Bristol: Behind The Headlines

Is the word ‘Brizzle' becoming more acceptable to use? Or is it still a heinous crime against all true Bristolians? Lucy Wheeler of Beast in St Nick's Market speaks to Martin Booth about the controversial topic in this week's podcast.We also sit down with Carla Diogo, a sustainable designer and maker, as well as the co-owner of Two Six Four on Church Road. She talks to Ellie Pipe about sustainability, repair and mend and inspiration and Reporter Betty Woolerton learns about forest schools.

In March 2020, the UK went into its first lockdown. In this episode of Behind the Headlines, Reporter Mia Vines Booth speaks to Bristol filmmakers and photographers Colin Moody and Tom Whitson about their new film, What Does Normal Look Like? exploring what happened to Bristol's creative sector in the months following.Listen along as Colin and Tom discuss the importance of the film for collective healing, following the difficulties creatives faced and the uniqueness of our city's cultural sector in adapting to the pandemic.

In this week's episode, we go behind the scenes of a new documentary film set in a south Bristol estate that is grappling with stereotypes and lack of opportunity. We also meet up with an artist who has a created a set of Bristol-themed playing cars, as well as get the reaction to the latest strike in the ongoing conflict in Israel from a Palestinian Bristol University student.

In this week's podcast, we are hotfooting it from a radiographers' strike outside a hospital to the unveiling of a colourful new mural in Broadmead featuring some much-loved familiar faces.We also chat to Head of Bristol24/7's Head of Audience Meg Houghton Gilmour about our perks campaign, where members can get access to a host of discounts, competitions and freebies, and why you should support local independent journalism.

To celebrate the start of another academic year, Bristol24/7's Student Guide is back and better than ever. From local indie businesses, alphabetical pub crawls to unmissable events, alternative study spaces, our favourite cheap eats and top societies, the magazine is brimming with content to get students pumped about the next chapter of their life. In this episode, Co-Editor Edie Attridge chats to two UWE Bristol graduates looking back on their three years as students in our wonderful and wacky city.

This episode is sponsored by Future LeapSustainable business network Future Leap has opened the city's first carbon neutral media studio. Future Leap Media Studios are located on Oakfield Road in Clifton, inside the Old Chapel, and are available for anyone to use - from budding podcasters to accomplished filmmakers. Beneath a co-working and event space, the brand new media studio in the basement houses a film studio, podcast recording rooms and a photography studio that can also be used for meeting or green room hire. In this episode,  Bristol spaces manager Deepika Kesar and marketing and communications manager Iris Hable tell Bristol24/7 about what the facilities offer Bristol.

2023 marks  the 60th anniversary of the Bristol Bus Boycott which saw the “colour bar” lifted from public transport after  months of peaceful action and paved the way to the Race Relations Act of 1965 and 1968.In this episode, Reporter Mia Vines Booth speaks to Julz Davis, founder of Curiosity  UnLtd, about his season of events which will commemorate the boycott.We ask: How should we remember the boycott, how should we honour the legacy of those that took part and what work still needs to be done to make Bristol a city of racial equality? 

With rising costs at all stages of the supply chain, restaurants have recently been forced to increase prices at an unprecedented rate - but are they now at risk of alienating diners?In this week's podcast, we explore this question and hear from chef, restaurateur and owner of the Pony Chew Valley Josh Eggleton, Telegraph food columnist Xanthe Clay, co-owner of Bianchis Group Dominic Borel and Bristol24/7 Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe in a panel discussion that took place at the launch party of EatDrink24/7 - your independent guide to the city's food and drink scene.

The Grassroot Activators Programme (GAP) is youth and community worker Ben Carpenter's answer to the issues young people in Bristol face. With the first year of the "transformational" programme coming to a close, reporter Charlie Watts speaks to Grassroot Communities' CEO & founder Ben and GAP participants Catherine, Brandon & Theo to find out what impact it has had.   The programme is also starting up again in September, with young people from disadvantaged backgrounds urged to take part to reach their full potential.

Fresh plans have been submitted for an open air swimming pool and cafe in Eastville Park.Campaigners say more swimming facilities are needed in Bristol and the pool would offer an inclusive space for the local community to enjoy.However, some have raised concerns over potential extra traffic, parking, and environmental impact. In this week's podcast, reporter Betty Woolerton heard from two passionate groups campaigning both for and against the lido proposals.

Danica Priest is one of Bristol's most vocal, ardent and committed environmental campaigners.Originally from the USA but now with British citizenship, she lives in Headley Park. When not doing her day job as a web developer, she enjoys running marathons and ultra-marathons.It was while running around her adopted city during lockdown that Danica first became aware of how many green spaces across south Bristol in particular were under threat of development.Here, Danica speaks with Bristol24/7 Editor Martin Booth on how to be an effective campaigner, accusations of being a NIMBY and where Bristol should build much-needed homes in the midst of a housing crisis.

Campaigners in Knowle have been celebrating after plans to redevelop Broadwalk Shopping Centre were rejected.The Redcatch Development Partnership, which wanted to knock down the ‘failing' facility and build up to 850 flats in blocks as high as 12- storeys, says it is now reviewing its next steps.In episode 86, Community Reporters Editor Charlie Watts speaks to Knowle resident Laura Chapman, of the Broadwalk Redevelopment Community Group, who is calling for the developers to work with the community on a scheme which is up to six-storeys and preserves community and retail space. 

PHAT is a queer-owned security firm set up to make people feel comfortable and safe when they are on a night out.  Founder Ola Poroslo spoke to Betty Woolerton about their club night Crotch, the need for positive reform in the industry and how PHAT provides a new model for event security. 

The council is set to lift a ban on swimming in Bristol harbour for a five week trial starting on Saturday.Ahead of the pilot, Reporter Betty Woolerton spoke to Johnny Palmer, founder of Swim Bristol Harbour, Labour councillor Ellie King and Green councillor Patrick McAllister, on accessible blue spaces in the city, the physical and mental benefits of wild swimming and how the pilot in Hotwells will be made safe.

St Paul's Carnival is returning to the city in July for the first time in three years.The Covid-19 pandemic temporarily put the colourful celebrations on hold, but now the carnival is back and is expected to attract more than 100,000 people to the streets of St Paul's for a day of connection, community and culture.LaToyah McAllister-Jones,  executive director of St Paul's Carnival, speaks to Rachel Sutherland about the wider meaning of the celebrations, how communities can get involved and what to expect from this year's historic event.

Rain Dogs, a new comedy drama  starring Daisy May Cooper, airs on BBC One on Tuesday, after filming almost entirely in Bristol.The eight-part series follows the life of Costello Jones, a single mum who's struggling to become a writer while living in poverty, trying to stay sober and being a good parent.Editor Martin Booth speaks to actors Ronke Adekoluejo and Jack Farthing and producer Ciara McIlvenny on filming in our city, working with Daisy and more.

As the work or the tallest wind turbine in Bristol begins and the regulations covering onshore wind energy are being debated nationally, alternative energies are more crucial than ever.In episode 81, we speak to Dr Hannah Bloomfield, a research scientist at the University of Bristol, who has spent the last eight years studying the impacts of climate variability and climate change on national power systems.We explore fascinating concepts such as wind droughts, how those affect energy production and how our city is making the most of its energy production capabilities.

A new app hopes to explore sites and landmarks in the city which have connections to the histories and legacies of transatlantic enslavement.Decolonising Memory is a new augmented reality app designed to take users on an alternative tour of Bristol, using narration, art, dance, music, spoken word and interactive elements.Trainee Reporter Mia talks to the app's creators, Dr Jessica Moody from the University of Bristol, Kwesi Johnson and activist Cleo Lake about how it can make Bristol's history engaging and accessible for everyone.

Emily Koch is an author and writer whose third novel, What July Knew, was published earlier this month by Harvill Secker.In this episode of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast, Emily talks to Martin Booth about her new book, the inspiration behind it and our city's flourishing literary scene.

Yoga is known to have great benefits for our physical and mental health, but what if puppies are also thrown into the mix? In this episode of Behind the Headlines, we spoke to Lucy Coxon, the woman who has brought the joys of practicing yoga with puppies to the people of Bristol. The 24-year-old talked about how she launched her business six days after coming up with the idea to bring it to our city and how she ethically sources her puppies.Lucy also spoke about her dream of incorporating an adoption system  into her classes by using rescue puppies and helping them find forever homes.  

Did Sarah Ann Henley's billowing skirts save her life when she fell from the Suspension Bridge in 1885? Is there any truth in the infamous tale of the Bristol Zoo car park attendant who scammed his way to happy retirement? And was a lost child really found in the Mall Cribbs Causeway with a bottle of hair dye and a new change of clothes?These are questions explored in episode 77 of the Behind the Headlines podcast, where we hear from author and journalist Eugene Byrne on the gruesome, miraculous and ridiculous Bristol urban legends heard in the pub, at bedtime story time and Mumsnet.

Climate anxiety, defined as a chronic fear of environmental doom, can take different shapes and can comprise a wide range of feelings.In episode 76 of Behind the Headlines, we spoke to Dr Dan O'Hare, an educational psychologist and senior lecturer at the University of Bristol who recently published a paper on the climate crisis and its impact on young people, on the role of climate anxiety in our city and beyond.

A for Alpha is taking the DJ scene by storm, one gig at a time.Abby has played in venues around Bristol, launched her own record label, and teaches DJ lessons from her studio in Stokes Croft.Rachel Sutherland spoke to Abby in the latest episode of Bristol247's Behind the Headlines podcast about how she's grown as a DJ, record label owner and producer, her favourite venues in Bristol and how her passion for music from a young age has driven her success in the music industry in Bristol and beyond.

Hart's Bakery has been here for ten years, with some of the most popular bakes from that time making one-off reappearances on the menu from Tuesday to Saturday.Ahead of the bakery celebrating a decade at Temple Meads, Laura Hart spoke to Bristol24/7 Editor Martin Booth where she was joined by her husband and business partner Pete Young, and head baker George Roberts.

In episode 73, Editorial Assistant Mia Vines Booth meets with Charlee Bennett, the CEO of Your Park Bristol and Bath.Sitting in the seemingly picturesque St Andrew's Park, Mia and Charlee discuss a recent investigation by Your Park which found that disabled people and unpaid carers face 'disproportionate barriers' to Bristol's parks. They explore what these barriers look like practically and what can be done to overcome these. 

In Episode 72, Reporter Betty Woolerton speaks to Tim Sigsworth, CEO of akt, a trust that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer young people who face homelessness. They delve into dealing with rejection from family, how mainstream services often are not equipped to deal with queer people and why this community is so overrepresented in the homeless population.

Dating back as many as 500 years, Yew Tree Farm is now Bristol's last remaining working farm.Once under threat from development, there is hope that houses will not be built on the land, with an extra layer of protection recently granted thanks to the farmland no longer earmarked for housing in Bristol City Council's new Local Plan.In Episode 71, Catherine says that Yew Tree Farm is "a forgotten little piece of Bristol but I think it's the most special piece of Bristol".

In Episode 70, Dulce Pedroso, a campaign committee member for Bristol Cycling Campaign, speaks to Rachel Sutherland about her vision for the future of safer cycling, walking and wheeling in Bristol. Dulce questions the dominance of having cars "everywhere, all the time, wherever, whenever - with everyone else having to adjust their lives and movements around that".

Gene Joyner has done it all. He's been a European champion badminton player, an ex-chair of St Paul's Carnival, a trustee of SS Great Britain and a regular on Ujima Radio.The new CEO of Fareshare South West also boasts a whopping 40 years' worth of experience in the food industry, working everywhere from Parsons Bakery to Better Food Co.So what happens when you combine 40 years worth of food industry experience with a far-reaching local imprint? Bristol24/7 met with Gene at the Fareshare South West offices in St Paul's to find out. 

An activist, academic, TEDx talker and social psychologist, Lewis Wedlock is the creative director of Black Bristol and runs OTR's Project Zazi, which focuses on creating opportunities, building aspirations and empowering young Black people.Throughout Black History Month, Lewis has been going into secondary schools, where he has been exploring issues of race and identity with students.Bristol24/7 Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe caught up with Lewis in OTR's Old Market office to talk masculinity, mental health, identity, Black History Month and more.

In this episode, News and Business Writer Rachel Sutherland chats to DJ Sasha Steppa, the creative mind behind Bristol's first female reggae and dub sound system.With just a handful of women behind sound systems in the UK and few known ones across the globe, Sasha's sound system launch event is set to go down in the city's musical history books.

Episode 66 sees Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe uncovering the cost of childcare crisis. She speaks to Nicola Beech is a Labour councillor for St George, a mum and one of the people in Bristol leading the charge for a major overhaul of the "broken" childcare system.Ellie also interviews Samira Musse on how the cost and lack of availability of childcare is affecting families, who are struggling more than ever.Helen Ince, coordinator of the Disabled Women Action programme for Bristol Women's Voice, speaks about how the cost of childcare crisis is affecting her and why it's a gendered issue.

Episode 65 brings you a climate special about the summers of the future, examining a more positive outlook on how we can make change in our environment. Climate & Sustainability Editor Valentina Hernandez Gomez speaks to Dr Dann Mitchell about heatwaves and the role of cities in preparing for more frequent, intense and extreme temperatures. Meanwhile, Richie Fluester, horticulturist and grounds manager at UWE Bristol explains the importance of green spaces and community gardens in tackling climate change.

In this week's episode, Climate & Sustainability Editor Valentina Hernandez Gomez interviews the founder and director of Bristol's Sustainable Fashion Week, taking place in Bristol this September, Amelia Twine.We delve into how Amelia got started in the fashion industry, how her relationship with nature shapes her worldview and more.

Will Stone is the writer and director of The Fence, a film inspired by 1980s Hartcliffe complete with motorbikes, fast cars, punch-ups, a star-studded cast and a banging soundtrack. He talks to Bristol24/7 Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe about the highs and lows of making a feature length film on a shoestring budget and securing the likes of Sally Phillips, Jayde Adams, Eugene Simon, Paul Cooper and Joe Sims to feature in it.

At a distillery in Whitehall, the first whisky made in Bristol for 80 years is almost ready to drink.In episode 62 of the Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast, Steph Smith and Sara Sanna of Psychopomp and Circumstance talk to Martin Booth about the historic drink, the celebrations to mark its bottling and let us into a few trade secrets.

This week's episode of the Behind the Headlines sees Community & Membership Manager Meg Houghton Gilmour speak to Dom Borel on the trials and tribulations of working in the hospitality industry. 

In this week's episode, we are talking all things balloons. First up, Mia Vines Booth chats to Ian Martin who directs and choregraphs Bristol Balloon Fiesta's world-famous night glow. Music Editor Issy Packers also interviews Don Cameron - the founder of Cameron Balloons about his history and the founding of the fiesta.

In this week's episode, Editorial Assistant, Mia, meets volunteers Robbie and Elena at the People's Republic of Stokes Croft, to discuss an ambitious new project: archiving and digitising years' worth of material on the history of Stokes Croft.

The culture of protest in Bristol has a fascinating history as this podcast shows. It was recorded live at Waterstones in the Galleries, with Bristol24/7 Editor Martin Booth chairing a panel which featured Matt Foot and Morag Livingstone, authors of Charged, an essential new investigation into the role of policing since the 1980s; and Alex von Tunzelmann, whose book Fallen Idols looks at the global wave of iconoclasm that in 2020 took down the statues of slaveholders and imperialists.

In this week's episode, we interview Amélie and Chloe, strippers and members of Bristol Sex Workers Collective, on the future of sexual entertainment venues in our city.The council will vote on whether to ban strip clubs in Bristol on July 28. 

Wapping Wharf developer Stuart Hatton and AHR Architects' Adam Spall talk to Bristol24/7 Editor Martin Booth about their ambitious plans for the future of Wapping Wharf.

First Bus managing director Doug Claringbold asks Bristol24/7 readers' questions, posed by Bristol24/7 Deputy Editor, Ellie Pipe.

In this week's episode, our editorial assistant, Mia, takes you behind the scenes at the launch of the 2022 EatDrink24/7 guide, discussing guests' favourite food and drink spots and why Bristol24/7 members continue to support our journalism. Our editor, Martin, also caught up with Michelin star chef, Josh Eggleton ahead of the launch. 

This week, our Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe speaks to Aisha Thomas -  a former assistant principal, founder of Representation Matters and author of a book by the same name that was out early this month.

Much more investment is needed to make Bristol a safe place for active travel, whether it be walking, cycling or wheeling. That's the message from Zoe Banks Gross, head of partnerships and public affairs for the south of England at Sustrans, as she talks to Bristol24/7 reporter Betty Woolerton in this week's Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast.Zoe wants cycling to be inclusive, but in order to achieve this much more money is needed to be spent on new infrastructure such as segregated cycle lanes. The founder of Bristol Kidical Mass family cycling group also wants to see more children on bicycles and fewer cars on the road.

George Livesey, the owner and head chef of Bulrush, is the special guest on this week's episode, talking to us from his Michelin-star restaurant on Cotham Road South.George is one of the panellists for EatDrink24/7,  the independent food guide from the team at Bristol24/7 which sees people from across the hospitality industry recommend their favourite places to eat and drink across our city.The guide is being published in June for the first time since 2019.

In episode 50 of the Behind the Headlines podcast, Bristol24/7 Deputy Editor Ellie Pipe explores the results of this week's mayoral referendum, hearing from mayor Marvin Rees and from Mary Page, organiser of It's Our City Bristol, who campaigned for the mayoral system to be scrapped.Also on this week's episode is Mario Saeed, a professional fighter and martial arts coach, who has transformed a building by the M32 into an academy that is changing young lives. And Paul Hassan from ACH talks about a new Sanctuary to Opportunity report, homes for Ukraine programme and more.

Bristol24/7 news reporter Betty Woolerton looks ahead to the upcoming mayoral referendum and also talks to professor Brendan Smith about an 850-year-old charter which gave the men of Bristol the possession of Dublin.Also on this week's episode, we hear from Sara Venn from Incredible Edible Bristol - Bristol24/7's environmental charity partner for 2022/23 - who tells Ellie Pipe about the organisation that pioneers new ways of growing and providing sustainable sources of food.And it's a first for local news journalism in the UK as Bristol24/7 is recruiting for a Climate & Sustainability Editor thanks to funding from NatWest. Meg Houghton-Gilmour tells us more.

Moses McKenzie's debut novel, An Olive Grove in Ends, is described as "a resonant coming of age story, which also offers an intimate portrait - at times tender and lyrical, at others bleak and despairing - of a black-British community in Bristol".As well as already working on his second and third novels, the 24-year-old - who was named by the Observer as one of the ten best debut novelists of 2022, and who counts James Baldwin and Maya Angelou among his literary heroes - is also turning An Olive Grove in Ends, which is set in Easton and St Paul's, into a screenplay.An Olive Grove in Ends will be published in the UK under the Wildfire imprint of Headline on April 28.

This week's podcast comes from the Easter Garden in Clifton, where Martin Booth discovers its amazing story. Martin also heads down into the vaults of the Clifton Suspension Bridge to talk to learning officer Etain O'Shea who is currently hosting regular hard hat tours of a space that had remained unknown for 160 years before being rediscovered by accident in 2002.Also on this week's podcast, Wake The Tiger's Zak Mitchell - also the creative director of Boomtown - tells Miles Arnold about what we can expect when the world's first 'amazement park' opens in St Phillip's Marsh; and Desmond Brown talks to Ellie Pipe about disproportionality in the Avon & Somerset criminal justice system.