The Cardiff Podcast

22: Fighting Homelessness with Llanrumney Phoenix Boxing Club and Cardiff Council - Homelessness Special Part 2

This podcast is the second part of a homelessness special and focuses on an initiative going on in the community that makes a genuine difference to the lives of homeless people. It’s easy and lazy to think nothing is being done to help those who live on our streets, on our sofas or in hostels.   But there really is and Cardiff Council has been working with previous podcast guest Gemma Price and all the great people at Llanrumney Phoenix Boxing Club to provide a safe space to share experiences, train, get fit and benefit from all the mental health enhancing powers that boxing brings.  It’s serious training too, the formidable Tony really puts them through their paces. I speak to Rob Green from Cardiff Council, two young men who’ve benefitted hugely from the scheme and of course Gemma Price who’s just been been honoured by the Big Lottery on ITV for the work she’s done with lottery funding.  Richly deserved too.

21: The Homeless World Cup - Homelessness Special Part 1

This podcast is part one of a homelessness special to mark the staging of the homeless world cup in Cardiff with actor Michael Sheen bringing the event to the Welsh capital.  I spoke to co-founder of the homeless world cup, the inspirational Mel Young. We talked in depth about how lives are transformed by street football and how we should approach the issue of homelessness, an open sore in our and many other societies around the world. I caught up with some of our Welsh players and the men’s team coach, Wayne who all have very different tales of how they ended up on the street. I also had the joy of bumping into a previous guest on this podcast, the very lovely Rhydian Bowen Phillips who was doing a great job on the PA on the main pitch. Part 2 of the homelessness special is a return visit to Llanrumney Boxing Club and a very special project for homeless people in Cardiff that is transforming lives and will go out at the end of August.

20: Episode 20 - Jon Jenkins, Great British Bake Off

This podcast is a treat for all Great British Bake Off fans as Newport’s Jon Jenkins joins me to reflect on his time in the famous tent last year. In a series full of characters, Jon with his trademark Hawaiian shirts, certainly stood out as one of the most memorable contestants as proved by the Hawaiian shirt tribute the week after he was knocked out. So we get a great insight into just what’s it like to be on the show and indeed how to get on it in the first place. Jon is great company, so grab yourself a Chelsea bun and enjoy.

19: Episode 19 - Gemma Price, Boxing Pretty

Joining me on Episode 19 is Gemma Price, a woman who truly hit rock bottom when she was trapped in a toxic and abusive relationship. Gemma used a chance encounter with a punch bag as the inspiration to fight back in epic style to set up the Boxing Pretty club that empowers, builds confidence and supports women and girls. We explore what boxing did for her mental health and the amazing response from women across Cardiff as she set the club up. It’s so much more than a boxing club, it’s a safe space in the community and has now been recognised by Cardiff Council and Welsh Government who have funded a complete renovation with their Llanrumney base fast becoming a modern training centre for aspiring boxers, both male and female. She is also working on a host of projects there that we will return to in the future for sure. Gemma’s story is harrowing but ultimately inspirational and a great example of how you can bounce back from the worst life can throw at you.

18: Episode 18 - David Clubb, renewable energy champion

Joining me on Episode 18 is David Clubb, a renewable energy champion who is coming to the end of a 7 year spell with Renewable UK Cymru. David is a passionate and well-travelled man who has lived and worked in such places as Denmark and Spain, fully assimilating and taking on board many schemes and approaches to renewable energy that inform his thinking today. We met on an alarmingly warm and sunny February day in the beer garden of the excellent Cricketers pub in Cardiff to talk all things environment and sustainability. We explore his exciting new venture and the many frustrations and triumphs over the last 20 years and how each and every one of us can play our part in tackling the ongoing climate emergency.