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I'm Not a Monster

Seeking to separate fact from fiction, the multi award-winning series returns. Josh Baker investigates the divisive story of Shamima Begum.

Radio 5 Live,31 episodes

Episodes

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The Shamima Begum Story
Coming soon... The Shamima Begum Story
The award-winning series returns to investigate the divisive story of Shamima Begum.
31 Aug 2022,1 min
The Shamima Begum Story
Introducing… The Shamima Begum Story
Investigating the story of Shamima Begum
04 Jan 2023,3 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: 1. It Felt Like a Dream
A London schoolgirl disappears. Four years later she's found in Syria with ISIS.
11 Jan 2023,32 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: 2. The Point of No Return
Retracing Shamima Begum's route reveals a dangerous smuggling network, but that’s not all.
18 Jan 2023,31 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: 3. Double Agent?
The man who smuggled Shamima Begum to Syria claims he was spying for Canada.
25 Jan 2023,37 mins
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: 4. When You’re In Love
What convinced 15-year-old Shamima Begum to leave London for ISIS? And who?
01 Feb 2023,33 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: 5. Empty Paper
The supposed paradise turns out to be a prison.
08 Feb 2023,34 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2. 6. Father Figure
With her husband in prison, Shamima Begum is left in the care of a stranger. Who is he?
15 Feb 2023,40 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: 7. Trapped
Someone close to Shamima Begum is looking for a way out of the so-called caliphate.
22 Feb 2023,32 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: 8. No Plan B
The so-called caliphate crumbles and a pregnant Shamima Begum is desperate to come home.
01 Mar 2023,29 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: 9. State of Mind
Shamima Begum enrages the British public and ends up stuck in Syria.
08 Mar 2023,37 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: A Message From Josh
Episode 10 will be available on Wednesday March 22nd
15 Mar 2023,3 mins
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: 10. The World’s Unwanted
What happened to the girl Shamima Begum says convinced her to join ISIS?
22 Mar 2023,45 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2. Our Live Show
What do you want to know about The Shamima Begum Story and the making of the podcast?
08 Aug 2023,1 min
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: Josh Baker Answers Listener Questions
Your questions answered on Shamima Begum and the making of the multi-award winning series
29 Nov 2023,53 mins,
The Shamima Begum Story
Series 2: The Court Decides
Was it lawful to take away Shamima Begum’s British citizenship?
23 Feb 2024,6 mins
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Introducing... I’m Not A Monster
How did an American family end up in the heart of the ISIS caliphate?
13 Nov 2020,2 mins
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 1. I love you, I miss you
An American mother sends a desperate plea for help from inside the ISIS caliphate.
23 Nov 2020,20 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 2. Read between the lines
A man claiming to be a smuggler offers to help the family, but all is not as it seems.
30 Nov 2020,31 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 3. My name is Yusef
ISIS releases a new propaganda video and all appears lost.
07 Dec 2020,24 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 4. She’s like my mother
Ten days searching war-torn Syria lead to an offer of help, but can it be trusted?
14 Dec 2020,28 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 5. We had a great life
On a military base in Syria, Sam begins to tell her side of the story.
21 Dec 2020,30 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 6. Now I’m calling the shots
A torture prison, buying slaves and a dramatic escape: Sam continues her story.
28 Dec 2020,32 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 7. On American soil
As she sits in a jail cell in Indiana, Josh confronts Sam about holes in her story.
18 Jan 2021,39 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 8. I take my book back
Josh retraces Sam’s steps in Syria and asks could she have been an ISIS member all along?
25 Jan 2021,51 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 9. The rest be damned
After years of insisting she’s innocent, Sam changes her story. Why?
01 Feb 2021,33 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 10. It’s all behind me now
Matthew talks about his escape, his future and how he feared he’d never see America again.
12 Feb 2021,32 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: Update
Josh is back with news of what to expect next.
13 Nov 2021,3 mins
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 11. Epilogue - The wounds and the scars
What happened to the family Josh was staying with when an ISIS bomb struck their home?
16 Nov 2021,30 mins,
Series 1 - from BBC Panorama & FRONTLINE PBS
Series 1: 12. Those we leave behind
In Northern Iraq, Josh finds out how two people you’ve been asking about are doing now.
18 Jan 2022,25 mins,