In this enlightening episode campaigner Khady Gueye opens up about her experiences of racism growing up as mixed-race in a rural area. Khady talks about organising the BLM protest in Bathhurst Park in June 2020, the backlash she received and how this affected her within the local community.  Khady also talks about the need for education in stamping out racism. Since then Khady has set up the Local Equality Commission (LEC) which works with schools, charities and other community initiatives to facilitate youth and outreach programmes. The LEC is a long-term community-based solution to continuing the conversations about racial justice and economic inequality and has set out a path to meet this challenge.  Born out of the BLM protest Khady in part organised in Bathurst Park, the LEC seeks to suture some of the fractures that have occurred over the last decade of austerity as well as the cultural divided that have emerged from the opposition to cancel the local protest.  You can read more about the Local Equality Commission here: https://www.localequalitycommission.co.uk/ Facebook: Local Equality Commission Twitter: @RuralParity_LEC Instagram: @localequalitycommission

This week we chat to Dr Sally Adams from the University of Bath whose research centres on alcohol and tobacco use and its cognitive effects. Sally answers two huge questions - does alcohol make you better in bed? And is there a hangover cure? Read more about Sally's research:  https://www.theguardian.com/profile/sally-adams https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/persons/sally-adams/projects/

Bath and England rugby player Tom Dunn opens up about making it as a professional rugby player, the pressure involved and how he felt making his first England appearance behind closed doors. Tom also discusses the 'sacrifices' he had to make growing up and his root into rugby through club rugby, playing part-time for Chippenham Rugby Club before becoming a regular in the Bath squad. Listen to hear about Tom's take on rugby as an outlet and his thoughts about life after rugby. 

In the last episode of this series, Ed chats to the Mayor of Manchester about his well-publicised negotiations with the Government, the North-South Divide, the assignment of Covid Tiers in the North, devolution and why he got into politics all those years ago. Andy also reflects on entering politics and how working in Gordon Brown's Cabinet compared to Jeremy Corbyn's Shadow Cabinet. 

Ed and Will chat to Dr Martin Farr from Newcastle University about lecturing during Covid-19, Brexit, the Special Relationship and the breakup of the United Kingdom. Listen to hear Martin chat about why he went into academia and to hear his honest views on Brexit, Nicola Sturgeon, the Special Relationship, ageing and what he sees as the biggest threat to modern British society. 

In this episode Ed chats to Daisy Cooper, Deputy Leader and Education Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats. Daisy chats about her early experience of campaigning at a CND march and on issues such as school uniform and acid rain. Daisy also talks about some of the archaic rituals in Parliament including 'bobbing' and the hooks to hang your sword. We also have a surprise appearance from her cat. 

Podcast Editor Ed Sawyer chats to George Evans-Jones and frequent guest Will Pascall about the ongoing US Election result. This episode tries to explain what is going on in America, looks at the strengths of both campaigns, whether Trumpism is dead and how Trump retained support with different ethnic groups. 

In this episode, Ed Sawyer talks to Ann Widdecombe, former Conservative Party MP and prominent Brexiteer. Never afraid to say what she thinks, Ann proves a very interesting, if somewhat controversial, guest for Ed. Ann shares her views on everything from climate change to 'wokeness'. Though these may seem provocative to some listeners, this podcast is definitely worth a listen, even if it's just to get your brain engaged on a weekday morning.

In the second episode of the new series, Ed Sawyer interviews ex Lib Dem MEP Caroline Voaden. Listen to hear Caroline talk about accidentally becoming an enemy of the Croatian state in the 1990s, working in the European Parliament, her views on the British Press, and why she got into politics.

Backchat is relaunching! Our new podcast editor Ed Sawyer and guest Will Pascall interview ex-England cricketer and current TV personality Monty Panesar in this first podcast. Give it a listen to hear Monty's thoughts on sport, politics and everything in between