Drive Time Show Podcast 15-09-2026: Slavery and Religious Education: Why does it matter?

Join our hosts for Tuesday’s show from 4-6pm where we will be discussing: ‘Slavery: Does the past still shape our present?’ and ‘Religious Education: Why does it matter?’ Slavery: Does the past still shape our present? Can reparations truly repair the damage of slavery? Join us as we explore Ghana’s growing call for reparatory justice, the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade, who should take responsibility, and whether true reparation is about financial compensation, healing, or both. Religious Education: Why does it matter? Religious Studies GCSE entries are rising, with around 227,000 students now taking the subject across England and Wales, yet schools are facing a shortage of specialist teachers. Join us as we explore why religious education matters, why demand is growing, and whether enough is being done to support the subject and those teaching it. Guests: Michael Charles Banner - Dean of Trinity College, Cambridge, ethicist, and author of Britain's Slavery Debt: Reparations Now! Alex Renton - British journalist, broadcaster and author of Blood Legacy. He’s a co-founder of Heirs of Slavery, a group advocating for reparations for the transatlantic slave trade. Waqar Ahmad Ahmedi - Head of Religious Studies and Assistant Pastoral Lead (Upper School) at a school in Surrey. He also serves on the Editorial Board of The Review of Religions Ruth Marx - one of the co- chairs of AREIAC (Association of RE Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants) Paul Smalley - NASACRE (National Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education) Executive Officer Producers: Haniya Nasir, Maheda Nasir, Sitwat Mirza and Fezia Haq