Sharing things

In this specially curated bonus episode from our season 6 podcast intern Hannah, we explore 5 seasons of Sharing things and pick out conversational snippets that explore identity, belonging and making spaces. This special episode features guests from all five seasons of Sharing things.Ellen and Rachel: Dying and not dying, familial love and ketchup splatters - Listen and subscribeSJ and Mona: The flying frisbee of death, evocative smells and taking ownership of faith - Listen and subscribeSrishti and Abrisham: Self-expression, dangerous women and writing things down - Listen and subscribeBeth and Udita: Role models, women in leadership and voyages of discovery - Listen and subscribeRichenda and Amalie: New skills, impostor syndrome and sudden departures - Listen and subscribeCharles and Rianna: Woolly mammoths, deep sea gigantism and knowing your place in the family hierarchy - Listen and subscribeDaisy and Dalia: Childhood excitement, happy folders and love over hate - Listen and subscribeElias and Tomiwa: Internet culture, giving others a platform and Michael Rosen memes - Listen and subscribeLaura and Nicha: Lifelong friendships, belonging and painting with Bob Ross - Listen and subscribeDavid and Caroline: Escaping in nature, imposter syndrome and finding treasure (everywhere) - Listen and subscribeNuam and Olivia: Family ties, intersectionality and figuring out where home is - Listen and subscribeEach episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set. 

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes where the objects are not just starting points, but deeply woven through the lives of our guests. What do you hold close? In the final episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between Lily Mellon and Debora Kayembe and talk about making history, uncovering stories and taking time for yourself. This episode is hosted by Ayanda Ngobeni, who joined us in summer 2021 before starting her final year as a law student. Lily is currently completing her research Master's in Scottish Ethnology, Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University, after graduating with an MA in Scottish Ethnology in 2020. Alongside her studies, Lily is exploring Student Records for Underrepresented Student Narrative as the University Histories Archives Intern. You can listen to Lily on the monthly webinar ‘Meet the…Series' (a live interview and Q&A session) as part of the VOiCE podcast – We've Got History Between Us.Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Debora is the University's 54th Rector. Debora is a human rights lawyer and is passionate about advocating against issues such as racism, inequality, children in need, domestic violence and child abuse. From 2013 – 2016, Debora served as Scottish Refugee Council Board member and in 2017 founded the charity Full Options, promoting human rights and peace. In 2019, she became the first African to have her portrait erected at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Later in 2020, Debora launched the Freedom Walk campaign, which aims to lobby and campaign on behalf of citizens by promoting social reforms, racial justice and community harmony. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing. We are still online but 2021 was starting to feel a bit okay.Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set. 

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes where the objects are not just starting points, but deeply woven through the lives of our guests. What do you hold close? In the fourth episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between Dea Birkett and Alex Lewthwaite and talk about running back to the circus, performing and seeing the potential in everything. This episode is hosted by Kate Stewart, a member of the alumni relations team who took the hot seat in early 2021. Dea is a former circus performer and current Ringmaster of Circus250, established in 2018 to celebrate and showcase circus to new audiences. Alongside her work in Circus250, Dea is also Creative Director of Many Rivers Films and former Director of Kids in Museums, a charity dedicated to making museums more inclusive of families.At the time of recording Alex was a 2nd year student at the University studying Medicine. He had just completed a group project which involved blogging (and vlogging) about life as a medical student during the pandemic. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected. This episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing. We are still online but 2021 was starting to feel a bit okay.Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes where the objects are not just starting points, but deeply woven through the lives of our guests. What do you hold close? In the third episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between Rosie Taylor and Melanie Reid and talk about poetry, animals, empowerment and hardship. This episode is hosted by Amalie Sortland, who joined us un the summer of 2019 and stayed until March 2020. She graduated in politics as part of the class of Covid in 2020. Rosie Taylor is the incoming LGBT+ Officer for the 2019/2020 academic year. She was motivated to run because she wanted to remove barriers for students to feel safe and comfortable as part of the university community. She also wanted to be the representation she wished she had when she was feeling disillusioned and confused about her sexuality. Along with her activism, she is also about to start the third year of her Biological Sciences degree. One day Melanie Reid's life imploded. She had it all – outdoorsy, career orientated, a journalist and editor in her best years, walking the mountains of Scotland near her home and skiing in the Alps. Then, in a dramatic twist of fate, she fell off her horse in 2010 and broke her neck. The accident has left her paralysed from the neck down, although she has partial use of her arms. She is described as "outwardly bright and breezy, but with more than a hint of vulnerability". She graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1980 with a MA Hons English Language and Literature. Before the accident, Melanie was an award-winning columnist at The Herald in Glasgow before reporting and commentating for The Times from Scotland and then on the Comment pages. After the accident, she has continued to write - The Spinal Column appears in the Times Magazine every week.  Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded before the Covid thing.Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes where the objects are not just starting points, but deeply woven through the lives of our guests. What do you hold close? In the second episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between Helen Bond and Daniel Mutia and talk about gifts that mean something, the concept of home and being out there. This episode is hosted by Richenda Rae, who joined us in the summer of 2020. After her summer with us she returned to her final year of medical school. Helen is Professor of Christian Origins and Head of the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. Her published works include 'Pontius Pilate in History and Interpretation' (1998), 'Caiaphas: High Priest and Friend of Rome?' (2004), and more recently, 'The First Biography of Jesus: Genre and Meaning in Mark's Gospel' (2020). She has acted as historical consultant and contributor for a number of television programmes and presented 'Jesus' Female disciples: the New Evidence' for Channel 4 (2018).  Daniel is an Electronics and Electrical Engineering student and Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Edinburgh. He is the Vice President Inclusion at Edinburgh University Sports Union for 2020/21, having previously served as International Participation Officer in 2019/20. He was named as one of the Queen's Young Leaders of 2018 for his efforts towards fighting for education and equal opportunities for young people.  Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing.Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes where the objects are not just starting points, but deeply woven through the lives of our guests. What do you hold close? In our first episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between Lori Watson and Russell Jones and talk about fringe coping strategies, pretty dogs, sci-fi nights, creative juices, video games and fish funerals. This episode is hosted by Amalie Sortland, who joined us un the summer of 2019 and stayed until March 2020. She graduated in politics as part of the class of Covid in 2020. Lori Watson is the first Doctor of Artistic Research in Scottish Music, and an authority on contemporary traditional music practice in Scotland. Drawing on her strong roots in the rich creative tradition of the Scottish Borders, she has become a leading interpreter of Scottish folk music and Scots song and her skills as a performer, composer, researcher and educator are widely recognised. Russell Jones is an Edinburgh-based writer and editor. He is the UK's Pet Poet Laureate, has published five collections of poetry and is deputy editor of 'Shoreline of Infinity', a science fiction magazine. Russell  is also the editor of 'Where Rockets Burn Through: Contemporary Science Fiction Poems from the UK' (Penned in the Margins), co-editor of 'Umbrellas of Edinburgh: Poetry and Prose Inspired by Scotland's Capital City' (Freight Books) and 'Multiverse: an international anthology of science fiction poetry' (Shoreline of Infinity). Russell writes novels, short stories for children, and has a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Edinburgh.  Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast This episode of Sharing things was recorded before the Covid thing. Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that explore transformation, self-discovery and change. Where are you now and where do you want to be? In the fifth and final episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between David Weinczok and Caroline Norton who talk about escaping in nature, imposter syndrome and finding treasure (everywhere).  The episode is hosted by Ayanda Ngobeni, who joined us in summer 2021 before starting her final year as a law student. Originally from Canada, David (‘The Castle Hunter'), graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2012 with a Master's in International Relations. David is passionate about promoting Scotland's rich history and currently works as a Digital Media Content Producer at National Museums Scotland. Alongside this, David is also an author (The History Behind Game of Thrones: The North Remembers, 2019), presenter, broadcaster and heritage consultant. Caroline is a final year student in International Law and International Relations at the University of Edinburgh. During her studies, Caroline was the External Relations Manager and Team Mentor at FreshSight Ltd., as well as the Lead Consultant of a project. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing. We are still online but 2021 was starting to feel a bit okay.Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set. 

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that explore transformation, self-discovery and change. Where are you now and where do you want to be? In the fourth episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between Neil Forsyth and Nausherwan Aziz who talk about writing for yourself, confidence and establishing a national football team. This episode is hosted by Kate Stewart, a member of the alumni relations team who took the hot seat in early 2021. Neil is an author, television writer and journalist originally from Dundee. He is known for creating the sitcom character Bob Servant, as well as being the writer and creator of BBC drama, Guilt (2019). He has won a Royal Television Society Award and a Scottish BAFTA, and been nominated for a Writers Guild Award and an International Emmy.Nausherwan (Naush) is an MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation student at the University of Edinburgh. Originally from Pakistan, he moved to Edinburgh after studying for his undergraduate degree in Turkey. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing. We are still online but 2021 was starting to feel a bit okay. Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that explore transformation, self-discovery and change. Where are you now and where do you want to be? In the third episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between George McGavin and Tammy Piper who talk about grasping opportunity, science communication and all the small things. The episode is hosted by Ayanda Ngobeni, who joined us in summer 2021 before starting her final year as a law student. George is an entomologist, author, academic, television presenter and explorer. His academic appointments include an Honorary Research Associate position at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and a Research Associate role at The Department of Zoology of Oxford University. His research has taken him from the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea to the caves of Thailand and from the jungles of Belize to the savannas of Tanzania. George studied Zoology at Edinburgh University before completing a doctorate at the British Museum of Natural History and Imperial College, London. Tammy is the Tissue Bank Manager for the MRC Institute for Genetics and Cancer at the University of Edinburgh. Her role involves managing a busy tissue bank archiving tumour samples from patients in large phase III breast cancer clinical trials. Tammy studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, the Welsh Cyology Training School, and the University of West of England, Bristol and worked at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport before joining the University of Edinburgh. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing. We are still online but 2021 was starting to feel a bit okay. Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that explore transformation, self-discovery and change. Where are you now and where do you want to be? In our the second episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between Niamh Martin-McGarrigle and Hollie Davidson who talk about social media trolls, changing paths and finding confidence in yourself. This episode is hosted by Amalie Sortland, who joined us un the summer of 2019 and stayed until March 2020. She graduated in politics as part of the class of Covid in 2020. Niamh is a second-year French and Linguistics student at the University of Edinburgh. She is also the Projects Manager at FreshSight, a student-led consultancy that aims to create positive social impact through the provision of practical, sustainable and innovative business solutions. Hollie is Scottish Rugby's first contracted female referee. She had played for Scotland U20 but after a shoulder injury, she hung up her playing boots and picked up the whistle instead. After graduating from the University of Edinburgh in 2014 in Economic History, Hollie worked in finance for two years. She has refereed in a number of major tournaments including the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Rugby World Cup Sevens, and the 2019 Women's Six Nations Championship. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast This episode of Sharing things was recorded before the Covid thing. Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set. 

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that explore transformation, self-discovery and change. Where are you now and where do you want to be? In our first episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between Doug Johnstone and Nikki Moran who discuss paradiddles and flams, the pitfalls of perfectionism, and weird left turns. This episode is hosted by Richenda Rae, who joined us in the summer of 2020. After her summer with us she returned to her final year of medical school. Doug is a Scottish crime writer, musician and journalist based in Edinburgh. He spent four years designing radar and missile guidance systems for planes and helicopters, before deciding to pursue his ambition of becoming a writer. After taking a diploma in journalism, he now writes and reviews for a number of newspapers and magazines, primarily covering music and literature.  His twelfth novel, 'The Big Chill', was published by Orenda Books in August 2020. His previous novel, 'A Dark Matter', was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year.  Nikki is Senior Lecturer in Music at Edinburgh College of Art. She joined the University of Edinburgh in 2007 after receiving her Master's degree from Cambridge and her PhD from the Open University. During her undergrad, Nikki studied classical viola and North Indian sitar performance. Much of Nikki's research focusses on the cognition of music performance, stemming from her fascination between musical performance and social interaction. She is the presenting lecturer and co-author of the free online course ‘Fundamentals of Music Theory'.   Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected. Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast  This episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing. Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set. 

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that revolve around the themes of belonging, fitting in and finding your place. These are conversations about growth and about identity. In our fifth and final episode of this collection we revisit the conversation between Laura Maciver and Nicha Sarkka and listen to them as they talk about lifelong friendships, belonging and painting with Bob Ross. This episode is hosted by Kate Stewart, a member of the alumni relations team who took the hot seat in early 2021.  Laura is a Reporting Scotland presenter on BBC TV and also presents Good Morning Scotland on BBC Radio Scotland every Friday. Upon graduating from the University of Edinburgh she started her career as a reporter for Radio Forth before joining the BBC.Nicha is a first-year student at the University of Edinburgh. Trilingual in English, Finnish and Thai, she is currently working towards her degree in Biological Sciences.  Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing. Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that revolve around the themes of belonging, fitting in and finding your place. These are conversations about growth and about identity. In our third episode we revisit the conversation between Nuam Hatzaw and Olivia Sweeney and listen to them as they talk about family ties, intersectionality and figuring out where home is.  The episode is hosted by Ayanda Ngobeni, who joined us in summer 2021 before starting her final year as a law student.  Nuam is a current PhD student in the School of Divinity researching the theologies of migration, diaspora and identity among Zomi in Europe. Nuam studied at SOAS in London for her undergraduate degree, before moving to Edinburgh for her Masters in World Christianity.Olivia graduated with an MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh in 2017. She is currently a Junior Consultant at sustainable waste consultancy, Resource Futures and also a Black and Green Ambassador working to lead, connect and celebrate diverse community action for the environment. In 2019, Olivia was named among the 'Top 100 Most Influential Women in Engineering' in the UK and Europe by Inclusive Boards in association with the Financial Times. She has also worked with the Royal Academy of Engineering on their 'This is Engineering' campaign. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing. We are still online but 2021 was starting to feel a bit okay. Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that revolve around the themes of belonging, fitting in and finding your place. These are conversations about growth and about identity. In our third episode we revisit the conversation between SJ Sandhu and Mona Siddiqui and listen to them as they talk about the flying frisbee of death, evocative smells and taking ownership of faith.  This episode is hosted by Amalie Sortland, who joined us in the summer of 2019 and stayed until March 2020. She graduated in politics as part of the class of Covid in 2020.  Sanjeevan, aka SJ, is a second-year medicine student at the University of Edinburgh. He's originally from London, although according to everyone who knows him, he's actually from Essex.  When he isn't studying or attending his 9am classes, SJ loves to play sports and represents the University at futsal. Along with six of his closest course mates, he is currently creating his own podcast, ‘Medic Matters', as part of a second-year project.  Mona is Professor of Islamic and Interreligious Studies at the University of Edinburgh. She also holds the position of Assistant Principal for Religion and Society, and Dean International for the Middle-East.  Mona studied Arabic and French at the University of Leeds, followed by a Masters in Middle-Eastern Studies and PhD in Classical Islamic Law at the University of Manchester. She is a regular guest on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Scotland's ‘Thought for the Day' and became a panellist on BBC Radio 4's award-winning ‘The Moral Maze' in 2016.  Her contributions to interfaith services were recognised with an OBE in 2011 and she was awarded the Archbishop of Canterbury's Hubert Walter Award for Reconciliation and Interfaith Cooperation in 2019.  Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded before the Covid thing (just).Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that revolve around the themes of belonging, fitting in and finding your place. These are conversations about growth and about identity. In our second episode we revisit the conversation between Daisy Narayanan and Dalia Al-Dujaili and listen to them as they talk about childhood excitement, happy folders and love over hate. This episode is hosted by Richenda Rae, who joined us in the summer of 2020. After her summer with us she returned to her final year of medical school. Daisy is Director of Urbanism at Sustrans, a charity making it easier for people to walk and cycle. While on secondment to the City of Edinburgh Council between 2018 and 2019, Daisy led the Edinburgh City Centre Transformation project.Dalia is a final year English Literature student who has recently started a platform and newsletter showcasing emerging creatives called MISFiT. She was formerly editor-in-chief at Mxogyny, an online platform for marginalised creatives to share poetry, art and writing related to prevalent social issues.Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded during the Covid thing. We were finding our feet with online recording.Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Welcome to a dive into the Sharing things archive and a selection of 5 episodes that revolve around the themes of belonging, fitting in and finding your place. These are conversations about growth and about identity. In the first episode we revisit the conversation between Ellen Blunsdon and Rachel Weiss and listen to them as they talk about dying and not dying, familial love, and ketchup splatters. This episode is hosted by Amalie Sortland, who joined us un the summer of 2019 and stayed until March 2020. She graduated in politics as part of the class of Covid in 2020.  Ellen is a fourth-year history and politics student and the Disabled Students' Officer 2019/20 at Edinburgh University Students' Association. In this role, she has campaigned for the inclusion of disability on the curriculum and created an online resource hub for disabled students. In her spare time, she oversees Europe's oldest student newspaper as president of The Student.Rachel describes herself as a perimenopausal, park-running partner at Rowan Consultancy and parent of three. After graduating from Edinburgh with an MSc in Knowledge Based Systems in 1990, she trained as a teacher and gained a Diploma in Counselling, leading to the creation of her business offering counselling, coaching, workplace mediation and leadership training.Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected.Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcastThis episode of Sharing things was recorded before the Covid thing.Images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

For our final episode of 2021 we decided to share moments from our sister podcast, Multi Story Edinburgh. Multi Story Edinburgh is about sharing stories, finding comfort in the fact that there are always people who are thinking like us, going through the same things, and having to make the same decisions. Each episode is a snapshot of a person and a moment. But each episode also includes something else, something unique and personal. For this very special episode, we decided to draw together a selection of these moments, and celebrate our graduates by sharing the places that have inspired and nourished them over the past two years.  This episode features graduates from 2021 and 2020 and includes the special places of Emma, Rosie, Tommie, Victoria, Sara, Lauryn, Madhu, Sheela, Marc, Lucia, Tim, Kirsty, Sarah, Alex, Joanna, Michael and Maddy. Thank you for sharing the special and the personal with us.Vector created by pch.vector - www.freepik.com.  Music: Since When by Mise Darling from freemusicarchive.org Bells from Christmas Story by Alex MakeMusic from Pixabay. 

Our gift to you this Christmas is inspired by George and Tammy from episode 3 of our most recent season. We decided to reflect more on the idea of the perfect gift. What makes something memorable? Is it about the giver, the moment, or a perfect cocktail of everything? We asked this question to you our listeners, and you shared your thoughts.Part two of this special gift edition features Elizabeth, Ash, Kate, Struan, Carolina, Finn, Mary, Ashank, Maire, Tianna and Thiu. If you have a spare moment this Christmas, check out the Sharing things back catalogue and explore your community through other important objects.  Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Bells from Christmas Story by Alex MakeMusic from Pixabay.Graphics from Freepix: Guitar - Designed by Freepik, Picture - Designed by pch.vector, Golf - Designed by vectorpouch, Dog - Designed by rawpixel.com, Santa hat - Designed by Freepik,  Ipod Nano – Designed by Freepik. Also includes Ticket – Designed by BarelyDevi from Pixabay.

Our gift to you this Christmas is inspired by George and Tammy from episode 3 of our most recent season. We decided to reflect more on the idea of the perfect gift. What makes something memorable? Is it about the giver, the moment, or a perfect cocktail of everything? We asked this question to you our listeners, and you shared your thoughts. Part one of this special gift edition features Lindsay, Scott, Natalie, Nick, Brigid, Wing, Gaurav, Michael, Chiara and Alan. There will be more gifts and more stories in part 2 next week.   Join us then or check out the Sharing things back catalogue and explore your community through other important objects.  Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  Bells from Christmas Story by Alex MakeMusic from Pixabay.Graphics from Freepix: Guitar - Designed by Freepik, Picture - Designed by pch.vector, Golf - Designed by vectorpouch, Dog - Designed by rawpixel.com, Santa hat - Designed by Freepik,  Ipod Nano – Designed by Freepik. Also includes Ticket – Designed by BarelyDevi from Pixabay.

Do you fancy being part of the Sharing things audio tapestry of people and memories? Well, if so, you're in luck because we're currently putting together the Christmas special.  Please get in touch if you want to share the story behind your favourite gift. What makes something special? Why do we treasure some things and re-gift others.  If you'd like to share your gifts memories, contact us at alumni@ed.ac.uk and join the Sharing things family. We'd love to hear from you. Deadline for participation is Monday 6 December 2021. Christmas vector created by freepik - www.freepik.com

So that was Sharing things season 5. Thank you to all our amazing guests. To Kevin, Aisha, George, Tammy, David, Caroline, Nuam, Olivia, Lily and Debora. We started with a  mission to explore hidden and unexpected corners of our university community and what emerged was a fascinating conversational journey through identity, opportunity, escape, family and home. As our new guide, Ayanda brought warmth, curiosity and infectious laughter. We had lots of favourite moments but these conversational snippets have stayed with us. Whether you are a regular listener or new to the Sharing things world, we hope you enjoy season 5's final fling. Sharing things will return in 2022. Maybe we'll be back in the studio again - meeting our guests face to face rather than over a dodgy internet connection. You never know. Here's hoping.   You can find more information on the Sharing things website.Graphic images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set. 

In our sixth and final episode of season 5, guests Lily Mellon and Debora Kayembe talk about making history, uncovering stories and taking time for yourself. Lily is currently completing her research Master's in Scottish Ethnology, Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University, after graduating with an MA in Scottish Ethnology in 2020. Alongside her studies, Lily is exploring Student Records for Underrepresented Student Narrative as the University Histories Archives Intern. You can listen to Lily on the monthly webinar ‘Meet the…Series' (a live interview and Q&A session) as part of the VOiCE podcast – We've Got History Between Us. Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Debora is the University's 54th Rector. Debora is a human rights lawyer and is passionate about advocating against issues such as racism, inequality, children in need, domestic violence and child abuse. From 2013 – 2016, Debora served as Scottish Refugee Council Board member and in 2017 founded the charity Full Options, promoting human rights and peace. In 2019, she became the first African to have her portrait erected at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Later in 2020, Debora launched the Freedom Walk campaign, which aims to lobby and campaign on behalf of citizens by promoting social reforms, racial justice and community harmony. As usual we start with an object, but in season five we celebrate hidden corners and unexpected connections. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.Graphic images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set. 

In our fifth episode, guests Nuam Hatzaw and Olivia Sweeney talk about family ties, intersectionality and figuring out where home is. Nuam is a current PhD student in the School of Divinity researching the theologies of migration, diaspora and identity among Zomi in Europe. Nuam studied at SOAS in London for her undergraduate degree, before moving to Edinburgh for her Masters in World Christianity. Olivia graduated with an MEng in Chemical Engineering from the University of Edinburgh in 2017. She is currently a Junior Consultant at sustainable waste consultancy, Resource Futures and also a Black and Green Ambassador working to lead, connect and celebrate diverse community action for the environment. In 2019, Olivia was named among the 'Top 100 Most Influential Women in Engineering' in the UK and Europe by Inclusive Boards in association with the Financial Times. She has also worked with the Royal Academy of Engineering on their 'This is Engineering' campaign. As usual we start with an object, but in season five we celebrate hidden corners and unexpected connections. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.Graphic images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.  

In our fourth episode, guests David Weinczok and Caroline Norton talk about escaping in nature, imposter syndrome and finding treasure (everywhere). Originally from Canada, David (‘The Castle Hunter'), graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2012 with a Master's in International Relations. David is passionate about promoting Scotland's rich history and currently works as a Digital Media Content Producer at National Museums Scotland. Alongside this, David is also an author (The History Behind Game of Thrones: The North Remembers, 2019), presenter, broadcaster and heritage consultant.  Caroline is a final year student in International Law and International Relations at the University of Edinburgh. During her studies, Caroline was the External Relations Manager and Team Mentor at FreshSight Ltd., as well as the Lead Consultant of a project.  As usual we start with an object, but in season five we celebrate hidden corners and unexpected connections. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.Graphic images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set. 

In our third episode, guests George McGavin and Tammy Piper talk about grasping opportunity, science communication and the small things. George is an entomologist, author, academic, television presenter and explorer. His academic appointments include an Honorary Research Associate position at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History and a Research Associate role at The Department of Zoology of Oxford University. His research has taken him from the tropical forests of Papua New Guinea to the caves of Thailand and from the jungles of Belize to the savannas of Tanzania. George studied Zoology at Edinburgh University before completing a doctorate at the British Museum of Natural History and Imperial College, London.  Tammy is the Tissue Bank Manager for the MRC Institute for Genetics and Cancer at the University of Edinburgh. Her role involves managing a busy tissue bank archiving tumour samples from patients in large phase III breast cancer clinical trials. Tammy studied at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, the Welsh Cyology Training School, and the University of West of England, Bristol and worked at the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport before joining the University of Edinburgh.  As usual we start with an object, but in season five we celebrate hidden corners and unexpected connections. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat. You can find more information on the Sharing things website. Graphic images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set. 

In our second episode, guests Kevin Harman and Aisha Holloway talk about emotion, identity and an unexpected detective agency. Kevin is a contemporary artist working across Scotland. Born in Wester Hailes, Kevin was the first generation of his family to pursue education graduating from Edinburgh College of Art with a BA in Sculpture, followed by an MFA in Sculpture. Kevin's work spans across mediums including paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs and drawings. It is often based on elements of performance and an engagement with found materials and environments. Driven towards creating a better society, Kevin is passionate about community and holding those in power accountable. Aisha is a Registered Nurse, Professor of Nursing Studies at the University of Edinburgh, and Co-Director of the Edinburgh Global Nursing Initiative. Aisha is an advocate for nursing and bringing wider recognition to the societal role that it plays and her programme of research aims to reduce the risks and harms of alcohol in society, influencing and shaping alcohol policy. A self-proclaimed extrovert, Aisha is passionate about fighting inequalities and has an affinity for the underdog.  As usual we start with an object, but in season five we celebrate hidden corners and unexpected connections. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website. Graphic images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

Season five of Sharing things is here! In our opening episode, guests Kate Stewart and Ayanda Ngobeni talk about sweet memories, cultural identity and friendships as family. There is also a slightly nervous guest host. Host of season four of Sharing things, Kate, graduated in Applied Sport Science in 2018 from the University of Edinburgh. Kate currently works in the alumni engagement team within Development and Alumni at the University. You will often find her baking for friends and family, and looking after her beloved pets.  Ayanda is the current host of season five of Sharing things and is a final year Law student at the University of Edinburgh. Throughout her studies, Ayanda has assumed a number of roles, including EUSA's Black and Ethnic Minority Liberation Campaign Officer, as well as Microaggression and Cultural Sensitivity Intern the previous year. Ayanda is passionate about using the rule of law as a means of achieving social equality. As usual we start with an object, but in season five we celebrate hidden corners and unexpected connections. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat. You can find more information on the Sharing things website.  Graphic images designed by Chris Behr. They are part of his Nice Things icon set.

New episodes starting next Thursday! Sharing things is back for a fifth season. Join our new student host Ayanda as she explores further and seeks out common ground and shared experiences with 12 new guests from all corners of our university community. As usual we start with an object, but in season five we celebrate hidden corners and unexpected connections. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat. You can find more information on the Sharing things website.

Some people are on the pitch! They think it's all over! It is now, it's our pick of season four! Take a break from the football and join Kate as she looks back on six conversations from all corners of our student and alumni community.  Season 4 is all about student voices. Each episode features a student in conversation with a member of the wider community. Sharing experiences and finding unexpected common ground.Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.Features trailers for Edinburgh Snap Reunion 2021: Covid Companions. A Snap Reunion is a virtual gathering. A tapestry of images and captions that we share across our websites and social media channels.  Find out how to get involved this July by visiting the website. Music credit: We Are One by Scott Holmes Music. We also trail our online meeting place for students, staff and alumni, Platform One. Find out more and register at www.platform-one.ed.ac.uk

In our sixth and final episode of season 4, guests Rose Meikle and Gavin Francis talk about changing landscapes, living through history and capturing memories. Rose is a first year Sociology student from Stirling, studying at the University of Edinburgh. When she isn't in online lectures, Rose enjoys watching movies with her flatmates ... all 11 of them! Gavin is a GP and writer based in Edinburgh. He studied Medicine at the University, graduating in 1999. Having spent ten years of his life travelling the world, much of Gavin's writing has been influenced by his experiences, including his first book, True North: Travels in Arctic Europe (2008) and Empire Antarctica (2012). In his most recent publication, Intensive Care: A GP, a community & COVID-19 (2021), Gavin gives a personal account of his experiences of working as a GP throughout the pandemic in both Edinburgh and on Orkney. Season 4 is all about student voices. Each episode features a student in conversation with a member of the wider community. Sharing experiences and finding unexpected common ground. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.

In our fifth episode of season 4, guests Elias Vasiloudes Nikolaides and Tomiwa Folorunso talk about internet culture, giving others a platform and Michael Rosen memes. Elias is a 3rd year Music student at the Edinburgh College of Art and is also the school's Undergraduate Representative. When he's not studying, Elias enjoys playing the saxophone and making beats on his computer.  Tomiwa is a writer, academic and creative currently living in Brussels. She studied History at the University, graduating in 2017 and is now studying for her masters in Cultural Studies at KU Leuven.  Season 4 is all about student voices. Each episode features a student in conversation with a member of the wider community. Sharing experiences and finding unexpected common ground. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.

In our fourth episode of season 4, guests Emma Aviet and Lorna Dawson talk about the colour spectrum of soil, links between science and art and the Salem witch trials. Emma is currently completing her PhD in English Literature at the University of Edinburgh. Originally from California, she moved to Edinburgh in 2018 to pursue her MSc in Literature and Society, after completing degrees in both English Literature and Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley.  Lorna is Head of the Soil Forensics Group at the James Hutton Institute, an interdisciplinary research institute based in Scotland which drives the sustainable use of land and natural resources. Since completing her BSc in Geography at the University, Lorna has over 30 years’ experience in managing and conducting research in soil and plant interaction, in particular its application in the criminal justice system.  Season 4 is all about student voices. Each episode features a student in conversation with a member of the wider community. Sharing experiences and finding unexpected common ground. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.

In the third episode of season 4, guests Neil Forsyth and Nausherwan Aziz talk about writing for yourself, confidence and establishing a national football team. Neil is an author, television writer and journalist originally from Dundee. He is known for creating the sitcom character Bob Servant, as well as being the writer and creator of BBC drama, Guilt (2019). He has won a Royal Television Society Award and a Scottish BAFTA, and been nominated for a Writers Guild Award and an International Emmy. Nausherwan (Naush) is an MSc Entrepreneurship and Innovation student at the University of Edinburgh. Originally from Pakistan, he moved to Edinburgh after studying for his undergraduate degree in Turkey.Season 4 is all about student voices. Each episode features a student in conversation with a member of the wider community. Sharing experiences and finding unexpected common ground. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.

In our second episode of season 4, guests Laura Maciver and Nicha Sarkka talk about lifelong friendships, belonging and painting with Bob Ross.Laura is a Reporting Scotland presenter on BBC TV and also presents Good Morning Scotland on BBC Radio Scotland every Friday. Upon graduating from the University of Edinburgh she started her career as a reporter for Radio Forth before joining the BBC. Nicha is a first-year student at the University of Edinburgh. Trilingual in English, Finnish and Thai, she is currently working towards her degree in Biological Sciences.  Season 4 is all about student voices. Each episode features a student in conversation with a member of the wider community. Sharing experiences and finding unexpected common ground. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.

In our opening episode of season 4, guests Dea Birkett and Alex Lewthwaite talk about running back to the circus, performing and seeing the potential in everything. Dea is a former circus performer and current Ringmaster of Circus250, established in 2018 to celebrate and showcase circus to new audiences. Alongside her work in Circus250, Dea is also Creative Director of Many Rivers Films and former Director of Kids in Museums, a charity dedicated to making museums more inclusive of families. Alex is a 2nd year student at the University studying Medicine. He has just completed a group project which involved blogging (and vlogging) about life as a medical student during the pandemic. Season 4 is all about student voices. Each episode features a student in conversation with a member of the wider community. Sharing experiences and finding unexpected common ground. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.

Sharing things is back for a fourth season! Lots of things have happened and kind of nothing's happened. We are still recording remotely but we have a new host. Join Kate as she navigates her way through conversations, community, experience and memory.Season 4 is all about student voices. Each episode features a student in conversation with a member of the wider community. Sharing experiences and finding unexpected common ground. Subscribe now for University of Edinburgh community exploration and really good chat.You can find more information on the Sharing things website.

Welcome to a very special edition of Sharing things. Rather than our usual conversation, we decided to ask past guests about their most memorable objects of 2020. What helped? What will they remember? What made a difference? What did they hold on to as other things fell away? Part two features Christine De Luca, David Gray, Richenda Rae, Rachel Weiss, Jenny Culbertson, Anne Miller, Prince Chakanyuka and Ellen Blunsdon.There will be more past guests and more 2020 objects in part two. Join us then, or check out the Sharing things back catalogue and get to know our community through objects that were important before this year.Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected. Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

Welcome to a very special edition of Sharing things. Rather than our usual conversation, we decided to ask past guests about their most memorable objects of 2020. What helped? What will they remember? What made a difference? What did they hold on to as other things fell away? Part one features Beth Christie, Catherine Wilson, Shy Zvouloun, Max Sanderson, Ross Nixon, Amalie Sortland, Melanie Reid and Peter Mathieson.There will be more past guests and more 2020 objects in part two. Join us then, or check out the Sharing things back catalogue and get to know our community through objects that were important before this year.Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected. Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

In this episode, guests Aisha Janki Akinola and Barbara Becnel talk about Black Lives Matter, speaking up, the mystery of time and more.Aisha is an architecture student and a Mastercard Foundation Scholar from a small town called Ede in Osun State, Nigeria. She is Co-Director at BlackED Movement, which was established to work with the University of Edinburgh to improve support for Black, Asian, and minority ethnic (BAME) students. BlackED was birthed in 2020 by seven Black female students following a successful petition to update the University’s anti-discrimination policy. Barbara is a social justice activist and author who was the inaugural Being Edinburgh Award runner-up. Being Edinburgh is an award that recognises Edinburgh alumni who make our University community proud. She has over 20 years of experience working for prison reform in the state of California and has writen 11 award-winning gang- and drug-prevention books. From leading an international media campaign aimed at preventing the judicial execution of reformed black gang leader Stanley Williams, to organising an ‘Occupy San Quentin’ rally attended by hundreds in front of the state prison that houses California’s death chamber, she has often shown inspiring leadership and tenacity. A graduate of the University's online MSc in Social Justice and Community Action, Barbara has returned to Edinburgh to pursue a PhD.Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected. Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

In this episode, guests Doug Johnstone and Nikki Moran discuss paradiddles and flams, the pitfalls of perfectionism, weird left turns and more.Doug is a Scottish crime writer, musician and journalist based in Edinburgh. He spent four years designing radar and missile guidance systems for planes and helicopters, before deciding to pursue his ambition of becoming a writer. After taking a diploma in journalism, he now writes and reviews for a number of newspapers and magazines, primarily covering music and literature. His twelfth novel, 'The Big Chill', was published by Orenda Books in August 2020. His previous novel, 'A Dark Matter', was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime Novel of the Year. Nikki is Senior Lecturer in Music at Edinburgh College of Art. She joined the University of Edinburgh in 2007 after receiving her Master’s degree from Cambridge and her PhD from the Open University. During her undergrad, Nikki studied classical viola and North Indian sitar performance. Much of Nikki's research focusses on the cognition of music performance, stemming from her fascination between musical performance and social interaction. She is the presenting lecturer and co-author of the free online course ‘Fundamentals of Music Theory’. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected. Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

In this episode, guests Tom Raine and Kirsty Duncan talk about the joy of listening, extreme expeditions, the Portuguese concept of longing and more.Tom is a fourth-year Spanish and Portuguese student and Head of Music at FreshAir student radio. Putting his language skills to good use, he presented El Norte Inglés, a radio show focused on the best Indie bands, while on exchange in Salamanca, Spain, last year. At the start of 2020, Covid-19 cut short his time studying in São Paulo, Brazil, but during self-isolation, he launched Saudade, a radio show exploring all aspects of Brazilian music, spanning years, genres and cultural scenes. Kirsty is Member of Parliament for Etobicoke-North and Deputy House Leader of the Government of Canada. She previously served as Minister of Science and Sport and is committed to strengthening science and evidence-based decision making and fostering a culture of curiosity in Canada. Before entering politics in 2008, Kirsty worked at three universities in Canada over 16 years. A medical geographer, she spent a decade leading an expedition to remote Svalbard, Norway, to search for the cause of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, which killed upwards of 50 million people worldwide. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected. Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

In this episode, guests Svenja O'Donnell and Shannon Vallor discuss data biases, the danger of apathy, saucepan-enabled smuggling and more.Svenja is a writer, journalist, commentator and freelance adviser on Brexit, and UK and EU Politics. She previously worked as a foreign, economics and politics correspondent at Bloomberg News and Businessweek. Her articles have appeared in various publications, including the Financial Times, Sunday Times and Independent. She was awarded the Washington National Press Club Breaking News Prize in 2017 for her coverage of the Brexit referendum and her first book, ‘Inge’s War: A Story of Family, Secrets and Survival under Hitler’ was published in August 2020.Shannon is the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI), and Professor in Philosophy.Prior to joining the University, Shannon was a Visiting Researcher and AI Ethicist at Google. Her research explores how new technologies, especially AI, robotics, and data science, reshape human moral character, habits, and practices. Her first book, ‘Technology and Virtues: A Philosophical Guide to a Future Worth Wanting’ was published in 2016, and she is currently working on ‘The AI Mirror: Rebuilding Humanity in an Age of Machine Thinking’. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected. Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast

In this episode, guests Helen Bond and Daniel Mutia talk about gifts that mean something, the concept of home, being out there and more.Helen is Professor of Christian Origins and Head of the School of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh. Her published works include 'Pontius Pilate in History and Interpretation' (1998), 'Caiaphas: High Priest and Friend of Rome?' (2004), and more recently, 'The First Biography of Jesus: Genre and Meaning in Mark's Gospel' (2020). She has acted as historical consultant and contributor for a number of television programmes and presented 'Jesus’ Female disciples: the New Evidence' for Channel 4 (2018). Daniel is an Electronics and Electrical Engineering student and Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Edinburgh. He is the Vice President Inclusion at Edinburgh University Sports Union for 2020/21, having previously served as International Participation Officer in 2019/20. He was named as one of the Queen's Young Leaders of 2018 for his efforts towards fighting for education and equal opportunities for young people. Each episode of Sharing things is a conversation between two members of our university community. It could be a student, a member of staff or a graduate, the only thing they have in common at the beginning is Edinburgh. We start with an object. A special, treasured or significant item that we have asked each guest to bring to the conversation. What happens next is sometimes funny, sometimes moving and always unexpected. Find out more at www.ed.ac.uk/sharing-things-podcast