This is a quick thank you and goodbye as we wrap up the first season of this podcast with 13 nuggets of wisdom; a piece of advice from each one of our guests.  What does it mean to be a good person? - let's see what each of our guests thought. We’ll be back early 2023 with our next season, but for now this short episode is dedicated to everyone who has listened and supported this podcast since its launch in 2020. THANK YOU! If you'd like to support this podcast as we develop the next...

What does it mean to be good according to a Moral Philosopher? In this episode, I talk with Professor of Moral Philosophy, Jeff McMahan. Jeff McMahan is Sekyra and White’s Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Oxford. He has written extensively about issues concerning harming, killing, and saving, such as war, abortion, euthanasia and the evaluation of death. He is also the co-editor of the Journal of Controversial Ideas. In this conversation, Jeff introduces us to the...

For this Bitesize Episode*, we’re taking some advice from Daoist Monk Yun Rou that “there's always a door number 3 to things”. Whenever we find ourselves in a challenging situation or even a conflict of some kind, Monk Yun Rou suggests we look for Door #3 – a third option that is available to us when we feel limited in our choices.  This episode is all about how considering the variety of options available to us in any given moment gives us a greater sense of freedom and helps us get more...

What does it mean to be a good person according to a Daoist Monk? We ask Daoist Monk Yun Rou (his name means Soft Cloud) to share his opinions on being good according to the view of Daoism. Daoism - also known as Taoism - originated in China close to 2,000 years ago, and as Monk Yun Rou describes, it centres on living in harmony with nature, and everything in existence. Ordained as a Monk at the Chun Yang (Pure Yang) Daoist Temple in Guangzhou, China, Yun Rou is a Daoist Monk, Author...

For this Bitesize Episode* we’re taking a few minutes to focus on judgement. Judgement is an integral part of our everyday life; it’s about making considered decisions to come to sensible conclusions, and in many ways it’s essential to keep us safe and functioning. But, as many of our podcast guests have highlighted, when it comes to judging others and – especially judging the good, or bad, in others - we have to be careful. This is a 7-minute reflection on judgement and the impact it has...

What does it mean to be a good person according to an atheist? We ask Andy Phillips, Board Member of Atheism UK, to share his opinion on being good according to atheistic thought. Andy hosts the Atheism UK podcast, facilitating conversations about atheism and shining a light on some of the misconceptions that often come along with the term. In this conversation, Andy talks about some of the differences between theists (those who believe in God) and atheists (those who don’t). If you enjoy...

What does it mean to be a good person according to Sikhism?  We ask Sikh Human Rights Activist, Simran Singh, to share his opinions on being good according to the Sikh way of life.  In keeping with his Sikh faith, Simran engages in human rights broadly and has a long history of working within the corporate world too. He is a lifelong Senior Fellow at the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute and a member of the Rumi Forum's Advisory Council in Washington, DC, and a Fellow at the Royal Society of...

For our bitesize edition this month, we’re taking a few moments to celebrate! Not only was our most recent interview with Humanist Jane Blackman all about the joy of celebration, but we also found out earlier this month that this podcast has made it to the finals of the International People's Choice podcast awards.  As today is International Podcast Day, and the People’s Choice Podcast award ceremony is this evening, we’re taking a moment to celebrate. And we’re celebrating each one of our...

What does it mean to be a good person according to a Humanist? We ask Humanist Jane Blackman to share her opinion on being good according to her non-religious beliefs. Jane is an award-winning Humanist Celebrant, performing non-religious weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies and other non-religious rituals. Last year, Jane was voted best celebrant in the country – she’s based in the UK - at the 2020 Wedding Industry Awards. As a former head teacher, Jane is passionate about education and...

What does it mean to be a good person according to a member of the First Nations?  We ask Melanie Goodchild, Moose Clan, to share her opinion on being good according to Indigenous teachings. Melanie is Anishinaabe (Ojibway or Chippewa) from Biigtigong Nishnaabeg and Ketegaunseebee First Nations in northern Ontario, Canada. She is a senior indigenous research fellow and associate at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. Currently studying for her PhD in social and ecological...

For our Bitesize Episode* this month, we’re taking some advice from Hindu Pandita Indrani Rampersad:   "You know I used to teach High School in New York, and I used to teach my kids everyday – when you go home, I want you to do three good things. And tomorrow when you come, tell me what you did.” This month, let’s do 3 good things – just 3 little things - each day, and make note of what they were at the end of that day because whatever we focus on becomes our reality, so let’s make goodness...

What does it mean to be a good person according to a Catholic Sister? We ask Sister Adele Marie Altenhofen to share her opinion on being good according to Catholic teachings. Sister Adele Marie joined the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon on Valentines Day in 1982 and now serves as the President of the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon Ministries Corporation (a multi-million dollar non-profit). In 2018,  because of how she’s lead this business, Sister Adele Marie was awarded the Portland Business...

What does it mean to be a good person according to a Hindu Pandita*? We ask Dr. Pandita Indrani Rampersad, the first ever official female priest to be ordained in Trinidad, to share her opinions on being good according to Hindu teachings.  Dr. Pandita...

This third Bitesize Episode* focuses on Binary Thinking.We are living in a time of deep polarity – both politically and socially. It seems our beliefs, opinions and actions are becoming more and more pushed to two far ends of a wide and diverse...

What does it mean to be a good person according to the teachings of Islam? This is the second-half of my interview with Imam Abdulah Polovina – if you haven’t listened to the first half yet, then head back to our previous episode and take a listen. We...

What does it mean to be a good person according to the teachings of Islam? We ask Imam Abdulah Polovina to share his opinions on being a good Muslim. Imam Abdulah is a warm and approachable leader and in this conversation, we talk about what it means...

This second Bitesize Episode* focuses on Forgiveness.This is an area that most of us have an opinion on; we all have experience of trying to forgive or seeking forgiveness – or maybe refusing to forgive. I’ve asked most of the Faith Leaders I’ve...

What does it mean to be a good person according to a Pagan? We ask Jenny Uzzell, Education & Youth Manager for The Pagan Federation, to share her opinions on being "good" according to Pagan teachings. Jenny has been involved in Druidry for 12 years, and is carrying out her PhD research into death rites among contemporary Druids in the UK. She is also co-owner and Director of a funeral home, which is where she was for this interview. In this conversation, Jenny covers many of the...

What does it mean to be a good person within Christianity?We ask Christian Priest, Reverend Prebendary Angela Berners-Wilson to share her opinions on being 'good' according to Christian teachings.Reverend Angela was the first woman to be ordained as a...

This first Bitesize Episode* focuses on Creating Community.  We can choose to be in community with whoever is around us at the time – the people at our local shop, those in the road when we’re out for a walk. Whoever is around us is our community so...

What does it mean to be a good person according to a Buddhist Abbot? We ask Geshe Tashi, Abbot of Sera Mey Monastery in India, to share his opinions on being good according to Buddhist teachings. Geshe Tashi is known for his ability to present the most...

What does it mean to be a good person within Judaism?  We ask Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah to share her opinions on being good according to Jewish teachings.  Rabbi Elli has been Rabbi of Brighton and Hove Progressive Synagogue for 20 years (since 1 December 2000), and was the first ordained lesbian Rabbi in the world to lead a mainstream synagogue. She is a profoundly passionate Jew with a deep love of the spiritual, theological and practical aspects of her faith, and has a real passion for...

A brief introduction to the How to Be Good podcast – to share the motivation behind it, and also to introduce the first series which has a specific focus. If you have any questions, email Sarah anytime at [email protected].