Assa Marra

In this episode of Assa Marra, Janine Ward shares a story that begins with the rejection of infidelity. While that may seem to be the story, it quickly becomes clear that it is only the gateway. Speaking with striking honesty and openness, Janine reflects on the diagnoses, counselling and soul-searching that followed as she tried to make sense of a life that no longer resembled the one she had ima...

This episode of Assa Marra was recorded live at Energy Coast UTC in Lillyhall, West Cumbria, the first Assa Marra recorded on location as part of Assa Colours, whose raison d’être is to reach young people in communities through storytelling, building confidence, and helping them find their unique voice. And what a venue it was. It felt like being on the set of Grange Hill. Then the conversation wi...

In this episode of Assa Marra, Catherine speaks with Gail Dobson-Burns about baby loss, infertility, and the experience that shaped her work and community impact. Gail shares her story with honesty and pragmatism, reflecting on the challenges she and her husband faced, including miscarriage, and the emotional and physical realities that many families experience but are rarely spoken about. In the...

West Cumbria is one of the most beautiful places in England. It is also one of the hardiest. Everything appears more amplified more intense. Big skies. Deep lakes. Rugged, breathtaking beauty. But that intensity is not just in the landscape. With great beauty there is a shadow side that pervades too. Cumbria has one of the highest suicide rates in the country, around 50 percent higher than th...

This episode of Assa Marra features a rapidly developing local legend Lyn Cavaghan. Having West Cumbrian parents Lyn has the place in her DNA the Marra in her marrow. There is something about that inheritance of place that tugs at you. Even if life starts elsewhere. Even if your accent is shaped somewhere different. Even if your career begins beyond the county line. One of the themes that keeps su...

This episode features Mark Telford, CEO of Forth Engineering. No silver spoons. No silken cushion. Picking coal off the beach to keep the house warm. Welding bikes together just to have a way of getting about. That’s what shaped him. Mark is a pragmatist. An understated man. He was coaxed into the podcast studio because this chap doesn’t crave attention. BUT being a leader and figurehead means - s...

This is our one-year anniversary episode of Assa Marra, and it is here to delight you because it’s a corker An uplifting, joyful, laugh-out-loud conversation from start to finish. I give you nine-year-old Frankie McMillan. In his short life so far, Frankie has already walked nearly 900 mountains, including some of the biggest and most iconic. He has travelled the world, reached Everest Base Camp,...

Julieanne Mitchell. A West Cumbrian woman with an undeniable West Cumbrian voice. Speaking into a subject many people still tiptoe around or consigned to the 80s . Julieanne Mitchell was diagnosed with HIV in her twenties, more than two decades ago. She was seriously unwell, and the diagnosis took so much longer because she did not match the profile. Not the expected picture. Not the stereotype. A...

Blimey, what a bright and articulate chap is Sonny Smith. One minute we are talking AI, the next minute he is unpacking lupus, then he is off reflecting on Marcus Aurelius or Notre-Dame. It surprises you in the best way. He’s a humble chap with a powerful intellect who thinks deeply because life pushed him that way. Sonny is Harrington born and bred. A West Cumbrian with a hidden illness that has...

Hear ye, Hear ye marra! Our next guest Marc Goodwin is a Tigger not an Eeyore. He is the Town Crier, the beautiful collision of theatre and tradition. He is also a ninja natural connector who is blindingly brilliant at pulling people together. West Cumbria feels brighter more hope filled when he is about. This fine fella is warm, funny, thoroughly decent, and the role in his hands becomes somethin...

Emma Williamson lived through a childhood witnessing domestic violence, chaos, and addiction. When the challenges came, they weren’t small ones — and it’s true to say, when it’s bad anywhere else, it’s extra bad in West Cumbria. The experience is amplified. When it’s dark here, it’s dark. When it’s light, it’s light. For every ounce of darkness Emma endured, she’s channelled it back tenfold into l...

Rachel Holliday – Firestarter, Problem-Solver, Community Builder By 20, Rachel Holliday had crammed in more than most people manage in a lifetime – the rough, the raw, and the downright chaotic. Sofa-surfing. Addicted. Homeless. The kind of life that could have gone one way and stayed there. But Rachel doesn’t do standing still. Motherhood lit the fuse. Family backed her all the way. She’s blasted...

Originally from the North East, Christine Smeaton made West Cumbria her home at 21. But it wasn’t until her late 60s — facing homelessness and uncertainty — that her most extraordinary chapter began. When Christine walked through the doors of Calderwood House in Egremont, she wasn’t just seeking shelter. She was choosing a new life. Now in her late 70s, she’s a self-taught musician, playing multip...

Episode 13 brings us Dianne Richardson – raised in Mirehouse, West Cumbria, a place lacking polish and sophistication but deep in community spirit. Her career path is eclectic - swearing never to work in nuclear Dianne has ventured through many careers - but nothing is wasted - everything repurposed. West Cumbria once rang with industry – from Marchon’s chemical works to Kangol’s iconic headw...

Gerard Richardson MBE, born and raised in Cleator Moor, takes us on a journey through a life steeped in service and local pride. From his early days as a Royal Navy Aircraft Engineer to founding the iconic Whitehaven Maritime Festivals and running the beloved Richardson’s Fine Wines, Gerard’s story is one of community, colour, and commitment. In this warm and wide-ranging conversation, he reflects...

In this episode, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, Josh MacAlister, reflects on his early days as a teacher in Oldham and the powerful lessons that continue to shape his voice in Parliament. He shares how the classroom prepared him for Commons debates, the lasting impact of his stepdad’s guidance, and his journey founding the social work charity Frontline. With deep roots in service and a c...

In this episode, we shift focus from celebrating the beauty and splendour of West Cumbria to exploring a more serious story—that of Ruth Hasson. At 17, Ruth entered a controlling and abusive relationship. Her partner’s obsessive behaviour gradually isolated her from friends and family, leaving her vulnerable and alone. The abuse escalated over the years, culminating in a terrifying six-hour assaul...

Next on Assa Marra: Darren Joseph Blanks, a visually impaired Army veteran from Egremont, tells his incredible story of running over 850 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats. As the first registered blind person to complete this iconic challenge, Darren smashed out a marathon a day for 28 days, raising over £18,000 for the Visually Impaired Veterans Ski Club. Joining Darren is none other than Cu...

Next on Assa Marra: Kris Mathers shares a cracking insight into how AI, especially ChatGPT, helped him bounce back from his darkest days. A few years ago, Kris hit rock bottom—COVID stress, workaholic habits, and obsessive behaviours pushed him to breaking point. But as an early adopter of AI, Kris discovered how this powerful tech could support recovery, rebuild focus, and spark transformation. H...

Next on Assa Marra: Jade Carson’s story is a proper belter. She opens up about her journey through bipolar, ADHD, and addiction—chaos, courage, and finally, clarity, after a life-changing intervention from a university lecturer. With bipolar affecting 1 in 50 people in the UK, and ADHD often tied to addiction, Jade’s tale shows the grit it takes to face life head-on. It’s as raw as a Cumbrian wint...

In Episode 6 of “Assa Marra,” we chat with David Barnes, a Cumbrian lad who turned his life around through cold water immersion. Four years ago, David was in a bad way—owt of shape, unhappy, and battling the drink. Seeking change, he found solace in the chilly waters of Cumbria’s lakes and the Irish Sea off St Bees. This practice became his salvation, helping him heal early childhood trauma and fi...

In this episode, we’re diving into tales from the cycle track, fables from the fells, and a few daft adventures along the way. Inspired by my Gobsmacked! Resurgam episode, this instalment celebrates Gary McKee, Cleator Moor’s very own “Marathon Man”, whose legendary feat of running 365 marathons in a year has left an indelible mark on West Cumbria and beyond. Gary’s story is nothing short of remar...

In this episode of “Assa Marra,” we’re chuffed to welcome Oliver Hodgson, a reet inspiring young entrepreneur from Whitehaven, Cumbria. At just 16, Oliver left school and, undeterred by traditional paths, founded Platinum Live, a creative communications agency that’s gone from strength to strength. Now in his early 20s, he’s garnered national recognition, including being named the North West’s You...

In Episode 3 of “Assa Marra,” I'm absolutely thrilled to chat with Richard Askwith, the acclaimed author behind Feet in the Clouds. This book dives deep into the exhilarating world of fell running, capturing the essence of the sport, its challenges as well as its hero’s . Touching on the Bob Graham Round—a legendary fell running challenge in the Lake District - this gruelling 66-mile circuit over...

Welcome to Episode 2 of Assa Marra, where we’re celebrating two proper West Cumbrian legends—Gary McKee, the ‘Marathon Man’ from Cleator Moor who ran 365 marathons in a year, and Gary Graham, better known as Gary Mankini, originally from Whitehaven. Gary McKee’s graft and determination have inspired folk round here, while Gary Mankini brings a bit of craic and daftness with his antics, including h...