Illusionist and writer Derren Brown joins broadcaster and Anglican priest Rev. Richard Coles for a searching conversation on The Big Conversation stage of Unbelievable?. Both men tell strikingly different life stories: Brown, once a youthful Christian, gradually left faith behind as his fascination with the mind, psychology, and scepticism grew. Coles, meanwhile, rose to fame in the 1980s pop group The Communards before an unexpected conversion led him into Christian ministry.
In this dialogue they share candid reflections on happiness, suffering, transcendence and the role of stories in shaping our lives. Can Stoic philosophy provide enough meaning without belief in God? Does Christianity uniquely transform suffering into hope? And how do we face death in a culture that has lost its guiding narratives?
This classic edition invites listeners to weigh whether life’s deepest questions find their fullest answer with—or without—God.
For Derren Brown: http://derrenbrown.co.uk
For Richard Coles: http://www.richardcoles.com/

Released on 2 Sep 2025