Undercurrent Stories

Discover how the people of Nuneaton are using the power of creativity to revitalise their community, improve their well being and embrace the challenges and opportunities  of the modern world.GRIT is an artist led programme of creativity culminating in  'Art On The Streets' in August 2024 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England. Grit are Alisha Miller, Nathan Parker and Simon Winterman.In this episode, you will be able to:·       Understand the transformative power of street art in community regeneration·       Discover the unique impact of visual art on mental health and well-being·       Explore how engaging with art programs can revitalise and strengthen communities.·       Learn valuable tips for emerging artists embarking on their creative journey·       Uncover the intriguing world of transit art and its role in urban expression·       Hear how creativity could be an essential ingredient to new forms of work where 'jobs for life' are replaced by new work practisesMy special guests are Alisha Miller and Nathan Parker.Alisha is an award winning Nuneaton artist famous for her transit art, paint and steel for public places and painting on canvas and paper as well as digital and vinyl print at large scale.Nathan, a passionate graffiti artist, found his calling at a young age and has since become a prominent figure in the street art scene. Drawing inspiration from the New York hip hop culture, Nathan's work reflects the fusion of urban art and self-expression. Links:GRIT https://grit-art-central.co.uk/Alisha Miller https://www.alishamiller.co.uk/Nathan Parker https://www.instagram.com/n_4_t_4/Undercurrent Stories links:https://linktr.ee/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee' by Bob Wells © 2020Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

You've dropped the car off at the airport car park, been processed  through security, boarded the plane and you can now relax  and look forward to your flight. You observe the cabin crew helping passengers , closing the overhead compartments and preparing for the pre-flight safety demonstration. Have you ever wondered what it must be like working for an airline? Here to answer that question I'm joined by  Steve Snow. Steve has spent his career in the airline industry with British Airways right through from trainee to senior management. You'll  hear how chance conversations and serendipity led to Steve’s first roles, you will understand what it takes to make cabin crew and through some of Steve’s many stories, sometimes very humorous, you will get a unique behind the scenes look at how things work within a major international airline.Steve's Links;Training and Coaching Ltd https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-snow-aa212812/Undercurrent Stories links:https://linktr.ee/undercurrentstories Intro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee' by Bob WellsThanks to ;Song: Flight Cabin ChimeLink:    • Flight Cabin Chime | Notification Rin...  Channel: RubricksQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

The inspiring story of how two music loving brothers from the English medieval market town of East Grinstead, defied music industry sceptics and created a worldwide smash hit!Cast your mind back to 1991, (If you were around!) Do you remember the collapse of the Soviet Union? The start of the first Gulf War? What about the hit film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and the accompanying hit record, 'Everything I do I do for You' by Bryan Adams? It stayed at no. 1 in the UK charts for 4 months!Nestling right behind the chart topper at no 2 for 6 weeks in the UK chart was the hit, 'I'm too Sexy' by the band Right Said Fred. It went on to be a major hit worldwide and charted at no. 1 all over the world.Fast forward to 2024 and I'm delighted to be joined by Richard and Fred Fairbrass the duo that is Right Said Fred.In this insightful and gently humorous conversation you will learn;The amusing story behind the lyrics to 'I'm too Sexy'The Jimi Hendrix guitar riff that largely went unnoticed in 'I'm too Sexy'How it felt being thrust into the limelight with a worldwide smash hitWhat it was like working with David Bowie and Bob Dylan, (The human side of celebrity, 'They are just blokes.')Cancel culture. Being 'cancelled' by book publishers and radio for speaking outWhat it is to be truly 'indie'The joy of the creative process over successPerseverance in the face of scepticism Advice for aspiring musicians in today's music industryTheir continued success with new releases, upcoming festival dates and 'Still Too Sexy' their new biographyThis conversation is a look at the determination and self-belief that fuel a musician's journey to the top however, above all the interview reveals the strong bond between two brothers bound by their love of music and how this special relationship gave them their grit and relentless spirit needed to break through.Links:https://rightsaidfred.com/https://twitter.com/TheFredshttps://www.instagram.com/rightsaidfredofficial/https://www.youtube.com/RIGHTSAIDFREDUKhttps://www.tiktok.com/@official_rightsaidfredBook: 'Still Too Sexy' https://www.amazon.co.uk/Still-Too-Sexy-Surviving-Right/dp/1913172503Undercurrent Stories links:https://linktr.ee/undercurrentstoriesIntro and outro music, 'Time for a Coffee' by Bob WellsQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Most of us suffer at some point from a body condition that causes an issue. You may have to wear glasses or contacts, you may have a bad back or you may have had work done on your teeth to straighten them. Have you ever wondered why?Here to answer those questions  I am joined by Alex Bezzerides. Alex is a professor of biology at Lewis-Clark State College in Idaho and he recently brought out his first book called, (Evolution Gone Wrong The Curious Reasons Why Our Bodies Work or Don’t).Expect to learn the surprising ways in which our bodies have evolved.Links:http://alexbezzerides.com/https://twitter.com/alexbezzeridesBook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Evolution-Gone-Wrong-Curious-Reasons/dp/1335690050Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

How much do you know about what’s going in Ukraine? Obviously we get daily news bulletins from the mainstream media which give  a view on major events but what about the stuff we don't hear about?What everyday life is like for civilians? Why people from other countries volunteer either on a humanitarian basis or as a soldier? What are their backgrounds? How are they received?How do the Ukrainian people see an end to the war?To help answer these questions and many more, I am joined by Matt Gallagher. Matt is a US Army veteran who volunteered and helped civilians at the start of the war in 2022 and then returned again in  2023 as a journalist. His experiences led him to publish his fourth novel, Daybreak which takes place in present day Ukraine and features a disillusioned  American volunteering for the war and to reconnect with a woman from his past.I found the novel very powerful as it is set in the present with a war still going on. It certainly helped me understand it from a human level. I hope you enjoy the episode, that it helps further your own understanding and answers some of those unanswered questions.Links:http://mattgallagherwriter.com/about/https://www.instagram.com/mattgallagher0/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Gallagher_(author)https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Daybreak/Matt-Gallagher/9781501177859Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Do you enjoy curries particularly those available in Indian restaurants or takeaways? Have you tried making them at home? If like me you have and they are ok,  but never quite taste as authentic as the chef made ones in restaurants, then this episode is for you...Al Constantinou is host of Al's Kitchen which is one of the most popular and successful BIR, (British Indian Restaurant), style cooking channels on YouTube. With over 200 videos to choose from,  Al teaches how to make all your favourite curries at home.Expect to learn the secrets behind base gravies, the importance of using the correct equipment and how the correct use of heat with garlic and spices is so important.Let Al teach you in his unique and affable style and manner and you will see how he has become so popular.Then let the results speak for themselves. This is a game changer!Al's links;https://www.youtube.com/@AlsKitchenhttps://alskitchen.uk/Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Penny Mallory was the first woman in the world to compete in a Ford Focus World Rally Car and remains the only woman to have achieved this. She is an author, highly sought after Keynote Speaker and recognised as one of the world leading authorities on mental toughness.Successful people are mentally tough. No one can avoid the minefield of setbacks, crisis, tragedy and challenge that is part of being alive. Life throws obstacles in your path daily, but mentally tough people can manage the stress and pressure. They see challenges as opportunities. They persist no matter what. They pick themselves up and go again. They are confident, humble, in control and 100% committed to what they set out to achieve.T hat may sound as if mentally tough people are special, but they’re not. No one is born with mental toughness.Expect to learn how to improve your confidence, increase motivation and discover your winning mindset. Listen to  Penny’s story from teenage runaway, homelessness in London and how this  developed her resilience. Drawing on these extraordinary experiences Penny now shares her techniques and formula to develop mental toughness giving talks and coaching groups including F1, Coca-Cola, Microsoft and TEDX.Links:https://pennymallory.co.uk/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pennymallory/https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

When you were a child did you ever have a particular passion or interest? Did it fade away as life and making a living took over? Or is it something that you have put off and you have been meaning to get back to? If you would like some renewed inspiration this episode is for you! Welcome to a captivating exploration of the harmonious marriage of art and industry, where the rhythmic hum of machinery provides the soundtrack to the dance of watercolor. In this episode, we journey into the world of David Poxon, a maestro of the brush whose vibrant works are a testament to the unexpected beauty found in the gritty, metallic landscape of industry and agricultural machinery.From his boyhood fascination with the rawness of his industrial surroundings, David now masterfully blends the austere beauty of machinery with the delicate nuance of watercolor. His work, an artful conduit between the severe precision of industry and the fluidity of pigment and water, invites us to explore the power of art to transform and to connect. We delve into the story behind his creations, the solace found in the rhythms of his brush strokes, and the strong ties that art can weave between the artist and the observer. With his journey serving as our canvas, you will hear about the sheer joy of creating something. Something that David encourages us all to experience.The principles that David talks about can be applied to any creative pursuit whether that be art, writing, music, anything in fact!Hope you enjoy the episode.Bio - David Poxon is a highly sought after  international water colour artist He is an elected member of the The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours and a signature member of the National Watercolour society of America. In addition to this  David is the organiser of the 2024 International Watercolour Masters show which takes place in Lilleshall Hall in Shropshire, England 15th - 24th May 2024.Links:https://internationalwatercolourmasters.com/https://davidpoxon.co.uk/https://www.instagram.com/davidpoxonwatercolours/https://www.facebook.com/david.poxon.520https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstories/Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

In this repeat from one of the show's most popular episodes  you are invited  to join us on a stroll down the historic lanes of Stamford, where the tales of Saxon settlers and Georgian grandeur intertwine, brought to vivid life by my guest, local historian and raconteur, Bill Cunningham. As Bill peels back the layers of time, we wander from the River Welland's influence on the town's inception to the stone-crafted beauty that defines its aesthetic today. We muse over the significance of Stamford's position on the storied route from London to York, where ancient inns like The George have quenched the thirst of travelers for a millennium, and we peek into the future with  The Mayors Guides, set to continue the tradition of sharing Stamford's historical riches.The architectural splendour of St George's Square serves as a backdrop for tales both inspiring and sinister; it's not just a setting for period dramas but a stage where the drama of history itself unfolded. Bill shares the gripping stories of Arnold Leese, whose love for camels and fascism painted a complex portrait of Stamford's past, and Edward Edwards, whose naval legacy is forever entwined with the Bounty's mutiny. These narratives are testament to the fact that beneath the town's resplendent facade lie stories of intrigue and the human condition in all its shades.Our journey wouldn't be complete without the chilling tales of Stamford's darker denizens, notably Thomas Bacon, whose life story reads like a Victorian gothic novel. As Bill recounts the accusations of murder and arson that followed Bacon from Stamford to London and beyond, one can't help but shiver at the grim chapters written into the town's history. Yet, the conversation isn't all gloom; we wrap up reveling in the town's architectural triumphs, void of the macabre overtones associated with characters like John George Haigh. With Bill's encyclopedic knowledge and lively banter, your appreciation for Stamford's historical and structural fabric will be irreversibly enriched.Please note error at 17.25. Date should be 1842 not 1642.For more information about Stamford and on Bill Cunningham please see;https://www.thestamfordtownguidedtours.co.uk/https://www.facebook.com/groups/408182023445227/https://www.instagram.com/williamdavidcunningham/?hl=enThis episode was recorded a few weeks before the Covid -19 Lockdown.Question or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com

Have you ever looked up at the moon in the night sky and wondered why it’s there, how it was formed and  what effect it has had on us humans and animals down on Earth?Here to answer those questions and many more I’m joined by Rebecca Boyle. Rebecca is an award winning science journalist contributing to Scientific American, The New York Times and many other publications. She is author of the book, Our Moon: A Human History. How Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution, and Made Us Who We Are.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Our-Moon-Celestial-Companion-Transformed/dp/1529342783Rebecca regales us with tales of the Moon's enigmatic origins and its silent yet profound influences on our planet—from the length of our days to the evolution of terrestrial life. Her book paints a stark portrait of the Moon's desolate beauty, and during our talk, she brings that imagery to life, reflecting on how this celestial body is a cornerstone of life as we know it.The dance between Earth and its Moon is a ballet of celestial mechanics and evolutionary impulses, one that Rebecca eloquently elucidates. She shares how the Moon's elliptical orbit and slow retreat from Earth have vast repercussions, from tidal forces that may have nudged vertebrates onto land to the synchronisation challenges between lunar and solar calendars that have fascinated human cultures for millennia. Our conversation wades through the interplay of light and time, considering how this relationship might even sway the rhythms of our own biology, affecting everything from plant behavior to human health.Our lunar odyssey concludes by casting an eye toward the future, questioning the implications of a Moon-less Earth and the current pulse of space exploration. As Rebecca and I discuss, space agencies are reigniting their lunar ambitions with programs like Artemis and international moon landings, paving the way for potential lunar tourism and the utilisation of Moon resources like water and helium-3. Yet, as we gaze ahead, we're mindful of the hurdles—environmental challenges like abrasive moon dust and the untapped mysteries of the Moon's far side. Join us to unravel these lunar enigmas and discover why our connection to the Moon is more than just a tale of tides and time, but a narrative deeply interwoven with the essence of our humanity.Links:https://rebeccaboyle.com/https://www.instagram.com/by.rebecca.boyle/https://www.undercurrentstories.com/https://www.instagram.com/undercurrentstoriesQuestion or comment? Send us a text message.www.undercurrentstories.com