A pendant linked to Catherine of Aragon has reportedly been discovered — and it’s more than just Tudor jewellery. It’s a window into one of the most dramatic marriages in English history, the break with Rome, and the personal cost of power.

In this episode of Mark and Pete, we explore the significance of a newly identified Tudor pendant associated with Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Was it a romantic gift? A royal emblem? A symbol of legitimacy? Or a silent witness to the collapse of a marriage that changed the course of England forever?

Catherine of Aragon was not merely a discarded queen. She was a Spanish princess, daughter of Ferdinand and Isabella, regent of England during Henry’s campaigns, and a woman of formidable intelligence and deep Catholic faith. Her refusal to accept Henry’s annulment triggered the English Reformation and the establishment of the Church of England under royal supremacy.

We examine how Henry VIII used Scripture to justify his desire for a male heir, how the Tudor court turned marriage into political theatre, and how Catherine’s dignity in exile reshaped the moral narrative of the Reformation. The discovery of a Catherine of Aragon pendant invites fresh discussion about Tudor history, royal authority, marriage, conscience, and the abuse of power.

With Mark’s poetic reflections and Pete’s Christian commentary, this episode asks: what happens when rulers bend truth to serve appetite? And what does this Tudor drama teach modern Britain about covenant, leadership, and integrity?

This is history, faith, politics, and cultural reflection — all wrapped in one small piece of gold.

Topics include: Catherine of Aragon pendant, Henry VIII marriage crisis, Tudor England, English Reformation, Church of England origins, royal divorce, Catholic vs Protestant history, biblical marriage, power and conscience, British history podcast.

Is Valentine’s Day still romantic… or has modern culture quietly fallen out of love?

In this episode of Mark and Pete, we take a sharp look at Valentine’s Day in 2026 and ask whether Western society is still capable of real romance. From overpriced roses and restaurant panic bookings to dating apps and “situationships,” love increasingly feels like a performance rather than a commitment.

But beneath the chocolate hearts and Instagram posts lies a deeper question: are people actually dating less?

We examine the growing body of research pointing to a modern “sex recession,” declining marriage rates, delayed relationships, and rising loneliness among young adults. Why are Gen Z and millennials reporting less dating experience, less sexual activity, and less long-term partnership than previous generations? Is technology to blame? Has dating app culture turned romance into online shopping? Or have we simply become afraid of commitment?

We explore how modern expectations—shaped by social media, pornography, and endless digital comparison—may be eroding trust between men and women. In a world of infinite options, no one feels chosen. In a culture obsessed with independence, fewer people feel secure enough to commit.

At the same time, the longing for love hasn’t disappeared. People still want to be known, valued, and chosen. So why does Valentine’s Day feel increasingly awkward, commercial, or hollow?

With Mark’s reflective poetry and Pete’s Christian perspective, this episode examines what the Bible says about covenant love, sacrifice, and commitment in contrast to today’s consumer-driven approach to romance. Is love just chemistry and feelings, or is it something deeper—something worth defending?

Topics include: Valentine’s Day, modern dating crisis, declining marriage rates, Gen Z relationships, loneliness epidemic, dating apps, commitment culture, Christian worldview on love, covenant marriage, cultural decline.

Should Britain move to a shorter working week? Would a three-day or four-day week make us healthier, more productive, and less miserable… or is it just the final stage of national decline dressed up as “wellbeing”?

In this episode of Mark and Pete, we dive into the growing push for a reduced working week, inspired by countries like the Netherlands, where people seem to work fewer hours, take more time off, and still manage to run a nation that functions better than ours. Meanwhile, Britain clings to its proud tradition of overworking, underproducing, and pretending that exhaustion is a personality trait.

We explore the real evidence behind four-day week trials, productivity studies, and why cutting hours can sometimes increase output. Spoiler: when people have less time, they waste less time. Fewer pointless meetings. Less email theatre. Less corporate box-ticking. More actual work.

But we also ask the harder questions. Is the shorter working week only realistic for office workers with laptops and “hybrid schedules”? What about nurses, builders, shop staff, delivery drivers, and everyone else who can’t simply log off and call it self-care? Is this reform… or just another perk for the middle class?

We also tackle the cultural side of it: if people had more free time, would they invest it into family life, church, community, and rest? Or would we simply spend the extra days doomscrolling, ordering takeaway, and watching Netflix until we forget what day it is?

With Mark’s trademark poetry and Pete’s Christian perspective, this episode asks whether the West needs fewer working hours… or whether it needs a deeper recovery: a return to purpose, discipline, and Sabbath-shaped living.

Keywords: shorter working week, four-day week UK, Dutch work culture, productivity, burnout, work-life balance, modern Britain, cultural decline, Christian commentary, Sabbath rest.