Calder Navigation

Join Curious Motion's Samantha McCormick as she explores life through the stories of the people of Calderdale. Through genuine and relaxed conversations, Calder Navigation takes a look at the complexities of being human by sharing the experiences of local people. From poetry to music, each episode offers a unique and creative perspective, fostering pride, unity, and compassion within our community.

This podcast is part of a larger three-year project called The Welland Activator, aimed at combating loneliness and isolation in Calderdale, particularly in Elland and the lower valley. Supported by Calderdale Council, Reaching Communities from the National Lottery Community Fund, and Arts Council England, Calder Navigation is just one element of this comprehensive program, which includes regular classes, workshops, walks, and the special showcase event, Welland.

Embark on this journey of exploration and connection with us as we celebrate the people of the Calder Valley and the profound tapestry of human experience. Listen to Calder Navigation, coming soon on all major podcast platforms.

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Production support from Untold Creative

We finish off our exploration into values with this final episode on 'inclusion' - Sam is joined by Kate Auker, who has spent most of her life tackling inequality in one way or another.

Kate believes deeply in fairness and in this episode shares her thoughts on the complexities around inequality, particularly 'hidden inequalities' working with homeless communities and people in crisis food poverty and insecurity. And she shares some of the simple things she does to help provide a sense of belonging for others.

Kate's formal education is in psychology and mental health. She also has a wealth of experiencing working with LGBTQ+ young people and their families. She is currently the maternity cover CEO at The Welcome Centre in Huddersfield.

In her spare time Kate can be found crocheting or playing the piano - both with varying degrees of skill (her own words!)!

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This is the final episode of series 2! We would love to hear what you think...

Please get in touch - leave us a review, email us, or find us on socials:
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

We'll be back later in the year with a new series and a new theme!

Curious e-Motion is a podcast by Calderdale-based dance and arts not-for-profit, Curious Motion
Hosted and created by Artistic Director and Dance Artist, Samantha McCormick
Music by Rich Huxley

What does compassion really mean and how does it support a sense of belonging in the world for ourselves and others? Find out in this episode with Sam and charity change-maker Katie Sparkes.

Katie is an incredibly inspiring human being - she founded her own Corporate Social Responsibility consultancy at the age of 22 and is also the founder and CEO of inclusive dance charity Flamingo Chicks, amongst other things! Flamingo Chicks provides opportunities for disabled children to enjoy dance alongside their friends whilst also supporting parents and carers and providing global advocacy to break down barriers to inclusion. #balletnotbarriers

Katies has won numerous awards for her contribution to the global community including the Outstanding Young Persons of the World Award, a Point Of Light Award from the UK Prime Minister and the Independent Newspaper’s Happy List of people who make the country a better place.

Today she shares not only what she has learnt about compassion and inclusion through her professional career, but her own personal experience of how compassion can make all the difference.

Content warning: miscarriage and baby loss

Find out more about Flamingo Chicks here: flamingochicks.org

Read Katie's full biography on our website. Transcripts are available for all episodes on our website too.

One of Katie's examples of compassion: TikTok users create innovative solution for Parkinson's disease medication.

Caroline Bowditch joins Sam to discuss 'inclusion' and how 'empathy' shows up within this. Caroline is an internationally renowned performer, choreographer, teacher and maker, and is currently CEO of Arts Access Victoria in Australia. Caroline is a disabled woman who believes passionately in creating spaces where people feel they can truly be themselves. In this episode she shares some new thoughts around how we can approach 'inclusion', including the word itself.

Check out the episode page on our website for a full transcript: www.curiousmotion.org.uk/podcasts/series-2-caroline-bowditch

Find out all about Caroline here:

Arts Access Victoria - their advocacy page includes links to some of Caroline's latest work: www.artsaccess.com.au/creating-change/advocacy/

Follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube

Further information related to this episode:

Stella Young on dancing like everyone's watching - article

Information on the Social Model of Disability:

Sam is joined by Dipika Kaushal, CEO of Voluntary & Community (VAC), to discuss 'inclusion'. Inclusion has been integral throughout Dipika's diverse career working in the voluntary sector, focused on positive social change and improving local lives. Today she shares what she has learnt from her experience and why inclusion benefits everyone.

Find out all about Voluntary & Community here: www.cvac.org.uk

Twitter:

@VACLocalLives 

@kaushal_dipika

You can find Dipika on LinkedIn here.

In this episode Sam is joined by Trizia Wells to explore curiosity - hear about Trizia's curious career involving therapy, heritage, and theatre, plus some fascinating stories from decades gone by.

Here's all the info to on Trizia's work:

History in Action -  Twitter and Instagram

Avalon Clinical Hypnotherapy  - Twitter and Instagram

Find Trizia's heritage work on Twitter here.

'Women's Work' - a Heritage Lottery funded project in Accrington, Lancashire, delivered through History in Action.

An exploration into 'integrity' with musician Rich Huxley, delving into artistic integrity in the music industry and the wider picture of what 'integrity' means for our lives and those of our communities.

This episode includes some brilliant music recommendations too:

Hope & Social - check out their lockdown E.P. - S.E.N.T

Sampa the Great - one of Rich's favourites is 'Final Form'

Confidence Man

Penfriend (Laura Kidd)

Send us your thoughts on integrity - email us on [email protected]

This episode delves into another of Curious Motion’s values - this time it’s 'curiosity' with Linda Freeman, a Team Leader for Calderdale’s libraries. Join Sam and Linda for a fun and warm chat about all things stories, books, people, and community.

Calderdale Libraries - find out more about Calderdale's libraries.

Georgette Hayer - find out more about this author and her books via goodreads.com

Diana Gabaldon - of Outlander fame and more!

Sam is joined by renowned dancer and choreographer, Theo Clinkard. Settle in for a fascinating exploration into 'artistry' and what this means for our society.

Century Project - Theo's upcoming hopeful dance work that spans a century, launching in 2021 and completing beyond our lifetimes, in 2120. Taking place every 5 years upon a hand woven carpet, 100-strong constellations of dancers come together to engage in a practice of slowing the body and mapping the mind. An act of faith, whereby it’s continuation is entrusted to future generations, this human-scale yet epic work celebrates the embodied knowledge of the dancer while asking, how can we use long term thinking in order to be better ancestors?

Future Library by Katie Paterson in Norway

Long Player - a 1000 year continuous piece of music by Jem Finer from the Pogues.

As Slow As Possible by John Cage.

Wainsgate Dances & Open Practice: an international programme of workshops, residencies and performances curated by Charlie Morrissey and Rob Hopper. Based at Wainsgate Chapel in Hebden Bridge. The morning Open Practice sessions happen Monday - Friday, 9-10am, £2 donation - we highly recommend them!

The theme for this series is 'Our Values' - find out all about it in this short bonus episode.
Curious Motion's Values:ArtistryCompassionCuriosityEmpathyInclusion
Integrity

We've also got brand new music so tune in to hear more about that too:

Rich Huxley and Hope & Social - find out more about the musician behind our new theme music.