In this edition of North by North-East, Ben and Glen uncover the remarkable tale of how two Tyneside sisters-in-law, Ellen and Anna Richardson, helped one of the most famous Americans of their age secure his freedom.

We trace a story that spans both sides of the Atlantic, uncovering more about the life of Frederick Douglass, the fight for the abolition of slavery, and the role of Quakerism in shaping the Richardsons’ lives.

Join us on a journey that reveals the very worst and the very best of humanity, all connecting to Newcastle and its place in this extraordinary history.

In this special episode, we head on over to Hartlepool's Headland to speak with the staff and volunteers of the Heugh Battery Museum, the site of the UK's only First World War battlefield.

We chat about some of the topics covered in our earlier episode on the Bombardment of the Hartlepools, as well as the museum's role in preserving that history along with its place in the local community.

Big thanks (in order of appearance) to Gordon, Joshua, Ian, Diane, and Lynn, and to rest of the staff and volunteers at the museum. 

For more information on the Heugh Battery Museum (we certainly recommend a visit), you can find their website at www.heughbattery.co.uk

In this episode, Ben and Glen dive into the remarkable story of how a painter and decorator from South Tyneside fulfilled his impossible dream by bringing the world’s most famous sportsman, Muhammad Ali, to the North East of England.

We've entered the ring, donned our metaphorical gloves, and hammered every lead to uncover exactly how 'The Greatest' stole the Queen's thunder and made a lasting impression on the region. 

Prepare for a miraculous tale packed with transatlantic escapades, pugilistic salesmen, and, of course, SEVENTEEN youth jazz bands.

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Award-winning playwright and screenwriter Ishy Din joins us to talk about his latest play, Champion, inspired by Muhammad Ali’s 1977 visit to South Shields.

Ishy also shares some insights into his wider career, and reflects on the cultural significance of North East England.

For more on Muhammad Ali's visit to the North East, keep your eyes and ears peeled for the next instalment of North by North East!

We're turning back the clock to December 1914, examining a moment when the Great War quite literally hit home for Britain. Indeed, the bombardment of the Hartlepools was not just significant for the people of the area, but also a pivotal event in the long and tragic course of the First World War.

Why did the Imperial German Navy target the North East coast? How did Hartlepool’s defenders respond on land and at sea? What was the civilian cost?

As always, Ben and Glen will do their utmost to answer these questions and more, hopefully without getting lost at sea in the process.

In our first (official) episode, we travel back to 1926, a year dominated by industrial unrest and political discord. Like the Flying Scotsman, our destination is Cramlington. Unlike the Flying Scotsman, we're here by choice, not by sabotage (though we can get 'off track' every now and then).

How was the country's most famous train derailed at a Northumberland mining town? Were the perpetrators terrorists or working class heroes? What repercussions did the accused face? 

For the answers to the above, hit play, and join Ben and Glen as they uncover the dramatic tale of a derailment that shook not just Northumberland, but the Nation.

We have the pleasure of chatting with both Ed Waugh, the writer of 'The Cramlington Train Wreckers', and Russell Floyd, the play's director. Focused on the 1926 derailment of the Flying Scotsman by striking miners, the play tours North East England in November.

Ed and Russell share some of their thoughts regarding that fateful day and discuss their reasons for bringing this story to the stage.

This special instalment serves as a companion to our upcoming episode, which will cover the Cramlington derailment and the General Strike of 1926.

Well, this it it, we've reached the end of our ethnonymic/demonymic/whatevernymic journey.

In this sixth and final part of our series, we identify some of the common trends that link the topics discussed, and consider their potential significance for the future of North East England.

So what does this all mean for our region? How does being labelled a Geordie, Mackem, Smoggie, etc. shape one's perspective? Does it matter?

Listen here and find out. 

In this fifth part of the North East Ethnonyms series, Glen and Ben scour the British Newspaper Archive in search of pertinent materials.

In a segment that has been christened 'Cold off the Press' (wordplay is up for criticism) we journey through the printed pages of history, analysing a variety of newspaper articles that relate to the topics discussed in previous episodes.

Listeners will be treated to poetic accounts of Tyne-Wear derbies, polemics on 'phoney Geordies', and questionable attempts at a Danish accent.

We head on down the A1 (or the A19?) as we turn our attention to our final ethnonym of focus: Smoggie.

In their quest to define Smoggie, Glen and Ben scrutinise English counties, consult Hansard, and take to the streets of Ironopolis.

Like a Teesider leaving Manjaros (other parmo providers are available), we hope this episode will leave you satiated and satisfied. Just don't ask us about béchamel sauce!