A Blether With...

In this episode of  A Blether With... , Michael chats with Lizzie MacDonald, from the Highbacks community garden in Burnhill, about how the project has grown from a small community clean-up effort during Covid lockdown into a thriving local space led by and for local people. Lizzy talks about her passion for creating positive change in the community, building opportunities for young people, and he...

In this special episode of  A Blether With… , Michael Shanks hands over the microphone to the pupils of Burgh Primary School - and no question is off limits. Turning the usual format on its head, the pupils take on the role of interviewers, putting their local MP in the hot seat and asking about everything from life at Westminster to whether he ever gets nervous speaking in Parliament — and even h...

In this episode of  A Blether With... , Michael chats with Carrick McDonald from the Rutherglen Heritage Society about the group’s work to preserve and celebrate the town’s rich history. Carrick shares how the Society has grown from just six members in 2012 to a thriving community, and how his own background and curiosity about Rutherglen’s past led him to become its convener. He talks about the S...

In this episode of  A Blether With... , Michael chats with Alison, the lead officer at the Lanarkshire Climate Action Hub, about the hub’s work to engage and empower communities in creating sustainable, low-carbon solutions. Alison shares the mission behind the hub and her personal motivations for driving climate action in the region, offering insights into how the work is making a difference in L...

In this first episode of  A Blether With... ,   Michael visits the David Livingstone Birthplace in Blantyre to chat with Sandra Lowson, Director of Operations and Engagement, who shares the remarkable story of one of Scotland’s most iconic historical figures - from humble beginnings in a cotton mill to becoming a world-renowned explorer. But the museum today is more than just a tribute to the past...