For this episode I am joined by Tharik Hussain, an author, travel writer and journalist specialising in Muslim heritage and culture. His new bestselling book, Minarets in the Mountains; A Journey into Muslim Europe ,is the first by a travel writer to explore indigenous Muslim Europe and the first to do so through the eyes of a Muslim writer. Encountering blonde-haired, blue-eyed Muslims, visiting ancient mosques and discovering rich and vibrant cultures, all the while exploring the historical roots of European Islamophobia. Tharik really does remind us that Europe is as Muslim as it is Christian, Jewish or pagan. I am thrilled to say that the book has been nominated for the UK’s most prestigious non-fiction award, the Baillie Gifford Prize. 

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Speaking with me is Robbie King who studied Mathematics for his undergraduate degree at Cambridge. He is now going on to do a PHD in quantum mechanics at Caltech. Robbie, with his scientific background, is fascinated by religion and so he is the perfect guest with whom to discuss religion, science, and their relationship. Can they be friends or are they irreconcilable? What are the points of tension, or, are there actually none? 

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Jayne Ozanne is a gay evangelical Christian who has been heavily involved in campaigning for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Jayne has been a key advocate in campaigning for a ban on conversion therapy, as a christian leader and survivor herself of conversion therapy. In March, Jayne resigned her position on the government’s LGBTQ+ advisory panel over the lack of movement to a full ban on these practices.

Trigger warning: conversion therapy is a difficult topic and there are references of rape and abuse within this discussion. 

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