<description>&lt;p&gt;At school Nicky, along with many other pupils of Edinburgh Academy, was the victim of vicious abuse from teacher John Brownlee. Nicky didn’t think Brownlee’s crimes would ever be answered, but in March 2024, they went to court. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;John Brownlee is 89 and was declared unfit to stand trial, instead an “examination of the facts” was held to establish the truth. Brownlee was found to have committed 31 charges of assault and assault to injury relating to incidents spanning from 1967 to 1991, as well as a composite charge of cruel unnatural treatment across the 20 years he worked at the school.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Now Nicky sits down with two other survivors who gave evidence, Frazer Macdonald and Neil MacDonald, and Scottish journalist Marcello Mega. They discuss how the story of the historic abuse at Edinburgh Academy has unfolded, what it was like to be in court and the consequences of childhood abuse.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of physical abuse, suicidal thoughts and strong language&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Produced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound: Ailsa Rochester&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Nicky meets two survivors after a court finds that a teacher of his was a serial abuser.

At school Nicky, along with many other pupils of Edinburgh Academy, was the victim of vicious abuse from teacher John Brownlee. Nicky didn’t think Brownlee’s crimes would ever be answered, but in March 2024, they went to court. John Brownlee is 89 and was declared unfit to stand trial, instead an “examination of the facts” was held to establish the truth. Brownlee was found to have committed 31 charges of assault and assault to injury relating to incidents spanning from 1967 to 1991, as well as a composite charge of cruel unnatural treatment across the 20 years he worked at the school.Now Nicky sits down with two other survivors who gave evidence, Frazer Macdonald and Neil MacDonald, and Scottish journalist Marcello Mega. They discuss how the story of the historic abuse at Edinburgh Academy has unfolded, what it was like to be in court and the consequences of childhood abuse.WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of physical abuse, suicidal thoughts and strong languageProduced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound: Ailsa Rochester

Our Day in Court: The Brownlee Trial

<description>&lt;p&gt;Jarren Rocks tells Nicky about creating Seance AI, a programme that allows us to speak to people we have lost. They discuss the rise of grief tech - how it can be a great tool to helpfully grieve, but also it's dangers. They discuss dystopian futures v utopian futures, how AI can change everything and the complexities of owning an image that can be used to create...anything.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Produced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound: Tom Hinckley&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Nicky meets Jarren Rocks, who made a programme that allows us to speak to the dead.

Jarren Rocks tells Nicky about creating Seance AI, a programme that allows us to speak to people we have lost. They discuss the rise of grief tech - how it can be a great tool to helpfully grieve, but also it's dangers. They discuss dystopian futures v utopian futures, how AI can change everything and the complexities of owning an image that can be used to create...anything.Produced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound: Tom Hinckley

AI Ghosts

<description>&lt;p&gt;Jody Plauché joins Nicky to tell him a remarkable story of survival, revenge and family. At 11 Jody was groomed then kidnapped by his karate teacher Jeff Doucet, an America wide manhunt ensued and Jody’s attacker was apprehended, and Jody returned home safely. But the story didn’t end there - Jeff was returned to his home state for trial, where news cameras were waiting, but so was Jody’s father who shot and killed Jeff.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Jody and Nicky talk about forgiveness, surviving abuse and his relationship with his father.
WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse and violence that some listeners may find upsetting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Produced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound: Craig Edmondson&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Nicky meets Jody Plauché, whose father murdered Jody’s abuser on live TV

Jody Plauché joins Nicky to tell him a remarkable story of survival, revenge and family. At 11 Jody was groomed then kidnapped by his karate teacher Jeff Doucet, an America wide manhunt ensued and Jody’s attacker was apprehended, and Jody returned home safely. But the story didn’t end there - Jeff was returned to his home state for trial, where news cameras were waiting, but so was Jody’s father who shot and killed Jeff.Jody and Nicky talk about forgiveness, surviving abuse and his relationship with his father.
WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of child abuse and violence that some listeners may find upsetting.Produced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound: Craig Edmondson

A Dad's Revenge Killing

<description>&lt;p&gt;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 childhood, and how hearing her father’s name on the radio shook her world. She talks about healing, volunteering to speak to her father’s victims and thriving despite the legacy her father left behind.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;WARNING: This episode contains bad language, descriptions of child abuse and violence that some listeners may find upsetting.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;If you’ve been affected by the topics discussed, you can find more information and support on the BBC Action Line website: http://bbc.co.uk/actionline
Produced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound: Craig Edmondson&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Nicky’s interview with Jenny Pearson is nominated, listen again here.

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 childhood, and how hearing her father’s name on the radio shook her world. She talks about healing, volunteering to speak to her father’s victims and thriving despite the legacy her father left behind.WARNING: This episode contains bad language, descriptions of child abuse and violence that some listeners may find upsetting.If you’ve been affected by the topics discussed, you can find more information and support on the BBC Action Line website: http://bbc.co.uk/actionline
Produced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound: Craig Edmondson

Despite - Radio Times Moment of the Year Nominee

<description>&lt;p&gt;Journalist Freddy McConnell sits down with Nicky to talk about making his documentary Seahorse, how the trans conversation has changed in the UK and why he tried to get the law changed so he could be on his children's birth certificates as parent or father.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Produced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound Design: Tom Hinckley&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Nicky meets Freddy McConnell, a trans man who gave birth to both his children.

Journalist Freddy McConnell sits down with Nicky to talk about making his documentary Seahorse, how the trans conversation has changed in the UK and why he tried to get the law changed so he could be on his children's birth certificates as parent or father.Produced by Audio Always
Producer: Ailsa Rochester
Editor: Jo Meek
Sound Design: Tom Hinckley

A Trans Dad’s Experience

What does it mean to be different? Is it how we think? Or how we act? In this BBC podcast, Nicky Campbell explores just that with guests who are extraordinarily different.

Different with Nicky Campbell

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