7. Anxiety

A moment of pure panic - losing a child in a park - begins India Rakusen’s exploration of anxiety: what it is, how it begins, and how it shapes both children and parents. Through science, history and culture, she learns how early sensory experiences, food battles, and modern parenting pressures feed our fears. And she explores how play, freedom, and the simple act of letting go might be our best cure. A story about holding on, and learning to release, in a world that asks us to protect what we cannot contain.Presented by India Rakusen. Producer: Ellie Sans Assistant Producer: Charlotte Evans-Young Executive Producer: Alex Hollands Commissioning Executive: Paula McDonnell Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Original music composed and performed by The Big Moon and Eska Mtungwazi Mix and Mastering by Charlie Brandon-KingA Goldhawk production for BBC Radio 4