Inspirational Breakfast with Esther Higham

With heatwave temperatures driving crowds to Britain’s rivers and canals, concerns over water safety have grown following a series of recent drownings. But what practical steps can help prevent tragedy in open water—and how do waterways chaplains support communities beyond moments of crisis? Chris Upton, CEO of Waterways Chaplaincy, spoke to Esther Higham.

Esther is joined by former professional footballer and Ballers in God founder John Bostock, alongside Graham Daniels from Christians in Sport, to discuss their World Cup predictions, whether God had a hand in Arsenal’s Premier League trophy, and what it’s like when your team suffers a drubbing.

Could bringing extinct animals back be part of caring for God's creation — or are we trying to play Him? Following a breakthrough by Colossal Biosciences in its bid to revive the extinct moa bird, Stephanie Bevan from Christians in Science and Dr Ruth Bancewicz from the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion join Esther to discuss the Biblical perspective on de-extinction.

For some, the word "crusade" brings to mind evangelistic mission and the likes of Billy Graham. For others, it carries the weight of the medieval Crusades — where Christians engaged in persecution and violence. So is it simply a word with two meanings — or one too loaded to keep using in ministry today? Esther spoke to Dr Ian Birch from the Scottish Baptist College to unpack the history of the term and whether we're being overly sensitive if we ditch it in our churches.

The final showcased singers, dancers, comedians and performers, including acts with Christian connections. Spoken word artist Sonny Green moved audiences with an emotional performance, while Hawkstone Farmers Choir, led by former worship leader Lizzie Deane, performed an original song and went on to win the competition. Esther spoke to Gemma Francis of The Big Sing and Baptist minister and comedian Allan Finnegan about the growing visibility of Christian performers on one of the UK’s biggest shows.

More than six years after the UK’s first COVID-19 lockdown, the pandemic’s impact is still being felt physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. With fresh concerns over outbreaks including Ebola, meningitis, and hantavirus, questions around public health and preparedness have returned. Esther speaks to David Munkley from World Vision about Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and to emergency physician Giles Cattermole about frontline lessons, faith, and resilience after COVID-19.

Researchers in Germany have conducted the world’s largest study on facial attractiveness, finding women’s faces were consistently rated more attractive than men’s—even by other women. The findings raise questions about how society values appearance and judges others. Model, author and former Woman Alive editor Tola Doll Fisher joined Esther to reflect on the "Attractiveness Gap" between men and women!

Walking down a UK high street, we often see empty shops, vape stores replacing local businesses, and off-licences where community hubs once thrived, signs of both physical and spiritual decline. So what can Christians do in response? Joel Baker of Bread Café in Yeovil and Olly Sherwood of London City Mission in Lewisham chat with Esther about bringing revival to our streets.

For a book of more than half a million words, the Bible certainly loves its numbers. From recurring figures like 3, 7, 12 and 40 to the calculations hidden in some of its stories, numbers often carry meaning beyond simple counting. This comes as reports suggest some sums and times tables are particularly difficult for the brain to grasp. So, can we miss something in Scripture if numbers aren't our strong suit? Joining Esther was the Rev. Dr Ian Paul to unpack some of the Bible's most mystical numbers!

Tech trillionaire Elon Musk has claimed his neurotechnology company has “Jesus-level” technology, with the ability to heal blindness and paraplegia. But is there a line Christians should draw when it comes to biotech? What are the miracles to celebrate, and what could become a dystopian nightmare? Professor John Wyatt, a neonatologist and futurist, and Dr Calum Miller shared their views with Esther Higham.

In an increasingly divided political culture, do churches need to do more to help Christians think biblically about politics? As debate continues over what it means for the UK to be a “Christian nation”, Churches Together in England has launched Kingdom Over Nation, a new resource exploring Christian nationalism, political discipleship, and civic engagement. With 1 Peter urging believers to honour governing authorities, how should Christians engage in politics today?

How do you respond when the news feels overwhelming? Constant headlines, social media arguments and a sense of division can leave us cynical, discouraged or tempted to disengage altogether. But is there a better way to live faithfully in a broken world? Rev Jago Wynne, Rector of Holy Trinity Clapham, has been reflecting on the life of William Wilberforce and the historic Clapham Sect. He joined Esther to share what their example can teach us about hope, perseverance and making a positive difference today.

From dyslexia-friendly Bibles to quiet spaces and alternative worship environments, positive changes are happening in the Church. So what progress has been made, what challenges remain, and how can greater inclusion benefit the whole Church? Esther spoke to author and advocate Sophie Killingly and Dr Zoe Strong, host of the Autism and Theology podcast, to share on how far we've come and how much further we need to go!

Meta is reportedly tracking employee activity to train AI, but what does this mean for the way we view work theologically? Chris Goswami joins Esther to discuss how Christians should respond to rapid workplace automation, intelligent systems, and the fears of civil unrest.

A Deloitte study found Gen Z and Millennials increasingly value work-life balance over career progression. For Christians, calls to humility, service and quiet faith can make ambition feel suspect. But is all ambition wrong? Author and leadership coach Dr Cindy Trimm joined Esther to discuss why younger generations are rethinking success, how Christians can balance humility with ambition, and the difference between lust and desire.