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14. The Art of Connection: Sara Philpot in conversation
16:20||Season 1, Ep. 14Welcome back to the podcast. Today, I'm delighted to be chatting with Mid Wales artist Sara Philpot here in the backyard.Sara is a painter, printmaker and weaver whose work is exhibited throughout Britain. Living and working in Mid Wales, her art explores the botanical and the human. Alongside her painting practice, Sara is an accomplished printmaker who has frequently collaborates with poets and writers. Her work with renowned private presses including Gwasg Gregynog and the Old Stile Press features in many national collections. Recently, Sara moved into an old weaver's cottage, adding another thread to a lifelong connection with traditional craft and making. It's a move that feels especially fitting for an artist whose work is rooted in stories, materials and the connections between people, place and nature.In our conversation, we learn about the inspirations behind her work, and how the landscapes and stories of Wales continue to influence her artistic vision. So settle in and enjoy my conversation with Sara Philpot.
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13. More than a corner shop
16:28||Season 1, Ep. 13Tucked away on Canal Road in the heart of Newtown, Canal Road Stores might look like a modest corner shop from the outside, but step through the door and you’ll discover a treasure trove of products from around the world. I recently sat down with Muralee and Devika, the husband and wife team behind the business, who have called Newtown home for the past 36 years after originally arriving from Sri Lanka. Alongside running the shop, they also operate UStrike, the hugely popular Mid Wales tourist attraction based in the old Agricultural House building in Newtown. Passionate about food, nutrition, and cooking, the couple have recently introduced an exciting range of Asian ingredients and speciality products to their store, offering customers not only something different, but also friendly advice and inspiration on how to cook with ingredients many people may never have encountered before.
12. Glenys: Nothing Wasted
20:27||Season 1, Ep. 12Welcome to Nothing Wasted, a heartfelt conversation with Glenys about growing up in post-war Britain, raising six children, building a life through hard work, and finding peace in Mid Wales. From back-to-back houses in Stockport to running shops, surviving on very little, and learning to read later in life, this is a story full of resilience, humour, honesty, and warmth.
11. Karl Wigley: From Rock Bottom to Lifeline. Building a Community That Heals
11:23||Season 1, Ep. 11In today’s episode, I sit down with Karl Wigley from Caersws, who’s recently been featured in the local press, to talk about the powerful well-being group he founded after his own struggles with mental health and serious illness. What began in late 2024 as a small effort to support friends has grown into a vital community network, bringing people together each week for walks, conversations, and workshops, while also offering support to those in crisis. Karl shares how his personal journey from hitting rock bottom to finding purpose helping others has shaped his mission to create a space where people can move beyond just surviving and start truly thriving.
10. Ivy Evans: Tales from the Golden Mile in Rural Wales
23:56||Season 1, Ep. 10Welcome to the podcast. Today, I’m on the Golden Mile in rural Wales, near Cefn Coch, where I’m speaking with the wonderfully warm and inspiring Ivy Evans. Ivy has lived in the farmhouse for over seventy years. Her garden is brimming with flowers and unusual plants, and countless bird boxes that invite wildlife to thrive all around her. Ivy has a deep love and understanding of nature, animals & gardening. She brings her passion indoors too, crafting beautiful flower arrangements to gift to others.Ivy’s spark shines through, she’s full of energy, laughter, and has a quietly mischievous sense of humour.Join me as we step into Ivy’s world on the Golden Mile.
9. Norman Woodcock: From Tree-Top Revision to Bus-Stop Romance: 64 Years of Love, Life, and Little Coincidences
22:17||Season 1, Ep. 9From growing up in a South Wales mining village, to teaching rural science in Mid Wales, Norman Woodcock's life was shaped by hard work, resilience, and unexpected turns. But at the heart of it all is something even more enduring. It began with a glance at a young redhead on a bus, a simple introduction, and a first date when she was just 17 and he was 19. From those modest beginnings grew a partnership that has lasted a lifetime.This is a story of changing times, of life in rural Wales, and above all, of a marriage that has stood strong for 64 years.
8. Bob Davey: From Park Street to the High Seas and Back Again
22:06||Season 1, Ep. 8Today we’re stepping back nearly 82 years. Our guest Bob Davey grew up on Park Street, Newtown and was one of the first families to move into the brand new council houses of Garth Owen at aged 5. His life went from skiffle bands and teenage gigs at the Pavilion…to living in Bermuda, sailing around the world, and even serving as Mayor of Newtown on his return.Bob recalls his job delivering groceries up almost impossible hills, his Mothers famous Welsh craft shop, and a life that’s taken him from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica—before bringing him right back home again to Mid Wales. Settle in, and join us for stories of music, markets, sailing, and the changing face of Newtown… all from a man who says if he could do it again, he’d do exactly the same.