The Listening Project

Fi Glover presents the last ever edition of The Listening Project.This week: Eric and Neil share their thoughts on our power as individuals in a political crisis; Veronica, 81, and Eve,18, compare experiences of being young, single and pregnant; retired head gardener Tommy from Cornwall shares his enthusiasm with two 10-year-old urban gardeners from Liverpool; and Jonnie Robinson, Lead Curator of The Listening Project archive at The British Library, reminds us of its ongoing value.The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer: Mohini Patel

Fi Glover presents four conversations between friends and strangers around the country.This week: Friends and neighbours Saira and Samantha reflect on the uncomfortable boundary between personal and public grief; Sara and Gillian share their experience of struggling to keep high street businesses afloat; Nicola and Lola exchange stories on the different kinds of prejudice they faced in the health system during pregnancy; and Eurovision super-fans Matt and Chris make a case for their respective home cities, Birmingham and Manchester, to host the contest next year. The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer: Mohini Patel

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation. This week, former postwoman Clair and dog lover Anita discuss dangerous dogs and the fear of being bitten. Retired newspaperman Brian and online journalist David debate whether there’s any interest left in local news. We catch-up with brothers William and Oliver six years after they recorded a conversation about living with a stammer. And Tinda and Shona share their love of shoes; from fancy footwear to branded trainers and every pair in between. The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer: Jane Wilkinson

Fi Glover presents three conversations between strangers and a catch-up with a husband and wife who were first recorded ten years ago.This week: Kelly and Agy talk about being women in male dominated sports; Sonia and Funmi discuss their experiences of having Sickle Cell Disease; Sazida and Mel share their passion for going on pilgrimage; and, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Project, a catch-up chat with Tony and Michelle, husband and wife first recorded in 2012. The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer: Mohini Patel

This week Ashley and Sarah discuss the importance of protecting coastal buildings and fishing communities; Luke and Andrew reflect on Disability Pride; The Listening Project’s marking its 10th anniversary and Alana and Edie, both born in the year the project launched, discuss what the future may hold; and Emily and Marisha share a passion for cleaning up the UK’s beaches. The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer - Faye Hatcher

Fi Glover presents three conversations between strangers and a TLP 10th Anniversary catch-up chat with mother and daughters.This week: Karen and Diane share their enthusiasm for volunteering for the Commonwealth Games; Nicola and Katie make a powerful connection reflecting on whether to have children or not; ardent Newcastle United fans Samantha and Steve go over the pros and cons of the Saudi Arabian consortium takeover of their club; and Fi catches up with mother and daughter Victoria and Rosie, recorded for the Project in 2016, discussing Rosie’s sister, Martha, who had severe eczema as a baby. The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer: Mohini Patel

Four conversations between strangers presented by Kofi Smiles.This week: Kirsty and Angela, cyclist and taxi driver respectively, argue over which set of wheels causes most problems on the roads; Neville and Mike debate the pros and cons of having your body cryogenically frozen; Autumn and Adam put the case for and against vinyl records and streaming; and with the Women’s Euros underway, teens Lacey and Sam share their passion for the beautiful game, their thoughts on the women’s game and England’s Lionesses.The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer: Mohini Patel

Three conversations between strangers presented by Fi Glover.This week: Norman and Steve remember the miners' strike of 1984 from different perspectives - one was a striking miner, the other a young policeman with the task of keeping order on the picket lines; Ayesha and Imran talk about what Muslim representation in the media means to them and the positive impact of Ms Marvel, a new Disney series which has a first for Marvel - a female Muslim superhero.The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer: Mohini Patel

Fi Glover presents four conversations between strangers.This week: Rob and Richard talk through the pros and cons of taking strike action; Tracey and Fenella share their experiences of loneliness and the ways they’ve learnt to deal with it; a special 10th anniversary conversation between ten year old boys Jesse and Roan, both born in 2012 when The Listening Project was first broadcast, talking about what they think is going to happen in the next 10 years; and mums Helen and Fabienne share two very different experiences of parenting and home schooling. The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer: Mohini Patel

Fi Glover presents friends, relatives and strangers in conversation. This week: Musicians, Kapil and H33ra discuss diversity at Glastonbury and other festivals. Ruby and Zakiyah who are both currently taking ‘A’ levels share their plans for the next stage of their lives. Mandy and Sean, both Kate Bush fans talk about her recent comeback. And to mark the tenth anniversary of the project we hear a conversation from 2014 between Father and Daughter, Leif and Raphie about memories of Raphie’s Mum who died suddenly in 2008. Fi catches up with Leif to find out how things have changed for them both over the past eight years. The Listening Project is a Radio 4 initiative that offers a snapshot of contemporary Britain in which people across the UK volunteer to have a conversation. The conversations are being gathered across the UK by teams of producers from local and national radio stations who facilitate each encounter. Every conversation lasts up to an hour, and is then edited to extract the key moments of connection between the participants. Most of the unedited conversations are being archived by the British Library and used to build up a collection of voices capturing a unique portrait of the UK in this decade of the millennium. You can learn more about The Listening Project by visiting bbc.co.uk/listeningprojectProducer: Gill Kearsley