Podcasting: Solving mysteries and preserving history

When I was 14 years I convinced myself, I had solved the mystery of Billy the Kid.

The story goes that William H Bonney was shot and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett at Fort Sumner in 1881. However, the mystery looms with the appearance of Brushy Bill Roberts in 1948 claiming to be the infamous outlaw.

To date the mystery has not yet been solved.

I’m a self-confessed geek, with a love of story and history is so intertwined it’s followed me quite happily into adulthood.

For me, history offers a foundation and understanding of where we have come from and where the possibilities could take us. My inner curiosity the need to solve the mystery is always there.

Don’t even ask me about the JFK assassination, I’m still on Dealey Plaza.

For history lovers there is a plethora of history podcasts available.

Podcasting: The power of your voice

A History of Ideas by Melvyn Bragg, BBC History Magazine’s History Extra Podcast.

And a favourite, Scotland – A Scottish History Podcast by Be Quiet Media is a delight and filled with stories flitting between the history pages of Burke and Hare and the discovery of North Sea Oil in 1967.

I sometimes wonder when history becomes history. When a moment in time slips into retrospection.

During lockdown, I’ve referred to the present at these ‘strange times’ and I’m curious as to see if this mindset will evolve into an outlook and then a memory. This piece of writing may, at some point, transmute into an archive of opinion and perhaps a signpost of social history.

One of my favourite podcasts is Table Manners with Jessie Ware, the singer and her chef mum, Lennie. are having conversations around the tea table between themselves and guests including Florence Pugh and John Legend.

It is a conversation, a sharing and sometimes delightful oversharing of opinion and it is as funny as it is moving.

Lockdown has influenced and shifted our perspective. We are now creating and living our history the definition of the ‘new normal’ structured by official guidance will be manifested within our Kirkcaldy community.

The projects, ideas and endeavours we are forging now will be remembered in memory later.

It is then you understand that is not retrospective – this is not only happening within our Facebook page it is happening within our earbuds.

Our daily exercise is accompanied by The Walk Fife Podcast as it explores the routes, paths and trails of the Kingdom.

The soundtrack of local business is explored by Mind Yer Business by Fife-based Podcaster Abby Wallace. And Liam James Flinn explores the viewpoint of local talent Billy Reekie in Did Ye Aye? Podcast.

Creators are stepping forward and making their voices heard. The future is here. We are the history makers and it starts now.

Lisa May Young produces and hosts podcast Holding the Space

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