Welsh Waves

Today, in episode 5 I’m joined by Jon Pountney. Jon is a photographer….although, as you’ll hear in this episode, he hates the term Photographer. Jon captures striking landscapes and powerful portraits in the South Wales Valleys and I’ve been captivated by his incredible work for years.  He’s recently worked as the Series Photographer on Michael Sheen’s new drama series The Way and also been developing a mammoth industrial photography project which I’ve loved following called ‘Allure of Ruins’. But before we start, this episode is dedicated to my late-grandfather, Eirwyn Walters. My Grampy Walters was an amateur photographer from Llanelli who after contracting TB in the early 50s found himself being sent up to a specialist hospital in a sleepy Mid-Walien Village called Bronllys.  In Bronllys hospital whilst being treated for tuberculosis he met my grandmother, Gwyneth, where they fell in love and he never went home. By Day my Grampy was and X-Ray technician, by night and by weekend- the village photographer, that captured everything from village fates and weddings to the breathtaking landscapes of the Black Mountains- but more than anything, his huge collection of images documented over a 65 year period depicts a romantic and happy life, in one of the most beautiful villages in mid wales. The term ‘The Good Old Days’ gets used so much now, but there’s so much joy and happiness and peace in his work, his work and his influence on me will stay with me for the rest of my life.  I’ve made a video on my Youtube channel that I’d really really love for you to go and watch after listening to this episode called ‘My Grandfathers Secret Gift’ where I talk about a really special moment I shared with him in the last weeks of his life and an incredible secret he left behind after he passed away in 2016. If you head to YouTube and search CaiDMorgan, My grandfathers secret gift, it should come up. But anyway, conversations like todays are really important to me, and I know this is one he would have absolutely relished listening to and being apart of. Without further ado- this is Jon Pountney, on Welsh Waves. WELSH WAVES Hey, Shwmae. My name’s Cai Morgan and this is Welsh Waves. I’ve always been curious as to where Wales fits in, in the world and in this podcast I hope to find out the answer. I’ll be doing this by exploring our culture, sport and language with some special guests- folk who I believe are shaping our future on the global stage.  I’ll also offer the odd essay episode which you might enjoy, something a little different where I’m going to do some solo-deep dives into some Cymry history and culture.  Please do join me, ymunwch a fi on this journey of discovery. Subscribe and listen on your major podcasting platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Today in episode 4 I’m joined by Gareth Rees. Gareth Rees is a designer from Capel Hendre with an incredibly rich tapestry of creative work for some of the worlds biggest brands. Adidas, Jaguar Land Rover, Gym Shark, Sky Sports  to name a few. I really enjoyed this interview- we go down into the nitty gritties of design and its influence on society, how AI is shaping creative industries and how we in Wales maybe need to not be so humble and should start our very own design movement sometime soon… I’m not going to waste any more air time in this intro, here’s our discussion. Mwynhewch. Hey, Shwmae. My name’s Cai Morgan and this is Welsh Waves. I’ve always been curious as to where Wales fits in, in the world and in this podcast I hope to find out the answer. I’ll be doing this by exploring our culture, sport and language with some special guests- folk who I believe are shaping our future on the global stage.  I’ll also offer the odd essay episode which you might enjoy, something a little different where I’m going to do some solo-deep dives into some Cymry history and culture.  Please do join me, ymunwch a fi on this journey of discovery. Subscribe and listen on your major podcasting platforms such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Croeso / Welcome to Welsh Waves.

Heddiw, un o Gwm Rhondda sy'n ymuno â fi- Laura Truelove. Mae Laura yn sylfaenydd cylchgrawn syrffio i fenywod o’r enw Daughters of the Sea.  Gobeithio newch chi fwynhau’r sgwrs! ----------------------------------- Hey Shwmae, Fy enw i yw Cai Morgan, croeso i fy mhodlediad, Welsh Waves.  Yn y gyfres hon, byddai’n archwilio i ddiwylliant Gymreig yn 2023 trwy gwrdd a phobl ifanc ac ysbrydoledig sydd wrthi’n siapio ein dyfodol, yng Nghymru ac ar lwyfan byd eang.  Ym mhennodau eraill, byddai’n ymchwilio mewn i straeon hanesyddol diddorol dwi’n teimlo sy’n helpu ni fel Cymry deall sut gall ein dyfodol edrych.  Ymunwch a fi yn y gyfres dwy-ieithog hon. Tanysgrifiwch a gwrandewch ar eich platfformau podlediadau fel Spotify, Apple Podcasts, neu Google Podcasts.  Croeso i Welsh Waves. —---------------------------- Mae’n rhaid i fi ddechrau’r bennod newydd hon trwy ymddiheuro. Er fy mod i’n un sy’n hoffi aros yn driw if y nghair, dim ond dwy bennod mewn i’r gyfres newydd sbon yma dwi wedi methu i gadw at y trefn a fy nghynllun gwreiddiol o ryddhau un pennod bob dydd Sul…. Dwi’n gwybod bod na joc ym myd y podlediadau bod neb bydd yn rhyddhau mwy na 3 achos bo pawb yn diflasu ar gynhyrchu’r cyfrwng a dwi yn amlwg wedi troedio’n rhy agos at y dibyn yn barod!  Ond mae ‘na rheswm da i hyn…maddaewch i fi! Pythefnos yn ôl i heddiw, tra’n chwarae pel-droed i fy nhîm lleol Talbot Green, ym munud ola’r gêm, ges i’r anffawd o dderbyn bwt i’r pen, oedd ar y pryd ddim actually yn brifo lot fawr os dwi’n onest…ond wrth i mi godi o’r llawr ges i tipyn o sioc o weld wynebau rhai o fy nghyd chwaraewyr… Ath wynebau’r bois yn wyn ac ath fy ngwyneb i’n goch. O ni ddim yn cochu as such, odd gwaed yn pwmp mas o’n nhalcen.  Diolch i’r bachan o’r tîm arall- o ni ar y’n ffordd i A+E er mwyn rhoi trefn ar y twll rhyw 4 modfedd o hyd oedd ar agor ar fy mhen…. Yn hwyrach y noson yna, nes i rhoi llun lan ar Instagram o’r craith mawr ar draws fy mhen gyda’r 6 pwyth ges i yn y diwedd yn dal fy nhalcen at ei gilydd.  Gwestai heddiw oedd un o’r cyntaf i ymateb yn anfon neges… MUSIC City Lights by Ghostrifter Crescent Moon by Purrple Cat Rain, Book And Cup Of Tea by FSM Team

This week I've written a short essay on an old coal mine called 'Dan's Muckhole', and its crazy owner 'Dai Ponty'. Dan's Muckhole sits underneath what is today Sardis Road (Pontypridd RFC's stadium), and although the mine entrance is still just about visible, its secrets lay thousands of feet below ground. Everyone feared Dan's Muckhole and its unhinged owner 'Dai Ponty' in Victorian era Pontypridd, and I tell their wild history in this week's episode of Welsh Waves. Welsh Waves Podcast My name’s Cai Morgan and this is Welsh Waves. I’ve always been curious as to where Wales fits in in the world and in this podcast I hope to find out the answer. I’ll be doing this by exploring our culture, sport and language with some special guests- folk who I believe are shaping our future on the global stage.  I’ll also offer the odd essay episode which you might enjoy, something a little different where I’m going to do some solo-deep dives into some Cymru history and culture.  Please subscribe, leave a review and share with anyone you think might be interested! Diolch! MUSIC City Lights by Ghostrifter Crescent Moon by Purrple Cat Rain, Book And Cup Of Tea by FSM Team

This week on Welsh Waves... Today I’m joined by Evan Williams. Evan is a 22 year old athlete from Bridgend who is currently playing American College Football for Missouri State Western in America. Evan started his sporting life as a rugby player, but through a series of very extraordinary events, found himself converting to a sport he’d never played before…and ends up doing it at an extremely high level. Although the chances are slim, it isn’t impossible to think Evan could find himself in the NFL one day but remarkably he wouldn't be the first Welshman to do it, I’ll find out more about the others in another episode, but until then…here’s my interview with the only Welshman playing American collegiate football right now… I really enjoyed this interview, I hope you will too. Welsh Waves Podcast My name’s Cai Morgan and this is Welsh Waves. I’ve always been curious as to where Wales fits in in the world and in this podcast I hope to find out the answer. I’ll be doing this by exploring our culture, sport and language with some special guests- folk who I believe are shaping our future on the global stage.  I’ll also offer the odd essay episode which you might enjoy, something a little different where I’m going to do some solo-deep dives into some Cymru history and culture.  Please subscribe, leave a review and share with anyone you think might be interested! Diolch! MUSIC: City Lights by Ghostrifter