This week we’re talking to “jack of all trades, master of ceremonies” Testament: hip-hop MC, writer, theatre-maker and world-record-breaking human beatboxer.  Listen in as Testament discusses his cultural upbringing, including his love of De La Soul as well as the Pet Shop Boys, along with his theory why Glee is not only prophetic, but “the real hip-hop”.  Testament gets real with Paul and Katherine about his own faith, feminism and social justice work. Including his attempts as a rebellious teenager to ‘out-Christian’ his parents, and his acceptance nowadays of his own vulnerability and ‘brokenness’ as a way to help others reflect on their own lives.  He also belatedly apologises for accidentally stabbing his older brother in his hand with a compass when they were growing up, but that’s another story… Meanwhile, Katherine and Paul get excited about Dolly Parton’s covid vaccine and have a go at guessing what’s inside Dominic Cummings’ cardboard box. Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below. ____ ABOUT TESTAMENT Testament is a Hip-Hop MC, writer, theatre maker and world record breaking human beatboxer. Born in North London and growing up in Manchester, moving on to study in West Yorkshire where he currently resides. As a lyricist his critically acclaimed work combines strands of rap, song and spoken word. Testament’s work includes the celebrated Hip-Hop album Homecut: No Freedom Without Sacrifice, as well as several spoken word performances for BBC TV and  BBC Radio (1xtra, Radio 4 and 6Music). More recently, 2019 he was Channel 4 Writer in Residence at Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester. Website Instagram Twitter Facebook ____ LINKS AND RESOURCES Testament’s website Dominic Cummings and his cardboard box Dolly Parton Vaccine  Orpheus in the Record Shop Peace Jam The Romantics and Us with Simon Schama Testament And William Blake Woke Testament’s interview with Leroy Logan Leroy Logan and Testament in conversation - Podcast ____ 00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In 00:20 - Katherine and Paul catch up 08:39 - Introducing Testament and his work 09:22 - Testament joins the conversation 09:50 - Testament on lockdown 11:34 - Testament on Orpheus in the record shop 14:55 - Testament on creativity 23:28 - Testament on Peace Jam 27:45 - Testament on Desmond Tutu 28:50 - Testament on faith, dogma and trying ‘out-Christian’ everyone 32:16 - Testament on Greenbelt Festival 34:10 - Testament on ego and social justice 37:06 - Testament on classic and contemporary art 40:33 - Testament on ‘Woke’ and feminism 47:42 - Testament on racial justice 52:10 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Testament 01:06:00 - Coming up next week 01:07:54 - How to get in touch with us 01:08:08 - Thank you’s 01:08:36 - Hidden track ____ A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires. ____ https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/ #SomewhereToBelieveIn See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.