Bristol Unpacked

We're going up north – or actually, the north is coming down south to Bristol. You've probably clocked by now that there's been a massive Northern Soul revival in the city, so we thought we'd unpack what it's all about.This week, Neil talks to Levanna McLean and her mum, Eve Arslett. It started when Levanna began doing Northern Soul dances during lockdown. Her mum filmed it, they pushed it out on socials and it blew up. They've featured everywhere: from BBC Radio 4's Women's Hour to the New York Times.They then set up the Bristol Northern Soul club night. It kicked off at The Assembly in Old Market and has recently moved to the Eastville Social Club – an historic working men's club in an Ikea car park.So, why is a scene that started in the sixties taking off in Bristol now with a whole new generation? We try and unpack all of this...Bristol Northern Soul on HeadfirstLevanna McLean

This week we've got the next instalment of Bristol Unpacked for you. Neil managed to get a chat in with our new High Sheriff, Kalpna Woolf. Its one of those mysterious, archaic titles that somehow has stood the test of time, but as Kalpna details, is a world away from its original purpose of enforcing the monarch's will and collecting taxes… Kalpna talks us through her upbringing as a first generation migrant kid in London and the life experiences which led her to this point, as an ambassador of community cohesion across cultural divides. It's a good one, and feels poignant in this current political climate where migrant has become a dirty word.Kalpna founded 91 Ways – an organisation using the power of food to connect Bristol's 91 language communities. She also set up the Be Onboard initiative which aims to diversify boardrooms, making them representative of the communities they serve. She's been a boss at the BBC and a board member for University of the West of England. 

One year into his leadership of Bristol City Council, Green party councillor for Southville Tony Dyer sits down with Neil to talk about it. Is he a Noel type? or a Liam? or a Bonehead? (apparently these are references to a band called Oasis).They touch on the Green Party's internal dynamics, financial hurdles, and the significant political changes occurring within the city, such as the appointment of the new West of England Combined Authority mayor, Labour's Helen Godwin. They unpack some key local issues from the past year, including the controversial East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme, Yew Tree Farm and more generally, budget constraints impacting public services. Also, the rising wave of right wing populism and how that might impact Dyer's stomping ground in South Bristol in the years ahead.

With faith in democracy – and in particular in traditional political parties – at a low ebb, in the UK and elsewhere, this week Unpacked wrestles with whether citizens' assemblies offer a chance to rekindle the public's affection. Neil is joined by David Jubb, co-founder and co-director of Citizens In Power, which as its name suggests aims to enable citizens to lead decision-making and shape the future.Citizens' assemblies offer a representative group of people the chance to deliberate on thorny issues – such as abortion or assisted dying – in a much more nuanced way than, for example, the Brexit referendum did. They are meant to provide a safe space for people to respectfully disagree, something that has become harder in our age of polarised opinion, and to find solutions that are acceptable for all.This year, Jubb will be collaborating with Trinity Community Arts and St Paul's Carnival on Citizens for Culture, a West of England-wide project to explore how creative opportunities can be more inclusive and accessible for everyone in the region. How will that work then? Who will be involved? And what would success look like? Tune in for another thought-provoking chat…

In this instalment of Bristol Unpacked, Neil is joined by BBC Politics West editor Pete Simson to unpack the upcoming West of England Combined Authority (WECA) Mayoral election. Simson, a veteran political journalist, offers his expertise and breaks down key aspects of the election, discussing the major candidates, voter engagement strategies, and the complexities of local political dynamics here in Bristol. How do you cover local political content in an engaging way? And what might be the impact of recent scandals and controversies on the WECA election results? Listen on to find out.Politics West

This week, we're diving into Bristol's vibrant nightlife. Neil talks with legendary Bristol photographer Colin Moody who has has been wide awake, capturing the city after dark in his latest project.Colin is no stranger to documenting Bristol's characters; his previous photography books have brought the streets of Montpelier and Gloucester Road to life. Now, he's turned his lens to the nightlife, working for the past five years (yes, even through lockdown) alongside Jasmine Yaba Ketibuah-foley. Neil chats with Colin about his new book, the decline of nightlife across the UK, and why clubs are closing left and right. Is it the cost of living? Post-pandemic struggles? And what about the rave scene—is it still the cultural force it once was?Plus, should a man of Colin's age really be out until 4 AM taking photos? Shouldn't he be at home with a cup of cocoa? Tune in for a brilliant conversation about art, nightlife, and the soul of after-hours Bristol.

This week we're bringing you another episode from the Bristol Unpacked Archives; its Green party MP Carla Denyer who was interviewed by Neil in October 2021, just after her election as co-chair of The Green party and 3 years before her election to parliament as the MP for Bristol Central in 2024.How has she measured up against early commitments expressed in this interview? Check out her voting record and see for yourself.Original Copy - October 2021:Carla Denyer, an elected councillor in the city, has just won the leadership of the Greens alongside Adrian Ramsay. With Labour shifting to the right, and concern about the climate crisis starting to become mainstream, Denyer thinks this is the moment for Greens, in the UK and beyond. But can they get out of their pigeon-hole and reach a wide range of society? Will internal divisions rock the party like they have others? And what does this all mean for Bristol? Join Neil for an in depth interview on Carla's background, politics and plans.An audio excerpt of a council meeting is used courtesy of Bristol City Council.

From the archiveApril 2022"As the slap reverberates around the world we talk all things comedy with Jayde Adams - who went from working in Asda Bedminster to her own Amazon Prime Special. She just starred in a new BBC documentary following her move back to Bristol. Going deep about how the death of her sister made her so driven, are there red lines in comedy, and what it is like coming home."

Lucy Reed is a barrister in the family courts, where separating couples hammer out child custody arrangements and where, in one of the most severe decisions the state can take, orders are made to take children into care, separating them from their families. On 27 January, journalists were for the first time allowed, with some restrictions, to report from any family court across England and Wales. Why is this a big deal? And with the system under pressure, why do so many kids get taken into care, and what needs to change?Lucy's blog Pink TapeFamily Court Information

From the archives - an updateToday we bring you an episode from the archives with Dr Patrick Hart. Patrick took action in August 2022 to demand an end to new licences and consents for oil and gas projects in the UK, something which has subsequently become government policy. He disabled petrol pumps at an Esso garage on the M25 on the 24th August 2022.On August 24, 2022, he disabled petrol pumps at an Esso garage near the M25. He was found guilty of Criminal Damage in October 2024 and appeared before Judge Mills at Chelmsford Crown Court on January 7 of this year.Dr. Hart has already been fined in civil court for this action, as the Thurrock Esso petrol station is subject to a private injunction. He has also been referred for a disciplinary hearing by the General Medical Council (GMC) and will face a tribunal. In the past 12 months, the GMC has suspended two doctors from the medical register following convictions for non-violent climate protests. Dr. Hart now faces penalties in three separate proceedings for the same incident.Before sentencing Dr Hart said:“Right now, the greatest health threat to all of us is the unfolding climate catastrophe. It is the greatest health threat we have ever faced. All healthcare workers have a responsibility to protect the health of their patients. If we do not stand up to the oil and gas executives who are wreaking havoc on our climate and the politicians who enable them, if we do not end the burning of fossil fuels, then we will have failed as a profession and the health systems that we have developed over centuries will collapse. I will continue to fight against the death sentence of fossil fuels for as long as I have strength in me. I have no greater duty as a doctor at this moment in history.”Original copy:Just Stop Oil protestors have been disrupting business as usual since April 2022. A Daily Mail article called them “a deranged criminal eco-terrorist cult”. But who are the people behind the headlines? Neil sits down with Dr Patrick Hart, a local GP who has been putting his career and liberty on the line through direct action protests, including the smashing and spray painting of a petrol station. Dr Hart believes we have run out of time for purely legal ways of pulling the world back from what the UN has called “the brink of climate catastrophe”. But are these tactics effective? Are protestors losing public sympathy? Does that matter? Listen in for a conversation far and away from the soundbites of Good Morning Britain

It's the coldest time of the year, and Bristol's homelessness crisis is as bleak as ever. How does it feel to be out on the streets? This week, Neil puts the question to Paul Goggin, ex-Lord Mayor of Bristol, who went through a period of sleeping rough after a relationship breakdown. Goggin has also been open about his mental health struggles – does the UK need a different approach? And as Labour councillor for Hartcliffe and Withywood, does he fear the rise of the Reform Party? Listen in to find out…Head to www.thebristolcable.org/join to become a member, and subscribe to The Bristol Cable wherever you get your podcasts.

Bristol is famous for being a maritime city, and its harbour – a vast area of water and historic docklands regenerated from dereliction since the 1990s –  draws tourists from all over the world. But who are the people living on the many vessels moored there? What has led them to choose a boat-dwelling life? And why are they protesting against how the council is managing the harbourside? Join Neil Maggs, in conversation with chair of the Bristol Boaters' Community Association Amanda Sharman, to find out.Head to www.thebristolcable.org/join to become a member, and subscribe to The Bristol Cable wherever you get your podcasts.

When authorities make plans that affect people's lives, what do they get wrong – and how can they do better at working with communities? What are the lessons here for the council in Bristol, as it continues to face blowback over traffic restrictions in east Bristol? And why is it more important than ever for young people to have access to safe spaces, and adults they can trust? Join Neil and Samira Musse, from Barton Hill Activity Club, as they get deep into these issues and more…Head to www.thebristolcable.org/join to become a member, and subscribe to The Bristol Cable wherever you get your podcasts.

A year on from the Barton House tower block evacuation, and six months after the Green Party became the largest party on Bristol City Council, what has changed as Bristol continues to grapple with a brutal housing crisis? How are the Greens finding being the party of leadership rather than opposition? And if they seized power at a national level, would they tone down their combative comments on Donald Trump? Join Neil Maggs in conversation with Easton councillor and housing committee lead, Barry Parsons, as a fresh series of Unpacked gets underway.Head to www.thebristolcable.org/join to become a member, and subscribe to The Bristol Cable wherever you get your podcasts.

Emma Edwards is the leader of Bristol Green Party who could well be in charge of the council for the first time after May's local elections. She chats to Neil about the Green's vision for doing politics in a more transparent and collaborative way, how they'd sort out our public transport, and whether they're ready to make the tricky transition from party of opposition to party of power.Subscribe to The Bristol Cable on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil Maggs sits down with Mark Weston, who was first elected as a councillor nearly 20 years ago, and has led the local Tory party for a decade. On the eve of the local elections, they discuss the Tories miserable national polling, the so-called 'war on motorists' being waged by Bristol City Council, and the cultural divides between Bristol's inner city and suburbs.Subscribe to The Bristol Cable on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jos Clark is an experienced local councillor now leading the Lib Dems into Bristol's local elections. A party that used to have strong support in the city has seen its seats dwindle over the last decade. The critic of Marvin Rees and the mayoral system, who helped manoeuvre the referendum on introducing the new committee system, talks to Neil Maggs about libraries, Bristol's failing bus services and her prediction that Labour will take a kicking after eight years in powerSubscribe to The Bristol Cable on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just three years after being first elected as a councillor, Labour's Tom Renhard is now leading the party into May's local elections.Neil Maggs asks him about his record as the city's housing chief, why he thinks the Greens aren't up to the task of being in power and Labour's plans for building new homes, campaigning for rent controls and bringing buses back into public ownership.Subscribe to The Bristol Cable on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Salma, a lawyer who spent her childhood in Gaza, shares the 'dystopian' experience of life under occupation and knowing your family are in a war zone, as well as discussing happier memories and pro-Palestinian activism in the UK.Content warning: contains graphic descriptions of war and violenceSalma Hajjar is a young trainee solicitor who spent her childhood up to age eight in Gaza, where decades of oppression and violence have been succeeded by a return to the horrors of all-out war.In the latest episode of Bristol Unpacked, the last of the current run, Salma offers a devastating personal perspective on the war – which has taken the lives of some of her loved ones – and on the “dystopian” experience of living under occupation. She reflects on happier memories of the beauty of Gaza – its beaches, its food and its community – and on the pain and loss of being separated from home, and the desire to return one day. Salma, who has now lived in Bristol for five years, also discusses her love for the city, the solidarity she has found, including from Jewish friends, and the value of activism in changing public opinions – and holding politicians' feet to the fire.With the International Court of Justice recently demanding measures to reduce the suffering inflicted on Palestinian civilians – and continuing to weigh a genocide case brought against Israel by South Africa – pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza is continuing to mount. But under what conditions can such a deal take place? Do the court's actions go far enough? And are there any grounds for longer-term optimism around an end to Israeli-Palestinian conflict and progress towards a two-state solution?Join Salma and Neil Maggs for a sometimes harrowing but always thought-provoking finale to the winter season of Bristol Unpacked – and with elections on the horizon, be sure to stay tuned for the team's next moves during the spring.Subscribe to The Bristol Cable on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your audio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil chats to Ruth, a daughter of the Windrush generation, on her decades of work with Bristol's voluntary and community groups, how that's changed as public services have been cut – and whether she feels conflicted about receiving an honour associated with empireRuth Pitter has been a stalwart of Bristol's voluntary sector for decades – and in January 2024 was awarded an MBE as part of the New Year's honours list for ‘services to equality, charity and community' in the city.This has included work with Voscur, the umbrella organisation that supports Bristol's voluntary sector, and SARI, which battles racism and provides support for people who have faced hate crimes. She has also been a pioneer in the local community arts space, co-founding two unique theatre companies – Breathing Fire and Black Women Let Loose – for women of African and Caribbean heritage.Ruth's career has spanned a period during which councils have faced massive cuts, with community organisations expanding and competing to fill the resulting gaping holes in services – and often bringing innovation to how things have done. What is the role of the voluntary sector these days? Is it right that things have to be this way in the UK? Do countries like Germany, where the state still takes care of things, offer a better model?What has been the impact of Ruth's theatre companies among communities who are much less likely to feel represented in the audience – or the productions – of mainstream Bristol theatres such as the Old Vic? And as a daughter of the Windrush generation who has spent her life fighting for fairness, does Ruth feel conflicted about accepting an honour that is inextricably linked to empire? Lock in with Neil and Ruth as they chew over these questions and many more, in the latest unmissable episode of Bristol Unpacked. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bristol Unpacked with BBC journalist Lucy Proctor on mad cows, Covid and conspiracy theoriesThirty years ago, BSE was spreading across the UK while the government insisted beef was safe. Neil asks Lucy, producer of The Cows are Mad podcast, about the scandal – and how conspiracy theories have thrived as trust in the establishment has nosedived.Over the past few years, BBC podcast producer Lucy Proctor has built a reputation for shining a much broader and more searching beam into the world of conspiracy theories than most other mainstream journalists.Last year, her 10-part series The Cows Are Mad looked back more than 30 years to the BSE scandal, which sent shockwaves through Britain's meat industry. It re-examined how the UK government repeated the line that beef was safe, with those questioning the mantra dismissed as cranks. Since 1996, 177 people have gone on to die from the human form of 'mad cow disease'. But the truth of its origins remains a mystery, leaving theories to fill the vacuum.The intervening 30 years have seen public trust in the establishment nosedive, both here and across the Atlantic. Competing narratives, misinformation and politicians' lies over a more recent public health crisis, Covid, have only fuelled the process. As Lucy and her colleague Gabriel Gatehouse explored in their 2022 podcast The Coming Storm, which looked at the QAnon movement in the States, it's becoming increasingly difficult even to agree on what's real any more.So how did we get here? What has been the impact of mainstream media skirting round difficult issues, failing to report important stories properly and reducing people with ‘fringe' views to caricatures? How have canny operators exploited information gaps and deployed social media to supercharge the spread of conspiracy theories? And is there any way back for trust in the powers that be?Join Lucy and Neil as they chew over these weighty questions and, getting back to mad cow disease, discuss whether Bristol was ground zero for the epidemic. It's almost certainly lashing down as you read this, so find somewhere dry and cosy and settle in for the first Unpacked of 2024… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Watershed CEO Clare Reddington on cinema, class and council cutsAs Bristol City Council slashes spending on venues including arthouse cinema Watershed, Neil asks its boss Clare why funding the arts matters, and whether the sector's reputation as catering mainly to the well-heeled is justified. Over the past year Clare Reddington, the chief executive of Bristol's flagship arthouse cinema Watershed, has not been shy about fighting her corner in the midst of a tough financial environment.Back in the summer Clare, who has been at the venue for 20 years and in charge for four, sounded a warning that indie cinemas' business model was under threat from soaring inflation and the big streaming operators gobbling their market share. This month she blasted Bristol City Council bosses for lacking a "clear cultural strategy" after they cut funding from Watershed as well as other renowned arts centres including the Old Vic theatre.With the cash-strapped local authority struggling to keep crucial services such as social care afloat, is this simply entitled moaning from a venue – and sector – seen by some as catering mainly to well-heeled cinephiles still able to afford £6 pints alongside their culture fix? Or does that viewpoint itself represent a bad case of inverted snobbery by suggesting that only the middle classes enjoy a bit of high art?Why does it matter that the arts get funded, even while public services are getting sliced left, right and centre? Is the picture in Bristol really bleaker than in other provincial cities? And do the market pressures facing the wider cinema industry – which have seen big operators closing their doors here recently – present an opportunity for canny independents to grow their business and boost their inclusivity?As 2023 draws to a close, join Neil and Clare for a wide-ranging chat over these issues in the final Bristol Unpacked of the year. We'll be returning right after the Christmas break for the rest of the season, so stay tuned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the last few months, Wesley Bear has been at the forefront of actions by ACORN. That's the community union known nationally for taking direct action to stand up for tenants' rights, which originated in Bristol almost a decade ago.On 17 November Wesley, ACORN's communications officer, was involved in an altercation with security guards at the Holiday Inn in Bristol city centre. Residents of the Barton House tower block evacuated that week have been temporarily housed in the hotel – in conditions many have complained are far from suitable for families. A recording heard at the start of this week's episode captures Wesley trying to speak to Bristol's mayor, Marvin Rees, during the incident, which he claims ended with him being assaulted by those security staff. The exchange, in which Wesley calls Rees a "villain" of the situation, marks the latest downward spiral in relations between the mayor – and the council more widely – and ACORN activists.Over recent weeks the union has been calling out the council over its handling of the high-rise evacuation. People were moved out very suddenly over fears the structure is unsafe – and ACORN is calling for an independent inquiry into what happened. It's also been taking the council to task over proposals to reduce council tax relief for the poorest households – which have now been scrapped.Things weren't always so oppositional. So what has turned them so sour? What exactly does ACORN believe the council has done wrong in its handling of the tower block emergency? Does the union really speak for the wider Barton Hill community? And does Wesley – as a communications man – see any way back to friendlier ties between ACORN and the powers that be?Join Neil Maggs for another engrossing chat as he puts these questions, and many others, to Wesley.ReplyForward Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Content warning: audio contains graphic discussions of violenceEight years ago, filmmaker Aodh Breathnach was stabbed multiple times during a night out on Stokes Croft, and rushed in a taxi to the Bristol Royal Infirmary.Aodh was lucky. He recovered from injuries to his head and body within a few weeks and tried to put the attack out of his mind, deleting photos from his phone and throwing away the clothes he had been wearing.But the mental scars the stabbing inflicted proved far more resistant to healing, leaving him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): night terrors, panic attacks and an ever-present feeling of fear.The aftermath of trauma led Aodh into therapy and, several years later, to make a documentary based on his experience – and that of other people who have been victims of knife crime, which have been tragically common in Bristol and other cities. As part of the process, Aodh went as far as meeting his attacker to explore the impact of restorative justice. Can this technique, in which the survivors, their families and perpetrators of crime open up channels of communication, begin to repair the terrible harm that violent incidents cause? What support is out there to help people move on from the impact of PTSD? And how does it feel for someone accustomed to documenting others' personal experiences to turn the camera back on themselves?In a fascinating first episode of a brand-new series of Bristol Unpacked, join Neil Maggs in a conversation with Aodh exploring these issues and discussing his thought-provoking film, Scars: Surviving a Stabbing.Aodh Breathnach's documentary, Scars: Surviving a Stabbing, is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Poku Osei transitioned from hustling to sell sugar and DVDs in Ghana to running one of Bristol's most celebrated social enterprises. Babbasa focuses on helping young people access and thrive with new opportunities, including through alliances with corporates and big institutions. But does this ‘social mobility' approach undermine more wide scale change by lifting up individuals but not addressing why their communities are under served? Neil and Poku get philosophical and pragmatic on whether a system can or should be changed from the inside. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"F*** the police!", "Sluts Against Cops" and “We will burn your fucking cars.” These are some of the things Jasmine York said or graffitied during the ‘Kill the Bill' riots in March 2021. The biggest incidence of unrest in mainland Britain in a decade. Jasmine was jailed in the aftermath for arson. As an activist and now ex-prisoner, what's Jasmine's take on what went down? Regrets? Didn't it play into the government's hands? And what is the big idea behind the abolition of prisons? Neil and Jasmine get into the events and significance of several days that rocked the city and what it meant for someone at the centre of it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Behind every politician is a fixer. For many years Kelvin Blake has been behind the scenes as a key figure in the city's Labour party, working on key campaigns that have seen Labour secure the lion's share of political power. But what exactly goes on behind the scenes and where next for Labour as the Greens challenge the party's establishment status? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been three years since the Colston statue was toppled, thrusting the Merchant Venturers - the elite club with a history of the worst kind - into the limelight. But for many years prior, Christine Townsend had been on a mission to fight what she sees as discriminatory practises of pupil selection, starting off with Merchant Venturer run schools in Bristol. Now a Green Party councillor, Christine is a thorn in the side of the Mayor and others. But with the Greens poised to win further power in Bristol at the next local elections, how might an activist move into a position of power and all the challenges that entails? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bristol has long had a reputation as a hotbed of leftie radicals. Most recently, the movement that was built and surged during Jeremy Corbyn's leadership of the Labour Party. Isaac has been a prominent activist with socialist campaign Momentum and as a co-founder of Bristol Transformed, a festival of radical ideas that will return to Bristol on the weekend of 16th of June. But the scene has attracted fierce criticism from across the party and political spectrum, as out of touch and perhaps a touch sanctimonious, and blamed for Labour's crushing defeat in 2019. With the left thoroughly on the backfoot, what now in Bristol and beyond? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can a stuffy institution with deep links to British Establishment power play a role in bringing about social justice on Earth, in Bristol and beyond?Neil gets deep into a challenging conversation on the spiritual and political with Phil Nott, an experienced Church of England priest who is on that mission – and has just started a six-month role as the city chaplain at Bristol Cathedral, with a remit of working with the city's diverse communities. Reverend Nott might not conform to the stereotypical image of an Anglican minister. But how can this vocal ally of LGBTQ+ communities, and outspoken voice on the Church's historical role in racism and injustice, work with an organisation still steeped in conservatism? Listen in for a fascinating conversation that transcends earthly boundaries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A large part of raising the early years of the next generation is entrusted to nurseries. But the sector is in a protracted crisis of funding and stability. Childcare costs in the UK are among the most expensive in the world, and direct government support for nurseries has not kept up with increasing needs. Especially in the context of an austerity ravaged nation. So how to do the best for our young ‘uns? Sam Williams is the recently appointed Headteacher of Redcliffe Nursery, set within a diverse and working class community. Neil and Sam chat about the context, forward thinking approaches to child development and what has to happen to give all kids the best start. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicola Beech has got a big portfolio at City Hall - Strategic Planning, Resilience & Floods, plus representing St George Central. So how does she juggle the complexity with the pressures and controversies of political life? In this episode, Neil and Nicola dig into what it means to try to lead a city, and why it sometimes seems like developers are giving the council the run around. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While the Robins set their sights on promotion, James Edwards is working off the field to promote opportunities for the community in and around Bristol City FC, with the club's community arm the Robins Foundation. But with the furore over Gary Lineker's comments, what is the role of football in community and political life? Listen in with Neil and James as they discuss how the beautiful game can have an impact beyond the agony and ecstasy of Ashton Gate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Has Bristol's local politics caught up with how many outsiders see the city: Full of cycling vegetarian activists? The Green Party are now the biggest group on the city council, and Emma Edwards the councillor for Bishopston and Ashley Down is charged with leading them through a tumultuous period as the city gears up to ditch the mayor and move to a committee system. The Greens are no strangers to criticism from the left and right, and from Mayor Marvin Rees. How will a party proud of its record on protest and with limited experience of governing work with others in the city including their antagonists on the Labour benches? How can the Greens continue to reach out beyond the central leafy or leftie areas to represent the diversity of Bristol's communities?Sit in with Neil and Emma as they get stuck into this and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Simmons' mugshot appeared on the front page of the Bristol Evening Post in 2004. Fast forward through many years in jail, crimes and devastating addiction Paul appeared on the front page in November 2022 for very different reasons. Having served 22 years in 20 prisons over various sentences since 17, the care leaver is now making a name for himself on social media. With daily videos on TikTok (@pauladdictmentor), podcast appearances and Youtube videos, Paul was working through his own traumas, regrets and challenges - and helping many others too. Join Neil and Paul for a raw and fascinating story of the care to prison pipeline, mental health in men's prisons and how Paul is finding redemption and recovery his own way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Depending on who you ask, Ketamine conjures up different images and associations. For Dr Ben Sessa, a leading authority and practitioner of psychedelic assisted therapy, it is a powerful aid to helping people suffering from trauma and addiction. Sessa is the co-founder of Awakn, a company leading the burgeoning movement to use powerful drugs for healing with a clinic in Bristol and internationally. Tune in with Neil to explore the science, philosophy and context of this exciting field with a raver, campaigner and medical professional. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Boris Johnson to Marvin Rees will Martin Booth the editor of Bristol 24/7 become one of a long line of journalists who enter political office? Booth is in the running as an independent in the by-election for Hotwells and Harbourside ward. As editor of a local publication, what are Martin's motivations and inspirations? Can anyone be really independent, including Bristol 24/7's owners and shareholders? The area is the site of a major battle over the future of Bristol - the transformation of Cumberland Basin into Western Harbour. But what's the big idea? Who wins and who will lose? Listen in! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arriving to the UK in 1998 as a refugee from Somalia, Fuad Mahamed soon left behind a career as an engineer to work on his passion: Supporting people who, like himself, had newly arrived to the UK often fleeing war and oppression. Founded in 2008 in St Pauls, Ashley Community Housing (ACH) is a leading organisation on the integration and support of refugees and asylum seekers with offices in Bristol and the West Midlands. But with immigration often at the centre of a fraught political context, how has Fuad navigated this personally and professionally? Join Neil and Fuad for an in depth conversation with one of Bristol's newly appointed International Ambassadors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Just Stop Oil protestors have been disrupting business as usual since April 2022. A Daily Mail columnist called them “a deranged criminal eco-terrorist cult”. But who are the people behind the headlines? Neil sits down with Dr Patrick Hart, a local GP who has been putting his career and liberty on the line through direct action protests, including the smashing and spray painting of a petrol station. Dr Hart believes we have run out of time for purely legal ways of pulling the world back from what the UN has called “the brink of climate catastrophe”. But are these tactics effective? Are protestors losing public sympathy? Does that matter? Listen in for a conversation far and away from the soundbites of Good Morning Britain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kerry McCarthy, the Labour MP for Bristol East, is the city's longest serving representative in Westminster. Sometimes described as a ‘Brownite' having been an ally of the former PM the last time Labour were in power, Kerry is now Shadow Minister for Climate Change. But is the party going far enough to confront the climate crisis? Can the Starmer's ‘sensible centre ground' coexist with the Left on key issues of immigration and taxation? How does a vegan, punk music lover get along with Tories in the House of Commons? Listen in with Neil and Kerry to hear from the person representing 70,000+ in Bristol East on the biggest issues of the day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From striking fear into the hearts of opponents with fearsome fast bowls to a gruesome career ending injury forcing retirement at 29, David ‘Syd' Lawrence is a cricketing icon in Bristol and beyond. But it wasn't all plain sailing in a sport known for its elitism for a self-described ‘tear-away kid' of Black Caribbean heritage. Listen in with Neil and Syd as they discuss the trials and tribulations of making it in the game, a move into nightclubs and now his first year as the first Black president of a County Cricket Club at Gloucestershire. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reach PLC is one of the largest commercial publishers in the UK, which owns household brands like the Mirror and the Daily Star as well as the majority of local titles including Bristol Live, and pulls in millions in revenue. But 1,000 journalists employed by Reach PLC started striking yesterday (Wednesday) after rejecting a 3% pay rise.As reported by the Cable earlier this week, junior staff at Bristol Live are paid under £20,000 while senior staff are on just £25,000. These low salaries are forcing some journalists to resort to using food banks to feed their families, and all the while the chief exec of Reach PLC Jim Mullen took home £4m last year – 104 times more the median salary of a Reach PLC employee.Listen in to this week's episode of Bristol Unpacked with Neil and local NUJ member Paul Breeden on what's at stake for the Bristol Live strikers, and whether the economically and reputationally battered news industry can ever improve its service to the public. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

When does bad behaviour get so serious that a young person should be permanently excluded from the mainstream school system? No More Exclusions, a campaign Lana co-founded, says never. For Lana, doing so is the result of a failed and often racist system. As an educator with decades of experience in Bristol and the region, Lana has a powerful vision that refuses to give up on any child. But what about the other 29 pupils who just want to get on? Neil and Lana chat through the politics and practicalities of a renewed education system, including why teachers have had enough and might be joining many other workers on strike this year. Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women's football was banned by the Football Association in 1921. Lasting for 50 years, the grandees of the football establishment deemed the sport “quite unsuitable for females”. Now, teams such as Aimee Palmer's Bristol City are seeing an explosion in interest and fans. With England's Lionesses eyeing up victory at the ongoing Euros, Neil and Aimee chat about her difficult journey as a professional player and what needs to happen to dismantle barriers for everyone who wants to play the beautiful game. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Suddenly everyone is talking about trade unions in the struggle over who will bear the brunt of the cost of living crisis. We speak to someone at the forefront of organising a local dispute between workers and employers, part of a wave of workplace unrest taking place across the country.Josh Connor is a local organiser for trade union Unison, and is supporting care workers to take strike action at St Monica's Trust, the Merchant Venturer-connected care homes in Bristol, in a dispute of jobs, pay and conditions.Neil and Josh discuss the background and detail of the strikes and what it means for the current rocky political moment locally and nationally. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Tom Morris says he has an “almost indecent passion” for Bristol Old Vic, the oldest theatre in continuous operation in the English speaking world. But how has the Kings Street institution evolved? Has it changed enough to justify huge amounts of public money and reach all communities with top quality art? Amid some fawning by Neil about Tom's brother, Chris Morris, they chat about the simmering culture war over arts and the future of Bristol's theatrical centrepiece. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Opposition councillors say they have been shut out of scrutinising and making decisions, but Paul Hassan says the mayoral system has provided a focal point of leadership for the city as a whole to come together and solve common problems. Hassan came to Bristol in 1987 and doesn't remember the committee years fondly - and neither does he think May's vote will help address the deeper issues that Bristol is currently facing. Listen to the fourth of our mini-series on Bristol's referendum. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Nicola Bowden-Jones was at the heart of Bristol's Labour Party for years, but is now at odds with the city's Labour administration in a big way. Having resigned amid a dispute with the mayor, Bowden-Jones is now campaigning to scrap the role altogether on the basis that it is anti-democratic. Some say this is a personal vendetta against Marvin Rees, but Bowden-Jones says for the city to move forward the mayor must be scrapped. Listen to the third of our mini-series on Bristol's referendum. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The city's Labour administration says this referendum is an expensive distraction from the big issues the city faces. But have they brought it upon themselves? Opponents say the referendum is due to failure to engage with opposition councillors and a tendency to handpick who is involved in city governance, including too much influence of business. Ellie King, Labour's cabinet member for Public Health and Communities says that the current mayoral model has delivered for the city in a way that the alternative committee system never could through clear leadership of the city as a whole. Listen in with Neil to find out from a leading voice in the pro-mayoral camp, in the first of four episodes in this referendum mini-series. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Lib Dem councillor who ‘prides himself on being a thorn in the mayor's side' led the vote on securing the referendum on whether to scrap the mayor. Representing Hotwells and Harbourside, Alex Hartley has compared the mayoral system to a post-Soviet oligarchy. Is this ridiculous exaggeration by a party set to gain the most from an insider's political dispute, or a fair comment on a lack of true democracy in Bristol's City Hall? Listen in with Neil who unpacks the issue with our first guest in a mini-series on the referendum set for 5th of May. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

As the slap reverberates around the world we talk all things comedy with Jayde Adams - who went from working in Asda Bedminster to her own Amazon Prime Special. She just starred in a new BBC documentary following her move back to Bristol. Going deep about how the death of her sister made her so driven, are there red lines in comedy, and what it is like coming home. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.