Tony Crooks started LeedsNet.com, the first public information service for Leeds, thirty years ago in 1996, before the internet got to the UK. He had 54 telephone lines, with a modem for each line, in the back to back house in Harehills he lived in at the time.

Originally starting his working life in horticulture, Tony became an award‑winning cabinet maker, and he has carried that mind-set of having the right tools for the job into his role as Group Head of Research and Development at Aotea Global, where he now applies the right mix of knowledge, methods, and on‑the‑ground practices to solve real problems for communities and governments across Africa.

Welcome to How to Change the Size of Raindrops.

Tony is leading a massive $3 billion program to restore water cycles across East and Southern Africa. By re-greening huge areas of barren land with simple, natural methods the program will end floods and droughts, deliver full food-security to the nations involved, and enable them to export food in future years—just what Europe and the UK will need as climate change cuts their crop yields.

All the tools needed to fix these problems already exist; some are modern innovations and some have been used successfully for thousands of years. These tools are all tested, proven to work, and designed to work together as a whole, rather than in isolation.

Most people assume that helping to save the planet cannot make money and is basically charity work but the projections Tony has seen from financial experts show that these programmes can stand on their own feet and generate strong returns. Making them an ideal investment for anyone who wants to make the world better and, at the same time, earn a decent profit.

The Zimbabwian water delivery project he discusses in this episode is in the very final stages of negotiation now, and Tony has been told there will be orders for enough pumps to provide clean water at the point of need to between 2.5 to 5 million people in remote villages, meaning that those people's lives will be transformed. They will be able to grow all the food they need, water their animals, have much improved health outcomes and girls can go to school and get an education.

This is a brilliant episode about a Loiner who’s doing truly amazing things and it’s another one where we go off-piste from my standard questions.

Aotea Global will expand its presence from eight to twelve East & Southern African nations this year. Aotea Global are building a new website to replace the temporary one at www.aotea.global and the email for investors is investors@aotea.global - though they don’t have facilities yet for small investors, but you can still register interest.

NB This is not financial advice

You can find out more about Tony’s work at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tony-crooks-aotea/

Or email him at: tony.crooks@aotea.global

Terrance McKenna clip from https://youtu.be/jDTWocis0YQ?si=Q3AsrJ3mK1H4Ic-A

Leigh Staunton is the Project Lead for the Leeds Mindful Employer Network — a one-of-a-kind, city-wide network bringing employers together across sectors to make work better for mental health.

Unique to Leeds, the Network connects organisations of all sizes to share ideas, learn from one another, and take practical action to create positive, psychologically safe workplaces. It offers free events, resources and regular communications to employers across the city who have signed up.

Commissioned by Leeds City Council, the Network is led by Leigh and guided by a Steering Group of local employers, ensuring its work is grounded in real-world challenges and solutions.

An English language teacher in a past life, Leigh has also worked in employability, in training and development and has supported people with mental ill health to find and stay in work. A mum of three, she is deeply passionate about helping local employers build inclusive cultures where people feel supported, valued, and able to thrive.

Leeds Mind Find out more about our vision for mental health for all.

Join the Leeds Mindful Employer Network

Nominate a Mindful Employer of the Quarter

Find out more about the Mindful Employer Charter

Follow Mindful Employer Leeds on LinkedIn

Come to Conference

Conference details: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/events/conferences/leeds-mindful-employer-network/

Book your free conference tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/leeds-mindful-employer-network-free-conference-2026-tickets-1982897655265

Mindful Employer Event post on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mindful-employer-leeds_exciting-news-our-first-in-person-event-activity-7424813808591745025-ajf0/

Get tickets for Neuro Inclusion at Work here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/neuro-inclusion-at-work-moving-beyond-awareness-to-what-actually-works-tickets-1982296873310

Erene Hadjiioannou is a psychotherapist, supervisor, author, trainer, and (occasional) activist.

Erene has worked with adult clients since 2010 and is currently based in her private practice Therapy Leeds. She has specialist skills in supporting survivors of sexual and domestic abuse, including clients navigating the criminal justice process (known as ‘pre-trial therapy’).

Erene is an Advanced Accredited gender, sexuality, and relationship diversities therapist - awarded via Pink Therapy.

Between 2019 and 2022 Erene was part of an independent steering group that successfully lobbied to change the Crown Prosecution Service guidelines on ‘pre-trial therapy’ increasing access to therapeutic support for survivors of abuse.

Therapy Leeds is a LGBT+ friendly service.

You can find Erene at:

www.therapy-leeds.co.uk

www.pretrialtherapy.co.uk

@TherapyLeeds

https://www.waterstones.com/book/psychotherapy-with-survivors-of-sexual-violence/erene-hadjiioannou/9780367429515

Gill Beadle is an ILM7 certified Executive and leadership Coach with two decades’ experience in Technology and change Leadership roles within Health-Tech and Financial services.

She decided to become a Coach after seeing first-hand the impact Coaching had when working with her teams, as well as on her own confidence as a leader.

Gill specialises in working with teams and individuals going through periods of change, whether that is stepping into a new role, coming back from parental leave or navigating the uncertainty of organisational change.

As well as being a Coach, Gill volunteers as a Mentor for the GoodWork charity. Providing Mentoring for young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to support them getting corporate employment.

You can find Gill at:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-beadle-nee-maidens-64400ba3

Her website is www.Maidle.co.uk

And to find out more about Good Work go to https://www.goodwork.org.uk/

And if you'd like to buy The Chimp Paradox you can find it here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-chimp-paradox/steve-peters/9780091935580

Dominic Charkin was the CEO of a charity that was established in 2002 to work with local people to identify and overcome issues that affect their health and wellbeing at a community level. In the past few months the Trustees have decided that now was the time to close its doors and Dominic was in the middle of working through that decision.

While there is sadness in the decision he says, he’s learned so much about endings and how to make them positive, as well as having a new found voice, that being at the behest of commissioners and funders does not always allow.

The Old Red Fire Station

https://theoldfirestationgipton.org.uk/

Sir Wilfred Thesiger's Last Interview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swjcpS6EpV4

Helen Underwood is a Former NHS Physio, First Aid Expert, and entrepreneurial-mum on a mission!

With over 20 years in healthcare, including time in Children’s ICU and other NHS departments, I’ve devoted my career to helping people. Now, as founder of Underwood Training, Helen is creating a ripple effect of empowerment by making First Aid knowledge more accessible in businesses, schools, and communities.

Helen believes First Aid should be general knowledge. She delivers simple, practical, context specific First Aid Training and First Aid for Mental Health Training for individuals, groups and teams.

Underwood Training sessions are engaging and designed to build confidence, not just compliance.

Helen believes that anyone, regardless of background or profession can learn life-saving skills and that they should have the opportunity to do so, such that I’ve created a virtual first aid course for parents and carers. Her aim is to break down barriers and myths around first aid to help more people in our communities feel ready to act in an emergency.

To get in touch with Helen check out:

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/underwoodtraining

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/helenunderwood

Instagram: www.instagram.com/underwoodtraining1staid

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Underwood.Training1stAid

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@underwoodtraining5923

A video version of the interview will be released in 2026.

Sam Perry is Project Lead for Warm Homes at the Trades Union Congress, where he works to improve job quality in the clean heat and home retrofit sector, promote just and inclusive net zero transitions, and enhance the voices of working people in national and regional decision-making.

He established the North East, Yorkshire, and Humber Just Transition Network; leads on the Climate Action Pledge at Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission; is a national champion and enabler of trade union climate action (especially through green reps); and works closely with DESNZ on workforce planning in the retrofit sector.

Sam's background is in union organising and local authority social housing delivery, and his special interest is the climate, social justice, and economic opportunities of large-scale, publicly delivered home energy upgrades.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-perry-york/

https://www.facebook.com/SamPerryYork

https://bsky.app/profile/samofyork.bsky.social

And check out https://www.tuc.org.uk/about-tuc/our-history

Union Links:

Centenary of General Strike. https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/support-the-celebration-of-the100th-anniversary-of-the-general-strike-1926

Join a UK TUC Affiliated Union https://www.tuc.org.uk/join-a-union

TU news and campaigns https://www.labourstart.org/welcome/

Labour Start podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/1TOPX2A9YGDZnQSLz8oBZE?si=7ac312d15f7042b4

Simon Sapper and Martin Smith’s Organising for Change – the podcast for union builders https://open.spotify.com/show/09KsNslXwvHPuO8Dgt2AVC?si=3e904e09bdaf4125

Working Class History Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/3dqQUrBAmXgoU1Q6hcUnBX?si=1d84a837e0064177

Analysis News Playlist with Jane McAlevey interviews https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5wue8oAUyGr5RZszwAWS4sEpqAUNQ4qJ

A video version of the interview will be released in 2026.

Jessica Spencer runs Aladdin’s Cave Jewellery, a third-generation family run business in Queens Arcade Leeds, alongside her mum, Roberta. The shop has been in the same location for over 45 years.

From being a little girl, Jessica always loved 'treasure hunting'. She’s always loved the stories that antique and vintage Jewellery pieces carry, the idea that someone wore and cherished each piece long before it reached their shop.

That’s why Aladdin’s Cave focus on sourcing unusual, one-of-a-kind treasures for people who want something with meaning, not just another mass-produced trinket.

The shop itself is crammed full, every corner bursting with curiosities and a window display packed to the brim! it really does feel like stepping into a treasure trove.

From Art Deco engagement rings to Victorian mourning jewellery, and even quirky little finds like silver napkin rings, their collection is a celebration of history, beauty, and craftsmanship.

Run in the early days by Jessica’s grandpa and auntie, before her parents took it over in the late 90s. Sadly, though, Jessica’s Father died in 2003, which is when Jess stepped in and started her antique jewellery journey proper.

She had just finished a Broadcast Journalism degree at Leeds Uni and was still trying to make it in the highly competitive TV industry. Jessica says, “I always thought I would go back to it, but over 20 years later I'm still here, and love my job now, way more than I did in my 20s and 30s”.

For a long time, Jessica worked in the shop itself, but after maternity leave and having two kids it made more much more sense for her to work from home and concentrate on the website, marketing and everything needed behind the scenes.

Her favourite part of the job though, is still sourcing beautiful antique jewellery at auctions and fairs. From everyday jumble sales and car boots up to the more prestigious end of art and jewellery fairs. Jewellery really is in Jessica’s blood.

You can find Aladdin's Cave online at:

https://www.instagram.com/aladdinscaveleeds/

https://www.facebook.com/aladdinscaveleeds/

https://www.aladdinscavejewellery.co.uk/

J Warren Jones was born in Leeds in the early 70s and lived in Wakefield for most of his life. Travelling extensively in his late teens and early twenties and working in the gambling trade for 20 years before starting Mrs Atha’s café in Leeds in 2012. A fresh start doing something to make people happy rather than the morally corrupt world of gambling. He ran the popular café for 12 years, serving the city centre and surviving a global pandemic, before finally closing it's doors earlier this year.

Warren in his own words is, "now attempting to be a professional musician" and by the sounds of his single debut solo single Daylight Robbery he's certainly got the chops!

It's worth listening to the episode just to hear it.

You can find J Warren Jones at:

https://www.instagram.com/jwarrenjones/

https://www.facebook.com/warrenjonesmusic/

YEP article about the story of the single:

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/leeds-mrs-atha-new-song-5369235

And you can buy the singe at

https://open.spotify.com/track/7iGpkmpot30QHyYxBTcqaS?si=7fe159720c6943e2

https://music.apple.com/gb/album/daylight-robbery/1843158215?i=1843158217

The Lianne mentioned in the episode was Lianne Marie Mease from Butterflumped you can check out her WHP interview here:

https://the-working-hours-podca.captivate.fm/episode/lianne-marie-mease

As a Health and Lifestyle Coach with over 20 years' experience in medical research, including a BSc in Biomedical Science and a PhD in Drug Metabolism, Louise Guilfoyle is passionate about using science to empower people to take control of their health.

Through personalised, evidence-based coaching, Louise helps her clients cut through the confusion of conflicting health advice and make sustainable changes that boost energy, reduce stress, and support long-term wellbeing.

As a working mum Louise understands how hard it can be to prioritise your own health amidst the demands of work, family and life. That’s why her approach is practical, compassionate, and rooted in real life; no fads, no gimmicks, just small, consistent changes that lead to lasting results.

Most chronic illness is preventable, Louise’s mission is to help educate and empower people to prevent it and feel better, stronger, and more in control of their own health every day.

Prior to setting up on her own, Louise worked in medical research for nearly 20 years at The University of Leeds, Yorkshire Cancer Research and most recently was the Head of Research at The Stroke Association.

Through this work, it became clear to her that, whilst we know that 80-90% of heart disease, 90% of strokes, around 40% of cancers and nearly all type 2 diabetes are preventable through lifestyle changes, all the money and resources are channelled into the treatment of chronic diseases rather than preventing them in the first place.

Louise wants to be able to educate and empower people to take control of their own health and make lifestyle changes that are achievable and sustainable so they can ultimately live longer healthier lives.

https://www.instagram.com/thebalance.healthcoach/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/louise-guilfoyle-phd-358251b6/

If you're interested - UK life expectancy since 1765 https://www.statista.com/statistics/1040159/life-expectancy-united-kingdom-all-time/

A video version of the interview will be released in 2026.

Derek Miller is native of Chicago where he got his background in acting and improv at Improv Olympic, Second City and Piven Arts. Derek spent 20 years in Hollywood, teaching and performing at The Second City, iO West, and UCB. His improv show Opening Night! ran for 20 years with over 1,000 (mostly) sold-out performances.

He used his improv chops on shows like Scrubs, The Goldbergs, Wedding Band, and Drunk History; in movies like Transformers 3; and in over 100 commercials. He’s also written on three TV series, a sketch show, and a feature film released on Amazon last year.

Since moving to the UK, Derek has taught improv all over Europe, been on the BAFTA nominated Packed Lunch - which shot here in Leeds, and has written for Nickelodeon in London. You can catch him this summer in Wednesday on Netflix (directed by Tim Burton), and this autumn in The Running Man—where he got to work with another bucket-list director, Edgar Wright!

He currently is a gigging actor and writer based in Leeds and teaches screen acting and screen skills at Leeds Beckett University and Met Film Leeds.

https://www.firsttakeworkshops.co.uk/derekmiller

https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2479885/

And if you're going to Amsterdam, make sure you check out Boom Chicago:

https://boomchicago.nl/

A video version of the interview will be released in 2026.

Asma Khanum is a pioneering Speech and Language Therapist of Bangladeshi heritage and the CEO of Chatterbug Speech and Language Therapy Service. With a wealth of experience, Asma is deeply committed to supporting children with SLCN, drawing from her unique perspective as a neurodivergent individual and a mother of neurodivergent children. Her work has earned her the ASLTIP Leadership Award, recognising her dedication to high quality, tailored support for every child with SLCN.

Join Asma in this talk to explore our innovative solutions and learn how you can make a profound impact on children’s lives across the UK. Discover how, together, we can provide the support that ensures every child has the opportunity for a bright and successful future.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/asmaceo/

https://www.instagram.com/asma.ceo/

https://www.instagram.com/chatterbug_slt/

Dave Pike joined the Trades Union Conference (TUC) from the NEU (National Education Union) where he was leading on activist development and mobilisation. Dave has worked on several high-profile campaigns, including leading the NEU's response to Covid in the East Midlands and mobilising around pay campaigns, as well as a number of local disputes - including with a large education service seeking to restrict the voice of LGBT+ educators.

Further, Dave has a wealth of experience in organising with care workers and delivery drivers. He also brings to the TUC valuable experience in building resistance against the far right, and supporting the LGBT+ community.

https://www.tuc.org.uk/neyh

https://www.instagram.com/tucneyh/

https://bsky.app/profile/davepikesheff.bsky.social

https://x.com/TUC_NEYH

Infinitely curious and endlessly imaginative, Jin-Theng Craven thrives at the crossroads of art, culture, and storytelling. A former broadcast journalist, banker, and artists’ agent, she brings a rare multi-lens perspective to her work as a filmmaker and arts producer. Her projects span art exhibitions, international festivals, and documentary films — all driven by a desire to excavate hidden stories and bridge the worlds of “East” and “West.”

From co-producing Singapore Uncovered with Asia House in London to creating documentaries like Being and Becoming Chua Ek Kay (2013) and Ahmad Zakii Anwar: Edge of Obedience (2017), Jin-Theng has built a body of work that celebrates bold vision and meaningful collaboration.

Her latest venture, Bills and Beats, is a 360° initiative blending film, community, and financial literacy to empower young creatives.

Whether leading ambitious projects or amplifying the visions of others, Jin-Theng brings precision, imagination, and a globally informed eye to every collaboration.

Check out Bills and Beats:

https://billsandbeats.com/

https://www.instagram.com/billsandbeats/

Buy tickets for Bills and Beats: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bills-and-beats-how-money-goals-work-for-musicians-and-makers-tickets-1554914524199?aff=oddtdtcreator

Follow Jin Theng:

https://www.instagram.com/jin_theng/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jin-theng-c-creative/

Laura Stubbs runs social media agency, Coucou Social Media, helping small businesses and charities in Leeds get their message out to a wider audience online.

She has worked in marketing for 15 years and is also a Trustee of Made with Music, a charity which bring accessible music events to families in Yorkshire. Laura formed her social media agency in 2023 to enable her to support her autistic son. Her family flexi-schools (part home educates) and are passionate advocates for SEND reform.

https://www.instagram.com/coucousocial

https://www.coucousocial.co.uk/

https://www.designmyfuture.eu/

Listen to the Ahead Partnership episode here: https://the-working-hours-podca.captivate.fm/episode/Olivia%20Collins

Emlyn Hagan was born in Liverpool and has lived in Leeds for nearly 28 years.

Leaving school at 16 Emlyn completed an apprenticeship with Ford Motor Company in Liverpool, following which he worked as an Electrician – Control Specialist. In 1994 he took voluntary redundancy and moved to Ware in Hertfordshire to work as an Electrical Technician in a pharmaceutical factory.

A brief spell as a Technical Support Manager in Newcastle followed before he moved to Leeds to complete a 4 years BSc in Business Information Systems. In year 3 of his degree Emlyn found a placement with a corporate insolvency data software company which led to a permanent position as a Data & Development Manager. Emlyn left this position due to a period of poor mental health following years of managing depression, anxiety, social phobia and body dysmorphia. He took a year or so off work and during this time decided that he no longer wanted to work in the private sector or full time. He found employment with Mencap Pathway, first as a Job Coach, moving up to being a Senior Education & Employment Coordinator by the time he left. Emlyn’s next step came as a result of seeing an advert for an Employment Specialist for Community Links/Leeds Mind.

Emlyn has worked for Leeds Mind for around 16.5 years in a variety of roles – Employment Specialist, Job Retention Specialist, Employment Peer Support Coordinator and since 2022 has been the Lived Experience & Peer Support Team Leader. His current roles involve managing a variety of lived experiences projects within the charity, this gives him an environment where he can make a difference and be his authentic self.

Emlyn’s had a variety of part time jobs or additional jobs over the years including running market stalls, driving a delivery van for a flower shops, managing a charity shop and helping to run a CIC. Alongside working for Leeds Mind Emlyn manages his own business, Emlyn Hagan Coaching & Change, which offers therapeutic coaching with a focus on sessions in nature for people wanting to make changes in their life. He lives in his partner Chris and their cat Rita.

Follow Leeds Mind:

https://www.instagram.com/leedsmind/

https://www.facebook.com/LeedsMind

Join the Befriending Service:

https://www.leedsmind.org.uk/services/befriending-leeds/

Follow Emlyn's Coaching Business:

https://www.facebook.com/emlynhagancoaching

https://www.instagram.com/emlyn_hagan/

Follow Emlyn's Bike Powered Events:

https://www.facebook.com/Grassrootsevents

https://bike-power.co.uk/

In this engaging episode, join Kirsty Elton as she shares her unique journey from aspiring teacher to Viking-inspired business coach.

Kirsty opens up about her early dreams, her experiences in healthcare recruitment, and the pivotal moments that led her to where she is today. She dives into the challenges of her MS diagnosis, her perspectives on social media, and her passion for making a lasting impact through her work and her recently published book.

Discover the wisdom behind her leadership style, her thoughts on work-life balance, and what drives her to keep pushing forward.

You can find Everwyk Consulting at: https://www.everwyk-consulting.co.uk/

Or follow her on: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyelton/

Kirsty's book: https://amzn.eu/d/f5JMaX6

Listen to Alan Thompson's episode: https://the-working-hours-podca.captivate.fm/episode/work-is

In this deeply personal and insightful episode, Dr Stewart Manning recounts his lifelong passion for medicine, shaped by childhood experiences and a genuine desire to care for others.

From memorable stories about medical school pranks and meeting famous personalities while serving as the Leeds United doctor, to the impactful charity work he now pursues in retirement, this episode takes you through the highs and lows of a storied career.

Learn how personal tragedies and professional challenges shaped Dr Manning’s approach to patient care and advocacy, and gain a greater understanding of the human side of medicine. Discover how he's continuing to make a difference through various charitable endeavours and the lessons he's learned along the way.

Mentioned in the episode

https://www.leedsunited.com/en

The Manning's podcast: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2SCaBSIENmpIWwtcuGgA7q?si=c3b87e5930c1433d

https://www.yorkshirecancercommunity.co.uk/

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/

https://canceralliance.wyhpartnership.co.uk/

https://www.therobertsinclairdavidsonfoundation.org/

https://www.pancreaticcancer.org.uk/

https://www.st-gemma.co.uk/support-us/donate/

https://www.cancer52.org.uk/

https://elladawsonfoundation.org.uk/

https://www.anthonynolan.org/

https://canceralliance.wyhpartnership.co.uk/latest-news/t-shirt-competition-helps-spread-cancer-messages-far-and-wide

https://cancersupportuk.org/

https://beryl.cc/scheme/leeds

https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/beryl-burton-cyclist

https://www.mndassociation.org/

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/people/roundhay-park-dream-wedding-for-leeds-woman-with-motor-neurone-disease-480794

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/council-speech-on-plan-to-move-leeds-war-hero-arthur-louis-aaron-vc-statue-587951

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/retro/remarkable-story-of-leeds-war-hero-arthur-aaron-inspires-city-museum-tribute-631189

Olivia Collins is the Marketing and Communications Manager at Ahead Partnership, a purpose-led business which drives inclusive growth and social impact through bespoke skills and careers engagement programmes that support young people.

Olivia is a Philosophy graduate from the University of Leeds, specialising in ethics and aesthetics. Olivia started her marketing career in the recruitment industry before gaining experience agency-side and moving to Ahead Partnership.

In her current role, she develops and implements marketing and communications strategies for social impact programmes across the UK.

Olivia's favourite programmes to work on include initiatives that help to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes for young women before they enter the world of work. These include Ahead Partnership’s flagship Girl Tech programme which connects young women aged 12-14 with role models in digital and technical roles aiming to address gender diversity and bias in the digital and tech sectors.

More information about Girl Tech can be found here: https://www.aheadpartnership.org.uk/girl-tech

https://www.linkedin.com/company/girls-and-tech/

You can find Olivia on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-c-m-collins/

Michael Guy is a digital strategist with a background spanning leadership business analysis and accessibility. He spends his time making sense of messy systems. Over the years, he’s worked with charities, membership organisations, and SMEs—often at that difficult, slightly tangled stage where everyone knows something needs to change, but no one’s quite sure where to start.

His role is often about helping teams focus, prioritise, and move forward with confidence rather than deploying technology for the sake of it. A firm advocate for value and impact Michael translated his approach into his business Kingsbury Consulting. Michael says, “I get a real buzz from bringing clarity to complex challenges”.

Right now, he’s building a small, focused team that helps organisations plan and deliver digital change. He spent the last few years defining and refining a proprietary strategic framework. He’s running workshops and getting under the skin of how things work (and don’t), and shaping practical roadmaps that will actually get used.

Kingsbury Consulting’s mission is to help charities, public sector teams and small businesses make smart decisions, bring the right people along for the ride, and avoid wasting time or budget on the wrong things. He and his company are committed to making high quality Big Thinking accessible to everyone and he’s built a business on the principle of Leadership of Authority through Creative Collaboration.

You can find Michael at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelguy

https://www.linkedin.com/company/kingsburyconsulting/

Britta Ofori-Kuragu is a Purposeful Parenting Practitioner, Young Entrepreneurship Specialist and a Digital Safety Monitoring Analyst. She is also the Founder of Better Being by Britta Ltd and Purposed Potential CIC — the latter being a non-profit community interest company set up to equip and empower young people with entrepreneurial, financial literacy and future-ready skills

Britta is a passionate advocate for children, families, and purposeful living. After a 14-year career in Adult Social Care, where she was honoured as Colleague of the Year 2013, she made a bold shift in 2022 toward work more deeply aligned with her values: empowering the next generation.

Having lived in Ghana, Denmark, Australia and now the UK, Britta brings a rich, multicultural perspective to her work. She is a strong proponent of ‘Imperfect & Purposeful Parenting’ and young entrepreneurship, drawing from her personal experiences of childhood adversity and a deep belief in the potential of young people.

Alongside her children, she has co-created and helped turn their interests into real-world physical and digital products. Most recently, she’s helped Verity to write and publish her very first book, which is a milestone that reflects Britta’s dedication to nurturing creativity and confidence in young minds.

Through her social enterprise, Purposed Potential CIC, she hopes to extend this work to equipping and empowering even more children to develop their potential and pursue their passions, while supporting parents to intentionally nurture their children in a way that makes them feel seen, safe and secure.

Britta currently supports parents through her membership: The Purposeful Parenting Club, which equips parents to build an empowering relationship with their children.

Britta also works part time as a Digital Safety Monitoring Analyst, which involves keeping children and young people safe online.

At the heart of Britta’s mission is the unwavering belief that every child has a future worth nurturing. With each initiative, she helps parents become allies and children to become changemakers in their own right. She believes that when parents are purposeful and nurturing, they plant seeds of hope and possibility in their children’s hearts and empower them to thrive.

THE PURPOSEFUL PARENTING CLUB:

https://www.betterbeingbybritta.com/ThePPC

VERITY’S BOOK - Verity the Visionary: A Little Girl’s Story of Her Entrepreneurial Journey

https://amzn.eu/d/0JdtHtU

Richard Michie has been in marketing since before the internet, cutting his teeth in old school Direct Marketing. Then the internet came and made his job 1,000,000 times faster and a lot more fun!

Throughout his career he has worked client side in translation (twice), holidays, nursery furniture, big book mail order (ask your mum), and renewable energy and worked for digital agencies in Yorkshire too.

Richard launched The Marketing Optimist in 2016 vowing to do marketing in a different more agile way to the traditional marketing agency set up.

He’s great at taking complex marketing problems and cutting right through to the core of the issue. Not one to hang around, he likes to begin creating and testing strategic marketing plans quickly so that he can begin to generate return on investment quickly.

If you'd like to work with the Marketing Optimist you can find them at:

https://www.marketingoptimist.co.uk/

Business LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-marketing-optimist/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardmichiemarketingoptimist/

Candice Waldie is the Owner of Recovering my Balance. She’s an experienced Mental Health and Wellbeing Professional with over 6 years of extensive experience in mental health training.

Candice has lived experience of c-ptsd, anxiety and depressive disorder and was recently diagnosed with Autism. She is adept at delivering high-quality training courses and fostering a positive learning environment.

She’s also currently studying to be a Therapeutic Coach and she’s volunteering as a Region of Learning Ambassador for West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

Website: https://recoveringmybalance.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/recoveringmybalance1/

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@recoveringmybalance-tm7zd

Jack Hurley is an artist who started later in life and is mainly known for the Rubbish Seaside series of parody travel posters. Originally from the South, he’s lived in Leeds for well over two decades and was a mental health worker in the city for much of that time.

https://loudribs.com/

https://www.instagram.com/loudribs/

https://www.facebook.com/

This is the third consecutive episode where the guest has allowed me to use their video for YouTube. If you'd like to be on the show and you're up for being on YouTube Get in touch. There's only 18 free places left for the podcast - yeah, I do need to change the intro monologue again but, I don't have time.

Emma Longbottom is a Wellbeing Coach, Energy Healer and Yoga Teacher based in Leeds, UK. She is the founder of Wellbeing with Emma

Emma is passionate about empowering people to reclaim their energy and find their joy. She works with people who want to find a path to wellbeing but are overwhelmed, feel like they’re missing out on a better life and are struggling to find moments of joy and gratitude in their life. Emma does this by offering a range of holistic wellbeing practices both online and face-to-face. She combines coaching with energy work, movement and meditation.

Prior to founding Wellbeing with Emma, Emma worked for over 20 years in a corporate environment, developing and implementing many very successful programmes and initiatives. However, for many of these years she was sucked into a toxic productivity mind-set and ended up with chronic pain, recurring laryngitis (at its height she had 11 weeks in one year where she couldn’t speak), she was stressed, felt unhealthy, sluggish and was always tired.

So she started to question if there was a healthier way to live?

This was when yoga and mindfulness entered her life and her healing journey began. Holistic practices such as yoga, meditation and energy healing completely changed Emma's life, supporting her to reduce stress levels, reduce pain and live more in tune with herself.

It had such an impact on her that she decided to re-train and start her own business so that she could support other people to make positive changes.

Emma's business contacts:

Website - www.wellbeingwithemma.com

instagram - www.instagram.com/wellbeing.with.emma

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/emma-longbottom-251487114?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

And check out her YouTube - www.youtube.com/@Wellbeing-with-Emma

Don't forget to donate to this show too. Thanks!

Micky P Kerr is a dedicated teacher and aspiring footballer who transitioned into a professional comedian and author.

Micky discusses his early dreams of becoming a football player, the reality check during teenage years, a newfound passion for music, and the eventual turn towards teaching and comedy.

His journey continues through teaching experiences, comedy gigs, and the challenges faced along the way, including our usual suspects COVID-19 and Brexit, social media strategies, business risks, and the struggle between teaching and pursuing artistic passions.

As if he doesn't have enough to do he's also got a book to promote, it's called 'Football, the People's Shame.'

https://www.waterstones.com/book/football-the-peoples-shame/micky-kerr/9781915672551

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Football-the-Peoples-Shame-Audiobook/B0DR9DJ1JQ?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp

https://reallyfunnycomedy.co.uk/

https://mickypkerr.co.uk/bio

https://www.facebook.com/mickypkerr

Claire Kenny is a company founder, writer and content creator.

She’s has 25+ years of experience as a commercial copywriter and communications professional, with recent projects including editing a factual book on the history of Motown for an internationally-known performer and copywriting for a major beauty brand.

As a 40 plus influencer, Claire was a 2 x finalist in the Yorkshire Blog Awards and has been published in Woman and Home, the Yorkshire Post, and Yorkshire Life.

She is also a columnist in the Yorkshire Times and Yorkshire Businesswoman magazine.

In her efforts to destigmatise loneliness and aloneness, Claire hosted a #SoloSaturday Instagram live for two years and has also hosted her own radio show. When she isn’t working, Claire is a very proud mum, rescue greyhound owner and (reluctant) gym-goer.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-kenny-85ab4ba/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/my40pluslife.me/ 

Dean Smith's current job role, is as a Warehouse Operative for AW Hainsworths in Leeds.

Dealing with the curing, sizing and packing of cloth to be sent to fashion houses. They also supply the Military all across the world and the Royal Family - just to name drop.

Recovery Runners is a voluntary organisation.

It was set up in 2021 by Dean Smith and Jamie Heselden as a community group for people dealing with addiction, mental health problems, illness and more. Dean and Jamie have won multiple community awards for their efforts.

They meet weekly and go for runs and walks of various distances at whatever pace suits the individuals. Running can help bust stress, aid emotional processing and improve sleep – all of which are linked to better mental health.

https://recoveryinleeds.org.uk/recovery-runners-community/

https://www.awhainsworth.co.uk/

https://skidrowmarathon.com/

.

Paul and Rebecca Bolster are the owners of Tasty Kitchen and Coffee, a beloved family-friendly café in Oakwood, Leeds.

They’ve built Tasty Kitchen & Coffee to where it is today with a lot of hard work and by understanding their internal and external customers - what they want and need. This is supported by our thriving outside catering business, where we have catered for several large scale events including backstage catering at Leeds Festival for artist for 6 years, as well as regular corporate and party catering throughout the Leeds area.

Paul has recently opened a new pizza restaurant (Ottimo Pizza) with a business partner, also in Oakwood and they’ve been getting some great reviews and are starting to see it really take off after a tricky few months at the end of 2024.

The couple shares their insights on managing social media, handling customer service, and the impact of local events like the Oakwood Farmers Market. They also reveal their aspirations for expanding their service model.

We also hear how Paul is looking to use his 28 years of knowledge and experience in hospitality to help other small businesses grow in these challenging economic times. Help newer business focus on all things customer service, operations, marketing, financials but most importantly their people.

Photo used by kind permission of Tasty Leeds.

Copyright Tasty Leeds 2025

You can find Tasty in Oakwood and online at:

https://www.tastyleeds.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tastyleeds/

https://www.facebook.com/tastyleeds

Check out https://ottimo.pizza/ for their menu and socials.

Also, as we mentioned them and they did one of the cakes, if you're in Harrogate also have a look at https://www.bakeribaltzersen.co.uk/

WHP Episodes mentioned.

Work is Hot to Trot with Jo Myers https://player.captivate.fm/episode/129f84ce-bffa-4fe8-ab08-e1a57483aeeb/

Work is Tasty Goodness with Amy Bennett https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a5db6cee-45e3-4126-a92e-b26e010966ff/

Kim Heslip is the founder of Nest and Flourish Interiors, a Yorkshire-based interior design studio dedicated to creating inclusive, accessible spaces that enhance wellbeing, dignity, and independence. Following a 20-year career in nursing, including 15 years as a community nurse, Kim witnessed first-hand how thoughtfully the designed environment can transform health and quality of life. Inspired by this impact, she retrained in interior design at the National Design Academy and now specialises in creating beautiful, supportive spaces for family homes, workplaces, and community settings.

Kim’s unique healthcare background shapes her approach to design, ensuring each project supports the specific needs of individuals of all ages and abilities. She believes that inclusive and accessible design goes beyond just meeting mobility needs—it’s about creating spaces that are intuitive, adaptable, and empowering. Whether it’s designing homes that evolve with life’s changes, workplaces that accommodate diverse needs, or community spaces that welcome everyone, Kim ensures that her designs promote ease of use, comfort, and independence without compromising on style.

You can find and follow Nest and Flourish at:

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nest_and_flourish

Linked In: www.linkedin.com/in/kim-heslip

Website: www.nestandflourish.co.uk

Neil Wilson is the Managing Partner at Chadwick Lawrence, a leading West Yorkshire based law firm recognised for its progressive approach and commitment to employee wellbeing.

Neil's journey into law began after completing his law degree (LLB) in 1996 and qualifying as a solicitor in 1998. Unlike many solicitors, Neil did not go straight down the legal route after school, opting instead to move to Germany to learn the language and study European Business Studies. He then moved to a government managerial position for 14 years, before changing careers to law aged 33 having studied for his law degree and postgraduate diploma part-time on evenings and weekends.

Since becoming Managing Partner in 2014, Neil has been overseeing 210 employees from eight offices across West Yorkshire, with an anticipated turnover of £16.2 million in 2024/25. Specialising in sports and employment law, he has established himself as a trusted advisor to many of the region's top organisations and sports clubs, including Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Town Football Club.

If you'd like to work with Neil or Chadwick Lawrence you can find out more at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sportsandemploymentadvisor/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/chadwick-lawrence-llp/

https://www.chadwicklawrence.co.uk/

Other stuff mentioned in the show:

https://www.jamiepeacock.co.uk/

https://www.menspieclub.co.uk/join-leeds

Kirsty Scott is the co-owner and joint managing director of Leeds-based construction marketing agency, Harris Creative.

Kirsty took over the business along with her business partner Neil Craven in 2020 in a management buy-out, having previously been PR director at the company.

Kirsty has worked in PR and marketing for her entire 18-year career, and – apart from a brief stint in a graduate role with HBOS – has always worked with small agencies, starting out promoting toys and baby products, and gradually moving further and further into the world of B2B marketing.

Get in touch with Kirsty and Harris Creative

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstyscott0/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/james-harris-associates/

https://www.instagram.com/harris.creative/

https://harris-creative.co.uk/

Recorded on 20/03/2025

Jaydon Rowbottom has a lifelong passion for art and creativity from his early aspirations to becoming a versatile and successful illustrator, artist, and maker professionally.

In this episode Jaydon delves into his experiences with school, the influence of family, and the challenges and joys of turning a creative hobby into a profession.

He talks about his current projects, including his part-time work with an all-female-led event set design company called Bazaar, and his aspirations to work on larger scale projects and collaborate with more people. Jaydon also touches on the impact of the pandemic, the benefits and drawbacks of social media, and his eco-conscious approach to art.

Listen as Jaydon reflects on his dreams, processes, and the ever-evolving landscape of being an artist in today’s world.

You can find Jaydon at:

https://www.instagram.com/jaydonrowbottom/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaydon-rowbottom-30634a177/

Dr Reem Ameri is an Educational Psychologist and Founder of Loom Psychology. She is also a qualified teacher and has over 20 years of experience in education and Psychology. Her company offers virtual psychological assessments for children and young people aged 0-25 years. Her story-driven assessments tap into her love of powerful storytelling.

Dr Ameri works with Local Authorities, schools and directly with families. Her mission is to make psychological advice more accessible for children and families through using technology to break down geographical barriers.

As a mum of 4 (plus one fur baby), Reem is always on the go and has a lifelong passion for learning, travel, and chocolate.

You can find Dr Reem Ameri at:

loompsychology.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-reem-ameri-490aa435/

Simon Williams is the owner and director of SW Retail Consultancy Ltd. Their strap line is 'Big ideas, Simple solutions' and this is exactly what they try to deliver to their clients. Simon works closely with business owners who want to deep dive into their organisation to understand their opportunities for growth and savings.

Data is the key to unlocking the potential of every organisation and this is where SW Retail Consultancy start. Analysing the sales in, structuring it into a simple, easy to understand format, and then shining a light on performance highs and lows.

Their raison d'etre is to help with SMEs who have one eye on costs but are keen to invest in external expertise. Simon takes his valuable experience from companies like Asda and Morrison’s and miniaturising it for SME's. He also works with suppliers either already in or looking to get into the retail sector and carries out project work for larger organisations.

You can find Simon on LinkedIn at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/simon-williams-616b876/

Holly Thompson currently works as a property photographer and EPC assessor for an estate agent full time as well as having her own wedding photography business.

Holly’s work has varied from working in newspaper publishing, advertising and marketing, to a 5-year stint as a chef, to health and safety work during Covid and finally to kick-starting her dream of being a photographer.

Holly left advertising in 2019 after building up clients to start her first year as a wedding photographer but, due to Covid she needed to diversify quickly to survive.

Then a boom in the wedding industry in 2021/2022 meant business was suddenly incredible, but with rising taxes and the cost of living crisis, this had also hit hard and Holly had to seek full-time employment again, as well as also honour her existing committed bookings.

If you’re getting married in Yorkshire or you’re off to a wedding and they need pics or you need any other photography doing go and check out Holly's website to see examples of her work.

Go check it out anyway it’s a good website.

Go to www.flashforwardphotography.co.uk to find out more.

UPDATED VERSION 29/07/2025 WITH FOLD TRACK Resistance, Refusal, Ridicule

Thanks to Seth for letting us use this in the episode. Buy the single, it's good and it's less than £3 quid: https://www.patreon.com/FoldFM/shop/resistance-refusal-ridicule-audio-single-1712348?source=storefront

Seth Mowshowitz is a neurodivergent father of 2 neurodivergent children and the benevolent dictator of Leeds music collective & now community group Fold. He has as many nationalities as he has limbs.

He’s a designer with 25 years’ experience. He’s a big picture thinker.

He’s a self-employed music producer & performer, teacher, web & print designer and web developer.

Seth does a lot of different things for work, none of which pay terribly well because most involve music. He makes & performs music (mostly as the head / founder of a group called Fold), he teaches music and promotes music.

Last year he was awarded funding to run a music production workshop for young people facing barriers, which at the time of recording he was (or at least he was when he sent me the email with this copy) 4 sessions into. In Seth’s capacity as a designer he freelances for a charity called Amyloidosis UK. He also helps out with his partner’s disabled son as a career when needed.

Seth says, “I’m doing this interview mainly in my capacity as the guy from Fold because that role best represents who I am and what I’m trying to achieve in my work. As it says in our bio we aim to amplify humanitarian perspectives & critical reflections on today’s world through our music”.

You can find out more about Fold and buy merch, music and gig tickets at:

https://fold.fm/

https://www.instagram.com/foldfm/

https://fold.bandcamp.com/album/resistance-refusal-ridicule

https://www.youtube.com/foldfm

Listen to Dan Akers, Episode No.90 Work is Business:

https://player.captivate.fm/episode/e3d2a13f-ad82-4f79-aa64-c344f7bbb36b

Recorded on 19/01//2025

Samantha Rudd, is from Leeds is married with a beautiful 6 years old son with Autism. During the week Samantha is a supply teaching assistant working at various schools.

She had attended the classes at SOS Dance in Morley for 2 years until she decided to start teaching the routines herself and the rest, as she says, is history. Sam says teaching dance is, right up my alley! She loves to empower and inspire people through Commercial Dancing.

You can follow Samantha and SOS Dance on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sossamanthadance/

Steve Bootle is a freelance photographer based in North Leeds, with over 25 years’ experience.

Steve works mainly in corporate, business and commercial photography, concentrating on business portraits and PR. He also covers events and conferences, along with weddings and bar / bat mitzvahs.

We discuss the challenges and rewards of a career behind the lens, the impact of the digital revolution on photography, and the ongoing influence of social media on his industry. Steve also delves into the realities of freelancing, the importance of networking, and his hopes for the future, including his desire to give back through community and charity work.

You can find Steve Bootle at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevebootle/

https://www.facebook.com/stephen.bootle.31

https://x.com/sb1photography

In this compelling episode, we explore the transformative work of AfriKindness, a charity dedicated to advocating for kindness, cultural understanding, and racial harmony among children and young people.

Founders Bumni and Pedi share their journeys, emphasizing the importance of empowering families and addressing complex racial challenges through community engagement, co-production, and educational initiatives. They also discuss the organization's rapid growth, the impact of COVID-19 on their mission, and the crucial role of social media in amplifying their message and reaching a global audience.

https://afrikindness.org/

https://afrikindness.org/support-us/volunteer-with-us/

https://afrikindnesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/2195332/episodes

In this episode, we hear from Farina McKay, a dynamic professional who reminisces about her childhood dreams of working with monkeys at a zoo, then navigating through creative writing aspirations, and ultimately finding her niche in linguistics and sales within the cybersecurity field.

Farina shares insights into her current role in an identity advisory company, discussing the challenges and rewards of sales, and the impact of remote work, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, she touches upon her advocacy for more women in tech, the complexities of social media, and the importance of real, meaningful human connections in the digital age.

Tayba Azim runs her own private practice in Counselling & Psychotherapy, organizes and facilitates psycho-spiritual retreats, and provides Mizan Therapy—womb healing techniques to address conditions of the reproductive organs, emotional health, and unresolved trauma.

With over 15 years of experience in mental health, domestic abuse, and trauma, she focuses on supporting women all over the world, of all ages, especially the South Asian community, particularly Muslim women, and those that are neurodiverse.

Tayba employs an Islamically-informed approach in her counselling, tailored to her clients' needs, educating Muslim women about their rights within Islam. She empowers women to own and reclaim their menstrual cycle and rights within a capitalist society, helping to dismantle the guilt and shame imposed by patriarchy, culture, and colonialism.

https://nurturingheartandwomb.com/

Instagram: @nurturingheartandwomb

In this episode, Melissa Canavan reflects on her unique and varied journey from having childhood dreams of working in roles as diverse as a Royal Dishwasher to eventually finding her calling in nursing and coaching.

Melissa shares insights into the challenges faced during her education and early career, the important personal decisions that led her to write a book and offer coaching, and the transformative life experiences that have guided her professional and personal growth.

As always, we discuss the impact of societal issues like COVID-19 and climate change on Melissa’s work, and how she navigates the complexities of balancing work, personal growth, and social media presence.

You can find Melissa Canavan at: https://www.authormelissacanavan.com

Or buy the book at: https://www.authormelissacanavan.com/buy-the-book/

Also check out https://www.shinecollective.co.uk/shecanshine

Miranda Arieh is the HEROES Group Work Programme - Founder & CEO, offering 'Healing, Education and Recovery of Emotional Strength'. She’s an Award-Winning Mental Healthcare Consultant, a Lived Experience Practitioner, a Trauma Informed Care Specialist and a BBC Radio Presenter. In this compelling episode, Miranda shares her journey from aspiring singer to a mental health advocate and public speaker.

Drawing inspiration from punk and grunge artists, Miranda channelled her creativity into creating the HEROES Group Work Program, a mental health initiative designed to help individuals recover from trauma.

Facing her own struggles with mental health, Miranda developed this program based on her lived experiences and extensive self-education. Now, she trains others to offer this life-changing support, focusing on building community and fostering genuine human connections to heal trauma.

www.mirandaarieh.co.uk

www.heroesnetwork.co.uk

Instagram/Facebook/X/LinkedIn: @mirandaarieh

In this episode, Andy Simpson shares his journey from childhood aspirations of being an RAF pilot to co-running a successful signage business, FastSigns, with his father. He discusses his early interest in sports, his educational path in computer science and maths, and his eventual entry into the signage industry through franchising. Andy also dives into the challenges and opportunities brought by COVID-19 and reflects on the importance of sustainable practices and social media in modern business.

You can find Andy at: https://www.fastsigns.co.uk/leeds/

So, 150 episodes in. In five years. Still. We’re at 150 so now we’re on the push to 200 as soon as we can. There’s more to come from Series 5 and I’ve got a dozen interviews in the can already for this year.

I always need listeners, guests and most importantly donations. If we’re to get anywhere doing this, it needs to start receiving donations. Hit follow, share or donate to help the project hit that 1000 interviews.

Alan Thompson is the founder and Managing Director of Business Dad Ltd.

And is often recognised from the back of his head, usually in a photograph at an event where he can often be found hovering around the food and drink table.

Having been a Business Adviser under the EU-funded AD:Venture programme from 2018-2023, working with new start to 3 year old businesses offering advice, mentoring and being the one to hold them to account. When the EU funding finished, he set up Business Dad Ltd to continue working with small business owners on their daily challenges.

In a career spanning 50 years he’s worked in Asset Finance for 2 major banks, Business Recovery for 2 large accountancy practices, run his own retail, e-commerce and consultancy businesses and he brings all of that lived experience to the table to help his clients to succeed.

If you'd like to work with Alan you can contact him at: business-dad.co.uk

Or find him at https://www.linkedin.com/in/alanthompson-adv/

Colin Grist is the other Co-Founder and the Creative Director at Few and Far.

Few and Far help charities make the world a better place. Proud to work only with charities and do-good organisations in bringing their experience and expertise in digital to a sector in real need of support.

Colin worked for almost 15 years in digital - across design and development - creating award-winning work for organisations such as: WaterAid, The Bank of England, Blue Cross and Mind.

Colin speaks openly about his own mental health experiences both as a founder but also as a creative person and he set up a platform called 'Pressures & Perspectives' to help break the stigma around mental health in the creative industry.

Recently Colin became a Trustee at Leeds Mind and is also a qualified gym instructor & dance instructor, providing dance classes to the local community for over 3 years.

To find out more about Few and Far go to: https://www.fewandfar.co.uk/

Check out 1% For The Planet here: https://www.onepercentfortheplanet.org/

And if you're unfamiliar with B-Corps check their UK website here: https://bcorporation.uk/

You can buy Let My People Go Surfing here: https://www.waterstones.com/book/let-my-people-go-surfing/yvon-chouinard/naomi-klein/9780143109679

Other booksellers are available but my mate works at Waterstones.

You can also check out S04 E19 of Working Hours to hear from Colin's co founder Thomas Nadin.

Gillian Rogers is a retired GP and a member of the Royal College of General Practice. She is also the Founder and CEO of Autism Arena CIC, a non-profit community interest company set up to help families of autistic children navigate health & social care, education and leisure.

Gillian took medical retirement from the NHS after having a stroke 10 years ago. A mum of 3, a carer of autistic and neurodivergent children, she also has an acquired neurodiversity.

In Lockdown, when home-schooling, Gillian noticed her son was behaving differently and had some learning challenges. On checking the diagnostic criteria for autism, she realised that she needed to refer her son to be assessed for autism.

It was through doing that Gillian realised there was no easy way for non-doctors to access the information required to work out what to do for autistic child. Rather than every family having to go through a torturous process, she decided there had to be an easier way, and it would be very beneficial to others to share her knowledge skills and experience.

At the bottom of everything was a child who needed the right support to be able to reach their potential.

Gillian has set up a non-profit community interest company (CIC) to help families be stronger advocates for their children. She is delighted to have been awarded National Lottery Community Funding towards this work.

She’s created a website, organised online peer support sessions, educational webinars and attended events in schools to support families. Gillian also provide individual consultations for families and she says, “I have had lovely feedback, where my advice has made a difference to people's lives”.

To work with Gillian go to: www.autismarena.org.uk

If you are in any doubt about listening to this episode please avoid but, I would highly recommend listening to it if you can. Debbie is a great speaker who is passionate and insightful on her discussion areas.

Debbie Riley recorded on 31/10/2024

Debbie Riley was born and raised in Leeds and has lived all her life in Leeds (apart from a couple of years away at university). She is a Lived Experience Speaker and started her business Talking from Experience to deliver educational talks in three areas in which she has first-hand experience:

1. Eating Disorders - The Reality Behind the Diagnosis

2. The Impact and Reality of Being Sexually Abused as a Child

3. When Exercise Becomes Harmful.

Debbie's talks are tailored to audiences’ and their needs. Debbie has delivered workshops and talks from 20 minute to 4 hours in length and everything in-between. Her talks are always audience appropriate whether that's for a school assembly for 300 Year 7 pupils or a staff group at the Metropolitan Police.

All Debbie's talks are delivered from the perspective of her own lived experience. They provide insight into the recurring and ongoing harm these 3 experience have had on her person and the ongoing personal as well as wider social costs that can and did result.

Debbie uses her own personal experiences to draw attention to these 3 wide spread social harms which effect so many people in Leeds. Her talks are disarmingly honest and refreshingly straight-forward about topics that most of society would simple prefer to minimise, ignore and repress.

Debbie's workshops show us how pretending something isn't there or doesn't exist doesn't make it go away. No matter how much we want it to.

Get Debbie to come and speak at your workplace or organisation: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbiearile

If you'd like to know more about Visible go to:

https://visibleproject.org.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/@VisibleVoicesPodcast

If anything in this podcast has affected you and you live in Leeds please visit the Mindwell Leeds website https://www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk/

Courtney Jocelyn is the Founder and Organiser of Leeds Indie Market. Leeds Indie Market is a pop-up market community in Leeds. They organise especially curated markets featuring artisans, hand-makers, bakers and other independent businesses in an around Leeds.

They organise markets for everyone, with their indie market events hosting an eclectic mix of vendors and their moon markets which hosts a darker, more alternative selection of artists and makers.

https://www.facebook.com/leedsindiemarket/

https://www.instagram.com/leedsindiemarket/

Rachael Unsworth is an urban geographer fascinated by the long-term evolution of cities, including prospects for the future. After a geography degree and PhD, Rachael became Head of Research for a firm of surveyors in London. Back in Yorkshire from the mid-1990s, Rachael was a part-time lecturer at the University of Leeds until 2013.

From around 2000 Rachael also became involved in research, policy and practice in the city of Leeds: planning, urban design, development and regeneration, housing and environment. Her publications include ‘21st century Leeds: geographies of a regional city’ (2004), a guide book ‘Around Leeds: a city reinvented’ (2008) and ‘Leeds: Cradle of Innovation’ (2018).

Since 2019 Rachael has been running a one-person business Leeds City Walking Tours, taking groups of locals, visitors and professionals on a range of tours and also offering presentations. Rachael also runs the events programme for the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society.

www.leedscitywalkingtours.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/leedscitywalkingtours

https://www.instagram.com/leedscitywalking

Janine Walker reflects on her childhood dreams of becoming a lawyer or FBI agent, influenced by TV shows and movies like 'Ally McBeal' and a film about FBI agents. It is called FEDS and it's from 1988.

Janine didn’t pursue these careers but found fulfilment in the arts, volunteering for Leeds Children's Theatre where she directs, choreographs, and leads workshops.

Janine also co-organize a Twitter-based Christmas book swap inspired by Icelandic traditions, which has grown significantly, connecting people around the world.

Janine has transitioned from a long-term banking job to becoming a debt advisor at Christians Against Poverty (CAP), fuelled by a desire to help others and leveraging her finance background to help others. Janine discuss the challenges and rewards of this role, CAP's holistic support approach, and its environmentally conscious practices. She also touches on societal issues like child poverty, inadequate financial literacy, and the importance of community initiatives for financial stability.

Links:

https://capuk.org/

https://www.leeds-childrens-theatre.co.uk/

https://x.com/ChristmasBkSwap

Lyla Asif is a very outspoken 30 something year old with lots going on. She's a disability and mental health “influencer” and all views are her own.

Insta @cerebralpalsywarrior91

@as.if_lyla_writes_poetry

Noah Roberts is a non-binary, Neuro-Queer disabled raconteur who uses creativity to reduce ableism.

They speak publicly and write about LGBT+ issues, mental health, disability and Neurodiversity. They offer freelance consultancy to creative projects and organizations on how to make their practice more accessible and engage a diverse audience.

They express their own creativity through performance art.

Noah is also a community news reporter and podcast host. They are foodie loving, plant based and write a blog reviewing places to eat and drink called spilltheequalitea.

Website: www.neurocoach.online

Socials:

Twitter : @blueglassesuk

Facebook: @creativecoachinguk

Instagram @blueglasses

Zine : https://heyzine.com/flip-book/02c356c98b.html

West Leeds dispatch paper:

https://westleedsdispatch.com/bramley-woman-builds-fat-pigeon-bakery-in-her-back-yard/

Jo Myers is one half of the Swine That Dines and Co-owner of The Greedy Pig.

This is the bio Jo sent me – She states: "In a nut shell I’m a fifty-year-old woman just going through the menopause and this is kind of "my issue" if you like. I want to talk about it so it becomes normalised for women coming after her. I'm a mother to a 20-year-old young man. Been married to husband Stu for about 10 years. But been together since uni.

We own and run a small restaurant. Have just done a successful crowd funding campaign. I do yoga and knitting and sewing to control the rage. Love my job. Absolutely love it but, never ever thought this is what I would end up doing."

Find out more about The Swine That Dines at: https://swinethatdines.co.uk/

Jo's photo is curtesy of Roo Warburton @roophotostudio

Nathan Atkinson and Kevin Mackay are the founders of Rethink Food.

Rethink Food is a not-for-profit Community Interest Company based in Leeds. Rethink Food are working to deliver 10 million hours of education in support of improved food security.

Founded by teachers in response to children arriving at school hungry, Rethink Food began its work in an area of high deprivation in Yorkshire and has now expanded to working with schools across the UK.

At Rethink Food, our passionate team is dedicated to creating healthier, more sustainable communities through education and innovative initiatives. From our visionary co-founders, to our dynamic staff including educators, managers, and creative professionals, every member plays a vital role in driving our mission forward.

Find out more about Rethink Food: https://www.rethinkfood.co.uk/

Eve Roodhouse, shares her journey managing the city's cultural and economic landscape. Discussions range from career transitions, the impact of local government services, and the importance of networking and stakeholder management.

The episode explores how Leeds has tackled significant challenges, including COVID-19 and Brexit, and the critical responses implemented to support businesses, manage financial stability, and adapt to new regulations and funding shifts post-Brexit. The importance of major cultural events in economic uplift, community spirit, and the continuous drive for inclusive growth is also highlighted through local examples like the Tour de France Grand Depart and the Yorkshire Sustainability Festival.

The conversation emphasizes the city's efforts in promoting sustainability and combating climate change through updated growth strategies, green job creation, and infrastructure improvements. The episode also covers the potential impacts of Universal Basic Income on societal and employment landscapes and spotlights the unique entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit that defines Leeds, making it a special place to work and innovate.

You can find Eve on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eve-roodhouse-10711b10/

With over 20 years’ experience in the tech industry, Bianca Spruit created Sprout Coaching to support the growth of tech businesses by preparing their staff to be leaders and growing high performing, happy teams. Bianca has personally experienced the frustrations of having managers who didn’t support her to grow, and of being the manager who wasn’t sure how to bring out the best in her team.

So, after qualifying as a coach herself she started putting her new found tools into practice coaching her team and the effects were incredible! Her team developed in ways she hadn’t realised were even possible. Employee retention as well as the quality of all work vastly improved and her own job became easier as the team were confident, eager and able to take on more responsibility making everyone happier. This is why Bianca is so passionate about sharing her transformational coaching skills and supporting as many people as possible to be the most effective, supportive managers they can be.

You can find Bianca on LinkedIn at: www.linkedin.com/in/biancaspruit

Or go to her website at: www.sproutcoaching.co.uk

Masato Jones recorded on 27/08/2024

Leeds based Japanese born Masato Jones, specialises in women’s and men’s designer bespoke garments with his eponymous life style brand company. They also have a great little walk in shop again named after Masato at 5 Thornton's Arcade, Leeds, LS1 6LQ

Masato also offers 1-2-1 tutoring in pattern cutting and garment making in his 1st floor Atelier. Masato Jones is a small independent local Leeds business.

Go check out the physical shop or the great range of stuff available on their online store at masato.co.uk

You can contact Masato at: studio@masato.co.uk

Lucy Moore is a coin specialist, curator, Wikimedian, unpaid carer and all-round good egg! Originally from south Lincolnshire, she's been in Leeds since 2007 when she came to study at the University. She's worked a wide-range of jobs since she was 15, starting in a chip shop to save up her fees for uni, via hog-roasting and butchery, fieldwork, care work, call-centre work and shop work until she found herself in heritage-work.

Lucy is currently Associate Curator of Numismatic and Object Collections at the University of Leeds, but at the time of recording was fresh out of a contract as Wikimedian-in-Residence at the National Trust.

If she's not busy enough, she's also studying for a PhD in early medieval coinage at the University of York, and is a trustee of Carers Leeds, Leeds Civic Trust and the Royal Numismatic Society.

When she's not working or volunteering, she's at her allotment, outdoor swimming or playing cars with her godson.

Instagram - @lajmmm

Image © The Guardian (Chris Thomond)

James Varley is the Founder and CEO of Holiday Cottage Handbook – a multimedia platform dedicated to helping short-term rental investors, hosts, and property managers. Additionally, James owns and manages two short-term rental properties.

He also run Varley Media – a communications agency that works with clients across the globe.

Previously, James worked in the media, including newspapers, magazines, radio, and TV. For two seasons, James worked as a video-journalist for Leeds United. From 2013-2023, he managed corporate communications for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup organising committee in Doha.

To find out more about James go to:

https://www.facebook.com/holidaycottagehandbook/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/holiday-cottage-handbook/

https://www.youtube.com/@HolidayCottageHandbook

https://www.instagram.com/hchandbook/?igshid=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D

Phil Heath has been a member and twice Distinguished Toastmaster with Toastmasters International for over 20 years and is a former member of the Professional Speaking Association for over 10 years.

Before Phil became a professional speaker, he was a trainer and sales consultant for several companies. He now coaches organisations and individuals in the art of presentations with a focus on communication.

A trainer / Business Consultant in International Standards, Phil has spoken and trained in over 10 countries in the last 10 years and has a background in ISO Standards auditing and training. Training in Egypt, Turkey, and Ukraine – every time he left the country there was a riot, a bombing, or an invasion!

Hopefully this session will be less volatile.

To work with Phil go to: www.philheath.com

To find out more about Toastmasters International go to: https://www.toastmasters.org/

Gary King helps business owners to have the freedom to choose where, when and how they work.

After 25 years in high-growth businesses delivering results at a senior level, Gary knew he could use his skills to help SMEs. A straight-talking, no-nonsense Yorkshire man, he now helps ambitious business owners create more time, more money and more choice with a range of online and in-person programmes.

His passion comes from bitter experience. When he started his business in 2010 he was regularly at his desk in the early hours doing expenses and missing his son’s football matches just to keep on top of work. And the guilt that came with that situation was almost overwhelming.

Having turned around his business and his lifestyle as a result, Gary now runs three successful businesses and it’s this experience he uses to help other entrepreneurs stop feeling guilty, start earning what they are worth, and giving them the ability to make choices about how they spend their time. He creates the freedom to choose.

Gary says, “I started Tendo because I was heartbroken that 95% of small business owners fail and I wanted to change those stats. I am driven by working with owner managed small businesses to develop high growth strategies and support them to take action and deliver the highest possible results.”

Gary is also The Director of The Association of Business Mentors and sits on their Executive Team.

To find out more about Gary go to: https://www.tendo-uk.com/

Jodie Hill is Founder and Managing Partner, Thrive Law. A neurodivergent solicitor, consultant, qualified coach and trainer, author and campaigner. Jodie is passionate about employment law, mental health and wellbeing and neurodiversity.

A qualified barrister initially called to the Bar by The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple in 2010, Jodie then cross-qualified to become a solicitor in 2013. Her mental breakdown in 2017, which Jodie now describes as her “mental breakthrough”, led her to establish Thrive Law in 2018. It was the first law firm in the UK founded with wellbeing and mental health at its heart.

Today, Thrive Law, headquartered in Leeds with teams in London and the Southwest, provides employment law support to employees and employers, as well as outsourced HR and employment law support, training, coaching and consultancy to businesses, nationally and internationally.

Mental health, wellbeing and neurodiversity underpin everything Thrive Law does. In addition to being managing partner of Thrive Law, Jodie is also an active member of the Employment Law Committee at The Law Society, as well as chair of This is Me Yorkshire, a mental health campaign focused on storytelling.

Jodie regularly carries out one-to-one and group training programmes and coaching focused on the workplace, covering key employment law and HR topics, all with the aim of developing progressive leaders and harnessing the power of people within organisations. She is also a qualified coach, having achieved the ILM Level 3 Award in Effective Coaching.

https://www.thrivelaw.co.uk/

Nick Smith is the Group Managing Director of Reward Funding - The original alternative finance provider.

Established in 2010, Reward Funding was launched to fill the fast-growing void left by traditional funding, building an alternative solution from the ground up.

To date, Reward has supported 2,000+ property investors and businesses and provided over £1bn in funding across its five product areas.

Reward prides themselves on supporting its clients with their borrowing needs, providing tailored solutions to put their business ambitions into motion with a flexible, dependable and rapid approach to asset-secured funding.

Backed by decades of banking experience, Reward's team combines seasoned expertise, hard data and sharp instincts with a rounded view of your opportunity and credentials. With this, Reward unlocks success at lightning speed so when the time comes to make the move, they’re to set your ambitions in motion.

https://rewardfunding.co.uk/about/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/reward-funding/

https://www.instagram.com/reward_funding/

Alina Manaila is 27 years old. Born in Romania and raised in the south of Spain (Almeria) Alina moved to the UK after turning 19. Living down south (London) for few months then moving to Leeds, Alina has been here ever since.

Alina started working as a care assistant when she arrived in the UK and has worked her way up through the sector from there. She is currently working as a Registered Estate Manager, for a retirement living development.

Alina enjoys helping people maintain their independence and live their best retirement life. She has always been an advocate for others, since being little Alina’s mum always thought she would end up being a lawyer, because, her mother says, she defends everyone.

If you’d like to know more about Alina's work go to:

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alina-manaila-048628173/

Alex Webb’s job is to drive footfall to the estates he manages in Leeds and Manchester and increase dwell time, Alex’s focus is on raising brand awareness and fostering an engaged community among office, residential, and local stakeholders. Alex aims to achieve this through an authentic program of activities in collaboration with partners who share his company Form Property’s values and brand principles. By creating a vibrant and talked-about social destination, Alex can enhance the overall experience and perception of the estate, encouraging more people to visit and spend time there.

If you’d like to know more about Alex and Form Property go to:

www.formproperty.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/company/formproperty/

https://www.instagram.com/form.property/

Claire is the Chief Executive of Carers Leeds. She has over 20 years’ experience in the voluntary sector in a career which has spanned research, policy and service delivery. Claire's previous roles include Director of Evidence at The Centre for Ageing Better and Head of Research and Policy at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Prior to this Claire was a Senior Associate in a regeneration consultancy firm and held a number of roles within Barnardo’s Policy and Research Unit.

Claire is a trustee of SJOG Hospitaller Services a national charity which supports older people, disabled people and people experiencing homelessness and modern day slavery to live the life they choose and fulfil their potential.

Claire Turner joined Carers Leeds in July 2021.

Carers Advice Line: 0113 380 4300 (Mon – Thu 9am – 5pm, Fri 9am – 4.30pm)

Advice e-mail: advice@carersleeds.org.uk

Web: www.carersleeds.org.uk

https://www.facebook.com/CarersLeeds

https://www.linkedin.com/company/carersleeds/

https://twitter.com/CarersLeeds

https://www.instagram.com/carersleeds

Danielle Heward is the owner of Optimo, an operations consultancy dedicated to having a positive impact on people and the planet.

Disheartened by the damage done by mainstream business, she set about creating a company that would promote positive change by elevating those organisations making a genuine difference in the world and has been growing the Optimo team since lockdown, including having her wife join as co-director in January 2023.

Having moved to Leeds in 2016 from Birmingham, Danielle has been inspired by the local business community - she has enjoyed building her business within that context and is excited to continue this journey!

https://optimobusiness.co.uk/

Mark Warner runs Plate 2 Plate Compost. Plate 2 Plate Compost is a small Leeds based business, employing people with learning difficulties, supporting the community of Leeds and producing a quality general purpose compost that is 100% organic matter, peat and chemical free!

The two parts to his work are:

1) Waste food collection service from homes and businesses in Leeds

2) Selling a quality general purpose compost, made from waste food, that is ideal for your garden, allotment or potting shed

Mark loves the idea of food going from our plate, to compost, to our veg patch and back to our plate.

I met with him to in a groovy café in Leeds as we need somewhere warm with seats in town to record. This episode is a complete version of what we discussed.

This unmonetized bonus episode of this podcast features unlicensed copyrighted material in the background.

The unfortunate inclusion of copyrighted material in this unmonetized bonus episode of this podcast was unforeseen, is unintentional and was purely incidental.

For this reason:

This unmonetized bonus episode is not published for commercial purposes.

This unmonetized bonus episode has been published for information purposes only as a recording that was undertaken for the Working Hours project.

Vickie Rogerson is a seasoned PR communication specialist with more than 20 years of senior level comms experience working with some of the UK’s biggest food and drink brands. She has been on both sides of the fence by working in a range of industry-leading PR and advertising agencies as well as seven years as Head of Food & BWS PR in-house at Asda.

She founded North PR in 2018 as she saw a food and drink skills-gap in the PR industry which was letting down brands. They were paying for fancy communications campaigns that just didn’t deliver, from PR professionals who didn’t understand the sector.

She is on a mission to celebrate great food and drink stories from exciting brands that are making a real difference in the buzzing food sector.

She is adept at creating and delivering bespoke, thoughtful and impactful profile raising campaigns that turn heads.

Her portfolio boasts leading lights in the food and drink arena such as Asda, Pizza Express, Sloemotion Distillery, Holland’s Pies, Violife, Butterkist, Farmison & Co, Pork Farms and R&R Ice Cream.

To find out more about Vickie and North PR go to: https://northpr.co.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/northpruk/

https://twitter.com/northpruk

https://www.linkedin.com/company/north-pr/

More cheese Gromit? https://homage2fromage.co.uk/

Sophie, of Sophie Seddon PR, is not just a communications specialist. She is a storyteller on a mission to help guide brands towards their confident spotlight. With a background in journalism - National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) qualified - and a seasoned communications officer for West Yorkshire Police, Sophie’s journey has been defined by a passion for storytelling.

Having faced the challenges of self-promotion in setting up her own business, Sophie can empathise with the struggles of stepping into the spotlight. This understanding drives her to provide a nurturing business support system, helping brands to embrace their story and shine authentically.

https://www.facebook.com/sophieseddonpr/

https://www.instagram.com/sophieseddon.pr/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophieseddonpr/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/81700480/admin/feed/posts/

https://www.tiktok.com/@sophieseddonpr

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVYoTduL4Rnz6H_50YwmNxA?themeRefresh=1

Sophie’s Portrait by John Steel Photography https://johnsteelphotography.com/

Fiona Bradley is the Founder & Director of FB Comms, a social media content agency named Start-Up of the Year 2024 at the EU Content Awards.

Having created content and run campaigns for the likes of the NHS, Rolex, Coca-Cola, and growing many start-ups, Fiona was named Digital Agency Owner of the Year 2023. Alongside running The After Work Club networking events and lecturing MSc Marketing students at Durham University, she's a coach for the Riding for The Disabled Association.

If you’d like to know more about Fiona and FBComms go to:

https://fbcomms.co.uk/

Check out Work is Pushing Boundaries for Reinhard's Working Hours episode. This bonus episode focuses specifically on Reinhard's knowledge of UBI (Universal Basic Income) and his involvement with UBI Lab Leeds.

Reinhard’s master’s thesis was on ‘Economic Justice for Sustainable Health’. His thesis was based on the concept of time autonomy as an important factor of personal health. The promotion of health should consider healthy longevity of life and the ability to self-determine the use of time. Searching for relevant literature Reinhard came across Antonovsky’s theory of Salutogenesis (the causes of health) and his Sense of Coherence (SoC) concept (how individuals make sense of their environment and use resources to successfully deal with stressors).

SoC includes three components which enable human beings to move towards the healthy end of the multi-dimensional health-disease continuum. The three components are: 1) Comprehensibility - cognitive component, 2) Manageability - instrumental component 3) Meaning - motivational component.

At the time Reinhard didn’t know about Universal Basic Income (UBI) as a potential tool which could enable time autonomy and could be an instrumental and motivational component of SoC.

In 1992 Reinhard Huss moved to the Central African Republic and worked for seven years in the north-west region as public health advisor. The region, the geographical size of Belgium with a population of only 600,000, (bit smaller than Leeds’s) who were, in absolute economic terms, very poor people. The health project aimed to improve the quality and coverage of health services and was mostly financed by the German Government. During this time Reinhard Huss asked himself whether the health of local people would be better served, if the German government would give the invested money directly to local people? Reinhard’s interest in governance (and corruption) arose from the experience that most development funds just seeped away, before they could reach the people in need and their health facilities.

After his return to Germany Reinhard worked at the head-office of the German Technical Cooperation (now GIZ) for a year. This experience reinforced his conviction that international development cooperation was more interested in maintaining current socio-economic systems rather than supporting people in their emancipation from an unsustainable and unfair global economic system. (I swear to you I didn’t write all of this)

Reinhard then worked as an international public health academic at the University of Heidelberg and in 2005 joined the Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development at the University of Leeds until his retirement in December 2019.

In his master thesis Reinhard Huss adapted Kant ‘Any attempt of a technical solution for the global health problems of today is likely to fail, if it avoids to address the underlying ethical challenge, whether all human beings are ‘ends’ or whether many are ‘means’ for the ‘ends’ of some’.

Reinhard Huss says, “We require UBI as a societal institution so that human beings will treat each other as ends rather than means and give practical meaning to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights’.”

That’s why Reinhard joined BIEN and the UBI Lab Network and UBIE, started UBI Lab Leeds in 2019 as coordinator and has dedicated his retirement time to the promotion of a Global UBI as a foundation for freedom, justice and peace. Which I think is awesome.

Reinhard’s article ‘Can universal basic income reduce poverty and improve children’s health?’ explains how a UBI can improve our health. There’s a link in the show notes but it’s behind a pay wall.

Links:

UBI Lab Leeds: https://ubilableeds.co.uk/

https://www.ubilabnetwork.org/

https://basicincome.org/

https://ubi-europe.net/

Reinhard’s article: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36997294/

Antonovsky’s theory of Salutogenesis: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK435860/

Sense of Coherence (SoC) concept: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK435830/

I’ll quote Dan’s email response to being asked about some blurb (I cleared it with him):

“Argh do I have to talk about myself in the third person?!! What about this...

Dan Robinson is a community organiser with a background in tech, sustainability and environmental action. A leader with infectious enthusiasm, he works cross-sector and has a passion for people development and creating community impact. He has led or founded a number of non-profit organisations.

In my defence, I took some of that from our website so I didn't write it!!”

https://linktr.ee/ediblegarforth

https://www.incredibleedible.org.uk/find-a-group/incredible-edible-garforth/

https://www.facebook.com/ediblegarforth/

https://edibleleeds.org.uk/garforth-community-wildlife-area/

https://edibleleeds.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/incredibleedibleleeds

https://www.facebook.com/IncEdLeeds

https://twitter.com/IncEdLeeds

Reinhard Huss studied medicine in Bonn and Nottingham. He worked in the NHS as a clinical doctor and researcher for four years including two years in Leeds. He was a senior teaching fellow at the Nuffield Centre for International Health and Development at the University of Leeds between 2005 and 2019. He was the programme leader for the Masters course of International Public Health and has more than 30 years’ experience in health system development and workforce capacity building.

Reinhard worked for five years in Zimbabwe as a clinical medical officer with additional responsibilities in public health and for seven years in the Central African Republic as public health advisor. He has contributed to various health assignments in Africa, Asia and Europe. He has a special interest in health sector governance and health professionals as social change agents, district health management, quality improvement of healthcare and good use of medicines and medical equipment.

Reinhard now dedicates his retirement time to the advocacy and research of Universal Basic Income (UBI) as coordinator of UBI Lab Leeds, a member of the Basic Income Earth Network (BIEN) and of Unconditional Basic Income Europe (UBIE).

To help support UBI Lab Leeds go to: https://ubilableeds.co.uk/

Laurra Davis is the founder and creative director of Leeds-based social media agency, Brilliant. They manage social media accounts for some of the UK’s best food and drink brands and celebrate their 13th year in business this month. At Brilliant Laurra oversees the creative output of the agency, and has a strong focus on tone of voice for brands and delivering that through social media content and advertising.

Laurra has lived in Leeds from age of 2 and studied theatre and creative writing, going on to form her first business called One Life Ceremonies with her mum when she was 23, bringing her writing skills to life through personally written and conducted ceremonies including funerals, baby namings and weddings.

Through running One Life she found a talent for social media marketing and became well known as someone who ‘knew what they were doing’ with Twitter and LinkedIn, so back in 2011, she started a side business of social media training which went on to become Brilliant.

Laurra is also a co-founder of B-corp certified sustainable product design agency, FIVE Create. They are the team behind the multi award winning air purification unit called Briiv (pronounced Breathe) which is the world’s most sustainable air purifier.

Alongside looking after her two children she’s also a Trustee for The Leeds Library which is the oldest surviving subscription library of its type in the UK. Socials are:

https://www.instagram.com/brilliantsocial/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/2726304

https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurradavis/

Jamie Taylor is a distinguished technologist and visionary leader, boasting over a decade of software development expertise. As the Managing Director at RJJ Software in Leeds, Jamie clinched the 'Most Visionary Software Development Managing Director' award in 2023.

Recognized as a Microsoft MVP, Jamie, among a select group of tech community leaders, seamlessly blends technical mastery in multiple programming languages and paradigms with a strategic partnership approach.

Jamie’s award-winning Leeds podcast, The Modern .NET Show, exemplifies his ability to bridge technical intricacies and real-world impact.

Beyond code, Jamie envisions a future where technology propels sustained business growth, positioning him as a transformative force in software development. His relentless pursuit of innovation, commitment to knowledge sharing, and strategic vision make him a sought-after partner for businesses aiming to elevate their tech game.

Links from Jamie:

Here's a short list of links for things I brought up during the recording:

https://mrbthegentlemanrhymer.bandcamp.com/track/frolicholic

Frolicholic, I quoted this when I said "generation X got this covered y'all"

Solo by Rebecca Seal

I mentioned this book when talking about working remotely

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snAhsXyO3Ck

Spaceship You by CGP Grey

https://rjj-software.co.uk/our-green-computing-objectives/

The green computing initiatives at my company

https://se-radio.net/2024/01/se-radio-597-coral-calero-munoz-and-felix-garcia-on-green-software/

I mentioned this episode (erroneously called the show "Software Engineering Daily") when talking about green computing. This is a discussion on the academic research into what green computing could be

https://rjj-software.co.uk/case-studies/dreamcast-years-finale-physical-release/

I mentioned a client who engaged us to produce a podcast episode on a MiniDisc; this is a case study on how we did that. Sharing this link because there are images of the MiniDisc

TAXTOPIA: How I Discovered the Injustices, Scams and Guilty Secrets of the Tax Evasion Game by The Rebel Accountant

I mentioned this when we were talking about Brexit

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaizen/

https://andysmanclub.co.uk/

The group that I volunteer with

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/24/1197956583/baby-bonds-proportional-representation-no-left-turns/

The episode of Planet Money which talks about an experiment for giving people social security from the moment they're born

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs/

I mentioned this during the discussion on UBI

And here are some self promo links:

https://linkedin.com/in/jamie-taylor-rjj-software/

me on LinkedIn

https://rjj-software.co.uk/

my company

https://leedscybersecurityconference.co.uk/

Leeds Cyber Security Conference, arranged by Lee Gilbank

https://www.yorcybersec.co.uk/cybrewery-evenings/

also arranged by Lee Gilbank

https://dotnetcore.show/

my main podcast: The Modern .NET Show, it's about software development with .NET

https://wafflingtaylors.rocks/

my other podcast: The Waffling Taylors, it's a discussion podcast about video games

https://twitter.com/podcasterJay

me on Twitter

Luke Pierce has been running his family business Abi Doors for the last 10 or so years. Leaving a life of sound engineering on television and shows ‘down south’ behind him to do so.

Abi Doors is the North’s leading supplier of garage doors, doors and awnings

With over 40 years of experience, Abi Doors has established itself as a trusted leader in the supply and installation of high-quality garage doors, doors, and awnings. Taking pride in offering exceptional products and services to homeowners, ensuring satisfaction and peace of mind.

Abi Doors understands that your home is your sanctuary, and believe that every detail matters. That’s why they specialise in providing top-notch solutions for all your door and awning needs. Whether you’re looking to enhance the functionality, security, or aesthetic appeal of your property, Abi Doors team of experts is there to guide you through the entire process.

https://abigaragedoors.co.uk/about/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/abi-garage-doors/about/

https://twitter.com/abigaragedoors

Rachel Surtees originally trained as a holistic therapist, growing and evolving her practice from there, she has worked with people therapeutically for over eighteen years now, including for the last six years working psychotherapeutically as a Relational Integrative Therapist.

Through her work and experiences in her personal life Rachel has become fascinated by people and the different ways we find of relating to each other. Rachel recognises the power of having good, supportive relationships as being one of the central keys to us feeling success and happiness as individuals.

Rachel has developed a deep interest in stories and the power they have to influence how we live our lives. She enjoys exploring with people the stories we create to help us make sense and meaning of our interactions with others and the world, and the things we experience in our lives that lead us to live out certain life narratives. Rachel finds deep joy in helping people transform their lives by supporting them to re-imagine the stories they hold which may be limiting them.

You keep up with Rachel and find out more at:

https://www.facebook.com/therapyinleeds

https://www.instagram.com/the_rambling_psychotherapist/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-surtees/

Charlotte Raffo recorded on 23/01/2024

Charlotte Raffo has lived in Leeds since 1997. Her award winning business The Monkey Puzzle Tree collaborates with Yorkshire artists to create locally made fabrics and wallpapers with a twist and a conscience.

Charlotte plays Indian harmonium and suitcase percussion in jazz band The Devil’s Jukebox, which has been delighting and terrifying audiences since the early noughties.

Charlotte’s other Leeds experiences include working at the Pittard’s tannery in Cross Green until 2006 when it sadly closed, and spending her formative years visiting The Phono alternative nightclub - where she met her husband.

This is the first video episode of Working Hours, so if you’d like to see Charlotte and myself as we chat then hop on over to the YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@workinghourspodcast4618

If you’re brave enough and if you’re interested in being on YouTube, then let me know you’d like to be on the show and you’d like to use the video from your online recording. I’ll clean my teeth, brush my hair and sort my background out for you.

Check out Charlotte Raffo and her amazing work at:

www.themonkeypuzzletree.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlotte-raffo-05360465/

https://www.instagram.com/the_monkeypuzzletree/

https://www.facebook.com/themonkeypuzzletree

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4RWjJkA6LAsqY3YTc3OjBQ

https://www.devilsjukebox.co.uk/

Recorded on 17/01/2024

Bryan Walters works in an office in Leeds 4 days a week doing admin. On Wednesdays he works on Geography Juice, his YouTube channel about Leeds History and Geography.

Bryan went to Christ Church Upper Armley Primary, Armley Middle School and City of Leeds High School. He left school at 16 to be an apprentice at Systime Computers (The "Glass Palace" next to the White Rose, now Capita). Agreeing with his parents that he could stay on at school if he got 5 A to C's. In the meantime, Bryan went for many interviews. This was 1982. He really wanted the Systime job and was pleased when he got it, in spite of big competition. (He got his 5 A to C's.)

Having finished the apprenticeship in 1985 Bryan was employed by Systime as a systems engineer. In 1987 he became a field engineer and had a company car with fuel card, aged 21.

In 1993 Bryan started studying a degree course in Geography (his favourite subject) with the Open University in his spare time, whilst continuing on as a field engineer. In 1998 he graduated with a 2:1. At the same time his career in IT was developing fast. By 2001 he was General Manager of Services at SphinxCST (An offshoot of Systime which by then was defunct). Unfortunately, in 2003, the division was moved to another business in the south.

Bryan could have moved with it, but decided to take the plunge and do a PGCE at University of Leeds to become a Geography teacher. Bryan joined Kettlethorpe High School in 2004 (one of his training placement schools). In 2006 Bryan became Head of Geography. In 2021, suffering a period of ill health Bryan took the decision to leave teaching.

However, he still loves the subject and continues to make videos and engage with it. He also loves his home city and loves exploring it and sharing his discoveries. Bryan says, “I guess my 4 day a week job funds my 1 day a week job, although, TBH, I spend much of my spare time on Geography Juice.”

All Bryan’s social media channels are all @geogjuice

If you’re interested in Leeds then check out his YouTube work, it’s really well made, informative and entertaining.

And if you fancy spending some time on YouTube then check out Working Hours channel at https://www.youtube.com/@workinghourspodcast4618 were you can find audiogram versions of all the podcasts, and in the next episode, you’ll be able to see me and my guest so hit subscribe and ring the notification bell.

If you’re someone in Leeds or from Leeds, if you are Leeds, then please be the guest on Working Hours. Yes, I do mean you.

If you’re a Loiner who is interested in where you live, where you work or where you’re from then obviously listen to and support Working Hours but, also check out and support Bryan’s excellent Leeds content.

You can find Bryan's work for Geog Juice at:

https://www.facebook.com/geogjuice

https://youtube.com/@geogjuice

https://instagram.com/geogjuice

https://twitter.com/geogjuice

Clare Clifford, Mum, Yorkshire lass, Leeds dweller, business owner, expert speaker, lover of shoes, wild swimmer and expert in digital content and founder of Sunshine Digital.

Clare is a Mum to three children and a Border Terrier. She loves coffee, Percy Pigs, gin, cheese and is obsessed with true crime books, podcasts, documentaries. She believes passionately in supporting local businesses and tries to shop small as much as she can. Clare created Find it in Farsley to help put her local community on the map.

Clare says there’s LOADS of digital content experts out there, it’s a really crowded market – so why choose her? In a nutshell – she really does know her s**t and she get s**t done.

Having spent almost two decades honing her skills, Clare is a true content expert who can get any business shining online.

You can find out more about her business Sunshine Media at https://www.sunshine digital.co.uk/

If you’re in Farsley, then check out https://www.facebook.com/FindItInFarsley/

Farakh Masood is the founder of True Green Energy. Farakh’s vision is to assist SMEs and corporates, including the oil & gas, mining, and renewables sectors, in achieving a socially responsible and environmentally sustainable transition to a circular economy.

In today’s dynamic business landscape, Farakh firmly believes that business objectives are fluid and subject to change. It is imperative that they remain adaptable to our evolving environment, assess available resources, and strategically determine the most suitable courses of action.

Farakh has a track record of delivering success. He has effectively collaborated with organisations and individuals across all continents, navigating diverse cultural and linguistic contexts.

Check out True Green Energy https://truegreenenergy.co.uk/

Helix at Leeds University https://digitaleducation.leeds.ac.uk/helix/

Quadruple Helix https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadruple_and_quintuple_innovation_helix_framework

Tracey Earl along with her husband Ian, runs We Are In Business a business networking group. We Are In Business helps solopreneurs and small and start-up business owners to grow their networks, gain new skills and build confidence in themselves and their business.

After running their own businesses for many years, Ian and Tracey knew being a business owner can be a lonely place a lot of the time. People often start their business because they are good at what they do, but running a business requires skills you might not have, might not want or might not be able to acquire. So, they co-created We Are In Business, a networking and business support community for SMEs and start-ups in Leeds.

We Are In Business give Leeds business owners a vital support network around themselves early on where they can exchange knowledge and experiences around the different aspects of running a business. We Are In Business is a community that supports, collaborates and advocates for each other, both in their online and face to face networking events.

Tracey say that surrounding yourself with a supportive network of business owners is the best way to grow and develop your business.

https://www.weareinbusiness.co.uk/

Andrew Firth has been involved with and working in digital since 2001, formerly as the MD of a design agency before setting up Ascensor in 2007. Over the past 16 years Ascensor has grown to become an award winning integrated digital agency, specialising in delivering sales and lead conversions for clients across many sectors, serving both B2B and B2C audiences. As well as running the business, Andrew heads up the sales function, speaking to clients about new software development projects and digital marketing activities, all focussed on driving growth for his clients.

https://www.ascensor.com/

Marketa Dolezalova is an academic researcher who studies migration, work and inequality. She is herself a migrant and worked in minimum wage jobs after moving to the UK, before returning to higher education and eventually doing a PhD and moving to Leeds.

Sal Poyser is an eco-entrepreneur that has a love for our planet and a burning desire to make a difference, she co-founded Adored Earth as a platform to inspire people to make small practical steps to reduce their environmental impact. Being raised by a botanist Sal was taught at an early age that small actions can lead to profound change.

Sal envisions a world where every individual can play a part in preserving our planet's beauty and health, whether it is litter picking, cleaning beaches, seed sowing, tree planting, or choosing eco-friendly products in the home. Along with her co-founder Jamie, Sal is on a mission to empower people with the knowledge and tools to make simple, sustainable choices in their daily lives.

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/adored-earth

Sal- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-anne-poyser-adoredearth

Website address: www.adored.earth

Alexis Percival is the Environmental and Sustainability Manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust based in Yorkshire, UK. She started as the first Sustainability Manager for an ambulance service in the country in 2009. Her challenging role involves reducing the carbon footprint of the blue light ambulance service through innovative technologies in the estates, fleet and procurement departments.

Alexis is working on the Net Zero programme implementing awareness schemes, rolling out a carbon champion scheme and installing innovative low carbon technologies across the estate. She has worked on the development of low to zero emission ambulances with innovative low carbon fleet technologies as well as facilitating the roll out of the EV charging infrastructure for the ambulance service. Working with civic and other healthcare partners to ensure additional infrastructure is implemented to support the service.

Alexis is also investigating the challenges of decarbonising the ambulance service through renewable technologies, Net Zero ambulance station design, phasing out of Entonox and looking at alternative models of care. She is working to prepare the ambulance service for climate adaptation assessing the impact of flooding, heat waves and sea inundation on the service.

Alexis set up the GrEAN (Green Environmental Ambulance Network) in 2010, connecting all of the sustainability leads across the ambulance services of the UK to drive forwards the Net Zero agenda.

Alexis has over 25 years of experience in the environmental field as an environmental consultancy working on large national and international projects in the UK as well as in Brazil, Germany, Mozambique and Australia. She’s even managed to fit in a career break spending 3 years driving around the world in an ex-military ambulance, travelling overland to Australia and then travelling around South America.

You can contact Alexis at: alexis.percival@nhs.net

On follow her on the platform formally known as Twitter @alexiskeech

Keith Madeley (AKA Mr Yorkshire (you’ll find out why in the interview)) left Grammar School at 16 and joined British Rail as a Clerk in Bradford. 2 years later Keith was moving to London for a promotion and then going on to pass all the exams to become British Rail’s youngest ever Station Manager at 21 years of age. Keith cites this as a great grounding for his future.

Leaving London at 25, Keith moved back to Bradford and initially worked as PR Manager at a Computer Software company before being promoted to General manager after 3 months and then becoming a Director of a couple of their subsidiaries. At 28 Keith joined with a friend to form an Independent Financial Advisory business which they ran together for 30 years. Keith was always looking at developing new products and building their business with PR. In 2004 they sold their business on to a major company. Since that sale, Keith has been Chairman and/or Non Exec Director of several companies and Charities/Non-profits.

Keith loves to help Yorkshire companies lift their profile and he is a member of the Board of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association, known locally as YABA. This role helps Keith on his personal agenda of promoting diversity and inclusivity in the area.

These days though Keith’s main focus is marketing his wife’s Children’s Educational book series, called Cones. Yep, that’s right. The books are about those ubiquitous orange warning/safety cones everyone has seen. Keith has secured sponsorship for every one of the Cones books so far each with a major company. With 18 Cones books now published, another 7 in different stages and more in negotiations, the Cones series is going from strength to strength.

Email keith@mryorkshire.com

Website http://www.mryorkshire.com

Cones Books: https://theconesbooks.co.uk/

Unity Club: https://www.unityclubleeds.com/

Chris Joy is a Project Lead at a construction and building management company but, that doesn’t tell you anything about his work or even his many previous roles.

Chris has done many 'off the wall' roles, some of which we cover in this interview. He didn’t send me any blurb for this intro but, you don’t need any. He’s not selling you anything.

This is one of those all over the place rambling ones. We’re mostly on theme though. Anyway we wiz through the questions at the beginning and then it turns into a rambling pub chat. Hope you enjoy it.

RJ Barker is a critically acclaimed and award-winning author of fantasy fiction. He won the 2020 British Fantasy Society (BFS) Robert Holdstock award for Best Novel for his fourth novel, The Bone Ships.

His debut trilogy The Wounded Kingdom (Age of Assassins, Blood of Assassins and King of Assassins) was nominated for the David Gemmel Award, the Kitschie Golden Tentacle, The Compton Crook and the BFS Best Debut and Best Novel awards. It was called ‘Thoroughly entertaining and constantly impressive’ by the Fantasy Hive, ‘One of the best fantasy series you will ever read’ by the BFS, and ‘A singular sensational new voice in epic fantasy’ by Kings of the Wyld author Nicholas Eames.

He followed this with the award-winning Tide Child Trilogy: The Bone Ships, Call of the Bone Ships and The Bone Ships Wake. These books have been hailed as “One of the most interesting and original fantasy worlds I’ve seen in years” by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and “Brilliant” by Robin Hobb, alongside rave reviews in Starburst, SFX, and a starred review in Bookslist: ‘A unique and memorable world – harsh and brutal and full of fully realized, powerful female characters. Barker has managed to craft a story inspired by Moby Dick, Game of Thrones, and pirate lore, and readers will be drawn in and fascinated.’

RJ lives in Leeds with his wife, son and a collection of questionable taxidermy, odd art, scary music and more books than they have room for. He grew up reading whatever he could get his hands on, and has always been 'that one with the book in his pocket'. Having played in rock bands before deciding he was a rubbish musician, RJ returned to his first love, fiction.

https://www.rjbarker.com/

George Richardson recorded on 05/07/2023

George Richardson is an ‘Outreach and Engagement Practitioner’ for the charity GamCare. George’s role is to reach out to different support services and talk to members of the public to raise the profile of gambling related harms and the support GamCare can offer. George also works with the Criminal Justice System mainly within 2 prisons in Leeds, delivering training to staff members and supporting prisoners who have been identified as having an issue with gambling.

Twitter - @LeedsCGS

Facebook – Leeds Community Gambling Service

Instagram - LeedscommunityGamblingService

https://www.gamcare.org.uk/

Paul Rutherford lives in Garforth and grew up in Headingly. Studying design at York St John and then staying on in York for a few years until meeting his now wife, who lived in Leeds. At the same time as that Paul was also starting his business in Leeds. It just made sense to move back.

Paul is now the director of Three Create, a 50/50 partnership with business partner Matt. In a nutshell Three Create design and manufacture a wide range of products and provide an equally wide range of services. In business for 9 years this October Three Create work on projects such as shop fittings, Marketing activations, event builds and much much more. Three Create have a workshop just outside of Leeds in Knottingley and moved there due to “massive cost increases in Leeds city centre”.

Just before starting the business and meeting his wife Kate, Paul was struggling with anxiety and having panic attacks. Paul says that the experience “changed my confidence and direction in life. Everything unfolded for the better in the end, but I still must battle with those mental health struggles when they decide to creep in!”

Check out 3 Create here: http://threecreate.co.uk/

Richard Henry is a devoted father of two and husband of one. He’s of Yorkshire heritage but has ventured further afield (working in the London area for over 10 years) and travelling abroad for both business and pleasure.

Richard is a keen footballer in the day; now focussing more on running (100km in 18 hours in Jul-22) interspersed with a bit of cycling, yoga and walking the dachshund (Freddie). Reading and listening to music/radio fill any gaps there may be in Richard’s day.

Richard’s work has kept him at the forefront of retail-based field marketing / market research projects for a number of years. His sector exposure includes: - retail, financial, FMCG, leisure, communications/technology, pharmaceutical, news and magazines.

You can follow Richard on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-henry-bb30b19/

Craig Smith from CRS Editorial is a double award-winning editor, proof-reader and copywriter with 27 years' experience. Craig is also a Professional Member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.

Would you like peace of mind your non-fiction or fiction book has been edited or proofread by an active professional?

Do you want to advertise your business or interests with copy and blogs that will keep your audience engaged?

If so, Craig's your man and CRS Editorial is the place to find him.

Contact: craig@crseditorial.co.uk

Website: https://www.crseditorial.co.uk

Or book a meeting at https://calendly.com/crseditorial

Or follow Craig on on socials:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigsmith81/

https://twitter.com/CrsEditorial

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA4bgbvngH2N9VBVEhLW5YQ

You can find the rap Craig mentions in the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OmrNGyVk38

Mindset and Leadership Coach, author, solicitor, law firm Partner, marathon runner, Columnist at Yorkshire Post, and German Shepherd dog lover! I help people move from thinking to results and hope.

Just so you know as it is not official yet, I step back from law at the end of this month after 30 years in the legal profession, and 28 years as a Solicitor so that I can devote more time to enjoying life, and on my coaching business. I tend to support professionals going through change and crisis.

Daxa M Patel | LinkedIn

https://www.daxapatelcoachingsolutions.co.uk/

My Dad and Me – by Daxa Patel (daxapatelmydadandme.co.uk)

Thomas Nadin is co-founder of Few and Far, a creative studio that helps charities make our world a better place. Having struggled with their own mental health in the past, the co-founders now work exclusively with charities to create brands, websites and interactive fundraising campaigns to increase their impact, tell their inspiring stories and give back digital expertise to the sector that needs it most.

Thomas' background is in Software Engineering and in a past life made train station software (some is still even running in Leeds City Station) and the prototype for one of the 'Best inventions of 2015’ as voted for by Times magazine.

Thomas is from Pontefract but has lived in Leeds for almost 10 years. He is a recent father (7 month old daughter) and long-time fur-father (7 year old Cockapoo). He's a craft beer fan, who made the Raynville Superstore website for all lovers of beer in Leeds, and who's Stag Do was all 6 sessions of the Leeds International Beer Festival in 2018. Now as a recent father, beer's taking a back seat and more exercise has been added into his routine, specifically taking up bouldering.

If you'd like to find out more about Few and Far go to https://www.fewandfar.co.uk/

Impact Optimiser: https://calendly.com/few-and-far/increase-online-donations?month=2023-10

Or follow Thomas on Social media:

twitter.com/nadinengland

linkedin.com/in/thomasnadin/

Brightbart’s Tailors of Leeds are now officially on a podcast!

Clive Brightbart and his twin brother Mervyn are bespoke quality tailors and they offer an alteration service, made to measure suits, appointments at home & office and can take wedding orders. Established for over 50 Years, if you want a proper Leeds tailored suit then give them a call on 01133 228 753 or email: brightbarts@gmail.com

Or visit their shop on Briggate for friendly advice

51D New Briggate,

Leeds,

West Yorkshire

LS2 8JD

There’s a good YEP article on the twins here:

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/meet-traditional-jewish-tailors-still-going-leeds-158164

And you can find them on Facebook but, I wouldn’t try to contact them through it.

Becky Holderness is a content writer, copywriter and trainee script editor who's trying to break into her first job in TV. She's worked in a variety of roles over the past few years, including as a sales assistant at the LEGO store, a Brand Voice Copywriter, and a scripted development assistant.

She's currently working as a freelance content writer, writing articles for Welcome to Leeds, a platform that showcases the best of Leeds' culture, creativity and communities. Although she loves writing a variety of content, she's been working hard over the past year to find a job in scripted TV. She went to Edinburgh TV Festival as part of 'The Network' in August, and was chosen for Screen Yorkshire's 'Beyond Brontes' and 'ScriptEd' trainee programmes last year.

Instagram @beckywritesscripts

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-holderness-34711918a

Listen to Flatmates on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/episode/2aBVQ1hoLDm8nfR7Hjmvz1?si=4CfqbBpsTkmjoL4jPcllOw

Dr Rory Padfield is an interdisciplinary social scientist and a lecturer in Sustainability and Business. In his research he engages with the broad themes of supply chains and natural resource governance, sustainable consumption and production, and corporate sustainability across and between different scales of business and organisations. Rory is especially interested in organisational supply chains that originate or have impacts in countries in the Global South. Drawing on political ecology perspectives to pursue critical questions around ethics, social and environmental responsibility, and local-global political economy.

Rory has investigated the adoption of international sustainability standards amongst small and medium sized food manufactures in Malaysia and Indonesia, sustainability impacts of water commercialization on Malaysian utilities companies, and examined the sustainability and traceability of palm oil in a UK university supply chains.

Rory’s unique academic background – spanning Geography and Environmental Engineering – facilitates a commitment to inter- and trans-disciplinary approaches to the study of the sustainability of business and organisations. His knowledge and experience of development in the Global South is grounded in six years working in Southeast Asia and extensive fieldwork in sub-Saharan Africa, including ten months spent in Zambia for his doctoral research.

Dr Alexandra Dales is an economic geographer and senior lecturer at York Business School (YBS), York St John University. Her early research centred on examining food and general merchandise global production networks, national retail markets, and sourcing and supply networks in the UK and elsewhere from an economic geographical perspective.

Dr Dales’s is a Principle Investigator for an XR Stories Funded Project 'Sustainability Stories: Investigating the UK creative industry and the communication of sustainability'. The project brings together academic expertise in market economies and firms (York St John University), and sustainability (University of Leeds), and is exploring how SMEs involved in film, multimedia arts, advertising and immersive and interactive digital technologies can communicate sustainability transformations through creative storytelling in order to engage policy makers, consumers and market actors.

Alexandra specialises in qualitative research methods, in-depth secondary data collection and thematic analyses. She has been particularly successful at developing industry contacts and securing participant interviews within previous research projects in both UK and Southeast Asian contexts. As a result of her research, she has become highly skilled at interviewing diverse participants.

https://environment.leeds.ac.uk/see/staff/2693/dr-rory-padfield

https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/our-staff/staff-profiles/alexandra-dales.php

https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/research/institute-for-social-justice/research-themes/ecological-justice/sustainability-stories/

The Creating Critical Sustainability Stories - A toolkit I can’t actually find a copy online but, I have a copy. So if you would like one email me and I’ll send you it.

Check out Climate Under Pressure here: http://climateunderpressure.com/

Check out Donut economics: https://doughnuteconomics.org/

Hall and Soskice, 2001: https://scholar.harvard.edu/hall/publications/varieties-capitalism-institutional-foundations-comparative-advantage

Dr Amanda Bretman is Associate Professor in Behavioural Ecology in the Faculty of Biological Sciences at the University of Leeds.

Dr Bretman’s expresses only her own views in this interview and not those of the University.

After completing her PhD in Leeds in 2004, she undertook post-doctoral research at the Cornwall campus of the University of Exeter and at the University of East Anglia in Norwich. She returned to Leeds in 2013 to take up her first independent academic position. Her research and teaching is in the field of animal behaviour. Using insects as models, she addresses questions such as how social cues alter reproductive strategies and ageing patterns, and how climate change will affect fertility.

In 2021, she became the University Dean of Research Quality, with a wide remit to support and enable the production of the highest quality research at Leeds.

BONUS EPISODE: 2 million people in the UK are living with sight loss that is severe enough to have a significant impact on their daily lives. Half of this sight loss is avoidable.

This year's National Eye Health Week Is taking place from 18 to 24 September 2023, promoting the importance of good eye health and the need for regular eye tests for all.

To promote National Eye Health Week Working Hours was lucky enough to speak to Farida Ali.

Farida Ali has a background in public health. Currently Farida is working for the charitable organization the Association of Blind Asians Leeds (or ABA Leeds) as their Community Engagement Coordinator. Her primary focus is connecting with diverse community groups across Leeds to promote eye health and the eye health services provided by ABA Leeds.

Farida also play a vital role in establishing and cultivating partnerships with other organizations in Leeds, working collaboratively to advance ABA Leeds’ mission. Farida contributes to event planning and, for the interim, takes charge of their social media management; ensuring that outreach efforts are effective and impactful and that they’re making a positive difference to the eye health of communities in Leeds.

If you’re listening to this on or before the 23rd September, the event Farida mentions is at the Reginald Centre from 10:30 to 2pm.

For more on National Eye Health Week go to: https://www.visionmatters.org.uk/

And to find out more about the BME Carers Roadshow go to: https://twitter.com/ABALeeds/status/1705229099755532770

You can find out more about ABA Leeds at: https://abaleeds.org.uk/

And for more information on the Enhance Project go here: https://abaleeds.org.uk/enhance-project/

For socials go to:

https://www.facebook.com/ABALeeds

https://twitter.com/ABALeeds

https://www.linkedin.com/company/abaleeds/

https://www.instagram.com/abaleeds/

Amy Bennett runs Chunk Cookies. Chunk firmly believe two things. One is that vegan food can taste better than its animal product alternatives, and two, there is a way to make the sustainable option the cheapest. That's why they set out to make incredible tasting vegan cookies that literally don't cost the planet. Amy wanted to provide a small treat that's suitable for everyone, something to sit around and share with friends or find 5 minutes of peace to yourself and eat snuggled up in a blanket. Either way, you can now eat amazing vegan cookies and help the planet at the same time.

Thousands of people have already made the switch to CHUNK, will you too?

To get yourself some Chunk Cookies go to: https://www.chunkcookiesuk.co.uk/

Sarah Jayne Young was always driven to a career in the arts, she went from working in a record store to a record company and then becoming self-employed, producing art shows, managing bands and artists and touring cabaret shows. It was an industry where she worked 24/7 and as much as she loved it, thrived at it, it was also burning her out. Sarah Jayne felt like something was missing.

Fast forward to now, and Sarah Jayne is running Sage Studio. Sarah Jayne has an Ayurveda Diploma, with Distinction from the Academy of Health & Fitness. She is a Level 5 Qualified Ayurvedic Yoga Massage Therapist including Pregnancy Massage. Sarah Jayne has been practising Vedic Meditation daily since 2012 and she is currently completing a Chopra Foundation qualification to teach meditation.

Sarah Jayne’s mantra is to help others and be kind, through AYM she will help you feel clarity, rested and relaxed.

You can find Sarah Jayne and Sage Studios by going to:

https://sagestudiouk.business.site

https://instagram.com/sageayurvedic

https://linktr.ee/sagestudioaym

Louise Atkinson is a visual artist, researcher and educator, specialising in the relationship between art and ethnography. She works in a range of media and techniques, including artist books, postcards, drawing, textiles, sculpture, and digital art, tailoring her approach to meet the requirements of the project or artwork.

Her recent projects embody ideas of representation, artistic interpretation, curation, participatory practice, and social justice. These include working as an artist researcher with colleagues across applied linguistics, disability studies and heritage.

She is currently based at the University of Leeds as a Visiting Research Fellow, producing practice-based responses to Chinese wallpaper in British Country Houses to explore the ways in which the decorative arts form part of a broader cultural agenda, encompassing notions of taste, trade, and national identity.

She is also co-founder and director of The Highrise Project CIC, a social enterprise that aims to facilitate people in and around social housing to tell their own stories using art and creativity, as well as running the online visual arts opportunity platform, CuratorSpace. In her spare time, she likes to learn languages.

To find out more about Louise and her work go to: www.louiseatkinson.co.uk

Check out some of Louise's collaborative research here: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/education/research-old/literacies/multilingual-streets

If you’re interested in Curator space you can find that here: https://www.curatorspace.com/

And for anyone who’s interested in The Highrise Project CIC check it out here: https://www.thehighriseproject.co.uk/

Dan Akers is a Business Analyst with 23 years’ experience, as well as the owner of a couple of agencies. He avoids all that by running events - music, business, food and other random things - by DJing, and by spending as much time with his family as he can.

You can follow and connect with Dan via:

https://www.instagram.com/danzarak/

https://www.instagram.com/notathingevents/

https://www.instagram.com/freshoutthewhat/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/danzarak/

Deby Jackson has only been in Leeds for 5 years and loves it here, mostly because of the people. She says, ‘The people of Leeds make the city a brilliant place to live and I am planning on staying indefinitely. Warning: once you visit, you might never leave.’

Her magazine That Leeds Mag shares local stories in print and online. Creating trust and loyalty between customers and businesses in the North Leeds area with a free door-drop advertising magazine.

Everything Deby does for That Leeds Mag comes back to these values:

💙 Being environmentally conscious

💙 Spreading positivity

💙 Respect for all

That Leeds Mag is a continuous printed marketing solution for your local Leeds business with customers who are ready to buy your product or service.

If you have ever considered leafletting in Meanwood, Chapel Allerton, Headingley or Moortown then THAT LEEDS MAG is right up your street. Providing credibility your customers can’t just scroll past.

If you’d like to know more about That Leeds Mag go to https://thatleedsmag.co.uk/

Hazel Millichamp is part of the Student Education Service in the University of Leeds Medical School.

Having previously worked as a School Business Manager in a local primary school Hazel started at the University offering maternity cover to the Finance department and then moving to a student-facing role. She began as a Year Coordinator for Year 1 and an ICU Coordinator of Year 4. After CoVid there was a big Student Education Service shake up and roles changed; Hazel now works with Year 3 and has been in the Student Education Service for 10 years.

Hazel is also a podcaster. Her excellent Leeds based podcast Light on Leeds takes a look at the great and the good of Leeds and showcases some of the fascinating things people are doing in the world’s best city. If for some reason you’ve not heard of Light on Leeds go and check it out. It’s a really good show.

Hazel has been at this whole thing longer than me and has many more episodes under her belt than I do. So if you run short of Leeds content Hazel’s got you covered.

If you’d like to hear Hazel’s work go to https://www.lightonleeds.com/

Or you can follow Light on Leeds at:

https://www.instagram.com/lightonleeds/

www.facebook.com/LightonLeeds

https://twitter.com/leeds_on

Dr Angela Puca joined Leeds Trinity University in 2016 and has lectured there and at other universities on Philosophy and Religious Studies. Angela’s degrees are in Philosophy, focusing on Asian Philosophies.

During her academic formation, she studied Latin, ancient Greek, Sanskrit, and Tibetan (classical and modern) to translate primary sources of interest from different philosophical and religious traditions. During her master’s degree, she expanded her knowledge in the field of Religious Studies, especially Buddhism and the Indian and Tibetan religions, at the University of Naples, Italy.

Afterwards, her research moved towards Paganism, shamanism, and their contemporary manifestations across the Italian peninsula.

The University of Leeds awarded her a PhD in Anthropology of Religion in 2020 as a result of her research on “Indigenous and Trans-cultural Shamanism in Italy”.

Author of several peer-reviewed publications, a forthcoming monograph on Italian shamanism and folk witchcraft to be published with Brill and co-editor of the forthcoming ‘Pagan religions in five minutes’ for Equinox, she hopes to bridge the gap between academia and the communities of magic practitioners by delivering related scholarly content on her YouTube Channel, TikTok and other social media via her project called ‘Angela’s Symposium’.

FOLLOW Dr Puca: YouTube (Angela’s Symposium), https://www.youtube.com/@drangelapuca/

Facebook (Angela's Symposium), Instagram (angela_symposium), Twitter (@angelapuca11), TikTok (Angela's Symposium).

SUPPORT Dr Puca’s work on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/angelapuca

or

Paypal https://paypal.me/angelasymposium

Catherine Warr is a filmmaker and historian born and raised in Leeds. Catherine’s work is mostly centred on Yorkshire history, but also anything else she finds interesting. Catherine is also the Digital Content Co-ordinator for the British Association for Local History, helping to engage with local historians through digital media.

Catherine is passionate about making history interesting, engaging, and accessible for all. She has also written a book, about Yorkshire folklore, customs, and traditions, which is due to be published this year.

If you’d like to see Catherine’s work go to https://www.youtube.com/@CatherineWarr

Samrien (or Sam) Hussain is founder and director of Tick Tock unlock an immersive entertainment company that designs, builds and operates escape game venues. Tick Tock Unlock was the first escape game in The North opening in 2014 here in Leeds and quickly growing to sites in Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow.

In April 2017 Sam launched the first ever Hyper Reality Experience in the UK at the Trinity Centre, Leeds. That same year Sam also travelled with a group of 6 other female entrepreneurs to Boston, Massachusetts on an international entrepreneurial mission, hosted by Innovate UK, Digital Catapult and the British Consulate General Boston.

To find out more about Tick Tock Unlock go to https://www.ticktockunlock.com/

Benji Morton is a software developer by day and an aspiring events organiser by night. Benji is 23, was born in Leeds and is yet to live anywhere else. Benji joined NHS Digital as an Apprentice Developer at age 18 and worked and studied through the pandemic.

In 2022 Benji started both Leeds Dates and Sunday Sessions Events and has found a love for the events scene. Something he is keen to pursue going forward.

To find out more about Leeds Dates go to: https://www.instagram.com/lds_dates/

To find out more about Sunday Sessions Events go to: https://www.instagram.com/sundaysessionsevents/

Simon Robertson is a professional, commercial photographer based in Leeds who specialises in the hospitality industry. He primarily photographs interiors, events, and food across the North of England.

Simon’s love of photography began at age ten when his mum gave him his first camera for Christmas. Simon studied Photography and Visual Arts in his hometown on the Isle of Wight. Then following his dream of becoming a professional photographer he travelled to London, where he met some of the biggest names in the industry.

Among Simon’s clients are multi-million-pound property developers, architects, interior designers, restaurants, bars, and cafes. Simon prides himself on his style and approach which is collaborative and communicative throughout the assignment process which ensures the very best results are achieved.

Today Simon is happiest when he has his camera in his hand. When he’s not working with clients, he pursues his love of urban and street photography.

Simon is currently working on a project with chefs around Leeds called Shooting Chefs.

To find out more about Simon’s photography go to https://simonrobertson.photography/

Remember listener, there’s five main ways you can support any podcast and the more of these you can do the better for the shows you like.

Follow, listen, share, guest and donate to Working Hours.

Loiners, get on this show and then get your friends and neighbours on it too.

Join me on Patreon or Ko-Fi or support the show with a donation.

Support this show on social with likes follows and shares.

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Sophia Lambert is a team assistant at the University of Leeds Special Collections and Galleries, invigilating the research centre and galleries as well as helping with preparing and running events. She is also an Anglo-Jewish social historian and a recent History graduate of Leeds Beckett University and the University of Leeds.

Follow Sophia on https://www.instagram.com/leeds_hidden_heritage/

Antony Butcher works at the University of Leeds in Student Support. He's passionate about positive mental health and supporting students to get the most out of their studies - not just academically, but also personally. Anthony believes that it's important to create a society where it is normal to talk about mental health and the challenges we face each day.

In 2022 Antony cycled across America whilst sharing his personal mental health journey with thousands of people around the world via social media and ultimately raising £30 000 for charity.

Tracey Cleminson created Arctic Bee, a web design and digital marketing agency based in Leeds in West Yorkshire and London. Tracey has over twenty years’ experience in web design and spends her time between Yorkshire and London, now having an international client base that caters for every type of business including musicians, electricians, photographers and charities.

Although Tracey specialises in small to medium sized businesses, she is happy to take on larger projects and in 2007 Tracey built and managed the website for the Archery World Cup. Her business thrives on face to face contact where possible as she recognises that getting to know you and your business is key to being able to provide the best possible services for clients. Even if you aren't local they can always arrange a zoom and a chat with you. Get in touch to see how Artic Bee can create an online buzz for your business!

To find out more go to https://www.arcticbee.co.uk/

If you would like to know more about Tracey's personal journey, please visit her blog section on the Arctic Bee website. As a survivor of domestic violence and a mental health crisis in 2019, Tracey has much to share and hopes that she can help others thrive in the face of adversity and achieve the impossible for their businesses too – much like the Arctic Bee itself does!

Tråd Collective was born so people could easily shop for sustainable clothes in Leeds. The idea came from owners Jo and James, who after making a New Year’s resolution to only shop sustainably, realized how difficult that actually was to do in Leeds. There were very few options for sustainable fashion that weren’t second-hand and it was hard to find what you were looking for without spending hours going through piles of clothes. They also realized just how much research was needed to finding out if brands are actually sustainable or not.

So, Jo and James started out selling items from Jo's upcycled clothing brand Wanner Label and curated second-hand clothes in markets around Leeds. From there they started building connections with other small local brands and began learning what their customers actually wanted and needed.

After much careful consideration, they decided to open up a shop in Headingley. Combining all the different aspects of sustainability Tråd Collective are a sustainable clothing and lifestyle shop supplying everything from pre-loved to upcycled to responsibly and ethically made items.

In their shop in Headingley, Leeds they have their own in-house studio making their own garments under their Wanner Label brand, but also offer tailoring services to customers. From mendings to alterations to made-to-order garments Tråd Collective have got you covered!

To find out more about Tråd Collective go to: https://tradcollective.com/

If you like this show you should love this episode.

Dr Calum Carson is an Associate Lecturer at Leeds University Business School, alongside his ongoing role as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School. Dr Carson’s current research project is the first in the UK to explore employer experiences of Universal Credit, and at the end of 2020 he completed his PhD in the Real Living Wage at the University of Leeds.

Besides a six-month relocation to Geneva in 2016 to work at the United Nations he has lived in Yorkshire for the past 17 years, and outside of his work in academia Dr Carson is a keen photographer, cook and walker.

For more on decent work go to: https://www.ilo.org/global/topics/decent-work/lang--en/index.htm

For more on Employers and UC go here: https://www.gmpovertyaction.org/uc-employers/

For more on the living wage go here: https://www.livingwage.org.uk/

Benedict Lindley started DJing on vinyl, which he still does but, is also embracing digital and its many creative possibilities. Benedict helps to run OpenDecksFC, where he edits the audio recorded at OpenDecksFC’s nights and events for upload to their Mixcloud account.

Benedict has a passion for promoting OpenDecksFC and helping other DJs getting started with DJing. His passion for OpenDecksFC has led to Benedict’s biggest gig so far, supporting the Utah Saints!

To find out more about OpenDecksFC you can follow them on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/OpenDecksFC

Stephen Griffiths started his legal career in the private sector but has worked as part of a legal team within a HE institute in Leeds for the past few years. He works on items like contracts, patents or any other legal agreements that might be needed by the institution.

There’s obviously a lot more to both the role and Stephen than just that, but he didn’t really give me much for his bio so this is what we have. Perhaps its genius marketing on his part. We’ll see.

Yes, we’ve had lawyers on before but, every interview is unique so listen to this one anyway.

Give me money on Patreon so I can make more of these faster and make them better https://www.patreon.com/WorkingHoursPod

Christine Bell is the co-Director of The Centre for Facilitation. She is based in Leeds and has a business partner based near Hastings, together they run a virtual organisation.

Christine came to Bradford when she was 20 to study at the University and then moved to Leeds when she met her husband. She’s never wanted to move back to London but after over 30 years living in Leeds she still gets asked “you are not from here are you?” (Don’t worry Christine, that’s what everyone used to say to me when I went to school here. Leeds is so exclusive, dontcha know!)

The Centre for Facilitation works with other experienced facilitators on a freelance basis so that they can cover requirements for different work both in the UK and globally.

The Centre for Facilitaion’s style of facilitation is focused on getting people to talk to each other to come up with new ideas, to develop new connections or to solve problems together. The work they do is very varied and each project is unique and designed with the client. It’s a very creative process (although it also requires a lot of attention to detail so that on the day it seems effortless)

During the pandemic Christine had to quickly move the business from face to face events to virtual events and, as the “techy” one in the business, Christine was the primary driver of this change. Challenging but worthwhile their work is now a mix of virtual and face to face. This makes it much easier to provide services globally from the back room of a house in a suburb of Leeds!

It has also reduced the amount of travel, and in particular the amount of international travel they need to do. [And, as we mention in the discussion, not only reducing their costs but, also saving time and reducing risks and stress.]

To find out more about the centre for facilitation go to: https://www.centreforfacilitation.co.uk/

Jamie Marshall started working in IT part time while completing his A-levels, in ICT, Business studies and Art; dropping out of Art at the end of the first year. After finishing his A-levels he went on to a full-time role at the company and is now a Director there.

The company he initially started with part time was based in Roundhay and did both B2C (that’s business to consumer if you didn’t know) and B2B (business to business) IT services. In 2008 it split into separate B2C and B2B companies. The new company handling B2B services was Everon.

Jamie originally had a small shareholding in the new business. Over time Everon grew and eventually Jamie became an equal shareholder with 2 other partners. In August 2017 Jamie and the other current shareholder (Stuart Crane) went through a management buyout of the 3rd shareholder.

Moving into city centre office space it became the Everon of today. Everon now focuses on providing IT services to regulated industries, specifically with the aim of keeping clients secure and driving efficiencies using technology.

Everon has been growing steadily over the last 5 years and has recently hired their first manager to help with continued growth. Over the next few years Everon are hoping to double in size while retaining the company’s current ethos and values at their heart. Everon also have ambitions to become a certified B Corporation and give back more to their local community.

To find out more about Everon go to www.everon.co.uk

Jo James is minister to the congregation of Mill Hill Chapel on City Square in the centre of Leeds. Mill Hill is a Unitarian chapel; with a congregation that was first formed in 1672. There has been 350 years’ continuity of rational dissenting worship in Mill Hill.

Jo is interested in what happens next when as a culture we acknowledge that although we’ve abandoned God we haven’t found peace or freedom or anything really worthwhile to take that space. Jo thinks industrial culture is mechanistic and domineering (and as a result it is in very serious trouble), but senses reality isn’t like that; reality flows and is endlessly creative, endlessly loving.

Jo previously worked in the theatre and learned a lot from the creative strategies of artists at the edge of their industry. He was an atheist before discovering Unitarianism, then started learning about the liberal Christianity of his Grandparents’ generation and is learning to recover some of the living links with the resources that have sustained folk for many, many generations.

Jo helps to create community groups and works alongside all sorts of people, putting on bands, growing food and encouraging new things to happen.

Unitarianism is a wisdom tradition which seeks to approach the sacred in participation and worship. Unitarians recognise that the spiritual life cannot be precisely defined but should aim to be inclusive and compassionate. Nourished by the deep springs of Abrahamic tradition, they value other religious and spiritual traditions as well as scientific and secular sources. Unitarianism acknowledges the role of reason and the scientific method in developing a greater understanding of the real world and also recognises that materialistic rationalism cannot hold all the answers to the great questions of life. Unitarians cherish the spiritual resources of our religious inheritance, the inspired contribution of the arts, and human ways of being that are compassionate, generous, considerate and gracious, seeing in them evidence of the ‘divine spark’ which exists in all life.

Go to http://www.millhillchapel.org/ to find out more.

Emma Waterland joined LEDA in 2021 and is responsible for the planning and implementation of their marketing strategy, working in close collaboration with directors and members to lead a strategic approach to the ongoing development of the business. This includes looking after the brand and communications as well as promotional activities and bid management.

Emma has over 20 years’ experience of business development and marketing in the built environment sector, having previously worked for contractors, engineering consultants and architects.

Louise Hodgson joined LEDA in April 2019, and is their Practice Manager. Prior to this Louise taught Geography to 11-18 year olds in a secondary school for 8 years, inspiring young people to learn about the physical world around them and helping pupils to understand the environment and how they can shape the places where they live.

Louise’s role at LEDA is a mix of Office Management, Finance, Business Support and Human Resources.

Louise is LEDA’s ‘Green Champion’ and completes the audit and report for their Investors in the Environment accreditation every year. Louise has a real interest in protecting the environment we can’t live without and promoting continuing to be able to live on our only home. She is a valued co-op member and drives forward developments within the co-op.

LEDA is an environmentally considerate design cooperative created to help take us in to a sustainable future. LEDA is creating and delivering sustainable building design, locally and across the UK, that underpins every project they undertake. Through specialist advice LEDA enables their clients to deliver projects with reduced environmental impact and create buildings that can actually focus on improving the health and wellbeing of their occupants.

Go to https://www.leda.coop/ to find out more about LEDA especially if you have any knowledge of Passive house because they’re hiring.

Here's the link to the BBC programme on CHACO mentioned on the show: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001b826

To find out more about B Corps go to https://bcorporation.uk/

To find out more about Cooperatives go to https://www.uk.coop/

Madihah Hussain is a third year journalism student at the University of Leeds. Alongside her studies she is currently completing a Marketing & Communication part-time internship with Open Source Arts in Leeds. Madihah is also hosting a weekly radio show, every Saturday, on Fever FM. Additionally, she freelances as a henna artist on select occasions.

Madihah is working on a documentary feature as part of her dissertation project. It is a short piece that explores the relationship between marriage and freedom in British minority communities.

You can find out more about Fever FM at https://www.radioasianfever.com/

Or follow them on Twitter https://twitter.com/Fever_FM

Myra Rowland has a background working in Higher Education and joined the Open Source Arts team in autumn 2017. Myra brings her organisational skills and enthusiasm for getting involved and helping great things happen to Open Source Arts. She is passionate about facilitating people and communities to realise, develop and use their power, wisdom and skills in a way which is socially just and full of heart. Myra works across all projects and activities at Open Source Arts, so if you would like to know more, get in touch with Myra!

Thomas Tickner (Or Tick) started an apprenticeship as a Junior Content Producer in November 2021. Tick has been working with Open Source Arts on and off in a voluntary capacity prior to this for a few years; staring off learning new skills in the fabrication workshop and also developing and facilitating illustration workshops. He is building on these skills, now learning and working on making and producing content, including the use of photography, live streaming and video editing for Open Source Arts events and media.

Tom lives and breathes all things illustration, imagination and the creative process, always eager to add more possibility to his growing skillset.

To find out more go to https://opensourcearts.co.uk or follow them on https://www.instagram.com/opensourcearts/ https://twitter.com/Opensourceleeds and https://www.facebook.com/LeedsOpenSourceArts/

Horsforth Brewery is run by innovative brewer Mark Costello supplying the local Horsforth and wider Leeds areas with tasty, quality beers. Starting as a part-time project in 2017 in Mark's garage, the brewery has progressed to its own unit at the end of 2018 and as of March 2020 it is Mark's full-time job.

We are a small team so if it takes a little bit of time to get back to a message or something does go wrong with your order, please bear with us and we will get there eventually!

To find out more and to get some beer go to https://horsforthbrewery.co.uk/

All Horsforth Brewery beers are vegan friendly.

To find out more about Pete Brown who is mentioned in this show go to https://www.petebrown.net/

SJ Bradley is an author, short story writer & creative writing tutor. She has taught short story writing for Comma Press and for First Story a charity in Leeds and Bradford, and recently graduated a PGCert from Cambridge University Institute of Continuing Education, which she attended with a bursary from First Story.

SJ has been working part time in jobs in the third sector or local communities, and working part-time has allowed her to continue doing creative work. Most of her jobs have involved working directly with people to improve their emotional wellbeing & mental health.

During the pandemic, SJ changed jobs several times, due to a combination of bad luck and at one point, being made redundant. Some of this was due in part to decisions made not to commute long distances to work anymore and to only ever look for work that was either remote or based in Leeds.

To keep someone warm in Leeds go to Leeds Warm Spaces https://www.leeds.gov.uk/campaign/warm-spaces

To find out more about SJ Bradley’s writing go to https://sjbradleybooks.com/

Michal Drewniok is a Research Fellow in Transforming Foundation Industries at the University of Leeds. His background is in civil engineering and he holds a PhD in concrete technology from Silesian University of Technology in Poland.

Prior to his current positions, he worked as a Site Engineer and Concrete and Production Technologist at Precast Concrete Manufacture.

In 2015 Michal joined the University of Cambridge as a Research Assistant in Material Efficiency in Construction. Michal was involved in two projects, both centred on making better use of steel in construction. The first explored the barriers to steel reuse, and the second was looking at the role of material efficiency in building conception and design in construction.

In March 2018 he joined the Structures Group at the University of Cambridge working on the project Minimising Energy in Construction (MEICON) exploring the practices of structural engineering that lead to structural inefficiencies.

In the years 2019-2020, he took on an internship to study the relationship between embodied carbon and different reinforced concrete floor systems and was involved in two projects: post-construction assessment of embodied carbon for Civil Engineering Building in Cambridge and barriers to low carbon concrete technologies in the UK.

In 2020, in collaboration with Expedition Engineering, Michal received a Knowledge Transfer Fellowship on “Climate compatible decision making in the construction sector”.

In 2021, Michal joined the University of Bath as a Research Associate in Efficient Concrete Structures to explore ways to achieve carbon reduction targets in UK construction.

Since January 2018 Michal is a main coordinator of the Resource Efficiency in Construction and the Built Environment, forum for academics, architects, designers, engineers, contractors and policy makers who would like to explore ideas around how the built environment can deliver future energy and material services, while at the same time reducing resource use and environmental impact.

In 2021 Michal joined the Low Carbon Concrete Group that in 2022 developed the Low Carbon Concrete Routemap

Sunyi Dean is a biracial fantasy author who was born in Texas, grew up in Hong Kong, and now resides in the UK. She writes speculative fiction with a weird slant, and has both too many books and too many children.

Her latest book is a best seller and you should buy it early and buy it often - as they say on Trash Future. The books called the Book Eaters and it sounds really good.

Go to https://sunyidean.com/books/the-book-eaters/ to find out more and buy the book.

Richard Clarkson is a Finance Systems Director who, at the time of recording was 5 months into transitioning through to retirement and only working 1 day a week on a consultancy basis.

Prior to that Richard was responsible for the Financial Systems of National World plc the owner of Yorkshire Post and a large number of other media brands in the UK. Richard has worked for National World and its predecessor companies for 25 years, initially on Group Finance and then in IT for the last dozen years or so.

Caroline Hudson has over 30 years’ experience as a Primary school teacher in West Yorkshire, and is passionate about developing the chance, for ALL children to be the best that they can be, and giving them the tools to make confident choices. Caroline believe that by giving parents the knowledge and understanding of up-to-date primary school methods and expectations, they’ll feel more confident with helping their own children. To do this Caroline started The Kitchen Table Teacher UK

The Kitchen Table Teacher UK has classes for parents of Primary School children that are held in small, friendly groups in informal, neutral settings. In each class, over a cuppa and a cake, parents learn more about how to support their children’s learning, develop their understanding of how and what their kids are being taught in school, and maybe even make some new friends. The groups focus on the English and Maths skills and concepts being taught in Primary School.

The classes are a relaxed and safe place to develop understanding and confidence, run at a pace to suit those in the group and with space to ask those niggling questions.

For more information go to www.kitchentableteacher.co.uk

Or follow Caroline on social media @kitchentableteacherUK

Lydia Cottrell is a dancer, artist, black metal make up social media influencer and a social media consultant. At the time of recording Lydia was also the Communications and Engagement Manager at Compass Live Arts.

Every two years Compass Festival animates the city of Leeds with interactive live art projects in public spaces. This year they have commissioned five exuberant and playful encounters made with and for the people of Leeds.

This year between 18th – 27th November, Compass invites you to share your best piece of advice, take a journey on an afro futurist spaceship, delve into a surreal soundscape in a familiar place, eat your way through Caribbean ancestry and help us answer the question: ‘What are the flavours of Leeds?’.

Join Compass at Kirkgate Market, St John’s Centre and at a host of supermarkets across the city, to rediscover and reimagine the everyday, right where you live, work and play. All of the events are FREE, some you will come across and be able to get involved straight away, some have limited capacity and for Wondermart you need to reserve a time-slot.

For more information on the festival and Compass live arts go to https://compassliveart.org.uk/compass-festival/festival-2022/

Ron Wiener is a semi-retired community theatre director, socio-dramatist and grandparent. Born in London, brought up in Australia he has lived in England for the past 67 years and in Leeds since 1975. He has worked all over the world as a socio-dramatist.

Ron is a founder member of ISCAN - the International Socio-drama and Action Methods Network which runs course on Zoom and Live on topics such as: global warming, ageing, team building, facilitating organisational change etc.

Ron is a member of 2 local community psychology groups and writes academic articles. He also runs an online Zoom improvisation group and directs at Asian theatre company Chai Cup.

You can find out more about Ron at www.ronwiener.co.uk

Bruce Davies is an Artist / Writer and Curator of Basement Arts Project. His work looks primarily at the relationship between artist, gallery and viewer; how environments can shape the perception and understanding of an artwork and how a space can alter the nature of the work itself. It has been this line of enquiry along with four years as the organiser, curator, project manager and founder member of the Peripheral Artist Collective that led to the formation of Basement Arts Project. He is also a Co-Director and writer for South Leeds Life

As Basement Arts Project Bruce has developed a programme which has, over the last decade, become embedded in the South Leeds Community. He has created an established programme of activities and exhibitions throughout the year at his South Leeds venue. Basement Arts Project participate regularly in external events that have taken many artist’s work to Jamestown USA, Sweden, Manchester, London, Liverpool and other venues around Leeds.

Basement Arts Project is regularly involved in projects that revolve around community participation as well as supporting and assisting in the development of artists work for other purposes.

To find out more go to https://www.basementartsproject.com/

Anna Bland is Team Leader for Leeds Sanctuary. Leeds Sanctuary is a city centre project focusing on reflection, wellbeing, activism and creativity. Leeds Sanctuary creates spaces and resources on and offline for people to connect more deeply with themselves, one another and important issues of social justice. They are also exploring craftivism, meditation, mindfulness, climate change, wellbeing, Christian spirituality and much more with free resources available on their blog page.

Leeds Sanctuary work in partnership with many organisations including Leeds Church Institute and share their city centre offices. As a Christian project for people of all faiths and none, they are always looking for new ways of connecting with partners and people and have a strong history of Methodism in Leeds City Centre.

To find out what is coming up and to sign up to future events and activities, check out their website: www.leedssanctuary.org.uk

Leeds Sanctuary also recently released a book of creative meditations on the pandemic: https://leedssanctuary.sumup.link/

You can find Leeds Sanctuary on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @LeedsSanctuary

Peter Spafford has written for theatre, radio, musical theatre, TV and opera. His plays have been performed in theatres, cathedrals, museums, arts centres, day centres, prisons, schools, piazzas, and in the woods.

Peter is currently Director of Words at Chapel FM Arts Centre. He is also a songwriter and musician, having just produced Unsung Sports, a project celebrating lesser known sports in the city.

You can hear more from Peter here:

https://www.chapelfm.co.uk/elfm-player/shows/list/love-the-words/

Check out https://www.unsungsport.com/

And http://www.thesandhouse.org.uk/sand-house-play/

Sophie Greenwood is a printmaker and the owner of a company called Ink & Bear that focuses on creative workshops, organising events and supporting other makers. Sophie has lived in Leeds since 2005 when she moved here to go to University, fell in love with the city and has been here ever since!

Sophie runs creative workshops across Leeds - she strongly believes that anyone can benefit from getting creative and loves working with lots of different age groups to get them thinking creatively!

She is also the founder of Super Seconds Festival, a large online bi-annual event where 250 makers sell off their seconds, misprints and end of line stock at reduced prices.

Sophie is Mum to a one-year-old and recently took the leap to go self-employed after maternity leave and spending the past 10 years working in operations for a small social enterprise. She's recently launched a brand new service for small businesses called The Creative Incubator which utilises her love of planning to help other small businesses to structure and plan their creative ideas.

You can find out more about Ink and Bear at https://www.inkandbear.co.uk/ including information on The Creative Incubator.

For more about She Can Shine go to https://www.facebook.com/shecanshineyorkshire/

Kevin Pratt has worked successfully in property development and land acquisition, succeeding with the acquisition of a project building several town houses in south Leeds. Then he discovered Passive Haus and began Leeds based eco builder Purehaus.

Purehaus has a mission to build homes with reduced energy demand allowing them to provide homes that rely on the consumption of energy through locally generated renewable sources.

Their ultimate aim is to create a truly carbon zero home, one which creates more energy than it consumes during its entire life cycle. This includes the manufacturing of materials, demolition, and the recycling of its components at the end of the home’s life.

To find out more about Passive House at https://passiv.de/en/

And you can find Purehaus at https://purehaus.co.uk/

Bonnie Milnes is an actress and musician living in Leeds. She says that there’s no money in either so she also works as a carer.

At the beginning of the pandemic, her band stopped performing and she lost her business (a rehearsal studio in the centre of York). Living on her own and finding her work as a carer harder than she’d ever experienced before it was a particularly dark time in Bonnie’s life. Now she is inspired to bring people together and make the most of her new life in Leeds.

As Bonnie has always been passionate about fashion (and has mountains of clothes from previous shows) she began a clothes swap from her home in order to meet like-minded women. Since then she has met some amazing friends who she’s been on holidays with and gotten close to. Bonnie says “I feel very lucky to have this community and want to share the love”.

Whilst the swaps are free, so as not to exclude anyone currently hard up, there is a suggested £4 donation to the swaps and the proceeds are donated to women’s charities. The cost of giving a woman a whole fresh start after escaping domestic violence is absolutely enormous so Women’s Aid need every penny.

To find out more about Good on You go to https://goodonyou.eco/

To donate to Women’s Aid or find out more about the work they do go to https://www.womensaid.org.uk/

John Stewart joined the railway in 1969 and became a union rep in 1975. Starting as a signal box register lad he moved on to Signalman, relief signal man, freight guard and passenger guard. John has also had various positions within LEEDS CITY RMT BRANCH, he is the current branch secretary, and took voluntary redundancy from work in 2017.

To find out more about RMT go to https://www.rmt.org.uk/home/

Laura McCullagh has worked for 15+ years in the voluntary sector – starting her career in Leeds, then Edinburgh, London and back to Leeds again. Laura has worked in a range of organisations and roles, generally advocating for the rights of groups that are often regarded as vulnerable and experience exclusion, discrimination and unfair treatment – e.g. people who are homeless, in poverty, facing addiction, poor mental health or involvement in the criminal justice system.

Originally from a remote village in the Yorkshire Dales she has a particular interest in rural mental health and mental health stigma in rural communities.

Her current role involves working with employers and business owners to help improve understanding of mental health; promote inclusion of people with mental health difficulties in the workforce and develop workplace cultures and practices that are positive for staff wellbeing.

Leeds Mindful Employer Network is a peer support network enabling local employers to learn more about mental health and wellbeing at work. Through the Network Laura promotes the national Mindful Employer initiative which allows employers to sign the Mindful Employer Charter for employers positive about mental health.

https://www.dismantling.house/

https://www.leedsmind.org.uk/help-for-employers/mindful-employer-leeds/

https://leedsinternationalfestival.com/panel-discussions/is-social-media-ruling-the-world/

Neil Walshaw is currently a Leeds City Councillor representing the Headingley and Hyde Park Ward. Neil chairs the Climate Emergency Advisory Committee and the Development Plan Panel. So his working life is filled with terrifying data and models about our present and future plus lots of time nerding out with planners of all kinds. Combining three serious roles with the ward councillor one having 24,000 employers makes for a busy life!

Ellie Harrison is a performance maker and artist living in Leeds and working internationally. She is artistic director of the Grief Series, a sequence of seven arts projects that open up spaces to talk about bereavement and end of life.

The Grief Series is multi-sensory with audiences being engaged as participants and co-creators. Informed by rigorous research with academics, clinicians and the public, the series aims to create safe spaces where notions of grief and bereavement can be discussed and expressed openly through a range of empowering creative practice.

Ellie creates a range of solo and collaborative devised performance work for studios, galleries, found and public spaces. Participation is at the heart of all of her work as a performer, facilitator and mentor. Ellie specialises in embedding care and ethical participation both in her own practice and offering consultancy to other artists and organisations. Her work is often characterised by a playful and provocative approach to difficult topics, encouraging audiences to make decisions and participate.

Ellie lectures on her practice, writing articles, giving talks, performances and workshops at universities internationally including University of the arts London, Sorbonne Paris, UAM Mexico City.

You can find out more about the grief series here: https://www.griefseries.co.uk/home

Lianne Marie Mease, aka Butterflump is an ethical marketing consultant. This means she only works with people and companies that are genuinely doing some good in the world. Her clients are soul-led businesses who care about their impact on the environment and their impact on our society. She has 23 years’ experience in her field and began working in digital marketing when email marketing was just coming into its power, way before social media marketing was even a thing!

To find out more go to https://butterflump.com/

It's episode 50! On this episode I chat to David Williams, the Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Secretary of the Fire Brigades Union. David didn’t send me a bio text to use for the show notes, so I’m going to let you find out about him as we go for this episode.

It's a good episode, another example of how these interview can get more relevant with time. Since this was recorded the fire service have already had their busiest day since the second world war and my bet is that that won't be the busiest they get this decade.

Sarah Gordon is a freelance designer and tutor from and based in Leeds. She is currently working on her PhD which embraces the worlds of design, education and mental wellbeing, exploring Black students’ experience of university life, through design-led methods.

Sarah’s PhD allows her to demonstrate design’s value in research and work in an area that is meaningful to her, advocating for Black voices in higher education.

Faye Dawson doesn’t really know who she is anymore! She says she never wanted to define herself by her work but now wonders if she’s done just that.

From wanting to be an actor at the age of 7, then training, jobbing and falling out with the idea at 25, she fell into PR aged 30 and really found her dream job. For over 20 years she worked in PR in entertainment, leisure, theatre, and hospitality - four years and 11 months of that time were spent running her one-woman Comms Consultancy - Faye Dawson PR (FDPR) - from her spare bedroom in West Leeds. That was until April of this year when she wrapped up with her last client.

Siting with burnout, a loss of passion, and a need for solace, Faye picked up a suitably mundane data inputting job and added a part time administration role with the wonderful Leeds-based charity Zarach. Both are work from home jobs which suits Faye at the moment as she gets to be with her black Labrador Buddy and Stanley-the-Cat. It also means she can operate flexible hours.

Faye writes for Projecting Grief an online gallery that explores the use of creativity to help grief - you can find out more at www.projectinggrief.com or follow them on Insta @projecting_grief

And she is in a pool of media spokespeople for The Miscarriage Association focussing on early miscarriage.

Faye describes herself as an avid storyteller and a wannabe writer.

You can find out more at www.projectinggrief.com or follow them on Instagram at projecting_grief

Go https://www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk/ to find out more about what they do or make a donation.

And you should also check out Zarach and you can make a donation to them at https://zarach.org/

Mosa Mpehta works for Hyde Park Picture House and is on the Scalarama Leeds team. She runs pop up DIY screenings as ICONIC Presents, freelance film programming under her own name, or sometimes as Black Cinema Project – an initiative that she set up last year during lock down.

Within her role at Hyde Park Picture House she works with people, organisations, charities etc. outside of the cinema to curate interesting film events that are mutually beneficial. Mosa is passionate about using film as a tool to discuss, learn and make change.

One example of this sort of activity is the collaboration with Leeds African Communities Trust, where she is developing a new permanent African film strand for Hyde Park Picture House called ‘Cinema Africa!’

For more on Scalarama go to https://scalarama.com/leeds/

For more on Hyde Park Picture House (Leeds' best cinema) go to https://hydeparkpicturehouse.co.uk/

Rachel Fisher was born in Leeds and had lived here (other than the odd excursion away) up until February 2022. Now she’s living and working in Malta, where she says it’s beautiful but, she’s “missing Yorkshire puddings and a post-work pint of Kirkstall Brewery’s Virtuous.”

Rachel is working as a HR Business Partner in the iGaming (online gambling) industry. She helps to create and bring an organisation's people strategy/agenda to life.

Rachel says, “HR still has a bit of a reputation of being the grim reaper or a jobsworth profession but, that's absolutely not the case!” she’s been in the business of all things 'people' for about 8/9 years and she’s seen everything from the utterly weird to the fabulous and wonderful along the way.”

https://www.kirkstallbrewery.com/our-beers/virtuous

CONTENT WARNING there’s some discussion of (fictional) childhood abuse in this interview - nothing graphic - but I felt it was worth noting. I don’t have time codes on these yet so if you’re in any doubt please don’t listen and go through some of my back episodes instead. At some point there will be time codes.

Chris Nickson is an author and former journalist. At 21, he moved to the US, and spent the next 30 years there, returning to England in 2005, and finally full circle to Leeds. He’s made a living as a writer since 1994, initially as a music journalist, specialising in world and roots music.

His first novel, The Broken Token, came out in 2010, featuring Richard Nottingham, Constable of Leeds in the 1730s (there was a real Richard Nottingham, and that was his post, although it was probably largely ceremonial). The audio version of The Broken Token was one of the Independent on Sunday’s Audiobooks on the Year.

You can find out more about Chris at https://chrisnickson.co.uk/

Tom is a Clinical Trials Data Manager in a University clinical trials unit, the coordinator of TransLeeds, and a celebrant. He spends his days looking at numbers and making sure the trials are running smoothly, his evenings running support groups and doing advocacy, and his weekends doing weddings, funerals and coming of age ceremonies.

Henry Raby is a York-based, performance poet, theatre-maker, play-wright and workshop facilitator. His work has been described as playful, highly-charged, passionate and anarchic!

He’s performed at festivals and events across the UK, has been published by Burning Eye Books and runs York based spoken word organisation Say Owt. He’s ½ of Vandal Factory Theatre Company and has worked for various theatres. He leads work in schools, Youth Theatres and community groups.

Chapel FM is the first-ever arts venue in East Leeds. Last year they had a massive 78% increase in the number of visitors attending the Centre. Take a look at their re-designed website to see the massive range of events, broadcasting and training that go on at Chapel FM.

Chapel FM’s overall aim is to have a positive impact in their local area—Seacroft and East Leeds. Their Theory of Change states: We aim to develop East Leeds as a community that has pride, vision and hope for the future— where people welcome and share new ideas and work together to make things happen.

You can see more about their full Theory of Change at www.chapelfm.co.uk/about/our-organisation

You can find out more about Henry at http://www.henryraby.com/

Jed Aitchison is the Project Manager at the Buy Nowt LS6 - Library of Things, which involves opening the Library, when they're open, running social media, growing and maintaining the stock of items, grant applications, arranging and doing publicity and growing the membership of the Library.

Jed also teaches secondary science & tutors science and does some research with the university occasionally.

To find out more about Buy Nowt Leeds go to https://buynowtls6.com/  

Elliot Benson is a mortgage broker and owns a small business based in Headingley called Sett Mortgages, which he has been running since September last year. Before starting Sett Mortgages Elliot had worked in a large corporate estate agent as a broker for four years and prior to that worked as an estate agent. While working as an Estate Agent Elliot was short listed for the 2020 British Mortgage Awards (the Oscars of the mortgage world) in the Rising Star category and finished in the final 3.

Sett Mortgages works predominantly with first time buyers helping them onto the property ladder and through the whole buying process and Elliot has experience in all types of mortgage. 

To find out more about Sett Mortgages go to https://settmortgages.co.uk/

Kahina Grant is the owner of Grants of Leeds. Grants of Leeds started after Kahina had her first child during the first lockdown. She started with the aim of using her chemistry expertise to produce products that made people feel good. Grants of Leeds now sells candles, wax melts and Reed diffusers.

Ever since Kahina can remember she’s always wanted to be a chemist. After 4 years of study, she left university with a Master’s degree in chemistry, unsure what to do, and how to utilise her new powers in a way she was passionate about. Kahina uses her chemistry skills to perfect her products and deliver items that she loves and is excited to share with people. Kahina plans to expand into producing high quality skin care products in the next year.

Check out Grant of Leeds here: https://www.grantsofleeds.com/

My Patreon https://www.patreon.com/WorkingHoursPod

Lucy Meredith is self-employed and a professional mermaid, teaching mermaid classes at Bramley Baths (she also has a background in synchronised swimming). Lucy’s work is in the arts and she is self-employed, so she has many different jobs, her main one being as Co-director of Yorkshire Life Aquatic CIC (YLA), an arts & wellbeing organisation.

Yorkshire Life Aquatic CIC run community performance projects and have a comedy physical theatre show that they perform at festivals. Lucy’s acts as YLA’s co-director, project manager, performer, choreographer.... and the list goes on.

Lucy also does freelance acting work, works for 2 local Climate charities and a Community led Housing organisation. All Lucy’s roles are part time and in the 3rd sector. Lucy’s roles for these organisations are based around comms, events and social media.

To find out more about Yorkshire Life Aquatic go to https://www.yorkshirelifeaquatic.co.uk/

To find out more about The Human Aquarium go to https://humanaquarium.co.uk/

My Captivate.FM site https://the-working-hours-podca.captivate.fm/

My Patreon https://www.patreon.com/WorkingHoursPod

Toby Green recently finished his PhD at the University of Leeds, with a research focus on Bioenergy. It was during the first year of his PhD when Toby was enlightened to the immense challenge of the Climate Crisis and decided to make his life's work tackling this challenge. During his PhD, Toby trained and certified in carbon calculation, carbon reporting, carbon reductions and carbon offsetting. In 2018 he co-founded MyCarbon with his best friend.

MyCarbon is an environmental consultancy company specialising in Net Zero strategy and implementation. They produce GHG (Green House Gas) inventories (carbon footprints), emissions reduction plans in line with science based targets and carbon offsetting strategies for businesses and organisations who wish to reduce their impact on the environment.

Go to https://www.mycarbon.co.uk/ to find out more

Follow Toby on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/toby-green-mycarbon/

Working Hours Captivate Page https://the-working-hours-podca.captivate.fm/

Working Hours Patreon page Working Hours is creating podcasts | Patreon

Paul Thomas is a civil servant and a qualified FE teacher and has lived and worked in Leeds for over 30 years. Outside of his day job Paul has been involved with the debating group Debating Matters for several years, judging and chairing at all levels throughout the UK as well as for Debating Matters India, Debating Matters Israel and Debating Matters Berlin.

Paul is the co-founder and organiser of The Leeds Salon public discussion forum and the co-founder of Leeds Free Speech Meetup. He has written on various topics for numerous publications - national and Leeds-based.

Check out Paul on Light on Leeds talking about Leeds Salon Leeds here:

https://www.lightonleeds.com/episodes/episode-44-paul-thomas-leeds-salon

Check out his article on Leeds as a 'City of Debate' here:

https://theculturevulture.co.uk/conversations/speakerscorner/is-leeds-a-city-of-debate/

Find out more about Leeds Salon here:

https://www.leedssalon.org.uk/

Find out more about Debating Matters here:

https://debatingmatters.com/

Luke Aylward is the Communications and Network Officer and Autism Information Officer for The Advonet Group, a Leeds-based advocacy charity. He has worked with them for over five-and-a-half years. He is autistic and has, like many others, spent the majority of the pandemic working from home.

Luke produced resources to help people manage during the pandemic. In the past year or two, Luke has put together self-advocacy tools and planners to help people have their voice heard and their rights upheld, as well as setting out a new routine to adjust to the 'new normal'.

We discuss the autism employment gap (only one in six autistic adults are in full-time paid roles), the challenges of being a Comms lead for a third sector group and keeping abreast of changes in lockdown rules as well as getting used to a different commute as lockdown eased.

For more information go to https://advonet.org.uk/

Follow Leeds Autism AIM

https://www.facebook.com/leedsautismaim

https://twitter.com/leedsautismAIM

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxksiG8FvQNRkbbcB4_IrkA

Ann Jones moved to Leeds about 5 years ago, gave up teaching and started Cards or Die. Ann was a secondary school English teacher for 17 years before starting Cards or Die - a pop up board game events business (a bit like a mobile board games café). Cards or Die runs regular gaming events at pubs and cafes, but also at weddings, festivals, birthday parties and corporate events. Ann enjoys getting people together and that is the main focus of her work.

CoVid hit Cards or Die hard but Ann says one of the good things to come out of it was having time to write The Rule Book Tool Kit - a complete guide to creating the perfect rule book for your board game. Ann began doing a lot more editing and writing of rule books using her unique combination of board game knowledge and English writing skills. 

Ann ran a fundraiser before Christmas 2021 to enable her to pay for events that were to be run at The Welcome Inn community centre as they weren’t able to pay for the service. Enough money was raised to run 4 events which also included a hot meal. Ann wants to do more charity events and has set up a Ko-Fi membership scheme so you can support her with that goal

Go to https://ko-fi.com/cardsordie to support Cards or Die for charity

Find our more at https://www.cardsordie.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ann-jones-0ba872123/

Follow Cards or Die

https://www.instagram.com/cardsordie/

https://twitter.com/cardsordie

https://www.facebook.com/cardsordie

Claudia is currently in a band, writing a novel and is a run leader for Recovery Runners. But she doesn't get paid for that.

Claudia works in Executive Search as a head-hunter, handling top executive and non-executive, high-profile appointments for predominantly UK organisations. Claudia specialises in the Public Sector and especially Higher Education.

We cover the usual 2020s work based topics – childhood, working now, changing work, UBI, Brexit, Climate Change, CoVid and social media - with some extra diversions in to commuting and pregnancy.

You can find out more about Recovery Runners here: https://runleeds.co.uk/article/recovery-runners-running-club

Debbie specialises in digital consulting, translating business goals into digital strategy. She works with teams to adopt a more digital approach and deliver an exceptional user experience. Bringing over twenty years of experience to the table as a digital marketeer and consultant, working across a range of sectors and industries, including Financial Services, Mutuals, Charities and Healthcare.

Debbie also supports a large animal charity as a Trustee in her spare time.

To find out more about Digital Covered go to https://digitalcovered.co.uk

Or follow them on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/digitalcovered/

Simon Moore is a climate justice activist and science communicator in Leeds. He dedicates his work (and a fair bit of his spare time) to tackling the climate crisis and the social justice issues that are being exacerbated by it. Simon works half of the week for the University of Leeds, as a Communications and Engagement Officer, helping to support the Yorkshire and Humber Climate Commission, amongst other projects. And the other half of the week he is Admin and Logistics Lead for the community project Climate Action Leeds.

Simon is a podcaster, producing episodes around climate activism for Climactic, and he also likes playing football, going to gigs (CoVid permitting) and, as of recently, playing chess.

To listen to climactic go to https://www.climactic.fm/ or find it in your podcast player.

Or follow Simon on Twitter @Simon_C_Moore

Dr Adam Booth, works at the University of Leeds where he is Associate Professor of Applied Geophysics.  Roughly translated, someone who looks underground for buried things, without having to dig them up.  Dr Booth researches in this field, and also trains students in the art of seeing through the soil. One of his main branches of research is in glaciology, understanding how glaciers will evolve with climate warming. But it's not only a science challenge that Dr Booth is confronting - it's also that of public engagement. 

This is where Quantum Sauce was born - a public engagement project that helps build a bridge between university researchers and the general public. 

Hosted at Farsley's Constitutional Club, Quantum Sauce blends science with stand-up, and gets academics talking to people in the comfort of their own pub. 

Dick Bonham is Co-Director of Trouble at Mill Events Ltd and runs two venues in Farsley - The Constitutional (www.theconstitutional.co.uk) - home of Quantum Sauce! -  and the Old Woollen (www.oldwoollen.co.uk).

Dick’s background is in theatre - both as a producer with LittleMighty and with various directing jobs over the years. Dick is an experienced director and dramaturg. He was dramaturg on The Book of Darkness & Light, Shivers. He directed Upon the Stair. His other work includes directing Dan Bye’s Fringe First Award winning Going Viral, as well as previous pieces The Price of Everything and How to Occupy An Oil Rig.

Other projects include Matthew Bellwood's An Icy Man and Emma Decent's Beyond Dreams of Aberystwyth. He wrote and directed Sometimes We Play's We Can Be Heroes (national tour 2015), wrote Common Chorus Theatre's If I Say Jump, and is currently collaborating with Simon Brewis on The Ghost of Stolen Summer, commissioned by Harrogate Theatre and premiering in 2022.

To find out more about LittleMighty go to: https://littlemighty.co.uk/about/

To find out more about Quantum Sauce go to https://theconstitutional.co.uk/tv-lounge

Or follow them on Twitter @Quantum_Sauce

Or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/quantum_sauce/

We kick off Series 3 of Working Hours with a special bonus episode where I speak to SAIL.

This was the first time I have recorded two guests at the same time.

Formed in 2018, Sustainable Arts in Leeds (SAIL) is a not for profit Membership Network of organisations and individuals in the creative and cultural sector, who have come together to take action on the Climate Emergency.

Philip Holdgate is Head of Production Sustainability for ITV Studios. Phil is the co-founder of Sustainable Arts in Leeds (SAIL), is a Yorkshire & Humber Climate Commissioner and a self-proclaimed "Stubborn Optimist".

Jamie Saye is the technical manager of the Howard Assembly Room Leeds. Jamie’s day to day role is making sure every event that comes through the venue is appropriately staffed, technically fulfilled and on budget. As well as looking after the Howard Assembly Room Jamie is the other co-founder of Sustainable Arts in Leeds alongside Phil.

If you are a Leeds based creative go to http://wearesail.org/ and sign up to their newsletter

Or follow them @SAIL_Leeds on Twitter

On Insta https://www.instagram.com/we_are_sail/

Or https://www.facebook.com/SustainableArtsinLeeds

Ian Thursfield is your friendly, local zero-waster. He likes to re-use bread bags and enjoys litter picking with his daughters. Happy to answer any questions you have (ask his 5yo, he really does answer e-v-e-r-y question!) that would help you on your zero-waste journey.

Ian's shop, Leeds Refills, is located at Hyde Park Corner and has a full range of items for your complete zero waste shopping needs. Their main goal is to help you to reduce the amount of single-use plastic being used to get products to you. So much of our food today comes pre-wrapped in LOTS of single-use plastic but that’s not going to stand with Leeds Refills! Leeds Refills aim to source all of their food and products in plastic-free or very minimal packaging to help cut the plastic supply chain.

Leeds Refills has a full selection of refill dry food goods, toiletries, household cleaners, kitchen and homewares available, just bring some containers (or use a paper bag on them) down to Hyde Park corner and get refilling!

Go to https://leedsrefills.co.uk/ to find out more

Or follow the store on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/leedsrefills/

Chris Lloyd is a producer with Red Ladder Theatre Company and has been with them for over 10 years. Red Ladder originally started in London coming out of radical 1960s theatre and they continue to put out new and original theatre in both traditional and non-traditional venues. Chris is still in constant awe of the talent he has to work with at the company.

We talk about what is settling down to be the usual Working Hours questions, discussing working in theatre through our changing times, climates, trade relations and strategies to dealing with global pandemics.

To find out more about Red Ladder Theatre go to http://www.redladder.co.uk/

Or follow them @redladder on Twitter

Or https://www.facebook.com/RedLadderTheatre

Support Red Ladder http://www.redladder.co.uk/ladderistas/

Kara Hazlegrave is Research & Innovation Manager for Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics (based at University of Leeds) where she works with University of Leeds researchers to support the development of emergent, interdisciplinary ideas. Kara helps teams craft applications in response to funding opportunities and connects businesses seeking expertise to specialist research capability.

Kara originally studied Anthropology & English Lit as an undergraduate at Case Western Reserve University in the US later studying Biodiversity & Conservation as an MSc at the University of Leeds. Kara then gained working experience in the environment sector including working for regulators (Environment Agency, Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and for the regulated (Yorkshire Water).

To find out more about the Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics go to https://fluids.leeds.ac.uk/

Or follow them @FLUIDSLEEDS

Ernesto Sirolli https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/697027.Ripples_from_the_Zambezi

Ernesto Sirolli: Want to help someone? Shut up and listen! | TED Talk

Ed Carlisle is a community activist who co-leads on various projects including the Big Bike Fix, Leeds Repair Cafe, South Leeds Life newspaper, Beeston Festival, the Space youth programme, and the Holbeck Viaduct project. Ed lives in Beeston with his wife and two kids and is the lead candidate for the Green Party in south and central Leeds.

I have included links for those projects in the show notes.

https://repaircafe.org/en/cafe/leeds-repair-cafe/

https://southleedslife.com/

https://beestonfestival.org.uk/

https://www.holbeckviaduct.org.uk/

Anna Quinn-Martin is the Service Manager for Linking Leeds which is a city-wide free social prescribing service which helps anyone to sort out practical or emotional problems that are effecting their health and wellbeing. They help around 500 people a month. Anna leads a team of around 50 people who work in the service supporting the people of Leeds. Linking Leeds links people to whatever support they need.

To find out more about Linking Leeds go to https://linkingleeds.com/ 

Follow them on Twitter @LinkingLeeds

Music https://musopen.org/music/611-etudes-op-25/

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Craig Blair is a Senior Practitioner for Barca-Leeds. He works in the children, young people and family teams, building relationships with partners and supporting staff and clients. Barca-Leeds support people struggling with housing issues, finances, physical and mental health problems. Their services are also geared towards children, young people and adults affected by domestic abuse, drug and alcohol issues, as well as people struggling with employment or education.

Craig has been in youth work of one form or another throughout his career and takes us through that story here.

To find out more about Barca Leeds go to https://www.barca-leeds.org/

Follow them on Twitter @BARCALeeds

Or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/barcaleedsfb

Listen to me on Light on Leeds here: https://www.lightonleeds.com/episodes/episode-37-simon-treen-working-hours-podcast

Tina Leslie is a former call centre worker and community development worker. Currently she is a fitness instructor and public health worker. Tina is also the The Founder of Freedom for Girls. Freedom for Girls’ “missions and aims are to support those who menstruate by challenging the stigmas, taboos and gender inequalities associated with menstruation through education, provision of menstrual health management solutions and actively being at the forefront of the wider campaign against period poverty.”

To find out more about Freedom for Girls go to https://www.freedom4girls.co.uk/

Or follow them at:

https://www.instagram.com/freedom4girls

https://twitter.com/freedom_4_girls

https://www.facebook.com/freedom4girls

Music https://musopen.org/music/611-etudes-op-25/

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ 

Do you want to be a better SME business owner? Do you want to take your business into that next level? Then you need yourself a Business Sounding Board. You need Phil Fraser! Phil Fraser successfully founded, ran and subsequently sold a multi-award winning online gaming affiliate business in a multi-million pound sale to a PLC. He’s been there, done that and got the t-shirt. He now offers his knowledge and experience to SME business owners who want to grow and developed their business to that next level. 

To find out more about Phil go to https://philfraser.co.uk/

Music https://musopen.org/music/611-etudes-op-25/

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Carrieanne is a school teacher, freelance theatre maker and fine artist who is currently focused on the management and development of her Leeds-based theatre company CVIVArts Theatre. The company is working on an Arts Council England funded project titled What Are You Hungry For? A research and development project with a final production to be performed in 3 Leeds venues. You can find the performance details for the show and links to book below.

Creating and delivering her own solo performance work since 2005, she has also worked collaboratively with other performance artists and established theatre collectives. Now, she is bringing all her prior experience into her current 'adventure' as a producer and director of her own company. Currently on maternity leave from teaching, being a new mum and working on her theatre project has become her daily work - alongside oil painting, tea drinking, exercising and chocolate eating.

https://www.carrieannevivianette.co.uk/

https://www.carrieannevivianette.co.uk/what-are-you-hungry-for

What Are You Hungry For? Performances: 

https://www.carrieannevivianette.co.uk/wayhf-production

31/10/2021: Slung Low at The

Holbeck

To book for Slung Low 

13/11/2021: Seven Arts Centre

To book for Seven Arts Centre 

30/11/2021: Left Bank Leeds 

To book for Left Bank Leeds

Music https://musopen.org/music/611-etudes-op-25/

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/ 

Richard Firth is Managing Director of DaisyTouch Limited. DaisyTouch started in 2020, to provide accessibility and consultancy services to businesses so that they’re better equipped to support the needs of their disabled staff and disabled customers.

There are an estimated 14.1 million disabled people in the UK. Meanwhile around 100,000 people in the UK become disabled each year. Roughly 1 in every 5 adults of working age considers themselves to be disabled. The spending power of disabled people is worth approximately £249 billion per year. However, disabled people often report issues with poor access to both products and services.

To find out more about DaisyTouch and all their accessibility services go to daisytouch.com/

Music https://musopen.org/music/611-etudes-op-25/

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Kathryn is a Digital Marketing Specialist at NUGEN Audio. NUGEN Audio’s products offer market-leading fidelity and unrestricted creativity in every situation, providing a direct and intuitive way to work with sound. The company’s tools make it easier to deliver high-quality, compliant audio while saving time, reducing costs and preserving the creative process.

Kathryn also teaches coding on a freelance basis at Code First Girls https://codefirstgirls.org.uk/

Music https://musopen.org/music/611-etudes-op-25/

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Chris is currently a Partnerships Executive at Candlelighters Trust. Candlelighters support families facing children's cancer in Yorkshire. They are involved in all sorts of different projects to help ordinary families who are facing extraordinary circumstances. Chris helps Candlelighters build and maintain its donor relationships with businesses. You can find out more about Candlelighters and all the important work they do at https://www.candlelighters.org.uk/

Music https://musopen.org/music/611-etudes-op-25/

https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Emma is the founder of Playful Anywhere. Playful Anywhere CIC is a Leeds-based social enterprise with a mission to catalyse creativity, inventiveness and wellbeing with clients, the public and through their own projects, Playbox, Playlab and Young Inventors Club.

Playful Anywhere loves to blur the boundaries between the physical and digital worlds, encouraging participants to get creative with all manner of media, from cardboard to code.

You can check out Playful Anywhere at https://www.playfulanywhere.fun/

Music https://musopen.org/music/611-etudes-op-25/ https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

Simon is a Chartered Accountant and the managing partner of Leeds based Aysgarth Accountants. This conversation is another great example of why I love doing this. Your average media consumer might think there’s not much to discuss around a profession that often gets stereotyped in media and culture as ‘boring’ but Simon and I breezed through two hours of chat in this interview. In this episode we cover all the usual topics and we also get in to a good bit of detail on tax, accounting and running companies.

To find out more about Aysgarth Accountants visit: https://www.aysgarthaccountants.co.uk/

My guest this episode is Gloria Kimberley. Gloria is the Project Leader of the Leeds Festival of Kindness, Compassion and Wellbeing which first took place in September 2020. The aim of the Festival is to spread kindness and compassion in the city of Leeds, thereby improving everyone's wellbeing. Gloria is also a Holistic Health and Wellness Coach who supports people in improving their health and wellbeing and is the host of the Sharing the Vibe podcast.

https://www.gloriakimberley.com/

https://www.sharingthevibe.com/

https://nickcraggdesigns.com/

https://kinderleeds.org/

My guest this episode is Jason Allen a Digital Video Editor for Channel 4 in Leeds, editing and helping produce video content across all of Channel 4’s social platforms.  Jason also has his own YouTube channel where he reviews TV shows – link below. We discuss his history of interest in animation and how that led on to starting his YouTube channel and ultimately to working for a public service broadcaster.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFv-r2QdCrkG5axw--pzd7A

https://www.newgrounds.com/

My guest this episode currently works in Television in Manchester as a freelance TV researcher. This is my youngest guest so far and we discuss the somewhat ordinary and also somewhat glamourous world of TV production; as well as being furloughed – my first furloughed worker on the podcast! We discuss a bunch of my guests’ previous roles too, including some from her time in London – where she got to dance at the Olympic Games opening ceremony - as well as moving back up north and doing postgraduate study. 

My guest this episode worked for 20 years for a firm of stock brokers. Through a personal project of trying to maximise what be could achieved within his lunch hour he has found himself working in the area of work based well-being. We discuss a number of topics from my guest’s time working at a stockbrokers and looking at some of the myriad things he was able to achieve within those lunch hours. We discuss some of his thinking around the ways that we might raise awareness of well-being at work and also how we might, perhaps, embed some well-being practices in to our workplaces or into our ways of working.

Lunch Unpacked article: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266967196_Lunch_Breaks_Unpacked_The_Role_of_Autonomy_as_a_Moderator_of_Recovery_during_Lunch

Steph is a social entrepreneur building an inclusive experience service for children. We discuss setting up a Community Interest Company (CIC); working with various stakeholders, testing technology and working with vulnerable groups. We also touch upon fundraising and Steph’s other job where she now works part time while building up and developing out her CIC.

You can find out more about INC360 at https://www.inc360.org/

In this episode I speak with an IT security consultant about – you guessed it –working from home! We talk about his career development as it has matured alongside the sector. We talk about the effects of the pandemic on business and businesses, the wasted energy of travelling for business and of the many benefits of remote working.

This interview was recorded over Discord. It was another experiment so the sound is bit different to the other remote interviews I have done so far.  

In this episode I talk to a Loiner Lawyer in London. This is another Skype interview discussing working from home but also looking at working around the world. My guest is an in-house lawyer in a travel firm and discusses some of the opportunities her past roles have allowed her, law in the workplace and workplace law, and coping with Lockdown after 2 months of it.  

John is a Programme Manager within the PayTV industry and is passionate about projects that promote sustainability and positive environmental change. Most recently John is aiming to change the default behaviour that comes with the stuff we own, aiming to promote access over ownership through a unique P2P rental marketplace (WYN).

You can follow WYN on Twitter @sharewithwyn or go to http://wynapp.co.uk/ to sign up to their mailing list.

So this is the 1^st Skype episode but it comes out here. This is another fantastic interview. Jem is the Entrepreneur Engagement Manager for Yorkshire at @TechNation. Jem is a fascinating woman with a very interesting work history. We discuss unemployment, poverty, mental health, diversity, Digital skills and opportunities and… err… wrestling.  I lose connection in the 1^st half of the conversation so there is a brief gap in here but we soon pick it up again so stay with it.

You can find out more about Tech Nation here https://technation.io/about-us/national-network/yorkshire/

So… bit of a gap in recording due to the world shutting down. In this episode (the 1^st Skype recorded episode that you’re hearing but not the 1^st recorded) we discuss Working From Home - the employment topic of 2020 for most non key workers. My guest manages IT infrastructure for a HE institution and he takes us through some of the changes he’s seen in IT over the last 3 decades up to and including the effect of the pandemic.

I love this episode! Not that I don’t love the others but this to me feels like a sort of model episode. My guest is originally from Slovenia and she takes me on a break-neck tour through her work history. We discuss moving and working abroad and the importance of having support from your workplace.

There’s also nearly an hour of additional material for this interview available to Patreon members too – go have a listen, it’s good and it's only a quid for you to join and start supporting the show.

In this episode we talk precarity. My guest and I discuss working in bars, working abroad, working in bands and writing film reviews. My election bitterness is showing some (well a lot really). So you’ll have to excuse me for that. There’s some good stuff in here but I feel it could have been a lot better if I had shut my mouth more.

Anyway, done now.

In this episode I have a conversation on healthcare and IT. There’s a lot of coughing going on in this episode as pretty much everyone in Leeds seemed to have a terrible lingering cold with a very persistent cough at this time!!!

This is another kitchen episode, as I had not learned that lesson yet. We do cover a fair bit of ground in this interview as my guest moved into IT in the very early days and then came into the health sector later on. Pleasingly for me this is also the 1st episode to discuss trade union work.

In this second episode I talk to a poet and university lecturer about academia and creative working. We discuss how higher learning has changed in recent times and the shape of its ongoing uneasy fit with both art and commerce. We talk about the changing landscape of being creative, being educated and making money. We look at the experience of moving to London to find work, the narrative of being a struggling artist, the notion of toil and we agree that we should get paid for our data.

Links for topics discussed:  

Studs Terkel https://studsterkel.wfmt.com/ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59649.Working

Education for Socially Engaged Art: A Materials and Techniques Handbook by Pablo Helguera https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/14058499-education-for-socially-engaged-art

Mudlark: In Search of London’s Past Along the River Thames by Lara Maiklem https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40180049-mudlark

Jaron Lanier https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np5ri-KktNs&t=6s

In this initial episode I show off my lack of professionalism by forgetting to turn my mic on and recording in a kitchen (a mistake I will repeat) and on squeaky chairs too (I’ll do that again as well). However, I think the conversation with Eleanor is great and comes through really well. Eleanor is an artist, writer and educator and we discuss everything from outer space to men’s suits.

You can find more from Eleanor at https://eleanorsnare.com/

Also discussed:

Ozwald Boateng - https://ozwaldboateng.co.uk/

Doing Good Leeds – https://doinggoodleeds.org.uk/

Ellen MacArthur Foundation - https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/

Brundtland Report - https://www.are.admin.ch/are/en/home/media/publications/sustainable-development/brundtland-report.html

If you're a Loiner and would like to appear on the show then you can email workinghourspod@western-studios.com with your contact details and a short bio.

Background music is Etude Op. 25 no. 2 in F minor - 'The Bees'