Short Cuts

By BBC Radio 4Society & Culture Documentary

Short Cuts episodes

January 07, 2025 Midnight
Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures as the clock slips closer to midnight.
In the last Short Cuts on BBC Radio 4, 13 years after the broadcast of our first ever episode 'Misadventures', we listen to radio waves after dark with the Shortwave Collective, tumble into a radio poem alongside a sleeping child, tune into a late night pirate radio station from the early 1960s, and raise a parting glass.
At Least
Featuring Xelis de Toro
Produced by Phil Smith
Voice of Nuclear Disarmament
With thanks to the British Library Sound Archive, and the family of John Hasted
Produced by Jonny Matfin
Perhaps at Midnight, When All Boundaries Are Lost
Produced by the Shortwave Collective
Good Company
Featuring Jesse Lawson, Izzy Yon and Femi Oriogun-Williams
Produced by Jesse Lawson
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall
Mix by Mike Woolley
Executive Producer: Alan Hall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
35 min
December 29, 2024 Earth
A friendship forged working the land, memories of volcanic eruptions from 800,000 years ago frozen in Antarctica’s ice cores, and the importance of wild, patient gardens. Short documentaries presented by Josie Long that rise up from the earth.
Wintering
Music by Jules Bradley
Produced by Jules Bradley
Melt Tones
Featuring Dr Dieter Tetzner
Produced by Anton Spice
Sue’s Garden
Featuring Sue Trolle
Music by Sóley
Produced by Rikke Houd
Produced by Andrea Rangecroft
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
29 min
December 24, 2024 Merry Christmas
A criminal defence lawyer finds a surprising new job foisted upon him and a son attempts to recover his joyfulness on a family holiday. Josie Long presents short festive documentaries and merry sonic adventures.
Family Yoga
Produced by Kit Callin
A Conversation with my Mum at Christmas
Featuring Rhik Samadder
A version of this story first appeared in Rhik Samadder's memoir, I Never Said I Loved You
Music by The Enchanted Cinema
Produced by Sarah Cuddon
Miracle on the George Washington Bridge
Produced by Luke Green
Santa Calls
Featuring Matt Storrs
Produced by Talia Augustidis
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
32 min
December 17, 2024 Feast
Feeding the birds, sharing meals and chaotic menus - Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures about eating together.
Bird Feeder
Produced by Stella Sims
And to Start...
Produced by Mae-Li Evans
Foodhall
Produced by Nadia Mehdi
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
30 min
December 10, 2024 Lost Futures
Time capsules and yesterday's dreams of tomorrow, Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures exploring lost futures.
That’s Merely an Adjective
Produced by Zara Karschay
Time Play by Chelsea Kigano, Lily Sloane, Lilia Vega, and Emily Shaw
Originally made as part of The 24-Hour Radio Race from KCRW's Independent Producer Project
Music and sound design by Lily Sloane, with Time Ain't Gonna Make Me Stay by Ed Andrews
Special thanks to David Lee
Letters
Produced by Mika Golubovsky and Sasha Borzenko
Featuring Zehnya Feldman and Natasha Zotova
Higher Ground
Produced by Leila Goldstein
Featuring Winda Safitri, Yoppi and Naya Hidayatul Alialna
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
Produced by Axel Kacoutié
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
30 min
December 03, 2024 Into the Night
Siren song, lunar eavesdroppers and the gathering dark - Josie Long presents short documentaries about venturing into the night.
Siren Song
Featuring melancholydi
Produced by Kalli Anderson
Lunar Eavesdroppers
An extract from Space Ham, first broadcast in BBC Radio 3's Between the Ears
Produced by Rose de Larrabeiti and Caroline Devine
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 3
Beneath
Produced by Sami El-Enany
Brücke
Featuring Stephen Jenkinson
Produced by Phil Smith
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
30 min
September 24, 2024 The Forest
Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures that venture into the forest.
Searching for Eden
Written, performed and composed by Nyokabi Kariũki
Drums - Chris O'Leary
Field Recordings taken in Mũrang'a, Kenya
The Final Breath
Featuring Robin Elms
Produced by Kendra Hanna and Max Jungreis
El Manglar
Featuring Paolo Realpe, founder of Muisne Desde Adentro
Special thanks to Dr. Pilar Egüez Guevara, co-founder and director of Comidas que Curan (Foods that Heal)
Produced by Mickal Aranha
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
31 min
September 17, 2024 A Word
Wishes, wonders, and wisdom. Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures uncovering the power of words.
mother-house by produced by Catherine Boulle.
Inspired by the guided visualisations accompanying the book 'Motherhood: Is it for me?' by Denise L. Carlini & Ann Davidman.
Weird World Whimsy produced and composed by Suzie McCarthy.
Featuring actor, teacher and director, Mary Lou Rosato.
Interview recording by audio producer Donelle Wederburn in New York City.
The piece featured a canoe trip on the Tapiskwan Sipi, which runs through Atikamekw Nehirowisiwok territory in the unceded province of Quebec.
Special thanks to Nina Garthwaite, Tom Todoroff, Emily Moulton, Katherina Lindekens and Emma Lehman from Noise Club.
Buranbur: a comfort in words by audio maker and producer Suhaar Ali.
Featuring the first Somali woman elected to the cabinet, Fadumo Aalin, who talks about her mother and poet Hawo Jibril.
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
Produced by Axel Kacoutié
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
30 min
September 10, 2024 Sound Waves
Trying to capture a lost homeland on tape, reclaiming urban landscapes through the sound of skateboarding, and the noise that is one of the great equalisers of the world. Short documentaries that ripple through space - presented by Josie Long.
Sonic Skateboarding
Produced by Alice Boyd and Tom Critchley
Featuring Ben Dixon, Tom Critchley, Hannah, Zip and Bleu
Music composed by Ben Dixon
Nat’s Apartment
Written and produced by Emma-Lee Moss
Music by Emma-Lee Moss and Nata Lee Hahn
Love in the Time of Flatulence
Featuring Alison Downham Moore, Noam Osband, Zebulon Osband and Dahlia Osband
Written and produced by Noam Osband
Produced by Andrea Rangecroft
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
30 min
September 03, 2024 In Time
Josie Long presents short documentaries against the clock in an episode around time and timing.
Dad's Secret Life of Matchmaking
Produced by Josephine Anderson
Additional sound recording by Christopher Anderson
Loose Ends
Produced by Jon Tjhia
There's Always a Next Time
Produced by Steve Urquhart
Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft
Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall
A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
30 min