The Nairnshire Community Newspaper Podcast: Stories from Land to Sea

The Nairnshire Community Newspaper
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We're bringing you closer to the people, places, and stories of Nairnshire and beyond. Each episode dives deeper into the lives and work of local business owners, artists, artisans, scientists, naturalists, and other inspiring folk who help shape our small but beautiful corner of the Highlands. Join us as we explore community, culture, creativity, and the wild landscapes that make this part of the world so special.

Episodes

  1. #005 – Donald Wilson returns with Richard Konczak: The night Nairn County became champions

    Apr 23

    #005 – Donald Wilson returns with Richard Konczak: The night Nairn County became champions

    In this episode, Donald Wilson sits down with a true local legend, Richard Konczak, the man between the posts when Nairn County F.C. made history. We are marking 50 years since that unforgettable 1975 to 76 season, when the club won its first and only Highland League title, and Richard was right at the heart of it. This conversation feels like sitting in the stands with two people who lived it. Donald guides the story, while Richard brings it vividly to life. From boyhood memories of falling in love with football at Station Park, to training alongside his heroes, and eventually becoming one of them. We hear how the team was transformed under the leadership of manager Innes MacDonald, not just tactically, but psychologically. This was a side built on discipline, trust, and an unshakeable belief in each other. And then comes the drama! A season of big results and rising pressure leads to a winner takes all playoff against Fraserburgh F.C. on May 17, 1976, a match that would define a generation. What follows is unforgettable. A packed crowd and electric atmosphere. A brutal collision that leaves Richard unconscious. A goal line clearance that keeps the dream alive. And a stunning long range winner that seals the title. This is more than football nostalgia. It is a story about resilience, leadership, and the power of community. Chapters: 00:00: Donald Wilson welcomes Richard Konczak01:10: The 1975–76 season & playoff victory02:30: Falling in love with football & early days06:10: Joining Nairn County FC & learning from legends10:00: Innes MacDonald: leadership & rebuilding the team15:00: Building the squad & key players23:00: Captain Davie Cochrane & team mentality26:00: Training, fitness & what made the difference32:50: Big wins & the title race drama37:30: Late-season pressure & playoff confirmed42:00: Playoff build-up vs Fraserburgh45:05: The match: goals, injury & dramatic finish50:00: Celebrations, legacy & what it meant for Nairn

    56 min
  2. #004 – Donald Wilson interviews John McCruden: A Marathon Every Day Since 2006

    Feb 5

    #004 – Donald Wilson interviews John McCruden: A Marathon Every Day Since 2006

    In this episode, Donald Wilson sat down with local legend John McCruden, chef, ultra-runner, musician and quite possibly the only man in Nairn attempting to beat Elon Musk to the moon… on foot. John has been running a marathon every single day since 2006. He has currently clocked up around 190,000 miles and he is not slowing down. Donald talks to John about how it all began, from the stress of running a busy restaurant to protecting his mental health through running. They also dive into: How John fits a marathon a day around family life, cheffing and café shiftsHis running philosophy, including why he treats the first 20 miles as “transportation”Mindfulness on the roads of Nairn, from chimney smoke to freezing winter nightsHis experience running the Great Wall of China in a kiltTraining methods, midfoot striking and how he strengthens his body rather than breaking itThe reality of £250 running shoesThe “dark ages” of chasing Michelin-level perfection in the kitchenMusic therapy in care homes, including a story that will stay with you long after the episode endsIt is a conversation about discipline, obsession, creativity, grief, healing and what it means to dedicate yourself fully to something, whether that is running to the moon or making fresh pasta from scratch. Chapters:  00:00 Challenge to the Moon 01:25 Why John started running 02:30 A marathon every day since 2006 03:00 “I’m halfway to the Moon” 05:00 Family running roots 08:30 How 26 miles became “easy” 09:40 Mindfulness on the roads of Nairn 11:00 Injury, cadence & midfoot strike 13:00 Fitting marathons around family life 15:00 Running the Great Wall of China (in a kilt!) 17:30 Winter running & cold weather mindset 19:00 £250 trainers & the superglue hack 21:30 Therapy through music 29:00 The “Dark Ages” of Michelin ambition 32:00 Seabank Hotel & John's love for fresh pasta  34:00 Beating Elon Musk to the Moon

    36 min
  3. #003 - Diana Whitmore: Seeing Potential Before Young People See It Themselves

    Jan 9

    #003 - Diana Whitmore: Seeing Potential Before Young People See It Themselves

    In this episode, we’re joined by Diana Whitmore, CoCEO of Growing2gether, for a powerful, hopeful conversation about young people, belief, and what happens when we stop trying to “fix” kids and start trusting them instead. Diana shares the story behind Growing2gether, an early-intervention programme that brings together two groups often labelled as “vulnerable”: disengaged young people and children with additional support needs. The result? Something quietly transformational. We talk about how mentoring younger children helps teenagers rediscover their own self-worth, why positive psychology and coaching sit at the heart of the programme, and what Diana has learned from over 40 years working in the third sector. She reflects on the influence of her lifelong mentor, Laura Huxley, the widow of Aldous Huxley, and how a belief in human potential became the foundation for everything that followed. This is a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about education, mental health, community, resilience, and why every young person needs at least one adult who sees their potential before they do. We also explore funding challenges, working with schools across the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeen, and Diana’s hopes for how this work could shape Scotland’s future. At its heart, this episode is a reminder that belief is not a “soft” skill, but a catalyst for real change. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction & welcome01:25 What is Growing2gether?03:00 Mentoring vulnerable children - why it works05:23 Diana’s journey into youth development07:40 Positive psychology & believing in young people10:28 Building trust, not fixing behaviour13:03 Leadership, third sector lessons & turning points15:33 Evidence, outcomes & positive destinations17:17 Coaching vs telling young people what to do19:06 Early champions & support in the Highlands22:20 Funding challenges & system change25:40 A day inside the Growing2gether programme29:25 Why mentoring younger children matters32:32 “All young people want to feel they matter”34:18 Training teachers & spreading the approach36:24 How schools and communities respond39:31 What young people have taught Diana42:03 Resilience, self-empathy & leadership44:40 The role of Growing2gether in Scotland’s youth ecosystem48:26 Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond52:14 How communities can support the work54:26 Messages for young people and adults56:14 Closing reflections

    57 min
  4. #002 – Nicholas Ralph: Perseverance, Purpose & the Long Road to All Creatures Great and Small

    12/25/2025

    #002 – Nicholas Ralph: Perseverance, Purpose & the Long Road to All Creatures Great and Small

    In this festive episode, we sit down with Nicholas Ralph, best known for playing James Herriot in All Creatures Great and Small on Channel 5 and PBS Masterpiece. What unfolds is not an “overnight success” story (Nick laughs at that headline), but a deeply human conversation about perseverance, patience, and following a calling when the path isn’t obvious — especially when you grow up somewhere that doesn’t quite show you the map. We talk about Nick’s Highland upbringing, discovering acting almost by accident, being told it was a “terrible career choice,” and finding his way from Eden Court Theatre to drama school, to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and eventually onto one of the most beloved TV shows of recent years. Along the way, Nick opens up about: The unseen years behind successWhy theatre was the best training ground for televisionWhat it’s really like on a TV set (hint: not glamorous, very muddy)The importance of teamwork and kindness on long, freezing shoot daysHow playing James Herriot has quietly shaped his own valuesWhy community, compassion, and doing things “with a smile” still matterWe also get festive - from joyful behind-the-scenes chaos filming the Christmas episode, to favourite Christmas films, to what Nick is taking into 2026 (and what he’s happily leaving behind). It’s an honest, generous, quietly inspiring conversation about craft, character, and keeping your feet on the ground — with a lot of laughter along the way. Chapters: 00:00 Christmas Special intro & welcome02:08 “An Overnight Success, Ten Years in the Making”05:27 Growing up in the Highlands & finding acting09:38 “You’ll End Up Living Out of the Back of Your Car”13:52 Discovering drama school & The Royal Conservatoire19:34 The showcase, agents & getting signed23:58 Auditioning for All Creatures Great and Small29:12 Theatre vs TV (and birthing a calf to nothing)34:06 What life on a TV set is really like38:42 Where the love of performing began43:26 Perseverance, passion & self-belief48:11 What playing James Herriot has taught Nick53:02 Christmas episodes, traditions & favourite films56:48 Looking ahead to 202658:32 Final thoughts & Christmas wishes  From all of us at The Nairnshire Community Newspaper - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year - and thank you for listening. Here’s to more meaningful stories in 2026.

    59 min
  5. #001 - Mark Bradfield: The Hidden Life of Nairn’s Dunes

    12/11/2025

    #001 - Mark Bradfield: The Hidden Life of Nairn’s Dunes

    For our very first episode of The Nairnshire Community Newspaper Podcast: Stories from Land to Sea, we sat down with conservationist Mark Bradfield, who moved from Oxfordshire to the Highlands purely out of love for wildlife… and somehow found himself knee-deep in marram grass on Nairn’s Central Beach. In this episode, Mark takes us on a fascinating tour of the Dune Resilience Project, a pilot scheme designed to protect one of Nairn’s most cherished places - the dunes many of us stroll through daily, often without realising how essential they are in keeping the sea out of Fishertown. We cover everything: Why Nairn’s dunes are more fragile than they lookHow rising sea levels, stronger storms, and even our own footprints affect the coastlineThe surprising role of marram grass (it’s basically the unsung hero of the Highlands)How butterflies, bees, and even moths depend on healthy dune ecosystemsWhy fencing matters, and why Mark really hopes we don’t step over itWhat the community can do right now to help protect the dunesHow citizen science - and a couple of good apps - can turn all of us into naturalistsAnd what’s next for the project as monitoring and data collection beginMark’s passion is contagious, his explanations wonderfully grounded, and he left us seeing the dunes with completely fresh eyes. Honestly - you might never look at marram grass the same way again. Chapters: 00:00 Intro: Meet conservationist Mark Bradfield02:00 Moving to the Highlands & first impressions of Nairn 05:00 What conservation really is09:00 Water voles, mink, and how ecosystems fall out of balance 14:00 What the Dune Resilience Project is trying to achieve17:00 Why dunes matter more than you think20:00 Climate change, storms, and the future of Nairn’s coastline25:00 Marram grass: the quiet superhero of coastal defence29:00 Wildlife on the dunes: butterflies, moths, bees and more33:00 What’s threatening the dunes - and how we can help37:00 Clearing scrub, planting grasses, and volunteer power42:00 Citizen science and the apps that make it easy46:00 What’s next for the project & how to get involved50:00 Closing thoughts: patience, hope, and nature’s pace

    48 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

We're bringing you closer to the people, places, and stories of Nairnshire and beyond. Each episode dives deeper into the lives and work of local business owners, artists, artisans, scientists, naturalists, and other inspiring folk who help shape our small but beautiful corner of the Highlands. Join us as we explore community, culture, creativity, and the wild landscapes that make this part of the world so special.

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