The Braw and The Brave

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. This episode references sexual assault. Please see helpful links below. Episode 188 is in conversation with actor, writer and director Joanne Thomson who from a young age pursued a passion for the performing arts, before going on to graduate with a BA in Acting from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Working extensively in...

The Braw and and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 187 is in conversation with singer songwriter and Celtic harpist Chloe Matharu. Drawing on her experiences as a Navigational Officer in the Merchant Navy sailing around the world on oil tankers, Chloe shares her stories through her captivating music, blending the hypnotic quality of her voice with her serene and encha...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 186 is in conversation with musical director, choir master and musician Neil Thompson. Starting out on his musical journey learning to play his grandfather’s trumpet, Graduating from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD) Neil has gone on to carve out an incredible career following his passion for a variety...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 185 is in conversation with award-winning Glasgow based composer, musician and arranger Aileen Sweeney. From the tin whistle to accordion, tenor sax to piano, from a young age Aileen had an appetite and natural aptitude for music, encouraged by her parents to pursue her goals. Studying a music degree and subsequently a ma...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. Contains strong language Episode 184 is in conversation with singer songwriter Jill Jackson. A self confessed ‘shy kid’, she immersed herself in music after being gifted a guitar, gaining the confidence to join a band as a teenager. Signed to a major label in her early twenties, Jill toured the world, gigged alongside some m...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. This episode contains some strong language. Episode 183 is in conversation with Scottish actor and writer Louise McCarthy. Starting out in Mamma Mia on the West End following her studies, Louise has gone on to curate a highly successful and varied career in theatre, TV and film. With innate talent and an insatiable appetite...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. Contains some strong language Episode 182 is in conversation with Ica Headlam creator and host of the Creative Me Podcast and founder of We Are Here Scotland. Originally from London, now living in Aberdeen, Ica is passionate about connecting with and showcasing other creatives based in and around the North East of Scotland a...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. Contains some strong language. Episode 181 is in conversation with Glasgow based photographer Tommy Ga-Ken Wan who at the age of 12 received his first camera from his parents and started to discover a real passion for documenting life through a lens. Studying English and treading the boards whilst at Glasgow University, with...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. Contains strong language Episode 180 is in conversation with actor and celebrant Chris Alexander. Taken to drama classes as a youngster to boost his confidence, Chris soon discovered the gift of ‘giving human motion to people’ and fell in love with the stage. Performing all over the world from China to New York, Amsterdam to...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 179 is in conversation with jeweller Christina Rose Leon. Combining her innate creativity with incredible craftsmanship and attention to detail, Christina discovered her passion for jewellery making by accident. A keen photographer and performer, attending evening classes whilst temping in an office, she found herself in...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. This episode references endometriosis. See below for some helpful links. Episode 178 is in conversation with radio DJ and broadcaster Katy J. With a natural talent for communication, combined with her love for performing, Katy opted to pursue a career in journalism, studying for a degree and completing a number of internship...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. This episode references mental health issues. Please see below for support links. Episode 177 is in conversation with Gerard McKenzie-Govan, founder of The Blankfaces- the UK's first fashion label committed to ending homelessness. Inspired by his mother’s compassion for helping others, motivated by his children, volunteering...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. This episode contains strong language Episode 176 is in conversation with Scottish actor Gary Lamont. Following his studies at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly RSAMD), Gary joined the cast of Scottish soap River City as hairdresser Robbie Fraser. 8 years in the role, he made the decision to pursue other opportun...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. In the episode we discuss cancer and mental health. See helpful links below. Episode 175 is in conversation with Scottish Soprano Monica McGhee. Dedicated to her craft from a young age, following her studies at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, she went on to graduate from the Royal College of Music with a Distinction in...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 174 is in conversation with Gia Abernethy and Emma Barrie of Strathclyde Sirens, Scotland’s only semi-professional national female sports team competing in the UK wide, Sky Sports Televised, Vitality Netball Superleague. Founded in 2016 by Netball Scotland, partnering with University of Strathclyde in 2018, Strathclyde Si...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. Contains some strong language 'The Hingymajigs' became a feature of the podcast in 2019 and we’ve continued with the tradition ever since, with the last question I ask every guest being 'What's your favourite Scottish word or phrase?'. Here are some of the wonderful answers given and the reasons why my BrawBrave guests love...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 172 is in conversation with actor and writer Julie Wilson Nimmo. With a hugely successful and extensive career in theatre, TV and film, Julie recounts the highlights and hurdles along the way, from starting out aged five when she first discovered a love of acting. With infectious energy, authenticity and kindness, Julie e...

The Braw and and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 171 is in conversation with singer-songwriter, composer, lyricist and scriptwriter Finn Anderson. From childhood bedroom performances, charging his parents 20p admission to his musical Islander recently making it’s Korean debut, Finn has been immersed in storytelling through music his entire life. Pursuing a career in...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 170 is in conversation with film director, writer and creator of Scotland’s first-ever black superhero, Etienne Kubwabo. Arriving in Scotland from Democratic Republic of the Congo aged 19, Etienne embarked on an incredible storytelling adventure. From documentaries to music videos. Etienne’s work is extensive with his inf...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 169 is in conversation with Dr Iain MacRitchie the founder and chair of MCR Pathways, an inspiring school-based mentoring programme, which supports over 3000 disadvantaged young people across Scotland each week. In a previous life Iain advised over 100 businesses and acted as executive chairman/CEO in leading the transfor...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 168 is in conversation with musician and composer Alan Jeffrey. As a singer songwriter Alan was never more comfortable than on stage with a guitar in hand but was harbouring a lifelong desire to play piano. Composing his collection of self confessed ‘wee tunes’ on piano during the pandemic, Alan has ditched his pseudonym...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 167 is in conversation with children author and illustrator Corrina Campbell. Following a career as a primary teacher, Corrina decided to take a leap of faith to pursue publishing her first book The Girl Who Stole the Stars. On the one year anniversary of it’s launch, I chatted with Corrina about her creative process, wha...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. This podcast references mental health issues. Please see some helpful links below. Contains some strong language. Episode 166 is in conversation with counsellor and outdoor therapist Sean Tierney. Retraining after some unfulfilling roles, it was always Sean’s intention to take his practise outside. A person-centred, pluralis...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. Contains some strong language Episode 165 is in conversation with writer and director Kirstin McLean. As an actor Kirstin achieved great success working both in theatre and TV before making the decision to focus on directing. Working in professional and community settings, she embraces every opportunity to learn from and be...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. N.B. This episode contains some strong language. Episode 164 is in conversation with Lucy May. Firstly training and working professionally as a dancer, Lucy went on to travel to India to study Sivananda yoga and has been performing, choreographing and teaching both dance and yoga for a number of years. Returning to her studies mo...