I'm Not a Monster

Introducing… The Shamima Begum Story

Investigating the story of Shamima Begum

04 Jan 2023,·3 mins,·

Series 2: 1. It Felt Like a Dream

A London schoolgirl disappears. Four years later she's found in Syria with ISIS.

11 Jan 2023,·32 mins,·

Series 2: 2. The Point of No Return

Retracing Shamima Begum's route reveals a dangerous smuggling network, but that’s not all.

18 Jan 2023,·31 mins,·

Series 2: 3. Double Agent?

The man who smuggled Shamima Begum to Syria claims he was spying for Canada.

25 Jan 2023,·37 mins

Series 2: 4. When You’re In Love

What convinced 15-year-old Shamima Begum to leave London for ISIS? And who?

01 Feb 2023,·33 mins,·

Series 2: 5. Empty Paper

The supposed paradise turns out to be a prison.

08 Feb 2023,·34 mins,·

Series 2. 6. Father Figure

With her husband in prison, Shamima Begum is left in the care of a stranger. Who is he?

15 Feb 2023,·40 mins,·

Series 2: 7. Trapped

Someone close to Shamima Begum is looking for a way out of the so-called caliphate.

22 Feb 2023,·32 mins,·

Series 2: 8. No Plan B

The so-called caliphate crumbles and a pregnant Shamima Begum is desperate to come home.

01 Mar 2023,·29 mins,·

Series 2: 9. State of Mind

Shamima Begum enrages the British public and ends up stuck in Syria.

08 Mar 2023,·37 mins,·

Series 2: A Message From Josh

Episode 10 will be available on Wednesday March 22nd

15 Mar 2023,·3 mins

Series 2: 10. The World’s Unwanted

What happened to the girl Shamima Begum says convinced her to join ISIS?

22 Mar 2023,·45 mins,·

Series 2. Our Live Show

What do you want to know about The Shamima Begum Story and the making of the podcast?

08 Aug 2023,·1 min

Series 2: Josh Baker Answers Listener Questions

Your questions answered on Shamima Begum and the making of the multi-award winning series

29 Nov 2023,·53 mins,·

Series 2: The Court Decides

Was it lawful to take away Shamima Begum’s British citizenship?

23 Feb 2024,·6 mins

Introducing... I’m Not A Monster

How did an American family end up in the heart of the ISIS caliphate?

13 Nov 2020,·2 mins

Series 1: 1. I love you, I miss you

An American mother sends a desperate plea for help from inside the ISIS caliphate.

23 Nov 2020,·20 mins,·

Series 1: 2. Read between the lines

A man claiming to be a smuggler offers to help the family, but all is not as it seems.

30 Nov 2020,·31 mins,·

Series 1: 3. My name is Yusef

ISIS releases a new propaganda video and all appears lost.

07 Dec 2020,·24 mins,·

Series 1: 4. She’s like my mother

Ten days searching war-torn Syria lead to an offer of help, but can it be trusted?

14 Dec 2020,·28 mins,·

Series 1: 5. We had a great life

On a military base in Syria, Sam begins to tell her side of the story.

21 Dec 2020,·30 mins,·

Series 1: 6. Now I’m calling the shots

A torture prison, buying slaves and a dramatic escape: Sam continues her story.

28 Dec 2020,·32 mins,·

Series 1: 7. On American soil

As she sits in a jail cell in Indiana, Josh confronts Sam about holes in her story.

18 Jan 2021,·39 mins,·

Series 1: 8. I take my book back

Josh retraces Sam’s steps in Syria and asks could she have been an ISIS member all along?

25 Jan 2021,·51 mins,·

Series 1: 9. The rest be damned

After years of insisting she’s innocent, Sam changes her story. Why?

01 Feb 2021,·33 mins,·

Series 1: 10. It’s all behind me now

Matthew talks about his escape, his future and how he feared he’d never see America again.

12 Feb 2021,·32 mins,·

Series 1: Update

Josh is back with news of what to expect next.

13 Nov 2021,·3 mins

Series 1: 11. Epilogue - The wounds and the scars

What happened to the family Josh was staying with when an ISIS bomb struck their home?

16 Nov 2021,·30 mins,·

Series 1: 12. Those we leave behind

In Northern Iraq, Josh finds out how two people you’ve been asking about are doing now.

18 Jan 2022,·25 mins,·

Series 1: 13. Your questions answered

Josh responds to questions you’ve been sending us since the series finished.

25 Jan 2022,·31 mins