Quo Vadis Institute #Rethink

In this episode of our podcast #Rethink, Jasper Knecht engages in a conversation with Sam Mabley, a young Christian from Bristol (UK), who founded a fashion company (YesFriends) centered around the idea of making ethical clothing affordable. Sam shares his story and discusses how he became intrigued by issues in the fashion industry. To quote from their website: „Clothes are the products with the 2nd highest risk of modern slavery in their supply chain and use around 10% of global greenhouse gases“.   

There's an inherent awareness that something doesn't quite add up when we purchase a T-shirt for a mere 5-10 euros from a mainstream fashion chain. Maybe we've caught wind of the harmful impact of dyeing methods, releasing alarming quantities of toxic chemicals into rivers and triggering catastrophic effects on nearby ecosystems and communities. The pressing question, however, remains: What actionable steps can we take? The prevailing industry operates within these established “norms”, and the prospect of transitioning to alternatives, often considerably pricier, poses a financial challenge for many. How do we address this dilemma and contribute to positive change? 

Sam, who faced the same problems, decided to change something right here and create a way to offer fashion that is both ethically produced and affordable. In the conversation, he meticulously describes the processes necessary for making this possible and also paints a broader economic picture, showing how we, as consumers, can support a change in the way fashion is produced and perceived.  

Moreover, Sam describes how, as a Christian, he reflects on issues of justice and perceives a clear mandate in the Bible to contemplate justice and social conditions, as well as to actively get involved when unjust conditions are observed or become salient. 

Sam Mabley studied music at the university of Bristol. He is a co-founder of the ethical clothing company Yes Friends.

In this episode, Elaine Pountney shares about her life as a counsellor. She reflects on the nature of wellbeing, the connection between flourishing and relationships, and whether flourishing is possible after trauma. We loved our conversation so we hope you’ll enjoy it as well.

Photo Credit of Featured Picture: Gary Barnes | Pexels

In this episode, Dr. Sarah Foot discusses her work as a Palliative Care Physician. What does good, holistic care look like? Foot explains that a physical problem does not always have a physical solution and that much of her job is also to help patients navigate choices and decisions. Important in this process is to define what success means in this context? Even though ‘curing’ a patient is not often a realistic aim, it is very rewarding to help people manage pain and support them in achieving their goals.

Featured Photo by truthseeker08 | pixabay

Revd Dr Dave Bookless is Director of Theology for A Rocha International. A Rocha is an international Christian organisation engaging in scientific research, environmental education and community-based conservation projects across six continents. In this conversation, Dr Bookless talk more about his heart for Creation Care and the ways in which he think those issues are connected with Human Flourishing.

Photo Credit of Featured Picture: Andrea Piacquadio | Pexels

Introduction to our new five-part series on "Human Flourishing":

What does it mean for people to do well, to flourish? This is a difficult query that would probably lead to a variety of answers, depending on who is answering it. Nevertheless, how we understand human wellbeing influences many of our decisions in the public sphere, as ‘human wellbeing’ is oftentimes the explicit or implicit objective. This five-part series hears professionals reflect on the nature of their work in the first place and how what they think ‘human flourishing’ is and how it guides them.

EPISODE 1: Dr Darrell Cosden is a specialist on the theology of work and has written extensively on the topic. In this episode, Dr Cosden introduces us to some of the main aspects of the theology and work and links it to his understanding of what it means for a human being to well, in the context of work.

Photo Credit: Nam Mau | Pexels

This is the second of two conversations with Dr Eric Stoddart, lecturer in theology at the University of St Andrews, and Stefania Knecht. Dr Stoddart is a specialist in the intersection of theology and technology, specifically surveillance. In this episode, Dr Stoddart describes how we can helpfully think about surveillance in times of racial bias and in the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement. How can we foster communication and reconciliation in a cancel culture, fuelled by video snippets? What are the most important things to remember when watching video footage online?

Photo Credits: Clay Banks on Unsplash

For more content, please check out our website https://qvi.eu!

This is the first of two conversations between Dr Eric Stoddart, lecturer in theology at the University of St Andrews, and Stefania Knecht. Dr Stoddart is a specialist in the intersection of theology and technology, specifically surveillance. In this episode, Dr Stoddart describes how the current Coronavirus pandemic has influenced the level and types of surveillance, both governmental and societal. How should these changes be evaluated? Should increased surveillance be resisted? And how do surveillance and a ‘love-of-neighbour’ interact?

Photo Credits: Fredrik Bedsvaag on Unsplash

For more content, please check out our website https://qvi.eu!

In the third and last part of their conversation, Quentin Genuis and John Wyatt discuss some more personal and ethical questions they are confronted with as physicians amidst the Covid-19  crisis. How does this crisis change especially the perspectives of younger doctors who have never experienced that to be a physician can also involve great risk? What is the motivation behind risking your life for others? And how can people working in healthcare cope with the current pressure? 

Guests: Quentin Genuis (MD, MLitt St.Andrews, BMSc) and John Wyatt (Emeritus Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, Ethics & Perinatology at University College London)

Photo Credits: Jonathan Borba on Pexels

For more content, please check out our website https://qvi.eu!

Medical professionals have to deal with ethical questions more than ever now during the Covid-19 crisis. How to decide who to treat is just one of them. How can we approach this crisis from an ethical point of view? 

Part two of the conversation with Quentin Genuis (MD, MLitt St.Andrews, BMSc) and John Wyatt (Emeritus Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, Ethics & Perinatology at University College London).

Photo Credits: EVG on Pexels

For more content, please check out our website https://qvi.eu!

Quentin Genuis (MD, MLitt St.Andrews, BMSc) and John Wyatt (Emeritus Professor of Neonatal Paediatrics, Ethics & Perinatology at University College London), talk about the current Covid-19 crisis - how medical professionals experience this unprecedented situation and how they can cope with it, not only from a medical perspective but also as a whole human being.

For more content, please check out our website https://qvi.eu!

Introduction to the new Quo Vadis Institute Podcast #Rethink 

For more content, please check out our website https://qvi.eu!