Calder Navigation

We’ve come to the end of another season of Calder Navigation, and for this special final episode of the season, we’re changing things up! The roles have been flipped this episode, and Sam is the one being interviewed instead! Her lovely husband, Matt, also a member of the Curious Motion team, has taken questions from the team on all things Curious Motion. Sam gets to chat about music, dreams and a...

Welcome back to Calder Navigation for our penultimate episode of this season, and we're so excited to have Molly Caton on the podcast for this episode! Molly is an invaluable member of the Curious Motion community. She first joined us as a participant in our over 55s session, Brews & Grooves, and quickly became a dedicated volunteer. Recently, she’s also taken on a leadership role as a member...

Today, we have the pleasure of welcoming Wendy Stainton Rogers to the Calder Navigation podcast. Wendy is a health psychologist who has spent her life fighting against inequalities and injustices, both through her academic work and her dedicated volunteer efforts. During the course of Wendy's work, she has been instrumental in challenging societal norms, advocating for equity and diversity at a ti...

We’re so excited to welcome Rachel Lappin to the Calder Navigation podcast today. Rachel spent many years working closely with women and children impacted by interpersonal violence and abuse. Her journey took a transformative turn when she became the Manager of the Pankhurst Centre in Manchester, and this experience set her on a path toward cultural and heritage work. For the past five years, Rach...

Today on Calder Navigation, we're delighted to have acclaimed poet, Clare Shaw, with us. Clare has been featured in numerous anthologies, has four collections published by Bloodaxe, has written and presented for BBC Radio 3 and 4, and they also lead workshops for Wordsworth Grassmere, the Royal Literary Fund, and the Arvon Foundation. Beyond poetry, Clare is dedicated to using writing for social c...

Welcome back to Calder Navigation! Joining us on the podcast today is James Mellor. James is a seasoned director and producer who lives in Ripponden with his family. James has nearly 30 years experience in the film and TV industry and founded Rainbow Trout Films in 2010, which produces award-winning films, commercials, and documentaries. James will also be working with us on a film as part of the...

In this episode of Calder Navigation, we're going outside and exploring the natural world around us with our amazing guest, Clare Donegan. Clare Donegan is a passionate advocate for nature and the arts and Artistic Director of Inna Nature, an organisation that supports people to connect with nature. Clare says she's always felt most at home in the natural world, and she deeply believes in the tran...

In this episode of Calder Navigation, we’re passing the microphone to five incredible individuals: Musa, Sofayne, Hazel, Hina and Abdelhameed who are people seeking sanctuary in the UK. Today (Thursday 20th June) is World Refugee Day and it’s also Refugee Week, which has the theme of Our Home. In this episode we’re showcasing the resilience and creativity of refugees and people seeking sanctuary,...

Today on Calder Navigation, we are shining a spotlight on Sowerby Bridge through the vibrant early life of one of the town's own, Geoff Amos. Geoff's life is a patchwork of diverse adventures and endeavours, and his journey embodies the spirit of curiosity and adaptability. In this episode, Geoff invites us to stroll down memory lane, regaling us with tales of his childhood in Sowerby Bridge, part...

Welcome back to Calder Navigation, where each episode serves as a compass guiding you through the vibrant tapestry of Calderdale. We’re delighted to present Season 2 as part of our Culturedale Commission, celebrating Calderdale's rich cultural heritage during the year of culture. From intimate conversations to profound revelations, each episode is an invitation to connect, reflect, and celebrate t...

Welcome to the final episode of the first season of the Calder Navigation podcast! It’s been wonderful sharing stories and building connections, and we hope you’ve enjoyed listening. We have a great listen for you for the final episode. Let's embark on a fascinating journey through the life and experiences of multi talented actor and jazz singer, Hayley Doherty. What sets Hayley apart is not just...

Today we have two short interviews for you with some wonderful people who are part of the Curious Motion community. This episode is about sharing experiences from people who have come to Calderdale from other countries. A common connection seems to be the similar landscapes that Calderdale shares with other countries, in this case Syria and Iran - we explore this in this episode and chat about lif...

I'm joined today by Liz Leach Murphy. Liz founded the social enterprise Imagineer in 2009 to take her work in health and social care further. Over the years, Liz and the Imagineer team have moved from a small local organisation to one with a national reach, and they are doing incredible work, making real change for people and families. Liz has also encouraged and supported people to develop their...

Welcome back to Calder Navigation! This week, we're joined by Christine Martin, the brilliant artist behind Kissy Colour Art and Crafts. For years, her paintbrushes patiently collected cobwebs and dust until the undeniable need for creative expression could no longer be contained. Christine's influence doesn't stop on her canvas. Through her workshops, she empowers individuals to unlock their inne...

Today we're going on a bit of a different journey as we transport you into the world of live dance. During the last week of July this year, we created a piece of choreography from scratch to share at our Welland Showcase event. We called it This Here Land, and now it's your turn to experience This Here Land, albeit in a slightly different way! In today's episode, one of the dancers, Matt Lackford,...

Let’s go for a walk along the Calder and Hebble Navigation! This week, I’m chatting to Jim Souper, one of Curios Motion’s volunteers. He helps run our walking sessions, and is an avid nature photographer - perfect fit for a walk along the canal! So join us for this week’s episode, where we take a mindful walk through nature and talk about the importance of noticing the small things. Links mentione...

This week's episode of Calder Navigation is all about compassion, and was recorded live at our Compassion in Action event in Elland to celebrate Refugee Week 2023. Instead of hearing from me this episode, you will hear from four of the artists who are involved in the event Alex Abel, Isla Hurst, Mussarat Rahman and Sandile Duma. They'll share their thoughts on compassion, the impact of this on ind...

Join us today as this week's guest, Joanne Douglas, takes us on a compelling voyage through her advocacy work, where stories transform into instruments of change. Joanne is a force of positive change in the realm of health and social care. Formerly a journalist, Joanne now uses her talents as part of Healthwatch Calderdale, where she empowers transformation through the power of people's stories an...

We are thrilled to welcome Caroline Seaborne to Calder Navigation this week. Caroline is a beacon of resilience who has overcome immense challenges. Escaping domestic violence, she found solace in our vibrant community of Elland. Her dream of helping others with their mental health led her to volunteer at Healthy Minds, Calderdale's very own mental health charity, which has supported her and many...

Welcome to the inaugural episode of Calder Navigation, where we have the pleasure of introducing Rosalind Arden, a somatic therapist. In this episode, we explore the transformative power of conversation and creative processes as tools for reconnecting with ourselves. Rosalind's expertise lies in working closely with individuals who have confronted challenges such as depression and chronic fatigue....

Join Curious Motion's Samantha McCormick as she explores life through the stories of the people of Calderdale. Through genuine and relaxed conversations, Calder Navigation takes a look at the complexities of being human by sharing the experiences of local people. From poetry to music, each episode offers a unique and creative perspective, fostering pride, unity, and compassion within our community...

We finish off our exploration into values with this final episode on 'inclusion' - Sam is joined by Kate Auker, who has spent most of her life tackling inequality in one way or another. Kate believes deeply in fairness and in this episode shares her thoughts on the complexities around inequality, particularly 'hidden inequalities' working with homeless communities and people in crisis food poverty...

What does compassion really mean and how does it support a sense of belonging in the world for ourselves and others? Find out in this episode with Sam and charity change-maker Katie Sparkes. Katie is an incredibly inspiring human being - she founded her own Corporate Social Responsibility consultancy at the age of 22 and is also the founder and CEO of inclusive dance charity Flamingo Chicks, among...

Caroline Bowditch joins Sam to discuss 'inclusion' and how 'empathy' shows up within this. Caroline is an internationally renowned performer, choreographer, teacher and maker, and is currently CEO of Arts Access Victoria in Australia. Caroline is a disabled woman who believes passionately in creating spaces where people feel they can truly be themselves. In this episode she shares some new thought...

Sam is joined by Dipika Kaushal, CEO of Voluntary & Community (VAC), to discuss 'inclusion'. Inclusion has been integral throughout Dipika's diverse career working in the voluntary sector, focused on positive social change and improving local lives. Today she shares what she has learnt from her experience and why inclusion benefits everyone. Find out all about Voluntary & Community here: w...