Living Leith Podcast

Jennie chats to Tammy Waugh, hairdresser and co-owner of X Creative Collaboration, a creative co-working space for hair and beauty professionals to work independently from next to Ocean Terminal.Tammy tells us about her life, her hairdressing career and what prompted her and her husband to open a flexible co-working space and nurture a community of hair and beauty professionals. We discuss salon culture, client personalities, creativity, entrepreneurship, and of course - the evolution of Leith.To learn more about X Creative Collaboration check out their website: xcreativecollaboration.com and follow them @xcreativecollaboration on Instagram. You can follow Tammy, too @tammy_hair_stylist. This episode was recorded in August 2023.

Jennie and Rumana sit down with Deidre Brock, who is the SNP MP for Edinburgh North & Leith.Deidre tells us about growing up in Perth, Australia, her former life as an actor (and featuring on Home and Away!), what brought her to Scotland, and what got her interested in politics.To learn more about Deidre's work you can check out her website and follow her on socials: https://dbrockmp.scot/ This episode was recorded in July 2023.

We're back for Season 3!Keith and Jennie chat to Socks who is a Youth Worker at LGBT Youth Scotland, a charity based in Leith. Socks tells us about the variety of services and programmes the organisation provides, the important issues their young people are facing, and what she loves most about her job.Learn more about LGBT Youth Scotland on their website: https://www.lgbtyouth.org.uk/This episode was recorded in May 2023.

Stephen is a Scottish playwright and screenwriter. In 2007 he created the award-winning stage musical ‘Sunshine on Leith' and went on to write the screenplay for the successful film version which was released in 2013. Stephen also created the BBC's popular long-running drama, River City, and his TV work includes Doctor Who, Marchlands, The Bill, and Around the World in 80 Days. Jennie chats to Stephen about his impressive career, how he got The Proclaimers' permission to write a musical with their songs, and how he ended up writing Doctor Who episodes. 'Sunshine on Leith' the musical is playing at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh, from 8 - 18 June, and at Pitlochry Festival Theatre for 24 June - 1 October. You can follow Stephen on Twitter. 

For the final episode of Season 2, the Living Leith hosts, Jennie, Rumana and Keith, interview each other - chatting about what brought us to Leith, the meaning of life, Beyonce and Rihanna, what we'd like to be remembered for as individuals, and generally shooting the shit.

Jennie and Keith speak to their friend, Cherise Huth, who has lived in Leith since 2017, and worked in the area for longer. She has worked as a carer and telecare advisor, and is one of the most compassionate and hilarious people you'll ever meet. As a young person, Cherise was faced with homelessness - she shares her experience and we discuss societal perceptions around it. Cherise also shares vulnerable and wholesome life lessons, influences, inspiration and more. You canny find her online, but if you're a "sexy lesbian" interested in dating her - please email livingleith@gmail.com and we'll pass on your details to her.

This week, Jennie and Keith chat to Lizzie McGhee, Yoga Teacher and Founder of Off Grid Yoga - a company that hosts tech-free retreats for overwhelmed minds. Lizzie tells us about her career (and career changes), and her journey into digital minimalism, with many wise insights along the way. Follow Lizzie on Instagram and find out more about her retreats at offgridyogaretreats.org

Jennie and Keith chat to mother-daughter business duo, Michelle and Ashley. Michelle is the Managing Director, and Ashley the Events Manager, of Mimi's Bakehouse - Edinburgh's most loved bakery. Mimi's Bakehouse is a second-generation family business established in 2010, they've won Scotland's Cafe Bakery of the Year six years in a row and have six shops around Edinburgh - with the original cafe based on the Shore in Leith. Michelle sold the family home in order to start the business, overcoming many obstacles along the way. She and Ashley tell us about the Mimi's journey and what it's like to run a family business. Follow Mimi's on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and visit their website at mimisbakehouse.com.

This week, Jennie and Keith chat to John - ghost story collector at North Edinburgh Nightmares. We hear plenty of spooky stories from around Leith and Edinburgh, and John tells us about his own supernatural experience, and why he loves these stories so much. Find out more on the North Edinburgh Nightmares website.

Raheema Sayed is a local creative who loves the written word and how storytelling connects people. She tells us about her writing, storytelling, and her recent live performance at the Scottish Storytelling Centre. We discuss what stories mean to us, Raheema's obsession with dreams, her favourite writers and artists, funny stories about growing up in Leith, and her plans for 2022.

The Citadel is a community-based youth centre which has been in Leith since 1980. Their building is in Commercial Street, where they've been based for 42 years. In this episode Jennie speaks to Willy Barr, the centre's manager, and Connor Muir, a 21-year-old Citadel volunteer who grew up attending programmes and clubs there. Willy and Connor talk about the history of the Citadel, and share their own lovely stories and experiences.  They also highlight the important intergenerational work that the centre does - the Citadel goes far beyond youth work. Find out more on their website citadelyouthcentre.org.uk and check out their YouTube channel for the videos mentioned in the episode.

Talha Imam is a cinematographer and creative director. After working in food and drink photography for a long time, he founded Gulp (previously Medialiciously), a food and drink content agency. At Gulp, Talha co-founded the Food Hero Scot campaign - an initiative designed to support and champion food and drink businesses who are leading the way in Scotland with eco-friendly practices. In this episode, Talha tells Jennie and Rumana about his career, his business, and the legacy he hopes to leave with his work. Find out more about Talha on his website, and follow his photography work on his Instagram.

Personal Trainer. Author. Food Critic. Chef. Leith Festival Coordinator. Web Designer. Graphic Designer. Is there anything Tracy Griffen can't do? Tracy has been running her own fitness studio - Griffen Fitness - in Balfour Street since 2005. We went along to hear about her fascinating journey, meeting Coco the Fitness Pug as well. We discuss nutrition, the Fringe, Leith Festival, and Tracy tells us about her recovery from a stroke she experienced at 21. To find out more about Tracy's work and to buy her books - visit griffenfitness.com. 

Ben Macpherson is the MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith, and the Minister for Social Security and Local Government. Ben tells us about his background and what led him into politics, about the different careers he's had, and all of his favourite things about Leith - which is a huge part of his constituency. As self-proclaimed political dafties, the Living Leith gang ask Ben to explain more about his ministerial roles and how the political system works. The list of Social Security Benefits Ben mentions can be found here: www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/benefits, and more information about the SS Explorer Society we discussed is here: www.nationalhistoricships.org.uk/page/ss-explorer-preservation-society-leith. You can follow Ben on Twitter (@BenMacpherson) and Instagram (@benmac). Ben's website is https://benmacpherson.scot/. This episode was recorded on Friday 29 October 2021.

Tim Bell runs Leith Walks, home of the original Trainspotting tours, and is the author of Choose Life. Choose Leith: Trainspotting on Location. Tim's lived a fascinatingly full life in Leith for the past 40 years. Tim discusses his time working as a Port Chaplin at Leith Docks, meeting seafarers from all over the world. He talks to us about Irvine Welsh's depiction of Leith's social issues and the demolition of the old Leith Train Station. He also tells us about Dr Robertson who, in 1986 in Muirhouse, made the discovery that HIV wasn't a virus that was only shared by gay men; a breakthrough which changed public policy. Dr Robertson issued clean needles to his patients when the Scottish Home and Health Department wouldn't. Find out more about Tim and the tours he offers at leithwalks.co.uk. 

Ellen Desmond and Lauren Nickodemus run Monstrous Regiment Publishing together, an intersectional feminist press, based in Leith, that they created to publish books and stories that are missing from bookshelves. The books they've published so far include The Bi-ble: Essays and Narratives About Bisexuality, New Testimonials: Essays and Narratives About Bisexuality, and So Hormonal: Essays About Our Hormones, along with their Monstrous Regiment magazines, Crimson and Emerald. Ellen and Lauren tell us about what it was like to start their own publishing press, how they put together their books, feedback they get from readers, their relationship with the creative community in Leith, and their upcoming novel, Duck Feet.

Anna Higham is the longest standing member of staff at the Leith Theatre Trust. She tells us about the history of this iconic building and shares fun facts and interesting stories about the theatre's past, including the Female Chorus Bar, some of rock's biggest bands playing the venue, and a haunted door. We talk about Leith Theatre's partnership with Empty Kitchens, Full Hearts, and the Big Radiator Generator Crowdfunder which Leith Theatre is currently running until Wednesday 16th December. This Crowdfunder will make a huge difference in helping to preserve and protect this historic building, which is on the Theatres At Risk Register.

Sinita is the Social Enterprise and Media Manager at Punjabi Junction, which is the social enterprise cafe that's part of the organisation Sikh Sanjog, set up in 1989 under the name ‘Leith Sikh Community Group' with the aim of providing support for women in the Sikh community. Sinita tells us about the journey of the organisation, how they've adapted during the pandemic, and their new Christmas Hamper available to order. Sinita shares how she attended the Sikh Sanjog Youth Group in her childhood, teaching Bollywood classes at Sikh Sanjog, and how she took time away from the community before coming back to take on her current role, where she's helped develop Punjabi Junction to the huge success it is today. Follow Punjabi Junction on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for updates.

Singer-songwriter Kirsty Baird is the Founder and Creative Director of Sing in the City, Founder of Chief Radio, and band member of Hanley and the Baird. Kirsty tells us about her varied career in music, from gigging in Leith bars at the age of 17, to performing at the Usher Hall. Kirsty shares stories about her band, Hanley and the Baird, who have a new single out - Looking at Me, Looking at You. We talk about her wildest gig (involving a gun), crawling underneath the Hibs stadium barriers as a child, and her work to combat the challenges that face small bands and unsigned musicians in today's music industry.

Joanna is a Fitness Instructor and PT who has been in the fitness industry for 15 years, teaching different classes and presenting at fitness conventions around the world. In 2014 Joanna and her husband Leszek opened Fitness Soul Studio, a fitness and wellbeing hub based in Tennant Street in Leith, offering a wide range of fitness classes, programmes, services, workshops, wellness getaways and more. Joanna tells us about building the amazing community at Fitness Soul, what inspires the energy in her famous Zumba classes, and about achieving her own fitness goals in learning to swim and completing Ironman. We talk a lot about cold water swimming, how it helped Joanna's depression, and how Joanna and Leszek are hosting cold water swimming sessions at Granton beach that anyone can sign up to. The BBC documentary Joanna talks about is The Doctor Who Gave Up Drugs: A Soothing Swim. You can find out more about Fitness Soul at fitnesssoul.co.uk.

This week we speak to James Donald, Scottish Weaver and Founder of PickOne Weave. James tells us all about weaving, the workshops and courses he runs, and we talk about looms and the types of skills and creativity needed for weaving. James talks us through new collective, Craft-ED, of which he is a part of - a directory of contemporary craft courses mainly in Leith and Edinburgh. We talk about James' favourite Leith memories and discuss the Airbnb and Covid-19 situations and how they affect independent businesses in Leith. Find out more about James' work on the PickOne Weave website, and check out Coburg House Art Studios, based near the Shore. 

Jordy Deelight is an Artist, DJ, host of Afternoon Deelight Podcast, and Leith's premier drag performer. In this episode, we chat about Jordy's incredible career and accomplishments, their favourite shows and work they've done, venues they've performed and DJed in, and how they've adapted their drag performances and DJ sets for online experiences during lockdown. Jordy tells us about winning a Young Scot Award this year, and getting recognition from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for their brilliant work. We reminisce about Leith Waterworld and talk about how Jordy takes inspiration from Leith in their work. You can follow Jordy and check out their work on their website, Twitter, Instagram, Vimeo, and YouTube. Listen to Jordy's podcast, Afternoon Deelight on Spotify. 

Rumana Sayed is a freelance Graphic Designer from Leith. Rumana is currently working with Juice Droplet, a creative platform that shares lived experiences from the South Asian diaspora through their art and writing, aiming to reflect the multi-faceted experience of South Asian creatives. Rumana speaks to us about the range of work she's done with local charities such as Saheliya, YWCA Scotland, and Edinburgh Rape Crisis Centre. In 2017 Rumana did a 3-month artist's residency at Out of the Blueprint, based in Leith's Out of the Blue Drill Hall, where she held her first solo art exhibition, ‘Don't Be Denied' about the 2016 American Election. Rumana tells us all about this residency and exhibition, what inspired it, and about using a RISO printer at Out of the Blue. You can check out the exhibition and more of Rumana's work on https://www.behance.net/rumanasayed. You can also check out the range of work on Juice Droplet at https://juicedroplet.com/ and listen to the Juice Droplet Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Jemma Neville is a writer and activist who authored the book, 'Constitution Street: Finding Hope in an Age of Anxiety' which is part memoir, social history and call to action. Jemma told us about writing and researching the book, including her experience meeting a medieval woman whose remains were dug up from underneath Constitution Street in 2009. We speak about the importance of neighbourhood and community, preserving women's history, and Jemma's latest project which looks into how women take up creative space.

On this episode we chat to David Duke, Founder and CEO of Street Soccer Scotland - a social enterprise that provides football-themed training and personal development opportunities for socially disadvantaged groups. Street Soccer Scotland's head office is in Leith, but they provide services all over Scotland. We talk about a great deal with David, including the importance of working with lived experience when helping folk in tough situations, the universality of football, the need for better football pitches in Leith, the brilliance of Teuchter's Landing and Cafe Domenico's, and so much more. You can learn more about Street Soccer Scotland at www.streetsoccerscotland.org.

This week we speak to Ali, a Nursery Nurse with the NHS who has lived in Leith all her life, growing up and raising her own family here. Ali tells us about the old train station, the old whisky bonds in Leith (and the accompanying smell), and swimming in Newhaven Harbour as a kid. We reminisce about Woolies in the Kirkgate, and Ali talks about the old Leith Hospital, and why she thinks we should have more maternity support.

Billy has run a number of different bars in the Leith and Edinburgh areas for the past 15 years. The places he runs at the moment include Leith Arches, Bar Brig, Smoke and Mirrors and Hare of the Dog. Billy tells us what motivates him to design a hospitality space, and how he came to open Edinburgh's very first sustainable, eco-friendly bar, Smoke and Mirrors on Constitution Street. He shares interesting insight from observing Leith over the past 16 years, and some great stories.

In this episode, we speak to Alasdair and Cyria Scott, who own the famous flagpole on Pilrig Street - well known for flying a variety of flags for different causes and from all over the world. A New Yorker and a Scotsman, Cyria and Alasdair tell us what brought them to Leith. They talk about renovating the manse they bought on Pilrig Street, and share an amazing amount of local history and information. The Leith businesses and places we discussed include Blake metal group, the Leith Whisky Bond, Central Bar, South Leith Parish Church, the Golden Ambal, and the brilliant butcher on Albert Street, Graham Cherrie. You can follow their different flags on Twitter @PilrigFlag.

Brian Malloch and Phillip Logan run local independent shop, Logan Malloch, which is at the bottom of Leith Walk. In this episode, we speak to Bri about how he and Phillip quit their day jobs to start a business of their own - including renovating the shop which is part of the old Leith train station. Originally from Lochee, Dundee, Bri tells us all the things he loves about Leith - including other local businesses like Borlands, Bijou, Kilted Donuts, Concrete Wardrobe, Destined for Home and Logan Malloch's next door neighbour, The Central Bar. The statues in the Water of Leith that Keira talked about are sculptures by the Turner Prize winning artist Antony Gormley. To find out more about Logan Malloch, visit their website at www.loganmalloch.com, or follow them on Instagram @logan_malloch or @loganmalloch on Facebook and Twitter.

Jennie and Keira chat with lifelong Leither, Lucy Hale in episode two of Living Leith Podcast. Lucy tells us about some of her favourite Leith memories, and the local theatre and arts group, Active Inquiry, of which she is a member. Lucy talks about a production they did that was particularly special to her - 'Persevere' which was about the Gretna Railway disaster of 1915. The memorial site Jennie mentions in relation to the Railway disaster is Rosebank Cemetary on Pilrig Street. Active Inquiry are based in the Out of the Blue Drill Hall, you can find out more about them on their website: http://www.activeinquiry.co.uk/. In this episode, Jennie mentions that she heard Leith is the most densely populated area in Scotland - afterwards we found an Edinburgh City Council report on 'Population distribution and density in Edinburgh' that suggests this is true. You can follow Lucy Hale on social media at @lucyhale1875 on Twitter and @hale1975 on Instagram. Thanks for listening!

The Queen of Leith, Mary Moriarty talks about her history with Leith. She tells us about her time running the Port O' Leith Bar, the Ships at the shore, Trinity House, Mary Queen of Scots, Leith Community FM, Leith Festival, the Dockers Club and so much more.