⬆️ The Northern Agenda launches! 🗳️
We also introduce The Reset Room, plus new Scran and Brummie Mummies
We have not just one, but two podcast launches coming out of Laudable HQ this week, and we are very excited to introduce the new shows to you.
The Northern Agenda podcast will report from the other side of the North/South divide, with Rob Parsons and Dan O’Donoghue bringing you a weekly digest of the stories that matter for the North.
The Reset Room has arrived! And our brand new lifestyle and mental wellness podcast will offer advice for those struggling with life after lockdown from top experts.
Plus we have new episodes of Brummie Mummies and Scran. Brummie Mummies speaks to the guru at the heart of Birmingham’s black hair and beauty revolution. And Scran chats to two brothers, known as The Whisky Smugglers.
The Northern Agenda: outside the Westminster bubble with our brand new podcast
If you want to know what's going on in Northern politics, from a Northern perspective and outside of the Westminster bubble, our brand new podcast The Northern Agenda is the perfect place for you.
You may already be aware of The Northern Agenda from its daily newsletter that brings you the best stories, expert insight and analysis from the other side of the North/South divide.
The team behind The Northern Agenda - editor Rob Parsons and Westminster correspondent Dan O’Donoghue - have launched their podcast in time for party conference season, previewing the Labour Party Conference this weekend.
Rob speaks to Manchester Evening News political editor Jen Williams about what to expect from the political gathering in Brighton, as well as discussing the 'prince across the water' Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell expresses his strong opposition to Keir Starmer’s proposed rule changes to the Labour leadership voting process. He calls the tactics from Starmer “grubby” and “dishonest”, even suggesting that a leadership contest should be called.
You can see a clip of Dan’s interview with McDonnell in the video below.
Following a passionate speech in the Commons, Liverpool MP Ian Byrne speaks to Dan about witnessing the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, and the “establishment stitch-up” that followed.
He also discusses the importance of protecting victims of future public disasters.
The Northern Agenda will follow all the political and public affairs stories that affect the North every week. You can listen to the first episode of our podcast now.
The Reset Room: new podcast launches with a look at ‘life after lockdown’
The Reset Room, a brand new lifestyle and mental wellness podcast, has been launched by NationalWorld and Laudable Podcasts.
Our very own Kelly Crichton hosts with personal development and lifestyle coaches Amana Walker and Kay Woodburn of Gritty People.
Their aim is to equip you with the tools that you need to succeed, and to answer your questions on your journey to fulfilment.
Each week, The Reset Room will cover specific topics relating to life, performance, and pressure.
In episode one, the team looks at ‘Life after Lockdown’, and how it feels to be re-emerging into both the workplace and society - which, they find, is proving daunting for some.
Kay and Amana talk us through how we can approach dealing with this ‘new normal’, and how we can address any anxiety or concerns we have with this readjustment.
Both resident experts have years of experience in helping people from all walks of life achieve and perform to the best of their potential.
Kay Woodburn is the founder of Gritty People: a people development consultancy, specialising in behavioural change in all aspects of life - from global business to elite sport.
Kay said:
“Over these last eighteen months, the norm isn’t to be out and about socialising or to be overly busy.
“As we go forward we’re emerging as different people and we’re having to remind ourselves of the habits we once had: things like getting dressed, the traffic, how do I interact with people?
“It’s not what we’re now used to doing. We need to get back into some of those habits whilst embracing new habits too.”
Amana Walker has 25 years of coaching experience and has seen it all when it comes to personal growth, challenges, and helping people perform under the pressures of life.
Amana says that “the fear of the thing is always worse than the thing itself”, and advises people, who are struggling with getting back out to the world, to manage what is going on in their head.
She said:
“We are our own worst critics and judge ourselves harder than others.
“You’ve got to start with how are you talking to yourself? How are you treating yourself? Are you giving yourself the confidence and self-belief to get back out there?”
The advice from both Kay and Amana will be just what some listeners are needing to hear, that they’re not alone, and there are ways that they can improve their situation if they’re struggling with the return to ‘normality’.
Watch out for upcoming episodes, which will be published weekly, and will cover themes such as ‘Fear as part of performance’ and ‘Time for change - assessing your situation and happiness’.
If you are struggling with any area of life, work or performance you can send an email to kelly.crichton@jpimedia.co.uk with your questions for a chance to receive some expert advice.
You can subscribe to The Reset Room on all podcast platforms now. Here’s a taste of the first episode of what promises to be an enlightening and helpful podcast.
Brummie Mummies: top tips from guru at heart of Birmingham's black hair and beauty revolution
In the latest episode of the Brummie Mummies podcast, Zoe Chamberlain speaks to Kadian Pow, owner of hair and beauty brand Bourn Beautiful Naturals.
Frustrated that washing and detangling her hair took a good two hours, she started to explore ways to speed up the process.
After two years of experimenting in her kitchen, she was so pleased with her finished product, she made additional pots to give as gifts to her friends, and soon after she started selling it.
Since then, Kadian has gone on to invent products to help with everything from stretch marks to kids' eczema.
Kadian is also a lecturer at Birmingham City University, specialising in Sociology and Black Studies. She said:
"My philosophy and approach to the brand are very much rooted in black feminism, this idea of what if I based a brand around centring black women and their needs.
“And then I offered those things so that anyone who wants to benefit from that can do so. And that has been the case because we have customers of all sorts.”
Scran: whisky smuggling to save the oceans
In the latest episode of Scran, our hit food and drink podcast, Rosalind Erskine talks to brothers Nick and Alex Ravenhall, aka The Whisky Smugglers.
The Ravenhall brothers both work in the whisky industry, and they have been involved in a project to raise money for Sea Shepherd - an international non-profit marine conservation organisation - by open water swimming with some whisky smuggled on board.
Find out more about their slightly hair-raising efforts, and how their love for whisky has its beginnings in their homeland of New Zealand.
New launches and old favourites give you plenty of podcasts to listen to over the weekend!
As always, as we say on Alone Together, stay safe, stay positive, stay informed, and stay tuned.
- Daniel J. McLaughlin, Kelly Crichton, and Matt Millard