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It was really great to chat to author Miranda Keeling about her new book "The Year I Stopped to Notice".

We talk about her inspiration for the book, her Twitter friends and the art her book inspired in them, her work in theatre and on radio and much more.

The featured track on this episode is "The Snow" by a brilliant band originating south of Leeds, Astoria. Astoria describe themselves as "bringing together the music of their individual record collections to create a sound with its roots set in Ambience, Soul and Rock."

https://www.mirandakeeling.com/

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-year-i-stopped-to-notice/miranda-keeling/9781785787966

https://twitter.com/MirandaKeeling?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

https://open.spotify.com/artist/39aIlhN6QwqFiPjc4QkmfB

https://twitter.com/astorialeeds

https://www.instagram.com/astoria.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/astorialeeds

https://linktr.ee/astoriaband

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 grand old chat with Chris Bailie, Director of Swarthmore Education Centre.

We talked about how Chris got into working in adult education, Sawrthmore being founded by members of the Quaker movement in 1909, the Grade II listed building it's housed in and much more.

Chris chose to feature the brilliant track "Rail Road Blues" by Brendan Croker and the 5 O'Clock Shadows. Brendan has a quote from Mark Knopfler his website:

 "… his marvellous voice; sometimes a howling Blues shout and other times a husky, gentle roll your own …
Don’t be deceived by the determinedly uncomplicated Croker … he's got deep roots…"
- Mark Knopfler

https://www.swarthmore.org.uk/
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/swarthmoreleeds/_created/
https://twitter.com/SwarthmoreLeeds
https://twitter.com/SwarthmoreLeeds
https://www.facebook.com/swarthmoreleeds

http://www.brendancroker.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. 

Send us Fan Mail

I enjoyed chatting to Annabel Harrison (writer and director) and Hester Cox (assistant director) about their upcoming play "Zip It".

" How many voices must be taken before we are heard? Join the studio audience of this dystopian and comedic gameshow and follow the friendship of two young women and their experience of womanhood, sexual harassment and domestic violence. Created with an all-female cast and creative team, comprised of members of the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain. Follow the journey of a woman, brave, broken and not alone. A moving insight into the reality for many women."

 "We are working in collaboration with Women’s Solace Aid, who are offering a ‘Safety in Society’ workshop for anyone that is affected by the messages of the play."

Running time: 1 hour approx. | Age restriction: 16+

Annabel and Hester told me about how they started in drama and about taking the play to the Edinburgh Fringe.
 
Zip It at stage@leeds event tickets from TicketSource

https://twitter.com/ZipItPlay

https://www.instagram.com/zipittheplay/

Contact: [email protected]

The featured track on this episode is the beautiful "Worry Not" by Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat - recorded by Good Boy Live Sessions at Northern Monk Refectory, Leeds

Emma says: ‘A lot of the most brilliant people (and especially women) that I know spend inordinate amounts of time worrying. The most literate, incredible, wise people I know regularly voice worries about having said something silly after a couple of drinks, about having not replied entirely politely to a rude comment, about things that are beyond their control, about all sorts that they are far too fantastic to spend their moments worrying about. This album is about those little niggling worries, and is for these brilliant people. Written after a house flood and on the brink of the pandemic, the album (and the year awaiting it's creation) encapsulate a process of having worries, acknowledging and dealing with them, and allowing them to wash away. "

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

https://www.facebook.com/emmajohnsonmusic

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

https://emmajohnsonsgravyboat.bandcamp.com/

CD and Digital Download Available on Bandcamp
Digital on Spotify, Apple Music, ITunes, Deezer, Amazon

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 have been looking forward to speaking with Caleb for such a long time!

Caleb Ranson is a writer and creator from Dorset. If you enjoyed the BBC production of 80 Days Around the World at Christmas you have Caleb (And Ashley Pharoah) to thank for that.

Caleb has written and created some of the biggest successes on UK television in recent years.

We talk about the nature of TV today, his production company, about what inspires him to write and so much more.

Caleb chose to feaure "Shooting Star" by Dorset band The Gravity Drive". It's a fantastic song and there are links below to their work should you wish to buy this track or explore more of their work.

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0710432/

https://www.facebook.com/playnicestuff

https://thegravitydrive.bandcamp.com/album/shooting-star-e-p

https://twitter.com/TheGravityDrive

https://www.facebook.com/thegravitydrive

http://www.thegravitydrive.com/wildlight

https://www.dorshi.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 have been looking forward to speaking with Emma Bearman for such a long time and I was not disappointed!

We had such fun chatting about Playful Anywhere "Catalyzing creativity and conviviality with people, in places".

Emma tells me about her gigantic playboxes, the Playlab, Culture Vulture, Digital Access West Yorkshire and we discuss the nature of fun and play and so much more.

There is a small amount of swearing in this episode.

Emma chose to feature the joyous track "Eurospin" by the ever wonderful Hope & Social.

https://www.playfulanywhere.fun/

https://www.facebook.com/playfulleeds/

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

https://vimeo.com/579759637

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/playlab-with-the-orchestra-of-objects-tickets-309820129347?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

https://www.hopeandsocial.co.uk/

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

https://twitter.com/hopeandsocial

https://www.facebook.com/hopeandsocial/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_f8yLJys2g

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 lovely chat with Elvi Piper from Wrongsemble.

Wrongsemble are a theatre company based in Leeds who specialise in creating work for schools, families and young people. 

Elvi and I talk about how she got interested in theatre, the company and their upcoming production The Not So Ugly Sisters which runs from Saturday 2nd April until Sunday 24th April and is a Leeds Playhouse, Red Ladder and Wrongsemble co-production.

Elvi chose to feature a brilliant song from the show U.G.L.Y. performed by Daisy Ann Fletcher and Lucy Rafton.

Composed by: Bay Bryan, Claire Marie Seddon

Lyrics: Elvi Piper 

Mixing: Dan McGlade

 

https://www.wrongsemble.com/the-not-so-ugly-sisters

https://www.wrongsemble.com/about

https://www.facebook.com/wrongsemble/?ref=hl

https://twitter.com/wrongsemble

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

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 chatted to Carl Hutton, Chief Executive at The Leeds Library - the city's oldest cultural institution.

We spoke about the Grade 2 listed building the library is housed in, the resident ghost, Sternberg, about all of the amazing events they hold in the building and much, much more.

The featured track is "(Shitting Bricks) Lucky 13" by Undisclosed Addictions.

https://www.facebook.com/leedslibrary

https://twitter.com/theleedslibrary

https://www.theleedslibrary.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/theleedslibrary/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUkABk1pBZd7NceTwl9M_bw

https://www.leedslitfest.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/UndisclosedAddictions/

http://www.undisclosedaddictions.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. 

Send us Fan Mail

Laura Beare was a great person to chat with about the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery and the Treasures of the Brotherton Library.

Laura tells me about her love of museums and galleries beginning in childhood, how she and her team have been expanding their digital content, some of their fabulous collections and works of art and the Leeds University Library Tik Tok account (it's great fun and very interesting - check it out).

Listen out for the story of the Cottingley Fairies too - fascinating!

The featured track this episode is "Kaalay Rang" by friends of the show Leeds band, Kinaara. The song is a "Punjabi folk song - A woman has received a gift from her beloved, a black paranda (a hair extending ornament which is plaited into the hair), she dances and celebrates but their love is hidden from society" and it is cracking! There are links below to their Band Camp page if you feel like buying a copy for yourself.

https://library.leeds.ac.uk/info/1900/galleries

https://www.tiktok.com/@lulgalleries?lang=en

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

https://www.facebook.com/LULGalleries/

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

https://kinaaraofficial.bandcamp.com/

http://www.kinaara.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/kinaaraofficial

https://www.instagram.com/kinaaraofficial/

https://twitter.com/kinaaraofficial

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 Amy Letman, the Creative Director of Transform!

"Transform is an engine room for powerful performance. We create exhilarating international festivals and work year-round to catalyse future-gazing artists and creatives to reimagine what theatre can be. We bring Bold, Brave, Vivid & Socially-Conscious international performance to the Leeds City Region and beyond."

The Transform Festival runs biennially and has been running for 10 years.

"Transform 21-22 is an experiment to reimagine what an international festival can look like and represent in the future. It is an invitation to artists and communities to join us in manifesting an extended festival for our times, one that is slower, more sustainable and more embedded. 

From this October 2021 until April 2022, our extended festival will invite audiences from across Leeds and beyond to rediscover and explore the city and to connect with bold, brave, vivid and socially-conscious performance by powerful artists from across the globe."

All performances are Pay What You Can.

The featured track on this episode is "Mr Magnificent" by Ringo and the Wolf.  The song is about a villainous ex-boss but the song is really upbeat and joyful.

https://transformfestival.org/

https://www.facebook.com/transformleeds/

https://twitter.com/Transform_Leeds

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

https://ringoandthewolf.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ringoandthewolf/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2kmudrf3SkaS8olmKtAR4c

https://twitter.com/ringoandthewolf

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 Joe Kent, Business Development Manager at Barca-Leeds.

Joe told me about some of the great things they do "Barca-Leeds delivers transformational services to adults, children, young people and families in Leeds" and it was especially great to hear about the work they do around homelessness.

We talk about how the team deal with vicarious trauma by taking part in random acts of kindness and how disappointed Barca fans occasionally get them mixed up for a Leeds based Barcelona fan group.

Joe chose to feature the beautiful track "Take the A Train" by the band he plays with, Sharp Intake (currently known as King & I"

https://www.barca-leeds.org/

https://www.facebook.com/barcaleedsfb/

https://twitter.com/BARCALeeds/

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

https://www.facebook.com/KingI-156705504387781/

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.