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Alan Dein connects with people around the world united by their desire to find fulfilment.

Alan speaks to a young gay man in China troubled by homophobia and an Egyptian woman determined to resist the religious extremism she witnesses in her small city.

He also reaches out to an Iranian man struggling to pursue his passion for foreign languages against the odds and a jobless Nigerian distressed by his inability to provide for his family.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

Some locations - the beaches of California, the South American rain-forest, the majestic scenery and slow pace of Christchurch, New Zealand - may seem like Paradise - but reality, in the form of nature, climate change, industrialisation, or terrorism, can often creep in, even in these beautiful places.

What about if you live there?

Alan Dein talks to three strangers from across the globe, finding out the threats to Paradise, and how those who have chosen to make their lives there cope.

Jefferson grew up in Malibu, one of the most desirable places on earth - surfing, hiking, living the outdoor life. Once in a decade a fire would come and change all that... but in recent years the fires have become more regular and more devastating. How did Jefferson get through the devastating experience of losing his home to fire? .

Alan also speaks twice to Julie from Christchurch, New Zealand, who vividly recalls the way her city crumbled to dust in front of her eyes in the devastating earthquake of 2011 - before changing for the better, with a stronger community spirit, during the city's recontruction.

But then she calls again - just a couple of days after the devastating terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques - giving Alan the chance to ask 'how does the city feel after this new tragedy'?

Producer: Sara Jane Hall

Alan Dein hears compelling personal stories from people around the globe about the things which unite them.

In Brazil, Saudi Arabia, the North of England and beyond, Alan connects with people online who are on the move, exploring what ‘motion’ means to different people through individual and collective experiences.

This includes a unique insight into marriage behind the wheel from a husband and wife trucking duo as they travel across Europe and reflections from a Saudi woman about how her life has changed since the female driving ban was lifted in June last year.

Producer: Hannah Dean

In this week's episode, Alan connects with people in Sweden, Brazil, Australia, Poland, and beyond. Conversations include a trans man in the military getting ready for fatherhood, a burlesque performer building queer community in Brazil, and a woman who wonders how different her life might have been if she never found roller derby.

Producer: Arlie Adlington

Alan Dein connects with strangers across the world, exploring the things that unite people across cultures and borders.

Today, Alan reaches out to people in Afghanistan, the Philippines, Sierra Leone and beyond - exploring what it means to belong.

He hears people yearning for a better life elsewhere - and those determined to make a go of it where they are.

Producer: Laurence Grissell

Alan Dein connects with random strangers around the world and calls them. Each has a personal, intimate story of how art has enriched their lives or provided solace in difficult times.

Producer: Georgia Catt.

Alan Dein connects with random strangers around the world and calls them. Alan Dein connects with random strangers around the world and calls them. Each has a story of exile - whether through escape, economic necessity or adventure.

Alan Dein continues his virtual global journey, calling random people he stumbles across on line.

Through extraordinary stories of tolerance, Alan hears what people endure in their political, religious and love lives.

Bob, a Lebanese computer intern, tells of his struggles as a fervent Islamist, Samira a Brazilian teacher confesses to infidelity and Tariro shares her joy as the tanks roll into Harare.

Producer: Sarah Bowen.

Alan Dein connects with random strangers around the world and calls them.

This week, his guests are in far flung places and bustling cities but each, in their own way, isolated.

He finds Clare, an ex-Mounted Police Officer in the High Arctic, Dino, a security guard, locking up after a long nightshift in Skopje and in Northern China, 19-year-old Ben, whose ears are still ringing from his first night ever in a nightclub.

Producer: Sarah Bowen.

Alan Dein travels the world via the internet talking to parents and children about navigating the tricky expectations they have of each other.

Among those Alan strikes up conversation with today: a Filipino mother estranged from her gay son, a Ugandan woman whose education was cut short and a young Korean man hiding his tattoos from his parents.

Producer: Laurence Grissell.