Share

cover art for The Sound of Trans Freedom - 015

The Log Books

The Sound of Trans Freedom - 015

Season 5, Ep. 15
•

A stack of letters written by trans people asking for help in the 90s is an essential piece of queer history. The letters are rightly kept confidentially, but a year ago we were given special access to make a sound art piece using them. Today we’re marking the anniversary of that work, which was produced by Tash and Arlie Adlington, with contributions from Jesse Lawson, Kamari Romeo, naafi, and Imogen Sayers.


The Sound of Trans Freedom audio piece in full: Soundcloud | YouTube


Short films mentioned in this episode: 

Sweetheart (dir Luke Wintour, 2025)

Dandelion (dir Fiona Obertinca, 2026)


The Sound of Trans Freedom was supported by an Engagement Grant from The National Archives


Thanks to all the contributors who gave their voices, thoughts and feelings to the pieces


The Press for Change archive letters read throughout the piece were by Serena James, recorded by David Pye


The featured artists were:

naafi, Kamari Romeo, Tom Sayers, Jesse Lawson


Archival audio courtesy of:

Gender Talk, a radio show speaking the language of gender created by Nancy Nangeroni, originally broadcast on WMBR Cambridge and Boston, USA. Find them at gendertalk.com.

Out-FM, a multi-racial, progressive LGBTQ+ public affairs and culture show on WBAI New York, USA. Listen to their extensive archive at outfm.org.


The Sound of Trans Freedom was...

Compiled and mixed by Arlie Adlington

Produced by Tash Walker

And the Executive Producers for Aunt Nell were Tash Walker and Adam Zmith


Thanks to:

Stephen Whittle

Press for Change

The National Archives

and

The Hall-Carpenter Archives at LSE


Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.


Aunt Nell:  Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website


The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

The assistant producer is Mia Campbell

Music from Soundstripe

Original artwork by Natalie Doto

Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast


For 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


More episodes

View all episodes

  • 14. Hastings queer history - 014

    55:15||Season 5, Ep. 14
    Tash went along to Hastings for a tour of Lemons, Laws and Secret Doors — an exhibition made by a local queer collective all about their history. There was so much to discover!Tash and Adam are running a writing workshop at Joelle Taylor’s Maryville salon this weekend - tickets here!Listen 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

  • 13. FKA twigs, and why Adam is an alien - 013

    41:25||Season 5, Ep. 13
    Adam takes Tash on a deep dive of the artist FKA twigs: her style, her drive, her weirdness, and of course her delicious music. We covered the full range of her career and why she’s an icon for queers, women and weirdos. We love you, twigs!Discussed in this episode:Poni’s flip of Fallen Alien by FKA twigsListen 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

  • 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)