Short Cuts

BBC

Short documentaries and adventures in sound presented by Josie Long.

  • 27 minutes 44 seconds
    Someone to Watch Over Me

    In the first programme of this series of Short Cuts, Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries which peel back the curtain, peer into the darkness and look out at those who are watching us.

    By turns delightful and unsettling, today's audio adventures include the secret games teachers play when they're invigilating exams, a photographer whose ambition is to capture 'still lives' of people unawares in their homes at night, and a glimpse of the devices you can buy to spy on those supposedly close to you.

    The items featured in the programme are:

    Someone to Watch Over Me Produced by Sara Parker

    Stand by Me Produced by Benjamin Partridge

    I Was Bruce Lee Produced by Leo Hornak

    Cracking the Love Code Produced by Bob Carlson

    All Eyes on Us Produced by Steve Urquhart

    She Sees Your Every Move Produced by Jonathan Mitchell

    Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 August 2025, 3:05 pm
  • 27 minutes 14 seconds
    Taking Flight

    Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries in which people hurl themselves into the air with the hope of taking flight.

    We glide through the air, fall into the sea and explore grand leaps of the imagination, which cross the border between dreaming and reality.

    From comedian Holly Walsh's tale of hurtling off the edge of a pier in a handmade helicopter, through to the story of a trapeze artist balancing on the edge of falling as he casts himself upwards.

    The items featured in the programme are:

    The Fall Featuring Charlie Morley

    Sky Boy Produced by Hana Walker-Brown

    Falling for Rambo Featuring Holly Walsh Produced by Benjamin Partridge

    The Dreamers Featuring Charlie Morley

    Looking Up Originally broadcast in 'Space' from Radiolab http://www.radiolab.org

    Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 August 2025, 3:04 pm
  • 27 minutes 18 seconds
    Split

    Josie Long presents a series of delightful and adventurous short documentaries, brief encounters, true stories and found sound.

    We examine rips in the fabric of the universe as Josie Long delves into stories of splits, divisions and tears. From broken hearts to divided personalities.

    We hear from a woman who was so tired of being in two minds that she surrendered all of her decision making to a piece of string, a mimic who taught herself how to assume alternate personalities and we recover from heartbreak using the 'Automated Relationship Replacement Hotline'.

    The items featured in the programme are:

    Automated Relationship Replacement Hotline Originally broadcast in WireTap http://www.cbc.ca/wiretap/

    String Produced by Natalie Kestecher The full version of this story can be found here: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/360/string/4010328

    Split Voices Produced by Sarah Cuddon

    Other Halves Produced by Dennis Funk

    Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 August 2025, 3:03 pm
  • 26 minutes 50 seconds
    Lines of Communication

    Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries about communication - messages that could break your heart, rescue you from a fight or save you from a long stay in jail.

    The writer Glenn Patterson explains why sometimes we should ignore the writing on the wall, and musician Tom Robinson describes the unlikely message he sent at a time when he was in a lot of trouble.

    Stories of last words, lost love and lights being knocked out.

    The items featured in the programme are:

    Guess Who Found sound from the collection of Mark Vernon http://www.meagreresource.com/

    L'Esprit De L'Escalier Produced by Hana Walker-Brown

    Yanto Featuring Glenn Patterson Produced by Rachel Hooper

    Message from Above Featuring Tom Robinson Produced by Alan Hall

    Dear Sophie Produced by Sara Parker

    Conversations with Nic Featuring Esther Baker

    Produced by Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 August 2025, 2:59 pm
  • 27 minutes 22 seconds
    Lost and Found

    Josie Long presents a selection of short documentaries with stories of loss and discovery.

    From being lost in the music to lost love - Josie delves into tales of forgotten cassette tapes, voices rediscovered and teenage rebellion.

    Hide and Seek Feat. Steve Colgan

    Lost in Music Produced by Steve Urquhart

    I am Luther Blissett Produced by Rosanna Arbon

    Fluctuations Produced by Phil Smith

    Lost Voices Feat. Jude Rogers

    Looking for Layla Produced by Hana Walker-Brown

    Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 August 2025, 2:01 pm
  • 27 minutes 26 seconds
    Escape

    Josie Long presents a showcase for delightful and adventurous short documentaries and makes her escape as we hear stories of running away, flight and car chases.

    From breaking away to disappearing into escapism - we hear the tale of a narrow escape as three young Australian men desperately try to manoeuvre themselves out of trouble, alongside the story of a 93 year old wing walker getting lost in the clouds.

    The items featured in the programme are:

    Swimming in Snafu Produced by Meagan Perry

    River Guard Feat. Laura Barton

    Drive for Portugal Produced by Leo Hornak

    Head in the Clouds Produced by Sara Parker

    Road Warriors Produced by Bob Carlson Originally featured in Unfictional http://www.kcrw.com/etc/programs/uf/uf111202the_road_warriors

    Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4

    Rpt

    Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree Production for BBC Radio 4.

    27 August 2025, 1:48 pm
  • 34 minutes 42 seconds
    Midnight

    Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures as the clock slips closer to midnight.

    In the last Short Cuts on BBC Radio 4, 13 years after the broadcast of our first ever episode 'Misadventures', we listen to radio waves after dark with the Shortwave Collective, tumble into a radio poem alongside a sleeping child, tune into a late night pirate radio station from the early 1960s, and raise a parting glass.

    At Least Featuring Xelis de Toro Produced by Phil Smith

    Voice of Nuclear Disarmament With thanks to the British Library Sound Archive, and the family of John Hasted Produced by Jonny Matfin

    Perhaps at Midnight, When All Boundaries Are Lost Produced by the Shortwave Collective

    Good Company Featuring Jesse Lawson, Izzy Yon and Femi Oriogun-Williams Produced by Jesse Lawson

    Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall Mix by Mike Woolley Executive Producer: Alan Hall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

    7 January 2025, 7:00 am
  • 28 minutes 25 seconds
    Earth

    A friendship forged working the land, memories of volcanic eruptions from 800,000 years ago frozen in Antarctica’s ice cores, and the importance of wild, patient gardens. Short documentaries presented by Josie Long that rise up from the earth.

    Wintering Music by Jules Bradley Produced by Jules Bradley

    Melt Tones Featuring Dr Dieter Tetzner Produced by Anton Spice

    Sue’s Garden Featuring Sue Trolle Music by Sóley Produced by Rikke Houd

    Produced by Andrea Rangecroft Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

    29 December 2024, 7:00 am
  • 31 minutes 29 seconds
    Merry Christmas

    A criminal defence lawyer finds a surprising new job foisted upon him and a son attempts to recover his joyfulness on a family holiday. Josie Long presents short festive documentaries and merry sonic adventures.

    Family Yoga Produced by Kit Callin

    A Conversation with my Mum at Christmas Featuring Rhik Samadder A version of this story first appeared in Rhik Samadder's memoir, I Never Said I Loved You Music by The Enchanted Cinema Produced by Sarah Cuddon

    Miracle on the George Washington Bridge Produced by Luke Green

    Santa Calls Featuring Matt Storrs Produced by Talia Augustidis

    Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

    24 December 2024, 7:00 am
  • 29 minutes 26 seconds
    Feast

    Feeding the birds, sharing meals and chaotic menus - Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures about eating together.

    Bird Feeder Produced by Stella Sims

    And to Start... Produced by Mae-Li Evans

    Foodhall Produced by Nadia Mehdi

    Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

    17 December 2024, 7:00 am
  • 29 minutes 11 seconds
    Lost Futures

    Time capsules and yesterday's dreams of tomorrow, Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures exploring lost futures.

    That’s Merely an Adjective Produced by Zara Karschay

    Time Play by Chelsea Kigano, Lily Sloane, Lilia Vega, and Emily Shaw Originally made as part of The 24-Hour Radio Race from KCRW's Independent Producer Project Music and sound design by Lily Sloane, with Time Ain't Gonna Make Me Stay by Ed Andrews Special thanks to David Lee

    Letters Produced by Mika Golubovsky and Sasha Borzenko Featuring Zehnya Feldman and Natasha Zotova

    Higher Ground Produced by Leila Goldstein Featuring Winda Safitri, Yoppi and Naya Hidayatul Alialna

    Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Produced by Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

    10 December 2024, 7:00 am
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