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In this episode I speak with Miguel Da Silva. Miguel is a radio DJ presenter and Shaman.  Born in Portugal and growing up through the civil war, Miguel’s childhood was far from easy. In his teenage years he sought escape through drugs and alcohol. After several failed relationships he moved to England. His love of music attracted him to pirate radio where he became a DJ presenter, something he sti...

Charlotte Dugdale is a yoga teacher with her business based in Bispham near Blackpool. In this episode I talk with Charlotte about her childhood, her work in prisons and social care which caused her mental health to unravel. She describes her diagnosis of OCD and how yoga became a large part of her life to the extent that she traveled to India to train as a yoga teacher. She has realised her goal...

TRIGGER WARNING: ⚠️ The following podcast contains frank discussions around PTSD and police trauma which some listeners may find distressing. If you have been affected by anything in this podcast you can contact The Samaritans on 116 123. My guest today was a career police officer who entered into the world of undercover operations. That work took its toll on his wellbeing causing his mental healt...

Sir Andy Cooke is due to retire from his role as His Majesty’s  Chief Inspector of HMICFRS, an organisation set up to inspect and advise police forces and Fire Services within the UK on their operational performance.  As  a former Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, he has more than enough operational experience throughout his career and has held every rank as Detective status. He is also an Adj...

Canadian Police Officer and ADHD and PTSD sufferer. Lana is a Canadian police officer who has been diagnosed with both ADHD and PTSD. As part of her recovery she started to write down her thoughts which turned into a book. We talk about her experiences of her diagnosis and how she was treated by her employer. Ultimately this is a story of resilience and pure bloody mindedness. A woman who refused...

Nick Garnett has spent nearly four decades as a presenter and journalist, twenty five of which were at BBC Radio 5 Live. A pioneer of mobile journalism, we talk about how he got into radio, his failed ambition as a rock god and on a more serious note, the effect of the many tragedies he has had to report on and how it affected his own wellbeing. Its a fascinating insight into the world of journali...

Social Influencer and Chef. In this episode I chat to Bobby Sharma, the man behind the social media personality Yorkshire Indian. Bobby was born and bred in Leeds to Indian parents. That multi cultural upbringing would later provide the inspiration for Yorkshire Indian.  We talk about his childhood, his love of cooking which he learnt from his mother and the lock down caused by Covid. Like many, t...

Murder Squad Senior Detective. On the 8th February 2024, former prison officer Lenny Scott was shot six times outside a gym in Skelmersdale, Lancashire. Tragically Lenny succumbed to his injuries several days later. A murder investigation was launched, headed up by DCI Lee Wilson, which ultimately led to the conviction of Lennys killer, Elias Morgan. Morgan will spend the next 45 years in gaol bef...

In this fifth episode of my podcast series looking at the rising rates of police suicide, I talk with Dr. Noreen Tehrani on how the brain processes trauma from a clinical viewpoint. It’s a fascinating insight into how our brains work, some of which may surprise you. TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️  These podcasts examine and discuss suicide and associated trauma. If you have been affected by anything in these...

In this fourth episode of my podcast series looking at the rising rates of police suicide, I share my own experience of the breakdown I suffered in 2021. A busy detective working in family protection, I was dealing with a case of two sisters having been sexually abused by their father. It tore the family apart. At the same time I was dealing with a bereavement of a close family member and the cher...

In this episode I talk with former Police Superintendent Andrea Quinton. She spent 30 years with Greater Manchester Police, including two as a Special Constable, and has worked in most areas of the service including response, neighbourhood policing, CID, prisoner processing, proactive policing, and training. She was a Tactical Firearms Commander with the North West Armed Policing Collaboration. A...

In this episode I talk with the former Chief Constable of Lancashire Constabulary and the current programme director of Oscar’ Kilo, Andy Rhodes OBE QPM. TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ These podcasts examine and discuss suicide and associated trauma. If you have been affected by anything in these podcasts, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 For several years now, the levels of mental health and well-be...

In this first episode, retired police officers Michael Brown, Richard Horton and Dave Thomas discuss the various aspect's of police work in general, and how it and the organisation influenced their own wellbeing. TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️ These podcasts examine and discuss suicide and associated trauma. If you have been affected by anything in these podcasts, you can contact the Samaritans on 116 123 For...

WARNING. This podcast series examines suicide and associated topics. For several years now, the levels of mental health and well-being within the UK police have been in decline. Many will argue that this is a result of an ever-increasing workload, a reduction in capacity and experience, underfunding, and a perception that social and mainstream media proactively portray a negative narrative of law...

2024 marked the 200th Anniversary of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, an organisation funded wholly by voluntary contributions, keeping our seas safe since 1824. In this episode we visit the volunteers and boat crews who are based at the Blackpool Lifeboat Station, one of the busiest in the country. On their open day in the summer of 2024 we find out what makes them tick and the motivation...

In this the pilot episode, retired police officers Richard Horton and Dave Thomas, with a combined police experience of nearly 60 years, get back together again to look at the some of the policing and ethical issues for discussion in 2025.

Yorkshire Poet. Tom was invited to write poems about the Maurice Dobson Museum and the man to whom it is dedicated too.  Tom Juniper is a poet based in  Sheffield. His work often focuses on the experience of being other, whether that’s talking about being autistic, being part of the queer community (He is a bi, non binary trans guy), or about the Other as in strange and mysterious creatures and en...

Former Royal Marine and Surfer. Jamie Doxey is a driven individual and former Royal Marine Commando, the best of the best. But mental health issues and an undiscovered heart condition cut his career short. He rediscovered his love of surfing and now has his own company, Op Poseidon. He invites people struggling with their own mental fitness to join him for a surfing retreat. Not only do folk learn...

In the second of two episodes we talk to the local people from the Yorkshire town of Darfield and wider afield, who share their personal stories of life growing up in bygone times. The podcast has been produced in partnership with the Maurice Dobson Museum located in Darfield.

In the first of two episodes we talk to the local people from the Yorkshire town of Darfield and wider afield, who share their personal stories of life growing up in bygone times. The podcast has been produced in partnership with the Maurice Dobson Museum located in Darfield.

In a preview for the forthcoming podcast about people’s stories in and around Darfield and the Yorkshire area, Sheila McMillan describes uncovering the story surrounding her grandfather she never knew. It is a moving tribute to him and Sheila wrote a short book about his life. All the proceeds go to the Poppy Appeal.  

MND Sufferer. John is a former fire fighter and World Champion power lifter. He noticed a small tremor in his bicep and that started a journey of discovery and the diagnosis of Motor Neurone Disease.  That was eight years ago which is remarkable and John is in the 10% of people that live longer than two years. John and his wife Arlene, who has now becomes Johns carer, talk about their daily strugg...

Author of “No Ordinary Day”. Matt Johnson is a former military veteran and police officer. Due to his experiences he suffered from PTSD and was advised to take up writing as a form of therapy. It turned out he was rather good at it and has now penned four award winning novels.  His latest book is a non fiction account of the murder of WPC Yvonne Fletcher outside the Libyan Embassy in 1984 and her...

Another short short by the wonderful author Eily Nash.  They say Angels come in different guises. Perhaps that Stranger who sits with you for a while when your path has been long and lonely and shines a Light into the Darkness is a Gift of Grace. Perhaps they are an Angel? And you good folk who choose to shine a Light to guide others on their way, maybe Earth Angels too.

Barrister and Police Officer Well here we are at last. For years, this has been an interview I have wanted to to do.  How many folk do you know that are both criminal barrister and police officer? From an unique position we discuss the judiciary, the police service AND how, perhaps we can improve it. It’s a conversation filled with brevity and humour 🌱