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with Cathy Macdonald

Writer Dr Rachel Clarke on her new book 'The Story of a Heart'; acclaimed author Elif Shafak on her spiritual life and career; a review of the documentary 'Billy and Molly'.

In her new book, β€˜The Story of a Heart’, author Dr Rachel Clarke tells the moving story of how the family of nine-year-old Keira, who was fatally injured in a car crash, transformed their grief into a lifesaving gift by donating her heart to nine-year-old Max, who was suffering from heart failure. She joins Cathy to discuss the remarkable advances in transplant medicine and how the heart holds a special place in our imaginations.

Last week, Rev Diana Hall concluded an epic run across Iceland. She talks about the challenges she faced both physically and mentally as she ran 209 miles in 10 days, and how it helped strengthen her faith.

Award-winning British-Turkish novelist and storyteller Elif Shafak has a proud mix of identities and talents. She is also a cultural commentator, feminist, political scientist and activist. On the publication of her latest novel β€˜There Are Rivers In The Sky’, she joins Cathy to discuss her career and spiritual life.

Cathy delves into some of the news stories of the week from an ethical and philosophical perspective, with Islamic scholar Yahya Barry, Rosa Murray, a member of the Catholic community in Scotland, and environmental scientist and Christian Laura Young.

Pope Francis is in the midst of a 12-day tour to Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Singapore. The head of the world’s 1.3 billion Catholics has embarked on this mission, not to expand his flock, but rather to deepen inter-religious ties. Cathy discusses what a 21st-century faith mission looks like and how it has changed over the centuries.

The International Day of Charity was marked a few days ago to raise awareness and provide a common platform for charitable activities. The panel discuss what role charity plays in the lives of those with a faith, how our understanding of the concept of charity has changed, and what might be the ethical and economic reasons for that shift?

And the panel review a new documentary called β€˜Billy and Molly’, which follows Shetlander Billy, who finds a malnourished otter pup at the end of his jetty at the bottom of the garden. He names her Molly, and the pair fast become unlikely friends as he discovers healing and joy, and a love of the simple things in life.

18 days left to listen

1 hour, 55 minutes

Last on

Sun 8 Sep 2024 08:00

Music Played

  • Otis Redding

    Try a Little Tenderness

    • Atlantic Soul.
    • Warner E.S.P..
  • Florence + The Machine

    Dog Days Are Over

    • (CD Single).
    • Moshi Moshi Records.
    • 1.
  • Texas

    Say What You Want

    • Woman (Various Artists).
    • Polygram Tv/Sony Tv.
  • Supertramp

    Give A Little Bit

    • The Very Best Of Supertramp.
    • Polygram Tv.
  • Weyes Blood

    Something To Believe

    • Titantic Rising.
    • Sub Pop.
  • Kate Bush

    Cloudbusting

    • Remastered Part I.
    • Fish People.

Broadcast

  • Sun 8 Sep 2024 08:00