Our guests for the final episode of this season are Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt, landscape designers dedicated to nature and ecological restoration. Having partnered together for many years, their philosophy embraces creating spaces that provide tranquility for people, and homes for wildlife. Long term Somerset residents, they were selected to work…

Somerset Stories gets experimental... our guest this week is Colleen Bower, Director of a new annual science festival launching in May.... Somerscience brings together 65 organisations from around the region to showcase and celebrate the amazing world of science, technology, engineering, and maths. Colleen's extensive experience in the education in…

Our guest this week is at the forefront of a revival in the ancient craft of blacksmithing. Alex Pole has been forging creations from metal for over 30 years, and - for the best part of a decade, his focus has been on developing high end ironware for professional and amateur chefs around the world. Alex's dedication to using traditional methods to …

Our guest this week is Charlotte Howell-Jones, a climate campaigner trying to change the world one story at a time. Charlotte's work primarily focuses on creating change and building the climate movement through storytelling, communications and content. A Somerset resident for over 20 years, she is passionate about helping others make an emotional …

Somerset Stories takes on a blue hue this week as we meet Nick Hounsfield, creator of The Wave - the UK's first inland surfing lake - located just outside Bristol. Driven by a passion to help people live healthier lives, more connected to nature, Nick's vision is more than a decade in the making, opening to the public in 2019. As a well as surfing …

As a mother of identical triplets, this week's guest is literally one in 200 million! After a history of setback and pregnancy complications, Rosie Phelps-Goggin has truly defied the odds, and conventional thinking. Born and raised in Somerset, you can now find Rosie, documenting and sharing her family's highlights in social media, where the advent…

Somerset Stories serves up a treat, as we meet the Somerset born chef who has opened critically acclaimed restaurants in London, and has made a remarkable return to his Westcountry roots with the opening of Holm in South Petherton. Nicholas Balfe brings a love for seasonality and local produce to the restaurant, which has charmed locals and visitor…

Our guest this week is a content creator who is a campaigner for pro-age, healthy living, and all-round positivity. Julie - who goes by the social media title: The Fiftyist uses her platform to speak about the pressures, challenges, and biases against age and aging in society. She's an advocate for natural products in beauty and well-being. And aft…

It's been a while, but we finally talk about cheddar, with someone whose family have been dairy farmers in Somerset for generations. Rich Clothier is the managing director of Wyke Farms - and has been a key part in taking this family business from local producer, to one of the largest independent cheese makers in the UK producing over 16,000 tonnes…

Claire Calvert has forged an amazing career with the Royal Ballet Company, dancing some of the most prestigious roles on one of the world's greatest ballet stages. She was born in Bath and grew up learning to dance in the area. Making the decision as a teenager to join White Lodge, the Royal Ballet's boarding school in London, Claire hasn't looked …

Somerset Stories gets fired up this week, as our guests bring a slice of South America to the Somerset countryside. Tom Bray and Ana Ortiz bring together a love of fresh, locally sourced ingredients with the Latin American tradition of asado - a social and theatrical style of cooking over fire. Born in the Galapagos Islands, Ana is a chef who has c…

This week's guest grew up visiting grandparents in the shadow of Cadbury Castle, and developed a lifelong connection with the area. Zara D'Abo has a life story which covers TV production, travel in East Africa, and working with local cheesemakers. She has now settled in Frome, which she is the founder of Acre and Holt, a tweed work and gardenwear b…

This week's guest is the UK's #1 motivational business speaker - Brad Burton. Born in Salford, Manchester, a series of big moments, and even bigger decisions led Brad to leave the North West as a young adult, and start his life again in Somerset. It's safe to say a lot has changed since then, and these days, you'll find him writing books, and speak…

My guest for our first podcast of the season is the former punk rock mayor of Frome, Andy Wrintmore. Andy's involvement in local politics embodies the town's well-documented independent and rebellious streak. But beyond just making great headlines for the likes of the New York Times, Kerrang, and The Sun, his connection and compassion for Frome mea…

This year’s Christmas Special has an amazing selection of five guests from all corners of the county, each with their own unique perspective on the festive season.We’re covering all elements of the Christmas celebration, from food and drink to music and decoration. So now’s the time to put on the mulled cider, and listen to my yuletide conversation…

Over the last 14 weeks, we've shared the stories of some of the inspiring, creative, and successful individuals and families that make this beautiful county their home.And, in this season finale, we’re going to do something a little different. I’ll be spending some time with our very first podcast guest – musician Tom Corneill.We’ll be catching up …

This week, Somerset Stories meets Dr Andrew Tressider, from the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, and co-host of the Somerset Emotional Well-being podcast. Growing up in the county, Andrew has spent the vast majority of his professional life both as a GP for the community in Chard, and also as an advocate of the health of healthcare profession…

In this edition of our mini-podcast, we revisit an interview from earlier this season, where Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society successfully campaigned to have a new type of cloud classified by the World Meteorological Organization. It's a little nugget of cloud history!

Somerset Stories goes glam, with the current Mrs Somerset Galaxy – Dionne JohnAs an advocate and campaigner for heart health awareness, Dionne has represented Somerset at multiple pageants over the last five years, and has used her position to raise awareness and funds for local causes and cancer charities.She’s due to compete at the UK final at th…

This week we meet Cindi and Chas Barnstable, the mother and daughter duo at the head of Somerset leather goods institution, Owen Barry.Following in the heritage and footsteps of generations of leather specialists in their family Cindi and Chas continue to produce top quality goods for an international market. As a member of Leather UK, The trade as…

Freya Mitton is an independent art dealer, with a specialism in 20th Century British Art. Having spent a decade in charge of the Modern British sales department at Sotheby’s in London, Freya works from her home on the edge of the Mendips. Exhibiting at art fairs around the country, Her aim is to sell great quality paintings by established artists, …

Our guest this week has made a career out of turning his own knowledge and passion for history into relatable, human stories – first as a teacher, then as a tour guide, and finally, as an author. Mike Dean has written books about Bath, and Somerset, which give a window into the rich history of the area, but condensed into simple chapters, and expla…

A very special guest for the podcast's 50th episode is Caroline Corr, a member of Ireland’s most famous musical family, and one quarter of the band that shares their name - The Corrs. Combining traditional folk music with popular and rock influences, The Corrs have sold over 40 million albums worldwide, including the multi-platinum, Talk on Corners…

We reach the half way point in Season 4, bringing you an interview with polar adventurer Victoria Humphries. As part of the first ever all-female expedition to the North Pole, Victoria went through staggering physical and mental endurance, as well as a near-death experience. Since that adventure she's been back to the Arctic, ran marathons, climbed…

As we approach the traditional carnival season, my guest this week has been part Vagabonds, of one of the county’s well known clubs from a young age. Jemma Warren has also spent over ten years as one of the minority of Somerset’s female lorry drivers. While we’re in the middle of an HGV driver supply crisis in the UK, we chatted last month about he…

Somerset Stories gets our heads in the clouds... as we meet advocate and evangelist for one of nature’s most transient and poetic displays. Gavin Pretor-Pinney founded the Cloud Appreciation Society around 15 years ago after a career in the creative industries. He has united tens of thousands of people around the world with a passion for clouds. Al…

Somerset Stories meets consultant clinical psychologist, writer, flower grower and seed merchant – Dr. Grace Alexander. Keeping extremely busy through writing several psychology books during lockdown, building a successful community around the slow flower moment, and publishing her first gardening book, Grace brings a thoughtful and profoundly trut…

Somerset Stories meets Simon Parkin a professional broadcaster who has been informing and entertaining audiences through radio and TV for over thirty years. With a career that’s seen him in The Children's BBC Broom Cupboard, Top of the Pops, and GMTV, as well as a whole host of radio shows, his voice is well known up and down the county to BBC Radi…

Everything you wanted to know about quilting... Somerset Stories meets writer and founder of the Great British Quilter community – Sarah Ashford. From designing and making quilts for over twelve years, to writing for magazines, and creating her own podcast, Sarah is a multi-talented creative, with a knack for bringing people together over a love of…

Our guest for the first episode of this season is one of Somerset’s living legends in gardening. Possibly the country’s most recognised and celebrated gurus of the no-dig method: Charles Dowding. Based at his market garden farm near Castle Cary, Charles has pioneered organic food production, written bestselling books no-dig, and become an internet …

For the final episode of this season, Somerset Stories meets one of this country’s go-to people for all things food. A writer, restaurant critic for the telegraph, and you’ve probably seen him as one of the guest critics on Masterchef – William Sitwell. When he’s not writing about food and drink, William is also busy running supper clubs, curating …

This week, we're talking about the Victorian writer, philosopher, John Ruskin. Author Rebecca Lipkin is an ardent student and follower of his work, and has just published a novel which spans 20 years of Ruskin's life and relationships. Looking beyond just his work and writings, Unto This Last explores the complex nature of Ruskin as a person, in a …

This week, Somerset Stories meets an artist whose work is inspired by nature and man's many links with our natural environment. Zac Greening has lived in Somerset for the last 14 years, and during that time he has continued to create works that communicate themes of sustainability and biodiversity. Zac has been commissioned by corporate clients and…

Inspired by his own local natural surroundings, Will Hamilton-Davies has recently crowdfunded and self-published his debut story – The Shrew with the Flu. Coming from a large family where he looks after his younger siblings, Will has a clear passion and skill for getting kids to connect with the environment around them through amusing, but heart-wa…

This week's guests have collectively been at the centre of the Somerset drinks industry for 50 years… Julian and Matilda Temperley are two of the country’s most prominent faces in the world of cider and cider brandy. Their passion and expertise for creating the highest quality drinks, through the most natural and traditional methods has seen their …

Combining a love of stories, film, and music, award-winning writer and director Heidi Greensmith began writing scripts at the age of 16. Since then, her career which has spanned creating videos for Paul Weller, writing and directing the award winning feature-film – Winter... and a lockdown TV project with Brian Cox. We met in May 2021 to talk about…

The image of a hot air balloon, drifting through the Somerset skies at sunset is an iconic image for the county. This week, we meet third generation balloon pilot Hugo Hall of Fly Away Ballooning to talk about what makes Somerset the perfect place to take flight. Hugo's father and grandmother had both been instrumental in the development of balloon…

Our guest this week spent 25 years working in the corporate and media world, before a build-up of stress brought her to realise her calling in emotional freedom and wellness. Amanda Forster-Searle is a practitioner of integrative health, looking at how nutrition, mental health, negative experiences, and energy levels all affect each other in our mi…

This week, to mark the upcoming Somerset Day, on the 11th May, my guest is the founder of Somerset Day itself: Nigel Muers Raby. Growing up in a farming family, Nigel has always been an advocate of the rural way of life, and has seen the tremendous potential in uniting Somerset and its people around a day to celebrate produce, culture, and business…

Somerset Stories meets artist, block printer, and microfarmer – Jai Bess. Growing up in the county, Jai has always had strong values around how we can be better stewards of the land that surrounds us, and wants to create a movement which gives better access to communities looking to produce their own foods in a sustainable way. To communicate this,…

The Young Man with The Old Soul - Marvin Muoneke is a jazz singer and composer who has made his home in Weston Super Mare. Influenced by the likes of Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Tony Bennett, Marvin's talent has seen him perform on The Voice and make it to the semi-finals of Britain's Got Talent. More locally, he's graced many stages around Somerse…

Venetia Dearden grew up in Somerset and has retained a strong affinity with its landscape and people. Her photographs of local families living close to the land first brought her work to international attention in 2008, on publication of her first book “Somerset Stories, Fivepenny Dreams”. Since then, she has published four other books and been the…

Our guest this week is one of the country’s foremost architectural joiners, the founder and creative director of Artichoke – Bruce Hodgson. Based in Cheddar, Bruce has – over the last 30 years – designed and created interiors for some of the world’s finest and most historical homes. With an ethos that combines technical craftsmanship, historical pr…

In our first episode of Season Three, we meet author, coach, retreat leader, and forgiveness enthusiast Barbara J Hunt. Her first book – “forgiveness made easy” is designed to chart a path towards living without resentment. In her coaching and retreat work, Barbara helps people transform their relationships and reap mental and emotional benefits of…

In our second mini-podcast, we revisit our very first episode, and talk to musician and podcaster Tom Corneill. We chatted about starting a band and recording an album in the middle of a pandemic, and how his Everyday Problems podcast has helped listeners cope with the mental health and well-being challenges we've all faced in the last twelve month…

It's our first ever "Somerset Shorts" mini-podcast. After meeting award winning game chef Jaimie Haselock in Season One, we caught up with him to discuss recent charity work, the non-existent game season of 2020, and future plans with the upcoming Wild Scoundrels' TV show.

Ash Sinfield, together with her husband Nick, co-founded Teals - a brand new food and sustainability destination that is inspired by their time spent in Africa – where local farmers would share crates of fruit, bread, and juices. With it’s location just off the A303, Ash wants to bring that same sense of wonder and hospitality to those living in So…

Georgia Stokes is the chief executive officer for the Somerset Wildlife Trust. The Trust is focused on restoring and protecting habitats to support a wide range of wildlife in the county, and restore natural processes that are essential for our environment. Growing up in South Somerset, Georgia has spent her career working for leading charitable or…

Ever wanted to know what Somerset would sound like as a suite of ambient soundscapes? This week's episode features our conversation with sound artist Joseff Harris who creates his art from sampling sounds from the Somerset landscapes and transforming them into ambient music to communicate moods and emotions. He has previously worked on theatre prod…

Suzi Bird is a Bristol-based photographer who specialises in newborn, family, pregnancy, and dance and portrait photography. As a dancer herself, Suzi has grown up surrounded by the beauty and creativity of movement. Her understanding of a dancer’s movements combined with her ability to predict when a dancer reaches the climax of their movement, en…