Story Scouting for the RNLI’s daily podcast series ///

By 2024, the RNLI will have been saving lives at sea for 200 years. To commemorate this, I have the privilege of unearthing a rich variety of stories for the charity’s mammoth series, 200 Voices.

This calls for outlining narratives, interviewing some of the candidates, and writing hooks and show notes. Listen below to the episodes for film-maker Sophie Dixon, artist Kurt Jackson, and RNLI Heritage Officer Joanna Bellis. Or hear all episodes here. Series produced by Adventurous Audio. Soundtrack by John Nicholls.

Episode 21. Sophie Dixon on the People’s Darling
Visual artist Sophie Dixon on a Northumberland heroine and the film she inspired 

Mobile phone displaying Sophie Dixon's RNLI 200 Voices podcast episode artwork, alongside still from her film, Grace

Stills from Sophie's film 'Grace' alongside a photo of the interior of the Grace Darling Museum

***** 'This is a beautiful, moving and humbling set of stories, I have cried, and at times laughed, and I'm filled with even more admiration for the selfless men and women that make up this amazing organization. Magnificent, thank you.'
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Dr. James A Slipszenko
Mobile phone displaying Kurt Jackson's podcast episode alongside one of his paintings

'Punching Through' by Kurt Jackson. Part of his RNLI Cornwall collection

Episode 58. RNLI Cornwall: Kurt Jackson
Artist Kurt Jackson on what moved him to celebrate the work of the RNLI

Mobile phone displaying RNLI Heritage Officer Joanna Bellis's podcast episode

RNLI Heritage Officer Dr. Joanna Bellis holding the piece of tell-tale rope hidden inside a valued tankard

Vintage black and white photo of girl with a pram containing a chicken.

Like many of the photos in the RNLI's collection, this one - of a fundraising chicken - has a story to tell

Episode 28. Dr. Joanna Bellis: The Tankard with a Tale
RNLI Heritage Officer Dr Joanna Bellis on fundraising chickens, and her favourite object in the RNLI Museum collection

Cover from the RNLI's Lifeboat magazine alongside an article announcing the 200 Voices podcast series

To announce the series I wrote the article that appeared in Lifeboat magazine