Undercurrent Stories

To celebrate St Patrick's Day here is another chance to hear this interview with legendary guitarist Eric Bell from the equally iconic and legendary Irish hard rock band, Thin Lizzy.This episode was originally released in March 2023.Episode photo attributed with thanks -  By Klaus Hiltscher - https://www.flickr.com/photos/khiltscher/3141138463/in/faves-24788065@N02/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15531140With it's haunting and mesmerising guitar intro many listeners will be familiar with the Thin Lizzy hit, Whisky in the Jar which reached no. 6 in the UK charts in 1973.My guest today is the legendary former lead guitarist and founding member of Thin Lizzy, Eric Bell.  As well as playing on that famous song, Eric recorded 3 albums with Thin Lizzy,  'Thin Lizzy,' ' Shades of a Blue Orphanage' and 'Vagabonds of the Western World.'In our conversation Eric talks about;1) His introduction to the guitar2) Playing in Irish Showbands3) How a chance meeting with Phil Lynott and Brian Downey led to the formation of Thin Lizzy4) How the trio wrote songs5) The story of how Whisky in the Jar was never intended to be a single!6) Reaching success and how Phil Lynott developed his enigmatic stage persona7) His career after Thin Lizzy, including playing with Jimi Hendrix's bassist Noel Redding8)The Eric Bell Trio9) Valuable lessons about performing for other musicians10) Eric's autobiography, 'Remembering'11) Songwriting  and much more.If you are a Thin Lizzy fan I hope that you will enjoy this episode and for those listeners who may not be too familiar with the band but would like to hear a captivating tale from a true gentleman and one of the worlds greatest  guitarists, this is for you. Enjoy!Eric's links;https://www.facebook.com/EricBellOfficialhttp://www.oftheedgeproductions.com/index.htmlQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Steve Gillson—coach, mentor, educator, and digital marketing expert  shares his incredible journey from a successful corporate boardroom career in sales and marketing to a transformative new path in coaching, mentoring, and digital strategy.We explore Steve’s fascinating life journey, including: ✅ His transition from the corporate world to a more purpose-driven career ✅ The challenges of moving to France and starting over ✅ How launching a toy bank for children in need sparked his interest in digital marketing ✅ His work with https://www.heropreneurs.co.uk/ , mentoring military veterans in business ✅ The power of SEO and digital marketing for small businesses and coaches ✅ His near-death experiences while travelling and how they shaped his outlook on lifeSteve also discusses his latest venture, The Coaches Growth Club, where he helps coaches and entrepreneurs navigate the complex world of digital marketing to grow their businesses effectively.Memorable quotes:"I bet on myself.""You need to be the filter.""SEO is crucial to everything really.""Networking still matters.""It's about imperfect action."I hit rock bottom at that point.""Transforming people's business dreams into profitable reality.""I faced a near-death experience and it changed my life for the better"Where to Find Steve: 🌎 Website: https://mindsettomarketing.com/ 🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-gillson2121/ 🏛 UK College of Personal Development: ukcpd.co.uk💬 "If you want to transform dreams into reality, Steve’s insights are invaluable."Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In today's episode, we’re diving deep into our own brains to discover why we do what we do. I don’t know about you but sometimes I wonder why I did something in a particular way!Joining us is Dr Helena Boschi. Helena is a psychologist specialising in applied neuroscience and a much sought after speaker where she brings the fascinating world of brain science to her audiences in a ways that are practical and that can be applied.What I liked about reading her book, 'Why We Do What We Do' was how she distils the science and makes it easy to understand.Helena's links:https://www.chequeredleopard.com/Book: Why We Do What We DoUndercurrent Stories links:   https://www.undercurrentstories.com/https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/https://www.facebook.com/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee'  Bob Wells © 2020Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

How much do we really know about what is happening in Ukraine? What is life like for the Ukrainian people? How do they see peace and what will it look like? This interview was recorded on 26th February 2025 following a tumultuous 2 weeks of 'hard news' related to the war in Ukraine.  Putin/Trump telephone call on 12th February President Trump described President Zelensky as a 'dictator.'  Vice-President JD Vance attacked European leaders on the basis of whether current European values warranted defence by the US. On 24th February the US sided with Russia, Belarus and North Korea to pass UN resolutions on the war in Ukraine.  February ended with visits by 3 European leaders to the White House with Presidents, Macron, Zelensky and Prime Minister Starmer meeting with Donald Trump. UK announced an increase to 2.5% of GDP for DefenceHowever, for all we read and hear about in the news I wanted to have the opportunity to hear from somebody who is living in Ukraine and what his take is on all this and so I’m very pleased to welcome back Yuri Yastavny to the show. Yuri is owner of Pravda Beer in the historic city of Lviv in Western Ukraine.Yuri's links;https://www.pravda.beer/en/pravda/https://www.instagram.com/pravdabeer/Connect with Undercurrent Stories:   https://www.undercurrentstories.com/https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/https://www.facebook.com/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee'  Bob Wells © 2020Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In this episode, we’re going back in time back to the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century taking a captivating journey into the grandeur, elegance, and daily realities of life in British country houses.Joining us is Adrian Tinniswood — Adrian is a professorial research fellow in history at the University of Buckingham, adjunct professor of history at Maynooth University, and one of the foremost experts on the history of British country homes. He has authored many books including The Long Weekend, Noble Ambitions and  his latest book, The Power and the Glory.Adrian gives us a front-row seat to life in these magnificent homes — from the glittering dinner parties and opulent furnishings to the strict hierarchies and gruelling schedules of the staff who kept everything running smoothly. What was it really like to live in a country house? And how did these houses evolve through times of prosperity and hardship?So, grab your afternoon tea and cucumber sandwiches and get ready for a fascinating conversation with Adrian Tinniswood.Memorable quotes;"If it's big and it's posh, it's a country house.""Life was actually pretty good for servants."“The moment I set foot in Sudbury Hall, I thought—country houses are how I want to spend my life.” “We sometimes forget that the reason we save these places is because they’re so damn beautiful. They’re not just history lessons—they drip with joy.” “For some, buying a country house was the pot of gold at the end of their rainbow—it gave them access to county society.” – Adrian Tinniswood Adrian's links:https://adriantinniswood.com/https://www.instagram.com/adriantinniswood/Book: The Power and the GloryMA in Country House StudiesConnect with Undercurrent Stories:   https://www.undercurrentstories.com/https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/https://www.facebook.com/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee'  Bob Wells © 2020Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Michael Chad Hoeppner, a seasoned communication coach and founder of GK Training, shares his journey from poetry to teaching effective communication. He introduces innovative techniques, like building with Lego, to enhance public speaking skills and reduce filler words. Hoeppner discusses vocal habits and their influence on audience perception, emphasizing breath support and clarity. He also recounts his experiences coaching high-profile candidates, showcasing the importance of authenticity, posture, and emotional connection in impactful communication.

Public Footpaths, or to use the correct term, 'Public Rights of Way' are a unique national treasure in England and Wales. In fact there are over 149,000 miles of them!Interestingly there are a further estimated 49,000 miles of 'lost' Public Rights of Way which could be lost forever if they have not been recorded.Joining me to discuss footpaths and how you can help get involved in re-establishing these footpaths as Public Rights of Way is Jack Cornish. Jack  is head of paths at the Ramblers Association, Britain's largest walking charity. In 2017, he walked across the country from Land's End to John O'Groats, and he has dedicated the last seven years of his life to walking and recording the forgotten routes of England and Wales. He's just brought out his latest book: 'The Lost Paths, A History of How we walk from here to there.'Jack's links;https://www.instagram.com/cornishjack11/Website: https://www.jackfcornish.com/Book. 'The Lost Paths' https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/446761/the-lost-paths-by-cornish-jack/9781405951289Ramblershttps://www.ramblers.org.uk/Connect with Undercurrent Stories:   https://www.undercurrentstories.com/https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/https://www.facebook.com/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee'  Bob Wells © 2020Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

As the 21st century rolls on with a competitive workplace,  an ever changing working environment and the increasing use of AI you might well be asking how you stand out and how you can make yourself irreplaceable.One man that has been asking these questions over the past 15 years while running one of the world’s top executive search firms is my guest William Vanderbloemen. William is an entrepreneur, pastor, speaker, author, and CEO and founder of Vanderbloemen Search Group, an executive search firm serving churches, ministries, and faith-based organisations.Through extensive research of over 30,000 top leaders Wiilliam has identified the 12 habits that the best of the best have in common. His book, Be the Unicorn looks at such traits  as authenticity, responsiveness, agility, and the ability to problem solve. William's links;Book - Be the Unicorn https://www.vanderbloemen.com/https://www.instagram.com/wvanderbloemen/Connect with Undercurrent Stories:   https://www.undercurrentstories.com/https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/https://www.facebook.com/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee'  Bob Wells © 2020Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Today we’re diving into a topic that’s often overlooked but always relevant, etiquette and manners.  Most of us learn these as we grow up but given all the cultural and technological changes that modern society has experienced it’s not always easy to know the best practises to adopt. Here to help navigate these changes I’m joined by Thomas Farley. Based in New York,  Thomas is known as 'Mr Manners' and is America’s trusted etiquette expert frequently appearing on national TV and working with clients such as the Walt Disney company, American Express, the  US Army and many more.Thomas's links:https://mister-manners.com/https://www.instagram.com/MisterManners/https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaspfarley/Connect with Undercurrent Stories:   https://www.undercurrentstories.com/ https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/ https://www.facebook.com/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee'  Bob Wells © 2020Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

James Cooper, a Christmasologist, (Yes there is such a word!), reveals the history of Christmas traditions in the UK over the last 1500 years.Speaking to Bob in this episode first aired in 2022, James takes us on a journey of discovery as he shares the unexplained stories behind the celebration of Christmas.Find out more on James's website;https://www.whychristmas.com/Connect with Undercurrent Stories:  Website: https://www.undercurrentstories.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee'  Bob Wells © 2020Join the Conversation:We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts on this episode, connect with us on social media, and don’t forget to leave a review.Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com