City Sounds

City Podcasting

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The official podcast of City St George’s, University of London's Podcasting Department. Based in the heart of London, our team of audio obsessives from around the world brings you industry insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and our own original audio creations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Apr 20

The Pilot Series: Unspoken Rules

In this episode of Unspoken Rules, we dive into one of the most overused—and misunderstood—words in everyday life: sorry. Sparked by a listener’s voicemail, the team unpacks the many meanings behind this seemingly simple word, from polite reflex to genuine expression of remorse. Host Lizzy reflects on her own habit of over-apologising—something many of us can relate to—whether it’s saying sorry for sneezing, asking someone to move their bag, or even when someone else bumps into you. But why do we do this? Is it cultural, gendered, or simply ingrained social behaviour? To explore this, the episode features insights from Dr. Eva Ogiermann, a linguistics expert specialising in apologies across cultures. She explains how apologies have evolved from serious, religious acts of seeking forgiveness into everyday social tools—especially in English, where “sorry” can be used casually and often without deep intent. Mediator, Stephen Wildblood KC, adds another layer, sharing how apologies function in conflict resolution. He highlights the importance of sincerity, tone, and body language, noting that words alone don’t determine whether an apology feels genuine. The episode also examines cultural differences. Research shows that British people apologise far more frequently than others—often automatically—while in countries like Germany, apologies are less frequent but more deliberate and meaningful. Through listener stories, including a failed grand romantic gesture involving graffiti, the episode reveals how complicated apologies can be. Ultimately, it asks: has “sorry” lost its meaning, or has it simply evolved? Producers: Jake Preston, Lizzy Leach, Michael Ellis Editors: Michael Ellis, Jake Preston Sound Designer: Michael Ellis With special thanks to Stephen Wildblood and Dr. Eva Ogiermann. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

15 min
Apr 14

The Pilot Series: Glorious Mud

In this debut episode of Glorious Mud, the series for those who are London curious — host Lucinda Acland introduces mudlarking past and present, uncovering the striking story of Peggy Jones, a Georgian mudlark captured in an 1805 volume of the magazine, Kirby’s Wonderful and Eccentric Museum — and who later vanished without trace or explanation. Wading waist-deep at Blackfriars to feel for coal with her bare feet, Peggy survived on what the Thames surrendered between tides. But who was she, how did she live and why did she disappear? Through vivid historical accounts and insight from Kate Sumnall, curator of the Museum of London Docklands’ 'Secrets of the Thames' exhibition, we explore the stark divide between mudlarking as survival in the past and today’s regulated, increasingly popular hobby. Perfect for listeners who love London history, past lives and intrigue, this episode brings a cast of the Thames’s forgotten characters back into view. Step into the mud. Meet Peggy Jones. Listen to Glorious Mud now and discover what the river remembers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

12 min
Apr 7

The Agency of Forgotten Histories: Food

Episode 4: Food & Drink In this episode, detective Melusi is sent into the streets of Islington to uncover the history of food, drink and the spaces that shaped everyday life in the borough. Guided by local experts, he follows a trail through markets, dining halls, and gin distilleries, revealing how trade, industry, and working-class communities transformed Islington over the centuries. From the bustling meat trade of Smithfield to the chaos of the gin craze, the evidence is everywhere - if you know where to look. Stops on the trail include: Smithfield Market: London’s historic meat market, operating since at least the 12th century and rebuilt in 1868 by Horace Jones. Once a site of livestock trading, public spectacles, and even executions - including that of William Wallace - it remains the UK’s largest wholesale meat market today (albeit whose days are numbered). St Bartholomew’s Hospital area: a site tied to the darker history of Smithfield, where public executions took place, reflecting the area’s role as both a centre of commerce and spectacle. Alexandra Trust Dining Rooms: founded by Thomas Lipton with the support of Princess Alexandra, these dining halls provided affordable meals for working-class Londoners in the early 20th century, serving thousands with innovative large-scale kitchens. Whitecross Street Market: a historic street market that once served a poor and densely populated community, now a vibrant food destination offering global cuisines. The area was also home to a notorious debtor’s prison and an 18th-century red-light district. Clerkenwell Gin Distilling Sites: including the legacy of Booth’s Gin and other distillers, which flourished during the 18th-century gin craze - a period famously depicted in Gin Lane, highlighting the social consequences of widespread alcohol consumption. Islington guides, in order of appearance: Jane Parker · Nigel Smith · John Finn · Jonathan Wober Produced by: Sandy Warr With thanks to: Jane Parker and the tour guides at Islington Guided Walks Presented by Islington Guided Walks and City St George’s, University of London To book a walk or find out more, visit Islington Guided Walks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 min
Apr 7

The Agency of Forgotten Histories: Literature

Episode 3: Literature In this episode, detective Mokshika is sent into the streets of Islington to investigate the borough’s rich literary past. Guided by local experts, she uncovers a web of connections between iconic writers and radical voices who shaped literature - and society itself. From the shadowy personal life of Charles Dickens to the rebellious legacy of Joe Orton, the evidence is everywhere - if you know where to look. Stops on the trail include: Northampton Park: Once home to Ellen “Nelly” Ternan, where her long and controversial relationship with Charles Dickens began - raising questions that still intrigue historians today. Colebrooke Cottage, Islington: the home of Charles Lamb and Mary Lamb, co-authors of Tales from Shakespeare and central figures in a vibrant literary circle that included William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Angel, Islington: a key meeting point near the Lambs’ home, where literary salons brought together some of the most influential thinkers of the Romantic period, including Mary Wollstonecraft and Mary Shelley. 25 Noel Road, Islington: the former home of Joe Orton, where his meteoric rise - and tragic death alongside partner Kenneth Halliwell - marked one of the most shocking literary stories of the 20th century. Islington Library & Museum: where Orton and Halliwell’s infamous altered library books are preserved - once considered criminal damage, now celebrated as subversive art. Islington guides, in order of appearance: Jane · Jonathan · Alan · Chris Produced by: Sandy Warr With thanks to: Jane Parker and the tour guides at Islington Guided Walks Presented by Islington Guided Walks and City St George’s, University of London To book a walk or find out more, visit Islington Guided Walks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

27 min
Season 1, Episode 2 Trailer

The Agency of Forgotten Histories: Women

Episode 2: Women and suffragettes In this episode, detective Jackie heads into the streets of Islington to uncover the story of women’s emancipation told through the people and places in the borough. With the help of the Islington Guides, her travels take her from a familiar local pub to the site of a notorious prison as she hears about amazing women from Shakespearean times to the modern era. Her journey ends with the explosive events around the women’s suffragette movement. The evidence is everywhere, if you know where to look. Stops on the trail include: Dame Alice Owen pub, St John Street: named after a philanthropist who pushed the boundaries of convention to leave a remarkable legacy which continues almost 500 years since her birth. Statue of Mary Wollstonecraft, Newington Green: Controversy has longs surrounded the life and works of radical thinker and mother of modern feminism, Mary Wollstonecraft. It is natural therefore that her statue is similarly divisive. What makes it quite so unusual? Site of Holloway prison: Hundreds of suffragettes were incarcerated here during the fight for women’s emancipation. We hear about Islington women who were at the forefront of the campaign and about Constance Markievicz the first woman elected to Parliament. Site of Lyons Tea House, the Angel: Situated in one of the early 20th century buildings at the Angel, the Lyons tea shop offered liberation for women in all sorts of ways, from work to social gatherings and one unexpected indispensable facility... Islington guides, in order of appearance: Jane Parker · Alan Travis · Johannah Barrett · Oonagh Gay Produced, mixed and scripted by: Jackie Imas and Hannah Grieve Presented by: Islington Guided Walks and City St George's, University of London To book a walk or find out more, visit Islington Guided Walks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

25 min
Apr 7

The Agency of Forgotten Histories: Migration

Episode 1: Migration & Culture In this episode, detective Julie is sent out into the streets of Islington to investigate the migration and cultural history woven into the borough. Guided by local experts, she follows the trail from the Irish ballrooms of Holloway Road to the once crime-ridden streets of Saffron Hill, and the groundbreaking arts centre that once hosted Bob Marley - the evidence is everywhere, if you know where to look. Stops on the trail include: St Joseph's Church, Highgate Hill: known locally as "Holy Joe's," this striking Roman Catholic church reflects the Irish influence in the area, particularly following the Great Famine of the 1840s. The Whittington Hospital: home to a powerful monument honouring the 40,000 nurses and midwives from the Caribbean and Africa who came to Britain between 1948 and 1973, and a reminder of how migration contributed to the NHS. The Gresham Ballroom, Holloway Road: once a beloved Irish dance venue, where top bands from Ireland performed for nurses, workers, and the wider Irish community until its closure in 1998. Saffron Hill, Clerkenwell: the heart of London's "Little Italy," where thousands of Italians settled from the 1830s onwards, building a community of street musicians, craftspeople, and shopkeepers against the odds. St Peter's Italian Church: a Roman basilican church built to serve the Italian community, and home to a moving memorial to those lost when the Arandora Star was torpedoed in 1940. Terroni's: a Clerkenwell institution since 1871, still serving Italian coffee and food today The Keskidee Centre, Gifford Street: a pioneering Black arts and community space that ran from 1971 until the 1990s, hosting theatre, political debate, and even a visit from Bob Marley Islington guides, in order of appearance: Jane Parker · Richard Cohen · Robert Smith · Avril Nanton Produced by: Isabella Anderson, Lucy Antonatos, Julie Béguin, Chloe Sackur Mixed and scripted by: Julie Béguin and Chloe Sackur Presented by Islington Guided Walks and City St George's, University of London To book a walk or find out more, visit Islington Guided Walkshttps://cityunisounds.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

30 min
05/14/2025

The Pilot Series: Health Taboos - Gas Tricks

Welcome to The Pilot Series, where every episode is a pilot for a new podcast. This episode features Gas Tricks, the first episode of In Focus #HealthTaboo, a series that breaks health taboos into the spotlight. Gas Tricks goes behind the fart taboo to uncover why you fart, what’s normal, and what your body is telling you. Join fearless podcasters Thuy, Mokshika & Jackie as they step into the world of fart engineering. From experimenting with their own gas production to testing dietary effects on emissions, they blow away the stigma and uncover some explosive truths. Adding science to the stink, Julie Thompson from Guts UK brings the facts behind farts, helps decode the experimental results and shares gut-friendly tips to keep your digestive health in check. Discover red flag signs which may point towards health issues like irritable bowel syndrome, leaky gut, stress-related flatulence and more. Written, edited and produced by Mokshika Sharma, Jackie Imas, and Thuy Dong. Expert insight: Julie Thompson, Information Manager Guts UK, the charity for the digestive system. Chart your fart: Launched by Australia’s national science agency, download the app here. Original music for trailer: Adam Wakeling Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 min
05/07/2025

The Pilot Series: In Situ

Welcome to The Pilot Series, where every episode is a pilot for a new podcast. This episode features In Situ. Statues can be quirky or grand, romantic or controversial - but what they often are is overlooked. There are more than 1,500 statues and monuments in London. How many do you notice as you rush by? In Situ invites you to join host Saskia Cookson, and her friends Julie and Melusi, on an intimate and playful journey as they ask big questions about statues, commemoration and the changing identity of urban spaces. In Situ mixes street interviews with storytelling to explore the city of London, its history and how its inhabitants and tourists alike find connections to public art. In this episode, they visit Bob the Cat in Islington, The Meeting Place at St. Pancras Station, and the Nelson Mandela statue in Parliament Square. Subscribe to In Situ wherever you get your podcasts, and if you want to support the show further then why not share it with a curious friend! Hosted by Saskia Cookson. Produced by Saskia Cookson, Julie Béguin and Melusi Ncala. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

13 min

The official podcast of City St George’s, University of London's Podcasting Department. Based in the heart of London, our team of audio obsessives from around the world brings you industry insights, behind-the-scenes stories, and our own original audio creations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creator

City Podcasting
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

49
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© City Podcasting
Show Website

City Sounds