Beyond Today

Latest Episodes:

Has Brexit already changed me? Mar 29, 2019

Show notes

Since the EU referendum in 2016 the lives of two people have been completely taken over by Brexit. Femi Oluwole had been studying law and had just begun a career in European human rights. Owen Reed was 16 and still at school in 2016. But both these men became political activists and have been campaigning ever since. We spoke to them both about the last two years and discovered that despite being in opposite camps they share some views.

Mixed by Nicolas Raufast Producers: Philly Beaumont and Georgia Coan Editor: John Shields

Can Grindr be kinder? Mar 28, 2019

Show notes

It’s the most widely used LGBTQ app in the world with 27 million global users, but many of the people who use Grindr have a complicated relationship with it. We speak to comedian Jack Rooke and author of ‘Grindr Survivor’ Andrew Londyn about whether Grindr can shake off its reputation and what the future could look like for a gay dating app. With special thanks to George Hicks, Josh Cockcroft, Simon Haupt and Isobel Power Smith for the music. You can hear Jack Rooke's programme 'Telling Tales' available on BBC Sounds from April 9th.

This episode contains strong language and sexually explicit content.

Mixed by Nico Raufast Producer: Lucy Hancock Editor: John Shields

Is climate change the only thing making natural disasters worse? Mar 27, 2019

Show notes

Two weeks ago Cyclone Idai tore through Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, some of the poorest countries in Africa, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless and hundreds dead. Cholera has become a major concern among survivors. But it’s not just a catastrophic natural event, there are human causes behind the misery. BBC reporter Nomsa Maseko and Africa Editor Fegal Keane tell us a story of climate change, global corruption and devastation - but also progress and hope.

Producers: Duncan Barber and Jaja Muhammad. Editor: John Shields. Mixed by Nicolas Raufast.

Did one Russian mastermind this political chaos? Mar 26, 2019

Show notes

Trump, Brexit, the far left, the far right, Russia is often accused of interfering with Western democracy. But one Tupac-loving PR guy went beyond politics and masterminded the disruption of an entire global political system. The BBC’s Gabriel Gatehouse introduces us to Vladislav Surkov, the most powerful man you’ve never heard of. This episode contains strong language.

Dr. Evil: why is consent not enough? Mar 25, 2019

Show notes

He calls himself a body modification artist, but Brendan McCarthy AKA ‘Dr. Evil’ has just been sentenced to 40 months in prison for grievous bodily harm. He was jailed over tongue splitting, and nipple and ear removal procedures despite having the consent of his clients. We speak to one of his customers Wayne Fitzpatrick and BBC Stories’ Ruth Evans, who had been following the case for two years, about the limits of consent when it comes to our bodies.

Producers: Lucy Hancock and Georgia Coan Editor: John Shields Mixed by Nico Raufast

What should you do when there’s a terrorist attack? Mar 22, 2019

Show notes

Three years ago thirty two people died in three suicide bombings in Brussels. How authorities and civilians responded on that day can help us understand what we should do if we are caught up in a terror attack. Larissa Kennelly from the BBC’s Brussels bureau has been learning those lessons, while BBC producer Piers Scholfield and Benoit Remacker from the Belgian Crisis Centre take us through what happened that day.

Producer: Maria Byrne Mixed by Nicolas Raufast and Maria Byrne Editor: John Shields

Should we say nice things about Bradford? Mar 21, 2019

Show notes

Bradford has a tricky relationship with the national media. Big stories that have come out of the city include a bitter election battle over Bradford West, grooming gangs, and Islamic extremism. We joined a BBC project searching for unreported and more positive news from underserved communities across the UK. The first stop was Bradford.

Producers: Seren Jones and Jaja Muhammad

Mixed: Andy Mills

Editor: John Shields

Why is the Pope worried about robots? Mar 20, 2019

Show notes

This is an episode about what happened when global tech gurus were invited inside one of the world’s oldest and most conservative institutions. The Catholic church is thinking about the big ethical questions - perhaps in a way many of our governments are not - that are swirling around around tech. So they gathered some of the big players in robotics and AI in Rome, at the Vatican. BBC Click’s Jen Copestake was there to see what happened.

Producers: Philly Beaumont and Duncan Barber

Mixed by: Andy Mills

Editor: John Shields

Should egg freezing be free? Mar 19, 2019

Show notes

Almost half of young women in the UK are considering freezing their eggs, according to a recent survey. It involves harvesting eggs from a woman’s ovaries and keeping them in storage so she might be able to still have a baby even if her fertility declines. But it costs thousands of pounds and currently the success rates are low. Many women either can’t afford it, or don’t want to spend so much on something that might not work. Should the state or employers shoulder the cost? And should we all talk more openly about fertility? The BBC’s Global Health Correspondent Smitha Mundasad and Ali, Molly and Monty join us.

Producer: Harriet Noble Mixed by Andy Mills Editor: John Shields

Christchurch: how do you find the terrorists among the trolls? Mar 18, 2019

Show notes

After the mass shooting at two mosques in New Zealand in which 50 people were killed there has been widespread shock that it happened in a country that regards itself as inclusive and welcoming. The attack was livestreamed on Facebook, and social media companies were criticised for waiting too long to take the footage down. But the attacker also posted on extreme free speech message boards – where a racist subculture is thriving. We speak to Mike Wendling, Editor of BBC Trending, who has been tracking this subculture, and to Dominic Casciani, who covers terrorism for the BBC, to find out how the security services are dealing with this new challenge.

Producer: Philly Beaumont

Editor: John Shields

Mixed by Andy Mills