Stuart Ward grew up on a council estate in Exeter, England, obsessed with pirate radio, chart positions, and — oddly — record labels. That obsession, plus a teenage belief that Sweden had cracked the code on a fairer society, eventually carried him across the North Sea, first as a chartered accountant, then as one of Swedish television and radio's most recognisable voices for decades.

Stuart hosted Night Flight Scandinavia and Top Gear Nordic (a name he lifted straight from John Peel's old BBC show, nothing to do with cars), interviewed everyone from Paul McCartney to Barry Humphries to Pelé, ran the Polar Music Prize — often called the Nobel Prize of music — and, in between all of it, tried and failed to build a political career in the UK Labour Party before finding his footing instead in Swedish politics. He also spent over a decade at the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok and lived in Thailand for eighteen years.

In this episode, Stuart and host Bob Wells talk about chasing a dream with zero self-confidence, what changes when you go from radio to television, the etiquette of never looking starstruck, and why curiosity — not talent — might be the real secret behind a rich life.

In This Episode You'll Learn

• How a working-class boy from Exeter who could name every record label on the UK charts ended up in the Swedish music business
• Why Stuart moved to Sweden as a chartered accountant in 1973 — and why he stayed
• The real story behind the name "Top Gear Nordic" (hint: it's a John Peel tribute, not a car show)
• What it was like trading a UK parliamentary candidacy for a life with the man he loved, at a time when that wasn't something you talked about openly
• The unglamorous technical side of early live TV versus the freewheeling looseness of radio
• Why one veteran cameraman told Stuart he had a rare gift for getting people to open up on camera
• Stuart's interviews with Paul McCartney (who ended up interviewing him), Barry Humphries/Dame Edna, John Cleese, Pelé, and Björn Borg
• The Swedish concept of Jantelagen — a kind of built-in social suspicion of standing out — and how it echoes attitudes Stuart encountered growing up in England
• How Stuart came to run the Polar Music Prize, founded by ABBA's co-creator Stig Anderson to bridge classical music's snobbery and popular music's lack of respect
• Why the King of Sweden presents the Polar Music Prize the same way he presents the Nobel Prizes — and the historical reason the Nobel Peace Prize alone is awarded in Oslo, not Stockholm
• The office politics and "dinosaurs" Stuart contended with while running a prestigious international prize
• Life after presenting: over a decade working at the Swedish Embassy in Bangkok, eighteen years living in Thailand, and returning to Sweden to restart his political career with the Social Democrats
• Why door-to-door canvassing at 77 has led to some surprising language moments — including conversations in fluent Thai that stopped Swedish neighbours in their tracks
• Stuart's take on what actually produces a zest for life: curiosity, self-belief, and refusing to assume the world only exists in whatever room you happen to be standing in

Resources;

• The Polar Music Prize 
• Royal Swedish Academy of Music
• YouTube: Stuart Ward Top Gear

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It's the early 1940s. The world's biggest movie stars could have sat the war out in comfort — instead, they walked off film sets, traded tuxedos and evening gowns for uniforms, and went to fight.

This conversation features British Army veteran, Olympic discus thrower, and author Bill Tancred to explore the extraordinary true stories behind the actors who lived the wars they later portrayed on screen. From Jimmy Stewart flying 20 combat missions over Nazi Germany, to Audrey Hepburn's secret work for the Dutch Resistance, to a beloved comedy actor who turned out to be a master forger helping prisoners escape a German POW camp — this conversation uncovers the real history hiding behind some of cinema's most iconic war films.

In this episode:

• Bill's journey from Olympic athlete to military historian and author
• Jimmy Stewart's secret military rank and his return visits to his old airbase in Norfolk
• Peter Butterworth's double life as a Great Escape forger, hidden behind his comic roles
• Audrey Hepburn and Carole Lombard's contributions to the war effort
• Why some stars never spoke about what they went through — and the toll it took
• The actors who played the very battles they once fought in
• Bill's advice on which story to start with if you only read one

About the guest: Bill Tancred is a former British Army officer, two-time Olympian (1968 Mexico City, 1972 Munich), Commonwealth Games medallist, and author of British and USA Film Stars Who Served Their Countries in World War II.

🔗 Bill's book: [link] 🔗 Previous episode with Bill: [link]

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What's really behind the stone walls of a sleepy English village? 

In this live walking-tour episode, I'm joined by local historian Adrian Gombault, author of the book 'Belmesthorpe: Then and Now' for a stroll through the English village of Belmesthorpe.

We uncover Viking place names, a vanished railway, a rare 18th-century dovecote, a forgotten riot, and a surprising Cold War-era scandal, all within a village of barely 130 people.

About Adrian:

Adrian Gombault has spent the greater part of his life living in the East Midlands English village of Belmesthorpe.

In his working life he taught Classics and Business Studies at Stamford School. Now retired, he  devotes much of his time to community service.

He is author of the book, 'Belmesthorpe: Then and Now. 

To register your interest for the next reprint of the book contact [email protected]

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Trillions of invisible organisms produce every other breath you take — and almost no one talks about them. This week, that changes.

Bob is joined once again by Vincent Doumeizel — UN food and ocean advisor, food innovation expert, and author of The Power of Plankton — for a deep dive into the most overlooked organisms on the planet. Vincent explains how plankton produce half the world's oxygen despite making up just 0.02% of Earth's biomass, why they've never once been mentioned at a COP climate summit despite driving a third of global carbon absorption, and how understanding them could be the key to fixing some of our biggest environmental problems.

Along the way: the 100-metre-long animal you've never heard of, why diatoms can build glass shells in freezing water using none of the energy we need to make glass on land, how plankton clean your drinking water, the surprising rise of jellyfish, and why Vincent thinks we should be teaching kids about plankton instead of dinosaurs.

It's a conversation that reframes how you'll think about a single drop of water and makes a genuinely hopeful case for what's still left to discover.

In this episode:

• Why Vincent moved from working on world hunger to seaweed, and then to plankton
• What plankton actually is (it's a behaviour, not a species) — and why jellyfish, viruses, and bacteria all count
• How phytoplankton invented photosynthesis billions of years ago — and once poisoned the planet with oxygen
• Why half of all the oxygen we breathe comes from organisms that make up almost none of the planet's biomass
• The Plankton Manifesto: bringing 30 of the world's top scientists together to put plankton on the UN's radar
• How plankton could help us cut carbon, replace plastic packaging, fuel planes, and even light cities
• Why Vincent remains optimistic about the future of the ocean, despite the scale of the crisis

About the guest: Vincent Doumeizel is an advisor to the United Nations, a food innovation expert, and the author of The Power of Plankton and The Seaweed Revolution. He has spent his career working at the intersection of food systems, ocean health, and climate, and recently spoke to an audience of nine million listeners on the BBC about the importance of plankton.

Links & resources:

• 📖 The Power of Plankton by Vincent Doumeizel — [link]
• 📖 The Seaweed Revolution by Vincent Doumeizel — [link]
• 🔗 Vincent Doumeizel Profile — [link]
• 🔗 The UN Plankton Manifesto — [link]

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What happens when a parent leaves not just their family, but the entire world they once knew?

In this episode, I talk with author and memoirist Lily Dunn about her powerful memoir Sins of My Father. When Lily was six years old, her father abandoned the family to join a spiritual movement that would shape the course of both his life and hers. We discuss the lasting effects of childhood abandonment, the allure of cults and alternative communities, the complicated nature of love and forgiveness, and why understanding our parents doesn't always mean excusing them.

Lily also shares insights into the craft of memoir writing, including how to write honestly about family, navigate difficult memories, and transform personal experiences into stories that resonate with others.

Whether you're interested in family dynamics, personal growth, or the art of storytelling, this is a fascinating conversation about making sense of the past and finding meaning in the stories we tell ourselves.

Highlights from our conversation:

• Why Lily's father left his family to join a spiritual commune
• The hidden effects of childhood abandonment
• Boarding school syndrome and its lifelong impact
• How cults attract people searching for belonging
• The difference between understanding and forgiving
• What makes a compelling memoir
• Why everyone may have a story worth telling
• The ethics of writing about family and personal history

Lily's links:

https://lilydunn.co.uk/

Books - https://lilydunn.co.uk/books/

Substack - https://lilydunn.substack.com/

Writing Courses - https://www.londonlitlab.co.uk/

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What do you do when life suddenly changes direction?

In this episode I'm joined by author and former production editor David Hermakowski. David talks about resilience, reinvention, and finding purpose after unexpected challenges. Following a major health scare and brain surgery, David faced questions about identity, recovery, and what comes next.

We explore major life changes as a new beginning, the importance of mindset and meaning, the power of creativity, and why life's greatest setbacks can become opportunities for growth.

A thoughtful conversation about courage, purpose, and writing the next chapter when life doesn't follow the script.

Link to book: https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0GFP8FZTT   

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What happens when the life you've built no longer fits?

In this episode we hear from author, journalist, and book coach Carolyn Flynn to discuss her memoir Boundless and the unexpected opportunities that can emerge during life's biggest transitions.

As a single mother preparing to send her twins off to college while facing uncertainty in her journalism career, Carolyn found herself confronting a question many people face but few discuss: Who are you when your core identities begin to change?

Carolyn discusses the difference between memoir and autobiography, the power of storytelling, and why personal reinvention isn't just for the young. Carolyn shares insights on emotional agility, resilience, creativity, and what she calls "the second adulthood"—a stage of life where experience, wisdom, and freedom can combine to create entirely new possibilities.

Whether you're interested in writing, navigating change, or simply curious about what comes next in life, this conversation offers thoughtful perspectives on transformation, purpose, and the courage to begin again.

In this episode:

• Why Carolyn wrote Boundless
• The difference between a memoir and an autobiography
• How journaling can help us understand our lives
• The role of storytelling in personal growth
• Emotional agility and navigating uncertainty
• Why reinvention becomes possible at any age
• The concept of a "second adulthood"
• Lessons from journalism, writing, and creativity
• Advice for aspiring memoir writers

About Carolyn Flynn

Carolyn Flynn is an author, journalist, and book coach. Her memoir Boundless explores identity, change, and the possibilities that emerge when life takes an unexpected turn. She works with writers around the world, helping them turn their stories into compelling books.

Links:

https://www.carolynflynn.com/

https://www.instagram.com/carolyn_flynn/

Book - Boundless 

https://www.undercurrentstories.com/

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review the podcast on your favourite platform. Your support helps more listeners discover these conversations.

#Memoir #Writing #PersonalGrowth #Reinvention #LifeTransitions #Storytelling #AuthorInterview #Boundless #CarolynFlynn #UndercurrentStories

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Animal welfare expert Laura Foster joins host Bob Wells to reveal the hidden realities behind dog rescue, rehoming and responsible pet ownership in the UK.

If you've ever adopted a rescue dog, worried about your pet's behaviour, or wondered what really goes on inside animal welfare organisations like Dogs Trust and the RSPCA this episode is for you.

Laura Foster is a senior animal welfare professional and behaviour specialist at Dogs Trust, the UK's largest dog rehoming charity. With a Master's degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare and a background spanning management consultancy, the Donkey Sanctuary Ireland, and 22 Dogs Trust rehoming centres across the UK, Laura brings rare insight into what modern animal welfare actually looks like, behind the heartwarming headlines. 

In this episode we cover:

• The post-COVID dog behaviour crisis and why thousands of UK dogs are being surrendered right now
• What animal cruelty really looks like — and why most owners don't recognise it
• The truth about breed-specific legislation and the XL Bully ban
• Why farm animal welfare is the biggest — and most ignored — issue in the sector
• How to get involved in animal welfare as a volunteer, foster carer or career professional
• The Dogs Trust behaviour services that could save your dog from being rehomed

Whether you're a dog owner, animal lover, aspiring vet or welfare professional, this is a conversation that will change the way you think about the animals in our lives.

Links:

https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/

https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.ie/

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In this episode we meet pioneering wolf biologist and author Diane Boyd who talks  about her extraordinary four decades studying wolves in the remote wilderness of Montana near Glacier National Park.

In the 1970s she was the only female biologist in the United States researching and radio-collaring wild wolves. With her two dogs for company she faced the rigours of the Montana winter in an isolated cabin without running water or electricity.

In our conversation we  discuss what wolves are really like, how wolf packs function, the myths and fears surrounding these animals, and the dramatic return of wolves to the American West. Diane also shares stories of tracking wolves through deep snow, living off-grid in bear country, and the challenges of balancing conservation with human conflict.

The conversation is based around Diane’s memoir, A Woman Among Wolves — a fascinating account of life spent among one of nature’s most misunderstood predators.

Resources:

https://www.dianekboyd.com/

Book: A Woman Among Wolves 

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We’re back in Stamford with historian Bill Cunningham, uncovering the town’s hidden past.

From Burghley House to the famous George Hotel. Expect wild stories of bull runs, political corruption, and unforgettable local characters in one of England’s most beautiful towns. 

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www.undercurrentstories.com