Local Heroes Podcast

In a world of so-called influencers, meet the real deal. A true change maker of our time. On this week’s Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet Harriet Lamb, a woman who has spent her life sitting in the heart of the contradiction, brokering the relationship between David and Goliath, and disrupting the mainstream to make it fairer, greener, and more just. From leading the Fairtrade movement thr...

On this week's Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the brilliant Hannah Graham, storyteller, illustrator, and former nurse, who’s swapped scrubs for sketchbooks and now spends her days lighting up classrooms, libraries and community halls with stories, doodles, and a lot of heart. They chat about how Hannah went from the hospital ward to the world of children’s storytelling, why draw...

In this episode of Local Heroes, Chris and Dan are joined by two of Sunderland’s most committed cultural champions, Frankie Francis (Frankie and The Heartstrings, SAFC matchday commentator) and Marty Longstaff (The Lake Poets), the duo driving the bold vision behind Sunderland Music City. What begins as a deep dive into grassroots creativity and community-led regeneration soon rolls into the finer...

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan are joined by the brilliant Yasmin Sayed Ahmed, a vegan cook, food storyteller, and all-round unbeatable human being. We kick off chatting about the chaos of London’s 20mph speed zones, failed driving tests, and how learning to drive later in life can feel like scaling Everest. But that’s just the start. Yasmin shares her journey from Alexandria...

Many men suffer in silence. Some never get the chance to speak. Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50 and the North East has some of the highest rates in the country. James Fildes knows that struggle firsthand. After battling depression and suicidal thoughts for years, the Sunderland lad who once famously got his head stuck in the railings at Roker Park came dangerously close to becom...

This week, Chris and Dan welcome Joe Arrowsmith and Steve Hoggy from the powerhouse that is Arrow Strength Gym and things get loud, honest, and hilarious. Let’s get this out of the way: the podcast studio? It’s not a rip-off of Arrow it's an ode. A very sincere, 99% identical ode. Because when a space is built with blood, guts, community, and purpose, it’s hard not to be inspired. This episode is...

With no guests and no script, Chris and Dan are left to their own devices. In this episode, they muse on the mysterious decline of cherry-flavoured everything, reflect on the weight of self-doubt, and somehow end up recounting the time Chris got scammed by a biscuit-eating window cleaner. From absurd tangents to unexpectedly raw moments, it’s just two mates talking nonsense, getting real, and find...

On this week’s Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan speak to Katie Cullen, co-founder of the much-loved Block & Bottle - the North East’s first combined butcher and craft beer shop. Originally launched in Gateshead and now based in Heaton, it’s at the forefront of the North East’s craft butchery scene, pioneering ethical sourcing, nose-to-tail education, and challenging the traditionally male-d...

On this week's Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet Peter Manning, the creative force behind Prefab77. Based in Newcastle, Peter’s bold, layered work blends street art, fashion, and symbolic storytelling. But beyond the visuals is a story of sheer grit - from training as a printmaker in the British Army to hustling New York’s pop-up scene, landing gigs with Donna Karan, and wrestling with pass...

In this week's Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan are joined by Richard Colman Ord - fifth-generation restaurateur, proud Sandancer, and the passionate force behind Colmans Seafood Temple in South Shields. With Italian roots and a childhood spent selling pears on the counter of the family’s original Ocean Road shop, Richard’s connection to food and hospitality runs deep. We discuss history, herit...

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to the outrageously lovely Amy Whitfield, the unstoppable force behind Triple A Food Tours, a business she started in 2019 to shine a light on the North East’s incredible food culture. Inspired by a food tour in New York and fuelled by her love of all things local, Amy swapped a career in property for a new adventure rooted in community, st...

In this episode of Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to Barry Hyde of The Futureheads,a rare, unfiltered peek behind the curtain. We dive into his personal journey through the intense pressures of the music industry - from touring with Franz Ferdinand to confronting the pressure of failure and the emotional weight of creative leadership.  Barry opens up about his experience living with bipo...

From Milk Floats to Imposter Syndrome - The Story of Mr Cheeseman. This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the incomparable Simon Raine - founder of Weardale Cheese, a former Big Cheese at Yellow Pages, and a man who turned a former POW camp in County Durham into a powerhouse of artisan cheesemaking. Simon takes us on a journey from growing up around the milk trade and r...

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan are joined by North Wales-born, North East-based folk artist Ruby Kelly. Ruby dives into her songwriting process, her deep connection to place, and the stories that shape her music. The conversation flows from music to tattoos, triple carb dinners, and the unshakable support of her biggest fans—her Mum and Dad. They also chat about their recent...

Bev Stephenson joins Chris and Dan this week to talk chocolate, hospitality, and the wild ride that brought her from journalism to North Chocolates. Along the way, she’s written for the Guardian and Observer, witnessed the golden age of food critics, and championed the idea that great service is just as vital as great food. We get into Bev’s love of maps, the quiet joy of gardening, memories of dr...

In this episode, Chris and Dan take a deep dive into the story behind Local Heroes, their commitment to reclaiming our identity from the region's gentrifiers, fighting the power and celebrating their shared love of storytelling. Be prepared for an anarchic conversation as Chris and Dan take you down one of their famous rabbit holes, sharing their personal journeys, riffing on fictional band names,...

Heather Mills is a world-renowned activist, model, Paralympian, and vegan entrepreneur, known for her campaigning, activism, and advocacy of plant-based living. After overcoming life-changing adversity, she became a record-breaking Paralympic skier, a successful vegan food pioneer, and a powerful voice for change. In this week’s episode of the Local Heroes Podcast, Heather shares her incredible jo...

This week, Chris and Dan are joined by Laura Middleton, the mastermind behind Geordie Scran and founder of Canny Social. Laura turned a side hustle and a simple food blog into a thriving online community, catching the attention of brands like Greggs, KFC, and Deliveroo. From her days as a nightclub promotor to African travel drama's, contraband Greggs to emptying an entire vending machine for a tr...

This week, Chris and Dan talk to the ultimate local hero and household voice that is Nick Barnes. Since 2003, Nick has been the voice of Sunderland matches on BBC Radio Newcastle, forming a long-standing commentary partnership with SAFC legend, Gary Bennett. Born in Cornwall and raised in Devon, Nick's journey has taken him through Cumbria before settling in Sunderland. With a passion for tweed an...

Falconer, bush crafter, educator and real-life 'Billy Casper', John Kirtley is an outdoor specialist based in Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne. Recently featured on Robson Green's Weekend Escapes, this week John talks to Chris and Dan about his love of nature, his connection with birds,  and the importance of outdoor education.

Founder of the iconic Pink Lane Bakery, Neil Le Flohic, talks about life as a food entrepreneur, hard times in Jersey and his penchant for a cheese pasty sandwiches.

What do screaming chimps, whistling grass blades, and fiery chilli sauce have in common? Chaos, laughter, and the one and only Niall McKay-Mount. The week, Chris and Dan embark on an unpredictable, chilli-fuelled journey of turning a mad idea into a mouth-f**king reality. From tropical inspirations to accidental genius, expect offbeat stories, spicy chat, and zero corporate nonsense. If you like y...

This week Chris and Dan talk to North East legend and true Local Hero, Si King. Film and TV producer, Hairy Biker and PROPA! pie advocate - Si talks matchday crowdsurfing, growing up in Kibblesworth, shopping with his Mam and the importance of local food heritage.