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In this edition Sheila Dillon explores the creativity of chefs, and asks how it's being affected by the ongoing cost of living crisis. For Sheila, creativity in cooking is one of the pleasures we often take for granted when we go out to eat, and marvels at the alchemy chefs work with raw ingredients. But the hospitality industry is grappling with very difficult economic conditions - increased national insurance, business rates, energy bills, rent, cost of ingredients coupled with fewer customers with less money to spend, all mean that many restaurants are struggling to survive. According to the latest data from the Hospitality Market Monitor by NIQ, restaurant closures accelerated in the last three months of 2025 to nearly 19 businesses a week. What happens to that creativity when the industry is under so much pressure?In the programme chefs talk to Sheila about what creativity looks like in their kitchens at the moment, as the cost crisis leads to more restrictions on how and what they cook. We also hear how chefs of the future are being trained to work creatively in this tough environment. We hear from: Sam Lomas, Head Chef at Briar in Somerset; Owen Morgan, co-founder and owner of Forty-Four group; Charlie Buchanan-Smith, co-founder of The Free Company near Edinburgh; Niall McKenna, owner of James St and Waterman House in Belfast; Frank Fiore, Catering Manager at Milton Keynes University Hospital; Chantal Symons, Lead Development Chef at LEON Restaurants; and chef-lecturers Steve Oram and Ian Sutton and students at Capital City College at Westminster.Presented by Sheila Dillon and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with LIFE, Shale, WineMom, MWSOG, menig, Crystal Murray, 1000 Rabbits, ELSAS, White Flowers, Ugly Dave, Earth Farm, this rainy decade, Lande Hekt, Maya Law & Freya Roy, ladylike, and a new Track of the Week by Max Winter.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
A year after sharing a £10 supper with 200 strangers in Copenhagen's Absalon - an old church turned community hub - Sheila asks whether that experience could be recreated in the UK. After all, communal meals here are often one-offs, sometimes pricey, or feel like generous soup kitchens. In this edition, Sheila meets people determined to change that; Ingrid Wakeling and Phil Holtam from Sussex Surplus are running trial communal dining events in Brighton, using surplus food to bring strangers together. Anna Chworow from Nourish Scotland is helping shape two pilot public diners - subsidised, everyday restaurants designed for everyone, while Jon Harper from Future Foundations explains how CanTeam is turning school canteens into community dining rooms. Sheila also visits The Long Table in Stroud - a pay-what-you-can community restaurant - to meet co-founder Tom Herbert, and is joined there by zero‑waste chef Max La Manna and Carly Trisk‑Grove from The Public Plate, who want every community to have their own low‑cost restaurant. Together, they discuss what it would take to make their dreams reality - and why they believe it matters.Presented by Sheila Dillon Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan.More info: Communal Dining -Part 1: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0028l2c The Long Table: https://thelongtableonline.com/ The Public Plate (Carly Trisk-Grove's project): https://www.thepublicplate.com/about Nourish Scotland project: https://www.nourishscotland.org/projects/public-diners/ Right to Food Commission (Ian Byrne MP's project): https://www.ianbyrne.org/rtfcommission Sussex Surplus (Brighton): https://www.sussexsurplus.org/ CanTeam: http://www.canteam.org/ NB: Be aware these links take you to external non-BBC websites.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including tracks from: 1-800 GIRLS, Kloyd, Blossom Caldarone, Kiosk, Conscious Pilot, The New Cut, Robyn Florence, improvjazzlab., Joshua Burnside, Natalie Wildgoose and Alice Costelloe. Plus, we hear from our Featured Artist PEM and this week's Track Of The Week comes from MWSOG.Produced in Manchester by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including tracks from: 1-800 GIRLS, Kloyd, Blossom Caldarone, Kiosk, Conscious Pilot, The New Cut, Robyn Florence & DAVIES, improvjazzlab., Joshua Burnside, Natalie Wildgoose and Alice Costelloe. Plus, we hear from our Featured Artist PEM and this week's Track Of The Week comes from MWSOG.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Nadia Ali is joined by star of Netflix's Dubai Bling, Ebraheem Al-Samadi who shares what Ramadan is like for him. Ebraheem shares how tough being a Muslim was for him growing up in Florida, USA, his love of Rooh-Afza and how he balances his faith with everything else he does. In this episode, Nadia and Ebraheem delve into how their faith has shaped them and how they hope to improve themselves this Ramadan.If anything discussed in this episode impacts you, there are resources available on bbc.co.uk/ActionLine.Produced in Birmingham by BBC Audio for BBC Asian Network.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with NeONE The Wonderer, Franz Von x SketchTheWave x Kin Louie, ledbyher, Yaz León, Girl Group, Brodie Milner, Burglar, Heart and Mouth, Ellen Beth Abdi, pyncher, TTSSFU, Madeline Tully, Waterpistol, Ellur, a new Track of the Week by Kiosk, and details of BBC Introducing at the 6 Music Festival in March.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Not Even Water, our guide to Ramadan, returns for 2026. In episode one, Nadia Ali is joined by Christopher and Ben aka the British Muslim Gentlemen to talk all about Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims. Christopher and Ben both came to Islam many years ago and have since been on a real journey with Ramadan which they delve into during the episode, sharing how they struggled with it initially but have now come to understand what the month is about. They've grown a huge following online where they debunk myths around Islam. Produced in Birmingham by BBC Audio for BBC Asian Network.
After concerns that honey from overseas is being watered down with cheap rice and corn syrups, Sheila Dillon investigates the scale of global honey fraud. It's a story of complex international supply chains with the world's food security at its heart. In 2023, the European Commission found that 46 per cent of the honey it sampled was suspected to be fraudulent. Just last year at the World Beekeeping Awards the prize for Best Honey had to be cancelled after fears that adulterated honey might be entered. The fake version can be very difficult to detect and beekeepers warn that it is forcing down the price of honey, potentially driving them out of business.So how serious an issue has international honey fraud become and how concerned should consumers in the UK be? Sheila visits Bermondsey Street bees in Essex in search of answers and speaks to the UK's two biggest honey producers - Rowse and Hilltop Honey. Food fraud expert Professor Chris Elliott from Queen's University Belfast analyses the situation and Robin Markwell reports from Copenhagen where the world's largest convention of beekeepers was recently held. Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Robin Markwell
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with BLISSFOOL, RYDER, Treeboy & Arc, The Itch, Maddie Ashman, Tonguetied, August Charles, Rye, RIP Magic, Bloodworm, Blood Wizard, Pollyfromthedirt, Bailrigg feat. Anita Tatlow, and a new Track of the Week by Yaz León.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
One thing that could make us all healthier is drinking less alcohol – and there's now a huge market for alcohol‑free drinks. But one category that has long struggled to deliver great taste is non‑alcoholic wine. In this episode Jaega Wise looks to find out why it's so difficult to make a wine without alcohol that still tastes good, and asks what difference these drinks can make to people trying to cut back. Jaega begins the story of German producer Bernhard Jung, whose family pioneered vacuum distillation more than a century ago. She meets Fiona Graham and Alex Viol of Vino Zero along with wine expert Jane Rakison to taste some of today's most promising alcohol‑free bottles, and speaks to David Hodgson of Zeno Wines about the challenges behind creating convincing 0% options. At Plumpton College, master's student George Coles and programme manager James Clapham explain how future winemakers are experimenting with new approaches.During the programme, Jaega also brings together Professor John Holmes of the University of Sheffield and Richard Piper from Alcohol Change UK to explore how no‑ and low‑alcohol drinks might influence our drinking habits. And with Tom Ward of Wise Bartender, she looks at the growing world of mid‑strength wine - a category some believe could be the next step in helping people drink differently.Presented by Jaega Wise Produced in Bristol for BBC Audio by Natalie Donovan
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including Bonuru, Treks, OneDa, comfort, holybones, Another; Country $$$$, Aimée Fatale, Vehicle, Shaking Hand, Heidi Curtis, crush velvet, Tallulah Argue, Dead Dads Club, Ella More, Book of Churches and a new Track Of The Week from The Itch.Produced in Manchester by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
In ep 158 of “How Do You Say That?!” sponsored by britishvoiceover.co.uk, Perdita Lawton joins Sam and Mark to talk about how to level the prosody in a corporate read, maintaining friendliness in the face of a very dry subject and how to approach a comedic audio book. We're also taming sheep, wearing slippers and telling fibs to fit in! Plus how knowing what a returning client wants feels like getting into a warm bath! Our wildcards include a puppy Mum with a very naughty four-legged friend, a narrator who goes from sadness to joy, and someone battling the wind to be heard!Our VO question this week is all about he Norman Beaton Fellowship - a flagship initiative run by BBC Audio Drama. Via this bursary, BBC Audio welcomes new actors each year to five-month contracts with the Radio Drama Company, and it's open to any voice actors who havent been to a traditional drama school.Get involved! Have you got a Wildcard suggestion that we should try or an idea for the show? Send it to us via Mark or Sam's social media or email it directly to podcast@britishvoiceover.co.ukScript 1Updating both project files and controller firmware can now be done remotely and securely at any time from the Lighthouse Cloud interface, as well as directly from the Lighthouse Designer 2 software.Portals give you the ability to provide your own personalised version of Cloud to your customers – with a custom theme and URL access available. With Portals you can set up Multi-Sites - a convenient way to give Site owners the control they need while allowing a central administration department to maintain overall control. Portal admins have complete control over all Sites in a portal, and access to exciting new portal-only features.Script 2Nanna Lem eventually told Penny what had happened, which boiled down to the age-old truth that people above a certain age should not climb onto chairs to clean cobwebs from the ceiling. Or, indeed, for any other purpose."It's a sprain actually," she said, tilting her injured foot. "Or a bruised bone. Something like that. Not very serious.""But you're in hospital," Penny pointed out."Ah, that's on account of me getting the white pills and the grey pills mixed up”"Oh?"We'd love your feedback - and if you listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, hit the follow button today!**Listen to all of our podcasts here - you can also watch on YouTube, or say to your smart speaker "Play How Do You Say That?!"About our guest: Perdita Lawton is a voice actor, actor, theatre maker, film maker and plays the piano. She studied English and Drama at University, did a diploma in drama at theatre school and has been working in the industry ever since, spanning 20 years and counting. She has voiced many things from animations, audio dramas, films, and has 29 audio books currently available on audible. Perdita was a finalist in The Norman Beaton Fellowship for the BBC 2025 and this year is off to play at The Edinburgh Fringe. She spends her spare time volunteering as a scout leader teaching paddleboarding, kayaking, archery, climbing, camping and keeping young people safe as they learn….. which has been helpful in her new role as a puppy Mom keeping her puppy alive.Resources:Perdita's script was from ‘The Wonderland Murders', book 1 of the...
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including music from Lime Garden, Pigeon, Tom Emlyn, Midding, Pem, comfort, Hot Face, Group A.D., Praise Lubangu, Coach Party, Panda Swim, AtticOmatic, Melanie Baker, Champion Trees, Bung, Clara Pople and a Track of the Week from comfort.Produced in Manchester by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including Chalk, Mandy, Indiana, TTSSFU, Ellur, Cardinals, Hank Bee, TURNSPIT, KuleeAngee, ladylike, Ultimate Thunder feat. Robyn Rocket, a new Track of the Week from Pem, and vegas water taxi are our Featured Artist.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Louise Jameson is a classically trained actress whose first love is the stage—she spent two years with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the beginning of her career—but she also became known to millions of British television viewers through her roles in such hugely popular television series as Doctor Who, Tenko, Bergerac and EastEnders. Her recent theatre credits include Vincent River and directing the UK tour of Revenge. Her audio credits include Doctor Who (Big Finish), writing ATA Girl, about the women of the Air Transport Authority during World War II, and multiple titles for BBC Audio and Audible. Louise talks with me about her unusually young start at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and how her training continued at the Royal Shakespeare Company, how her Doctor Who character, Leela of the Sevateem, reflected the feminism of the 1970s (and how she didn't), how she started writing, and what she thinks of the opportunities for—and representation of—women in film and TV over the years. If you want to watch this conversation, you can see it here on YouTube! Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 04:00 Louise describes childhood creativity, daydreaming, and reading early. 08:00 Drama school, age gap with classmates, and strict discipline. 12:00 Acting requires teamwork; Louise reflects on early career. 16:00 Louise's Shakespeare passion, favorite roles and performance experiences. 20:00 Louise talks about landing Leela role in Doctor Who. 24:00 Doctor Who impacts life daily; gratitude for lasting connections. 28:00 Leela's feminist traits and costume choices, fighting stereotypes. 32:00 Leela's intelligence and evolution, relationship with other companions. 36:00 Influence of audio plays; Gallifrey series has strong female fandom. 40:00 Louise discusses writing, self-doubt, and encouragement from collaborators. 44:00 Directing stage, teaching drama; regrets and living in the now. 48:00 Shakespeare's rhythmic influence on Louise's writing and teaching. 52:00 Conversation shifts to social media, attention economy, and technology. 56:00 Louise analyzes Shakespeare's poetic technique and its storytelling power. 01:00 Louise explains collective magic of live theater and storytelling. 01:04 Progress and ongoing challenges for women in TV and film. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in writing, theatre, and Doctor Who. Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including Alewya, Emmeline, You Are Steve, tummyache, USNABOY, MAUVEY feat. FREQ MOTIF, Grove, RIYA, Crimewave, Heartcoregirl, Sleepy Gene, MELLT, Joshua Burnside, The Man, The Myth, The Meatslab, and a new Track of the Week from Ellur.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Whisky writer Dave Broom has helped transform how the world tastes and talks about spirits, bringing flavour, culture, and meaning to a new generation. In this festive edition of the programme, Jaega Wise finds out how his ideas and passions came about, and what has made him one of the most influential voices in the drinks world.Born in Glasgow, Dave Broom began his career in the industry with a job at the wine merchants OddBins. He later ran a pub in Bristol before moving into writing about spirits for the trade media. Since then, he's written 15 books on whisky and other spirits. His writing is known for drawing people into the world of flavour through music and food references, and through connections to place. As well as writing about Scotch, he has also long explored whiskies and spirits from around the world - and was an early advocate for Japanese whiskies. In June 2019 Dave Broom presented a crowd-funded documentary film called The Amber Light, which took him across Scotland, meeting distillers, musicians, and writers, and exploring the idea that whisky reflects the place it comes from. The film was directed and produced by Adam Parks.Presented by Jaega Wise Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with her tips for 2026, including Bathing Suits, The Family Battenberg, Florence Road, TTSSFU, Group A.D., Formal Sppeedwear, Maddie Ashman, Girl Group, Dead Dads Club, vegas water taxi, TURNSPIT, ANOTHER; COUNTRY $$$$, Elanor Moss, Dove Ellis, Lemondaze, and Pollyfromthedirt.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Emily Pilbeam presents volume 2 of her 2025 mixtape highlights from BBC Introducing, with Chalk, DJ Subaru feat. Chopper Johnson, Monks, Nightbus, Adult DVD, Goodnight Louisa, Divorce, Humour, GANS, Welly, Shale, jasmine.4.t, Natalie Wildgoose, and The Orchestra (For Now).Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Annie Gray always rejects turkey and the trimmings at Christmas. She believes they are a construct of a bygone era and will often eat pizza on the big day instead. She explores alternative dinners from Christmases past, present and future. She visits Bath to discover what would have been eaten over Christmas in the Regency period and bakes traditional mince pies - made with minced meat. She'll look at how Christmas is celebrated differently around the world and will discuss Christmas dinners to come with a food futurologist.Presented by Dr Annie Gray Produced in Bristol by Robin Markwell for BBC Audio
Emily Pilbeam presents volume 1 of her 2025 mixtape highlights from BBC Introducing, including Getdown Services, Jessica Winter, The Itch, pyncher, holybones, Ellur, Cassia, Hang Linton, Lime Garden, The NONE, Westside Cowboy, Bug Teeth, Joshua Burnside, and Nadia Kadek.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Leyla Kazim takes a look at the best food books and writing from 2025, and chats to food writer Ruby Tandoh about her new book looking at why we eat the way we eat now. We hear picks from the rest of The Food Programme presenters - Sheila Dillon, Dan Saladino and Jaega Wise; books to get you cooking and books to get you thinking.Tom Tivnan from The Bookseller discusses the latest bestsellers, and Carla Lalli - cookbook author and former Bon Appétit food director - helps bust some common myths and even lies we see in about recipe books and in online recipes.Food Books for 2025: * Serving the Public: The Good Food Revolution in Schools, Hospitals and Prisons by Professor Kevin Morgan * Give It a Grow: Simple Projects to Nurture Food, Flowers and Wildlife in Any Outdoor Space by Martha Swales * Food Fight: From Plunder and Profit to People and Planet by Stuart Gillespie * Boustany: A Celebration of Vegetables from My Palestine by Sami Tamimi * Naturally Vegan: Delicious Recipes from Around the World That Just Happen to Be Plant-based by Julius Fiedler * WINE: Everything You Need to Know by Olly Smith * Winter Wellness: Nourishing Recipes to Keep You Healthy When It's Cold by Rachel de Thample * Abundance: Eating and Living with the Seasons by Mark Diacono * Kapusta: Vegetable-Forward Recipes from Eastern Europe by Alissa Timoshkina * Indian Kitchens: Treasured Recipes from India's Diverse Food Culture by Roopa Gulati * All Consuming: Why We Eat the Way We Eat Now by Ruby Tandoh * Chop Chop: Cooking the Food of Nigeria by Ozoz Sokoh Presented by Leyla Kazim Produced by Natalie Donovan for BBC Audio in Bristol.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with music by Monks, Mercy Girl, TURNSPIT, Huartan, Hunny Buzz, Formal Sppeedwear, cosign, ANOTHER; COUNTRY $$$$, EV, Careerist, Hank Bee, Lacuna, hot springs, and a new Track of the Week from Heidi Curtis.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
The judges have reached their verdicts so who has won the coveted Food Programme chopping boards in 2025's BBC Food and Farming Awards? Sheila Dillon and chair of the judges Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall meet some of the best food and drink producers in the country at this week's ceremony in Bristol.Produced by Robin Markwell of BBC Audio in Bristol.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with music by Willie J Healey, VALA, Eaves Wilder, Elanor Moss, KILIMANJARO, Ady Suleiman, PVA, Balderdasch, Pollyfromthedirt, Shaking Hand, Joshua Burnside, Blood Wizard, So Anne-So, SOURCE, and a new Track of the Week by Huartan.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including Sean Trelford, Two Man Lift, Mandy, Indiana, Lime Garden, Lande Hekt, Aimée Fatale, The Itch, Shale, Indoor Foxes, House Proud, Crimewave, and a new Track of the Week by Elanor Moss. Plus there's highlights from the BBC Introducing Stage at Live at Leeds 2025 with live music from Goodnight Louisa and The Orchestra (For Now).Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Conflict Resolution Beyond the International Relations Paradigm: Evolving Designs as a Transformative Practice in Nagorno-Karabakh and Syria (Ibidem Press, 2017) holds the promise of freeing approaches and policies with regard to politics of identity from the fatalistic grip of realism. While the conceptual literature on identity and conflicts has moved in this alternative direction, conflict resolution practice continues to rely on realist frames and acts as an unwanted auxiliary to traditional International Relations (IR). Perpetuation of conflict discourses, marginalization, and exclusion of affected populations are widespread. They are caused by the over-reliance of conflict resolution practice on the binary frames of classic IR paradigms and also by the competitive and hierarchical relationships within the field itself. Philip Gamaghelyan relies on participatory action research (PAR) and collective auto-ethnography to expose patterns of exclusion and marginalization as well as the paradoxical reproduction of conflict-promoting frames in current conflict-resolution practice applied to the Nagorno-Karabakh and Syrian crises. He builds on the work of post-modernist scholars, on reflective practice, and on discourse analysis to explore alternative and inclusive strategies with a transformative potential through reflections and actions customary for PAR. The IR discipline, that has dominated policy-making, is only one possible lens, and often a deficient one, for defining, preventing, or resolving contemporary conflicts wrapped in identity politics. Other conceptual frameworks can help to rethink our understanding of identity and conflicts and reconstruct them as performative and not static phenomena. These transformative frameworks are increasingly influential in the conflict resolution field and can be applied to policy-making. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Philip Gamaghelyan is an Associate Professor at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego. He has served as Director of the Master's Program in Conflict Management and Resolution, the Graduate Certificate in Mediation, and the Security Studies concentration. His teaching spans conflict analysis and resolution, mediation, media and conflict, nationalism and conflict, and intervention design, among other areas. Dr. Gamaghelyan is a conflict resolution scholar-practitioner and co-founder of the Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation, where he also serves on the Board of Directors. He is the Managing Editor of Caucasus Edition: Journal of Conflict Transformation (www.caucasusedition.net). His practical and research experience extends across the post-Soviet states of Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as Turkey, Syria, and other conflict-affected regions, where he has worked with policymakers, journalists, educators, and civil society leaders. His current research focuses on the critical re-evaluation and redesign of conflict resolution interventions in the 21st century, as well as on shaping the future of peace studies and peace practice. Areas of Expertise: Structural and symbolic violence, Ethnically-framed conflicts, Methodological innovations and intervention design in conflict resolution practice, Discourse analysis, Action research, Conflicts in Russia and Erurasia Coming Up Soon - Recently, Professor Philip Gamaghelyan was featured on BBC Audio discussing the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks that were held at the White House. In the coming days, this academic and grassroots organizer associated with the School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego will join our PodCast to discuss his incredible publication titled Conflict Resolution Beyond the International Relations Paradigm. Evolving Designs as a Transformative Practice in Nagorno-Karabakh and Syria (2017). His expertise spans conflict analysis and resolution, mediation, media and conflict, nationalism and conflict, and intervention design, among other areas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
Conflict Resolution Beyond the International Relations Paradigm: Evolving Designs as a Transformative Practice in Nagorno-Karabakh and Syria (Ibidem Press, 2017) holds the promise of freeing approaches and policies with regard to politics of identity from the fatalistic grip of realism. While the conceptual literature on identity and conflicts has moved in this alternative direction, conflict resolution practice continues to rely on realist frames and acts as an unwanted auxiliary to traditional International Relations (IR). Perpetuation of conflict discourses, marginalization, and exclusion of affected populations are widespread. They are caused by the over-reliance of conflict resolution practice on the binary frames of classic IR paradigms and also by the competitive and hierarchical relationships within the field itself. Philip Gamaghelyan relies on participatory action research (PAR) and collective auto-ethnography to expose patterns of exclusion and marginalization as well as the paradoxical reproduction of conflict-promoting frames in current conflict-resolution practice applied to the Nagorno-Karabakh and Syrian crises. He builds on the work of post-modernist scholars, on reflective practice, and on discourse analysis to explore alternative and inclusive strategies with a transformative potential through reflections and actions customary for PAR. The IR discipline, that has dominated policy-making, is only one possible lens, and often a deficient one, for defining, preventing, or resolving contemporary conflicts wrapped in identity politics. Other conceptual frameworks can help to rethink our understanding of identity and conflicts and reconstruct them as performative and not static phenomena. These transformative frameworks are increasingly influential in the conflict resolution field and can be applied to policy-making. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Philip Gamaghelyan is an Associate Professor at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego. He has served as Director of the Master's Program in Conflict Management and Resolution, the Graduate Certificate in Mediation, and the Security Studies concentration. His teaching spans conflict analysis and resolution, mediation, media and conflict, nationalism and conflict, and intervention design, among other areas. Dr. Gamaghelyan is a conflict resolution scholar-practitioner and co-founder of the Imagine Center for Conflict Transformation, where he also serves on the Board of Directors. He is the Managing Editor of Caucasus Edition: Journal of Conflict Transformation (www.caucasusedition.net). His practical and research experience extends across the post-Soviet states of Ukraine, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, as well as Turkey, Syria, and other conflict-affected regions, where he has worked with policymakers, journalists, educators, and civil society leaders. His current research focuses on the critical re-evaluation and redesign of conflict resolution interventions in the 21st century, as well as on shaping the future of peace studies and peace practice. Areas of Expertise: Structural and symbolic violence, Ethnically-framed conflicts, Methodological innovations and intervention design in conflict resolution practice, Discourse analysis, Action research, Conflicts in Russia and Erurasia Coming Up Soon - Recently, Professor Philip Gamaghelyan was featured on BBC Audio discussing the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan peace talks that were held at the White House. In the coming days, this academic and grassroots organizer associated with the School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego will join our PodCast to discuss his incredible publication titled Conflict Resolution Beyond the International Relations Paradigm. Evolving Designs as a Transformative Practice in Nagorno-Karabakh and Syria (2017). His expertise spans conflict analysis and resolution, mediation, media and conflict, nationalism and conflict, and intervention design, among other areas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day - but what happens when thousands of children arrive at school too hungry to learn? In this programme, Jaega Wise looks into how the Government's new free breakfast club scheme is being rolled out across England, seven months into a trial involving 750 primary schools. While the policy which aims to tackle hunger and improve attendance is welcomed by all, schools and campaigners raise questions about it's future funding and the exclusion of secondary schools and some special school pupils.At Holy Trinity Church of England School in Tottenham, Jaega visits a breakfast club being run in partnership with Chefs in Schools, where hot food is cooked fresh each morning in the same kitchen that serves lunch. In Weston-super-Mare, headteacher Marie Berry explains why her school's breakfast club is a lifeline for families - and why she's keen to be included in the new scheme. Campaigners at Sustain argue breakfast clubs could be a powerful tool to support local food producers and promote sustainable sourcing - and urge the Government to back that vision.We also hear from the charity Magic Breakfast, which provides food to 300,000 children at breakfast clubs every day, and from Olivia Bailey MP at the Department for Education. Food writer Michael Zee of @SymmetryBreakfast discusses Britain's breakfast culture, and why we so often eat the same thing every day.Presented by Jaega Wise Produced by Natalie Donovan for BBC Audio in Bristol.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, and also reveals this year's BBC Introducing Artist of the Year! There's music from Oscar November, Zach Templar, Beattie, Dove Ellis, Milange, The Motor Show, Langkamer, Mumble Tide, Alana Henderson, MLEKO, Callinsick, August Charles, Maya Delilah, and a new Track of the Week by LIME GARDEN.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with Future Infinite feat. Nomis, Tribal Ting feat. Moonfish and 4t4Voltz, Baby Universe, ANOTHER; COUNTRY $$$$ & Oli Knight, vegas water taxi, Esme Emerson, Lemondaze, White Flowers, Jacob Alon, jasmine.4.t., Little Comets, Robyn Errico, and a new Track of the Week from Dove Ellis.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
He's a New York Times best selling author. He's written tie in fiction for Star Wars and Stranger Things. Adam Christopher joins the Power of 3 to discuss his Doctor Who work, which has seen him write for Big Finish (including a script on the most recent War Master set), and now, a BBC Audio. We speak to Adam about growing up with Doctor Who in New Zealand, editing the fanzine Time Space Visualiser, and so much more! (Please note, sound quality drops out for one brief section, and we hope this doesn't spoil your enjoyment of the episode)
It's twenty years since the Aldeburgh Food Festival began. Sheila Dillon examines its impact in this small Suffolk seaside town where food producers work together to forge strong local supply chains. She speaks to the festival's co-founder Lady Caroline Cranbrook who has been a passionate advocate of Suffolk's rich food ecosystem. She goes on a shopping trip with local restaurateur and hotelier George Pell, a self-styled "blow-in" from London. They visit a fishing family, a butcher and a farmer supporting a start-up serving crullers in a town where collaboration is king.Produced in Bristol for BBC Audio by Robin Markwell
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including My First Time, Chalk, DREAMWAVE, Vona Vella, Shayk, Novo Amor, djank, Tragic Sasha, pyncher, Dog Saints, Maddie Ashman, and Katherine Priddy, plus holybones in session for BBC Introducing, and a new Track of the Week by ANOTHER; COUNTRY $$$$Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Sheila Dillon and this year's head judge of the BBC Food and Farming Awards, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, hit the road to meet the finalists in the Best Food Producer category. From sourdough pioneers Aidan Monks and Catherine Connor at Lovingly Artisan in Kendal, and regenerative grower Calixta Killander at Flourish Produce in Cambridgeshire, to cheese champions Andy and Kathy Swinscoe at The Courtyard Dairy in North Yorkshire — they explore how these exceptional producers might hold clues to a more resilient food future. Inspired by Professor Tim Lang's recent report, Just in Case: narrowing the UK civil food resilience gap, the episode asks: could these small but significant businesses be part of the solution to Britain's food security crisis?Presented by Sheila Dillon Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Sheila Dillon is joined by four guests who each have a deep connection with Welsh food and farming for a panel discussion recorded at the 2025 Abergavenny Food Festival. Beca Lyne-Pirkis is a food writer and broadcaster; Patrick Holden is an organic farmer and founder of the Sustainable Food Trust; Carwyn Graves is a Welsh food historian and author; and Sue Pritchard leads the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission. Together, they explore what is currently making Wales's approach to food distinctive — and what lessons it might offer for the future of food across the UK.Presented by Sheila Dillon Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
As sales of matcha continue to boom, Leyla Kazim traces the story of the powdered green tea from centuries-old Japanese tradition to global health trend phenomenon. We look behind the social media videos and headlines to find out more about the reported matcha shortage, how the matcha supply chain is reacting, and ask what might happen next. Also in the programme Leyla learns about some of the misconceptions we have about matcha, including the issues around the term 'ceremonial grade'; we have a report from Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms in Japan about how tea farmers are coping with the sudden boom; and Leyla digs into the health claims about matcha with dietician and scientist at King's College London, Dr Emily Leeming.Presented by Leyla Kazim and produced by Sophie Anton for BBC Audio in Bristol.
Sheila Dillon investigates the growing number of food tours and trails in the UK as consumers show more and more interest in the provenance of what is on their plate. She heads to Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire – a town that boasts the title of Rural Capital Of Food - and joins a walking tour that spans pork pie producers, stilton sellers, a samosa wallah and a prizewinning brewery. Produced by Robin Markwell for BBC Audio in Bristol
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including EMiDORA, holybones, NEM, WOOM, The Family Battenberg, Sydney Minsky Sargeant, Vaarwell, Shayk, SANITY, noxz Pheelz & DaniLeigh, ovajoi, Aimée Fatale, Rail Replacement Bus Service, Freddie Lewis, Jerkcurb, and a new Track of the Week from vegas water taxi.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Jaega Wise heads to the Isle of Man to find out what's driving a growing movement to produce more of the island's own food, and why its approach might matter beyond its shores. She hears about the challenges facing producers, how the fishing industry is adapting, and what it means to work within a UNESCO biosphere. Just 6% of food bought in Manx shops is locally produced — a figure the Manx NFU is campaigning to change. Meanwhile, the Government has announced reforms to primary school meals after discovering half of the food served was ultra-processed, and very little was locally sourced. Contributors: Chris Waller, NOA Bakehouse Sue King, author of "Ham & Eggs and Turtle Soup: A Slice of Manx Culinary History" Jack Emmerson – Sea Fisheries Policy Manager, Isle of Man Government (DEFA) Dr David Beard – Chief Executive, Manx Fish Producers Organisation Elizabeth Townsend and Nick Scarffe, Kerroo Brewing Co Helen Crosbie, Isle of Man Sea Salt Jenny Shepherd and Rawdon Hayne – Isle of Man Charcuterie Sarah Comish, Manx National Farmers' Union (NFU) Shirley Callow, Isle of Man Creamery Daphne Caine, Minister for Education, Sport and Culture, Isle of Man Government Pippa Lovell, Chef, The Laxey Glen. Presented by Jaega Wise Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, including a new Track of the Week by WOOM, and we get to know dream pop superstar-in-the-making Goodnight Louisa!There's also music from British Birds, Fright Years, GANS, Ellur, Jennifer Walton, Nightbus, WHITEHORSE, Euan Blackman, Mên An Tol, Wax Head, and Thandii.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with Silver Gore, Aderyn, TTSSFU, Bug Teeth, Lowbrain, Riot Jazz Brass Band, Monster Florence, Polite Bureaux, Chalk, Lemondaze, Maruja, ugly ozo, Girl Group, FORMER CHAMP, Woodpig, and a new Track of the Week by Ellur.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with Porij, Dubbul O & Tommy P-Nuts, Sorry, Callinsick, Group A.D., LuvCat, Yung Omz, Caolán Austin, and a new Track of the Week from Bug Teeth. Plus there's live highlights from the BBC Introducing Stage at the Reading & Leeds festival courtesy of Girl Group and Charles.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Butter superfan Felicity Cloake asks whether the movement against ultra-processed foods is linked to a recent rise in popularity of her favourite kitchen staple. Her investigations take her to the rich grasslands of the West Country as she visits Wyke Farms, Quicke's and Ivy House Farm Dairy. She looks at how flavoured butter is taking off and finds out more about the tradition of cheesemakers making whey butter.Professor Sarah Berry from King's College London gives advice on how much butter we should be eating as part of a healthy diet and food historian Regina Sexton looks at the relationship between butter and Ireland. Felicity also has a turn at making her own butter using an historic dash churn at The Butter Museum in Cork. Presented by Felicity Cloake Produced in Bristol for BBC Audio by Robin Markwell The programme features a short excerpt of the song "Please Leave My Butter Alone" by Elsie Carlisle.
It's been nearly 50 years since invasive American Signal Crayfish were introduced to the UK, and we still haven't figured out how to get rid of them. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall joins Sheila Dillon to meet a man who believes the way to control their spread is to get more people eating them — but not everyone's convinced. These crustaceans are so invasive that ecologists worry encouraging consumption could lead to further spread. Meanwhile, in parts of the Southern US, crayfish are a beloved delicacy. Sheila heads to a crayfish boil in London to see how that tradition is being recreated here.Presented by Sheila Dillon Produced by Natalie Donovan for BBC Audio in Bristol
Emily Pilbeam presents a mixtape of her personal selection of tracks from BBC Introducing, with Goodnight Louisa, Thandii, She's In Parties, SlowHandClap, Isabel, yas., The Allergies, ADJUA, Bleach Lab, Midnight Rodeo, City Dog, Bella Artois, VERA SACRA, Tom A Smith, Helon Lyon, and a new Track of the Week from Merseyside's Monks.Produced in Salford by BBC Audio for BBC Radio 6 Music.
Sheila Dillon looks into claims that big food companies wield too much influence over government decisions and public health. The episode follows news from the youth-led campaign group BiteBack2030, which says its billboard campaign has been effectively silenced. The group recently organised a mock inquiry in Parliament, involving MPs, to share concerns about how junk food advertising and sponsorship are affecting the health of children in the UK.Sheila also hears from a group of protesters who marched to Downing Street this month, shouting the message “Fight Fake Food.” Organiser Rosalind Rathouse, from the Cookery School on Portland Street, says the public needs to know how the food they're eating is damaging their health. She is calling on everyone to learn to cook this summer. During the march, campaigners delivered a list of wishes to Downing Street, highlighting the changes they'd like to see in food policy.Also featured are Jennifer Richardson from The BMJ, which has been investigating the impact of commercial influence on children's health, and Cathy Cliff from the Soil Association, who submitted a Freedom of Information request to uncover the extent of food industry lobbying and its effect on government policy.Presented by Sheila Dillon Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan
The adventures of Barbara and Tom Good in Surbiton brought self-sufficiency to the small screens of the nation. Fifty years on from the airing of that first episode of The Good Life, Leyla Kazim is about to embark on her own sustainable living dream as she seeks to live off the land when she moves from London to Portugal. So what lessons can she learn from The Goods about food production – whether that's animal husbandry or growing-your-own? And will she succeed when she can't even speak the language? Leyla visits Groundswell, the Regenerative Agriculture Festival, in urgent search of advice. She speaks to Andy Cato from Wildfarmed, Rob Hopkins of the Transition Network and Helen Browning from the Soil Association. She also explores the forest garden of Martin Crawford in Devon as she plans her own food forest.Produced by Robin Markwell for BBC Audio in Bristol.Contains clips of The Good Life from Series 1, Episode 1 "Plough Your Own Furrow", Series 1 Episode 2 "Say Little Hen..." and Series 1 Episode 4 "Pig's Lib"
In this episode, social media chef and queen of potatoes, Poppy O'Toole, explores the world of her favourite ingredient, the Potato. Last year, Poppy appeared on Mastermind, choosing the history of the potato as her specialist subject. Let's just say… it didn't quite go to plan. So now, she's joining the team at The Food Programme to fill in the gaps in her knowledge.Along the way, she meets historian Professor Rebecca Earle from the University of Warwick, who explains how potatoes travelled from the Andes to Europe. She visits Lima, a Peruvian restaurant in London, where she speaks with sous chef William Coz about how potatoes remain central to Peruvian cuisine. Dr Stef de Haan from the International Potato Center shares how Peru continues to cultivate thousands of potato varieties.In Suffolk, Poppy visits James Foskett's farm to discover how he grows both organic and conventional potatoes. And she speaks with Dr Jean Beagle Ristaino—known by some as “the Sherlock of Spuds”—about her work investigating the pathogen behind the Irish Potato Famine.The programme includes archive from Mastermind which is co-produced for BBC 2 by Hindsight and Hat Trick.Presented by Poppy O'Toole Produced for BBC Audio in Bristol by Natalie Donovan