Advertise on podcast: Let’s Talk About… Unheard Stories

Send us Fan Mail The Air Raid Siren There are some sounds that need no explanation. The moment you hear an air raid siren, you know something is wrong. But the story of the siren begins long before the Second World War, and surprisingly, it wasn't invented as a warning at all. In this episode of Let's Hear About… Sounds from History, we travel from an eighteenth-century experiment in sound and music to the sirens that warned millions of people during the Blitz. We discover how a simple scientific instrument could produce the unmistakable rising and falling wail we know today, why the sound changes pitch, and even how the technology was used to measure the speed of a mosquito's wings. We'll also hear about Britain's first wartime air raid warnings, the all-clear signal, the experience of waiting in shelters during the Blitz, and the role the siren later played in Britain's Cold War four-minute warning system. Two sounds made from essentially the same idea, one meaning danger, the other meaning safety. The technology may have changed, but the warning's purpose hasn't. I'm Nicky, and this is Let's Hear About… Sounds from History. Music and sound effects: Pixabay Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail The Wilhelm Scream: Hollywood's Most Famous Sound EffectYou've almost certainly heard it... One scream has appeared in hundreds of films and TV programmes over the last 70 years, from Star Wars and Indiana Jones to The Lord of the Rings, Toy Story and countless others. In this episode of Let's Hear About, Nicky explores the fascinating history of the Wilhelm Scream. Discover how a recording made for a man being attacked by an alligator became one of Hollywood's longest-running inside jokes, why nobody knows for certain who actually recorded it, and how legendary sound designer Ben Burtt helped turn an ordinary stock sound effect into a piece of cinema history. We'll also look at the science behind why screams grab our attention so instantly, and why your brain is wired to react before you've even had time to think. Once you've heard the Wilhelm Scream...you'll never stop noticing it. In this episode: • The surprising origins of the Wilhelm Scream • The mystery of who actually recorded it • How Star Wars helped make it famous • Why filmmakers still hide it in movies today • The psychology and neuroscience of why screams are so powerful If you enjoy the episode, please consider following the podcast and sharing it with someone who loves films, movie trivia or the hidden stories behind everyday sounds. Next month: The fascinating history of the air raid siren. Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail If you grew up in the early 2000s, you've heard it. Probably thousands of times. But do you know where it actually came from? The Nokia ringtone is one of the most recognised sounds in human history,  heard an estimated 1.8 billion times a day at its peak. But behind that four-bar melody is a story most people have never heard. A 100-year-old Spanish guitar composition, a copyright loophole, and a tune that became the accidental soundtrack to an entire era. This is the first episode of Let's Hear About... a new series digging into the stories behind the sounds that shaped our lives. Music and sound effects from Pixabay. Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail This month, Nicky is asking a big question - is capitalism killing creativity? From the cassette recorder she and her best friend used to play with as kids, to the systems that decide whose creative work gets funded, recognised and seen, this episode looks at what happens when commercial value becomes the only measure of creative worth. Covering awards, independent creators, the closed loop of credits in the film and television industry, what happens when someone just bypasses the whole system entirely?  Find out in this episode...is capitalism killing creativity? #Creativity #Capitalism #Podcast #ADHD #IndependentCreator #UnheardStories Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail Some sounds aren't just noise, they are history in the making. Let's Hear About... digs into the stories behind the sounds that shaped our lives. Where they came from, how they spread, and why they stayed with us. From the Nokia ringtone to the Wilhelm Scream, from the first recorded human voice to the sounds of space itself, new episodes drop on the 1st of every month. Music and sound effects from Pixabay. #Podcast #SoundHistory #UnheardStories #LetsHearAbout Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail This month Nicky is talking about something that affects millions of neurodivergent people, carers, and everyone really!  Let's talk about... Form Filling! From benefits to education, housing to healthcare, forms are often the only way to access the support you need. So why are they so badly designed for the very people who need them most? This episode covers the real cost of inaccessible forms, why they fail neurodivergent people so consistently, and what good actually looks like when someone bothers to get it right. Plain language. Real examples. No jargon. #ADHD #Neurodivergent #ADHDPerth #FormFilling #Accessibility #Podcast #UnheardStories Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail This week's episode of Let's Talk About... Unheard Stories is a special one. 💙 After 15 years as the admin heart of ADHD+ Perth, Lorna Fotheringham has just retired, and I couldn't let that moment pass without saying a very public thank you. I've been part of the ADHD+ Perth community for over 20 years. Lorna is one of those people who shows up, gets on with it, and makes everything work, quietly and consistently with so much warmth. She came in 2012 for a day's filing, and almost fifteen years later, here we are! I'm re-releasing my full conversation with Lorna as a tribute to everything she has contributed to our community.  🎙️ Listen now   #ADHD #ADHDawareness #Podcast #Community #Perth #MentalHealth #UnheardStories Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail To mark International Women's Day, Nicky visits one of the most extraordinary pieces of Scottish history currently on public display, the last letter ever written by Mary Queen of Scots. Written in the early hours of 8th February 1587, just hours before her execution at Fotheringhay Castle, the letter is now on free display at Perth Museum until 26th April 2026, the first time it has been displayed north of Edinburgh in modern times. Nicky reflects on what it feels like to stand in front of this remarkable piece of history, the composure of Mary's handwriting, and why her words still resonate more than 400 years later. 🏛️ Perth Museum - Free admission 📅 Open until 26th April 2026 ⏰ Last admission 4.40pm Mon-Sat | 3.40pm Sunday 📚 AK Bell Library, Perth - Linked display Burns' Lament of Mary Queen of Scots & Liz Lochhead manuscripts ⏰ Tue-Thu 10am-4pm | Sat 9.30am-1pm 🎙️ Listen on all platforms: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031 📸 Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111 If you enjoyed this episode please subscribe, leave a review, and share - it genuinely helps more people find the show!  Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail In the centre of Tron Square stands a dry but dignified landmark, the Alexander Martin Memorial Fountain, gifted to Dunning in 1874 by a villager who built a new life across the Atlantic.  Today, it’s more than stone and plaque; it’s a reminder of connection across oceans and time. But Dunning is not just its past. From the sound of kids on the green to chatter in the pub and the rhythms of village life, this walk weaves together history and the present. The fountain anchors the story,  but it’s the people who keep the village alive. Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Fiona Clason, from the University of Stirling Art Collection, talks us through the stories behind the collection, its purpose, its people, and its mission, before diving into the history and significance of Mary Martin’s Wall Construction. Fiona shares: How the University’s art collection began and what makes it uniqueWhy art on campus matters for students, staff, and visitorsHow Mary Martin’s Wall Construction came to StirlingWhat makes the piece stand out within the wider collectionHow abstract art communicates through structure, rhythm, and spaceThe ongoing work of preservation, interpretation, and community engagementThis episode opens up the world behind the artwork, the decisions, the care, and the conversations that keep collections alive. You can find out more about the University's art collection here https://www.stir.ac.uk/about/art-collection/ Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, In this episode, writer Francesca Flowers reflects on her father, photographer Adrian Flowers, and the time he spent in the studios of Mary and Kenneth Martin during the 1950s. Her words are read by Zoe, bringing warmth and clarity to this beautifully written historical insight. We follow Adrian’s visits to the Martins’ London studio, his fascination with constructionist and abstract art, and the photographs that captured Mary Martin’s quiet intensity and self-effacing presence. This episode explores: Adrian Flowers’ relationship with the post-war art sceneHis photographs of Mary & Kenneth Martin in their studio (1955 onwards)How the Martins built upon St Ives modernismMary’s mathematically structured, minimal, rigorous practiceThe creation of Environment for This Is Tomorrow (1956)The gifted work Expanding Form and the 1984 Tate retrospectiveMary Martin’s lasting impact on British modernismA thoughtful intersection of photography, art history, and personal memory,  giving rare context to a crucial moment in post-war British abstraction. You can find out more about Adrian Flowers here https://adrianflowersarchive.com/ Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail Artist Audrey Grant joins me for a reflective, quietly powerful conversation about Mary Martin’s Wall Construction and the deeper artistic ideas that run through both women’s work. Audrey shares how she approaches Wall Construction, the geometry, the stillness, the discipline, the invitation to slow down. We talk about the connections between Mary Martin’s ordered structures and Audrey’s own practice, particularly her interest in presence, attention, and the emotional weight of space. In this episode we explore: What makes Wall Construction such a magnetic workHow Mary Martin balances precision with feelingWhy Audrey is drawn to silence, stillness and repetitionThe shared language between their practicesWhat happens when you really look at an artwork, without rushingA thoughtful, intimate episode for anyone who loves abstraction, process, and the hidden layers inside art. You can find out more about Audrey and her work here https://www.audreygrant.co.uk/ Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail On the night of January 28th, 1716, Dunning was burning. As Jacobite troops from the Earl of Mar’s army retreated through Strathearn, they set fire to villages along the way.  Thirty-three families lost their homes, and at least three villagers died in the bitter cold that followed.  Out of the destruction came two enduring landmarks: the Thorn Tree in the village square, planted later that spring, and the Straw House, said to have survived through a clever bluff.  In this short walk, we trace how fire, loss, and survival left their mark on Dunning.  Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Paul Martin, son of the artist Mary Martin, about her life, her process, and the story behind Wall Construction, one of the most iconic works in the University of Stirling Art Collection. We talk about: Whether Mary ever visited the University during the commissionHow Mary approached abstraction, simplicity, and the idea that “the work should explain itself”Paul’s childhood memories of growing up immersed in the art worldThe Belfast hospital commission and the surprising story of what eventually happened to itThe legacy Mary Martin left, both as an artist and as a motherHow the family navigated the balance between art, architecture, and everyday lifeThis conversation is a rare and intimate insight into Mary Martin’s work from someone who lived inside that world.  It offers history, humour, and a deeper understanding of the ideas behind her constructions. Mentioned in this episode: Toby Paterson, Douglas Hall, Matilda Mitchell, Sam Gathercole, the This Is Tomorrow exhibition, and the University of Stirling Art Collection. 🎧 Listen and discover the story behind one of the university’s most compelling artworks. Image  © Art UK / University of Stirling Art Collection  Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast

Send us Fan Mail  In the heart of Dunning stands St Serf’s Church, its tower dating back to the 1200s. But the stories it carries go much further: a local legend of a saint and a dragon, and a sandstone cross carved more than 1,200 years ago. In this short walk we explore how myth and history overlap, from St Serf’s victory over the beast to the Dupplin Cross and its royal inscription.  Support the show 💡 Stay in the loop  💬 Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/letstalkabout1111?igsh=emJhOTc5b3h4bTBr  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/nicola-foley-instlm-ips-48927a6a  ☕ Buy us a coffee: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1756031/support 📄 Transcript + resources available for all episodes 🧠 Created by Nicky | Sound design by Nicky ⚠️ Content may include references to mental health, trauma, suicide or ableism #NeurodivergentVoices #RealTalkPodcast