Behind The Spine

S11E12 Who Wants to Live Forever: Hanna Thomas Uose on love and life without death

“This drug feels incredibly likely. There are all sorts of mad men doing trials on themselves.  And they have not put any thought into the societal implications of it” ~Hanna Thomas Uose AI is enabling rapid advancements in technology and drug discovery - unlike anything we’ve seen before. And with humankind’s obsession with longevity only deepening, some believe it’s only a matter of time before we have access to “live forever” drugs.  But would eternal human life really be a good thing? This is the central premise of Hanna Thomas Uose’s debut novel, Who Wants to Live Forever. Throughout the book she explores the lives of soulmates Yuki and Sam, who both choose different paths when a miracle drug is released. In an imagined world which could very well become reality, Hanna takes us on a journey through the morality of eternal life and questions of what it means to die. In this episode, you will learn: * How writing can help you grapple with problems you can’t seem to solve * To consider world-building first, before thinking about creating your characters * Why it pays to think outside of a Western perspective of the world Find out more about Hanna here. [https://www.hannathomasuose.com/] Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here [https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/143528529]. Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]

S11E11 Green Ink: Stephen May on the mysterious story of Victor Grayson

“He went down for a drink, did not come back. Nobody was found, but no one even started looking for him” ~Stephen May The story of the UK Labour politician Victor Grayson is a mysterious and thrilling one. Full of holes and unknowns that have never been solved. He went missing in the 1920s following a major political scandal - so what happened? In ‘Green Ink’, the author Stephen May imagines what might have happened to Grayson, taking this gap in our historical knowledge, to craft a compelling story that skirts between historical fact and fiction. Though it’s a story about a politician of the past, Green Ink raises prescient questions about the modern world, the behaviour of today’s politicians, and what people will do for just a hint of power and prestige.  In this episode, you will learn: * How there’s no richer starting point for a work of fiction than reality * Why it pays to be a bit pedantic when writing in the history genre * Why writers that don’t write will always be miserable Find out more about Stephen here. [https://swiftpress.com/book-author/stephen-may/] Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here. [https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/143125027] Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]

S11E10 Behind Women’s Football: Beatrice Rogers on sacrificing for the game

“ I’ve received death threats from people just for posting about women’s football, which is wild” ~Beatrice Rogers Public support for women’s football has skyrocketed in recent years - and yet many of the female athletes still struggle to gain the recognition of their male counterparts. So just how much of the success of the pro game has trickled down to the lower tiers and grassroots leagues? Beatrice Rogers started playing football at the age of 6. She’s now a semi-pro footballer and Under Armour athlete, playing for AFC Sudbury. She’s also a content creator, sharing her experiences on social media, in the hopes of inspiring and empowering others to join the women’s game. From being kicked off of school teams to receiving death threats online, Beatrice has faced many challenges in her journey. That’s why she’s determined to raise awareness, so young girls don’t go through the same confusion and frustration she has experienced. In this episode, you will learn: * That the dominant narrative of the day doesn’t always paint the full picture * How to deal with haters and negativity * Why representation is the #1 goal when reaching for equality Find out more about Beatrice here. [https://www.instagram.com/beatricerogers_/] Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here [https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/142946839]. Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]

S11E9 A Tale of Wartime Morality and Courage: Alice Austen’s 33 Place Brugmann

“ Fiction writing is trying to unearth the mystery of who we are.  And it boils down to a question of who and what you care about most” ~Alice Austen An apartment block in Belgium, full of close neighbours, suddenly torn apart by the news of war. This is the story of 33 Place Brugmann - whose residents’ lives are upended by fear, uncertainty and occupation. Today we’re revisiting the Second World War once again, to share yet another untold tale of the past. 33 Place Brugmann is the debut novel from the award-winning screenwriter, producer, and playwright, Alice Austen. Taking a break from her usual areas of expertise, Alice’s captivating foray into the world of fiction has already been hugely successful - with the book fast becoming an international bestseller. Alice explores the inspiration for the book - the stories she was told by neighbours who she lived with at the real 33 Place Brugmann. She discusses her shift from writing plays to writing a novel - and how she navigated it. And she muses on the strange reality of how prescient this novel feels in today’s world. In this episode, you will learn: * How to harness your own moral battles to bring your narrative to life * Why it pays to be brave when deciding the narrative structure of your novel * Why a personal group of trusted readers is a treasure to have Find out more about Alice here [https://www.aliceaustenauthor.com/]. Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here [https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/141735281]. Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]

S11E8 The Guernsey Deportees: Ollie Guillou on a little-known story of wartime resilience

“One day I heard the news that the head of the Deportees Association had died. I knew I needed to tell the story before the stories disappeared for good.” ~Ollie Guillou In 1942, on Hitler’s orders, more than a thousand islanders from Guernsey were deported to Germany, and sent to the internment camp known as Biberach. Theirs is a little-known story of fortitude and resilience - and the subject of a new award-winning podcast series. Ollie Guillou is the creator of The Guernsey Deportees podcast, a 6 part series sharing the story of his Grandma, Jill Chubb, who was just 3 years old when she was sent to Biberach. It’s the most detailed look at her story yet, and features the voices of three other deportees and two historians. Ollie has made many, many podcasts - and is in fact the editor for Behind The Spine. But this is the first time he’s got so personal, bearing the weight of responsibility of sharing an important family story. In this episode, you will learn: * Why it’s crucial you ask your grandparents about their lives and stories * The fulfilment that comes from telling a story that carries a personal weight * Why you shouldn’t sit on an idea for too long - act now! Find out more about Ollie here [https://www.ogpodcasts.co.uk/]. Here the Guernsey Deportees podcast here [https://podfollow.com/the-guernsey-deportees]. Your host is inkjockey founder Mark Heywood [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/about/]. Behind The Spine is an inkjockey [https://www.inkjockey.co.uk/] production, and the audio accompaniment to The Writing Salon. Sign up to the newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/c6SF65]. Follow inkjockey on Substack here. [https://drive.google.com/open?id=15NyGb5y7GWEVVCAsnBHp6N3FnmQ_vO7Z&usp=drive_copy] You can buy copies of our anthology series here [https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09FQDMN9N?binding=paperback&qid=1670334672&sr=8-1&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tpbk].  You can view the full transcript here [https://app.podscribe.ai/episode/141460026]. Connect with the show: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/ [https://www.instagram.com/behindthespinepodcast/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine [https://www.facebook.com/BehindTheSpine] Twitter: https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine [https://twitter.com/BehindTheSpine] Website: www.behindthespine.co.uk [http://www.behindthespine.co.uk]