Vivid highlights of Writing On Air '23 from Sparkle Menzies and other younger contributors to the festival, plus a moving story from Dortmund writer Linn Schiffmann about first love and summer.

Tim Brookes helps run a food bank and Getting Gobby in the Lobby spoken word night. He talks about the provenance of, and reads poems, from his new pamphlet Keep Taking 6 Away from 100. Tim speaks movingly of his recovery from serious illness and the role poetry has played in creating his new life.

Julie Walker works as a bibliotherapist using the written word – song lyrics, poetry, prose in creative ways to engage with people experiencing mental health issues. She tells us about Words for Wellbeing.

Sneaky preview of a ground-breaking report about the literature ecology of Leeds commissioned from New Writing North by Leeds City Council. What have we got already? What do we need more of?

Colin Speakman is a Yorkshire historian, poet, and passionate advocate for the North of England. Here he talks about the power of dialect and his plans for a big Yorkshire festival next year.

Alex De Little is a sonic artist & researcher with bases in Leeds and London, UK. His practice encompasses installation, composition, performance and workshops. He talks about the extraordinary range of his work and about his recent artist residency in Bali.

Spike Marshall talks about Rope, Patrick Hamilton's dark play that he directs for Leeds Arts Centre, plus a compelling short audio drama by Seki Lynch.

Poet and novelist Mark Connors talks about his and Gill Connors' new Yaffle's Nest initiative, and about what's he writing himself when he's not making it happen for other writers!

Vickie Orton tells a story, Jaimes Lewis Moran talks about his new poetry collection, Mechanism, & Oz Hardwick chats about Making A Difference, a selection of Neurodiverse Poets.

At last! The special radio version of Save Our Stories, Chapel FM's community play, staged earlier in 2023 as part of our Home From Home project. SEA.CORP have plans to develop and 'improve' Seacroft. Will they succeed?