As a point of discussion, incest is virtually taboo, but it’s a vital one. Audiences are likely to be more receptive to a story delivered by someone they can relate to and with whom they feel comfortable, hence the juxtaposition of the comedian and victim/survivor.

We invite you to listen to Series Five. Click on the images below to listen to our stories.

The identity of the storytellers is anonymous in an endeavour to protect the identities of the people involved.

Very importantly, we acknowledge and thank all the courageous victim/survivors who have come forward with their stories. As listeners, we ask that you too, match their bravery and start conversations about incest, share our podcasts through your mediums and help make change.

In each episode of Series 5 you will hear the words and music of Maggie Bell, who experienced sexual, physical and emotional abuse by her brother for 17 years, from the ages of 5 to 22 years.

Sibling abuse is an often neglected aspect of incest and, like all forms of intrafamilial abuse, it carries longlasting impact on the victim-survivors. For Maggie, the prolonged severe abuse she endured resulted in Dissociative Identity Disorder or D.I.D., in which different memories, reactions and feelings were isolated into separate parts of her personality.

To hear more about DID please listen to Episode 1 and for more about Maggie’s story please listen to Episode 2. During the long years of her abuse Maggie used music as a way to escape her trauma as well as to express herself when words were not allowed.

All of the pieces you will hear in this series have been created by Maggie as part of an exploration of living with D.I.D, with different parts or groups of parts composing each piece as a way of explaining the experiences or feelings they hold.