Taking Action
The podcast with no faff, no fuss and no fanfare, just people who have taken action to make us more connected or build healthy relationships or help others deal with hardship and trauma
Episodes
33 episodes
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Kenny and Kerry Watson talking about their film "Love and Trouble"
It is wonderful to come back to the film "Love and Trouble" which we first discussed in episode 4 of series 1 of this podcast when we spoke to Christo Hird from Dartmouth Films. I now get the chance to talk about not with Kenny and Kerry ...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Laurie Ellis, Head of Academy Coaching at Heart of Midlothian FC
I am absolutely delighted to be able to release this podcast with Laurie Ellis.It is our first episode dealing with all of the issues, which we have dealt with in other episodes, in the world off sport, Laurie makes clear how important i...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Melanie Stuart ACEs activist, lecturer at Dundee & Angus College
We are back with a bang! Season 2 of Taking Action kicks off with the indefatigable Melanie Stuart, FE lecturer, activist and more. The list of links and references set out below will give you a flavour of the range of this conversation. Mel is...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron : A Retrospective with Suzanne Zeedyk
Welcome to the final podcast of series 1 of Taking Action. I will now be 'taking stock" and "taking a break" instead. the podcast will definitely be back, maybe with a renewed focus, format and frequency. Please look out for a return in mid-Feb...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and John Carnochan and Karyn McCluskey, founding members of the Violence Reduction Unit of Strathclyde Police
This is an episode which I have been longing to record. John Carnochan and Karyn McCluskey are, for me, towering figures in Scotland's ACEs movement. They were founding members of the groundbreaking Violence Reduction Unit established wit...
Taking Action with the Real David Cameron and Warren Larkin, Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Managing Director, Warren Larkin Associates'
This episode really moves us into the final phase of this series of "Taking Action" - (look out for an announcement about future plans soon). We are going to be "looking in" with Warren Larkin to see how Scotland looks from an external perspect...
Taking Action with the Real David Cameron and Suzanne Zeedyk, ACEs Campaigner
I know that people can listen to this podcast anytime, but it is being posted as the Christmas edition for 2025 and it is, appropriately, a cracker!!Suzanne Zeedyk has been mentioned in a number of the earlier episodes and has, clear...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Kirsten Harrold, Lecturer in Early Years at Edinburgh College
I have been keen to record another episode of this series which focussed on Further Education to follow up the wonderful episode with Jackie Galbraith from West Lothian College. Kirsten Harrold is a worthy successor. Kirsten is a br...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Louise Marryat, Researcher
This episode marks our quarter century. It also marks a bit of a departure in that it is a discussion with Louise Marryat and reflecting on her 2019 research into ACEs in Scotland. It is about a different sort of taking action, but we wanted to...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Kwaku Adjei, Anti-racist campaigner and activist
This is a really important podcast for me. I realised that we had recorded 23 episodes and not included anyone from a black or minority ethnic community. That led me to reflect on how little engagement there has been between these communities a...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Gwenne McIntosh and Jennie Young, Health Educators
I am delighted to be releasing this episode of Taking Action for a number of reasons.First, and most importantly, it features two really committed and passionate people in Gwenne and Jennie, who have an excellent project to talk about.
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Angus Bell, boarding school survivor
Angus Bell's story is remarkable. His experience of attending a well known boarding school in Scotland is utterly horrific, but Angus has certainly taken action. He took legal action against the school that he attended and won a significant set...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Willie French, Chair of Upstart Scotland
Upstart Scotland - https://upstart.scot/ - is a remarkable organisation. Here's the link to a very old video by way of introduction https://www....
Taking Action with the Real David Cameron and Jennie Seed. Secondary School Depute
I am really proud that we have reached 20 episodes of this podcast and am very pleased that it is an interview with Jennie Seed, Deputy Headteacher at Carnoustie High School. Jennie is a classic example of someone meeting Jaz Ampaw Farr's chall...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Laura McGlinn, Activist, Supporter and more
I am always amazed at how many people are doing things to try to make Scotland a more caring, compassionate and just nation and the different ways that they find to do that. My guest on this episode is a classic example of this. I w...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Fiona Duncan, Independent Strategic Adviser -The Promise
I am aware that the episodes of Taking Action are getting longer and this is one of the episodes that justifies that. Apart from the fact that Fiona Duncan, who led the Review leading to The Promise and is the Independent Strategic ...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Ross Wilson of Blue Rose Code
I hope this is as much of a treat for you to listen to as it was for me to record. As is very apparent in the episode, I am a huge fan of Blue Rose Code and of Ross Wilson's work, but the interview is much more than a piece of self-indulgence.&...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Ciara Burke from Midlothian Council
I am delighted by this episode for all sorts of reasons. Ciara Burke is a joy to talk with. She is effervescent, full of enthusiasm and generosity. I felt energised simply by hearing her. She also has a great story to tell. What Mid...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Thomas Seisay, founding director of the Haus of Seisay Hairdressing Academy and parent
This is another instance where the quality of the recording does not match up to the quality of the content. Thomas Seisay is a wonderful example to all of us. He and his husband adopted two children who had both been in the care sy...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and the Teddy Bear Heads, school leaders and change makers
I hope that the title for this episode got your attention. It was difficult to know what to call it, but it was delight to be part of it! Essentially, it is me trying to interview Angela Gardner from St John the Baptist Primary School in Fauldh...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Sandra Sutton, community activist and change maker
Following on from the inspirational conversation with Danny Gemmell, here is another wonderful example of individual and community activism. Sandra Sutton is a force of nature. She is full of drive and energy and she has devoted that to the for...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Danny Gemmell, Director at Be-inn Unity, supporter, activist and educator
One of the great things about doing this podcast is getting to meet someone every week who is doing something remarkable to implement what they know about the impact of trauma and the healing power of relationships. It gives me hope art a time ...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Juliet Robertson, poet, author, outdoor education expert, presenter and trainer
This episode is with the remarkable Juliet Robertson. It focusses on her collection of poetry, Blood Lines, which deals with the trauma of living with a diagnosis of terminal cancer. The book is astonishing. The poems are in different styles. S...
Taking Action with the Real David Cameron and Siobhan Argyle, writer, composer, musician and member of Anam Alba
Siobhan is doing something remarkable. She combines all that she knows about the science of connection and trauma and brings that to life through the creative arts. Siobhan is part of Anam Alba - https://anam-alba.com - an organisation with a m...
Taking Action with the real David Cameron and Iain Smith, lawyer and campaigner for compassionate justice
I have been looking forward to this conversation since I started recording the Taking Action series. Iain Smith has done a massive amount to try to ensure that the justice system in Scotland recognises, and takes account of, the impact of traum...