Sarah Wylie, In Conversation

S7 EP3 Helen Needham - ‘You took me to that place I was once able to go to, but I can’t anymore’

On this week’s episode of SWIC I get to chat to senior BBC Radio Scotland producer Helen Needham. Helen & I enjoyed recording our episode in the Old Post Office Cafe Gallery, surrounded by Ann Vastano’s landscape paintings for added inspiration. We chat Helen’s road into producing, her equal love for making programmes on the outdoors & traditional music, celebrating 100 years of BBC Aberdeen, giving young trad musicians a platform, being recognised on the Hands Up For Trad Women in Music & Culture list 2026, the programmes she produces and the exciting new projects too. This programme is sponsored by The Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

S7 EP2 Jenna Reid - ‘Everyone who played a fiddle would gather at ours after school and play’

Following on from last weeks theme of island life, on my latest episode of SWIC I had the absolute joy of chatting to award winning composer, Shetland fiddler, children’s author & member of Blazin’ Fiddles , Jenna Reid. Jenna & I chat her recent fiddle day inspiring musicians with Rachel Cooper, quiet moments that help ideas flow, what success looks like versus reality, Jenna’s upbringing on Shetland, her music influences, being part of the amazing Blazin’ Fiddles & her latest children’s book ‘Do You Play an Instrument?’. Jenna Reid reminds those that need to hear it that ‘you are enough’ This heart warming reminder certainly stayed with me long after our chat. This programme is sponsored by the Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

S7 EP1 Michael Pedersen - ‘ a beautiful thing happened, after the shaming, it was accepted I wrote ‘

Sarah Wylie In Conversation is back for Season 7! ( & to mark the new, I have decided to write in 1st person! ) I’m so excited to share my first guest of the series with you. For episode one, I got to chat to award winning poet, writer & Edinburgh’s Makar, Michael Pedersen. We talk the power to embrace who you are from a young age, Michael’s upbringing in Portobello, being outed as a writer & we reminisce the bus routes we shared too. Michael shares on the themes of wonder & friendship throughout his work and how he is using these themes to inspire young people to write, in his role as Edinburghs Makar. We ofcourse talk his latest novel Muckle Flugga, the wonderful characters, his current book tour & we are even treated to an expert recited by Michael justo for us! This programme is sponsored by the Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.

S6 EP1 Nadia Alexander - ‘ I want to make pieces that empower’

Happy first SWIC episode of 2026! Sarah starts her New Year series chatting to business women & fashionista Nadia Alexander! They chat Robert Burns Day memories, Nadia’s love of tartan, what she learned about herself in her job as a career, stepping into the beauty business, how she opened the first Holland Cooper franchise on Multrees Walk, starting her own brand Nadia Alexander & owning one of the few uk manufacturers and so much more. This programme was also broadcast on Speysound Radio.

S6 EP6 Nikki Alford - ‘I kept the photo of Bessie Ellen in my back pocket’

On the final episode of SWIC, season 6, Sarah got to chat to Skipper & Owner of Bessie Ellen, Nikki Alford. Nikki takes us into her world at sea, from spending a summer on her Aunt & Uncles boat at 16 to sharing stories of cooking & enjoying food from around the world. They talk the wonder of nature, Nikki’s favourite sea birds & finding grounding at sea. They discover they are both dreamers and Nikki’s dream to own Bessie Ellen was fulfilled on her 30th birthday. Bessie Ellen is now home & many others join Nikki on life changing voyages too. This programme is sponsored by The Old Post Office Cafe Gallery.