It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves - Helen Burrows and Louise Gillies

Welcome to the fifth series in the annual podcast programme from Academic Archers, bringing you papers from our 2024 conference.

Please note: the sound quality on this recording is not as clear as usual. We apologise for this and thank you for your understanding.

This episode continues an intergenerational exploration of the Aldridge family, turning the focus to Kate Madikane.

It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves - Helen Burrows and Louise Gillies

Following earlier studies of the Aldridge family genogram, Helen Burrows and Louise Gillies now turn to Kate, the unconventional middle child. Unlike Debbie and Adam, whose lives are grounded in farming, or Alice with her equestrian focus, Kate has always walked her own path. From a troubled adolescence to a succession of difficult relationships, she now appears to be moving into a more settled phase.

This paper explores what makes Kate who she is. From a psychological angle, her behaviour displays traits that echo ADHD characteristics. Yet knowing Kate, she would likely reject such categorisation. The authors therefore also consider alternative frameworks she might embrace herself, examining how her strongly ‘New Age’ outlook shapes her decisions, her relationships, and her role within Ambridge life.

Helen Burrows
Helen is a retired consultant psychiatrist who specialised in child and adolescent mental health. She has a long-standing interest in how early experiences shape personality and behaviour, and enjoys applying psychological frameworks to the lives of Ambridge residents. She has been a listener to The Archers for decades and values the Academic Archers project as a way of combining professional insight with fandom.

Louise Gillies
Louise has a background in clinical psychology and education. She has worked in both NHS and academic settings, with a focus on neurodiversity and the ways in which different psychological theories can shed light on everyday lives. A dedicated Archers fan, she brings both professional expertise and listener curiosity to her contributions to Academic Archers.

If you enjoy our work and would like to support Academic Archers, you can Buy Us a Coffee – buymeacoffee.com/academicarchers.