Episodes
Our usual episode is delayed - Nicky explains why.
Published 11/29/23
Robert Mazur was once the go-to money launderer for Pablo Escobar’s Medellin cartel - but it was all a ruse, Robert was undercover and it led to one of the largest money laundering prosecutions in history. He joins Nicky to talk about making friends with ruthless criminals, fear and how more money than ever before is being laundered. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound Design: Ailsa Rochester
Published 11/22/23
Pastor Clement Okusi, biblical scholar Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou and geneticist Dr Adam Rutherford join Nicky for a far reaching conversation. Asking questions like…where does the bible stand on evolution? Did Jesus exist? Does it matter if he did? Who gets into heaven? And what’s the meaning of life? Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester
Published 07/18/23
Sarah Jane Downing was a victim of the now imprisoned surgeon Ian Paterson. Ian Paterson specialised in breast cancer operations, and between 1997 and 2011, he subjected more than 1000 patients to unnecessary and damaging surgeries, many of them mastectomies. He's currently serving a 20 year sentence after being found guilty on 17 counts of wounding with intent, and three counts of unlawful wounding. When Sarah Jane Downing discovered the lumpectomy he’d performed on her was unnecessary...
Published 07/11/23
Wim Hof is an extreme athlete who held the record for swimming under ice, prolonged full body contact with ice and completing a half marathon barefoot on ice and snow. Now an author, tv star and motivational speaker he encourages everyone to embrace the cold - whether it’s wild swimming, cold showers or ice baths. He talks to Nicky’s wife Tina who’s a devoted wild swimmer, hears Nicky’s experience with a cold shower and we find out the unlikely mantra that helped him survive his barefoot...
Published 07/05/23
In 1984 college student Angela Samota was found dead in her Texas apartment, her murder went unsolved for more than 30 years. Nicky speaks to Angela’s friend Sheila Wysocki who pressured police into reopening the case and finally finding the killer. Sheila is now a private investigator who focuses on cold cases and unsolved murders - she tells Nicky what the police think of her, what it’s like to have lunch with a suspected murderer and why she can’t quit. WARNING: This episode contains...
Published 06/27/23
Michael Scott Moore is an American journalist living and working in Berlin - in 2012 he was reporting on the court case of a group of Somali pirates being tried in Germany and planning on writing a book on piracy. He travelled to Somalia where he was taken by pirates and held for the next 2 and half years of his life. He tells Nicky about what it was like to come home, the cruelty of the pirates and why he gave up hope. WARNING: This episode contains strong language and references suicidal...
Published 06/20/23
This week on Different Nicky meets Tony King, a record promoter who worked with John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, Freddie Mercury and remains a close friend of Elton John’s. He tells Nicky about working with the most famous people on earth, Studio 54 in its heyday and shopping with Freddy. WARNING: This episode contains adult content and references to substance abuse. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester
Published 06/13/23
This week on Different Nicky explores the band which changed his life, with two people who were there while the music was being made - Pattie Boyd and Tony King. Pattie Boyd was married to George Harrison, then later Eric Clapton, and George wrote the song "Something" for her. She tells Nicky about meeting him, her career as a model, what it was like to be married to a Beatle and how George and Eric remained friends. Tony is a retired record promoter who worked closely with the Rolling...
Published 06/06/23
In 2013 Bryan Johnson sold his company to Paypal for $800 million, since then he’s founded two new companies, and began Project Blueprint - the regimen designed to make him live forever. He tells Nicky about his gruelling daily routine, being the most measured man in human history and why he thinks perfect health is on its way. WARNING:This episode contains adult themes. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester
Published 05/30/23
Journalist and author AJ Jacobs tells Nicky about his year long mission to understand the bible better - by following every rule it sets. From not shaving the corners of his beard, to stoning adulterers and having to bring his own camping chair on the subway because of some extremely restrictive rules on where he could sit. He and Nicky discuss how much of the bible was meant to be taken literally, why people are drawn to men with big beards and white robes and why a non religious life can...
Published 05/23/23
Jamie Hull had left the SAS when he went to America to train as a pilot - part of his longer plan to work as a commercial airline pilot. In his final weeks of training Jamie took his plane up on a solo flight, where it caught fire. He tells Nicky about jumping from the plane, what it’s like to think you’re moments from death, and his long road to recovery. WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of accident and injury, and a discussion on assisted dying and suicidal thoughts. Produced...
Published 05/16/23
What’s it like to be a psychopath? Nicky finds out with diagnosed psychopath ME Thomas. They talk about guilt, love and why most serial killers are too emotional to be actual psychopaths. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester
Published 05/09/23
Bruce Findlay ran legendary Edinburgh record story Bruce’s before going on to manage band Simple Minds. He tells Nicky about meeting the biggest names in music, why he and Simple Minds parted company and how his shop was the first in Scotland to sell the Beatles White Album. WARNING: This episode contains bad language Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Ailsa Rochester
Published 05/02/23
Nicky talks to Martin Davidson, a historian who discovered as an adult that his Grandfather was a mid ranking SS Officer in the Nazi party - and had joined the party far before Hitler came to power. He and Nicky discuss what he uncovered about the holocaust, recognising evil and family secrets. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Published 04/25/23
Nicky talks to forensic psychiatrist and author Dr Gwen Adshead about working with violent offenders, psychopaths and the dangers of certainty. WARNING: This episode includes discussion of violent crimes, child sexual assault and rape. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Published 04/18/23
Jason Bray, a minister in the Church of Wales talks about his job as a deliverance minister - explaining why if you think you're possessed you definitely aren’t, where the bible stands on ghosts and why he considers himself a sceptic. WARNING: this episode contains references to mental illness, self harm and the occult Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Published 04/11/23
Nicky learns how the power of super-smeller Joy Milne has been harnessed to make a new test to diagnose Parkinson’s. They discuss her ability, how she found out that she had identified the smell of Parkinson's, the other illnesses she can smell and the ethical dilemma that comes with being to diagnose with her nose. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Published 04/04/23
Dream decoder and author Theresa Cheung talks about being homeschooled by a family of spiritualists and astrologers, getting into Cambridge and the red flags to watch out for if you visit a psychic. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Published 03/28/23
Seoyhun Lee’s father was one of North Korea’s privileged party members, but when the regime came for their friends the family made the decision to defect. Seoyhun Lee tells Nicky about her best friend's kidnapping by the state, what’s really going on in Pyongyang and life in America. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Published 03/22/23
Rhonda McCrimmon explains to Nicky what being a shaman is all about, plays him the drum that takes you into a dream state and explains why Scotland is so tied up with ancient magic. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Craig Edmondson
Published 03/15/23
Dr Jill Bolte Taylor is an author and neuroanatomist who used her own stroke to better understand how her brain perceives reality. She tells Nicky about that experience, about how her brother’s schizophrenia inspired her to start her career, and they explore which bits of the brain do what.
Published 03/08/23
Nicky talks to Giles Duley, a conflict photographer, chef and founder of the Legacy of War Foundation. Giles lost three limbs when he stepped on a landmine in Afghanistan, where he was embedded with US troops and reporting on the conflict. He tells Nicky about overcoming his injuries and his determination to return to war zones as a triple amputee, and how cooking has helped with his mental health. WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of injury, violence and war For details...
Published 03/01/23
In the first series of Different Nicky spoke to journalist Alex Renton about the abuse that he saw and experienced at his school, the Edinburgh Academy, in the 1970s. Since the episode, ‘Edgar’ was published, many more victims have come forward, and the case against the alleged living abuser continues. After that episode Nicky received many emails, one of which was from the daughter of the man who abused him, Hamish Dawson. Nicky travels to Edinburgh to meet Jenny Pearson to discuss her...
Published 02/22/23
Richard Reeves tells Nicky about his new book which explores “the male malaise” and investigates whether boys and men are failing at everything from school, to work and relationships. Produced by Audio Always Producer: Ailsa Rochester Editor: Jo Meek Sound: Rob Green
Published 11/09/22