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 provid

S5E13 Colleen Bower

Apr 22nd, 2023 53m 5s

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 amazin

S5E12 Alex Pole

Apr 15th, 2023 58m 18s

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 ironwa

S5E11 Charlotte Howell-Jones

Apr 8th, 2023 43m 10s

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

S5E10 Nick Hounsfield

Apr 1st, 2023 58m 25s

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 natur

S5E9 Rosie Phelps-Goggin

Mar 25th, 2023 1h 3m

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,

S5E8 Nicholas Balfe

Mar 18th, 2023 57m 5s

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 Bal

S5E7 Julie - The Fiftyist

Mar 11th, 2023 57m 32s

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

S5E6 Rich Clothier

Mar 4th, 2023 55m 8s

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 f

S5E5 Claire Calvert

Feb 25th, 2023 48m 3s

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 decis

S5E4 Tom Bray and Ana Ortiz

Feb 18th, 2023 48m 27s

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 -

S5E3 Zara D'Abo

Feb 11th, 2023 53m 44s

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 cheesemake

S5E2 Brad Burton

Feb 4th, 2023 51m 41s

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 Somerse

S5E1 Andy Wrintmore

Jan 28th, 2023 1h 8m

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 headli

S4E15 Christmas Special

Dec 18th, 2021 1h 10m

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

S4E14 Somerset Stories Retrospective, with Tom Corneill

Dec 4th, 2021 1h 1m

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.

S4E13 Dr. Andrew Tressider

Nov 27th, 2021 1h 6m

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 li

Bonus

Somerset Shorts: 3 - Gavin Pretor-Pinney

Nov 20th, 2021 9m 50s

In this edition of our mini-podcast, we revisit an interview from earlier this season, where Gavin Pretor-Pinney, founder of the Cloud Appreciation Society successfully campaigned to have a new type of cloud classified by the World Meteorologic

S4E12 Dionne John

Nov 13th, 2021 40m 30s

Somerset Stories goes glam, with the current Mrs Somerset Galaxy – Dionne JohnAs 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

S4E11 Cindi & Chas Barnstable

Nov 6th, 2021 46m 22s

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

S4E10 Freya Mitton

Oct 30th, 2021 49m 58s

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. Exhib

S4E9 Mike Dean

Oct 23rd, 2021 51m 29s

Our guest this week has made a career out of turning his own knowledge and passion for history into relatable, human stories – first as a teacher, then as a tour guide, and finally, as an author. Mike Dean has written books about Bath, and Some

S4E8 Caroline Corr

Oct 16th, 2021 48m 43s

A very special guest for the podcast's 50th episode is Caroline Corr, a member of Ireland’s most famous musical family, and one quarter of the band that shares their name - The Corrs. Combining traditional folk music with popular and rock influ

S4E7 Victoria Humphries

Oct 9th, 2021 58m 43s

We reach the half way point in Season 4, bringing you an interview with polar adventurer Victoria Humphries. As part of the first ever all-female expedition to the North Pole, Victoria went through staggering physical and mental endurance, as w

S4E6 Jemma Warren

Oct 2nd, 2021 52m 8s

As we approach the traditional carnival season, my guest this week has been part Vagabonds, of one of the county’s well known clubs from a young age. Jemma Warren has also spent over ten years as one of the minority of Somerset’s female lorry d