Ptown: Recent Episodes
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PTown is a podcast all about the people in Preston, Lancashire.
Hosted by me, Shane Davis, each month I will be chatting with interesting Prestonians to get to know better those who live, work and play in our proud city.
The podcast format allows listeners to get to know people in a deeper way than short-form media such as Facebook and Instagram. My hope by sharing the stories of Prestonians on this podcast, is that it helps to create a tighter community in the city, and raise awareness of the awesome people we live amongst.
In this episode I talk about the Preston Property market with Managing Director of Easthams & Co estate agents. We discuss his experiences with property in Preston over the last 20 years, and why he is exited for the future of Preston.
It was great to finally sit down with Matt as I have heard from many people that he loves Preston and that definitely comes a across in the podcast.
No guests in this episode I'm afraid but if you fancy listening to me talk about the podcast, podcasting, Preston and Ptown Studios for 12 minutes, enjoy!
Ptown
In this episode of Ptown I chat with Rose Peploe from The Artistry House Interior Design. Rose worked on icon projects around Preston such as The Ferret, The Plau and Rise.
We chat about creativity in Preston, the importance of including interior design with branding and the opportunities for spaces in and around Preston.
This was one of the best conversations to date on the podcast, and we hope you enjoy it.
You can find Rose on Instagram or over at The Artistry House
This week we had the pleasure of chatting with Antonia Sharples, a fantastic singer-songwriter making her way in the Preston music scene.
As many of you will know, one of the best music venues in Preston, The Ferret, is supporting local musicians by live streaming onto Facebook every Wednesday. We are working with The Ferret to bring you a snippet of the musicians and bands that are playing each week as well as a quick chat with the artists.
Antonia will be playing at The Ferret tonight, you can watch the even live-streamed to Facebook here
Also, give Antonia a follow here and listen to her music over on Soundcloud
Big thanks to The Ferret in supporting our local music scene, and to Antonia for chatting with us.
Welcome to Ptown Music, our mission to bring you the best of bands and musicians from Preston.
This episode we chat with Matt and Chris from the awesome Geese and play three tracks from their new album Something For The Weakend.
After a brief chat we play:
1) Southern Cross
2) Lighthouse
3 Rats
We have been listening to their Spotify all day and absolutely love their sound, we think you will too!
If you are a Preston based musical artist, please get in touch as we love to promote our home grown talent.
We have been eager to chat to Mark for a good while and what a conversational feast! Mark has been bringing a smorgasbord of culinary delights to Preston, including Winkley Street Ale House, We Don't Give a Fork, Fino Tapas and most recently the hippest Mexican joint in town, La Neta.
We are double tapping you with the food conversations this week after our chat with Lancashire Eats, who we also mention in this podcast.
Be sure to get your bookings in for Mark's restaurants come April 12th!
We Don't Give A Fork
Winkley Street Ale House
Fino Tapas
La Neta
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In this episode we speak with Rachel Jackson, better known by her Instagram handle Lancashire Eats.
This was a really fun podcast to record and we had a good chat about food, Preston and social media. Enjoy!
If you are not already, you can follow Rach's adventures eating around Lancashire here
The UK hospitality's sector is being decimated by the measures enforced by the government. Preston has a number of new bars, restaurants and coffeeshops who have been working to bring something fresh to the city.
On this week's episode I chat with the owner of Ships and Giggles, Andy MacDonald about how the lockdown and restrictions have effected his business and the reaction to him giving away free food to keep it open.
I really enjoyed recording this episode and will be having Andy back on for news and updates. If your business is being affected by the restrictions, please get in touch, we would be happy to share your story.
Catch up with the latest from Ships and Giggles on Instagram and Facebook.
This is a long time coming episode and great chat with Andy Walmesley of Wash Studios and The Artistry House.
We record most of our episodes at The Artistry House and have always ended up chatting with Andy about creativity and art. Finally we got the chance to sit down and record one of our conversations.
In this episode we chat about the origins and ethos of Wash Studio, creativity, art and Preston.
I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did.
Find out more about Wash and The Artistry House Here:
Wash Studios
Instagram
The Artistry House
Instagram
In this first episode of Ptown Music I chat with Martin Rawcliffe AKA Razorrawks about the musical process, where he got his professional name from, and live music after Covid. After our chat we hear three of his songs including a forthcoming exclusive.
The three songs played are:
1 - Bang your head
2 - What can I say
3 - Chicken Dinner
You can find Razorrawks at the usual places:
Bandcamp
Facebook
Spotify
Instagram
In this episode I chat with Dr. Lucy Delaney, creator and host of Preston's latest podcast, The Uncomplicated Doctor. This was a fascinated discussion and we cover an array of topics relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, including Isolation, Clap for the NHS, Mental health, and why she decided, with her team Matthew Gunther and Daniele Baron to start the podcast, as well as why she chose the name.
You can listen to the uncomplicated Doctor here:
Itunes
Spotify
and follow her posts here:
In this episode I speak with Amy Cheadle, founder of The Northern Dough Co. with her husband Chris. This was a really enjoyable conversation and one which I have been wanted to have for a while after loads of fellow Prestonians have recommended to have The Northern Dough Co on the show.
Amy and I discuss the beginnings of her company, taking the step from weekends at farmers markets to being sold in the supermarkets, and working with Wash Studios to build a brand that was authentic, fun and northern! We also chat about out mutual love of Make Do Drink, and lots of other quality folk around the old town.
This episode I speak with Susan Culshaw, owner of The Ferret, who is crowdfunding for support from our community to help keep this grassroots venue open after the lockdown.
The ferret is not just a music venue but and institution within Preston that support not just local musicians but students looking to cut their teeth with photography, design and many other disciplines.
Please join me in showing your love and making sure we have a music venue in Preston that rivals our big city neighbors!
Crowdfunder
Instagram
Rory is an athlete and online sports clothing ambassador who has recently been in the global media for climbing the heights of Snowden and Ben Nevis in his back yard, or rather on his back yard steps.
In this episode we chat about what inspired him to spend 4 hours scaling 1 step, taking a plunge in a wheelie bin of cold water, and his advice for making the most of lockdown.
If you fancy a smile, check out his instagram for the brilliant photos he and his partner posted in lockdown.
Instagram
Twitter
In this episode I speak with Asma Begum, survivor of domestic abuse and founder of Soul Sister, and organisation to help support victims of domestic abuse.
During lockdown, those suffering from domestic abuse find themselves in an increasing bleak situation of being locked down with their abuser with fewer opportunities for contact with friends and family.
Asma shares her experience and offered advise for those in a similar situation and for all of us on how we can respond if we suspect domestic abuse.
Big thank you for Asma for talking to me on this issue and for offering advice and words of encouragement.
If you are suffering from domestic abuse, you can get help:
IF YOUR IN IMMEDIATE DANGER,
Call 999 and after prompting if you cant speak, stay silent and press 55. The operator will send the police out.
Otherwise call 101.
Respect charity hotline: 0808 2000 247
Theres RespectUK who help perpetrators, male victims, young people who are abusive: 0808 801 0327
Victim support:07944665212
Forced marriages and honour based violence helpline: 0800 599 9247
Instagram
Facebook
My favourite gal-pals come back on the podcast to tell me all about the amazing event they were preparing for last time we met.
We talk about the lockdown, Zoom, Memes, and Gifs, and learn all about an unexpected event which l challenged the ladies' principles and forced them to change venue at the last minute!
Lastly, we are asking you guys the big question - Woman Kind North podcast?!!?! Be sure to show them some love here:
Home
Instagram
Facebook
Twitter
In this episode I chat with an awesome singer/songwriter from Preston, Rhys E.
This was a not just a fun chat with a fellow Prestonian, but Rhys was kind enough to play 2 tracks for the podcast live. The first track, 'Love is a pleasure', is now available on iTunes, Spotify and everywhere else you get your music. He also gave us a Ptown exclusive of a cracking track called 'Wise Man'.
ITunes
Spotify
Soundcloud
I will be using the podcast platform as a kind of Preston Broadcast Service to help give voice to those who need help, are providing help or just want to be heard during this time of isolation.
In this episode I speak with Danielle France who suffers from a rare, 1 in 1.5 million, condition called Auto-immune Neutropenia. This condition seriously affects her immune function with specific dangers to her respiratory system.
Despite clearly being very vulnerable during the COVID-19 pandemic, Danielle is not currently classed as a vulnerable or Shielded person and therefore cannot get appropriate support in terms of online food shopping or medical access.
I speak to Danielle about the effect this is having on her life in isolation, and of others who also may have 'fallen through the cracks' and our silently suffering at home without food or support.
If you are suffering from a medication condition and have not yet registered under the government Shielded Persons list, you can do so here:
Corona Virus Support
Wiki: Auto-Immune Neutropenia
I will be using the podcast platform as a kind of Preston Broadcast Service to help give voice to those who need help, are providing help or just want to be heard during this time of isolation.
In this first episode in this, hopefully, short series I speak to Town House who are raising money through crowdfunded, to help keep staff paid and keep their business when this awful time has passed.
Please consider supporting them and investing in the Preston we want to see when all this is over. Obviously, small business are some of the worst affected and we have a chance to really show how the Preston model works in supporting our own.
Support Town House
I recently discovered another Preston based podcast and got the opportunity to sit down and chat with Amish Phil, from The Amish Inquisition.
This was a proper laugh and we cover a slew of topics including Ancient Constructions, Sacred Geometry, Social Media, 90s Britpop, Nietzsche , Breaking Bad, Time Travel and Free Will.
I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.
You can find The Amish Inquisition here:
Web
Facebook ( They live stream every Sunday at 20:00 )
Spotify
Itunes
In this episode I speak with Helen Kerray and Morgana Loze-Doyle, northern entrepreneurs behind Woman Kind North, a huge event coming in March to help empower and connect northern women.
We discuss the upcoming Woman Kind North event, their motivation for creating it and what it is all about. Also, we chat about Imposter syndrome, virtue signaling, equality, and super powers for women.
This was an inspiring and fun conversation that I am sure you will enjoy.
Facebook
Instagram
Website
Tickets
In this episode I chat with Catarina King, co-owner of Society1, a co-working space in the heart of Preston.
As a member of Society1, it was fun to sit down with Catarina and discuss how the idea came about, what it was like to build a co-working space in Preston, and what the benefits of co-working are.
Society1
Instagram
Twitter
In this episode I chat with Serena Baxter and Paul Harrison, owners of Room32, Lonely People, and their new venture In:LIbra.
This was a really fun episode to do. During our chat we talk about challenging culture, the story behind the naming of their bars and club, as well as Preston's Internet coverage, the club scene in Berlin, and we get clarity on their misunderstood 'no phone policy' at their new club, In:Libra.
Big thank you to Paul and Sarena for coming on PTown, and to the Artistry House, Winkley, Square for our beautiful location to record. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did.
In:Libra Facebook
Lonely People Facebook
Room32 Facebook
Room32 Instagram
Lonely People Instagram
In:Libra Instagram
"The father and son of unholy flows spit with a unique, roughly-hewn, Prestonian intensity"
Tom O'Boyle - Metal Hammer
In this episode of Ptown I speak with Preston based father and son rap duo Matthew and Callum Bennett AKA FMA+12Gage. We discuss their struggles with mental health issues, coping through music and their recent song, Spectrum, which they have just released for the antibullying campaign "Give us a break".
These guys were a real pleasure to chat with, and I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.
Spectrum, Anti-Bullying song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUxJcot_li4
FMA+12Gage youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuFMfVWfgN7IH3dSfDbv9Cw
FMA+12Gage Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/fma12gage/
Anti-Bullying help line: 0845 22 55 787
In this episode we spoke to local historian Keith Johnson about some of Preston's past and interesting stories about the city.
Unfortunately, we lost our audio from that interview. So rather than leave you with nothing, we decided to record a review of our interview with snippets of Keiths original answers. We hope this is still an interesting and enjoyable podcast and we intentdto get Keith back in to record with us again in future.
Enjoy the show ;)
In our first episode Carl and I discuss returning to Preston, Tokyo Jo's and Parched Peas.