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As Celtic Worship, one of Scotland’s best known Christian praise bands, embark on its first major Scottish tour, Cathy chats to fiddle player Mhairi Marwick. Together they discuss the evolution and increasing popularity of praise bands, their mission as a group and the band’s upcoming tour.

Syma Ahmed and Abdul Latif Aziz from Tape Letters Scotland join Cathy to discuss the new series of new audio-visual exhibitions uncovering hidden histories of the Scottish Pakistani community through cassette tapes sent between continents.

Cathy’s This Spiritual Life guest this week is Buddhist monk Gelong Thubten. Thubten and Cathy explore his personal journey from self-confessed party animal to mindfulness and meditation advocate, the personal tragedy he has faced and delve into the challenges of taking a vow of silence whilst on Arran.

This week’s Faith Forum panel consists of broadcaster and academic at the University of Edinburgh Mona Siddiqui, Writer and member of the Reform Jewish Community David Goodman and Minister of Greyfriars Parish Church in Lanark, Reverend Bryan Kerr.

With the first anniversary of the 7th October attacks on Israel by Hamas on the horizon, the panel reflect on a year of the Israel-Gaza conflict and explore the challenges of covering and discussing the conflict in the Middle East in our personal and professional lives.

As Professor Brian Cox’s new TV series Solar System lifts off, our panel discuss why we are so bewitched by the Heavens and what exploring the stars might mean for us down here.

And the panel will be marking World Teachers’ Day by doffing their mortar boards to the educators in our lives by sharing their experiences of those who have inspired their life’s path.