Miroslav Volf: the cost of ambition

Does ambition make us a better version of ourselves, or does it diminish us? A GodPod podcast.

Nick Jones

Nick is the senior editor of Seen & Unseen.

A man with a beard and glasses, leans back and to one side while takking and holds open hand in front of himself

Miroslav Volf.

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What is the cost of ambition? Does it make us a better version of ourselves, or does it diminish us? What’s a theological response to meritocracy and comparison? What makes a life worth living? These are just some of the questions pondered by our three presenters – Jane Williams, Michael Lloyd and Graham Tomlin – along with renowned theologian, Miroslav Volf.

Miroslav is the Henry B. Wright Professor of Theology at Yale Divinity School and the founder and director of the Yale Centre for Faith and Culture. He has written or edited more than 20 books, over 100 scholarly articles, and his work has been featured in the Washington Post, Christianity Today, Christian Century, Sojourners, and several other outlets.

For more from Miroslav: Miroslav Volf | YCFC

Read more from Miroslav on Seen & Unseen.

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GodPod

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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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