Two stories of mid-twentieth-century fictional crime.

Credits:

‘Too Soon Made Glad’ was written by Rachel Gardner (2021), who studied English at Jesus College. The narrator is Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka (2005), best known as Love Ssega, musician, producer and performing artist who studied Chemical Engineering at Jesus and completed a PhD in Laser Spectroscopy. In 2024, ‘Too Soon Made Glad’ tied for Best Historical Storytelling.

‘Ladies’ Night’ was written by Molly Becker, Communication Coordinator for the Intellectual Forum at Jesus College. The narrator is Eleanor Mack (2013), actor and community dance artist who studied English at Jesus. Ladies’ Night tied for Best Historical Storytelling in the 2024 competition.

Stories recorded at Pixiu Studio, 18 Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3PB, and edited by Finn Ranson (2017).

Episode introduction recorded at Jesus College, Cambridge, by Finn Ranson, and featuring the Master of the College, Sonita Alleyne, and Emily Winslow, author and teacher in Cambridge. Podcast project management Clelia McElroy and Sarah Richey.

Two stories set in the 1960s, one in the context of the Vietnam War and one about the visit of an awe-inspiring comet.

Credits:

‘The Hyacinth Girl ‘was written by Eliza Powers (1994), who was an Undergraduate visiting student from Pomona College, California.The narrator is Dr Matt Wilkinson, current Director of Studies in Natural Sciences at Jesus College, specialising in Zoology, and also a freelance popular science writer and speaker, voice artist, and actor. In 2024, ‘The Hyacinth Girl ‘ was awarded Best Fantastical Historical Fiction

‘Space Songs for Ikeya-Seki’ was written by April Egan (2021), who studied English at Jesus College. It was narrated by Arabella Jacobson (2013), stage and screen actor who studied Psychological & Behavioural Sciences at Jesus. In 2024, ‘Space Songs for Ikeya-Seki’ was awarded Best Descriptive Historical Fiction.

Stories recorded at Pixiu Studio, 18 Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3PB, and edited by Finn Ranson (2017).

Episode introduction recorded at Jesus College, Cambridge, by Finn Ranson, and featuring the Master of the College, Sonita Alleyne, and Emily Winslow, author and teacher in Cambridge. Podcast project management Clelia McElroy and Sarah Richey.

Two stories of future horror, one physical and one psychological

Credits:

‘Enhanced’ was written by Arabella Tedder (2020), who was studying English at Jesus College. The narrator is Grainne Dromgoole (2016) who is a stage and voice actor who studied English at Jesus. ‘Enhanced’ was awarded Best Physical Horror Science Fiction Story in the 2023 competition.

‘Feel No Evil’ was written by Deborah Omolegan-Obe (2022) who studied Law at Jesus College. The narrator is Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka (2005), best known as Love Ssega, musician, producer and performing artist who studied Chemical Engineering at Jesus and completed a PhD in Laser Spectroscopy. ‘Feel No Evil’ was awarded Best Psychological Horror Science Fiction Story in the 2023 competition.

Stories recorded at Pixiu Studio, 18 Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3PB, and edited by Finn Ranson (2017).

Episode introduction recorded at Jesus College, Cambridge, by Finn Ranson, and featuring the Master of the College, Sonita Alleyne, and Emily Winslow, author and teacher in Cambridge. Podcast project management Clelia McElroy and Sarah Richey.

Science Fiction part 1: Major Moon, Astroentomologist, and Echoes in the Chapel

Credits:

‘Major Moon, Astroentomologist’ written by Ella Curry (2019), who was Communication and Marketing Assistant in the Intellectual Forum at Jesus College between completing her English BA at Jesus, and going on to pursue a Master’s degree in entomology.

It was narrated by Francesca Beard (1986) who is an internationally acclaimed spoken word artist who studied English at Jesus. In 2023 it was awarded Best Heroic Science Fiction Story.

‘Echoes in the Chapel’ written by Kate Coghlan, Editor of Publications at Jesus College. The narrator is Arabella Jacobson - a stage and screen actor who studied Psychological & Behavioural Sciences at Jesus. ‘Major Moon, Astroentomologist’ was awarded Best Tragic Science Fiction Story in the 2023 competition.

Stories recorded at Pixiu Studio, 18 Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3PB, and edited by Finn Ranson (2017).

Episode introduction recorded at Jesus College, Cambridge, by Finn Ranson, and featuring the Master of the College, Sonita Alleyne, and Emily Winslow, author and teacher in Cambridge. Podcast Project Management Clelia McElroy and Sarah Richey.

Two stories that contrast the hope and the pain of love relationships.

Credits:

‘Abide with Me’, written by Anika Goddard (2021), who studied Undergraduate English at Jesus College. It was narrated by Francesca Beard (1986), an internationally acclaimed spoken word artist who studied English at Jesus College. 'Abide with Me’ was awarded Best Hopeful Love Story in the 2022 competition.

‘Misjudgement’ written by Rachel Gardner (2021), who studied English at Jesus College. Narrated by April Perrott (2021) who studied English and is a musical theatre artist. Misjudgement’ was awarded Best Painful Love Story in the 2022 competition.

Stories recorded at Pixiu Studio, 18 Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3PB, and edited by Finn Ransom (2017).

Episode introduction recorded at Jesus College, Cambridge, by Finn Ranson, and featuring the Master of the College, Sonita Alleyne, and Emily Winslow, author and teacher in Cambridge. Podcast Project Management Clelia McElroy and Sarah Richey.

Three stories that look at crime from distinct angles: a classic detective story, a story that uses humour and hyperbole to explore great sadness, and one that elevates tragedy with soaring descriptions of love lost.

Credits:

‘A Murder of Crow Witnesses’ written by James McCarthy, screenwriter and husband to Sonita Alleyne, Master of the College. Narrated by Qawiiah Bisiriyu (2021). A Murder of Crow Witnesses was awarded Best Classic Crime Story in the 2021 competition.

‘How to Steal a Cambridge Cow in Ten Easy Steps’ written by Natan Maurer (2019), who was studying Undergraduate Law at Jesus College.

The narrator is Dr Matt Wilkinson, who is the current Director of Studies in Natural Sciences at Jesus College, specialising in Zoology, and also a freelance popular science writer and speaker - a voice artist and actor. ‘How to Steal a Cambridge Cow in Ten Easy Steps’ was awarded Most Creative Crime Story in the 2021 competition.

‘Is it a Crime?’ written by Ella Curry (2019), who studied Undergraduate English at Jesus College. The narrator is Laurie Ward (2020). ‘Is it a Crime?’ was awarded Most Beautiful Crime Story in the 2021 competition.

Stories recorded at Pixiu Studio, 18 Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3PB, and edited by Finn Ranson (2017).

Episode introduction recorded at Jesus College, Cambridge, by Finn Ranson, and featuring the Master of the College, Sonita Alleyne, and Emily Winslow, author and teacher in Cambridge. Podcast Project Management Clelia McElroy and Sarah Richey

Two stories that use the supernatural in unusual ways, one exploring the senses, the other cautioning of danger ahead.

Credits:

Lavender written by Lisa Rowe, Domestic Bursar’s Assistant at Jesus College. Narrated by Hugh Stubbins (2011), writer and stage and television actor, who studied History at Jesus. Our singer is April Perrott (2021), who studied English at Jesus. Lavender was awarded Best Descriptive Ghost Story in the 2020 competition.

The Last Human was written by Hannah Charlotte Copley (2019), PhD student, medical doctor, and a Green Party City Councillor. Narrated by Laurie Ward (2020) who is an experimental theatre maker, performance artist and actor who studied Education at Jesus. The Last Human was awarded Best Dystopian Ghost Story in the 2020 competition.

Stories recorded at Pixiu Studio, 18 Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3PB, and edited by Finn Ranson (2017).

Episode introduction recorded at Jesus College, Cambridge, by Finn Ranson, and featuring the Master of the College, Sonita Alleyne, and Emily Winslow, author and teacher in Cambridge. Podcast project managment Clelia McElroy and Sarah Richey.

Two stories that straddle the line between literal ghosts and hauntings created by the experiencer’s state of mind.

Credits:

Recycling, written by James Clackson, Fellow in Classics at Jesus College. Narrated by Hugh Stubbins (2011) - writer and stage and television actor who studied History at Jesus. Recycling was awarded Best Classic Ghost Story in the 2020 competition.

The Heavy Sky, written by Lucy Edwards (2013), PGCE Postgraduate student at Jesus College. Lucy currently teaches Classics. Narrated by Qawiiah Bisiriyu (2021) who studied English at Jesus. The Heavy Sky was awarded Best Emotional Ghost Story in the 2020 competition.

Stories recorded at Pixiu Studio, 18 Charlotte Rd, London EC2A 3PB, and edited by Finn Ranson (2017).

Episode introduction recorded at Jesus College, Cambridge, by Finn Ranson, and featuring the Master of the College, Sonita Alleyne, and Emily Winslow, author and teacher in Cambridge. Podcast project management Clelia McElroy and Sarah Richey

Series launching on 3rd June 2025.