BBC World Service: Only Bleeding

Conservationist Rodrigo Medellin is working to protect Mexico's bats and its iconic spirits - tequila and mezcal. Can tequila become “bat friendly”?

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One doctor dies by suicide every three weeks, according to figures from the British Medical Association.

In 2021, Dr Lalith Wijedoru left his role as consultant paediatrician in emergency medicine, to focus on supporting workforce health and wellbeing, including those working in healthcare.

Given rare access to a wellbeing and recovery retreat, we hear emotional testimonies from the four groups of doctors at greatest risk of suicide - General Practitioners, anaesthetists, surgeons and psychiatrists.

Their stories - of workplace bullying, isolation, fatigue and fear of patient complaints - suggest a system in which doctors are made to feel like machines, rather than human beings. The concept of 'moral injury' is also a factor - where a doctor is unable to provide the care they wish to give to their patient, due to lack of resources or system breakdown.

These stories take us to the heart of issues being faced by many or most NHS professionals - and by the ‘system’ more generally.

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Presenter: Dr Lalith Wijedoru

Producer: Amanda Hargreaves

Sound design: Joel Cox

Location recordings: Jon Calver

Executive producer: Dave Howard

A Bespoken Media Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

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Luna Silva invites us to a traditional Georgian Supra, where food, wine and polyphonic singing blend together.

This programme won a Special Commendation at Europe's most prestigious audio awards the Prix Europa, in 2025.

The judges called it 'joyous and beautifully crafted' and 'an unforgettable, immersive, and enriching listen'.

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Archive on 4 charting the impact of the 1992 rave at Castlemorton Common, and how it led to the 1994 Criminal Justice Act. Presented and produced by Tom Barton. Sound by Barney Philbrick and Joel Cox. Listen: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0017f1b