57 episodes

In this podcast, Chief Executive of Humanists UK Andrew Copson talks to humanists today about what they believe, to understand more about the values, convictions, and opinions they live by.

What I Believe Humanists UK

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.8 • 141 Ratings

In this podcast, Chief Executive of Humanists UK Andrew Copson talks to humanists today about what they believe, to understand more about the values, convictions, and opinions they live by.

    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 57 – Adam Kay on the values of the NHS, fundamental human equality, and the future of one of the UK’s most cherished institutions

    Andrew Copson speaks to award-winning writer, comedian, and former doctor Adam Kay who shares the beliefs that have shaped his life and career. From the original values of the NHS, to questions about its future, he lifts the lid on one of the UK’s most cherished institutions, founded by humanist Nye Bevan, and offers a glimpse into the challenges facing patients, healthcare workers, and the NHS as a service.
     
    Adam's new book, Kay’s Incredible Inventions, is out now: https://www.waterstones.com/book/kays-incredible-inventions/adam-kay/henry-paker/9780241540787
     
    He is a patron of Humanists UK: https://humanists.uk/about/our-people/patrons/adam-kay/
     
    In May 2023, Humanists UK held an 'In Conversation Event' with Adam Kay, hosted by its President, Adam Rutherford: https://humanists.uk/2023/05/17/humanists-uk-presents-adam-kay-with-the-voltaire-lecture-medal/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.

    • 37 min
    EP 56 – Lynne Featherstone on liberalism, being the chief architect of the same-sex marriage act, and her deep aversion to conformity

    EP 56 – Lynne Featherstone on liberalism, being the chief architect of the same-sex marriage act, and her deep aversion to conformity

    Andrew Copson speaks to Liberal Democrat peer and patron of Humanists UK, Baroness Lynne Featherstone who shares her political experiences as a Minister of the Conservative–Liberal Democrat Coalition Government (2010-2015). From being the chief architect of the same-sex marriage act, to the values that drive her liberal beliefs, it’s a must-listen episode about an individual whose actions have left a significant impact on the world of politics and social change.
    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.

    • 31 min
    EP 55 – Alom Shaha on becoming a humanist, the joy of teaching, and writing ’The Young Atheist’s Handbook’

    EP 55 – Alom Shaha on becoming a humanist, the joy of teaching, and writing ’The Young Atheist’s Handbook’

    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.

    • 34 min
    EP 54 – Tommy Sheppard MP on republicanism, the anti-nuclear campaign, and why he’s not a nationalist

    EP 54 – Tommy Sheppard MP on republicanism, the anti-nuclear campaign, and why he’s not a nationalist

    Andrew Copson speaks to SNP MP Tommy Sheppard about his life and career as a politician. From his childhood in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, to his unwavering commitment to Scottish independence, it's an engaging episode that explores the importance of collective endeavour, democracy, and the need for progressive change in a rapidly changing world.
    Tommy Sheppard MP is the Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Humanist Group, a cross-party group of Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords of all the main parties, including members from the Crossbenches in the Lords: https://humanists.uk/about/humanists-in-parliament/
     
    He secured a backbench business debate on the presence of 26 unelected bishops in the House of Lords in July 2023: https://humanists.uk/2023/07/06/mps-slam-automatic-right-for-bishops-to-sit-in-the-house-of-lords/
     
    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.
     

    • 28 min
    EP 53 – Samira Ahmed on the art of interviewing, equal pay at the BBC, and the ‘toxic’ nature of UK political discourse

    EP 53 – Samira Ahmed on the art of interviewing, equal pay at the BBC, and the ‘toxic’ nature of UK political discourse

    Andrew Copson chats to multi award-winning journalist, writer, and broadcaster Samira Ahmed who shares the secrets and skills behind her successful career. From questioning those in power, to taking an equal pay case against the BBC, it’s an inspiring episode about the fight for equality and challenging the status quo.
    Samira Ahmed is a regular contributor to New Humanist magazine: https://newhumanist.org.uk/contributors/5253/samira-ahmed
    She also regularly chairs Humanists UK events: https://www.youtube.com/@HumanistsUK 
    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: https://humanists.uk/
    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.

    • 40 min
    EP 52 – Adam Rutherford on tackling racist pseudoscience, ’Where are you really from?’, and Taylor Swift Vs Charles Darwin

    EP 52 – Adam Rutherford on tackling racist pseudoscience, ’Where are you really from?’, and Taylor Swift Vs Charles Darwin

    Andrew Copson chats with geneticist and author of How to Argue With a Racist Adam Rutherford about the motivations behind a career spent challenging false claims from religion and pseudoscience. From unshackling ourselves from the constraints of evolution, to charting the trajectory of our long history, it's a reflective discussion that emphasises our common humanity and capacity to build a better society. 

     
    Adam Rutherford is the current President of Humanists UK. He delivered Humanists UK’s 2019 Voltaire Lecture, How to argue with a racist, which became the basis for his 2020 bestselling book of the same name: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYf-xNsIb2I
     


    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: https://humanists.uk/
     
    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.

    • 32 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
141 Ratings

141 Ratings

Ferrismouse ,

I’ve found my people.

It’s a real comfort to listen to people, from completely different walks of life, that hold the same core values and beliefs as you. I cannot pinpoint the source of my values, however, they are echoed in every single speaker here. This is such a good show. Kudos to Humanists UK for the hard work that has obviously gone into it’s production. I’ve noticed there hasn’t been a show since Nov’ 23 and I do hope this is just a winter break. As a species, we do essentially want ‘good things’ and this is unambiguously show-cased here. Bravo.

FunkyFlag ,

Really interesting

I have throughly enjoyed all episodes so far. Very glad there is a third season. Tim Minchin and Joan Bakewell are my highlights so far but all in testing. Interviewer is very good, as has the knack of listening and also causing the interviewee to talk.

&@59 ,

S Blackmore

What was the point of this interview? I’m confused. And frustrated. Is it just me or SB has NOT explained WHAT ARE out-of-body experiences if not paranormal? She said she has a Phd in debunking the afterlife theory yet says nothing about it. I thought I was going to learn something important - and so does this mean we should all except that nothing exists because her research says so? Very disappointing podcast.
Flimsy and inconsequential.

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