Joseph Nelson, Pastor in the Lutheran Church in Great Britain and alumnus of Leeds Trinity University, discusses the need to reflect carefully on the advent of AI technology in light of the CST principle of human dignity and the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  Joseph provides a very insightful presentation of the issues as they stand right now and suggests that we need to participate in the ethical discussions and reflect together on the criteria needed to really understand the ethics of AI and know exactly what is at stake with the advent of some of the new technologies that exist right now and those that are forthcoming in the not too distant future.

Professor Neil Messer, Professor of Theological Bioethics at Baylor University in Texas, gives a fascinating lecture on neurotechnologies and the common good. Neil’s talk is expertly crafted to give everyone the science and the theological and ethical frameworks that we need to make the distinction between what might be considered as the good ‘therapeutic’ use of AI in health care and what might be simply ‘enhancement’ for enhancement’s sake. The questions raised by Neil’s research are relevant to everyone who is interested in protecting the common good of society – a key principle of Catholic Social Teaching which seeks to provide the good of all individuals and groups in our society.

Dr Catriona Russell, Assistant Professor of Ethics in the School of Religion at Trinity College Dublin, takes us on a journey back to the meaning of the word techné so that we can be re-introduced into what the etymology of the word technology is. She then discusses the current marketisation of urban life and whether or not the idea of sustainability is authentically expressed  in attempts to introduce technology in the city that will off-set our human behaviours that contribute to environmental degradation. Catriona’s lecture provides much hope as we seek to navigate the ethical questions and choices that face us as we embrace technology in a world which also requires ecological conversion and simplicity of living.  There is much food for thought also in the phrases that Catriona uses in her lecture. The ‘commodification of the sky is something we will all need to consider about going forward…’.  A must listen!

CHARLES FOWLER chairs the Human Values Foundation, which uses positive values to promote young people’s social and emotional development, helps run the UK Values Alliance and is project partner of the Collaborating Centre for Values-based Practice for Health and Social Care at Oxford University. He is a delegate at Values20, the G20 engagement group, and Global Coordinator of World Values Day.

Professor Jackie Dunne, Vice- Chancellor of Birmingham Newman University, shares her leadership journey in Higher Education, offers advice and guidance to aspiring leaders as well as discussing how creating a sense of ‘community’ is essential for student development and learning. She also shares her thoughts on the mission and values at Birmingham Newman University along with some insights that resonate with her linked to Saint John Henry Newman. For Jackie, the ‘soul’ of a university can be seen in and through its students. In other words, students are the measure for who we are and how our values plays out at university. Students are our hope!

Professor Damien Page, Deputy Vice Chancellor at Buckinghamshire New University, talks about what gives him ‘hope’ in the current HE climate whilst also sharing advice and guidance for our current student body on what he feels are important points to keep in mind for a positive future. Being a ‘disrupter’, asking questions as well as being critical of ideas and concepts is something that Damien mentions as being key to becoming employable in today’s job market. He also gives advice to the sector about the need to ‘listen’ to our young people more as they are already innovators in their own right.

Christine Allen, Director of CAFOD, (Catholic Agency for Overseas Development), shares her own leadership journey as well as what gives her hope in the world and in what she is leading as part of CAFOD’s global mission. She also explains CAFOD’s role in raising awareness at events such as COP28 (which took place in Dubai this year) as well as sharing some examples of how her team have made a difference to people's lives in poverty stricken areas around the world. Faith in action is what this podcast is all about.

Tom Riordan CBE – leader of Leeds City Council – discusses the importance of the faith communities in Leeds and their contribution to the city during Covid lockdown in particular. He also discusses his own journey to senior executive positions at the Council and offers guidance and support to students as post-graduation. He also shares his ‘hope’ for education more generally in Leeds.

Sir John Battle shares his theological perspectives on hope and asks whether it matters whether we are rich or poor in the face of some of the most challenging moral problems of our time. Sir John also argues that people of faith should continuously ask questions about how their faith translates into action. He argues for what Jean Guillett (advisor to Pope Paul VI) called a ‘approfundimento continuo’ (i.e. deeping) of our perspectives so that we can continuously engage again and again with truth in every age. He also applies this concept to the role and mission of the Catholic University so that it remains relevant and close to its primary mission in each generation.

Professor Jane de Gay shares her insight on the mission and values of a Catholic University today and links it to the stages of enquiry about ‘faith’ and ‘conversion’ as described in the works of Virginia Wolfe. Jane engages in a profound, in-depth analysis of Wolfe’s texts in order to show the complexities surrounding professing a faith and links this to contemporary challenges that many experience today.