This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with regional TUC secretary Dave Pike to unpack what modern trade unionism really looks like. Representing 800,000 unionised workers across 48 unions, Dave explains how the movement has evolved beyond outdated stereotypes — and why, at its core, it’s still about one simple idea: we look after each other.

From organising his first workplace campaign in Pizza Hut to fighting for fair pay and safer conditions, Dave shares how grassroots action can ripple out into real national change. The conversation digs deep into the political climate shaping today’s workplaces — austerity, the gig economy, small business pressures, and the long shadow of Thatcherism.

Dave speaks candidly about navigating political diversity within unions, being a “critical friend” to government, and why trade unionists must talk to everyone — even those they strongly disagree with. It’s an honest, nuanced discussion about collectivism in a divided age, and why he chooses to stay “aggressively hopeful” despite rising polarisation.

There’s also a powerful personal thread running through the episode. Dave reflects on coming out later in life, the impact of bullying, and why being an openly queer trade unionist matters.

From supporting Pride events when funding was pulled, to standing against hate in communities affected by unrest, he shares how solidarity across differences — whether in steelworks, shipyards, kitchens, or council estates — remains essential to rebuilding trust. Expect deep debates about chip butties pressed flat by hand, the perfect sandwich build, and a very carefully considered Greggs Order.

A thoughtful, passionate, and surprisingly funny conversation about standing up for people — and always saving room for chips.

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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to award-winning portrait photographer, Chris Owens about building a career behind the lens and finding your voice in a changing industry. From his early days learning in the darkroom to adapting through the digital revolution, Chris reflects on how discipline, curiosity and human connection shaped the way he sees the world — and why photographing people is as much about psychology as it is about technique.

The conversation explores the tension between commercial success and personal fulfilment — chasing big campaigns, navigating industry gatekeepers, and resisting the pressure to become “known” for one particular look. Chris shares honest insights into representation, rejection, resilience, and the reality of sustaining a long-term career in photography while staying true to your instincts.

They also dive into social media, the democratisation of image-making, and the rise of AI. Rather than fearing it, Chris sees AI as another inevitable shift — arguing that in a world flooded with flawless visuals - imperfection, lived experience and genuine storytelling will only grow in value.

It’s a thoughtful take on where the creative industry is heading and what will continue to matter.

The episode also touches on the birth of Pattern — Chris’s people-first storytelling platform born during lockdown — and how it’s become both a personal outlet and a powerful connector. Expect strong opinions on the debate of our times - curry vs gravy, last meal lasagne, and the ever present Greggs Order.

A wide-ranging, grounded conversation about growth, identity, and doing work that means something.

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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the godfather of North East hospitality - Terry Laybourne. From washing prep boxes on his very first day in a kitchen to opening Queen Street in 1988 and helping shape the region’s dining scene, Terry shares the story of how a working-class lad from the west end of Newcastle became what he calls a “food engineer.”

He talks about the moment he truly fell in love with food (a life-changing staff curry in Jersey), the insecurities of cooking for the ultra-wealthy in Switzerland, and why curiosity - not ambition - drove his career.

They dive into team culture, leadership and longevity: building restaurants that last decades, the importance of the people around you, and why the kitchen works like a rigid 4-4-2 football team - talent matters, but everyone still has to track back.

Terry also reflects on the realities facing hospitality today, rising costs, post-COVID pressures, and the responsibility of looking after a team of more than 180 staff. There’s a debate over the perfect boiled egg, stories from unforgettable meals in Provence, the perfect last meal before he reveals his very specific Greggs order when the kitchens are closed and hunger strikes.

A funny, honest and thoughtful conversation about graft, humility and building something that lasts.

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This week’s Local Heroes Podcast - Chris and Dan talk to SAFC legend and incredible human, Gary Bennett. From scoring on his debut at Roker Park to becoming one of the most respected voices in North East football, Gary shares a life shaped by Sunderland AFC and the community around it.

He explains why the club is more than a team - it’s the heartbeat of a city - and how recent years have rebuilt pride across Sunderland both on and off the pitch. Gary opens up about arriving in the 1980s as one of the first Black players many supporters had ever seen, the racism that existed in football and society at the time, and how attitudes have changed through education and conversation.

He reflects on dressing room life, terrace culture, and the reality of playing through an era where abuse was normalised - and why his work with Show Racism the Red Card still matters today. We also hear about captaining the club, Wembley memories, Sunderland’s global fanbase, broadcasting for BBC Radio Newcastle, and the moments that kept him in the North East long after retirement.

Along the way there’s talk of favourite players, iconic goals, football as a universal language, and why Sunderland sticks with people for life.

Plus: childhood street football in Manchester, Jamaican food, jelly babies, Greggs breakfasts, and a SUNDERLAND ALL-TIME XI that will definitely stir some debate.

A conversation about football, belonging, resilience - and how a club can shape generations.

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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet Drew and Abbie - people brought together through life-changing injuries and conditions, and whose stories are celebrated in the recently screened film Hands on the Wheel, directed by Dan Prince and produced by Local Heroes.

What begins light-hearted quickly turns into a powerful and honest conversation about rebuilding a life after disability.

Drew talks about losing independence overnight, learning to rely on carers, and finding purpose again - while Abbie reflects on the long months stuck in a care home and feeling isolated, to discovering wheelchair rugby and realising he still had a life to live beyond hospital walls.

Together they talk about making Hands on the Wheel - the trust involved, the unseen hours of filming, and why showing reality matters more than inspiration.

The film reveals what people don’t see: the planning behind a coffee trip, preparing to leave the house, and how long everyday tasks actually take. A major theme is the gap people face after leaving hospital. Abbie describes being discharged into environments that didn’t fit his life, while Drew explains how that shared frustration led to Gym Possible - a charity gym and community hub designed as a soft landing.

It’s not just training: it’s peer advice, benefits guidance, equipment knowledge, and helping newly injured people realise they can still participate in the world. They also look ahead — expanding services, mentoring others, fundraising challenges, and building something bigger than a gym.

For Abbie, it’s about making sure the next person leaving hospital doesn’t feel as lost as he once did. It’s thoughtful, funny and real - a conversation about acceptance, identity and moving forward when life changes overnight - and yes, there's that unavoidable Greggs Order.

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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to the all-weather Jen Bartram, weather broadcaster, communicator, and proud North East native. Like our very own average host, Chris, Jen was born in South Shields and raised in Hebburn – like all good humans. What begins as a nostalgic, laugh-filled chat about growing up in the North East quickly becomes a thoughtful and revealing conversation.

From memories of 80s kids’ TV (Danger Mouse, He-Man), street games, buses, and sweet-shop favourites, the episode flows into Jen’s unexpected journey into broadcasting.

She shares how she moved from studying languages and student radio into weather broadcasting, learning on the job, ad-libbing live on air, and managing the intense pressure of live television -especially when the graphics disappear and there’s nothing to point at!

Jen also talks about her work beyond broadcasting, including teaching, communication skills training, and delivering a 'bucket list' TED Talk. She offers honest insight into public-speaking anxiety, explaining why nerves and excitement feel the same in the body, and shares practical advice on staying present, reframing fear, and focusing on what you know rather than the size of the occasion.

One of the most powerful moments comes when Jen speaks openly about online trolling and appearance-based abuse. She reflects on how it affected her confidence, why “just ignore it” is rarely helpful advice, and how empathy and understanding play a crucial role in coping and recovery.

From ghost dogs, to how corned beef pie lies at the heart of a buffet masterclass - this is an episode built on genuine connection, warmth and good banter.

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Chris and Dan go rogue this week on the Local Heroes Podcast, serving up nonsense and beautifully unnecessary disruption.

No guests. No structure. Just two mics, endless rabbit holes, and zero resistance to going off track.

From spoon solos and imaginary North East super-groups to curry v gravy debates, Chris confessing to a lifetime of fashion crimes, and Dan putting Darren and Keith (Keeath) firmly into Room 101.

Underneath the chaos, this episode is about why the podcast exists in the first place: wanting to make authentic, good, and positive things with the right people, for the right reasons.

Chris and Dan reflect on the first year of Local Heroes, what they’ve learned along the way, and the importance of knowing when to move on, refocus, and put energy where it belongs.

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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet serial entrepreneur, innovator and all-round make-things-happen-er Charlie Hoult. From the very first seconds it’s classic Local Heroes - unscripted, off-the-cuff, and full of left-field turns that only happen when you ditch the agenda and let authentic stories unfold.

Charlie takes us deep into the world of Hoults Yard: a 12-acre former industrial site turned vibrant village of makers, food businesses, creatives and tech firms on the east side of Newcastle.

He traces its roots back to the area’s pottery and logistics history, then explains how a blend of calculated risk, “meanwhile use,” and relentless people-spotting helped shape Hoults Yard into what it is today - a place built on community, character, and the belief that the North East doesn’t need to copy to compete.

Beyond the yard, Charlie opens up about big wins, big knocks (including the crash-era fallout of a London business), and what drives his obsession with backing talent and championing the region - from founding Dynamo to helping grow Opencast into a major employer. T

here’s also a candid dive into politics, leadership, and why he took a run at the mayoral race… before the lads wrap it all up the only way they know how: with the menu, Greggs orders, and the eternal curry-vs-gravy debate.

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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan welcome Carlos Yescas. Carlos is a globally respected cheese expert, author, and food systems thinker, and Partnership Coordinator at Food Newcastle, where he works to build a more equitable, sustainable, and connected regional food system.

His journey spans Mexico City, Ireland, the US, China, and now the North East of England. From washing dishes in a Galway cheesemonger to judging the world’s most prestigious food awards, Carlos shares how cheese became the thread connecting his work in human rights, migration, and food policy.

In this wide-ranging conversation, the team explore how radio and podcasting can tell human stories during crisis, why food waste is one of the UK’s biggest hidden challenges, and how upcoming changes in Newcastle - from devolution to major sporting events - could reshape the region’s food landscape.

They also dive into British cheese culture, the importance of provenance and local pride, and Carlos’s new book One Cheese to Rule Them All, which celebrates award-winning cheeses while uncovering the politics, people, and places behind them.

Along the way, there’s talk of tepid food, guilty-pleasure cheese pairings, Greggs vegan sausage rolls, and why there really is no moment in life without cheese.

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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet with Smith & Liddle, the songwriting duo formed after both artists reached a crossroads in their solo careers. They talk openly about why working alone started to feel creatively draining, the uncertainty of giving up individual identity to become a duo, and how starting again from scratch helped reduce pressure and reignite their love for writing music.

The conversation explores their songwriting process, how songs change meaning over time, and the real stories behind their tracks - including how a disagreement about food unexpectedly turned into one of their album songs.

Away from the music, the episode leans heavily into personality. There’s a deep dive into food habits on tour, fussy eating, Greggs orders, last-meal choices, Sunday dinners, and a surprisingly serious debate about whether a Jaffa Cake is a biscuit or a cake.

These moments reveal the dynamic between the duo and the humour that underpins their partnership. They also discuss touring, social media, viral moments, dealing with online criticism, and how engagement - even negative - can shape visibility as an independent artist.

The result is a loose, honest and funny conversation that balances music, real life, and the everyday chaos that comes with building a band together.

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