Podcast 41: Dr Thomas Gee We have a doctor on the pod! Old school friend and long time pod critic, Tom Gee joins us for an exploratory and winding journey in the first drive time Talking Out Loud. Tom is a doctor of Computational chemistry and molecular modelling, a topic which looking back would of been fascinating to talk through especially with the current Covid19 situation, but in our hungover states we stick to much ‘higher level’ chat. Recorded last September, with Tom only a few days from emigrating out to Australia, we talk through Tom’s decision to quit his job, quarter life crisis’ and his, at the time, emerging business idea, Grad Schema! Travel of course makes a lengthy appearance and we talk through favourite books on the podcast for the first time. All sound quite hard hitting, not to fear, there’s a good amount of time put aside to mull over the bigger questions such as which lord of the rings character we’d be and what our planets would be called. Really hope you like what you hear, keep safe out there! The doctor will see you now!

Podcast 40: Freddie Freddie, Nutritionist and 6 ft 7” Cat Fan After a lot of build up, nutritionist, athlete, film buff and old friend, Freddie makes his triumphant debut on the podcast!Recorded over a pint or two in the excellent Red Lion over the summer of 2019. We talk across a number of topics from what makes a good film to the pros and cons of individualism and collectivism … politics was clearly on our minds at the time :D. Freddie also takes us through his employment and sporting history before closing the pod with a 101 on how to both scope and move on from jobs. Hope you like what you hear, as ever get in touch with any comments, all ears as ever here at Bankwood Bear!

Podcast 38: Craig Black A welcome TOL return for the incomparable Mr. Craig Black! The co-star of #28 ‘Introducing the Whine Curve’ and keen darts player sits down with us again to explore some more avenues in this wide ranging conversation. Craig kicks us off by talking us through his love for Boston before we take things off road. Providing thoughts on a few different streams from the intricacies of brotherly dynamics, the ideal voting age, the future of the monarchy and the lasting effects of Vipassana. Always a pleasure to chat with this man, never a dull moment!As ever we’re all ears here on Bankwood Bear so feel free to get in touch. YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-z5ddeeDawiPYeMH3ie5OA

Podcast 37: Esther Afikiruweh Ringing in the new decade the way it should be done. An impromptu 3am chat with an excellent talker in events management student and part time security guard, Esther! Its a little raw at times, the start time and the couple of other conversations in Motion’s smoking area might of played into that. But as a result we hit on some big old topics, from the importance of networking, the world’s $244 trillion debt,and festival gentrification (link to dissertation), the conversation really did click, thanks again for taking the time Esther! As ever if you want to get involved in 2020 just reach out, we’re all ears here at Bankwood Bear.

Podcast 36: Rodrigo Guedes Rodrigo Guedes at the City Ground, Nottingham A TOL debut for lifelong traveler, Peruvian hostel owner, and all round top fella, Rodrigo! The Portuguese pirate takes us through his South American travels from driving through Chavez’s Venezuela in 2009, working as a farmhand in central Brazil to make ends meet and finally his journey to setting up the 5 star ‘Misfit’ hostel on the sunny shores Mancora, Peru, We also touch on the fundamental s of what makes a great hostel, why he can’t get enough of travelling, plans for the future and naturally some Lord of the Rings chat. An absolute pleasure to host this gent! Misfit Hostel, Mancora, Peru

Podcast 35: Zwangie Pangie & The Trip Pt 1 On site in Lomemo, Malawi (L – R, Nyasulu, Rosie, Chief, George) Malawian musicians, baboons, breakdowns, clinics, special brews and nsima … just a few things on the final pod from Malawi season, a cracker coming straight from the floor of an Ethiopian Airport! Zwangie Pangie is the first guest on, a Malawian musician and all round gent now living in Tunisia before we track the first half of the month out in Malawi with the incredible nurse turned clinic builder, Rosie! As ever reach out if you like what you hear, looking for 5 requests for Pt.II Be sure to check out Zwangie’s band on YouTube too! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvfF52WyvAiG8pbhMXWNLtw Zwangie looking swanky

Podcast 34: Phillip P Chibisa Phillip speaking at the opening of Chimbota Secondary School, Nkhata Bay, 2014 “If you are trusted in the smaller things, you can be trusted in the bigger things”Phillip Chibisa, Nkhata Bay, Malawi Phillip Chibisa is a Malawian making great change in his community! We cover a few topics in this one, but we focus mainly on sustainable development, the price of beer and both come to the conclusion that we don’t understand life! Recorded from Mayoka Village in Nhkata Bay. If was awesome to go up and see his projects, below is the link to the school’s YouTube site and if you want to reach out to Phillip personally its [email protected]. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLqyF7z_0EZqUsAriKZUpSg

Podcast 33 – Malawi: A Land of Opportunity (Allan Butler & Rosie Cowling) Mayoka Village, Nkhata Bay, Lake Malawi Recorded in the beautiful Mayoka Village on the shores of Lake Malawi this pod is the debut for both Allan Butler, a 22 year old medical student who had been on elective in Malawi and Rosie Cowling, a long time friend who was in the country volunteering. After a few beers, we talk all things business in Malawi and discuss the massive amount of opportunity there is in this beautiful and rapidly developing country. Tongue in cheek at times, but its all out of love, as ever feel free to reach out we’d always love to hear your views here at Bankwood Bear.

Podcast 32: Temwa – Fishani Msafiri Fishani delivering water filters, part of Temwa’s WASH program Fishani Msafiri is an gent, as a senior project officer within Temwa Malawi’s programs unit, he’s been working with Temwa for 9 years! after joining them initially as a volunteer. He’s responsible for the Health program and I had the pleasure of joining him and the team on a trip up the coast of Lake Malawi to some of the most remote communities in the country. The team were delivering clean water filters to villages along the coastline as part of Temwa’s excellent WASH program. A range of topics as ever here as we talk through Temwa’s approach to identifying communities in need, ways to overcome a blame culture and how the mindset of relying on external support can be crippling for developing countries. Had an excellent time in Usisya seeing the great work happening through Temwa, to find out more about the other awesome work they are delivering, please visit, https://temwa.org/ Usisya Heading to shore Boat Life Home time

Podcast 31: Temwa – Dr Peter Chinoko & Kondwani Banthu Peter (centre) and Kondwani (right) on a recent visit to the UK Dr Peter Chinoko and Kondwani Banthu are two extraordinary gentlemen on the front lines of community development in rural Malawi. As CEO and programme director for Temwa Malawi they are working alongside the Bristol based UK team to deliver support, in the form of agriculture, education and health programmes, to some of the hardest to reach communities in the country. Both Peter and Kondwani have some fascinating tales including Peter’s return to Malawi as a freedom fighter following his exile to Italy. This is the first of five pods coming out of Malawi and the first of two from the Temwa team, to find out more about the awesome work they are delivering, please visit, https://temwa.org/