PODCAST

Short Cuts

BBC Radio 4

Short documentaries and adventures in sound presented by Josie Long.

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

27:44

Someone to Watch Over Me

Short Cuts ·

2025/08/27

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

27:14

Taking Flight

Short Cuts ·

2025/08/27

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

27:18

Split

Short Cuts ·

2025/08/27

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

26:50

Lines of Communication

Short Cuts ·

2025/08/27

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 WhoFound sound from

27:22

Lost and Found

Short Cuts ·

2025/08/27

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 ColganLost in Music Produced by Steve UrquhartI am Luther Blissett Produced by Rosanna ArbonFluctuations Produced by Phil SmithLost Voices Feat. Jude RogersLooking for Layla Produced by Hana Walker-BrownProducer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree

27:26

Escape

Short Cuts ·

2025/08/27

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 PerryRiver

34:42

Midnight

Short Cuts ·

2025/01/07

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 LeastFeaturing Xelis de Toro Produced by Phil SmithVoice of Nuclear

28:25

Earth

Short Cuts ·

2024/12/29

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 BradleyMelt Tones Featuring Dr Dieter Tetzner Produced by Anton SpiceSue’s Garden Featuring Sue Trolle Music by Sóley Produced by Rikke HoudProduced by Andrea Rangecroft Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor

31:29

Merry Christmas

Short Cuts ·

2024/12/24

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 CallinA 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 CuddonMiracle on the George Washington Bridge Produced

29:26

Feast

Short Cuts ·

2024/12/17

Feeding the birds, sharing meals and chaotic menus - Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures about eating together.Bird Feeder Produced by Stella SimsAnd to Start... Produced by Mae-Li EvansFoodhall Produced by Nadia MehdiCurated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

29:11

Lost Futures

Short Cuts ·

2024/12/10

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 KarschayTime 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 LeeLetters Produced by Mika Golubovsky and

29:36

Into the Night

Short Cuts ·

2024/12/03

Siren song, lunar eavesdroppers and the gathering dark - Josie Long presents short documentaries about venturing into the night.Siren SongFeaturing melancholydi Produced by Kalli AndersonLunar Eavesdroppers An extract from Space Ham, first broadcast in BBC Radio 3's Between the Ears Produced by Rose de Larrabeiti and Caroline Devine A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 3Beneath Produced by Sami El-EnanyBrücke Featuring Stephen Jenkinson Produced by Phil SmithCurated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor

30:11

The Forest

Short Cuts ·

2024/09/24

Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures that venture into the forest.Searching for EdenWritten, performed and composed by Nyokabi Kariũki Drums - Chris O'Leary Field Recordings taken in Mũrang'a, KenyaThe Final Breath Featuring Robin Elms Produced by Kendra Hanna and Max JungreisEl Manglar Featuring Paolo Realpe, founder of Muisne Desde Adentro Special thanks to Dr. Pilar Egüez Guevara, co-founder and director of Comidas que Curan (Foods that Heal) Produced by Mickal

29:06

A Word

Short Cuts ·

2024/09/17

Wishes, wonders, and wisdom. Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures uncovering the power of words.mother-house by produced by Catherine Boulle. Inspired by the guided visualisations accompanying the book 'Motherhood: Is it for me?' by Denise L. Carlini & Ann Davidman.Weird World Whimsy produced and composed by Suzie McCarthy. Featuring actor, teacher and director, Mary Lou Rosato. Interview recording by audio producer Donelle Wederburn in New York City. The piece featured

29:21

Sound Waves

Short Cuts ·

2024/09/10

Trying to capture a lost homeland on tape, reclaiming urban landscapes through the sound of skateboarding, and the noise that is one of the great equalisers of the world. Short documentaries that ripple through space - presented by Josie Long.Sonic Skateboarding Produced by Alice Boyd and Tom Critchley Featuring Ben Dixon, Tom Critchley, Hannah, Zip and Bleu Music composed by Ben DixonNat’s Apartment Written and produced by Emma-Lee Moss Music by Emma-Lee Moss and Nata Lee HahnLove in the Time of

29:21

In Time

Short Cuts ·

2024/09/03

Josie Long presents short documentaries against the clock in an episode around time and timing.Dad's Secret Life of MatchmakingProduced by Josephine Anderson Additional sound recording by Christopher AndersonLoose Ends Produced by Jon TjhiaThere's Always a Next Time Produced by Steve UrquhartCurated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

29:43

Constellation

Short Cuts ·

2024/08/27

Star maps, messages from Earth to the moon and reaching out across distance as Josie Long presents short documentaries about constellations.Star MapFeaturing Ferdinand Hauge Leth Music by Kirstine Lindemann Captured by Trawl Hz Produced by Nanna Hauge KristensenNews to the Moon and Back Recordings courtesy of the NASA archive Produced by Mika GolubovskyThe Complaints Department Featuring Evan Gregg and letters from www.dearmisterward.com Produced by Inge Oosterhoff Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor

28:20

In Colour

Short Cuts ·

2024/08/20

A black and white film transformed, searching the sunset for the green flash and a reimagining of red. Josie Long presents a kaleidoscopic collection of short documentaries.Autism Plays ItselfAdapted for radio by Jodie Taylor and Janet Harbord Based on the short film directed by Janet Harbord, produced by Whalebone Films and sound designed by Action PyramidGreen Flash Written by Joe DunthorneRed of Visibility Produced by Phoebe McIndoe With thanks to THE ECCO founded by Jasmin Bauomy, where a

28:45

The Invisible

Short Cuts ·

2024/06/04

Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures which emerge from dreams, hidden places and the afterlife.The Dreams (Extract)From Inventions for Radio by Barry Bermange and Delia Derbyshire Originally broadcast on the BBC in 1964Zero Fixation Points Produced by Nada Smiljanic Location production by Avi Varma Archive courtesy of Rowan Farrell Featuring Professor Bridget Anderson and Travis Van Isacker from the University of BristolThe Quiet Violence of Dreams Produced by Kagiso

29:04

Lost

Short Cuts ·

2024/05/28

Evaporating answers, mysterious music and disappearing dialects - Josie Long presents short documentaries about things in danger of becoming lost.Pot-8-ToesFeaturing Billy Butler and Wally Scott Originally broadcast in Hold Your Plums on Radio MerseysideA Corner Seat in a Smoker, Facing the Engine Produced by Robin the FogEchoes of Cockney Produced by James TricePanchiko Produced by Tom WhalleyCurated by Axel Kacoutié and Eleanor McDowall Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production

24 results

Short Cuts

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

The Daily Horoscope

The Daily Horoscope

The Michael Decon Program

Michael Decon

Kalimera Koveos

Andrea Koveos

The Documentary Podcast

BBC World Service

Smarter leben

DER SPIEGEL