Bristol Unpacked

Bristol has found itself at the centre of national and even international conversations about policing, protest, and criminal justice. At the top of the police chain of command is the Chief Constable for Avon and Somerset (ASP). The force covers approximately 1.7 million people across Bristol, Bath, and North East Somerset, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.    And now there is a new sheri...

Craig Cheney is the local lad and councilor for Hillfields that is the controller of the purse strings at Bristol City Council. After 12 years of central government-imposed austerity, that purse is much smaller than it needs to be. Now as the council is planning for the new year's budget they need to fill a £23 million sized hole in the finances. With the threat of cuts and sales of council assets...

What was it like acting with Christopher Walken when his next biggest role was playing a genital wart 20 years ago? Southmead-born Ian Aitchison runs cult record store Longwell Records. He and Neil talk about his cameo in The Outlaws made by his mate Stephen Merchant, growing up with a bank robber, his years as a drug worker, and the dangers of actors trying a Bristol accent!  Hosted on Acast. See...

What did he learn, regret and achieve during his time as mayor? Why does he hate tall buildings so much? And what is his big vision for the land at Bristol Zoo? Tune into the conversation with Neil and George to find out all this and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of the tragic death in Lawrence Hill, Neil chats to Darren Alexander who runs Aspiration Creation Elevation (ACE), a music mentoring organisation for youth in Bristol’s disadvantaged communities. Darren and Neil, who both knew the young man, discuss what’s behind youth violence, tackling root and systemic causes and whether, as Avon and Somerset Police have said recently, drill music i...

Carla Denyer, an elected councillor in the city, has just won the leadership of the Greens alongside Adrian Ramsay. With Labour shifting to the right, and concern about the climate crisis starting to become mainstream, Denyer thinks this is the moment for Greens, in the UK and beyond. But can they get out of their pigeon-hole and reach a wide range of society? Will internal divisions rock the part...

Joe Sims is a well-known actor from Bristol. Having made it through the ranks of a notoriously elitist industry with a working-class background, Joe has a lot to say on and off-screen. Neil and Joe talk about his acting career, growing up in the city, and that video he made for Marvin Rees's re-election campaign. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After a long stint working in Bristol's nightlife, in March Carly Heath was appointed by the council as Bristol's first ever Night-time Economy Advisor. Carly is charged with supporting a battered industry recover from the pandemic and for improving the vibrancy and safety of Bristol's nightlife for all. Neil and Carly cover the raging debate on sexual entertainment venues, drugs testing and a new...

Elected in May 2021, Mark Shelford is the first party political Police and Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset Constabulary. Shelford is responsible for helping to set the overall policing strategy for Bristol and the wider region, covering 16 parliamentary constituencies. Neil and Mark discuss the Police and Crime Bill, the riot and protests in Bristol , and how policing can be just and effe...

Karin Smyth became Labour MP for Bristol South in 2015 after a career working in the NHS. Since she has had to navigate the political turmoil of Brexit, snap elections, and infighting over the Labour leadership. She talks to Neil Maggs about her working-class background, why she thinks the mayoral system is undemocratic and why the influence of the Merchant Venturers should be limited. Hosted on A...

Kerry Bailes is a longstanding campaigner for Hartcliffe and a leading voice among parents seeking a solution for the Special Educational Needs and Disability provision crisis in the city. Elected as a Labour councillor in May 2021, Kerry is taking the fight inside the council and to represent Hartcliffe and south Bristol working class communities and make change happen for parents and special edu...

The Society of Merchant Venturers often gets talked about in conspiratorial tones. Forced into the limelight by the toppling of Colston, the Merchants have come under greater scrutiny for past and present practices. According to the Society, they are opening up more to the public, confronting their history and diversifying their membership. They say that far from controlling the city they are just...

The government is introducing a new law claiming to defend freedom of speech, amid an alleged crisis on British university campuses of 'cancel culture' and de-platforming. But is it really the case that freedom of expression is being unduly restricted in our society? Or is it an exaggerated distraction from bigger issues? Harry Walker of Bristol Uni's Free Speech Society has been at the centre of...

Chris Brian was a anarchist activist in Bristol and south Wales in the 90s and early 2000s. Unknown to him and fellow activists, deep undercover in in their groups were police officers. For years, the officers immersed themselves with the activists, got stuck into direct actions and even had long term relationships and parented children under false pretences. The shocking revelations continue to c...

Paul Holbrook is an award winning filmmaker from Hartcliffe, south Bristol. His diverse films range from horror to comedy, and are often rooted in the experience of council estates and working class communities.  Paul and Neil discuss ‘classism’ in the film industry, whether the importance of class is being underplayed in a national debate dominated by the media and cultural elites. They dive deep...

In this episode of Bristol Unpacked, presenter Neil Maggs interviews Ivan Jackson on coming out during the AIDs crisis, how Peter Tatchell fought for equality legislation and was hated for it, how to tackle countries where being LGBTQ+ is still punishable by death, the additions of trans and queer to LGBTQ, and transphobia and Twitter. Plus being left off the Bristol Live’s Pink List! Hosted on Ac...

We're back with season 4 of Bristol Unpacked. We kick-off with a conversation with leading local sports coach Rayan Wilson. Rayan has been involved in training amateur and elite athletes in Bristol and beyond, and chats with Neil about the ongoing controversy over taking the knee and how clubs can do better at nurturing diverse and inner-city talent for the beautiful game. Hosted on Acast. See aca...

A pub landlord, a socialist, a porn producer, an anti-lockdown advocate, and a tree lover: The five candidates from smaller parties or independents running for City Hall. Interviews with the smaller party or independent candidates in the running for Bristol mayor: Sean Donnelly, independent (01:53), Tom Baldwin, Trade Union and Socialist Coalition (20:50), John Langley (35:11), Robert Clarke, Refo...

Marvin Rees is standing for the third time as a candidate for Bristol mayor. Having lost in 2012, Rees came back to comfortably win in 2016. Now after 5 years in office, Rees has a record to promote and to defend, attracting a lot of support and criticism from diverse quarters. In this in-depth interview, Neil and Marvin get into the personal, political and policy of the current mayor.  Hosted on...

Caroline Gooch is hoping for a dramatic improvement on the party's 2016 result of 8,000 votes to clinch the mayoralty, and then work to scrap it by referendum in three years. Neil and Caroline talk about her professional background in the pharmaceutical industry, being the only women in the running and what the Lib Dems are offering voters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati...

The Greens are positioning themselves as the rightful heirs of Bristol’s green and progressive credentials. But having come fourth place in 2016, they have a hill to climb. Neil and Sandy chat about who will ‘get things done’ for the city and whether the Greens can cut through to the electorate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Its hard to say that the Conservatives have a strong electoral record in the city, but the businessman and former councillor Alastair Watson thinks he has a shot at unseating Marvin Rees on May 6th. Neil and Alastair chat about the recent protests and policing and what he say’s he’ll do as mayor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Shawn Sobers has been one of the key people behind groundbreaking documentary and community media exploring race and community in Bristol for some time. Now an Associate Professor at UWE’s Film and Journalism Department, Shawn is also on Bristol’s History Commission. Set up by the mayor in the wake of the toppling of Colston, the commission has attracted some flack for its membership and seemin...

There’s often rumbles of ‘intergenerational divides’, whether it's over Brexit, if younger or older people ‘have it easier' and so on. At the same time, in a rapidly ageing population, older people are often neglected or sidelined unfairly and unnecessarily according to Ian Quaife of Bristol Older People’s Forum. Neil and Ian dig into the issues and explore how and why this is the case, and what c...

Big appointments, fan dissent and the trials and tribulations of covering Bristol City FC with Bristol Live’s dedicated club reporter, Gregor Macgregor. Neil and Gregor chat about nurturing talent, why City struggle sometimes and what’s next for the south Bristol team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.