The Northern Rose Podcast

Henry NorthIn our latest coverage of Manchester’s hospitality industry, we spoke with Ruairí from Unite the Union - while editing the episode and listening back, I was really happy with how it turned out.But I want to take this opportunity to give you, our audience, a wider picture of my thoughts about hospitality and what I think it means for workers’ rights more broadly. After our first short about the Kimpton / Refuge collective grievance, we were contacted about working conditions at Night & Day and most recently Vada Vada. We gave both venues a right to reply to the allegations we received, but only Vada Vada got back to us. From my understanding, Vada Vada’s culture appears toxic and having worked in difficult workplaces myself, I did want to present both sides’ accounts for two main reasons. Firstly, if I were involved, that’s what I would’ve wanted for myself. Secondly, out of respect to our audience, to give the best and most complete understanding of the facts.For transparency, I told Vada Vada when we were planning on releasing the story and they told us they would brief their performers and associated acts. What I wasn’t expecting was the volume of Instagram comments from DJs affiliated with Gaydio telling us the Vada Vada was a great place to drink, and the owner of Vada Vada is a Gaydio presenter. I can’t say for certain that this was a coordinated response, but it felt more organised than organic. The example of Vada Vada is just a small sample of the workers’ rights violations happening across this city - like what we address with Ruairí. But because these violations are so common, there’s a growing will across the city from workers to change their conditions. Workers at the Kimpton are currently fighting hard and if they are successful, they might just show the value in organising and unionising. They could set an example and encourage others to unionise too. The potential result of all of this, we can’t know - but if I let my thoughts to run away with themselves, maybe people in other industries will sit up and think, “why don’t we unionise too?”Here I’m hitting one of the key themes of our Northern Rose coverage - no one is going to do it for you. If you want to improve your conditions, you have to go out and make it happen. Thank you for watching / reading / listening - your continued support is much appreciated and if you want to get in touch with Ruairí, his email is here: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

In This EpisodeWe sit down with Zoe, a local climate activist who has been arrested multiple times for taking part in protests. We explore what first motivated her to become an activist, what keeps her going despite the personal risks, and how she is trying to raise attention to the climate crisis. Zoe speaks about the philosophy behind her actions - from moral responsibility and urgency to the belief that ordinary people can challenge powerful institutions. She also reflects on the consequences of protest and the experience of arrest.What Else Have We Been Doing?Henry NorthSince covering the Gorton & Denton by-election, we’ve continued to cover union events and industrial action across the city alongside spinning several plates journalism related and not.We’ve covered what looks like a case of Union busting at the iconic Refuge bar in Manchester (more about this in the future), the Together Alliance march in London last Saturday and a strike over the last minute pull out of pay rise and back pay by NHS management. The behaviour is unprecedented and it’s hard to believe that the pay rise stopped was from Band 2 to Band 3 which is a difference of £2,204 from £25,272 to £27,476 for 11 employees. Kevin Corran, the Unison representative at the picket line told us that managers had spent more on a review of the pay agreement than they would have spent on the agreement itself - a frustrating situation.It’s a lot to keep up with and to get videos as we publish them, we’d appreciate it if you could subscribe to our YouTube channel and if you like a video… please give it a like. It helps push us in the algorithm and reach new audiences. Adam’s also been busy speaking at conferences. A couple of weeks ago he was in Dublin where he won an award for the best overall paper and - at the time of writing - is in Oxford for another conference where he’s given a speech. What’s Coming Up?We’re going to need the help in the algorithm too because we recorded a podcast episode last week about the many problems of social media and how they can censor the news that we consume. Adam talks about how he’s been at the Sky Sports campus in Brentford with a team of academics collecting data on the harms of social media - it’s an interesting chat but unlikely to be amplified by the platforms we publish on. This Easter weekend we’ll be publishing an feature on the 30th anniversary of the restoration project at the Manchester Monastery - dubbed Manchester’s Taj Mahal. It’s a great story, one of coincidence and luck but underpinned by hard work and dedication.Excitingly we’ve also set up The Northern Rose shop. I’m currently in the process of putting it all together but soon you’ll be able to find bucket hats, beanies, hoodies and mugs on there.Once again, thank you for your continued to support. As we close in on 500 subscribers on YouTube I’m very proud of the following we have achieved and the news we have provided. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

We discuss the rapid rise of social media and digital platforms as primary news sources, the decline of editorial standards in legacy media, and how this has created fertile ground for misinformation and disinformation. Unlike traditional newspapers or broadcasters, algorithm-driven platforms personalise news feeds, removing the randomness that once exposed people to a wider range of views and stories.The conversation explores how customised news shapes opinions, reinforces existing beliefs, and changes the way political and social issues are understood. We also ask what responsibility platforms, regulators, and journalists have in rebuilding trust and protecting the public interest in an age where algorithms increasingly act as editors.This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in media literacy, journalism, democracy, and the future of news in the UK. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

Drawing on findings from their study, the conversation explores how harassment, intimidation and violence shape women’s experiences of public space, exercise and safety.We discuss what the data reveals about the scale and normalisation of abuse and why responsibility is so often placed on women to adapt their behaviour rather than on men to change. The episode also looks at the structural factors behind the problem and what meaningful change could look like.The discussion closes with a reflection on why the researchers undertook this work in the first place, and how academia can be used not just to study injustice, but to challenge it.This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in gender equality, public safety, women’s sport, and the role of research in driving social change.Links mentioned in the podcast:- The Abuse Of Women Runners: Perceptions, Fears and Experiences: https://www.n8prp.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/315/2024/03/N8-Final-Report_Abuse-of-women-runners-project-final.pdf- JogOn: https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/jogon- VAWG (Violence Against Women & Girls) strategy to better protect children from misogyny and abuse: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/vawg-strategy-to-better-protect-children-from-misogyny-and-abuseComments have been turned off by request, but if you would like to get in touch with us, please contact: [email protected] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

This Christmas, we sat down to ask a simple question: what would Manchester actually ask Andy Burnham for if he were Farther Christmas?In this Christmas episode, we talk through a Manchester Christmas wish list - from fair, inflation-linked pay for transport workers, to better communication, visibility and accountability from the Mayor himself. With public services under pressure and trust in politics stretched thin, we reflect on what leadership should look like in 2025 and beyond.This isn’t about party politics - it’s about the everyday realities facing people across Greater Manchester, and what could make a real difference to workers, commuters and communities.Happy Christmas from all of us - and thanks to everyone who’s supported the channel this year across our social platforms. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

The exchange was civil, but revealing. While we found areas of agreement on issues like the cost of living and the dangers of concentrating power, the discussion ultimately exposed how far-right rhetoric relies not on logic or evidence, but on racial hatred and fear of the “other.”We break down the contradictions we heard, explain why these arguments fall apart under scrutiny, and reflect on what the experience says about the rise of extremist narratives in the UK. This episode isn’t about platforming hate — it’s about understanding how these ideas spread, how to challenge them, and why community solidarity and anti-racist organising matter now more than ever.If you want insight into how the far-right frames its arguments, how to respond to them, and what we learned by engaging directly, this is the conversation worth hearing. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

In this episode, we reflect on several months of reporting across Manchester — from the city’s escalating mental health care crisis to the growing wave of industrial action from TfGM workers and UCU staff. What we’ve seen on the ground paints a picture of services pushed to breaking point after years of austerity, understaffing, and below-inflation pay offers that have left public-sector workers feeling ignored and undervalued.We talk through how these pressures collide: overstretched community mental health teams, frontline NHS workers describing unmanageable caseloads, strikes emerging out of desperation rather than choice, and residents navigating the consequences of long-term cuts. Alongside this, we examine how groups such as Reform UK are attempting to capitalise on the situation with narratives that promise simple answers but rarely offer real solutions.This conversation explores the human impact behind the headlines - the workers fighting for safe conditions, the communities filling gaps left by the state, and the political climate that shapes life in Manchester today. It’s an honest look at what happens when national decisions hit local services, and why understanding these connections matters.If you value independent reporting on regional politics and public services, liking, commenting, and subscribing helps us reach more people and continue covering stories that often go overlooked. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

The #SomeoneIKnew campaign — a collective of women fighting back against the weaponisation of gender-based violence to target trans people and refugees.Recorded at The World Transformed Festival, this honest and reflective conversation explores mental health, adolescence, and how young people can be drawn into far-right narratives. Dinah and Adele share what they would say to a teenage boy who reminds them of those early experiences, and how they continue to challenge abusive far-right activists through solidarity, compassion, and education.If you want to support independent, local journalism, please like our videos and subscribe to our channel - it helps the algorithm recommend more likeminded content. It goes a long way.Thank you for watching. Links to Someone I Knew: * SomeoneIKnew Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/someoneiknew_campaign?igsh=YWRvYzUyem9pbHRx SomeoneIKnew * WhatsApp channel: https://chat.whatsapp.com/H30u5XhyPBxFZuJGgCVlwO Helpful links: * Rape Crisis England & Wales. 24/7 helpline and local centres. 0808 500 2222 * Rape Crisis Scotland: 08088 01 03 02 * Survivors’ Trust: Support and signposting. www.thesurvivorstrust.org * Refuge: 24/7 national domestic abuse / sexual violence helpline. 0808 2000 247 * Galop: Support for LGBTQ+ survivors of sexual violence. 0800 999 5428 * Survivors UK: For male and non-binary survivors of sexual violence. Text 020 3322 1860 * Childline: For under-19s. 0800 1111 Samaritans: 24/7 mental health support. Tel: 116 123 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

After years of austerity and government cuts, many people are left with little or no mental health support, highlighting how policy decisions directly impact our most vulnerable. We hear first-hand stories from those affected, shining a light on the realities of underfunded care and grassroots solutions. This episode continues our coverage of Manchester’s mental health crisis, following our fifth podcast episode with Unite Union representative Dr.John Mulligan, who spoke about striking for better conditions in mental health services.Support independent coverage by liking, commenting, and subscribing — it helps the algorithm share these important stories. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com

Click here for the petition for William.Links for coverage about William in both the BBC & The Guardian.Hello and welcome back to another episode of The Northern Rose's Podcast and our first filmed podcast for YouTube. We open the episode by talking about William Plastow’s detention. He’s set to spend 21 months in jail after he was arrested for a non-violent protest against the UK’s involvement with Israel’s assault on Gaza. Despite the necessary funds being raised, he’s been denied bail and is understandably suffering with his mental health. To help, you can follow this link to sign the petition.Also following on from our episode on a wealth tax, we talk about how to incentivise the ultra-wealthy to pay their tax. From serious suggestions such as naming big infrastructure projects after the biggest tax contributors to more comical options such as having a Sunday roast in Piccadilly Gardens in their honour, the team think about how can we incentivise the ultra-wealthy to pay their tax?Click here to explore our wealth tax series This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thenorthernrose.com