The Northern Rose Podcast

A Northern Rose podcast

We have a mixture of approaches to our episodes - from in-person interviews to live on-the-ground reporting and clear explanations of political theory, episodes may change but our commitment to our editorial values remains the same. If you would like to support the podcast, you can subscribe to our email list. It's free. www.thenorthernrose.com

  1. Apr 1

    What Makes an Activist? Zoe’s Story

    In This Episode We sit down with Zoe, a local climate activist who has been arrested multiple times for taking part in protests. We explore what first motivated her to become an activist, what keeps her going despite the personal risks, and how she is trying to raise attention to the climate crisis. Zoe speaks about the philosophy behind her actions - from moral responsibility and urgency to the belief that ordinary people can challenge powerful institutions. She also reflects on the consequences of protest and the experience of arrest. What Else Have We Been Doing? Henry North Since covering the Gorton & Denton by-election, we’ve continued to cover union events and industrial action across the city alongside spinning several plates journalism related and not. We’ve covered what looks like a case of Union busting at the iconic Refuge bar in Manchester (more about this in the future), the Together Alliance march in London last Saturday and a strike over the last minute pull out of pay rise and back pay by NHS management. The behaviour is unprecedented and it’s hard to believe that the pay rise stopped was from Band 2 to Band 3 which is a difference of £2,204 from £25,272 to £27,476 for 11 employees. Kevin Corran, the Unison representative at the picket line told us that managers had spent more on a review of the pay agreement than they would have spent on the agreement itself - a frustrating situation. It’s a lot to keep up with and to get videos as we publish them, we’d appreciate it if you could subscribe to our YouTube channel and if you like a video… please give it a like. It helps push us in the algorithm and reach new audiences. Adam’s also been busy speaking at conferences. A couple of weeks ago he was in Dublin where he won an award for the best overall paper and - at the time of writing - is in Oxford for another conference where he’s given a speech. What’s Coming Up? We’re going to need the help in the algorithm too because we recorded a podcast episode last week about the many problems of social media and how they can censor the news that we consume. Adam talks about how he’s been at the Sky Sports campus in Brentford with a team of academics collecting data on the harms of social media - it’s an interesting chat but unlikely to be amplified by the platforms we publish on. This Easter weekend we’ll be publishing an feature on the 30th anniversary of the restoration project at the Manchester Monastery - dubbed Manchester’s Taj Mahal. It’s a great story, one of coincidence and luck but underpinned by hard work and dedication. Excitingly we’ve also set up The Northern Rose shop. I’m currently in the process of putting it all together but soon you’ll be able to find bucket hats, beanies, hoodies and mugs on there. Once again, thank you for your continued to support. As we close in on 500 subscribers on YouTube I’m very proud of the following we have achieved and the news we have provided. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

    1h 6m
  2. Jan 7

    Why Do Women Runners Face Abuse? - Findings from New UK Study

    Drawing on findings from their study, the conversation explores how harassment, intimidation and violence shape women’s experiences of public space, exercise and safety.We discuss what the data reveals about the scale and normalisation of abuse and why responsibility is so often placed on women to adapt their behaviour rather than on men to change. The episode also looks at the structural factors behind the problem and what meaningful change could look like.The discussion closes with a reflection on why the researchers undertook this work in the first place, and how academia can be used not just to study injustice, but to challenge it.This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in gender equality, public safety, women’s sport, and the role of research in driving social change.Links mentioned in the podcast:- The Abuse Of Women Runners: Perceptions, Fears and Experiences: https://www.n8prp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/315/2024/03/N8-Final-Report_Abuse-of-women-runners-project-final.pdf- JogOn: https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/jogon- VAWG (Violence Against Women & Girls) strategy to better protect children from misogyny and abuse: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vawg-strategy-to-better-protect-children-from-misogyny-and-abuseComments have been turned off by request, but if you would like to get in touch with us, please contact: thenorthernrosenews@gmail.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

    51 min
  3. 11/18/2025

    The Reality We Found Reporting in Manchester

    In this episode, we reflect on several months of reporting across Manchester — from the city’s escalating mental health care crisis to the growing wave of industrial action from TfGM workers and UCU staff. What we’ve seen on the ground paints a picture of services pushed to breaking point after years of austerity, understaffing, and below-inflation pay offers that have left public-sector workers feeling ignored and undervalued.We talk through how these pressures collide: overstretched community mental health teams, frontline NHS workers describing unmanageable caseloads, strikes emerging out of desperation rather than choice, and residents navigating the consequences of long-term cuts. Alongside this, we examine how groups such as Reform UK are attempting to capitalise on the situation with narratives that promise simple answers but rarely offer real solutions.This conversation explores the human impact behind the headlines - the workers fighting for safe conditions, the communities filling gaps left by the state, and the political climate that shapes life in Manchester today. It’s an honest look at what happens when national decisions hit local services, and why understanding these connections matters.If you value independent reporting on regional politics and public services, liking, commenting, and subscribing helps us reach more people and continue covering stories that often go overlooked. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

    52 min
  4. The Women Fighting Back Against The Far-Right

    11/03/2025

    The Women Fighting Back Against The Far-Right

    The #SomeoneIKnew campaign — a collective of women fighting back against the weaponisation of gender-based violence to target trans people and refugees. Recorded at The World Transformed Festival, this honest and reflective conversation explores mental health, adolescence, and how young people can be drawn into far-right narratives. Dinah and Adele share what they would say to a teenage boy who reminds them of those early experiences, and how they continue to challenge abusive far-right activists through solidarity, compassion, and education. If you want to support independent, local journalism, please like our videos and subscribe to our channel - it helps the algorithm recommend more likeminded content. It goes a long way. Thank you for watching. Links to Someone I Knew: * SomeoneIKnew Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/someoneiknew_campaign?igsh=YWRvYzUyem9pbHRx SomeoneIKnew * WhatsApp channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/H30u5XhyPBxFZuJGgCVlwO Helpful links: * Rape Crisis England & Wales. 24/7 helpline and local centres. 0808 500 2222 * Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02 * Survivors’ Trust: Support and signposting. www.thesurvivorstrust.org * Refuge: 24/7 national domestic abuse / sexual violence helpline. 0808 2000 247 * Galop: Support for LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence. 0800 999 5428 * Survivors UK: For male and non-binary survivors of sexual violence. Text 020 3322 1860 * Childline: For under-19s. 0800 1111 Samaritans: 24/7 mental health support. Tel: 116 123 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

    57 min

About

We have a mixture of approaches to our episodes - from in-person interviews to live on-the-ground reporting and clear explanations of political theory, episodes may change but our commitment to our editorial values remains the same. If you would like to support the podcast, you can subscribe to our email list. It's free. www.thenorthernrose.com