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Short Cuts

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Rating
★★★★★
4.8
from
164 reviews
This podcast has
249 episodes
Language
English
Publisher
BBC Radio 4
Explicit
No
Date created
2013/05/28
Latest episode
2025/08/27
Average duration
30 min.
Release period
26 days

Description

Short documentaries and adventures in sound presented by Josie Long.

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Check latest episodes from Short Cuts podcast


Someone to Watch Over Me
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 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.
Taking Flight
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 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.
Split
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 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.
Lines of Communication
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 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.
Lost and Found
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 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.
Escape
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 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.
Midnight
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 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
Earth
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 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
Merry Christmas
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 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
Feast
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 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
Lost Futures
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 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
Into the Night
2024/12/03
Siren song, lunar eavesdroppers and the gathering dark - Josie Long presents short documentaries about venturing into the night. Siren Song Featuring melancholydi Produced by Kalli Anderson Lunar 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 3 Beneath Produced by Sami El-Enany Brücke Featuring Stephen Jenkinson Produced by Phil Smith Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
The Forest
2024/09/24
Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures that venture into the forest. Searching for Eden Written, performed and composed by Nyokabi Kariũki Drums - Chris O'Leary Field Recordings taken in Mũrang'a, Kenya The Final Breath Featuring Robin Elms Produced by Kendra Hanna and Max Jungreis El 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 Aranha Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
A Word
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 a canoe trip on the Tapiskwan Sipi, which runs through Atikamekw Nehirowisiwok territory in the unceded province of Quebec. Special thanks to Nina Garthwaite, Tom Todoroff, Emily Moulton, Katherina Lindekens and Emma Lehman from Noise Club. Buranbur: a comfort in words by audio maker and producer Suhaar Ali. Featuring the first Somali woman elected to the cabinet, Fadumo Aalin, who talks about her mother and poet Hawo Jibril. Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Produced by Axel Kacoutié A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4
Sound Waves
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 Dixon Nat’s Apartment Written and produced by Emma-Lee Moss Music by Emma-Lee Moss and Nata Lee Hahn Love in the Time of Flatulence Featuring Alison Downham Moore, Noam Osband, Zebulon Osband and Dahlia Osband Written and produced by Noam Osband Produced by Andrea Rangecroft Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Podcast reviews

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4.8 out of 5
164 reviews
★★★★★
Hope and resolve 2025/09/02
Substance and light
I cried when the host announced in January the last episode of this beautifully curated series of human stories. So grateful to see a few more episode...
★★★★★
V-Spain 2025/01/08
The best
I was always immersed, always delighted and surprised—lovely, lovely, lovely…
★★★★★
UW44 2024/11/23
perfect audio poems
so fresh, engaging, and immersive. love this show
★★★★★
TH3audienc3 2024/04/02
like a whole place
run don’t walk to this
★★★★★
dnsfnk 2023/10/26
Beauti…
…ful
★★★★★
AnimatedMeatSack 2023/04/13
More like….Short Crap.
I’m totally kidding. This has actually become one of my all-time favorite podcasts. Josie is great. She’s quirky and cute as the day is long. All of ...
★★★★★
mspassell 2023/03/29
3775676 stars!!!
I wish I could bottle Short Cuts up, spray it all over my body, and wear it all around.
★★★★★
Foshou 2022/04/08
Where have I been?
Great host and wonderful short documentaries that are varied and so engaging. I can’t believe I only just learned about it.
★★★★★
querbles 2022/01/02
Listened to every episode multiple times, never tired of it
Short cuts are beautifully curated shorts. Close your eyes, listening to each short is completely immersive. Josie Long is fabulous.
★★★★★
frustratedddfddddddd 2021/08/23
Divine
This podcast is a work of art. I could listen to Josie forever!
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