Talking Round North Cyprus

Roger chats with the amazing Kurt Duffield at the finish line of his epic 1000 km run and cycle for Tulips cancer charity to find out how it’s gone - and what he might have planned next.

How will the next five years shape up for North Cyprus with a new President? We are joined by the Editor-in-Chief of Cyprus Today - Eltan Halil - who gives us his insight and commentary on Tufan Erhurman and his policies going forward.

From a children's home in England to finding his real home in North Cyprus, Mems tells us about growing up in England with his Turkish Cypriot parents and why his future lies in the TRNC.

Kurt Duffield is at it again. Raising money for Tulips cancer charity in the TRNC by walking a half marathon followed by rowing on a machine every day through October. By the end of the month he’ll have done 1000 kms and hopefully raised money for a charity close to his heart.

Author Martina Cole used to own the Best Seller bookshop in Karakum. It's now run by Deborah Burdess. Sara stopped by to chat with her about what it's like owning the only completely English book shop in the TRNC.

More and more turtles are returning to North Cyprus every year to lay eggs and see their hatchlings go back into the sea. Helping them on their long journey are SPOT (Society for the protection of turtles) and the Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute. We hear from people working hard for these organisations protecting turtles in the TRNC. Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute - VRM Cyprus Turtles Cypru...

Metin Murat has been on a book tour promoting his new book “Meeting Sister”. It follows his first novel “The Crescent Moon Fox”. Sara caught up with him at the Best Seller bookstore in Karakum and heard his views on the future of the Turkish Cypriots.

We explore the cost and treatments of going to the dentist in North Cyprus. We’re not taking “Turkey teeth” which is, of course, an option but for two young lads living in the UK and Jersey, the cost and treatment in the TRNC was so much better than at home.

Levent Soyer is a well known and well respected cardiologist in the TRNC. He is also a highly accomplished musician. Roger managed to chat with him to find out more, during a break in Levent’s busy schedule.

Given the uncertainty across the Middle East, how are people in the TRNC feeling about being so close to the Israel/Iran conflict? Sara and Roger find out from some expats.

Constantinos Emmanuelle has Greek Cypriot heritage and lives in Melbourne Australia. He has been gathering stories from Cypriots, both Greek and Turkish, born before 1940 for his project “Tales of Cyprus”. It provides a factual, historic and fascinating look into a bygone era of life in Cyprus.

Sue Tilt has been with the Tulips cancer charity for over 13 years. She’s decided it’s time to hand the reins to others while she cycles off into the sunset with her guitar! She chats with Roger about the legacy she’s leaving behind and the future of this important charity to the TRNC community.

Martin Derbyshire loves to cycle now he’s retired to the TRNC from the army, with his wife. He’s cycled around the whole island of Cyprus but didn’t count on being hit by a car and spending 3 months in traction. But he’s back on his bike as he’s been telling us.

From rehoming a donkey and two miniature goats on his father's land in Taskent, Kemal Basat has gone on to set up the Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute. They are currently running twenty programmes from donkeys in the Karpaz to turtles to collecting seeds for the seed bank. He chatted with Sara about the work the Institute does on very little money.

Don't worry - you've not gone through a time port hole, we're re-publishing this episode as there was a copyright issue with the very small bit of Christmas music we put at the end of the episode! They would have deleted the whole episode otherwise. Merry Christmas!!!

Former army officer, Steve Heap, and his wife have just moved to North Cyprus - even though he could have lived anywhere in the world. Despite rules changing regularly, they still like it especially as his former boss in the Army - John Scott - happens to live down the road.

The fantastic documentary film about the “Cyprus Problem” - The Divided Island - is now available to view on Amazon Prime Video. Roger and Sara chat with director Cey Sesiguzel about its popularity

This episode isn’t about god but we do hear from someone who started singing in church in Botswana and, since moving to the TRNC, has entertained many people with her beautiful voice. Divine shares her story of combining electrical engineering with singing.

We celebrated our 100th episode, and our four year anniversary, with guests from our podcast at a party in North Cyprus. Thank you to all who came to celebrate with us and to all our listeners over these past four years.

From Rioja to relocation, Laura Özkerimler and her husband shut down their popular wine bar to set up a business helping expats with their immigration and residency. Laura tells us why they did this and how they managing their busy workload.

We catch up with Dean Lewis, an American living in the TRNC, to get his views on what a second Trump term might look like and how it could affect the TRNC.

Our good friend Eltan Halil, Editor in Chief of Cyprus Today, joins us to look back at the big stories that made the news in 2024 and what to look out for in 2025.

Kate Taylor would love to spend all her time in the TRNC but can’t just at the moment. Hear what she loves about the place and how she can beat Roger at table tennis!

Roger and Sara chat about the latest North Cyprus news, the cost of potatoes and being careful about meeting Roger in a bar!!

Darren Stout moved from supporting his beloved Gillingham football club to North Cyprus to support his author wife Kerry-Lee (listen to The After Luke One). Roger met Darren in a bar and got chatting about how life has been for them both after a year in the TRNC.