Different with Nicky Campbell

World renowned animal behaviourist Temple Grandin meets Nicky to talk about how her extraordinary visual brain means she can think like the farm animals she works with. They discuss diagnosing autism, how she learned to make small talk and scary shadows.

After hearing Alex Renton’s BBC Radio 4 documentary, In Dark Corners, Nicky Campbell chose to speak out about abuse he witnessed and experienced at Edinburgh Academy. One of those abusers, “Edgar” is alive and living in South Africa, awaiting extradition. In this episode Alex updates Nicky on Edgar’s extradition, and they speak to another survivor of Nicky’s abuser, who tells them how the abuse he experienced affected his whole life.

Nicky speaks to author and neuroscientist Anil Seth about consciousness, free will and how our memory works - are we remembering, remembering?

WARNING: This episode includes a conversation about recreational hallucinogenic drugs

Produced by Audio Always

Nicky explores an experiment in slow journalism. Paul Salopek has been walking in the steps of the first humans as they left the mother continent of Africa. Paul has been following that journey and speaking to the people he meets along the way.

Produced by Audio Always

Nicky and broadcaster Iain Lee swap stories of how their neurodivergence affects them in the studio. We hear stories of Iain Lee on the 11 O’Clock show and Nicky forgives him for the part he unwittingly played in the show…along with some other insider secrets (Iain Lee - Gemini).

They’re joined by Nicky’s daughter Kirsty, who received her ADHD diagnoses and medication as a teenager - taking her from D’s to A’s practically overnight, they discuss the positives and negatives of ADHD.

Produced by Audio Always

Is heaven a concept? Or a literal place? And might it be quite boring? Nicky Campbell and Leicester Imam Ibrahim Mogra chew over those questions, as Ibrahim paints a picture of Islam’s incredibly detailed depiction of where we go when we die. From rivers of honey to fragrant burps…

Produced by Audio Always

Comedian Janey Godley tells Nicky why she’s different- from her neurodivergent family, her old tweets nearly getting her cancelled, to getting a cancer diagnosis in lockdown.

Retired drug smuggler David McMillan sits down with Nicky to discuss his extraordinary life. What’s it like being on the run? How does knowing you may face the death penalty affect you? And how do you escape Thailand’s notorious, sprawling, Klong Prem prison?

Mortician and author Caitlin Doughty talks to Nicky about some of the most unusual death rituals around the world, and how she thinks we get death wrong.

In this episode Nicky and his guest talk frankly about what happens to our bodies after we die, and get into things like the details of cremation and some quite unusual funeral practises around the world, which do get graphic and gory in places, and may not be suitable for all audiences.

Finn Mackay has been called “the author hoping to end the gender wars”. Nicky finds out how and why the trans conversation has become so heated.