Local Heroes Podcast

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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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet serial entrepreneur, innovator and all-round make-things-happen-er Charlie Hoult. From the very first seconds it’s classic Local Heroes - unscripted, off-the-cuff, and full of left-field turns that only happen when you ditch the agenda and let authentic stories unfold.
Charlie takes us deep into the world of Hoults Yard: a 12-acre former industrial site turned vibrant village of makers, food businesses, creatives and tech firms on the east side of Newcastle.
He traces its roots back to the area’s pottery and logistics history, then explains how a blend of calculated risk, “meanwhile use,” and relentless people-spotting helped shape Hoults Yard into what it is today - a place built on community, character, and the belief that the North East doesn’t need to copy to compete.
Beyond the yard, Charlie opens up about big wins, big knocks (including the crash-era fallout of a London business), and what drives his obsession with backing talent and championing the region - from founding Dynamo to helping grow Opencast into a major employer. T
here’s also a candid dive into politics, leadership, and why he took a run at the mayoral race… before the lads wrap it all up the only way they know how: with the menu, Greggs orders, and the eternal curry-vs-gravy debate.
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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan welcome Carlos Yescas. Carlos is a globally respected cheese expert, author, and food systems thinker, and Partnership Coordinator at Food Newcastle, where he works to build a more equitable, sustainable, and connected regional food system.
His journey spans Mexico City, Ireland, the US, China, and now the North East of England. From washing dishes in a Galway cheesemonger to judging the world’s most prestigious food awards, Carlos shares how cheese became the thread connecting his work in human rights, migration, and food policy.
In this wide-ranging conversation, the team explore how radio and podcasting can tell human stories during crisis, why food waste is one of the UK’s biggest hidden challenges, and how upcoming changes in Newcastle - from devolution to major sporting events - could reshape the region’s food landscape.
They also dive into British cheese culture, the importance of provenance and local pride, and Carlos’s new book One Cheese to Rule Them All, which celebrates award-winning cheeses while uncovering the politics, people, and places behind them.
Along the way, there’s talk of tepid food, guilty-pleasure cheese pairings, Greggs vegan sausage rolls, and why there really is no moment in life without cheese.
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👉 If you know a Local Hero or would like to see someone feature on the podcast, please leave a comment below.
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This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet with Smith & Liddle, the songwriting duo formed after both artists reached a crossroads in their solo careers. They talk openly about why working alone started to feel creatively draining, the uncertainty of giving up individual identity to become a duo, and how starting again from scratch helped reduce pressure and reignite their love for writing music.
The conversation explores their songwriting process, how songs change meaning over time, and the real stories behind their tracks - including how a disagreement about food unexpectedly turned into one of their album songs.
Away from the music, the episode leans heavily into personality. There’s a deep dive into food habits on tour, fussy eating, Greggs orders, last-meal choices, Sunday dinners, and a surprisingly serious debate about whether a Jaffa Cake is a biscuit or a cake.
These moments reveal the dynamic between the duo and the humour that underpins their partnership. They also discuss touring, social media, viral moments, dealing with online criticism, and how engagement - even negative - can shape visibility as an independent artist.
The result is a loose, honest and funny conversation that balances music, real life, and the everyday chaos that comes with building a band together.
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One year on from Chris and Dan’s original sit-down with Si King, we are welcoming the PROPA engine room to the Local Heroes Podcast to mark a major milestone - one full year of PROPA.
In this episode, we talk to the PROPA kitchen crew (left to right) - Tom Cuthbert, Josef Blythe and Rory Welch - reflecting on a whirlwind first year that has seen PROPA grow from an idea into a defining part of the North East food scene. From opening the doors in a tiny former stable to producing thousands of pies, navigating match days, media attention, collaborations, and constant demand, the lads look back on a year that moved faster than anyone expected. The discussion celebrates not just the success, but the craft behind it.
Tom, Josef and Rory talk about what makes a proper pie: generous fillings, the right texture, gravy that takes time, and food rooted in tradition rather than trends. They reflect on how the menu has evolved over the year, how customer demand shaped decisions, and why respect for local produce and familiar flavours remains central to PROPA’s identity. This is also a celebration of teamwork and shared graft.
Drawing on years spent in high-pressure kitchens, mass catering and restaurants, the lads explain how being willing to do every job - from pots to prep - helped PROPA survive its most intense moments. They discuss adapting to takeaway life, finding better balance, and learning how to scale without losing standards.
As always, the conversation is full of North East food nostalgia and humour - from chip-shop debates and saveloy dips to corned beef, Greggs orders, and the smells and memories that define the region’s food culture.
Above all, this episode marks a year of PROPA - a celebration of the humble pie as a symbol of North East food heritage, done properly, with heart, graft, and pride.
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On this week's Local Heroes Podcast, your average hosts Chris and Dan talk to the electric and entrepreneurial Steffi Smith - a true North East legend and one of the region’s most inspiring business role models.
As the founder of The Chocolate Smiths, she has built not just an iconic brand, but a blueprint for creativity, resilience, and modern entrepreneurship. Steffi opens up about discovering her ADHD later in life, how it shaped her path, and how embracing it became one of her greatest strengths.
She takes us from the early days of making chocolate bars in her kitchen with a microwave, to becoming a social media favourite, earning a viral shoutout from Joe Wicks, and navigating the overwhelming pressures that came with rapid growth.
Steffi speaks with rare honesty about burnout, self-doubt, and the moment she nearly walked away — before rebuilding her business with more clarity, courage, and conviction than ever.
From designing bespoke moulds, elevating her brand, and switching to ethically sourced Colombian chocolate, to investing deeply in her team and leading with creativity, Steffi demonstrates exactly why she’s become such an incredible entrepreneurial example for emerging founders everywhere.
Packed with laughter, spills, wild ideas, breakfast-and-brainstorm sessions, and even a call for a Greggs × Chocolate Smiths collab, this episode showcases the brilliance, passion, and heart that make Steffi a local hero in every sense.
If you love powerful founder stories, creativity, neurodiversity, or just really good chocolate — this conversation will stay with you.
 
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This Week on the Local Heroes Podcast, the inflexible Chris and Dan Meet Jo Hutton - yoga teacher, creator of Yoga for Tired People, accidental viral sensation, and proud North Eastener.
From ASMR mishaps and camping confessions to deep chats about mental health, self-talk, and the realities of wellbeing, this one has everything: laughs, nostalgia, local banter, and powerful insights.
Jo shares her journey from drama school burnout to running a Newcastle yoga studio for a decade, then unexpectedly blowing up online with an 8-million-view neck stretch video.
She talks honestly about why yoga isn’t just for flexible people, how shame stops us from starting, and why tiny habits matter more than perfection.
You’ll also hear:
- Greggs orders and fish-and-chip philosophies 🍟
- Memories of Metroland, the pop man, and broken biscuit shops
- Why the North East sometimes resists new ideas
- and why that’s changing
- How to calm your mind when life is chaotic
- The truth about self-discipline, burnout, and doing what you can with what you've got Whether you’re a yoga newbie, a stressed-out parent, a lover of nostalgia, or just here for a laugh and a stretch, you’re going to love this episode.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy this deeply chilled episode with yet another one of our Local Heroes.
 
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