Different with Nicky Campbell

BBC Radio 5 Live

What does it mean to be different? Is it how we think? Or how we act? In this BBC podcast, Nicky Campbell explores just that with guests who are extraordinarily different.

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Our Day in Court: The Brownlee Trial

Our Day in Court: The Brownlee Trial

At school Nicky, along with many other pupils of Edinburgh Academy, was the victim of vicious abuse from teacher John Brownlee. Nicky didn’t think Brownlee’s crimes would ever be answered, but in March 2024, they went to court. John Brownlee is 89 and was declared unfit to stand trial, instead an “examination of the facts” was held to establish the truth. Brownlee was found to have committed 31 charges of assault and assault to injury relating to incidents spanning from 1967 to 1991, as well as a composite charge of cruel unnatural treatment across the 20 years he worked at the school.Now Nicky sits down with two other survivors who gave evidence, Frazer Macdonald and Neil MacDonald, and Scottish journalist Marcello Mega. They discuss how the story of the historic abuse at Edinburgh Academy has unfolded, what it was like to be in court and the consequences of childhood abuse.WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of physical abuse, suicidal thoughts and strong languageProduced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester

Episodes

Our Day in Court: The Brownlee Trial

Our Day in Court: The Brownlee Trial

At school Nicky, along with many other pupils of Edinburgh Academy, was the victim of vicious abuse from teacher John Brownlee. Nicky didn’t think Brownlee’s crimes would ever be answered, but in March 2024, they went to court. John Brownlee is 89 and was declared unfit to stand trial, instead an “examination of the facts” was held to establish the truth. Brownlee was found to have committed 31 charges of assault and assault to injury relating to incidents spanning from 1967 to 1991, as well as a composite charge of cruel unnatural treatment across the 20 years he worked at the school.Now Nicky sits down with two other survivors who gave evidence, Frazer Macdonald and Neil MacDonald, and Scottish journalist Marcello Mega. They discuss how the story of the historic abuse at Edinburgh Academy has unfolded, what it was like to be in court and the consequences of childhood abuse.WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of physical abuse, suicidal thoughts and strong languageProduced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester

Jarren Rocks tells Nicky about creating Seance AI, a programme that allows us to speak to people we have lost. They discuss the rise of grief tech - how it can be a great tool to helpfully grieve, but also it's dangers. They discuss dystopian futures v utopian futures, how AI can change everything and the complexities of owning an image that can be used to create...anything.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Tom Hinckley

A Dad's Revenge Killing

A Dad's Revenge Killing

Jody Plauché joins Nicky to tell him a remarkable story of survival, revenge and family. At 11 Jody was groomed then kidnapped by his karate teacher Jeff Doucet, an America wide manhunt ensued and Jody’s attacker was apprehended, and Jody returned home safely. But the story didn’t end there - Jeff was returned to his home state for trial, where news cameras were waiting, but so was Jody’s father who shot and killed Jeff.Jody and Nicky talk about forgiveness, surviving abuse and his relationship with his father. WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse and violence that some listeners may find upsetting.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Craig Edmondson

Despite - Radio Times Moment of the Year Nominee

Despite - Radio Times Moment of the Year Nominee

In the first series of Different Nicky spoke to journalist Alex Renton about the abuse that he saw and experienced at his school, the Edinburgh Academy, in the 1970s. Since the episode, ‘Edgar’ was published, many more victims have come forward, and the case against the alleged living abuser continues. After that episode Nicky received many emails, one of which was from the daughter of the man who abused him, Hamish Dawson. Nicky travels to Edinburgh to meet Jenny Pearson to discuss her childhood, and how hearing her father’s name on the radio shook her world. She talks about healing, volunteering to speak to her father’s victims and thriving despite the legacy her father left behind.WARNING: This episode contains bad language, descriptions of child abuse and violence that some listeners may find upsetting.If you’ve been affected by the topics discussed, you can find more information and support on the BBC Action Line website: http://bbc.co.uk/actionline Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Craig Edmondson

A Trans Dad’s Experience

A Trans Dad’s Experience

Journalist Freddy McConnell sits down with Nicky to talk about making his documentary Seahorse, how the trans conversation has changed in the UK and why he tried to get the law changed so he could be on his children's birth certificates as parent or father.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Tom Hinckley

Celebrity Surgeon Scam

Celebrity Surgeon Scam

Benita Alexander is an Emmy winning NBC journalist who was sent to interview a surgeon to the stars. Dr Paulo Macchiarini was rumoured to be up for a Nobel prize and his groundbreaking trachea surgery was changing medicine. Within a year Benita and Paulo were engaged and he arranged a star studded wedding…but weeks before the big day everything came crashing down. The wedding was a fabrication, but so was Paulo’s whole career and his patients were dying.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Scientific Ghostbuster

Scientific Ghostbuster

Noah Leigh is an epidemiologist by day, with an unusual hobby: he runs not-for-profit the Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee. PIM use scientific methods to catalogue people’s experiences with ghosts, poltergeists and everything in between. He tells Nicky why science and the paranormal don’t have to be in opposition and how he considers himself “sceptically optimistic”.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Assistant Producer: Mansi Vithlani Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester, Mansi Vithlani

Rwandan Genocide - 30 Years Later

Rwandan Genocide - 30 Years Later

Consolee Nishimwe was 14 when the civil unrest in Rwanda reached boiling point, Consolee’s father and three younger brothers were murdered, and she was kidnapped for being Tutsi, held and tortured for 3 months. When the genocide ended Consolee returned to school, and many of the perpetrators returned to her community. In writing her book “Tested to the Limit” Consolee became the first Rwandan woman to publish an account of her experiences, including the sexual violence so many women endured during the genocide.She speaks to Nicky about trauma, loss and healing.WARNING: This episode contains mentions of violence, rape and torture.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Assistant Producer: Mansi Vithlani Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester, Mansi Vithlani

Against Adoption

Against Adoption

When Arun Dohle was weeks old he was adopted by a wealthy German couple, who took him from his home country of India. As an adult he began a search for his parents which lead to a battle in the Bombay High Court, an estrangement with his adoptive parents and the founding of ACT - Against Child TraffickingProduced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Assistant Producer: Mansi Vithlani Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester, Mansi Vithlani

Evangelical Christian to Science Writer

Evangelical Christian to Science Writer

When author Tracy King was 12 her father was killed on the streets of their Midlands council estate, this lead her family to be further seduced by born-again Christianity and her being exorcised when her trauma was misdiagnosed as “demons”. She tells Nicky how a second hand copy of a book by astrophysicist and critical thinker Carl Sagan changed her world and led her to science.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Is our world real?

Is our world real?

Nicky talks to Dr Melvin Vopson as Associate Professor in Physics at the University of Portsmouth. Melvin explains why he believes things like nature's symmetry and quantum physics point to our reality being a simulation - and whether information is the fifth state of matter.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Assistant Producer: Mansi Vithlani Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester, Mansi Vithlani

Author, ex East End gangster and convicted murderer meets Nicky to tell him about surviving prison, how the justice system needs to change and why she’s innocent of the murder she served 15 years behind bars for, but guilty of an armed raid on a Post Office. Nicky and Linda discuss the standard of living in prison, what it’s like to have to tell your children you're going to prison and why young female prisoners need more support.WARNING: This episode contains strong language, descriptions of violence, self harm, criminal acts, and adult themes.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Mansi Vithlani, Ailsa Rochester

The Female of the Species

The Female of the Species

Author and evolutionary biologist Lucy Cooke tells Nicky what the world of science got wrong because it was looking at the world through a patriarchal lens. From the amazing bonobo apes bonding through sapphic intimacy, to the menopausal whales leading their pods, to ducks evolving to choose which male fertilises her egg. WARNING: This episode contains strong language and adult themes.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Dippy: Unmasked

Dippy: Unmasked

Dr Anna Colton tells Nicky about her work assessing potential reality TV contestants for shows like The Voice and My Mum, Your Dad. They talk about red flags, the effects of appearing on a reality TV show and Nicky explores his joyful experience as Dippy Egg on the Masked Singer and what the lead up to the big reveal has felt like.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

The Man with No Fear

The Man with No Fear

Jordy Cernik was an up and coming TV and radio presenter when a rare disease called Cushing Syndrome started wreaking havoc on his life. After a string of life or death brain surgeries Jordy was left with one unexpected symptom - he is physically unable to feel fear. He told Nicky about jumping out of a plane to prove it, what life is like without fear and what it’s like to die on the operating table.WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of surgical procedures. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

A Survivor Changes the Law

A Survivor Changes the Law

WARNING this episode contains strong language and descriptions of sexual violence. Suzy Angus tells Nicky how she joined forces with two other women to fight the law of corroboration - a law previously described as the “cornerstone” of Scottish justice.Suzy tells Nicky why the law meant there was no chance to prosecute her rapists and talks about her hopes for how these reforms will affect change for other survivors. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

The Orgasm Teacher

The Orgasm Teacher

Holistic sex educator and tantric yoga teacher Jenny Keane meets Nicky to chat misconceptions about sex, being a sex educator in Ireland and why sex education matters.Warning: This episode contains adult conversations about sex.

The Barber of Old New York

The Barber of Old New York

Nicky meets Joseph Paris, a man who spent several decades making wigs for Frank Sinatra. He tells Nicky what kind of man Frank was, what New York was like in the 70’s, which famous band Sinatra chased out of a Vegas steam room…And Nicky writes a swing song for Joe in the style of the late, great Frank Sinatra.Warning: This episode contains strong language and adult themes

Different Selection Box

Different Selection Box

A New Year selection box including…Nicky’s conversation with Tony King, promoter to some of the most famous bands ever - including Queen and the Beatles.A trip to Zara the dominatrix’s dungeon to explore why people pay for pain.A daring tale of crime and adventure - David McMillan recounts his escape from a notorious Thai prison.Joy Milne and Perdita Barran tell Nicky how Joy’s super-smelling superpower lead to a huge scientific breakthrough.*** This episode has themes of bereavement, if you've been impacted by any of the issues discussed you can find support at bbc.co.uk/actionlineProduced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

The Elf Whisperer

The Elf Whisperer

Nicky Campbell meets Elf Whisperer Bryndis Bryndis Fjóla Pètursdóttir, who describes herself as a seer and horticulturalist. She talks to Nicky about the hidden people and elves that dwell in the garden, a widespread and common belief in Iceland.Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester