The Northern Guide to Happiness is a podcast all about what makes us smile. We’ll be talking to adopted and native Northerners about what makes them happy. We’ll be trying to uncover some of the things that we can all do to get more joy in our lives.
This week’s episode is with Bridie Jackson who is a musician, composer and creative practitioner based here in the North East. It was lovely to talk to Bridie about her process of uncovering personal stories and her approach to co-production with communities as well as what inspires her when she’s writing her music.
For our 40th episode in the Northern Guide series we talk to Kelly Coates this week who founded Projects4Change, a youth project based in Cowgate in Newcastle. Projects4Change aims to help provide better opportunities for young people. It’s a bit of under statement to say that young people have had a particularly challenging time over the last few years so we talked a little bit about that, happy (and sad moments) at the project, Betty's hut and what brings Kelly happiness and what it means to her.
It was an absolute pleasure to talk to Ed Waugh this week. Ed is a North East playwright who along with his writing partner Trevor Wood has written a number of highly successful plays starting with Good to firm in 2002, to Waiting for Gateaux in 2005, Carrying David and Alf Ramsey Knew my Grandfather. His most recent work is Wor Bella, a story all about the Blyth Spartans football player Bella Reay and the WW1 Munitionettes.
This week we are joined by Adam Goldwater. Adam talks to us about the importance of sense of place to his happiness and wellbeing. We talk about how as a child he used to ask his dad “Can we go somewhere old?” and how that love of exploring old buildings and sites across the region has continued into adulthood.
This week we talk to a Northern legend; Rod Clements. Rod is best known as a member of Lindisfarne. He wrote their first hit, "Meet me on the Corner" (which won him an Ivor Novello Award!). He has also released some amazing solo work over the years as well as having played with a number of other Folk music greats. He's a Northern chap having been born and raised in North Shields, he's a generally all round decent, intelligent, articulate and brilliant human being.
This week’s episode is with Chris Ord. Chris talks about his love of brass bands and playing music which brings him a great deal of happiness but we also talk about his writing. His novels are dark, atmospheric and inspired by Northumberland. He talks to us about how the process of writing brings him happiness and how he goes about writing his stories.
This week’s episode is with Emma Pattison and Debra Forth who run Live Well CIC based in Sacriston in County Durham. At their Live Well Centre they deliver all sorts of activities to help support children and adults with their emotional, physical, social and personal wellbeing. We had a great chat about wellbeing, living your best life and how it’s important to take time out for yourself for your own physical and mental wellbeing.
Clif Evers provides another fascinating discussion around Blue space and wellbeing for this weeks episode. Clif works at Newcastle University in the School for Arts and Culture with a particular interest in coastal communities. He talks to us about the importance of blue space to our wellbeing but also how some communities feel that enjoyment in the coast and what it has to offer is out of their reach.
This week’s interview is with Andy Haddon who runs Big River Bakery, a social enterprise based in Shieldfield in the East End of Newcastle. A great chat about the background to how the bakery getting started, why it’s such an important part of the community in Shieldfield and the impact of getting involved in the Hairy Bikers recent Go North series.
