Dr Karen Nyberg has many talents. She's an engineer and astronaut, but she's also an avid quilter, so when she joined the International Space Station in 2013, she took her sewing kit with her. She created a nine-inch, star-themed quilt square in orbit which inspired over two thousand other quilters to do the same. Karen tells Jo Fidgen about the challenges of quilting in zero gravity and of leaving her three-year-old son and husband - also an astronaut - behind on earth. She's now designed a collection of fabrics called Earth Views based on photographs she took from Space. The archive clips you heard came courtesy of NASA. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: June Christie Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Dr Karen Nyberg with her quilt square in space. Credit: NASA)

In the 1990s Terence Smith launched his campaign to run for United States president in drag, shocking voters and the media. His mission was not to win, but instead, to raise awareness about the Aids crisis which was killing his community. Critical of the government's slow response to the epidemic, Terence armed himself with a blonde wig, platform shoes, and the persona of Joan Jett Blakk and decided to run against future president Bill Clinton. Jo Fidgen speaks to Terence from his home in San Francisco, USA. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Gaia Caramazza (Photo: Poster from Joan Jett Blakk's political campaign. Credit: Eric Stein Photography)

Stephen Wiltshire was born in London in 1974, and diagnosed with autism when he was three. Mute until he was five, he was sent to a specialist school where his teachers soon noticed his prodigious talent for drawing. His passion was buildings - the more complicated, the better - and he would recreate them in intricate detail on the page, often from memory. His rare gift astounded the world, and flung Stephen into the spotlight as a child. He was recognised as an 'artistic savant' - someone with extraordinary visual talents - and as a teenager he travelled the world, drawing famous international landmarks. Today, he continues to work as an artist, and is best known for drawing vast, panoramic cityscapes entirely from memory. He and his sister Annette tell Emily Webb about his journey. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Zoe Gelber Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Stephen Wiltshire drawing a panorama of Mexico City in 2016.. Credit: Daniel Cardenas/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Wayétu Moore was just five years old in 1990, when Liberia's first civil war broke out. The family were forced to leave their home near Monrovia, and to flee on foot to the relative safety of a remote village. Throughout the journey, Wayétu's father Gus was determined to shield her and her sisters from the horrors of the conflict around them, and made up stories to explain what they saw. After months hiding in a remote village, a young woman with a gun arrived. She was a rebel soldier, named Satta, and announced she'd been sent by Wayétu's mother, who had been away studying in America, to bring the family to safety across the border in Sierra Leone. Years later, living in New York, and by now an established writer, Wayétu set out to track Satta down and thank her for what she did. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Wayétu Moore. Credit: Yoni Levy)

Like many young people in his community, Simon Karuiki Ndungu grew up scavenging for things he could sell. His home was Korogocho, a Nairobi slum situated next to the city's main dumpsite. The poisonous gases and toxic water weren't the only hazards - there was violence as well. Rival gangs fought for control over the dumpsite, and by the time he was 8 years old Simon was running guns for them. Then, as a teenager, Simon started turning his life around. An organisation at the edge of the dump, Ghetto Classics, introduced him to classical music and the saxophone. The instrument would help him process the hardships around him, and his new love of music would be Simon's ticket out of the slum. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Eric Mugaju Photo: Simon Karuiki Ndungu Credit: Ghetto Classics/Rich Allela

Artist Osman Yousefzada grew up in Birmingham, England in the 1980s after his parents moved to the UK from Pakistan. They were both illiterate, and while his father worked as a carpenter, Osman spent much of his time watching his mother make clothes to earn money. By the time he was seven years old, he had made his first doll's dress and enjoyed getting involved with his mum's business; choosing trims and patterns for her designs, and advising her clients - many of whom were also from their Muslim community - on shoes and accessories. It was a childhood passion that would later see him launch a successful career; a clothing label influenced by his culture, and worn by celebrities and royalty alike. But, as Osman discovered, the glamorous world of fashion did not bring satisfaction; it was only by turning his attention to the world of art, where he could reflect on his heritage, that he would find the meaning he craved. His book is called The Go-Between. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Katy Takatsuki (Photo: Osman Yousefzada poses with models during London Fashion Week 2020. Credit: David M. Benett/Getty Images)

Lynn Price and Andi Andree were separated as young children and raised with different foster families - they didn't even know of each other's existence until they were introduced at the ages of 8 and 9. Although they eventually formed a close sibling bond, Lynn was determined to help other siblings like them and in 1995 she set up Camp To Belong where siblings separated by the foster care system could spend time together building precious memories. Andi volunteered at the camps and worked together with Lynn for many years, and the camps are still going strong today. But, as the sisters tell Anu Anand, there was another twist to come in their family story. Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: June Christie Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Sisters Lynn Price (L) and Andi Andree. Credit: Courtesy of Andi Andree)

Prof Lucy Easthope is a leading authority on recovering from disaster. She has spent two decades working at the centre of numerous global catastrophes, including terrorist attacks, plane crashes, conflicts, earthquakes and tsunamis. It's her job to help get the bodies identified, repatriate survivors, return personal effects, look after the bereaved, and advise governments for the future. But when she went through a series of devastating losses in her personal life, she realised she would need all her disaster management skills to help her get through it. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Rebecca Vincent (Photo: Lucy Easthope. Credit: Caitlin Chescoe)

Celeste Bell's mother Poly Styrene was a punk icon who'd made her mark on music history before Celeste was even born. Her distinctive voice, neon outfits and mixed race heritage made her stand out in a punk scene that was dominated by white men, clad in dark colours and studs. Celeste tells Anu Anand about Poly Styrene's rise to fame with her band X-Ray Spex, why it all fell apart and what it was like to sing with her onstage before she died in 2011. Celeste has made a film about her mum called I am a Cliche. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Deiniol Buxton (Photo: Poly Styrene of punk band X-Ray Spex performs on stage at the Roundhouse, London, England, on January 15th, 1978. Credit: Gus Stewart/ Redferns/ Getty Images)

In his early twenties, Joe Yelverton and two friends climbed Eagle Peak in the Chugach mountain range in Alaska. His life changed in an instant when an avalanche hit them, killing his best friend Steve. For years afterwards, Joe's life was characterised by anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. But with friendship, photography and an unwavering love of the wilderness, Joe found healing and peace in the Chugach again. For advice available online, go to bbc.co.uk/actionline. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: May Cameron (Photo: Joe Yelverton. Credit: Joe Yelverton)

In 1944, Marjoe Gortner was just four years old when his parents had him ordained as an evangelical minister. He was dubbed ‘the miracle child’ and conducted his first marriage ceremony before he could barely even write. During the 1950s, he became a star turn on the American preaching circuit and attracted huge crowds for his exuberant preaching, raking in millions of dollars. Behind it all was an elaborate con and years later Marjoe went public with an expose that took him to Hollywood. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producers: Edgar Maddicott and Maryam Maruf Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: A young Marjoe Gortner giving a sermon. Credit: Still from the documentary Marjoe, courtesy Sarah Kernonchan)

After pro-democracy protests broke out in 2011, Kholoud Helmi was determined to cover the human rights violations carried out by the Syrian government, as a reporter on the ground. So with the help of her friends and brother, she founded Enab Baladi, one of the only surviving independent media outlets founded in Syria. Kholoud paid a high price for this, risking her life, and the lives of her family, to report on atrocities happening in locations inaccessible to foreign reporters. The paper had to be printed in secret - and its copies would be distributed covertly in rubbish bins. The team did their best to avoid the military checkpoints scattered throughout the city, but they couldn't stay out of trouble forever. Kholoud's brother was arrested, and subsequently disappeared. 10 years later, Kholoud and her family still don't know whether he's dead or alive. After losing her home, brother, and friends to the civil war that has torn the country apart for over a decade, she continues to carry a dream of a free Syria with her. Jo Fidgen talks to her from Turkey, where she is currently living in exile. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Gaia Caramazza (Photo: Kholoud Helmi speaking on the war in Syria. Credit: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for HBO)

Scot Kate Ballard is the daughter of world-famous mountaineer Alison Hargreaves. In 1995, when Kate was just four, Alison was caught in a storm on K2 in the Himalayas and died. Despite the tragedy, Kate and her brother Tom were raised by their dad to love the slopes and it soon became clear that Tom shared his mother's climbing talent. But sadly he would also share her fate. Kate speaks to Jo Fidgen about travel to the Himalayas and how, despite her personal losses, her love of the mountains is undiminished. A film about the family is called The Last Mountain. It's by director Chris Terrill and is available to watch on BBC iPlayer and via online streaming services. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki (Photo: Kate Ballard. Credit: Ballard Images)

Emily Webb explores the origins of The Chippendales with its co-founder and former lawyer Bruce Nahin. It started as a weekly club night in Los Angeles where male dancers stripped for women and it became a global sensation. But greed and jealousy would lead to scandal and murder. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Deiniol Buxton (Photo: Silhouettes of Chippendales performers in cowboy hats. Credit: Getty/Gabe Ginsberg/ WireImage)

Singer-songwriter Frank Turner never got on with his distant and disapproving father. Things got even worse between them when Frank discovered the anarchist punk scene in his teens, and they eventually stopped speaking altogether. But after years of estrangement, Frank had a chance encounter with his father, aged 72, who told him: “I’m thinking of transitioning and living as a woman.” It changed everything between them, and their relationship is finally close and loving. Frank’s new album, FTHC, explores his personal journey. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Rebecca Vincent (Photo: Frank Turner. Credit: Total Guitar Magazine/Olly Curtis/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Szymon Niemiec is a priest and an LGBTQ+ activist who founded Poland's first Gay Pride parade in 2001 - known locally as an 'equality parade'. Growing up in the Polish capital Warsaw, Szymon knew he was gay and at the same time knew he felt a close connection to the Church. But combining his religious belief, his sexuality and his activism was never easy in a predominantly Catholic country, and today it continues to make him a target. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: May Cameron (Photo: Szymon Niemiec. Credit: Janek Skarzynski/AFP/Getty Images)

Mark MacDonald had always known he was adopted and was comfortable with it - but when he and his wife Tina found they couldn't safely have children of their own, he went looking for his birth family. After reaching out through adoption agencies, he quickly established a close relationship with long-lost sister Rachel Elliott, and - over a family dinner - a life-changing offer was made. Mark and Rachel have written a book together called Love & Genetics: A true story of adoption, surrogacy, and the meaning of family. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Laura Thomas and Tom Harding Assinder (Photo: (L-R) Mark, Rachel and Tina with the twins. Credit: Mark MacDonald)

Tim Carey was a talented but little-known artist working with stained glass, when a huge opportunity fell into his lap. A mega church was being built in Kansas, and Tim was asked to build a huge window for it. It would be the biggest stained glass window in the world - the size of a basketball court. Tim said yes, but deep down he had no idea whether he could actually pull it off, so he approached a maverick stained glass artist called Narcissus Quagliata, a legend in the field. Together they took on the project, and formed a close bond in the process. There's a film about their story called Holy Frit. Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Deiniol Buxton Photo: Tim Carey and Narcissus Quagliata Credit: Kyle J. Mickelson

In the 1990s the name 'Thomas Quick' struck fear into the hearts of Swedes across the country. He had confessed to more than 30 murders, and was convicted of eight. He became known as Sweden’s most notorious serial killer and the ‘Swedish Hannibal Lecter’ but almost two decades later he retracted his confessions and said he was innocent. Jenny Küttim is a Swedish journalist who has been covering the case since 2008 and Björn Asplund is the father of Johan Asplund, the first person Thomas Quick confessed to killing. This episode was first broadcast in September 2019. Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Tom Harding Assinder (Photo: Sture Bergwall/Thomas Quick after his release. (Credit: HENRIK MONTGOMERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Dianne O'Brien was born in the 1940s and grew up in an Irish-Australian family near Sydney. But when she was just 14, her world was torn apart: her beloved mother died, her father abandoned her and she discovered she was adopted. She was sent to a notorious children's home, where she gave birth to her first child, the result of a sexual assault.  Years later, she went in search of her birth family and discovered she was Indigenous, part of the Stolen Generation and a descendant of celebrated Indigenous Australian politicians. Dianne eventually went on to become a leader in her own right in the community she was taken from so many decades before.      Dianne has written a book about her life, Daughter of the River Country.    A warning that this episode contains descriptions of physical and sexual violence.  Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Zoe Gelber Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Dianne O'Brien with her mother, aged two. Credit: Courtesy of Dianne O'Brien)

Natalie Cumming's violin helped her family survive starvation, persecution, and torture. It accompanied them in their year long trek across Russia as they sought refuge from the Bolsheviks. Her grandfather would play in payment for food and shelter. The violin then followed Natalie's young Aunt Rosa to Germany, where it would help her survive the Nazi concentration camps and allow her to tell her story of what happened there. Even though its history is marked by many horrors, the violin has now been given a new life, giving a voice to bright young musicians inspired by its story. Natalie has written a book about her family and the violin called: The Fiddle. A warning that there are shocking and distressing descriptions in this programme. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Gaia Caramazza and Andrea Kennedy (Photo: Natalie Cumming with her family's violin. Credit: Barnet Council)

Randy Bachman is behind some of the biggest rock hits of the 60s and 70s. He was lead guitarist for The Guess Who, frontman of Bachman-Turner Overdrive and, all the while had his beloved Gretsch guitar beside him. He first laid eyes on the guitar as a teenager and after years mowing lawns and washing cars he saved enough money to buy it. But in 1976, Randy's guitar was stolen and disappeared without a trace. He spent years desperately trying to track it down. Almost half a century later, an amateur sleuth - bored during the coronavirus lockdown - decided to take on the hunt and crack the mystery. Randy's next show will be streamed online via Moment House on March 13th. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Randy Bachman with his son Tal and his Gretsch guitar in 1971. Credit: Courtesy of Randy Bachman)

In 1976, the Johannesburg township of Soweto erupted into protest. Students were furious with the government decision to make Afrikaans a language of instruction in South African schools. Afrikaans was associated with apartheid and white rule by many black South Africans, and not everyone could speak it. The protests were met with brutal force by the police, and hundreds of students died in the ensuing gunfire. In the midst of the chaos was Dr Edelstein, a white man involved in various humanitarian causes in the township. Students who had fled the gunfire suddenly turned their anger on him, and he was killed in the street. His daughter Janet was just 12 at the time, and she's spent many years trying to find answers about what happened that day. After the end of apartheid she spoke at South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, telling her father’s story and giving an emotional plea for more information. Now she’s followed in her father's footsteps, and is working to help young people in Soweto. First broadcast 2019. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mpho Lakaje Producer: Harry Graham (Photo: The Edelstein family. Credit: The Edelstein family)

When Justin Bishop was eight years old, he was diagnosed with a condition called retinitis pigmentosa, and was told that one day he would go blind. Two years later he fell in love with skateboarding, and from then on he and his board were inseparable. As his sight began to deteriorate in his late teens, Justin felt he was in a race against time to fit in as much skating as possible, and when he lost his sight at the age of 25 he feared he would never step on a board again. But thanks to the encouragement of his friend, and a cane with a ball on the end of it, Justin is not only winning medals but campaigning for adaptive skateboarding to be included in the Paralympics. A documentary has been made about his story called One Day You'll Go Blind. This interview includes Justin's own recordings of him skateboarding. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: June Christie (Photo: Justin Bishop skateboarding. Credit: Ryne Belanger, TNG Agency)

Osmo Tapio Everton Räihälä is a Finnish composer who is crazy about Everton football club. Growing up almost two thousand miles away wouldn’t stop him from living and breathing everything Everton, so much so that as a young composer he took drastic measures to keep his fledgling music career on track. One such inspiration came in the towering figure of the club’s Scottish centre forward, Duncan Ferguson who, though blessed with talent, was often in trouble both on and off the pitch. Their lives and fortunes would be end up being entwined but on the night Osmo was debuting his most famous work about Ferguson, the football gods weren’t following the score. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Edgar Maddicott Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Duncan Ferguson celebrates after he scored his first goal for Everton in the Merseyside derby. Credit: Albert Cooper/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

Nigerian Ruona Meyer was inspired by her famous journalist father - Godwin Agbroko - to become an investigative reporter like him. When he was killed, her grieving brother became addicted to codeine cough syrup. Ruona - clad in bullet proof vest and blue lipstick - risked her life to uncover the black market trade in the medicine that’s become a street drug. Her documentary Sweet, Sweet Codeine has been nominated for an Emmy. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Constanza Hola Image: Ruona Meyer Credit: BBC Get in touch: [email protected]

American sprinter Wyomia Tyus grew up on a dairy farm in Georgia, in the racially segregated South. When she was 14, tragedy struck her family - their house burned to the ground, and her father died shortly after. Bereft, Wyomia started running to get over her grief. She was soon spotted by the coach of the first - and only - college athletics training programme for black women in the US, and became the first person to win back to back gold medals in the 100m sprint in two consecutive Olympic Games in 1964 and 1968. Yet despite these historic achievements it is only now that she is getting recognition. She tells Anu Anand how it feels to finally get her moment in the spotlight. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Zoe Gelber (Photo: Medal winners of the women's 100 metres in the 1964 Olympic Games, with Wyomia Tyus in first place. Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images)

Donna Palomba's life changed in September 1993, when she was sexually assaulted in her family home in Connecticut. A month after the attack, Donna was called to the local police station and accused of making the assault up by the officer in charge of her case. It was a devastating blow but Donna was determined to clear her name and get justice. It would take years and several court cases before her attacker was arrested and his identity sent shockwaves through Donna’s family and community. As a result of her experience Donna founded Jane Doe No More, a non-profit organisation called Jane Doe No More which empowers survivors of sexual crimes to find their voice, advance their healing and educate others. A warning that what Donna describes is shocking and at times distressing. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Tom Harding Assinder (Photo: Donna Palomba. Credit: Christine Petit)

The comedy film classic Cool Runnings, about a Jamaican bobsleigh team's surprising efforts to get to the Winter Olympics, was inspired by a real story. Dudley Stokes was an officer in the Jamaican army and hadn't really heard of the sport until his superiors gave a presentation to try and recruit volunteers to take part in the country's first Olympic bobsleigh team. Some of his colleagues were put off by the danger involved as they watched a film of a bobsleigh hurtling down an icy track, but Dudley wasn't. He got on to the team as a driver and became the captain. Dudley tells Anu Anand about the difficult journey to the 1988 Winter Olympics, with only a few months training, and how he coped with a dramatic crash at the Games as the world watched. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Deiniol Buxton Photo: The Jamaican four man bobsleigh team in action at the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympic Games. Credit: David Yarrow/Getty Images

A few years ago, Freddy McConnell decided to have a baby. A decision that is a big deal for most, but that is even more complicated for Freddy, because he is trans. Freddy started his transition in 2012. Back then having a baby wasn’t on his mind. But after realising that – biologically – it was still a possibility, Freddy decided to get pregnant. Emily Webb first spoke to Freddy in 2019, and since then he has had a second child. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Saskia Edwards (Photo: Freddy McConnell standing on a beach. He is pregnant. Credit: Mark Bushnell)

Petrit Halilaj was born in Kosovo in 1986 and grew up in the small town of Runik. He always loved drawing and had a rare talent for it. When war broke out in Kosovo and Serbian troops moved into their hometown, Petrit and his family had to flee, eventually finding sanctuary in a refugee camp in Albania. It was there, in 1999, that Petrit met the Italian psychologist Giacomo 'Angelo' Poli who encouraged the children to communicate the traumas they had experienced, through drawing. Using only felt tip pens, Petrit's drawings ended up being beamed all over the world. They even caught the attention of the then UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who asked to meet Petrit during a visit to the camp. Many years on, Petrit is now a highly acclaimed artist. He recently exhibited work based on some of the drawings from the refugee camp, at Tate St Ives in Cornwall in the South West of England. The show is called Very volcanic over this green feather. The clip you heard came from Swedish broadcaster SVT Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producers: Andrea Kennedy & June Christie Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Petrit Halilaj and Dr Giacomo Poli, 1999. Credit: Giacomo Poli)

This programme contains offensive language. Sweet Anita has Tourette’s syndrome, a neurological condition which causes her to make involuntary sounds and movements. Her specific type of Tourette’s is called coprolalia, which means she sometimes says offensive or inappropriate things. Before her diagnosis, she didn't know why she was different to everyone else. She was bullied at school and making friends was difficult. Lonely and confused, she was told by a doctor her tics were ‘attention seeking’. But today, with a medical diagnosis and a new-found confidence, Anita is a successful streamer on the gaming platform Twitch, with an avid fanbase and a growing community online. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: May Cameron (Photo: Sweet Anita. Credit: Sweet Anita)

Afghan-American pilot Zak Khogyani was just nine years old when he fled his home in Afghanistan. Being forced to leave his family and belongings behind was not easy, but he eventually managed to settle in the United States, which he now considers home. So last year, when Zak heard about Afghans fleeing the Taliban's takeover, he knew better than most the hardships they were facing. He felt compelled to lend a helping hand, and over three evacuation flights, Zak chaperoned 1,002 people hoping to find safety in the United States. They told him their stories and their fears, looking at him as an inspiration for the life that awaited them upon landing. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Gaia Caramazza (Photo: Zak Khogyani at work. Credit: Zak Khogyani)

As a 16-year-old boy in Togo, Tété-Michel Kpomassie knew he had to escape. It was the late 1950s, and his father had ordered him to train as a priest in a snake cult. But Tété-Michel was terrified of snakes after a close encounter up a coconut tree that had nearly cost him his life. One day, he came across a book about Greenland. He read that there were no reptiles, only ice, and he was intrigued by the Inuit people. So he set out on an odyssey to reach this mysterious country, full of images of icebergs and sledding and hunting. It took him eight years to travel through Africa and Europe, all the while doing clerical odd-jobs, before final reaching the south of Greenland in the mid-60s. He was the first African they had ever seen, and was offered a warm welcome. For 18 months, he learnt the culture and way of life; dog-sledding, seal-fishing and acclimatising to the cold. Then, he returned to Togo as a different man - he shared his story and built a bridge between Africa and Greenland. Now 80, he speaks to Jo Fidgen about his extraordinary adventure and his hopes to return this year to buy a house and spend the last part of his life there. Michel The Giant: An African in Greenland is by Tété-Michel Kpomassie. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki (Photo: Tété-Michel Kpomassie in the 60s. Credit: Tété-Michel Kpomassie)

Many African American cemeteries in the US have fallen into disrepair over the years - one of them is Geer cemetery in the city of Durham, North Carolina. It was founded in the 19th century when racial segregation laws meant that Black people had to be buried separately from white people and over 1,500 people are believed to be buried at Geer. Of that number, only around 200 headstones remain and the stories of those interred were at risk of being lost forever. That was until a group of volunteers called "Friends of Geer" stepped in - they are now working to reclaim the histories of those buried there. Reporter Danny Greenwald went to meet two of the group's members - Michael Williams and Deidre Barnes. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Reporter: Danny Greenwald Producers: Danny Greenwald and Laura Thomas (Photo: Deidre Barnes and Michael Williams at Geer Cemetery. Credit: Danny Greenwald)

Growing up in rural Colombia, Professor María Antonia Garcés was obsessed by books and reading, and later on this passion would help her get through a really difficult chapter. In 1982 María Antonia was taken hostage by leftist guerrillas, who were looking for a ransom from her wealthy family. She was put in a tiny cell somewhere in the city of Cali for seven months, and needed a way to keep her sanity. María Antonia fell back on her love of reading, and soon books would become more than just a way to pass the time, they bonded her with her captors. The relationships she made this way, would help save her life. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Harry Graham and Edgar Maddicott (Photo: Professor María Antonia Garcés. Credit: Professor María Antonia Garcés)

Perween Rahman’s assassination in 2013 was one of the most high profile target killings in Pakistan that year. She ran an influential NGO, the Orangi Pilot Project, and had exposed how the mafia were stealing Karachi’s water supply. She also stood up to local land grabbers. So who was behind her murder? Faced with a botched police investigation, Perween’s sister Aquila began a seemingly impossible campaign for justice. Aquila and Perween’s story is portrayed in the film Into Dust. More details available on https://www.intodustmovie.com/. Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Maryam Maruf Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Perween Rahman. Credit: Courtesy of Aquila Ismail/Orangi Pilot Project)

In 2006 Thomas Schultz and his business partner Lawrence Joseph made a business plan. They were looking for a property to buy, do up and sell. Thomas had his eye on a little cottage near his home in Bellport, a small coastal village to the east of New York City. It was old, dilapidated and needed a lot of attention. But when he crawled through the broken garage door he found something entirely unexpected - 7,000 pieces of art, stacked in piles, rolled up canvasses and strewn across the floor. It turned out to be the work of an unknown artist called Arthur Pinajian and a discovery that would change Thomas' life. Search online to find out more about Arthur Pinajian. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Andrea Kennedy (Photo: Thomas Schultz in front of an Arthur Pinajian oil painting. Credit: The Estate Collection of Arthur Pinajian)

Syrian musician Maya Youssef is in love with her qanun, a traditional Middle Eastern stringed instrument. Like a family member, it’s got her through some difficult times and it consoled Maya as she watched from afar as her homeland was ripped apart by war. Maya's talent at playing the qanun gave her the opportunity to live in the UK and she has taken it on tour playing in refugee centres for new arrivals and at the Royal Albert Hall. Maya tells Mobeen Azhar about her journey with the qanun. Her upcoming album is called Finding Home. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Deiniol Buxton (Photo: Maya Youssef and her qanun. Credit: Igor Studio)

Eva Schloss and Anne Frank had been childhood friends and neighbours in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Both their families had a horrific experience at Auschwitz and after the war, Eva became Anne’s posthumous stepsister when her mother married Otto Frank, Anne’s father. When Otto first discovered Anne’s now world-famous diary, he showed it to Eva. It was an emotional experience and it reminded Eva of her last conversation with her beloved brother Heinz. He was a gifted artist and he had revealed where he had hidden his cache of secret paintings. Eva was determined to bring them to light. Eva shares her extraordinary Holocaust testimony over two episodes. In this second episode, she describes her experience of the liberation of Auschwitz and her efforts to keep her brother Heinz’s memory alive. In part one, you can hear about her life before Auschwitz and her family’s eventual capture. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Get in touch: [email protected] (Image: Eva's mother Fritzi Geiringer painted by her father Erich between 1942-1944 when the family was in hiding. This painting was in the cache of canvases hidden by Heinz. Credit: Courtesy of Eva Schloss)

Eva Schloss and Anne Frank had been childhood friends and neighbours in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Eva remembers Anne’s nickname was ‘Miss Quack Quack’ because she always loved talking. Then, like the Franks, Eva’s Jewish family was forced into hiding. Both families were ultimately betrayed and sent to Auschwitz, the most notorious of the Nazi death camps. After the war, Eva became Anne’s posthumous stepsister when her mother married Otto Frank, Anne’s father. Together they worked tirelessly to promote Anne Frank’s legacy through her diary. Eva shares her extraordinary Holocaust testimony over two episodes. In this first episode, she describes her life before Auschwitz and her family’s eventual capture. In part two, you can hear about her experience of the liberation of Auschwitz and her efforts to keep her brother Heinz’s memory alive. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Eva Schloss aged 11 in 1940. Credit: Courtesy of Eva Schloss)

Anna Shechtman began writing crossword puzzles as a teenager - but developed an eating disorder around the same time. She became one of the youngest crossword creators to publish a puzzle in the New York Times newspaper and now writes crosswords for the New Yorker magazine, but during her recovery she sometimes feared that her illness and her love of creating crosswords were inextricably linked. She tells Emily Webb about the art of cruciverbalism, 'crossworld', and why the creation of crossword clues is a political act. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas (Photo: Anna Shechtman. Courtesy of Emily Shechtman)

Alenka Artnik grew up in Slovenia in a loving but complicated family. Her father was an alcoholic, and her brother was addicted to drugs. Years of pain and grief meant that Alenka found herself feeling lost and alone. But then, just when she most needed it, when she'd thought about taking her own life – she found freediving and sanctuary in an underwater world. Drawing on her own personal, physical and mental strength, she is now a world champion freediver. Last year she broke world records by diving to an astonishing 122 metres. If you are affected by issues raised in this programme there is confidential support on the BBC Action line website, or at Befrienders.org Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producers: May Cameron and Andrea Kennedy (Photo: Alenka Artnik. Credit: DaanVerhoeven)

After a lifetime of caring for her sick mother, Helen Naylor began to suspect that her mum had a very rare condition called Munchausen's Syndrome, a psychological disorder where according to the NHS, "someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves. Their main intention is to assume the "sick role" so that people care for them and they are the centre of attention." All through Helen's childhood her mother, Elinor, would stay in bed most of the time while Helen looked after her. Helen accepted that she would always be her mother's carer but after she died in 2016, Helen decided she needed to find out more about her mother and her own childhood so she started conducting her own investigation. Helen has written a book called My Mother, Munchausen's and Me: a true story of betrayal and a shocking family secret. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Tom Harding Assinder and Rebecca Vincent (Photo: Helen Naylor and her mother Elinor. Credit: Helen Naylor)

Marie Harrower’s mother taught her not to let her blindness hold her back. This helped Marie become a physiotherapist and win a place at the 1976 Paralympics. She tells Outlook's Antonia Quirke her story. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Deiniol Buxton Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Marie Harrower. Credit: Paul Fegan)

We are celebrating the life of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who spoke to Outlook in 2014 with his daughter, Mpho Tutu van Furth, about family and forgiveness. They had written a book together called The Book of Forgiving. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Deiniol Buxton Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter the Reverend Mpho Tutu van Furth. Credit: Oryx Media 2013)

In 1968 Neil Sarfati was 23 and feeling "lost", when a conversation with a neighbour introduced him to Scientology. What began as self-help movement born out of the teachings of the founder, science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, had become an organisation with a large and devoted following. Fearing the world would be destroyed unless the teachings of Scientology took hold, Neil left his job and wife and made his way to Los Angeles to sign up to the Sea Org, an elite group of its most dedicated members. He boarded their ship, the Apollo, and began playing saxophone in the crew’s new jazz band, The Apollo Stars, in ports dotted around the Atlantic coast of Africa and Europe. But as Hubbard became increasingly creatively involved, Neil started to doubt his commitment to Scientology. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb (Photo: Neil Sarfati in 2012. Credit: Neil Sarfati)

Helene Cooper grew up in Liberia, fled during a bloody military coup and arrived in the US as a child refugee. Her background inspired her to become a journalist but there was one question that still needed to be answered: what had happened to the adopted sister she’d left behind? This interview was first broadcast in May 2019. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Alice Gioia (Photo: Eunice (in striped dress) and Helene Cooper (with sunglasses). Credit: Helene Cooper)

In 2019, Fabiola Campillai was working in a factory where her husband Marco worked as a lorry driver. They were leading a quiet life in Santiago raising their children when a tear gas cannister changed the course of Fabiola’s life. The cannister, fired by a police officer, left her permanently blinded with multiple life-changing injuries. After spending months in hospital, Fabiola came out fighting. She had no political background, but helped by Marco, she decided to stand for election as a Senator, and won. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Gaia Caramazza and Maryam Maruf (Photo: Fabiola Campillai with her husband Marco. Credit: Chile Today/Boris van der Spek)

Education has always been important to Virginia Walden Ford. As a child she was part of the process of desegregating schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. Years later, as a parent, she watched as her son's grades dropped and his behaviour changed. She believed his school was failing him and began a long campaign for change in the US education system. Virginia is the subject of a feature film called Miss Virginia. This episode was first broadcast in November 2019. Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Tom Harding Assinder Picture: Virginia Walden Ford speaking at a news conference of the Black Republican Congressional Staff Association Credit: Tom Williams / Getty Images Get in touch: [email protected]

Jay Flynn worked in a pub and loved hosting pub quizzes every week. When pubs were ordered to close at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in the UK, he started his own virtual pub quiz for family and friends but he forgot to make it private and in the end, thousands of strangers across the country played along too, and have been ever since. He’s been credited with helping people’s mental health through the pandemic. Jay spent time living on the streets in London and went through his own mental health crisis. He spoke to Andrea Kennedy. Their conversation touches on the moments he contemplated suicide. If you are affected by issues raised in this programme there is confidential support on the BBC Action line website, or at Befrienders.org Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Andrea Kennedy and May Cameron (Photo: Jay Flynn. Credit: Courtesy of Jay Flynn)

It began with drinks one Sunday when a woman told Reg Mead a story; her father was ploughing a field when he came across a pot full of ancient silver coins. He scooped up what he could and then ploughed the rest into the field. Reg is a metal detectorist and he was instantly hooked. With his friend Richard Miles they set off on a search that would last for 30 years. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Andrea Kennedy (Photo: Richard Miles (left) and Reg Mead. Credit: Jamie Graham, JPG Digital Imaging)

Eve Wiley was 16 when she discovered she had been a sperm-donor baby. She was shocked, but also excited to meet her biological father as her own dad had died when she was young. When she met her donor father, the connection was instant - Eve started calling him ‘Dad’ and he even officiated at her wedding. But when Eve’s son became ill, she decided to look further into her medical history and find more family members by taking a home DNA test. What she discovered from her newly found half-siblings would appal her and eventually lead her to the Texas State Senate to change the law. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Troy Holmes (Photo: Eve Wiley outside the Texas State Capitol building. Credit: Courtesy of Eve Wiley)

Ingrid Von Oelhafen grew up in Germany in the aftermath of the Second World War, and she never knew her biological parents. As she got older, she discovered that she had a different name on her official documents, Erika Matko. This remained a mystery for years, until she discovered that she'd been kidnapped by the Nazis as a baby during the war, and was entered into a sinister programme to cultivate a so-called 'master race'. Her biological family were still in Slovenia, and Ingrid was determined to track them down. Ingrid spoke to Emily Webb. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham Ingrid was voiced by Christine Kavanagh Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Babies taken during by the Lebensborn programme. Credit: Getty Images/Keystone France)

In the Scottish Highlands at this time of the year you’ll find 150 reindeer roaming the Cairngorms National Park, and rather a lot of visitors coming to see them. These beautiful creatures are the only free-ranging herd of reindeer in the UK and they are looked after by Tilly Smith who went to spend the summer working there back in 1981... and she never left! Antonia Quirke went to meet Tilly, her daughter Fiona and some of the reindeer they look after. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Reporter: Antonia Quirke Producer: June Christie (Photo: Tilly Smith with reindeer. Credit: Cairngorm Reindeer Herd and photographer John Paul)

In February 2019, Nupur Gupta was teaching at a yoga retreat in Goa when she got into difficulty in the sea. A Hungarian man called Attila Bosnyak who happened to be on the same yoga retreat was passing the beach, saw her in trouble and sprang into action. A dramatic rescue followed and a strong bond was formed between Nupur and Attila. That could have been the end of the story but instead it was the start of an on-going romantic relationship. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: June Christie and Thomas Harding Assinder (Photo: Nupur Gupta and Attila Bosnyak. Credit: Courtesy of Nupur Gupta and Attila Bosnyak)

Sicelo Mbatha grew up in the remote South African region of Kwahlabisa, on the doorstep of a game reserve. Every day, he and his friends - including his best friend Sanele - would walk many miles to get to school and back. One day, on their way home, they approached their final river crossing and children started screaming - there was a crocodile. Tragically, Sicelo witnessed a brutal attack on Sanele that day. The experience traumatised him for years. But rather than turning away from nature, and being fearful of wildlife, he was drawn to it. He wanted to understand the behaviour of wild animals, so pursued his dream to become a wilderness guide. It was by being close to the often brutal world of animals that he would finally come to terms with what had happened, and find peace after grief. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Katy Takatsuki (Photo: Sicelo Mbatha. Credit: Bridget Pitt)

Tracey Deer is an award-winning director who grew up on a Mohawk reservation near Montreal, Canada. When she was 12-years-old, a nearby reservation became involved in a land dispute known as the Oka Crisis. Developers wanted to build a golf course on an indigenous burial ground, and the Mohawk organised a protest camp. Things escalated into an armed standoff, and the violence that ensued would deeply traumatise Tracey. Now she’s made a film, Beans, a semi-fictional account of her experiences during the crisis. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Harry Graham (Photo: A Mohawk man during the Oka Crisis. Credit: Getty Images/Christopher Morris-Corbis)

Alaska 5000 is one of the most successful and beloved queens to emerge from RuPaul’s Drag Race. A dry wit comedy assassin, her drag style is glitzy, absurd and profoundly shaped by a lifelong love of Catwoman. Along the way Alaska’s grappled with drugs, alcohol and the relationship-wrecking power of the 'fame monster.' She’s written a memoir called My Name’s Yours, What’s Alaska? Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Maryam Maruf Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Alaska performing live in 2016. Credit: Katja Ogrin/Getty Images)

Gerald Stratford is a British gardening enthusiast whose photos and videos of his produce have earned him the nickname ‘the undisputed king of giant veg'. The septuagenarian set up his Twitter account for his friends at first, but hundreds of thousands of people then started following him. Outlook’s Tiffany Cassidy went to find out why. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Mariana Des Forges (Photo: Gerald with his giant produce. Credit: BBC)

*Contains some upsetting scenes* Gonzalo Dussan and his daughter Michelle still cannot comprehend how they are able to share their story. For years, they didn't speak about it, but recent developments have given them a new purpose. Back in December 1995 they were on a flight from Miami to Cali in Colombia, when the plane crashed into a mountain, killing almost everyone on board. Michelle was only six years old at the time and the family had been planning to spend Christmas with their relatives in Colombia. Also on board were Michelle's mother and brother, who both died as a result of the crash. Gonzalo and Michelle were two of only four people to survive - out of 163 people. They tell Emily Webb why a new theory about what may have caused the crash has helped them to find closure. The theory has emerged from a film by former airline pilot Tristan Loraine, called American 965. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie Interpreter: William Marquez Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Gonzalo Dussan and his daughter Michelle. Credit: Courtesy of Michelle Dussan)

When Payzee Mahmod was 16, she was forced to marry a man twice her age. She grew up in the UK and her family was from a tight-knit Kurdish community where strict traditions of so-called ‘honour’ played a central part in their lives. So when Banaz – Payzee’s beloved older sister who had also been forced into child marriage – left her husband and started a relationship with a man of her choice, the family thought she had 'shamed' them. The consequences would be tragic and horrific. Payzee is now an activist and at the forefront of a campaign to end child marriage in England and Wales. If you've been affected by any of the issues in this episode, you can find information about where to get help and support at Befrienders Worldwide or through BBC Action Line. Presenter: Sahar Zand Producer: Maryam Maruf Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: Payzee [L] and Banaz Mahmod [R] before their marriages. Credit: Courtesy of Payzee Mahmod)

On 11th September 2001, Virginia Buckingham was head of Boston’s Logan Airport when two planes were hijacked after taking off from Logan and flown into New York’s World Trade Center. She immediately rushed into work to shut down the airport and help families try to find their relatives. But within days, the media and politicians began questioning her leadership and some news articles even suggested that she was to blame for the 9/11 attacks. She felt pressured to resign and was later diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The feelings of guilt continued to haunt Virginia for nearly two decades and it was only through an ongoing friendship with the mother of a woman who was killed on one of the flights and through taking part in a leadership scheme where she started to write her memoir, that Virginia finally began to recognise that she wasn’t to blame for what happened that day. Her book is called On My Watch. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Andrea Rangecroft (Photo: Virginia Buckingham holds a press conference after her resignation as head of Boston’s Logan Airport in 2001. Credit: MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)

Leroy Sibbles grew up in the Kingston district known affectionately as the birthplace of reggae and burst onto the music scene as lead singer of The Heptones. Together they popularised the soulful sounds of rocksteady, and while balancing his career in the group, Leroy discovered a talent for the bass that would create an enduring musical legacy. From the legendary halls of Studio One he constructed some of the most recognisable rhythms in reggae history. Songs that would sell globally and influence a generation of musicians. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Jade Scott, Andrea Kennedy and Troy Holmes (Photo: Leroy Sibbles performing in London in 1984. Credit: David Corio/Redferns via Getty Images)

Nathan Law describes himself as an "ordinary person" and "half nerd" who, growing up in Hong Kong, just wanted to do well at school and get a good job. But his plans - and his whole life - were upended when authorities in Beijing began to threaten democracy in his city state. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Laura Thomas

JoAnn Jansen is a film choreographer, known for working with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood. Part of her journey to becoming a dancer herself has even been made into a film – the sequel to the Dirty Dancing movie, Dirty Dancing Havana Nights, which was based on her teenage experience in Cuba. But her dancing hopes nearly came to an abrupt end when, at 19, she found herself the single mother of a severely disabled baby. JoAnn tells Jo Fidgen that the experience eventually gave her the drive to pursue her goals. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Rebecca Vincent (Photo: JoAnn Jansen. Credit: Michael Higgins)

Guirec Soudée had always dreamed of sailing around the world. He set out at the age of 21 in a rusty 30ft boat, with no communication equipment and little sailing experience. He'd wanted to take a pet but a cat or dog seemed impractical. Then, during a stop in the Canary Islands he met Monique - a Rhode Island Red chicken and, 'fell in love'. She was to become his confidante and best friend during a four-year trip. Together, they sailed across the Atlantic and then on to Greenland. They confronted icebergs and storms and were trapped in the Arctic ice for 130 days. They even crossed the treacherous Northwest Passage between the Pacific and the Atlantic. He became the youngest sailor to complete the crossing; Monique the only chicken. Guirec has written a book about his journey with Monique called A Sailor, a Chicken, an Incredible Voyage. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki (Photo: Monique and Guirec. Credit: Guirec Soudée)

This podcast contains references to child sexual abuse. Juliana Buhring was born into a religious cult that she says brought her up with a warped idea of love. She was separated from her mum at the age of three and ended up living in communes in more than 20 different countries. When she left the group at the age of 23, she went on to discover healthier, less exploitative ways to love. But when a crocodile took the life of the man she had fallen in love with, Juliana hatched a plan to deal with the grief and embarked on a journey that would get her into the record books. Her book about her experience is called This Road I Ride. If you've been affected by any of the issues in the programme, you can find information about where to get help and support at Befrienders Worldwide or through the BBC Action Line. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Edgar Maddicott (Photo: Juliana Buhring. Credit: Courtesy of Juliana Buhring)

Herbert Nitsch is a free diver, he dives without breathing equipment. In 2012 he broke a new world record, diving to a depth of 253 metres but on the way back up things went wrong. This episode was first broadcast on 2nd November 2019. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Tom Harding Assinder (Photo: Herbert Nitsch surrounded by jellyfish. Credit: ®herbertnitsch)

When Kitty Tait was in her early teens, she started struggling with anxiety and depression. Her family tried various activities, like art and dog walking, to try and help her, but nothing worked. Then Kitty tried baking, and everything changed. Soon she was baking dozens of loaves, then hundreds, and her mental health improved on the way. When she was 15, alongside her father Alex, Kitty opened her own business, The Orange Bakery, and it's been a big hit in their English village. They have a book coming out called Breadsong. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Harry Graham (Photo: Kitty Tait. Credit: Mark Lord)

Filmmaker Yonghi Yang grew up in Japan in the 1960s, as part of Osaka's large ethnic Korean community. Facing anti-Korean prejudice in Japan, and inspired by the North Korean regime’s promise of a socialist paradise, her parents made the momentous decision to send their three teenage sons to live in the North Korean capital Pyongyang in the early 1970s, as a sort of ‘birthday gift’ to North Korean leader Kim Il-Sung. Yonghi remained behind with her parents and has spent a lifetime trying to make sense of their decision and its consequences. Yonghi has made films about her experience, the latest is called Soup and Ideology. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Laura Thomas (Photo: The Arch of Reunification in Pyongyang, North Korea. Credit: Pablo Bonfiglio via Getty Images)

Doctor Thomas Moors has understood the power of the voice since he was part of a boys' choir in Belgium. He took that knowledge with him into his career and now specialises in ears, nose and throat. And now he has done what some thought impossible - formed a choir for people in the UK who have had their voice boxes surgically removed, mostly because of throat cancer, through an operation called a laryngectomy. We also hear the stories of Shout at Cancer choir members Sara Bowden-Evans and Ian Bradshaw, and we meet award-winning American filmmaker Bill Brummel, who has also had a laryngectomy, and has made a documentary about the choir called Can you hear my voice? This programme was originally broadcast in March 2020. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mariana Des Forges Producer: Deiniol Buxton and Thomas Harding Assinder Picture: The Shout at Cancer choir Credit: Bill Brummel Productions

For many years, acclaimed Brazilian pianist Joao Carlos Martins graced the world's most famous concert halls, performing as a pianist and celebrated interpreter of Johann Sebastian Bach's music. He'd studied the piano since he was eight years old, and by the age of 21 had made his debut at the Carnegie Hall in New York sponsored by Eleanor Roosevelt. His career was going well until a series of health issues and injuries meant he couldn't fully play anymore. It started with a neurological condition called focal dystonia, which caused spasms in his hands. Then a soccer injury damaged a nerve in his arm, and in 1995 he was attacked by a mugger who hit him over the head, injuring his brain. Although he had over 20 operations, the dexterity in his hands was severely impeded and he was restricted to playing with just three fingers. He went on to become a celebrated conductor, but it looked like his professional piano playing was over. That was until Brazilian designer Ubiratan Bizarro Costa created a special pair of 'bionic' gloves for him. Now aged 81, they help Joao move all of his fingers more freely, reuniting him with the pieces and music he loves. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Katy Takatsuki and Zoe Gelber (Photo: Joao Carlos Martins wearing his bionic gloves. Credit: Miguel Schincariol/AFP via Getty Images)

In 2005, when London schoolgirl Jade LB was just 13, she got a computer for her birthday and began writing a fictional story on it – the sometimes raunchy, sometimes disturbing adventures of a 17-year-old girl called Keisha. Written in a mixture of text language, slang and patois, the story became legendary and was passed around playgrounds all over London. But when she first put it online with a promise to post a new chapter every two weeks, Jade had no idea of the impact it would have, or how Keisha would shape her life for years to come. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Laura Thomas (Photo: Jade LB. Credit: Stuart Simpson)

In the late 80s, the British group Bros was one of the most successful pop acts in the world. Made up of lead singer Matt Goss, his twin brother Luke, and childhood friend Craig Logan, Bros quickly achieved multi-platinum selling albums and legions of adoring fans. But behind the scenes not everything was as it seemed. By 1992 the band had collapsed, and the relationship between the brothers never fully recovered. Matt tells Mobeen Azhar how the split affected his mental health, and how he eventually made his way back to music. His new album is called The Beautiful Unknown. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Rebecca Vincent (Photo: Matt Goss of Bros performs at Brixton Academy, London in 2019. Credit: Jim Dyson/Getty Images)

A few years ago, Menachem Kaiser went to Poland to uncover his family history. All he knew was that his grandfather survived the Holocaust but the rest of his relatives were killed. In search of his family’s lost home, Menachem met a group of treasure hunters who led him to a secret diary and the story of the Nazi’s mysterious underground city, Project Riese. Menachem Kaiser’s book is called Plunder: A memoir of family property and stolen Nazi treasure. Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Maryam Maruf The excerpts from Abraham Kajzer's book are read by Martin Esposito Get in touch: [email protected] (Photo: One of the underground tunnels in Project Riese. Credit: Janek Skarzynski/AFP via Getty Images)

Wilhelm Verwoerd has spent most of his life wrestling with his surname and what it represents. His grandfather, Dr Hendrik Verwoerd, is widely known as the 'architect of apartheid' in South Africa because of the brutal policies he introduced as a government minister and then prime minister of the country in the 1950s and 1960s. But Wilhelm turned his back on his family's apartheid politics and is committed to tearing down its racist legacy. His book is called: Verwoerd: My journey through family betrayals. This episode was first broadcast on 14th December 2019. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Andile Masuku Producer: Deiniol Buxton (Photo: Wilhelm Verwoerd. Credit: Wojciech Klimala)

In 2017 Ed Jackson had everything to look forward to. A professional rugby player, the 28-year-old had just signed another two-year contract with the Welsh team Dragons, and he and his girlfriend Lois had got engaged and were planning a fabulous wedding in Italy the following year. All of that changed in a split second when Ed mistakenly dived into the shallow end of a swimming pool. He hit his head with such force that he dislocated and fractured two vertebrae at the base of his neck. Paralysed from the neck down, he was told he would never walk again, but Ed quickly found the positives in his situation and says he considers himself "lucky". It's an attitude that has taken him further than you could ever imagine. Ed has written a book about his life called Lucky, and his charity is called Millimetres 2 Mountains. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: June Christie (Photo: Ed Jackson. Credit: Ross Silcocks)

Haben Girma is a Harvard Law School graduate, an attorney, she's been invited to the White House... and she's Deafblind. Haben has published a book called Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Becky Vincent (Photo: Haben Girma meeting Barack Obama in 2015. Credit: White House/ Pete Souza)

While travelling through West Africa in 2018, Canadian Edith Blais and her companion Luca Tacchetto were kidnapped. They were taken to the desert in a lawless area of Mali where groups linked to al-Qaeda were known to operate. They were, initially, held together for some months. But then they were separated, and Edith found herself alone for long periods of time. As well as suffering physically with dehydration and starvation, she had to find different techniques to keep her mind strong and stay sane. A borrowed pen enabled her to write poetry, she sang songs to remind herself of her own voice, and a very special relationship with a spider helped ease her loneliness. Edith eventually agreed to convert to Islam and was reunited with Luca. It was then they dreamt up a plan to flee their captors. Fifteen months after being kidnapped they staged a staggering escape. Edith has written a book about her time in captivity called The Weight of Sand. Radio listeners, if you are searching for the combined podcast version of Edith's interview with Jo Fidgen - this is it! Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki (Photo: Edith Blais. Credit: Sara Mauve Ravenelle)

Lily Ebert was just a teenager when war broke out across Europe. Born into a large Hungarian-Jewish family, she was deported to Auschwitz concentration camp after Germany invaded Hungary in 1944. She survived the ordeal, along with two of her younger sisters. All three went on to build lives after the war; marrying, having large families – but never speaking of the horrors they had experienced.       But after suffering a bereavement in the 1980s, Lily started to revisit her experiences – and began to speak out. Now, at the age of 97, with the help of her great-grandson Dov she has become an unlikely TikTok star, sharing her story with a new generation of followers online. Lily and Dov spoke to Emily Webb about Lily's experiences during the war - and the viral tweet that brought her internet fame.   Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Zoe Gelber Picture: Lily Ebert and Dov Forman Credit: Tereza Červeňová

Jeanne Gustavson met Steve Watts as an undergraduate at university in Chicago, but her family disapproved of their interracial relationship. The pressure became too much, and Jeanne broke up with Steve, but she never forgot him, and decades later she tracked him down. Steve was living with disabilities in a nursing home, but they realised they were still in love. Jeanne fought to get Steve back to her home so she could care for him there, and now, four decades after the start of their relationship, they're living under the same roof for the first time. Jeanne and Steve spoke to Emily Webb. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham Picture: Jeanne and Steve this year Credit: Jeanne Gustavson

At the age of 16 Amina was happy and in love with a local boy in Jordan. She dreamt of their wedding and future together. But then she discovered a secret about her sister, which brought 'shame' on her family and her father went to violent extremes to protect his family's so-called honour. Emily Webb hears this harrowing story through Amina's words and Norwegian journalist Lene Wold, who spent time with her to write a book called 'Inside an Honour Killing.' This episode was first broadcast in May 2019. Get in touch: [email protected] Image: Two women walking through an archway wearing hijabs Credit: ashariat/Getty Images Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf

Dr Waheed Arian spent his early childhood in Kabul, Afghanistan during the Soviet-Afghan conflict. He and his family would often hide in cellars to escape the fighting and they were soon forced to flee to a refugee camp in Pakistan. He contracted tuberculosis and during his treatment was inspired by a doctor who gave him his first ever medical textbook and a stethoscope. Aged 15, he arrived alone in the UK and worked three jobs while studying. His hard work earned him a place to study medicine at Cambridge University, but his ambitions hung in the balance as the trauma and memories of his early life came back to haunt him. He's written a book about his life called In the Wars and his charity is called Arian Teleheal. Precious objects or artworks are at risk of theft, vandalism, even terror attacks in some cases. Protecting them is quite a task. Outlook's Alessia Cerantola went to meet one of the people doing just that - an Italian man called Alessandro Goppion who's been given the job of protecting some of the most valuable objects in the world, including the Mona Lisa painting. This report was first broadcast in February 2018. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Dr Waheed Arian Credit: Dr Waheed Arian

Almost every day for 40 years, expert diver Jim Abernethy has been swimming with sharks at a patch of shallow crystal-clear ocean in the Bahamas known as Tiger Beach. At any given moment Jim can be surrounded by 30 or more tiger, reef and lemon sharks. But Jim has a unique relationship with these underwater predators who swim up to him for affectionate nose-rubs. He tells Outlook's Clayton Conn about removing fishing debris from their mouths with his own hands and his mission to change the world's perception of these endangered sea creatures. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Clayton Conn Producer: Clayton Conn and Mariana Des Forges Picture: Jim Abernethy with a tiger shark Credit: Clayton Conn

Grace M. Cho grew up Korean-American in a small town in Washington state. Her mother, Koonja, was a Korean woman who met Grace’s white-American father – a merchant marine – on a US military base in the aftermath of the Korean war. Charismatic and determined, Koonja did everything she could to 'fit in' in their town: she threw a party for Grace and her brother’s teachers to help them integrate at school; she learned to cook American food; and she also founded a thriving woodland-foraging business that led to her being nicknamed “the blackberry lady” by the locals. Still, Grace never felt the family was truly accepted, and they often experienced harassment. When Grace was 15, Koonja suffered a psychological breakdown that would, years later, be diagnosed as schizophrenia. Struggling to help, Grace turned detective and uncovered her mother’s traumatic history in Korea. But it was through cooking – and recreating Korean recipes Koonja had not tasted for decades – that Grace and her mother were able to find comfort and connection. Grace's memoir is called Tastes Like War. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Grace M. Cho Credit: Patrick Bower

In 1988 Li Jingzhi’s 2-year-old son was abducted from a hotel lobby in China and disappeared without a trace. She never stopped looking for him, appearing on numerous Chinese television shows and distributing more than 100,000 flyers. Through her many years of searching she was able to help reunite many other parents with their missing children. Then in 2020, after 32 years she was finally reunited with her son. This interview was first broadcast on 5th August 2020. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Deiniol Buxton Picture: Mao Yin reuniting with his mother Li Jingzhi Credit: Getty Images

In the late 1950s, Patricia Chin – aka Miss Pat – abandoned a career in nursing and, with her husband Vincent, started selling old jukebox records out of a grocery store. Their business moved to downtown Kingston and would grow into Randy’s Record Mart, Jamaica’s most famous record store. Upstairs, Vincent set up Studio 17 and worked with some of reggae’s biggest stars – Bob Marley and the Wailers, Lee ’Scratch’ Perry, Alton Ellis and John Holt. But political instability in the 1970s would force them to flee their beloved home. Miss Pat, with just a few dollars, had to rebuild her life and her business. Now, her family runs VP Records, one of the world’s largest reggae and dancehall labels. Her book is called Miss Pat: My Reggae Journey. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Miss Pat behind the counter in Randy’s Record Mart Credit: VP Records

American artist Riva Lehrer was born with spina bifida. She endured countless medical procedures through her childhood and adolescence and was told she would never have a job, a romantic relationship or an independent life. But everything changed when as an adult Riva was invited to join the Disabled Artists Collective, a group of artists, writers and performers who were challenging myths around disability in their work. She tells Emily Webb how she began to paint their portraits - and through her art started to transform the stories she’d been told about herself. (This interview contains language that some listeners might find offensive) Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Zoe Gelber Picture: '66 Degrees'. A self-portrait by Riva Lehrer, 2019. Credit: Riva Lehrer

Manjula Pradeep was born in Western India to a Dalit family, a community considered to be on the lowest rung of the caste ladder. Growing up she experienced discrimination and indignity because of her background, but she excelled at school, and managed to defy expectations to become a lawyer and high-profile activist. Now she's helping Dalit rape survivors get access to justice. Manjula spoke to Divya Arya. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham Picture: Manjula Pradeep Credit: BBC/Divya Arya

Growing up in the city of Jos in central Nigeria, Panshak Zamani better known as Ice Prince, never set out to become a musician. But through personal loss and the violent crisis he saw unfolding on the streets, he found solace in singing and rap. Panshak tells Anu Anand how he overcame his struggles to write a hit song that became one of the most remixed ever in Nigeria and rose to international fame. This interview was first broadcast on 5th October 2020. Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Picture: Ice Prince Credit: Photogod

For nearly 30 years Bobby and Cheryl Love lived a very ordinary married life together in New York. They raised four children, worked hard, attended church…but Cheryl could never shake the feeling that Bobby was hiding something from her. It was in 2015 that she finally found out the truth, when armed police burst through the door of their apartment one morning. Bobby and Cheryl tell Jo Fidgen what the secret did to their marriage. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Bobby and Cheryl Love Credit: Brandon Stanton

Erik Ramsey was seriously injured in a car crash when he was 16 years old. He became locked-in and lost all voluntary muscle function except for the ability to move his eyes up and down. His father Eddie, desperate to help his son communicate, reached out to neurologist and neuroscientist Dr Phil Kennedy. Phil was known for his pioneering work helping paralysed patients communicate again. His method was to implant electrodes in their brains that would transmit their thoughts to a computer. He started working with Erik and Eddie but eventually, in order to advance his research, Phil decided to experiment by implanting the same electrodes into his own, healthy brain. It was a drastic and controversial step - if the surgery on Phil's brain went wrong, he risked losing his ability to speak. Phil, Eddie and Erik are featured in the documentary, The Father of the Cyborgs. And Phil has written a book called Unlocking Erik. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Phil Kennedy before his brain implant surgery Credit: Paul Powton

Tom Marcus - not his real name - was a spy; an undercover agent for the British security agency, MI5. For several months, he pretended to be a homeless man living on the streets of London. He went to great lengths to blend in, and it was all worth it when he ended up preventing two coaches full of school children from being blown up. He gave this interview in January 2017. Tom Marcus has written a book about his experiences, it's called I Spy: My Life in M15. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: A homeless man in the streets of London Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images

According to Cambodian folklore, Sieu Do was born with a ‘cloak of good fortune’. His family believed it helped them to survive under the brutal regime in the late 1970s. Sieu was a teenager who could speak seven languages. This made him a target for the Khmer Rouge, who wanted to exterminate the educated classes. But those language skills would save his life when he found work as a physician’s assistant treating thousands of refugees alongside international aid agencies. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Mariana Des Forges Image: Composite of Sieu Do images Credit: Courtesy of Sieu Do

Hiram Johnson is a former policeman who decided to use his investigative skills on his own family. He grew up knowing nothing about this father’s ancestry. In his quest for answers, he uncovered a murder case and an incarceration in the notorious Parchman Farm prison that would change the course of his family’s future. Hiram's written a book about his journey called: Reason to Fight: A Search for Truth. This interview was first broadcast on 5th December 2019. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Hiram Johnson holding a photo of his father Credit: Courtesy of Hiram Johnson

When some film producers asked artist Adebanji Alade if he'd like to take up a challenge to repaint Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa in just a month, he thought it sounded like a bad idea - but he said yes anyway, despite the fact the original (which Adebanji had never seen) took four years to paint. He tells Emily Webb about his belief in saying yes, his life as a "compulsive sketcher", and the family tragedy that made him determined never to run away from problems. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Adebanji Alade and his Mona Lisa Credit: Emily Webb for Outlook

When Tran To Nga was growing up in Vietnam during the 1950s, she had a close relationship with her mother - an important figure in the resistance movement against the regime of South Vietnam. During the Vietnam war, mother and daughter grew even closer, both fighting for the resistance in the depths of the jungle. It was at this time that Nga was sprayed with Agent Orange - a toxic defoliant used by the US military to strip away the leafy canopy of the trees and expose their enemies hiding beneath it. Two years later, her first daughter was born with severe health issues and died, and Nga is battling serious illnesses herself, which she believes are a result of her contact with Agent Orange. She tells Emily Webb about her fight to get compensation for the survivors of Agent Orange, and about her decades-long search for her mother who disappeared in 1966. Nga's story is featured in a documentary called The People vs Agent Orange. The interpreter was Véronique Bernard. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie Picture: Tran To Nga Credit: Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images

Mohamed Barud was losing hope in a Somali prison, when an inmate in a neighbouring cell devised a secret language and tapped out the Russian novel Anna Karenina through his wall... for Mohamed, the book was transformative. He tells his story to Emily Webb. Mohamed wrote a book about his experience called The Mourning Tree. If you're affected by issues raised in the programme, you can find information about support available at bbc.co.uk/actionline or befrienders.org Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Emily Webb Picture: Mohamed Barud and a copy of Anna Karenina Credit: Mohamed Barud, JannHuizenga via Getty Images

Amrou al-Kadhi - who goes by the pronoun ‘they’ - was raised Muslim, but even as a kid Amrou was different. They had no interest in playing with boys their age, and instead loved dressing up with their mother. Amrou grappled with issues of gender identity and sexuality for years. It was not until they picked up drag as a student at Cambridge University that they were able to find solace and belonging. Amrou has written a book called Unicorn: The Memoir of a Muslim Drag Queen. Amrou spoke to Outlook’s Jo Fidgen. This interview was first broadcast 5th November 2019. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Amrou Al-Kadhi as Glamrou Credit: Harry Carr

Hassan Akkad was an amateur filmmaker forced to flee Syria, having been detained twice by regime forces. His destination was the UK, and on the way he used his camera to document the toughest chapters. In the Calais migrant camp, he met two documentary-makers who would use his footage in a high-profile film, kickstarting Hassan's career in documentary filmmaking. Hassan spoke to Sahar Zand. Picture: Hassan Akkad Credit: Hassan Akkad

Mirsad Solakovic grew up in a Bosnian Muslim family during the 1980s, in a country where people from a range of different ethnic groups and religions lived side by side. This harmony was shattered for Mirsad at the age of 13, when his Serbian teacher turned up at school one day in military uniform and pointed a gun at him. As war descended on his town, he and his family were rounded up and Mirsad was singled out and tortured by that very same teacher. They were then sent to a concentration camp on the school grounds as part of a wave of ethnic cleansing. They escaped to England as refugees, but Mirsad was by now experiencing severe PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He found it hard to adjust, suffered bullying and wouldn't speak, until two of his new teachers asked if he would talk about his life in the school assembly. It would be a life-changing moment for Mirsad. He’s written a book about his experiences called The Boy Who Said Nothing. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Edgar Maddicott Picture: Mirsad Solakovic (left) with his family Credit: Mirsad Solakovic

Qian Julie Wang arrived in the United States from China at the age of 7. Her family didn’t have permission to be in the country and so she always told people she’d been born there. But after fulfilling her ambition to become a lawyer, her secret became harder to bear. She was often working on immigration and deportation cases, and found it painful and conflicting to make judgements when she’d been in a similar situation. She then faced an agonising dilemma: to keep her secret or come clean. She knew that either decision could potentially mean the end of her career. Beautiful Country is by Qian Julie Wang. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Qian Julie Wang Credit: Ryan Muir

When US journalist David Sheff realised that his beloved teenage son Nic was addicted to the highly-dangerous drug crystal meth, he tried to do everything to help him. Could this family break free from the destructive cycle of addiction? (This podcast was first released on 6th January 2019 and since then Nic has celebrated his 11-year anniversary of sobriety.) Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Maryam Maruf Image: Nic and David Sheff Credit: Bas Bogaerts Get in touch: [email protected]

Footballer Peter Shilton stood in goal for England 125 times and faced Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal - but off the pitch he battled a secret gambling addiction for 45 years. Then a chance meeting in a hotel lift with the woman who'd become his wife changed everything.

After Daniel Tyler dropped out of school and fell in with the wrong crowd, he decided to go backpacking to escape it all. The Englishman ended up on a tiny Malaysian island and was living a relaxed life until he was secretly filmed speaking fluently in the local dialect. The video went viral and as a result Daniel would end up finding a new name, a new religion and a new course in life. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Kevin Ponniah Picture: Daniel Tyler with his wife and son Credit: Daniel Tyler

Geraldine Mullan lived with her husband John and their two children Tomás and Amelia in a town on the beautiful Irish coastline of County Donegal – a salty inlet of the Atlantic Ocean. They all loved the water, which during lockdown became a welcome escape for the whole family. But in August 2020, the car they were travelling in plunged into the sea during a dreadful storm – in a split second Geraldine lost her husband and both of her children. She tells Jo Fidgen how she found the strength to get back into the water two months after it stole the people she loved most in the world, and why she feels closer to them when she's swimming. Geraldine has opened a centre for her local community called the Mullan Hope Centre, in memory of her family. If you've been affected by any of subjects in this programme you can find support and additional information below: BBC Action Line: https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/ Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: June Christie Picture: Geraldine Mullan in the sea Credit: David Conachy

Cambodia's biggest rubbish dump was home to thousands of children, picking through rubbish to sell. From this bleak wasteland emerged a band, Doch Chkae - young musicians who grew up in extreme poverty, turning their anger into heavy metal music. Harry Graham speaks to two of the band members, Sok Vichey and Ouch Theara. We also hear from one of the charity workers who spotted their talent for metal music, Timon Seibel, from Moms Against Poverty. This podcast was first released on 23rd November 2019. Presenter: Harry Graham Producer: Deiniol Buxton Picture: Doch Chkae Credit: Florian Gleich Get in touch: [email protected]

Nick Richards was a DJ for Radio Caroline, an unlicensed offshore radio station operating off the coast of the UK. This was the late 1970s, and millions of people were tuning in, but there were problems with the ship. Because of its illegal status, it couldn’t go to shore for repairs, and it was rotting below the waterline. The DJs did their best to keep the ship afloat, until they faced one storm too many. Nick spoke to Outlook’s Harry Graham. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Harry Graham Producer: Harry Graham Image: The pirate radio ship Mi Amigo, home to Radio Caroline Credit: Getty Images/Evening Standard

When Nikki Owen was 18, she set fire to the family home while her mother was still inside. Her mother escaped but Nikki found herself in court, accused of intending to kill her. This was the culmination of years of self-loathing, self-harm and suicide attempts that, Nikki says, turned her into a monster. In her younger years, Nikki had worked as a child model; she was shy and well-behaved and couldn't understand why her personality had transformed so quickly and so severely. It wasn’t until she was facing up to 15 years in prison that, thanks to her family's persistence, she was diagnosed with severe premenstrual syndrome, or PMS as it’s more commonly known. Nikki was then able to use this diagnosis in her defence in court. Nikki’s case made legal history in England as the first time in which premenstrual syndrome was used as a mitigating factor in a criminal case. Since then a plea of PMS has been used in court in cases of murder, infanticide, manslaughter and many other crimes. For Nikki it meant she was given a second chance at life and one she has used to help other people by setting up her own organisation, the Healing Hub through which she supports people to deal with stress and anxiety. If you've been affected by any of subjects in this programme you can find support and additional information below: BBC Action Line: https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline/ Befrienders Worldwide: https://www.befrienders.org/ The International Association for Premenstrual Disorders: https://iapmd.org/ National Association for Premenstrual Syndromes https://www.pms.org.uk Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Modelling headshot of Nikki Owen in 1975 Credit: Courtesy of Nikki Owen

Matthew Hahn used to burgle houses in the San Francisco Bay Area to pay for a drug habit. One fateful night in 2005 he stole a safe from someone’s home, hoping that its contents would fund his next high. But he was horrified to discover that the safe contained evidence of a very young girl being sexually abused. Matthew felt he had to do something to help the child, but due to his past criminal record he knew he faced life in prison if he admitted to stealing the safe. His decision would have profound consequences for both himself and the girl’s abuser. This programme contains details that some listeners may find distressing. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Matthew Hahn Credit: Courtesy of Matthew Hahn

Basetsana Kumalo is easily one of South Africa’s most recognisable celebrity figures. She shot to fame as Miss South Africa in 1994, just months after Nelson Mandela was elected president. Basetsana was the first black contestant to win the contest in the country's new "freedom era" and, by default, became the face of South Africa’s new democracy. After this Basetsana hosted one of the country's top lifestyle programmes and today she's a successful media entrepreneur. Her book is called: Bassie, My Journey of Hope. This podcast was first released on 11th January 2020. Presenter: Andile Masuku Producer: Deiniol Buxton Picture: Basetsana Kumalo at the SA Style Awards in Johannesburg. Credit: Gallo Images / Contributor Get in touch: [email protected]

After graduating from university, Suleika Jaouad had moved to Paris, found love and was starting to pursue her dream of becoming a foreign correspondent. But a leukaemia diagnosis at 22 put an end to all of this. She returned to the US and began life-saving treatment that would take an enormous toll. Determined to try and regain some sense of control, she began writing about her experience and eventually landed a regular column with the New York Times called "Life, Interrupted". Her words moved many readers, who inundated her with letters about their own experiences of disease and lives changed in an instant. After three gruelling years in and out of hospital, Suleika was better but realised that having survived she now needed to learn how to live again. She went on a 100-day road trip around the country to meet some of her readers in the hope that they could help her find her place in the world. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Kevin Ponniah Picture: Suleika Jaouad (Courtesy Suleika Jaouad) Get in touch: [email protected]

Emmanuel Taban spent his childhood as a witness to the violent civil war in Sudan. He grew up in what is now South Sudan but, by the time he was a teenager, he'd spent time in prison – falsely accused of being a rebel spy – and had then left his home. He ended up travelling across Africa, mainly on foot, sleeping on the streets and relying on the kindness of strangers for food. Eventually he reached South Africa where he finally was able to go to school and get a scholarship to study medicine. He became a well-known lung specialist whose work into Covid treatments would save many lives. All this time, his family had no idea where he was and many years later, when they were finally reunited, they couldn't believe how a boy from Juba had become a well-regarded doctor with his own medical practice. For a long time, Emmanuel hid what he'd endured to fulfill his ambitions - his new life was very different to the one he'd left behind. But now he was proud of all he'd achieved and was ready to reveal the truth about his journey. His book is called The Boy Who Never Gave Up. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Dr Emmanuel Taban Credit: Darrel Fraser Get in touch: [email protected]

For decades, no one knew who ‘Tent Girl’ was – a female corpse found in the woods, wrapped in a tent canvas. That was until Todd Matthews, whose father in law discovered the body, became consumed by the mystery. By day he was a factory worker, and by night he became an amateur detective – using the internet to find the unidentified woman’s family. Eventually, Todd would be known as the ‘first cyber sleuth’ and his important research would change how missing persons cases are dealt with around the world. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Picture: Composite of the grave of 'Tent Girl' and Todd Matthews (saved in Outlook Online) Credit: Ashley Simpson White and Todd Matthews Get in touch: [email protected]

Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 has long been an anthem for working women around the world. She wrote it on the set of a movie - the hit 80s comedy 9 to 5 starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and of course Dolly Parton. It's a film about three secretaries who decide to take revenge on their misogynist boss. The film was inspired by the stories of real secretaries who became so exasperated by how they were being treated by their managers they decided to fight back. They formed an organisation called 9to5 and Karen Nussbaum was one of its founders. This programme was originally broadcast on the 9th of December 2020. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Fiona Woods Picture: 9 to 5 film Credit: Shutterstock Clips used: 9 to 5 [Dolly Parton, RCA Nashville] 9 to 5 [IPC Films, Colin Higgins] Barbarella [Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Roger Vadim] Private Secretary [Jack Chertok Television Productions] Bad bosses contest [Phil Donahue Show, Multimedia Entertainment] Coffee protest news clip [CBS]

Ali Hussein Kadhim was a new Iraqi army recruit when the Islamic State group first emerged. As the militants approached, he and thousand of other unarmed cadets fled their base in Tikrit, but they were captured and taken for execution. Miraculously, Ali survived, but he was left stuck in enemy territory and needed help. Ali spoke to Outlook's Mobeen Azhar, and his story contains strong descriptions of violence. Photo: Ali Hussein Kadhim, taken from the documentary Once Upon a Time in Iraq Credit: BBC Get in touch: [email protected]

Analiza Guevarra made the painful decision to leave her family behind in the Philippines in order to find work abroad. She felt she had little choice: the family was in debt, and despite working several jobs, she and her husband couldn't make ends meet. She believed she would work abroad for a couple of years, secure the family's future, and return home. But it's been six years since she's seen her children. She tells Mobeen Azhar how she was abused by her employer, and made the brave decision to escape. She now helps other women to get away from abusive employers - but doesn't know when she will be able to return home. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Analiza Guevarra Credit: Courtesy of Analiza Guevarra

Shannon Balenciaga was a fashion-obsessed teen who found herself in prison after cooking up a multi-million dollar fraud scheme. Living behind bars at such a young age, she thought her life was over. But then she discovered ballroom, an underground scene that first emerged in New York City when gay and trans people of colour, fed up of being marginalised in pageants, created their own. They formed alternative families, or ‘houses,’ and competed against each other in balls. Now, as head of the House of Balenciaga, Shannon is a legend in ballroom culture where she mentors a new generation of performers. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Shannon Balenciaga Credit: Carieo Crenshaw

Jody grew up with many anxieties, especially around death. His father and brother both died while he was still in his teens. Years later he started to have seizures. He was diagnosed with epilepsy and doctors decided the best course of action for him was brain surgery. It cured his seizures but had some other surprising side effects too. Jody's relationship with fear had changed. He's become more outgoing, talkative and able to live his life with more freedom. *Please note this programme includes repetitive percussive music which in very rare cases can be a trigger for epileptic seizures.* Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mobeen Azhar Producer: Andrea Kennedy Picture: Jody Smith Credit: Courtesy of Jody Smith

Daniele Davoli was a DJ playing the clubs of Italy when he produced a song with his band Black Box that would define 1980s house music. Ride On Time became a smash hit in the UK, with its driving beat, catchy piano riff and powerful sample from American soul singer Loleatta Holloway. But that sample would land the band in a whole lot of trouble, especially after they hired a French model to mime along at their live gigs. When word got out, fans were furious. A longer version of this programme was originally broadcast on the 7th of September 2020. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Harry Graham Producer: Deiniol Buxton Picture: Black Box performs Ride On Time on Top of the Pops Credit: BBC

Kon Karapanagiotidis has always felt like an outsider. Growing up as the child of poor Greek migrants in rural Australia, he was bullied and subjected to racist taunts that left deep scars. But as a teenager he discovered a book by Dr Martin Luther King that changed his life. Spurred by the words he read, he decided to try and help others to heal himself. He volunteered at charities every day of the week - working at a homeless shelter one day and a suicide helpline the next. In his late twenties, he started a little food bank for asylum seekers and refugees living in Melbourne. The organisation grew in response to huge demand and eventually became a lifeline for thousands of people. The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is now one of Australia's largest and best-known charities helping refugees and after 20 years Kon remains its outspoken leader. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Kevin Ponniah Picture: Kon Karapanagiotidis Credit: Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

Engineer Loay Elbasyouni was part of the team that created an innovative type of helicopter that flew over the surface of Mars in April 2021. The helicopter, named Ingenuity, performed the first ever controlled flight by an aircraft on another planet. But Loay grew up a long way from NASA and the US. He is from the Gaza Strip, part of the Palestinian Territories, and lived through the first Intifada as a child. He tells Emily Webb about the many obstacles he had to overcome to be part of that historic moment in space exploration. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Loay Elbasyouni with a test model of the Mars Ingenuity helicopter Credit: Erric Wright

A decade ago Erin French's life was in tatters. She was in rehab having lost her restaurant, her home and even custody of her son. Today, she runs one of the hardest to book restaurants in the US. She opens up to Emily Webb about her remarkable turnaround. Erin has written a book about her journey, it's called Finding Freedom in The Lost Kitchen. If you have been affected by the issues raised in this programme and would like to access help, support is available internationally at https://www.befrienders.org and in the UK at https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona Woods Picture: Erin French Credit: Stacey Cramp

In the late 1970s, a bunch of fun-loving young Polish guys fed up with living under communism built themselves some kayaks and set off on an adventure. Despite their initial lack of experience, equipment or money, Andrzej Pietowski, Jacek Bogucki and their friends became the first to paddle one of the world's deepest river canyons - the Colca in southern Peru. They were about to return to Poland as heroes when the military imposed a crackdown on the burgeoning Solidarity movement, leaving the kayakers in a risky position. Andrzej and Jacek tell Jo Fidgen their extraordinary story, which is featured in the upcoming documentary Godspeed, Los Polacos! Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Picture: The kayakers Credit: Canoandes Inc

Dominique Moceanu was part of the so-called Magnificent Seven, the USA women's gymnastics team who took gold at the 1996 Olympic Games. But she had a rough time, and was speaking out during the recent Tokyo Games when the brilliant American gymnast Simone Biles shared that she was struggling with her mental health. Dominique was just 14 when she went to the Olympics and made headlines across the world. Watching her from afar was Jennifer Bricker, a little girl in Illinois who was born without legs and was also a professional acrobat. She would watch Dominique on TV and idolised her. Years later Jennifer made an extraordinary discovery that would change both their lives. They told their story to Matthew Bannister. This interview was first broadcast in December 2016. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Andrea Kennedy Picture: Jennifer Bricker (left) and Dominique Moceanu Credit: Courtesy of Baker Publishing Group (L), Mike Powell via Getty Images (R)

After his wife died, 83-year-old Sergio Chamy was feeling lost and alone, so when he spotted a job advert in a newspaper looking for gentlemen in their 70s to 90s, he answered it. He was more than a little surprised when he found out what the job actually involved: going undercover at a nursing home for the elderly in his native Chile. What he discovered there has inspired a national conversation in Chile about the loneliness and sadness often experienced by the elderly. Sergio's time undercover at the home in 2017 was filmed and released as a documentary called The Mole Agent which was nominated for an Oscar this year - Sergio and his daughter Dalal attended the ceremony in Los Angeles. Outlook's Jane Chambers has been speaking to both of them. Film clips from The Mole Agent came courtesy of Micromundo Productions. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jane Chambers Producer: June Christie Picture: Sergio Chamy, undercover agent Credit: Micromundo

Mike Brace lost his sight after a childhood accident - but he adapted fast and soon discovered the freedom and excitement he craved in the sport of blind skiing. Having represented Great Britain at the first Paralympics - he's since dedicated his life to getting young disabled people into sport. He spoke to Outlook's Jo Fidgen. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Mike Brace Credit: Mike Brace Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Troy Holmes

When Alex Lewis was 18 he had an accident that caused him to lose his memory. The only person he could remember was Marcus, his identical twin brother. He became the person Alex most relied upon to rebuild his life and memories. But as it turned out, not everything Marcus told him was true. This programme contains themes of child sexual abuse which may be difficult and triggering to hear. Their story features in a documentary called Tell Me Who I Am which is available on Netflix. This interview was first broadcast in October 2019. Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Tom Harding Assinder Photo: Alex and Marcus Lewis Credit: Alex and Marcus Lewis

Die, go insane or go to jail: these were the options Danny Trejo saw for himself as a young man growing up in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Pacoima. Under the wing of his career-criminal uncle, Danny became addicted to heroin and spent most of his twenties in and out of high-security prisons across California. A decade after being released from prison for the last time and whilst working as a drug counsellor he had a chance encounter that set him on a path to the highly-successful Hollywood movie career he now has. Danny Trejo has over 400 on-screen credits, the record for the most on-screen deaths and has starred alongside some of the biggest actors in the business. He still lives in Pacoima and now gives back to the community he once terrorised. He's written a book about his life and career called Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder Picture: Danny Trejo in 2006 Credit: Estevan Oriol/Getty Images

When Jari Hannu Bouillon was growing up, his mother was one of the most famous women in the world. Josephine Baker had shot to fame in the 1920s in Paris as a dancer, singer and actress. She also worked as a spy during the Second World War and was a fierce civil rights activist. By the 1950s she was living in a 15th-century castle in France with her 12 adopted children. They were from all over the world and meant to be a symbol of racial harmony and 'true brotherhood'. But, eventually, Josephine Baker couldn't sustain her expenses and she was evicted from the chateau. Luckily a friend, Princess Grace of Monaco, helped her find a new place to live. Jari didn't stay there for long. When Josephine found out he was gay, she held a family vote and it was decided that he should be sent to Argentina to live with his father. Jari was able to reconcile with his mother before her death in 1975. Many years later he was contacted by a journalist who said his Finnish birth family was looking for him. Professor Matthew Pratt Guterl wrote a book called Josephine Baker and the Rainbow Tribe about the family. He was interested in the story because he is an academic who teaches Africana Studies and American Studies, but also because he has a personal connection to the story. Matthew grew up in a large multiracial adoptive family too. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: Josephine Baker with some of her adopted children in France in the 1950s, including Jari (front row, second from right) Credit: A. Schorr/Ullstein Bild via Getty Images

In the 1920s a young dancer from the US took Paris by storm. Her name was Josephine Baker and she was known for her risqué performances, most famously when she danced while wearing a skirt made of bananas. She became a singer, actress and a superstar. As a black woman born in the early 20th century in the United States, Josephine lived through racial segregation. France allowed her more opportunities and freedoms, so Josephine took French citizenship. Her allegiance to her new country was so strong she even worked as a spy during the Second World War for the French Resistance. Throughout her life she fought for civil rights, insisting on performing to integrated audiences, protesting against venues with racist policies and speaking at the historic March on Washington. By the 1950s she had taken on another role: as a mother. Josephine Baker adopted 12 children from around the world. Jari Hannu Bouillon was born in Finland, but grew up with his adoptive siblings in the French countryside in Josephine's 15th-century castle. He had extraordinary experiences as a child: meeting presidents, royalty and revolutionaries. He tells Outlook what it was like to be the son of a megastar. Professor Matthew Pratt Guterl's book is called Josephine Baker and the Rainbow Tribe. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: Singer Josephine Baker with her husband Joe Bouillon and some of their adopted children, including Jari (third from right) Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images

In the 1990s, Alex Lowe and Conrad Anker were earning reputations as some of the best mountain climbers in the world. Jenni, Alex's wife, was a constant support. But after a fateful expedition on a mountain in Tibet, these three lives would become connected in a way they couldn't even imagine. This story was first broadcast on 5th May 2018. A new documentary about the family's story, directed by Alex's son Max Lowe, is called Torn. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Katy Davis Photo: Ice climber scales a glacier Credit: Sandra Behne / Bongarts / Getty Images

For more than 70 years oceanographers and scientists searched for the wreckage of the most famous ship in recent history - the Titanic. Then in 1985 Robert Ballard was on a classified US Navy mission to locate sunken nuclear submarines in the North Atlantic when he made the discovery of a lifetime. But finding the Titanic is just one of Robert’s many astonishing deep-sea expeditions; his discoveries have rewritten the book of life itself. He tells Outlook’s Clayton Conn how he believes his dyslexia gives him an edge to find the things others can’t on the ocean floor. His memoir is called Into the Deep. Get in touch: [email protected] Credit: Emory Kristof/National Geographic Image Collection, Robert Ballard and Martin Bowen/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Gabriel Scarlett/National Geographic Image Collection, Rob Lyall/National Geographic Image Collection Presenter: Clayton Conn Producer: Clayton Conn and Mariana Des Forges

When Bernard Drosihn was growing up in 1970s Germany he rebelled against the predominantly meat-heavy diet. These were the days when no one around him had even heard of vegetarianism. He later spent time in New York where he came across tofu - a bean curd block - and a product that wasn't available in Germany. So he and some other young hippies decided to produce their own, setting up a tofu collective. Bernard tells Jo Fidgen that the local authorities saw them as dangerous radicals, and the so-called ‘meat police’ raided their premises and even threw them in jail for a few nights. Undeterred, Bernard went on to become one of Europe’s biggest producers of tofu. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Kevin Ponniah Picture: Bernd Drosihn in his tofu factory Credit: Marcus Simaitis, laif, Camera Press Get in touch: [email protected]

James Plummer Jr grew up navigating poverty and instability; his dad was a drug dealer and he moved around a lot, changing schools, houses and states multiple times. One day, when he was nine years old, he was reading an encyclopedia and got to 'E'. He discovered Albert Einstein's theory of relativity and a lifelong passion began – one that was to lead him out of poverty. James really understood physics. He started to win at state science fairs and after college was admitted to the elite physics course at Stanford University. But James had a secret: he was hooked on crack cocaine. He also knew he had to change and conquer his addiction if he was to fulfil his academic ambitions. It took a confession to a special person in his life, someone he admired and respected, to turn his life around. And with his new identity came a carefully chosen new name: Hakeem Muata Oluseyi. A Quantum Life is by Hakeem Oluseyi and Joshua Horwitz. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Hakeem Oluseyi Credit: Freddie Claire

Royd Tolkien is the great-grandson of JRR Tolkien - writer of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Growing up, Royd and his younger brother Mike were very close, but also very different - Mike was the adrenaline junkie who loved skydiving and bungee jumping, whereas Royd liked nothing better than a cup of tea in the garden. But that would all change after Mike died of Motor Neurone Disease in 2015. He left a bucket list of 50 daring tasks for Royd to complete after his death, and completing them gave Royd a reason to carry on. Royd has written a book about his experience called There's a Hole in my Bucket: A Journey of Two Brothers. He's also made a documentary, There's a Hole in my Bucket, which will be released later this year. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: June Christie Picture: Royd Tolkien taking on the bucket list Credit: Royd Tolkien Productions

In August 2006, 17-year-old Qusay Hussein was playing a game of volleyball with his brothers and friends in his home country Iraq.  As they were playing a man drove a truck onto the local sports pitch, directly towards Qusay.  It got so close he could see exactly what the driver was wearing and the smile on his face. The truck came within a metre of Qusay before the driver detonated a devastating explosion killing 16 people and injuring 56 others. Qusay was severely wounded, blinded and given 30 minutes to live but somehow he survived. There are descriptions which you might find upsetting. Qusay now lives in Austin, Texas where he works as a mentor for students across the American state and is studying towards a PHD. Picture: Qusay Hussein Credit: Qusay Hussein Get in touch: [email protected]

Warning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners: this podcast contains the voice of someone who has died. Jack Charles is a venerated Aboriginal Australian actor, but at one point addiction led him to a life of crime. For years, after curtain fell, he'd slip away to burgle houses. He spoke to Outlook's Datshiane Navanayagam. Photo:   Jack Charles Credit:   Getty Images/Don Arnold Get in touch: [email protected]

Rumaitha Al Busaidi is credited with being the first female football analyst in the Arab world, but she started as a footballer in the first national women's team of Oman. When their funding was cut, the team refused to give up and took to the radio where Rumaitha confronted callers who told her women didn't have a place in football. Determined to prove them wrong, she turned that experience into a career as a commentator and after a bet with her grandfather Rumaitha's persistence even led her to trek across the South Pole. Picture: Rumaitha Al Busaidi Credit: Courtesy of Rumaitha Al Busaidi Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Troy Holmes and Sarah Kendal Get in touch: [email protected]

Canadian Brayden Morton was devastated when his beloved dog Darla was stolen from him. He ended up tracking her down but when he encountered the thief, he saw a distressed young homeless woman with a serious drug addiction and his own past was brought back to him in an unexpected and painful way. Brayden is himself a recovering addict with a troubled history including serving time in prison. He’s now a drugs interventionist and decided not to press charges against the young woman and instead help her through rehab. Picture: Brayden Morton with Darla Credit: Courtesy Brayden Morton Get in touch: [email protected]

Ugandan Susan Kigula was a young mother when she was sentenced to hang for murder. She always maintained her innocence and sang songs of sorrow in a choir she formed with her fellow inmates on death row. Behind bars Susan also started a school and completed a law degree, but it's what she did next which would change the lives of more than 400 other inmates, as well as the law of the land. This programme was first released on 2nd June 2018. Image and credit: Susan Kigula Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Get in touch: [email protected]

Kareem Rosser grew up in one of Philadelphia’s most deprived neighbourhoods - an unlikely environment to discover a love for the elite game of polo, also known as the sport of kings. He shares his story of making history with his all African American team. Picture: A young Kareem Rosser riding a horse Credit: Image from CTL Cover, credit Lezlie Hiner Presenter: Datshiane Navanayagam Producer: Fiona Woods Get in touch: [email protected]

In the aftermath of a car accident at 19 years old, Thomas Leeds was left with no memories of his childhood, of his family and friends, even cultural references were all wiped away. As Thomas began to rebuild his life he struggled with thoughts about his future because, he says, he didn't know where he'd come from. He became obsessed with the popular culture of the 80s and 90s — the era of his childhood — hoping something would trigger his memory. Then, aged 30 while planning the perfect playlist for his 80s-themed birthday party, a song suddenly unlocked memories that had been lost for 10 years. You can follow Thomas' story on twitter @thomasleeds Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Mariana Des Forges Picture: collage of pictures of Thomas Leeds' brain scans, as a child and recently in hospital getting tests Credit: all photos courtesy of Thomas Leeds Get in touch: [email protected]

Heather Waugh is Scotland’s only female freight train driver, and she’s committed to improving the mental health of her male colleagues. Her work was inspired partly by a traumatic incident she witnessed while driving a train, when a young man took his life on the tracks. Now she’s been trained by a mental health charity to spot the early warning signs of mental health problems. She spoke to Outlook’s Andrea Kennedy. If you are feeling emotionally distressed, support is available internationally at https://www.befrienders.org and in the UK at bbc.co.uk/actionline Picture: Heather Waugh Credit: BBC Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Harry Graham Get in touch: [email protected]

When Victoria Arlen was a child, she had dreams of being an athlete. But at the age of 11 she became unwell and lost consciousness, only to wake up years later in a hospital bed locked into her body, unable to communicate or move. For months she was alert, but nobody knew it and all she had were her thoughts. Slowly she recovered and took up para-swimming, going on to break a world record at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. This story was first broadcast on the 30th of September 2018.   Presenter: Harry Graham Producer: Katy Davis   Picture: Victoria Arlen Credit: Harry Engles / Getty Images   Get in touch: [email protected]

Cidny Bullens is a singer-songwriter whose career first took off in the 1970s, touring with Elton John and singing on the soundtrack for the movie Grease. Solo success would follow with two Grammy nominations. Cidny's style was androgynous - big hair, jumpsuits, flares, leather jackets... topped off with an electric guitar. But hidden behind the accolades were years of struggling with gender identity, something Cidny confronted aged 61. Ten years later he recorded his first album as man. Picture: Cidny Bullens Credit: Travis Commeau Get in touch: [email protected]

When 17-year-old Paloma Romero travelled to the UK in the early 1970s, she was in search of freedom and opportunities that didn't exist in her native Spain, ruled at the time by the dictator Franco. Soon, Paloma fell in with the world of punk music, and (following a mix-up over her name) called herself Palmolive. She started a relationship with Joe Strummer from The Clash, taught herself to play drums and joined a band with Sid Vicious. When he kicked her out for refusing his advances, she formed a band of her own - The Slits. With their all-female line-up and collaborative approach to song-writing, The Slits are now regarded as iconic punk pioneers. Later, Paloma would play drums in another highly influential all-female punk band, The Raincoats - before turning her back on music altogether to seek spiritual truth. Now a retired teacher living in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Paloma is thinking about a return to music. She tells Anu Anand about punk, faith, and the art of walking away. Producer: Laura Thomas Presenter: Anu Anand Image: Getty Images

Hassan Al Kontar always dreamed of being a journalist, but it was a dream he felt he couldn't pursue in his native Syria, so in 2006 he moved to the United Arab Emirates. But when the Syrian conflict began in 2011, Hassan was faced with an agonising choice - either leave his job, go home, and face military service or stay in the UAE and risk losing his right to work. He chose the latter and spent over five years homeless before being deported to Malaysia where he could only stay for three months. Then Hassan's situation became even more difficult. He tried to fly to Ecuador but wasn't allowed to board the plane, and when he was denied entry to Cambodia, he found himself back in Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur airport, confined to the transit area with no money, no passport and no way out. Hassan would end up living there for seven months. He's written a book about his experience called Man at the Airport. News clips came courtesy of CNN, TVNZ and France 24 Presenter:  Emily Webb Producer:  June Christie and Emily Webb Picture: Hassan Al Kontar sitting on a chair at Kuala Lumpur airport. Credit:  Hassan Al Kontar Get in touch: [email protected]

Professor Gisela Kaplan has had a lifelong bond with birds. As a lonely child in post-war Berlin, she would visit a family of swans for company. They made her feel safe and comfortable, offering some consolation during an otherwise hard childhood. This relationship formed a fascination with birds that eventually saw her becoming a highly-regarded ethologist, a specialist in animal behaviour, and an expert in Australian magpie warbles. Along the way, Gisela had a career in opera singing, before moving to Australia and becoming an academic. It was a surprise gift from her partner - a course in animal rehabilitation - that saw her hand-rear native birds, including an Australian magpie she named Maria Callas. Over the next 25 years, Gisela was to make some remarkable discoveries about how the species communicates, helped along by her operatic knowledge. Picture: Image of portrait of Gisela Kaplan by Raffaela Casadei  Credit: Raffaela Casadei Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy Takatsuki Get in touch: [email protected]

In 1988, after colliding with a fishing trawler at the surface, the Peruvian submarine Pacocha sank to the bottom of the Pacific ocean. With 22 men trapped inside, with no water, a fire on board and depleting oxygen, First Lieutenant Roger Cotrina Alvarado was determined to save his crew. An escape plan was hatched, but getting out of the submarine was only the first step - they still had to find a way to make the 42-metre ascent to the surface. Presented by Clayton Conn Produced by Clayton Conn and Mariana Des Forges Interpreter: Martin Esposito Picture: Collage of photographs of the Pacocha, crew, the submarine and Roger Cotrina Alvarado Credit: all photos courtesy of Roger Cotrina Alvarado Get in touch: [email protected]

On the 15th of July, 2011, 24-year-old Dan O’Keeffe went missing from his parents’ home in the state of Victoria, Australia. The family reported him missing but as there were no suspicious circumstances it wasn’t classed as a priority by the police and so Dan’s sister, Loren quit her job and led the long and gruelling search to try and find him, bringing together thousands of strangers along the way through the social media campaign, Dan Come Home. It would be almost five years before Dan’s body was discovered close to the family home where he was last seen. A decade since his disappearance Loren O’Keeffe has now dedicated her life to supporting the families of other long-term missing persons across Australia, using her own experience, knowledge and resources she has founded a charity called the Missing Persons Advocacy Network, which creates awareness for missing persons and supports those who are left behind. If you've been affected by any of the issues discussed in this programme the BBC action line has a list of organisations offering support. Just look online for bbc.co.uk/actionline. Image: Dan O'Keeffe at the beach Credit: Loren O'Keeffe Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder Get in touch: [email protected]

Keeth Smart is an all-time great in the US in the sport of fencing. He was the first American to be ranked the number one fencer in the world. But in 2004 he suffered a devastating defeat at the Olympics when he lost a medal by one point. So in 2008 he was determined to redeem his reputation. Months out from the games, he noticed that his gums and hands were bleeding. Keeth was rushed into intensive care and told he had a 50-percent chance of survival. How he beat leukaemia and ended up winning an Olympic medal. A short film has been made about Keeth's life called Stay Close. Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: Keeth Smart at sabre semi-final at Beijing Olympic Games Credit: OMAR TORRES/AFP/Getty Images Get in touch: [email protected]

In 2004, young biologist Diego Calderón was captured while on a field trip in the Colombian Andes. His captors were Farc guerrillas, who held him for three months, seeking a ransom payment. Life in the Farc camp was basic and tedious, but Diego kept himself busy by studying the wildlife in the unique cloud forest habitat where he was held. Years later, after his release, Diego found himself face to face with the guerrillas once again. But by now a peace deal had been signed, and efforts were being made to use nature and tourism to integrate ex-combatants back into society. Many of them had grown up in the forests and had unique knowledge of the region. Diego was one of the first in line to join his former captors who were now carrying birdwatching binoculars, not guns. Image: Diego Calderón birding with Leo on the 2018 Expedicion BIO in Anorí Credit: Federico Ríos Escobar @historiassencillas Producer: Harry Graham Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Get in touch: [email protected]

When Desmond Meade’s wife Sheena ran for public office in Florida, he wanted nothing more than for her to win. But there was one thing he couldn’t do – vote for her. As an ex-felon, Desmond had a lifetime ban on voting. It was a 150-year-old law that affected over a million people, and so Desmond and Sheena led a historic campaign to overturn it. At times, it felt like an impossible battle that would consume their whole family. And even now after all their successes, that fight is not over. Desmond’s written a book called Let my people vote: my battle to restore the civil rights of returning citizens. Presenter: Stephanie Hegarty Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Desmond and Sheena Meade Credit: Getty Images Get in touch: [email protected]

Antônio Sena is a Brazilian pilot who survived a dramatic plane crash in the Amazon rainforest earlier this year. He found himself alone, with very little food, and hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town. After waiting a week for rescuers to find him, he set off on an arduous trek into the dense forest. He tells Emily Webb that he kept himself going by eating fruit, and using knowledge of the Amazon that he had picked up as a child. His life was saved when he stumbled across a family of Brazil nut pickers, 36 days after his accident. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Antônio Sena after being rescued Credit: Marcelo SEABRA / Brazil's Para State Government / AFP

In 2015 the Syrian town of Darayya was under siege. Its residents were being subjected to almost constant shelling, no-one could enter or leave, food was running out and there wasn’t enough medicine to treat the sick and injured. But deep in the bowels of a high-rise building, in a basement room, Darayya’s residents were slipping into a very different world. One filled with adventure, romance, comedy, tragedy, and the odd 'who dunnit'... this is the story of Syria's secret library and one of its founders. Translation by Youssef Taha. The readings you heard came from: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho They Tricked Her Is Saying Belle and Stand For The Teacher, both by Ahmad Shawqi The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie Hamlet by William Shakespeare Music: D'un crépuscule, l'autre by Abderraouf Ouertani Shata by Dhafer Youssef Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona Woods Picture: Damaged books Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

Gareth Thomas is one of the most successful and famous Welsh rugby players of all time. He's also celebrated for being the first rugby player in the world to come out as gay. But when he was diagnosed with HIV, he was wracked with fear because of the stigma the condition carries. He started telling a few people close to him about his HIV status, but one of his confidants started blackmailing him. Gareth decided to take matters into his own hands and reveal his secret in a very public way. He's written a book called Stronger. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: Gareth Thomas during an RBS Six Nations Championship match in 2006 Credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Matthew 'Kashy' Keegan knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a pop star. He just didn't know how. He spent years writing and making music and knocking on the doors of the music industry but to no avail. By age 25, demoralised and fed up, he decided to quit. He took a job at a radio station and settled into his new life. But years later, when he was home one evening, his phone started to beep incessantly. He clicked on one of the alerts to find scenes of thousands of people out on the streets of Hong Kong waving the lights of their phones through the air and his song playing on the tannoy. The song he'd written many years earlier had now, in 2013, become a political anthem in a country he'd never even visited. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Andrea Kennedy Picture: Matthew Keegan Credit: Eva Li

Kathrine Switzer is a US runner whose dream - back in 1967 - was to be allowed to run a marathon. Back then there was a belief that women were physically incapable of doing such long distances, and it could even be dangerous for their health. Kathrine was 20 when she signed up for the world famous Boston Marathon using only her initials, but when she was spotted by race official Jock Semple he attacked her, outraged that a woman was running in the men-only event. Photos of that moment went across the world, and changed Kathrine’s life and the future of the sport. She went on to campaign for women’s official inclusion in the Boston Marathon in 1972, helped create the first women’s road race, and was instrumental in making the women’s marathon an official Olympic event in 1984. This programme was first broadcast on 13th of January 2021. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Kathrine Switzer is accosted by race official Jock Semple at the 1967 Boston Marathon Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images

Aged 16 Amra Sabic El-Rayess was a grade-A student with a bright future ahead but then one day when she got to school almost all her ethnic Serb classmates were gone. This was Bihać in Bosnia Herzegovina in June 1992 and the city was soon surrounded by ethnic Serb forces. The remaining mainly Bosnian Muslims, which included Amra and her family, would face a three-year siege. But amidst the death and destruction Amra found a lucky charm, a 'refugee' cat called Maci who adopted her and who she credits with saving her life. Professor Amra Sabic El-Rayess now lives in the US and has written a book about her life called The Cat I Never Named. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Thomas Harding-Assinder Picture: Composite image with Amra Sabic El Rayess Credit: Courtesy of Amra Sabic El Rayess + Gian Luca Salis / EyeEm via Getty Images

In 2015, Czech artist Barbora Kysilkova had two of her paintings stolen from a gallery in the Norwegian capital Oslo. Months later, a surprising encounter with one of the thieves in the courtroom led to an enduring friendship between the painter and the thief. As their friendship evolved, Karl-Bertil Nordland became not just Barbora’s friend, but also her muse. And as Karl-Bertil overcame his drug addiction, Barbora went on a quest to try to find out what had happened to her missing paintings. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Kayleen Devlin Picture: Barbora and Karl hugging in front of her painting of Karl Credit: Medieoperatørene, photographer: Kristoffer Kumar

Sir Trevor McDonald grew up in Trinidad, but when he got a job with the BBC World Service, he moved to the UK. He went on to become the first black television reporter and one of the country's most prominent presenters. Over the course of his career, he's interviewed Saddam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi and even danced on screen with Desmond Tutu. He’s written a book about his life called An Improbable Life: The Autobiography. This interview was first broadcast on 7 Nov 2019. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Troy Holmes Picture: Trevor McDonald in 1973 Credit: Keystone/Getty Images

A complicated sisterhood: growing up, Arifa Akbar and her older sister Fauzia had shared everything from a bedroom, to secrets, to favourite movies and books. They'd moved from Lahore, Pakistan to London for a better life but ended up destitute. The change took its toll on Fauzia who developed depression as a teenager. Complex feelings of jealousy and anger took over and the two became estranged. Then in 2016, when Fauzia was 45, she contracted a mysterious illness. The sisters reconciled at Fauzia's bedside before she passed away but Arifa wanted to know more about the sister she'd lost and the illness that had killed her. She tells Anu Anand about an extraordinary journey that began in North London and took her all the way to the Sistine chapel in Rome. Arifa's memoir is called Consumed. If you've been affected by any of the issues in this programme, you can find resources and help at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline Get in touch [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Mariana Des Forges Picture: Fauzia and Arifa Akbar in Lahore Credit: Courtesy of Arifa Akbar

The Thunder was the most notorious and elusive poaching ship in the world; for ten years governments had struggled to catch it. Then, in 2014, a crew from the organisation Sea Shepherd - known for its anti-whaling activity - found it illegally hunting Patagonian toothfish in the ice floes of the Antarctic and decided to stop it. They pursued the Thunder for 110 days over 10,000 miles before a dramatic stand-off in the Gulf of Guinea. Captain Peter Hammarstedt, from Sea Shepherd, tells Jo Fidgen about the dramatic chase and eventually watching the Thunder as it burned. This episode was first released on 19th November 2020. On-board recordings in this piece are from the documentary Ocean Warriors: Chasing the Thunder, courtesy of Brick City TV. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Mariana Des Forges Photo: The Thunder surrounded by icebergs Credit: Sea Shepherd

Sa'di al-Hadithi is one of Iraq's best-loved vocalists, known for researching, collecting and translating the folk songs and poetry from the area around the city of Haditha, where he grew up. Raised mostly by his grandmother, his memories of childhood are full of music and poetry, and of the love of his family - but following the Ba'ath party's rise to power in Iraq in the 1960s, he was imprisoned for five years on the false charge of being a communist. He tells Emily Webb about why his years in prison were far from a cultural wasteland, his international singing career, and his enduring sense of love and duty to the songs he collected as a young man in Haditha. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas Photo and credit: Sa'di al-Hadithi Get in touch: [email protected]

In March 2017 Amin Dzhabrailov was dragged out of the hair salon where he worked and bundled into the boot of a car. It was the start of an unprecedented crackdown targeting LGBT people in the Russian republic of Chechnya. Amin says he was taken to a warehouse and tortured alongside other gay men before being outed to his family, who were encouraged to kill him. After his release he knew his life in Chechnya was over and he had to escape - what he couldn't have guessed was where his next steps would take him. Two years later he would go public with his story, defying Chechnya's feared leader and becoming the first Chechen victim of the crackdown to do so. Warning: This programme contains descriptions of torture. Producer: Kevin Ponniah Presenter: Emily Webb Picture credit: Amin Dzhabrailov Get in touch: [email protected]

In 2014, Debayan Sen was cleaning the family attic in Kolkata when he made an unexpected discovery: a dusty, old vinyl record called Disco Jazz. What astonished him was that his mother Rupa was on the cover. Debayan had no idea his very traditional Indian mother had even had a music career. Not only would that album reveal Rupa’s secret disco past but also an underground fanbase of millions worldwide. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Sound design: Joel Cox Voiceover: Manoshi Barua Picture: Rupa Biswas Sen holding a copy of her record Disco Jazz Credit: Courtesy Rupa Biswas Sen

There are disturbing descriptions throughout this episode. In the 1970s a serial killer was on the loose in South East Asia. His name was Charles Sobhraj, better known as 'The Serpent'. When tourists began going missing, or turning up dead, Dutch diplomat Herman Knippenberg was tasked with investigating the disappearances. The chilling evidence he uncovered put Sobhraj behind bars with a life sentence. The hit TV show The Serpent is available now on BBC iPlayer and Netflix. Presenter and producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: collage of promotional photos from BBC One and Netflix's The Serpent and Herman Knippenberg's personal collection Credit: BBC / © Mammoth Screen and Herman Knippenberg Get in touch: [email protected]

In 1974, Australian concert producer Robert Raymond got the gig of his life – organising the comeback tour of his musical idol, Frank Sinatra. The anticipation in Australia was huge and the tour sold out immediately. But when his opening night performance caused a scandal, Sinatra found himself caught in a stand-off… and Robert Raymond had the biggest test of his career – how to get Sinatra back on stage? This programme was first broadcast on 23rd of December 2018. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Image: Frank Sinatra Credit: Jay Dickman/CORBIS/Getty Images

As the only female Category-A International Arbiter in Asia, Shohreh Bayat has represented Iran at chess tournaments all around the world. That position came with a big responsibility and a lot of rules as to what she could and could not do and more importantly, wear. In Iran, the law requires women to wear modest "Islamic" clothing. This requirement was extended to those representing the country abroad and although many women wear the hijab by choice, it was not something Shohreh felt comfortable or agreed with. The highlight of Shohreh’s impressive career came at the start of 2020 when she travelled to Shanghai for the Women’s World Chess Championship. It was during this tournament that a photo appeared in the Iranian media appearing to show Shohreh not wearing a hijab. That photo led to an ultimatum and what would be the biggest and most difficult decision of her career. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Thomas Harding-​Assinder Picture: Shohreh Bayat Credit: Hollie Adams/Getty Images

Christian Clot is an explorer who travels to the world's most inhospitable places to try and survive. But recently, he worked with scientists on something a little different. Christian took 14 others into a cavernous cave system in south-western France to see what happens to humans' perception of time in the absence of clocks and natural light. They spent 40 days inside and did not expect to react the way they did when told the experiment was over. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Kevin Ponniah Producer: Kevin Ponniah Picture: Volunteers leave the Lombrives cave after spending 40 days in darkness, April 2021 Credit: FRED SCHEIBER/AFP via Getty Images

69-year-old Sharon Lavigne has six children and 12 grandchildren and, by her own admission, has never been one for public speaking. She has lived in St James Parish in Louisiana her whole life. It's located along an 85-mile stretch of the Mississippi between New Orleans and Baton Rouge with the undesirable nickname 'cancer alley'. Sharon says she has seen a lot of illness in her community. There are around 150 chemical plants located along this stretch of the Mississippi River and when a giant plastics manufacturing company wanted to construct a plant near Sharon's home, she successfully led the campaign to stop it from being built. Sharon has been awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for her work. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: June Christie Picture: Sharon Lavigne Credit: Goldman Environmental Prize

Andy Cole is one of England’s most successful footballers, notably part of the legendary Manchester United squad that won a historic treble in 1999. His path to the top wasn’t easy – as a young player he had to deal with racism in football, and then grapple with the expectations of stardom. But Andy’s biggest challenge was off the pitch when he faced a deadly health scare. This interview contains offensive language. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Mugabi Turya Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Andy Cole with teammates David Beckham and Paul Scholes in 1999 Credit: Laurence Griffiths/Allsport via Getty Images

Arrested, interrogated and watched: Ulrike Poppe was a dissident in the former GDR and spent 15 years being spied on by the East German secret police - the Stasi- who installed secret microphones in her home and cameras pointing through the windows. Then, in 1992, after Berlin Wall came down, she was granted access to the Stasi archives and discovered 20,000 pages of details about her life with the names of friends and colleagues who'd informed on her. In those pages she also found the name of the Stasi officer in charge of her case and decided to track him down and confront him. Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Interpreter: Jo Impey Producer: Mariana Des Forges Picture: Ulrike Poppe in 1999 Credit: P/F/H/ullstein bild via Getty Images Get in touch: [email protected]

As a young woman in the mid-1980s, Ruth Coker Burks had a chance encounter with a man with Aids, who had been left to die alone in a quarantined hospital room in Hot Springs, Arkansas in the US. She stepped in to comfort him in his final hours, and word soon spread that she was the only person willing to help such men in this deeply conservative town. At the height of the Aids crisis she developed a huge support network for gay men with HIV who had been abandoned by their families, even burying some of those who died in her own family cemetery. Ruth tells Emily Webb how she was vilified by her church and community for her work, but became a vocal campaigner and Aids educator. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Ruth Coker Burks Credit: Caroline M. Holt

Meena Said is an endocrine surgeon working in California. Her days are spent treating and operating on patients, many of whom have very complex medical needs. But after a hard day at work, rather than relaxing at home, Meena switches on her phone and begins to care for her other patients: critically-ill children who live many thousands of miles away in Afghanistan. Meena's own family fled the country as refugees when she was just a baby. She spent many years trying to build her career in LA, but was uncomfortable with how privileged her life was in comparison to those that stayed behind. Two years ago, a photo of a family with severe burns motivated her to help. She set up a network of volunteer doctors called Wellness Worldwide whose expertise she draws on to confirm diagnoses and formulate treatment plans. Sadly, it can sometimes be too late to save the children, but as Meena tells Emily Webb knowing their children are being helped often brings much needed peace to the families involved. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Dr Meena Said Credit: Courtesy of Dr Meena Said

Fadimata Walet Oumar learned how to sing and dance in northern Mali under the light of the desert moon. Her people, the Tuaregs, traditionally lived as nomads on the fringes of the Sahara but successive wars, droughts and famines have fundamentally changed their lives. However her love of music never waned. As a teenager, Fadimata was given the nickname Disco after winning dance battles on the streets of Timbuktu. In 1995 she created a band called Tartit with other women who had been forced to flee into refugee camps due to conflict. It was the first woman-led group in the burgeoning desert music scene and received global acclaim. In 2012, Tuareg culture was put into peril when Islamist militants took over northern Mali and banned music. Fadimata had to flee her homeland for the third time in her life but vowed to return. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Kevin Ponniah Picture: Fadimata Walet Oumar performs in 2012 Credit: -/AFP via Getty Images

Robina Courtin grew up in Melbourne, Australia. As a teenager attending Catholic school she felt she was both holy and a rebel. Eventually she became a hippie, then a radical feminist, and then got into martial arts. One day, after a car accident meant she couldn't practice karate, she came across some Buddhist monks. Immediately she knew following Buddhism would be her path. Many years after she was ordained a Buddhist nun, she got an unexpected letter from a prisoner in the US. That led to her corresponding with other inmates and even befriending people on death row. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: Robina Courtin in 2005 Credit: Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Rick Alan Ross was selling and restoring cars when his grandmother’s Jewish nursing home was secretly infiltrated by a Christian group that tried to convert her. Rick started investigating, which lead him to a career as a world-renowned cult intervention specialist, or cult deprogrammer. Now, he helps people leave destructive cults or controversial groups and movements. But it’s work that can be demanding, problematic and perilous – especially if interventions don't go to plan. This podcast is part of Cult Behaviour, a mini-series from Outlook exploring how a cult can manipulate a person’s sense of reality, and what it can take to break free. Radio listeners, if you are searching for the combined podcast version of Rick’s interview – this is it. Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Maryam Maruf Music: Joel Cox Picture: Man with 'the end of the world is nigh' placard Credit: Getty Images

In 2011, the former Dynasty actor Catherine Oxenberg and her 19-year-old daughter India took a course from the self-help organisation Nxivm (pronounced Nexium). It was a pivotal experience for India as she had been struggling to find a career and Nxivm seemed to offer her purpose. She ended up working for them as a coach and moving away from her mother. What India didn’t know was that Nxivm was in fact a dangerous cult. Eventually she would be trapped in a secret subgroup, which was really a sex-trafficking ring operated by the cult leader, Keith Raniere. This episode is part of Cult Behaviour, a mini-series from Outlook exploring how a cult can manipulate a person’s sense of reality, and what it can take to break free. Radio listeners, if you are searching for the combined podcast version of India and Catherine’s interview – this is it. Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producers: Saskia Edwards, Maryam Maruf Music: Joel Cox Picture: Catherine and India Oxenberg, with Catherine's mother Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia on the left Credit: Courtesy Starz Entertainment

A fake wedding, a double life and forged documents. In 2013 investigative journalist Benita Alexander was making a documentary about 'super-surgeon' Paolo Macchiarini and his pioneering synthetic organ transplants. The pair quickly fell in love and Benita was swept into a whirlwind romance. Paolo proposed, but the fairytale soon began to unravel when she discovered that the extravagant star-studded wedding he told her he was planning was all a lie. But the fake wedding was just the beginning... Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Mariana Des Forges Picture: Paolo Macchiarini and Benita Alexander Credit: Courtesy Benita Alexander, Instagram @loveconned

When Tedy Ursuleanu went to see a gig at the Colectiv nightclub in Bucharest, Romania, in the autumn of 2015, she was lucky to escape with her life. A fire swept through the venue, which only had one fire exit. Tedy sustained life-changing injuries, and 27 others died at the scene. The surviving victims were transferred to hospitals, but in the weeks that followed, they continued to die in large numbers. At Gazeta Sporturilor, one of the oldest sports newspapers in Europe, editor Catalin Tolontan watched events unfold. At first, he remembers, he and his team felt "almost paralysed" by events. Then, an informant contacted them. Tedy Ursuleanu and Catalin Tolontan give Emily Webb their perspectives on the fire that unseated a government, and uncovered a lethal network of corruption. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas Photo: Pictures of victims of Colectiv nightclub fire in Bucharest, Romania Credit: DANIEL MIHAILESCU/AFP/Getty Images

Ted Brown is a black LGBT rights pioneer who helped organise the UK’s first Gay Pride march in 1972, featuring a mass ‘kiss-in’ that, at the time, would have been considered gross indecency, which was against the law. When Brown realised he was gay, homosexuality was illegal in Britain - the only person he came out to was his mother. She cried and told him he’d have to battle not just racism but homophobia too; both were rife in society at the time. At one point Brown felt so dismal about his future that he considered taking his own life. But inspired by the Stonewall Riots, he found hope in Britain’s Gay Liberation Front and became a key figure in fighting bigotry in the UK. He tells Emily Webb his moving life story. If you need support with issues relating to sexuality or gender, help and support is available from BBC Action Line - just search for bbc.co uk/actionline Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Ted Brown (left) with his partner Noel and human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell (right) at the first Pride march in London, 1972 Credit: Courtesy of Ted Brown

Rickie Lee Jones was making up songs from the age of four. Part of a musical family - her grandparents were vaudeville stars in Chicago - she says music acted as an "accidental bridge" between her and the world. After running away from home at the age of fourteen, Rickie Lee eventually headed for California and set her heart on becoming a singer. She went from life on the breadline to fame, fortune and Grammy success at the age of 24. She tells Emily Webb about her remarkable life including her relationship with the singer Tom Waits, her secret battle to overcome heroin addiction in the late 1970s and why she feels that, as a woman, she faced more stigma as a result. She also tells Emily why she’s still inspired by the very first album she was given as a child – West Side Story. Her memoir is called Last Chance Texaco: Chronicles of an American Troubadour. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie Picture: Rickie Lee Jones performing in Paris, France in 1979 Credit: Bertrand LAFORET/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Yayi Bayam Diouf's son was a fisherman, until poor catches drove him to pursue a new life in Europe. But on the hazardous crossing from Senegal to the Canary Islands, his boat went down in a storm, and Yayi was left with no body to bury. To feel close to her son, and to honour his wishes as a fisherman, she decided to go fishing herself. First she had to fight her community's patriarchal rules, which forbade women from fishing. Photo: Yayi Bayam Diouf with a photo of her son Alioune Credit: Finbarr O'Reilly - Alamy Get in touch: [email protected]

Mortada Gzar experienced violence and persecution as a gay teenager under Saddam Hussein's regime. He tells Jo Fidgen how he tried to immerse himself in religion to overcome his feelings, later serving as an imam while studying at university in Baghdad. But during the US-led occupation of Iraq in 2003, he fell deeply in love with an American soldier who was stationed at a checkpoint outside his university. The two men spent years hiding their relationship, and dreamed of one day living openly together in the US. But things didn't go according to plan... Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Mortada Gzar Credit: Jonathan Reibsome

After striking doctors refused to treat his dying son, Agibou Bougobali Sanou was so angry that he was tempted to kill in revenge. Dancing helped to relieve this urge, so he decided to go into a dangerous prison to bring its healing power to criminals, whose lives he also changed. The world renowned dancer and choreographer tells Jo Fidgen his moving story. Get in touch: [email protected] Producers: Saskia Edwards and Edgar Maddicot. Picture: Aguibou Bougobali Sanou with prisoners in Burkina Faso Credit: Jacob Yisra'el / supplied by Aguibou Bougobali Sanou

Carol Benjamin's family was perfectly ordinary - until the military took over in Brazil in the 1960s. Her father Cesar, who was just a schoolboy at the time, became an underground revolutionary in the armed uprising against the dictatorship. And when he was captured, Carol’s quiet law-abiding grandmother joined the resistance movement to free him. Years later, Cesar refused to speak about his experiences and Carol grew up trying to fill in the gaps in her family's history, and attempting to understand her father and his silences. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Carol and Cesar Benjamin Credit: Courtesy of Carol Benjamin and Daza Films

Growing up in London, Julie Felix always dreamed of dancing on the city's most famous stages, but she says she ended up leaving the UK in the 1970s after a ballet company excluded her because of the colour of her skin. Instead, she became a star in the United States with the prestigious Dance Theatre of Harlem, the first classical ballet company to focus on black dancers. Under the tutelage of the great African-American dancer Arthur Mitchell, Julie travelled the world performing for the likes of the singer Prince, Pavarotti and President Ronald Reagan. A book has been written about Julie's life called Brickbats and Tutus. A shorter version of this story was first broadcast on 15th April 2021. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter & producer: Mariana Des Forges Picture: A montage of photographs from Julie Felix's life Credit: All photos courtesy of Julie Felix

In 1973 Mexican anthropologist Santiago Genovés decided to create an experiment to find out what drives people to commit acts of violence. He put a group of men and women from different parts of the world on a raft and cast them out to sea. But what happened was not what he expected. Emily Webb hears from three of the women who took part - Fé Seymour, Edna Reves and Maria Bjornstam. This story was originally broadcast in May 2019. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: The raft cast out to sea by Santiago Genovés Credit: Modern Films

Jan Six is a Dutch art dealer whose ancestor, also called Jan Six, was painted by the Dutch Master Rembrandt in the 17th century. So when, in 2016, Jan uncovered a lost painting by Rembrandt, the news shook the art world. But, at the time, Jan was hiding another astonishing find… he told Outlook’s Emily Webb his story. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Emily Webb Picture: Jan Six takes a selfie with Portrait of a Young Gentleman by Rembrandt van Rijn in The Hermitage Museum, Amsterdam, which Jan bought at a London auction in 2016 Credit: KOEN VAN WEEL/AFP via Getty Images

Meriel Schindler grew up in London in a family of émigrés. They were Jewish and had fled Austria in the late 1930s as Hitler's Nazi Party took over and the violent persecution of Jews turned into the Holocaust. When her father died in 2017, Meriel inherited 13 photo albums. One was dedicated to the Café Schindler in Innsbruck, Austria, a venue set up by her Jewish grandfather in the 1920s. As Meriel started to research the café, she discovered it had gone from being a hub of jazz music and delicious pastries, to a Nazi watering hole. But the research would also uncover some uncomfortable truths about her father that she struggled to make sense of. Meriel has written a book called The Lost Café Schindler. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Meriel Schindler and a photo of the Café Schindler in the 1930s Credit: Holly Falconer / courtesy of Meriel Schindler

Mikel Jollett started life in a California-based cult called Synanon. What began as a drug rehabilitation programme that helped his father kick a heroin addiction later turned into a cult where children were taken away from their parents at just six months old and married couples were forced to split up and take new partners. As the cult turned increasingly violent, Mikel’s mother managed to escape with him and his brother, but Mikel’s hardships didn’t end there. For years he never spoke about his childhood. It was only later - when he discovered a love for music and formed a successful band, The Airborne Toxic Event - that he began to open up and write about those early years. Mikel’s book is called Hollywood Park. Get in touch: [email protected] Presented by: Emily Webb Produced by: Patrick Kiteley and Andrea Rangecroft Picture: Mikel Jollett performs with The Airborne Toxic Event in 2015 Credit: Andrew Benge/Redferns via Getty Images

When a plane carrying 11-year-old Norman Ollestad, his father and his father’s girlfriend got caught in a snowstorm and crashed into the remote California mountains in 1979, Norman was the only survivor. In a harrowing tale of survival, Norman describes how, stranded on the edge of a cliff, he relied on the skills his father had taught him throughout his childhood to make it down the treacherous mountain to safety. 27 years later Norman decided to return to the crash site and while there, made an extraordinary discovery. Norman Ollestad’s memoir is called Crazy For the Storm. His latest work is a short story called Formentera about the fraying relationship of a married couple. The archive you heard comes courtesy of CBS. Presenter and producer: Mariana Des Forges Get in touch: [email protected]

When Kurdish folk singer Nawroz Oramari was a teenager growing up in Saddam Hussein's Iraq, he was told he'd be executed if he was caught singing - he and his father even had to sign a pledge saying that they accepted the death penalty if they did so. Nawroz tells Anu Anand about his remarkable life - joining the Kurdish resistance, ending up in prison and even taking on multiple identities - including that of an Emirati Oil Tycoon - in his quest to be able to sing freely in his native language. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Mariana Des Forges Picture: Nawroz Oramari in London Credit: Courtesy of Nawroz Oramari

Cass Collier grew up surfing with his dad in apartheid South Africa, where signs designated the beaches as "whites-only", "blacks-only", or "coloureds-only" areas. The rules were enforced, often brutally, not only by the police but also by white surfers who would tell the Collier family to "go to your own beach" if they tried to surf in areas reserved for white people. But Cass's dad Ahmed, a pioneering South African surfer and member of the ANC, never backed down, teaching Cass that he had a right to be on the sand and in the water at any beach he chose. Cass eventually became a world-class surfer and went on to win the International Surfing Association Big Wave championships in Mexico in 1999, alongside his friend and fellow Rastafarian Ian Armstrong. He tells Anu Anand about the joy of big waves, and remembers the heartbreak and sacrifices he and his family faced en route to the world title. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Cass Collier surfs at Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa in June 2002 Credit: Grant Ellis/Getty Images

In 1960, Claire Martin was abandoned in a Hong Kong stairwell at just two days old. Like many babies at the time she was taken to the UK for adoption, but growing up, she became more and more determined to find her biological relatives. After years of searching, she's finally found family in a very surprising place. Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Harry Graham Picture: Claire Martin Credit: Claire Martin Get in touch: [email protected]

In November 1977 two men kidnapped minor league footballer Claudio Tamburrini. He was taken to a detention centre run by the Argentine Air Force where he was tortured and imprisoned. The country had just experienced a military coup and under the new regime many people suspected of left-wing sympathies were abducted and killed. Claudio and one of his cellmates felt they had to escape detention or they too would be killed. Using just bed sheets, leather straps and a metal bolt, they managed to climb out of a window and scale the building. Meanwhile the 1978 FIFA World Cup was underway in Argentina. Claudio eventually emerged from hiding to celebrate the tournament, which he believes helped bring down the military junta. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: Claudio (top right) and his football team in the 1970s Credit: Supplied Claudio Tamburrini

American lawyer Justine Cowan grew up in a wealthy neighbourhood of San Francisco; her childhood was full of privilege, with music lessons and horse riding. It was a lifestyle that seemed fitting for Justine's mother Eileen. She was a highly accomplished English woman who'd always spoken about going to boarding school and studying at London's Royal Academy of Music. But after her death, Justine found out that her mother wasn't who she'd claimed to be. Justine's written a book about what happened called The Secret Life of Dorothy Soames. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona Woods Picture: A young Dorothy Soames in May 1941 Credit: Felix Man/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Lisa Ray was just a teenager when she fell in love with the glamour of 1990s Mumbai. She was dipping her toe into modelling when a serious car crash at home in Canada left her mother paralysed and her tight-knit family reeling. Lisa fled back to Mumbai where an image of her, famously in a red swimsuit, had made her an overnight sensation. Although she was fighting an eating disorder, Lisa immersed herself in the party scene. Meanwhile, Bollywood was calling. She struggled with the dancing, the costumes and the lines – but she loved acting and later starred in independent films, including the Oscar nominated film Water. In 2009, at 37, she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and faced gruelling treatment, but she was determined to walk the red carpet again. Lisa has written a book about her life called Close to the Bone. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Troy Holmes and Kevin Ponniah Picture: Lisa Ray Credit: Rohan Shrestha

In 1989, Canadian ice hockey goaltender Clint Malarchuk was playing for top National Hockey League team the Buffalo Sabres, when he suffered a horrific injury to his neck. Knowing his mother was watching the NHL match on live TV, he staggered off the ice. Luckily Clint survived and within ten days he was back playing for his team - everyone called him a hero. What many didn’t see was the impact the incident had on his mental health. In the following years, the repercussions of that day would take him to one of the darkest moments of his life. Clint’s now written a book called A Matter of Inches: How I Survived the Crease and Beyond. If you've been affected by anything you heard in Clint's interview, either go to bbc.co.uk/actionline, where you'll find details of organisations offering support, or contact Befrienders Worldwide. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Patrick Kiteley and Andrea Rangecroft TV commentary of Buffalo Sabres vs St Louis, 22 March 1989: courtesy of Buffalo Sabres. Picture: Goalie Clint Malarchuk of the Buffalo Sabres defends the net during an NHL game in November, 1990 Credit: B Bennett/Getty Images

Norwegian fisherman Joar Hesten was fishing for cod in the Arctic when he came across a white whale wearing a harness. He freed the mysterious beluga from the straps, and then saw the harness was labelled ‘Equipment St Petersburg’. Theories started swirling that this whale had escaped the Russian military, which has a history of training marine mammals. Now Joar is on a mission to relocate the whale, called Hvaldimir, to an area with other belugas in the hope that it can integrate into a pod and live in the wild. The quest has cost Joar emotionally and financially. And, as Joar had previously worked as a whaler for a short time, he says his relationship with Hvaldimir has made him question the practice. In 1986 the International Whaling Commission announced a ban on commercial whaling, but Norway continues to hunt up to 500 minke whales a year - citing cultural reasons. For now, Joar is looking for support so he can keep his promise to help save Hvaldimir. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: Joar with Hvaldimir Credit: Aleksander Nordahl, DN/D2

Beyoncé, mermaids and Satan? Outlook Weekend is in Nigeria looking at the mysteries and misconceptions surrounding the traditional Yoruba religion – and what it takes to be a modern devotee of this ancient faith. Reporter Laeila Adjovi travels to the city of Ibadan to meet one of youngest women to become a traditional Yoruba priestess. Her name is Omitonade and her world is defined by deities, divination and mobile phones. This episode was first released on 20th January 2019. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Laeila Adjovi Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Omitonade Ifawemimo Egbelade Credit: Laeila Adjovi

In 2015, Nathalie Warmerdam was murdered by her ex-partner. She was one of three victims that day; he also killed two other former partners, Anastasia Kuzyk and Carol Culleton. Basil Borutski was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison in 2017. Now as a way to deal with his grief, Nathalie's brother, opera singer Joshua Hopkins, has released a group of songs, known as a song cycle, in memory of his sister. With words by the writer Margaret Atwood and music by composer Jake Heggie, Joshua says he wants to use his voice to raise awareness about violence against women. To find out how to listen to the song cycle, you can visit: https://songsformurderedsisters.com Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Joshua Hopkins with his sister Nathalie Warmerdam Credit: Joshua Hopkins

Lee Lawrence was 11 years old when his mother, Cherry Groce, was shot during a police raid on their family home in Brixton, south London. The police had been looking for Lee’s brother, Michael, who didn’t live there at the time. The shooting sparked an uprising in Brixton – where tensions were already high between the many black residents and the overwhelmingly white police - and the event became known as the 1985 Brixton Riots. The police officer who shot Cherry said it was an accident and was acquitted of malicious shooting. For Lee and his family the impact of the incident was devastating - his mother was left paralysed from the waist down and Lee became her carer for the next 26 years. After Cherry died in 2011, he continued to fight for justice for her. Lee has founded an organisation in her memory called the Cherry Groce Foundation, which supports people with mobility issues. A memorial to his mum is about to be unveiled in Brixton. The book Lee has published about his family's experience is called The Louder I Will Sing. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Jo Impey and Andrea Rangecroft Picture: Lee Lawrence, founder of the Cherry Groce Foundation Credit: Smokin Monkey Photography

Following a chance encounter with a Moroccan fossil hunter, palaeontologist Dr Nizar Ibrahim embarked on a search for the skeleton of the elusive Spinosaurus dinosaur. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Harry Graham Picture: Paleontologist Nizar Ibrahim (left) in 2014. Credit: Photo by Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via Getty Images Get in touch: [email protected]

Paul Mendez is a British writer, Beyoncé superfan and once devout Jehovah's Witness. Growing up in the Midlands, where his Jamaican grandparents settled, Paul was all about preaching, paradise and playing Monopoly with elderly ladies. But at 17, he was cast out from his congregation. Alone and looking for new friends, life took an unexpected and dangerous turn – but help was to come in an unlikely form. A story of sin, sexual awakening, and the salvation of 90s RnB. (Radio listeners, if you are searching for the combined podcast version of Paul’s interview with Jo Fidgen - this is it!) Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Paul Mendez Credit: Christa Holka Get in touch: [email protected]

In the late 1990s, lawyer Jacqueline Moudeina took on one of the most important cases in African legal history – the trial of Chad's former dictator Hissène Habré. He's a man who had massacred and tortured his people, including members of Jacqueline’s own family. She was determined to get justice, even if it took decades and meant risking her life. This episode was first released on 3rd February 2019. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Image: Jacqueline Moudeina Credit: JONAS EKSTROMER/AFP/Getty Images Get in touch: [email protected]

Paul Haynes’ search for an elusive serial killer started when he was out of work and had to move back to his childhood home; this soon took over his life and became a full-time occupation. He then teamed up with the crime writer Michelle McNamara who came up with the name 'Golden State Killer.' He told his story to Emily Webb. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Emily Webb Picture: Paul Haynes Credit: Sabrina O’Callaghan

When Elizabeth Nyamayaro was eight years old a severe drought hit her small Zimbabwean village. She was saved from starvation by a local United Nations aid worker, who gave her a bowl of porridge after finding her collapsed on the ground. It was an experience that made Elizabeth determined that one day she too would work for the UN. It was a difficult road, but she eventually made it to one of the top jobs in the organisation. She campaigned for global gender equality, and launched one of the UN’s most successful social media campaigns ever, HeForShe. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Elizabeth Nyamayaro Credit: Behind the Cause

Shirley Collins grew up in a folk music-loving family in Sussex, England, during World War Two, and announced her intention to become a folk singer when she was still just a teenager. Her career would lead her to record music with her sister Dolly; to record folk songs in America with legendary song collector Alan Lomax, and to become a key figure in the 'folk revival' of the 1960s and 1970s. But the trauma of a painful break-up cost Shirley her singing voice - "sometimes I would open my mouth and nothing would come out", she remembers - and led to a heartbreaking decision: "I walked away from music for years. I felt I had no option." Shirley did all sorts of jobs to support her children, and avoided even listening to music sometimes - it made her too sad. Then one day, the musician David Tibet, a huge fan, got in touch and begged Shirley to try to sing again. Shirley tells Emily Webb the story of a voice lost and found again. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Shirley Collins circa 1963 Credit: Brian Shuel/Redferns via Getty

Badiucao is one of China's most famous dissident cartoonists. His art is political and provocative - from poking fun at powerful Chinese figures like President Xi Jinping, to capturing the final days of Nobel Laureate Liu Xiaobo. For years, Badiucao operated in secrecy: he moved into exile in Australia, and wore a mask at public events to conceal his identity. In 2018 he planned his first ever solo exhibition in Hong Kong, but how would the Chinese authorities take it? Do you have a fantastic story involving a secret or a lie? We'd love to hear about it. Record a short voice memo or write an e-mail and send it to us at [email protected]. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter and producer: Maryam Maruf Secrets & Lies series producer: Fiona Woods Music: Joel Cox

In episode nine of Outlook's Secrets and Lies series we bring you two extraordinary stories of family secrets unravelled. Growing up in California, Rachel Mason and her brother Josh didn't know exactly what was sold in their unassuming and straight-laced parents' bookstore. They had no idea the shop was actually one of the biggest distributors of adult material, specifically gay porn, in the US. The bookshop became a haven for the queer community as Karen and Barry supported gay employees throughout the HIV and Aids crisis in the 1980s, all the while hiding the business from family and friends. Rachel has made a documentary about their story called Circus of Books. Scottish actor Alan Cumming is the star of Hollywood films like X-Men and the hit TV series The Good Wife, but for him the real drama is in the family secrets that have shaped his life and career. And if all this sharing of secrets has got you thinking about a story in your own life we'd love to hear it. Write to us, or send a short voice memo to [email protected]. The secret could be about you or someone you know, or it could just be a fantastic tale you heard. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona Woods and Maryam Maruf Original story producers: Maryam Maruf and June Christie Music: Joel Cox

This episode of our Secrets and Lies series is all about imposters. From the Outlook archive, we have two stories of lies so audacious that, when exposed, they caused shockwaves globally. Fab Morvan became world famous with the 80s pop band Milli Vanilli. He and his bandmate Rob Pilatus notched up number one hits in Europe and America, and sold millions of albums. But they had a secret - and when that secret came out, it had a devastating effect. Rachel DeLoache Williams ended up in the midst of a high-profile court case in the United States. It all centred on Anna Sorokin - someone she had considered to be a close friend but who she says conned her out of tens of thousands of dollars. Anna had tricked New York city’s elite into thinking she was a wealthy German heiress, when in fact she was a fraudster with no trust fund at all. Anna was found guilty on a number of charges including grand larceny and served nearly four years in prison. Do you have a fantastic story involving a secret or a lie? We'd love to hear about it. Record a short voice memo or write an e-mail and send it to us at [email protected]. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona Woods Original story producers: Fiona Woods and Katy Davis Music: Joel Cox

In this episode we're reaching into the archive and retrieving stories of secrets and lies from the world of art. Over many years Shaun Greenhalgh created art forgeries in his garden shed in the English town of Bolton. He fooled the art world into thinking his paintings and sculptures were lost masterpieces by the likes of Leonardo da Vinci, Gauguin and Degas. The scale and breadth of his work is unprecedented. The personal story behind one of the most famous art frauds of recent times. Margaret Keane was the artist behind the popular 'Big Eyes' paintings of the 1960s, but her husband Walter Keane bullied her into letting him take the credit for them. He made millions of dollars from them, until Margaret took him to court to prove they were her own. Margaret's story was turned into a feature film by Hollywood director, Tim Burton. And if all this sharing of secrets has got you thinking about a story in your own life we'd love to hear it. Write to us, or send a short voice memo to [email protected]. The secret could be about you or someone you know, or it could just be a fantastic tale you heard. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Fiona Woods Original story producers: Fiona Woods and Tim Allen Music: Joel Cox

In this episode of our Secrets and Lies series we've delved into the archive to bring you incredible stories of secrets hidden in music. Advertising executive Juan Carlos Ortiz grew up in Colombia, a country which has suffered decades of armed conflict and has long been among the major producers of illegal drugs. Juan Carlos ran an award-winning campaign against the addictive qualities of cocaine, and made powerful enemies of FARC guerillas who relied on the drugs trade. A few years later, Juan Carlos was asked to get a secret message to hostages being held by FARC rebels in the middle of a jungle. And he chose music as his disguise. Ata Kak's musical career would never have got off the ground had it not been for the help of a little white lie. But when the Ghanaian musician released his first record in 1994, things stalled again - he sold only a handful of copies. The story would have ended there had it not been for an American student who made a chance discovery at a market stall in Ghana several years later. Salim Gauwloos became famous dancing with Madonna on her iconic Blond Ambition tour. Madonna used the tour to promote freedom of sexuality and sexual health. All of this made a young Salim feel extremely uncomfortable. The reason he was so anxious was that he was harbouring a secret. Do you have a story about how a secret or lie changed a life? It could be something that happened to you or someone close to you, or it could just be an amazing story you heard. If so, we'd love to hear about it. Record a short voice memo or write an e-mail and send it to us at [email protected]. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Fiona Woods Original story producers: Thomas Harding-Assinder, Alice Bloch and Saskia Edwards Music: Joel Cox

For many years, Uzbekistan was a particularly dangerous place to be a journalist. Speaking out against the government of former president Islam Karimov could lead to torture and a lengthy spell in prison. So it was a surprise for many when in 2004 secret messages started appearing online, containing what seemed like detailed and scandalous information about the president's household. For years, the identity of the writer was kept a secret, and the messages kept coming. Then one day, an inconspicuous football writer called Bobomurod Abdulla was snatched off the streets by the security forces, and the secret was finally out. Do you have a fantastic story involving a secret or a lie? We'd love to hear about it. Record a short voice memo or write an e-mail and send it to us at [email protected]. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter: Ibrat Safo Producers: Ibrat Safo & Harry Graham Secrets & Lies series producer: Fiona Woods Music: Joel Cox

It's Secrets and Lies season on Outlook and we're revisiting some of the most fascinating stories from our archive on the theme. In this episode we hear about secrets borne out of shame. When Gail Lukasik was growing up in the US, she'd always wondered about her mother's quirky habits. For instance, she always wore a light foundation before she went to bed. Years later Gail would discover that this had been one of her mother's attempts to hide the fact that she was actually multiracial and had 'passed' as white her whole life. Gail wrote a book about her story, White Like Her: My Family's Story of Race and Racial Passing. She spoke to Emily Webb in 2019. Stanley Underhill is a British priest who—at 91—came out as gay. He spent his whole life facing prejudice because of his sexuality but says that for the first time in his life, he's comfortable in himself. He’s written a book about his life called Coming out of the Black Country. He spoke to Emily Webb in 2019. Do you have a fantastic story involving a secret or a lie? We'd love to hear about it. Record a short voice memo or write an e-mail and send it to us at [email protected]. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona Woods Orginal story producers: Alice Gioia and Emily Webb Music: Joel Cox

In this episode of Outlook's Secrets and Lies series we're revisiting two astonishing stories from our archive about life undercover. As a young woman Ieva Lesinska was faced with an agonising choice. To renounce her father as a traitor, or defect to the US and leave behind everything she knew in Latvia. Ieva says it was like she was living in a spy movie, and a film has now been made about her life, it's called: 'My Father, the Spy.' Anas Aremeyaw Anas is a trained lawyer-turned-investigative reporter in Ghana, and a frequent presenter of the BBC's Africa Eye. In his nearly 20 years working undercover, he's exposed judges taking bribes for a not-guilty verdict; top football officials for fixing matches; sex-trafficking rings; organ-harvesting operations. To do so, he had to disguise himself as a psychiatric patient, as a janitor in a brothel and even as a rock in a barren landscape. His work has led to numerous convictions, but his methods are sometimes dangerous and controversial. Do you have a fantastic story involving a secret or a lie? We'd love to hear about it. Record a short voice memo or write an e-mail and send it to us at [email protected]. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona Woods Original story producers: Nathan Gower, Deiniol Buxton, Andrea Kennedy and Harry Graham Music: Joel Cox

We're delving into the Outlook archive to bring you stories about parents who kept shocking secrets from their children. In April 1997 a woman dressed as a nurse walked into a Cape Town hospital and left with a new born baby. The baby's name was Zephany Nurse - that child would not discover her true identity for another 17 years. This story was presented by Mpho Lakaje. Miche Zephany's book about her experience is called Zephany, Two Mothers One Daughter. As a film-obsessed gay teenager, Wes Hurley was thrilled to move to the US from Russia. But his mother’s new husband was moody and homophobic. He told Outlook's Saskia Edwards how they ended up bonding, after a surprise revelation. Wes made a film about his life, co-directed by Nathan Miller, called Little Potato. And if all this sharing of secrets has got you thinking about a story in your own life, we'd love to hear it. Write to us, or send a short voice memo to [email protected]. The secret could be about you or someone you know, or it could just be a fantastic tale you heard. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Fiona Woods Original story producers: Thomas Harding-Assinder and Saskia Edwards Music: Joel Cox

It's secrets and lies season here on Outlook and we have two stories about the way lies and fake news online can wreak havoc in our offline lives. Monika Glennon is a Polish-born estate agent living in the US. One morning she got a frantic call from a colleague: an explicit post had been written about Monika, claiming she had an affair with a client and that she was a ‘homewrecker’. The story was fabricated, but as it became the first hit when you googled her name, Monika began to lose business, fell into a depression, and even feared for her safety. Who was behind the post? She tells Jo Fidgen her terrifying story. Rema Rajeshwari is an Indian police officer. In 2018, rumours of child kidnappers and violent murders spread throughout her district via messaging apps. Locals were scared and started forming mobs and attacking strangers. Rema had an unorthodox solution: traditional storytelling, inspired by her grandmother. She told Outlook’s Emily Webb how she used storytelling to combat fake news. Do you have a story about how a secret or lie changed a life? It could be something that happened to you or someone close to you, or it could just be an amazing story you heard. If so, we'd love to hear about it. Record a short voice memo or write an e-mail and send it to us at [email protected]. If your story is about someone you know, just make sure they're ok with you telling us about it. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Fiona Woods Original story producers: Saskia Edwards and Harry Graham Music: Joel Cox

Isabel and Susana González hunt percebes, also known as gooseneck barnacles. They're rather ugly crustaceans that can fetch thousands of dollars per kilogram at auction. To collect them, the González sisters must traverse slippery rocks along the Spanish coastline where they risk falling and drowning. Many hunters have lost their lives doing this job. But this isn't the only danger the sisters have faced in their line of work. When they began there was a lot of discrimination against women, including the fact that they could only catch three kilograms per day, while men had a quota of five. This system was regulated by an association. The sisters figured the only way to achieve equality was to become part of the management of the association. But when Susana ran for the presidency, she faced death threats. Still, they managed to revolutionise their whole industry. This episode was first broadcast on 1st of September 2019. Reporter: Pablo Esparza Altuna Producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: Isabel González collecting barnacles Credit: Pablo Esparza Altuna

Chris Downey was always an intensely visual person - he was an architect working in California, a baseball coach and an avid cyclist. But at the age of 45 he went blind very suddenly after doctors discovered a tumour on his optic nerve. Chris used his creative skills to navigate the now unfamiliar world around him and as he adapted to his new normal he began to gain a new vision for designing spaces to suit a broader range of experiences. His firm is called Architects for the Blind. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Jo Impey Picture: Chris Downey's hands reading an embossed architectural drawing Credit: Fogg Studio

Yoshiki is one of Japan's biggest stars. Although he started as a classical pianist, he went on to become an extraordinary drummer who transformed the music scene in Japan with his wild performances and over-the-top outfits. It all began in the 1980s when he founded the band X Japan and spawned a whole new style. They have fans all over the world, have sold more than 30 million records and have won many awards. This month Yoshiki received Japan's prestigious Medal of Honor for his support of frontline medical workers during the Covid 19 pandemic. This interview was first broadcast on 1st March 2017. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding-Assinder Picture: Yoshiki from X Japan on stage during Coachella Music and Arts Festival in 2018 Credit: Rich Fury/Getty Images for Coachella

Long stretches at sea are part of life for a merchant seaman so when Indian marine engineer Vikash Mishra accepted a job on a cargo ship in the Gulf, he expected a lengthy period away from his young family. But a few months became years after Vikash's employer ran out of money. They abandoned the broken-down ship, called the Tamim Aldar, 20 miles off the coast of Dubai. Vikash and his crewmates were trapped on the leaky vessel without much in the way of food, fuel or electricity, so they had to learn to survive. When all hope seemed lost, they would make a perilous attempt to reach land. Vikash Mishra and Reverend Andy Bowerman of the Mission to Seafarers speak to Outlook's Kevin Ponniah. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Vikash Mishra Credit: Vikash Mishra

For Sue-Ellen Kusher, nee Doherty, growing up in the suburbs of Brisbane was far from normal. Both her parents worked for the Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation, ASIO, and in the early days of their marriage, they brought up their three children to be part of the family business. It was the 1950s during the Cold War, and Russian and Chinese communists were regarded as enemies. Sue-Ellen and her siblings would collect information about anyone suspicious - tracking number plates and going to political rallies. And most importantly of all, they learnt to keep secrets and never ask questions. Then when she was 17 her father Dudley, who she idolised, died very suddenly. At least, that's what she was told. He was a man who'd often disappeared on missions - and she was to spend many years waiting for him to return and wondering whether her mother was keeping from her the biggest secret of all. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: The Doherty family during the 1956 Olympics with Russian defectors Vladimir and Evdokia Petrov (L-R Vladimir Petrov, Joan Doherty, Mark Doherty, Evdokia Petrov, Sue-Ellen Doherty and an unidentified ASIO Officer) Credit: Sue-Ellen Kusher

Ten years ago, Hatem was a student watching both season one of Game of Thrones and the Syrian revolution unfurl. But when the peaceful protest movement turned into devastating civil war, he wanted to help. Fresh out of medical school and still in his 20s, Hatem became one of the most important doctors in Aleppo. Working in unimaginably terrifying and desperate conditions, he ran the only children's hospital during the siege of 2016. To deal with the daily intensity and horrors of war, he found solace and escapism in his favourite fantasy TV shows. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: A screen showing Game of Thrones Credit: VASILY MAXIMOV/AFP via Getty Images

For her 11th birthday in March 1942, a little girl called Eva Cohn asked her mother Sylvia to send her some of her own poems. At the time, Eva and her sister Myriam were in a Jewish children's home in France, and Sylvia was imprisoned in an internment camp. Separated from her children by the Holocaust, and not knowing when or if she would see them again, Sylvia wrote this inscription in a small shabby exercise book: "to my children... know that your mother loves you." The book contained her own poems, written from memory, some of them detailing the family's experiences in the Holocaust. At the end of the war, Eva finally made it to England to be reunited with her father, her only posessions the clothes on her back, and the book of poems Sylvia had given her. Now nearly ninety, she's had them translated at last. The story of one family in the Holocaust. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Eva with her sisters Myriam and Esther and their mother Sylvia; Eva Cohn; Sylvia's book of poems Credit: Eva Mendelsson

Mary Turner Thomson’s life took a chilling turn after meeting the “perfect” man online. She had a call from her husband's "other wife" and discovered how life could be stranger than fiction. She tells Emily Webb how she uncovered the incredible truth about Will Jordan's deceit. Mary became determined not to let others get caught in the "predator's trap" by writing about her experience in her latest book The Psychopath: A True Story. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Mary Turner Thomson and Will Jordan Credit: Mary Turner Thomson

The celebrated chef, nicknamed ‘Fast Eddie’, began picking fruit as an undocumented child in the US. He was deported having served time in prison for selling drugs - after turning himself in. Eduardo Garcia tells Saskia Edwards how he went on to become one of the most successful Mexican restauranteurs. A shorter version of this interview was first broadcast on 25th February 2021. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter and producer: Saskia Edwards Picture and credit: Eduardo Garcia

Sonia Mann's life has been guided by the letter her father wrote her on her birth. In September 1990, when she was just 16 days old, her father was killed in the Indian city of Amritsar, when he was on his way to meet her for the first time. Baldev Singh Mann was a left-wing activist and revolutionary, and in his letter he urged Sonia to continue his work. Sonia grew up to become an actress, but she tells Jo Fidgen that she carried his letter with her everywhere. In 2020, when thousands of India's farmers began protesting against the introduction of new agricultural laws, Sonia saw a chance to follow in her father's footsteps. She joined the protests on the edge of the city of Delhi and has turned her back on the world of movie-making to support them. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Sonia Mann taking a selfie at the farmer's protests in Delhi Credit: Sakib Ali/Hindustan Times via Getty Images

Ashley Jones and her husband lost their daughter Skylar at just 21 months old to spinal muscular atrophy. Ashley poured her grief into the photos she had of her daughter. She had always been a keen photographer, and so she decided to use her skills help other grieving families. She’s started a non-profit called Love Not Lost which provides free photo sessions to families facing a terminal illness diagnosis. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Troy Holmes Picture: Ashley Jones and her daughter Skylar Credit: Tessa Marie Get in touch: [email protected]

When Mala Bhargava was growing up, she found it hard to accept her appearance. Born with albinism, she had white hair and pale eyes and impaired vision. Her Indian mother was ashamed; she felt Mala's condition was a punishment. Mala hated being pointed at on the street and felt angry towards those who teased her. But the 1990s technology boom in India was to open up a whole new world for her. She began to write a successful column for a magazine and next to it was her picture. The face she had struggled to accept became recognisable across the country. She found fame, popularity and a new acceptance of how she looked. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Mala Bhargava Credit: Mala Bhargava

From the time he started playing rugby at the age of four, Alix Popham and everyone around him knew he was destined for big things. He didn't disappoint, representing his country, Wales, more than thirty times during a long and successful career at the top of the game. When injury forced him into retirement in 2011, he became an entrepreneur and fell in love with an old schoolfriend, Mel, with whom he had a baby girl. But their bright future dimmed when Alix found out last year - at the age of 40 - that he has early-onset dementia, a condition his doctors blame on brain trauma suffered throughout his career. He now struggles to remember many of his finest moments on the pitch. The devastating diagnosis has rocked his family - and the sport they love. Alix and Mel spoke to Jo Fidgen. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Alix Popham and Mel Bramwell-Popham Credit: Alix Popham

In 1990, Manuel Barriuso was a professor of Russian literature in Havana when one morning he was ordered to the city's paediatric hospital. Unknown to him, a plane-load of seriously ill children – all victims of the devastating Chernobyl nuclear disaster – had arrived in Cuba for free treatment in a historic humanitarian program. And Manuel – who had no medical background – would be one of their translators. He had to abandon Tolstoy and Chekov and learn about oncology to translate life and death conversations between medics, sick children and their distressed parents. Manuel's sons Sebastián and Rodrigo have turned their father's story into the award-winning feature film, Un Traductor. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Translations by Jose Lopez and Melissa Riggall, and voiceover by Martin Esposito. Picture: Manuel Barriuso with his sons Sebastián and Rodrigo Barriuso, 1992. Credit: Courtesy of Rodrigo & Sebastián Barriuso Get in touch: [email protected]

Nissim Black grew up in the American city of Seattle, where he made his name rapping about drug dealing and drive-by shootings. These were all subjects that were familiar to him, and his music was doing well, but nevertheless Nissim became increasingly unhappy with the gangster image he portrayed. He started as a Christian looking for answers in the Bible, but a growing interest in the Old Testament led on to a conversion to Orthodox Judaism, and ultimately a move to Jerusalem. Nissim still raps, but now he does it in a Shtreimel hat. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham Picture: Nissim Black Credit: Tziporah Litman

Sue Brierley adopted her son, Saroo, after he had been found wandering the streets of Kolkata as a five year old. He had got on a train that took him across India and away from his birth family, and couldn’t find his way back. Sue always believed that Saroo’s birth mother was alive, and would send comforting thoughts to her every night, sharing the boy's progress as he grew up in Tasmania. 25 years later Saroo used satellite maps online to retrace his steps to his first family’s home in India, and Sue finally met the birth mother she had thought about for so long. Saroo’s story was made into the Oscar-nominated film Lion, in which Sue’s character is played by Nicole Kidman. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Sue Brierley with Saroo, shortly after his adoption Credit: Photo courtesy of Sue Brierley

In 1961, American couple Allan and Sandra Jaffe were on their honeymoon when they stumbled upon some of their favourite jazz musicians playing at a small art gallery in New Orleans. Within days the young couple had been offered the chance to run the place. Over the next 30 years they helped turn it into one of the city’s jazz institutions, Preservation Hall. Their son Ben Jaffe tells Outlook’s Emily Webb about following in the footsteps of his tuba-playing father - both in running the venue and as bandleader of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Andrea Rangecroft Picture: Ben Jaffe, Creative Director of Preservation Hall Credit: Josh Goleman

A crazy idea thrown around a neighbourhood pub soon became the adventure of a lifetime. In 1967 New-York-City-native Chickie Donahue crossed oceans and hitched rides across a warzone to hand-deliver beers to his friends fighting in Vietnam. Not a soldier, Chickie relied on his charm and wit to get him to where he needed to go. But what began as a short morale-boosting mission soon became much more trecherous as Chickie found himself caught up in the deadly Lunar New Year attacks on what was then Saigon. Presenter and producer: Mariana Des Forges Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Chickie Donahue in Vietnam Credit: Courtesy of Chickie Donahue

Yara Shalaby is Egypt's first female rally driver. She's mastered the sport in some of the country's toughest desert terrain, while also putting up with a lot of detractors - people telling her that women can't drive. In spite of that, she's risen up in the sport and has beaten many of her male competitors in the process. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Catrin Manel Picture and credit: Yara Shalaby

Vidou H was a music producer and DJ with an enviable life in Cameroon, but everything changed when he and his brothers were falsely accused of murder. He was sent to a tough overcrowded prison to await trial, a process that took two years. For much of that time he had no access to music, until a recording studio was set up inside, the idea of an Italian artist called Dione Roach. Dione hoped music could help with rehabilitation and Vidou H was quickly put in charge of the production side. He started making an album with the talent he found in prison. The result is the soon to be released Jail Time Records Vol.1. Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Music producer Vidou H Credit: Dione Roach

In 1975, when Maria Diemar was two months old, she was flown more than 8000 miles from Chile to Sweden to meet her adoptive parents. They couldn't have children of their own, and thought they could offer a home to a child from a poorer country. Two years later, they brought over another baby from Chile, just a few weeks old, and called him Daniel. The adoption agency didn't have much information about the children's biological parents, but were clear that - to their knowledge - their birth mothers had given them up willingly. Growing up, it wasn't easy for Maria or Daniel to live with the knowledge that they'd been given away. Both experienced discrimination in Sweden as a result of their skin colour. Daniel struggled with depression. Desperate to know more about where they came from, Maria set out to find the truth about their backgrounds, only to discover that they were part of a national scandal in Chile. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Maria Diemar and Daniel Olsson Credit: Maria Diemar

The list of underwater predators that Amos Nachoum has photographed is long - it includes the Nile crocodile, the great white shark, orcas, anacondas and many other creatures that most of us would hope never to encounter. But for Amos that list was incomplete, his dream, his white whale, was to swim with a polar bear and photograph it. His first attempt went badly wrong, but it did not deter him and in 2015 he made his second attempt. He shares his account of that adventure with Outlook's Saskia Edwards. The documentary about Amos’ expedition to swim with the polar bear is Picture of His Life by Dani Menkin and Yonatan Nir. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Fiona Woods Picture: Swimming polar bears Credit: Amos Nachoum

Last week the singer Mary Wilson died at the age of 76. She was born to a poor family in Mississippi, the daughter of an itinerant worker and a mother who couldn't read or write, but she grew up to be a legend of Motown, co-founder of one of the most successful groups of all time: The Supremes. In an interview from the Outlook archives, Mary describes her childhood, why she hated some of their early hits and what really happened with Diana Ross. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: The Supremes, circa 1960 (L-R) Florence Ballard, Mary Wilson and Diana Ross Credit: Getty Images

Infiltrating mobs, taking down contract killers and busting drug rings; this was the job of Special Agent Mike McGowan during his 30 year career in the FBI. He was already the expert in undercover operations at the bureau when he was handed the "superbowl" of cases - to bring down the Mexican drug lord El Chapo. In a sting that lasted four years, Mike and his team of agents convinced the notorious Sinaloa cartel that they too were an established crime organisation. He tells Outlook's Saskia Edwards about using dog psychology and a purple velour bathrobe to fool some of the world's most dangerous criminals. His book is called Ghost: My Thirty Years as an FBI Undercover Agent Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producers: Saskia Edwards and Mariana Des Forges Picture: SA Mike McGowan on the job Credit: Courtesy of Mike McGowan

Ronald Kabuye grew up in the Katwe slums of Kampala, Uganda, scavenging for food and trying to sell scrap metal for cash. One day in the street he saw a performance by the M-Lisada marching band, a group made up of children from a local orphanage. Ronald was enthralled. He joined the band, took up the trombone, and learned to read music. Performing gave him an escape and ultimately the opportunity to travel the world and play with some of the world's most influential musicians. Ronald is now a music teacher for the charity Brass for Africa. One of his pupils is Sumayya Nabakooza, who has overcome tough opposition to become one of very few female tuba players in Africa. They both share their story with Outlook's Anu Anand. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Ronald Kabuye Credit: Brass For Africa

Frank Shankwitz was the co-founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organisation that since 1980 has granted hundreds of thousands of wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Frank’s inspiration came from his own difficult childhood, a near-death experience and an encounter with a 7-year-old boy named Chris Greicius. Frank passed away recently; he spoke to Outlook's Andrea Kennedy about his extraordinary life in October 2019. Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Tom Harding Assinder Picture: Frank Shankwitz and Chris Greicius Credit: Frank Shankwitz Get in touch: [email protected]

As the craze for sea shanties (started by Scottish postman Nathan Evans) continues to grow on social media worldwide, Outlook returns to Port Isaac, a tiny English village, where in 2019 Emily Webb met the sea shanty band The Fisherman’s Friends. The group got together 25 years ago and started singing sea shanties, which are a type of maritime song. After a chance encounter with a BBC radio DJ, Johnnie Walker, they ended up landing a £1 million record contract. Much to the group’s surprise, their album rose up the charts and they went on to play the Royal Albert Hall and Glastonbury Festival. Things were going well until 2013, when an accident backstage at one of their gigs killed singer Trevor Grills and the band’s tour manager Paul McMullen. The band didn’t perform for a year and in fact had no intention of singing again. However, they returned to the stage and have had a feature film made about them, Fisherman’s Friends. Presenter: Emily Webb Image Credit: Chris Hewitt

Freddie Figgers was abandoned as a baby by some rubbish bins. An elderly couple took him in and taught him right from wrong. He taught himself how to build a computer. When his beloved adoptive father got severe dementia, Freddie invented a special shoe with a GPS and two-way comms inside so he could always find him again. This was the beginning of his journey to becoming the youngest person in the US and the only African American to get a licence as a telecoms operator. Now worth millions of dollars, he has helped thousands of others through his Foundation and healthcare platform. Image: Courtesy of Freddie Figgers Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Sophie Eastaugh

Mimi Anderson started running at the age of 36. She wanted more shapely legs and so hit the gym. Mimi had a history of eating disorders, but her newfound love of running forced a change in her relationship with food and her body image. She went on to become a record-breaking endurance athlete completing feats such as the Marathon des Sables and becoming the fastest woman to run the length of Great Britain. The training and competitions did lead to those thinner legs. But when she got them, she realised she didn't want or need them anymore. Her latest book is called Limitless. Picture credit Mikkel Beisner

Robyn Crawford and Whitney Houston met as teenagers on a summer's day in 1980 and become inseparable for two decades. Robyn was Whitney Houston's personal assistant, for a while her lover, and always her closest friend. They toured the world together as Whitney became an international superstar. But Robyn also remembers witnessing Whitney's struggle with a drug addiction that would ultimately end her life. After years of silence Robyn finally opened up about their relationship in 2019 with her memoir A Song for You. Archive from this programme is courtesy of CBS, ABC, Sky and OWN. Get in touch: [email protected] Presented by Emily Webb Produced by Mariana Des Forges Picture: (L-R) Whitney Houston and Robyn Crawford in the 1980s Credit: Robyn Crawford

When Chinese-American film director Hao Wu was approached to make a film about the 76 days of lockdown in Wuhan, he was eager to do it. Based in New York and unable to get back into China as the coronavirus outbreak continued to spread, Hao worked with two co-directors on the ground in Wuhan who got unprecedented access to four hospitals across the city. The resulting film 76 Days tells the moving stories of patients struggling to survive and the kindness of the frontline medical staff trying to save them. The film, co-directed by Weixi Chen and a third anonymous filmmaker, is out now. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie Picture: Nurse at a hospital in Wuhan holding a grandmother's hand Credit: DogWoof

Four extraordinary stories that explore the thrills and chills of live music performances. PJ Powers, the South African singer who became the first white pop star to perform live to a black audience in Soweto during the height of apartheid. (This interview was first broadcast in 2016) Marjorie Eliot, the Harlem jazz pianist who for almost 30 years has been holding free concerts in her living room every Sunday – she does so to honour the memory of her son who died on a Sunday. (This interview was first broadcast in 2015) Luca Parmitano, the Italian astronaut who became the first DJ in orbit, after playing a live set from the International Space Station to a cruise ship of clubbers in Ibiza. The rapso band 3Canal on the origins of J'Ouvert Morning, the pre-dawn dance through the streets of Port of Spain that opens one of the biggest festivals in the Caribbean – the legendary Trinidad Carnival. (This interview was first broadcast in 2016) Presented by Emily Webb Get in touch: [email protected] Picture: Luca Parmitano Credit: World Club Dome/ESA

Food has always been crucial in Sash Simpson’s life. Growing up alone on the streets of Chennai in India, it was the lack of food that he remembers. But after a chance encounter at a bus station his life was set on a different path which brought him a new family of over 30 adoptive siblings and the opportunity to prove himself in some of the finest kitchens in Toronto. He now has his own restaurant called Sash. Get in touch: [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producers: Troy Holmes and Harry Graham Picture: Sash Simpson with his adoptive mother in India Credit: Courtesy of Sash Simpson

Colin Foord and Jared McKay are childhood best friends with a passion for aquatic life. As a kid Colin developed a strong love of sea life and would construct his own aquariums. Later, when Jay was suffering from depression, Colin would send him the equipment needed to build his own reef aquarium in his living room. Eventually they installed the Coral City Camera, a webcam streaming live from an urban coral reef in Miami which since lockdown has attracted thousands of dedicated daily viewers like Hollie Withers, searching for connection and a community. Presenter: Clayton Conn. Producers: Clayton Conn, Maryam Maruf and Mariana Des Forges Picture: marine life in coral city Credit: Coral City Camera

Homeira Qaderi lived for reading and writing. In the mid-1990s, when she was 13 years old, the Taliban banned girls from going to school in Afghanistan, so she set up a secret classroom in her kitchen. She also taught young refugee children in a tent, risking death if she was caught, and sought out a teacher who could secretly instruct her in the art of writing stories. She later went to university in Iran and became a successful writer, academic and women's rights advocate. Homeira has written a memoir as a ‘mother’s letter to her son’, in which she tries to explain to him what growing up as a girl in Afghanistan was like, and the sacrifices she made along the way. She tells Jo Fidgen just how much she has had to battle to pursue her dream. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Homeira Qaderi Credit: Tim Schoon

Warning: This programme contains descriptions of mental and sexual abuse which you may find distressing. In the 1970s child sexual abuse was rarely talked about and for some people, barely understood. So when a trusted member of the community called Bob Berchtold inveigled himself into the Broberg family's lives, becoming like a second father to their three girls, nothing seemed out of place. Berchtold went on to kidnap 12-year-old Jan Broberg, twice, brainwashing her with an elaborate conspiracy that aliens were in charge and the world would end unless she had a baby with him. Decades on, Jan and her mother Mary Ann talk frankly to Jo Fidgen about how the abuser fooled the whole family - and how they eventually rebuilt their lives. This interview contains themes of child sexual abuse which may be difficult and triggering to hear. Details of organisations offering information and support for victims of child sexual abuse are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Picture: Jan Broberg as a child with her abuser Bob Berchtold Credit: Courtesy Jan Broberg

T La Rock grew up in New York's Bronx and is seen by many as a pioneer of the Hip Hop music genre. He became the first artist to be recorded by Def Jam records and performed around the world, but that all came to a halt when he was attacked and left with 70% memory loss. Struggling to recover, he ended up in a Jewish nursing home where he found an unlikely group of supporters who helped him to perform again. Jo Fidgen spoke to him in 2018. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki Image: 'T La Rock' Credit: Stijn Coppens

Jason Rezaian was the Washington Post's bureau chief in Tehran. But a tongue-in-cheek campaign to bring avocados to the country caught the attention of the authorities and landed him in Iran's most notorious prison. Jason wrote a book about his experience called Prisoner: My 544 Days in an Iranian Prison. This episode was first released on 4th April 2019. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Image: Jason Rezaian Credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post/Getty Images

When the Islamic State group seized control of Mosul in 2014, the local historian Omar Mohammed made a promise to himself and his city: document everything, trust no one. He created the anonymous blog Mosul Eye and risked his life to secretly report the daily atrocities committed by the militants. He lived next door to a senior IS commander and sometimes even went incognito as a baker, grocer or taxi driver just to get more information. It was work that could get him killed and no one knew he was Mosul Eye – not even his mother. But soon, the double life that Omar was leading began taking its toll. Would his cover get blown? Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf and Andrea Kennedy Picture: Omar Mohammed Credit: International Festival of Journalism Any comments please email us on [email protected]

When skipper Kevin Escoffier’s boat broke in half during a storm during the famous Vendée Globe sailing race, he found himself drifting in a life raft, alone at sea. He sent out one text message before his phone died, it said: I am sinking. This is not a joke. MAYDAY. His competitor Jean Le Cam received his distress signal and changed course find him. But when he arrived it was getting dark and there was no sign of Kevin... Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Kevin Escoffier's rescue Credit: Marine Nationale / Défense

Shirazee is a Beninese musician who's had to hustle hard for success. Born Paolo Prudencio, he experienced a violent robbery, a freak casino win, and a stint of homelessness, before establishing himself as a musician in New York. Now he's got a music deal, and he's even collaborating with the British musician Sting. Shirazee spoke to Outlook's Emily Webb. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham and Deiniol Buxton Photo: Shirazee Credit: Emmanuel Agbeble

Nick and Diane Marson's flight was diverted after the 9/11 attacks. In the wake of one of the darkest periods in modern history, they met each other and found love on a remote island. Their story inspired the musical Come From Away. This interview was first broadcast in 2019. Karl-Heinz Martens is a retired German postman who had a very unusual beat - he delivered thousands of letters to a 600-year-old tree known as Bridegroom's Oak. They were love letters, written by people in the hope that a potential partner might read them and reply. This interview was first broadcast in 2018. Meg and Elena were living oceans apart in Canada and Russia when they met in an online chatroom. Elena's family in Russia couldn't accept that she was in love with a woman so the couple came up with a daring escape plan. They decided to sail tens of thousands of kilometres across the open seas even though they didn't have the skills or experience for such a challenge. This interview was first broadcast in 2018. How love blossomed in a recording studio between two Italian dub artists who provide the voices for George Clooney and Michelle Pfeiffer. Francesco Pannofino and Emanuela Rossi reveal the secrets of their success in front of and behind the microphone. This interview was first broadcast in 2019. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producers: Saskia Edwards, Harry Graham, Katy Davis, Maryam Maruf Picture: A wedding party underneath the Bridegroom's Oak, circa 1900 Credit: Archiv TI Eutin

Opetaia Foa'i grew up in Samoa surrounded by the island's rhythms, sounds and songs. But surviving wasn't easy and his family moved to the city of Auckland in New Zealand. As he grew up in this new environment he began to look into his roots and started to make music about his voyager ancestors. It caught the eye of producers at Walt Disney Animation Studios who wanted him to co-write the music for their upcoming movie Moana, about a Pacific Island teenager trying to save her community. Opetaia Foa'i made sure the smash hit movie stayed true to Pacific culture - writing the soundtrack's lyrics in Samoan and Tokelauan and turning to his daughter Olivia Foa'i to sing. Although we couldn't include the music from the movie in this podcast, if you'd like to hear this interview in its full musical glory, you can listen to the original episode on BBC Sounds, just search for Moana: the Polynesian family behind the smash hit songs. Olivia has a new solo album out called Candid. Presenter: Emily Webb Producers: June Christie & Mariana Des Forges Picture: Opetaia and Olivia Foa'i at the Disney premiere of Moana Credit: Supplied by Julie Foa'i

As a child Patricia Pérez would accompany her grandmother on incredible adventures in Chile's Atacama Desert. There they would search for unique herbs and plants by day and sleep in caves at night. Her grandmother would sell the herbs they found in markets and Patricia is now taking that tradition one step further. She started a company called La Atacameña and the herbs she forages are being used by five star hotels, a chocolate company and a restaurant that has been named one of the best in the world. With music from Inti-Illimani. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Picture: Patricia Pérez foraging Credit: Isidora Pérez

Kathrine Switzer is a US runner whose dream - back in 1967 - was to be allowed to run a marathon. Back then there was a belief that women were physically incapable of doing such long distances, and it could even be dangerous for their health. Kathrine was 20 when she signed up for the world famous Boston Marathon using only her initials, but when she was spotted by race official Jock Semple he attacked her, outraged that a woman was running in the men-only event. Photos of that moment went across the world, and changed Kathrine’s life and the future of the sport. She went on to campaign for women’s official inclusion in the Boston Marathon in 1972, helped create the first women’s road race, and was instrumental in making the women’s marathon an official Olympic event in 1984. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Rebecca Vincent Picture: Kathrine Switzer is accosted by race official Jock Semple at the 1967 Boston Marathon Credit: Bettmann via Getty Images

Former US poet laureate Natasha Trethewey began writing to express her feelings about her violent stepfather. She told Oulook's Jo Fidgen how it became her comfort and career, after her worst fears came true. Her memoir is called Memorial Drive. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder and Sophie Eastaugh Picture: Natasha Trethewey receives an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree at Emerson College in 2015 Credit: Paul Marotta/Getty Images

Aboriginal Australian mum Yarraka Bayles was so exhausted by her young son's distress at being bullied, she did the only thing she could think of and streamed a video of him crying to show her community the devastating effect it was having. She was trying to help him, but had no idea it would land them at the centre of international news coverage, fierce debate, and online conspiracies. She spoke to Outlook’s Saskia Edwards. If you are looking for support for any of the issues discussed in this programme, you can find links to useful organisations here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Mariana Des Forges and Katy Takatsuki Photo: Yarraka and Quaden Bayles Credit: Courtesy of Yarraka Bayles

Tenma and Arivu are members of The Casteless Collective - an ensemble protest band from the city of Chennai in southern India. They channel their outrage towards caste oppression into song. Arivu has seen that oppression first hand growing up in a Dalit - sometimes called ‘untouchable’ - community, and rapping became his outlet. As The Casteless Collective they blend traditional Gaana music with hip hop and rock, to challenge the caste system through their music. Music courtesy of The Casteless Collective and Gana Palani. Picture: Tenma (left) and Arivu (front right) performing as The Casteless Collective in Chennai, 2020 Credit: Palanikumar Manisha Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie and Troy Holmes

In the aftermath of a highly-publicised killing of an African American man by police in 2014, composer Joel Thompson started channelling his anger and sadness into music. He began setting the last words of seven black men, killed by police and authority figures in America, to music in a complex choral arrangement. The result was a composition called Seven Last Words of the Unarmed. He spoke to Outlook's Emily Webb. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham Photo: Memorial for Eric Garner Credit: Getty Images/Andrew Lichtenstein

Back in 2015, Santoshi Tamang was told that her husband Subash had died in a car accident in Saudi Arabia. He'd left their home in Nepal to work there to pay off the family's debts. His body was flown back to Nepal and cremated. But, months later, Santoshi received a telephone call from a relative who told her that her husband was still alive... Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas and Emily Webb Interpreter: Bhrikuti Rai Picture: Subash and Santoshi Tamang Credit: Subash and Santoshi Tamang

American filmmaker Kirsten Johnson’s most recent film is called ‘Dick Johnson is Dead’, it’s about her dad, a man she has adored her whole life. A few years ago Dick was diagnosed with dementia. Scared that she was losing the man she loved, she decided she had to try and capture his spirit on screen. But this is no ordinary movie, it follows Kirsten as she stages her father’s death in a number of grisly ways. It may sound bizarre but it appealed to their shared sense of humour, and by seeing him come back to life over and over again it allowed Kirsten to feel like she was making her dad live forever. Kirsten’s documentary film Dick Johnson Is Dead is now available to watch on Netflix. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona Woods Picture: Dick Johnson Credit: Dick Johnson Is Dead

Born in a Rio de Janeiro favela, Elza Soares overcame poverty, child marriage and public scandal to become one of her country's most beloved singers. She started out in the smokey nightclubs of Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s. With her unique raspy voice and the intensity of her dancing, she quickly became a hit on the club scene. In the 1960s a highly publicised relationship with a footballing legend briefly made her a national hate figure, but she came back and now into the seventh decade of her career she continues to be a Brazilian icon. This episode was first broadcast on 11th May 2019. Presented and Produced by Harry Graham Picture: Elza Soares Credit: Getty Images/ Pedro Gomes

When Christine Walevska was given a rare, one-eighth-size Bernardel cello at the age of eight and a half, she fell in love with the instrument immediately and it set her on a path to becoming an internationally renowned concert cellist. The tiny cello, given to her by her father, had an intriguing label on the inside...it said "Pour la petite Comtesse Marie 1834". This label would prove crucial after the cello was stolen from Christine's father's shop in 1978. It led - 36 years later - to Christine receiving an email from the Breshears family in California. They had been searching for a rare child-size cello for their gifted six-year-old daughter Starla and had finally found one. Could it be Christine's beloved Bernardel? Today, the story of a rare cello, its theft and how it shaped the dreams of two highly talented young girls. Recordings of Starla Breshears came courtesy of Dustin Breshears Recordings of Christine Walevska came from her album Goddess of the Cello Presenter & co-Producer: Saskia Edwards Producer: June Christie Picture: Cellist Christine Walevska aged eight and a half, with her rare Bernardel cello Credit: Christine Walevska

Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho is a Mexican biologist who’s braved poachers and cartels in a quest to save the world’s most endangered marine mammal - a tiny porpoise known as vaquita. There’s only a handful left in the world and their survival is in large part due to Lorenzo's efforts. His work with the animal has earned him the nickname ‘Mr Vaquita’. Jo Fidgen caught up with Lorenzo to name him one of the winners of BBC Inspirations 2020. For full details of the awards and Covid-19 related changes, please check the revised terms on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations. With music from Jorge Castillo and the Fandango Fusión Fronteriza. Producers: Clayton Conn, Saskia Edwards, Maryam Maruf, Troy Holmes, Andrea Kennedy Editor: Munazza Khan Picture: Lorenzo Rojas-Bracho Credit: Clayton Conn

As a teenager, Ana Baquedano sent a nude selfie to her boyfriend in exchange for a promise to delete it. Instead, he shared it. Ana was bullied, harassed and suffered from depression. But then she got to work making Mexican history. While Ana was still a student, she led a campaign to make 'revenge porn' a crime in her state of Yucatan - and in 2018 the historic legislation was passed. Jo Fidgen caught up with Ana to name her one of the winners of BBC Inspirations 2020. For full details of the awards and Covid-19 related changes, please check the revised terms on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations. With music from Jorge Castillo and the Fandango Fusión Fronteriza. Producers: Asya Fouks, Maryam Maruf, Troy Holmes, Andrea Kennedy Editor: Munazza Khan Picture: Ana Baquedano Credit: Courtesy of Ana Baquedano

Brothers Luke and Ryan Hart spent years trying to help their mum leave their abusive father. However, just a few days after they succeeded, their father killed her and their sister. Determined that something good would come out of the horror of their situation, they started a campaign to raise awareness of domestic abuse and to change the way it's reported in the media. The brothers now train journalists and have helped to create the UK's first media guidelines for reporting fatal domestic abuse alongside the feminist organisation, Level Up. Emily Webb caught up with Luke and Ryan to name them two of the winners of BBC Inspirations 2020. For full details of the awards and Covid-19 related changes, please check the revised terms on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations. Producers: Alice Gioia, Maryam Maruf, Troy Holmes Editor: Munazza Khan Picture: Luke and Ryan Hart Credit: Priya Dabasia

Tartania Brown is from New York City and she has sickle cell anaemia, a genetic disorder that affects red blood cells and can be fatal. At one stage, Tartania didn’t know if she would reach her 20s. Her brother Christopher also had the condition, and when he was just four years old he had multiple strokes that left him unable to speak or move. It was a challenging time for Tartania's whole family, but also transformative for her. After watching the way the doctors and nurses cared for her brother she was inspired to study medicine herself. After much hard work, she is a palliative care physician, looking after patients with a range of conditions including sickle cell anaemia. Featuring a live musical performance from Sherman Irby, lead alto saxophonist at the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Emily Webb caught up with Tartania to name her of the winners of BBC Inspirations 2020. For full details of the awards and Covid-19 related changes, please check the revised terms on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations. Producers: Maryam Maruf, Troy Holmes Editor: Munazza Khan Picture: Tartania Brown Credit: Dr Alexander Kumar This programme was recorded on 3 December, 2020.

Bettye Lavette was a 16-year-old growing up in Detroit when she had her first hit, My Man, in 1962. In 2009 she performed at President Obama's inauguration celebration and called it "the greatest day of my life." But the path from that first hit to the recognition she now enjoys around the world has not been smooth. She talks to Emily Webb about how she spent the intervening years "working, not waiting," and kept her faith that the phone would always ring. Picture: Betty Lavette performs during the Robert Johnson At 100 Centennial celebration at The Apollo Theater on March 6, 2012 in New York City Credit: Getty Images / FilmMagic / D Dipasupil

Sohail Yafat was in his 20s and working in an IT college in Lahore when he was wrongfully incarcerated for murder and facing death row. Behind bars he continued to fight for justice, while also quietly revolutionising his prison when he organised its first ever Christmas party. After a decade in jail, Sohail was released. He joined the legal charity Justice Project Pakistan as a private investigator. Through their work, the number of executions has dropped in Pakistan. Sohail is now working on building a reintegration centre to support recently released prisoners. Emily Webb caught up with Sohail to name him one of the winners of BBC Inspirations 2020. For full details of the awards and Covid-19 related changes, please check the revised terms on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations. Producers: Maryam Maruf, Troy Holmes Editor: Munazza Khan With thanks to Ghazanfar Hyder for this voiceover performance in the interview with Sohail first broadcast on 16 December, 2018 Picture: Sohail Yafat Credit: Ali Haider, JPP

Diane Reeve is a Texan martial arts teacher who discovered that her boyfriend had knowingly infected her and many other women with HIV/Aids. She then tracked down a number of his former partners, rallied the women together to testify against him in a groundbreaking case. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison. Diane is now an advocate for safer online dating and an Aids awareness activist. Jo Fidgen caught up with Diane to name her of the winners of BBC Inspirations 2020. For full details of the awards and Covid-19 related changes, please check the revised terms on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations. Producers: Tom Harding-Assinder, Maryam Maruf, Troy Holmes Editor: Munazza Khan Picture: Diane Reeve Credit: Alyssa Vincent

Sam Jalloh learned to play tennis barefoot, with a racquet fashioned out of plywood. He'd grown up poor in Freetown and his motivation to play was at first driven by the allure of a fresh tracksuit. But when Sam took to the court his talent quickly got him noticed by local coaches. He was training around the clock, with a career at the national level beckoning. But while he honed his skills, a brutal civil war was tearing Sierra Leone apart. Even when Sam found himself in the crosshairs of the conflict, he never stopped playing. He’s now a successful tennis coach based in the UK and has a sports foundation that supports young athletes. Emily Webb caught up with Sam to name him one of the winners of BBC Inspirations 2020. For full details of the awards and Covid-19 related changes, please check the revised terms on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations. Producers: Tom Harding-Assinder, Maryam Maruf, Troy Holmes Editor: Munazza Khan Picture Sam Jalloh Credit: Courtesy of Sam Jalloh

Justin Finlayson is a former bus driver on a mission to save young lives. He comes from an area of London which suffers from a long term gang divide. When the violence got particularly bad back in 2017, he drew on his driving background and came up with an idea to try to heal the rivalries. Justin bought a double decker bus, built a recording studio inside, and created a musical sanctuary where young people from warring areas could make music. Justin’s project, which he called United Borders, soon captured the attention of the stars of UK hip hop and grime - Akala, Stormzy and Nines. But the project wasn't easy, and the first bus was burnt down by arsonists. Justin persevered and now he's operating in a new bus, surrounded by young people whose lives he's changed. Jo Fidgen caught up with Justin to name him of the winners of BBC Inspirations 2020. For rights reasons, we were unable to include Akala’s contribution in this podcast, but you can listen to him in the radio version. It’s available - along with full details of the awards, Covid-19 related changes, and our revised terms - on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations. Producers: Harry Graham, Maryam Maruf, Troy Holmes Editor: Munazza Khan Picture: Justin Finlayson Credit: Brunel Johnson

Walter Murch is a superstar sound designer, who's worked on some of Hollywood's biggest films like The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now. His work has immersed audiences in everything from the clattering trains of New York to the rhythmic helicopter rotors of the Vietnam war. Walter's avant-garde production techniques have changed the way cinema sounds. His story is featured in the documentary, Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound. This episode was first released on 1st January 2020. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Still from The Godfather Credit: Getty Images/Paramount Pictures/Handout

In 1998, Australian wine merchant John Baker was puzzled when he received a cryptic message and a list of wines he, on initial inspection, had never heard of. Once he cracked the code, he realised it was a cellar of around 40,000 bottles - including some of the most expensive wines ever produced. It was being offered for a million dollars, and had apparently been hidden away in the republic of Georgia by former head of the Soviet Union, Josef Stalin. Could he secure a deal? Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: John Baker in the wine cellar Credit: John Baker

...that I can possibly imagine.” It’s time for the BBC Inspirations Awards - a celebration of incredible people and stories. A perfect antidote to a challenging year. Find out about this year’s winners on www.bbcworldservice.com/inspirations and tune into their full stories from 21 December, 2020.

Iraqi poet Adnan Al-Sayegh was confined to a deserted stable for having banned books in his possession while serving as a conscript in the Iraqi army during the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. It was in these squalid conditions that he began writing a poem that would become one of the longest in Arabic history. It's called Uruk's Anthem and is over 500 pages long and took 12 years to write - it not only brought Adnan international recognition, but also put his life in danger, forcing him to flee his homeland in 1993. Now, for the first time, substantial extracts from Uruk's Anthem have been published jointly in English and Arabic - the book is called Let Me Tell You What I Saw and was co-written and translated by Jenny Lewis. Extracts of Uruk's Anthem came courtesy of Adnan Al-Sayegh Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: June Christie Interpreter: Youssef Taha Picture: Adnan Al-Sayegh holding the book Wait for me under the Statue of Liberty Credit: Adnan Al-Sayegh

In 1994, 13-year-old Nicholas Barclay went missing in Texas. Several years later, he apparently resurfaced in Spain, and he was reunited with his family. But all was not as it seemed. Private investigator Charlie Parker knew he had an imposter on his hands. He spoke to Outlook's Jo Fidgen in 2018. Rob Weston was abandoned in a cinema toilet in the UK in 1956. Decades later he was reunited with his brother Tommy Chalmers, thanks to the help of DNA detective Julia Bell. He spoke to Jo Fidgen in 2018. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Harry Graham Picture: Newspaper article about Rob Weston Credit: Photo courtesy of Rob Weston

Growing up on a farm in Ireland as a lonely and unpopular child, Noel Fitzpatrick found solace in an invented superhero, ‘Vetman’, who rescued all the broken animals of the world. He’s now a pioneering veterinary surgeon who has become famous for fitting bionic limbs on injured pets. He tells Jo Fidgen how an operation on a tortoise almost cost him his life's passion. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Sophie Eastaugh Picture: Noel Fitzpatrick operating on Oscar the Cat to give him two Bionic back feet in 2010 Credit: Wild Productions Ltd

In 2002, Mauritanian engineer Mohamedou Salahi was detained by American intelligence services. They believed he was a senior figure in al-Qaeda and took him to Guantanamo Bay, the notorious US prison camp. Mohamedou was held there for 14 years without charge, during which time he says he was tortured. A glimmer of light came in the form of an unexpected and life-changing friendship he would make with Steve Wood, one of his American guards. A new Hollywood movie about Mohamedou's story will be released early next year called The Mauritanian. This story was first released in August 2019. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Mariana Des Forges Image: (L-R) Mohamedou Salahi and Steve Wood Credit: Mohamedou Salahi

Dolly Parton's 9 to 5 has long been an anthem for working women around the world. She wrote it on the set of a movie - the hit 80s comedy 9 to 5 starring Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and of course Dolly Parton. It's a film about three secretaries who decide to take revenge on their misogynist boss. The film was inspired by the stories of real secretaries who became so exasperated by how they were being treated by their managers they decided to fight back. They formed an organisation called 9to5 and Karen Nussbaum was one of its founders. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Picture: 9 to 5 film Credit: Shutterstock Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Fiona Woods Clips used: 9 to 5 [Dolly Parton, RCA Nashville] 9 to 5 [IPC Films, Colin Higgins] Barbarella [Dino de Laurentiis Cinematografica, Roger Vadim] Private Secretary [Jack Chertok Television Productions] Bad bosses contest [Phil Donahue Show, Multimedia Entertainment] Coffee protest news clip [CBS]

In the 1970s John E. Douglas was a relatively young FBI agent who would travel around the US teaching police officers the bureau's tactics. John knew he was inexperienced compared to the seasoned detectives he was instructing. But he had an idea to accelerate his learning: go into prisons and speak to notorious serial killers. He spoke to some of the most infamous criminals, including child killer Joseph McGowan. They weren't called 'serial killers' back then, John helped come up with the term. Through the interviews John was able to understand how the minds of these criminals worked and how it could be applied to solve open cases. But the gruelling work took its toll on John. Andrea Kennedy spoke to him about how it began to erode his mental health and very nearly cost him his life. His story inspired the Netflix series Mindhunter. This episode was first released in June 2019. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Saskia Edwards Picture: John E. Douglas Credit: Alexander James Towle/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Indian sailor Sudeep Choudhary was kidnapped at gunpoint by Nigerian pirates. He and his crew were taken to a swampy jungle prison in the Niger Delta where human skeletons hung in the trees. The hostages pinned their hopes on shaky ransom negotiations and the desperate efforts of their families back home. Sudeep tells Outlook's Kevin Ponniah his harrowing story and how his freedom was secured. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Deiniol Buxton Sound designer: Joel Cox Picture: Sudeep Choudhury Picture design by Manuella Bonomi Image credits: Sanjeet Pattanaik, Getty Images and www.marinetraffic.com/DennisMortimer

Rufus Wainwright was once described by Elton John as 'the greatest songwriter on the planet'. He's the son of two North American folk music legends – Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle but went on to forge his own prolific career. He's got 12 albums under his belt including the Grammy-nominated Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall, where he sang Over the Rainbow with his mother Kate on stage, a song they’ve performed since his childhood. Rufus was especially close to his mum, early on in his songwriting career he looked to her for advice and approval, and her support helped him through a destructive crystal meth addiction. They sang together often, right up until she died from cancer in 2010. This episode was originally released on 8th July 2020. Rufus' latest album is called Unfollow the Rules. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Rufus Wainwright with his mother Kate McGarrigle Credit: Getty Image

Celebrating the BBC 100 Women list 2020, Kim Chakanetsa and a panel of inspirational and influential women discuss whether some changes made because of Covid-19 restrictions could be seen as positive. They answer questions about bringing communities together, supporting lonely people and increasing flexibility for more inclusive employment. Shani Dhanda is an award-winning disability specialist and social entrepreneur from the UK. She founded the Asian Woman Festival and Asian Disability Network. The pandemic has proved that flexible and home working is viable, and she wants to make sure our new online solutions are here to stay so that the world remains accessible to us all. Karen Dolva has been seeking technological solutions to involuntary loneliness since 2015. A co-founder of No Isolation based in Norway, she’s helped develop a telepresence robot for children with long-term illness, and KOMP, a one-button screen for seniors. With reports from around the world of people feeling increasingly isolated because of Covid restrictions – should tech like this be used more widely? Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr, became Mayor of Freetown, Sierra Leone in 2018 with an inclusive vision of the city's renewal and a three-year plan to "Transform Freetown" and tackle environmental degradation and facilitate the creation of jobs in the tourism sector. #FreetownTheTreeTown was launched this January and already over 450,000 seedlings have been planted to address flooding, soil erosion and water shortages faced by the city. She says we can turn frustration and dissatisfaction into positive change. What can we learn from such an approach post-Covid? Aditi Mittal is India’s best known female stand-up comedian, who is finding new ways to perform safely and online. She also hosts the Women in Labour podcast, and hopes that the increased time at home for many male workers in India has shone a light on the amount of time required to run a household, something that has always been a big barrier to the female workforce. Produced by Jane Thurlow and Caitlin Sneddon Image from left: Aditi Mittal (credit Nanak Bhatia), Shani Dhanda (courtesy Shani Dhanda), Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr (credit TJ Bade) Karen Dolva (credit No Isolation)

Sovereignty over the Falkland Islands - known in Argentina as the Islas Malvinas - is still the subject of a dispute between Britain and Argentina. Now that the last landmine has been cleared from the islands, Jo Fidgen hears what it was like to live through the ten-week Falklands War of 1982. Trudi McPhee grew up on the Falkland Islands, she’s the sixth generation of her family to live there. As a child, she loved the place so much that she never wanted to go on holiday, so when Argentina invaded, Trudi’s reaction wasn’t fear, but anger. Although she'd been told directly by the Argentine military not to help British soldiers, when the local chief of police asked her and other farmers for help, she said yes. In an area with no roads, the volunteers' knowledge of the boggy ground conditions proved invaluable in moving supplies, troops and medics across the island. During the battle for Mount Longdon, Trudi wore white gloves to lead a convoy of vehicles, at night, over rough ground. Her determination to help in any way she could took her close to the frontline. Claudio Ayuso and Ken Griffiths were both teenagers when they began their military training, Ken with the British Royal Navy and Claudio as a radio operator with the Argentine Navy. Neither expected that they would ever go to war, but in 1982, they both found themselves in the middle of the Falklands conflict. Years later both men realised that they needed some closure on that part of their lives. After reaching out to each other online, they formed a friendship more meaningful than they could ever have expected. Any comments please email us on [email protected] Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Laura Thomas Picture: Road from Stanley with Mount William in the distance Credit: Getty / Dennis Gooch

In the last chaotic days of the Vietnam War, thousands of children were sent away to be adopted in safer countries. Four-year-old My Huong went to Australia and it would be many years before she returned to Vietnam and finally uncovered the extraordinary truth about her birth family. This interview was first released in December 2018.

Jane is Ian Brennan’s older sister. She has Down’s syndrome and is largely non-verbal but the two of them have communicated through music their whole lives. Ian has shared that knowledge with communities around the world, travelling the globe looking for music in unexpected places. He’s worked with Tuareg musicians in the Sahara desert, people who are homeless in California and prisoners in Malawi – often making records with people who have never even touched an instrument before. But he came home to the US earlier this year to make his most personal album yet – with his sister and her community. Their album is titled 'Who You Calling Slow?' by The Sheltered Workshop Singers. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Troy Holmes and Sophie Eastaugh Picture: Ian and Jane Brennan as children Credit: Courtesy of Ian Brennan

When Kristal Ambrose, who's from the Bahamas, had to hold down a sea turtle's flippers so that plastic could be removed from its intestines, she vowed never to drop plastic again. And her mission quickly grew. She started the Bahamas Plastic Movement to educate young people to try and tackle the problem. They took their fight to the government and managed to persuade them to bring in a ban on single-use plastics. Kristal has been awarded a Goldman Environmental Prize for her work. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Troy Holmes and Deiniol Buxton Picture: Kristal Ambrose at beach clean-up Credit: Dorlan Curtis

It’s South Africa’s most iconic photograph – a dying 12-year-old school boy, Hector Pieterson, being carried away after he was shot by police during the 1976 Soweto Uprisings. The picture - taken by journalist Sam Nzima - exposed the horrors of apartheid to the world, and it also had a lasting impact on the lives of all those it captured. Reporter Gavin Fischer follows the incredible stories of the people affected by the photo – both in front of and behind the camera. This episode was first broadcast on 22 September, 2018.Producer: Maryam MarufImage: Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto Credit: Alamy

As a child Kathy Sullivan always dreamed of adventure, little did she know she would grow up to make history both in the depths of the ocean and in space. Kathy was one of Nasa's class of 1978, the first recruitment drive that brought women into its astronaut ranks. In 1984 she became the first US woman to complete a spacewalk and went on to take part in two more missions, including the 1990 launch of the Hubble Space Telescope. After leaving Nasa in 1993, she went on to serve as chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and later as its administrator. Last year - working with US adventurer Victor Vescovo - she made history once again, this time becoming the first woman to reach the lowest known point in the ocean.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Kathy Sullivan's spacewalk Credit: NASA

After wildfires broke out on an ecologically-rich Brazilian wetland area called the Pantanal, firefighting vet Carla Sassi and her team flew in to rescue wounded and trapped animals. She spoke to Outlook's Emily Webb. Presenter: Emily Webb Producers: Harry Graham and Andrea KennedyPicture: Carla Sassi and her team Credit: GRAD

Peter Keup's family was shaped by the division of West and East Germany after the Second World War. He grew up in the East, cut off from relatives across the border. But when Peter’s parents applied for a visa to move West, they were condemned as traitors - he was kicked out of high school and banned from his sports clubs. He found a new passion in ballroom dancing, but when the state tried to stop this too he made the dangerous decision to escape East Germany illegally. He was caught and put in solitary confinement. It was only decades later that he discovered a betrayal at the heart of his family.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Rebecca VincentPicture: Peter Keup (right) and his brother as children Credit: Photo courtesy of Peter Keup

Rosayra Pablo Cruz tells how she fled Guatemala in April 2018 with two of her children after an attempt on her life and death threats against her eldest son. Hoping to be granted asylum in the United States, she says she didn't realise that a new "zero-tolerance" policy had just been introduced there which meant that any adults trying to cross the border illegally would be placed in custody and face prosecution - and if they were travelling with children, they would be separated from them. Rosy's two sons were sent to live with a foster mum in New York, but thanks to a group of volunteers, she was reunited with them a few months later. One of those volunteers was Julie Schwietert Collazo. Julie heard about the plight of the mums separated from their children on the radio and made it her mission to help them. Rosy has now been granted asylum in the US. Rosy and Julie have written a book about their experience called The Book of Rosy.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie Interpreter: Laura Plitt Picture: Rosayra Pablo Cruz Credit: J Pablo

Patricio Galvez is a Chilean musician who has lived in Sweden for the last 30 years. In 2014 his daughter Amanda travelled to Syria with her children and joined the Islamic State group. When she was killed last year he battled governments, crossed borders and entered a war zone to try and rescue her seven young children. This episode was first released on 13th July 2019.Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Tom Harding-AssinderPhoto courtesy of Patricio Galvez

The Thunder was the most notorious and elusive poaching ship in the world; for ten years governments had struggled to catch it. Then, in 2014, a crew from the organisation Sea Shepherd - known for its anti-whaling activity - found it illegally hunting Patagonian toothfish in the ice flows of the Antarctic and decided to stop it. They pursued the Thunder for 110 days over 10,000 miles before a dramatic stand-off in the Gulf of Guinea. Captain Peter Hammarstedt, from Sea Shepherd, tells Jo Fidgen about the dramatic chase and eventually watching the Thunder as it burned. On-board recordings in this piece are from the documentary Ocean Warriors: Chasing the Thunder, courtesy of Brick City TV.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Mariana Des ForgesPhoto: The Thunder surrounded by icebergs Credit: Sea Shepherd

Skin is the lead singer of Skunk Anansie, the multiplatinum-selling band whose political, in-your-face music stood out from the 1990s UK music scene. Skin had to forge her own path as a black, queer woman in the white male world of rock music, describing how she grew from a painfully shy church girl into a performer famous for her screaming vocals and bold stage antics. The turning point in her life was deciding to confront an aggressive sexual predator who had been stalking her - giving her a 'fearlessness that never left'. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Rebecca VincentPicture: Skin Credit: Christie Goodwin / Redferns via Getty Images

When Hollywood legend, Marlon Brando won a Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Godfather in 1973, he chose not to accept it. Instead he asked a young Native American woman called Sacheen Littlefeather to go on stage, in front of a televised audience of 85 million people and reject it on his behalf. It was the first time someone had made a political point at the Oscars and would have a profound effect on Sacheen’s life and future. Now in her 70s and living with stage four breast cancer, Sacheen tells Jo Fidgen about her controversial speech.Sacheen LittleFeather is the subject of a documentary called 'Sacheen: Breaking the Silence'.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Sacheen Littlefeather Refuses Marlon Brando's Academy Award Credit: Getty Images

Jason P. Howe was a British conflict photographer covering the war in Colombia, when he met a young woman at a bus stop. Her name was Marilyn, and they started a relationship that would last several years.Over time, it became clear to Jason that Marilyn had another life. She'd disappear at night on her motorcycle. People were scared of her, bars would empty when she entered them. Eventually, she would reveal a violent secret that was shocking even in the context of a warzone. Marilyn was an assassin for Colombian paramilitary forces.Jason spoke to Outlook's Andrea Kennedy back in 2019.Image: Jason Howe and Marilyn Credit: Jason P. Howe

Kane Hodder has been dubbed ‘cinema’s most prolific killer’ for the long list of on-screen murderers he has portrayed over the last 40 years. He is best known as the man behind Jason Voorhees’ iconic hockey mask in the Friday the 13th franchise. Kane started out as a stunt performer but his career was almost over before it even began when he suffered severe burns in a fire stunt that went horribly wrong. He tells Jo Fidgen how he recovered and despite it almost killing him why, under highly-controlled conditions, he still loves setting himself on fire.Kane is the subject of a documentary called To Hell And Back: The Kane Hodder Story.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Kane Hodder as Jason Voorhees Credit: Alamy

British concert pianist James Rhodes is a star in the world of classical music. He's won awards, had several hit albums, performed in top venues all over the world and Oscar-nominated actor Andrew Garfield will play him in a biopic. His career is a testament to overcoming unimaginable trauma. James is a survivor of child sexual abuse. As a result, he turned to self-harm and even contemplated suicide. This is the story of how music became his lifeline. This interview was first broadcast on 1 August, 2019. Since then, Spain - where James lives - has overhauled its system of protection against child sexual abuse. The new legislation was passed largely through James' efforts and is named after him: Rhodes Law.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: James Rhodes Credit: Getty ImagesGet in touch with us on [email protected]

This edition of Outlook is devoted to the impact of comic books and three remarkable journeys taken by artists and publishers who fell in love with comics as children.Indian comic enthusiast Vijayan Soundrapandian has been working to bring his favourite characters to audiences in Tamil Nadu. His company Lion-Muthu Comics translates some of the world's most famous comics into Tamil. In 2017 Outlook reporter Daniel Gross went to South Africa to meet cartoonist Mogorosi Motshumi. Mogorosi witnessed the worst of apartheid, and in the 1970s and 80s, was one of the only black artists using comics to document township life. And we stay in the Outlook archive by revisiting an interview Emily did with Chinese-American comic creator Gene Luen Yang, he's the author behind the first Chinese Superman.Presenter: Emily WebbPicture: Vijayan Soundrapandian Credit: Vijayan Soundrapandian

Christi Daugherty – also known as CJ Daugherty – is a best-selling writer of Young Adult thrillers and crime novels. As a child, she would lose herself in books and literary adventures as a way of coping with her own unstable and violent family life. Her father was controlling and abusive – her home was miserable until her mother plotted a secret midnight escape.Her latest book written as CJ Daugherty is called Number Ten.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Christi Daugherty Credit: Jack JewersAny comments please email us on [email protected]

Outlook's Saskia Edwards goes in search of the elusive creator of what must be one of the most maddening games - the Rubik's Cube. On route she meets one of the fastest cubers in the world, Feliks Zemdegs. He can solve the puzzle in a matter of seconds, but even he can't tell Saskia where she can find its inventor - Erno Rubik.Erno Rubik has a book out called Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All.

Born to Salvadoran immigrants, Roberto Lovato grew up in 1970s San Francisco. His father Ramon was involved in suspect business dealings, and could sometimes be angry and violent. As their relationship became increasingly strained Roberto rebelled, influenced by the culture of emerging organised street gangs. He became more interested in the civil war, which was escalating in El Salvador, and joined the guerrilla group the FMLN and went there to fight. In later years, Roberto became a successful academic and began to learn more about El Salvador’s bloody history. It was then he discovered his father was a witness of one of the most violent episodes the country had ever seen, La Matanza, “the massacre”. It was a secret Ramon had taken 70 years to share but in doing so, it helped Roberto come to terms with his own troubled past."Unforgetting: A Memoir of Family, Migration, Gangs, and Revolution in the Americas" by Roberto Lovato is out now. Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Katy TakatsukiPicture: Roberto Lovato in San Francisco's Mission District, Aug 2020 Credit: Roberto Lovato

Jalikatu Mustapha is one of just four eye doctors in the whole of Sierra Leone. Her work was recently recognised by Queen Elizabeth II. Jalikatu shared an online chat with the British monarch in which she described how simple operations are changing lives in her country. But Jalikatu’s life almost took a very different course. She was a child during the Sierra Leone civil war, her family nearly lost their lives in a gun battle in a hotel. Her father, a leading economist of the time, had been asked to become the Minister of Finance in the new military government. He didn’t want the job so instead the family were trying to escape. Jalikatu now works with the charity Sightsavers.   Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Jalikatu Mustapha Credit: Moseray Koroma

Ben Quilty was one of Australia's most famous painters when he entered into an unusual friendship with a condemned man, Myuran Sukumaran, a convicted drug smuggler on death row in Indonesia. He was a member of a group of imprisoned Australians known as the Bali Nine. Ben was invited to teach Myuran how to paint, as a way to help him cope with his sentence, and he soon started to reveal an artistic talent. The two men gradually developed a close connection, but it was severed by a firing squad. First broadcast 2018.Mexican artist Julia Lopez is now a world-renowned painter, but she very nearly didn't discover her talent at all. She grew up as a farm labourer in rural Mexico, and found work as a maid after moving to Mexico City. But one day her life changed, when she was scouted by the famous artist Frida Kahlo to become a model. It wasn’t long before she picked up the paintbrush herself. Outlook's Clayton Conn has the story. First broadcast 2018For nearly 30 years, Mark Landis donated scores of artworks by famous artists to museums all over the United States. He was feted as a philanthropist. But all of them were forged - by Mark himself. Because he never took any money from the museums, he hasn't committed a crime under US law. Jo Fidgen asked why he did it. First broadcast 2015.Presenter: Jo FidgenPicture: Ben Quilty and Myuran Sukumaran Credit: Andrew Quilty

Mike Farmer and Robert Ward have spent decades travelling the world in pursuit of meteorites. Their awe-inspiring and insatiable hunt led to fortune – but also unexpected danger. It's a story of cowboys, cargo pants and some of the most coveted rocks on earth. This episode was released on the 23rd of February 2019.Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Maryam MarufImage: Silhouette of a man watching a meteor shower over Italy Credit: Marco Bertorello/AFP/Getty Images

In her 30s Kiran Dembla was a full-time stay-at-home mum living in the Indian city of Hyderabad. She spent her days cooking and cleaning and caring for her children. Kiran always had the sense that something was missing, she describes feeling a 'blankness', but it was only when she discovered that she had a blood clot in her brain that she decided to do something about it. The medication she was taking was causing her to put on weight so she joined the gym. That decision set her on the path to completely transforming her life - these days she's a celebrity trainer and a star bodybuilder. But it hasn't been an easy road - cultural and family expectations have often been at odds with her own aspirations.Any comments please email us on [email protected]: Kiran Dembla Credit: Radesh PhotographyPresenter: Emily Webb Producers: Fiona Woods and Nikita Mandhani

John Shepherd is a self-taught electronics whizz. From a young age he was fascinated by science and electricity. He'd spend his days collecting discarded radio and tv sets and re-fashioning them into new devices. He used his skills for an unsual pursuit - he wanted to reach out to potential extra-terrestrial life. This was the 60s, the space race was in full swing and there was a collective fascination with alien life and UFOs. But how do you start a conversation with an alien? Initially he transmitted binary tones in an attempt to make contact. But he later settled on a different way to communicate, he started broadcasting reggae, afrobeat, jazz, and more, the ‘universal language’ of music. There's a Netflix documentary about John's story called John Was Trying to Contact Aliens.Any comments please email us on [email protected]: Emily Webb Producer: Andrea KennedyPicture: John Shepherd Credit: Courtesy of John Shepherd

Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is a British chemical weapons expert whose work in Syria has attracted global attention. But working in a warzone is dangerous and not only has Hamish had to smuggle himself into countries, he's faced bombs, bullets and even the Islamic State group in order to investigate and document chemical warfare. Hamish has written a book called Chemical Warrior: Saving Lives on the Front Line of Modern Warfare.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Hamish de Bretton-Gordon Credit: Hamish de Bretton-Gordon

Shane McCrae is an award-winning African-American poet and writer whose work often addresses the black experience in the US. Poetry for him was a way of making sense of his difficult and abusive upbringing. As a child, Shane was raised by his white maternal grandparents in a deeply racist household. His grandmother taught him the Nazi salute, told him that he “tanned very easily” and that he was living with her because his black father didn’t want him. But when Shane was a teenager, he would learn the truth about the racial prejudice and deception that divided him from his father Stanley.Shane's latest collections of poetry are called Sometimes I Never Suffered and The Gilded Auction Block.Any comments please email us on [email protected]: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Shane McCrae as a child Credit: Courtesy Shane McCrae

Rob and Jason Holmes were first recruited as undercover agents when they were children. They were in Atlantic City on the lookout for black market goods - like replica designer clothes, sunglasses, watches. Their employer was their private detective dad and their fee was ice cream. Now they take on some of the world’s biggest counterfeiters. It’s all raids, Russian gangs, and (fake) Rolexes. This episode was first released on 10th November 2018.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufImage: Rob (L) and Jason (R) Holmes in their youth Credit: Rob and Jason Holmes

Guatemalan grandparents Favio "El Lobo" Vasquez and his wife Maria Moreno first met on the disco dance floor over 30 years ago. Despite being from rival dance groups they ended up falling in love and have been dancing together ever since. But earlier this year, after the death of their daughter, dance helped them in ways they could never have imagined. As they were raising their daughter's two young children and struggling to pay the bills, they decided to enter an online dance competition. They had to enter separately but Favio won and the video of him dancing went viral - it was even trending higher than Manchester United! They've been telling Outlook's Clayton Conn their story.Presenter: Clayton Conn Producer: Deiniol Buxton and June ChristiePicture: Favio Vasquez and Maria Moreno Credit: Favio Vasquez and Maria Moreno

Writer Xiaolu Guo grew up in 1970s China, in a tiny village by the East China Sea. She'd been left there to live with her grandparents, and didn't know where her parents were. When they returned to collect her age seven, it began a lifetime of change - and a reckoning with China's history, from the feudal era to the Cultural Revolution. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Laura ThomasPicture: Xiaolu Guo Credit: Xiaolu Guo

Canadian Julie Lalonde looked to all the world to be a fearless warrior for women's rights. Her job involved telling political and military leaders, mainly men, how to behave but every time she stood on stage she was terrified because she was being stalked by a former lover. She talks to Jo Fidgen about enduring a harmful obsession that lasted more than a decade and how she found the strength to go public.She's written a book called Resilience is Futile.If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this episode, you can find details of organisations offering information and support at this address: bbc.co.uk/actionline.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPicture: Julie Lalonde Credit: Brendan Brown

Sara Seager is an MIT astrophysicist. She has made it her life’s work to peer into the spaces around stars – looking for exoplanets outside our solar system, hoping to find the one-in-a-billion world that is enough like ours to sustain life. But after the unexpected death of her husband, Sara struggled with some of the new day-to-day tasks that she had to take on. She tells Jo Fidgen the story of how a three-page guide written by her late husband helped her to navigate life on earth, while she continued making ground-breaking discoveries in the skies.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Rebecca VincentPicture: Sara Seager Credit: Justin Knight

If you visited the controversial Atlantis commune in southern Colombia back in the 1990s, you’d have probably heard some disturbing noises. The group practiced primal screaming, a form of psychotherapy which seeks to address childhood pain. They’d hold confrontational group sessions, where they were encouraged to direct their anger at each other, hoping to develop themselves psychologically in the process.The commune had started in London, founded by a therapist called Jenny James. They’d made the move to South America to be closer to nature, and they’d settled on a forested area of Colombia controlled by left wing Farc guerrillas. At first Atlantis coexisted with the Farc, but as the Colombian civil war intensified the guerrillas became more hostile, and when violence broke out it pulled the commune apart.Presenter: Faye Planer Producer: Harry GrahamPicture: The Atlantis commune in Southern Colombia Credit: BBC

Groundhog Day... deja vu... are phrases that tend to have negative connotations. Repetition is often equated with monotony. Not so for Catherine Russell. She holds the world record for the most theatre performances in the same role and she wouldn't have it any other way. For the past 32 years she has been playing the role of Margaret Thorne Brent - a psychiatrist who might also be a cold-blooded killer in the long running off-Broadway play ‘Perfect Crime’.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona WoodsPhoto: Catherine Russell in Perfect Crime Credit: Shir Stein

Simon Dawson was on a wayward path after a difficult childhood. He says his mother would tell him directly that she didn't love him. Things were at their lowest when their family house burnt down and Simon was blamed for it. Unsure of love, he turned to music for answers. But the real lessons came later in life when he set up a farm and the animals he cared for showed him what true guardianship and acceptance means. Simon now believes his mother suffered from postnatal depression and was never given the support she needed. He tells Emily Webb how he turned things around and learned to love. Simon's book is called The Boy Without Love.Producer: Mariana Des Forges Presenter: Emily WebbPicture: Simon Dawson on his farm in Exmoor Credit: Courtesy of Simon Dawson

In 1996, an African American reverend called David Kennedy faced one of his biggest fights. A new shop had sprung up in Laurens, his small town in South Carolina, selling white supremacist memorabilia and housing a Ku Klux Klan museum. It was called the Redneck Shop, and Reverend Kennedy knew he had to stand up to the racist owners. At first he simply stood outside in protest, but later he was able to start changing the mind of one of the managers, Mike, having helped him in a time of need. The two men became close, and through their friendship the reverend ultimately gained control of the white supremacist shop. Reverend Kennedy spoke to Outlook's Emily Webb.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry GrahamPicture: Reverend David Kennedy Credit: The Echo Project

During Sierra Leone's civil war Aminata Conteh-Biger was abducted by armed rebels. After her release, she began a new life in Australia but has since returned to help the women she'd left behind, becoming a champion of maternal health in a country with one of the worst maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. She is the founder of the Aminata Maternal Foundation and has written a book about her life called Rising Heart.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPicture: Aminata Conteh-Biger Credit: Jeremy Simons

Marie McCreadie moved to Australia from the UK as a young girl in the 1970s. It was the start of a new adventure for the whole family, but then one day when Marie was 13 she lost her voice, leaving her unable to make a sound for over a decade. Marie was ostracised, told she was cursed, and was put in a psychiatric unit. Then, in her twenties she discovered the surprising cause of her condition. This episode was first released on 5th October 2019.Marie has written a book about her life without speech it's called Voiceless.Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPicture: Marie McCreadie as a young teenager Credit: Marie McCreadie

By 1994, the Bosnian capital of Sarajevo had been under siege for two years. Sniper fire and shelling were a daily threat to the residents stuck in the city. Though life was tough, artistic creativity flourished. The heavy metal community was one particularly resilient music scene. Whilst there were still local gigs there was a hunger for something bigger, to know the rest of the world had not forgotten them. A group of firefighters and UN peacekeepers, decided that the city needed a big name rock act to keep morale up. Only one rock star was willing to do it, Bruce Dickinson, the frontman of Iron Maiden. The organisers got a venue, and petrol for their power generators. But there was one particular challenge they had to overcome - how do you get a rock star into a city surrounded by warring armies? This episode was first released on 26th April 2019.Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Harry GrahamImage: The audience at a metal gig in Sarajevo Credit: Scream For Me Sarajevo Film

In 2000 Danny Stewart found a newborn baby boy, tucked in the corner of a New York subway station on his way home from work. The discovery hit the headlines, but when no one came forward to claim the baby the family court judge asked Danny if he would like to adopt him. Danny and his partner Peter Mercurio had never discussed raising a child together, but soon found themselves on an extraordinary journey.Peter has written a book about their story, called Our Subway Baby.Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Rebecca VincentPicture: (from left) Peter, Kevin and Danny Credit: Photo courtesy of Peter Mercurio

Nettie Washington Douglass tells Anu Anand what it's like to carry the names and bloodlines of two African-Americans who were born into slavery but famously devoted their lives to fighting it, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Nettie descends from pioneering educator Booker T Washington and the abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass. Her influential ancestors inspired her to raise awareness about modern-day slavery by setting up the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Nettie Washington Douglass Credit: Hilary Schwab Photography

Growing up in the city of Jos in central Nigeria, Panshak Zamani better known as Ice Prince, never set out to become a musician. But through personal loss and the violent crisis he saw unfolding on the streets, he found solace in singing and rap. Panshak tells Anu Anand how he overcame his struggles to write a hit song that became one of the most remixed ever in Nigeria and rose to international fame. Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Sophie EastaughPicture: Ice Prince Credit: Photogod

Sara Faith Alterman was eight when she accidently discovered that her prudish dad was secretly a globally successful writer of adult books. Growing up, it was never discussed, but when he was dying of Alzheimer's in his late 60s, he asked Sara to help him write again before it was too late.Sara Faith Alterman’s memoir is called Lets Never Talk about this Again.Presented and Produced by Mariana Des ForgesPicture: A young Sara and Ira Alterman Credit: Courtesy of Sara Faith Alterman

Alexandra Wilson is a young black British barrister - and as a result sometimes gets mistaken for the defendant in court. Growing up in Essex she never imagined herself becoming a lawyer, but the murder of a close family friend inspired her career. She studied at Oxford University and was eventually awarded a Queen’s Scholarship, given to students who show exceptional promise at the Bar. She tells Emily Webb why she's fighting to create a more diverse legal profession.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie   Picture:Alexandra Wilson Credit: Laurie Lewis

When Atsushi Sakahara boarded a crowded train on the Tokyo subway in 1995, he found himself in the middle of a targeted chemical attack. Years later he went looking for answers from a notorious doomsday cult, which led to an unlikely friendship. Atsushi has directed a documentary about his journey called Me and The Cult Leader.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Troy HolmesPicture: Atsushi Sakahara and Hiroshi Araki Credit: Nori Matsui 2020 Good People Inc.

Malik Al Nasir was casually watching a TV documentary when a face jumped out at him – it was a photograph of the black Victorian football star Andrew Watson. He was stunned at the close resemblance between them and he was determined to find out how they were connected. Little did he know that that journey would lead him from Liverpool to Guyana to discover how his family history was inextricably connected with the international slave trade.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Wahiba Ahmed Picture: Malik Al Nasir at the airport in Guyana in 2008 Credit: Abdul Malik Al Nasir

In the 1960s, a bunch of musically gifted, pre-teen siblings from Saigon put together a rock ‘n’ roll group. For a while the CBC Band was the biggest music act in South Vietnam, even headlining the country’s first international rock festival. They had an unlikely fan base – battle-weary US soldiers fighting in the Vietnam War. This episode was first released on the 9th of February 2019.Presenter: Harry Graham Producer: Maryam MarufImage: The CBC Band in Vietnam Credit: Courtesy of the CBC Band

Brittany K. Barnett, an African American lawyer, grew up in the shadow of the US war on drugs in the 1980s. Like many others in her community in rural east Texas, Brittany’s mother was addicted to crack cocaine, and when Brittany was 22 years old, her mother was sentenced to eight years in prison. Only a few years later, she discovered the case of Sharanda Jones, a black woman who was sentenced to life without parole for a first time drug offence. Spurred on by her own family history, Brittany swore she would free Sharanda. Brittany was still just a law student and studying corporate law but she persevered for years taking their fight to the highest office - all the way to the White House. After 16 years of waiting, Sharanda finally received the call that would grant her freedom. Together they have founded the Buried Alive Project, which provides free legal support for people serving life sentences in federal prison and Brittany has written a book called A Knock at Midnight about her life and work.   Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Tom Harding Assinder   Picture: Brittany K. Barnett and Sharanda Jones in 2009 Credit: Courtesy of Brittany K. Barnett

Malebogo Molefhe is a trailblazing basketball player from Botswana. The only girl in a game played by boys, she was called the 'tigress' and rose to be captain of her country's first ever women's national basketball team. But off the court she was controlled and abused by her partner, culminating in a brutal attack where he shot her eight times, leaving both her legs paralysed. Traumatised and with life-changing injuries, Malebogo fought to reclaim her life - and to find a way back to basketball. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this episode, you can find details of organisations offering information and support at BBC Action Line: www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Malebogo Molefhe, bottom left Credit: Courtesy of Malebogo Molefhe

Mansour Omari spent nearly a year in a Syrian government prison in 2012. We hear his account of life in an underground cell and how, against the odds, he managed to smuggle out the names of his fellow cellmates to their loved ones - by writing them down, using chicken bones and blood on a piece of cloth. This story was first released on 20th March 2017.Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Emily WebbImage: Mansour Omari's list of names Credit: Mansour Omari

When an intrepid crew of eight entered Biosphere 2, a giant air-tight greenhouse in the Arizona desert in September 1991, no one knew how it would pan out. It was an experiment to see if humans could live in similar glass worlds on other planets. Their intention was to survive by cultivating the farmland and plant life inside to create the food and oxygen they needed, but quickly both ran dangerously low. This is the story of how original 'Biospherians' Mark Nelson, Sally Silverstone, Jane Poynter and Taber MacCallum endured what's been called one of the most audacious, unusual and controversial experiments of the last decade.Mark Nelson and Sally Silverstone have released a new edition the book they wrote whilst inside Biosphere 2 called 'Life Under Glass: Crucial Lessons in Planetary Stewardship from 2 Years in Biosphere 2'.Presented and produced by Saskia Edwards Additional production by Mariana Des ForgesPicture: The original crew outside Biosphere 2 Credit: Getty Images

Artist Maleonn spent his childhood in the back of a theatre, watching his parents at work. Maleonn’s mother was an actress, and his father directed “very noisy” and “incredibly colourful” Beijing opera performances. Though his father was keen, Maleonn was determined not to follow in his directorial footsteps and instead chased his passion for art. But when his father began to lose his memory in 2014, Maleonn decided to create a play just for him, he called it Papa’s Time Machine. Maleonn wanted to give his father the gift that he had always dreamed of - but it was a race against time. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona WoodsPicture: One of the puppets in Papa's Time Machine Credit: Papa's Time Machine

Brent Underwood is a young American entrepreneur who spent his life savings on the remains of an abandoned 19th century mining town in California. He was fascinated by its Wild West history, but when he got trapped there by heavy snow earlier this year, all alone, the ghostly tales about the place began to feel all too real. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Rebecca VincentPicture: Brent Underwood at Cerro Gordo Credit: Brent Underwood

South African rugby star Siya Kolisi came from a poor township and tells Outlook's Mpho Lakaje about his journey from water boy to becoming the national team's first black captain and leading the Sprinboks to World Cup victory. Siya and his wife Rachel have set up a charity, The Kolisi Foundation, to help vulnerable and disadvantaged communities in South Africa.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Siya Kolisi and the Springboks team after their Rugby World Cup win. Credit: Cameron Spencer/ Getty Images

Tricia Davies Nearn’s father, David, was killed in the Vietnam War when she was just two years old. Growing up without him, she knew there was something missing, even with a loving family around her. Her mother, an ardent fan of Broadway musicals, liked to sing along to A Chorus Line while vacuuming, but there was one musical she never played: West Side Story . The discovery of an extraordinary archive of tape recordings, made while David was posted in Vietnam, eventually helped Tricia to understand why - and to get to know her father better.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Emily WebbPicture: David Davies Credit: Tricia Davies Nearn

With only five and a half months of training, Thomas Page McBee became the first transgender man to box at the famous Madison Square Garden arena in New York City. He's an author and journalist by trade so this was quite a departure for him. His journey to that day wasn’t driven by dreams of record-breaking, instead, it was prompted by a desire to better understand the different ways to be a man and specifically the relationship between masculinity and violence. Thomas had grown up with an abusive step-father and he knew he wanted to be different. When he began transitioning from a female to a male body in adulthood he noticed a change in the way the world was treating him. Women were crossing the road when they encountered him walking late at night, rooms fell silent when his deep voice spoke up in conversations, and he was no longer encouraged to hug because “men shake hands”. So in an attempt to learn the many different ways to be a man Thomas set himself a challenge - a boxing match. Presenter: Anu Anand Producer: Sophie Eastaugh and Andrea KennedyPicture: Thomas Page McBee Credit: Amos Mac

Today, Jesse Thistle is a celebrated professor of Indigenous history in Canada. But as a child, he was a high school drop-out, raised by his disciplinarian white paternal grandparents and cut off from his mother and his Métis Cree roots. It set him on a self-destructive path to drug addiction, homelessness and prison. In jail and in his 30s, Jesse learned to read. After he was released, he would reach the pinnacle of academic success – finding his identity, his calling and along the way, his long-lost mother. Jesse’s memoir is called From the Ashes.Presented by Anu Anand Produced by Sophie Eastaugh and Maryam MarufImage: Jesse Thistle Credit: Lucie Thistle

When India went into lockdown in response to the coronavirus crisis, millions of migrant workers staying in the cities were left unemployed and stranded. Jyoti Kumari and her dad Mohan Paswan were among them. With no work, they were running out of food and couldn't pay rent. Many migrant workers were travelling hundreds of kilometres on foot to get back to their home villages, but Mohan had been injured in a rickshaw accident and couldn't walk. So Jyoti bought a heavy old bicycle, sat her dad on the back, and cycled 1200km across the country. They spoke to Outlook's Nitin Srivastava.If you make a phone call in India at the moment, chances are you'll hear Jasleen Bhalla's voice. She's the voice artist giving public service announcements, telling people to stay safe during the pandemic, before any call is connected. With millions listening every day across the country, the messages have elicited some strong reactions. Some call Jasleen a 'corona warrior', others find the messages very annoying. Presenter: Nitin Srivastava Producer: Harry GrahamPicture: Jyoti Kumari and Mohan Paswan on their bike Credit: BBC

Daniele Davoli was a DJ playing the clubs of Italy when he produced a song with his band Black Box that would define 1980s house music. Ride on Time became a smash hit in the UK, with its driving beat, catchy piano riff and powerful sample from American soul singer Loleatta Holloway. But that sample would land the band in a whole lot of trouble, especially after they hired a French model to mime along at their live gigs. When word got out, fans were furious.Presenter: Harry Graham Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Black Box performs Ride On Time on Top of the Pops Credit: BBC

Just two months after Cristina Zamora had given birth to her baby daughter in 1974, she was taken by Augusto Pinochet's security forces and thrown in jail where she found a creative way to cope. Embroidery, knitting clothes and stitching tiny love letters helped political prisoners like Cristina to survive. Afterwards, Cristina didn't discuss her nightmarish experience but over 40 years later when her daughter, Jimena Pardo, saw the prison crafts in an exhibition, Jimena plucked up the courage to ask her mother about her early life. It also gave Jimena an idea for something she knew could help other survivors.The exhibition is called 'Crafting Resistance' and can be seen here: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/archives_online/exhibitions/craftingresistance/photos/Picture: Jimena Pardo and Cristina Zamora with their embroideries Credit: Jimena PardoPresented by Grace Livingstone Produced by Mariana Des Forges

Noura Ghazi is a human rights lawyer from Damascus, campaigning for people and prisoners who were forcibly disappeared by the Assad regime. Right at the start of the Syrian uprising, she met software engineer and activist, Bassel Khartabil. Their love blossomed at anti-government demonstrations and on long late night phone calls. Even Bassel’s eventual arrest couldn’t stop them from getting married through the bars of his prison cell. But when all trace of him disappeared, Noura did everything in her power to find her husband. Hers and Bassel's story is featured in the documentary, Ayouni.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Bassel Khartabil and Noura Ghazi Credit: Courtesy of Ayouni / Free Bassel Campaign

Tani Adewumi and his family fled their home in Nigeria under threat from the militant Islamist group Boko Haram. They ended up living in a homeless shelter in New York. It was there Tani discovered a talent for chess. At eight years old, and just one year after he started playing the game, Tani won the New York State Championship for his age group. Tani, his elder brother Austin, his mother Oluwatoyin and father Kayode tell Emily Webb how it all happened.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Andrea KennedyPicture: Tani Adewumi Credit: Micah Kandros

Yeshe Losal Rinpoche is a Lama who runs a monastery and Buddhist centre in rural Scotland. As you might expect his days are filled with meditation and contemplation, but life hasn't always been so serene - he shares tales of a dramatic Himalayan mountain escape, dancing and decadence on the New York disco scene and hanging out with David Bowie.

In 2008, Naomi Jacobs went to bed in her home in Manchester as a 32-year-old woman. When she woke the following morning, her world had changed. Overnight, her memories had gone. She didn't recognise her home, her life, or even her child. Instead, she believed she was a teenage schoolgirl living in 1992. And she was utterly bewildered by how she had ended up in the future. She told Emily Webb how the diaries that held the key to her past eventually got her back to the present.This progamme was first broadcast on 8 September, 2018.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufImage: silhouetted woman opening curtains in the morning Credit: p saranya/Getty Images

Bonga Kuenda is one of Angola’s most notable musicians, a master of the semba - traditional Angolan music. He was born during Portuguese colonial rule, and before music, Bonga had forged a career in athletics. In the 1960s, he emerged from the shanty towns of Luanda to become the fastest sprinter in the Portuguese Empire, but he was racing for a regime that he despised, one he was secretly trying to bring down. This podcast was first released on 3rd November 2018.Presenter: Harry Graham Producer: Maryam MarufWith thanks to Edward Drummond for the translation Image: Bonga Kuenda Credit: Getty Images

Imani Wilmot was born into a surfing family – her father is known as the 'godfather' of Jamaican surfing and her brothers are also avid boarders, so she took to it like a duck to water. She was good too, winning competitions and representing her country with pride. But she soon realised that she was the only top black female surfer at those competitions, and that if she wanted a community around her she’d have to create it herself. Imani spoke to Jo Fidgen about how she set up a surf school for girls and women when she was 17, sharing her confidence and discovering the healing power of the waves.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Imani Wilmot and her daughter Nya Credit: Lucy Jane

Noor Huda Ismail believes he narrowly avoided becoming radicalised as a teenager in Indonesia. But he got the shock of his life when he was a journalist covering the 2002 Bali bombings and recognised a familiar face among the suspects – a childhood friend from school. That set him on a mission to understand why and how people end up getting involved in extremist groups. He committed himself to helping de-radicalise former extremists and founded the Institute for International Peace building. He also runs a café in Indonesia where some of his employees are former Islamist extremists - he believes that one of the keys to de-radicalisation is keeping people busy.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Nathan Gower / June Christie Picture: Noor Huda Ismail Credit: Courtesy of Noor Huda Ismail

After being involved in a shoot out with an undercover police officer outside her home in Philadelphia, BL Shirelle faced years behind bars. But it was in prison where she would meet her future wife, finally embrace her facial hair and find her voice. She tells Jo Fidgen about how a song she wrote and performed while serving time helped her find a way out of a life previously dominated by drugs, crime and violence. She is now the deputy director of the record label, Die Jim Crow and has recently released her debut album.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPhoto: BL Shirelle Credit: Courtesy of DJC Records

BL Shirelle had a talent for writing poetry from a young age. But while she was growing up in Philadelphia, her mother struggled with addiction and eventually BL became involved with drugs too. By 12 years old she was dealing crack cocaine from their home, but she was still writing raps everyday about the things she saw and experienced. She tells Jo Fidgen how one night, when she was 18, she heard  a commotion on the street and went out to investigate, only to be caught up in a very serious situation. Part two of her story continues tomorrow.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPhoto: BL Shirelle Credit:  Courtesy DJC Records

Travel writer Claire Nelson was hiking in Joshua Tree, California when she slipped off a boulder and fell 15 feet into a canyon. She was trapped, and completely alone in the scorching hot wilderness, with limited water. How would she survive? This episode was first released on 1st December 2018.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Joshua Tree Credit: Ernst Haas/Getty Images

Born during a hurricane, Russel L. Honoré grew up as a black man in Louisiana during segregation, but he found his calling in the military. He rose through the ranks to become a Lieutenant General, and when Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005 he was the man in charge of the joint military and civilian relief effort. Having seen the power and devastation caused by nature during his career, in his retirement he formed a ‘Green Army’ of environmental campaigners in his home state.   Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Nathan Gower / June Christie   Photo: Russel Honoré Credit: Getty Images / Robert Sullivan

Eva and Sami (not their real names) fell in love in Paris over coffee and cigarettes, but Sami could not escape the painful memories of his experiences back home during the Syrian civil war. He’d lost his brother, his home and said goodbye to his family before escaping to France. As she listened to his story, she realised that together they had to write it down. Eva has written a novel called The Stray Cats of Homs, based on Sami’s story.   Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham   Picture: Homs, Syria Credit: Sami

In the late 1990s, Belgian detective Patrick Peys joined the Diamond Squad. Based in Antwerp's Diamond District, this was the world's first police unit dedicated to solving diamond crime. And soon, Patrick would face the most baffling case of his career when a group of thieves pulled off what seemed to be the perfect robbery. They broke into one of the most heavily-guarded vaults in the Diamond District and stole $100m dollars' worth of jewels. It was the biggest diamond robbery in history. No one saw the thieves coming in, or out. But what followed was a trail of strange clues leading to a mysterious criminal mastermind and a school for felons.This episode was first broadcast on 10 March, 2019.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufImage: Diamonds Credit: Olivier Polet/Corbis via Getty Images

In 2003, Rachel Colenso and her partner went on a first date climbing Piz Badile in the Swiss Alps. What was meant to be a romantic getaway ended up being a disaster when they were engulfed in a fierce electrical storm and trapped on a narrow, icy ledge with little food and water for three days.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Rachel Colenso Credit: Courtesy of Rachel Colenso

In 1986 American teenager, Jeff Henigson, was diagnosed with brain cancer and given two years to live. He had just one wish: to travel to the Soviet Union, meet the country’s leader Mikhail Gorbachev and attempt to broker a nuclear peace deal. This episode was first released on 7th September 2019.Jeff has written a book about his experience called WarHead.Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Teenager Jeff Henigson in bed after undergoing brain surgery Credit: Jeff Henigson

Kevin Simmers devoted his life to the war on drugs as a narcotics officer in Maryland in the US. He spent years sending dealers and users to prison. But when his own teenage daughter got addicted to heroin, he faced a heart-breaking dilemma. He tells Outlook's Jo Fidgen his story and how last year he opened Brooke's House - a rehab facility named after his daughter - to help young women caught up in the opiate crisis. Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Kevin Simmers with his daughter Brooke Credit: Courtesy of Kevin Simmers

When British barber Tom Chapman got his first hairdressing job his manager congratulated him and said "be prepared to be a psychiatrist and a therapist as well as a hairdresser". These words stuck with him when he lost a good friend to suicide. Tom decided to use his barber's chair to get men to open up about their problems. He set up the Lions Barbers Collective, which runs Barber Talk training for barbers all over the world.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: June ChristiePicture: Tom Chapman Credit: Tom Chapman

Ervina and Prefina Bangalo were born in Mbaïki, in the Central African Republic, with the back of their heads joined together. Their chances of surviving were incredibly low. By chance, Italian doctor Mariella Enoc was visiting the paediatric ward they were in. She immediately fell in love with the babies and decided to take them and their mum, Ermine Nzotto, to the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital in Vatican City, where pioneering neurosurgeon Dr Carlo Efisio Marras and a team of 30 doctors and nurses were able to separate them. It took almost two years and three surgeries to complete the separation. In June 2020 the children were finally able to look into each other’s eyes.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Conjoined twins, Ervina and Prefina Bangalo, with mother Ermine Nzotto before they were separated. Picture Credit: Bombino Gesu Children's Hospital

Hoyt Richards has been called the first male supermodel. In the 1980s and 90s he jet-setted around the world doing shoots for Versace and Ralph Lauren, and moving in the same circles as stars like Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Madonna. But outside of working hours he was involved with a cult called Eternal Values. They believed there would be a catastrophe at the turn of the century and the group would have a crucial role to play. This episode was first released on 29th March 2018. Presenter: Jo Fidgen. Producer: Catrin Manel. Picture: Hoyt Richards. Credit: Fabrizio Gianni.

The Recycled Orchestra run by Favio Chavez, began as a safe haven for kids living in the Cateura slum. It turned into a global phenomenon when it caught the attention of rock royalty and actual royalty around the world. Playing instruments made from the trash thrown away at the local landfill site, teenagers who once only knew the streets around their homes now travel across the planet performing with bands like Megadeth, Metallica and Stevie Wonder. But despite their success, they still play the same instruments made of garbage and remain in the shanty town, putting everything they make back into their community. Archive in this programme is from the documentary Landfill Harmonic.Presenter: Clayton Conn Producer: Mariana Des ForgesPicture: Favio Chavez Credit: Landfill Harmonic Movie

Nicole Fosse is the daughter of two American dance superstars – Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. Their legendary collaboration led to the reinvention of the modern musical, and huge stage and screen successes like Chicago and Cabaret. They were one of the most influential couples in show business and their style has inspired even Beyonce and RuPaul. The Fosse-Verdon relationship was remarkable but, as Nicole recalls, life wasn’t always as smooth as her parents’ celebrated choreography.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Bob Fosse, Nicole Fosse and Gwen Verdon Credit: Getty Images

In 1988 Li Jingzhi’s 2-year-old son was abducted from a hotel lobby in China and disappeared without a trace. She never stopped looking for him, appearing on numerous Chinese television shows and distributing more than 100,000 flyers. Through her many years of searching she was able to help reunite many other parents with their missing children. Then this year, after 32 years she was finally reunited with her son.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Mao Yin reuniting with his mother Li Jingzhi Credit: Getty Images

Jack Sim is a Singaporean multi-millionaire tycoon with an unusual nickname: Mr Toilet. His obsession with toilets has had him mingling with presidents, A-list celebrities, he's even had a resolution passed at the UN. After growing up without a working toilet in Singapore he's now on a global mission to make sure others don't go through the same.Presenter: Emily WebbPicture: Jack Sim aka Mr Toilet Credit: Jim Orca

When Judy Heumann was growing up in the 1950s, expectations for someone like her were low. Her disability wasn't her main problem, it was other people's prejudices. Judy Heumann was the first person in a wheelchair to become a teacher in New York, and she went on to dedicate her life to fighting discrimination. In doing, so has helped shape history. In April 1977, she helped orchestrate the longest ever occupation of a federal building in the history of the US. As a result of that, important regulations were brought in which made it both illegal and costly to discriminate against disabled people in many areas. And those regulations paved the way for further victories. Her book is called Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist. Presenter: Emily Webb. Producer: Fiona Woods. Picture: Judy Heumann.  Credit: Rick Guidotti/Positive Exposure.

Growing up, Julie Lindahl felt a sense of shame hung over her family, but had no idea why. Her father’s dying words confirmed she needed answers. And so began a seven year search for information. She started at the German Federal Archives where she was handed a file that exposed her grandfather’s Nazi past. Her findings sent her on a life-changing journey to track down and make amends with people who had fallen victim to her grandfather’s brutality.Julie has written a book about her story called The Pendulum: A Granddaughter's Search for Her Family's Forbidden Nazi Past.Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Mariana Des ForgesPicture: Julie Lindahl aged three and her grandfather in Brazil Credit: Courtesy of Julie Lindahl

A few years ago, writer Mira Feticu received an anonymous letter with instructions on how to find a stolen Picasso, buried under a tree in a Romanian forest. The painting, the Tête d'Arlequin or Harlequin Head, had been stolen in 2012 from the Rotterdam's Kunsthal museum. Within days, Mira had found the spot where the artwork was supposed to be hidden. But a shock was in store.   Presenter: Jo Fidgen. Producer: Fiona Woods.Picture: Pablo Picasso's Harlequin Head. Credit: The Triton Collection Foundation.

When war broke out in Somalia in the 1990s, Omar Mohamed’s dad was killed and he was separated from his mum. Omar, who was only four at that time, picked up his disabled younger brother Hassan and started running. The brothers eventually ended up in Kenya’s vast Dadaab refugee camp - the biggest refugee camp in Africa. For years, they never stopped looking for their mother. Until one day, rumours spread around the camp that a woman was looking for them. Could this stranger be Omar and Hassan’s mum?    Omar's extraordinary story has been turned into a graphic novel co-written by Victoria Jamieson, and illustrated by Victoria Jamieson and Iman Geddy. It’s called When stars are scattered. Omar has set up his own charity called Refugee Strong.   Presenter: Jo Fidgen. Producers: Katy Takatsuki and June Christie. Picture: Omar Mohamed. Credit: Patrick Blain.

Anas Aremeyaw Anas is very well known in Africa, even though almost no one knows what he looks like. Anas is a trained lawyer-turned-investigative reporter in Ghana, and a frequent presenter of the BBC's Africa Eye. In his nearly 20 years working undercover, he's exposed judges taking bribes for a not guilty verdict; top football officials fixing matches; sex trafficking rings; organ harvesting. To do so, he had to disguise himself as a psychiatric patient, as a janitor in a brothel and as a rock in a barren landscape. His work has led to numerous convictions, but his methods are sometimes dangerous and controversial. His latest investigation for BBC Africa Eye is called Corona Quacks, exposing the sale in Ghana of fake 'cures' for coronavirus.Presenter: Jo Fidgen. Producers: Andrea Kennedy and Harry Graham.Picture: Anas Aremeyaw Anas. Credit: BBC Africa Eye.

Colin Foord and Jared McKay are childhood best friends with a passion for aquatic life. As a kid Colin developed a strong love of sea life and would construct his own aquariums. Later, when Jay was suffering from depression, Colin would send him equipment needed to build his own reef aquarium in his living room. Eventually they became partners in a coral business, growing home grown corals in their living rooms. Their love of coral life led them to create bespoke films, music and artwork, an eventually install Coral City Camera, a webcam streaming live from an urban coral reef in Miami which since lockdown has attracted thousands of dedicated daily viewers.Presenter: Clayton Conn. Producer: Maryam Maruf.Picture: Colin Foord (R) and Jared McKay (L). Credit: Karli Evans.

Arlene Violet served as a nun for 23 years in the US state of Rhode Island. When she was there she realised that there were big problems locally: the mob ruled the streets and a Colombian drug cartel had moved in. Arlene thought it was her duty to fight the injustices she saw every day, so she decided to run for State Attorney General. She went on to become the first woman in that role, and she sent 18 top criminals to jail. This podcast was first released on 31st March 2018.Presenter: Emily Webb Image: rosary and bible Credit: Don Bayley/Getty Images

Joël Karekezi is a Rwandan director, scriptwriter and producer with a string of awards to his name. His films, such as Imbabazi: The Pardon, and The Mercy of the Jungle, deal with issues around the brutality of conflict and war, but also the possibility of forgiveness and hope. And they are themes that were set in his mind from a very young age. Because when he was a boy, Joël lived through the Rwandan genocide, in which an estimated 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus were killed by extremist Hutu militias. Making films has given Joël a chance to make sense of what he and his family went through during that time. Presenter: Emily Webb. Producer: Rebecca Vincent. Picture: Joël Karekezi during filmmaking. Credit: Ali Musoke.

British diver Chris Lemons was working on an oil well underwater in the North Sea in Scotland. He was connected to a boat with something called an 'umbilical chord', which also provided him with air and heat. But he ended up getting tangled in the line and was stuck on the sea bed with only five minutes of air left in his tank. A rescue team was over 35 minutes away. How he was able to survive has left medical experts baffled.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie First published on April 23rd, 2019Picture: Diver Chris Lemons Credit: Courtesy of Dogwoof

Arshay Cooper likens his childhood on the westside of Chicago to "what soldiers experience in war." His father absent, his mother battling an addiction to drugs, Arshay and his three siblings struggled to put food on the table, or to heat their tiny one-bedroom apartment. From a young age Arshay was aware that in his neighbourhood, “the big question wasn’t what college you were going to go to, but what gang you were going to join.” Still, he knew the life of a gang member wasn't for him. So when Arshay came across an unusual sight in his school cafeteria one day - a rowing boat with a notice: "Join the Crew Team" - he was intrigued, but wary. The next day the boat was still there, and this time they were offering free pizza to anyone who signed up. The decision to join would lead Arshay to become captain of the first ever African-American high school rowing team in the US, take him and his team-mates into the elite, white-dominated world of amateur rowing - and change their lives for ever.Arshay Cooper has written a memoir, A Most Beautiful Thing, which has been turned into a film of the same name. The memoir is available now, the film will be released on 31 July. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Arshay Cooper during rowing practice with the Manley high school crew. Credit: Heather Stone courtesy of Tribune Content Agency

“Ana” (not her real name) lives in Georgia and is a single mother with two children of her own. She has also given birth to two other children for couples who couldn’t carry them themselves. In return, she received a payment. In Georgia, commercial surrogacy is legal but it carries a stigma so great that Ana didn’t even tell members of her own family what she was doing. She spent the final months of her pregnancy almost entirely behind closed doors.Just a few months ago Ana was carrying a baby for Patrick and Enitan, they’re from Zimbabwe and Nigeria respectively and live in Canada, around 8,500 km away from Ana, but their connection belies that distance. Throughout the pregnancy Ana, Patrick and Enitan would talk over the internet. They told us, “It was beautiful from the first time we talked to her.” Ana would send them photos of her growing belly and then, nine months later, she would deliver them a baby boy.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Jo ImpeyImage by Alice Haworth-Booth for BBC Woman's Hour

What is it like to be the daughter of a sporting legend? To many, Muhammad Ali was known as The Greatest, whether as a boxing hero, a pioneering civil rights campaigner, or a world-class entertainer. To Hana Ali though, he was the man who put on magic shows for strangers and recorded interviews with her crushes at school. This podcast was first released 13th October 2018Image: a young Hana Ali and her father Muhammad Ali Credit: Hana AliPresenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy Davis

Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda’s office is a war zone, she goes to meet warlords and military commanders to persuade them to release the children in their ranks and from prisons. And it’s not always just the military leaders who need convincing, sometimes the children are too afraid to leave, so she often shares her own story of growing up as a Congolese Iranian during the violence of the Iran-Iraq war.Priscillia is a human rights lawyer and the co-founder of the Collective for Black Iranians, a not-for-profit organisation with the mission to represent Black and Afro-Iranians' voices within the Iranian diaspora.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Jo ImpeyPicture: Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda at work Credit: Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda

Violin virtuoso Min Kym was at the height of her career when she became the victim of a crime that made headlines around the world. She was a child prodigy whose family moved from South Korea to London to help her to develop her talent. Then, at 21, she met the love of her life: a Stradivarius violin. She would joke that she was 99% violin and 1% human. But then her violin was stolen. We first spoke to Min in 2017. It’s been a long journey to find a new soulmate but next week she picks up her brand new, specially commissioned, violin that she has watched grow from a piece of wood. She’s hoping it will be the new perfect partner. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Emily Webb Photo: Min Kym with her Stradivarius violin Credit: Toby Jacobs/courtesy of Min Kym

60 years ago this week a young British woman called Jane Goodall entered the Gombe Stream National Park on the shores of Lake Tanganyika - where she made a discovery that changed our understanding of what it is to be human. She'd gone there to observe chimpanzees, our close relatives. But we didn't know just how much we have in common until Jane had studied them. Now 86, Dame Jane Goodall is still devoted to chimps, and campaigns for a more enlightened attitude towards them. She spoke to Outlook's Jo Fidgen in 2016Image: Dr.Jane Goodall with orphan chimpanzee Uruhara at the Sweetwaters Sanctuary in Kenya Credit: Michael Neugebauer

Ishmael Beah was just a boy when war reached his village in Sierra Leone and he was forced to flee. In the chaos, he was separated from his family. He ended up with a group of other children at what they thought was the safety of an army base. But instead he was taught to become a hardened killer and sent out to fight. Nearly three years went by before he was finally rescued by child protection specialists from Unicef but he was so brainwashed that he didn't want to leave. It took months of careful rehabiliation and the support of a very special woman to break through his defences. In 1996, at the age of just 16, he gave a speech at the UN in New York where he spoke out about his experiences. His testimony formed part of a pivotal report about the impact of armed conflict on children. A decade later, he would become the first Unicef Advocate for Children Affected by War. Today he is a bestselling author, who has just written his second novel, Little Family. He is also married, with three children of his own.This interview contains disturbing descriptions of violence.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Jo ImpeyPhoto: Ishmael Beah Credit: Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda

Blood, gold and secrets at the Olympic pool.Greg Louganis is one of the most celebrated divers in the US, and a record-breaking athlete. But Greg is also famous for one of the biggest shocks in Olympic history – cutting his head on a diving board, and the revelations that followed. This podcast was first released on the 17th November 2018.Presenter: Sofia Bettiza Producer: Maryam MarufImage: Greg Louganis Credit: Pascal Rondeau Allsport/Getty Images

Sam Mills is a British writer who has always turned to fictional characters for answers in her life. Whether that was Roald Dahl's Matilda when she was younger or Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway as an adult, they've always been the language she's used to interpret her situation. As a child, Sam didn't understand why her dad would disappear for long stretches of time so she'd tell her classmates he'd been abducted by a gang and was being held hostage. These were stories inspired by some of her favourite authors. When she was 14 years old she found out what was really happening, her father had schizophrenia. Sam's favourite storybooks continued to help her to process the world and when she became her father's primary carer, they became a lifeline.Sam has written a book about her experience called Fragments of My Father.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Alice Gioia Picture: Pages of a book Credit: BBC

Rufus Wainwright was once described by Elton John as 'the greatest songwriter on the planet'. He's the son of two North American folk music legends – Loudon Wainwright III and Kate McGarrigle but went on to forge his own prolific career. He's got 12 albums under his belt including the Grammy-nominated Rufus Does Judy at Carnegie Hall where he sang Over the Rainbow with his mother Kate on stage, a song they’ve performed since his childhood. Rufus was especially close to his mum, early on in his songwriting career he looked to her for advice and approval, and her support helped him through a destructive crystal meth addiction. They sang together often, right up until she died from cancer in 2010.Rufus' latest album is called Unfollow the Rules. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Rufus Wainwright with his mother Kate McGarrigle Credit: Getty Images

Elizabeth Anionwu spent her earliest years in a British children’s home. Her mother, a promising Cambridge University student, got pregnant by accident following a relationship with a Nigerian law student at the same university and was forced to give her baby up. Although Elizabeth’s mother was loving and always kept in touch, Elizabeth’s childhood was unsettled. For many years she was the only mixed-race child in the children’s home, and when she left the institution, to live first with her mother and stepfather, and later with her grandparents, Elizabeth never felt wholly accepted. Despite her academic potential, Elizabeth’s family ended her schooling at 16. She quickly found a job as a nursing assistant, and from there went on to train as a nurse. It’s a profession on which she has had a huge impact, championing the rights and care of patients with sickle cell anaemia and becoming Britain’s first sickle cell nurse specialist. Now Professor Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, she’s regarded as a pioneer in her field, but it was only later in life that she felt a true sense of belonging. A question to her mother about her father’s identity set a chain of events in motion that would lead to a treasured reunion – not just with her father, but with a wider Nigerian family who treated her from the start as one of their own.

It's Outlook's 54th year on air and to celebrate, we're letting our listeners take over today's programme. Margo Perin is an Outlook listener with a story of her own. As a child in the USA she was constantly on the move, with a new surname and address every few years. Unsure of what her father really did for a living, her childhood was shrouded in mystery. It wasn't until she was much older that she'd come to understand her family's secrets, and why they were on the run. She spoke to Outlook's Emily Webb.Peter van Straten is another listener who sent a remarkable story our way, this time about a friend of his Mandisa Gushu. Mandisa grew up in a dysfunctional home in one of the poorest parts of South Africa. After naming herself at the age of six, she managed to make her way through school and nursing college and is now working at a hospital in the UK. We always love to receive stories from our listeners. If you have a story you want told, or know somebody else who does, email us at [email protected]: Margo Perin Credit: Margo Perin

Daniel Lofredo Rota is an Ecuadorian DJ and musician on a quest to unravel a decades-old family mystery. His eccentric grandfather has left a clue: a grimy, battered suitcase filled with old tapes. Inside are songs, secret loves, and the resurrection of a long-lost record label. This episode was first broadcast on 21 October, 2018.Check out Daniel's Soundcloud page - Quixosis - if you want to listen to all the songs featured in this programme.Produced and presented by Maryam Maruf Image: Records from the Caife catalogue Credit: Courtesy of Daniel Lofredo Rota

Dr Rachel Clarke spends her working life in the company of people who are dying, and she says they’ve taught her everything she needs to know about living. She works in palliative care for England’s National Health Service, providing support for people at the end of their lives. She adores her job - she's written a book about how much she gets out of it. But when her beloved father became terminally ill, she had to face his decline as a daughter, not a doctor. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy TakatsukiPhoto credit: Sarah Oscroft

Lien de Jong was a young girl living in The Hague in the Netherlands when the Second World War broke out. The country was occupied, and her parents took a desperate decision to protect their child, sending her to live with the Van Es family, passionate anti-Nazis who raised Lien as their own. After the end of the war Lien remained with her adoptive family. Her biological parents had been murdered in Auschwitz, and she had nowhere else to go. But the trauma of the war took a heavy toll on Lien, and over time she became increasingly estranged from the Van Es family. Then, years later, she received an email from Bart Van Es. He was the son of Lien's adoptive brother, and he wanted to tell her story. Lien and Bart spoke to Outlook's Jo Fidgen.Photo: Nazi Germany occupies the Netherlands Credit: Getty Images/Three Lions

Roman Dial is a science professor and explorer who's travelled to some of the toughest places on Earth. His son Cody Roman was raised to love the wilderness too, and used to join his father on expeditions around the world. As he grew older, he went on adventures of his own. But in 2014, whilst trekking in the Costa Rican jungle, Cody Roman went missing. Roman Dial began a two year search for his son. He spoke to Outlook's Jo Fidgen.Born in a Rio de Janeiro favela, Elza Soares overcame poverty, child marriage and public scandal to become one of her country's most beloved singers. She started out in the smokey nightclubs of Rio de Janeiro in the 1950s and with her unique raspy voice and the intensity of her dancing, she quickly became a hit on the club scene. In the 1960s a highly publicised relationship with a footballing legend briefly made her a national hate figure, but she came back and now into the seventh decade of her career she continues to be a Brazilian icon. She spoke to Outlook's Harry Graham.Photo Credit: Roman Dial

In January 2020, Dagmar Turner was woken up in the middle of her brain surgery and handed a violin. It was her idea. She was an amateur but committed violinist and was willing to go to drastic lengths to keep playing the instrument. Dagmar had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in her right frontal lobe. It was dangerously close to areas of her brain that were responsible for coordinating delicate movements in her left hand - essential for her musical talent. So she sought the help of Dr Keyoumars Ashkan – he was a respected neurosurgeon but also an accomplished musician, so he understood her love of music. Dr Ashkan agreed to perform an incredibly rare procedure where Dagmar would play the violin during surgery so that he and his team could remove only brain tissue that would not damage her music skills.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Becky VincentPicture: Dagmar Turner with her violin during her brain surgery Credit: King's College London

As a child in the US, Ian Powell had two great loves: art and rock climbing, and he was good at them both. By the early 1990s he had made a name for himself as a sculptor and professional climber, and had taken part in global competitions. He even combined his two great passions by designing climbing holds – objects that climbers grab and stand on as they make their way up a climbing wall. But by 2010, aged 39, Ian was a homeless drug addict and facing prison for credit card fraud. He tells Emily Webb how the climbing world came to his rescue and helped him get his life back on track. He now runs a successful multimillion dollar business making a popular brand of climbing hold.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry GrahamPicture: Ian Powell Credit: Jackie Hueftle

Magicians who used their craft to overcome social awkwardness, sexism and bullying - stories from the UK, Russia and Singapore.British illusionist and writer Derren Brown talks to Emily Webb about some of his famous stunts - like the time he hypnotised almost an entire audience at one of his shows - and how he survived a controversial Russian roulette stunt on live TV. He describes how magic has transformed his understanding of the way humans work and how he lives his own life.Gemma Cairney in conversation with Ekatarina Dobrokhotov, a Russian-born magician who learned magic from the internet and is the most watched female magician on Youtube and Adeline Ng, who incorporates elements of her Chinese culture into her show and is the only practising female magician in Singapore.Steven Frayne, aka Dynamo, isn't your usual white-gloved magician pulling rabbits out of hats. His tricks have seen him walk on water and stroll down the side of a huge building. He's one of the world's most celebrated magicians but it hasn't been an easy path to success. His entire life has been hampered by Crohn's disease, a debilitating inflammatory bowel disease. But he tells Saskia Edwards that this adversity has been the source of inspiration for some of his best tricks.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie, Andrea Kennedy, Saskia EdwardsPicture: Magician or illusionist is showing magic trick Credit: Getty Images

Antonio Roncolato was one of the last survivors to escape London’s Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. He had lived on the 10th floor for 27 years, and was only alerted to the fire when his son Christopher called him at around 01:40. He tried to leave the building but the corridors were filled with black smoke, and then came the official instruction – to stay put. He stayed there for over four hours and as the flames began to creep closer to his home, he called his son in desperation. Outside the building, Christopher took drastic action – crossing police lines to find a firefighter who could bring his father out alive. In the years since the fire, Antonio was one of the first residents to give evidence to the public inquiry into the disaster. He now has a new home and is continuing his fight for justice for the survivors. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Antonio Roncolato Credit: Alessandro Allocca – LondraItalia

In 1979, a teenage Carina Hoang and her siblings boarded a rickety boat with other refugees fleeing Vietnam after the end of the war. They thought they were heading to a refugee camp, but when their boat was turned away from Malaysia, they found themselves stranded on an uninhabited island in the South China Sea. They awaited rescue while more and more boatloads of people filled up the beach. Sleeping out in the rain and fighting off starvation and disease, Carina knew that she had to stay alive to keep her younger siblings safe.They were finally rescued three months later and were reunited with family members who'd faced similar ordeals on nearby islands. Not all of them had survived. Many years later, Carina's aunt was still haunted by the fact she hadn't been able to give her son a proper burial. So Carina decided to return to the island, determined to find his grave and bring peace to their family. It would be the first of many such trips, because when other refugees heard of Carina's mission, they started calling her, asking for help in finding their loved ones.Carina's book is called Boat People: Personal Stories from the Vietnamese Exodus 1975-1996.Presented by Emily Webb Produced by Mariana Des ForgesPhoto: Carina Hoang on her return to the islands Credit: Carina Hoang

Steven Frayne, aka Dynamo, isn't your usual white-gloved magician pulling rabbits out of hats. His tricks have seen him walk on water and stroll down the side of a huge building. He's one of the world's most celebrated magicians but it hasn't been an easy path to success for the British entertainer. His entire life has been hampered by Crohn's disease, a debilitating inflammatory bowel disease. But this adversity has been the source of inspiration for some of his best tricks.His latest TV show Dynamo: Beyond Belief is available now on Sky One.Presented and produced by Saskia EdwardsPicture: Dynamo in a city street at night Credit: courtesy of Clare Britt

Hamed Amiri's family knew they would one day have to leave their home in Afghanistan to travel to the city of Southampton in the UK. It was one of the few places in the world where doctors were able to perform the heart surgery that could save his brother Hussein's life. Then, suddenly, the need to leave became even more urgent. This was the year 2000, and Hamed’s mother was being threatened by the Taliban for speaking out in support of women’s rights and education. The family had to sell their belongings and flee into the night, starting what would be a long and dangerous journey at the mercy of people smugglers. Hamed has recently published a book about his family’s experiences called The Boy With Two Hearts: A Story of Hope.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham / Becky VincentPicture: Hussein (left) and Hamed Amiri as children Credit: Amiri Family

Alex Lacamoire is the award-winning orchestrator, arranger and conductor for the hit musical Hamilton. This hip hop homage to the revolutionary US statesman Alexander Hamilton - which was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda - has become one of the most successful musicals of all time.But Alex has his own story to tell. He's the son of Cuban immigrants, and although he's now one of the world's most celebrated composers, as a child he was diagnosed with a hearing impairment. It was even suggested he go to a school for deaf children. But his mother was determined he would stay in mainstream school. And despite his hearing challenges, his passion and talent for music grew.Alex first encountered Lin-Manuel Miranda back when he was a lyricist and rapper trying to create his first professional show. They joined forces. Lin would dream up the songs, and Alex would work out how the music would sound. And the chemistry between them would form part of the magic behind the development of Hamilton.The Hamilton film will be available to stream on Disney Plus from 3 July, 2020.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Alex Lacamoire and Lin-Manuel Miranda Credit: Theo Wargo / Wire Image / Getty Images

Patrick and Enitan Goredema's baby was born to a surrogate mother in Tbilisi, Georgia at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. They travelled across the world to meet him.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June ChristiePicture: Patrick and Enitan Goredema and their baby son Credit: Pearly Jacob

Robert Bilott is an American lawyer who, in the 1990s defended big corporations, including chemical companies. One day he got a call from a farmer called Wilbur Earl Tennant, whose cattle were dying. Mr Tennant thought something was wrong with his cattle's drinking water.Robert took on what he thought would be a simple case. But what he uncovered was an environmental crisis affecting thousands of people. It became a fight against one of the world’s biggest chemical companies, DuPont.A chemical called PFOA - used in the production of Teflon - had been making its way into the water supply of several towns along the Ohio River. Now this was an unregulated chemical, but studies obtained by Robert as part of the lawsuit against DuPont appeared to show that it could cause cancer in rats and that it could make its way into human blood. Robert became concerned people didn’t realise the chemical could be found in drinking water. He launched a class-action lawsuit against DuPont on behalf of 70,000 people whose water was affected by PFOA. It took six years for a team of independent scientists to conclude a "probable link" between PFOA and a list of health conditions including kidney cancer and thyroid disease.  In 2017 DuPont settled over 3,500 PFOA lawsuits for a total of 671 million dollars. DuPont denies any wrongdoing - the company told us: "We are committed to upholding the highest standards for the wellbeing of our employees, our customers and the communities in which we operate.  In 2006, historical DuPont announced its commitment to discontinue manufacture, purchase, or use of PFOA.”Robert has written a book about what happened called 'Exposure', and a major feature film has been made about his story called 'Dark Waters' where Rob is played by the actor Mark Ruffalo. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June ChristiePicture: Robert Bilott Credit: Getty

In 2017, Freya Lewis was just 14 when she was injured in a bomb blast after an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester in the U.K. She woke up in intensive care to the news that her best friend had been killed. With the support of her family, her community and even her favourite pop stars like Harry Styles and Ariana Grande herself, Freya began to rebuild her life and find joy again in the songs that had become too painful in the aftermath. Hers is a story of a teenage friendship, fandom and the strength to carry on. Freya's book is called What Makes Us Stronger.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Mariana Des ForgesPicture: Freya Lewis in Manchester Credit: Courtesy of Nick Lewis

In 1988, when he was just 17 years old, Marty Tankleff woke to find his mother dead and his father dying. Police immediately took him in for questioning. During the investigation, a detective lied, claiming that Marty’s father, before he’d died, had named Marty as the killer. After hours of interrogation Marty falsely confessed and was charged with the murders. Despite his protestations of innocence at the trial, the prosecution hinged on an unsigned confession the police submitted. Marty was found guilty and was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. Inside, he taught himself the law so he could fight his case. In 2007, after 17 years in prison, an appeals court found key evidence in his trial was overlooked – and all charges against him were dismissed. Marty sued the State of New York and the Suffolk County police department for wrongful conviction and was awarded compensation of more than 13 million US dollars. Adapting to a new life in a new era wasn’t always easy, but he completed his legal training and was sworn in as a lawyer earlier this year.South African teenager Mzwandile Twala was hoping his musical talent would be a passport to a better life. And the signs were promising - with performances abroad, and a very real chance of studying music in Europe. But then came the pandemic and lockdown. Now he finds himself shut indoors, unable to play his violin for an audience. But, as he told Outlook's Mpho Lakaje, he's not one to mope.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Picture: Marty Tankleff Credit: Benny Migs

Victor Vescovo and John Ramsay are key members of the team behind the Five Deeps expedition, which took a one-person submarine to all of the deepest points in the world's five oceans. Victor, a multimillionaire, funded and piloted the submarine. John designed it. They spoke to Outlook's Jo Fidgen.Picture: Victor's submarine Credit: Triton Submarines

Michael J Johnson has a beard that can reach his chest, but he usually styles it to look like a pair of walrus tusks. His facial hair has won him awards at the US National Beard & Moustache Championships four times. The beard took him about eight years of work, but because of coronavirus its days might be numbered. He's an essential worker, and masks don't fit well, so he may be forced to shave soon.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Beard champion Michael MJ Johnson Credit: Elena Stanton

From 26th May same-sex couples have been able to marry for the first time in Costa Rica. Legislation ruling that a ban was unconstitutional has finally come into effect after eighteen months.  But there is one couple who managed to marry even before the ban was lifted. Jazmin Elizondo and Laura Flores Estrada wed back in 2015. They found a legal loophole. Someone made a mistake on Jazmin’s birth certificate and noted that she was male. That small error enabled Jazmin and Laura to make history. Producer: Andrea Kennedy Presenter: Jo FidgenCredit: Jazmin Elizondo and Laura Flores Estrada

Inge Ginsberg has had many lives. After escaping the Holocaust, she ended up as a songwriter to the stars in Hollywood. Now, with perhaps her most unlikely incarnation yet, she performs heavy metal music to screaming fans. First broadcast on 06/10/2018.Presenter: Emily WebbImage: Inge performing with her band, whose faces are painted as skeletons Credit: Lucía Caruso and Music Pedro da Silva

Thierry Durand helped to set up the only dedicated covid-19 hospital in the city of Aden. He was working as a coordinator for the aid organisation Medécins Sans Frontières in the capital, Aden, when the virus hit. But as the numbers of coronavirus patients turning up in his hospital began to rise, it became clear that his skills as a nurse were needed on the front line. The challenges faced by the team are huge and Thierry says that half of the patients they have admitted to their hospital have died. To make matters worse they are also having to deal with rumours circulating on social media that people are dying due to negligence on the part of doctors and nurses. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Jo ImpeyPhoto Credit: Agnes Varraine-Leca MSF

From a young age, Julie Powell had been enthralled by a book in her mother’s pantry: Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It was co-authored by one of America’s culinary titans - the eccentric but pioneering TV chef, Julia Child. Years later when Julie was working as a secretary and suffering from depression, she returned to Julia Child’s book, but this time she decided she was going to master its recipes - all 524 of them, and she would do it in a single year. Her fridge soon became packed with endless leftovers, as she methodically worked her way through Child's great canon. It was a project that puzzled some, including her mother, but before long she and her project had legions of passionate followers. Would Julia Child herself be one of them? Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture Credit: Alamy, Granger Historical Picture Archive.

In June 1976, an Air France flight from Tel Aviv to Paris was hijacked by militants. The plane and its 248 passengers were flown to Entebbe airport in Uganda, where all the Israeli and Jewish passengers on board were held hostage in an old terminal building. The hostage takers were members, or allies, of a Palestinian armed group, and the hijacking was tied to the on going Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Back in Israel, Rami Sherman, who was an officer in an elite military unit, started making plans to get the hostages back. The situation was challenging, and they knew they needed the element of surprise to pull off a rescue. The idea they came up with involved a low altitude flight across East Africa, and a fake presidential motorcade.Picture: Commando team in aftermath of Entebbe raid Credit: Getty Images, Keystone, Stringer

Today we're travelling to the places you can't get to right now, like the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Brazil's National Museum and a treasure trove of cinema memorabilia in London. We meet the incredible people who devote their lives to caring for these places of culture and who are now working hard to keep them alive during lockdown.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Florence Museum Credit: AFP photo, Florence Museum press office handout

Ben McMahon from Melbourne, Australia, has had an unlikely career in Chinese reality TV after waking up from a coma speaking Mandarin. When he was 18 years old, Ben suffered a head injury during a car crash. During his early recovery he was unable to speak his native English, and could only communicate with confused doctors in Mandarin, a language he’d studied in high school. Ben regained his English but his Mandarin stayed strong and helped him secure a spot on a Chinese dating show he was obsessed with.

In 1994 Robert Clerx was studying in Colombia, when an old school friend, Miles Hargrove asked him for a very large favour. To help him buy back his father. The boys had been friends since Miles and his family had moved to Colombia from America for his dad’s job. Then Miles’ dad was kidnapped by the Farc guerrilla group, who demanded a six million dollar ransom and would only negotiate with family, or a friend. But the family didn’t feel confident that their Spanish was good enough to take on such a delicate and risky task. So they asked for Robert's help. Miles' film about their ordeal is called: Miracle Fishing. Picture: Miles Hargrove and the team planning his dad's hostage negotiations Credit: Miles Hargrove

Pauline Dakin is a Canadian journalist, broadcaster and a professor of journalism in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, her childhood was marked by many mysterious incidents and unexplained getaways - where her family suddenly had to flee at a moment's notice and she couldn't talk to anyone about what was going on. Pauline tells Jo Fidgen how she managed to uncover her family's extraordinary secret - including a hidden community called the 'weird world'.This interview was first broadcast in December 2017Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producers: Becky Vincent, Thomas Harding-Assinder, Maryam MarufPicture: Pauline Dakin Picture credit: Penguin

Nakuset only goes by one name and it means "The Sun" in her indigenous Canadian culture. Born into an abusive household, her early days were difficult and it wasn't long before she and her sister Sonya were taken into care by social services. This was the 1970s, and there was a widespread policy of taking indigenous children and putting them up for adoption with white families, removing them from their culture in the process. Nakuset was adopted, her sister wasn't. It was a painful process for Nakuset, but her eventual reunion with Sonya as an adult helped her get in touch with her heritage. The two sisters became close, but sadly their respective childhood experiences had left them scarred, and the reunion didn't have a fairy-tale ending. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Harry GrahamPhoto credit: Nakuset

Caitlin Henderson loves spiders. For the last few months, she was working for a travelling spider exhibition in Australia. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, she had reached Queensland – the venues shut down and the spiders needed somewhere to go. Suddenly Caitlin found herself living in lockdown with 70 spiders in her rented bedroom. Welcome to ‘Hotel Arachnid’.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Caitlin Henderson surrounded by spiders Credit: Caitlin Henderson

Gene Luen Yang grew up in a Chinese family in the United States, and when his mum bought him his first Superman comic, the story immediately resonated with him. Gene went on to become a cartoonist, and he even helped create the first Chinese Superman character. He is also the first graphic novelist to be a finalist for the National Book Award and his most recent book is called Dragon Hoops. Presenter: Emily Webb. Producer: Katy Takatsuki. Picture: Gene Luen Yang. Credit: Courtesy of Gene Luen Yang.

Rez Gardi grew up in a refugee camp - the child of Kurdish human rights activists who had fled to Pakistan. For years she was denied an education, but she excelled anyway. Now she is a Harvard educated lawyer and she is fighting to prosecute IS war crimes in Iraq.Presenter: Emily Webb. Producer: Harry Graham. Picture: Rez Gardi. Credit: Courtesy of Rez Gardi.

Cheyne Flanagan is the clinical director of the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital in New South Wales, Australia. When the bushfires started raging across the country in 2019, her team mounted a huge rescue operation to save as many animals as they could.Presenter: Emily Webb. Producer: Andrea Kennedy. Picture: Cheyne Flanagan tending to Paul the Koala. Credit: Nathan Edwards/Getty Images.

Wynton Marsalis grew up in New Orleans in what’s been called America’s ‘first family of jazz’. His pianist father Ellis gave him a trumpet when he was six years old, but there was a slight issue - he didn't like playing and he didn't like jazz. But when Wynton started listening to his dad’s records, he had a musical epiphany. Mentored by his father, Wynton began a ground-breaking career. He’s sold millions of records worldwide, hosted jazz clinics on Sesame Street and at the White House, and made history by becoming the first jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. After Ellis died last month from coronavirus, Wynton led a virtual jazz parade in memory of his beloved father.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Wynton Marsalis Credit: Getty Images

When filmmaker Ray Klonsky was a teenager he received a letter from David McCallum, an inmate at a New York prison who was already more than 10 years into his sentence for a murder he said he did not commit. The pair became penpals and after a while, Ray and his father Ken started searching for evidence that could prove their new friend's innocence. In a remarkable story of chance encounters, a decade-long fight for justice began, with the help of the world-famous boxer Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter. Ray has made a film about their story, it's called Fight for Justice: David and Me Presented and produced by Saskia Edwards Picture: David McCallum and Ray Klonsky at the beach Credit: Ray Klonsky

Kalista Sy is on a mission to show Senegalese women that they can be themselves. She’s created a TV series called “Maitresse d'un homme marié” which tackles subjects which are normally off limits in Senegal – such as sex, infidelity, domestic abuse and polygamy. The series is hugely popular, even though it has been criticised by religious clerics and TV regulators in the country. Kalista tells Jo Fidgen how she learned to write a TV series via the internet and how women get in touch with her all the time to tell her their stories. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Jo ImpeyPicture: Kalista Sy Credit: FDF Paris Creative Agency

Francois Clemmons is a singer and founder of the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble in America, but he became famous as an actor when he played the role of Officer Clemmons in the hit children’s TV programme 'Mister Rogers Neighborhood'. He joined the show in 1968, and was an important role model for young African-American children, but then he had to make a difficult decision. As a gay man he was told that his sexuality was not compatible with his TV role, so he had to choose between his sexuality and his TV career. Although he chose the latter, he was able to be open about his sexuality years later. He tells Jo Fidgen how much the show meant to him over the years and how forming his spiritual ensemble was a dream come true for him.He's written a book called Officer Clemmons: A Memoir.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Clemmons with King Friday and Queen Sara Credit: The Fred Rogers Company

Jessel Recinos loved the skate park in his hometown in Honduras, but it was there that he got drawn into a gang. When he was 16, Jessel was shot in the back - and barely survived, but as soon as he could walk again he went back to rollerblading. He created a club called Skate Brothers which offers young people an alternative to crime. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: In-line skater flies off the ramp Credit: LawrenceSawyer/Getty Images

Daniela Tejada said goodbye to her husband at the start of his work trip to the United Arab Emirates. She expected to see him in two weeks – but he disappeared. Picture: Matthew Hedges and his wife Daniela Tejada Credit: Daniela Tejada Credit: audio clip used from animation series, Archer created by Adam Reed for the basic cable network FX. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Fiona Woods

Joy Harjo survived prejudice and abuse, failed marriages and single motherhood to become one of America's most acclaimed poets. In 2019, she was appointed the US Poet Laureate, becoming the first Native American in history to be awarded the post. Her poetry is deeply rooted in indigenous histories and myths but part of her inspiration comes from jazz, including the Miles Davis tracks her father played in the car when she was a child. Joy's latest poetry collection is called An American Sunrise and in April 2020, she was appointed to a second term as Poet Laureate.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Joy Harjo Credit: Getty Images

Around the world nurses are risking their lives to treat coronavirus patients. Intensive Care Units in particular have been described as the frontline of this pandemic. It's there that the sickest Covid-19 patients are looked after round-the-clock by highly specialised nurses. Today two of those nurses from two different continents are sharing their stories with Kim Chakanetsa.Hannah Gray is a 23-year-old nurse working in an Intensive Care Unit at a major London hospital. Her unit has rapidly expanded to accommodate extra patients, and all the staff are getting used to working in full PPE or Personal Protective Equipment. Bianca Dintino is a 26-year-old critical care nurse based at Tufts Medical Center in Boston. She was among the first to volunteer to work with coronavirus patients when they started arriving at her hospital in mid-March. She describes the camaraderie that has developed among her co-workers during this difficult time.Presenter: Kim Chakanetsa Producer: Jo ImpeyPicture: (L) Bianca Dintino & (R) Hannah Gray Credit: Anne Marie & Simi Sebastian

When Harry Turner left the UK for Peru to clear his head, he never expected to become a father... and to a very unlikely baby. He told Rajan Datar how he helped save a baby ocelot in the Peruvian jungle and how the ocelot saved him in return.If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this programme, you can find details of organisations offering information and support at this address: bbc.co.uk/actionline.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: June ChristiePicture: Harry Turner and a baby ocelot Credit: Harry Turner

Cuban principal ballet dancers Mayara Piñeiro Contido and Etienne Díez found love in exile. They now perform as a couple on stages around the world. Reporter: Colm Flynn Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Mayara Piñeiro Contido and Etienne Díez Credit: Courtesy Pennsylvania Ballet

Il Postino: The Postman, was a hugely successful Italian film made in 1994, but behind the scenes tragedy had played out during production. The lead, Massimo Troisi was plagued by heart problems relating to a childhood illness. The film’s British director, Michael Radford, was faced with a difficult decision, to finish the film or stop, as Massimo’s health deteriorated on set. He opted to push on with the production, but Massimo didn’t quite make it. He died the day after principle filming ended. Michael went on to complete the film, wanting to make it something that Massimo would have been proud of.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Harry GrahamPhoto: Massimo Troisi Credit Getty Images/Michael Ochs Archive

Ted Ngoy was among the first Cambodians to find refuge in America from the Khmer Rouge. He was scratching a living at a petrol station when he got a whiff of a donut and something clicked in him. He learned to bake, then trained and supported other refugees like himself, and was soon presiding over a multimillion dollar business. He was known as the Donut King, and had the deep respect of his family and his community. But he struggled to hang on to his crown. Ted’s story is featured in the documentary The Donut King.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Ted Ngoy Credit: Getty Images

The dramatic turnaround of a carnival runaway and drug addict who spent more than 20 years living on the streets. Today Anthony Brown is a psychiatric nurse and college professor. He has written a book about his remarkable journey called: From Park Bench to Park Avenue.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Anthony Brown Credit: Rik Boose

Knut Kreuch was a 13-year-old schoolboy in 1979 when his town in East Germany was shaken by an audacious and baffling art heist. Five very old and valuable paintings were stolen from a museum within the local castle and simply disappeared. Not even the feared secret police, the Stasi, could solve the crime. The mystery fascinated Knut and years later, when he became the town's mayor, he was determined to track down the missing artworks. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Becky Vincent Picture: Knut Kreuch Credit: DPA

In the 1970s, American helicopter pilot Jerry Foster changed the face of modern news reporting. He was often first on the scene at emergencies and daring rescue operations in the Arizona wilderness - sometimes even getting personally involved. Jerry was seen as a hero, but throughout his life, he struggled to live up to the image. There were secrets, scandals and accusations about his behaviour that threatened to ruin his career and life. (First broadcast 29/07/2018.)Presenter: Emily WebbImage: Jerry Foster in his helicopter taking part in a rescue at Arizona's salt river Credit: Courtesy of Jerry Foster

Jamaican-born Derrick Evans also known as Mr Motivator is a fitness instructor who became famous in the 1990s for his TV appearances in the UK. But his journey to fame wasn’t easy. He was given up for adoption at just three months old, and when he moved to the UK in 1958 he faced bullying and racism. He only stumbled into fitness in his mid 20s, when he was struggling to find a job as a single dad in London – and he admits he’s learnt everything he knows from a book on aerobics. When the coronavirus pandemic hit, he made an extraordinary comeback to help people work out while in lockdown.Presenter: Emily Webb. Producer: Harry Graham. Picture: Derrick Evans a.k.a. Mr Motivator. Credit: BBC.

German artist Carlotta has a severe form of prosopagnosia, or face blindness, a brain disorder that means she can’t recognise faces, not even her own. Her condition went undiagnosed for years, and as a result Carlotta tried to avoid other people as much as she could. But she had always loved painting, and she came up with a creative way of creating self-portraits. It was through Carlotta’s art that neuroscientist and filmmaker Valentin Riedl came to meet her. After all these years seeking solitude, Carlotta agreed to work with Valentin and together they made a documentary called Lost in Face.Presenter: Emily Webb. Producer: Fiona Woods.Picture: Carlotta. Credit: Corso Film.

Lynsey Crombie, also known as the 'Queen of Clean', is a successful media personality in the UK. On TV and in her social media posts she gives tips on how to keep your home sparkling clean. Cleaning is now a career for her, but for a long time it was her way to deal with the traumatic discovery that her former husband committed sexual offences against children. Lynsey has now written a book called 'How to Clean Your House and Tidy Up Your Life'.Presenter: Emily Webb. Producer: Thomas Harding-Assinder.Picture: Lynsey Crombie. Credit: Michelle Hardingham.

Jim LeBrecht experienced four blissful and free summers during the 1970s at a place called Camp Jened. This was a progressive camp for disabled teenagers in the Catskill mountains of upstate New York that was filled with music, love and parties. It was a radical break from the way many of the kids there had been treated in the past and for many of the campers, including Jim, it transformed the way they approached their adult lives. Jim went on to become a sound recordist in California and has co-directed a film, with Nicole Newnham, about the camp and his happy memories there. The film is called Crip Camp and it was released on Netflix.Presenter and producer: Emily Webb.Picture: Camp Jened (Steve Honigsbaum). Credit: Netflix.

For most teenage boys who play American football in high school, the National Football League is the dream goal. They will practice for hours every day to get that one chance to make it to the big time. But for Ryan O'Callaghan, he was training for a different reason. Ryan was gay and desperate to hide his sexuality from everybody. He knew the masculine world of football was the perfect place to hide. His career inadvertently took off and he was catapulted into stardom playing for the New England Patriots. But his secret was becoming unbearable, until an unlikely intervention from a kind stranger.Ryan's book is called 'My Life on the Line.' If you are looking for support for any of the issues discussed in this programme, you can find links to useful organisations here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/actionline Presenter: Katy Davis Producer: Mariana Des Forges Picture: Ryan O'Callaghan in his New England Patriots kit Picture Credit: Courtesy of the New England Patriots, Keith Nordstrom-Katie Luther Photography

When Holly Fitzgerald and her husband Fitz’s plane crash-landed in the Peruvian rainforest, their honeymoon of a lifetime travelling across South America quickly became treacherous. Holly was desperate for adventure so instead of waiting 3 months for the next boat out, they decided to build a raft and sail downstream towards the Amazon River. But when a storm washed away their food and their makeshift raft got stuck in a swamp, their adventure became a nightmare. With no supplies and no end in sight, Fitz edged closer towards death. Their relationship, sanity and strength would be pushed to the absolute limit. Holly has written a book called Ruthless River.Picture: Jerry ‘Fitz’ Fitzgerald and plane that crashed Credit: Peter Pereira

In 1994 Tony Cicoria was struck by lightning, and it had the strangest effect on him. Not only did he develop an insatiable desire to listen to piano music - something he'd never been interested in before - but he ended up composing his own sonatas. Reporter: Daniel Gross Producer: Maryam MarufThis interview was first broadcast on 7 August, 2017.Picture: Tony Cicoria Credit: BBC

Cliff Devries was a talented young diver hoping to make the US Olympic team when he discovered he had a life threatening tumour on his spinal cord. He was given less than a year to live. He opted to try an experimental and risky surgery, and when he woke up he was paralysed from the neck down. But he realised that his diving training had prepared him for the gruelling recovery, and eventually enabled him to walk again, become a coach to new young divers and dive each year to celebrate his birthday.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Cliff Devries on the diving board Credit: ESPN

Claire Guest always loved dogs, but she didn’t realise that a dog might save her life one day. She’s a psychologist and animal behaviourist who began researching whether dogs could smell illness in people. Claire set up a charity to train dogs to detect diseases such as cancer in humans. She had a special bond with her Labrador Daisy, who started acting strangely around her one day. The dog alerted Claire to a lump in her breast, which Claire says saved her life. Daisy detected over 500 cases and won a Blue Cross medal for dogs. Now Claire is working with doctors and scientists to try and sniff out Covid-19 as well as working as the CEO for her charity Medical Detection Dogs.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPhoto: Dr Claire Guest Credit: Janine Warwick

When Sally Bayley was 14, she hit rock bottom. She was in care, had been rejected by her family and she wasn't eating. So who did she turn to when she was at her lowest? Shakespeare. Through reading, she was taken to places she could have never imagined. (First released 9th June 2018)Image: open book on the beach Credit: Eskemar/iStock /Getty Images PlusPresenter: Emily Webb

Covid-19 has claimed thousands of lives in New York, and medical professionals are working around the clock to treat patients coming into the emergency room. Rob Gore is one of those doctors fighting the battle against the virus, wearing a hazmat suit for long shifts at the hospital. He’s even taking care of friends, neighbours and co-workers in intensive care. Outlook last spoke to Rob in 2018 about his work preventing the gun violence he saw around him in his community. He set up an organisation called KAVI – Kings Against Violence Initiative. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Deiniol Buxton Picture: Rob Gore and his colleagues Credit: Courtesy of Rob Gore

Catherine Cho had a difficult birth with her son Kato, but she was recovering and excited to introduce the new baby to her family back home in the US. She and her husband James were stressed, travelling with a two-month-old child, and she was exhausted. Her family and friends were full of warnings about the dangers of parenting, but none could have predicted the terrifying things she started to experience. She believed she was trapped in the circles of hell and saw horrible things which weren’t there. Catherine was experiencing post-partum psychosis. She’s written a book about her journey back to reality and learning to love her son again, which is called Inferno: A Memoir. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Becky Vincent & Alice GioiaPicture: Catherine Cho Credit: Alastair Levy

Brisa de Angulo is no stranger to home-schooling; in fact she’s something of an expert. She teaches her three young children at home, on top of running A Breeze of Hope – the charity she founded to help young survivors of sexual assault. Brisa established that organisation because as a teenager in Bolivia, she was raped by a relative and when she came forward about her ordeal, she spent years going through the courts fighting for justice. Outlook’s Jo Fidgen first spoke to Brisa in 2017, and recently caught up with her to hear how the children she works with are getting on, and for some much needed tips for parents and guardians home-schooling their kids during the coronavirus lockdown. Emma Laukitis knows all about the pleasures and pitfalls of home-schooling. She grew up on a remote island of Alaska and, along with her sister, learned by exploring the seashore and working with their parents on the land.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam MarufPhoto: Brisa de Angulo home-schooling her children Credit: Courtesy of Brisa de Angulo

Now a household name in international rugby, Nigel Owens grew up in a small village in Wales. At the time, he didn’t know any openly gay people, so when he started feeling attracted to men he felt he had to hide it. Nigel struggled for years with bulimia, steroid addiction and even a suicide attempt before accepting himself. Through it all, rugby refereeing became his passion and as his career took off, he realised he had to reveal who he was publicly to achieve his dream. But Nigel still didn’t know how the rugby world would accept him as the first in the professional sport to come out.North Korean defector Mi-Hyang Park (not her real name) remembers her life there as a child, and how after escaping the country to China her family were still not safe. She tells Outlook reporter Je Seung Lee about bringing her children to Europe and how her eldest formed a special friendship with another refugee.Photo: Referee Nigel Owens during the 2020 Six Nations France v England game Credit: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

John Corcoran grew up in the US during the 1940s and 50s. As a kid, John was really looking forward to going to school like his older siblings. But once he got there, he realised he had a problem: he couldn’t learn to read or write. John felt demoralised and degraded, but he kept his secret for more than 40 years. During that time he managed to finish school, graduate and he even became a high school teacher. How did he do it? This episode was first broadcast on 14 April, 2018.Producer: Alice Gioia Presenter: Maryam MarufImage: books with letters flying off the page Credit: efks/Getty Images

Cliff Morrison moved to San Francisco to work as a nurse in the late 1970s, when people around him started dying from a mystery illness. It was the beginning of the Aids epidemic and Cliff found himself on the frontline. He saw how Aids patients were discriminated against and kept in isolation, so he established a special ward where he pioneered a new compassionate approach to caring for them. Cliff went on to implement that model in hospitals across the world. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham & Tom RoseingravePhoto: Cliff Morrison Credit: 5B Film

On the 2nd October 2018 Hatice Cengiz and journalist Jamal Khashoggi visited the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The purpose of their visit was to collect some papers they needed to get married. They had only known each other for months but quickly realized they wanted to spend their lives together. Hatice waited outside the Consulate, dreaming of their wedding, but Jamal never came out of that building. What happened to him became worldwide news. Now, 18 months later, the international uproar has died down but for Hatice life is forever changed.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Fiona WoodsPhoto: Jamal Khashogg pictured with his fiancee Hatice Cengiz Credit: Courtesy of Hatice Cengiz

At nearly 14 years old, Christian Picciolini was recruited into a neo-Nazi group in his hometown of Chicago. Throughout his 8 years of membership, he took part in violent attacks, actively enlisted new members and even became a leader of the movement. He wrote and recorded racist music, opening a record shop to sell their music promoting white supremacy. But it was in that store where he would meet the people who would challenge his beliefs, leading him to abandon the movement. Now he uses his unique perspective to dismantle the very groups he was once a part of, helping hundreds to disengage from extremism. Christian is the founder of the Free Radicals Project and has written a book called Breaking Hate. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Alice GioiaPhoto: Christian Picciolini Credit: Peter Tsa

Marzia Salam Yaftali is the Chief Physician of the only hospital in Kunduz - she discusses her experience of the Taliban, misogyny and the threat of coronavirus.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Dr Marzia Salam Yaftali Credit: courtesy Dr Marzia Salam Yaftali

Tito Quiroz used to wave up at the inmates of the prison next door to his university in Ensenada, Mexico, and they'd wave back from their cell windows. Then, one day, he got the opportunity to go inside to teach them his passion, the violin. Tito endured the somewhat intimidating atmosphere inside, and found an audience desperate to learn. One man in particular would use the music he was imbued with to turn his life around. Image: Tito Quiroz Credit: Clayton Conn

Kim Cheol-woong grew up in an elite family and excelled at the piano. When he was interrogated by North Korean authorities for playing a western song, he decided to defect. But to find safety, he had to brave freezing temperatures, treacherous borders, and the Chinese police. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Nathan Gower

Jennifer Hosten was the first woman of colour to win the Miss World contest, taking victory against a backdrop of protest. She became a heroine for women all over the world, and then became her home country Grenada's High Commissioner to Canada.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Alice Gioia & Nathan GowerPicture: Jennifer Hoston wins Miss World Credit: BBC

Jonathan Shurin is an ecologist with an unusual research brief. He studies a group of hippos in northwestern Colombia who trace their origins to the private zoo of drug lord Pablo Escobar. When Escobar was shot dead by police in 1993, the Colombian government seized his entire estate - but his four hippos were left to fend for themselves. They’ve lived wild in the area since then, and the group now number between 80 and 100. Along with biologist Nelson Aranguren-Riaño, Jonathan has published his study on the impact of the hippos - considered an ‘invasive species’ - on the local ecosystem. It will help to determine the future of the hippos in the area. Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Alice Gioia Picture: Hippos at the Hacienda Nápoles ranch in Colombia Credit: Getty Images

Many listeners will be staying home at the moment – following the advice of some governments around the world to slow the spread of coronavirus. The sense of confinement will be familiar to a team of scientists who spent a year living on a Hawaiian volcano. Cut off from the outside world, they were part of a Nasa sponsored experiment to investigate how humans might adapt to living on Mars. Mauricio Hoyos Padilla spends time living and conducting research in some of the most isolated spots around the world. It’s part of his job as a marine biologist studying great white sharks – and he’s become known for high-fiving the fearsome creatures.Producer: Harry Graham & Saskia Edwards Presenter: Rajan DatarPicture: The scientists' base at the Mauna Loa volcano, Hawaii Credit: Neil Scheibelhut / AFT / Getty Images

Hans and Nancy Benning met in Germany while studying the art of lutherie-repairing stringed instruments. Their love and work gave Hans the happiness he longed for growing up homeless and malnourished in West Germany during World War 2. Now living in California, they have been making and preserving the world’s most priceless violins for four decades.Presenter: Clayton Conn Producer: Deiniol Buxton Picture: Hans Benning in his workshop Credit: BBC/ Clayton Conn

José Gregorio Márquez entered a love letter contest with a letter to his neighbourhood in Caracas. He won the contest - but it pushed him further away from his childhood home.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Tom RoseingravePicture: José Gregorio Márquez Credit: courtesy José Gregorio Márquez

83-year-old Pino Pagani is the presenter of Radio Zona Rossa - or Radio Red Zone - in the virus-hit Italian town of Codogno. His show gives people a sense of community while in lockdown.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Pino Pagani (left) and colloborator at Radio Zona Rossa Credit: courtesy Pino Pagani

Meditation teacher Kia Scherr lost her husband and daughter in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. She now spreads a message of peace - and has even worked with the Mumbai police.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Kia Scherr with her 'Pocketbook of Peace' Credit: courtesy Kia Scherr

Pete Paphides' parents moved to the UK from Cyprus in the 1960s to run a fish and chip shop. He was a shy and introverted child, and from the age of four to seven he stopped speaking – which he later learned was called ‘selective mutism’.  But he found great solace in music, and his love of pop developed into something of an obsession. Pete is now a well-known music writer in the UK.Presenter: Rajan Datar Producer: Becky VincentPicture: Pete Paphides as a schoolboy Credit: courtesy Pete Paphides

When Syrian Tamim Kbarh did a call-out on social media offering to help people improve their curriculum vitae, he got more than he bargained for. An impressive CV from Rahaf Al Iymoni dropped into his inbox and it was love at first resume. But he was in Turkey and she in Syria. It would take a challenging three year journey and a virtual wedding for them to meet face to face. Presenter: Andile Masuku Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Rahaf and Tamim smiling in the street Credit: BBC/Andile Masuku

BBC Inspirations 2016 nominee Isaac Nabwana makes action-packed films from his studio in Wakaliga, Kampala. His films have gained him an international fanbase - including US film-maker Alan Hofmanis who dropped everything to move to Kampala to collaborate. Outlook caught up with Isaac to hear about life after his nomination.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy DavisPicture: Isaac Nabwana Credit: Ramon Film Productions

BBC Inspirations 2018 nominee Jorge Bergero is the principal cellist at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. He also plays for people in care homes, prisons and refugee camps, with his organisation Música para el alma, or Music for the Soul. The organisation now boasts 2,500 members - all professional musicians. Emily Webb spoke with Jorge two years after his nomination.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Jorge Bergero Credit: Agustín Benencia

Akram Khan is one of Britain's top contemporary dancers and choreographers. He started off dancing in his family's Indian restaurant, but has gone on to perform in some the world's most celebrated venues. His new ballet, Creature will be performed by the English National Ballet company in London in April, 2020.   Presenter: Saskia Edwards Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Akram Khan performing Credit: Richard Haughton

In February 2018, a princess from Dubai, Sheikha Latifa, tried to escape and start a new life abroad, away from her father, the ruler. Her best friend Tiina Jauhiainen tried to help her but Latifa was caught on a boat, and hasn't been seen since. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssingerPicture: Tiina Jauhianen Credit: BBC

Doctor Thomas Moors has understood the power of the voice since he was part of a boys' choir in Belgium. He took that knowledge with him into his career and now specialises in ears, nose and throat. And now he has done what some thought impossible - formed a choir for people in the UK who have had their voice boxes surgically removed, mostly because of throat cancer, through an operation called a laryngectomy. We also hear the stories of Shout at Cancer choir members Sara Bowden-Evans and Ian Bradshaw, and meet award-winning American filmmaker Bill Brummel. Bill brought his film crew to the UK to follow the choir as they prepare for a concert at an iconic London venue. He has a strong connection with the group, he had a laryngectomy in 2016. His film's called Can you hear my voice. Presenter: Mariana Des Forges Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: The Shout at Cancer choir Credit: Bill Brummel Productions

Australian diver Richard Harris anaesthetised the 12 trapped Thai boys and their coach to swim them to safety - he believed they had no chance of survivalPresenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy TakatsukiPicture: Richard 'Harry' Harris Credit: Kristoffer Paulsen

Sean Sweeney was born hearing into a family where most members are deaf. During the recent Australian bushfires, he interpreted vital emergency information into sign language.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy TakatsukiPicture: Sean Sweeney Credit: Courtesy of Sean Sweeney

Baby Halder grew up loving books, but by the age of only 12, she was married and no longer at school. She later fled to start a new life, and became a globally best-selling author.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producers: Tom Roseingrave and Katy Davis Picture: Baby Halder Credit: Getty Images

In 1978, anti-apartheid activist Tim Jenkin hatched an audacious prison escape plan. From his cell, he would make his own wooden keys to open the prison doors to freedom. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssingerPicture: Tim Jenkin Credit: Raw Television

Akintunde Akinleye is an award-winning photographer who’s spent much of his career in Lagos, Nigeria, photographing the firefighters battling pipeline explosions around the gridlocked city. One photograph of the aftermath of an explosion changed his life when he won an international photography award. Producer: Emily Webb Photo: A Lagos firefighter douses himself in water Credit: Akintunde Akinleye

Outlook’s Abdulmalik Fahd drops in on Spoof Animations, one of Nigeria’s newest cartoon studios, where a new generation of Nigerians are drawing new kinds of superheroes. We talk to Ayodele Elegba who founded the studio and decided to recruit Emmanuel Oluwasegun and Tunrayo Oloyede, young animators who bring to life characters that reflect their own experience and tell the stories of their fellow Nigerians.Producer: Emily WebbPhoto: Jinx the superhero Credit: Spoof Animations

In this special episode of Outlook, as part of our Lagos series, Helen Oyibo has been hearing remarkable testimony from three people whose lives have been affected by the confraternity system in Nigerian universities, student societies which have morphed into violent criminal gangs.Roland, who is speaking under a pseudonym, unwillingly joined a confraternity on campus in an attempt to find protection from a rival confraternity. He told us about the violent initiation ceremony he had to endure, and how he found himself trapped in the society, unable to leave.Professor Wole Soyinka is a revered writer in Nigeria, the first African to win the Nobel Prize for literature. He knows more about the history of these societies than most – he was a founding member of the first Nigerian confraternity in the late 1960s, ‘The Pyrates’, a light-hearted social group which originally had no hint of the criminality that permeates these societies today. Finally, we hear from Nigerian journalist Omoyele Sowore. In the early 1990s he was president of the student union at the University of Lagos, and decided to stand up to its confraternities and the violence they were inflicting on campus. For his resistance he was targeted and brutally attacked, but returned to campus to defy the gangs and sit his final exams.Producer: Harry GrahamPicture credit: Getty Images

Outlook’s Abdulmalik Fahd undertakes a challenge: to travel around Lagos by car and canoe to record four interviewees in one day. First stop a police station, to talk to Celestina Nwankwo Kalu, the police officer who helped save Friday Ajobor, a gun attack victim, and who now calls him her son.Next, a voyage into the floating neighbourhood of Makoko – one of the biggest slums in the city – to meet Abigail Mpke, the make-up artist mapping her neighbourhood.Then on to a busy market to meet Ernestina Okwuchukwu, aka Madame Burgess. She was left with nothing but a new-born baby when her husband died, but her determination to feed her young family and talent for the Lagos hustle led her to become a top car tyre salesman in the area.And finally, we hear from Opemipo Kehinde and… Opemipo Kehinde. Now husband and wife, they tell us how their love story started on the streets of Lagos, during an evening commute.Producer: Emily WebbPhoto: Traffic on the streets of Lagos Credit: Getty Images

In the first of four programmes from Lagos, Nigeria, Helen Oyibo meets the artists and revolutionaries who have shaped the country. A poet, playwright and essayist, Wole Soyinka became Africa’s first Nobel Laureate, and endured two years of political detention during Nigeria’s civil war. Femi Kuti is a musician and son of the legendary Fela Kuti. He tells Helen about how growing up in the shadow of one of Nigeria’s most famous musicians has shaped his life and own musical career. He also gives us a tour of a Lagos institution, The New Afrika shrine.Falz is part of the new generation of rebel artists in Nigeria – his parents are both famous activists and he's a popular Afrobeats star whose subversive music has got him into trouble with the government. He reveals why he's continuing his parents' work through his music.Presenter: Helen Oyibo Producer: Harry GrahamPicture: Falz, Femi Kuti, Wole Soyinka Credits: Getty Images, BBC

Jacke Van Woerkom is rebuilding her life after a horrific event in her family. The experience has also changed the way she looks at the parents of murderers. Surrounding herself with women who have gone through a deep trauma has helped her recover emotionally from the fact that her son attempted to kill his wife and children and then took his own life. Jacke talks honestly about this devastating experience.Jacke has written a book called: Grieving moms, finding hope: resurfacing.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Jacke Van Woerkom Credit: Holly Heine

Candice Mama’s father was murdered by Eugene de Kock a notorious police colonel in apartheid South Africa, when she was just eight months old. She grew up knowing this, but it was only when she was a teenager that she realised she needed to deal with the severe stress it was causing her. She set out to find out everything she could about how her father had died and eventually came to the realisation that the only way to free herself would be to forgive the man who had murdered him. But the story doesn't stop there. In 2014 Candice and her family ended up meeting Eugene de Kock and in an extraordinary encounter, Candice not only forgave him but at the end of the meeting, they hugged. She has written a book about her extraordinary journey called "Forgiveness Redefined". Producer: June ChristieImage: Candice Mama at a conference Credit: Sbu Kandee

Dutch rapper Sor and his group, Black Acid, were rising rapidly through the Amsterdam music scene. They seemed poised to hit the big time when Sor was struck down by a mysterious illness, culminating in the devastating morning when he woke up without any hearing at all. The road to recovery was long, but with the help of technology, Sor was able to regain some hearing and start making music again. He told Andile Masuku about how deafness has both affected and inspired him.Producers: Andile Masuku and Katy DavisPhoto: Sor performing on stage Credit: Reinout Bos

Eliska Tanzer was born in Slovakia into a very unusual family. Her mother’s family were Romany sex workers, while her largely absent father was a Nazi sympathiser. The local school refused to educate her because of her heritage, so Eliska grew up illiterate. When she was 13, Eliska was trafficked into Britain, where despite suffering exploitation and sexual violence, she was able to gain an education and become a writer. She spoke to Jo Fidgen about her life. This programme contains descriptions of child exploitation and sexual violence which some listeners may find distressing. If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this programme, you can find details of organisations offering information and support at this address: bbc.co.uk/actionlineProducer: Thomas Harding AssinderPhoto: Getty Images

As part of the BBC World Service’s Crossing Divides season, Outlook is looking back at some extraordinary personal stories of transcending boundaries and crossing divides.Latifa Ibn Ziaten, a Moroccan mother to five has been awarded the highest honour in France, the Legion of Honour, and has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Latifa's son, a French soldier, was murdered in Toulouse in 2012. Since then, Latifa has reached out to her ‘enemy’, working closely with people at risk of radicalisation in prisons and schools, and has convinced at least three young men not to go and fight in Syria. She spoke to Jo Fidgen.Photo: Latifa Ibn Ziaten Credit: Getty Images

In May 2019 Saray Khumalo became the first black African woman to summit Everest. She defied those who didn't believe she could achieve her dream of climbing the world’s highest peaks. The trek to the top wasn't easy though, Saray tells Andile Masuku about three previous attempts and her near-death experiences. Saray's adventurous expeditions help raise money to educate young Africans through a charity she's set up called Summits With a Purpose.Presenter: Andile Masuku Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Saray Khumalo summiting Mount Everest Credit: Saray Khumalo

In 2003, Nakout Sylvia was kidnapped in Uganda by the Lord’s Resistance Army who murdered her husband and separated from her children. She was taken to a LRA stronghold in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where she was held as a sex slave. She was raped by LRA leader Joseph Kony, and bore a child he claimed to be his. In 2015, Nakout made a daring escape and made her way to Europe where she dreams of being reunited with her children from Uganda. Andile Masuku spoke to Nakout about her ordeal, which contains descriptions which some may find distressing.Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPhoto: Nakout Sylvia Credit: UNHCR

For World Radio Day, Outlook has put together some of our favourite stories about radio and how it has helped communities and listeners in unexpected ways.We hear from Luis Huincache Panchillo, who runs Chile’s first digital Mapuche radio station, Italian Massimo Vallati who started a community radio station to stop a football club from being vandalised during the night, and John Watson from New Zealand, who's station Sleep Radio plays ambient music to help its audience nod off.Finally, we have an extended interview with British DJ Deke Duncan. For decades, Deke has run a pretend music radio station from his garden shed, with his friends. Typically, he had only one listener - his wife. But in 2018 he finally got his own radio show on the BBC. He told Jo Fidgen all about it.Presenter: Andile Masuku Producers: Alice Gioia and Harry GrahamPhoto: Deke Duncan Credit: Courtesy of Deke Duncan

Conor Madden was playing Hamlet in Cork at the age of 24, the best role of his young career, when an on-stage accident changed his life forever. During a fight scene a sword fractured Conor’s skull. He was eventually diagnosed with a brain injury. Conor recovered, but there have been lasting effects on his speech and mobility, and the road back to acting has been difficult. He spoke to Andile Masuku about his experience.Producers: Alice Gioia and Thomas Harding Assinder Photo: Conor Madden

After lesbian couple Lillian Faderman and Phyllis Irwin had a son in 1970s California, they realised their young family had nothing legally binding them together. Because they couldn’t marry at the time, they came up with a legal workaround – Phyllis would adopt Lillian, technically making them mother and daughter, though they never thought of themselves that way. When marriage laws changed in the early 90s, they tied the knot, meaning that for a period Lillian was technically married to her mother. They spoke to Jo Fidgen about navigating law and love during their nearly 50 years together.Producer: Mariana Des ForgesPhoto: Lillian Faderman and Phyllis Irwin Credit: Lillian Faderman

As an undocumented immigrant to the US from the Dominican Republic, Dan-el Padilla Peralta found himself living in a homeless shelter with his mother and brother. One day he found a book on Roman and Greek history which sparked his interest and imagination. It set him on course for a life of scholarship and academic success, and Dan-el is now a Professor of Classics at the prestigious Princeton University. Producer: Becky Vincent Presenter: Jo FidgenPhoto: Dan-el Padilla Peralta reading as a child in a homeless shelter. Credit: Jeff Cowen

Ernie Louttit was a rare thing in the 1980s - a police officer and Cree, one of Canada's many First Nations groups. He also had a reputation for re-opening case files on First Nations people that his colleagues had closed. When Ernie discovered that a case of a teenager, who had been found frozen to death, had been concluded without much investigation he knew he had to do more. He tells Neal Razzell about the aftershocks for his own career and for policing in Canada. Ernie's book is called: The Unexpected Cop: Indian Ernie on a Life of Leadership. Presenter: Neal Razzell Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Ernie Louttit Credit: Ernie Louttit

US athlete and Olympic champion Michael Johnson is one of the greatest sprinters in history. In the 1990s, he tore through the record books with a series of thrilling gold medal wins. Even after he retired from racing, he kept up a rigorous work-out regime, exuding health and fitness. So, for Michael it was frightening and unnerving when he had a stroke in 2018. It left him unable to move by himself and he had no idea if he’d ever recover. Michael Johnson was once the fastest man in the world - would he learn to walk again?Presenter: Neal Razzell Producer: Maryam Maruf Sound design by Joel CoxPicture: Michael Johnson after winning gold and breaking the 200m world record at the 1996 Olympics Credit: Getty Images

When Anoushka Shankar was young, she knew that the legendary Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar was an important figure in her family, but it was only when she was seven that she learned he was her father. The discovery would change Anoushka’s life – with Ravi as her teacher she mastered the instrument and began a career performing both with her father and as a virtuoso sitarist in her own right. When she was 16 she met another new member of her family - her half-sister and fellow music star Norah Jones, also Ravi’s daughter. Anoushka spoke to Emily Webb about the role her father played in her life, and the musical world he opened up for her.Producer: Becky Vincent Presenter: Emily WebbPhoto: Anoushka and Ravi Shankar performing on stage together in 2003 Credit: Getty Images

As a young man in Lebanon, Assad Serhal was a keen hunter. But after an encounter with a Bobwhite Quail and its chicks, Assad was so moved that he decided to change course and dedicate his life to conserving birds – millions of them are shot in Lebanon every year as they migrate. He’s now a significant figure in Lebanese conservation, and has founded the Society for the Protection of Nature and set up 'hima', protected areas for wildlife. Producer: Troy Holmes Presenter: Jo FidgenPhoto: Assad Serhal Credit: Courtesy of Assad Serhal

When Jane Couch won the women’s boxing world title, it wasn’t even legal for her to box at home in Britain. The struggle to get her sport recognised would become her most gruelling fight, as she faced scepticism and sexism from many quarters. She told Jo Fidgen about the physical and mental strain she endured during her career, and how she had to rebuild her life after boxing.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Jane Couch during a fight in 2005 Credit: Getty Images

Sequins, spandex and Rasputin? Dust off your gold spandex for a dive into the world of 1970s disco. Marcia Barrett, a lead singer of the chart-conquering Boney M, discusses her life with the band - including getting mobbed behind the iron curtain.This podcast was first published on 18 August, 2018.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf and Katy DavisImage: Boney M's Marcia Barrett performing on stage, September 1979 Credit: Getty Images

Karen Edwards’ daughter Becky spent her teenage years battling an addiction to heroin. It was a difficult struggle and Karen was by her side to help. But in 2003, Becky went missing. Her body was found eight years later, and convicting the killer was a long and complicated process. Karen told Emily Webb about her fight to bring Becky’s killer to justice, and the pain of losing her daughter.Presenter: Emily WebbPicture: Karen Edwards Picture Credit: Karen Edwards

After Neelam Krishnamoorthy’s children, Unnati and Ujjwal, were killed in a fire at the Uphaar cinema in Delhi in 1997, she and her husband sought to bring those responsible to justice. Two decades on, they have won some small victories, but also suffered many disappointments and delays. Neelam spoke to Aparna Alluri about their ongoing legal battle and the devastating impact the fire has had on their lives.Reporter: Aparna Alluri Producer: Alice Gioia ‘Life Interrupted’ Series Producer: Geeta PandeyPhoto: Neelam Krishnamoorthy Credit: Mansi Thapliyal

Nadezhda Kutepova was born in Soviet Russia, in a city that didn’t have a name. She grew up believing that her father made sweet wrappers at a local factory. But years after his death from cancer, she learned the truth: he had worked at a secret nuclear plant that the city was built to support. Years of lax safety regulations and a significant accident in 1957 had exposed both the plant’s workers and citizens in the surrounding areas to dangerous levels of radiation, resulting in devastating health problems, even sometimes for multiple generations. In 1999 Nadezhda decided to defy the culture of secrecy, and formed a charity, Planet of Hopes, to fight for those affected by the plant. She won some notable victories in court, but faced backlash from the Russian state and media, as well as from some inside her own community. In 2015 she felt forced to flee to Paris. She spoke to Jo Fidgen.Photo: Nadezhda Kutepova Credit: Courtesy of Nadezhda Kutepova

Chad Staples is a zookeeper at Mogo Zoo in New South Wales in Australia, with giraffes, gorillas and even tigers in his care. The wildfires sweeping Australia closed in on the zoo forced Chad and his fellow keepers to battle for hours on end to put out the fires and usher the animals to safety, and Chad even took 25 of the smaller animals into his own house. Thanks to Chad’s quick thinking and the work of the zoo’s staff, all the animals have survived unscathed. Chad spoke to Jo Fidgen about his experience.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Mariana Des ForgesPhoto: Chad Staples Credit: Courtesy of Chad Staples

As a young woman Ieva Lesinska was faced with an agonising choice. Defect to the US with her double agent father, or stay in Latvia with her mother and renounce him as a traitor. Ieva says it was like she was living in a spy movie, and a film has now been made about her life, it's called: 'My father, the spy.'Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Ieva Lesinska as a toddler with her father Imants Lesinski Credit: Ieva Lesinska

Holocaust survivor Dita Kraus is now 90 years old, but she was only 14 when she was taken to the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in Poland. She worked in the children’s hut and she’s now known as the ‘librarian of Auschwitz’. Dita remembers being desperately hungry and cold, but along with her mother she survived her time there. After coming face to face with SS doctor Josef Mengele they were sent to Bergen-Belsen, another concentration camp, where she saw many people starving to death. Eventually the British army liberated the camp and they were freed, but Dita’s trials were not over. She tells Emily Webb her remarkable story. Dita has written a book about her experience called ‘A Delayed Life: The true story of the Librarian of Auschwitz’. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June ChristiePhoto: Dita Kraus Credit: Courtesy of Dita Kraus

Teacher and principal Tim King was working in a school in Chicago when he met a student named Keith. Their relationship changed when Keith’s mother died after struggling with drug addiction and Tim knew he had to help. Eventually Keith moved in with Tim and although it wasn’t always smooth sailing, Keith finally got the chance to be a kid and Tim learnt how to be a dad. Today, they work together running schools to give other disadvantaged young people an education.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Mariana Des ForgesPhoto: Teacher Tim King Credit: Courtesy of Urban Prep Academies

Edis Kolar guarded a lifesaving tunnel built in the basement of his family home during the siege of Sarajevo. The secret passage provided a safe way to move people and supplies in and out of the surrounded Bosnian city. Edis tells Outlook's Mariana Des Forges how he lived in the tunnel house for the whole war, alongside other soldiers and his grandmother who refused to leave, helping the thousands who crossed through the passage every day. When the war ended Edis turned his home into a museum to honour the ‘Tunnel of Hope’ that saved the city.Presenter & Producer: Mariana Des ForgesPicture: Edis Kolar at the 'Tunnel of Hope' Credit: BBC / Mariana Des Forges

Today, Leon Bosch is one of the most respected classical double bass players in the world but as a teenager he was made a political prisoner in South Africa because of his peaceful resistance to the apartheid regime – an experience that has haunted him for most of his life. But that time in prison also drove him to commit to playing the double bass with a passion; he speaks to Jo Fidgen about how he has used his music to resist a system that said he would never amount to anything.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Nathan GowerPicture: Double-bass player Leon Bosch Credit: Photography Juno Snowdon / Art Direction Adam Hypki

Stephanie Summerville tells us about her eye-opening experience as a casual worker. It was her first job and it thrust her into a shocking situation. She was providing respite care for a terminally-ill man in her hometown of Evansville, in Indiana. As she looked around his bedroom she saw a white robe and a hood with eyeholes cut out. Stephanie was a young black woman and this was the unmistakable uniform of the Ku Klux Klan.Presenter: Mariana Des Forges Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Stephanie Summerville Credit: BBC

Identical twins David and John Loftus had an idyllic and happy childhood. They were so alike that as toddlers you could hardly tell them apart. They were very close growing up together. But after a cricket injury and subsequent brain scan, they discovered that John had a brain tumour. David struggled but he remained strong for his brother. John did beat the tumour, but contracted meningitis soon afterwards. During his treatment, a medical error left John in a coma. He died a few days later. After his death, David had to rebuild his life alone. He changed his career and eventually had a family of his own. He tells Emily Webb how he coped with John's death and how a book about his experience, Diary of a Lone Twin, is his love-letter to his brother.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy TakatsukiPicture: Identical twins David and John Loftus Credit: Courtesy of David Loftus

Dr Andrew Rynne is Ireland’s first vasectomy doctor. He was an advocate for contraceptive rights in the Republic of Ireland during the 1970s and 1980s - at one point even facing prison time for selling condoms without a prescription. One afternoon in 1990, a man burst into his doctor’s surgery while he was performing a vasectomy and pointed a gun at his head. The gunman fired at Dr Andrew several times, shooting him in the hip. The doctor narrowly escaped and the man turned out to be a disgruntled ex-patient. Dr Andrew later went to meet his attacker and make peace with him. He appears in a new documentary called The Vasectomy Doctor. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Troy HolmesPicture: Dr Andrew Rynne Credit: Paul Webster

Sayragul Sauytbay is an ethnic Kazakh from Xinjiang in western China. In 2016, she was happily married with two children and loved her job as a head teacher at a kindergarten. But a year after – amidst a crackdown on Xinjiang’s predominantly Muslim population – she says she was summoned to teach in a different facility, one of many camps set up to “re-educate” Chinese Muslims like her. The Chinese government claims these camps offer voluntary education and training. But the UN has called them 'internment camps'; Sayragul calls them 'concentration camps'. She says she was held there, and was forced to teach Chinese propaganda under strict surveillance. Eventually she escaped the country to be with her family in Kazakhstan. But her ordeal wasn’t over; she faced trial and deportation back to China where she feared severe punishment for spilling state secrets. Sayragul tells Jo Fidgen her story. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Prisoners in blue boiler suits inside Xinjiang camp - photo posted to the WeChat account of the Xinjiang Judicial Administration, April 2017.

talian Fishmonger Vittorio Fabris was inspired to sail from Venice to Nantucket by his favourite book, Moby Dick. But his epic voyage didn’t exactly go to plan. He faced storms and seriously damaged his boat along the way, keeping himself going with the company of music and dolphins. With his destination in sight, disaster struck - but Vittorio wouldn't give up on his dream. He tells Jo Fidgen his story. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Alice Gioia and Nathan Gower Picture: Vittorio Fabris Credit: Fabio Fumagalli

Basetsana Kumalo is easily one of South Africa’s most recognisable celebrity figures. She shot to fame as Miss South Africa in 1994, just months after Nelson Mandela was elected president. Basetsana was the first black contestant to win the contest in the country's new "freedom era" and, by default, became the face of South Africa’s new democracy. After this Basetsana hosted one of the country's top lifestyle programmes and today she's a successful media entrepreneur. Her book is called: Bassie, My Journey of Hope.Presenter: Andile Masuku Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Basetsana Kumalo at the SA Style Awards in Johannesburg. Credit: Gallo Images / Contributor

Janice Bryant Howroyd became the first African-American woman to build a billion dollar business. Growing up in the segregated south of the US, she struggled to find a good job so she launched her own human resources company. It was a decision that would add her name to the history books. Janice has published a book about her experiences called 'Acting Up.' Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy Takatsuki Picture: Janice Bryant Howroyd Credit: Lioncrest Publishing

Andrew Garrido was desperate to play the piano but lessons were expensive and his family couldn't afford them. Andrew, undeterred, made a keyboard out of paper and taught himself. A decade later and what he's achieved defies all expectations. Additional playing in this piece was by Duncan Hannant. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Andrew Garrido with his paper piano Credit: Alice Gioia

Winston Trew came to England from Jamaica in the 1950s and joined a group that aimed to educate children from the Caribbean about their history and teach them pride. After one of their meetings, he was arrested and falsely accused of stealing handbags. He then spent nearly 50 years trying to clear his name. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Winston Trew Credit: Alice Gioia, BBC

Abby Stein grew up in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in New York City, one of the most gender segregated societies in the world. Abby’s parents considered her their firstborn son but she was adamant that she was a girl. She has written a book about her experiences called ‘Becoming Eve.’ Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Abby Stein Credit: Courtesy of Abby Stein

Adrian Street grew up in a mining town in South Wales, but he always loved dressing up. When he was a teenager he started working down the mines, but his dream was to become a wrestler. He was ridiculed by the other miners he worked with, but in the 1950s he moved to London to pursue his dream and "The Exotic Adrian Street" was born. His wrestling persona was a haughty androgynous character who would strut about the stage pouting and blowing kisses to the crowds when they abused him for his flamboyant style. Presenter: Harry GrahamPicture: Wrestler Adrian Street at the mine he used to work at, with his father. Credit: Getty Images Mirrorpix Contributor

London teenager Khadijah Mellah had only been riding for four months when she became the first Muslim woman to win a prestigious British horse race. Despite being the youngest competitor, she rode to victory in the 2019 Magnolia Cup at the world-famous Goodwood Racecourse. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Emily WebbPicture: Khadijah Mellah on a horse, smiling Credit: Great British Racing

Walter Murch is a superstar sound designer, who's worked on some of Hollywood's biggest films like The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now. His work has immersed audiences in everything from the clattering trains of New York to the rhythmic helicopter rotors of the Vietnam war. Walter's avant-garde production techniques have changed the way cinema sounds. His story is featured in the documentary, Making Waves: The Art of Cinematic Sound. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf Picture: Still from The Godfather Credit: Getty Images/Paramount Pictures/Handout

To celebrate the arrival of 2020, we're featuring three fascinating stories about vision. See what we did there? But these people do not have 20:20 vision, there is nothing average about the way they view things.Take Jason Padgett, after a severe brain injury he was left with the ability to 'see' maths. Everywhere he looked he could see mathematical shapes. Dr Kate Stone woke up from a coma shocked to the core about the way people saw her and Helena Ndume has a wonderful job, she helps to restore people's sight.Presenter: Jo FidgenPicture: Glasses and a wintry scene Credit: Getty/ Pick Uppath

When Doug Lindsay was at college, he got ill very suddenly. It was the same mystery illness his mother and aunt had suffered from for most of their lives. Doctors were baffled. Doug had to drop out of college and was bedridden for years. He decided to take matters into his own hands and work out what was wrong with him. In search of a cure, Doug eventually persuaded doctors to perform a surgery which had never been done on humans before. He spoke to Outlook’s Jo Fidgen. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Asya FouksPicture: Doug Lindsay Credit: courtesy of Doug Lindsay

The search for the lost music of Costa Rica's King of Calypso. Walter Ferguson spent many years serenading people with his songs, and recording individual cassettes for adoring fans, but they were often the only recordings of his work. Much later a music producer realised all those cassettes contained one-off musical treasures and so began an international campaign to find Walter's lost songs.Presenter: Clayton Conn Producer: Clayton Conn and Andrea KennedyPicture: The hunt for Walter Ferguson's lost tapes Credit: Guillermo Badilla / Niels Werdenberg

Diagnosed with polio as a child in Sudan, Malat Wei crawled for nine years before he got his first wheelchair. Now a wheelchair basketball star in the US and with the help of coach, Jess Markt, they told Emily Webb how and why they are taking the sport back to South Sudan.To mark 500 years since the death of the Italian Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci we bring you two stories of people keeping his legacy alive. The first is from Italy - Alessandro Vezzosi and Agnese Sabato are a couple on a quest to trace his DNA.The second is from the USA's top art restorer Dianne Modestini. When she was asked to work on an old, damaged painting in 2005, she had no idea it would go on to become the world’s most expensive. The painting of Christ was believed to be inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, but was eventually attributed to the artist himself. It went on to sell at auction for US $450,000,000. Dianne's relationship with the picture was deeply emotional, connecting her to her late husband, himself a noted conservator.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPicture: Wheelchair basketball player in South Sudan Credit: Niki Clark/ICRC

Mozhdah Jamalzadah is known as the 'Oprah of Afghanistan,’ due to being inspired by The Oprah Winfrey Show. She actually grew up in Canada after her family fled their home in Kabul. It was in Canada that she started singing songs about what was happening to women under Taliban rule. She then launched her own TV show in Afghanistan, using it as a platform to discuss women’s rights issues. But one episode pushed her audience too far…it resulted in bomb threats, death threats and threw her life into turmoil.Mozhdah has just released a book called ‘Voice of Rebellion.’ Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Katy Davis Picture: Mozhdah Jamalzadah Credit: Courtesy of Mozhdah Jamalzadah

Andrea Quint Fleck and her hairdresser Troy Winget bonded over Andrea's hair, the spark was apparent at their first appointment in their home town of Calgary. By coincidence both had question marks over their family history and they decided to do some research. But what they discovered rocked both their worlds.Presenter: Andile Masuku Producers: Katy Davies and Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Troy Winget and Andrea Quint Fleck Credit: Troy Winget and Andrea Quint Fleck

As a boy growing up in Freetown, Sam Jalloh became enamoured with the Sierra Leone national tracksuit. He wasn't particularly fashion conscious, but he was sporty, and he discovered that the only way he'd get one of those tracksuits was by learning to play tennis. Sam didn't have shoes or equipment, so he played barefoot and fashioned a racquet out of plywood. Local coaches spotted Sam's talent for tennis, but these were perilous times in Sierra Leone. The country was in the middle of a civil war, and before Sam could get his tracksuit, he found himself in the crosshairs of the conflict. Sam's written book called How Tennis Saved My Life.Presenter: Andile Masuku Producer: Tom Harding-AssinderPicture: Sam Jalloh Credit: Courtesy Sam Jalloh

Aged eleven, Dirce de Assis Cavalcanti was taunted by one of her classmates. She was called the "daughter of a murderer". Not long after, Dirce found out that her father had indeed killed a man and not just any man, he’d killed one of Brazil’s celebrated authors, a national treasure. Although he was cleared by the courts, who declared the shooting an act of self-defence, in the court of public opinion Dirce’s dad was condemned.The story behind that fateful killing is one of love, betrayal and revenge. And it is a story that throughout her life Dirce has grappled with in her attempts to rebuild her family’s reputation.Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Andrea Kennedy and Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Dirce de Assis Cavalcanti Credit: BBC

British DJ Mark Radcliffe has a voice that's instantly recognisable to many people in the UK. He went from being a music obsessed teenager in the northern British town of Bolton, to hanging out with his heroes on his radio show - including Kate Bush and David Bowie. But in 2018 Mark was diagnosed with cancer of the mouth and throat and he feared he might lose his voice forever. He tells us why he decided to tell listeners he had cancer, live on his radio show and how music helped him through the most difficult time of his life. He's written a book about his experience called Crossroads. Picture: Mark Radcliffe Credit: Courtesy of Paul Langley Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: June Christie

As a teenager, Amr al-Azm aspired to be like Indiana Jones - but this fantastical Hollywood vision of archaeology was only fleeting, he grew up to fall in love with the real thing too. Amr is from Syria, a land scattered with incredible sites and monuments. But he watched in horror as his country descended into war and his ancient home became a modern battlefield. Priceless historic artefacts were bombed, defaced, plundered and lost forever. In response, Amr set up a network of frontline archaeologists - some of them former students and colleagues - risking their lives to protect what remains of Syria's cultural heritage. From Adnan, who secretly documented the antiquities smuggling trade run by the so-called Islamic State; to Abdul Rahman in rebel-held Idlib province, who guards the precious Roman mosaics in the Maara Museum from government airstrikes.Picture: Amr al-Azm Credit: Courtesy of Amr al-AzmPresenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf

Mads Peder Nordbo used to write crime thrillers from his home in a quiet, Danish, village. It was a world he imagined but never experienced. But in 2013, fact and fiction blurred when he stumbled across a murder next to his house. His latest book is called Cold Fear. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder Picture: Mads Peder Nordbo Credit: Courtesy of Mads Peder Nordbo

When Maria Gallant's baby daughter Gail died after a car crash, Maria prayed for God to give back her child. Within a year she had another daughter- she also called her Gail. Maria brought her up to believe that she was her sister reborn. Gail describes the impact this had on her throughout her life. She has written a book about her experiences called The Changeling.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producers: June Christie and Nathan Gower Picture: Gail Gallant as a child in her communion dress Credit: Courtesy of Gail Gallant

British footballer Mark Bright spent his childhood in foster care. Though he was well looked after, no one told him they loved him until he was 18. Meanwhile, he was becoming a star striker and his heyday was at Crystal Palace. He's just published his autobiography, Mark Bright – My Story – From Foster Care to Footballer.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Harry GrahamPicture: Mark Bright after scoring a goal for Crystal Palace in 1991. Credit: Getty Images/Ben Radford

Wilhelm Verwoerd has spent most of his life wrestling with his surname and what it represents. His grandfather, Dr Hendrik Verwoerd, is widely known as the "architect of apartheid" in South Africa because of the brutal policies he introduced as a government minister and then prime minister of the country in the 1950s and 1960sBut Wilhelm turned his back on his family's apartheid politics and is committed to tearing down its racist legacy. His book is called: Verwoerd: My journey through family betrayals.Presenter: Andile Masuku Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Wilhelm Verwoerd  Credit: Wojciech Klimala

Haben Girma's a Harvard Law School graduate, an attorney, she's been invited to the White House... and she's Deafblind. With the help of her braille computer, she tells Emily Webb about the time she gave Barack Obama a hard time for typing with two fingers. Haben has published a book called Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Becky Vincent Photo: Haben Girma meeting Barack Obama in 2015 Credit: White House/ Pete Souza

Allison Moorer is an Oscar-nominated country music star. But shaping her lyrics and music are the traumatic deaths of both of her parents, in a murder-suicide, when she was just a teenager. She speaks to Emily Webb about why she's decided to tell the story decades later and why sad songs are the best songs. Allison has just released a book and an album both called Blood. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Asya FouksPicture: Allison Moorer Credit: Heidi Ross

Per Gullestrup was the consummate businessman, doing deals with international firms as CEO of a Danish shipping company. Then Somali pirates attacked one of his cargo ships and he had to learn how to do a business deal with the hostage-takers... Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Becky Vincent Picture: A Somali pirate Credit: MOHAMED DAHIR/AFP/Getty Images

It’s a video game extravaganza on Outlook… Lual Mayen was born in what’s now South Sudan but his family had to flee from conflict in 1993. They made it to Uganda and set up home in a refugee camp. It was here that Lual discovered computers…and computer games. He creating one called ‘Salaam’ that focused on peace and empathy rather than violence, something his family had experienced in real life. It started attracting attention worldwide and last year it won the Global Gaming Citizen award.Steven Spielberg's ET: The Extra Terrestrial is recognised by critics and film fans as one of the greatest movies of all time but the video game based on the film has been called the worst video game of all time. So bad, that in the early 1980s it was blamed for causing the collapse of a billion dollar company. Howard Scott Warshaw was the man behind the failure... Presenter: Jo FidgenPicture: Lual Mayen Credit: Courtesy of Lual Mayen

Judy Garland was a musical icon who spent her whole life in the spotlight. In 1969, she was in London for what would be her last ever UK shows. At the time, Rosalyn Wilder was a young production assistant who had always dreamed of working in show business and she was tasked with getting the star on stage. But this was a gig that was both exhilarating and upsetting. Rosalyn witnessed first-hand Judy Garland’s struggles with addiction and confidence - some nights she would have to coax the singer to perform without her pills, other times she saw a testy audience hurling bread rolls at her. But there were also moments when Garland produced 'mind-blowing magic.' Rosalyn's experience of working with Garland is portrayed in the film, Judy. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: A studio portrait of Judy Garland from the 1960s Credit: Getty Images

Hiram Johnson is a policeman who decided to use his investigative skills on his own family. He set out to find who his grandfather was but what he discovered was a killing that changed the course of his African-American family's future. Hiram's written a book about his journey called: Reason to Fight: A Search for Truth.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam Maruf and Saskia EdwardsPicture: Hiram Johnson holding a photo of his father Credit: Courtesy of Hiram Johnson

Teodora Vásquez is from El Salvador and in 2007 was pregnant and planning her future. However, when she had a stillborn baby Teodora was arrested and eventually sentenced to 30 years in prison for the baby's murder. She then found out she wasn't the only woman this had happened to. Teodora spoke to Emily Webb about her fight for freedom. Presented and produced by Emily Webb Interpreter: Alba Morgade Picture: Teodora Vásquez Credit: OSCAR RIVERA/AFP via Getty Images

Amaryllis Fox tells Jo Fidgen how she was head-hunted by two different spying agencies while studying at Oxford and Georgetown Universities. She was recruited by the CIA aged 21 and within a few years she was an undercover field agent. Amaryllis lived under false identities, infiltrating arms dealing networks. She was pushed into getting married twice during her service so her partners could gain the necessary security clearance. She even took her baby on secret missions. Amaryllis has written a book about her life as a spy called Life Undercover: Coming of Age in the CIA.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Amaryllis Fox Credit: Tristar Media

When she was 21 Amaryllis Fox was recruited by the CIA, the American intelligence service, and became one of its youngest undercover agents. In part one of the interview, she tells Jo Fidgen how her career started with a dramatic trip in Myanmar, then known as Burma, as an 18 year old. In part two, we’ll hear about how her job with the CIA was to infiltrate the networks of people trying sell nuclear, chemical and biological weapons on the black market.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Thomas Harding AssinderPicture: Amaryllis Fox Credit: Tristar Media

Comedian Hung Le was born in Vietnam but had to flee to Australia during the Vietnam War. As a child, he had three heroes: Charlie Chaplin, Bruce Lee and his artist dad Thanh Nhon. All of these men would go on to have a big impact on Hung's life and the way he uses humour to tell his refugee story.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy Davis

Denise Uwimana was nine months pregnant when the Rwandan genocide started. As militia broke into her home and attacked her relatives, Denise's waters broke, her baby was coming. She tells Asya Fouks her birth story and how she survived. Today, Denise runs an organisation called Iriba Shalom International, which provides support to survivors of Rwanda's genocide and she has also written about her experiences in a book called From Red Earth: A Rwandan Story of Healing and Forgiveness. Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Denise Uwimana Credit: Matthias Schaffrath

Comedian and performer Hossan Leong was one of the first to use Singlish, the English-based patois spoken in Singapore, on stage. He also tells Sharanjit how he kept making the country smile, even while he was recovering from a life threatening illness.Presenter: Sharanjit Leyl Producer: June Christie and Alice Gioia Picture: Hossan Leong Credit: BBC/Alice Gioia

After his boat capsized off the coast of Singapore, John Low spent four days alone clinging onto a flotation ring. When he was rescued he was badly sunburnt, starving and starting to hallucinate.Presenter: Rico Hizon Producer: June Christie and Alice Gioia Picture: Diver John Low Credit: BBC/Alice Gioia

Sharanjit Leyl is taking Outlook on a tour of her city – Singapore – through the extraordinary stories of people who live there. Growing up in Singapore, ‘Mighty’ May Ooi was told that ‘girls don’t fight’ and she was not allowed to practise martial arts. Years later, she went on to become one of the country’s best fighters and she did it for love. May recently competed in the prestigious One Championship to fulfil her late fiancé’s dream. Presenter: Sharanjit Leyl Producer: Alice Gioia and June ChristiePicture: 'Mighty' May Ooi Credit: BBC/Alice Gioia

This week Outlook is coming from Singapore and today Rico Hizon takes us on a tour of the city through the extraordinary stories of people who live there. Douglas Ng is a hawker – a street food seller – preparing Singapore’s traditional fishball noodles in one of the town’s eateries. He learnt the recipe from his grandmother and still dreams of attending culinary school. Ang Song Kang - a.k.a. Chef Kang - started working in a kitchen because he had no food at home. He grew up the eldest of five siblings with a single mother and at just eight years old he started working to support them. He eventually got a job in a kitchen where he fell in love with cooking. With the help of a mentor he became a top chef. But his career didn’t always go smoothly, with financial and health issues threatening to derail his success. But his hard-working attitude paid off and he now runs a Michelin starred restaurant in Singapore. Presenter: Rico Hizon Producer: Alice Gioia and June ChristiePicture: Ang Song Kang a.k.a. Chef Kang Credit: BBC/Timothy McDonald

Cambodia's biggest rubbish dump was home to thousands of children, picking through rubbish to sell. From this bleak wasteland emerged a band, Doch Chkae - young musicians who grew up in extreme poverty, turning their anger into heavy metal music. Harry Graham speaks to two of the band members, Sok Vichey and Ouch Theara. We also hear from one of the charity workers who spotted their talent for metal music, Timon Seibel, from Moms Against Poverty. Presenter: Harry Graham Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Doch Chkae Credit: Florian Gleich

Rema Rajeshwari is an Indian police officer. In 2018, rumours of child kidnappers and violent murders spread throughout her district via messaging apps. Locals were scared and started forming mobs and attacking strangers. Rema had an unorthodox solution: traditional storytelling, inspired by her grandmother. She told to Outlook’s Emily Webb how she used storytelling to combat fake news. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham Picture: Rema Rajeshwari Credit: Bloomberg

Growing up in California, Rachel Mason and her brother Josh didn't know exactly what was sold in their unassuming and straight-laced parents' bookstore. They had no idea the bookshop was actually one of the biggest distributors of adult material, specifically gay porn, in the US. The bookshop became a haven for the queer community as Karen and Barry supported gay employees throughout the HIV and Aids crisis in the 1980s, all the while hiding the business from family and friends. Rachel has made a documentary about their story called Circus of Books. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufPicture: Barry and Karen at Circus of Books Credit: Rachel Mason

Police officer Grant Edwards was once Australia’s strongest man. He was known for incredible feats of physical strength—like pulling trains, planes and trucks. Meanwhile, at work, he fought online child exploitation and human trafficking for years. It was a harrowing job, and eventually it took its toll on Grant. He told Outlook’s Jo Fidgen how he ended up grappling with PTSD, and that he's now committed to helping others with mental health issues. He's written a book about his experience called The Strong Man.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Andrea KennedyPicture: Grant Edwards pulls a C-17 Globemaster III Credit: GS-09 / Roland Balik

A golden ring which once belonged to Irish playwright Oscar Wilde has been recovered by Arthur Bland, a Dutch 'art detective,' nearly 20 years after it was stolen. To mark the occasion, Outlook is re-running our 2017 interview with Arthur. He told Outlook's Jo Fidgen about earning the trust of the police and the criminals, and going undercover to get back some of Hitler's favourite sculptures.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Emily WebbChris Turner is another lost treasure seeker. Chris is a Canadian metal detectorist who started an organisation aimed at helping people recover lost items. He has a team that stretches from Peru to Malaysia and he says that they've found more that 5,200 lost items between them. Lauren Boothby went to meet him in Vancouver. This interview originally aired in May 2019.Producer: Saskia Edwards Reporter: Lauren Boothby. This piece had production assistance from David Swanson.Picture: The gold ring said to have belonged to Oscar Wilde. It has been recovered by a Dutch "art detective" nearly 20 years after it was stolen. Credit: JOHN THYS/AFP via Getty Images

Mats Steen was ill for years, but he found friendship and escape in an online fantasy land.A version of this story by Vicky Schaubert was first published in Norwegian by broadcaster NRK.Presenter: Maryam Maruf Producer: Harry GrahamImage: Mats Steen's avatar and Mats' father Robert Steen Credit: Patrick da Silva Saether/NRK

Ifrah Ahmed campaigns against female genital mutilation (FGM). It's a harrowing procedure she herself endured as an 8-year-old in Somalia. This interview contains upsetting descriptions. Ifrah now lives in Ireland, where she helped ban FGM in 2012. She was one of the first Somali women to speak publicly about FGM, and has challenged the Somali president about the practice. She founded the Ifrah Foundation, a charity devoted to stopping FGM around the world. She told Outlook's Emily Webb her story. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPicture: Ifrah Ahmed Credit: Getty Images / Roberto Ricciuti

When Gail Lukasik was growing up in the US, she'd always wondered about her mother's quirky habits. For instance, she always wore a light foundation before she went to bed. Years later Gail would discover that this had been one of her mother's attempts to hide the fact that she was actually multiracial and had passed as white her whole life. Gail wrote a book about her story, White Like Her: My Family's Story of Race and Racial Passing. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Alice GioiaPicture: Alvera Rita Frederic Kalina, Gail Lukasik's mother Credit: Gail Lukasik

Photographer Vicky Roy spent his childhood on the streets of Delhi. A charity took him in and introduced him to photography. Vicky started taking photos with a plastic camera, and eventually began charging his friends for portraits. He went on to become a successful photographer with a reputation for evocative photos of street children. He told Outlook’s Jo Fidgen his story. Picture: Vicky Roy Credit: Courtesy of Vicky Roy

For today's Remembrance edition of the programme, Outlook is re-visiting this remarkable story of love and family in a war-zone. Hamza and Waad al-Khateab lived in Aleppo through some of the most intense moments of the Syrian war. Hamza was a doctor and Waad a citizen journalist. Through the siege and bombardments they fell in love. So, how do you start a family in a warzone? Waad has made a documentary about their life in Aleppo called For Sama. The film is produced by Channel 4 News and ITN Productions.This interview was first broadcast in May 2019.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Andrea Kennedy Image: Hamza and Waad al-Khateab with daughter Sama Credit: Courtesy of Hamza and Waad al-Khateab

Education has always been important to Virginia Walden Ford. As a child she was part of the process of desegregating schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. Years later, as a parent, she watched as her son's grades dropped and his behaviour changed. She believed his school was failing him and began a long campaign for change in the US education system.Virginia is the subject of a new feature film called Miss Virginia.Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPicture: Virginia Walden Ford speaking at a news conference of the Black Republican Congressional Staff Association Credit: Tom Williams / Getty Images

Sir Trevor McDonald grew up in Trinidad, but when he got a job with the BBC World Service, he moved to the UK. He went on to become the first black television reporter and one of the country's most prominent presenters. Over the course of his career, he's interviewed Saddam Hussein, Colonel Gaddafi and even danced on screen with Desmond Tutu. He’s written a book about his life called An Improbable Life: The Autobiography. He spoke to Outlook’s Emily Webb. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Troy HolmesPicture: Trevor McDonald in 1973 Credit: Getty Images

Filmmaker Tom Mustill and his friend Charlotte Kinloch were on holiday in California when they were nearly killed by a whale out at sea. Tom couldn’t stop thinking about the incident, and decided to embark on an epic odyssey to find that same whale again. He made a documentary about his experience called Humpback Whales: A Detective Story. Tom and Charlotte spoke to Outlook’s Emily Webb. Picture: The humpback whale that nearly killed Tom Mustill and Charlotte Kinloch Credit: Kate Spencer Fast Rafts Production credit: The whale song is courtesy of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and it was mixed by Danelle Cline

Amrou Al-Kadhi—who goes by the pronoun ‘they’—was raised Muslim, but even as a kid Amrou was different. They wanted nothing to do with other boys and loved dressing up with their mother. Amrou grappled with issues of gender identity and sexuality for years. It wasn’t until they picked up drag as a student at Cambridge University that they were able to find solace and belonging. Amrou has written a book called Unicorn: The Memoir of a Muslim Drag Queen. Amrou spoke to Outlook’s Jo Fidgen. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Laura ThomasPicture: Amrou Al-Kadhi as Glamrou Credit: Holly Falconer

Tiki Finlayson's 25-year-old son Kevin was killed by a drunk driver in 2011. Tiki made the painful decision to forgive Latisha Stephens, the woman who killed him. Tiki and Latisha ended up becoming friends, and they now work together speaking out about the dangers of drink-driving. Tiki spoke to Outlook’s Jo Fidgen. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Alice Gioia Picture: Tiki Finlayson and Latisha Stephens Credit: Tiki Finlayson

Herbert Nitsch is a free diver, he dives without breathing equipment. In 2012 he broke a new world record, diving to a depth of 253 metres but on the way back up things went wrong.Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPicture: Herbert Nitsch surrounded by jellyfish Credit: ®herbertnitsch

Cecil Rajendra has won a lifetime achievement award in Malaysia for his achievement in making the justice system available to everyone, even if they can't afford to pay lawyers. Somehow in his spare moments he's written Nobel-nominated poetry. He spoke to Jo FidgenPresenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Asya FouksPicture: Lawyer and poet Cecil Rajendra Credit: Cecil Rajendra

Jill Heinerth explored the submerged caves and crevasses of an enormous iceberg. There was an incredible array of wildlife to document, but the dive was extremely risky. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Mariana Des ForgesPicture: Diver Jill Heinerth explores an iceberg Credit: Jill Heinerth

British-Nigerian actor Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje was raised by a white family in an area where racism was a huge problem. As a teenager, he joined a skinhead gang that had tormented him for protection. Adewale has directed a film about his experiences called Farming. He spoke to Outlook’s Emily Webb.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham Picture: Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Credit: Allan Amato

Stanley Underhill is a British priest who—at 91— has come out as gay. He spent his whole life facing prejudice because of his sexuality but says that for the first time ever, he's comfortable in himself. He spoke to Outlook’s Emily Webb. He’s written a book about his life called 'Coming out of the Black Country'.Produced and presented by Emily WebbImage: Stanley Underhill Credit: The Charterhouse

Frank Shankwitz is the co-founder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organisation that since 1980 has granted hundreds of thousands of wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Frank’s inspiration came from his own difficult childhood, a near-death experience and an encounter with a 7-year-old boy named Chris Greicius.Frank is the subject of a recently released feature film called Wish Man.Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPicture: Frank Shankwitz and Chris Greicius Credit: Frank Shankwitz

Born under apartheid and in poverty, South African composer Lebo M grew up loving music and became a performer at a young age. His talent took him on a tumultuous journey from Soweto to Hollywood. As he worked on the music for Disney's hit animation 'The Lion King' and as apartheid came to an end in South Africa, the story of those lions fighting for their kingdom took on a whole new relevance to him.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry GrahamPicture: Lebo M attends "The Lion King" On Broadway 15th Anniversary Celebration Credit: Getty Images, J. Countess

Sean Laidlaw rescued Barrie from Syria in 2018 where he was working as a bomb disposal expert. He fought a long and difficult battle to get her home to the UK to be with him and since, the two have become inseparable. He tells Outlook's Saskia Edwards how Barrie is helping him overcome his PTSD. He has written a book about their relationship called 'Barrie: How a rescue dog and her owner saved each other.'Presented and Produced by Saskia EdwardsPicture: Sean Laidlaw and Barrie in Syria Supplied by Sean Laidlaw

In 1964 Theo Van Eijck was a cadet in the Dutch navy. He was unhappy with life in the military and wanted to get out to start over. But with 6 years still left on his service contract, he decided to steal military plane and make a run for it. He took off from Malta and managed to outrun three pursuing fighter jets and made it to Libya. After a week he knew he had to go back so he made a deal with the Dutch Government and returned home to a media storm and a short prison sentence.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Harry GrahamPicture: Theo Van Eijck leaning out of the cockpit of a plane Credit: Theo Van Eijck

When Amanda Jette Knox and Zoe Knox met as teenagers in Canada, they fell in love almost instantly. They got married and had three children. But Zoe was hiding a huge secret - she was a trans woman presenting as a man. A seismic revelation came when their middle child came out as trans while Zoe remained inside the closet. But then finally, Zoe told Amanda the truth. They tell Jo Fidgen how they kept the family together.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Asya Fouks

When Alex Lewis was 18 he had an accident that caused him to lose his memory. The only person he could remember was Marcus, his identical twin brother. He became the person Alex most relied upon to rebuild his life and memories. But as it turned out not everything Marcus told him was true.This interview contains themes of child sexual abuse which may be difficult and triggering to hear.Their story features in a documentary called ‘Tell me who I am’ directed by Ed Perkins, released on Netflix and in select cinemas from Friday 18th October.Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPhoto: Alex and Marcus Lewis Credit: Alex and Marcus Lewis

Majeda Khoury loved to cook for her family back home in Damascus, so when conflict broke out in Syria she used her skills to help the displaced people fleeing the bombs. She smuggled food across checkpoints, but she was arrested and detained. Once she was released, she had to flee the country, leaving her two sons behind. Majeda moved to the UK where she used food to raise awareness about the conflict in her home country. She invited Emily Webb into her kitchen to share her mother’s recipe for her favourite Syrian dish, Harak Osbao’o, which translates to ‘he burned his fingers’. Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Troy Holmes Picture: Syrian chef Majeda Khoury serving food Credit: BBC/Troy Holmes

When Shari Ho from Taiwan was just seven years old, she was sold by her father to a woman. She spent the rest of her childhood as a domestic slave, was never allowed to go to school and was only given scraps of rotten food to eat. Shari finally escaped after she was taken to the United States by the woman who 'owned' her. She has now rebuilt her life and has set up her own childcare business. She's written a book about her life called My Name Is Also Freedom.   Presenter: Emily Webb Producers: Maryam Maruf & Saskia EdwardsImage: child covering her ears Credit: Getty Images/Favour_of_God

Caver Vernon Unsworth helped coordinate what became known as 'the rescue of the century' when 12 Thai schoolboys and their coach became trapped in the Tham Luang caves in Northern Thailand last year. It took 17 days to get them all out but they did it - Vernon describes the moment the boys and their coach were all brought out alive. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Mariana Des Forges Image: Caver Vernon Unsworth in Thailand's Tham Luang caves Credit: Vernon Unsworth

Shukrullah Zeerak was only 17 years old when he lost part of his right leg in a landmine explosion in Afghanistan. He was inspired by the physiotherapists who helped him to train as a physio himself. He now works at the Red Cross Orthopaedic Centre in Kabul. He's also a consultant for Afghanistan's National Association for Physiotherapy, and helps coordinate the country's wheelchair basketball team.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Deiniol BuxtonPicture: Afghan physiotherapist Shukrullah Zeerak Credit: Shukrullah Zeerak

Joe Michael Straczynski is an award-winning writer responsible for creating TV shows like Babylon 5, Sense8 and the movie ‘Changeling’, directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Angeline Jolie. But Joe had an abusive, loveless and deprived childhood and would find escape in the world of comics and science fiction. He credits one superhero in particular for forming his own moral character and steering him to a better life. He’s written a book about his life and love of fiction, it’s called ‘Becoming Superman’.All Superman material is copyright of DC Comics Inc.Presenter: Andrea Kennedy Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPhoto: Superman float in the Mardi Gras Parade Credit: Getty Images

When British dancer Kevin Turner was in his early 30s, he began to suffer extreme delusions. At one point he believed he was a millionaire, but he also became paranoid and believed everyone, including his mum Avis, was out to get him. Kevin had bipolar disorder, but he got help thanks to his mum. Kevin has created a dance theatre piece called Witness about the impact his mental health crisis had on his family. Kevin and Avis tell us their story.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Katy DavisImage: Dancers Kevin Turner (R) and Theo Fapohunda (L) Credit: Joel Chester-Fildes

When he was a medical student in the US, David Fajgenbaum was nicknamed “The Beast” – he trained hard and dreamed of playing college football. But then he became critically ill after he developed a very rare disorder called Castleman disease. Very few people had survived the illness, so David decided to use himself as a test case and dedicate what life he had left to finding a cure. His book is called Chasing My Cure. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Maryam MarufImage: David Fajgenbaum (L) in hospital with his dad (R) Credit: David Fajgenbaum