2.5 SJ and Mona - out now | The University of Edinburgh

In this episode, guests SJ Sandhu and Mona Siddiqui talk about the flying frisbee of death, evocative smells and taking ownership of faith.

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About our guests

Sj's necklace with Sikhism symbol pendant and Mona's dark purple perfume atomiser — SJ's necklace and Mona's perfume atomiser

SJ Sandhu

Chosen object: a necklace with Sikhism symbol pendant

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.

Edinburgh Medical School

Follow the University of Edinburgh Futsal Club on Twitter

Mona Siddiqui

Chosen object: a perfume atomiser

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.

Follow Mona on Twitter

Mona's staff profile

BBC Radio 4's 'Thought for the Day'