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In a world where disinformation about personal trauma abounds, the Orwell Prize-winning author asks if the stories we tell ourselves are liberating us – or keeping us trapped.

There’s been an explosion of trauma culture in the West over the last decade, ramped up by social media and its encouragement to shape, present and broadcast our own stories. But is this ownership helpful, or is it keeping people trapped? Could it even be warping public debate? The Orwell Prize-winning author of 'Poverty Safari' and 'The Social Distance Between Us' shares hard-won wisdom from a life spent recovering in the public gaze.

“In order to interrogate the nature of personal storytelling, one must tell a personal story. And this is mine.”

Written and read by Darren McGarvey
Abridged by Rosemary Goring
Producer: Eilidh McCreadie

Release date:

14 minutes

On radio

Mon 11 Aug 2025 11:45

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Broadcasts

  • Mon 11 Aug 2025 11:45
  • Tue 12 Aug 2025 00:30