Hosts Tash Walker and Adam Zmith speak to LGBTQ+ elders and peers about life in Britain, inspired by volunteers’ log books from the helpline Switchboard since 1974.
Each episode features an intimate conversation with an LGBTQ+ person, as they reflect with Adam and Tash on community, family, volunteering for Switchboard, going out for the night, and the huge shift in LGBTQ+ politics and culture since 1974.
Season 4 starts on January 1st 2026 with all-new weekly episodes, marking the release of Tash and Adam’s book, The Log Books: Voices of Queer Britain and the Helpline that Listened, published by Faber & Faber.
Seasons 1-3, from 2019-22, were produced in partnership with Switchboard and based on that charity’s archive.
The Log Books is an Aunt Nell production in partnership with Faber Books.
It is hosted and produced by Tash Walker and Adam Zmith
The voice of the log books is Serena James
The assistant producer is Marnie Woodmeade
Engineered by David Pye
Music by Tom Fosket-Barnes
Original artwork by Natalie Doto
Thanks to Stef Dickers and team at the Bishopsgate Institute, our publisher, Faber Books, the dreamboats at Acast, the staff and volunteers at Switchboard, and all the contributors who shared their stories.
Seasons 1-3 produced by Shivani Dave, Adam Zmith and Tash Walker, in partnership with Switchboard, the LGBT+ helpline.
Thanks to:
Stef Dickers and team at the Bishopsgate Institute, where Switchboard’s archive is held
The folks at Acast
Gareth Mitchell at Imperial College London
Peter Zacaroli at West Digital
Content is Queen
The BFI National Archive
MACE, the Media Archive for Central England at the University of Lincoln
We’d love to know your thoughts, feelings, or hear your personal story.
Comments
“A unique insight into the UK’s changing attitudes to gender identity and sexuality, the issues facing gays and lesbians from the 1970s on—and how we approach such issues today. Immensely moving, this show has moved me to tears more than once.”
“The Log Books has gained a serious following since it launched last year, so it's good to see it recognised as Best New Podcast by the British Podcast Awards.”
“This unique and endearing podcast sparks a dialogue about one of Britain’s hidden tales: our LGBT+ history.”