28 episodes
I'm Not a Monster BBC Podcasts
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- Podcasts
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4.8 • 2.3K Ratings
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Seeking to separate fact from fiction, the multi award-winning series returns. Josh Baker investigates the divisive story of Shamima Begum.
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Series 2: 10. The World’s Unwanted
What happened to the girl Shamima Begum says convinced her to join the Islamic State group?
Less than 24 hours before this episode was published ,we got the answer.
Reporter: Josh Baker
Written and produced by: Josh Baker, Sara Obeidat and Joe Kent
Composer: Firas Abou Fakher
Theme music: Sam Slater
Mix and sound design: Tom Brignell
Production coordinators: Janet Staples and Helena Warwick-Cross
Series Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall
Head of Long Form Audio: Emma Rippon
Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins
This episode contains some strong language -
Series 2: A Message From Josh
Episode 10 will be available on Wednesday March 22nd
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Series 2: Episode 9. State of Mind
No longer a vulnerable schoolgirl, but a seemingly unrepentant adult. Shamima Begum enrages the British public and ends up stuck in Syria.
A series of media interviews come to shape how she’s perceived - with long lasting consequences.
Reporter: Josh Baker
Written and produced by: Josh Baker, Sara Obeidat and Joe Kent
Composer: Firas Abou Fakher
Theme music: Sam Slater
Mix and sound design: Tom Brignell
Production coordinators: Janet Staples and Helena Warwick-Cross
Series Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall
Head of Long Form Audio: Emma Rippon
Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins
ARCHIVE
John Sparks interviews Shammia Begum: Sky News (2019)
Rohit Kachroo interviews Shammia Begum: ITV News (2019)
This episode contains upsetting moments involving children -
Series 2: 8. No Plan B
Raqqa falls, the so-called caliphate crumbles and a pregnant Shamima Begum is desperate to come home.
After she and her husband Yago walk out of the ashes of the Islamic State group, she’s discovered in a detention camp where she gives an interview that will change her life.
Reporter: Josh Baker
Written by: Josh Baker and Joe Kent
Producers: Josh Baker, Sara Obeidat and Joe Kent
Composer: Firas Abou Fakher
Theme music: Sam Slater
Mix and sound design: Tom Brignell
Production coordinators: Janet Staples and Helena Warwick-Cross
Series Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall
Head of Long Form Audio: Emma Rippon Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins
ARCHIVE:
Islamic State's final fighters hold on in Baghouz as caliphate crumbles: ITV News (2019)
Alex Rossi goes inside the Islamic State's last stand in Baghouz: Sky News (2019)
Anthony Lloyd interviews Shamima Begum: The Times of London (2019)
This episode contains graphic descriptions of violence and some upsetting moments involving children. -
Series 2: 7. Trapped
Someone close to Shamima Begum is looking for a way out of the so-called caliphate.
Reporter: Josh Baker
Written by: Josh Baker and Joe Kent
Producers: Josh Baker, Sara Obeidat and Joe Kent
Composer: Firas Abou Fakher
Theme music: Sam Slater
Mix and sound design: Tom Brignell
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Series Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall
Head of Long Form Audio: Emma Rippon Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins -
Series 2. 6. Father Figure
With her new husband in prison, Shamima Begum is left in the care of a stranger, but who is he? Josh travels to the heart of the former caliphate as he searches for clues and investigates what her life with the Islamic State group was like.
Reporter: Josh Baker
Written by: Josh Baker and Joe Kent
Producers: Josh Baker, Sara Obeidat and Joe Kent
Composer: Firas Abou Fakher
Theme music: Sam Slater
Mix and sound design: Tom Brignell
Production coordinator: Janet Staples
Series Editor: Jonathan Aspinwall
Head of Long Form Audio: Emma Rippon
Commissioning Executive: Dylan Haskins
This episode contains descriptions of violence, sexual violence, and has upsetting content
Customer Reviews
The best podcast I’ve listened to in a looong time
I was hooked on this podcast and listened to both series over 3 days. It was so gripping and raw, the research thorough and at times hard to listen to some of incidents that happened. Josh and the team have been to extreme lengths in search of finding the truth and it feels very authentic. Josh would be a great dinner party guest. I hope there is a series 3.
Good honest opinion
I really enjoyed this podcast, I thought that the journalism was honest and not skewed or glorified, every angle of the story was covered investigated and either dismissed or confirmed. Interesting podcast recommended Alison.
A gripping series that’s left me Torn.
When the 3 children left, I was the first to shout to the government, “go bring them home”.
When she came back into the scene all dressed in black I was the first to say: “you made your bed and lie in it.
After listening to this podcast I’m torn. I see a young woman who’s been through hell in a handcart. A young lady who’s been radicalised, a young lady who doesn’t seem to know what the truth is (which is understandable given the situation) a young lady who doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere.
Do I think she should
come home and face the music? Yes, but I wouldn’t like to be the person who makes that decision.
If this was my daughter. I’d want her home and safe. I feel for her Mother. But if we do let her home does that open the floodgates for more terrorism? In a country that’s spent 20 years creating a fear of the Islamic religion since 911, and one that’s just going back to normal and seeing people not labels.