The Outlook Podcast Archive

Eva Schloss and Anne Frank had been childhood friends and neighbours in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam. Eva remembers Anne’s nickname was ‘Miss Quack Quack’ because she always loved talking. Then, like the Franks, Eva’s Jewish family was forced into hiding. Both families were ultimately betrayed and sent to Auschwitz, the most notorious of the Nazi death camps. After the war, Eva became Anne’s posthumous stepsister when her mother married Otto Frank, Anne’s father. Together they worked tirelessly to promote Anne Frank’s legacy through her diary.Eva shares her extraordinary Holocaust testimony over two episodes. In this first episode, she describes her life before Auschwitz and her family’s eventual capture. In part two, you can hear about her experience of the liberation of Auschwitz and her efforts to keep her brother Heinz’s memory alive.Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Maryam MarufGet in touch: outlook@bbc.com(Photo: Eva Schloss aged 11 in 1940. Credit: Courtesy of Eva Schloss)

Anna Shechtman began writing crossword puzzles as a teenager - but developed an eating disorder around the same time. She became one of the youngest crossword creators to publish a puzzle in the New York Times newspaper and now writes crosswords for the New Yorker magazine, but during her recovery she sometimes feared that her illness and her love of creating crosswords were inextricably linked. She tells Emily Webb about the art of cruciverbalism, 'crossworld', and why the creation of crossword clues is a political act. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: Emily Webb Producer: Laura Thomas(Photo: Anna Shechtman. Courtesy of Emily Shechtman)

Alenka Artnik grew up in Slovenia in a loving but complicated family. Her father was an alcoholic, and her brother was addicted to drugs. Years of pain and grief meant that Alenka found herself feeling lost and alone. But then, just when she most needed it, when she'd thought about taking her own life – she found freediving and sanctuary in an underwater world. Drawing on her own personal, physical and mental strength, she is now a world champion freediver. Last year she broke world records by diving to an astonishing 122 metres. If you are affected by issues raised in this programme there is confidential support on the BBC Action line website, or at Befrienders.orgGet in touch: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: Jo Fidgen Producers: May Cameron and Andrea Kennedy(Photo: Alenka Artnik. Credit: DaanVerhoeven)

After a lifetime of caring for her sick mother, Helen Naylor began to suspect that her mum had a very rare condition called Munchausen's Syndrome, a psychological disorder where according to the NHS, "someone pretends to be ill or deliberately produces symptoms of illness in themselves. Their main intention is to assume the "sick role" so that people care for them and they are the centre of attention." All through Helen's childhood her mother, Elinor, would stay in bed most of the time while Helen looked after her. Helen accepted that she would always be her mother's carer but after she died in 2016, Helen decided she needed to find out more about her mother and her own childhood so she started conducting her own investigation.Helen has written a book called My Mother, Munchausen's and Me: a true story of betrayal and a shocking family secret.Get in touch: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Tom Harding Assinder and Rebecca Vincent (Photo: Helen Naylor and her mother Elinor. Credit: Helen Naylor)

Marie Harrower’s mother taught her not to let her blindness hold her back. This helped Marie become a physiotherapist and win a place at the 1976 Paralympics. She tells Outlook's Antonia Quirke her story.Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Deiniol BuxtonGet in touch: outlook@bbc.com(Photo: Marie Harrower. Credit: Paul Fegan)

We are celebrating the life of the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who spoke to Outlook in 2014 with his daughter, Mpho Tutu van Furth, about family and forgiveness. They had written a book together called The Book of Forgiving. Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Deiniol BuxtonGet in touch: outlook@bbc.com(Photo: Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his daughter the Reverend Mpho Tutu van Furth. Credit: Oryx Media 2013)

In 1968 Neil Sarfati was 23 and feeling "lost", when a conversation with a neighbour introduced him to Scientology. What began as self-help movement born out of the teachings of the founder, science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, had become an organisation with a large and devoted following. Fearing the world would be destroyed unless the teachings of Scientology took hold, Neil left his job and wife and made his way to Los Angeles to sign up to the Sea Org, an elite group of its most dedicated members. He boarded their ship, the Apollo, and began playing saxophone in the crew’s new jazz band, The Apollo Stars, in ports dotted around the Atlantic coast of Africa and Europe. But as Hubbard became increasingly creatively involved, Neil started to doubt his commitment to Scientology. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: Emily Webb(Photo: Neil Sarfati in 2012. Credit: Neil Sarfati)

Helene Cooper grew up in Liberia, fled during a bloody military coup and arrived in the US as a child refugee. Her background inspired her to become a journalist but there was one question that still needed to be answered: what had happened to the adopted sister she’d left behind? This interview was first broadcast in May 2019.Get in touch: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: Emily Webb Producer: Alice Gioia(Photo: Eunice (in striped dress) and Helene Cooper (with sunglasses). Credit: Helene Cooper)

In 2019, Fabiola Campillai was working in a factory where her husband Marco worked as a lorry driver. They were leading a quiet life in Santiago raising their children when a tear gas cannister changed the course of Fabiola’s life. The cannister, fired by a police officer, left her permanently blinded with multiple life-changing injuries. After spending months in hospital, Fabiola came out fighting. She had no political background, but helped by Marco, she decided to stand for election as a Senator, and won.Get in touch: outlook@bbc.comPresenter: Emily Webb Producer: Gaia Caramazza and Maryam Maruf(Photo: Fabiola Campillai with her husband Marco. Credit: Chile Today/Boris van der Spek)

Education has always been important to Virginia Walden Ford. As a child she was part of the process of desegregating schools in Little Rock, Arkansas. Years later, as a parent, she watched as her son's grades dropped and his behaviour changed. She believed his school was failing him and began a long campaign for change in the US education system.Virginia is the subject of a feature film called Miss Virginia.This episode was first broadcast in November 2019.Presenter: Asya Fouks Producer: Tom Harding AssinderPicture: Virginia Walden Ford speaking at a news conference of the Black Republican Congressional Staff Association Credit: Tom Williams / Getty ImagesGet in touch: outlook@bbc.com