Somerset Stories

Our guests for the final episode of this season are Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt, landscape designers dedicated to nature and ecological restoration. Having partnered together for many years, their philosophy embraces creating spaces that provide tranquility for people, and homes for wildlife. Long term Somerset residents, they were selected to work with Piet Oudolf to create one of the county's most well-known, and transformative gardens at Hauser & Wirth in Bruton. More recently, their first ever garden at the Chelsea Flower Show - which put the spotlight on beavers in rewilding Britain - won the award for Best Show Garden.

Somerset Stories gets experimental... our guest this week is Colleen Bower, Director of a new annual science festival launching in May.... Somerscience brings together 65 organisations from around the region to showcase and celebrate the amazing world of science, technology, engineering, and maths. Colleen's extensive experience in the education industry, as well as her natural curiosity, are vital to spearheading this event - which aims to connect local people in an engaging way with some of the innovative, fun, and pioneering developments taking place on our doorstep. What's more, this isn't her first festival of this kind - she developed Malta's first large-scale science festival in the Gozo citadel. We met, with days to go before the event and discussed the critical role of STEM in education, and a range of other great topics.

Our guest this week is at the forefront of a revival in the ancient craft of blacksmithing. Alex Pole has been forging creations from metal for over 30 years, and - for the best part of a decade, his focus has been on developing high end ironware for professional and amateur chefs around the world. Alex's dedication to using traditional methods to create practical but beautiful products has won him many fans and followers. In recent years, he's collaborated with chefs such as Nathan Outlaw and Thomasina Myers to write "The Forge Kitchen Cookbook". His latest book, simply titled "Blacksmith", brings to life the history and folklore of life in the trade throughout the ages.

Our guest this week is Charlotte Howell-Jones, a climate campaigner trying to change the world one story at a time. Charlotte's work primarily focuses on creating change and building the climate movement through storytelling, communications and content. A Somerset resident for over 20 years, she is passionate about helping others make an emotional connection with nature. When not busy collaborating with organisations like DearTomorrow and Parents For Future UK, she will most likely be found foraging or nurturing her veg patch with two muddy children. 

Somerset Stories takes on a blue hue this week as we meet Nick Hounsfield, creator of The Wave - the UK's first inland surfing lake - located just outside Bristol. Driven by a passion to help people live healthier lives, more connected to nature, Nick's vision is more than a decade in the making, opening to the public in 2019. As a well as surfing being a great sport, The Wave aims to bring people into contact with water, nature, and each other, in order to create a community atmosphere which allows people to find their own calm and enjoyment in and around the lake.

As a mother of identical triplets, this week's guest is literally one in 200 million! After a history of setback and pregnancy complications, Rosie Phelps-Goggin has truly defied the odds, and conventional thinking. Born and raised in Somerset, you can now find Rosie, documenting and sharing her family's highlights in social media, where the adventures of Ava, Connie, Evie, and their big sister Gabriella have a loyal and supportive following of thousands. We met earlier this month, and shared Rosie's memories and thoughts on some personal and poignant topics. As this is such a deeply personal and emotive topic, I feel the need to say that this episode does contain some discussion of pregnancy loss, but Rosie shares her story in a way which is honest and helpful to others who may be going through similar challenges.

Somerset Stories serves up a treat, as we meet the Somerset born chef who has opened critically acclaimed restaurants in London, and has made a remarkable return to his Westcountry roots with the opening of Holm in South Petherton. Nicholas Balfe brings a love for seasonality and local produce to the restaurant, which has charmed locals and visitors alike. Holm is inspired by nature and its surroundings, and the team is driven by provenance, sustainability and warm hospitality.Nicholas is also a firm believer in creating a progressive team environment.  Challenging the legacy that the food and drink industry has had in the past. We met in February 2023 and recorded our conversation on site at Holm.

Our guest this week is a content creator who is a campaigner for pro-age, healthy living, and all-round positivity. Julie - who goes by the social media title: The Fiftyist uses her platform to speak about the pressures, challenges, and biases against age and aging in society. She's an advocate for natural products in beauty and well-being. And after choosing to stop dying her hair, allowing it to transition to its natural silver colour, she one of a growing number of women who - in a space which has previously attracted negativity - are finding a rich vein of confidence and what Julie likes to call sass

It's been a while, but we finally talk about cheddar, with someone whose family have been dairy farmers in Somerset for generations. Rich Clothier is the managing director of Wyke Farms - and has been a key part in taking this family business from local producer, to one of the largest independent cheese makers in the UK producing over 16,000 tonnes of Cheddar per year to the same 160-year-old recipe. What's more, Rich has overseen a long-term strategy to make farming and production more sustainable at Wyke, with a mission to be a net positive business. We met back in January of this year and talked about a really wide range of topics that are at the front of mind in rural and agricultural life.

Claire Calvert has forged an amazing career with the Royal Ballet Company, dancing some of the most prestigious roles on one of the world's greatest ballet stages. She was born in Bath and grew up learning to dance in the area. Making the decision as a teenager to join White Lodge, the Royal Ballet's boarding school in London, Claire hasn't looked back, and has since become a First Soloist with the company, dancing major roles in productions of Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and many more. We met earlier this month in London and talked about all aspects of life as a professional dancer, the mental and emotional elements of performing, and the resilience of coming back from injury.

Somerset Stories gets fired up this week, as our guests bring a slice of South America to the Somerset countryside. Tom Bray and Ana Ortiz bring together a love of fresh, locally sourced ingredients with the Latin American tradition of asado - a social and theatrical style of cooking over fire. Born in the Galapagos Islands, Ana is a chef who has cooked at some of the regions most prestigious restaurants, while Tom is the man behind Country Fire Kitchen, creating bespoke barbecue kit for aspiring asadors. Based in Wincanton, their passions and business combine with the area's exceptional food culture to produce truly inspiring cooking that's an event in itself.

This week's guest grew up visiting grandparents in the shadow of Cadbury Castle, and developed a lifelong connection with the area. Zara D'Abo has a life story which covers TV production, travel in East Africa, and working with local cheesemakers. She has now settled in Frome, which she is the founder of Acre and Holt, a tweed work and gardenwear business which puts its emphasis on sustainability, and british production. Zara and I spoke in June of 2022, so there may be a few references that are a little dated. Even so, with so much to cover, there should be something for everyone in what made for a wide ranging conversation.

This week's guest is the UK's #1 motivational business speaker - Brad Burton. Born in Salford, Manchester, a series of big moments, and even bigger decisions led Brad to leave the North West as a young adult, and start his life again in Somerset. It's safe to say a lot has changed since then, and these days, you'll find him writing books, and speaking to business owners and big conferences, where his fresh, positive message is one that stands out amongst the buttoned-down corporate community.

My guest for our first podcast of the season is the former punk rock mayor of Frome, Andy Wrintmore. Andy's involvement in local politics embodies the town's well-documented independent and rebellious streak. But beyond just making great headlines for the likes of the New York Times, Kerrang, and The Sun, his connection and compassion for Frome mean that for him, it's been much more than a PR win. Andy's also a musician, a collector, and has his own podcast, The Giant Pod - all of which we cover in our chat that took place in December of 2022.

This year’s Christmas Special has an amazing selection of five guests from all corners of the county, each with their own unique perspective on the festive season. We’re covering all elements of the Christmas celebration, from food and drink to music and decoration. So now’s the time to put on the mulled cider, and listen to my yuletide conversation with folk singer Cara Dillon, bake-off legend Val Stones, expert glass blower Will Shakspeare, from Thatcher’s cider – Eleanor Thatcher, and Jemima Marks, from the 100% organic Coombe Farm.

Over the last 14 weeks, we've shared the stories of some of the inspiring, creative, and successful individuals and families that make this beautiful county their home. And, in this season finale, we’re going to do something a little different. I’ll be spending some time with our very first podcast guest – musician Tom Corneill. We’ll be catching up on what’s keeping him busy, but we’ll also be turning the spotlight on the last 18 months of Somerset Stories, considering some of the highlights, challenges, and ambitions. And, we’ll be revealing the top ten most popular episodes so far, so stick around to find out if your favourite is among the top spots. And, for the last time, we’ll be playing Somerset Who’s Who, the mystery identity game based on people with a Somerset Connection.

This week, Somerset Stories meets Dr Andrew Tressider, from the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, and co-host of the Somerset Emotional Well-being podcast. Growing up in the county, Andrew has spent the vast majority of his professional life both as a GP for the community in Chard, and also as an advocate of the health of healthcare professionals. At the start of the pandemic, he launched the podcast to offer support and discussion to those facing challenging times in their emotional and mental health. He’s also a champion of the role of nature in our well-being – championing the benefits of immersing ourselves in the natural world around us.

Somerset Stories goes glam, with the current Mrs Somerset Galaxy – Dionne John As an advocate and campaigner for heart health awareness, Dionne has represented Somerset at multiple pageants over the last five years, and has used her position to raise awareness and funds for local causes and cancer charities. She’s due to compete at the UK final at the end of November, and we chatted earlier this month about her journey, her charity work, and her own family life.

This week we meet Cindi and Chas Barnstable, the mother and daughter duo at the head of Somerset leather goods institution, Owen Barry. Following in the heritage and footsteps of generations of leather specialists in their family Cindi and Chas continue to produce top quality goods for an international market. As a member of Leather UK, The trade association for the UK leather industry – they’ve also been featured in a recent publication – The Art of Leather. We chatted last month, and talked about keeping things in the family, and the history of tanning and leather goods production in Somerset. We also have a cracking game of Somerset who’s who, right at the end of the podcast, so make sure you stick around for that…

Freya Mitton is an independent art dealer, with a specialism in 20th Century British Art. Having spent a decade in charge of the Modern British sales department at Sotheby’s in London, Freya works from her home on the edge of the Mendips. Exhibiting at art fairs around the country, Her aim is to sell great quality paintings by established artists, and she is passionate about helping clients find and acquire art works which they can enjoy in their homes and lives.