Bristol: Behind The Headlines

This week's podcast comes from the Easter Garden in Clifton, where Martin Booth discovers its amazing story. Martin also heads down into the vaults of the Clifton Suspension Bridge to talk to learning officer Etain O'Shea who is currently hosting regular hard hat tours of a space that had remained unknown for 160 years before being rediscovered by accident in 2002.

Also on this week's podcast, Wake The Tiger's Zak Mitchell - also the creative director of Boomtown - tells Miles Arnold about what we can expect when the world's first 'amazement park' opens in St Phillip's Marsh; and Desmond Brown talks to Ellie Pipe about disproportionality in the Avon & Somerset criminal justice system.

In this week’s episode, Bristol24/7 Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe meets with Mary Page, who has launched a campaign to scrap the role of the Bristol Mayor ahead of the referendum in May. Also, podcast host Ian Downs talks to Dave Ward, Bristol Bears Women head coach, about his journey to the Bears and their upcoming game at Ashton Gate. 

And Betty Woolerton pays a visit to Feel Fit, the first gym in the South West with a ‘eco-powered’ spin studio. Owner Ellie Crawley sets out how she is trying to redefine sustainability in the fitness industry. 

Duncan McKellar is unique in the world of street art for working with foam tubes used normally as protection around scaffolding poles. He speaks to Martin Booth about his most ambitious work in Bristol yet: a clasped hand in the Ukrainian colours of yellow and blue.

Martin also pays an unexpected visit inside the derelict Grosvenor Hotel to meet Tom, its only resident. And Gloucestershire head coach Dale Benkenstein talks to Betty Woolerton at the Seat Unique Stadium ahead of the new county cricket season.

Ian Downs and Martin Booth are at the Gallimaufry for this week's episode, helping to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Gloucester Road venue with co-owner James Koch. Laura Lewis-Pool of Saffron Records and Bristol's nighttime economy adviser Carly Heath speak to Ellie Pipe ahead of Bristol24/7's event in association with Bristol Nights on March 31, celebrating women in the nighttime economy. And author and journalist Charlotte Philby speaks about her new novel, Edith & Kim, which tells the story of her grandfather, Kim Philby, the MI6 special agent who defected to the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and Soviet agent Edith Tudor-Hart.

Bristol24/7 Community & Membership Manager Meg Houghton-Gilmour introduces this week's episode and keeps us up to date on our campaign to reach 1000 members. Also this week, Ellie Pipe talks to Trinity CEO Emma Harvey and Phat Bristol company director Ola Poroslo, who are both appearing at the Bristol24/7 event celebrating women in the nighttime economy in association with Bristol Nights at Lost Horizon on March 31. And Bag of Nails landlord Luke Daniels talks to Martin Booth about his favourite things in Bristol for the very first audio version of our weekly feature, My Bristol Favourites.

In this week's episode, BBC journalist Jon Kay talks to Betty Woolerton about Fairy Meadow, a podcast series investigating the story of three year-old Cheryl Grimmer who disappeared from an Australian beach in 1970. Her family had moved to Australia from Knowle.

And Martin Booth heads to F45 Bristol Central on All Saints' Street in the city centre to talk to coach Kate Alex about how fitness journey, in which she gives us all tips on how to stay fit and healthy even when our motivation is lacking.

For the latest episode of Bristol24/7's Behind the Headlines podcast, we are celebrating International Women's Day. 

Speaking to Ellie Pipe, Negat Hussein from Refugee Women of Bristol talks about her work with  women seeking sanctuary. We also hear from Professor Daniela Schmidt from Bristol University, who has recently contributed to a seminal report on climate change, and Tegan Vincent-Cooke, a dressage rider from Fishponds who talks about her Paralympic dreams which now feature in a Netflix documentary. Also in this episode, Kaz Self, an aeronautical engineer, women in STEM champion and trans rights campaigner talks about the importance of role models and more.

Photo: Charlotte Sawyer

RWA director Alison Bevan updates Betty Woolerton on the historic art gallery's £4m restoration project. We also speak to Jan Tore Endresen, head of Bristol's latest bicycle hire scheme; and Ellie Pipe chats to our Community Reporters Editor Charlie Watts about the importance of local journalism.

Community and Memberships Manager Meg Houghton-Gilmour talks about Bristol24/7's campaign to reach 1,000 members - and explains why support is so urgently needed. There is also a guest appearance from a very well-known supporter. 
Also in this episode, Betty Woolerton speaks to Marc Skinner from Addiction Recovery Agency and Ellie Pipe has a chat with Bristol24/7's new Music Editor, Issy Packer.

Bedminster's famous pharmacist Ade Williams talks to Ellie Pipe about the response to the pandemic, the kindness of the south Bristol community, health inequalities and being awarded an MBE. Also in this episode, we have a focus on sustainability ahead of the next Bristol24/7 Presents event, with Safiya Bashir speaking to Maria Connolly of TLT and getting some top tips from Pam Barbato of Action Net Zero.