Short Cuts

Latest Episodes:

Songlines May 05, 2015

Show notes

Josie Long hears stories of music and memory. From a song that proves your parents right - rock 'n roll really will lead you down a dangerous path - to the symphony that haunted one man's dreams for decades. Featuring:

96 Tears Feat. Anthony Bourdain Produced by Ann Heppermann, Kara Oehler and Rick Moody

Piano Man Feat. Barry Colson Produced by Sindre Leganger

The Stage Feat. Grace Savage Produced by Hana Walker-Brown

Lullaby Feat. Colin Dexter Produced by Phil Smith

Dream Symphony Feat. Stuart Sharp Produced by Olivia Humphreys with Jodie Taylor

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in May 2015.

The Conversation Apr 29, 2015

Show notes

Josie Long presents stories of intimate conversations. A 30-year-long conversation comes to an end, an undercover agent reveals how to flatter someone into prison and we discover the secrets of the 'dual form'. With the Caterpillar Featuring Bostjan Dvorak Produced by Phil Smith Colleagues Featuring Dr Irene Pepperberg Produced by Andrea Rangecroft He Was So Happy to See Me Featuring Ed Follis Produced by Leo Hornak 99 Words http://99words.co.uk/ Featuring Sally Potter Beverly Eckert Produced by Vanara Taing with interviews recorded by StoryCorps, a nonprofit dedicated to recording and collecting stories of everyday people.

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

Executive Producer: Alan Hall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in April 2015.

Adaptation Apr 21, 2015

Show notes

Josie Long hears stories of adaptation. A former ghost writer describes the art of adapting someone else's life for the page, and a woman who left Damascus considers how her city has changed in the last few years.

Plus two stories of adapting to extraordinary circumstances - members of the Arctic 30 adjust to their new life inside a Russian prison, and a researcher perched on top of a Hawaiian volcano tests her psychological capacity to live on another planet.

Taking part:

Mark McCrum Martha Lenio Sarah Dadouch Frank Hewetson Dima Litinov

Producers Olivia Humphreys, Tim Hinman, Fiona Clampin

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2015.

Heartsong Apr 14, 2015

Show notes

From the first touch to the last kiss, Josie Long hears stories of love, loss and finding yourself.

An audio diary shines a light on how we rebuild ourselves after the end of a relationship, how a final kiss in a love affair holds us in a moment crackling with tension, and how a first touch offers a moment of tenderness.

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2015.

Here Be Dragons Apr 07, 2015

Show notes

Josie Long hears stories of seeing double.

A baby monitor which opens up a terrifying world, an explorer who ventures into the unknown and a woman who longs to disappear into space.

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in April 2015.

The Double Nov 11, 2014

Show notes

Josie Long hears stories of seeing double. Tales of dopplegangers, identity theft and a woman who offered a living counterpart to dead composers. Featuring a new 'documentary song' from Gaggle.

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2014.

Nothing Nov 04, 2014

Show notes

Josie Long presents stories about absence and nothing.

A decades long murder mystery about the death of a man who never existed, the story of losing someone you never knew and a first time treasure hunter finds something against the odds but ends up with nothing.

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in November 2014.

After Dark Oct 28, 2014

Show notes

Josie Long presents tales of blackouts, late nights and bedtime stories.

Love found after a blackout, telephone counselling for bereaved rock star managers and erotica for the elderly.

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2014.

Behind The Curtain Oct 21, 2014

Show notes

Josie Long peers behind the curtain to reveal stories from behind the scenes.

There's secret telephone discos for cold calling salesmen, moral dilemmas which emerge behind the scenes on a reality television show and Joe Dunthorne attempts to gain access to the OULIPO.

Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2014.

Connections Oct 14, 2014

Show notes

A message in a bottle, cast into the ocean, reaches a woman who needs it.

A lifeboat adrift and isolated in icy waters and a crackling, radio connection offers a lifeline between friends.

Josie Long hears tales of making contact. Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall

A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2014.