Widemindedness with Victoria Ball

Dr Amal Marogy is an academic and social entrepreneur. Her key expertise is in Christianity in the Middle East and the preservation of endangered cultural heritages. She herself grew up as part of a religious and ethnic minority community in Iraq, before the country was ravaged by war. War claimed the life of some of her closest relatives and decades later, another relative was held hostage by the so-called Islamic State. She works to foster intercultural dialogue and is interested in a range of issues affecting the modern Middle East. Her media presence is truly international, as she has spoken everywhere from Hong Kong to Washington DC. In the UK, she appeared in The Times and on the BBC, talking about the persecution of Christians in the Middle East. Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram and Facebook, @widemindedness on Twitter and www.victoria-ball.com

Dr Jonathan-Pearson Stuttard is a public health physician and epidemiologist at Imperial College London. His research looks at non-communicable disease epidemiology, using big data to simulate health, economic and inequality outcomes which informs public health policy. He was Editor-in-Chief of the Chief Medical Officer's Annual Report in 2018. He is the Vice Chair of the Royal Society for Public Health and the Head of Health Analytics at Lane, Clark and Peacock. He has just co-authored a book called 'Whose Health is it Anyway?' looking at the impact of COVID 19 on public health. Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram and Facebook, @widemindedness on Twitter and www.victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

Tahir Shah is a prolific best-selling author and film-maker. His thirty-year career has produced more than forty highly acclaimed works of fiction and non-fiction, as well as numerous documentaries and screenplays, and a massive body of journalism, scholarly articles, and photography. Describing himself as an ‘Enthusiast and Adventurer,’ Tahir has spent his professional life searching for the hidden underbelly of lands through which he travels. In doing so, he often uncovers layers of life that most other writers hardly even realise exist. With a world-wide following, Tahir’s work has been translated into more than thirty languages, in hundreds of editions. His documentaries have been screened on National Geographic TV, The History Channel, Channel 4, and in cinemas the world over. The son of the writer and thinker Idries Shah, Tahir was born into a prominent Anglo-Afghan family, and seeks to bridge East with West through his work. Passionate about the changing face of publishing, he established his own media business, Secretum Mundi Ltd., which represents all his projects. Tahir Shah: @tahirshah999 on Instagram, Twitter and tahirshah.com Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram, Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

Josh and Carolyn Thomas live on a 40-acre homestead in the mountains of North Idaho. They raise all their own meat, and produce most of their own dairy, fruit and vegetables using all-natural methods. The couple are passionate about the benefits of homeschooling their nine children. Together they founded and run Homesteading Family, which provides videos, tutorials and classes to inspire and help others to move towards a healthier and more abundant homesteading lifestyle. Their YouTube channel and Facebook page together have nearly half a million subscribers and followers. Homesteading Family: YouTube Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram, Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

Josh and Carolyn Thomas live on a 40-acre homestead in the mountains of North Idaho. They raise all their own meat, and produce most of their own dairy, fruit and vegetables using all-natural methods. The couple are passionate about the benefits of homeschooling their nine children. Together they founded and run Homesteading Family, which provides videos, tutorials and classes to inspire and help others to move towards a healthier and more abundant homesteading lifestyle. Their YouTube channel and Facebook page together have nearly half a million subscribers and followers. Homesteading Family: YouTube Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram, Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

Sophia Money-Coutts is a journalist and author who spent five years studying the British aristocracy while working as Features Director at Tatler. Prior to that she worked as a writer and editor for the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail in London, and The National in Abu Dhabi. She’s a columnist for The Sunday Telegraph and the Evening Standard, and often appears on radio and television channels talking about important topics such as Prince Harry’s wedding and the etiquette of the threesome. She’s published three novels, The Plus One and What Happens Now?, and The Wish List. We recorded our conversation earlier this summer.  Sophia Money-Coutts: @sophiamcoutts on Instagram, Twitter and sophiamoneycoutts.com Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram, Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

“Widemindedness means being not just respectful of others, not just seeking to understand others, but to celebrate the otherness in other people, and I hope that they will celebrate the otherness in me.” Dr Edward Kessler is Founder Director of the Woolf Institute and a leading thinker in interfaith relations, primarily Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations. In 2007 Dr Kessler was described by The Times Higher Education Supplement (London) as “probably the most prolific interfaith figure in British academia” and in 2011 was awarded an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for services to interfaith relations. Kessler regularly appears in the media commenting on religion and belief issues of the day, most recently presenting a BBC Radio 4 documentary entitled 'We do do God' (2019), is a regular contributor to the Woolf Institute blog and hosts the podcast 'Encounter'. Edward Kessler MBE: Woolf Instituteand @kessler_ed on Twitter Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram, Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

"I definitely wish that more people in the zoo field were more wideminded about how best to provide care for animals in captivity."  Husband and wife team, Jeff Harwell and Courtney Palmer, are zookeepers, who specialise in getting up close and personal with the animals with whom they work. They work at the Out of Africa Wildlife Park in Camp Verde, Arizona, which is the most free-contact facility in the world. Jeff is the departmental manager of the core group of animals, which consists of large carnivores. He can be found on most afternoons jumping into pools with adult tigers. Courtney is manager of the ungulate department, overseeing giraffes and zebras at the park amongst other hooved animals! Jeff describes himself as a conservative, Republican, Texan, Christian hunter. Courtney describes herself as a liberal, Democratic, Pennsylvanian, vegetarian agnostic. US listeners can text BIGCATS5 to 50555 to donate $5 to National Geographic's BIG CAT INITIATIVE.Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram, Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

“I was the first person in the UK, virtually, to get Coronavirus really badly, and to be whipped into hospital and to be extremely ill for seven weeks, five weeks in an induced coma, having a tracheotomy and on a ventilator, and tubes everywhere." The Spectator has called Robin Hanbury-Tenison OBE “the doyen of British explorers.” He is also a conservationist, broadcaster, filmmaker, author, campaigner and farmer. Actress Joanna Lumley has called him “a matchless man.” In 2020, just weeks before the global lockdown in response to Coronavirus, Hanbury-Tenison’s latest book ‘Taming the Four Horsemen - radical solutions to defeat pandemics, war, famine and the death of the planet’ was published. Robin spent seven weeks fighting for his life, after testing positive for COVID-19. He is President of the charity Survival International, which he founded in 1969, and was previously Chief Executive of The Countryside Alliance. In 1957, Hanbury-Tenison became the first person to travel overland by jeep from London to Sri Lanka. In 1958, he became the first to cross South America overland at its widest point. He visited 33 Indian tribes in Brazil at the invitation of the Brazilian government. The list of his expeditions goes on to number over 30 in total. He was one of the first campaigners to bring the plight of the rainforests to the world's attention. Robin Hanbury-Tenison: www.robinsbooks.co.uk and Wikipedia Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram, Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

"I think people are looking for three things: purpose, love and belonging." Nicky Gumbel is Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton (HTB), a Church of England church in central London which holds 11 Sunday services on five sites. He is the pioneer of Alpha, an introduction to the Christian faith run by all the major Christian denominations in 169 countries. He is married to Pippa, and together they write a commentary on the Bible in One Year. Nicky read Law at Trinity College, Cambridge, Theology at Oxford and practised as a barrister. He joined HTB as a curate in 1986 and became vicar in 2005. He has written many books including Questions of Life and The Jesus Lifestyle. Nicky Gumbel: @nickygumbel on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram Alpha: www.alpha.org Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram, Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

"I was thinking what is Widemindedness? For me, you might describe it as 'breathing for the mind'. Without Widemindedness, essentially, you're dead. I can't think of another way of being." Jason Webster has written a dozen books on Spanish themes from travel writing to history to fiction. He has appeared in TV and radio documentaries for the BBC, Five and the Discovery Channel. Webster is also an award-winning photographer, a founder member of the Bridport School of Writing, and was the Flamenco correspondent for Classical Guitar magazine. He created and led a series of cultural tours around Spain examining the history of the Pilgrimage to Santiago, relations between Moors and Christians in the Middle Ages, and the Spanish Civil War, which was named as one of the best tours of Spain by the Sunday Times. In addition, Webster has written extensively for British and Spanish newspapers, including The Financial Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer, and El Asombrario. He is married to the Flamenco dancer Salud Botella. Jason Webster: www.jasonwebster.net and on Twitter, Facebook and  Instagram Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram and Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

"There's a huge range of ways of living and of what one expects from life." Jason Webster has written a dozen books on Spanish themes from travel writing to history to fiction. He has appeared in TV and radio documentaries for the BBC, Five and the Discovery Channel. Webster is also an award-winning photographer, a founder member of the Bridport School of Writing, and was the Flamenco correspondent for Classical Guitar magazine. He created and led a series of cultural tours around Spain examining the history of the Pilgrimage to Santiago, relations between Moors and Christians in the Middle Ages, and the Spanish Civil War, which was named as one of the best tours of Spain by the Sunday Times. In addition, Webster has written extensively for British and Spanish newspapers, including The Financial Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian, The Observer, and El Asombrario. He is married to the Flamenco dancer Salud Botella. Jason Webster: www.jasonwebster.net and on Twitter, Facebook and  Instagram Victoria Ball: @widemindednessvictoriaball on Instagram and Facebook and victoria-ball.com Sign up here to make sure you never miss an episode and to find out how Widemindedness could change your life.

Dr. Jan-Jonathan Bock has been the Programme Director of Cumberland Lodge since May 2018. He leads the Programme Department and oversees its series of conferences, seminars, youth-leadership retreats and publications around social cohesion,...

Pam King Sams has dedicated 28 years to leading and advising academic medical centres and universities in building relationships that improve the health, education and well-being of children and adults worldwide. Pam has partnered with the Abu Dhabi...

What Now? is a news site that has been launched during lockdown aiming to offer a wider perspective on current affairs. What Now? aims to provide balanced articles which get to the heart of a particular event and also offer a bigger picture view of how...

Joshua White is an art gallery director. In 2020 he has contributed to Channel 5’s ‘Great Paintings of the World’ and Radio 4’s ‘Behind the Scenes’. He is a presenter and producer on ‘The Art Channel’, which films and reviews exhibitions of contemporary...

Christopher M. Schroeder is an American entrepreneur, advisor and investor in interactive technologies and social media. His investments have included a number of global unicorns, that is, privately held startups valued at over $1 billion USD. He has...

In 2008, the Queen awarded Duncan the OBE for his “services to children”. He has worked to help health and family services engage better with the wider family group, in particular, fathers. He co-founded the Fatherhood Institute and for three years...

Amanda Bigelow is a Food as Medicine Practitioner, certified Health Coach, Intuitive Healer, Author and Presenter. She works with high-achieving women; helping them to heal their bodies, get more energy, and create long, healthy and productive lives....

Eamonn Gearon has lived with the Bedu in Egypt’s Western Desert, and conducted a number of lengthy, solo, camel-powered explorations of the Sahara. He is an historian and analyst who specialises in the Middle East. He ran Area Studies Training for the...

"He's a future prime minister – though he'll be mortified to hear us say that. He's far too modest." So wrote The Guardian of my guest this week, Tom Chigbo. Tom is a Senior Organiser for Citizens UK, a community-organising alliance of faith, education...

Eamonn Gearon has lived with the Bedu in Egypt’s Western Desert, and conducted a number of lengthy, solo, camel-powered explorations of the Sahara. He is an historian and analyst who specialises in the Middle East. He ran Area Studies Training for the...

Eamonn Gearon has lived with the Bedu in Egypt’s Western Desert, and conducted a number of lengthy, solo, camel-powered explorations of the Sahara. He is an historian and analyst who specialises in the Middle East. He ran Area Studies Training for the...

"The only way you're going to make any change in the world is if you're talking to people who don't think the same as you." After a performance career as a classical singer and work in the world of pop music, Florence Bavanandan founded Clear Voice as a...

"Education's role is to encourage people to look at the world through wider eyes." Rev. Dr John Barrett was President of the World Methodist Council. Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity made up of a number of denominations. The World...

Welcome to Widemindedness with Victoria Ball. In each episode, I interview expert guests to explore how much richer life is when we widen our minds to engage with different ideas and perspectives. I believe that widemindedness helps us to feel happier,...

Dr. Daniel Wehrenfennig is the executive director of the Olive Tree Initiative, an award winning experiential learning programme that helps young people better understand conflict through educational trips. He wrote his Ph.D. about the...

"The great benefit of widemindedness is that you are always being refreshed by the variety of the world and people, and of what one can learn from both." A. C. Grayling CBE is perhaps one of the best known voices in modern philosophy. He is the Master...

A. C. Grayling CBE is perhaps one of the best known voices in modern philosophy. He is the Master of the New College of the Humanities, London, and its Professor of Philosophy. He is the author of over thirty books of philosophy, biography, history of...

Kathleen O’Hara MA LPC is an international psychotherapist with 27 years of experience. She works with individuals and families facing the complex mental health and wellbeing challenges of the 21st century. She is the author of A Grief Like No Other, a...

Debrett’s is a professional coaching company, publisher and leading authority on modern manners. Debrett’s first published The Peerage & Baronetage, over 250 years ago and today they continue to share their expertise in social skills and building...

Robin Wight, dubbed "an advertising legend" by the BBC, has made a highly successful career out of having innovative, creative ideas. In this episode, he joins host Victoria Ball to discuss why he believes in the maxim "Widen your mind, improve your...