The Outlook Podcast Archive

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: outlook@bbc.com(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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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 GelberGet in touch: outlook@bbc.com(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 ThomasGet in touch: outlook@bbc.com(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 MugajuPhoto: 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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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 ChristieGet in touch: outlook@bbc.com(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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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 MarufGet in touch: outlook@bbc.com(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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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: outlook@bbc.com 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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: 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 BuxtonPhoto: 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 GelberGet in touch: outlook@bbc.com(Photo: Dianne O'Brien with her mother, aged two. Credit: Courtesy of Dianne O'Brien)