In this episode, Kerry speaks with Tina Hancocks from Tina Hancocks Nutrition. Tina is a nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner who works with people living with autoimmune conditions, fatigue, brain fog, hormone struggles and blood sugar imbalance.

Tina's own health journey shapes everything she does. In her twenties, working in a high-pressure city job, she picked up a gut infection on a tropical island that triggered searing joint pain. The diagnosis came slowly. When it finally did, she was handed a prescription and told there was nothing she could do. She disagreed. "I think there must be something I can do to support myself," she recalls thinking. That decision led to years of researching food, tracking symptoms and, eventually, retraining as a practitioner.

Tina describes her approach as getting under the skin of what is really going on. Rather than treating symptoms in isolation, she looks for the root cause. She uses a five stage programme called Get Empowered, which takes clients through reveal, cleanse, harmonise, rebuild and empower. She also uses functional testing and genetic analysis to build a picture of each person's individual make-up.

She is clear that nutrition is not about restriction. "It's really not about restriction. It's actually figuring out how food can be used to nourish you."

Tina runs a group programme called Sugar Shift, which focuses on blood sugar management. She says previous participants have seen anxiety reduce by around 50 per cent, brain fog fall by around 40 per cent and joint pain reduce by around 60 per cent. She also runs a retreat called Nourished by Nature, which brings people together around real food, foraging and time outdoors.

Her message to listeners is straightforward. "We do have so much more power and influence over our health... and so much of that is controlled by your diet and lifestyle. And you have the power to change that."

For anyone wanting to find out more, visit tinahancocks.com or find Tina on Instagram at @nutritionwithtina.

#LincsLivesNatters #Nutrition #FunctionalMedicine #Lincolnshire

In this episode, Lesley natters with Kieran Spiers.

Kieran makes theatre, writes plays and produces festivals. For the last three years he has been the producer of SO Festival, a free international street and outdoor arts festival based in Skegness. In this episode he speaks with Lesley about what the festival offers to Lincolnshire's coastal communities and why it matters.

The festival runs from 12 to 14 June. This year's programme includes circus, music, clowning and exhibition work, with companies travelling from France, Spain, Italy and Denmark. Everything is free. No booking needed.

One of the standout projects this year is Box Meetings, led by French street theatre company Cumulus. It invites local people from across East Lincolnshire to take part in community workshops exploring themes of migration and personal story. Participants bring objects from home that fit inside a shoebox, items that help them tell their own story. Members of Cumulus will lead the workshops in the week before the festival, and the stories gathered will be shared in a single performance on the Friday.

"We believe, and I believe as a maker myself, that everyone has a story to tell."

Kieran is direct about why the festival focuses on Lincolnshire's coastal towns. He describes them as places that are "high on the cultural deprivation scale," places that can feel overlooked and undervalued. SO Festival's priority, he says, is not the holidaymakers. "Our primary focus is the local. It's the local audiences, local communities. It's bringing art to the doorsteps and the streets of people that need it."

He recalls a moment from last year when young people with disabilities watched an aerial dance company perform and immediately asked how they could take part. Within minutes a local accessible arts company had them on a rig in Tower Gardens.

SO Festival also runs a supported artist scheme and a year round development programme for emerging local creatives, and recruits local festival assistants, many of whom return each year.

For Box Meetings sign-ups, festival assistant roles or the supported artist scheme, visit sofestival.org. Full programme details, timings and locations will be available there and across the festival's social media channels.

Links:Visit sofestival.org for more information on the festival, opportunities, and how to get involved.

#Lincolnshire #SOFestival #Skegness #StreetTheatre #Storytelling

In this episode, Lesley natters with Jenni Swift, the founder of the local charity Evelyn’s Butterfly Effect.

This is a conversation that carries both immense beauty and deep meaning. Jenni joins us to share the story of her daughter, Evelyn, a kind, funny, and intelligent teenager who tragically took her own life at just 15 years old. In the wake of unimaginable loss, Jenni and her husband have created the Garden of Hope, a touring art installation designed to spark vital conversations around mental health and suicide prevention in Lincolnshire.

The garden features 98 hand-painted steel butterflies, a number that starkly represents the 98 lives lost to suicide in our county in a single year. We discuss the "Butterfly Effect", the idea that one small act of kindness can ripple out to create massive change and why Jenni believes nature’s cycle from caterpillar to butterfly is the ultimate symbol of hope.

It is an episode about community strength, featuring contributions from over a thousand local people, from two, year-olds at preschool to residents in retirement communities, who helped design the installation.

Find Out More:

• ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠Facebook

Please note: This episode contains honest discussions about suicide. We encourage you to listen with care and check the resources below if you or someone you know needs support.

Immediate Support & Helplines

Samaritans: Available 24/7 for anyone struggling to cope or needing someone to listen.

• Call: 116 123 (Free from any phone)
• Website: samaritans.org

CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably):

• Website: thecalmzone.net

Shout 85258: A 24/7 text-based support service if you prefer not to speak over the phone.

• Text: "SHOUT" to 85258

#MentalHealthAwareness #SuicidePrevention #Lincolnshire #SocialImpact #EvelynsButterflyEffect #LincsLivesNatters #Lincolnshire

We're back! In this episode, Shelley natters with Simon Sheehan, the CEO and co-founder of the brilliant charity The Right Course.

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the high walls of Greetwell Road, this is the episode for you. Simon, who launched the charity alongside TV’s Fred Sirieix, explains how they are ditching the "food through a slot" prison stereotype and replacing it with high-pressure, industry-standard training restaurants.

We dive deep into the work being done right here at HMP Lincoln, where prisoners are trading their tracksuits for chef whites and learning the "Art of Service." Simon shares the moving story of a young man from the travelling community who walked into the kitchen unable to read or write and walked out as a front-of-house star with a career ahead of him.

It’s not all "mousselines and Michelin stars," though. We get into the nerdy nitty-gritty of why hospitality is the perfect tool for rehabilitation, teaching everything from empathy and communication to the discipline required to run a well-oiled machine. Simon also clears up the mystery of Fred’s involvement.

From securing "through the gate" employment with big names like Greene King to ensuring a graduate has a train ticket and a clean shirt for their first interview, this conversation proves that Lincolnshire is truly at the forefront of shaping second chances.

Support The Right Course

To learn more about their incredible work or to make a donation, visit: The Right Course

This Episode is Sponsored by

The Slow Business Woman

Find Out More:

• Website⁠
• ⁠Instagram⁠
• ⁠LinkedIn

Grab a cuppa and join the natter.

#LincsLivesNatters #HMPLincoln #TheRightCourse #Lincolnshire #HospitalityIndustry #Rehabilitation #CommunityConnections #FredSirieix #SecondChances

This week, Shelley natters with the truly inspiring Amy Jones, co-founder of The Farm School. Amy has combined her deep love for animals, the great outdoors, and education into a unique initiative that's all about enriching learning through nature.

With 17 years of experience teaching animal management and equine studies, and even helping to shape national T levels, Amy's passion for land-based learning shines through. She discusses what sparked The Farm School – a desire to provide an alternative learning environment for young people who might not thrive in traditional settings.

From their stunning base at the South Ormsby Estate in the beautiful Lincolnshire Wolds, Amy shares what a typical day might look like. Expect everything from animal husbandry with heritage breeds like Lincoln Red Cattle and Lincolnshire Buff Chickens, to wildlife surveying and hands-on sustainable skills. It's about connecting people – from school-aged children right up to adults – with where their food comes from and the profound benefits of outdoor learning.

Amy's dream is for The Farm School to become synonymous with supporting and enriching education, inspiring more teachers to take their lessons outside. Tune in for a conversation that reminds us all of the simple yet powerful lessons nature can teach. Recorded at our new home at the Lincoln Think Tank!

Links:
Website
Facebook

#LincsLivesNatters #TheFarmSchool #OutdoorLearning #Lincolnshire #AnimalManagement #NatureEducation #Community #SouthOrmsbyEstate

Join Shelley for a truly heart-warming episode of the #LincsLivesNatters podcast, recorded from our new home at the Lincoln Think Tank! This week, Shelley natters with Jonathan Dawson, who is honouring his late father by cycling the monumental Land's End to John O'Groats route – a challenge his dad completed by foot twenty years ago.

Jonathan shares touching stories about his determined dad and the profound impact of losing his mum young. For this incredible endeavour, Jonathan is raising crucial awareness and funds for bereavement support , a subject he feels isn't talked about enough. He also reflects on how cancer and Parkinson's deeply affected his dad, causes he has supported with fundraising in the past. Despite a couple of recent cycling mishaps right here in Lincolnshire , Jonathan's spirit shines through as he prepares for his 1,100-mile ride. Find out how you can support his inspiring journey by donating here:

https://gvwhl.com/UWUXS

or find more information here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1240088821121689/?ref=share

#LincsLivesNatters #LeJog #CharityCycle #BereavementSupport #JohnOGroats #LandscapesByBike #LincolnshireLife

This week on #LincsLivesNatters, we're joined by the incredible Daz Flatman, a Grimsby-born DJ and the operations manager for ATA Events, who takes us on a fascinating journey through the music industry. From his roots in the 90s rave scene to becoming a driving force behind some of the UK's biggest festivals, Daz shares insights into managing over 20 shows a year, including international tours and major events like The Gathering and the Ella Henderson homecoming gig. He also spills the beans on the creation of his unique "So Lush Cocktails" brand, which offers distinct canned flavours like a Dr Pepper-tasting Disarano Diet Coke.

Beyond the business, Daz recounts memorable anecdotes, including a surprising encounter with East 17 and the wild logistics of DJs arriving by helicopter at a festival. He discusses the challenges of the current festival landscape and his passion for bringing top-tier entertainment to his home turf. Tune in for a cracking episode that delves into the dedication, creativity, and sheer hard work behind the scenes of the music and events world.

Links:
The Gathering
Ella Henderson

#LincsLivesNatters #Podcast #MusicIndustry #DJLife #FestivalLife #ATAEvents #TheGathering #EllaHenderson #SoLushCocktails #Nightlife #ElectronicMusic #Cleethorpes #Lincolnshire #CommunityPodcast #BehindTheScenes #EventManagement #MusicProduction #RaveScene #CocktailLover

In this episode of #LincsLivesNatters, we natter with the incredibly talented Rachael Audrey Clark-Harris – artist, musician, and mental health advocate. Rachael opens up about her journey with emotional unstable personality disorder, her creative process, and how she's turning personal struggles into powerful art. We explore the healing power of creativity, from mosaic art to music, and discuss her inspiring plans for the future. Get ready for an episode filled with honesty, resilience, and a celebration of the creative spirit!

Links:InstagramLinkedinemail

#LincsLivesNatters #Lincolnshire #MentalHealthAwareness #ArtTherapy #MosaicArt #Music #Creativity #SelfDiscovery #Resilience #Lincoln #Artist #UKPodcast #Interview #Inspiration