Working For Progress

Sometimes in life there are defining moments that set us on a path. For Isobel Mercer, one came while riding on the back of a motorbike through miles of decimated palm-oil plantations. When she finally reached the lush rainforest beyond, the stark contrast between destruction and life left an imprint that would shape her future. Originally from Devon, Isobel moved to Edinburgh in 2008 to study pol...

What does it take to stay human inside powerful legal systems? In this episode of Working For Progress , Dani is joined by Andrea Fraser , a Civil Justice Lawyer at JUSTICE, whose career has spanned employment law, human rights, public inquiries, and some of the most challenging legal cases of our time. Andrea’s path has taken her from early practice at Anderson Strathern, to leading investigation...

Liz Gration is a freelance marketer specialising in SEO, digital PR, and content writing. She helps businesses of all sizes, from small Edinburgh shops and venues to international retailers, healthcare companies, charities, and environmental organisations, to strengthen their online presence and grow through meaningful digital strategies. A regular speaker at Brighton SEO, Europe’s largest search...

Gael Drummond has been quietly making waves in the social enterprise world, bringing a leadership style that is both tenacious and refreshingly ego-less. With a background in sport and physical activity, she brings the same determination and winning spirit to her work, but channels it in a way that lifts others up rather than seeking the spotlight. As Group CEO of Firstport, Gael leads on governan...

Sonny Ruggiero is a yoga teacher, art historian, and community builder who recently joined Tribe Porty as our Community Support Assistant. Originally from California, Sonny moved to Scotland to pursue her PhD in the History of Art at the University of Edinburgh, where her research explored the visual culture of the feminist magazine Spare Rib. In this conversation, Dani and Sonny talk about fallin...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Dr. Jane Booth, a leadership development specialist and founder of Opus 29 ., whose PhD-informed, practitioner-led approach helps people lead themselves and others with greater confidence. They explore what good leadership actually looks like from the inside, why boundaries aren't just a self-care buzzword but a professional skill, and what gets in the way of...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Paul Lambie — writer, designer, poet, and community gatherer, known to many as Poetry Paul and Paul's Props. Paul's path has taken him from the world of TV and film to becoming a full-time stay-at-home dad — a shift that raised bigger questions about identity, creativity, and what progress actually looks like when it doesn't follow a straight line....

In this episode, Dani speaks with Dawn Thomson, energy psychologist, relationships coach, and one of the original TEDxPortobello speakers, about the relationship most of us neglect the most: the one with ourselves. Dawn's work sits at the intersection of love, sex, and self. Her newest project, Fancy Yourself, is an invitation to stop waiting for external validation and start genuinely backin...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Maureen Evans, executive coach, Pilates teacher, and founder of two practices built around movement and leadership development. Maureen's path is an unexpected one: from a degree in pure mathematics and a career in risk consulting and audit, to running a wellness studio and coaching leaders across the globe. This conversation begins to explore what drew her f...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Julie Cluley, dog behaviour coach and creator of Peaceful Paws, a course and community that brings together 3P coaching and Dog Listening to help dog trainers work in a calmer, more sustainable way. Julie talks honestly about burnout. What it looked like for her, and the shift in thinking that followed. Paradoxically, she's now doing more than ever, but witho...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Matilda Mayne , mental skills coach and performance psychology consultant based in Edinburgh, working with athletes, businesses, and academic institutions on resilience and coping with pressure. Matilda's life's work is understanding stress, not as something to eliminate, but as something to develop a better relationship with. And she doesn't just s...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Hannah Low, Chinese-Scottish actor, writer, and maker of vibrant, narrative-led work for stage, whose credits span Netflix, BBC Scotland, and the Royal Lyceum Theatre. Hannah talks about her deep love for drama and storytelling. Where it comes from, what it gives her, and why it remains the thing she keeps coming back to. They also touch on the reality of building...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Loretta Dunn. Life Celebrant, Death Doula, nurse, midwife, and one of those rare people who seems to hold the full span of human experience with extraordinary grace. Loretta's work sits at the threshold between life and death, and this conversation follows her there. She speaks about the formative experiences that shaped her path, including her years working...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Danni Gordon, former third sector project manager, personal assistant, and self-confessed lover of helping people get things done. Danni joined the conversation while on extended maternity leave, at one of those in-between moments where the next chapter of working life is coming into view but hasn't quite taken shape yet. It makes for an honest and relatable...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Anna Considine. Edinburgh-based brand photographer, founder of Studio Gently, and new member of Tribe Porty, Anana talks about what it really takes to build a business that doesn't cost you your health. Anna speaks openly about the joy of starting something of your own, and with equal honesty about what happened when work became all-consuming. Her experience...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Ellie Morag, photographer, community gatherer, and a previous member of the Tribe Porty team. Ellie's working life has long revolved around photography and connecting with people. But she's at an interesting moment; curious about what else she might do, and what the next chapter looks like beyond the lens. That curiosity led her to volunteering with Crea...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Reema Vadoliya, founder of People of Data and a passionate advocate for putting humanity at the heart of how we gather, interpret, and use data. Reema's central argument is a simple but radical one: data is never just facts. Behind every dataset are real people, real lives, and real consequences. The way we handle data either reflects that or ignores it. Afte...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Keith Kirkwood. Senior Technical Writer by day, drummer and percussionist by night, and someone whose brain operates in two very different registers. Keith's working life is built around making complexity clear, crafting user guides and help systems that turn the intricate into the accessible. Away from the desk, he's been drumming since his twenties and...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Emma Christie, psychological thriller writer, Portobello local, and someone who has deliberately built a working life that most people only dream about. Emma's debut novel The Silent Daughter was shortlisted for the McIlvanney Prize for Scottish Crime, and her work is rooted in the streets of Portobello, Edinburgh's seaside neighbourhood that also happen...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Nicky Shallcross, former fashion and retail buying director, founder of Interior Superior, volunteer, and someone who knows exactly what it took to change her life. Nicky's shift from heading up buying and merchandising teams in corporate retail to starting her own colourful homeware business wasn't just a career change. It followed her own experience wi...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Peter Jones. Watercolour artist, long-time Tribe Porty member, and one of Portobello's quieter treasures. Peter draws constantly. His work celebrates the built environments of the places he loves, from Portobello, Kirkcudbright, Falkland, and most recently Craigmillar and Niddrie; rendered in a watercolour style that is entirely his own. In this conversation,...

Today we spoke with Briana Pegado, and we could have talked all day! With our longest episode to date, Briana and I talk about her experiences in the creative sector, how she is a menace (in the best possible way) and why it is important to live  your truth. We think you will enjoy this rich conversation.  Briana Pegado FRSA is an author, fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and festival founder w...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Chris Hellawell. Director of the Edinburgh Tool Library and one of those people who saw something working somewhere else and decided to bring it home. The origin story is a good one: Chris visited a tool library in Canada, saw what it could do for a community, and came back convinced Scotland needed one. Since 2015, the Edinburgh Tool Library has saved its members...

Eleven episodes, one trailer, and a whole lot learned. In this special episode, Dani and producer Alice Hudson look back on Season 1 of Working for Progress. They reflect on the conversations that stayed with them — with Bob, Lorna, Osbert, Nasim, Kaigan, Rob, Adam, Jo, Rachel, Inessa, and Dane — and the common threads that emerged: community, values, and the quiet determination to do good work. D...

In this episode, Dani speaks with Inessa Rezanova. Ukrainian writer, screenwriter, and narrative producer, and one of Tribe Porty's most beloved members. Inessa arrived in Portobello through a simple connection a host family, a recommendation, a warm welcome, and has been here ever since. Two years on, she is woven into the fabric of the community in the way that only the best people are. Her...