The Northern Guide to Happiness TheNorthernGuideToHappiness

This week’s episode is with Bridie Jackson who is a musician, composer and creative practitioner based here in the North East. It was lovely to talk to Bridie about her process of uncovering personal stories and her approach to co-production with communities as well as what inspires her when she’s writing her music.

This week we talk to Si Beckwith who is a stand up comic and is involved in Felt Nowt, a community interest company which is run by comedians for comedy fans. He tells us a bit more about what’s involved in the interview. He is also involved in a new North East based podcast in collaboration with Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums which looks explores the heritage of North East comedy and some of the forgotten faces and untold stories of North East comedians.

For our 40th episode in the Northern Guide series we talk to Kelly Coates this week who founded Projects4Change, a youth project based in Cowgate in Newcastle. Projects4Change aims to help provide better opportunities for young people. It’s a bit of under statement to say that young people have had a particularly challenging time over the last few years so we talked a little bit about that, happy (and sad moments) at the project, Betty's hut and what brings Kelly happiness and what it means to her.

It was an absolute pleasure to talk to Ed Waugh this week. Ed is a North East playwright who along with his writing partner Trevor Wood has written a number of highly successful plays starting with Good to firm in 2002, to Waiting for Gateaux in 2005, Carrying David and Alf Ramsey Knew my Grandfather. His most recent work is Wor Bella, a story all about the Blyth Spartans football player Bella Reay and the WW1 Munitionettes.

This week we are joined by Adam Goldwater. Adam talks to us about the importance of sense of place to his happiness and wellbeing. We talk about how as a child he used to ask his dad “Can we go somewhere old?” and how that love of exploring old buildings and sites across the region has continued into adulthood.

This week we talk to a Northern legend; Rod Clements. Rod is best known as a member of Lindisfarne. He wrote their first hit, "Meet me on the Corner" (which won him an Ivor Novello Award!). He has also released some amazing solo work over the years as well as having played with a number of other Folk music greats. He's a Northern chap having been born and raised in North Shields, he's a generally all round decent, intelligent, articulate and brilliant human being.