Episodes

  • Marcus Chown - A Crack In Everything : How black holes came in from the cold
    May 20 2024

    This glorious popular science books tells the story of how black holes that were thought to be too ridiculous to exist in 1916 had by 1971 been proved to exist.

    Einstein thought they were impossible but in 1971 Paul Murdin and Louise Webster discovered the very first black hole, Cygnus X-1

    Marcus tells the story of these extraordinary people who discovered that black holes are centre stage in the cosmos. Indeed without black holes it is unlikely that we would exist.

    Fasten your seat belts and prepare to be amazed.

    A great book for the curious!!

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    27 mins
  • Truddi Chase - When Rabbit Howls : A memoir of living with multiple personalities.
    May 17 2024

    Truddi Chase lived with dissociative identity disorder a condition that used to be called multiple personality disorder.

    On the cover of her book the author was named as 'The Troops' - the name she gave to her 90 plus identities.

    When I interviewed her she was with her therapist Robert Phillips. The whole story was very difficult to assimilate as you can probably hear.

    Truddi died in 2010 but there is a website dedicated to her and her autobiography is still in demand.

    It seems that her condition was a result of abuse in her childhood.

    A story like no other!

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    14 mins
  • David Wilson - A Plot to Kill
    May 13 2024

    It's Bafta time again.

    The winner of the BAFTA for best actor went to Timothy Spall for his performance in 'The Sixth Commandment'.

    Timothy played Peter Farquar, a gay Christian teacher who was murdered by a student, Ben Field.

    The horrific murder actually happened in the normally peaceful village of Maids Moreton in Buckinghamshire.

    The true story is told by David Wilson who lives in the village in his book 'A Plot to Kill'.

    He told David Freeman about it.

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    30 mins
  • Jeanette Winterson - Oranges are Not the Only Fruit.
    May 12 2024

    This interview is one I remember with huge affection. Mostly I would talk to an author for 20 minutes or so but this conversation is twice that. It was recorded in the spring of 1984 when 'Oranges are Not the Only Fruit' was first published.

    I was very fortunate because I was one of the very first broadcasters to interview Jeanette.

    I had been reading the book in bed the night before and was buzzing with enthusiasm for it when I met her.

    Hear the author talk about her life in religious Accrington and rejecting the faith will make reading the book essential

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    46 mins
  • Catherine Nixey - Heresy : Jesus Christ and other sons of God
    Apr 24 2024

    This new book is terrific - its a revelation.

    Catherine has studied texts written around the same time as the writings we know as the gospels.

    Some of these ancient documents tell the story of the bible characters we are familiar with in a totally different way.

    Listen to Catherine talk about her research and you will be surprised ..... probably very surprised!!

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    26 mins
  • Ashley Mullinger - My Fishing Life
    Apr 16 2024

    Ashley Mullinger is a commercial fisherman.

    She used to work in an office but found it dull and stressful. She decided to go on a half day fishing trip with a couple of her friends just to make a change.

    The friends sort of liked it but Ashley REALLY liked it and now does it as a full time job. She is so good at it she was awarded the title of 'Fisherman of the Year'.

    In this conversation she explains her passion for the life and her fears for the future of the whole commercial fishing industry.

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    24 mins
  • Rebecca Frayn - Lost in Ibiza
    Apr 14 2024

    There is an article in the Culture section of The Sunday Times about father and daughter Michael and Rebecca Frayn.

    Rebecca is a farmer and environmental activist and writer who lives in the north of Ibiza.

    Her new novel 'Lost in Ibiza' is coincidentally, about a young environmental activist who travels to Ibiza to meet her biological father for the very first time.

    It's a story of family drama, but it is also the story of a paradise island under threat.

    A great holiday read!

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    18 mins
  • Eric Bibb talks about his life in music
    Apr 11 2024

    Eric Bibb remembers his introduction into music via his dad Leon and the musical luminaries who visited the family home.

    Paul Robeson was his Godather, and a very young Bob Dylan gave him some sound advice.

    Now 72 Eric is still touring, playing, and writing songs. He is one of lifes gentlemen!

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    19 mins