The Academy FM Podcast

This podcast is packed full of Paul Rutter interviews from his Saturday Breakfast Show.The first interview is with Helen Whitcher of Education People and Rebekah Shaxted from ASK programme about apprenticeships and how they are a good way getting into the career that you want.After that Paul speaks to Clare Thomas, the CEO of Bright Shadow, which is a charity that helps people who have or are affected by dementia.Then Paul talks to Jill Martin who runs the Town Kitchen in Deal on Saturdays about her homemade take-away food and how everyone loves her Knockers. The final interview is with the Artistic Director of POW! Thanet, Amy Raymond, about the how they were able to put on this years POW! Festival by going online. The festival helps to raise awareness of female artists and feminist issues.This interviews were originally broadcast in February and March 2021.

On this episode you will hear the extended interview with John Nichols. He is the head of Thanet's Fisherman's Association about the problems that the small fishing fleet around the local coast face  due to covid-19 and life post-Brexit.A shorter version of this interview was broadcast on 20 February 2021

Rob talks to Cllr Steve Albon - the cabinet member of Operational Services about Thanet District Council plans to use anti-social behaviour legislation to allow people to receive an on the spot fines of £100 for breaking the local laws. He also talks about the controlling the use of powered water craft around the local coastline. This interview was originally broadcast on 20/02/21Paul Rutters catches up with Dean Stalham author of the SOS book about surviving suicide and Lee about looking after your mental health during lockdown 3.

Paul Rutters spoke to Kent County Councilor Barry Lewis talks about his view on the past year including his views on: the Covid-19 pandemic and how it can be fought this year; the Kent Parkway announcement; food bank projects and his hopes for 2021.In the second interview, Paul talks to Peter, Frances and Karen from the Isle of Thanet Tree and Woods Initiative about their successful  in planting more trees in the local area and why more trees are needed to be planted. They also discuss their upcoming plans for 2021. 

This the extended interview that Rob Cox did with Sir Roger Gale, the MP for North Thanet, about the then new Tier 3 restrictions that the British Government introduced in November 2020.The topics that were discussed include:  why Thanet was place into  the new Tier 3; why the last lockdown was not successful; closing the schools early for Christmas; has enough been done to help businesses and self-employed people; when will the economy recover and finally the use of the former airport at Manston being used as a proposed lorry park.This interview was made on 28 November 2020 and before the introduction of the Tier 4 restrictions and the Manston being used as a lorry park.

Episode 12 has two interviews with Cllr Steve Albon, who is a Cabinet Member at Thanet District Councils. The first interview is about the two new "Covid Ambassadors" that the council has employed to help people and businesses follow the ever changing Covid regulation changes in the UK.The second interview covers the consultation that Thanet District Council entered into concerning new Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs) that limit or stop people walking their dogs on the local beaches at certain times and the hunting of animals on council land.The final interview is with Guy Addington - the RNLI's South East Water Safety Manager and member of Margate's life boat crew. He explains the changes that are happening at Margate's life boat station, why the area has two life boat stations and water safety.The Interviews with Cllr Albon were broadcast on 5 December 2020 and the interview with Guy Addington was broadcast on 24 October 2020

In this episode, Paul talks to Karen from the New Kent Art and Studio in Albion Street, Broadstairs about the exhibitions that they put on for the local community.We also bring you Jon from the Pilgrims Hospice who tells us about how they are installing photographs of the local area in the hospice to help improve the experience for the patients.Finally, Rob's talks to Gordon Clarkson who has been fighting to change the way that private car parking operate after receiving a parking notice following just driving on one site un by one of these companies.The first two interviews were originally broadcast on Academy FM 107.8 on 21/11/2020 and the interview with Gordon Clarkson was broadcast on 17/10/2020.

Welcome to Episode 10.In this episode, Academy FM's breakfast presenter, Chris West interviews Josephine McCartney. She is the Chief Executive of the Kent Community Foundation about their Knock and Check scheme which aims to help protect the elderly over this winter. We also bring your his interview with Sandra Daruwala, the owner of The Recovery Well in Ramsgate about the heath treatments that she provides to her clients.Finally, Chris talks to Paul Palmer from Your Leisure about they are trying to keep the two theatres in Thanet afloat during the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.These interviews were originally broadcast in October 2020.

As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread and infect more people it is hoped that science will find a vaccine to the disease. In this episode, we bring you an extended interview with Kate Bingham who is the Head of the UK Vaccine Taskforce. She discusses how the search for a vaccine is progressing,  who will benefit from finding one, what will happen if one is found and also answers a number of questions from our listeners.

Kent County Council granted planning permission for a new Parkway railway station near Cliffsend and the decision that was not popular with everyone. We also bring you an interview with Geraint Franklin about his new book "Ramsgate: The Town and Its Seaside Heritage".