Creating The North is a new podcast from Gatto Nero Media. We talk to the North’s creatives, find out what makes them tick, and discover their part in our region’s future.

From entrepreneurs, playwrights and photographers to public figures, business leaders and authors, all of Northern life is here.

In our second episode, we chat to Carl Austin-Behan and David Catterall.

A former member of the Royal Air Force, Carl was the first openly gay Lord Mayor of Greater Manchester and also Mr Gay UK. He is currently LGBTQI+  Adviser to Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham. In addition, Carl set up Fighting With Pride, a military charity created on the 20th anniversary of the complete lifting of the ban on LGBTQI+ service – the ‘gay ban’.

David is Head of Commercial Services at Bury Council and is responsible for the 'world-famous' Bury Market. David is the lead for Bury Pride and Co-Chair of Bury LGBTQI+ Forum. He is also Vice-Chair of The Met in Bury.