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Orwell Prize-winning author Darren McGarvey considers the brutal after-effects of childhood trauma - and the tricky fact that recollections of key events may vary.

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.

Darren McGarvey considers the brutal after-effects of childhood trauma - and the tricky fact that recollections of key events may vary.

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

Release date:

14 minutes

On radio

Wed 13 Aug 2025 11:45

Broadcasts

  • Wed 13 Aug 2025 11:45
  • Thu 14 Aug 2025 00:30