EP11 | Simon Raine | Homage to Fromage | Local Heroes Podcast

From Milk Floats to Imposter Syndrome - The Story of Mr Cheeseman. This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with the incomparable Simon Raine - founder of Weardale Cheese, a former Big Cheese at Yellow Pages, and a man who turned a former POW camp in County Durham into a powerhouse of artisan cheesemaking. Simon takes us on a journey from growing up around the milk trade and riding milk floats as a kid, to building a beloved food business from scratch - and the emotional toll that comes with it.  We talk about the pressure of being a small business owner, the stress of loving what you do so much, and living with imposter syndrome even when you're the one making award-winning cheese. There’s laughter (lots), football rants (Leeds vs Sunderland, of course), celebrity run-ins, and the valuable reminder that sometimes, you really shouldn’t meet your idols. A moving and hilarious conversation with a man who’s given his heart to his region, his craft, and his community. Simon Raine — the Milk Kid turned Cheeseman, and local legend of Weardale.