Shows
The Drugreporter PodcastReligion, Spirituality, and Psychedelics – A Conversation with Hunt Priest & Sughra AhmedIn this special interview, we bring you a rare and moving interfaith conversation between two spiritual leaders who are helping to reshape the relationship between religion and psychedelics. Hunt Priest is an Episcopal priest and the founder of Legatum, a Christian psychedelic society. Sughra Ahmed is a British Muslim scholar and community leader, and one of the first Muslims to participate in the silent psilocybin study designed for religious professionals. We sat down with both of them at Psychedelic Science 2025 in Denver, where they reflected on their personal journeys, the challenges and promises of psychedelic use within religious traditions, and...
2025-11-2443 min
Altered StatesThe Psychedelic PlaylistVivaldi. Bach. The Beatles. The Johns Hopkins playlist has been the standard soundtrack in psychedelic trials at Johns Hopkins and therapy rooms around the world for more than 25 years. It also skews toward Classical and Christian music. When Sughra Ahmed, a Muslim, enrolled in a psilocybin study that used this playlist, she didn’t love what she heard. So where did this playlist come from exactly? And what can science tell us about what role music plays in a trip?
2025-10-0147 min
What It Was LikeWhat Happens When Religious Leaders Take Magic Mushrooms?A new study gave psilocybin to religious leaders, just to see whether their faith would be affirmed or rattled. In this episode we hear from one participant, Islamic leader Sughra Ahmed, who describes how the trip brought her closer to God but uprooted her belief in organised religion.Find us on TikTok: @whatitwaslikepodcastFind us on Youtube: @whatitwaslikepodcastFollow us on Instagram: whatitwaslikepodcastThis is a Superreal production Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2025-06-191h 08
Beyond BeliefFaithful FeetIn our society feet are often hidden away in shoes, perhaps to make an odd appearance post pedicure… but they can be an incredibly powerful symbol within many religions. Giles Fraser meets Kai Bridges, a Shamanic practitioner who guides people through firewalks as part of his spiritual practice. For him firewalking goes beyond an exercise in empowerment and grounds him in the moment, connecting him to the elements. Our panel Sughra Ahmed, Priyesh Patel and Lucy Winkett walk us through what feet symbolise in their respective faith traditions, and the different ways feet are a pa...
2024-04-1627 min
Last WordDes O’Connor CBE, Richard Trim OBE, Dr Ataullah Siddiqui, Edith Raymond LockePictured: Des O'ConnorMatthew Bannister onThe comedian Des O’Connor, an all-round entertainer equally at home telling jokes, hosting a chat show or recording an album. Richard Trim, the radar engineer who developed the technology that supports modern air traffic control systems.Dr Ataullah Siddiqui, the leading Muslim scholar who played a major role in creating inter-faith dialogue.Edith Raymond Locke, the editor of Mademoiselle Magazine who supported the early careers of fashion designers like Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan.Interviewed guest: David Steadman
Interviewed guest: Fe...
2020-11-2028 min
The Maydan PodcastSughra Ahmed | The Maydan & the Muslim Atlantic PodcastPeter Mandaville speaks with Sughra Ahmed, a leading British Muslim voice with significant experience in the US, about her observations on the Muslim Atlantic. Many thanks to The Muslim Atlantic (https://www.muslimatlantic.com/) for partnering with Maydan (https://themaydan.com/) at George Mason University for this podcast.
2020-05-0534 min
Ilm SphereMuslim HeroinesA brief overview of the deeply inspirational life of the renowned ascetic and unparalleled scholar, Umm Al-Darda Al-Sughra (r) who was a wife of the Sahabah Abu Darda (r). #TrueHeroine
2018-08-251h 24
SundayThe Archbishop of York, Religious news for 2018, The Daily Service is 9090 years ago listeners to the BBC were for the first time able to tune in to a live daily act of worship. Rosie Dawson has been looking back over the years and catching up with the current team as they celebrate this milestone.Baroness Onora O'Neill, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, talks to William about our ethics and values in the twenty first century.On New Year's eve most of us look forward to the new year according to the Gregorian Calendar but some people also follow a Lunar year. Trevor...
2017-12-3143 min
The Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program2016 World Fellow Sughra Ahmed2016 World Fellow Sughra Ahmed, former chair of Islamic Society of Britain, talks about growing up Muslim and British, and the role of religion in society.
2016-12-0224 minSundayWorld Youth Day, Erik Satie, Life after ebolaLast week, Edward Stourton profiled evangelical Christian Mike Pence who is Donald Trump's running mate. This week he takes a look at Catholic Tim Kaine, the man on Hillary Clinton's ticket. Journalist Jay Michaelson describes how Senator Kaine's faith has shaped his politics.Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen of being behind the failed uprising. Philip Kemp reports on the abuse that his followers in the UK are now suffering.The president of the Atheist's Foundation of Australia - Kylie Sturgess - explains why she is encouraging people not to...
2016-07-3143 min
Living Islam FestivalIn conversation with Dr Rowan Williams (Living Islam 2014)(Speakers:Dr Rowan Williams with Sughra Ahmed)
Not to be missed - an intimate audience with former Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams. As one of
the highest religious authorities in the country, his unique perspective on faith in the public space is essential listening.
(Recorded at the Living Islam Festival, UK www.livingislam.org.uk)
2016-07-1100 min
Autumn 2015 | Public lectures and events | Audio and pdfThe Book and the Believer: are Catholics, Jews and Muslims still outsiders in British society?Contributor(s): Sughra Ahmed, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Dr Ruth Gilbert, Dr Edward Kessler | The Institute of Public Affairs, in partnership with the Pears Foundation and the Woolf Institute, Cambridge, will host an interfaith discussion on the theme “The Book and the Believer: are Catholics, Jews and Muslims still outsiders in British society?” Three public figures will share their interesting and provocative perspectives, from their experience of belonging to a minority religious tradition in modern British society. Sughra Ahmed (@sughra01) is Programmes Manager at the Woolf Institute in the Centre for Policy and Public Education, where she is responsible for the design and...
2015-10-151h 24Autumn 2015 | Public lectures and events | VideoThe Book and the Believer: are Catholics, Jews and Muslims still outsiders in British society?Contributor(s): Sughra Ahmed, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Dr Ruth Gilbert, Dr Edward Kessler | The Institute of Public Affairs, in partnership with the Pears Foundation and the Woolf Institute, Cambridge, will host an interfaith discussion on the theme “The Book and the Believer: are Catholics, Jews and Muslims still outsiders in British society?” Three public figures will share their interesting and provocative perspectives, from their experience of belonging to a minority religious tradition in modern British society. Sughra Ahmed (@sughra01) is Programmes Manager at the Woolf Institute in the Centre for Policy and Public Education, where she is responsible for the design and...
2015-10-151h 24
In Their Own WordsIslamSughra Ahmed talks about Islam in the first of our podcasts focusing on the world's major religions - 'In Their Own Words'.
2013-03-2600 min