate advocate for political reform and freedom of speech is deeply intertwined with his spiritual beliefs. His faith underpinned his writings and fuelled his desire to address the pressing issues of his time – shaping his approach to both poetry and politics.

Join Graham Tomlin, Jane Williams and – special guest - Jessica Martin, as they uncover how Milton's deep faith not only guided his personal life but also left an indelible mark on his literary legacy.

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