Bristol: Behind The Headlines

Danica Priest is one of Bristol's most vocal, ardent and committed environmental campaigners.

Originally from the USA but now with British citizenship, she lives in Headley Park. When not doing her day job as a web developer, she enjoys running marathons and ultra-marathons.

It was while running around her adopted city during lockdown that Danica first became aware of how many green spaces across south Bristol in particular were under threat of development.

Here, Danica speaks with Bristol24/7 Editor Martin Booth on how to be an effective campaigner, accusations of being a NIMBY and where Bristol should build much-needed homes in the midst of a housing crisis.

Campaigners in Knowle have been celebrating after plans to redevelop Broadwalk Shopping Centre were rejected.

The Redcatch Development Partnership, which wanted to knock down the ‘failing’ facility and build up to 850 flats in blocks as high as 12- storeys, says it is now reviewing its next steps.

In episode 86, Community Reporters Editor Charlie Watts speaks to Knowle resident Laura Chapman, of the Broadwalk Redevelopment Community Group, who is calling for the developers to work with the community on a scheme which is up to six-storeys and preserves community and retail space.

PHAT is a queer-owned security firm set up to make people feel comfortable and safe when they are on a night out.  Founder Ola Poroslo spoke to Betty Woolerton about their club night Crotch, the need for positive reform in the industry and how PHAT provides a new model for event security. 

The council is set to lift a ban on swimming in Bristol harbour for a five week trial starting on Saturday.

Ahead of the pilot, Reporter Betty Woolerton spoke to Johnny Palmer, founder of Swim Bristol Harbour, Labour councillor Ellie King and Green councillor Patrick McAllister, on accessible blue spaces in the city, the physical and mental benefits of wild swimming and how the pilot in Hotwells will be made safe.

St Paul's Carnival is returning to the city in July for the first time in three years.

The Covid-19 pandemic temporarily put the colourful celebrations on hold, but now the carnival is back and is expected to attract more than 100,000 people to the streets of St Paul's for a day of connection, community and culture.

LaToyah McAllister-Jones,  executive director of St Paul's Carnival, speaks to Rachel Sutherland about the wider meaning of the celebrations, how communities can get involved and what to expect from this year's historic event.

Rain Dogs, a new comedy drama  starring Daisy May Cooper, airs on BBC One on Tuesday, after filming almost entirely in Bristol.

The eight-part series follows the life of Costello Jones, a single mum who’s struggling to become a writer while living in poverty, trying to stay sober and being a good parent.

Editor Martin Booth speaks to actors Ronke Adekoluejo and Jack Farthing and producer Ciara McIlvenny on filming in our city, working with Daisy and more.

As the work or the tallest wind turbine in Bristol begins and the regulations covering onshore wind energy are being debated nationally, alternative energies are more crucial than ever.

In episode 81, we speak to Dr Hannah Bloomfield, a research scientist at the University of Bristol, who has spent the last eight years studying the impacts of climate variability and climate change on national power systems.

We explore fascinating concepts such as wind droughts, how those affect energy production and how our city is making the most of its energy production capabilities.

A new app hopes to explore sites and landmarks in the city which have connections to the histories and legacies of transatlantic enslavement.

Decolonising Memory is a new augmented reality app designed to take users on an alternative tour of Bristol, using narration, art, dance, music, spoken word and interactive elements.

Trainee Reporter Mia talks to the app's creators, Dr Jessica Moody from the University of Bristol, Kwesi Johnson and activist Cleo Lake about how it can make Bristol's history engaging and accessible for everyone.

Emily Koch is an author and writer whose third novel, What July Knew, was published earlier this month by Harvill Secker.

In this episode of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast, Emily talks to Martin Booth about her new book, the inspiration behind it and our city's flourishing literary scene.

Yoga is known to have great benefits for our physical and mental health, but what if puppies are also thrown into the mix? 

In this episode of Behind the Headlines, we spoke to Lucy Coxon, the woman who has brought the joys of practicing yoga with puppies to the people of Bristol. 

The 24-year-old talked about how she launched her business six days after coming up with the idea to bring it to our city and how she ethically sources her puppies.

Lucy also spoke about her dream of incorporating an adoption system  into her classes by using rescue puppies and helping them find forever homes.