Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation.

This week: student social worker Zara and retired social care manager Anne compare their experiences in foster care and reflect on the importance of belonging; co-admins of the Joy of Socks Facebook group Flora and Matt discuss what the group has meant to members during the past year; sea lover Laura and Royal Navy Commander Dave consider the attraction of life above and below water; and mother and son Julie and Ryan reflect on what they're looking forward to as lockdown eases.

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Ellie Bury

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation.

This week: as hotels open their doors in England, hostel owner Lee and B&B proprietor Catriona discuss how they've weathered the past year; Mel, a solo motherhood coach who chose to have a child using donor sperm, speaks to Demi, a donor conceived adult, about how a child's life is impacted by the decision to conceive in this way; amateur composer Chris and professional conductor Jonathan compare notes on their approaches to music; and introvert Carol and extrovert Alan consider how the pandemic has impacted their attitude towards socialising.

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Ellie Bury

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation.

This week: Abbie, who’s writing her own musical and Lubna, who’s taken a career change from pharmacist to acting, discuss facing stereotypes; Artist Tom who lives alone on the Isle of Lewis talks tech with Callum, an insurance broker in Glasgow, who says he’s relied on having connections made with technology as a life line; strangers Josie and Jessica discuss what life is like living with borderline personality disorder; and landlord Freddy who lives in West Sussex talks tenants rights with Jenni in Belfast who been renting for 6 years.

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Kerry Devine

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation.

This week: 9 year old history buff Evan, and archaeologist John, consider the allure of studying the past, and what it can teach us about today; pharmacy student Anne and information scientist Douglas discuss how they came to very different conclusions about faith, and gay marriage; academics Malcolm and Tissot compare their experiences on the London rave scene; and listener Christine explains why attending an Open Air School for a term as a child had such an impact, and appeals for those with a similar experience to join her in conversation.

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Ellie Bury

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation.

This week: Nikki, whose beauty salon has just reopened and Andrew, whose soft play centre is ready and waiting, discuss the ups and downs of owning a business during Covid; A Level student and environmental campaigner Roxy and mining graduate Oli consider whether extracting the earth's resources can ever be 'green'; Maureen and Dickie share their respective memories of the Sheffield and Belfast Blitz; and choir leaders Janine and Emma compare their different approaches to their craft.

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Ellie Bury

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation.

This week: Andrew, a Protestant nationalist and Arthur, a Catholic unionist, discuss what it's like to defy societal expectations with their beliefs; hairdresser Mike and travel blogger Sophie compare the pleasures of foreign and UK travel; mother and daughter Lucy and Katie explore what mothers can, and should, be telling their daughters in order to keep them safe from unwanted male attention; and artist Linda Ingham tells Fi how conversations between mothers and daughters on The Listening Project inspired her to make a deeply personal piece of work.

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Ellie Bury

Kofi Smiles presents friends, strangers and relatives in conversation.

This week: Alan and Joanne share what it's like to be left behind when a sibling becomes a missing person; darts enthusiasts Jo and Richard consider how the image of the sport has evolved over time; and sisters Janet and Sue, who were separated as very young children, reflect on the process of developing a sibling bond when they were reunited in their fifties.

If you think you might have information regarding either Donald or Lisa please contact Missing People (missingpeople.org.uk)

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Ellie Bury

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation as we adjust to the 'new normal'.

In this week's programme: Belinda Scandal and Asifa Lahore reveal the pleasures and pitfalls of a career as a drag artist; how do friends and colleagues react when someone decides to give up alcohol? Katy, who hasn’t had a drop for nearly ten years, and Antonia, who has given up more recently, share their experiences; and massage therapist and patient Ian and Kevin discuss the impact of a life changing injury and consider how work shapes men’s identity.

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Ellie Bury

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation as we adjust to the 'new normal'.

In this week's programme: Daniele and Jason share the challenges they've both experienced running holiday companies during lockdown; Sally, author of several Mills and Boon novels and Leanne, an aspiring romance writer, discuss why the genre continues to fascinate and delight readers; Fran and Sanjiv talk about how their respective Christian and Hindu faiths have helped them while grieving for loved ones; and wildlife park owners Steve and Lawrence consider the ways the creatures they've cared for have touched their lives.

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Ellie Bury

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation as we adjust to the 'new normal'.

In this week's programme: on Census Day, Geraldine and Siobhan share how their passion for unearthing their ancestry has informed their lives in different yet meaningful ways; children's entertainers Ceri and Andrew discuss getting to grips with performing to a virtual audience; Sue, who was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, and Julie, Director at UK Dementia Research Institute in Cardiff explore the positive steps that can be taken to help people with the illness; and Christina and Alistair compare notes on moving to, and away from, Australia.

The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningproject

Producer: Ellie Bury