Thinking Straight (Pt 3): Surviving
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 20 August 2021
⏱️ 40 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Attempts at conversion therapy are taking place across the country: in village churches, Harley Street clinics and counsellors’ treatment rooms.
In this third episode of a seven-part series, reporter Emily Sargent speaks to survivors and campaigners about the extremely secretive practice.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.
If you, or someone you know, has been affected by the issues raised in this episode, the following organisations can help:
Switchboard provides an information, support and referral service for anyone who needs to consider issues around their sexuality.
Phone: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm).
Samaritans is available for anyone struggling to cope and provide a safe place to talk 24 hours a day.
Phone: 116 123
Guests:
Justin Beck, conversion therapy survivor.
Maya, conversion therapy survivor.
Matt Mahmood-Ogston, founder, Naz and Matt Foundation.
Host: Emily Sargent, journalist.
This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello, it's Manvine here. |
| 0:02.0 | I'm handing the podcast over to the journalist Emily Sargent today for part three of her special investigation. |
| 0:08.0 | If you haven't heard the earlier part, do go back and have a listen. |
| 0:12.0 | She's looking at a fascinating and, until now, extremely secretive practice that still takes place all over Britain. |
| 0:20.0 | Conversion therapy. |
| 0:22.0 | This is Thinking Straight. |
| 0:25.0 | Last episode on Thinking Straight. |
| 0:29.0 | A lot of people don't realise that it's happening all the time over here and it takes place in so many different ways. |
| 0:35.0 | I've got to be honest. |
| 0:37.0 | I have really mixed feelings about you doing this. |
| 0:39.0 | I'm happy to do it with you. |
| 0:41.0 | I'm happy to explore it with you. |
| 0:43.0 | I just want you to know that it's coming from a place of complete love and acceptance. |
| 0:47.0 | Conversion therapy can take many extreme forms. |
| 0:51.0 | Everyone's shouting, screaming, and tongue speaking and tongues. |
| 0:55.0 | He said, in that case, we have to do a part-life regression on you. |
| 0:59.0 | Lots of people are pressing down on your stomach. |
| 1:01.0 | But most often, it looks very similar to what we would consider as traditional counselling. |
| 1:07.0 | Did Mum and Dad hug you growing up? |
| 1:09.0 | With the affection there. |
| 1:11.0 | You're listening to Thinking Straight, a special investigative series from the Times and the Sunday Times. |
| 1:17.0 | I'm Emily Sargent. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from The Times, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of The Times and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.