The Quarantini

We know many more people have made time in the last year to get out into the countryside, to walk more and notice nature that surrounds us. But how easy is it for people of colour to feel comfortable in the UK countryside? We hear from Sophie Brown and Ruth Pitter from Bristol Steppin Sistas, ALSO - music from Bristol Beacon's new project A Song for Bristol - this time a track from Grove and Hope CreativePLUS - we bring you our usual round up of positive responses to the virus from around the world....Music: Lockdown Riddim, Grove and Hope CreativeHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening/closing musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar

Education for students of all ages has thrown up enormous challenges during the pandemic. How has life been for journalism students learning how to make contacts, obtain interviews and generally keep on track of what is going on in the world? University of the West of England Journalism student Timea Farkas talks about completing her final year during lockdown. ALSO - we've got more fabulous, stirring music from the irresistible and completely watchable Clark familyPLUS - we bring you our usual round up of positive responses to the virus from around the world....Music: 500 Miles, Clark FamilyHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening/closing musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar

In this episode we find out about the rise in the popularity - in the last year - of making a pilgrimage. We interview The British Pilgrimage's Trust project leader of the Old Way - an ancient pilgrimage route from Southampton to Canterbury, and she gives tips on the process from finding accommodation to setting an intention. ALSO - we've got a beautiful track Human from American singer India CarneyPLUS - we bring you our usual round up of positive responses to the virus from around the world....Music: Human, India CarneyHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening/closing musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar

We interview artist Susan Thomson who gives us her thoughts about the pandemic and talks about her new film essay The Cytokine Storms in which she explores the colonial echoes of the UK government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemicALSO - we've got a stunning brand new track Willing from Lady Nade - she says: 'Willing is a message of acceptance, loyalty and friendship, particularly poignant after this prolonged period of separation. All too often we try to be the person we think other people want us to be rather than ourselves. Willing is a celebration of who we are and we can support each other.' PLUS - we bring you our usual round up of positive responses to the virus from around the world....Music: Willing, Lady NadeHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar

Still celebrating the past year, in this episode, we hear from Bristol-based digital artist Lucy Turner about how she responded to the virus in her work...ALSO - two more of our favourite music tracks!PLUS - we tell the story of the pandemic through the astonishing breadth of ingenuity and creativity we unearthed here in Bristol, the UK and around the world.....Music: Quarantine is not quite over, The Holderness FamilyMr Motivator, IdlesHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar

In our anniversary episode we bring you a story of the pandemic as told by a variety of clips of our interviewees over the last year. ALSO - three of our favourite music tracks! PLUS - our usual round up of positive responses to the virus from around the world....Music: Happy Together, The Colt FamilyMassive Attack, Young Fathers, Professor Guy StandingThe Getaway, Old Bones CollectiveHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar

In this episode as we start thinking seriously about emerging from lockdown, the Underfall Yard in Bristol Harbour is also making its preparations. Andrew Blayney tells us all about it. ALSO - we've got some drum and base this week from Dr Meaker! PLUS - we bring you our usual round up of positive responses to the virus from around the world....Music: Here and Now, Dr MeakerHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar

We kick off season 5 with an interview with three women from the Dhaqan Collective. Fozia Ismail, Asmaa Jama and Ayan Cilmi talk about their project Camel Meat and Cassette Tapes - an artistic soundscape about the tradition of the UK Somali community sending cassette tapes back and forth with recordings of their lives. Camel meat was chewed while they listened to news of their families to get them in the mood!ALSO - we've chosen a truly beautiful music track from Algerian singer Siem Folknomade. PLUS - we bring you our usual round up of positive responses to the virus from around the world....Music: Diamond, Siem FolknomadeHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar

We finish off season 4 with an interview with three remarkable women who are behind the festival and 4-part documentary "Nature Through Her Eyes" which airs on March 8th 2021 on CuriosityStream. The interview features Emma Tyrell, Development Executive and Festival Producer; Jacqueline Farmer, Film Director and Producer and Gail Jenkinson, Director of Photography. They talk about the world of Natural History film-making mainly being dominated by white men and how this needs to change. In a time of climate crisis, stories about nature and our environment need to be told through a diversity of lenses including women and people of colour.ALSO - we've chosen a brand new track from Helefonix called 'Jackie Weaver's kicked him out'. Yes Jackie Weaver from the notorious Handforth Parish Council meeting. All proceeds to to the NALC Make a Change campaign.PLUS - we bring you our usual round up of positive responses to the virus from around the world....Music: Jackie Weaver's kicked him out, HelenofonixHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar

In this episode we feature an interview with Bristolian 20 year old creative Oona Chanfi who has recently had her photographs published in Rife Magazine. She talks about the project - 10 portraits entitled Multiculturalism, being mixed race and having more than one culture and what its like growing up in multicultural Bristol but still being part of a largely white community. Her photographs are absolutely stunning.ALSO - we've chosen two tracks this time. We are honoured to be given permission to play Idles' latest track Carcinogenic which they perform in various empty and unused music venues around the city of Bristol to remind us of times when we could see live music....PLUS - the world-wide YouTube sensation Jerusalema which became a dance craze after a group of friends in Angola made up and videoed themselves eating their dinner while dancing to the track! Since then its been danced by thousands of groups all over the world including Swiss Air cabin crew, elephant sanctuary staff (and a baby elephant - aw!) and the Irish Gardaí (Police). Beautiful vocals from South African Master MK's sister Nomcebo.PLUS - we bring you our usual round up of positive responses to the virus from around the world....Music: Jerusalema, Master KG [Feat Nomcebo]Carcinogenic, IdlesHot Flu, Seb Gutiez, The Old Bones Collective - opening musicHosts: Melissa Chemam and Pommy HarmarProducer: Pommy Harmar