Arnold is a thoughtful writer in places like Slugger O'Toole and the letters pages of N. Ireland newspapers, with acute observations from a moderate pro-Union perspective. He recently retired as a teacher, and writes and talks as an ordinary citizen rather than a politician or activist - it makes him all the more interesting to hear from. He comes from a North Antrim working class background and then lived in Belfast and Lisburn. We talk about class in Northern Ireland, the relationship between Belfast and the rest of Province, the impact of Brexit, the growing relevance of Northern Irish identity, and the influence on him of lasting friendships he made across the divide in his student days. We discuss the lasting impacts of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement, and reflect on why Northern Ireland is such a great place to live today, not just in comparison to its past, but compared to many other parts of the British Isles. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theloughin/message

Ian, a former prison governer and a counter-extremism expert, has been a senior adviser to governments. He now lives in Devon, but he grew up in Co. Fermanagh in the 1970s and 1980s. It's these experiences of growing up in Northern Ireland during the Troubles - happy summers on the lakes but also losing family friends to the IRA's bombing of Enniskillen's remembrance day in 1988 - that we talk about. He describes himself as an Irish unionist, which he jokes "triggers all the right people". It's an engaging glimpse into what a Northern Ireland childhood brings you, and into the particular circumstances of Fermanagh. "Things are very different out in the West." --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theloughin/message

Linzi talks about her life growing up in Antrim, her values and her move into politics. We discuss the importance of reaching out cross-community, integrated schooling, cultural issues and the vision she shares with Doug Beattie for a forward-looking and inclusive brand of unionism. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/theloughin/message