The Braw and The Brave

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. *Contains some strong language. Episode 88 is in conversation with breakdancer Chaz B. Since discovering breaking as a teenager he has been on a mission to develop the scene here in Scotland, co-creating two breaking festivals, as well as continuing to build on his own skills as a practitioner and battler. Dealing with a stutter...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 87 is in conversation with Creative Producer at Scottish Youth Theatre, Mahri Reilly and actor, director and theatre maker, Melanie Jordan currently working with a cast of 20 young people and other theatre professionals to ‘digitally reimagine’ National Ensemble’s touring production in response to the Covid 19 crisis. Cre...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 86 is in conversation with poet Jane Bonnyman (the first poet to feature on the podcast). Studying English at university and becoming an English teacher, her love of stories and the escapism it provided as a child, paved the the way for becoming a wordsmith. From being on the wrong writing retreat to some seriously bad da...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 85 is in conversation with TV presenter Laura Boyd. Performing from a young age Laura was destined to take centre stage and only a few weeks after graduating university landed a job at STV where she has continued to craft a varied and successful career ever since. Her unwavering energy and zest for life not only drives he...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. *Contains some strong language Episode 84 is in conversation with singer/songwriter and front man of band Brownbear, Matt Hickman. Enjoying much success thus far Brownbear has performed at iconic venues such as The Barrowlands and King Tuts, also supporting The Libertines and The View. With years of writing, recording, performing...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 83 is in conversation with theatre director and producer Jennifer K Bates. Starting out as an actor, a chance encounter inspired her to start learning British Sign Language. Connecting with the deaf community in theatre she then went on to establish The DH Ensemble, a professional deaf and hearing led theatre company who...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 82 is in conversation with BBC Radio Scotland’s Songwriter of the Year 2019 Mike McKenzie. Beginning his solo musical career in 2017, after gaining experience in co-writing with and producing other artists around Edinburgh, he hit the open mic scene with his melancholic outlook on love, life and happiness. Playing piano f...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 81 is in conversation with Paralympic Nordic skier Scott Meenagh. With unwavering dedication to realising his goals, from his time as a young lad on the rugby pitch to fulfilling his dream in becoming a Paratrooper, plan b has never been an option. Facing what most would deem the unimaginable, Scott armed with his militar...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. *Contains some strong language Episode 80 is in conversation with photographer Murray McMillan. A man who wears many hats, in addition to being a firefighter, a husband and a dad, Murray has made room in his life for photography- a passion that has developed from childhood. Photographing his own world and the special moments in t...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 79 (and the third episode of my mini series ‘GUID YINS’) is in conversation with Executive Director of Glasgow Connected Arts Network aka GlasgowCAN, Hannah Justad. Glasgow CAN support and help maintain participatory arts in Glasgow via their membership by offering training, networking and skill-sharing opportunities. Enc...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. NB. This episode contains references to suicide, substance abuse and mental health issues. If you have been affected by any of these issues please see below for helpful support links. Contains some strong language. Episode 78 is in conversation with cyclist Josh Quigley. Triumphs and tribulations, successes and setbacks, his miss...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 77 is in conversation with stand-up comic, writer & producer Jay Lafferty. Forming one fifth of the critically acclaimed comedy troupe 'The Don Quixote Appreciation Society' 17 years ago, the group were involved in the first years of the Glasgow Comedy Festival with Jay continuing to work in the arts & education, doing st...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions PLEASE NOTE: Contains strong language. Episode 76 is in conversation with TV Presenter Jodie McCallum. Determination, real graft and a whole lot of natural talent has led her to presenting for the likes of BBC Scotland, C4 and ITV. From interviewing the glitterati on many a red carpet to both presenting and producing entertainment...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 75 is in conversation with Emmy award-winning and BAFTA nominated makeup artist and designer Donald Mowat. With film credits including ‘8 Mile’, ‘The Fighter’, ‘Prisoners’, ‘Sicario’, ‘Nightcrawler’, ‘Skyfall’, ‘Nocturnal Animals’ (BAFTA Nom), ‘Bladerunner 2049’ (BAFTA Nom) and the highly anticipated ‘Dune’, his highly su...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. PLEASE NOTE : This episode references sexual abuse and mental health issues. If you have been affected by the issues referenced in this podcast episode, please find details of help and support services below. Episode 74 is in conversation with professional dancer, entrepreneur and NLP coach Chloe McNiven. Armed with unwavering re...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. The podcast started life as a blog back in 2017 and as well as documenting my chats with interesting, talented people, I also blogged a bit about my experience in the creative arts and thought it would be fun to record some of these posts as a wee mini series called ‘Blether’. Episode One: ‘C.R.E.A.T.E’ There's no 'right' way of...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 73 is in conversation with Ross OC Jennings aka The First Piper. Travelling the globe, playing the bagpipes, Ross is now 100 countries in to what he calls his affirmation- ‘to be the first piper to play in every country in the world’. Countless adventures and amazing opportunities, the bagpipes help him to connect with th...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 72 is in conversation with singer songwriter and actor Dan Healy. With theatre credits including playing the lead in the UK tour of the international award winning musical ‘Once’ and playing Paul McCartney in Iain Softley's theatre production of ‘Backbeat’, Dan has crafted out an incredible career from discovering a passi...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. In Episode 71 I chat with conservationist Kirsty Crawford. Professional dancer turned scientist, Kirsty heads up a variety of initiatives and community projects across Scotland to encourage people in to the outdoors to learn about the incredible wildlife that shares the same space as us all. A stint working at London Zoo sparked...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 69 (and the second in this mini series, GUID YINS) I chat with Noel, Heather and Karen of Wevolution- an organisation that was set up to nurture and support SRGs (self reliant groups) within Scotland. From crafts to events planning, home repairs to fashion, these groups are made up of people looking to help themselves and...

The Braw and the Brvae is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 70 is in conversation with singer songwriter Cameron Barnes. Starring in Gregory Burke’s ‘Black Watch’ with National Theatre of Scotland at the age of 18 , touring the world as a piper with Red Hot Chilli Pipers and more recently playing sell-out gigs at venues such as Glasgow’s iconic King Tuts Wah Wah Hut, there isn’t m...

The Braw and The Brave is about people and their passions. PLEASE NOTE: Contains some strong language. Episode 68 is in conversation with Chris Ferri of Ferrifit. A family man with boundless drive and determination to build and nurture a connected, thriving, fun-loving and fit community at his gym, Chris generously shares his experience of surviving bowel cancer and what life looks like now on the...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 67 is in conversation with Michelle and Helena of Hillhead Ladies Hockey Club’s 4th team. Rediscovering this intensive, all-action sport as adults, both document their own experiences of being welcomed by an inclusive team, who are one of the very few sports clubs registered with LEAP Sports Scotland- Scotland’s LGBTIQ sp...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. GUID YINS The first episode of my mini series ‘Guid Yin’s’, celebrating those who are doing great things for great causes is with Repair Cafe Glasgow. I chatted with Lauren Crilly and Audra Merrick about it’s origins and it’s mission to be ‘the antidote to a throwaway culture’. If you need something fixed or mended, Repair Cafe G...

The Braw and The Brave is a podcast about people and their passions. Episode 65 in conversation with ‘The Biscuit Queen’ herself artist and designer Nikki McWilliams. A huge fan of nostalgia, Nikki’s quirky and colourful ‘tea break’ inspired designs have captured imaginations, with her caramel wafer and custard cream creations proving to be the popular choice for the sofas of folks all over the gl...