Shows / Assa Marra
Assa Marra
Assa Marra: “A Love Letter to West Cumbria and the Legend I Married”
18th December 2024 marked 16 incredible years since I met my husband, madcap adventurer and total legend, John Williamson. To celebrate this milestone, I created Assa Marra - a podcast series that is as much a tribute to him as it is to the place we both hold so dear: West Cumbria. It has grown to 16 episodes, with a couple more due before the end of 2025.
West Cumbria has been the backdrop to our love story. Its rugged…
Episodes
- Assa Marra
Episode 30 Part 4: Val Madine | A Moment Etched in the Fells
Part 4 Val Madine | A Moment Etched in the Fells Five days walking the Cumbria Way, from Ulverston to Carlisle, brought together a group of women raising…
- Assa Marra
Episode 30 Part 3: Zelda Wilson | Finding Gold in the Cumbrian Dark
Part 3 Zelda Wilson | Finding Gold in the Cumbrian Dark In August 2026, a group of women took on the Cumbria Way, walking from Ulverston to Carlisle to raise…
- Assa Marra
Episode 30 Part 2: Julie White | The Gobsmacked Moment
Part 2 Julie White | The Gobsmacked Moment Five days walking the Cumbria Way, from Ulverston to Carlisle, brought together a group of women determined to raise…
- Assa Marra
Episode 30 Part 1: Catherine Williamson | The Price of Admission
Part 1 Catherine Williamson | The Price of Admission In August 2026, Catherine Williamson joined a group of women walking the Cumbria Way, from Ulverston to…
- Assa Marra
Episode 29: Emma Williamson And Terry Galloway
Imagine being moved through more than 100 foster homes and care homes. Seriously, just think about that. When we recorded Terry Galloway for Gobsmacked, we…
- Assa Marra
Episode 28: Colin Cox
Men in West Cumbria are still dying too young and too often in silence. In this conversation with Colin Cox, Director of Public Health for Cumberland, this…
- Assa Marra
Episode 27: Heather Dempsey
A tiny yellow bird. A mining community. A producer and broadcaster back on patch. Throw in a surprising number of coincidences and two people who can’t resist…
- Assa Marra
Episode 26: Janine Ward
In this episode of Assa Marra, Janine Ward shares a story that begins with the rejection of infidelity. While that may seem to be the story, it quickly becomes…
- Assa Marra
Episode 25: Cherry Tingle
This episode of Assa Marra was recorded live at Energy Coast UTC in Lillyhall, West Cumbria, the first Assa Marra recorded on location as part of Assa Colours…
- Assa Marra
Episode 24: Gail Dobson-Burns
In this episode of Assa Marra, Catherine speaks with Gail Dobson-Burns about baby loss, infertility, and the experience that shaped her work and community…
- Assa Marra
Episode 23: Lisa Birdsall
West Cumbria is one of the most beautiful places in England. It is also one of the hardiest. Everything appears more amplified more intense. Big skies. Deep…
- Assa Marra
Episode 22: Lyn Cavaghan
This episode of Assa Marra features a rapidly developing local legend Lyn Cavaghan. Having West Cumbrian parents Lyn has the place in her DNA the Marra in her…
- Assa Marra
Episode 21: Mark Telford
This episode features Mark Telford, CEO of Forth Engineering. No silver spoons. No silken cushion. Picking coal off the beach to keep the house warm. Welding…
- Assa Marra
Episode 20: Frankie McMillan
This is our one-year anniversary episode of Assa Marra, and it is here to delight you because it’s a corker An uplifting, joyful, laugh-out-loud conversation…
- Assa Marra
Episode 19: Julieanne Mitchell
Julieanne Mitchell. A West Cumbrian woman with an undeniable West Cumbrian voice. Speaking into a subject many people still tiptoe around or consigned to the…
- Assa Marra
Episode 18: Sonny Smith
Blimey, what a bright and articulate chap is Sonny Smith. One minute we are talking AI, the next minute he is unpacking lupus, then he is off reflecting on…
- Assa Marra
Episode 17: Marc Goodwin
Hear ye, Hear ye marra! Our next guest Marc Goodwin is a Tigger not an Eeyore. He is the Town Crier, the beautiful collision of theatre and tradition. He is…
- Assa Marra
Episode 16: Emma Williamson
Emma Williamson lived through a childhood witnessing domestic violence, chaos, and addiction. When the challenges came, they weren’t small ones — and it’s true…
- Assa Marra
Episode 15: Rachel Holliday
Rachel Holliday – Firestarter, Problem-Solver, Community Builder By 20, Rachel Holliday had crammed in more than most people manage in a lifetime – the rough…
- Assa Marra
Episode 14: Christine Smeaton
Originally from the North East, Christine Smeaton made West Cumbria her home at 21. But it wasn’t until her late 60s — facing homelessness and uncertainty —…
- Assa Marra
Episode 13. Dianne Richardson
Episode 13 brings us Dianne Richardson – raised in Mirehouse, West Cumbria, a place lacking polish and sophistication but deep in community spirit. Her career…
- Assa Marra
Episode 12: Gerard Richardson MBE DL
Gerard Richardson MBE, born and raised in Cleator Moor, takes us on a journey through a life steeped in service and local pride. From his early days as a Royal…
- Assa Marra
Episode 11: Josh MacAlister OBE MP
In this episode, Labour MP for Whitehaven and Workington, Josh MacAlister, reflects on his early days as a teacher in Oldham and the powerful lessons that…
- Assa Marra
Episode 10: Ruth Hasson
In this episode, we shift focus from celebrating the beauty and splendour of West Cumbria to exploring a more serious story—that of Ruth Hasson. At 17, Ruth…
- Assa Marra
Episode 9: Darren Blanks
Next on Assa Marra: Darren Joseph Blanks, a visually impaired Army veteran from Egremont, tells his incredible story of running over 850 miles from Land’s End…
- Assa Marra
Episode 8. Kris Mathers
Next on Assa Marra: Kris Mathers shares a cracking insight into how AI, especially ChatGPT, helped him bounce back from his darkest days. A few years ago, Kris…
- Assa Marra
Episode 7: Jade Carson
Next on Assa Marra: Jade Carson’s story is a proper belter. She opens up about her journey through bipolar, ADHD, and addiction—chaos, courage, and finally…
- Assa Marra
Episode 6: David Barnes
In Episode 6 of “Assa Marra,” we chat with David Barnes, a Cumbrian lad who turned his life around through cold water immersion. Four years ago, David was in a…
- Assa Marra
Episode 5: Gary McKee
In this episode, we’re diving into tales from the cycle track, fables from the fells, and a few daft adventures along the way. Inspired by my Gobsmacked!…
- Assa Marra
Episode 4: Oliver Hodgson
In this episode of “Assa Marra,” we’re chuffed to welcome Oliver Hodgson, a reet inspiring young entrepreneur from Whitehaven, Cumbria. At just 16, Oliver left…
- Assa Marra
Episode 3: Richard Askwith
In Episode 3 of “Assa Marra,” I'm absolutely thrilled to chat with Richard Askwith, the acclaimed author behind Feet in the Clouds. This book dives deep into…
- Assa Marra
Episode 2: Gary Graham and Gary McKee
Welcome to Episode 2 of Assa Marra, where we’re celebrating two proper West Cumbrian legends—Gary McKee, the ‘Marathon Man’ from Cleator Moor who ran 365…
- Assa Marra
Episode 1: Gary McKee
Welcome to the first episode of Assa Marra, coming to you from Cleator Moor High Street—a place full of graft, grit, and good yammer. It’s the perfect spot to…