It was a pleasure to sit down with John Kiely MBE - one of the cogs that help to make the Coventry business world turn.

I speak to John about how he came to be a franchisee of a number of McDonald's in the city, the work he is involved in to support Coventry homeless people and young people to access training and employment, plus how it felt to be awarded an MBE as part of The Queen’s New Year Honours List for his philanthropic work in the city of Coventry, helping disadvantaged youth.

Host: Aaron Ashmore

Intro music: Heal in Time by The Institutes

In partnership with Coventry City Council.

You’ll no doubt be aware of Council Tax but do you know how and where that money is spent?

Host: Aaron Ashmore

Intro music: Heal in Time by The Institutes

In partnership with Coventry City Council.

Award-winning BBC radio and TV presenter, journalist, awards host, and all-round Coventry champion, Trish Adudu joins me on the latest episode of The Cov Pod.

We talk about the racism faced by Trish's family after first moving to the city, working her way up in a career in journalism, her love for the city, and take a closer look at the businesses of her two boys, Tyler and Kennedy.

Host: Aaron Ashmore

Intro music: Heal in Time by The Institutes

Outro music: Bobby Bastardo by The Bad Divine 

In partnership with Coventry City Council.

A special Christmas-themed episode of The Cov Pod with a festive interview with Coventry film director, Debbie Isitt.

The Nativity films play a special part in many Coventrian's Christmas and it was great to hear about how the films came to be, the essential role Coventry plays in the series and what it was like dangling a child off the Cathedral Spire!!

I hope you enjoy it!

I just wanted to take the chance to wish you a Merry Christmas and a huge thank you for your support for the podcast so far!

Host: Aaron Ashmore

Intro music: Heal in Time by The Institutes

Outro music: Silent Night by Stylusboy

In partnership with Coventry City Council.

2021 will be looked back as a historic year for Coventry and this episode I speak to some of the people behind Coventry 2021.

After being awarded UK City of Culture in 2017, we are currently halfway through a year of events and community projects which have looked to put Coventry on the cultural map.

In this episode, I speak to Chenine Bhathena, Creative Director of Coventry City of Culture Trust about the vision of the 2021 programme, some highlights of the past six months plus a look forward to what's still to come. 

I also speak to Molly Adkins, Producer, South East, Collaborative City about some of the projects that have been delivered so far and the impact COVID has had on the 2021 programme.

Finally, I speak to local creative, Roze Navab who tells me about the Coventry Twin Studios Project project and how the Trust has supported local creatives.

Host: Aaron Ashmore

Intro music: Heal in Time by The Institutes

Outro music: Judas Kiss by The Broken Rebels

In partnership with Coventry City Council.

Episode photo: Dylan Parrin

A huge honour to speak to Coventry legend, David Moorcroft OBE for this episode of The Cov Pod.

David was kind enough to share his Coventry story with me which included running in 3 Olympic games and winning gold two times at the Commonwealth Games. Enjoy! 

Host: Aaron Ashmore

Intro music: Heal in Time by The Institutes

Outro music: William F Cody and the Foleshill Blues by AncientCrackedVoice

In partnership with Coventry City Council.

It is more apparent than ever how important it is to take meaningful action to address climate change and this episode takes a closer look at what work is taking place in the city to help combat it. 

We speak to Cllr Jim O’Boyle who tells us about the range of projects underway in the city to work towards a greener, sustainable future. This is followed by an interview with Nicola Small from Coventry City Council who talks about the Very Light Rail project which looks to bring a tram system to Coventry. 

Host: Aaron Ashmore

Intro music: Heal in Time by The Institutes

Outro music: We Are The City Of Spires by David Goody

In partnership with Coventry City Council.

Episode 2 of The Cov Pod is an interview with the brilliant Pete Chambers; the oracle of Coventry music and mastermind behind The Coventry Music Museum!

The interview takes a look at the impact The Specials and 2 Tone made on the city, what the Coventry music scene was like in the 70s and 80s and we even find out how the famous Ghost Town car made its way to the upstairs to the first floor of the Music Museum. Enjoy! In partnership with Coventry City Council.

Host: Aaron Ashmore 

Intro music: Heal in Time by The Institutes

Outro music: Journey into the Night by Jay Tennant

To time with World Homeless Day, the first episode of The Cov Pod takes a look at homelessness and rough sleeping with interviews in the city with Coventry City Council representatives, Louise from The ARC; a drug and alcohol outreach support who support people to achieve a better quality of life, and finally a chat with John who has a history of rough-sleeping in the city who now has permanent housing.

Host: Aaron Ashmore

Intro music: Heal in Time by The Institutes

Outro music: Out Upon The Ocean by Stylusboy 

The trailer for a brand new Coventry podcast, hosted by Aaron Ashmore in partnership with Coventry City Council.

In The Cov Pod, we will be taking a look at some topics related to the city and interviewing notable figures about their Coventry story.

Keep an eye out for episodes releasing in the next few weeks.

Host: Aaron Ashmore

Music: Intro and outro music by The Institutes