Mhairi Black gave an epic maiden speech in the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament for Paisley and Renfrewshire South in 2015, at just 20 years old. There she endured as an MP and became Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in the House of Commons from 2022 to 2024.  She made the decision to retire from political life in 2024, taking to the stage with her debut solo show, 'Politics Isn't for Me', to lift the lid on some of the more absurd and often toxic experiences that shaped her time in public service.

At 30 year old, she reflects warmly and openly with Jules on her life so far, including her experiences of coming out, an ADHD diagnosis and finding queer community, revealing how "surviving" an often treacherous workplace led to a journey towards a happier, healthier life.

Fàilte gu prògram 14! Settle down for a cuppa with Scottish folk singer and winner of Our 2024 Unicorns Arts Award, Kim Carnie.  Jules meets Kim as her new solo single, Middle of Hope is released and just days after the Scottish premiere of a special documentary made about her life and the impact of being in a secret same-sex relationship for 6 years, from the ages of 16-22.  Directed by Maureen MacLeod, Kim Carnie Out Loud (2024) explores coming out stories from around the world as Kim reflects at aged 30, on the impact those 6 years of secrecy had on her.

Also in the episode... Born and raised in Oban, Kim shares her intimate connection to the Gaelic language, her experiences of rural culture and her love for the Scottish folk scene whilst exploring with Jules how it feels to be a queer person in traditional communities.

You'll hear clips of Kim's music, from her 2022 album, And So We Gather, performed by Kim Carnie and produced by Donald Shawand and from her 2024 single, Middle of Hope, produced by Innes White.

Nighean Sin Thall, performed by Kim Carnie and produced by Donald Shawand

Middle of Hope, performed by Kim Carnie and produced by Innes White

And So We Gather, performed by Kim Carnie and produced by Donald Shawand

Thanks for such a warm welcome and engaging chat Kim!

Listen to Kim Carnie's music:

Kim Carnie

Home | Kim Carnie

Porty Pride have hosted their 3rd pride festival in the town of Portobello, Edinburgh’s seaside suburb. Jules sets off on an unplanned, day-long adventure to find out how this small regional event with LGBTQ+ organisers at its heart, is building a better community for everyone.

Content heads-ups:

- seagulls

- dogs barking

- a bit of wind

- a couple of moments of loud cheering

- brief mention of homophobia and transphobia

Jules would like to thank:

Kate Gillwood and Rea Cris - (Founders and organising committee members of Porty Pride) and the entire Porty Pride Committee

Graham, Alice and Abi - Porty Pride Volunteers

Chris - Culture Club Collective

Gary - Passay’s Café

Joss Cameron - Traditional balled singer from Joppa

Louise, Mousehole Deli

Angela Davidson - Macmillan Cancer Support

Joanna Simpson - LGBT Health and Wellbeing

Rowan Alison - Disability and Neurodiversity Inclusion Officer, Equality Network

Kaylan, Popeye’s Café

Dean Atta is an award-winning author and performance poet and in this touching and revealing episode we hear about the inspiration for his memoir and how the deeply personal book - yo-yoing back and forth from his childhood - stays grounded by its focus on the body "starting at the crown moving through to the roots".

The courage present throughout all Dean's work is reflected in the conversation and both Jules and Dean touch on serious topics alongside the defiant, whimsical joy he brings to the episode.

CW: brief references to sexual assault, homophobia, racism and depression

Dean Atta (google.com)

Thank you to the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery for help making this podcast possible.

What kind of biscuits do you lay out for a national icon? I settled on gingers and spent too long arranging them on one of my wife’s favourite plates. We record at my home (ten points if you can hear the bin lorry during the chat!) and Jackie was kind enough to come over and share the stories behind this new collection of poems, and its title, ‘May Day’, a chronicle of activism in the UK over six decades.

It’s a feisty conversation, with peaks of revelry as Jackie recalls her encounter with Maya Angelou (doing an impeccable impression of her) and deeper, quieter and more sombre moments for both Jackie and I, as we reflect on loss, feelings about family and the notion of home.

It was quite the moment for me, to hear Jackie recite lines of two different poems in this episode, gifting Somewhere for Us listeners with a personal glimpse into the collection through her own voice. Jackie Kay has survived years of appalling experiences she reveals, which I hear in her bite and her fight for a better, kinder world.

May Day is out now, published by Picador and available in all good independent book shops. 

Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh. A poet, novelist and writer of short stories, she has enjoyed great acclaim for her work for both adults and children. Her novel, Trumpet, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. She has published three collections of stories with Picador, Why Don’t You Stop Talking, Wish I Was Here, and Reality, Reality; two poetry collections, Fiere and Bantam; and a memoir, Red Dust Road. From 2016 to 2021 she was the third modern Makar, the National Poet for Scotland. She lives in Manchester and is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Salford.

Having pressed send on her 8th studio album (and 11th album in total) just hours before we begin, Horse McDonald is back at the starting gate raring to go, but as she soon reminds me in this candid chat, she’s in the same race as everyone else.

It's all in the music for Horse, and she's still powerfully singing it out loud and proud some 34 years since her first album, 'The Same Sky' in 1990. In this episode, Horse shares the stories behind her long awaited and self-produced new album, 'The Road Less Travelled', her experience of grief and loss, frustration with the music industry and how singing saved her life.  A must listen for Horse fans but a warm invitation too, if you're a newcomer, to learn about this Fife-born stalwart of Scottish music.

The Road Less Travelled (Randan Music) CD and VINYL are out May 25th, 2024. See www.horsemcdonald.com if you would like further information or to purchase CDs or Digital Downloads.

Actor John Bell has been standing out on the small and big screen since 2007 and has been involved in some of TV and Film's most iconic productions.  As a 10 year old he won a part in Dr Who which has since led to a fantastic career playing Bain in the Hobbit film series and longstanding role of Ian Fraser Murray aka 'Young Ian', in Starz TV's epic adventure, Outlander. Hear how it feels to be part of some of the world's biggest fandoms!

Also find out why Edith Bowman lost her rag at him at the Scottish Baftas and why his parents are still his role models after his very showbiz coming out story.

Listen out for a Somewhere for Us Podcast EXCLUSIVE around 37 minutes in…

Following the episode with Greer Ralston and Rachel Dax, Jules heads to Glasgow to meet Lorna who currently features in Ralston's latest exhibition.

Lorna is positively gleeful about playing alongside her childhood hero, Horse, and can be found sparkling alongside her with full band and strings, on some the UK's most iconic stages.  More info on Horse's The Road Less Travelled 2023 tour here.

Lorna and Jules talk role models, custom-made guitars and the future of queer music.  We also hear how it feels to have your stage wardrobe immortalised in paint!

Lorna Thomas | United Kingdom | Bassist

Greer Ralston is Giving it All to Art and filmmaker Rachel Dax is telling her story in a forthcoming documentary film.  Dax and Ralston forged a friendship during the Pandemic that has brought their artistic and personal worlds together and chatting with Jules around Greer's dining room table, they share their mutual passion for supporting and championing fellow LGBTQ+ artists.

In this episode, find out what's drawing Greer back to her roots as a figurative painter, how painting clothes is reconnecting her with her community and why Rachel can't wait to shine a new light on her work and the women behind the paintings.  Join Jules, Greer and Rachel as they also venture out to see Greer's exhibition, ‘Under The Surface’ on show at the Stirling University Innovation Park.

https://daxitales.com/

https://www.instagram.com/greer.ralston

Published in August 2023

"We are here building something together and to hold space for the dreamwork" says Katucha, of the anti-racist and anti-transphobic community she's hoping for.   In this episode, Ru, Katucha and Jules share their Pride stories; past, present and future and what they're hopeful for living in Scotland.  We talk love, language, allyship and how sometimes we need to "kill joy"  to build a better, safer world.

she/her

Katucha Bento, co-founded the Free Afro-Brazilian University, loves to work in collaboration with people and nature for social and environmental justice. Works with subversive language and queer insights. Is the auntie and guide-mother of fantastic humans called Chizara, Jason and Chibueze. Currently she teaches at the University of Edinburgh.

Instagram @katuchabento

she/her/they/them

Rujazzle is a Glasgow-based drag queen, artist, host and producer, who described herself as the 'Painted Lady, Walking Exhibition(ist) and Arty tart'

Instagram @rujazzle

Sara Ahmed - author of The Feminist Killjoy Handbook

Lighthouse | The Feminist Killjoy Handbook (lighthousebookshop.com)

The Feminist Killjoy Handbook – Argonaut Books

Gail Lewis (academic) - Wikipedia

Major, trans singer from Brazil. Here she is praying for the feminine Orisha Oyá (fire, warrior, shapeshifter between butterfly and buffalo).

M A J U R 🧜🏿‍♀️ (@majur) • Instagram photos and videos

Instagram @majur