Radio SaxaVord

In this week’s episode, we join Emily as she chats to SaxaVord Spaceport’s chief operating officer - Debbie Strang. Debbie discusses her role and the trip she took to Pacific Spaceport Complex - Alaska (PSCA) earlier this year. PSCA is a commercial and military spaceport located on Kodiak Island where the team carry out both sub-orbital and orbital launches.

Welcome back to Radio Saxa Vord! In this long-awaited return of the podcast, we hear from Emily and Bryden who update us on the most recent developments at SaxaVord Spaceport. We will hear about Farnborough Space-Comm Expo, the beginning of construction and the inaugural Unst Show Rocket competition!

Join us for a Radio Saxa Vord Christmas Special! We are joined by CEO of the UK Space Agency, Paul Bate who describes his first few months on the job and what next year is going to look like for the UKSA. We are also joined by Emmy award winning musician and member of Dolly Parton’s band Jim Salestrom who tells us about his connection with Shetland and observations when visiting whilst sharing a f...

In this final episode of season 2 we recap some of the highlights from the last 6 episodes. This week Bryden and Emily are also joined by Matjaz Vidmar, lecturer in engineering management at the University of Edinburgh. We hear Matjaz talk about his work with SaxaVord Spaceport and his thoughts on the project. The music this week is a song written especially for the SaxaVord Spaceport called &apos...

In this week's episode of Radio Saxa Vord, we are joined by Nik Smith - Director of Lockheed Martin Space UK. Nik talks all about Lockheed's work with SaxaVord Spaceport and tells us what the next few months have in store. Music this week is 'The Stone of Destiny' by Paul Anderson.

This week's episode of the Radio Saxa Vord podcast is brought to you from Cape Canaveral, Florida and Braemar, Scotland. Emily and Bryden begin by hearing from Mike Mongo who was present at the recent Inspiration 4 launch on the 16th of September, 2021. We also have live interviews from the New Enlightenment Summit which took place at the start of September. Interviews including politician, C...

This week on the Radio Saxa Vord podcast we are joined by Mike Mongo and Manik Foreman who will be giving us an update on their summer in Unst. Mike and Manik delivered the Astronaut Job Camp and workshops in every single school in Shetland! We also hear a review from Grace Wood who is a space super-fan and attended the Astronaut Job Camp. The music for this episode is 'Daddy's Song&apos...

This week Bryden and Emily speak to Jimmy Slaughter to talk to him about what it's like being the range operations manager for SaxaVord Spaceport. We learn about what launch day will look like from his perspective and about what lead up to him taking the job. The music this week is 'Julie and Graham's Silver Wedding Waltz' by Megan Nisbet from the island of Yell.

This week Bryden and Emily speak to Wild Skies Shetland about how they started, their projects during the pandemic and their plans for the future, as well as their interactions with the SaxaVord Spaceport. The music for this episode is some traditional Shetland tunes performed by Angela Fraser and our very own Bryden Priest.

To kick off Season 2 of Radio Saxa Vord, Bryden and Emily speak to Frank Strang, the head of SaxaVord Spaceport. We learn more about how the space centre started, the changes in branding and about Frank's background before the spaceport. Frank chose 2 songs for this episode, starting with 'What Would You Say?' performed and written by our very own Emily Strang and her brother Tom an...

That’s a wrap folks!  In the final episode, our young hosts Emily and Bryden Recap the Season and share some laughs with Yvette Hopkins of the Shetland Space Centre.   Music by Jim Salestrom (Dolly Parton band member) Artwork by Vaila Gunn

In this special edition of the Radio Saxa Vord Podcast, Emily and Bryden are joined by Mike Mongo from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Mike is in Unst this summer working on the Astronaut Job Camp. We learn more about Mike's journey to becoming an Astronaut Teacher and what his camp will look like. Mike and Bryden also discuss Mike's experience in Shetland so far and why it is important for thi...

This week's episode of the Saxa Vord podcast is all about local history through the eyes of people living in Shetland. George Jamieson is an Unst resident and former head teacher of the Anderson High School in Lerwick, the largest school in the islands. Now retired, he recounts some memories of growing up in Unst, his school days during World War II and leaving the island to study and work. H...

In the latest episode of our podcast, Emily and Bryden talk to Davie Gardner, who is a music promoter and journalist. Shetland has a long history of producing world class musicians and is probably best known for its traditional music. Davie tells us about the wide diversity of music in Shetland and the opportunities musicians have to perform in Shetland through its varied calendar of festivals. To...

This week's episode features Ruth Fain of ITP Energised, who was heavily involved in carrying out the very detailed environmental impact study prepared as part of Shetland Space Centre's planning application. The discussion centres on spaceport and all the steps that will be taken to minimise its impact on birdlife and sealife.

This week's podcast features special guest Drew Garrick, a Shetlander studying for his PhD in Engineering at the University of Strathclyde. Hosts Emily and Bryden hear about Drew's experience growing up in a remote part of Shetland, his transition to life in Glasgow, how he ended up choosing his career path and his dreams for opportunities in the space sector in Shetland. 

This week Emily's and Bryden's guest is Jim McConnachie of NHS Shetland, and he'll be talking about the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Shetland and the space industry. Music is from James Salestrom,  renowned US musician and son of Jim Salestrom, guitarist for Dolly Parton. Both visited Unst for the Shetland Reel Festival in 2015.

In episode two, our young hosts Emily and Bryden speak to Scott Hammond, Chief Operating Officer of Shetland Space Centre. They hear about the plans to turn Unst into the UK’s spaceport of choice, the development of the company, the plans for the future, the Scottish space industry, and why Unst is the best location for a space centre. 

 Welcome to Shetland Space Centre’s very own podcast, Radio Saxa Vord. In the first episode of Season 1, young hosts Emily Strang and Bryden Priest introduce themselves, Shetland and Unst, which is set to become the home of space launch in the UK next year. And there’s music from Aly Bain. There will be eight episodes in all in the first Season.