New podcast celebrates Rebel Women of Sunderland

Published on 11, March, 2024

Two University of Sunderland graduates have launched a new podcast celebrating some of the city’s most inspirational women.

The Rebel Women of Sunderland is a project run jointly by We Make Culture and Sunderland University’s Gender Studies network. It shines a light on the lives of remarkable women connected with Sunderland through specially commissioned artworks and stories. 

Rebel Women of Sunderland – The Podcast takes inspiration from the stories told in the exhibition through conversations with modern-day iconic Sunderland women and has been supported by the University’s Participation Interdisciplinary Network. 

MA Radio, Audio and Podcast Production graduates Lottie Steele and Grace McDonough produced the podcast. 

Lottie, who works as a Podcast and Marketing Executive at Moja Newcastle, said: “It has been an honour to produce Rebel Women of Sunderland – The Podcast and learn so much about the women who are doing amazing things from the city. 

“Since graduating in 2022, the University and people I have met have provided a lot of opportunities to work with amazing organisations within the city. I have loved producing the podcast as it has allowed me to talk to so many fascinating and inspiring women from Sunderland.”

Grace, who is also an intern at the University’s community radio station Spark, said: “Lottie and I covered a Rebel Women event for International Women’s Day 2022 on Spark, where we first met Laura Brewis from We Make Culture and saw the impact of the Rebel Women project first hand, so to now be trusted to produce the podcast is a huge privilege. 

“I hope so much that we’ve done this incredible project justice and people enjoy listening and learning about these remarkable women."

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The podcast officially launched on International Women's Day (Friday 8 March) at an event at St Peter’s Gate Enterprise Centre on the University’s St Peter’s Campus, and featured keynote speaker internationally acclaimed graphic novelist Professor Mary Talbot. 

Dr Caroline Mitchell, Executive Producer of the Rebel Women of Sunderland and Professor of Radio and Participation at the University of Sunderland, said: “It has been really exciting to bring this new podcast into the world on International Women's Day 2024. It will bring a whole new audience to the well - established Rebel Women of Sunderland project and I am delighted that our partnership with We Make Culture and our graduate podcast producers has been so successful. It’s a truly great listen!

“We have worked hard to make sure that pioneering organisations like Young Asian Voices and Young Musicians Project who run equity access programmes for women and girls in the region to be part of the production - this ethos of participatory podcasting is now an established part of our research and practice. There were over 80 people at the launch and many of them had ideas for further Rebel Women themed podcasts, which is very exciting! ”

Professor Angela Smith, who runs the University’s gender studies network and co-manages the Rebel Women project, said: “The Rebel Women of Sunderland project has unearthed some remarkable women, women who still inspire us today. The development of the podcast series shows just how relevant the project continues to be as the themes and issues it raises continue to make us stop and think, and then act.”

The Rebel Women of Sunderland project was originally commissioned by Sunderland Culture for Heritage Open Day in 2019, in partnership with Open Heritage and Sunderland Heritage Action Zone and was inspired by the popular children’s book Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls which has celebrated the achievements of women around the world.

You can listen to the podcast here https://rebel-women-of-sunderland.captivate.fm