Share

cover art for “How nice!” | Bonus LIVE Episode 1

The Log Books

“How nice!” | Bonus LIVE Episode 1

Season 1, Ep. 10
•

We’ve taken The Log Books out of the archive for LGBT History Month! We recorded this special episode in front of an audience at an event in London on February 5th 2020. You’ll hear fresh voices and familiar ones, including Tash and Adam. As ever, we are led by the handwritten notes made by volunteers in Switchboard’s log books from 1974 to 1982. 


The event was held at the Finsbury Library and co-organised by Islington’s Pride, a Heritage Fund project that aims to preserve, archive and celebrate Islington’s LGBT+ heritage. 


Transcript here.


Here are the voices you’ll hear:

Julian Hows, LGBT+ rights activist and former Switchboard volunteer 

Marlin Khondoker, project archivist with Islington's Pride

Seán McGovern, project manager with Islington's Pride

Femi Otitoju, former Switchboard volunteer

Adam Smith, co-producer of The Log Books

Tash Walker, co-producer of The Log Books and co-chair of Switchboard

...and members of our live audience 


Special thanks to everyone who helped with the event and this bonus podcast episode: Luis Amália, Scott Flashheart, Helen MacKenzie, Egle Rutkauskaite and Eliot Smith.


The Log Books — stories from Britain’s LGBT+ history and conversations about being queer today. Produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Smith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard - the LGBT+ helpline.


Music by Tom Foskett-Barnes

Artwork by Natalie Doto

https://www.thelogbooks.org


More episodes

View all episodes

  • 12. Bradford’s queer history - 012

    38:38||Season 5, Ep. 12
    Tash got a tour of Bradford’s queer history with Alice Parsons, who runs the city’s Castles in the Sky project. We learnt all about the local Switchboard, the gay arts festival, the lesbian support line, and how these all stem from Bradford’s radical politics.Discussed in this episode:Amnesty International report on gender-critical movements and media Castles in the Sky in BradfordListen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.Aunt Nell:  Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | websiteThe Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam ZmithThe assistant producer is Mia CampbellMusic from SoundstripeOriginal artwork by Natalie DotoThanks to the dreamboats at AcastFor the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

  • 11. ‘Sferics’: the spooky sound of connection - 011

    31:32||Season 5, Ep. 11
    Tash has tuned into the secret sounds of electricity pylons (no, really) and discovered something unique about human connection and queer experience. We learnt about ‘sferics’ and about static electricity in the air, and how it affects us all.Discussed in this episode:Petition to call for a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.Aunt Nell:  Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | websiteThe Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam ZmithThe assistant producer is Mia CampbellMusic from SoundstripeOriginal artwork by Natalie DotoThanks to the dreamboats at AcastFor the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

  • 10. Our exclusive tour of Queer Britain - 010

    38:16||Season 5, Ep. 10
    Tash went down to Kings Cross in London to visit the newly re-opened Queer Britain museum. From nightclubs like Club Kali to footballers like Justin Fashanu, from the painter Carrington to dyke-themed folk songs, the museum captures every part of queer life. Thanks to Jennifer Shearman (curator) and Beau Brannick (assistant curator) and everyone at Queer Britain.-Adam + TashQueer Britain’s websiteThe Quilt - podcast series made by Aunt Nell in partnership with Queer BritainListen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.Aunt Nell:  Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | websiteThe Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam ZmithThe assistant producer is Mia CampbellMusic from SoundstripeOriginal artwork by Natalie DotoThanks to the dreamboats at AcastFor the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

  • 9. Staying afloat - 009

    22:37||Season 5, Ep. 9
    It feels like life is pulling many of us down at the moment — so we asked each other: what do you do to stay afloat? We discuss swimming, solo cinema trips, birds and well-stocked food cupboards. The queer future starts here?-Adam + TashListen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.Aunt Nell:  Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | websiteThe Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam ZmithThe assistant producer is Mia CampbellMusic from SoundstripeOriginal artwork by Natalie DotoThanks to the dreamboats at AcastFor the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

  • 8. Hunky Jesus - 008

    36:31||Season 5, Ep. 8
    Every Easter in San Francisco, there’s a competition to find the best hunky Jesus. We didn’t go to it, BUT we spoke to Sister Roma, one of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, the order of queer nuns that organises it. AND to filmmaker Jennifer Kroot who’s just made a film about the sisters and their search for hunky Jesus. -Adam + TashFilms: Hunky JesusLa GraziaTeenage Sex And Death At Camp MiasmaI Saw the TV GlowQueer disabled arts project:Eff-ableTV:The Repair Shop (BBC) - featuring the first Switchboard log book!

  • 7. Second adolescence - 007

    39:31||Season 5, Ep. 7
    Why have one adolescence when you can have two? That’s the reality for many LGBTQ+ people. So let’s talk about what happens when you come out (or let people in), and unleash a whole new era on yourself. Sex, friendships, romance, lifestyle — all these things are up for grabs again a second time around for many queer people. Why is that? And what does psychology research say about it?-Adam + TashDiscussed in this episode:The Second Adolescence of LGBTQ+ Adulthood, Psychology Today (2023)The importance of sexual and romantic development in understanding the developmental neuroscience of adolescenceSexual Development Through the LifespanSex, Clubs, Dissent: Visualising Queer Nightlife by Amelia Abraham (ed)Heartstopper (Netflix)We Are Who We Are (HBO/BBC)

  • 6. Ghosts of your former self - 006

    35:42||Season 5, Ep. 6
    We’ve got a star guest this week! Tino Orsini is a versatile character actor — you might have seen him playing the artist Banksy in Ted Lasso. For his next trick he’ll be on stage performing an intimate solo show about his own dark past. It’s all based around the time he tried to make it in Hollywood.We loved hearing Tino’s reflections on immigration, addiction, sex, family secrets and, of course, showbiz. His new show is called Ghosts of West Hollywood and it’s on 2-7 June at the Et Cetera theatre in London.-Adam + TashAunt Nell: Instagram | YouTube | websiteThe Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam ZmithThe assistant producer is Mia CampbellMusic from SoundstripeOriginal artwork by Natalie DotoThanks to the dreamboats at AcastSeasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were co-produced with Shivani Dave, in partnership with Switchboard.Season 4, from 2025-26, featured interviews for our book, published by Faber & Faber.KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

  • 5. Lab rats - 005

    27:29||Season 5, Ep. 5
    Tash has been reading some intriguing studies about the psychology of lab rats — and has discovered something about themself in the process. So let’s talk about it! Join us while we gnaw on the topics of cages (real and imagined), being queer, and the power of nature.-Adam + TashDiscussed in this episode:The Well Gardened Mind by Sue Stuart-SmithAunt Nell: Instagram | YouTube | websiteThe Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam ZmithThe assistant producer is Mia CampbellMusic from SoundstripeOriginal artwork by Natalie DotoThanks to the dreamboats at AcastSeasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were co-produced with Shivani Dave, in partnership with Switchboard.Season 4, from 2025-26, featured interviews for our book, published by Faber & Faber.KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

  • 4. Inherent Vice - 004

    25:30||Season 5, Ep. 4
    We make no secret that we’re obsessed with queer history and heritage. So in this episode Tash met Shoun Obana who’s created a zine called Inherent Vice, “for heritage professionals and enthusiasts alike”. We’ve also got a poem by Tash, Dear Section 28.-Adam + TashDiscussed in this episode:Zine: Inherent ViceRadio poem: Dear Section 28, originally created for Short Cuts, series 33, a Falling Tree production for BBC Radio 4Aunt Nell: Instagram | YouTube | websiteThe Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam ZmithThe assistant producer is Mia CampbellMusic from SoundstripeOriginal artwork by Natalie DotoThanks to the dreamboats at AcastSeasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were co-produced with Shivani Dave, in partnership with Switchboard.Season 4, from 2025-26, featured interviews for our book, published by Faber & Faber.KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9