I am an academic, broadcaster, diarist, and author whose work explores the intersection of religion, film, popular culture, and nostalgia. I hold the position of Honorary Reader in Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Kent, where I’ve previously served as Head of Department, Course Director, and Senior Tutor.

Much of my research focuses on challenging the conventional boundaries between the sacred and the secular. In my book Christmas as Religion: Rethinking Santa, the Secular, and the Sacred (Oxford University Press, 2016), I argue that Christmas can be understood as an implicit religious phenomenon – one that reflects contemporary rituals of identity, meaning, and belonging. I’ve also written extensively on life-after-death narratives, cinematic representations of the divine, and the new visibility of religion in everyday life.

Alongside my academic work, I’ve always been a passionate advocate for public engagement. I have established a strong media presence through radio, television and podcasting and am the creator and host of Nostalgia Interviews with Chris Deacy, a long-running podcast series where I speak with guests from a range of backgrounds about how their pasts have shaped who they are and what they believe. These conversations blend personal storytelling with philosophical reflection, and they underscore my interest in how memory, identity, and belief intersect.

I’ve reviewed more than a thousand films and have been involved with various media projects, including the BFI-funded Generation Why series. I currently host regular weekly radio and TV programmes on Cabin FM and KMTV, and contribute to film and culture discussions on a variety of media platforms. Whether on air or in print, I’m always looking for creative ways to bring academic insights into public conversations.

Originally from Cardiff and now living in Kent, I’m particularly interested in how stories – whether personal, cultural, or cinematic – help us make sense of ourselves and the world around us. Whether I’m exploring the theology of Christmas, the spiritual resonance of nostalgia, or the redemptive possibilities of film, my work is rooted in a desire to bridge academic and popular discourses.