Different with Nicky Campbell

At school Nicky, along with many other pupils of Edinburgh Academy, was the victim of vicious abuse from teacher John Brownlee. Nicky didn’t think Brownlee’s crimes would ever be answered, but in March 2024, they went to court.

John Brownlee is 89 and was declared unfit to stand trial, instead an “examination of the facts” was held to establish the truth. Brownlee was found to have committed 31 charges of assault and assault to injury relating to incidents spanning from 1967 to 1991, as well as a composite charge of cruel unnatural treatment across the 20 years he worked at the school.<...

Jarren Rocks tells Nicky about creating Seance AI, a programme that allows us to speak to people we have lost. They discuss the rise of grief tech - how it can be a great tool to helpfully grieve, but also it's dangers. They discuss dystopian futures v utopian futures, how AI can change everything and the complexities of owning an image that can be used to create...anything.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Tom Hinckley

Jody Plauché joins Nicky to tell him a remarkable story of survival, revenge and family. At 11 Jody was groomed then kidnapped by his karate teacher Jeff Doucet, an America wide manhunt ensued and Jody’s attacker was apprehended, and Jody returned home safely. But the story didn’t end there - Jeff was returned to his home state for trial, where news cameras were waiting, but so was Jody’s father who shot and killed Jeff.

Jody and Nicky talk about forgiveness, surviving abuse and his relationship with his father. WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse a...

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 childhood, and how hearing her father’s name on the radio shook her world. She talks about...

Journalist Freddy McConnell sits down with Nicky to talk about making his documentary Seahorse, how the trans conversation has changed in the UK and why he tried to get the law changed so he could be on his children's birth certificates as parent or father.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Tom Hinckley

From Amazing Sport Stories, this is The Black 14.

In 1969 Wyoming, racism is rife and 14 young black American footballers decide to take a stand. But the repercussions will change their lives forever. BA Parker takes us back to America’s turbulent 1960s to explore the injustice suffered by the “Black 14”.

For the full four-part series, and other incredible tales, search for Amazing Sport Stories wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

Benita Alexander is an Emmy winning NBC journalist who was sent to interview a surgeon to the stars. Dr Paulo Macchiarini was rumoured to be up for a Nobel prize and his groundbreaking trachea surgery was changing medicine. Within a year Benita and Paulo were engaged and he arranged a star studded wedding…but weeks before the big day everything came crashing down. The wedding was a fabrication, but so was Paulo’s whole career and his patients were dying.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Noah Leigh is an epidemiologist by day, with an unusual hobby: he runs not-for-profit the Paranormal Investigators of Milwaukee. PIM use scientific methods to catalogue people’s experiences with ghosts, poltergeists and everything in between. He tells Nicky why science and the paranormal don’t have to be in opposition and how he considers himself “sceptically optimistic”.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Assistant Producer: Mansi Vithlani Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester, Mansi Vithlani

Consolee Nishimwe was 14 when the civil unrest in Rwanda reached boiling point, Consolee’s father and three younger brothers were murdered, and she was kidnapped for being Tutsi, held and tortured for 3 months. When the genocide ended Consolee returned to school, and many of the perpetrators returned to her community. In writing her book “Tested to the Limit” Consolee became the first Rwandan woman to publish an account of her experiences, including the sexual violence so many women endured during the genocide.

She speaks to Nicky about trauma, loss and healing.

WARNING: This episode contains mentio...

When Arun Dohle was weeks old he was adopted by a wealthy German couple, who took him from his home country of India. As an adult he began a search for his parents which lead to a battle in the Bombay High Court, an estrangement with his adoptive parents and the founding of ACT - Against Child Trafficking

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Assistant Producer: Mansi Vithlani Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester, Mansi Vithlani

When author Tracy King was 12 her father was killed on the streets of their Midlands council estate, this lead her family to be further seduced by born-again Christianity and her being exorcised when her trauma was misdiagnosed as “demons”.

She tells Nicky how a second hand copy of a book by astrophysicist and critical thinker Carl Sagan changed her world and led her to science.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Nicky talks to Dr Melvin Vopson as Associate Professor in Physics at the University of Portsmouth. Melvin explains why he believes things like nature's symmetry and quantum physics point to our reality being a simulation - and whether information is the fifth state of matter.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Assistant Producer: Mansi Vithlani Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester, Mansi Vithlani

Author, ex East End gangster and convicted murderer meets Nicky to tell him about surviving prison, how the justice system needs to change and why she’s innocent of the murder she served 15 years behind bars for, but guilty of an armed raid on a Post Office.

Nicky and Linda discuss the standard of living in prison, what it’s like to have to tell your children you're going to prison and why young female prisoners need more support.

WARNING: This episode contains strong language, descriptions of violence, self harm, criminal acts, and adult themes.

Author and evolutionary biologist Lucy Cooke tells Nicky what the world of science got wrong because it was looking at the world through a patriarchal lens. From the amazing bonobo apes bonding through sapphic intimacy, to the menopausal whales leading their pods, to ducks evolving to choose which male fertilises her egg.

WARNING: This episode contains strong language and adult themes.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Dr Anna Colton tells Nicky about her work assessing potential reality TV contestants for shows like The Voice and My Mum, Your Dad. They talk about red flags, the effects of appearing on a reality TV show and Nicky explores his joyful experience as Dippy Egg on the Masked Singer and what the lead up to the big reveal has felt like.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Jordy Cernik was an up and coming TV and radio presenter when a rare disease called Cushing Syndrome started wreaking havoc on his life. After a string of life or death brain surgeries Jordy was left with one unexpected symptom - he is physically unable to feel fear. He told Nicky about jumping out of a plane to prove it, what life is like without fear and what it’s like to die on the operating table.

WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of surgical procedures.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Me...

WARNING this episode contains strong language and descriptions of sexual violence. Suzy Angus tells Nicky how she joined forces with two other women to fight the law of corroboration - a law previously described as the “cornerstone” of Scottish justice.

Suzy tells Nicky why the law meant there was no chance to prosecute her rapists and talks about her hopes for how these reforms will affect change for other survivors.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Holistic sex educator and tantric yoga teacher Jenny Keane meets Nicky to chat misconceptions about sex, being a sex educator in Ireland and why sex education matters.

Warning: This episode contains adult conversations about sex.

Nicky meets Joseph Paris, a man who spent several decades making wigs for Frank Sinatra. He tells Nicky what kind of man Frank was, what New York was like in the 70’s, which famous band Sinatra chased out of a Vegas steam room…And Nicky writes a swing song for Joe in the style of the late, great Frank Sinatra.

Warning: This episode contains strong language and adult themes

A New Year selection box including…

Nicky’s conversation with Tony King, promoter to some of the most famous bands ever - including Queen and the Beatles.

A trip to Zara the dominatrix’s dungeon to explore why people pay for pain.

A daring tale of crime and adventure - David McMillan recounts his escape from a notorious Thai prison.

Joy Milne and Perdita Barran tell Nicky how Joy’s super-smelling superpower lead to a huge scientific breakthrough.

*** This episode has themes of bereavement, if you've been impacted by any of t...

Nicky Campbell meets Elf Whisperer Bryndis Bryndis Fjóla Pètursdóttir, who describes herself as a seer and horticulturalist. She talks to Nicky about the hidden people and elves that dwell in the garden, a widespread and common belief in Iceland.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Zak Ebrahim was 7 when his father went to prison, initially for the attempted assassination of Rabbi Meir Kahane, while there it was discovered he had helped plan the 1993 World Trade Centre Bombing, alongside men like the Blind Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman. Now Zak speaks about his experiences, learning to let go of hatred and how he found peace.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Katy Morgan-Davies was born in a nondescript house in Lambeth in London, but thirty years later the world would discover she, and the other occupants in the house, were anything but ordinary. Katy was born into a strict communist-Maoist cult, didn’t know who her parents were, wasn’t allowed to get any education, leave the house or even look out the window. She escaped in 2013 when one of the other women held there memorised the number of a charity, who arranged their release.

Katy tells Nicky how she learnt her worldview from a copy of Tolkien’s Lord...

Nicky first spoke about the abuse he witnessed and suffered at Edinburgh Academy on this podcast, now more than a year later Panorama has released an investigation into Iain Wares - at one point known only as the pseudonym “Edgar” - the teacher accused by multiple victims of abuse over several decades.

Nicky learns more about the investigation with journalists Eleanor Plowden and Tom Stone, finding out about the work Panorama has done and how you investigate a story as sensitive and complex as this one. Joining them are Neil Douglas and Stuart - not his real name...

Our usual episode is delayed - Nicky explains why.

Robert Mazur was once the go-to money launderer for Pablo Escobar’s Medellin cartel - but it was all a ruse, Robert was undercover and it led to one of the largest money laundering prosecutions in history. He joins Nicky to talk about making friends with ruthless criminals, fear and how more money than ever before is being laundered.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester

Pastor Clement Okusi, biblical scholar Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou and geneticist Dr Adam Rutherford join Nicky for a far reaching conversation. Asking questions like…where does the bible stand on evolution? Did Jesus exist? Does it matter if he did? Who gets into heaven? And what’s the meaning of life?

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester

Sarah Jane Downing was a victim of the now imprisoned surgeon Ian Paterson. Ian Paterson specialised in breast cancer operations, and between 1997 and 2011, he subjected more than 1000 patients to unnecessary and damaging surgeries, many of them mastectomies. He's currently serving a 20 year sentence after being found guilty on 17 counts of wounding with intent, and three counts of unlawful wounding. When Sarah Jane Downing discovered the lumpectomy he’d performed on her was unnecessary she founded a group to bring together his victims.

WARNING: this episode contains descriptions of surgery and distressing conversations about receiving a cancer diagnosis .

Wim Hof is an extreme athlete who held the record for swimming under ice, prolonged full body contact with ice and completing a half marathon barefoot on ice and snow. Now an author, tv star and motivational speaker he encourages everyone to embrace the cold - whether it’s wild swimming, cold showers or ice baths.

He talks to Nicky’s wife Tina who’s a devoted wild swimmer, hears Nicky’s experience with a cold shower and we find out the unlikely mantra that helped him survive his barefoot marathon.

WARNING: This episode contains strong l...

In 1984 college student Angela Samota was found dead in her Texas apartment, her murder went unsolved for more than 30 years. Nicky speaks to Angela’s friend Sheila Wysocki who pressured police into reopening the case and finally finding the killer. Sheila is now a private investigator who focuses on cold cases and unsolved murders - she tells Nicky what the police think of her, what it’s like to have lunch with a suspected murderer and why she can’t quit.

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of violence, sexual assault and adult themes

Produced by Audio...

Michael Scott Moore is an American journalist living and working in Berlin - in 2012 he was reporting on the court case of a group of Somali pirates being tried in Germany and planning on writing a book on piracy. He travelled to Somalia where he was taken by pirates and held for the next 2 and half years of his life. He tells Nicky about what it was like to come home, the cruelty of the pirates and why he gave up hope.

WARNING: This episode contains strong language and references suicidal feelings and descriptions of violence

This week on Different Nicky meets Tony King, a record promoter who worked with John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, Freddie Mercury and remains a close friend of Elton John’s. He tells Nicky about working with the most famous people on earth, Studio 54 in its heyday and shopping with Freddy.

WARNING: This episode contains adult content and references to substance abuse.

Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester

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, Elton John and the Beatles, and we...

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

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 be sacred.

WARNING this episode...

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 Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Roch...

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

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

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

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