with Tony Kearney

Tony’s This Spritual Life guest this week is the acclaimed American novelist Tayari Jones, author of An American Marriage. Her latest novel, Kin, is a deeply spiritual exploration of family, faith, and belonging.

Is anything out there? When it comes to extra terrestrial intelligence, it’s a question Dr Shoaib Malik has been pondering for some time — and one he believes we all need to face. He joins Tony to tell him more about his Edinburgh Science Festival lecture.

Iranian American chef and writer Samin Nosrat shares her inspiration for her second cookery book: Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love. She became a household name with her bestseller: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat in 2017 which later became a hit Netflix series.

Tony’s Faith Forum panel this week is Sydney Switzer, a freelance Jewish educator, Mona Siddiqui, Professor of Religion and Society at King’s College and Ronnie Convery, Director of Communications, Archdiocese of Glasgow. Together they discuss some of the stories making the week’s headlines.

After the US president took a terrifying ultimatum right to the wire they look at the ethics of making threats, not just in international politics, but in our everyday lives too, and ask if the notion of brinkmanship can ever be used for good?

Plus, the rapper Kanye West seeks forgiveness from the Jewish community after his anti-semitic comments, songs and actions have led the government to refuse him entry to the UK, ahead of a music festival he was due to headline in the summer. How do two sides come to the table when hurt and great offence has been caused?

And finally, water cremation —Scotland has become the first place in the UK to legalise the practice. Should our panel's faith communities be considering it?