Sarah Wylie, In Conversation

I have my first bonus episode for you of a special book event which was held last month in the beautiful Caberfeidh Bookshop in Kingussie.

Author Helen Graham made a visit to her old home as part of the book tour of her second historical fiction novel ‘Disapearing Acts’.

I had the delight of being chair for the event & even decided bake cake with the novels cover to add to the occasion!

We recorded Helen’s interview especially for you so you too could hear about ‘Disappearing Acts’ leading lady ‘Lottie’, Helen’s writing process, the fascinating research into her family history, the magic of 19th theatre in Edinburgh & new pieces of writing to come.

In the final episode of Season 7, I got to chat to travel bloggers Going the Whole Hogg, Del & Kim.

Del & Kim have dedicated themselves to exploring the world, adventuring and documenting moments since they met in Glasgow in there Uni years.

In this episode we chat, communities that have changed them, finding home in different cultures, making life long friends, skills learned throughout there travels, the art of documenting through photography & film, learning to live in small spaces and there latest tiny house project Hoggs in the Paddock.

This programme is sponsored by The Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

Festival season has started & on this week’s episode of SWIC I get to chat to founder & front man of Torridon, Kenny Smith.

Kenny & I recorded the day after Torridon got back from there performance at the MacMoray Festival so adrenaline was still high. We talk backstage stories, the challenges of the music industry, being true to your identity, the power of live music, when songwriting started for Kenny, the depth of his lyrics & his important role as ambassador for charities Mikeysline & The Archie Foundation.

This programme is sponsored by The Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

Did you know you can grow tea in Scotland? I didn’t until I met Donna Ferenth, founder of Unravel Tea at the Kingussie Food on Film Festival earlier this year!

On this week’s episode of SWIC I got to sit down with Donna, literally, as I enjoyed my first tea ceremony with her in her tea room.

We chat when tea was first introduced to Donna, discovering the rituals surrounding traditional tea ceremonies, its grounding properties, the desire to share tea experiences with others, founding Unravel Tea, growing her own tea on the Guisachan Estate here in the Scottish Highlands & celebrating ten years of Unravel Tea. .

This programme is sponsored by The Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

On this week’s episode of SWIC I get to chat to senior BBC Radio Scotland producer Helen Needham.

Helen & I enjoyed recording our episode in the Old Post Office Cafe Gallery, surrounded by Ann Vastano’s landscape paintings for added inspiration.

We chat Helen’s road into producing, her equal love for making programmes on the outdoors & traditional music, celebrating 100 years of BBC Aberdeen, giving young trad musicians a platform, being recognised on the Hands Up For Trad Women in Music & Culture list 2026, the programmes she produces and the exciting new projects too.

This programme is sponsored by The Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

Following on from last weeks theme of island life, on my latest episode of SWIC I had the absolute joy of chatting to award winning composer, Shetland fiddler, children’s author & member of Blazin’ Fiddles , Jenna Reid.

Jenna & I chat her recent fiddle day inspiring musicians with Rachel Cooper, quiet moments that help ideas flow, what success looks like versus reality, Jenna’s upbringing on Shetland, her music influences, being part of the amazing Blazin’ Fiddles & her latest children’s book ‘Do You Play an Instrument?’.

Jenna Reid reminds those that need to hear it that ‘you are enough’ This heart warming reminder certainly stayed with me long after our chat.

This programme is sponsored by the Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

Sarah Wylie In Conversation is back for Season 7! ( & to mark the new, I have decided to write in 1st person! )

I’m so excited to share my first guest of the series with you. For episode one, I got to chat to award winning poet, writer & Edinburgh’s Makar, Michael Pedersen.

We talk the power to embrace who you are from a young age, Michael’s upbringing in Portobello, being outed as a writer & we reminisce the bus routes we shared too.

Michael shares on the themes of wonder & friendship throughout his work and how he is using these themes to inspire young people to write, in his role as Edinburghs Makar.

We ofcourse talk his latest novel Muckle Flugga, the wonderful characters, his current book tour & we are even treated to an expert recited by Michael justo for us!

This programme is sponsored by the Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

On the final episode of SWIC, season 6, Sarah got to chat to Skipper & Owner of Bessie Ellen, Nikki Alford.

Nikki takes us into her world at sea, from spending a summer on her Aunt & Uncles boat at 16 to sharing stories of cooking & enjoying food from around the world.

They talk the wonder of nature, Nikki’s favourite sea birds & finding grounding at sea. They discover they are both dreamers and Nikki’s dream to own Bessie Ellen was fulfilled on her 30th birthday. Bessie Ellen is now home & many others join Nikki on life changing voyages too.

This programme is sponsored by The Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

On this week’s episode, Sarah got to chat to the incredibly talented accordionist, composer, event creator & founding member of Manrán, Gary Innes.

They chat Gary’s 20 Year Road Trip Tour with fellow instrumentalist, friend & brother, Ewan Henderson. They go back to when Gary first picked up the accordion, his life growing up in Spean Bridge, founding the renowned band Manrán to performing at Carnagie Hall in New York.

Gary is not afraid to take risks & this is shown throughout his music career & his desire to see traditional music reach new audiences resulting in the success of the event he created Hoolie in the Hydro.

He has been described as, ‘a jack of all trades & master of all’ by BBC Radio Two’s Mark Radcliffe and this is rightly so.

SWIC is sponsored by The Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

On SWIC this week Sarah got to chat to Highlands based, Multidisciplinary Artist, Claire Macdonald.

Claire & Sarah discover a mutual love of theatre & song. This joy Claire found on stage led her to a career behind the scenes as a scenic designer. They chat the importance art has in bringing people together, how it enhances well being & Claire’s love of collaboration too.

Claire’s extensive skill set has become her usb enabling her to take on many exciting and diverse projects. She is not afraid to try new things and has a refreshing outlook on the unknowns of the artists way. An episode not to be missed.

SWIC is sponsored by the Old Post Cafe Gallery