Light on Leeds

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Leeds Hunters RUFC is an inclusive rugby club formed in 2016. It has a rapidly growing membersip that is broad and diverse. They have recently developed their O2 Touch Team that aims to provide rugby access to all, including women of all sexualities and the trans community.

Chris Woods and Daniel Nerini are both Membership Officers of the club and were great guests who told me about the formulation of the club, the numerous awards they have won, appearing on Steph's Packed Lunch on Channel 4, being part of Leeds Pride 2022 and much, much more.

The featured track on this episode is sooo funky - "Send the Rain" by United Disco Organisation. Check out their social media outlined below.

https://www.leedshuntersrugby.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheLeedsHunters/

https://www.instagram.com/leedshuntersrugby/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-leeds-hunters/

https://uniteddiscoorganisation.bandcamp.com/album/send-the-rain-funky-thing

https://www.facebook.com/commerce/products/united-disco-organisation---send-the-rain-[12%22-vinyl]/4610469745675308

https://www.discogs.com/artist/10497553-United-Disco-Organisation

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode. 

Send us Fan Mail

"Leeds Dads is a voluntary organisation that brings together a diverse community of fathers for social interaction and support."

I had such fun chatting to Errol Murray, the founder of Leeds Dads. He explains how and why he got started, the challenges he has faced and the successes.

We talk about Forest School, Saturday Styling Sessions, Sunday Walks and Dad Talks.

If you'd like to get involved do email [email protected]

Errol chose to feature the very apt and beautiful track "Fatherhood" by Tommy Evans.

https://leedsdads.org/

https://www.facebook.com/leedsdads

https://twitter.com/leedsdads

https://www.instagram.com/leedsdads/

https://www.youtube.com/c/leedsdads

https://www.linkedin.com/company/leedsdads/

https://www.instagram.com/tommyevansofficial/

https://www.tiktok.com/@tommyevansofficial

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD3XbBEwPufhVaKaQJ2_pfg

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4CcYOJCtBvHYTZH3MxnKVI

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode. 

Send us Fan Mail

What a great conversation I had with Johnny Cosmic! We talked art, offence, inspiration, frustrations with the city loop system - it was wild!

Leeds Tarot is "a commmunity focused art project aiming to unify both established and aspiring artists together therough the intriguing imagery of tarot. 78 crads by 78 different artists."

The Leeds Tarot Deck is the first of its kind and was inspired by a deck Johnny's Dad owned (Dad worked at Waddington's that produced tarot decks).

It's a fascinating conversation - do check out the lonks below to get your hands on your own deck.

Johnny chose to feature "The Triangle" by Leeds band Blue Jinns and it is a raucous tune indeed!

https://www.instagram.com/leeds_tarot/

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1215572845/the-leeds-tarot-card-deck

https://www.facebook.com/bluejinns/

https://bluejinns.bandcamp.com/music

https://coloursmayvary.com/

https://www.thepinkroomleeds.co.uk/

https://www.globalcrystals.com/

https://northernguitars.co.uk/

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode. 

Send us Fan Mail

I had a fantastic rambling chat with Mat Cooper who is a BAFTA nominated script writer for hire, a script consultant and script doctor.

He has written for Eastenders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks and Family Affairs. Mat was the first ever winner of the Lloyds Bank Film Challenge and the the winner of the Oscar Moore Screenwriting award.

Mat works with producers, directors, production companies, brands, broadcasters and content creators across the globe.

He has directed and produced two films "Markham" (2010) and "At The Mountains" (2021) and the third film in the trilogy is due out this year.

Mat chose to feature the track "Pick Yourself Up" by Audio Republic which is a bit of a banger!

http://www.matcoop.co.uk/matthew-cooper-director/

https://www.youtube.com/c/MatthewCooperukscriptwriterforhire

https://warehousetransmedia.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/matcoop23/

https://twitter.com/Matcooper

https://soundcloud.com/audio-republic

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode. 

Send us Fan Mail

Sue Jennings is the Director of Left Bank Leeds. We first had a brilliant chat back in April but unfortunately, technology failed us. Sue very kindly agreed to rerecord our conversation and I am very glad that she did.

"Left Bank Leeds is a progessive space for creativity, culture and community, set inside a beautiful Grade 2 listed former church building."

Sue chose to feature the track "Coffee Shop" by Lucky Iris - it's a fantastic song.

https://www.leftbankleeds.org.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/leftbankleeds/

https://www.instagram.com/leftbankleeds/

https://twitter.com/leftbankleeds?lang=en

https://www.musicleeds.com/supported-artists-2020/2020/12/15/lucky-iris

https://www.instagram.com/luckyirisband/

https://touch.facebook.com/luckyirisband/

https://luckyirisband.bandcamp.com/track/coffee-shop

https://twitter.com/luckyirisband

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode. 

Send us Fan Mail

I had such an interesting conversation with Rob Wilson, founder of Angels of Freedom.

"Bringing a caring LGBT+ scene to a compassionate city

The Angels of Freedom is a community based initiative organised by volunteers and supported by Leeds City Council, British Transport Police and West Yorkshire Police.

Our aim is to provide visible support for the LGBT+ community based in the Freedom Quarter area of the city every Friday evening. Our volunteers provide conversations on support & social groups, activities and events in Leeds, along with just being a friendly approachable face on the bar scene for anyone wanting a chat."

The featured track on this episode is aptly named and is about the city, "Leeds" by Moses Rubin. Moses has produced an EP entirely devoted to Leeds.

https://www.angelsoffreedom.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/leedscc_lgbt/

https://www.facebook.com/LeedsLGBTAngels

https://twitter.com/LeedsLGBTAngels

http://www.mosesrubinmusic.com/

http://www.mosesrubin.bandcamp.com/

https://mosesrubin.bandcamp.com/track/leeds

https://www.facebook.com/mosesrubinmusic

https://www.instagram.com/moses_rubin/

https://twitter.com/moses_rubin

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode. 

Send us Fan Mail

This was such an interesting interview with Bryn Mostyn (Team Leader at Leeds Community Gambling Servcie).

We discuss the impact of gambling not only on your finances but also on your time; what he and his team are doing to reduce the stigma of seeking help with gambling and how all of this affects family and friends.

The featured track on this episode is "Glimmer" by Leeds band Precept - it's a really soothing and beautiful track. Should you wish to own a copy there is a link to their Band Camp page below.

https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/find-local-treatment/leeds/

https://www.gamcare.org.uk/outreach-and-training/leeds/

https://twitter.com/LeedsCGS/

https://www.facebook.com/LeedsCGS

https://preceptmusic.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/preceptuk

https://twitter.com/PreceptMusic

https://soundcloud.com/preceptuk

https://www.instagram.com/preceptmusic/

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode. 

Send us Fan Mail

Steven Burt has written a fantastic book "The Remarkable History of Hunslet" which covers the history of this area from 11th century to the present day.

More people were living within the bounds of Hunslet by 1850  than in Wakefield or Dewsbury.  Many visitors, from the Seneca Indians of North America to the future Tsar of Russia, came to see the marvellous machines of Hunslet in action.

The book  provides an insight into this exciting period of radical change and highlights the role played by those who risked all to make it a better place to live.

The book, priced £20, can be purchased from:

• Leeds Civic Trust, 17-19 Wharf Street, The Calls
• The Leeds Library, 18 Commercial Street
• Stephenson’s Wallpapers, 333 Hunslet Road
• Online purchase available via www.leedscivictrust.org.uk

The featured song is the wonderful track "Stars" very kindly sent to me by Mik Artistik's Ego Trip and his team.

https://www.youtube.com/user/MikArtistiksEgoTrip

https://www.facebook.com/mikartistiksegotrip/

https://twitter.com/mikartistik/

https://www.instagram.com/mikartistik/?hl=en

https://mikartistiksegotrip1.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ_loupqeCs

https://www.youtube.com/c/LeedsCivicTrust

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/heritage-and-retro/retro/hunslet-the-story-of-leedss-most-famous-industrial-suburb-3683036

https://m.facebook.com/leedscivictrust/

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode. 

Send us Fan Mail

Lucy Ndlovu is the Communications Director at Leeds African Communities Trust. We had a great chat about how and why the trust was formed, how they are looking for more communities to join them, their food hub at Little London Community Centre and much more:

"The Leeds African Communities Trust promotes the wellbeing of people of African descent throughout Leeds, by advancing education, relieving poverty and improving their welfare, through community based activities in partnership with its associated African community groups, Leeds City Council and other public and private sector bodies."

(Their website is in development and I will add a link here when it's live)

https://twitter.com/leedsafrican

http://caringtogether.org.uk/leeds-african-communities-trust-hub/

https://hydeparkpicturehouse.co.uk/season/cinema-africa

https://www.facebook.com/leedssfricans

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWQy6ot8LP6io-qTtkNxMbA

Lucy wished to feature an Afrobeats track and I follow the wonderful TC & The Family Groove on Bandcamp who kindly agreed to let me feature their fantastic track, "Let's Start"

"Inspired by the afrobeat pioneered by Tony Allen and Fela Kuti, Let's Start is about moving forward as a stronger, unified society for all those who seek justice and peace; standing in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement."

You can see the band live for their album launch at Brudenell Social Club on 1st June, 2022:

http://www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk/whats-on/tc-groove-family-album-launch/

https://tcandthegroovefamily.bandcamp.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/47DpSgD00hWJA970gp7nlZ

https://twitter.com/groovetc?lang=en

https://www.facebook.com/TCandtheGrooveFamily/

https://www.instagram.com/tcandthegroovefamily/?hl=en

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0lp4zhdabAyrduIwiebdBg

https://tcandthegroovefamily.bandcamp.com/album/lets-start

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode. 

Send us Fan Mail

It was really lovely to chat to artist Pamela Crowe about 23 Press, art, community walks and poetry.

"23 Press is a Small Press, a new inclusive publishing platform co-created within the community of Headingley & Hyde Park, LS6. #23PRESS is part of My World My City My Neighbourhood and Leeds 2023 Year of Culture.

23 Press would like to explore how we use words and our voices to define and occupy a personal and shared space in the world. To challenge perceptions of culture and who defines it.

At the heart of the project will be a series of call outs inviting community members and collaborating organisations to participate. We’ll work together to co-create a vision for the #23PRESS and explore how to produce and publish new work.

This is a co-creation project, rising and taking shape from the people who participate. The #23PRESS is working with three co-creating partners, the Cardigan Centre, the School of Languages, Cultures & Societies at the University of Leeds and All Hallows’ Church / Rainbow Junktion PAYF Cafe in LS6. The project is facilitated by artist Pamela Crowe."

Pamela chose to feature the track "Never Good with Horses" by LYR. LYR are comprised of author and current British poet laureate Simon Armitage, musician Richard Walters and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Pearson.

https://23press.org/

https://www.instagram.com/crowe_pamela/?hl=en

https://mobile.twitter.com/pamela__crowe

http://www.leeds23.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/23_press/

https://www.lyrband.com/

I make no money from this podcast and all I ask is that you enjoy it, tell your friends and if you could leave me a review I would be most grateful.

If you know of someone you think would make a great guest, do get in touch - [email protected].

Do send an mp3 or a wav if you would like your track featuring on an episode.