Local Heroes Podcast

On this week's Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the brilliant Hannah Graham, storyteller, illustrator, and former nurse, who’s swapped scrubs for sketchbooks and now spends her days lighting up classrooms, libraries and community halls with stories, doodles, and a lot of heart.
They chat about how Hannah went from the hospital ward to the world of children’s storytelling, why drawing was never a plan but more like a reflex, and how she somehow ended up with a career where imagination removes all barriers.
Also in this episode a fictional Greggs order inspired by a Cornish pasty and a live confession from Chris involving a smashed coffee percolator and a friend he hasn’t spoken to in 35 years. Anarchic, chaotic, and just the right amount of humanity, the way all good stories should be. 

In this episode of Local Heroes, Chris and Dan are joined by two of Sunderland’s most committed cultural champions, Frankie Francis (Frankie and The Heartstrings, SAFC matchday commentator) and Marty Longstaff (The Lake Poets), the duo driving the bold vision behind Sunderland Music City.
What begins as a deep dive into grassroots creativity and community-led regeneration soon rolls into the finer points of cable-coiling etiquette, reflections on life behind the mic at the Stadium of Light, and a passionate defence of cheese moments and scampi fries. There’s plenty of laughter, insight, and Wearside pride, including: Marty’s Greggs Roulette: a personal policy of never ordering the same thing twice which once landed him a peach Melba and salami crisps.
Frankie’s journey from indie frontman to the voice of SAFC, and how calling a Dan Ballard goal almost pushed him over the edge (in a good way). The birthday cake gift of Colin the Caterpillar’s arse, only to discover it was Kevin - the B&M brother. From repurposed shipping containers to a citywide cultural strategy, this episode is a love letter to a place that’s never tried to be trendy, and is all the better for it. Hit play. Bring snacks. Maybe check the label before biting the tail off your caterpillar cake.
People of Sunderland, turn up the volume, this one's for you.

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan are joined by the brilliant Yasmin Sayed Ahmed, a vegan cook, food storyteller, and all-round unbeatable human being. We kick off chatting about the chaos of London’s 20mph speed zones, failed driving tests, and how learning to drive later in life can feel like scaling Everest. But that’s just the start.
Yasmin shares her journey from Alexandria to Newcastle, from battling self-doubt to building a life, and a business through food. She talks openly about navigating motherhood in a new culture, saying no to fear, and the quiet confidence that comes from doing things your own way. We get into parenting, identity, community, and the power of just getting on with it plus, of course, plenty of food chat.
We’re talking PROPER handmade falafel, tahini tricks, vegan kunafa, and why, despite the trend based food hacks, no one should ever put maple syrup in their sesame sauce (seriously don’t). This one is real, honest, funny, and full of genuine warmth. Yasmin's the kind of guest who reminds you that food isn’t just food it’s family, memory, resilience and how the movement of people positively influences our community and our food culture.
Tune in for the laughs, stay for the inspiration.

Many men suffer in silence. Some never get the chance to speak. Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under 50 and the North East has some of the highest rates in the country.
James Fildes knows that struggle firsthand. After battling depression and suicidal thoughts for years, the Sunderland lad who once famously got his head stuck in the railings at Roker Park came dangerously close to becoming part of that statistic. But through his darkest days, it was often the football community the friendships, the shared passion, the sense of belonging that helped keep him going. James fought back not just for himself, but for others like him.
He founded Space North East a place where men can come together, drop the mask, and open up. No waiting lists. No judgement. Just honest conversations often over a simple cup of coffee. Ironically, James was a late adopter of the "black stuff" but now he’s seen how even something as simple as sharing a brew can break down walls and start life-saving conversations. Listen now to hear how James is using coffee, and community to bring hope to men across the North East.
Tune in to this week’s Local Heroes Podcast on YouTube, Spotify and Apple.

This week, Chris and Dan welcome Joe Arrowsmith and Steve Hoggy from the powerhouse that is Arrow Strength Gym and things get loud, honest, and hilarious. Let’s get this out of the way: the podcast studio? It’s not a rip-off of Arrow it's an ode. A very sincere, 99% identical ode. Because when a space is built with blood, guts, community, and purpose, it’s hard not to be inspired.
This episode is packed with everything that makes Arrow so special: effort over ego, inclusivity, and the value of just showing up, even when it's hard. From gym floor stories and Movember madness to late-night snack disasters and that unforgettable Greggs order, it’s equal parts chaos and connection.
What’s inside:
💥 Building a gym with grit, inclusivity, and no-bullshit values
🏋️‍♂️ Why showing up beats being perfect - every time
🍔 Joe’s munchies madness and a legendary Greggs order you won’t believe
🩸 Real talk on the blood, guts, and effort it takes to build a space that matters It’s bold, it’s real, and it’s a reminder that you don’t need to have it all together - you just need to turn up.
👉 Like, comment, and subscribe to our channels for more unfiltered conversations with the people reshaping fitness from the ground up.

With no guests and no script, Chris and Dan are left to their own devices. In this episode, they muse on the mysterious decline of cherry-flavoured everything, reflect on the weight of self-doubt, and somehow end up recounting the time Chris got scammed by a biscuit-eating window cleaner. From absurd tangents to unexpectedly raw moments, it’s just two mates talking nonsense, getting real, and finding meaning in the everyday. This is Local Heroes - unfiltered, unscripted, unmistakably them.

On this week’s Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan speak to Katie Cullen, co-founder of the much-loved Block & Bottle - the North East’s first combined butcher and craft beer shop. Originally launched in Gateshead and now based in Heaton, it’s at the forefront of the North East’s craft butchery scene, pioneering ethical sourcing, nose-to-tail education, and challenging the traditionally male-dominated world of butchery. From the charcuterie boom to crunchy cereal wars, vodka shots, pigs’ heads, and the highs and lows of navigating lockdown as a small business owner - this is a lively, unfiltered conversation about building an independent brand with guts, graft, and a healthy dose of humour.

On this week's Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet Peter Manning, the creative force behind Prefab77. Based in Newcastle, Peter’s bold, layered work blends street art, fashion, and symbolic storytelling. But beyond the visuals is a story of sheer grit - from training as a printmaker in the British Army to hustling New York’s pop-up scene, landing gigs with Donna Karan, and wrestling with passport issues and green card chaos. Along the way, he's collaborated with global brands like Nike, and iconic bands like the New York Dolls, and closer to home, he’s built a lasting creative partnership with fellow local artist Mul. From underground shows to international galleries, Peter’s journey is one of hustle, heart, and hard-won success - plus a few firm opinions, like why you should never put the milk in your tea first.

In this week's Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan are joined by Richard Colman Ord - fifth-generation restaurateur, proud Sandancer, and the passionate force behind Colmans Seafood Temple in South Shields. With Italian roots and a childhood spent selling pears on the counter of the family’s original Ocean Road shop, Richard’s connection to food and hospitality runs deep. We discuss history, heritage, sustainability, and community partnerships - such as their collaboration with the Amble Lobster Hatchery - that highlight their unique dedication to the North East. Drawing from his travels in the Far East and his deep love for home, Richard offers a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes look at a business grounded in legacy, love, and staying true to your roots.

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to the outrageously lovely Amy Whitfield, the unstoppable force behind Triple A Food Tours, a business she started in 2019 to shine a light on the North East’s incredible food culture. Inspired by a food tour in New York and fuelled by her love of all things local, Amy swapped a career in property for a new adventure rooted in community, storytelling, and great food. With no background in hospitality and having wrestled with self-doubt, Amy has grown her idea into an award-winning business that brings people together and proudly celebrates the region she loves. From the fish man's van, and her love of Craster crab sandwiches to the people who have inspired her along the way - Amy shares her amazing story as well as her disdain for 'hacky lazy' tea making.