Pick of the podcasts: American Radical, Call Me Mother, Nothing is Foreign

American Radical

Apple, Spotify 

We have perhaps all experienced the short, sudden electric shock of seeing someone we thought we knew well post something uncharacteristically shocking, or even radical, on social media.

As it was with the family of Rosanne Boyland who, over the summer of 2020, watched with increasing alarm as their beloved daughter, sister and aunt became ever more committed to extreme right-wing QAnon conspiracy theories.

The previously apolitical 34-year-old soon became an ardent supporter of Donald Trump, and marched on the US Capitol on January 6.

It was there that she died after losing consciousness among a crush of Trump supporters. American Radical is a podcast that tells Boyland’s story through her family’s eyes, as journalist Ayman Mohyeldin investigates what happened during the last months of Boyland’s life, and how she died on the steps of the Capitol building.

Her autopsy claimed her death was the result of an amphetamine overdose from prescribed medication that Boyland was taking at the time, although her family strongly dispute this.

American Radical pulls at the thread of white radicalisation in America. While many on the extreme-right of US politics view Boyland as a martyr, her family believe she was a vulnerable young woman who had faced multiple hardships in her life, which made her easy pickings for radicals to recruit her to their cause.

Boyland had battled drug addiction, escaped an abusive relationship, and had been previously diagnosed with cervical cancer, leading to the removal of her cervix and an inability to have much wanted children of her own.

Boyland’s story is heartbreaking, and offers chilling insight into the political landscape of modern America.

Call Me Mother

Apple, Spotify

Celebrated writer, presenter and comedian Shon Faye returns with her second season of Call Me Mother, an insightful podcast that explores LGBTQ+ history by interviewing elders from the community.

Inspired by the success of Channel 4’s It’s A Sin, Faye wanted to educate young queer people about their history, often not covered in schools or mainstream media. It is a fascinating listen for history lovers regardless of sexuality.

Nothing Is Foreign

Apple, Spotify

The UK news cycle can get a little bit caught up in, well, the UK, and even when it does report on foreign affairs, it is often from an outside “Westerner” point of view.

Bangladesh-Canadian journalist Tamara Khandaker wants to challenge that with her world news podcast Nothing Is Foreign. Her team report on the most pressing stories from across the world, often on the ground and speaking directly with locals for the inside scoop.