Andrew Copson speaks to science communicator Alom Shaha who shares his experiences as a teacher and author. From growing up in a strict Bangladeshi Muslim area in south-east London, to the role of his teachers in shaping his worldview, it’s a thought-provoking episode about the power of education and the thrill of intellectual endeavour.
Alom Shaha is a patron of Humanists UK. In 2012, he published The Young Atheist’s Handbook: Living a Good Life Without God. The book chronicles his upbringing in a strict Bangladeshi Muslim area in south-east London in the 1970s and 80s and outlines the intellectual journey which led him to identify as a humanist. It was launched at an event organised by Humanists UK, which later ran a successful crowdfunder to distribute copies of the book to every school in the country. Alom is also a former trustee of Humanists UK.
What I Believe was the title of two separate essays by the philosopher Bertrand Russell and the philosopher EM Forster in the early 20th century. These two humanists set out their approach to life, their fundamental worldview, in a way that was accessible to all. In this podcast, Chief Executive of Humanists UK, Andrew Copson, speaks to humanists today to understand more about what they believe, to understand more about the values, convictions, and opinions they live by.
Humanists UK is the national charity working on behalf of non religious people to advance free thinking and promote a tolerant society. If you’d like to support the podcast or find out more about the humanist approach to life or the work that we do, please visit humanists.uk. If you like what you see, please consider joining as a member:
You can follow Humanists UK on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok – and please remember to leave a 5 star review!
What I Believe is produced by Sophie Castle.
EP 57 – Adam Kay on the values of the NHS, fundamental human equality, and the future of one of the UK’s most cherished institutions
EP 56 – Lynne Featherstone on liberalism, being the chief architect of the same-sex marriage act, and her deep aversion to conformity
EP 54 – Tommy Sheppard MP on republicanism, the anti-nuclear campaign, and why he’s not a nationalist
EP 53 – Samira Ahmed on the art of interviewing, equal pay at the BBC, and the ‘toxic’ nature of UK political discourse
EP 52 – Adam Rutherford on tackling racist pseudoscience, ’Where are you really from?’, and Taylor Swift Vs Charles Darwin
EP 51 – Henry Marsh on being a neurosurgeon, living with advanced prostate cancer, and the arguments for assisted dying
EP 50 – Sandi Toksvig on bishops, Scandi convents, and masterminding a school rebellion
EP 49 – Susan Blackmore
EP 48 – Laura Lacole
EP 47 – Christer Sturmark
EP 46 – Nichola Raihani
EP 45 – S I Martin
EP 44 – Kate Pickett
EP 43 – Clive Lewis
EP 42 – Tim McGarry
EP 41 – A C Grayling
EP 40 – Angela Barnes
EP 39 – Frank Turner
EP 38 – Nigel Warburton
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