The Northern Guide to Happiness

Episode 34 - Robin Fry

This week we talk to Robin Fry, CEO of VODA which is the Voluntary Organisations Development Agency for North Tyneside. We talk about his love of film and music making as well as VODA's response to the Covid pandemic, supporting volunteers and the local communities over the last 12 months, including helping people with food and prescription deliveries and befriending opportunities. 

Episode 33 - Jack Lowe

For the last 6 years, Jack Lowe has been travelling round the UK and the Republic of Ireland in a decommissioned ambulance dark room called Neena documenting every RNLI lifeboat station using glass plate photography. He talks to Alex about achieving "level contentment", and the importance of family, community, kayaking and social media amongst many other things. 

Episode Thirty Two - The Team

It's our last Geordie Guide to Happiness episode in it's current season, but we'll say more about that during the episode. We’ve picked some of our favourite bits from our episodes from 2021 which we’d like to share again. The team have a good old chat about what the project has meant for us over the last year or so.

Episode Thirty One - Ashley Lowe and Azeem Ahmad

In this week's episode we talk to Ashley and Azeem from Newcastle United Foundation. They talk to Alex about their Be a Game Changer campaign. They talk about the power of football and how it can be utilised to help support people experiencing mental health issues. They also chat about their own personal experiences around mental health as well as what happiness means to them and what they do to maintain positive mental wellbeing.

Episode Thirty - Ste Dunn

In this week's episode we talk to Ste Dunn (pronouns he/him) who fills us in on plans for this year's Northern Pride event as well as the importance of LGBTQ+ History month. He also talks to us about happiness means to him including a very special tattoo which reminds him about some of his happy days.

Episode Twenty Nine - Chris Barnard

We continue the Ouseburn theme this week with an interview with Chris Barnard who is Chief Officer at the Ouseburn Trust. He talks to Kath about the positive work/life balance he has experienced during lockdown as well has his love of the great outdoors. His passion for the Ouseburn also shines through as he tells us all about what makes the place unique.

Episode Twenty Eight - John Coburn

This week's episode is a great interview between Dominic and John Coburn. John is Creative Director at Seven Stories the National Centre for Children's Book. He's also played in a few bands and is well known on the Newcastle music scene. They talk about all sorts of different things including walking through graveyards, audio recordings and kids telling jokes!

Episode Twenty Seven - Alison Flanagan Wood

In this week's episode Alex talks to Alison Flanagan Wood, Arts Development Officer at Newcastle City Council. They chat about the importance of arts and culture to the wellbeing of Newcastle communities as well as the things that bring Alison happiness, including setting herself new challenges such as sea swimming and playing contact sports like camogie and roller derby.

Episode Twenty Six - Iain Watson

Iain Watson is Director of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, responsible for overseeing the management of a collection of nine museums and galleries across Tyneside as well as the Archives for Tyne and Wear. In this episode Iain reflects on the many happy moments in his career in museums and heritage as well as the role museums play in enabling people to experience a range of emotions when they visit. He also talks about his own sources of personal happiness including spending time with family, time on the beach, and walking the family dog.

Episode Twenty Five - Val McLean

Val is a multi talented actor, scriptwriter, director and teacher who has influenced the theatre experience of many people in the North East and beyond during her long career.  At heart she sees herself as a wife and mother.  Listen as she reflects on the happiness and strength she gets from being part of  a loving family and the challenges of being a working mother in the acting profession.