Longtime Ago People

M I L E S

In a world where family connections shape us, stories bridge generations. Many of us carry cherished memories of those who touched our lives, which I think deserve to be shared.Each episode I hope will feature guests recounting touching, funny, and inspiring memories, celebrating the impact these individuals had on their lives. I aim to beautifully remember loved ones, offering listeners nostalgia, warmth, and connection.  I am looking for people to reflect on the impact of these relationships.

  1. 5h ago

    One Kung Fu Night and a Life in Practice

    Po, Kan, Lambert, Dai-Sensei & Zhong Ming Fashi - Simon 1960   mentors/student  When I sat down with Simon, he told me that everything began with one evening in childhood, three TV channels, and a single kung fu programme. That moment set him on a 52‑year martial arts journey that carried him from the Isle of Wight to Asia, and now to a quieter life in the Philippines, where he still trains every day and runs his school from afar. In our conversation, we explore what he learned under his first sensei, why travel became part of his curriculum, and how training with so many teachers and traditions shaped his ideas about destiny, discipline, and self‑direction. We wander through monastery life in Thailand, Okinawan roots, research trips to China, and the belief that martial arts are ultimately less about winning fights and more about learning how not to fight. A big part of our chat centres on San Shan Gong, Simon’s moving meditation built around the three battles of mind, body, and spirit. We also get wonderfully practical — posture, breath, and why something as simple as “standing” can teach you lessons that stay with you for years, even on a packed tube train. And yes, we talk about martial arts in films and TV: what Hollywood gets wrong, and what still rings true if you look past the myth. If you’re drawn to kung fu philosophy, karate history, meditation, self‑defence mindset, or simply the idea of living with a bit more calm strength, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with someone who trains (or wants to), and tell me the biggest takeaway you’re carrying into your week. Bits & Bobs A caulkhead is a colloquial nickname for a native-born resident of the Isle of WightMaster Po and Master Kan from the 1970s Kung Fu TV series, whose philosophy, depth of skill, and spirituality deeply impacted him.Mike Lambert, his first sensei, was instrumental in his journey and whom he modelled himself after.Higaonna Morio Dai-Sensei, a grandmaster from Okinawa, was his inspiration for five years in America and helped him take karate back to its roots.Zhong Ming Fashi was his Chan Zen meditation master and spiritual leader in China.TV Show Kung FuThe Champions is a British sci-fi, espionage, and adventure TV seriesThe Isle of Wight man who devoted his life to KungFu: Simon Lailey’s decades of martial arts masterySend us Fan Mail “Follow Longtime Ago People wherever you get your podcasts.” Everyone has a story, what's yours? Copy this RSS feed and paste it into your podcast app.  https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2503597.rss Instagram: @longtimeagopeople  Blog: longtimeagopeople.com Have a story echoing through time? I’m listening—300 words or fewer.  Memory is Fragile  "In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

    26 min

  2. May 11

    The Vicarage Boy: The Longtime‑Ago‑Person Is Me

    John 1958 father/son “The Longtime-Ago-Person is Probably Me” When I sit down with John, I’m taken straight into a childhood that feels almost impossible now. He grew up in a vicarage on the edge of Dartmoor, the kind of place where a boy could walk out after breakfast, vanish for the entire day, and nobody thought to worry — partly because there wasn’t a phone to reach for. As we talk through his own mind map of longtime ago people, the memories return with astonishing clarity: the huge lawn and orchard, ponies on the moor, bikes as transport, and the absolute normality of knocking on a stranger’s door for water and maybe an apple. Being a vicar’s son in a small Devon village gives the story a unique texture. Sundays meant church, whether he liked it or not, sitting among older parishioners while his dad — the most recognisable man in the community — did the work of keeping people connected. John reflects on faith, on the tension between everyday humanity and spiritual authority, and on how those early years shaped his sense of community, care and responsibility. Then come the stories that make rural 1960s Britain feel wonderfully alive: open fires that smoked out the room, ice on the inside of the windows, hot water bottles, the post office that doubled as a sweet shop, returnable bottles swapped for treats, and the pub hatch where children bought sweets — or sometimes just knocked and ran. John talks about camping with his younger siblings in a farmer’s field, a whole day spent wandering in search of an osprey that never appeared, and a perfect culture clash when teenage him played Black Sabbath’s Paranoid to his vicar father just to see the reaction. If you love British nostalgia, Dartmoor history, village life, or the bigger question of what childhood freedom does to a person, this episode will speak to you. Hit play, share it with someone who grew up pre‑mobile, and leave a review telling us what you miss most about the analogue days. Send us Fan Mail “Follow Longtime Ago People wherever you get your podcasts.” Everyone has a story, what's yours? Copy this RSS feed and paste it into your podcast app.  https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2503597.rss Instagram: @longtimeagopeople  Blog: longtimeagopeople.com Have a story echoing through time? I’m listening—300 words or fewer.  Memory is Fragile  "In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

    33 min

  3. May 5

    The Count of Lanzarote

    Rhys 1963  son/father/count/dj/islander   When I catch up with Rhys — or “The Count”, as he’s known on air — I’m taken straight back to 1976, when two twelve‑year‑olds (we are the two twelve-year-olds) walked into a school classroom and realised they were the entire class. From that moment, a friendship was built on shared trouble, fast laughs, and the kind of music discovery that rewires your brain for life. I trace the soundtrack that shaped him: early punk, the Sex Pistols, The Jam, and those late‑night sessions with Radio Luxembourg under the pillow. We talk about the ritual of taping the Sunday chart, praying the DJ wouldn’t talk over the intro, and the thrill of buying your first record with pocket money. There are stories of Sid Vicious, chapel rebellion, and the gigs that still live in your chest decades later — from the emotional punch of Live Aid to festival moments that turn grown adults into emotional wrecks. Then the conversation widens into real life: leaving school, scraping together work, joining the Merchant Navy, even getting deported from the US, before eventually building a long career in a trade that somehow keeps brushing up against pop culture. The biggest pivot is Monster Radio Lanzarote, where Rhys explains how a modern community station really works: no playlists, real presenters, giveaways, listener interactivity, and a commitment to local charities. It’s a brilliant reminder that radio is far from dead — it’s simply evolved. If you love music podcasts, radio stories, 1970s and 1980s nostalgia, or honest conversations about how songs help us carry joy and loss, you’ll feel right at home here. And if you’re listening, share it with someone who still remembers their first Walkman, and leave us a review with the one song you’d play to your younger self. Bits & Bobs Sex PistolsPistol - TV Mini SeriesThe JamListen to The Count on Monster Radio as he counts down all the number ones from his birthday in April 1963 to the present day.George Thorogood - Get A Haircuthttps://monsterradio.tvMonster Radio AppMy Isle of Wight Festival 2013 Boomtown Rats Send us Fan Mail “Follow Longtime Ago People wherever you get your podcasts.” Everyone has a story, what's yours? Copy this RSS feed and paste it into your podcast app.  https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2503597.rss Instagram: @longtimeagopeople  Blog: longtimeagopeople.com Have a story echoing through time? I’m listening—300 words or fewer.  Memory is Fragile  "In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

    39 min

  4. Apr 25 ·  Bonus

    Ten Lives, Countless Echoes: Season Two Epilogue

    Season 2 Epilogue — Longtime Ago People Season Two brings me back to what I’ve always believed about memory — how it hides in music, in family stories, and in the everyday influence of people who shaped us long before we realised it. Looking back over these ten conversations, across places, eras and lives, I’m reminded again that who we are is never just about us. This season has taken me from the Welsh Valleys to the Somme and far beyond, meeting people whose stories carry humour, heartbreak, courage and connection. Russell talked about a life shaped by central Scotland — the divides, the love, the work, and the lessons that carried him forward.David traced a path from oil rigs to Wall Street and Napa Valley, built on mentorship and sheer resilience.Sean brought London family stories to life — disinheritance, laughter, and a surprising cheeky reveal after loss.Ian shared a cross‑continental family history marked by childhood loss and an enterprising grandfather known as “Smuggling Jim.”Rupert took us deep into David Bowie’s world — the personas, the albums, the cultural pull that shaped a generation.Matt unravelled a century‑old mystery, honouring his great‑great uncle through research and a moving Royal Marines ceremony.Sarah celebrated her Welsh roots, her family’s resilience, and her community‑driven life on the Isle of Wight.Steve reflected on loyalty, hard work and the people who helped him build a family business from the ground up.Lee walked us through a life lived in motion — Navy diving, African overland journeys, DJ nights and tribute‑band touring.And Loz brought us back to a carefree Southampton childhood, and into an honest conversation about reinvention and mental health in adulthood.If any of these stories remind you of someone — a parent, a friend, a teacher, a neighbour — tell them. Or tell someone about them. That’s how memory stays alive. Thank you Send us Fan Mail “Follow Longtime Ago People wherever you get your podcasts.” Everyone has a story, what's yours? Copy this RSS feed and paste it into your podcast app.  https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2503597.rss Instagram: @longtimeagopeople  Blog: longtimeagopeople.com Have a story echoing through time? I’m listening—300 words or fewer.  Memory is Fragile  "In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

    5 min

  5. Apr 20

    Half‑Built Estates and Full‑Hearted Memories

    Loz 1964   son/father/grandfather  A noisy pub outside Petworth becomes a time machine the moment Loz starts talking, carrying us straight back to Southampton in the late sixties and seventies. We get into street football with one car a day, climbing trees, roaming until hunger called you home, and the wild logic of exploring half‑built housing estates with absolutely no health and safety in sight. If you’ve ever wondered what childhood freedom used to feel like in working‑class Britain, his memories are vivid, funny, and occasionally a little alarming. Music threads through everything. We swap the songs that pull you back in an instant, the ritual of Top of the Pops, and the Sunday chart countdown you tried to tape without the DJ talking over the intro. From there, the conversation widens into class and expectation — being nudged towards trades, being told what you couldn’t do, and how rarely anyone explained a route to bigger dreams. Then we shift into mental health and the pressures that arrive later in life. Loz speaks openly about anxiety and panic attacks, what sets them off, and the habits that help: slowing down, talking to someone, choosing the road over the sky when flying feels impossible. And at the end, a simple lesson lands with real weight: enjoy your days, treat people well, and if you feel the pull to change course, take the plunge. If this episode resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who’ll relate, and leave a review with the memory — or the song — that takes you straight back. At 9:45 there is a slight loss of sound for a second, “it’s not you, it’s me”. Bits & Bobs Mud - Tiger Feet (Live TOTP 1974)Anxiety HelpSend us Fan Mail “Follow Longtime Ago People wherever you get your podcasts.” Everyone has a story, what's yours? Copy this RSS feed and paste it into your podcast app.  https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2503597.rss Instagram: @longtimeagopeople  Blog: longtimeagopeople.com Have a story echoing through time? I’m listening—300 words or fewer.  Memory is Fragile  "In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

    31 min

  6. Mar 27

    A Life in Motion: Diving Deep, Travelling Far, Playing Loud

    Lee 1951   grandson/sailor/traveller/DJ/adviser/musician  A quiet corner of Sussex opens the door to one of the most wide‑ranging life stories I’ve ever recorded. Sitting with Lee, we begin in 1950s Great Yarmouth, where summers meant guest houses, seaside theatres, and helping his nan run a busy holiday season. His dad worked the beachfront with a camera, and Lee’s first taste of performing came early — a singing competition in 1957 that he won before he even knew what a stage really was. Boarding school followed, and with it a fiercely independent streak that would shape everything that came next. That independence carried him into the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, where engineering skills led unexpectedly to diving. Lee talks about the cold, the darkness, the pressure, and the discipline of ship’s diver training — and the extraordinary moment he became one of the early divers on what’s believed to be the Mary Rose, long before the world watched her rise from the Solent. From there, his story widens again: driving a Bedford truck across Africa with twenty passengers, months on the hippie trail through India and Sri Lanka, and then four surreal, electric years in Montreux as a full‑time DJ. He crossed paths with rock royalty, worked with Queen, and even narrated a film for HR Giger about the making of Alien. Later came the hard lesson of losing his home to soaring interest rates — and the decision to become a financial adviser so others wouldn’t fall through the same cracks. Eventually, he sold his business and spent a decade touring the UK as ‘Robert Plant’ in a Led Zeppelin tribute band. If you enjoy personal history, Royal Navy stories, Mary Rose diving, overland travel, Montreux nightlife, and the art of reinvention, this one’s for you. Press play, share it with a friend, and tell me which chapter of Lee’s journey you’d have said yes to. Bits & Bobs The wreck of the Mary Rose was located in 1971 and was raised on 11 October 1982Send us Fan Mail “Follow Longtime Ago People wherever you get your podcasts.” Everyone has a story, what's yours? Copy this RSS feed and paste it into your podcast app.  https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2503597.rss Instagram: @longtimeagopeople  Blog: longtimeagopeople.com Have a story echoing through time? I’m listening—300 words or fewer.  Memory is Fragile  "In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

    47 min

  7. Feb 19

    The People Who Raised the Man

    All Steve's People - Steve 1963   family/son, husband & father  A rough sea, a low sky, and the bridge to Hayling Island set the tone for my conversation with Steve — a story about what truly holds a life together. As we talk, he takes me back to a Portsmouth childhood framed by open doors, tight streets, and the hard memory of standing between warring parents. His mum’s grit — three jobs, empty cupboards, and not a hint of self‑pity — becomes the moral baseline he’s carried ever since: show up, work hard, do right. Family, for Steve, arrives in unexpected shapes. Ray never married his mum, yet lived as “grandad” if not in Steve’s eyes, then certainly in the eyes of Steve’s children. Then there’s Bob, the father‑in‑law who modelled what a good dad looks like: honour, steadiness, and unfussy generosity. The day Bob introduced him as “my son” rewired something deep — a simple phrase that offered a sense of belonging and a standard to live by. Threaded through it all is Julie, the girl he walked home from a school disco just before they turned fourteen. Together, Steve and Julie build a family business in financial planning and later wills and trusts — a partnership shaped by graft, loyalty, and a shared instinct to look after people properly. Enter Jasmine (Jazz), the daughter who earns every step, surpasses them in qualifications, and eventually becomes the mentor. When a seizure forces Steve out of the driver’s seat, clients love Jazz for her clarity. She modernises the culture too, swapping “back in the day” barked orders for calm guidance and turning complex pensions into plain English. At the heart of the firm are the “afterlife meetings,” where bereaved families receive clear explanations and a map for what comes next. It’s service in its purest form: keep it human, help where you can, and put family first. Across mother, step‑grandad, father‑in‑law, wife, son and daughter, one creed holds everything together: don’t be a dick. Do the right thing, even when no one’s watching. If Steve’s story resonates, follow and subscribe for more conversations about love, work, and the people who shape us. Jazz really is a force to be reckoned with, hence I say it three times!  Send us Fan Mail “Follow Longtime Ago People wherever you get your podcasts.” Everyone has a story, what's yours? Copy this RSS feed and paste it into your podcast app.  https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2503597.rss Instagram: @longtimeagopeople  Blog: longtimeagopeople.com Have a story echoing through time? I’m listening—300 words or fewer.  Memory is Fragile  "In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

    38 min

  8. Feb 3

    The Valleys, the Island, and Everything Between

    Sheila & Alan - Sarah 1973   parents/daughter  A quiet house is not the same as a silent life. In this episode, I sit down with Sarah, who invites me into a world where her deaf father dances by feeling the vibrations through the floor, her car‑loving mum measures affection in late‑night lifts, and a Welsh childhood filled with open doors and louder music becomes the blueprint for building chosen family on the Isle of Wight. It's a warm, funny, and surprisingly fierce journey about identity, community, and the kind of courage that grows when you put your hands to work.      As we talk, we travel from the valleys to the island, comparing cultures and expectations, and sitting with the hard truths of post‑mining Wales - what gets lost, what endures, and why mobility still matters. Cars become symbols of freedom, from minis to "Sheila's Wheels," and family reveals itself as a practice rather than a pedigree. Sarah shares how volunteering with Cats Protection helped restore her confidence, how a white lion's roar reset her nerves, and how the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary turned awe into action. Her fundraising stories come with real gusto: abseiling the Spinnaker Tower, shaving her head, and rallying a community to help rehome ex‑circus tigers.      There's local colour everywhere - village legends, chip shops named after dart scores, cakes that "fall off the back of a van," and even a Gavin & Stacey quiz night raising money for cats. Pop culture threads through her memories too: Teletext subtitles, the magic of the first VCR, and a lifelong obsession with Jaws that's grown into a dream of cage‑diving with great whites.    If you love human stories with grit, humour, and heart - plus cats, conservation, and a cracking Welsh accent - press play. Subscribe too, thank you. Bits & Bobs Gavin & Stacey: Essex and Wales collide when Gavin and Stacey fall in love, bringing their friends, family, and baggage with them. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0908454/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkJoe Calzaghe: The "Pride of Wales" famously fought in Las Vegas on April 19, 2008, defeating Bernard Hopkins at the Thomas & Mack Center to win The Ring light-heavyweight championship.Send us Fan Mail “Follow Longtime Ago People wherever you get your podcasts.” Everyone has a story, what's yours? Copy this RSS feed and paste it into your podcast app.  https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2503597.rss Instagram: @longtimeagopeople  Blog: longtimeagopeople.com Have a story echoing through time? I’m listening—300 words or fewer.  Memory is Fragile  "In a world where you can be anything, be kind."

    34 min
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About

In a world where family connections shape us, stories bridge generations. Many of us carry cherished memories of those who touched our lives, which I think deserve to be shared.Each episode I hope will feature guests recounting touching, funny, and inspiring memories, celebrating the impact these individuals had on their lives. I aim to beautifully remember loved ones, offering listeners nostalgia, warmth, and connection.  I am looking for people to reflect on the impact of these relationships.

Information

  • Creator
    M I L E S
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Longtime Ago People
  • Show Website
    Longtime Ago People