Beyond Today

Last month in Sodermalm, a gentrified part of Stockholm, an explosion tore through an apartment block. Residents were left shocked and the bomb squad was called out. That night two more explosions happened in two other parts of the city. In fact, since the beginning of 2019 there have been over 100 explosions in Sweden.

Right wing commentators have spoken about violence in Sweden before and often say that the stories aren’t being reported on because the media doesn’t want to undermine multiculturalism in a country that’s renowned for being socially liberal.

In this episode we speak to Maddy Savage, a journalist living in Stockholm, who tells us what’s behind the rise in the number of explosions. We also talk to Christian Christensen, a journalism professor at Stockholm University, to find out whether Swedish media are covering up the violence.

Presenter: Matthew Price

On a weekend at the start of March, two murders caused public outcry. Two 17-year-olds were killed in two different attacks in London and Greater Manchester. Politicians said knife crime was out of control and called for urgent action. Last week two teenagers were found guilty of murdering Jodie Chesney, the girl killed in London. For the past few weeks the BBC’s Dan Johnson has been covering the trial of Jodie’s killers at the Old Bailey. In this episode Dan tells us what happened to Jodie in her last moments with her friends in the park, and explains what Jodie's murder says about a world of petty crime and violence where innocent people are caught in the crossfire.

Presenter: Matthew Price

In 2013 two young British women were caught trying to smuggle a haul of cocaine worth £1.5m from Lima, in Peru, to Ibiza. Michaella McCollum and Melissa Reid were dubbed the Peru Two after a photograph of the pair being arrested at Lima airport went viral.

The duo were sentenced for six years in a Peruvian prison on drug trafficking charges, but were released after serving three. Now back in the UK, Melissa is laying low, but Michaella has written a book about her side of the story.

In this episode Radio 1 Newsbeat’s Serena Kutchinsky tells Michaella’s story and her desire for a second chance, and BBC Latin America correspondent Will Grant explains how that second chance is perceived in Peru.

Presenter: Matthew Price

She’s the most famous transgender woman in the world. Today she’s best known for being part the Kardashian-Jenner dynasty, but at one time she was most famous for being the world’s greatest athlete after winning gold in the decathlon in the 1976 Olympics, competing as Bruce Jenner. In 2015 she transitioned and renamed herself Caitlyn. We may be seeing a lot more of her as it’s rumoured she is this year’s big signing in ITV’s I'm A Celebrity.

We speak to Simon Mundie, who presents the BBC Sounds sport podcast Don’t Tell Me the Score. Simon went to meet Caitlyn at her home in Malibu where she told him about the moment she won gold, transitioning and why she’s happier now than ever before.

Presenter: Tina Daheley

Gaming is worth more than all other entertainment combined. At the very top of the industry is a 56 year old Japanese man called Hideo Kojima, a highly respected designer who says his latest game ‘Death Stranding’ is a reaction to what he sees as the selfishness of Donald Trump’s wall and Brexit. The game is designed to make you think carefully about how you interact with others. The industry has proven itself commercially, but can it prove itself culturally?

We hear from Radio 1 Newsbeat’s Steffan Powell who has been to Tokyo to see Hideo Kojima at work.

Presenter: Tina Daheley

In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks the Taliban were never out of the news when Britain and the US deployed their armies to destroy al Qaeda and the Taliban, the terrorist group who controlled Afghanistan at the time. But the Taliban were never destroyed; they still control parts of the country and they still carry out attacks against the Afghan government.

It’s a custom around Eid for the Afghan government and the Taliban to exchange prisoners as a gesture of goodwill. Normally around 10 prisoners from each side, but this summer President Ghani of Afghanistan made the unprecedented decision to release nearly 900 Taliban prisoners. So, what does that mean for Afghanistan?

We speak to BBC journalists Auliya Atrafi and Claire Press who went inside the Taliban wing of Pul-e-Charki, Afghanistan’s largest prison to find out what’s driving these fighters. As peace talks between the US and the Taliban have yet again broken down, we look at why negotiating with terrorists remains part of the plan.

With six weeks to go until the general election we know we’re going to get speeches and policy announcements, but what really makes up our minds? In the past we voted along class lines, but that’s all changing. We speak to Rosie Campbell who is professor of politics at Kings College in London. She’s also Director of The Global Institute for Women’s Leadership and made two Radio 4 programmes on How Voters decide.

Presenter: Matthew Price

Not so long ago, horoscopes were considered a bit of fun that wasn’t taken too seriously. But in 2019 astrology is booming: there are astrology apps, daily podcasts for each star sign, zodiac-themed clothing and make-up ranges, and lots of viral horoscope memes flooding social media. Trend forecasters price the mystical market at more than $2billion.

In this episode we speak to Susan Miller, the world’s most famous astrologer, to find out about the power of star signs and get some predictions for the year ahead. We also talk to The Atlantic’s Julie Beck, who has investigated why the internet supports astrology’s resurgence and why people turn to the stars as a coping mechanism for stress.

Presenter: Tina Daheley

Last week 39 people suffocated to death in the back of a lorry in Essex. It was a reminder of a similar case that happened 19 years ago when 58 Chinese nationals were found dead in a lorry in Dover. In fact, the police originally thought that the group in that lorry in Grays last week were from China, until it emerged that they were probably from Vietnam. Police are there now taking DNA samples from families to identify the victims. We know that many Vietnamese people try to get to Britain and are here working to send money back home. We also now know that some pay up to £30,000 to traffickers to get to the UK. The BBC’s South East Asia Correspondent Jonathan Head has been in Vietnam this past week trying to figure out why.

Presented by Tina Daheley

Earlier this week top NHS bosses wrote a letter to the Professional Standards Authority expressing serious concerns about homeopathy. They warned of its lack of scientific foundation and anti-science message in an era of misinformation.

Homeopathic remedies are proven to be no more effective than a placebo, but for many of its defenders it has real therapeutic effects. In this episode we look at the power of placebo, why so many people swear by it and why its effectiveness is troubling for clinicians. We look at the specific list of health conditions that respond to placebo effects and explore their limitations with science journalist Erik Vance. We also speak to Julia Buckley, whose chronic pain took her on a bizarre journey via a Voodoo demon and a chorus of healing angels.