Hey Y'all,

A banker turned comedian who describes himself as a "lapsed Muslim," Eshaan Akbar has appeared on Sex Education (Netflix), Live at the Apollo (BBC), and even voiced puppets on Spitting Image. In this deeply funny and moving conversation, Eshaan opens up about the wild days of pre-crash banking, his mother's sudden passing and the Muslim burial that changed everything, navigating faith as a South Asian man in the West, Muslim dating apps, and how grief ultimately gave him the freedom to pursue comedy with complete abandon. A masterclass in finding humor in life's heaviest moments.

Guest: Eshaan Akbar - comedian, writer, podcaster (The Early Evening Shows)
Hosts: Trey Hall & Jaz Ampawfarr
Produced by: Rachel Matthews & John Ryan | A project of the Methodist Church

Where to find Eshaan: YouTube special (coming soon), The Early Evening Shows podcast, Live at the Apollo on BBC iPlayer, @EshaanAkbar on socials

Timestamps

• 0:00 — Welcome & intro to Spill the Spirituality
• 1:21 — Eshaan's entrance & boxer name banter
• 2:09 — The corporate-to-comedy pipeline
• 2:58 — Life in banking before the 2008 crash: debauchery and high-octane culture
• 5:40 — Feeling like an outsider: being the only Asian guy in the building
• 6:47 — Dreaming of becoming a diplomat (since age 6)
• 7:41 — Taking a comedy course to learn tighter writing
• 8:17 — His mother's sudden passing and "comedy chose me"
• 9:20 — First gig after grief & making the Edinburgh Fringe final
• 10:25 — The Muslim burial: climbing into the grave to lay his mother to rest
• 12:18 — How grief unlocked total creative freedom
• 13:43 — "Was she funny?" — inheriting his mum's sense of humor
• 14:38 — Feeling connected to his mum through dreams
• 15:57 — Religion's infrastructure around death
• 17:36 — Islam's 40-day mourning period as a "deadline" for grief
• 21:39 — The viral Ramadan "Call me" bit
• 22:45 — Muslim dating apps: Minder, Mismatch & wild DMs
• 24:38 — Growing up devout: religious education at home
• 25:33 — The mosque vs. home: two very different versions of God
• 29:07 — Separating God, mind, body, and soul at age 24
• 31:31 — "Are you spiritual?" — the levels of being a lapsed Muslim
• 33:02 — Daily gratitude and "I cannot believe my luck"
• 33:56 — Comedy as a spiritual practice
• 34:20 — "Even God isn't loved universally"
• 35:36 — The Wheel of Trust game
• 36:50 — Reflection on "Chapter" — life before and after mum
• 38:27 — "We are all writing the book of our own lives"
• 39:46 — Where to find Eshaan & sign-off
• 41:37 — Outro & credits

See you next time folks!

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Hey Y’all, 

Jaz and Trey sit down with Sacha Jones to talk about her experience appearing on Married at First Sight and the unexpected spiritual moments that followed. Sacha opens up about life in the public eye, the vulnerability of televised relationships, and how faith grounded her through it all. She also shares powerful stories of encountering the supernatural in ways that reshaped her perspective. This episode blends reality TV, real life growth, and a deeper look at how God can meet us in the most surprising places.

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Jaz and Trey sit down with Kate Raworth to explore what it really means to be content with what you have in a world that constantly pushes for more. Drawing from her economic insights and personal reflections, Kate challenges the narratives of endless growth and invites a deeper conversation about enough. Together they unpack how faith, sustainability, and gratitude intersect in everyday choices. This episode encourages you to rethink success, embrace contentment, and cultivate a spirituality rooted in sufficiency rather than scarcity.

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Hey Y’all,

Jaz and Trey dive into the complicated world of money and how it intersects with faith, values, and everyday life. They unpack the tension between generosity and security, ambition and contentment, and the stories we carry about wealth. With honesty and humour, they explore how spirituality can reshape the way we earn, spend, and give. This episode invites you into a thoughtful conversation about stewardship, trust, and navigating finances without losing your soul.

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Hey Y’all, 

Jaz and Trey sit down with Andrew Doherty to talk about coming out at school and the courage it takes to live authentically in spaces that can feel uncertain. Andrew shares his personal journey of faith, identity, and the unexpected ways he discovered hope and affirmation in the Bible. Together they unpack the tension between religion and belonging, and how scripture can hold deeper treasure than we are sometimes taught. This episode is an honest, grace filled conversation about vulnerability, resilience, and finding gold in your story.

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Jaz and Trey sit down with Bruce Parry to explore his journey from remote villages to sacred rituals around the world. Bruce shares powerful stories of immersion, cultural connection, and the spiritual lessons he has learned from indigenous communities. Together they reflect on what these experiences reveal about faith, humanity, and our shared search for meaning. This episode invites you to consider how stepping outside your comfort zone can open your heart and deepen your understanding of the sacred in everyday life.

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Hey Y’all,

Jaz and Trey get real about Lent and the meaningful things you can give up to create space for growth, reflection, and deeper faith. They explore how sacrifice is not just about restriction, but about intention and spiritual alignment. This episode dives into practical ideas, honest struggles, and the heart behind letting go. Join the conversation as they connect ancient practices with modern life and everyday spirituality.

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Jaz and Trey sit down with Lindz West to talk about calling, courage, and what it means to change futures one school at a time. Lindz shares how faith and spirituality shape their leadership and the everyday choices that build lasting impact. Generational impact even. This conversation weaves real life lessons, hope, and the challenges of showing up for communities with intention. Pull up a seat and spill the spirituality with us as we explore purpose, education, and trusting the journey.

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Hey Y'all,

In this episode of Spill the Spirituality, we sit down with the incredible Adjoa Andoh – the powerhouse actress best known as Lady Danbury in Netflix’s global hit Bridgerton. 👑

Adjoa brings her trademark warmth, wisdom, and humour as she spills the tea on life behind the scenes, her journey through theatre and screen, and the spiritual grounding that keeps her steady in the spotlight. From navigating fame to breaking barriers in British theatre, this conversation dives deep into resilience, representation, and the joy of telling stories that really matter.

It’s Lady Danbury like you’ve never heard her before – unfiltered, inspiring, and full of heart.

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In this bold and honest episode of Spill the Spirituality, Jaz and Trey are joined by Shazia Mirza - award-winning comedian and cultural commentator - to unpack the often uncomfortable tension between religion and spirituality.

With her trademark wit and unfiltered honesty, Shazia reflects on faith, identity and growing up within religious structures, while questioning what spirituality looks like outside of rigid rules. The conversation moves between laughter and depth, touching on belief, doubt, freedom, and the courage it takes to ask difficult questions.

Together, they explore whether spirituality can exist without religion, why humour is such a powerful tool for truth-telling, and how personal belief evolves over time.

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