Different with Nicky Campbell

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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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WARNING this episode contains strong language and descriptions of sexual violence.

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.

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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.

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

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.

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