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Last broadcast on Sat, 28 Jan 2012, 09:00 on BBC Radio 4 (FM only).
Synopsis
Richard Coles with philosopher Alain de Botton, poet Aoife Mannix, the 70's pop star who was summoned to play at the Kremlin, the woman who tracked down her long lost brother only to find him serving 99 years for murder in an American jail, one of the UK's oldest diabetics who was treated by the man who invented insulin, the vicar's son who got a windfall from the local undertaker and the Inheritance Tracks of singer Ani DiFranco.
Producer: Lisa Jenkinson.
STUDIO GUEST :: ALAIN DE BOTTON
Philosopher Alain de Botton gets to grips with the big questions:is it ok to apply make-up whilst travelling on public transport? Can billionaires legitimately lecture us about thrift? 'Religion for Atheists’ is published by Hamish Hamilton.
NATASHA OWEN-JONES :: KILLER BROTHER
Natasha Owen-Jones spent 20 years searching for the brother she'd never met, only to find he was in jail for murder for 99 years. Next month Natasha travels to Minnesota Correctional Facility to meet him.
SMOKIE :: PLAYING AT THE KREMLIN
As told to Richard by Mick McConnell, lead guitarist with Smokie - rock 'n' roll survivors and one of Europe's top live bands. Their classic tracks include "I'll Meet You at Midnight", "Oh Carol, and "Living Next Door to Alice".
MYSTERY GIFTS FROM AN UNDERTAKER
JP Devlin talks to listener Patrick Graham, vicar's son, who received mystery windfalls from the local undertaker.
SHEILA THORN :: INSULIN PIONEER
In 1930, just a few months old, Sheila Thorn was treated for diabetes by the man who discovered insulin. Probably the longest surviving insulin-dependent diabetic in the world, she tells her story to JP Devlin.
INHERITANCE TRACKS :: ANI DiFRANCO
Musician Ani DiFranco chooses Pete Seeger's 'Which Side Are You On' and her own track 'Present Infant'. Ani has received the "Woman of Courage Award” for her contributions to the feminist movement. Ani's new album, Which Side Are You On? is out now.
POET :: AOIFE MANNIX
POEM :: REASONS TO COME OUT OF THE JUNGLE
Even if the Euro is about to end,
Syria’s going round the bend,
the NHS is on its knees,
you can’t afford university fees,
don’t despair that life’s not fair,
for there is wonder everywhere.
In Botswana, a baby pink elephant
walked in the shade of his mother,
in Northumberland, Northern Lights
displayed their rarely seen cosmic green, in Madagascar, spiders spun a gold silk cape for the V&A so come what may nature’s fine design continues to be an internet sensation, a source of elation, an old school architect who never fails to delight the nation.
POEM :: OUR RELIGION
Let’s not speak of God,
or Allah, or Jehovah,
Buddha, Krishna,
Jesus Christ, Mohammed
or the prophets and their prophecies.
Let’s just be together
this cold dark winter’s night
hanging small glass balls
from the branches of a tree,
and admiring how their reflection
shimmers with the ghosts
of those we have loved and lost.
Let’s not talk of heaven or hell,
Nirvana, reincarnation,
resurrection, transubstantiation,
but know that I believe in the promise
of the thin circle of gold I placed
around your finger that sunny morning.
Let’s not fall out over faith or doubt,
death, the afterlife, whether when
this whole world has gone,
we shall ever see each other again,
but just agree on the music,
Allegri’s Miserere or Mozart’s Requiem,
as we say goodbyes for which
there are no words, just the beauty
of a shared life, a question
or a prayer depending on the light
Broadcast
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Sat 28 Jan 201209:00
© 2012~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~35~RS~){kind=small}