Local Heroes Podcast

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to Kema Kay – actor, musician, writer and proud Newcastle creative – about his journey from the West End of Newcastle to landing a speaking role in Ken Loach’s I, Daniel Blake and building a career in the creative industries.
Kema shares the reality of starting out as an extra on film sets, the class divide within the industry, and the moment he almost quit acting altogether before landing the role that changed everything. He opens up about dealing with imposter syndrome, auditioning for major Hollywood projects, and the pressure creatives face to change who they are – from their accent to their identity – to fit into the industry.
The conversation also dives into Kema’s upbringing after moving to Newcastle from Zambia, growing up in a tough environment, losing his mother at a young age, and how youth projects and music studios gave him a path away from the streets and into creativity Chris and Dan talk with Kema about building opportunities in the North East, why he chose to stay in Newcastle rather than move to London, and why he believes success should come with “throwing the rope back down” to help the next generation of creatives.
They also get into:
- The reality of breaking into acting without connections
- Why creative careers rarely follow a straight path
- The pressure of success and staying grounded
- Supporting young people through creative opportunities
Of course, we can't avoid the food debates, Greggs orders, and nostalgic food memories from home — including his dad’s legendary cabbage.
It’s an honest, inspiring conversation about resilience, identity, and carving your own path in the creative world.
 
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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the dynamic brewing duo Sam and Red Kellie of First & Last Brewery.
On the eve of the launch of Taste of Northumberland - an exciting new initiative celebrating the very best of the county’s food, drink, and hospitality - Sam and Red reflect on what truly matters: place, provenance, and community. From their early days of home brewing to building a brewery rooted deeply in the Northumberland landscape, they share how local ingredients, foraging, and seasonality shape their beers—and why staying true to where you are can be your greatest strength.
At the heart of it all is a real sense of place - using ingredients that change year to year, meaning no two beers are ever quite the same. It’s about experimentation, storytelling, and creating something that could only come from Northumberland.
We explore the realities of running an independent brewery, the challenges facing the industry, and how moments like COVID reshaped not just their business, but their connection to customers and community. Plus, as always, expect plenty of laughs - from travel mishaps and mozzarella mix-ups to hangover horror stories and the all-important debate: gravy or curry sauce on your chips
Tune in now.
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n this episode of Local Heroes, Chris and Dan sit down with producer, manager and music supervisor Tarquin Gotch, whose career bridges Hollywood, rock music and the North East of England.
Tarquin has worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment, including John Hughes, Brian Johnson (AC/DC), Jimmy Nail, Stuart Copeland, Sting, and bands such as XTC and The Beat. Along the way he’s crossed paths with icons like George Harrison, Eric Idle, Terry Gilliam, Michael Palin, Rowan Atkinson, Steve Martin, John Candy, Matthew Broderick and Catherine O’Hara.
Best known for his work with director John Hughes, Tarquin shares behind-the-scenes stories from classic films including Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Home Alone. He explains how Hughes encouraged actors like Steve Martin and John Candy to improvise beyond the script — capturing the warmth and humanity that helped make those comedies timeless.
Despite a career that has taken him from London theatres to film sets in Chicago, the North East runs strongly through Tarquin’s story thanks to long-standing collaborations with Jimmy Nail and Brian Johnson, and decades spent working with artists from the region.
From a chance introduction by Kelly LeBrock that led to a life-changing meeting with John Hughes, to producing some of the most loved films of the 1980s and 90s, Tarquin reflects on creativity, collaboration and recognising great talent.
A brilliant conversation about Hollywood classics, rock legends and the North East connections behind them.
Support on our Patreon - patreon.com/LocalHeroesVIP

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with regional TUC secretary Dave Pike to unpack what modern trade unionism really looks like. Representing 800,000 unionised workers across 48 unions, Dave explains how the movement has evolved beyond outdated stereotypes — and why, at its core, it’s still about one simple idea: we look after each other.
From organising his first workplace campaign in Pizza Hut to fighting for fair pay and safer conditions, Dave shares how grassroots action can ripple out into real national change. The conversation digs deep into the political climate shaping today’s workplaces — austerity, the gig economy, small business pressures, and the long shadow of Thatcherism.
Dave speaks candidly about navigating political diversity within unions, being a “critical friend” to government, and why trade unionists must talk to everyone — even those they strongly disagree with. It’s an honest, nuanced discussion about collectivism in a divided age, and why he chooses to stay “aggressively hopeful” despite rising polarisation.
There’s also a powerful personal thread running through the episode. Dave reflects on coming out later in life, the impact of bullying, and why being an openly queer trade unionist matters.
From supporting Pride events when funding was pulled, to standing against hate in communities affected by unrest, he shares how solidarity across differences — whether in steelworks, shipyards, kitchens, or council estates — remains essential to rebuilding trust. Expect deep debates about chip butties pressed flat by hand, the perfect sandwich build, and a very carefully considered Greggs Order.
A thoughtful, passionate, and surprisingly funny conversation about standing up for people — and always saving room for chips.
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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to award-winning portrait photographer, Chris Owens about building a career behind the lens and finding your voice in a changing industry. From his early days learning in the darkroom to adapting through the digital revolution, Chris reflects on how discipline, curiosity and human connection shaped the way he sees the world — and why photographing people is as much about psychology as it is about technique.
The conversation explores the tension between commercial success and personal fulfilment — chasing big campaigns, navigating industry gatekeepers, and resisting the pressure to become “known” for one particular look. Chris shares honest insights into representation, rejection, resilience, and the reality of sustaining a long-term career in photography while staying true to your instincts.
They also dive into social media, the democratisation of image-making, and the rise of AI. Rather than fearing it, Chris sees AI as another inevitable shift — arguing that in a world flooded with flawless visuals - imperfection, lived experience and genuine storytelling will only grow in value.
It’s a thoughtful take on where the creative industry is heading and what will continue to matter.
The episode also touches on the birth of Pattern — Chris’s people-first storytelling platform born during lockdown — and how it’s become both a personal outlet and a powerful connector. Expect strong opinions on the debate of our times - curry vs gravy, last meal lasagne, and the ever present Greggs Order.
A wide-ranging, grounded conversation about growth, identity, and doing work that means something.
Patreon - patreon.com/LocalHeroesVIP

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the godfather of North East hospitality - Terry Laybourne. From washing prep boxes on his very first day in a kitchen to opening Queen Street in 1988 and helping shape the region’s dining scene, Terry shares the story of how a working-class lad from the west end of Newcastle became what he calls a “food engineer.”
He talks about the moment he truly fell in love with food (a life-changing staff curry in Jersey), the insecurities of cooking for the ultra-wealthy in Switzerland, and why curiosity - not ambition - drove his career.
They dive into team culture, leadership and longevity: building restaurants that last decades, the importance of the people around you, and why the kitchen works like a rigid 4-4-2 football team - talent matters, but everyone still has to track back.
Terry also reflects on the realities facing hospitality today, rising costs, post-COVID pressures, and the responsibility of looking after a team of more than 180 staff. There’s a debate over the perfect boiled egg, stories from unforgettable meals in Provence, the perfect last meal before he reveals his very specific Greggs order when the kitchens are closed and hunger strikes.
A funny, honest and thoughtful conversation about graft, humility and building something that lasts.
Help support the podcast on our Patreon - patreon.com/LocalHeroesVIP

This week’s Local Heroes Podcast - Chris and Dan talk to SAFC legend and incredible human, Gary Bennett. From scoring on his debut at Roker Park to becoming one of the most respected voices in North East football, Gary shares a life shaped by Sunderland AFC and the community around it.
He explains why the club is more than a team - it’s the heartbeat of a city - and how recent years have rebuilt pride across Sunderland both on and off the pitch. Gary opens up about arriving in the 1980s as one of the first Black players many supporters had ever seen, the racism that existed in football and society at the time, and how attitudes have changed through education and conversation.
He reflects on dressing room life, terrace culture, and the reality of playing through an era where abuse was normalised - and why his work with Show Racism the Red Card still matters today. We also hear about captaining the club, Wembley memories, Sunderland’s global fanbase, broadcasting for BBC Radio Newcastle, and the moments that kept him in the North East long after retirement.
Along the way there’s talk of favourite players, iconic goals, football as a universal language, and why Sunderland sticks with people for life.
Plus: childhood street football in Manchester, Jamaican food, jelly babies, Greggs breakfasts, and a SUNDERLAND ALL-TIME XI that will definitely stir some debate.
A conversation about football, belonging, resilience - and how a club can shape generations.
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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet Drew and Abbie - people brought together through life-changing injuries and conditions, and whose stories are celebrated in the recently screened film Hands on the Wheel, directed by Dan Prince and produced by Local Heroes.
What begins light-hearted quickly turns into a powerful and honest conversation about rebuilding a life after disability.
Drew talks about losing independence overnight, learning to rely on carers, and finding purpose again - while Abbie reflects on the long months stuck in a care home and feeling isolated, to discovering wheelchair rugby and realising he still had a life to live beyond hospital walls.
Together they talk about making Hands on the Wheel - the trust involved, the unseen hours of filming, and why showing reality matters more than inspiration.
The film reveals what people don’t see: the planning behind a coffee trip, preparing to leave the house, and how long everyday tasks actually take. A major theme is the gap people face after leaving hospital. Abbie describes being discharged into environments that didn’t fit his life, while Drew explains how that shared frustration led to Gym Possible - a charity gym and community hub designed as a soft landing.
It’s not just training: it’s peer advice, benefits guidance, equipment knowledge, and helping newly injured people realise they can still participate in the world. They also look ahead — expanding services, mentoring others, fundraising challenges, and building something bigger than a gym.
For Abbie, it’s about making sure the next person leaving hospital doesn’t feel as lost as he once did. It’s thoughtful, funny and real - a conversation about acceptance, identity and moving forward when life changes overnight - and yes, there's that unavoidable Greggs Order.
 
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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to the all-weather Jen Bartram, weather broadcaster, communicator, and proud North East native. Like our very own average host, Chris, Jen was born in South Shields and raised in Hebburn – like all good humans. What begins as a nostalgic, laugh-filled chat about growing up in the North East quickly becomes a thoughtful and revealing conversation.
From memories of 80s kids’ TV (Danger Mouse, He-Man), street games, buses, and sweet-shop favourites, the episode flows into Jen’s unexpected journey into broadcasting.
She shares how she moved from studying languages and student radio into weather broadcasting, learning on the job, ad-libbing live on air, and managing the intense pressure of live television -especially when the graphics disappear and there’s nothing to point at!
Jen also talks about her work beyond broadcasting, including teaching, communication skills training, and delivering a 'bucket list' TED Talk. She offers honest insight into public-speaking anxiety, explaining why nerves and excitement feel the same in the body, and shares practical advice on staying present, reframing fear, and focusing on what you know rather than the size of the occasion.
One of the most powerful moments comes when Jen speaks openly about online trolling and appearance-based abuse. She reflects on how it affected her confidence, why “just ignore it” is rarely helpful advice, and how empathy and understanding play a crucial role in coping and recovery.
From ghost dogs, to how corned beef pie lies at the heart of a buffet masterclass - this is an episode built on genuine connection, warmth and good banter.
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Chris and Dan go rogue this week on the Local Heroes Podcast, serving up nonsense and beautifully unnecessary disruption.
No guests. No structure. Just two mics, endless rabbit holes, and zero resistance to going off track.
From spoon solos and imaginary North East super-groups to curry v gravy debates, Chris confessing to a lifetime of fashion crimes, and Dan putting Darren and Keith (Keeath) firmly into Room 101.
Underneath the chaos, this episode is about why the podcast exists in the first place: wanting to make authentic, good, and positive things with the right people, for the right reasons.
Chris and Dan reflect on the first year of Local Heroes, what they’ve learned along the way, and the importance of knowing when to move on, refocus, and put energy where it belongs.
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