The Bylines Network Podcast

We're starting a new occasional mini series, celebrating the 5th birthday of every Publication when they come up.

This time, Chris and Julian are talking to Yvonne Wancke, Editor in Chief of North East Bylines.

We talk about how it started, how it's going and how she hope siit'll shape up in the future.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

The month of May was certainly full of news.

Our hosts pick two things to talk about in this episode, with the main topic being the Local Elections and the atronomic rise of Reform UK who won 10 councils and 2 Mayoralities, even doing very well in areas they didn't win, such as the WECA Mayor elections.

The other topic of discussion is the start of the leadership campiagn for the Green Party, with Zack Polanski and Co-Leader Adrian Ramesey starting their campaigns and Carla Denyer stepping down. Listen as Julian talks about their campaigns and wonders who to vote for.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

One of Labour's big promises during the election was the creation of a new publicly owned body to tackle the massive bills the British Public was facing and aid the transition to renewable energy.

On the 15th May 2025, the creation of GB Energy was given Royal Assent. And former chief executive of Siemens UK, Juergen Maier was named as its chairman.

Anna Damski, from East Anglia Bylines, and Charlie McCarthy, from Bylines Scotland, have a sit down with Jurgen and ask him about his career, what GB Energy will do to reduce emissions, and will it lower our energy bills?

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Jemma Forte & Marina Purkiss from the Trawl Podcast?!? What is this, a crossover episode?

Lydia Pearson and Gemma Gould of North West Bylines and Central Bylines, respectively, interview the hosts of one of the most popular political podcasts, asking them about the current political climate, the state of social media, and how do they cope with both and their own mental health juggling it all.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

The Bylines Network has also relaunched the Bylines shop, where you can get anything from hoodies to mugs, and featuring all merch from all 10 of our publications. ⁠https://bylines-network.teemill.com/⁠


Our online Gazette is now free if you sign up to any of our 10 newsletters, Join the mailing list: ⁠⁠https://bylinesnetwork.co.uk/sign-up/⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Ginny Smith returns in our 5th episode of Bylines Reports, this time talking to Tan Dhesi.

Tan Dhesi is the Labour MP for Slough and has been since 2017. When elected, he was one of the first Turbened MPs in Europe and Britain's first. He currently chairs the Defence Committee, which is a multi-party committee, which loosks at the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Ministry of Defence and its associated public bodies.

In this interview, Ginny asks him about his Party, its strategy, the rise of Reform, Brexit and what the Defence Committee does.

If you wish to contribute to our cause, we have a crowdfunding page to help the Network expand. Donate only if you can and whatever you can, every little really helps. ⁠https://chuffed.org/project/ng7b7xwqwlze⁠

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

This month, Julian and Chris celebrate pride month by bringing you some Pride themed articles or articles written by Queer authors.

The articles this month include a discussion about gender from North West by Isabelle Goodhand, the function of Pride in the 2020s, especially with encroaching of LGBT+ rights from Central Bylines by Bryan Manley-Green, and a queer filmmaker’s examination of dealing with disability from Bylines Cymru by Abigail Luxford-Noyes. Please give all of these a read.

However, half way through the episode we also try something new and recommend you Pride themed shows, films and books that we think you should read.

Happy Pride Month everyone, please join us next time.

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Grace Blakeley is a leading left-wing political commentator, author, and journalist who describes herself as a democratic socialist. She writes for the Tribune and is regularly seen working at the coal face battling Piers Morgan on Talk TV.

She studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics and then African Studies at Oxford. She’s a former fellow at the Institute for Public Policy Research, former New Statesman commentator and former member of Labour’s National Policy Forum. She left the Labour party in 2023 over Starmer’s position on Gaza, specifically his assertion Israel was within its rights to cut the power to the civilians.

In this episode, Claire and Michelle talk about and ask her questions about various topics, like her stance on Brexit, the EU, Tariffs and what the world might look like in the future.

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

On the 15th April 2020, Yorkshire Bylines was launched to widespread popularity, leading to the creation of the Bylines Network.

5 years, 9 more publications (and another thatleft to do its own thing), 17 million reads, and 4 seasons of a podcast later, our hosts sit down with current co-editor in chief of Yorkshire and former managing director of the Network, Louise Houghton to talk about the journey of the last 5 years, current ambitions and aims, and what could be in store for the future.

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

An advantage to recording late is we can always touch upon the latest news.

So, instead of touching upon the Tories dropping Net Zero, marking a departure of bipartisan unity, we spoke about Marie Le Pen, leader of Rassemblement National and president in waiting, has been barred for standing for election for 5 years. What does this mean for the Far Right in Europe? Who supported her? How will our Hosts react? The answers won't surprise you!

In closer news, our hosts also touch upon the cutting to the Welfare State. Needless to say, we aren't happy about it

Join us as we touch upon the latest news.

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Author, column writer for the Observer, former editor-in-chief of the same paper. In this episode, Yvonne Wancke of North East Bylines and Ben Dickenson interviews Will Hutton.

In this episode, he talks about his life, his books, Big Tech, Capitalism, the rise (and possible fall) of the Far Right in Europe, what Labour can do to speed this fall up, and, of course, Trump's Tariffs and their affects on the world.

Sit down for a truly fascinating in our latest Report.

Voxel Revolution Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/