Word on Wearside

Rising influencer Rory Gissing has proven that fitness can positively affect a person's mental health. However, if it's not kept at a steady balance, it can also cause a person to spiral, with calorie obsessions and body dysmorphia. Today on Word on Wearside, join Tyler, Luke, and Scarlett will be discussing the fine balance of improving your physical fitness, whilst also safeguarding your mental...

Over the last few months, we have seen footballers on social media sharing about their mental health; from Man City's Kyle Walker opening up on Twitter (now X), to Kevin Scott, as announced by Knotts County, of his struggles with mental health. On today's episode of Word on Wearside, Cam meets ex-professional footballer JJ O'Donnell, on the struggles players face in the game today; how did his phy...

Please be aware that this episode contains frequent reference to abuse, sexual abuse, child sexual abuse, rape, and murder. Listener discretion is advised, and listeners who are particularly affected by these topics are advised to take precaution. Eric and Lyle Menendez were just two young men aged 18 and 21, who killed their parents in 1989, following years of abuse. Rubie McKeever-Smith chats wi...

Three Sunderland-based business owners break down what different generations mean to them - you'll hear from Jonathan Pickup of Jonathan Pickup Hair, Mandy Brown of Harrison & Brown Furniture, and Neil of Flowers by Jennifer. The team behind this episode: Simon Forster Word on Wearside is a  Spark Sunderland  podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland.

Joe and Rob discuss the importance of homegrown talent to Sunderland and the wider area; why should clubs prioritise training their own academy players from the ground up, rather than rely on transfer purchases, and who are some of the most inspiring recent examples of homegrown talent from the North East? The team behind this episode: Finlay Horsfall Joe Ould Rob Wild Word on Wearside is a ...

Representation is important as it helps people feel less alone, by letting them know there's a community of others like them. Unfortunately, the history behind queer representation in the media is a short one - historically LBGT characters have often been stereotypical, or received cruel fates. On today's episode of Word on Wearside, join Nisha and Katy, as discuss queer representation in the medi...

In this episode of Word on Wearside, we delve into why many students need to work alongside their studies and how it impacts their life. Balancing work whilst studying can lead to a number of issues; from stress to time management struggles. Despite the potential challenges some students may face, the majority still continue to work. We spoke with two ex-students, Amy Kelly and Rachel Gibson, who...

Ellie, Taylor, and Luke tackle a big problem in the world of grass-roots football - lack of funding. Without funding, many Sunday League teams simply wouldn't exist. Hear from Johnny Dunn, Club Secretary & Chairman of the Grange , a Sunday league team based in Sunderland, and Jake Holyoak, the CEO & Founder of One March Performance PR . The team behind this episode: Luke Maddison Ellie McD...

"A lot of the time, people don't realise that right on our doorstep there's this incredible music scene." - When artists like Favourite Child's Connor Thompson say this about cities in the North East, it makes you wonder why they tend to stray away from performing. Join Sarah, Charlotte, and Tammi as they investigate 'The Death of Live Music in the North East'. The team behind this episode: Charlo...

This episode of Word on Wearside is made in collaboration with The Final Nail Podcast . We all know how complicated and expensive dying can be, but what if you have a few extra stone? As a death enthusiast, and someone with a family who suffers from obesity and obesity related illnesses, Meena Green (your guide in all things dearth and burial) was thinking a lot about the difficulties that could o...

Chris Rigg is the latest academy player to make a major first-team breakthrough at Sunderland. However, Chris' story isn't the reality for most young players. In this episode of Word on Wearside, we're looking into the problems surrounding academy football - just why do so many players enter club academies and not make it to the ultimate goal? We'll be joined by Sunderland's Under 21 footballer Be...

Is the Culture House worth the city's £27million investment? Join us - James, Aura and Taz - as we debate this by talking to nearby businesses and people working in the creative industries. Is there enough of a buzz about the Culture House for it to become what it's dreamed to be? And do the general public even know what the building is for? The team behind this episode: Taz Chowdhury James Nicod...

Hello, I'm Kira. I'm originally from two hours away in West Yorkshire, and moved to study journalism at the University of Sunderland. I want to explore why people like me choose to move away from home, and travel across the country to study at university. Join me as I chat with Nicole and Emily, students on 'Photography, Video, and Digital Imaging' and Beth who's on a 'Primary Education' degree, f...

Influencer style boxing has blown up over the last six years. A one-off event between KSI and Joe Weller changed the course of the whole sport into something that we've never seen before. And now, with characters such as Jake Paul fighting some of mainstream's ,arrest figures in-front of sold out arenas, low-level boxing has been left on the wayside. World-championship fights are being fought in-f...

Other clubs can't believe or understand why Sunderland and Newcastle as footy clubs mean so much to the fans and the cities. They spur each other on as clubs and fans; a massive derby, a massive rivalry. Middlesborough fans are also passionate and loyal, but they're on a level below the Sunderland/Newcastle derby - which is no disgrace, given Sunderland and Newcastle have perhaps the best rivalry...

Is men's mental health in crisis? We explore the unspoken topics and discover why men won't talk about their mental health. We are joined by Michael Chapplow, who provides expert advice and opinion on the topic from his experience as a worker at mental health charity Andy's Man Club. Trigger Warning: Please be aware that this episode of Word on Wearside involves discussing men's mental health and...

With the 2024 January transfer window creeping ever closer, join Callum, Dom, Liam, and local journalist Daniel Wills, as we discuss what's ahead for the upcoming season. The team behind this episode: Callum Close Dom Frank Liam Rafferty Word on Wearside is a  Spark Sunderland  podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland.

On this episode, Joseph Hannen, Dylan Richardson and Josh Kirtley discuss potential areas for Newcastle United to improve on in the upcoming transfer window, with an exclusive interview with up-and-coming Newcastle reporter Joel Bland.  In light of the ten month ban for former midfielder Sandro Tonali, who admitted to allegations of illegal gambling, this position is a priority for Newcastle...

As the use of A.I. rises, young designers are becoming more and more nervous about their jobs and their futures. Could this be even tougher for us northerners? We have spoken to two people in the industry to help us find out if A.I. really impacts emerging designers in the North East, and how we can future-proof ourselves in this changing industry. The team behind this episode: Lucy Baker Maddy Ci...

A multi-national episode, as representatives from England (Jack), Germany (Annika), and Albania (Marlind) discuss their countries' chances at the summer's Euro tournament. With analysis from BBC's Guy Mowbray, and The Athletic's Seb Stafford-Bloor. The team behind this episode: Jack Austwicke Annika Böttcher Marlind Ymeri Word on Wearside is a  Spark Sunderland  podcast, produced by jour...

Whether it’s a gory slasher, or a suspenseful thriller, the world of horror is as varied as it is terrifying.  And, with a constant stream of films produced, it can be difficult to find the choicest cuts. There are podcasts out there showcasing the highest quality horror, as well as new releases; they’re well-made, well-informed productions, by professional horror fans. But this is not that,...

Racism has always been a problem in football, however in recent years there has been a rise in racially motivated incidents. In this episode of Word on Wearside, we speak about the problem, the impact it has, and the Sunderland based charity Show Racism the Red Card , who are fighting to put an end to racism in football. Content Warning: Please be aware that this episode contains frequent referenc...

Ever heard of Pickleball? Join us, Ryan & Tom, in 'Pickles and Paddles', a short and dynamic episode of Word on Wearside as well delve into the exciting world of Pickleball, a fast-growing sport captivating the North East of England. We take you behind the scenes, sharing firsthand experiences from our interviews with the vibrant members of the Sunderland Pickleball Panthers Club. Dive into th...

Today on Word on Wearside, we will be discussing the current cost of living crisis, the origin of the 'North-South divide', and asking the public in Sunderland how they've been affected by it. The team behind this episode: Adam Beresford Liam Caffry Matthew McKenry Word on Wearside is a  Spark Sunderland  podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teac...

The rise of South Shields has been nothing short of meteoric in recent years, but little is known about how the Mariners got where they are. We spoke with South Shields F.C. 's Head of Media and Communications Dan Prince, and players John Lufudu and Lirak Hasani, to find out more. The team behind this episode: Dom Aberdeen Toby Phipps Word on Wearside is a  Spark Sunderland  podcast, pro...