Episodes

  • 14: Kim Carnie

    14: Kim Carnie
    Dec 22 2024
    Fàilte gu prògram 14! Settle down for a cuppa with Scottish folk singer and winner of Our 2024 Unicorns Arts Award, Kim Carnie. Jules meets Kim as her new solo single, Middle of Hope is released and just days after the Scottish premiere of a special documentary made about her life and the impact of being in a secret same-sex relationship for 6 years, from the ages of 16-22. Directed by Maureen MacLeod, Kim Carnie Out Loud (2024) explores coming out stories from around the world as Kim reflects at aged 30, on the impact those 6 years of secrecy had on her.

    Also in the episode... Born and raised in Oban, Kim shares her intimate connection to the Gaelic language, her experiences of rural culture and her love for the Scottish folk scene whilst exploring with Jules how it feels to be a queer person in traditional communities.

    You'll hear clips of Kim's music, from her 2022 album, And So We Gather, performed by Kim Carnie and produced by Donald Shawand and from her 2024 single, Middle of Hope, produced by Innes White.

    Featured musical clips in order:
    Nighean Sin Thall, performed by Kim Carnie and produced by Donald Shawand
    Middle of Hope, performed by Kim Carnie and produced by Innes White
    And So We Gather, performed by Kim Carnie and produced by Donald Shawand

    Thanks for such a warm welcome and engaging chat Kim!
    Listen to Kim Carnie's music:
    Kim Carnie

    For more information visit Kim's website:
    Home | Kim Carnie
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    57 mins
  • 13: Porty Pride: Smalltown Joy

    13: Porty Pride: Smalltown Joy
    Sep 1 2024
    Porty Pride have hosted their 3rd pride festival in the town of Portobello, Edinburgh’s seaside suburb. Jules sets off on an unplanned, day-long adventure to find out how this small regional event with LGBTQ+ organisers at its heart, is building a better community for everyone.

    Content heads-ups:
    - seagulls
    - dogs barking
    - a bit of wind
    - a couple of moments of loud cheering
    - brief mention of homophobia and transphobia

    Jules would like to thank:

    Loud and Proud Choir
    Kate Gillwood and Rea Cris - (Founders and organising committee members of Porty Pride) and the entire Porty Pride Committee
    Graham, Alice and Abi - Porty Pride Volunteers
    Briana Pegardo and Catherine Stocks-Rankin
    Chris - Culture Club Collective
    Gary - Passay’s Café
    Joss Cameron - Traditional balled singer from Joppa
    Louise, Mousehole Deli
    Angela Davidson - Macmillan Cancer Support
    Joanna Simpson - LGBT Health and Wellbeing
    Rowan Alison - Disability and Neurodiversity Inclusion Officer, Equality Network
    Kaylan, Popeye’s Café
    Portobello Book Shop
    Portobello Community Choir
    Mystika Glamoor
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    50 mins
  • 12: Dean Atta

    12: Dean Atta
    Jul 15 2024
    Dean Atta is an award-winning author and performance poet and in this touching and revealing episode we hear about the inspiration for his memoir and how the deeply personal book - yo-yoing back and forth from his childhood - stays grounded by its focus on the body "starting at the crown moving through to the roots".

    The courage present throughout all Dean's work is reflected in the conversation and both Jules and Dean touch on serious topics alongside the defiant, whimsical joy he brings to the episode.

    CW: brief references to sexual assault, homophobia, racism and depression

    More about Dean's work:
    Dean Atta (google.com)

    Thank you to the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery for help making this podcast possible.
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    56 mins
  • 11: Jackie Kay

    11: Jackie Kay
    Jun 20 2024
    What kind of biscuits do you lay out for a national icon? I settled on gingers and spent too long arranging them on one of my wife’s favourite plates. We record at my home (ten points if you can hear the bin lorry during the chat!) and Jackie was kind enough to come over and share the stories behind this new collection of poems, and its title, ‘May Day’, a chronicle of activism in the UK over six decades.

    It’s a feisty conversation, with peaks of revelry as Jackie recalls her encounter with Maya Angelou (doing an impeccable impression of her) and deeper, quieter and more sombre moments for both Jackie and I, as we reflect on loss, feelings about family and the notion of home.

    It was quite the moment for me, to hear Jackie recite lines of two different poems in this episode, gifting Somewhere for Us listeners with a personal glimpse into the collection through her own voice. Jackie Kay has survived years of appalling experiences she reveals, which I hear in her bite and her fight for a better, kinder world.

    May Day is out now, published by Picador and available in all good independent book shops.

    About Jackie Kay
    Jackie Kay was born in Edinburgh. A poet, novelist and writer of short stories, she has enjoyed great acclaim for her work for both adults and children. Her novel, Trumpet, won the Guardian Fiction Prize. She has published three collections of stories with Picador, Why Don’t You Stop Talking, Wish I Was Here, and Reality, Reality; two poetry collections, Fiere and Bantam; and a memoir, Red Dust Road. From 2016 to 2021 she was the third modern Makar, the National Poet for Scotland. She lives in Manchester and is Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Salford.
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    45 mins
  • 10: Horse McDonald

    10: Horse McDonald
    May 24 2024
    Having pressed send on her 8th studio album (and 11th album in total) just hours before we begin, Horse McDonald is back at the starting gate raring to go, but as she soon reminds me in this candid chat, she’s in the same race as everyone else.

    It's all in the music for Horse, and she's still powerfully singing it out loud and proud some 34 years since her first album, 'The Same Sky' in 1990. In this episode, Horse shares the stories behind her long awaited and self-produced new album, 'The Road Less Travelled', her experience of grief and loss, frustration with the music industry and how singing saved her life. A must listen for Horse fans but a warm invitation too, if you're a newcomer, to learn about this Fife-born stalwart of Scottish music.

    The Road Less Travelled (Randan Music) CD and VINYL are out May 25th, 2024. See www.horsemcdonald.com if you would like further information or to purchase CDs or Digital Downloads.
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    53 mins
  • 9: John Bell

    9: John Bell
    Dec 17 2023
    Actor John Bell has been standing out on the small and big screen since 2007 and has been involved in some of TV and Film's most iconic productions. As a 10 year old he won a part in Dr Who which has since led to a fantastic career playing Bain in the Hobbit film series and longstanding role of Ian Fraser Murray aka 'Young Ian', in Starz TV's epic adventure, Outlander. Hear how it feels to be part of some of the world's biggest fandoms!

    Also find out why Edith Bowman lost her rag at him at the Scottish Baftas and why his parents are still his role models after his very showbiz coming out story.

    Listen out for a Somewhere for Us Podcast EXCLUSIVE around 37 minutes in…
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    42 mins
  • 8: Lorna Thomas

    8: Lorna Thomas
    Nov 12 2023
    Following the episode with Greer Ralston and Rachel Dax, Jules heads to Glasgow to meet Lorna who currently features in Ralston's latest exhibition.

    Lorna is positively gleeful about playing alongside her childhood hero, Horse, and can be found sparkling alongside her with full band and strings, on some the UK's most iconic stages.  More info on Horse's The Road Less Travelled 2023 tour here.

    Lorna and Jules talk role models, custom-made guitars and the future of queer music.  We also hear how it feels to have your stage wardrobe immortalised in paint!

    More about Lorna Thomas
    Lorna Thomas | United Kingdom | Bassist
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    24 mins
  • 7: Rachel Dax and Greer Ralston

    7: Rachel Dax and Greer Ralston
    Nov 6 2023
    Greer Ralston is Giving it All to Art and filmmaker Rachel Dax is telling her story in a forthcoming documentary film.  Dax and Ralston forged a friendship during the Pandemic that has brought their artistic and personal worlds together and chatting with Jules around Greer's dining room table, they share their mutual passion for supporting and championing fellow LGBTQ+ artists.

    In this episode, find out what's drawing Greer back to her roots as a figurative painter, how painting clothes is reconnecting her with her community and why Rachel can't wait to shine a new light on her work and the women behind the paintings.  Join Jules, Greer and Rachel as they also venture out to see Greer's exhibition, ‘Under The Surface’ on show at the Stirling University Innovation Park.

    About Rachel Dax
    https://daxitales.com/

    About Greer Ralston
    https://www.instagram.com/greer.ralston
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    47 mins