Alice Fogg is only 28 but already has landed a job she was dreaming of having later on in her career: Chief Officer of 'VABS', which stands for voluntary action in Badenoch & Strathspey.

VABS supports local community and voluntary groups to realise their ambitions, and Alice is well placed to lead as her entire adult life has been about community and grassroots change.

We talk about what drives this fire in her belly to put so much energy in community - and why her degree at Durham University, studying big concepts like global geopolitics, actually made her realise that the biggest difference can be make at the micro, not macro, level. And, also, why working at this level can bring the biggest joy and sense of satisfaction, too.

She talks about her childhood being a triplet, her existential breakdown, feeling isolated at Uni due to coming from a state not private school, why she came to the Highlands and how she built her resilience to deal with the many challenges young people growing up in this crazy world face.

Ultimately a really inspiring conversation and one that really consolidated by growing view that charity (and progress) really does work better if it starts at home, on our doorsteps. It's also much better for our mental health than constantly scrolling the disastrous events happening around the world that we can often feel powerless over.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Alice as much as I did. Do say hello if you see her around; even better, why not check out www.vabs.org.uk and see if there's any way you can get involved with the local charities and community initiatives in our area, or contact her directly.

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

I'm calling today's guest, Nicol Sinclair, a 'philosopher' because I was struck, more than anything else, by how much this man absorbs information, thinks about it & then forms his own opinions on it. Exactly what we need in the age of AI!

This is true on SO MANY subjects - life, love, relationships, community, technology, feminism, marriage, kids, gender... which meant this chat was wide ranging and full of references to good stuff he's read, seen and heard. Have your notebook to the ready...

Honestly, if anyone every says to you 'men can't do emotion' or 'men aren't emotionally intelligent', send them this podcast link.

And, by the way, the 'chainsaw' reference comes in, not because he's some violent street serial killer !(!!), but because he works in forestry, and wielding a chainsaw was his childhood dream from 12. Also because it's his precious time in nature which is so fundamental to processing his thoughts and to his mental health.

Being a community podcast, this also covers his views on community which often stem from his (I'm gonna say it) idyllic, wholesome childhood where playing outside was the FOMO of the day. Expect lots of references to Top of the Pops, choppers and other such nostalgia.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Lorna as much as I did. Do say hello if you see her around; she loves nothing more than hearing a bit of Kincraig news :) 

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today’s guest is the lovely Lorna Bray and I loved this chat because it just shows how, as neighbours, we can live so near each other.... and yet not know how much we have in common, until we sit down and have a proper, meaty conversation. 

Turns out we are both big fans of being honest and keeping it real in a world of insta-perfect grids; even though Lorna is actually an expert in curating these grids, with her popular account @gurl_on_the_hill and in her comms work at Education Scotland.

We get straight into the meat and no topic is taboo here: the struggle to make friends as an adult; building back after divorce; dealing with her daughter’s diagnosis; dealing with her own anxiety; therapy; falling in love and second marriage; the challenge of moving to a small community where your other half is already well known and a big personality…  And more!

Of course, being a community podcast we also talk about where Lorna has got her appreciation of community and why she, pretty much on moving to Kincraig, took on writing the village News and Events Facebook page.

I hope you enjoy getting to know Lorna as much as I did. Do say hello if you see her around; she loves nothing more than hearing a bit of Kincraig news :) 

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today’s guest is the perfect person to have on this Men’s Health Week (9-16th June) because he is doing so much in our community to improve the lives of local men. 

Even if you’re not based in the Cairngorms, or don’t have links with it, what he says about supporting men’s health in a community is SO valuable and he’s full of inspiring, transformative ideas. One I’m particularly excited about is how the ‘shedders’ are supporting Kingussie High School pupils.

At a time when there’s so much negativity about masculinity in the mainstream media, it’s so refreshing and important to big-up the positive male role models in our midst - of which Colin is certainly one, and there are many others, as this conversation makes clear.

It also makes clear that - yes, men may be from Mars and women from Venus - but for our society to thrive, we need to collaborate and support each other better. And he has lots of ideas of how.

So. Many. Truthbombs. (As my teen boys might say, and a few are even from them, though no fear of them listening to their mum’s podcast!).

We talk about all sorts: the privilege of growing up here and what it gave Colin, the culture shock of leaving, the power of storytelling and mentoring, how men and women socialise and make friends so differently, how to get men to talk about feelings, loneliness, being true to yourself, how women can support men (spoiler alert: encourage them to things like Men’s Sheds and to get health screened!).

If you have a man in your life that you care about - and that’s the vast majority of us, luckily - then please, please listen to this episode and pass it on. What Colin, and the Men’s Sheds and similar networks are so valuable and it would be great to raise awareness and support for this important causes. Thank you! 

Episode also contains a lot of information about how you can get involved with Community Connections, as a volunteer, from befriending to driving.

Follow Badenoch Men’s Shed on Facebook here, or email badenochmenshed@gmail.com 

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today’s episode is a special one-off to mark National Cancer Survivors Day (1st June), and is actually with someone from my previous community - Rachel Westwood.

Rachel has been very open about her experiences going through cancer treatment in order to improve understanding of what it’s like, and how others can best help. She has a particularly interesting insight, being a pharmacist, a wife, a mother of three, someone who's always prioritised her health and a linchpin character in her community. 

Knowing what to say to someone with cancer, and what to do, can be really tricky, which is why some people shy away from doing or saying anything. I’m so grateful to Rachel today for sharing her thoughts so openly and honestly on how our communities can better support those going through cancer.

Hope you enjoy this episode and find it useful - and find Rachel as inspiring as I do. Please pass it on to anyone who might benefit from hearing it.

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

I (Suzy!) co-run a group called Women Support Women locally - at our last hike I was asked about the idea behind the group, and why I feel so strongly about putting my time and energy into it.

I answered that SO BADLY.

In fact I went off on a rant about the brilliant polymath nun Hildegard von Bingen and female orgasms (they are, actually related... she was basically the Beyonce of the Middle Ages and wrote the first recorded account.... but that's for another podcast, eh!).

Because I left more local women confused than clear about the group (some thought they had joined some kind of X rated club on arrival!), I thought I'd do a podcast episode about it, for anyone in the Strath potentially interested in the group.

This episode covers why (I think) it's so important to bring women together in supportive environments in this CRAZY time we're living in :).

It also covers a few myths about me, as a person, about why I do it.

So, if you'd be interested in meeting new people in our wonderful homeland, have just moved here, have a business you'd like help championing, a hobby/talent you'd like to share or would like a supportive environment to grow your skills/ confidence/ personal development... please listen to this and see if anything resonates :)

Similarly, if you know anyone who might benefit from a local group like this PLEASE pass it on.

Loneliness is a huge issue today, as are mental health problems and associated lack of confidence... all of which I've experienced, and one reason why I believe in this group. 

Maybe you have a mum, sister, friend, neighbour.... who might appreciate a group like this - please pass it on!

And for any men thinking it's unfair to focus on the fairer sex like this.... I've read about the Men's Shed recently, which sounds like a great local initiative AND we do have some plans at Women Support Women to do some events also including men.

Watch this space!

In the meantime, encourage your wife / daughter / sister along!

I hope the origins, ethos and purpose of Women Support Women are now clearer now!

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today’s guest is the gutsy, globe trotting Tamasina Cassidy, who runs the Rowan Tree Hotel and Restaurant with her husband Jonny.

In this episode, she tells us why she downed tools in London – after 9 ski seasons and with 2 kids in tow – and headed for the hills. Specifically the Cairngorm Mountains to take over the Rowan Tree, which is situated just outside Kincraig between here and Aviemore and next to the gorgeous loch Alvie.

 It's abundantly apparent that her ability to reframe situations into positives and her tendency to get stuck in have stood her in very good stead.

She talks about why she loves this area so much and how she believes that collaboration could raise the bar for the area even more. She also shares some of her hobbies, and the joy they give her, from beekeeping to table dancing!

Hope you enjoyed meeting Tamasina – do say hello if you see her out and about in Kincraig or, even better, why not drop into the Rowan Tree for a drink or dinner, I can thoroughly recommend !

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today’s guest is no ordinary 88 year old. It’s the formidable Gertie Hera Barton, whose name appropriately translates as ‘indestructible strength’.

Here she talks about her rich, varied and (sometimes) going-against-convention life.

We cover so many topics in this episode:

Losing friends and what you learn about yourself from this

How to find joy, gratitude and beauty all around you

Anger and social injustice 

How nature is her church

How life is really all about love and connection

Can Gertie be a modern day influencer when not even on Instagram?!

I had tears in my eyes, and she a frog in her throat, when she spoke so touchingly of the story behind adopting her two boys.

We talk about infertility and the grief around this, and compare different paths to motherhood; creating your own kids versus loving other people’s that desperately need your love.

Gertie’s is a story of love winning out and one that we can all, especially with the current discourse around ‘toxic masculinity’, learn from.

Talking to Gertie again hit home to me the importance of listening to older voices and stories, which society often dismisses, sidelines or, even, mocks. Older is certainly not always wiser but I think, in Gertie’s case, it is.

Hope you enjoy meeting Gertie. Do say hello to her, around Kincraig, particularly the Old Post Office Cafe on a Thursday morning… or even better show her how to get on Instagram so she can get her voice out there.

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Well, the moment is finally here - the one the villagers of Kincraig have been asking for - community stalwart Ian Ash is on the pod!

He’s been nominated by practically every guest before him.

So integral to the running of the village is Ian that some people even believe he’s actually our Mayor. This is because wherever there is a community event, Ian is there, popping up with a smile like a (nice) whack a mole or teleporting ninja. 

You’ll find him on Cairngorm Mountain, in the Old Post Office Cafe Gallery, organising Kincraig Funday, on the community council… And that’s just for starters!

But, as some of you have told me, while villagers feel they know him they don’t really know much about him. So, for this episode, I’ve also taken a few anonymous questions from the audience and, by the end, you’ll definitely know him better.

This is a wide ranging chat (which you’ll hear surprises him at times!) covering all manner of subjects including his childhood influences, what he loves about working with young people, his many hobbies and how to work through conflict in relationships. And, of course, what he loves about Kincraig and where he gets his relentless community spirit from.

Do say hello to Ian if you see him out and about (which, if you ever venture out into Kincraig, you definitely will).

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today’s guest is Tony Brown, an army veteran who runs the not for profit self catering facility in Kincraig Forces Manor - called as such because it’s primarily aimed at those who have been in the Forces, though anyone is welcome to stay there.

This majestic building in the centre of the village was formerly the celebrity and royalty attracting Hotel and Restaurant of its day, The Ossian.

His backstory, of how Kincraig Village changed/saved his life from the moment he came to visit as a 13 year old kid in care on holiday from Croyden, is heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure.

Though, despite being abandoned by his mother as a 7 month old baby in hospital, he went on to excel in the army and then set up Forces Manor. It’s here he welcomes other vets to Kincraig to reconnect, reminisce and find peace over food, a few beers and plenty of laughter. 

What I loved about this conversation is how it really gave me a window into someone else’s adverse experiences but how he didn’t let them define, or drag him down.

We cover many topics:

Hope you enjoy meeting Tony. Do say hello to him, or even better stay at Forces Manor, or encourage your friends to! For more information and to book see: https://forcesmanor.com/ or find them on Facebook.

Look out for Tony’s book and accompanying song, too - Brown Eyes - due to publish this year.

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

*Please note this episode contains adult themes so it’s not for little ears (or big ears that get offended easily!)*

I only have one house next to mine in my wee Scottish Highland village of Kincraig and today’s guest, Heather Hadden, has the mixed blessing of living in it.

As an empath who loves people and caring for them, but also gets exhausted by them, Heather has taught me a lot about how difficult this can be in our always-on, noisy, extrovert world. 

She’s helped me understand how extroverts (like me) can sometimes misinterpret ways of being in the world that don’t match our own. She’s also taught me about the importance - even for extroverts - of protecting our energy and being intentional with our time.

Because Heather is wise beyond her years, I affectionately call her ‘MacYoda’.

This podcast is a perfect pick-me-up and I found it incredibly hard to edit as loads of it made me chuckle, and because we are constantly going off on random, often hilarious (well, I think so!) tangents. Some of which are a wee bit racy, from her raunchy reading to wild hot tub parties… 

But please don’t let the length of this podcast put you off - I’ve time-stamped this one, so you can identify if there are any topics in particular you want to tune into…. Which also gives you an idea of the eclectic mix of this conversation!

Timings in minutes:

06:30: the profound impact of her grannies on her perspectives

08.00: maternal instinct

10.00: love of learning, but not at school

12.00 love of living in a village

13.00 being an empath

18:00 when I turned up on her doorstep having a panic attack/anxiety

21.00 where she gets her acerbic sense of humour (reading her whatsapps)

28.15 why we were less anxious in lockdown

29.30 true crime

31.00 the judgmental world of parenting 

36.00 how most people mask how they really feel

43.00 I apologise for taking Heather’s behaviour the wrong way once

49.00 why she wants to live in an Amazonian tribe

51.00 how we can bring the tribe vibe to Kincraig

53.30 the 5 love languages and community

1 hour: stepping away from the supermarkets 

1.05.30 sparking joy - jammies or g-strings?

1.10.00 hot tub parties

1.16.00 Heather makes her trademark cow sound 

1.20.00 odd socks & tupperware lids

01:21:30 romantic raunchy fiction

01.24.30 our plans to go the Maldives in our 80s 

Do say hello to Heather if you see her out and about (afterall, there is surely some common ground you can find from the list above?!).

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today’s guest is Merryn Glover, who is an award-winning writer, a poet, a creative teacher, the cocreator of Kincraig's open mic 'Storylands Sessions' and - most importantly, of course - my lovely neighbour!

This podcast is for anyone who loves to think deeply about life and what hurtling through space on a rock all means. Also brilliant for any creatives for her thoughts on how we create works of art that really resonate with others.

What I love about Merryn most is her magnetic intensity and capacity for connection - and how she embraces these things in me.

She has truly helped me become more comfortable with this side of my personality; it helps she has such a beautiful way with words and there is so much WISDOM in this podcast. She could even start a t-shirt line of quotes.

We cover so many topics - and that's AFTER I've edited it down significantly, such as:

- how in her writing she is seeking to be truthful and connect

- the importance of honesty and being able to listen to views that don't necessarily align with our own

- other people's perceptions of us, and how we're not in control of them

- the importance of face to face connection as the world gets more virtual and lonely

- the ego and the dangers of self absorption

- how we are both hidden hedonists as well as serious types sometimes!!

Hope you enjoy meeting Merryn. Do say hello to her, or even better go meet her face to face at Storylands!

For more about her, and to buy her books, see: https://merrynglover.com

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today’s guest is Ali Crompton, who I really wanted on the podcast to ask her how she has so much energy, as well as patience (especially with kids), and to get inspiration on how NOT to grow older grumpily.

She’s my next door neighbour and I refer to her affectionately as ‘Supergran’ as I can see how loved she is by the many kids she has in her life - her own grandchildren as well as others she entertains, such as at Kincraig Friday Fun and various other voluntary roles.

In this wide ranging chat we talk about:

*her experience of going to a rough school (when she lived on ‘Snob Hill’!)

*her 40 years in teaching and what she learnt about life, and kids, from working in a rough school (the same one she went to!)

*her love story of meeting Jim (ahem - she was actually after a millionaire when she met him!) who she has been married to for nearly 50 years

*her views on modern parenting and modern life styles

*the importance of making time for people, especially face to face, and in community

Hope you enjoy meeting Ali. Do say hello to her, or even better go meet her face to face at:

• Community Cafe, Community Hall, Friday mornings 10am - 12 noon

• Kincraig Friday Fun for P1-P7, the Church Hall, 3.30pm - 4.30pm

• Messy Christmas, the Church Hall, Saturday 7th December, 2pm - 4pm

• Carols in Kincraig, Insh Church, 22nd December

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Shula Bayton will hate the title of this podcast and being described as a 'hero' because she's deeply uncomfortable with people making a fuss of her (you will be able to feel her discomfort after the intro!!).

However, as discussed in this podcast, I am like exposure therapy to emotions for her, and she is like the best grounding sheet in the world for me. And I am determined - regardless of how uncomfortable she feels - to sing her praises because she makes life better for so many people around her.

They say, after all, that surrounding yourself by good people is the best way to improve your life. And, in my opinion, people don't come more good or well-meaning than this human (again, Shula will be currently cringing... but we will press on!).

I loved this wide ranging chat in which we cover: her upbringing in Zambia, boarding school in Edinburgh, purpose-led work, moving to the Scottish Highlands, the power of community when dealing with challenges like her son's illness, parenting, spirituality and nature.

By the end, I think she's enjoying herself and says she likes my challenging questions, what do you think?!

Hope you enjoy meeting Shula. Do say hello to her if you ever bump into her in Kincraig.

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today's guests are the dynamo duo Phil and Fiona Hawkins who are the people behind local legendary initiatives such as the iconic Kincraig 'Post Box Topper' and 'Flapjack Fridays' at Loch Insh.

This episode is recorded in their 'posh room' while we are all knitting post dinner. We cover all manner of topics, like where they get their desire to not only get involved in community get togethers, but actually lead them.

Phil shares his wisdom on life which has helped me, such as how not to care what others think and be more comfortable in your own skin. And they both share their thoughts on cultivating a happy marriage, and what they're most proud of in life.

Hope you enjoy meeting Phil and Fiona. Do say hello to them if you ever bump into them in Kincraig. Or if you're local, come along to Loch Insh Dippers group - don't be put off by Fiona manically waving her pad at you asking for your name; she is doing it because she loves keeping track of everyone for safety, and for her swimming diary!

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠⁠⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠⁠⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Today's guest is Lenka Nagle. Lenka is Faculty Head of the Mathematics, Numeracy and Computing department at Kingussie High School, as well as being a good friend and my son's maths teacher.

Some people hate the idea of a small community where everyone knows everyone - and I wasn't sure how I'd feel. But I've found a real comfort in this.

Especially in knowing that there are teachers seeing my kids day in day out who know them, and know me, and our situation, so pick up on any changes or concerns.

This has been invaluable over the past year when there's been some really tricky moments that I've worried have impacted the kids. Having Lenka has been a huge comfort.

From knowing her personally, I know how much she genuinely cares about the kids she teaches and wants the best for them. I've seen this in action.

In this chat I loved hearing about where this community altruism comes from and we cover:

how she ended up in Kincraig after her dad moved from Czechslovakia

her childhood growing up locally and going to Kincraig's local school Alvie

How she's lived all over the world but always missed home

How and why she's raising aspirations of our local kids

Her success creating two teams that won a national competition for girls about investment banking

Her dedication to being a mum

How she deals with stress

Hope you enjoy meeting Lenka. Do say hello to her if you ever bump into her in Kincraig.

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on ⁠suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk⁠

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

My guest today is Sarah Wylie. One of the many things I love about Sarah is that her ethos in life is to treat every interaction as an opportunity to brighten and bring joy to someone else’s day.

And she has certainly done that for me, making me smile on even my darkest days. She has that rare mix of light and dark, which makes her so good at connecting with her fellow humans however they are feeling. In this chat, she shares her thinking behind this approach to life.

As well as sprinkling her sparkles on someone else’s day, she is also an enthusiastic champion and cheerleader of others, whether it’s in a CrossFit class or a creative inspiration group. She is one of the people who encouraged me to get back into podcasting so it seemed only fitting that she should be one of my first interviewees.

In this episode we talk about:

How she sprinkles joy in Kincraig (and how it gives her joy)

Her creative career (and - spoiler alert! - you’ll hear her sing)

The importance of intergenerational connections

Having dreams, and having to give up on them too

The initial culture shock of Kincraig after Manchester

Wonder-full walking & living in a beautiful, natural place

Fear & faith

Hope enjoy meeting Sarah. Do say hello to her if you ever bump into her in Kincraig. Your day will be improved, I promise!

And if you have any other suggestions of characters in Kincraig to interview on this podcast, please email me on suzy@bigjuicycreative.co.uk

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

This episode explains why I set up this podcast about my wee village in the Scottish Highlands, Kincraig, and why I'm going to be interviewing various community characters in forthcoming episodes.

It tells the story of how my neighbours helped, and continue to help, me through a really, really tricky time. It does this with honesty and a desire to break down stigmas around taboo topics like mental health, relationship breakdowns and loneliness.

It covers why community is so important and health-enhancing in this digital age we live in, where more people die in selfie-related deaths than shark attacks...

Yet, I don't think we celebrate the kind of love and care you find in a community nearly as much as we should, with such a focus on finding romantic love; this podcast aims to address that lack.

Kincraig Cares podcast is being made on a shoe string out of love, so is very grateful for free resources which make this possible, like the intro and out music which is called 'Holiday Ukulele' by MaxKoMusic, promoted by www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ and part of the Creative Commons Attributions-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)