World of Secrets

The creams, serums and pills that millions rely on today to make themselves younger have a dark past. In the 1950s in America, a doctor arrived in a prison in Philadelphia. His name was Albert Kligman. What he saw before him when he looked around the prison was not prisoners but test subjects. In his words “acres of skin”. He set up a testing programme and started working with some of the biggest pharmaceutical companies in America. But his commercial operation at the jail would stretch far beyond cosmetics...
Dr Skin is a Samizdat Audio production for the BBC World Service.
Presenter: Alzo Slade
Series producer: Tom Fuller
Series editor: Joe Sykes
Sound design: Richard Ward
Commissioning senior producers: Anne Dixey and Sarah Green
Commissioning editor: Jon Manel

Classmates and teachers at the school urge Sukma to withdraw her allegations. But she’s going to go undercover to demand answers from Abah. Meanwhile, after three long years of dating online, Zia and Yusron are finally meeting in Cairo —will they feel the same about each other in real life? And then Sukma goes home to tell an important person the truth. While Yusron and Zia have one more call to make.
This series of World of Secrets contains references to sexual abuse.
Listen to the Indonesian language version of the podcast here: https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/podcasts/p0btnmzx
This audio was updated on 13th October 2026 to included a preview of the next World of Secrets season, Dr Skin.
Voice actors: Prilly Latuconsina, Omara Esteghlal, Adelina Lece-Bere, Paul Agusta, Mian Tiara, Kartika Jahja and Astudestra Ajengrastri.
Presenter: Rebecca Henschke
Series producers: Endang Nurdin and Rebecca Henschke
Sound recordings: Dwiki Marta
Original music: Alffy Rev
Sound design: Andy Fell
Executive producer: Neil McCarthy
Commissioning senior producers: Anne Dixey and Sarah Green
Commissioning editor: Jon Manel

Investigation executive producer: Adam Jessel
Investigation editor: Michael Simkin
Investigation executive editor: Liz Gibbons

Special thanks to the BBC News Indonesia team.

It feels like Abah and the school has won. And they have lost. Yusron is torn between supporting Zia and the promise he made to his mum. But then they meet someone who knows exactly what they’re going through — because it happened to her. And now some crucial new information has come to light.
This series of World of Secrets contains references to sexual abuse.
Listen to the Indonesian language version of the podcast here: https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/podcasts/p0btnmzx
Voice actors: Prilly Latuconsina, Omara Esteghlal, Adelina Lece-Bere, Kartika Jahja, Astudestra Ajengrastri.
Presenter: Rebecca Henschke
Series producers: Endang Nurdin and Rebecca Henschke
Sound recordings: Dwiki Marta
Original music: Alffy Rev
Sound design: Andy Fell
Executive producer: Neil McCarthy
Commissioning senior producers: Anne Dixey and Sarah Green
Commissioning editor: Jon Manel

The students' former headmaster — the man they revered and called “Father” — knows all about their undercover investigation into him. Evidence Zia submitted just weeks ago to the body that oversees their school, after they promised to help them get justice. Instead a cover up has begun. They will record it all, but can Yusron, Zia and Sukma withstand the pressure they are now under?
This series of World of Secrets contains references to sexual abuse.
Listen to the Indonesian language version of the podcast here: https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/podcasts/p0btnmzx
Voice actors: Prilly Latuconsina, Omara Esteghlal, Adelina Lece-Bere, Paul Agusta.
Presenter: Rebecca Henschke
Series producers: Endang Nurdin and Rebecca Henschke
Sound recordings: Dwiki Marta
Original music: Alffy Rev
Sound design: Andy Fell
Executive producer: Neil McCarthy
Commissioning senior producers: Anne Dixey and Sarah Green
Commissioning editor: Jon Manel

Yusron gets the permission he needs to start chasing the truth. Information begins flooding into the student detective WhatsApp group they set up. Memories from the alumni that now take on new significance and information from students still at their boarding school. They need to make sense of it but who can they trust with their evidence?
This series of World of Secrets contains references to sexual abuse.
Listen to the Indonesian language version of the podcast here: https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/podcasts/p0btnmzx
Voice actors: Prilly Latuconsina, Omara Esteghlal, Adelina Lece-Bere, Paul Agusta.
Presenter: Rebecca Henschke
Series producers: Endang Nurdin and Rebecca Henschke
Sound recordings: Dwiki Marta
Original music: Alffy Rev
Sound design: Andy Fell
Executive producer: Neil McCarthy
Commissioning senior producers: Anne Dixey and Sarah Green
Commissioning editor: Jon Manel