In this week's episode we visit an 'Earthquake House', find out about Romans and Picts battling in Dunning, and learn about the mysterious, three-thousand-year-old Crieff Cursus.

Every episode now comes with extensive show notes. There you'll find more details and relevant links, as well as contact details to enquire about being on a future episode of the podcast (or to enquire about joining the PerthshireHour WhatsApp group).

Simply click here to visit this week's show notes.

This week we take a quick look at two local event organisations and hear from them what it’s like running and coordinating an event in Perthshire. This episode features interviews with Heather Budge-Reid, the Chair of Perthshire Open Studios and Alan Govan, Festival Director and Head of Planning & Development at MugStock Festival. For links and additional information for this week's episode simply follow this link to this week's show notes.

This week's episode is a little different. It was World Book Day last Thursday so I reached out to local authors to find out what they did for book day. In this episode, we check in with local authors Helen Grant, David MacPhail, Pauline Tait, Fiona Lowry, Lindsey Gibb, and John Bray (that's me!). 

You'll hear about oompa loompa pirates, an entry in an anthology alongside Neil Gaiman and Joe Hill, and much more. On top of this, I read a sample of my own dark fantasy book 'Marcus' which is set in Crieff and is aimed at children in late primary school and older.

We also talk a little about the forthcoming changes to Twitter's 'Live Spaces', as well as a diminishing role for hashtags within Facebook.

Thanks as always for listening, and see you again next week.

This week we take some time to hear about the many ways Precious Sparkle in Perth has changed and adapted through the years into the amazingly eclectic and diverse shop they are now. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk to me Dawn, I really appreciate it.

In our Social Media tips and Ticks section we look at the news that Meta (Facebook and Instagram) is trialling a new 'Paid Verification Scheme' in Australia which is aimed at businesses, organisations, and other official pages. How might this impact your business or organisation if it comes to the UK? And what strategies can you implement to safeguard your ability to communicate with customers/ clients.

Finally, it's World Book Day this week, so I'm putting out a call to Perthshire Authors to ask if they can tell us a bit about themselves, their books, and what they did for World Book Day. I'll be doing a Perthshire Author feature for next week's PerthshireHour podcast. Please get in touch if you'd like to be involved.

This week the Twitter Live Space system was updated in some way so the Live Space barely worked. Sorry to those who tried to tune in. Hopefully, things will be back to normal again next week.

This week's podcast episode includes an interview with Elizabeth Philip from Crieff ConneXions. It was genuinely interesting to find out more about this broad-ranging community support organisation with connections to various different Perth and Kinross organisations.

In the second half of the podcast, we look at ways to tidy up your text, whether this is a short Facebook or Twitter post, or something longer.  I've included a description of two resources which I use to make writing clearer, more on point, and in some cases, more 'on brand' for your business.

Thank you for listening and don't forget to share this podcast with any friends or colleagues who may find it useful.

This week Laura Norval from Bushcraft Bairns was good enough to give me a short interview telling me about this relatively new addition to the Crieff/ Comrie area. Bushcraft Bairns offer a host of activities for children including den building, making woodland jewellery, mini-beast hunts, hand tools, basic woodwork, and more.

We also look at revamping your social media profiles and how to streamline the process of getting your posts seen (by the right people). Also, don't forget to send us a message if you're a Perthshire creative, or if you run a Perthshire business/organisation. Tell us about yourself, your business, your organisation, or your event for an ALWAYS FREE mention in a future episode.

This week's episode focuses on three different Perthshire creatives. It's also the first time we've pre-recorded an episode. Hopefully, the episode is still worth a listen despite not being recorded live. 

Our Perthshire creatives focus includes three different creatives. First is the 'The Grey Earl' and his Star Wars/ popular culture-inspired artwork and greeting cards. We also look at June McEwan who, among other things, creates distinctive large (sometimes life-sized) willow animals. Finally, we focus on Storyteller Claire Hewitt. Being there for Claire's storytelling is so different from simply hearing someone reading from a book. Hopefully, my description of it does it some justice.

We also look at ways to automate and improve your email list support and social media scheduling. On top of this was a call to action for listeners to share this podcast with others, as well as join the WhatsApp group.

As always, thanks for listening in and we'll see you next week.

On this week's #PerthshireHour we talk about Perthshire's multi-award winning independent bookshop the Aberfeldy Watermill, and take a brief visit to the stunning range of homewares and household supplies next door Homer.

In our Social Media tips and tricks segment we look at the end of the 'magic button' of social media. Ten years ago, Facebook and Twitter were like a magic wand for getting information out to the world. Sadly, these platforms seem to have lost their magic touch due to a mixture of promoted tweets/posts, algorithms, and user drop-off. In this section, we think about ways to get information out in this next stage of technology use for businesses. 

You can find links to topics from this week's programme either on Twitter (search #Perthshirehour), on Facebook (on the Crieff Business Page), or via the new PerthshireHour WhatsApp group (message the host John to be added to the group).

Thanks for listening, remember to tell us about your own events, activities, and more and we'll get your story into the podcast for you (no fee is charged for this).

In this week's episode, we take a visit to Fun Junction the toy shop to hear about one of their oddest customer requests, as well as learn more about their most popular toys, and about a way that they help customers to make their Christmas spend a little easier.

We also use the new social media tips segment to discuss how you as a business or organisation can use authenticity to build your brand; whether that's as a blog post, a YouTube video, or a TikTok upload.

We close up the episode with a quick rundown of what's on in Perthshire over the next couple of weeks and a few mentions of different Perthshire businesses and organisations.

This week is the first in the new program format which includes a Perthshire story, a social media tip/trick, and a short mention of local events in the Perthshire area.

This week our story focus is McCash's Country Store which has been supplying animal feed to the people (and animals) of Perth Since 1746. Yep McCash's is older than the USA!

Our Social media tip this week focuses on the ways that you can use WhatsApp to make your customers/ clients feel more special/ listened to (and get your message out in a more authentic and engaging way).

Finally, we share a list of various Burns Nights celebrations which you can enjoy in the Perthshire area over the next week or two.

Thanks for listening, and don't forget to subscribe on your favourite podcast app to be sure to catch the newest episodes of the #PertshireHour podcast as they're released.

In this week's episode we look at artistic activities in the Perthshire area including a photography competition in Letham and a pottery beginners handbuilding class at Moka in Crieff. We also look at the 'Warm Spaces' initiative springing up throughout Perthshire with venues offering a warm space to visit and keep warm during the difficulties associated with the rise in heating costs. Many of these spaces also offer various forms of free entertainment (including film showings, games, and other activities) as well as free refreshments.

Also mentioned this week is the new 'share tree' WhatsApp group. Contact John for more details and to have your name added to the group. This should make it even easier for businesses, organisations, and creatives to share the posts that they're most excited about with the wider Perthshire community.

A quick one this week as I'm recovering from the lurgy. Find out what's happening for Hogmanay all over Perthshire. Then prepare to fill the next few weeks promoting your new business ideas, creative endeavours, events, or whatever else you'd like to tell us about. 

As always, thanks for listening.

This episode will feature some of the best local food producers, restaurants, cafes, and bars, with a discussion on local produce, menus, atmospheres, and unique features that make each foodie destination stand out.

Featured in this week's episode are The Pickled Peacock, 'The Tea Garden' at Comrie Croft, Allan's Chilli Products, Cafe Kisa, Strathearn Cheese, and Wild Hearth Bakery. Also included are brief mentions for Cairn O'Mohr Winery, Delivino’s Wild Kitchen, Well-Fired Pizza, Rolling Stove, and Bonnie Mountain Coffee.

As always thanks for listening and don't forget to follow/subscribe to the podcast to avoid missing an episode (don't worry, it's free).

You'll find links to all businesses mentioned in this week's episode over in the show notes by clicking this link.

This week we are winding up our focus on Christmas and looking ahead to how we might use #PerthshireHour to become even better connected with one another in the new year. Comments are now open on John's Green Flame Creative website. If you'd prefer not to use social media (or if you lack a Twitter account or similar) you are more than welcome to post any links or descriptions of what you're up to in the comments.

I'd like to wish you all a fantastic Christmas and I hope all of your endeavours over the past weeks have gone brilliantly. Thanks for listening in and I'll see you all (virtually) next week.

Here is another update on what's on in the Perthshire area. Apologies for focusing so much on Crieff this week. We would love to have more info on what's going on all over Perthshire. If you're from elsewhere in Perthshire please get in touch using the email address provided in the episode (and in the short promo episode) and share what's on in your part of Perthshire.

This week: Find out how to track Santa as he travels around Crieff, learn about how Strathearn Arts are helping keep people cosy this winter, and learn about Auchingarrich Wildlife Park's 'Christmas Wonderland'.

The music in this week's episode comes from this copyright-free source on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYyPTy6425U

In the absence of a list of local festive events, we turned our attention to a list of Perthshire businesses, creatives, and organisations who have been using different social media platforms to connect with their audience in unique ways this week. From picture-heavy hospitality on Instagram, to fun community-engaging videos from retailers on TikTok (and no it's NOT just for teenagers), to the tried-and-tested community building, and engagement that can be enjoyed on Twitter and Facebook.

Learn more about the businesses, creatives, and organisations on your doorstep here in Perthshire. In this episode, we also look at the idea behind #PerthshireHour and explain how you can get involved and use it as a FREE resource to help build your social media channels, as well as connect with other creatives, businesses and organisations in the Perthshire area. 

Grab a coffee and hear about a vampire pantomime, Christmas tree tossing, and the secret to getting all your Christmas shopping done in one day in Perth this weekend, in this week's #PerthshireHour.  

Quick note: The Christmas music in the background of this week's #Perthshirehour Live Space is, to the best of my knowledge, copyright free. All came from here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYyPTy6425U 

Find out more about what #PerthshireHour is and how you can get involved. In this introduction, you'll hear about the origins of #PerthshireHour and find out how to get in touch and get free promotion for your local business, organisation, creative endeavour, event, wellness activity, etc. etc. 

Hope to hear from you soon, and thank you for listening in to the #PerthshireHour podcast.

Hello and welcome to this week’s episode of the PerthshireHour Podcast. This episode features a discussion of Perthshire’s history, highlighting significant events, people, and places that have contributed to the region's unique character and charm.

A special thank you to Irene at the Museum of Abernethy and Lara Haggerty at Innerpeffray Library near Crieff for taking the time to share their expert ideas about Perthshire's history. (I also want to add a quick apology to the guys at History and Horror Tours for the miscommunication. I hope we get a chance to hear from you on a future history episode)

As a lucky coincidence, this is also local history month. With this in mind, you'll also find details on a few local history month events at the end of this episode.

Show notes available by following this link.

Hello and welcome to the PerthshireHour Podcast. Each Wednesday we’ll bring a new episode featuring stories and news about the Perthshire area.

In this week’s episode, we’ll discuss the natural wonders of Perthshire with contributions from Laura at Bushcraft Bairns and Daniele from Perthshire Wildlife.

Find out more in the show notes here

You can visit Bushcraft Bairns here

And visit Perthshire Wildlife here

In this 'extra' episode, we look ahead to the forthcoming ten weeks of podcast episodes and put out a call to local businesses, organisations, charities, and creatives that might like to be involved. There's a huge variety of themes and topics ahead of us so have a listen and think about whether there's one or more episodes that you'd like to be a part of. (Please note that both audio and text contributions are equally welcome. You won't have to record yourself if you don't want to.)

A full run-through of the proposed podcast timetable can also be found by clicking this link.

This week's PerthshireHour podcast focuses on the Soutar Festival of Words 2023 in Perth from Friday 28th April till Sunday 30th April. Included are summaries of the following events: 'Plaid Song ‘Poems Intae Sangs’', 'Poetry Slam Competition + Performance by Kevin P Gilday', 'Graeme Macrae Burnet: Case Study', 'Emma Grae: The Tongue She Speaks', 'Kirsty Logan: Now She Is Witch', 'Sara Sheridan and Kirsten MacQuarrie: Women’s Voices', 'Fit’s Doric aa aboot?', 'Sally Magnusson: Music In The Dark', and 'Alan Warner: Nothing Left To Fear From Hell'.

Information for this episode was taken directly from the Perth Theatre and Concert Hall website (where you can also book your tickets).

This week we look at what's on in Perthshire this coming Easter Weekend. With Egg hunts, Easter menus, a shoe promotion (or two), and... scones?

Also includes a brief mention of the possibility of a 'social media tips' focus on using Meta for businesses/organisations (this covers Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp. If you'd be interested in a more in-depth section on this in a future episode please let me know.

We're offering something a little different in this week's (very) delayed episode of the PerthshireHour podcast as we point the spotlight at the wealth of poets working in and around the Perthshire area.

We have a huge collection of poems, read by their creators. Each poem has a special link to the Perthshire area, depicting favourite places, stories, and more.

In this episode, you'll hear the work of Jim Mackintosh, Jennie Turnbull, Andy Jackson, Alice Walsh, Lydia Robb, Patricia Ace, Beth McDonough, Dawn Wood, George T Watt, Hazel B Cameron, Jane Picton-Smith, Karen Macfarlane, and Morag Anderson.

Thanks go out to all of these poets for taking the time to record and submit their reading, it's greatly appreciated.

Apologies to regular listeners for the delay on getting this episode out into the world. A collection of technical and other difficulties caused a couple of unavoidable delays. We should be back to our regular program next Wednesday (5th April).

Hope you enjoy the episode, and as always, thanks for listening

With Mothers' day coming up this Sunday, I thought it might be good to feature a few Perthshire businesses run by mums. I contacted a few local business owners over the past week and they were good enough to tell me a little about the skills that motherhood helped them bring to your business, as well as some of the challenges too, not to mention the changes in direction that being a parent had on their business.

Featured this week were Karen (from Fun Junction Crief and Perth), Dawn (from Precious Sparkle), Victoria (from Litttle Scalliwags), and June McEwan (The Works/ Willow Works).

For this week's 'Perthshire Writer Focus' I added a little more about Fiona Lowry (Author of ‘Franco and The Green Light Fairy’ and ‘Felix's Favourite Day’), and the important role that the power of positive thinking has in the themes of her books.

Finally, in our 'Social Media Tips and Tricks' section, I highlighted the importance of taking ownership of your content by creating a simple (and free) website or blog with WordPress.com. (Please note: I'm not affiliated with WordPress, nor do I receive any form of compensation for recommending them. I've been making websites with WordPress for over a decade and I think they're the simplest (free) way for a small business to gain a professional presence outside social media and retain control over their own content).

Thanks as always for listening, and Happy Mothers' Day to all the mums who are listening to this week's episode.