Berkshire Heroes

What is it like for newly qualified nurses? How are patients who attack medical staff treated? And what is it like to work for the NHS in 2026 right at the beginning of your career? Nurse Sophie Barnard shares her experience of what led her to nursing, the brilliant experiences and how staff could be better supported.

Kris Lund is a student at the University of Reading and has manned the stall 'Talk to a Tory' on campus, encouraging respectful dialogue between different views. He shares his experiences of being involved in politics and dealing with hostility.

Jodie Edith is a psychotherapist, trauma specialist and campaigner for the ending of violence against women and girls. She shares with us her personal story, her professional insights into mental health and how she keeps herself resilient. Find more about Jodie's work here: https://www.nurturefromwithin.co.uk

Angela Gomes is the Wellbeing Manager of Maidenhead Football Club Community Trust. She discusses mental health, connection and outreach in the community. Angela is part of The Wellness Hub. Disclaimer: Berkshire Heroes does not make health recommendations. The purpose of the podcast is to explore ideas and hear people's first-hand experiences.

What is kinesiology and how do people find their way to it? Andrea Clarke is a kinesiologist and a member of The Wellness Hub. She shares her experiences and insights. Disclaimer: Berkshire Heroes does not make health recommendations. The purpose of the podcast is to explore ideas and hear people's first-hand experiences.

Zoe Desousa launched The Wellness Hub after experiencing burnout in corporate life. She aims to bring health options and information to busy individuals and one of the best places for convenience is the workplace. The Hub is made up of health and wellness specialists including a nutritionist, trauma specialist, acupuncturist, and more. As employers take the health of their employees more seriously...

Juliet Greenhalgh is a qualified nutritionist who specialises in supporting women going through the menopause. She speaks about what women need to keep in mind when it comes to diet, exercise and hormones as well as what family, friends and colleagues should do to support them. Juliet shares her insights, experiences and practical advice.

Byzantium is Joanna Day's luxury fashion brand. With a boutique on Crowthorne High Street and having exhibited her designs at London Fashion Week, Joanna has the inside-track on the fashion industry. She established her brand through hard work, self-belief and persistence and shares her insights into success, skills and the state of UK fashion.

Nina Bailey from Aspire2 shares how the charity gives children from Whitley schools the skills, confidence and experiences to succeed. From public speaking competitions to tickets to arts and sports events, Aspire2 is about broadening horizons and helping young people seize opportunities to fulfil their potential. While there is doom and gloom about the prospects of today's children, learn how...

Have you ever wondered how to support people in your life who are neurodiverse? How to get the best out of colleagues with ADHD? What is ADHD exactly? Niki answers all these questions, sharing good advice and personal experience. Niki McGlynn works with individuals as well as companies to coach them to create workplaces where everyone can thrive.

After a near death experience in Morocco, local entrepreneur Mark Howell revaluated his whole approach to business and how he wanted to contribute to the community. Listen to his journey and about his recent startups.

Louis Roberts runs the successful Instagram account with over 160,000 followers, Autism Unmasked. He gives his insights about autism, what he wishes people knew and shares his work helping local businesses around Reading and Wokingham become more autism friendly.

What is it really like to work as a head and neck cancer nurse in an NHS hospital right now? How has nursing changed since Covid? What is the one thing that would make a huge difference to the lives of NHS staff and patients? Forozan Nusrat has been a nurse since 2016 and has a wealth of insights to share.

Berkshire Heroes host, Laura Blumenthal, gives a round-up of the last few months before the podcast goes on a break in August. She shares her favourite moments, surprising insights and what will change when Berkshire Heroes returns in September.

Reading Film and Video Makers has existed since the 1950s and supports local people to improve their technical and storytelling skills when it comes to making films. Maria is keen to attract new members and later this year will run a course for everyone who wants to improve their video making skills. Maria also runs her own podcast, My Local Marketer, interviewing local businesses and artists in R...

Reading based mental health nurse Matthew Callow talks about his experience supporting local families, the epidemic of loneliness, social media, the explosion of mental health diagnoses in the UK and the struggle some men face talking about their problems.

Donna Wills is an award-winning animal physiotherapist from Bracknell. Her business, Animal Physiotherapy, supports animals to live the best lives they can. Donna's shares her experiences of featuring on TV, the story behind her book 'The Best Goodbye' and her insights helping animals of all size.

Young people have been supported by Berkshire Youth since 1940. Listen to CEO Sarah Emery share which issues they're seeing amongst young people, the activities they put on and the difference they make.

With millions of views on TikTok, Ricky Smith's dance videos have gone viral. Performing spontaneous street dance routines in local clubs he wants to inspire joy and confidence in others. His videos can be found across social media under 'Cash Money Brothers'.

Nicole Bryan is a certified birth and postnatal doula supporting families in Berkshire. A doula provides emotional, physical and informational support to parents-to-be. Nicole shares her experience supporting mothers through the NHS, the trends she's seeing and what all expectant parents should keep in mind.

Social care is under pressure, and with the recent announcement that care companies will no longer be able to recruit from abroad, it's helpful to hear straight from the Director of a care company. Shahid Younis runs SureCare, a home care company, and talks about the opportunities and challenges for the future of care in the UK.

Woodley Business Club is open to all local business owners who want to collaborate, learn skills and find a supportive network. Membership is free and business owners are based nearby in Twyford, Earley and Bracknell, as well as Woodley. Debbie Winyard runs her hypnotherapy business in Earley and explains the difference she's seen Woodley Business Club make for its members.

Loneliness is a growing problem in society. The Link Visiting Scheme arranges volunteers to befriend older people and has been given the Queen's Award in recognition of their services. Marjie Walker was a nurse before she took over as CEO of the charity in 2007. She has grown it from a tiny charity to a medium sized charity and growing. The Link Visiting Scheme

Sara Hughes is Co-Director of the Samaritans branch for Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead. She describes the calls that have stayed with her, what drove her to the role and the support volunteers get. Samaritans is there for people who simply need to talk to someone.

Matthew Whitelock has been a highly sought after drama coach for 30 years. He has seen first-hand how drama helps young people's mental health and the struggles of the performing arts industry to survive. Positive and always working on a project, he also shares his experience of having been Chair of the Board for the Pride of Reading Awards and why they matter so much to him. He is currently w...