Short Cuts

Short Cuts

Short documentaries and adventures in sound presented by Josie Long.

Episodes

January 7, 2025 34 mins

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 Fea...

Mark as Played

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

P...

Mark as Played
December 24, 2024 31 mins

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 Produ...

Mark as Played
December 17, 2024 29 mins

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

Mark as Played
December 10, 2024 29 mins

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Time Play by Chelsea Kigano, Lily Sloane, Lilia Vega, and Emily Shaw Originally made as part of The 24-Hour Radio Race from KCRW's Independent Producer Project Music and sound design by Lily Sloane, with Time Ain't Gonna Make Me Stay by Ed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 ...

Mark as Played
December 3, 2024 29 mins

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 J...

Mark as Played
September 24, 2024 30 mins

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 direct...

Mark as Played
September 17, 2024 29 mins

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 au...

Mark as Played
September 10, 2024 29 mins

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-...

Mark as Played
September 3, 2024 29 mins

Josie Long presents short documentaries against the clock in an episode around time and timing.

Dad's Secret Life of Matchmaking Produced by Josephine Anderson Additional sound recording by Christopher Anderson

Loose Ends Produced by Jon Tjhia

There's Always a Next Time Produced by Steve Urquhart

Curated by Axel Kacoutié, Eleanor McDowall and Andrea Rangecroft Series Producer: Eleanor McDowall A Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4

Mark as Played
August 27, 2024 29 mins

Star maps, messages from Earth to the moon and reaching out across distance as Josie Long presents short documentaries about constellations.

Star Map Featuring Ferdinand Hauge Leth Music by Kirstine Lindemann Captured by Trawl Hz Produced by Nanna Hauge Kristensen

News to the Moon and Back Recordings courtesy of the NASA archive Produced by Mika Golubovsky

The Complaints Department Featuring Evan Gregg and letters from www.dearmisterw...

Mark as Played
August 20, 2024 28 mins

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 Itself Adapted 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 Pyramid

Green Flash Written by Joe Dunthorne

Red of Visibility Produced by Phoebe M...

Mark as Played
June 4, 2024 28 mins

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 1964

Zero Fixation Points Produced by Nada Smiljanic Location production by Avi Varma Archive courtesy of Rowan Farrell Featuring Professor Bridget Anderson and Dr Travis Van Isacker from the Uni...

Mark as Played
May 28, 2024 29 mins

Evaporating answers, mysterious music and disappearing dialects - Josie Long presents short documentaries about things in danger of becoming lost.

Pot-8-Toes Featuring Billy Butler and Wally Scott Originally broadcast in Hold Your Plums on Radio Merseyside

A Corner Seat in a Smoker, Facing the Engine Produced by Robin the Fog

Echoes of Cockney Produced by James Trice

Panchiko Produced by Tom Whalley

Curated by Axel Kacoutié and Eleanor ...

Mark as Played
May 21, 2024 28 mins

Life and love. Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures exploring the language of care.

Life or Death By Marc Kalani Featuring Cessie Alfonso and Carmeta Albarus author of The Making of Lee Boyd Malvo: The D.C. Sniper. Buzz By Luca Evans (they/them) Featuring Joules Huang Duze (they/them) and Smokey Black (he/they) Additional recording by Aisha Lomax (she/her). Joules is a part-time organiser with Jews for Ra...

Mark as Played
May 14, 2024 29 mins

In water, on wheels or explained over the phone - Josie Long presents short documentaries about moving our bodies.

Field Notes Featuring Hannah Kezema Produced by Jess Shane and Kristine White

Instructions for Returning to My Body Gamelan music courtesy of Nusantara Produced by Kia Miakka Natisse

The Pink Flamingo Featuring Peter Prijdekker Sound Recording by Edd Kentish Produced by Hunter Charlton and Vicki Carter

Curated by Axel Kac...

Mark as Played
May 7, 2024 29 mins

Two men on different continents share a love of butterflies, a swimming instructor seeks solace in the water and we dive inside an inner landscape. Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures that emerge from the earth, water and sky.

Psalm Featuring Emil Blicher Bjerregaard and Mudar Salimeh Inspired by the poem Psalm written by Wisława Szymborska Music by Simon don Eriksen and Gregor Quendel Mix by Lærke Soedring...

Mark as Played
April 30, 2024 29 mins

A grand piano slowly climbs the stairs in Glasgow, a man in Brighton keeps finding his upright pianos going missing, a piano decays slowly in the woods while a grandson finds himself thrust into the role of a ship's pianist. Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures with a piano at their heart.

Pianos Aren't His Forte Featuring Mark Campbell Produced by Phil Smith Including piano performances from Mark Campbell an...

Mark as Played
February 13, 2024 28 mins

Chrononormativity, duppies and post-colonial thought. Josie Long presents short documentaries and audio adventures exploring beyond the past, present and futures.

Language in the Land of Duppies: Exploring the origins of Jamaican folklore as a gateway to understanding the legacy of slavery on the island. Produced by Laura Carty Special thanks to Alexander Powell, Carmen Johnson, Natalia Downer, Kandice Thompson and Jean Smart.

All m...

Mark as Played
February 6, 2024 29 mins

Word spirits, back rooms and a reply all-pocalypse - Josie Long presents short documentaries that emerge from the internet.

Word Spirits With thanks to Caroline Hesse, Donovan McGrath, Mary Dolejsi, Nicole Reinsch, Nalini Kumari, Zen Priest & Buddhist Scholar John Stevens (for permission to include his Classical Aikido Kototama Chant), and Critical Sound Explorer & Artist Matt Parker (for permission to include excerpts from ...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang

    Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.

    The Bobby Bones Show

    Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.