91Èȱ¬

The recent death of Irish musician Sinead O’Connor brought her career back into the public consciousness, and also her relationship with religion. Aman De Sondy, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Islam at University College, Cork, joins Tony to discuss the singer’s relationship with both Catholicism and Islam.

Pentecostal churches are on the rise, ushering in a period of transformation and growth for Christianity in the UK. Dr Christopher Wadibia, Research Fellow at Oxford University, discusses the reasons for their popularity and the influence of African churches in their ascendancy.

Emmett de Monterey talks about his new memoir. Go The Way Your Blood Beats exploring growing up gay and disabled in 1980s London, chronicling the challenges, triumphs and prejudices he faced along the way.

As heatwaves and wildfires engulf Europe and north Africa we hear concerned voices on the climate crisis, but those in denial are never far behind. What is driving this denial? Tony talks to Jessica Klecska, a climate psychologist and activist, and Anna Rose, CEO of Environmental Leadership Australia and author of Madlands: A Journey to Change the Mind of a Climate Sceptic.

A powerful new play called Groomed gets its Scottish premiere this week at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Director turned performer and political activist Patrick Sandford tells the story of his nine-year-old self and the teacher who groomed him. Patrick talks to Tony about the reasons he wanted to create this stage production.

This week a 91Èȱ¬ Two documentary explored the history of Blackface. It involves the painting of faces and caricaturing of Black stereotypes. Considered now as a form of racism, it also raises the wider question of how predominantly white creators, models and musicians have borrowed from other cultures, including in fashion, hair styles and music – something which has become known as cultural appropriation. Tony is joined by TV Producer Uzma Mir and author and author and anti-racism facilitator Briana Pegado.