This week on Different Nicky explores the band which changed his life, with two people who were there while the music was being made - Pattie Boyd and Tony King. Pattie Boyd was married to George Harrison, then later Eric Clapton, and George wrote the song "Something" for her. She tells Nicky about meeting him, her career as a model, what it was like to be married to a Beatle and how George and Eric remained friends. Tony is a retired record promoter who worked closely with the Rolling Stones, E...
Jun 06, 2023•44 min
In 2013 Bryan Johnson sold his company to Paypal for $800 million, since then he’s founded two new companies, and began Project Blueprint - the regimen designed to make him live forever. He tells Nicky about his gruelling daily routine, being the most measured man in human history and why he thinks perfect health is on its way. WARNING:This episode contains adult themes. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester
May 30, 2023•52 min
Journalist and author AJ Jacobs tells Nicky about his year long mission to understand the bible better - by following every rule it sets. From not shaving the corners of his beard, to stoning adulterers and having to bring his own camping chair on the subway because of some extremely restrictive rules on where he could sit. He and Nicky discuss how much of the bible was meant to be taken literally, why people are drawn to men with big beards and white robes and why a non religious life can still...
May 23, 2023•40 min
Jamie Hull had left the SAS when he went to America to train as a pilot - part of his longer plan to work as a commercial airline pilot. In his final weeks of training Jamie took his plane up on a solo flight, where it caught fire. He tells Nicky about jumping from the plane, what it’s like to think you’re moments from death, and his long road to recovery. WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of accident and injury, and a discussion on assisted dying and suicidal thoughts. Produced by Aud...
May 16, 2023•34 min
What’s it like to be a psychopath? Nicky finds out with diagnosed psychopath ME Thomas. They talk about guilt, love and why most serial killers are too emotional to be actual psychopaths. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester
May 09, 2023•44 min
Bruce Findlay ran legendary Edinburgh record story Bruce’s before going on to manage band Simple Minds. He tells Nicky about meeting the biggest names in music, why he and Simple Minds parted company and how his shop was the first in Scotland to sell the Beatles White Album. WARNING: This episode contains bad language Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester
May 02, 2023•37 min
Nicky talks to Martin Davidson, a historian who discovered as an adult that his Grandfather was a mid ranking SS Officer in the Nazi party - and had joined the party far before Hitler came to power. He and Nicky discuss what he uncovered about the holocaust, recognising evil and family secrets. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Apr 25, 2023•42 min
Nicky talks to forensic psychiatrist and author Dr Gwen Adshead about working with violent offenders, psychopaths and the dangers of certainty. WARNING: This episode includes discussion of violent crimes, child sexual assault and rape. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Apr 18, 2023•37 min
Jason Bray, a minister in the Church of Wales talks about his job as a deliverance minister - explaining why if you think you're possessed you definitely aren’t, where the bible stands on ghosts and why he considers himself a sceptic. WARNING: this episode contains references to mental illness, self harm and the occult Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Apr 11, 2023•36 min
Nicky learns how the power of super-smeller Joy Milne has been harnessed to make a new test to diagnose Parkinson’s. They discuss her ability, how she found out that she had identified the smell of Parkinson's, the other illnesses she can smell and the ethical dilemma that comes with being able to diagnose with her nose. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Apr 04, 2023•35 min
Dream decoder and author Theresa Cheung talks about being homeschooled by a family of spiritualists and astrologers, getting into Cambridge and the red flags to watch out for if you visit a psychic. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Mar 28, 2023•33 min
Seoyhun Lee’s father was one of North Korea’s privileged party members, but when the regime came for their friends the family made the decision to defect. Seoyhun Lee tells Nicky about her best friend's kidnapping by the state, what’s really going on in Pyongyang and life in America. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Mar 22, 2023•39 min
Rhonda McCrimmon explains to Nicky what being a shaman is all about, plays him the drum that takes you into a dream state and explains why Scotland is so tied up with ancient magic. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Craig Edmondson
Mar 15, 2023•37 min
Dr Jill Bolte Taylor is an author and neuroanatomist who used her own stroke to better understand how her brain perceives reality. She tells Nicky about that experience, about how her brother’s schizophrenia inspired her to start her career, and they explore which bits of the brain do what.
Mar 08, 2023•37 min
Nicky talks to Giles Duley, a conflict photographer, chef and founder of the Legacy of War Foundation. Giles lost three limbs when he stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan, where he was embedded with US troops and reporting on the conflict. He tells Nicky about overcoming his injuries and his determination to return to war zones as a triple amputee, and how cooking has helped with his mental health. WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of injury, violence and war For details of org...
Mar 01, 2023•43 min
In the first series of Different Nicky spoke to journalist Alex Renton about the abuse that he saw and experienced at his school, the Edinburgh Academy, in the 1970s. Since the episode, ‘Edgar’ was published, many more victims have come forward, and the case against the alleged living abuser continues. After that episode Nicky received many emails, one of which was from the daughter of the man who abused him, Hamish Dawson. Nicky travels to Edinburgh to meet Jenny Pearson to discuss her childhoo...
Feb 22, 2023•47 min
Richard Reeves tells Nicky about his new book which explores “the male malaise” and investigates whether boys and men are failing at everything from school, to work and relationships. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Nov 09, 2022•39 min
Nicky hears what it’s like to quit the rat race in a big way. Gaynor Leeper left her London city life to move to the Arctic Circle and train sled dogs - despite a fear of dogs. They talk about dark mornings, racing sleds and owning 43 dogs. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Craig Edmondson
Nov 02, 2022•38 min
Ex undercover operative Mubin Shaikh tells Nicky how he became radicalised as a teenager, before changing his views and being recruited by the Canadian government to gather information on terror suspects. He talks de-radicalisation, terror threats and his faith now. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Oct 26, 2022•48 min
Nicky spends time with David Denison who has pancreatic cancer and is now in end of life care. David has been campaigning for assisted dying to be made legal in the UK and believes he should have been allowed the legal right to choose when he dies - without criminalising his partner. He tells Nicky what it’s like to know you’re nearing the end of your life, his legacy and why he thinks assisted dying reform is on the way.
Oct 19, 2022•34 min
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. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Oct 12, 2022•30 min
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. WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse and...
Oct 05, 2022•51 min
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 Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Sep 28, 2022•38 min
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 Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Sep 21, 2022•37 min
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 A...
Sep 06, 2022•45 min
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 Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Aug 30, 2022•25 min
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. WARNING: This episode contains reference to attempted suicide. If you’ve been affected by any of the topics discussed you can find more information and support on the BBC Action Line website http://bbc.co.uk/actionline Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Aug 24, 2022•39 min
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? WARNING: This episode contains some strong language and reference to attempted suicide. If you’ve been affected by any of the topics discussed you can find more information and support on the BBC Action Line website http://bbc.co.uk/actionl...
Aug 17, 2022•38 min
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.
Aug 10, 2022•37 min
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.
Aug 03, 2022•37 min
