Shows
Local Heroes PodcastEP26 | Metroland Comedy | Radgie Grandas and Handbrake Turns | Local Heroes PodcastThis week Chris and Dan sit down with Jack Robertson and Caden Elliot, the chaotic minds behind Metroland Comedy, a sketch show web series that blends mockumentary mayhem with cinematic storytelling. They chat about handbrake turns, the roots of Caden’s obsession with tinned tomatoes, and bonding over labelling EVERYTHING, during the formative days of Metroland.
Jack, Caden and the Metroland collective are on a mission to revive sketch comedy, bringing it back with North East authenticity, energy and rawness. Their recent sell-out show at Live Theatre proved there’s still a hunger for sharp, leftfield, and place...2025-07-261h 35
Local Heroes PodcastEP25 | Eric, Elitism and The Authentic Self | Helen Aitchison | Local Heroes PodcastThis week, Chris and Dan sit down with our first publicly-voted guest, Helen Aitchison, joins us for a powerful, hilarious, and heartfelt episode. Voted by the People, Fuelled by Purpose (and Crisps) Helen went from 20+ years in social care to becoming a published author and founder of Write on the Tyne, where she helps people tell their stories and tackles elitism in the arts head-on.
We talk about inclusivity, being your authentic self, why stories matter, the chaotic escapades of her cat Eric, her deep love of crisps, and quite possibly one of the greatest and mysterious...2025-07-191h 30
Local Heroes PodcastEP24 | Harriet Lamb | Fairtrade, Food Systems and Going Green | Local Heroes PodcastIn a world of so-called influencers, meet the real deal. A true change maker of our time. On this week’s Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet Harriet Lamb, a woman who has spent her life sitting in the heart of the contradiction, brokering the relationship between David and Goliath, and disrupting the mainstream to make it fairer, greener, and more just.
From leading the Fairtrade movement through the Banana Wars to challenging multinational giants on behalf of smallholder farmers, Harriet has redefined what ethical leadership looks like. Under her guidance, Fairtrade became more than a la...2025-07-121h 17
Local Heroes PodcastEP23 | Hannah Graham | Stories, Sketches and Smashed Percolators | Local Heroes PodcastOn this week's Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the brilliant Hannah Graham, storyteller, illustrator, and former nurse, who’s swapped scrubs for sketchbooks and now spends her days lighting up classrooms, libraries and community halls with stories, doodles, and a lot of heart.
They chat about how Hannah went from the hospital ward to the world of children’s storytelling, why drawing was never a plan but more like a reflex, and how she somehow ended up with a career where imagination removes all barriers.
Also in this episode a fictional Greg...2025-07-052h 26
Local Heroes PodcastEP22 | Sunderland Music City | Shipyards, Sounds and Scampi Fries | Local Heroes PodcastIn this episode of Local Heroes, Chris and Dan are joined by two of Sunderland’s most committed cultural champions, Frankie Francis (Frankie and The Heartstrings, SAFC matchday commentator) and Marty Longstaff (The Lake Poets), the duo driving the bold vision behind Sunderland Music City.
What begins as a deep dive into grassroots creativity and community-led regeneration soon rolls into the finer points of cable-coiling etiquette, reflections on life behind the mic at the Stadium of Light, and a passionate defence of cheese moments and scampi fries. There’s plenty of laughter, insight, and Wearside pride, including: Mart...2025-06-281h 38
Local Heroes PodcastEP21 | Yasmin Sayed Ahmed | Family, Falafel and Fearlessness | Local Heroes PodcastThis week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan are joined by the brilliant Yasmin Sayed Ahmed, a vegan cook, food storyteller, and all-round unbeatable human being. We kick off chatting about the chaos of London’s 20mph speed zones, failed driving tests, and how learning to drive later in life can feel like scaling Everest. But that’s just the start.
Yasmin shares her journey from Alexandria to Newcastle, from battling self-doubt to building a life, and a business through food. She talks openly about navigating motherhood in a new culture, saying no to fear, and...2025-06-211h 44
Local Heroes PodcastEP20 | James Fildes | Coffee, Community and Sliding Doors | Local Heroes PodcastMany men suffer in silence. Some never get the chance to speak. Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50 and the North East has some of the highest rates in the country.
James Fildes knows that struggle firsthand. After battling depression and suicidal thoughts for years, the Sunderland lad who once famously got his head stuck in the railings at Roker Park came dangerously close to becoming part of that statistic. But through his darkest days, it was often the football community the friendships, the shared passion, the sense of belonging that helped keep him going...2025-06-141h 49
Local Heroes PodcastEP19 | Arrow Strength | Muscle, Munchies and Movember Madness | Local Heroes PodcastThis week, Chris and Dan welcome Joe Arrowsmith and Steve Hoggy from the powerhouse that is Arrow Strength Gym and things get loud, honest, and hilarious. Let’s get this out of the way: the podcast studio? It’s not a rip-off of Arrow it's an ode. A very sincere, 99% identical ode. Because when a space is built with blood, guts, community, and purpose, it’s hard not to be inspired.
This episode is packed with everything that makes Arrow so special: effort over ego, inclusivity, and the value of just showing up, even when it's hard. From g...2025-06-071h 41
Local Heroes PodcastEP18 | Solo | Cherry Lips and The Window Cleaner | Local Heroes PodcastWith no guests and no script, Chris and Dan are left to their own devices. In this episode, they muse on the mysterious decline of cherry-flavoured everything, reflect on the weight of self-doubt, and somehow end up recounting the time Chris got scammed by a biscuit-eating window cleaner. From absurd tangents to unexpectedly raw moments, it’s just two mates talking nonsense, getting real, and finding meaning in the everyday. This is Local Heroes - unfiltered, unscripted, unmistakably them.
2025-05-311h 27
Local Heroes PodcastEP17 | Katie Cullen | Space, Sprine and Gastronauts | Local Heroes PodcastOn this week’s Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan speak to Katie Cullen, co-founder of the much-loved Block & Bottle - the North East’s first combined butcher and craft beer shop. Originally launched in Gateshead and now based in Heaton, it’s at the forefront of the North East’s craft butchery scene, pioneering ethical sourcing, nose-to-tail education, and challenging the traditionally male-dominated world of butchery. From the charcuterie boom to crunchy cereal wars, vodka shots, pigs’ heads, and the highs and lows of navigating lockdown as a small business owner - this is a lively, unfiltered conversation about buil...2025-05-241h 46
Local Heroes PodcastEP16 | Peter Manning | Soldiers, Stencils and Skyscrapers | Local Heroes PodcastOn this week's Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet Peter Manning, the creative force behind Prefab77. Based in Newcastle, Peter’s bold, layered work blends street art, fashion, and symbolic storytelling. But beyond the visuals is a story of sheer grit - from training as a printmaker in the British Army to hustling New York’s pop-up scene, landing gigs with Donna Karan, and wrestling with passport issues and green card chaos. Along the way, he's collaborated with global brands like Nike, and iconic bands like the New York Dolls, and closer to home, he’s built a lastin...2025-05-171h 21
Local Heroes PodcastEP15 | Richard Colman Ord | Peas, Pears and The Italian Connection | Local Heroes PodcastIn this week's Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan are joined by Richard Colman Ord - fifth-generation restaurateur, proud Sandancer, and the passionate force behind Colmans Seafood Temple in South Shields. With Italian roots and a childhood spent selling pears on the counter of the family’s original Ocean Road shop, Richard’s connection to food and hospitality runs deep. We discuss history, heritage, sustainability, and community partnerships - such as their collaboration with the Amble Lobster Hatchery - that highlight their unique dedication to the North East. Drawing from his travels in the Far East and his deep love...2025-05-101h 35
Local Heroes PodcastEP14 | Amy Whitfield | Fizz, Chips and Childcare | Local Heroes PodcastThis week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to the outrageously lovely Amy Whitfield, the unstoppable force behind Triple A Food Tours, a business she started in 2019 to shine a light on the North East’s incredible food culture. Inspired by a food tour in New York and fuelled by her love of all things local, Amy swapped a career in property for a new adventure rooted in community, storytelling, and great food. With no background in hospitality and having wrestled with self-doubt, Amy has grown her idea into an award-winning business that brings people together an...2025-05-031h 43
Local Heroes PodcastEP13 | Andy Dawson | Uxbridge, Our Price and The Profanity Swan | Local Heroes Podcast2025-04-2653 min
Local Heroes PodcastEP12 | Barry Hyde | The Poet, The Prisoner and The Lion Tamer | Local Heroes PodcastIn this episode of Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to Barry Hyde of The Futureheads,a rare, unfiltered peek behind the curtain.
We dive into his personal journey through the intense pressures of the music industry - from touring with Franz Ferdinand to confronting the pressure of failure and the emotional weight of creative leadership.
Barry opens up about his experience living with bipolar disorder, the clash between The Futureheads’ upbeat public image and private struggles.
He shares his passion for community music - from prisons to classrooms - and reflects on...2025-04-191h 59
Local Heroes PodcastEP11 | Simon Raine | Homage to Fromage | Local Heroes PodcastFrom Milk Floats to Imposter Syndrome - The Story of Mr Cheeseman. This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the incomparable Simon Raine - founder of Weardale Cheese, a former Big Cheese at Yellow Pages, and a man who turned a former POW camp in County Durham into a powerhouse of artisan cheesemaking. Simon takes us on a journey from growing up around the milk trade and riding milk floats as a kid, to building a beloved food business from scratch - and the emotional toll that comes with it. We talk about t...2025-04-122h 16
Local Heroes PodcastEP10 | Ruby Kelly | Songwriting, Tatts and Triple Carbs | Local Heroes PodcastThis week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan are joined by North Wales-born, North East-based folk artist Ruby Kelly. Ruby dives into her songwriting process, her deep connection to place, and the stories that shape her music. The conversation flows from music to tattoos, triple carb dinners, and the unshakable support of her biggest fans—her Mum and Dad.
They also chat about their recent collaboration on Born & Raised, created for the Local Heroes: Out and About web series. As always, Local Heroes shines a light on the UK’s emerging talent—this episode is a warm...2025-04-051h 36
Local Heroes PodcastEP09 | Bev Stephenson | Cocoa, Craic and Tweezer Men | Local Heroes PodcastBev Stephenson joins Chris and Dan this week to talk chocolate, hospitality, and the wild ride that brought her from journalism to North Chocolates. Along the way, she’s written for the Guardian and Observer, witnessed the golden age of food critics, and championed the idea that great service is just as vital as great food.
We get into Bev’s love of maps, the quiet joy of gardening, memories of drinking in parks, and a few well-earned dinner medals. Through it all, her warmth, humour, and unmistakable Northern spirit shines bright. She also drops two more conc...2025-03-291h 44
Local Heroes PodcastEP08 | SOLO | Rabbit Holes, Resistance and Colonel Corncake | Local Heroes PodcastIn this episode, Chris and Dan take a deep dive into the story behind Local Heroes, their commitment to reclaiming our identity from the region's gentrifiers, fighting the power and celebrating their shared love of storytelling. Be prepared for an anarchic conversation as Chris and Dan take you down one of their famous rabbit holes, sharing their personal journeys, riffing on fictional band names, creating their own universe, and a Dan Prince inspired food brand, Colonel Corncake. This is the Local Heroes Podcast.
2025-03-221h 40
Local Heroes PodcastEP07 | Heather Mills | Street Skills, Activism and Bean Pie | Local Heroes PodcastHeather Mills is a world-renowned activist, model, Paralympian, and vegan entrepreneur, known for her campaigning, activism, and advocacy of plant-based living. After overcoming life-changing adversity, she became a record-breaking Paralympic skier, a successful vegan food pioneer, and a powerful voice for change. In this week’s episode of the Local Heroes Podcast, Heather shares her incredible journey, from a tough childhood in the North East to becoming a self-proclaimed "vegan schmegan." She talks about her early food memories, cooking rabbit stew, Dewhurst butchers, and 'the pop man’. Plus, she reveals her dream last meal and, of course, her ultimate Greg...2025-03-151h 29
Local Heroes PodcastEP06 | Laura Middleton | Scran, Travel and Taxi Rides | Local Heroes PodcastThis week, Chris and Dan are joined by Laura Middleton, the mastermind behind Geordie Scran and founder of Canny Social. Laura turned a side hustle and a simple food blog into a thriving online community, catching the attention of brands like Greggs, KFC, and Deliveroo. From her days as a nightclub promotor to African travel drama's, contraband Greggs to emptying an entire vending machine for a train ride home.
2025-03-011h 37
Local Heroes PodcastEP04 | Nick Barnes | Stories, Snacks and SAFC | Local Heroes PodcastThis week, Chris and Dan talk to the ultimate local hero and household voice that is Nick Barnes. Since 2003, Nick has been the voice of Sunderland matches on BBC Radio Newcastle, forming a long-standing commentary partnership with SAFC legend, Gary Bennett. Born in Cornwall and raised in Devon, Nick's journey has taken him through Cumbria before settling in Sunderland. With a passion for tweed and whisky, Nick talks about his famous matchday sketches, his love of cooking and how he's never seen a 9-0.
2025-02-221h 32
Local Heroes PodcastEP03 | John Kirtley | Bushcraft, Bait and Birds of Prey | Local Heroes PodcastFalconer, bush crafter, educator and real-life 'Billy Casper', John Kirtley is an outdoor specialist based in Newburn, Newcastle upon Tyne. Recently featured on Robson Green's Weekend Escapes, this week John talks to Chris and Dan about his love of nature, his connection with birds, and the importance of outdoor education.
2025-02-151h 22
Local Heroes PodcastEP02 | Neil Le Flohic | Breaking Bread | Local Heroes PodcastFounder of the iconic Pink Lane Bakery, Neil Le Flohic, talks about life as a food entrepreneur, hard times in Jersey and his penchant for a cheese pasty sandwiches.
2025-02-081h 15
Local Heroes PodcastEP05 | Niall McKay-Mount | The Chimp Train | Local Heroes PodcastWhat do screaming chimps, whistling grass blades, and fiery chilli sauce have in common? Chaos, laughter, and the one and only Niall McKay-Mount. The week, Chris and Dan embark on an unpredictable, chilli-fuelled journey of turning a mad idea into a mouth-f**king reality. From tropical inspirations to accidental genius, expect offbeat stories, spicy chat, and zero corporate nonsense. If you like your podcasts like your hot sauce - this one’s for you.
2025-02-081h 32
Local Heroes PodcastEP01 | Si King | Pride, Passion and Pies | Local Heroes PodcastThis week Chris and Dan talk to North East legend and true Local Hero, Si King. Film and TV producer, Hairy Biker and PROPA! pie advocate - Si talks matchday crowdsurfing, growing up in Kibblesworth, shopping with his Mam and the importance of local food heritage.
2025-01-311h 13