Episodes

  • Claire Linney rewinds to 2000
    Oct 27 2026

    Ground-breaking author and book influencer Claire Linney takes us back in time with her flashback track, Groove is in the Heart by Deee-Lite!

    Join me, Thomas Leeds, as we explore Claire's memories of her incredible journey from growing up hating history lessons in the '80s and '90s to studying at Oxford (where she was head of an acapella group) to the moment in lockdown as a new mum, reading about the Black Tudors, when she decided she would write a refreshing kids adventure series (with lots of time-travelling) and she would get it published, with or without permission...

    This was such a wonderful chat and as well as talking about Claire's brilliant books (The Time Tub Travellers series) we had great fun reliving all things '90s! I hope you enjoy hanging out with us today. Please share this so others can enjoy it and make sure you subscribe/follow so you don't miss the next episode full of precious memories.

    Watch on YouTube or Spotify or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

    All links at: www.flashbacktracks.co.uk

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    54 mins
  • Paul Taylor-Pitt rewinds to 1986
    Oct 21 2026

    Author, activist, podcaster and consultant Dr Paul Taylor-Pitt takes us back to 1986 to his 13th birthday with his flashback track, Open Your Heart by Madonna...

    Join me, Thomas Leeds, as we explore Paul's touching memories of growing up gay when being gay was not an option, of moving to London at 17 in the nineties, caring for young people with HIV in their final days, then building a career centred around helping people navigating change, to the moment he saw Madonna on his 50th birthday, before writing his brilliant book - Still Here, Still Queer, Now What?

    It was a real privilege chatting with Paul and I hope you enjoy spending time with us. Please share this so others can enjoy it and make sure you subscribe/follow so you don't miss the next episode full of precious memories. Watch on YouTube or Spotify or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

    All links at: www.flashbacktracks.co.uk

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    1 hr
  • AF Steadman rewinds to 2008
    Oct 13 2026

    Bestselling, record-breaking author AF Steadman takes us back to 2008, the night before her GCSE results, with her flashback track Square One by Tom Petty...

    Join me, Thomas Leeds, as we explore Annabel's memories of her extraordinary life from her childhood living with diabetes and constant money worries, losing her home as a child, then working hard to get herself into top schools... to the magical moment one night in her 20s, when one James Blunt song sparked the idea for a story about blood-thirsty unicorns that would change her life forever and become the publishing phenomenon that is the Skandar series, selling millions of copies around the world and launching the career of her dreams.

    It was so great chatting with Annabel who is just a total legend on so many levels. I hope you enjoy time-travelling with us today. Please subscribe/follow and share this with anyone you think might enjoy it too.

    Watch on YouTube or Spotify or listen wherever you get your podcasts.All links at: www.flashbacktracks.co.uk

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    55 mins
  • Matt Allwright rewinds to 1991
    Sep 6 2026

    TV presenter Matt Allwright takes us back to 1991 with his flashback track: Man Walks Among Us by Marty Robbins…

    Join me, Thomas Leeds, as we explore Matt’s memories of his musical childhood in the ‘70s and ‘80s, pretending to speak Italian in Japan, playing live music for charity at petrol stations around Europe, and the incredible moment involving his mother’s tumble-dryer that sparked his career in TV spanning 30 years, hosting everything from to the BBC’s Watchdog to Rogue Traders and The One Show, to his current daily show on Channel 5.

    Matt shares stories of the glory days of Television Centre in the nineties, of chasing fraudsters, of performing on stage at the Albert Hall, hanging out with Michael Sheen, and he tells the touching story of the final days of his beloved dad.

    I am SO grateful to Matt for spending this time with you and me and I really hope you enjoy hanging out with us today. Please subscribe/follow and share with anyone you think might enjoy it too.

    Watch on YouTube or Spotify or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

    All links at: www.flashbacktracks.co.uk

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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Bringing back the '90s after brain injury, with my best friend from school, Chris Stansell
    Sep 2 2026

    In this special episode, my best friend from school helps me remember things I thought my brain injury had wiped forever — and it turns out, I was a pretty weird kid! He takes us straight back to 1997 with Sunchyme by Dario G, triggering his memories of the early morning milk round he did to pay for one of those massive super-cool HiFi stereo systems, and from there we relive some of the ridiculous things we did as kids in the ‘90s…

    Everything from the embarrassing thing I did at 12 to get someone (anyone!) to date me, being totally unsupervised on a trip to France, the ridiculous get-rich-quick scheme I came up with in 1998, some outrageous classroom shenanigans, to our love for Woolworth’s Pick n Mix, that legendary Pizza Hut buffet, and how gutted we were when the Spice Girls split.

    I also talk about my life with amnesia and some of the hilarious situations I got into when attempting to pass as a totally normal adult in the world of work — when really I didn’t have a clue what anyone was talking about and still believed the world was magical…

    Join me, Thomas Leeds, and Chris Stansell for this special episode.

    Watch on YouTube or Spotify or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

    All links at: www.flashbacktracks.co.uk

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    44 mins
  • JJ Arcanjo rewinds to 1995
    Aug 25 2026

    Best-selling author JJ Arcanjo of the hit Crookhaven series (and TV series) takes us back to 1995 with his flashback track: Kaoma by Lambada, and what a journey it takes us on!

    Join me, Thomas Leeds, as we explore memories of a carefree childhood in Portugal, of being scared witless in a remote South African school, and of the moment JJ Arcanjo first arrived on a busy film set to see his wonderful stories come to life.

    We also talk about his thrilling new series, Beast Mode. Available now from all good bookshops.

    I really hope you enjoy hanging out with us today and make sure you don’t miss my next amazing guest — subscribe today and please share with anyone else you think might like to hang out with us too.

    Watch on YouTube or Spotify or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

    All links at: www.flashbacktracks.co.uk

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    48 mins
  • Abigoliah Schamaun & Joe Wells rewind to 1995
    Aug 18 2026

    Award-winning comedians and authors Abigoliah Shamaun and Joe Wells take us back to 1995 with their flashback tracks: Sympathy for the Devil by The Rolling Stones, and Frownland by Captain Beefheart — and what a time to be alive it was!

    Join me, Thomas Leeds, and two of my favourite comedians as we explore memories of everything from listening to music in the dark woods, to elaborate school assemblies featuring a turtle and Jet from Gladiators, to cycling diamonds around New York City, to the night they shared a dressing room with Take That!

    We also talk about their fantastic new book, Neurodivergent Moments: Sex, Sunscreen, Turtles and How (Not) To Pack A Suitcase. It had me laughing, crying and I literally couldn't put it down, even when my children needed feeding — sorry, kids! Available now from all good bookshops.

    I really hope you enjoy hanging out with us today and make sure you don’t miss my next amazing guest — subscribe today and please share with anyone else you think might like to hang out with us too.

    Watch on YouTube or Spotify or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

    Visit us at: www.flashbacktracks.co.uk

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    #FlashbackTracks #comedy #standup #90s #memories #nostalgia

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    56 mins
  • Cressida Cowell rewinds to the '70s
    Aug 11 2026

    Best-selling author-illustrator of the hit How To Train Your Dragon franchise, Cressida Cowell, takes us back to the 1970s with her flashback track: Romantic Flight by John Powell from the soundtrack of her first movie — and what a journey it takes us on!

    Join me, Thomas Leeds, and my idol Cressida Cowell as we explore everything from her childhood summers on a wild Scottish island, to her difficult school years, to the extraordinary journey from her first sketch of that little viking boy to selling millions of books around the world in 46 languages and seeing them brought to life in no fewer than 4 Hollywood movies, 3 TV series and even their own theme park in Florida!

    She shares with us some really beautiful stories of her lovely dad who inspired Hiccup’s father Stoick in the books, and there’s plenty of glorious ‘70s nostalgia too! I really hope you enjoy time-travelling with us today.Make sure you don’t miss my next brilliant guest — subscribe today and share with anyone else you think might fancy escaping to the past with us. Watch on YouTube or Spotify or listen wherever you get your podcasts.

    Visit us at: www.flashbacktracks.co.uk

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    1 hr and 1 min