#5 - Sam Rose  -  Helping cancer survivors through creative writing.  In today’s episode with Sam Rose, we talk about how creative writing can help cancer survivors.  Key points from this discussion: Her own experiences with cancer and how writing has helped.  The need in cancer survivorship for support at the right time.  What the wider community could consider when supporting cancer survivors. Sam Rose is a second-year PhD student at Teesside University, where she also gained her MA Creative Writing in 2017. She is researching the relationship between creative ..read more

#4 - Katie Aitken-McDermott  - Doing social good makes business sense. In today’s episode with Katie Aitken-McDermott, we talk about how doing social good makes business sense. Key points from this discussion: How the pandemic accelerated the number of CICs being set up, with 20% of the CICs in the region being set up in 2020.  The importance of storytelling for social enterprises to create a sense of community and belonging.  And the many great examples in the region to learn from.    Katie moved to the northeast in her early 20s and lives in Northumberland. She’s a ..read more

#3 John Moriarty - How workplaces shape social identity and influence mental health.  In today’s episode with John Moriarty, we talk about how workplaces shape social identity and influence mental health. Key points from this discussion: The concept of a job role coming from theatre and an actor’s role. How Covid has been an accelerant rather than a game changer.  And the opportunity for businesses to offer work that fulfils rather than a means to pay bills.  John Moriarty is a sociology lecturer and researcher at Queen’s University Belfast, based at the Centre for Evidence an ..read more

#2 Helen Wareham - Child development and the future workforce.  In today’s episode with Helen Wareham, we talk about how the better start a child has, the more opportunities and the better outcomes when leaving school. Key points from this discussion: The importance of routines and parent/child interactions in positive child outcomes.  Upward movement in education giving an upward movement in child development.  The opportunities for business support in such development with a better workforce in the future.  Helen has been working from home in Weardale since March 2020 s ..read more

#1 Rachael Singleton In today’s episode with Rachael Singleton, we talk about blending psychology and the natural environment; how we can better sustain the immense value our beaches offer to their visitors. Key points from this discussion: Looking to make tourism more sustainable.  The six key values that people derive from the beach and nature.  And how psychology and human behaviour needs to be part of sustainability. On average, 625 pieces of litter can be found for every 100 metres of Northern Irish beach (KNIB, 2019), with 80% of this litter originating from land – further im ..read more