Seen & Unseen Aloud: new episode

Stories vs. facts, saying sorry, and music to wander too.

Natalie Garrett

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

a map depicts US states coloured red and blue.

538 election prediction map.

ABC News.

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This week we start with Jared Stacy unpacking how projections and polls cannot capture the power of stories shaping identity and US election politics. Roger Bretherton asks why it is that "sorry" just might be the hardest word. And Helen Cowan dives into a poem by JRR Tolkien which speaks to her, poignantly, about the experience of living with dementia.

Podcast

GodPod

Podcasts

Visionaries

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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