Women Today

We were delighted to be joined on #MRWomenToday on November 3rd '17 by two 'veteran' broadcasters, Charles Guard and David Callister who, this very week, celebrate 40 years since starting their broadcasting careers in earnest, producing and presenting the current affairs show Mandate, hosting the ManninLine and of course presenting (and recording!) music for many years too. Charles stayed behind after the programme to share one of the stories we just couldn't fit in, and to chat further about why he's so passionate about our Island and why national broadcasting is so important.

We were joined on #MrWomenToday on Wednesday 1st November by orthotist Robin Perrie and podiatrist Amy Metcalfe from the Foot Health Clinic. They agreed to stay behind after the show and record this fascinating podcast with us about how to stay on top of your foot health - dealing with conditions like diabetes, corns, ill-fitting shoes and so much more! Well worth a listen - if you value your foot health! To find out more about the clinic and what they do, visit their website here: https://www.fhc.co.im/

On Tuesday Oct 31st we themed our show around the oldest continuously running Manx tradition of Hop Tu Naa (for obvious reasons, considering the date!) We were joined by Katie King from Manx National Heritage, James Franklin from Culture Vannin and Ruby Biscoe-Taylor from the music group Biskee Brisht (who have reinvented the Hop Tu Naa song especially for 2017). After the show, we all sat back and had a good old fashioned chinwag about ghostly happenings that have happened to us personally here on the Island, that we just can't explain - I don't think any of us will be venturing near Castle Rushen or Gansey again any time soon, put it that way!! Enjoy... mwahahahaha!

We were joined on Thursday 26th Oct by Janet Lees, Creative Writing Facilitator, along with Liz Atzori and Jayne Paton who are two of the women inspired to write by the Port Erin community arts project. All three agreed to stay behind after the programme to chat more about the wonderful initiative, to express what a difference it has made to their lives and to share some of their excellent work. LINKS:

Jane's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JPSayle69/

Liz's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LizAtzo/

Janet's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janet.lees.393

The Hub: https://www.facebook.com/HubCreativity/

Another of our special 'Conister Rocks' biographical programmes, where we talk to some of the Island's best known and best loved personalities, find out about their lives - and the music that means something to them. We were delighted to be joined on 23rd October 2017 by critically acclaimed crime writer and former Island resident Chris Ewan, author of The Good Thief Guide series and the No.1 best selling thriller ‘Safe House’ - which is just one of several novels that he has set on the Isle of Man, making feature of locations, events and quirks of the place to great effect. The international media calls his work “truly compelling” “chilling” and “outstanding” his books have been hailed as “popular fiction at its best” (The Spectator) and, in 2011, he was voted one of America’s favourite British authors by the Huffington Post. He shared his memories and music over the course of a fascinating hour and you can listen back here.

Christy and Beth visit the Craft Fayre and Art Demonstation day being held in conjunction with the 7th North Atlantic Native Sheep and Wool Conference being hosted by the Isle of Man from 12th to 15th October and speak to some of the Island's crafters and artists who are displaying their talents, demonstrating and giving workshops during the day and into the evening. The fayre is open until 9pm tonight (Friday 13th October 2017). Interviews include Gavin Carter, Nicola Dixon, Alice Quayle, Bill Kelly and organiser Sue Quilliam. Music is Croan Yn Taed, from a #MRSundaySoundtrack live session earlier in 2017

On 3rd October 2017 we were delighted to be joined by acclaimed wildlife artist Dr Jeremy Paul, on the day his latest exhibition opens to the public at the Isle Gallery in St Johns. He talked about everything from his technique to his studio, his work with the David Shepherd Foundation to his views on conservation.

Melinda Salisbury is a bestselling young adult author living on the east coast of England (although, if her enthusiastic tweets about her visit to the Island for Litfest 2017 are to be believed, she'll soon be setting up home on our very own shores!).

Her first novel, THE SIN EATER'S DAUGHTER, published by Scholastic in 2015, was the bestselling UK YA debut novel of 2015, and was nominated for multiple national and international awards, including the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the YA Book Prize, the Carnegie Medal, and the Edgar Awards Best YA in the United States. Rights have been sold in 17 countries to date, and Little Island Productions have optioned the series for television.

There is a misconception that the alcohol industry is dominated by men, but in 2016, gin sales rose by 16% largely thanks to premium brands, many of which are managed or produced by women. As if to prove the point, having just recently spoken with Mary Beth Cole from Foraging Vintners, a local artisan alcohol producer in the South of the Island, Christy then caught up with two women who are making a name for themselves in the UK with their somewhat surprising product... Camilla Brown and Liz Bezwick are two entrepreneurs who are breaking this glass ceiling in the spirit industry – they are also the inventors of new premium Gin brand CollaGin. Find out more here: https://collagin.co.uk/

Friday September 15th saw the latest in our series of special 'Conister Rocks' biographical programmes, where we talk to some of the Island's best known and most interesting personalities, find out about their lives and hear some of the music that means something to them.

Today we were delighted to be joined by artist Svetlana Cameron, who hails from Russia but has lived in Latvia, Slovakia, Malta and Italy before eventually moving to the Island in 2005. Her incredible artistic talent has propelled her from small exhibitions in local galleries to high profile portrait commissions on display in permanent collections around the world. And she can now boast the title of ‘Living Master’

**Includes additional exclusive post-show chat**