Assa Marra

Catherine Williamson
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Assa Marra: “A Love Letter to West Cumbria and the Legend I Married” 18th December 2024 marked 16 incredible years since I met my husband, madcap adventurer and total legend, John Williamson. To celebrate this milestone, I created Assa Marra - a podcast series that is as much a tribute to him as it is to the place we both hold so dear: West Cumbria. It has grown to 16 episodes, with a couple more due before the end of 2025. West Cumbria has been the backdrop to our love story. Its rugged landscapes, rich history, and incredible people mirror the qualities I adore in him: strength, humour, indomitable nature, and an unstoppable spirit. Over the years, we’ve found inspiration in the stories of this county’s remarkable characters, from legends like Josh Naylor to the everyday heroes whose contributions have gone unnoticed. Through Assa Marra, I weave our love story with the soul of West Cumbria. These 10 episodes are deeply personal, recounting not only the moments that have defined our relationship but also the beauty of the people and places that have been part of our journey. Assa Marra blends highlights from my previous podcast, Gobsmacked!, with brand-new radio interviews, creating a unique tapestry of stories that celebrate both our personal journey and the vibrant spirit of West Cumbria. As the creator of Gobsmacked! - a podcast loved in 147 countries to date - I’m thrilled to use this platform to bring West Cumbria’s charm, humour, and spirit to a global audience. Above all, Assa Marra is my gift to John: a celebration of the life we’ve built together and the magical county that continues to inspire us. Our West Cumbrian community is being heard loud and clear in over 40 countries, celebrating and amplifying the wonderful people around us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 30 JAN

    Episode 21: Mark Telford

    This episode features Mark Telford, CEO of Forth Engineering. No silver spoons. No silken cushion. Picking coal off the beach to keep the house warm. Welding bikes together just to have a way of getting about. That’s what shaped him. Mark is a pragmatist. An understated man. He was coaxed into the podcast studio because this chap doesn’t crave attention. BUT being a leader and figurehead means - showing up and shining a light, even when you would rather stay out of it. West Cumbria is often described as a mono-employer economy. Sellafield looms large upon the landscape and local economy. For years, there has been an expectation of a job for life. When that certainty went, the rug pulled from under him, Mark didn’t make a fuss about it. Necessity is the mother of invention. He rolled his sleeves up saw an opportunity and built something else. This episode looks at responsibility. At giving back. At fundraising. At giving people a chance. Sometimes that’s a hand up. Sometimes a hand out. Sometimes it’s simply doing what needs doing, without shouting about it. Mark Telford is a pillar of his community, not because he sets out to be, but because he understands where he’s from. He knows this place. He belongs to it. And that sense of belonging shapes how he leads, how he gives back, and how he shows up. This is a conversation about a man, his choices, and a kind of leadership that grows quietly from place, loyalty, and responsibility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min

  2. 18/12/2025

    Episode 20: Frankie McMillan

    This is our one-year anniversary episode of Assa Marra, and it is here to delight you because it’s a corker An uplifting, joyful, laugh-out-loud conversation from start to finish. I give you nine-year-old Frankie McMillan. In his short life so far, Frankie has already walked nearly 900 mountains, including some of the biggest and most iconic. He has travelled the world, reached Everest Base Camp, and somehow remains the most chirpy, curious, and grounded young human you could ever hope to meet. Frankie is currently preparing for his 10 x 10 challenge, climbing the highest peak in ten European countries. Frankie moves the mountains and the mountains move Frankie. As you are prepping your turkey, bicarbing your sprouts on Christmas Day, I humbly suggest you have Frankie playing in the background. His optimism is infectious, his energy irresistible, and the trajectory of his star feels inevitable. Frankie receives voice messages from Bear Grylls. Of course he does. He may well be among the greats one day, but for now we meet him right here, at the start. And alongside Frankie, this becomes a podcast within a podcast, as we also meet his wonderful mum, Basia McMillan, who has been on his shoulder and by his side every step of the way. Anyone who is a parent will understand what that takes, encouraging a child to reach full potential while quietly managing your own fear. So here it is, our Christmas special. Frankie McMillan. And if you can, do donate to this stellar young chap's GiveStar page: https://givestar.io/gs/10-countries-10-highest-peaks-one-10-year-old Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min

  3. 01/12/2025

    Episode 19: Julieanne Mitchell

    Julieanne Mitchell. A West Cumbrian woman with an undeniable West Cumbrian voice. Speaking into a subject many people still tiptoe around or consigned to the 80s . Julieanne Mitchell was diagnosed with HIV in her twenties, more than two decades ago. She was seriously unwell, and the diagnosis took so much longer because she did not match the profile. Not the expected picture. Not the stereotype. And that tells you everything about how silence and assumptions still work. But here she is candid, forthright and deeply human. Speaking pragmatically yet sensitively about something most people think belongs to another decade. It does not. Numbers are still growing. And most of us may have never knowingly spoken to anyone who is HIV positive. That is why this episode goes out on World AIDS Day. Because the need for continued awareness is vital. Julieanne’s message is a country mile away from fear-laden adverts of the 80s that haunted us rather than informed us. Julieanne’s interview cuts through the awkwardness and fear - better still, it will leave you better informed and very endeared to this warm, honest and refreshingly honest woman. We give you the courageous and supremely candid Julieanne Mitchell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    56 min

  4. 17/11/2025

    Episode 18: Sonny Smith

    Blimey, what a bright and articulate chap is Sonny Smith. One minute we are talking AI, the next minute he is unpacking lupus, then he is off reflecting on Marcus Aurelius or Notre-Dame. It surprises you in the best way. He’s a humble chap with a powerful intellect who thinks deeply because life pushed him that way. Sonny is Harrington born and bred. A West Cumbrian with a hidden illness that has shaped more of his life than anyone would guess at first glance. Lupus is no small thing. It is unpredictable and unforgiving, and it meant COVID was a real threat. So while Rishi was dishing out his Eat Out enticements and everyone was piling back into the noise, Sonny stayed inside. Same view. Same chair. Same caution. Not because he was nervous. Because he had to be. That long stretch of quiet did something to him. It slowed him down in a way he never asked for, but it opened something too. He read. He wrote. He thought his way through days that felt stuck. Out of that came Where the Light Comes In, a book that feels like someone thinking out loud and refusing to pretend everything is tidy. And now he is turning that lived reality into his doctorate. He is trying to crack how AI enhanced telehealth might actually work for West Cumbria. Not on paper. In real homes. In places with patchy signal. In families who cannot drive miles for a short appointment. And here is the thing. Sonny has a depth that arrived early, but he is still young. He wants what any young lad wants. That mix makes him compelling. You feel the old soul and the young man at the same time. Yours brains going to get a Reet good workout Marra Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    44 min

  5. 03/11/2025

    Episode 17: Marc Goodwin

    Hear ye, Hear ye marra! Our next guest Marc Goodwin is a Tigger not an Eeyore. He is the Town Crier, the beautiful collision of theatre and tradition. He is also a ninja natural connector who is blindingly brilliant at pulling people together. West Cumbria feels brighter more hope filled when he is about. This fine fella is warm, funny, thoroughly decent, and the role in his hands becomes something bigger, the true embodiment of centuries of tradition with a hint of mischief. Marc is about to step on stage as King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar. Let me say it plainly, he is as far from a despot as you can imagine. If Herod had Marc’s heart, we would be telling a different story. This conversation is about family and love. It also touches the tender place of grief, as Marc speaks with care about losing his mum. Settle in Marra. This one feels very close to home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    45 min

  6. 29/09/2025

    Episode 16: Emma Williamson

    Emma Williamson lived through a childhood witnessing domestic violence, chaos, and addiction. When the challenges came, they weren’t small ones — and it’s true to say, when it’s bad anywhere else, it’s extra bad in West Cumbria. The experience is amplified. When it’s dark here, it’s dark. When it’s light, it’s light. For every ounce of darkness Emma endured, she’s channelled it back tenfold into light. From her own addiction struggles to that solitary moment where she chose radical change, she has turned pain into power. From not being able to put a full stop in a sentence, to earning a master’s degree, she’s taken bitter beginnings and transformed them into a force for good. Now, she pours that resilience into making a difference for young people in the care system — living proof that no matter how dark it gets, light can return, and when it does, it shines brighter than ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min

  7. 13/08/2025

    Episode 15: Rachel Holliday

    Rachel Holliday – Firestarter, Problem-Solver, Community Builder By 20, Rachel Holliday had crammed in more than most people manage in a lifetime – the rough, the raw, and the downright chaotic. Sofa-surfing. Addicted. Homeless. The kind of life that could have gone one way and stayed there. But Rachel doesn’t do standing still. Motherhood lit the fuse. Family backed her all the way. She’s blasted out of that old life and now she’s pulling others with her – running Calderwood House in Egremont, turning rock bottoms into fresh starts. She’s unstoppable, unmissable, impossible to ignore – a ball of charisma and drive, whirling through your Spotify feed with a story that’ll have you hooked from the first word. https://www.ttcwestcumbria.org/donate/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min

  8. 01/07/2025

    Episode 14: Christine Smeaton

    Originally from the North East, Christine Smeaton made West Cumbria her home at 21. But it wasn’t until her late 60s — facing homelessness and uncertainty — that her most extraordinary chapter began. When Christine walked through the doors of Calderwood House in Egremont, she wasn’t just seeking shelter. She was choosing a new life. Now in her late 70s, she’s a self-taught musician, playing multiple instruments, helping refugees, and serving as a trustee for a local charity. Her faith runs deep. Her presence is calm. And her story is a masterclass in courage, reinvention, and hope. 🎙️ This is a story of starting over, standing tall, and shining brightly — no matter what age you are. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    42 min
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About

Assa Marra: “A Love Letter to West Cumbria and the Legend I Married” 18th December 2024 marked 16 incredible years since I met my husband, madcap adventurer and total legend, John Williamson. To celebrate this milestone, I created Assa Marra - a podcast series that is as much a tribute to him as it is to the place we both hold so dear: West Cumbria. It has grown to 16 episodes, with a couple more due before the end of 2025. West Cumbria has been the backdrop to our love story. Its rugged landscapes, rich history, and incredible people mirror the qualities I adore in him: strength, humour, indomitable nature, and an unstoppable spirit. Over the years, we’ve found inspiration in the stories of this county’s remarkable characters, from legends like Josh Naylor to the everyday heroes whose contributions have gone unnoticed. Through Assa Marra, I weave our love story with the soul of West Cumbria. These 10 episodes are deeply personal, recounting not only the moments that have defined our relationship but also the beauty of the people and places that have been part of our journey. Assa Marra blends highlights from my previous podcast, Gobsmacked!, with brand-new radio interviews, creating a unique tapestry of stories that celebrate both our personal journey and the vibrant spirit of West Cumbria. As the creator of Gobsmacked! - a podcast loved in 147 countries to date - I’m thrilled to use this platform to bring West Cumbria’s charm, humour, and spirit to a global audience. Above all, Assa Marra is my gift to John: a celebration of the life we’ve built together and the magical county that continues to inspire us. Our West Cumbrian community is being heard loud and clear in over 40 countries, celebrating and amplifying the wonderful people around us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Catherine Williamson
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Catherine Williamson
  • Show Website
    Assa Marra