The Log Books

A stack of letters written by trans people asking for help in the 90s is an essential piece of queer history. The letters are rightly kept confidentially, but a year ago we were given special access to make a sound art piece using them. Today we’re marking the anniversary of that work, which was produced by Tash and Arlie Adlington, with contributions from Jesse Lawson, Kamari Romeo, naafi, and Imogen Sayers.

The Sound of Trans Freedom audio piece in full: Soundcloud | YouTube

Short films mentioned in this episode:
Sweetheart (dir Luke Wintour, 2025)
Dandelion (dir Fiona Obertinca, 2026)

The Sound of Trans Freedom was supported by an Engagement Grant from The National Archives

Thanks to all the contributors who gave their voices, thoughts and feelings to the pieces

The Press for Change archive letters read throughout the piece were by Serena James, recorded by David Pye

The featured artists were:
naafi, Kamari Romeo, Tom Sayers, Jesse Lawson

Archival audio courtesy of:
Gender Talk, a radio show speaking the language of gender created by Nancy Nangeroni, originally broadcast on WMBR Cambridge and Boston, USA. Find them at gendertalk.com.
Out-FM, a multi-racial, progressive LGBTQ+ public affairs and culture show on WBAI New York, USA. Listen to their extensive archive at outfm.org.

The Sound of Trans Freedom was...
Compiled and mixed by Arlie Adlington
Produced by Tash Walker
And the Executive Producers for Aunt Nell were Tash Walker and Adam Zmith

Thanks to:
Stephen Whittle
Press for Change
The National Archives
and
The Hall-Carpenter Archives at LSE

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Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith
The assistant producer is Mia Campbell
Music from Soundstripe
Original artwork by Natalie Doto
Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.
For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.
KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tash went along to Hastings for a tour of Lemons, Laws and Secret Doors — an exhibition made by a local queer collective all about their history. There was so much to discover!

Tash and Adam are running a writing workshop at Joelle Taylor’s Maryville salon this weekend - tickets here!

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith
The assistant producer is Mia Campbell
Music from Soundstripe
Original artwork by Natalie Doto
Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.
For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.
KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam takes Tash on a deep dive of the artist FKA twigs: her style, her drive, her weirdness, and of course her delicious music. We covered the full range of her career and why she’s an icon for queers, women and weirdos. We love you, twigs!

Discussed in this episode:
Poni’s flip of Fallen Alien by FKA twigs

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith
The assistant producer is Mia Campbell
Music from Soundstripe
Original artwork by Natalie Doto
Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.
For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.
KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tash got a tour of Bradford’s queer history with Alice Parsons, who runs the city’s Castles in the Sky project. We learnt all about the local Switchboard, the gay arts festival, the lesbian support line, and how these all stem from Bradford’s radical politics.

Discussed in this episode:
Amnesty International report on gender-critical movements and media
Castles in the Sky in Bradford

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith
The assistant producer is Mia Campbell
Music from Soundstripe
Original artwork by Natalie Doto
Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.
For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.
KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9
Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tash has tuned into the secret sounds of electricity pylons (no, really) and discovered something unique about human connection and queer experience. We learnt about ‘sferics’ and about static electricity in the air, and how it affects us all.

Discussed in this episode:
Petition to call for a public inquiry into the impact of Section 28

Listen to ad-free episodes by supporting the show on Patreon.

Aunt Nell: Newsletter | Instagram | YouTube | website

The Log Books is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith
The assistant producer is Mia Campbell
Music from Soundstripe
Original artwork by Natalie Doto
Thanks to the dreamboats at Acast

For the story of the helpline Switchboard and untold stories from Britain's LGBTQ+ history: listen to Seasons 1-3, co-produced with Shivani Dave.
For interviews from the research for our book, published by Faber & Faber: listen to Season 4.
KI7FHCTLCUOCNJZ9

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thelogbooks.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.