I have known Steve all his life and can say with confidence that his lifelong interest, curiosity and passion for the creative arts has never left him. Particularly singing, acting and film making. In this conversation we explore his decision to move to London and study at the Royal Academy of Music and how this helped to manage his anxiety. We delve into the challenges of the audition process and how a career in the performing arts will always require a huge sacrifice, challenge and one hell of a thick skin! Steve talks about making the very difficult decision to retrain in Law and how on reflection this was ultimately the right road for him to walk. We ask if nowadays having a privileged background open doors into the industry and have we lost sight of the working class heroes of our yesteryear like Alan Bennett and Harold Pinter? Steve has experienced deep sadness particularly when his Mum passed away and he tells us how he found some solace in the wonderful music of Kate Bush and Nick Cave’s Red Hand Files. Steve also puts forward his strategy of not always just focusing on the present and the now, but to also immerse yourself in the past and celebrate special memories as this can be a way of learning to walk with grief.

Recorded remotely February 2024

https://www.theredhandfiles.com/

https://www.katebush.com/

https://www.ram.ac.uk/

The JGT Podcast was initiated by the young people we support and aims to provide a distraction and comfort to those experiencing ongoing hospital visits and challenging treatment plans. The burden of a cancer diagnosis in your teens or early twenties is particularly distressing and we hope in some way, our podcasts make this very frightening experience just a little easier.

Our subscribers tend to be younger adults and enjoy hearing from people with a story to tell. Especially those who are trying to step out of their comfort zone and do something different. We feature interviews with people from all walks of life and In our ‘talking music’ series take a glimpse into the day-to-day lives of some exceptional musicians.

We are privileged to have interviewed some incredible fundraisers and campaigners. People who meet life’s challenges head-on and strive to make a difference. Many of our guests have turned obstacles and difficulties into positive endorsements of modern day living.

If you would like to be a guest and share your story with us, then hit our contact link on the website right now and let’s talk!

I first came across Nicola Nuttall on social media. Mainly because of her hash tag, #shitscaredmum. I can’t think of a better description of how it feels as a parent to see your child on a teenage cancer ward. All parents go into survival mode when their son or daughter has a life threatening illness. They fundraise, campaign, fight and will move heaven and earth to arrive at a curative outcome. Of course, after all that’s intrinsic to being a Mum & Dad. But there was something different about Nicola. Reading her Twitter feed and visiting her website (link below) you immediately get a sense of the person behind the brave face.

Since Laura was diagnosed, Nicola and her husband Mark have had many people getting in touch to ask for advice for themselves or loved ones who have unfortunately received a similar diagnosis. So within 'Tips and Advice’ on their website (link below) they outlined Laura's current treatments and all the supplementary things they are trying to help Laura, in the hope that they can help others too. Nicola reinforces the fact that she is by no means a medical expert, but she has picked up a few pieces of advice during Laura's experience with cancer that may help others.

She is vigorously campaigning for a change and raising awareness of brain tumours in young adults and children. But with a very genuine and heartfelt approach to helping others with the same prognosis as Laura. At the same time, her family is experiencing the biggest challenge imaginable and managing their own emotions. Whether you’re a millionaire, or you live on the streets there’s nothing more painful than when your children are seriously unwell and Nicola’s coping strategy to heal emotionally has been one long fight to stay ahead of Glioblastoma, and not just for Laura, but for the many young adults and children with this bastard disease.

Brain Tumour | Doing it for laura

TIPS AND ADVICE | Doingitforlaura

The Brain Tumour Charity

Joe Gilligan Trust | Supporting young adults fighting cancer

Donate — Joe Gilligan Trust

Thank you so much for all the positive feedback on our talking music series. It’s great that so many of you are enjoying our conversations. This episode is hosted by Sam Martin and his guest is professional drummer Alex Reeves. Alex has performed drums live on stage, radio and TV and recorded on albums with Elbow, Dizzee Rascal, Razorlight, Bat For Lashes, Shania Twain, Marina, Nick Cave, The BBC Symphony Orchestra, The Heritage Orchestra, Guy Garvey, Anna Calvi, The Young Punx, Bobby Womack, One Direction, Johnny Hates Jazz, Avicii and hundreds more. Alex plays drums for Elbow.

Visit his Website Alex Reeves Drums and Percussion

Instagram photos and videos (@alexreevesdrums)

Alex Reeves in action

Today’s guest is one of the UKs best loved and long established saxophone players Chris ‘Snake’ Davis. I’ve followed his career for many years and really enjoy is melodic and soulful playing! He’s gone from a gigging sax player travelling around the country in a van playing with punk bands and function bands to collaborating with genuine Soul legends, including Edwin Starr, Rose Royce, Sister Sledge, The Three Degrees. From the pop world The Eurythmics, George Michael, Lisa Stansfield. Let’s not forget, he wrote the iconic sax solo on Take That's hit A Million Love Songs.

During lockdown he’s kept  busy with a live stream YouTube gig every Friday and Sunday evening at 7pm and like most professional musicians as had to press the COVID pause button on his usual diary of tours studio sessions and gigs. He is without doubt one of the most sought-after session players in Europe a true industry professional and a thoroughly nice bloke. When he read about the trust he was more than happy to help us and I’m very grateful for that!. Incidentally the name ‘Snake’ comes from the way he moves on stage. When he’s playing a solo you’ll see that the more he’s into it the more he wriggles from side to side as he performs! 

Snake Davis

Snake Davis - YouTube

Our guest this episode is the regional lead for DocBike Staffordshire (#lukeslegacy) Carol Close. She campaigns vigorously for Biker safety throughout the midlands and is very grateful for the support offered from Staffordshire police and the healthcare professional who work with the charity. First and foremost however, she is a Mum who is coming to terms with the tragic loss of her Son Luke in a motorcycle accident in August 2019 age 28.

The DocBike charity combines highly qualified doctors or critical care paramedics with two wheels to reduce deaths and serious injuries on our roads due to motorcycle collisions. Wherever possible, this doctor or paramedic also works on the local air ambulance. It is part of their every-day job, to treat and save the most severely injured and sick patients and help them to reach hospital alive. 

Home - DocBike

https://twitter.com/DocBike_Staffs

With over 40 years experience as a Social Worker Andy has a fascinating story to tell. From his humble beginnings as a young man who stumbled into the profession to the pro-active ambassador he is today. Coordinating projects within the city of Stoke-on-Trent such as ‘Goal Difference’ which is an initiative that encourages men to meet and talk through some of life’s challenges. Andy has been on quite a journey and seen many changes regarding how society approaches issues relating to mental health. He lives by the philosophy that there is good in everyone and I am sure you will enjoy our conversation as much as I did.

Iwan Gronow’s music has been shaped by his time and experiences in two worlds: his youth spent exploring the grunge scene in Cornwall and later becoming deeply embedded in the music of Manchester. Iwan’s first three singles demonstrate his versatility as an artist. Debut In The Mire combines a melodic Numan-esque feel with a dark undercurrent. Single number two, ‘Second Guess’, is a more upbeat, striding song that touches on influences from Depeche Mode and XTC. Highest Symbol, Iwan’s third single, feels more rural and hints at his past in the South West. It shows a different side to his creativity. While still deeply melodic and building in intensity, the new material is introspective and emotionally rich.mMoving to Manchester with his band Haven in the early 2000s, Iwan started a new chapter in his musical journey. Throwing everything they owned into a van, Haven turned up on the doorstep of the late, great Joe Moss. Joe, who managed The Smiths, built a strong relationship with Haven and would become the band’s manager and mentor. He introduced Haven to Johnny Marr, who produced both their albums. Haven signed to Radiate, a subsidiary of Virgin, and their debut album Between The Senses charted in the top 20. The album included the hits Say Something and Till the End. In 2013, Iwan was invited to play bass in Johnny’s band, a position he’s held ever since. As well as performing on the albums Playland and Call The Comet, Iwan has toured the world and played festivals including Glastonbury, Coachella and Fuji Rock, while also appearing on Later With Jools Holland and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.

https://iwangronow.co.uk/