Unusual Times

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Exploring 'the new normal' and how Covid-19 is changing the world around us. Hosted by Adam Clarkson.

BBC Radio


    • Mar 26, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 20m AVG DURATION
    • 39 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Unusual Times

    ‘I use my voice for good'

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2021 23:30


    Adam speaks to BBC Radio Tees presenter Gary Philipson and Samaritans volunteer Lisa about helping people over 12 very unusual months.

    Children's mental health

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2021 20:21


    How the pandemic has affected young people's wellbeing - and what we can do to help.

    Sesh Safety

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2021 23:22


    Adam explores a 'life-changing' Facebook group for people who use drugs. Comedian and podcaster Jacob Hawley guests.

    'The last lockdown'

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2021 23:39


    Radio 1's Katie Thistleton talks to Adam about staying positive and ways of coping with lockdown restrictions.

    A very Unusual year...

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 26:14


    In the final episode of 2020, Adam looks back at the year and talks Christmas and 2021 with Ben Weisz from the BBC's Politix and Chill podcast.

    S2 E4: Getting clean online

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2020 22:03


    Adam explores how the pandemic has shaped the future recovery of people with addictions. There are links to help and information on www.bbc.co.uk/actionline

    S2 E3: Gaming and gambling

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2020 20:08


    Gamers have spent thousands on loot boxes during lockdown. Should it count as gambling?

    S2 E2: Living in poverty

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2020 17:35


    Families and community groups react to the free school meals vote and talk about putting food on the table during difficult times.

    S2 E1: Sleeping rough

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2020 19:33


    Rough sleepers in Middlesbrough talk to Adam Clarkson about their lives during the pandemic. For some, coronavirus is the least of their worries.

    EP10: Mental health pandemic

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2020 30:20


    Mental health charities have seen an increase in people needing support. People around England send voice notes with their stories. There's a link to help and information on www.bbc.co.uk/actionline. Hosted and produced by Adam Clarkson, BBC Radio Tees.

    EP09: The new restrictions

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2020 13:05


    People from around the country send voice notes to share their reactions to the new coronavirus measures announced by the PM.

    EP08: Could a seaside town survive another lockdown?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2020 17:46


    As coronavirus infection rates continue to rise, Adam visits Whitby, North Yorkshire, to ask if local businesses could survive if tourism is stopped due to tighter restrictions.

    EP07: Sex work in lockdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2020 20:12


    Meet the women who sell nudes online as Adam and Jess explore how the coronavirus pandemic has affected online sex work.

    EP06: A world that doesn't make sense

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2020 21:11


    Lockdown has affected autistic people more than we think. Adam and Ana speak to experts and people on the spectrum - including family members and a professional gamer.

    EP05: Will the show go on?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2020 20:09


    Jess Daley speaks to industry experts who say they ‘desperately' need details about the £1.57billion support package for the arts and culture sector.

    EP04: Pandemic Pups

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2020 14:11


    Lots of people got a dog for lockdown. Ana and Jess explore rising pet prices and hear how shelters are expecting a spike in animals post-pandemic. Upload your voice notes via bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP03: Drugs in lockdown

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2020 16:19


    Tom is furloughed and says 'every day is a Saturday'. Harry is back living with his Mum. Adam explores how their drug use has changed and speaks to harm prevention experts. Support is available via bbc.co.uk/actionline.

    EP02: Is the internet helping us cope?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2020 22:03


    Dev from Idles, a meme page admin and Samaritans talk about the increasing need for positive spaces, wholesome content and open conversations online. Upload your voice notes via bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP01: Am I drinking too much?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 20:48


    Adam, Jess and Ana explore pandemic pints with friends, meet people in recovery in lockdown and hear concerns from experts. Podcast artwork by Jake Hollings. Support is available via bbc.co.uk/actionline.

    These are Unusual Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2020 2:11


    Introducing a new series that explores 'the new normal'.

    EP18: Stay safe, everybody

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2020 16:46


    Adam, Ana and Jess say 'Goodbye', for now, from The Self-Isolation Podcast.

    EP17: LockdownLingo

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2020 23:35


    Spanish lessons with Ana, Adam's best life-hack and a Dylan Cartlidge freestyle.

    EP16: Could I be hired as my Mum's cleaner?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2020 21:05


    Adam, Jess and Ana host a lockdown Q&A with Ben Weisz from the BBC's Politix and Chill show. Send your voice notes to the team via bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP15: Outside of the bubble

    Play Episode Listen Later May 12, 2020 27:12


    Guest hosted by BBC producers Rima Ahmed and Helen Noteyoung and presenter Matty Jones - who aren't in isolation. Send your voice notes to the team via bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP14: What's Club Penguin?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2020 26:39


    Adam, Jess and Ana share nostalgic games, unusual vet stories and have a frank discussion on mental health. Send your voice notes to the team via bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP13: My house is my oyster

    Play Episode Listen Later May 5, 2020 21:53


    Adam, Jess and Ana share voice notes on a digital stag do and an isolation escape room. Send your voice notes to the team via bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP12: Animal Crossing wedding

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 22:44


    Adam visits a virtual island for a virtual interview about a virtual wedding. Send your voice notes to the team via bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP11: Kindness is contagious

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2020 22:14


    Obstacle courses for squirrels and the link between mental health and makeup. Send your voice notes to the team via bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP10: Five weeks of isolation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2020 23:50


    Adam, Jess and Ana look back on lockdown so far. Be a part of the podcast. Send your voice notes via bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP09: Smells Like Quarantine Spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2020 20:22


    Uplifting voice notes, guitar lessons and a trip to an online pub. Upload your voice notes to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP08: Isolation for the Nation

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2020 23:33


    Nine-year-old Rafa writes a new theme tune for the podcast. Jess cuts her own hair. Upload your voice notes to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference. Originally broadcast on BBC Radio Tees.

    EP07: Virtual BBQ, who'd have thought it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 14, 2020 24:13


    Adam and Jess discuss what to do when holidays are cancelled. The Hygiene Doctor gives COVID-19 cleaning tips. Upload your voice notes to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference. Originally broadcast on BBC Radio Tees.

    EP06: The St Pancras Piano Man

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 21:15


    Adam gets emotional at the big shop and Jess tells the beautiful story of how performers are helping 92-year-old Denis through isolation. Upload your voice notes to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference. Originally broadcast on BBC Radio Tees.

    EP05: Get some anthems on!

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2020 22:49


    Adam and Jess talk Joe Wicks and music, with an exclusive track from Shakk. Upload your voice notes to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference. Originally broadcast on BBC Radio Tees.

    EP04: Cats are for life, not just corona

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2020 22:40


    An aspiring TikTok star and a 'cat mom' send in voice notes. Originally broadcast on BBC Radio Tees. Upload your voice notes to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP03: Thank God for Animal Crossing

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2020 19:26


    Adam and Jess explore how video games can help us in these trying times. A personal trainer gives fitness advice...for balance. Originally broadcast on BBC Radio Tees. Upload your voice notes to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP02: Pretend it's Christmas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2020 19:12


    Self-isolators share their tips. Includes festive spirit and 'the Quarantini'. With Adam Clarkson and Jess Daley. Originally broadcast on BBC Radio Tees. Upload your voice notes to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    EP01: Hello from Adam and Jess

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2020 20:53


    Adam and Jess share why they're self-isolating. With some expert tips helping you through the coronavirus pandemic. Upload your voice notes to bbc.co.uk/makeadifference.

    Welcome to the Self-Isolation Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 2:16


    Adam Clarkson and Jess Daley introduce a new podcast to get you through the coronavirus pandemic, with life hacks, professional advice and light relief.

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