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with Cathy Macdonald

Author Austen Ivereigh on the book he's written with Pope Francis; how a new Artificial Intelligence design wants to eradicate loneliness; and the return of The Vicar of Dibley.

Does it matter to you how you might be remembered? Cathy talks to Philip Blackledge, Rector of Holy Trinity Church in Melrose, and Audrey Cumberford, Principal of Edinburgh about what we mean by legacy.

The subject of loneliness has been in sharp focus in 2020 but is there a solution to be found through Artificial Intelligence? One chatbot, called Replika, has been designed as an online companion you can talk to and engage with. Cathy is joined by Amanda Curry, a PHD student at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh focusing on AI; Video Games Designer Cara Ellison, and Philip Blackledge to find out if artificial friends are our future.

The nation's favourite vicar, Geraldine Grainger, returns with a collection of online sermons delivered to her parishioners via Zoom, reflecting on the changed times that lockdown has brought to us all. We ask Philip Blackledge if any of the trials and tribulations of The Vicar of Dibley reflect his own experiences.

“Sometimes an uprooting can be a healing or radical makeover.” These words from Pope Francis are included in a new book Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future - the first book written by a pope in response to a major crisis. It is the result of several exchanges between Pope Francis and his biographer, Austen Ivereigh, and Cathy talks to Austen this morning.

Uuganaa Ramsey grew up in the western part of Mongolia, spending her days helping to look after the family’s horses and sheep. After moving to the UK in 2000 and the death of her young son, she began to involve herself in campaigning work, which has led to the setting up of a new charity to promote inter-culturalism and diversity, launched this week to mark Human Rights Day.

‘Tis the season to be singing. Well it would be if this year hadn’t turned our old routines and plans upside down. Choirs have felt the impact of lockdown with the loss of the companionship of meeting and singing together. But somehow they’ve managed to keep going and keep creating. Cathy talks to Jenny Cheung of The Voice Project Youth Choir and Philip Blackledge about how choirs are doing things differently this festive season.

1 hour, 55 minutes

Last on

Sun 6 Dec 2020 10:00

Music Played

  • Aztec Camera

    Oblivious by Aztec Camera (VCS)

    • The Best Of Aztec Camera.
    • Warner E.S.P..
  • Love

    Alone Again Or by Love (VCS)

    • Forever Changes.
    • Elektra.
    • 1.
  • Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel

    Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)

    • 20 Number 1's Of The 70's (Various).
    • MFP.
  • Johnny Cash

    I Walk The Line by Johnny Cash (VCS)

    • The Very Best Of Johnny Cash.
    • Columbia.
    • 4.
  • Belle and Sebastian

    I Want The World To Stop by Belle & Sebastian (VCS)

    • Write About Love.
    • Matador.
    • 4.
  • Deacon Blue

    Dignity by Deacon Blue (VCS)

    • Our Town- Deacon Blue (Greatest Hits).
    • Columbia.

Broadcast

  • Sun 6 Dec 2020 10:00