with Cathy Macdonald

Sunday marks the start of Hanukkah, eight days of light, hope and resilience. Families will gather to light the menorah, share traditional foods and reflect on perseverance. Professor Joe Goldblatt from the Edinburgh Interfaith Association joins Cathy to explore its meaning.

Sir James MacMillan tells Cathy about his six-part Music Matters series, inspired by the biblical story of creation.

Paralympian, broadcaster and author Ade Adepitan is Cathy’s Spiritual Life Guest. He shares his remarkable journey, from contracting polio as a baby in Lagos to representing Team GB and becoming one of Britain’s most inspiring figures, and how faith, community and resilience have shaped his life.

And joining Cathy to discuss many of the big stories of the week are social researcher and equalities campaigner Talat Yaqoob, Daisy Andoh, a PhD student at Edinburgh University’s School of Divinity, and Philip Blackledge, Rector of Holy Trinity Melrose

Headlines this week have reignited the debate over faith and politics, from calls to ‘put Christ back into Christmas’ to the Pope’s warning against divisive rhetoric. Our panel explores what happens when religion becomes a political tool.

Australia has introduced a world-first ban on social media for under-16s. They ask whether this about protecting mental health or restricting freedom. And what does it mean for childhood in the digital age?

Plus a new dark comedy, The Revenge Club, follows heartbroken strangers who turn pain into payback - and things quickly spiral out of control. They will unpack why revenge feels so tempting and what this says about us.