Somewhere To Believe In – Details, episodes & analysis

This episode of Greenbelt’s ‘Somewhere To Believe In’ comes in the form of a one-off Christmas reflection; brought to you by our friend Beloved Sara Zaltash, a ‘non-denominational rabble-rouser and soul-soother for a world in crisis’.

It was our pleasure to welcome Beloved Sara to Greenbelt for the first time this year, along with her heavenly spiritual chants and adaptation of the Islamic Call to Prayer. And now she’s back again, reflecting on Christmas, with personal stories of community, songs of hope and prayers of blessings.

As Beloved Sara says, we hope ‘you gather around these sounds in warmth and with whatever is dear to you, and that these words shine a beacon of friendship into your Christmas season.’

This episode features strong language and references to drugs.

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Late this November, Greenbelt Festival’s Creative Director, Paul Northup, called me with a request to collaborate on something like a podcast, that wasn’t quite a podcast, to be shared with the Greenbelt community this Christmastime. 

I wish I could say that the first emotion I experienced was humility. I wish I was that saint! In truth, I was overwhelmed with giddy delight. Was I really being asked to share my thoughts, stories and songs with the Greenbelt community, that vital and gorgeous and exceptionally kind bunch of people that had won my heart this summer when I performed at the festival? In truth, it took a whole afternoon of pinching myself before the thrill of Paul’s request subsided, before I could settle into what was being asked of me. Did Greenbelters really want to hear more from me? What can I give them, poor as I am? 

As the start of Advent loomed, Paul and I realised that the task ahead was greater than the time available, and that we needed a different approach. Paul wondered about centering the not-exactly-a-podcast on my voice, seeing as it was my voice that had been received so kindly by Greenbelters at the festival. It was then that I remembered a piece of storytelling I had written for a guest slot at Sunday Assembly East End in December 2016 - a personal story, woven with song, that was Christmassy and yet not-exactly-Christmassy. This story is what we have chosen to share with you this year. 

Funnily enough, Sunday Assembly thought that the story was actually too Christian for their congregation. For me, this story abridges my whole life’s experience of sincere acceptance, inclusion and welcome into Christian community, regardless of how I have shown up. This story does not promote any specific belief or doctrine, except perhaps the belief in the redemptive power of song. 

That’s what we have to give you; we give our hearts. 

Thank you for all of the support and willingness offered by the Greenbelt team and not-quite-podcast contributors. Thank you especially to Abigail Maxwell, a Greenbelter and Quaker who provides us with a sobering prayer of blessing that we can hold alongside the gladness of the season. I pray that our offering greets you in the finest health, that you gather around these sounds in warmth and with whatever is dear to you, and that these words shine a beacon of friendship into your Christmas season.

Yours ever, 

Your own, 

Beloved Sara Zaltash

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00:00 - Introduction

01:45 - In the bleak midwinter

07:33 - A Christmas song

10:04 - Eric

16:16 - School

28:10 - Merry Christmas

28:37 - A prayer of blessing

31:04 - ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’ song

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This episode of Greenbelt’s ‘Somewhere To Believe In’ podcast takes a different form. It’s a one-off.

It knits together 45-minutes of reflection, conversation, music and prayer in the form of a listen-and-share service to mark the festival’s 2021 August Bank Holiday weekend incarnation (its 48th) – when only a fraction of the wider Greenbelt community could actually physically be together at the Prospect Farm pop-up camping gathering. 

The hope is that the audio form of the service will give everyone the chance to share and be connected in a unifying act of remembrance – wherever they are. Ideally, the audio is designed to be shared in and listened to at 11am on Sunday 29th August. But, of course, it can be listened to at any time. Again and again.

The podcast takes its title from a wonderful poem by the poet Roger Robinson. It also features music from Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir and the Wild Goose Resources Group, conversations with activists from Christian Aid, Trussell Trust and Refuweegee and readings and prayers led by Greenbelt’s from all corners of the UK. It is lovingly curated and narrated by Pádraig Ó Tuama – poet, theologian, and conflict mediator. (Pádraig also presents 'Poetry Unbound', a podcast from On Being studios.)

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ORDER OF SERVICE

Download the order of service here

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SUPPORT

Last year – despite our not being together – you gave an incredible £33,000 in response to our service appeal. This year, let’s see if we can top that generosity!

This year, your generous giving will be split 50/50 once again.

50% will go towards the vital work that our partners Christian Aid and Trussell Trust do to challenge, advocate, develop and support – globally and domestically.

And 50% will stay with us here at Greenbelt as we work to make sure the festival remains sustainable in these most challenging of times. So we can be back in the fields at Boughton House for a fully-fledged festival in 2022 – and beyond.

Give here

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

Pádraig Ó Tuama

Roger Robinson

Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir

Christian Aid in South Sudan

Trussell Trust

Glasgow protesters praised for blocking UK immigration officers

Refuweegee

Wild Goose Resource Group

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FEATURED TRACKS

‘Lenten Psalm Tone’ by Soul Sanctuary

‘Heaven Shall Not Wait’ by WGRG, Iona Community

‘People Get Ready’ by Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir

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00:00 - Prayer for the earth

00:35 - Welcome to ‘The Job of Paradise’

01:49 - ‘The Job of Paradise’ read by Roger Robinson

02:30 - Pádraig speaks to Roger Robinson

10:33 - Prayer for the artists

11:35 - ‘Psalm 27’ by Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir

16:26 - Chine McDonald and James Wani on aid in South Sudan (Christian Aid)

21:32 - Prayer for those affected by war

22:34 - Pádraig and Jonathan Lees on food banks (Trussell Trust)

27:19 - Scriptural reading

28:31 - Confession

29:50 - Prayer for those responsible for racism

30:26 - ‘Heaven Shall Not Wait’ by Wild Goose Resource Group

32:39 - Pádraig speaks to Selina Hales (Refuweegee) about Glasgow immigration standoff

38:21 - ‘Heaven Shall Not Wait’ by Wild Goose Resource Group

38:56 - Prayer for friendship

39:40 - ‘People Get Ready’ by Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir

42:34 - Prayer for our societies

43:17 - A chance for conversation and response

43:57 - Welcome back

44:13 - Giving

45:19 - Blessing

46:15 - Thank you and credits

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WITH HUGE THANKS TO ALL OF OUR CONTRIBUTORS

SERVICE WRITER, NARRATOR AND HOST

Pádraig Ó Tuama is a poet, theologian, and conflict mediator. He presents Poetry

Unbound, a podcast from On Being studios.

Website: padraigotuama.com

Twitter: @duanalla

GUEST ARTIST

Roger Robinson is a writer, educator, and performer. His most recent collection of

poems, A Portable Paradise, won the TS Eliot prize in 2020.

Website: rogerrobinsononline.com

Twitter: @rrobinson72

GUEST ACTIVISTS

Selina Hales is the Founder and Director of Refuweegee, a Glasgow-based charity

equipping the local community to welcome and support refugees and asylum

seekers making their homes in the city.

Website: refuweegee.co.uk

Twitter: @SelinaHales

Greenbelt Partner Christian Aid is a UK-based charity whose mission is the

creation of a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty.

Chine McDonald is Christian Aid’s Head of Public Engagement. She was in

conversation with James Wani, Christian Aid’s country director in South Sudan.

Website: christianaid.org.uk

Twitter: @ChineMcDonald @christian_aid

Greenbelt Partner The Trussell Trust is a charity working to eliminate poverty and

hunger in the UK. They support a nationwide network of Foodbanks.

Jonathan Lees is manager at Epsom Foodbank

Website: trusselltrust.org

Twitter: @jonathanlees55 @TrussellTrust

MUSIC

Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir is a London-based gospel choir committed to creating

and sharing gospel music of the highest standard, especially in the places where

gospel’s power to raise the human spirit is most needed. You can find more of their

music via their website.

Website: soulsanctuarygospel.com

Twitter: @soulsanctuarygc

Lenten Psalm Tone

Music Edwin Fawcett, Lyrics Psalm 26/27 copyright Grail Psalter, performed by

Soul Sanctuary Gospel Choir, from the album With All Your Soul (2013).

People Get Ready

Music and Lyrics Curtis Mayfield, arranged Peter Yarde Martin, performed by Soul

Sanctuary Gospel Choir

Wild Goose Resource Group (WGRG) is a semi-autonomous project of the Iona

Community. The Iona Community is a dispersed Christian community working for

peace, social justice, the rebuilding of community and the renewal of worship.

Website: iona.org.uk

Twitter: @ionacommunity

Heaven Shall Not Wait

Words: John L. Bell & Graham Maule

Music: John L. Bell copyright © 1987 WGRG, Iona Community, Glasgow.

wildgoose.scot

Recording from the CD ‘Heaven Shall Not Wait’ copyright ℗ 1991 WGRG, Iona

Community, Glasgow.

PRAYERS AND READERS

Uriel, Felice and Evodie Thornbury – young family members of the Hilfield Friary

Franciscan Community in Dorset

Vicky and Eve Allen, Greenbeters from East Lothian

Geraint Rees, Greenbelter and CODA festival team member from Rhondda Cynon Taf

Producer

Paul Northup

Engineer

Josh Clipsham, Greenbelt Volunteer

Recorded Talks and Podcast Team

Recordist

Jake Bussell, Greenbelt Volunteer

Recorded Talks and Podcast Team

Publisher

Daisy Ware-Jarett, Greenbelt Digital

Comms Officer

Additional support

Emily Rawling, Executive Assistant and

Copy Editor for Pádraig Ó Tuama

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https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

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In our final episode in this series, we talk to Palestinian spoken word artist, human rights activist and our new favourite politics teacher, Rafeef Ziadah.

We dig into poetry, art, trauma, displacement, equality and justice as Rafeef shares her experiences of being a third-generation Palestinian refugee, exiled from her home and now living in London. Rafeef reminds us that issues like climate change and the pandemic do not respect borders, which makes us reflect on the entire ‘nation-state’ system.

Above all, Rafeef tells us of the strength she gets from the Palestinian people whose resolve and resilience is undiminished despite great challenges, and who continue to tell their stories and create art in the face of occupation.

Plus, Katherine and Paul reflect on their first year of podcasting and Katherine’s new favourite hobby. 

Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.

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ABOUT RAFEEF

Rafeef is a Palestinian spoken word artist and human rights activist based in London, UK. Her performances of poems like ‘We Teach Life, Sir’ and ‘Shades of Anger’ went viral within days of release. Her live readings offer a moving blend of poetry and music. Since releasing her first album, Rafeef has headlined prestigious performance venues across several countries with powerful readings on war, exile, gender and racism. Her long awaited third album Three Generations is out December 2020. It can be pre-ordered here: https://www.pozible.com/profile/rafeef-ziadah 

We Teach Life, her second album, was a powerful collection of spoken word with original music compositions, which she brings to the stage with Australian guitarist and producer Phil Monsour.  Rafeef received the Ontario Arts Council Grant from the Word of Mouth programme to create her debut spoken-word album Hadeel. She regularly conducts spoken word workshops with the aim of empowering expression through writing and performance. 

Website | Spotify | Itunes | Facebook | Twitter

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

Three Generations

Bandcamp

Passport

Nakba 1948: Ethnic Cleansing of Cities, Towns and Villages

Palestinian Writers Festival

We Teach Life Sir

Palestine Music Expo

Edward Said National Conservatory of Music

Made in Palestine 

If my words

The Walled Off Hotel - Banksy

Jesus Was Not in a Stable Relationship - Pádraig Ó Tuama in conversation with Paul Northup

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00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In

00:19 - Katherine and Paul catch up

04:00 - Introducing Rafeef Ziadah and her work

10:30 - Rafeef joins the conversation

10:47 - Rafeef on lockdown ‘Three Generations’

15:50 - Rafeef on being a Palestinian refugee

17:35 - Rafeef on art and activism

19:02 - Rafeef on being stateless

21:02 - Rafeef on changing the world

22:50 - Rafeef on politics and social movements

26:45 - Rafeef on building a movement

29:00 - Rafeef on responses to her work

32:10 - Rafeef on writing and performing poetry

34:09 - Rafeef on being denied the right of return to Palestine

35:50 - Rafeef on the wall

38:06 - Rafeef on profit and power over people

39:25 - Rafeef on the US election and Trump

44:37 - Rafeef on the pandemic in Gaza

46:23 - Rafeef on Palestinian resolve and resistance 

48:09 - Rafeef on the Christmas story

50:10 - Rafeef on hope

50:45 - Rafeef on burnout

52:28 - Rafeef on how to support her work

53:19 - Rafeef on Greenbelt Festival

53:52 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Rafeef

01:08:16 - How to get in touch with us

01:08:37 - Thank you’s

01:09:40 - Hidden track

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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.

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https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

#SomewhereToBelieveIn

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This week we connect with Canadian singer-songwriter and theatre-maker Ben Caplan. Ben joins us from the car park of a Canadian fast-food giant called Tim Hortons, en route to play a socially distanced gig as part of the Small Halls Festival in Ottawa.

We get all the deets about life and lockdown in Canada. Ben has praise for his government’s response to the pandemic – in stark contrast to what we’ve heard from other artists both here in the UK and elsewhere. We talk about Ben’s identity as a Jewish man, his experiences of antisemitism, and how growing up with Jewish values like tikkun olam (literally “repair of the world”) inspires him to make art that leaves a smile on our faces and a question in our hearts.

Plus, after recovering from the shock of hearing someone talk so positively about their government, Katherine and Paul reflect on how heartfelt and eloquent Ben is, which gives us an idea about how we can fix this mess... #BenCaplanForPrimeMinister.

Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.

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ABOUT BEN

Ben Caplan is a songwriter, performer and entertainer in the most time-honoured sense of the word. From the moment he walks onto the stage, you are filled with his infectious spirit, and captivating presence. You can feel Caplan's comfort and ease as he strides in front of the crowd and begins the controlled collective descent into chaos.

In his latest project, Ben Caplan explores themes of immigration, loss, darkness, love, sex, and God. Caplan is touring with a fresh batch of songs which were originally composed for a new musical play called Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story. The award winning play had its international debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it won top festival honours, and has been a smash hit. The play has toured internationally including a seven-week run Off Broadway where it picked up a New York Times Critic's Pick, and six Drama Desk Award nominations, among other accolades.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

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FEATURED TRACKS

O Holy Night by Ben Caplan (12:01)

Fledgling by Ben Caplan (21:35)

Plough the Shit by Ben Caplan (28:40)

Truth Doesn’t Live in a Book by Ben Caplan (45:20)

The Happy People by Ben Caplan (50:57)

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Podcast theme - I Can Change by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

LINKS AND RESOURCES

The Festival of Small Halls

Old stock: A refugee Love Story

Pogroms

Tikkun Olam: Repairing the World

Investigation into antisemitism in the Labour Party

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu: Commando turned PM

The Talmud

Website

Webstore 

Bowling for Columbine 

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00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In

00:20 - Katherine and Paul catch up

05:30 - Introducing Ben Caplan and his work

06:03 - Ben joins the conversation

07:51 - Ben on the pandemic in Canada

09:56 - Ben on slowing down

12:01 - ‘O Holy Night’ by Ben Caplan

12:50 - Ben on support for the arts in Canada

15:33 - Ben on creativity

16:29 - Ben on his inspirations

18:05 - Ben on refugees

21:35 - ‘Fledgling’ by Ben Caplan

22:40 - Ben on the power of art

25:40 - Ben on finding moments of joy

26:20 - Ben on telling stories of massacres 

28:40 - ‘Plough the Shit’ by Ben Caplan

30:18 - Ben on Judaism

31:45 - Ben on anti-semitism

40:47 - Ben on literalist readings of religious texts

45:20 - ‘Truth Doesn’t Live in a Book’ by Ben Caplan

46:23 - Ben on commercial music

48:30 - Ben on performing

49:41 - Ben on brokenness

50:57 - ‘The Happy People’ by Ben Caplan

51:20 - Ben on Greenbelt Festival

54:20 - Ben on what he would retrain as

56:56 - Ben on how to support his work

59:08 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Ben

1:10:07 - Coming up next week

1:10:27 - How to get in touch with us

1:11:06 - Thank you’s

1:11:30 - Hidden track

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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.

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https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

#SomewhereToBelieveIn

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On the podcast this week Katherine and Paul welcome Mimi and Lucy from “queer, feminist, punk-witch band” Dream Nails.

We discuss what it means to be punk – in the cliched sense but also in the Dream Nails sense, which includes: writing badass music, creating safe gig spaces where everyone can dance without fear, shouting ‘women and non-binary people to the front’ at the start of every show and placing hexes on the patriarchy; all done with an immense amount of joy.

Describing themselves as ‘four punk witches from London’, we take the opportunity to summon an old Greenbelt tale about the year “the white witch” came to the field and the subsequent fallout. (Spoiler alert: some people weren’t that happy about it.) 

Plus, inspired by Dream Nails’ ‘Gig In a Box’ (complete with a handmade sticky floor tile so you can recreate that small-venue experience at home), Katherine and Paul wonder what a ‘Greenbelt In a Box’ might look like.

Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.

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ABOUT DREAM NAILS

Dream Nails are a punk force to be reckoned with. Founded by feminist activists in 2015, their debut album garnered 4/5 stars from NME, DIY and Kerrang!

The female four-piece have built a reputation across the UK, Europe and Scandinavia for their ‘fierce talent and furious energy’ (Guardian). Dream Nails have taken their riotous live shows on tour with Cherry Glazerr, Bleached and Petrol Girls. In 2019 they headlined Glastonbury's Sisterhood stage for the third consecutive time.

Dream Nails are PRS foundation and PPL Momentum 2020 artists. Having won support from Steve Lamacq, Tom Robinson and Amy Lame (BBC6), Huw Stephens and Jack Saunders (Radio 1), John Kennedy (XFM), and glowing coverage in Billboard, DIY, Upset, Independent, Guardian, VICE, Dazed, NYLON, Clash, i-D, The Skinny and Frieze, Dream Nails’ energy and youthful power promise to set your soul on fire.

Bandcamp

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

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FEATURED TRACKS

Payback (25:55)

DIY by Dream Nails (30:22)

Vagina Police by Dream Nails (46:24)

Big Dyke Energy by Dream Nails (55:57)

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Podcast theme - I Can Change by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

LINKS AND RESOURCES

Dream Nails

Feministmas & Gig In a Box

COVID-19: Shops to open 24 hours a day to boost high street pandemic recovery

Poverty in the Pandemic: the Impact of Coronavirus on Low-income Families and Children

Good Night Out

Riot Grrrl movement

Sisters Uncut

Hex the Patriarchy patch

Abortion Support Network

Lonely Star (Christmas Song) by Dream Nails

2young4punks - Don Letts at Greenbelt Festival 2011

Greenbelt at 40 (featuring the year of the witch and the willies)

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TAKE ACTION

Donate to Abortion Support Network

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00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In

00:20 - Katherine and Paul catch up

09:38 - Introducing Dream Nails and their work

10:48 - Dream Nails join the conversation

11:50 - Dream Nails on releasing their debut album during lockdown

13:54 - Dream Nails on not being able to play live

15:52 - Dream Nails on community

17:36 - Dream Nails on ‘women and non-binary people to the front’

24:07 - Dream Nails on activism and resilience

25:28 - ‘Payback’ by Dream Nails

26:26 - Dream Nails on their music

29:50 - Dream Nails on affirmations

30:22 - ‘DIY’ by Dream Nails

30:55 - Dream Nails on pushback

33:35 - Dream Nails on punk

36:29 - Dream Nails on self-care

39:32 - Dream Nails on witches

45:51 - Dream Nails on Greenbelt Festival

46:24 - ‘Vagina Police’ by Dream Nails

49:08 - Dream Nails on Abortion Support Network

52:47 - Dream Nails on Trump

55:57 - ‘Big Dyke Energy’ by Dream Nails

56:40 - Dream Nails on what’s coming up

59:13 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Dream Nails

01:15:45 - Coming up next week

01:16:30 - How to get in touch with us

01:17:18 - Thank you’s

01:17:58 - Hidden track

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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.

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https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

#SomewhereToBelieveIn

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This week we’re talking to “jack of all trades, master of ceremonies” Testament: hip-hop MC, writer, theatre-maker and world-record-breaking human beatboxer. 

Listen in as Testament discusses his cultural upbringing, including his love of De La Soul as well as the Pet Shop Boys, along with his theory why Glee is not only prophetic, but “the real hip-hop”. 

Testament gets real with Paul and Katherine about his own faith, feminism and social justice work. Including his attempts as a rebellious teenager to ‘out-Christian’ his parents, and his acceptance nowadays of his own vulnerability and ‘brokenness’ as a way to help others reflect on their own lives. 

He also belatedly apologises for accidentally stabbing his older brother in his hand with a compass when they were growing up, but that’s another story…

Meanwhile, Katherine and Paul get excited about Dolly Parton’s covid vaccine and have a go at guessing what’s inside Dominic Cummings’ cardboard box.

Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.

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ABOUT TESTAMENT

Testament is a Hip-Hop MC, writer, theatre maker and world record breaking human beatboxer. Born in North London and growing up in Manchester, moving on to study in West Yorkshire where he currently resides. As a lyricist his critically acclaimed work combines strands of rap, song and spoken word. Testament’s work includes the celebrated Hip-Hop album Homecut: No Freedom Without Sacrifice, as well as several spoken word performances for BBC TV and  BBC Radio (1xtra, Radio 4 and 6Music). More recently, 2019 he was Channel 4 Writer in Residence at Royal Exchange Theatre Manchester.

Website

Instagram

Twitter

Facebook

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

Testament’s website

Dominic Cummings and his cardboard box

Dolly Parton Vaccine 

Orpheus in the Record Shop

Peace Jam

The Romantics and Us with Simon Schama

Testament And William Blake

Woke

Testament’s interview with Leroy Logan

Leroy Logan and Testament in conversation - Podcast

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00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In

00:20 - Katherine and Paul catch up

08:39 - Introducing Testament and his work

09:22 - Testament joins the conversation

09:50 - Testament on lockdown

11:34 - Testament on Orpheus in the record shop

14:55 - Testament on creativity

23:28 - Testament on Peace Jam

27:45 - Testament on Desmond Tutu

28:50 - Testament on faith, dogma and trying ‘out-Christian’ everyone

32:16 - Testament on Greenbelt Festival

34:10 - Testament on ego and social justice

37:06 - Testament on classic and contemporary art

40:33 - Testament on ‘Woke’ and feminism

47:42 - Testament on racial justice

52:10 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Testament

01:06:00 - Coming up next week

01:07:54 - How to get in touch with us

01:08:08 - Thank you’s

01:08:36 - Hidden track

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A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.

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https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

#SomewhereToBelieveIn

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This week’s podcast episode is a very important one, so let’s get straight to it. Katherine and Paul speak to writer, human rights campaigner, political refugee, theatre-maker and ‘public enemy’ to Alexander Lukashenko’s regime in Belarus, Natalia Kaliada.

Natalia is a founding Co-Artistic Director of Belarus Free Theatre, a collective of artists who use the power of theatre to fight for democracy in Belarus and oppose what’s known as ‘the last dictatorship in Europe’.

We hear about Natalia’s own experiences living a not-so-censored life under an oppressive regime. Including her exile to London and how she continues to fight the same fight her ancestors did (her grandfather survived German concentration camps and Soviet gulags before ever Alexander Lukashenko came to dictatorial rule in his beloved Belarus). Resistance is seemingly in her DNA.

Natalia shares the stories of the Belarus protesters, 15,000 of whom have been imprisoned, raped or killed by the Belarus government this year. We hear how theatre has helped some of them through their imprisonment and how Belarus Free Theatre continues to use art as a tool to take down the dictatorship.

Katherine and Paul reflect on the importance of this conversation and how now, more than ever, we need to stand with the people of Belarus; not just to demand democracy for them, but to actively protect democracy around the world for everyone.

Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.

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ABOUT NATALIA

Natalia Kaliada is a founding Co-Artistic Director of Belarus Free Theatre as well as a writer, human rights campaigner and producer and is one of the most outspoken critics of Belarus’s repressive regime.

Belarus Free Theatre was founded in 2005 in Europe's last surviving dictatorship, by Natalia Kaliada and Nicolai Khalezin. BFT’s performances take place in selected secret venues around Minsk with audiences alerted to their existence by text message or e-mail. Although forced to operate under cover within Belarus, the Theatre has travelled widely and has gained a growing international reputation. They continue to create exceptional theatre under near impossible conditions underground in Belarus. The company has found a home as associate artists of the Young Vic, London.

Natalia Kaliada has been detained, arrested without access to counsel and threatened with rape for her participation in peaceful rallies that were called “subversive” activities and “unstable elements” by the Belarusian authorities. After the tragic events in Belarus in 2010, she and her husband were smuggled out of Belarus and now live in exile in London.

Website: https://www.belarusfreetheatre.com/

Instagram: @belarusfreetheatre

Facebook: @belarusfreetheatre

Twitter: @BFreeTheatre

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TAKE ACTION

Support Belarus Free Theatre http://www.belarusfreetheatre.com/ 

I’m with the Banned http://www.belarusfreetheatre.com/en/bft/imwiththebanned/#Banned 

Ask your local MP to add “major scumbags” who support Lukashenko’s regime to a sanctions list so their assets will be frozen.

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

Belarus Free Theatre https://www.belarusfreetheatre.com/ 

Ministry Of Counterculture https://moc.media/

Who is long-time leader Alexander Lukashenko? https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/07/belarus-presidential-election-who-is-long-time-leader-alexander-lukashenko 

Who is Svetlana Tikhanovskaya? https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/13/world/europe/belarus-opposition-svetlana-tikhanovskaya.html

Alexander Lukashenko on Coronavirus https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-belarus-alexander-lukashenko-vodka-sauna-countryside-tractors-a9434426.html 

Natalia on Bruatility https://euobserver.com/opinion/149384 

Brutality in Belarus https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53776461 

Belarus bans two opposition candidates https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/14/belarus-bans-two-opposition-candidates-from-running-in-elections

Balaklava Blues http://www.balaklavablues.com/ 

Balaklava Blues at Greenbelt https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/artists/balaklava-blues-presented-by-belarus-free-theatre/ 

Generation Jeans https://theconversation.com/denim-and-revolution-belarus-free-theatres-generation-jeans-resonates-101442 

Being Harold Pinter https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03bcpyk 

Red Forest http://totaltheatre.org.uk/belarus-free-theatre-red-forest/ 

Discover Love https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p038x587 

Trash Cuisine https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p038x5sq 

Burning Doors https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/theater-review-burning-doors-is-a-fiery-anti-putin-scream.html 

Dogs of Europe https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2020/event/belarus-free-theatre-dogs-of-europe  

Belarus: thousands protest against death of teacher in police custody https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/nov/15/belarus-thousands-protest-against-death-of-teacher-in-police-custody 

Is Protest Art Just Propaganda? Or is All Art a Form of Protest? https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/talks/is-protest-art-just-propaganda-or-is-all-art-a-form-of-protest/ 

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00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In

01:00 - Introducing Natalia and the work do Belarus Free Theatre

05:36 - Natalia joins the conversation

06:44 - Natalia on Belarus Free Theatre

11:20 - Natalia on generations of resistance

16:12 - Natalia on a lifetime of fighting for democracy

21:50 - Natalia on western democracy and dictatorship

29:24 - Natalia on 2020 in Belarus

41:11 - Natalia on theatre as protest

49:07 - How to support Belarus Free Theatre

51:36 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Natalia

1:05:40 - Coming up next week

1:06:09 - How to get in touch with us

1:06:56 - Thank you’s

1:07:29 - Hidden track

____

A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.

____

https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

#SomewhereToBelieveIn

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In the third episode of our second podcast series, Katherine and Paul welcome Bristol-based poet, theatre-maker and powerful storyteller, Muneera Pilgrim.

We hear about Muneera’s experiences growing up as a black woman in Bristol – and what it means for her to finally see the statue of you-know-who toppled. We also talk about Muneera’s unexpected faith journey: from repeatedly falling in and out of love with her Caribbean Christian roots, to eventually finding her home in Islam.

Above all else, Muneera’s infectious belief in the ability for art and storytelling to transform our lives gives us a much-needed shot of hope. 

Meanwhile, Katherine and Paul can’t help but laugh over the absurdity that is ‘Four Seasons Total Landscaping’, and we find out what Shakespeare, crosswords and scripture have in common.

Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.

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ABOUT MUNEERA

Muneera Pilgrim is a poet, cultural producer, writer and broadcaster, as well as co-founder of the Muslim female spoken word and hip-hop duos Poetic Pilgrimage and Nana Collective. Muneera conducts expressive-based, purpose-driven workshops, shares art, guest lectures, hosts and finds alternative ways to educate and exchange ideas. She regularly contributes to Pause for Thought on BBC Radio 2, and she is currently an Associate Artist with The English Touring Theatre where she contributed to The Othello Project, and is writing a project that will be revealed in 2020.

Instagram: @muneera_pilgrim

Twitter: @MuniPilgrim 

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

Edward Colston statue toppled in Bristol https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/jun/14/the-day-bristol-dumped-its-hated-slave-trader-in-the-docks-and-a-nation-began-to-search-its-soul 

Unicorns Have Nothing On Us by Muneera Pilgrim https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UpJjWGcCUqU 

Marlon Thomas https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/marlon-thomas-family-bristols-stephen-2735642 

Amal http://amal.org.uk/ 

Othello Creative Response https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/talks/othello-creative-response/ 

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00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In

00:20 - Katherine and Paul catch up

09:35 - Introducing Muneera Pilgrim and her work

10:24 - Muneera joins the conversation

10:35 - Muneera on Bristol

15:00 - Muneera on lockdown and inequality

18:13 - Muneera on storytelling

20:40 - Muneera on her influences

24:10 - Muneera on creativity

25:35 - Muneera on Marlon Thomas

29:18 - Muneera on faith and race

34:33 - Muneera on Islam

38:05 - Muneera on spirituality

40:40 - Muneera on Greenbelt

44:26 - Muneera on Othello

47:18 - Muneera on art

51:58 - Muneera on hope and motivation

55:00 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Muneera

01:05:39 - Coming up next week

01:06:18 - How to get in touch with us

01:06:55 - Thank you’s

____

A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.

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https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

#SomewhereToBelieveIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on the podcast we’re beyond excited to welcome the hilarious comedian and all-round lovely person, Josie Long.

We hear about Josie’s unique journey into comedy, beginning aged just 14. And how she’s determined to extend the olive branch of opportunity to the next generation of young creatives. Needless to say, we talk about the current government's support (or lack thereof) for the creative industries and why she’s decided she’s had enough and is moving to Scotland.

Plus, Paul and Josie have a fan-girl moment over our unofficial resident Geographer, Danny Dorling. While Katherine gives you her two cents about how to be a successful dictator.

Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.

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ABOUT JOSIE

Often described as a unique voice in comedy, Josie is one of the most respected comedians of her generation. She started stand-up at age 14 and went on to win the BBC New Comedy Award. She has continued to perform stand-up around the world and her eighth solo stand-up show, Something Better, had a sell-out two weeks at the Soho Theatre in London, followed by a two-week run at the Barrow Street Theatre New York. Josie has been nominated for the coveted Best Show award at the Edinburgh Fringe three times. Her latest show, Tender, is touring the U.K. in 2020. On TV and radio, Josie has appeared on The News Quiz, Just A Minute, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Skins, 8 out of 10 Cats, and Drunk History. Josie has also worked extensively in factual areas including The Culture Show on BBC2 and as the presenter and writer of Radio 4’s Short Cuts. Josie wrote and starred in the film Super November, directed by Douglas King. The film was nominated for The Discovery Award in the 2018 BIFAs.

Website: https://www.josielong.com/

Instagram: @josielong

Facebook: @josie.i.long

Twitter: @josielong

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

Arts Emergency https://www.arts-emergency.org/

Book Shambles with Robin Ince and Josie long https://www.josielong.com/podcast/book-shambles/ 

Josie & Jonny Are Having a Baby (With You!) https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/stitcher/josie-jonny-are-having-a-baby-with-you 

Jonny & The Baptists https://www.jonnyandthebaptists.co.uk/ 

Josie at Greenbelt https://youtu.be/pJjzuJQwf_M 

Tender https://www.josielong.com/josies-shows/tender/ 

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00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In

00:22 - Katherine and Paul catch up

06:41 - Introducing Josie Long and her work

08:23 - Josie joins the conversation

08:23 - Josie on lockdown

11:34 - Josie on performing online

14:49 - Josie on productivity

15:46 - Josie on government arts funding

18:03 - Josie on how she got into comedy

20:10 - Josie on her inspirations

21:36 - Josie on learning from others

24:28 - Josie on Arts Emergency

26:57 - Josie on the value of art

29:12 - Josie on anger and despair 

34:56 - Josie on politics

36:43 - Josie on small venues vs stadiums

40:45 - Josie on offence

45:44 - Josie on religion

46:25 - Josie on Greenbelt Festival

50:03 - Josie on hopefulness

52:11 - How to support Josie

55:43 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Josie

01:03:42 - How to get in touch with us

01:04:23 - Thank you’s

____

A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.

____

https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

#SomewhereToBelieveIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to the second series of Somewhere To Believe In! We’re back by popular demand(ish). This time around we’re coming together to celebrate and hear from artists we love – and we hope you’ll love them too.

Who better to kick things off than Lee Bains of Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, a self-proclaimed ‘deep-south wide-open far-left liberation gospel’ Rock-N-Roll band from Alabama, USA. Lee and his band are on a mission to fight against white supremacy, xenophobia and systems of power, all while bringing their southern hospitality and charm to the table.

With the US elections looming, we hear what it’s like being Christian living under a government that so regularly weaponises the Bible to justify inhuman behavior. Lee gives us a much-needed reminder about the power of the people, making us wonder if the election results matter as much as we think they do. We also get introspective and hear how slowing down has made Lee tackle some big questions about who he really is and what he’s trying to do with his music.

Meanwhile, Katherine and Paul talk about our plans for the 2021 festival and - and we can’t stress the importance of this enough - how happy Katherine’s mum will be that we’re back with a second series of the podcast.

Links, resources and episode timestamps (for all you skippers out there) below.

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SUPPORT LEE BAINS III & THE GLORY FIRES

Website: http://www.thegloryfires.com/

Merch: https://store.thegloryfires.com/

Bandcamp: https://leebainsiii.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: @gloryfires

Facebook: @thegloryfires

Twitter: @TheGloryFires

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LINKS AND RESOURCES

Angela Davis https://time.com/5793638/angela-davis-100-women-of-the-year/

Arundhati Roy https://www.facebook.com/ArundhatiRoyAuthor 

Linn Park statue https://bhamnow.com/2020/06/02/a-history-of-the-confederate-monument-in-birminghams-linn-park/  

Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires http://www.thegloryfires.com/ 

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00:00 - Welcome to Somewhere To Believe In

00:42 - Coming up in this series

02:32 - Katherine and Paul catch up

05:26 - Katherine and Paul on Greenbelt Festival 2021

06:17 - Introducing Lee Bains and his work

08:34 - Lee joins the conversation

09:06 - Lee on Greenbelt Festival 

12:56 - Lee on this year and Covid-19

15:42 - Lee on government support in America

20:37 - Lee on independent music venues

24:38 - Lee on not being able to tour

27:47 - Lee on activism and burn out

33:13 - Lee on people, systems and policing

36:10 - Lee on church and power

38:09 - Lee on the power of music

42:49 - Lee on success

51:00 - Lee on the US election

52:15 - Lee on anti-racist rallies and activism in Atlanta

56:00 - Lee on how to support Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

57:13 - Katherine and Paul reflect on the conversation with Lee

01:02:58 - Katherine and Paul on the future of music venues

01:06:20 - Katherine and Paul on church and power

01:08:50 - How to get in touch with us

01:09:42 - Thank you’s

01:10:24 - Hidden track ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires

____

A huge thanks to the Greenbelt Volunteer Talks Team for all their hard work on editing this episode. Our podcast music is ‘I Can Change’ by Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires.

____

https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/

#SomewhereToBelieveIn

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.