Ian Grosz talks with author Sandy Winterbottom

Sandy reads from her travel memoir The Two Headed Whale and talks about the journey of discovery and understanding the writing of the book took her on, drawing parallels between whaling and a self-perpetuating fossil fuel industry. She talks about hope, about action, and the importance of a just transition. The episode closes with a reading from recent work Sandy published in the Scotsman.

Sandy Winterbottom spent most of her career as an academic, teaching and researching in the Environmental Sciences and working in the renewables industry. She embarked on a life-changing journey to the Antarctic by tall ship in 2016 and went on to complete the Creative Writing Masters Programme at Stirling University in 2020. The Two-Headed Whale is published by Birlinn and Greystone and was nominated for the Saltire Society First Book of the Year Award in 2023.

Sandy is represented by Jenny Brown Associates. You can follow her on Instagram @moogstuff

Ian Grosz talks with writer, performer and activist Matt Sowerby about the Nature Chronicles Prize, the lessons we can learn from our relationship with the whale, and what hope might mean in the climate emergency.

Matt reads an extract from his essay ‘Hope is the Thing with Flippers’, which won the Nature Chronicles Prize in 2024. He discusses the story of the whale and whaling, the inspiration and thinking behind the writing of the essay, which focuses on the whale skeleton hanging at the entrance to the Natural History Museum, and his journey as both an activist and writer. Matt goes on to discuss his practice and the relationship between writing, activism and performance. The episode closes with a discussion around an event that brought writers and activists together in Aberdeen’s Maritime Museum in 2024, Matt’s current writing focus on oil and the ocean, what hope might mean in the context of the climate emergency, and a second reading from Matt’s award winning essay.

You can learn more about Matt’s work at mattsowerby.co.uk

This episode was recorded in March 2025.

Ian Grosz talks with artist and writer Christina Riley about her creative practice, the importance of books and the formation of The Nature Library.

Christina reads an extract from her series of prose fragments, ‘The Same Sunlight’, published by Gutter Magazine, Issue 30. She discusses her residency at the Mission Blue Argyll ‘Hope Spot’, and the remarkable biodiversity that can be found along the Argyll coast. Christina also gives a fascinating insight into her writing, her artistic practice, and the books that have inspired her. She talks about the formation and aims of The Nature Library, which she founded in 2019, and about the lasting importance of physical books and focussed reading. She closes with an outline of her current projects and future plans, with a reading of her beautiful fragment ‘Brittle Star.’

Christina is currently working on a series of essays exploring Scotland’s biodiversity, stemming from her time on the artist residency in Argyll.

The Argyll Hope Spot was established in June 2019 in collaboration with four Argyll community groups and the conservation organisation Mission Blue. Its aims are to celebrate and help protect Argyll’s unique marine biodiversity, and is the first such Hope Spot in both Scotland and mainland UK.

You can learn more about Christina’s work at christinariley.co.uk

This episode was recorded in February 2025.