Best Woolf Institute Podcasts (2025)

1
Dialogue: The Moses Story 36:35

3y ago36:35

36:35

A Muslim and a Jew, Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra and Rick Sopher, come together to discuss the Moses story as told in the Qu’ran and the Torah. What are the similarities and differences? How should texts be interpreted? Perhaps most importantly, how do we manage difference? We explore these questions and more in this full length version of Dialogue: The Mo…

1
We need to talk about Israel/Palestine 1:03:01

3y ago1:03:01

1:03:01

On dialogue. In a special podcast by the Woolf Institute, recorded live at our ‘We need to talk about Israel/Palestine’ event, Baroness Warsi and Jonathan Freedland attempt to do just that. How can British Muslims and Jews talk about the conflict? Why have past discussions led to so many tensions? And what can we learn from an open and honest dialo…

1
Breaking Bread 26:49

3y ago26:49

26:49

On food. With Ed away, producer David Perry sits down in the kitchen of best-selling food writer Claudia Roden to talk cooking, cuisine and culture. How essential is food to our understanding of ourselves? Where do our cooking traditions come from? And can we map religious and cultural change through the dishes we enjoy today? Featuring Claudia Rod…

1
An Interview with Daniel Zeichner 23:49

3y ago23:49

23:49

On politics. With increasing polarisation in our nation we talk Antisemitism, Islamophobia and, of course, Brexit with MP for Cambridge, Daniel Zeichner. Is our society becoming less tolerant? How do we break down stalemates between opposing views? And should we have a second Brexit referendum? Featuring Ed Kessler and Daniel Zeichner.…

1
Fundamentalism 35:21

3y ago35:21

35:21

On strictly observant religion. In this episode Ed sits down with the Woolf Institute's own Tobias Müller and Professor Kim Knott from Lancaster University and the Centre for Research and Evidence on Security Threats to try and add nuance to the way we talk about fundamentalism. How do fundamentalist ideas and behaviour function? Is fundamentalism …

1
Incarceration 38:13

3y ago38:13

38:13

On prisons. How does religion play a role in our prison system and can faith stop prisoners reoffending? We speak to Dr Ruth Armstrong from the Institute of Criminology in Cambridge to assess these questions before a hands on discussion with Imam Farooq Mulla and Bob Wilson, both of whom have spent years bringing their faith to the UK's incarcerati…

1
Islamophobia 36:38

3y ago36:38

36:38

On prejudice (II). How prevalent is Islamophobia in Britain? In what ways does it permeate our society? And what can we do to tackle it? First, the Woolf Institute's Julian Hargreaves talks definitions and common misconceptions. Then Ed chats to Samayya Afzal from the Muslim Council of Britain about the nature and scale of the problem for Muslim co…

1
Antisemitism 43:07

3y ago43:07

43:07

On prejudice. Daniel Staetsky from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research joins Ed to examine antisemitism based on hard evidence. How antisemitic is our society? Are antisemitism and criticism of Israel linked? And what might the future hold for Britain's Jewish community? We move beyond public rhetoric to Daniel's key research into the phenomen…

1
Between Texts, Beyond Difference 44:23

3y ago44:23

44:23

On Interfaith. We eavesdrop on a Muslim/Jewish dialogue between Rick Sopher and Shaykh Mogra as they negotiate the parallels between their two religious texts. What are the similarities? How do we manage the differences? And how can understanding each other strengthen our faith? Featuring Ed Kessler, Rick Sopher and Shaykh Ibrahim Mogra.…

1
The Future with Martin Rees 35:39

3y ago35:39

35:39

On the future. Astronomer Royal Martin Rees describes himself as a 'Cultural Anglican' rather than a believer. A recipient of the Templeton Prize, he has spent a lifetime examining the evolution of the Universe, including negotiating between religious dogma and scientific revelation. How do we reconcile faith into our scientific understanding of th…

1
Beyond Accessibility 35:29

3y ago35:29

35:29

On disability. Pam Mungroo presents Sunday Breakfast on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire - the god slot. Yet despite choosing to be baptised at an early age, she struggles to reconcile her faith with her disability. In this episode of Encounter we move beyond issues of accessibility to look at the fundamental conflicts between religions and the disabled. G…

1
God in the Machine 30:11

3y ago30:11

30:11

On artificial intelligence. Beth Singler is a self-confessed geek. As a kid, she loved Star Trek and other science fiction; today she spends all her time researching our attitudes to technology - especially artificial intelligence. In this episode, Beth talks sentient AI. What questions do these machines raise? And can religion answer them?…

1
Q&A with Ed Kessler 19:55

3y ago19:55

19:55

On the Woolf Institute. In this episode, producer David Perry sits down one-to-one with Woolf Institute founder Ed Kessler. How did the Institute go from Ed's dream to a leading voice in interfaith relations? In a world of quick reactions and questionable facts, can courteous dialogue and research really help?…

1
Refuge 46:51

3y ago46:51

46:51

On refugees. The world is in the midst of a refugee crisis. Over six million refugees have escaped Syria alone since the conflict began there - but only around 11,500 have resettled in the UK. In this episode of Encounter we hear from Bayan about his own difficult journey from Syria to the UK. We ask how this crisis compares to those the world has …

1
Pilot: Should We Send Our Children to Faith Schools? 48:16

3y ago48:16

48:16

On education. Join Ed Kessler and guests Julian Huppert, Azadeh Moaveni and Austin Tiffany as they discuss and debate religion and education in the UK. Are faith schools good for society as a whole or do they breed division? Should faith schools receive taxpayers' money? What part do faith schools play in the lives of the non-religious?…

1
Z for Zion 10:21

3y ago10:21

10:21

Can Zion prove to itself and to the world that it is capable of being a holy site to all?By Woolf Institute

1
Y for Yerushalayim 8:56

3y ago8:56

8:56

For Jews, Christians and Muslims, Jerusalem represents the divine–human encounter, linking heaven and earth.By Woolf Institute

1
X for X-ray Archaeology 8:58

3y ago8:58

8:58

Is the Jewish state’s right to exist legitimised – or illegitimated – by stones or pottery from 3000 years ago?By Woolf Institute

1
W for Words 9:35

3y ago9:35

9:35

Words have power. They can build or destroy, heal or harm.By Woolf Institute

1
V for Violence 8:59

3y ago8:59

8:59

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict therefore is not just about solving disagreement but rather who has the God-given right to this land. Religious faith not only easily leads to exclusive claims but can also inspire self-sacrifice.By Woolf Institute

1
U for United Nations 8:46

3y ago8:46

8:46

The rivalry of two nationalisms – Jewish and Palestinian – was set in motion well before then but despite the UN’s involvement, they have continued, unabated, to this day.By Woolf Institute

1
T for Trialogue 7:50

3y ago7:50

7:50

Adherents of the Abrahamic faiths in the Holy Land have gained profound experience in polemic and apologetics but little in genuine dialogue.By Woolf Institute

1
S for Status Quo 8:41

3y ago8:41

8:41

Whilst plurality and diversity are under threat on and between all sides, the repairs in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is an example of how sometimes religious leaders can transcend partisan elements.By Woolf Institute

1
R for Refugee 9:05

3y ago9:05

9:05

While the State of Israel will not agree to their return since it would effectively destroy Israel as a Jewish state, the Palestinians steadfastly refuse to abandon their claim.By Woolf Institute

1
Q for Qu'ran 8:09

3y ago8:09

8:09

The Holy Land as a whole and Jerusalem in particular are, according to the Qur’an, sacred and retain an important place in Islamic consciousness.By Woolf Institute

1
P for Palestine 9:12

3y ago9:12

9:12

Palestine is the focus of attention - and contention – around the world.By Woolf Institute

1
O for Ottoman 8:32

3y ago8:32

8:32

Should we conclude that Ottoman rule in the Holy Land was one of harmony between Muslims, Christians and Jews? That's one heavily debated question.By Woolf Institute

1
N for New Testament and Old Testament 7:08

3y ago7:08

7:08

You might expect the Old and New Testaments to contain conflicting views of the Holy Land. However, there is surprising consistency.By Woolf Institute

1
M for Music 9:53

3y ago9:53

9:53

Did you know that the first accurate record of the melodies used for chanting the Torah was made by Christian scholars during the 15th century?By Woolf Institute

1
L for Language 8:49

3y ago8:49

8:49

Arabic and Hebrew have not always been dominant in the Holy Land.By Woolf Institute

1
K for Kibbutz 8:33

3y ago8:33

8:33

The kibbutz, a collective community traditionally run on socialist principles, is portrayed in the Israeli narrative as one of the guardians of the Holy LandBy Woolf Institute

1
J for Jesus 8:48

3y ago8:48

8:48

The events that led to Jesus’ death have been vigorously debated over the centuries.By Woolf Institute

1
I for Israel 10:18

3y ago10:18

10:18

The conflict will not be resolved in the long term by military means but only by compromise.By Woolf Institute

1
H for Humour 7:23

3y ago7:23

7:23

Don’t know whether to laugh or express anger? Is the joke iconoclastic? Insensitive? That's Holy Land humour.By Woolf Institute

1
G for God 8:39

3y ago8:39

8:39

In a quest to encounter the Almighty, where better to go than the Holy Land?By Woolf Institute

1
F for Fanaticism 9:53

3y ago9:53

9:53

Jewish fanatics are no different from other land-centred religious fanatics. The argument is simple: “God gave us this land, it is Holy Land; it is ours and only ours”. Pictured here is Masada, the site of the mass suicide of Jewish Sicarii rebels in approximately 74 CE, and it's just one example of religious fanaticism in the extreme.…

1
E for Environment 9:09

3y ago9:09

9:09

Nothing illustrates the environmental challenge facing the Holy Land better than the decline of the Sea of Galilee, also known as Lake Kinneret, to its lowest levels for 100 years.By Woolf Institute

1
D for Dome of the Rock 9:42

3y ago9:42

9:42

Although Muslims now pray towards Mecca, they once faced Jerusalem.By Woolf Institute

1
C for Christianity 9:42

3y ago9:42

9:42

Christians are a minority in the Holy Land and a minority within the Arab minority. Purely on the psychological level, the Church is under pressure.By Woolf Institute

1
B for Balfour 8:39

3y ago8:39

8:39

In 67 words, the Foreign Secretary publicly declared the support of the British government for the Jewish claim to a ‘national home’ in Palestine in 1917. What happened next?By Woolf Institute

1
A for Arab 8:41

3y ago8:41

8:41

It may seem obvious to begin an A-Z of the Holy Land with ‘A’ for Arab but the term is more confusing than it may seem at first glance. Dr Ed Kessler introduces us to this subject in this first episode.By Woolf Institute

1
Introduction to A-Z of the Holy Land 3:25

3y ago3:25

3:25

Come on a journey from biblical times to the modern day...By Woolf Institute

1
Being Offended, Being Offensive 39:30

3y ago39:30

39:30

On offending. In the first episode of Encounter, join Ed Kessler and guests Hira Amin, Dunya Habash, and Julian Hargreaves as they discuss and debate being offended and being offensive. When does freedom of expression become offensiveness? How do we deal with violence in our religious texts? Are we as a culture too easily offended? Encounter is a d…

1
Troubled Minds 45:32

3y ago45:32

45:32

On mental health. With the UK's Mental Health Awareness Week taking place in May, this week's Encounter delves into how religious belief affects the troubled mind. Can faith help to protect against mental illness? Does religious doctrine ever prevent open emotional discussion? What responsibilities do faith communities have to help each other? Feat…

1
God on the Pitch 34:13

3y ago34:13

34:13

On football. On the momentous occasion of the World Cup, we at the Woolf sat down to discuss how religion plays a role on the pitch. Is football the new religious experience? Does it transcend our human differences or reinforce them? Most importantly, who will emerge victorious in Moscow on July 15th, and is God on their side? Featuring Ed Kessler,…

1
Music and changing the world 47:15

3y ago47:15

47:15

On music. If music be the food of love... from Christian and Muslim contributions to Andalucian flamenco, to the secularism of modern jazz, religion and music are deeply intertwined. Is there really such a thing as Jewish, Muslim, or Christian music? Are songs the great uniter, or is context more important? Will Ed ever overcome his childhood tromb…