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 PHILLIPPCHIBASAK@GMAIL.COM. 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/

Podcast 30: In Bruges An impromptu pod after a couple of beers in this little spot, Bruges, Belgium “Been to the top of the tower?” Ray: “Yeah, yeah, it’s rubbish.”In Bruges, 2008 We didn’t make it up the tower (10 euro a pop saw to that) but we certainly had a few beers in the stunning little town of Bruges, Belgium. This one comes from the Café-Bistro Terrastje with debuts for galician chef, Adrian and Singapenese journalist, Durrah! As ever the conversation covers a vast array of topics, after taking a few steps into the initial topic, the pod takes a turn as we’re joined by the mysterious, ‘Bart Simpson’ who talks through his experience with travelling and travelers and hits us some philosophical mic drops! All too brief, but a great time with some great mates in this one!

Podcast 29: Chris Harvey @ 30 Happy Birthday Chris! Nothing says 30 like Squanchy What an epic evening (and morning)! This one’s a biggie and all about one man Christopher ‘Christophales’ Harvey. Pyrenean cyclist, Board game maestro and Engineer turned PM, we’ll be looking back, alongside 10 of his closest hombres and mujeres, at the last 30 years! Asides from his first 3 years (which he’s conveniently forgotten about :)) we’ll hear the highs and the lows of the path he’s trodden these past threeee decades! Video to follow (danke Level 4 Christian) …

Podcast 28: Introducing ‘The Whine Curve’ ‘The Whine Curve’, a visualisation ‘Mapping human emotion over time’ how hard can it be? Turns out to be slightly more complex than originally anticipated when the concept of ‘The Whine Curve’ was developed on that fateful Saturday night in ‘The Cat & Wheel’, Bristol. Matthew Christmas and Sam Trippier (of ‘Canoeing down the Avon’ fame) are joined by philosophical maestro, Craig Black (host of the ‘Bristol Men in Early Years Network’ podcast) for this one. Over an afternoon pint in the stunning Pembrokeshire town of Manorbier, we discuss the concept of the Whine Curve, its features including the ‘Buddha bump’ and its potential applications in the real world. Naturally the conversation jumps off piste on a couple of occasions but all in all we’re relatively focused for this one! For any budding data scientists out there who like where this is heading as ever feel free to get in touch!

Podcast 27: Tomatinetes Buen dia compadres! ‘Los tres amigos’ for this one, kicking back with a few Desperados to mull over the events of ‘La Tomitina 2018’. It’s a Talking out Loud debut for medical doctor and 2 x UK Bachata champ, Angus Perks, and a former bouncer turned bard. Set in the stunning Central apartments of Valencia (gracias Bianca for hosting) this wide ranging conversation takes us everywhere. From the sights of tomatoey smells of Bunol on a summer’s day to the existential threats that AI pose the human race. Angus educates the two of us on how to go from salsa zero to champ, before the bard takes us through his best loved gastronomical experience (favourite meal)! Muchas gracias hombres!

Podcast 26: Canoeing down the Avon Journalism at its hard hitting best in this one. What started as 3 men in a boat on a summer’s day on the River Avon escalated into what has been described as, “One of the most insightful knot workshops of our time, a whole knot of fun!”George Cressey, 28th July 2018 The pod also marks the introduction of Matthew Christmas and Sam Trippier. 2 gents with a real knack for conversation particularly when pushed for knot based infotainment. From reef knots to overhands and alpines to a horseman’s hitch a hell of a lot of bases are covered in this one! Unfortunately the pod ends on an apology following a slip of the tongue after a few too many pints at Beezies. If you have a keen interest in knots and knot based education, please reach out we’re all ears here at Bankwood Bear!

Podcast 25: Henry Kajirange A real steal for the pod! Henry Kajirange is an inspiration, as the founder of Kingfisher Sekawano, a Malawian NGO and manager of a stunning beachside hostel in Cape Town, he’s packed a lot into life. We talk through his background, tracing his steps from his hometown Nthekele in Malawi, through the townships of South Africa to Muziensburg, Cape Town. Before discussing Kingfisher, the NGO he set up to support and promote the people of his hometown back in Malawi. Through it Henry hopes to develop clean and safe living conditions whilst enabling access to education and healthcare services. An exciting vision he lays in in some detail. The pod ends in utopic visions for the future something which Henry’s infectious drive and spirit always brings out! If you would like to understand more and support the work Kingfisher is delevering, please visit http://kingfisher-sekanawo.net/ As ever we’re all ears here at Bankwood Bear so please write in with any suggestions for the pod. Stay tuned for a lot more on Malawi over the coming months too…

Podcast 24: Roger & Barbara Cressey A fitting pod for the festive time of year, all the way from Wakefield, Yorkshire, this fireside chat with the elders of the Cressey clan explores some great topics. From exchanging thoughts on religion and faith with retired canon of the Church of England, Roger to hearing from Barbara on how the world and travelling it has changed since her first trip from Australia over to South Africa in 1956. The podcast ends with a synopsis of Roger Cressey’s very own children’s book ‘The Talking Giraffe’ a heartwarming tale of a giraffe’s journey from the plains of Kilimanjaro to Yorkshire and back! A real steal and worth every penny! An absolute pleasure to sit down with these two extraordinary people! A whole lot of love in this one! The infamous author and illustrator, Roger Cressey The perfect fireside read, ‘The Talking Giraffe’ by Roger Cressey

Podcast 22: Jean Claude The first planecast from ‘Taking out Loud’ comes from somewhere over Delhi, India on the long flight back to the motherland! Jean Claude, a retired Luxembourgian is the guest and we talk all things Boy Scouts in this one. As a lifer in the scouts, Jean Claude now spends his time supporting a number of the organisation’s international projects, and we talk the NGO’s work out in Nepal building frameworks to help navigate kids through education or into good careers. A fascinating fella to share an 8.5 hour flight with

Podcast 21: Piotr Renner No trip is complete without meeting a crazy pole! From trekking the Himalayas to volunteering in monasteries, Piotr Renner likes to live in the moment! We talk through how he went about volunteering in a buddhist monastery before talking at length about one of Piotr’s favourite books. ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle. The book is intended to be a guide for day-to-day living and stresses the importance of living in the present moment and avoiding thoughts of the past or future. This leads onto musings on the importance of listening and a brief chat about Utopia An absolute pleasure to catch up with this man even if it was only for 24 hours!

Podcast 20: Party Pod I – Wanderthirst Hostel Oh what a night! The first party pod from Talking Out Loud comes from the Wanderthirst Hostel in Kathmandu, featuring 11 guests from 6 countries, there’s no lack of diversity here! Very much an experiment in where conversations flow to, with topics ranging from bitcoin and the origins of santa to whisky, vipassana experiences and the volatile situation in Turkey. But there’s a whole lot of love around this campfire! A pleasure to spend the final night of the trip with these beautiful people! Tip of the cap to Emma (ENG), Roody (RSA), Bikram (NEP), Prakash (NEP) Johnny (LEB), Kaline (LEB), Memo (TUR), Daniel (AUS), Katie (AUS), Taylor (AUS) and Lighter Zee (NEP) a very memorable night!