Talks with a Teacher

This episode I speak with singer, songwriter and music producer, Danny Gruff. I first met Danny in our hometown of Wrexham in around 2006 and since then he has released numerous EPs, singles and albums. Danny can often be found in the recording studio and if he's not recording himself, he's recording others and producing their songs. If you think Danny is cool, listen to his journey up until this point. And also, reserve judgement on how cool he is until you find out what the first gig he attended was...

This week I am joined by actor, writer, comic and executive director of Wrexham AFC, Humphrey Ker. Humphrey was sent off to boarding school at a young age and attended the prestigious Eton school, making him the first privately educated guest on the show. Here, we discuss his school days, formative years and, of course, the extraordinary tale of sleeping giant, Wrexham AFC.

This week I'm joined by fitness and nutrition expert, Jordan Syatt. Jordan was far from the perfect student but he is a very intelligent man who sought out knowledge about the things he was interested in. If you're used to seeing Jordan the trainer and want to know more about Jordan the person, then you're in the right place!

Welsh comedian and writer joins the pod this week for a chat about her school days, later life and her love of the beautiful nation that is Wales. After initially thinking this chat would be a breeze, Esyllt's trip down memory lane may require therapy further down the line, which I am sadly unable to fund. Diolch Esyllt!

A critically acclaimed author from the Emerald Isle joins me this week, Sinéad O'Hart. Sinéad's books, the Eye of the North, The Star-Spun Web, Skyborn and the Time Tider are all superb tales. But here, we delve into the stories behind the stories and learn more about Sinéad as a person. Ever the storyteller, it was so interesting to listen to Sinéad's life story.

The man responsible for getting Dorking Wanderers Football Club into the fifth tier of the pyramid sits down with me this week. Marc is a skilled businessman who knows how to get the best results out of a group of players and has gained plaudits for his forthright and honest approach to management. Listen now as we discuss his school days, how Dorking Wanderers FC was born and the experiences that made him into the man you see today.

This week I am joined by Pete Whittaker, one of the world's leading climbers. His ability and dedication have seen him achieve astonishing feats such as making the first ascent of Century Crack, the world's hardest off-width climb and making the first rope solo free-climb of Freerider on El Capitan. Listen now as we discuss his journey from a boy in a little village in the Peak District to becoming one of the most respected climbers on the planet. 

When you want to keep a podcast going strong, you speak with one of the strongest women on the planet. Inez Carrasquillo is rapidly becoming known as one of the most recognisable faces in Strongwoman competition. Following on from her 2022 Arnold Strongwoman World Championships win, she also has back to back podium finishes at the Official Strongman Games.  Inez hasn't had anything handed to her in life and has worked tirelessly to achieve her goals. managing her autism, battling homelessness and weight gain, she hit the gym and hasn't looked back. 2023 is going to be a huge year for Inez and I'm thrilled to have gotten the opportunity to discuss her life up until this point. 

Talks with a Teacher is back for Series 2!  The first guest of the new series is Sandy Docherty, part of the Great British Bake Off family. Sandy was a contestant in 2015 and endeared herself to viewers with her charm, wit and recipes. Listen now as she speaks about her formative years and discover more about her life before, during and after her television appearances.

The series finale is a breakdown of my experience of starting my own podcast. No guest this week- just me and a mic and I discuss why I decided to start this journey, how I contacted people and the daunting task of conducting interviews with people I had only briefly (and in some cases had never) met. I talk about each guest and give a bit of insight into how each episode went. Spoiler alert- they were all brilliant! I hope you enjoy my very rambly final episode and if you have made it this far, a massive thanks! If you would like a second series to happen, follow the podcast on social media, like, comment, subscribe and all that jazz and I might just return in the future!

Joining the pod this week is the hugely talented Mixed Martial Artist, Aaron Aby. Aaron is a skilled fighter but that is because he has been fighting his entire life. The doctors discovered he had cystic fibrosis when he was only days old but he not only defied the doctors by taking part in sports, he excelled at them. Even being diagnosed with cancer at just 27 couldn't keep Aaron down and he turned pro after an astonishing amateur record in MMA. Now fighting for the leading MMA organisation in Europe, Cage Warriors, Aaron has set his sights on attaining the flyweight belt but also harbours ambitions of fighting in the UFC. If history is anything to go by, Aaron will smash those goals as he doesn't let anything stand in his way. Listen now to his astonishing life story as he tells us why he is continually #fightingtobreathe. 

This week I am joined by two-time Paralympic gold medallist Danielle Brown.  Danielle won gold at Beijing in 2008 and on home soil at London 2012 and has received the recognition she deserves with a sports centre in Leicester donning her name, a golden postbox and of course an MBE. Danielle's success hasn't slowed down since hanging up her archery bow and is now a successful author with 'Be Your Best Self' and 'Run Like a Girl' hitting the shelves to inspire the next generation to achieve their dreams. Listen now as we discuss her life in education, balancing competing with university and revisiting the dream she held as a little girl.

World-renowned jazz guitarist Esmond Selwyn joins Talks with a Teacher this week. Esmond talks us through memorable anecdotes with teachers, performing at London's Mandrake Club at a young age and the hours of practice that have made him one of the very best. Esmond is my best friend's father so we have of course spoken before, but never in this detail. I spent a lovely evening chatting with Esmond and I hope you find it as enjoyable as I did.

Joining me this week is elite gymnast Jacob Edwards. Jacob is already highly regarded in his field and is a decorated junior gymnast, most notably becoming the U16 British all-round champion in 2019. Jacob has now made the step up to compete at senior level despite still being eligible to compete as a junior. This decision was justified by him making the longlist for this year's Commonwealth Games and he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, Matthew Hennessey, by representing his country at the Games. The audio is a bit rough around the edges as it was done in a gym with practice in the background and Jacob and I seemingly forgetting the mics were there and becoming animated in our chat but this shouldn't detract from the fact that Jacob is a remarkable young man with a great mentality. 

Another fellow Welshie joins the podcast this week- the hugely talented Georgia Henshaw. Georgia began acting at the aged 8 and has appeared on screens and stages for almost two decades! She has hit TV screens in iconic British TV series such as Skins, Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps and Waterloo Road to name but a few and has graced the silver screen too in Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging. From cruising the streets in her Barbie Jeep in her early days to landing some great roles in her career, Georgia discusses all in her unique 'husky and earthy' tones. I loved listening about Georgia's life and I'm confident you will too!

Welsh goal machine Helen Ward joins the podcast this week to discuss her distinguished career. The Watford captain tells us about how she began playing the beautiful game as a hobby but was able to make a living out of it as the women's game progressed almost alongside Helen's development as a player. Helen has been able to have two wonderful children along the way to being her country's top scorer and has overcome challenges such as lockdown preventing her from playing for her beloved Watford in 2020. Since then though she has returned to action in style for both club and country. Here we discuss her early days, swapping allegiances from England to Wales and her dreams of hanging up her boots in style on the Gold Coast in 2023...

Award-winning illustrator Korky Paul joins the podcast today to discuss his extraordinary career. The man who brings 'Winnie the Witch' to life was born in Zimbabwe and has since touched the four corners of the globe with both his travels and his books. Korky discusses his early days of roaming the African outback, through to spending time in his beloved Greece and finally settling in England. Korky has led a fascinating life and here you can listen to him tell his own tale. 

In this episode I am joined by author Darren Simpson. The creator of 'Scavengers' and 'The Memory Thieves' moved around a lot growing up and wanted to be a drummer when he left college. Although that dream didn't quite pan out, he instead channelled his creativity into writing wonderful stories for younger readers.  Here, we discuss how hard work pays off when it comes to achieving a goal and look forward to the release of his newest novel, 'Furthermoor'. 

I wanted to get the podcast off to a strong start so where better to start than with a real life Strongman? Here, I speak with Ben 'Badger' Brunning, the 3-time Wales Strongest Man winner who has proven his mettle against some of the world's best. In the episode we look at Badger's school days, becoming a Strongman by accident and of course, the burning question, "What is your favourite Disney movie?"

Talks with a Teacher is launching Monday 21st February 2022.