Debden Park Podcast

Madam Russell reads an extract from Jeffrey Boayke's exploration of the lasting influence of Black music on British culture. Buy the book: https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571366491-musical-truth/

In this episode, Madam Page reads the classic fairy tale 'The Ugly Duckling'.

In this episode, Madam Rabu explores the importance of Easter and why it is still relevant to Christians today. The link to the article is here: https://faithatwork.network/why-is-easter-important/#:~:text=The%20answer%20is%20simple.,nothing%20but%20lies%20and%20falsities.

In the final episode of our foreign language series, Madam Bouhdadi reads the French translation of the classic story by the Brothers Grimm, 'The boy who went forth and found what fear was'. The link to the text is here: https://www.grimmstories.com/fr/grimm_contes/histoire_de_celui_qui_alla_apprendre_la_peur

In the second of our series of three foreign language episodes, Madam Bouhdadi reads the Spanish translation of the Brothers Grimm story 'The boy who went forth to learn what fear was'. The Spanish / English translation can be read here: https://www.grimmstories.com/language.php?grimm=004&l=en&r=es

In the first of three foreign language episodes, Madam Boudahdi reads the classic fairy tale 'The Gingerbread Man'.

In this episode, Mr Greengrass explores the ideas around the many challenges facing the planet as our climate gets hotter and hotter, and how our personal actions may have more impact than we think. Buy the book: https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/there-is-no-planet-b-a-handbook-for-the-make-or-break-years-updated-edition-mike-berners-lee/4940863?aid=12&ean=9781108821575

When Finn's stepmother is murdered on their doorstep, Finn learns that it's the same man who killed his mother years earlier. Shocked, he is desperate to discover if this is just a terrible coincidence. He strikes up an uneasy friendship with the daughter of the killer, but they begin to uncover a far deeper conspiracy. In this episode, Mr Simm reads the opening of the thriller 'Guilty' by Norah M...

In this episode, Madam Longman reads an extract from Michael Morpurgo's 'Boy Giant'. War has forced Omar and his mother to leave their home in Afghanistan and venture across the sea to Europe. When their boat sinks, and Omar finds himself alone, with no hope of rescue, it seems as if his story has come to an end. But it is only just beginning, because in the end, a little hope makes a big differen...

In this episode, Madam Layhe reads the opening of Monique Polak's 'What World is Left'. Inspired by the author's mother's own experience of the Theresienstadt concentration camp during World War II. If you enjoyed this episode and want to read the rest of the novel, it is available on Sora here: https://soraapp.com/library/uksecondary/curated-1372522/titles/202256/8863075

Set in the opulence and extravagance of the 1920s Jazz Age, Madam Avery explores the Valley of the Ashes in Fitzgerald's 'The Great Gatsby', a direct consequence of the exploitation of the wealthy. The full novel is available on Sora.

First published in 1898, this is one of the original sci-fi novels! Martians are plotting an invasion of Earth as their planet resources dwindle. If you enjoyed this episode, the full book is available here:https://soraapp.com/library/uksecondary/search/query-war%20of%20the%20worlds/titles/202256/785162

In this week's episode, Madam Archer reads Chapter 1 from Malorie Blackman's 'Thief', the story of Lydia Henson who having recently moved to a new school wants to join the 'Cosmics'. In order to test her courage and loyalty to the group, Lydia is sent on a mission to steal the school sports cup. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Thief-Malorie-Blackman/dp/0552551651

In this week's episode, Madam Stevens explores how the life of Vincent Van Gogh influenced quintessentially American singer, Don Mclean in his 1972 song 'Vincent'. Listen to the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxHnRfhDmrk

In this episode, Mr Barham considers the effect of James Bond ageing, exploring the Bond franchise through a feminist lens. It is an extract published in the Journal of Popular Film and Television, published in 2014.

In this episode, Mr Dukes presents a mind-boggling mathematical trick from Kjartan Poskitt's 'Murderous Maths'. Link to buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murderous-Maths-Kjartan-Poskitt/dp/0439011566

In this episode, Mr Thackray reads the opening of Charles C Mann's article 'Can Planet Earth Feed 10 Billion People', published in March 2018's edition of 'The Atlantic'. This article explores the pressures the Earth and humanity faces with the ever-growing population and poses the question 'how do we ensure that everyone gets food?'. Read the article: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/...

Madam Flint reads the opening of the gripping 'Mystery of the Nightwatchers' by A.M. Howell. MAY, 1910. As the blazing Halley's comet draws close to the earth, Nancy is uprooted to start a new life in Suffolk with a grandfather she has never met. With every curtain drawn shut, Nancy is forbidden from leaving her grandfather's house: no one must know that her or her mother are there. Yet, when Nanc...

Mr Powell explores the complex success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in this article 'Marvel’s Blockbuster Machine' by Spencer Harrison, Arne Carlsen, and Miha Škerlavaj, published in the Harvard Business Review, 2019. This would be a particularly interesting episode for students considering Film or Media at GCSE or A Level. Read the article: https://hbr.org/2019/07/marvels-blockbuster-machine

The French call Ventoux `the killer mountain' and in 1967 it claimed its most famous victim, as former world champion Tom Simpson died near the summit during that year's Tour de France. The terrible ascent of Ventoux's south side encapsulates both the brutality and beauty of this cruel sport, but also highlights cycling's ongoing battle to distance itself from its demons. In this episode, Mr Davie...

One for film buffs, in this episode Mr Barham explores the concept of New Hollywood from Pam Cook's 'The Cinema Book'. Buy the book: Bookshop: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/the-cinema-book/9781844571932 Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cinema-Book-Pam-Cook/dp/0851707262

For anyone who's ever asked a silly scientific question, this episode is for you! Dr Guerrero-Guttierez reads an extract from Randall Munroe's 'What If', exploring what happens if you hit a baseball travelling at 90% of the speed light. Buy the book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/What-If-Scientific-Hypothetical-Questions/dp/1848549563

This week on Debden Park Podcasts, Madam Page explores the history of women's rights and the work of Amnesty International to campaign for gender equality. Tune in for a fascinating insight into the battle for social equality over the years. (This episode contains mature themes.) Read the article: https://www.amnesty.org/en/what-we-do/discrimination/womens-rights/

After the Wall Street Crash crash, Ellie and her family have lost nearly everything - including their home in town. They have started over, carving out a new life in the unforgiving terrain of Echo Mountain. But there is little joy as they all struggle with the sorrow and aftermath of an accident that left her father in a coma. An accident for which Ellie has accepted the unearned weight of blame....

Perfect for students interested in American history and literature, 'The Snow Child' is set in Alaska during the 1920s. Jack and Mabel have staked everything on a fresh start in a remote homestead, but the wilderness is a stark place, and Mabel is haunted by the baby she lost many years before. When a little girl appears mysteriously on their land, each is filled with wonder, but also foreboding:...