Your host: Lewis Webb lives in Somerset, but was born in Cornwall and brought up in Devon. So when it comes to cream tea, he gets to choose jam or cream first depending on how he feels. He started this podcast to make connections with people in the area, and to help them tell their stories. When not out and about exploring Somerset with his family and dog, he can be found in the kitchen cooking with some of the county’s freshest ingredients, or underneath a pair of headphones, listening to all kinds of music.Recent Posts
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S5E7 Julie – The Fiftyist
Our guest this week is a content creator who is a campaigner for pro-age, healthy living, and all-round positivity. Julie - who goes by the social media title: The Fiftyist uses her platform to speak about the pressures, challenges, and biases against age and aging in society. She's an advocate for natural products in beauty and well-being. And after choosing to stop dying her hair, allowing it to transition to its natural silver colour, she one of a growing number of women who - in a space which has previously attracted negativity - are finding a rich vein of confidence and what Julie likes to call sass.
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S5E6 Rich Clothier
We finally talk about cheddar, with someone whose family have been dairy farmers in Somerset for generations. Rich Clothier is the managing director of Wyke Farms - and has been a key part in taking this family business from local producer, to one of the largest independent cheese makers in the UK producing over 16,000 tonnes of Cheddar per year to the same 160-year-old recipe. What's more, Rich has overseen a long-term strategy to make farming and production more sustainable at Wyke, with a mission to be a net positive business.
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S5E5 Claire Calvert
Claire Calvert has forged an amazing career with the Royal Ballet Company, dancing some of the most prestigious roles on one of the world's greatest ballet stages. She was born in Bath and grew up learning to dance in the area. Making the decision as a teenager to join White Lodge, the Royal Ballet's boarding school in London, Claire hasn't looked back, and has since become a First Soloist with the company, dancing major roles in productions of Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and many more.
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S5E4 Tom Bray & Ana Ortiz
Somerset Stories gets fired up this week, as our guests bring a slice of South America to the Somerset countryside. Tom Bray and Ana Ortiz bring together a love of fresh, locally sourced ingredients with the Latin American tradition of asado - a social and theatrical style of cooking over fire. Born in the Galapagos Islands, Ana is a chef who has cooked at some of the regions most prestigious restaurants, while Tom is the man behind Country Fire Kitchen, creating bespoke barbecue kit for aspiring asadors.
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S5E3 Zara D’Abo
This week's guest grew up visiting grandparents in the shadow of Cadbury Castle, and developed a lifelong connection with the area. Zara D'Abo has a life story which covers TV production, travel in East Africa, and working with local cheesemakers. She has now settled in Frome, which she is the founder of Acre and Holt, a tweed work and gardenwear business which puts its emphasis on sustainability, and british production.
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S5E2 Brad Burton
This week's guest is the UK's #1 motivational business speaker - Brad Burton. Born in Salford, Manchester, a series of big moments, and even bigger decisions led Brad to leave the North West as a young adult, and start his life again in Somerset. It's safe to say a lot has changed since then, and these days, you'll find him writing books, and speaking to business owners and big conferences, where his fresh, positive message is one that stands out amongst the buttoned-down corporate community.
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S5E1 Andy Wrintmore
Kicking off 2023 in style, our guest for our first podcast of the season is the former punk rock mayor of Frome, Andy Wrintmore. Andy's involvement in local politics embodies the town's well-documented independent and rebellious streak.
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S4E15 Christmas Special
This year’s Christmas Special has an amazing selection of five guests from all corners of the county, each with their own unique perspective on the festive season. We’re covering all elements of the Christmas celebration, from food and drink to music and decoration
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S4E14 Retrospective, with Tom Corneill
Over the last 14 weeks, we've shared the stories of some of the inspiring, creative, and successful individuals and families that make this beautiful county their home. And, in this season finale, we’re going to do something a little different.
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S4E13 Dr Andrew Tressider
This week, Somerset Stories meets Dr Andrew Tressider, from the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group, and co-host of the Somerset Emotional Well-being podcast. Growing up in the county, Andrew has spent the vast majority of his professional life both as a GP for the community in Chard, and also as an advocate of the health of healthcare professionals. At the start of the pandemic, he launched the podcast to offer support and discussion to those facing challenging times in their emotional and mental health. He’s also a champion of the role of nature in our well-being – championing the benefits of immersing ourselves in the natural world around us.