Local Heroes Podcast

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.

In this episode of Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan talk to Barry Hyde of The Futureheads,a rare, unfiltered peek behind the curtain.
We dive into his personal journey through the intense pressures of the music industry - from touring with Franz Ferdinand to confronting the pressure of failure and the emotional weight of creative leadership. 
Barry opens up about his experience living with bipolar disorder, the clash between The Futureheads’ upbeat public image and private struggles.
He shares his passion for community music - from prisons to classrooms - and reflects on his deep ties to Sunderland, a proud Music City with a rich cultural legacy. 
From Dave Stewart, Lauren Laverne, to grassroots champions like The Bunker and Pop Recs, Sunderland’s scene is thriving - and Barry’s right at the heart of it. 
Working with 'The Levellers' Dan Donnelly to revive The Peacock pub and creating Birdland Studios, Barry speaks about his surprise time working in a kitchen, his genuine love of food, and how hospitality became part of his creative life.
We also explore his latest solo project, Miners’ Ballads, released on 21st March. Commissioned by Sunderland City Council and a powerful tribute to the North East’s coal mining heritage.
We touch on the steep learning curve of being a pub owner during that unforgettable Euro 21 lockdown fixture between England v Italy, and how his circus family roots, including lion tamers and boxers, still echo through his sense of self.
This is a raw, funny, moving conversation about survival, creativity, and staying grounded in your community.

From Milk Floats to Imposter Syndrome - The Story of Mr Cheeseman. This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the incomparable Simon Raine - founder of Weardale Cheese, a former Big Cheese at Yellow Pages, and a man who turned a former POW camp in County Durham into a powerhouse of artisan cheesemaking. Simon takes us on a journey from growing up around the milk trade and riding milk floats as a kid, to building a beloved food business from scratch - and the emotional toll that comes with it.  We talk about the pressure of being a small business owner, the stress of loving what you do so much, and living with imposter syndrome even when you're the one making award-winning cheese. There’s laughter (lots), football rants (Leeds vs Sunderland, of course), celebrity run-ins, and the valuable reminder that sometimes, you really shouldn’t meet your idols. A moving and hilarious conversation with a man who’s given his heart to his region, his craft, and his community. Simon Raine — the Milk Kid turned Cheeseman, and local legend of Weardale.

This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan are joined by North Wales-born, North East-based folk artist Ruby Kelly. Ruby dives into her songwriting process, her deep connection to place, and the stories that shape her music. The conversation flows from music to tattoos, triple carb dinners, and the unshakable support of her biggest fans—her Mum and Dad.
They also chat about their recent collaboration on Born & Raised, created for the Local Heroes: Out and About web series. As always, Local Heroes shines a light on the UK’s emerging talent—this episode is a warm, funny, and inspiring listen you won’t want to miss.

Bev Stephenson joins Chris and Dan this week to talk chocolate, hospitality, and the wild ride that brought her from journalism to North Chocolates. Along the way, she’s written for the Guardian and Observer, witnessed the golden age of food critics, and championed the idea that great service is just as vital as great food.
We get into Bev’s love of maps, the quiet joy of gardening, memories of drinking in parks, and a few well-earned dinner medals. Through it all, her warmth, humour, and unmistakable Northern spirit shines bright. She also drops two more concepts into the Local Heroes merchandise bucket!

In this episode, Chris and Dan take a deep dive into the story behind Local Heroes, their commitment to reclaiming our identity from the region's gentrifiers, fighting the power and celebrating their shared love of storytelling. Be prepared for an anarchic conversation as Chris and Dan take you down one of their famous rabbit holes, sharing their personal journeys, riffing on fictional band names, creating their own universe, and a Dan Prince inspired food brand, Colonel Corncake. This is the Local Heroes Podcast.

Heather Mills is a world-renowned activist, model, Paralympian, and vegan entrepreneur, known for her campaigning, activism, and advocacy of plant-based living. After overcoming life-changing adversity, she became a record-breaking Paralympic skier, a successful vegan food pioneer, and a powerful voice for change. In this week’s episode of the Local Heroes Podcast, Heather shares her incredible journey, from a tough childhood in the North East to becoming a self-proclaimed "vegan schmegan." She talks about her early food memories, cooking rabbit stew, Dewhurst butchers, and 'the pop man’. Plus, she reveals her dream last meal and, of course, her ultimate Greggs order. This is the Local Heroes Podcast.

This week, Chris and Dan are joined by Laura Middleton, the mastermind behind Geordie Scran and founder of Canny Social. Laura turned a side hustle and a simple food blog into a thriving online community, catching the attention of brands like Greggs, KFC, and Deliveroo. From her days as a nightclub promotor to African travel drama's, contraband Greggs to emptying an entire vending machine for a train ride home.

This week, Chris and Dan talk to the ultimate local hero and household voice that is Nick Barnes. Since 2003, Nick has been the voice of Sunderland matches on BBC Radio Newcastle, forming a long-standing commentary partnership with SAFC legend, Gary Bennett. Born in Cornwall and raised in Devon, Nick's journey has taken him through Cumbria before settling in Sunderland. With a passion for tweed and whisky, Nick talks about his famous matchday sketches, his love of cooking and how he's never seen a 9-0.