This is the first in a series of episodes which form part of the "Getting to Grips with Trauma" Book Festival which will be held at the Lantern house theatre in Cumbernauld on Sunday 6th September from 10.00 - 5.30. You can buy tickets here https://lanternhousearts.org/events/book-festival-getting-to-grips-with-traum/. Remarkably, a £15 day pass allows you to attend 6 sessions from a choice of 24 authors. It is the biggest literary bargain ever!!

Karen Campbell is a wonderful introduction to the Festival. Here is the link to her homepage https://karencampbell.scot/. We focus on her latest book "This Bright Life", but we also talk about "Paper Cup", an earlier novel, which I loved. Both are full of insights into trauma and it's impact. Both are profoundly empathetic and stress the importance of connection and community.

One of the great things about them is that they are not polemics or manifestos. The are gripping stories and very enjoyable reads. As the icing on the cake, Karen is a warm, open, engaging and interesting guest

This podcast was an absolute pleasure for me. I have long been committed to outdoor learning and chaired the Outdoor Connections Advisory Group for Scottish Government, so to combine that with addressing Adverse Childhood Experiences was an irresistible opportunity for me.

Conor McNamara, Conor.mcnamara@oytscotland.org.uk, does exactly that through his work with the Ocean Youth Trust. You can get a real insight into the Trust's activity through this marvellous video

https://oytscotland.org.uk/young-people-from-g15-youth-project-share-their-story-through-film-after-cashback-voyage

and get more information on their website - Home - OYT Scotland

Conor is wonderfully enthusiastic and was a joy to talk to. His work and that of the Trust make a massive difference to young people through offering opportunities, challenges and support. Listen and find out more including how to help the organisation to reach more young people

This episode takes us back into the territory of community activism and empowerment and that is something that is at the heart of this series. Terry McTernan has a great story to tell about Ferguslie Park and the people who live there. Often highlighted, Ferguslie had become a byword for the extent and impact of deprivation. Sadly, it had often appeared to be a graveyard for efforts at regeneration and recovery. Terry tells a very different story a community that helped itself. One which made impressive progress when the people who lived there were empowered and encouraged.

He echoes much of the work and thinking of Rebecca Solnit in her books, especially "A Paradise Built in Hell" and "The Beginning Comes After the End" and these are just some of the references made in this wide ranging conversation about how we really need to address industrial decline, unemployment, poverty and all the impacts of adversity, including adverse childhood experiences.

It is fulll of ideas and passion and is a genuinely encouraging and uplifting conversation