Humanists UK celebrates milestone 50th episode as Sandi Toksvig headlines season six of ‘What I Believe’ podcast

Humanists UK is excited to announce the launch of the sixth season of its podcast, What I Believe. The season features eight new thought provoking guests including Sandi Toksvig, who kick starts this season as the podcast’s 50th guest.

What I Believe asks humanists in the public eye what they believe, shining a light on their diverse worldviews and the values, convictions, and opinions they live by. It is presented by Humanists UK Chief Executive, Andrew Copson and has now been downloaded over a quarter of a million times in more than 100 countries.

This season promises to be the most compelling yet, featuring guests that include entertainer Sandi Toksvig, author Adam Kay, broadcaster Samira Ahmed, and geneticist Adam Rutherford, each sharing their personal journeys, beliefs, and the values that guide their lives. Listeners can expect insights into guests’ lives and what matters to them most.

Sandi Toksvig, a beloved figure known for her wit and wisdom, kicks off the season with a candid conversation about her ‘strange upbringing’ (including attending a convent in Copenhagen), co-founding the Women’s Equality Party, and her dedication to promoting human rights, particularly for the LGBT community. She discusses her public call earlier this year for Church of England bishops to be removed from the House of Lords over its continued opposition to same-sex marriage.

Speaking on the What I Believe podcast, Sandi Toksvig said:

‘I was very upset. The Archbishop of Canterbury returned from a Synod with all of the bishops and the main takeaway seemed to be to reaffirm the position of LGBT people as not fully equal members of the Church of England family. So here’s the thing: he’s entitled to believe that, he’s entitled to say it, he’s entitled to put forward that view. Where I feel enraged is that he’s also entitled, along with 25 other Church of England bishops, to sit in the House of Lords and pass laws. When same-sex marriage was voted upon, nine bishops turned up and they all voted against. That’s not okay. So, of course, I will defend to the death, your right to say things that I don’t agree with. But I will not agree that in a democracy, you then get to vote my life out of the picture.’

Sandi also touches on an earlier experience in her life when she was dropped from hosting a Save the Children event in 1994 (for which the charity later apologised), the year she came out:

‘I remember in 1994, I was due to host a big event for the Save the Children Fund. I’d done lots of stuff for them before and been an ambassador for them before and I came out in 1994. And they dropped me as an ambassador. There was a sort of sense of ‘let’s save the children, but not all of them.’ And it’s that notion in particular in evangelical religion: that it’s a pick and mix. We can have some people who will be okay and some people who will not.’

Listeners are encouraged to tune in and ‘follow’ the podcast. What I Believe is available on all major podcast platforms, and new episodes will be released every Thursday weekly. Other guests this season include neurosurgeon and assisted dying campaigner Henry Marsh, SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, science communicator Alom Shaha, and Liberal Democrat peer and architect of the Same Sex Marriage Act, Lynne Featherstone.

Chief Executive of Humanists UK, Andrew Copson, commented:

‘We’re delighted to launch the sixth season of What I Believe and to have the fabulous Sandi Toksvig as our first guest. The podcast continues to celebrate the rich tapestry of humanist values and beliefs that shape our society.

‘I hope that this season will inspire even more people to engage with humanist ideas and help listeners foster a greater understanding of the human experience.’