Episode #17 - Kelvingrove Writers

Glasgow has always been a city of storytellers. From the tenement close to the poetry night, this is a city that has never stopped finding its voice - and today's guest is making sure that tradition carries on. Jess Smith is the founder of Kelvingrove Writers - a free, grassroots writing group she started in 2022 with a simple but powerful idea: that writing shouldn't be the preserve of the privileged few. That everyone, regardless of background, experience, or confidence, deserves a space to tell their story. What began as a small fortnightly circle has grown into something genuinely special. Today, Kelvingrove Writers runs regular sessions every second Monday, completely free. They've published their own anthology, run sold-out retreats, collaborated with the Scottish Working Class Network, and partnered with galleries and literary organisations right across Scotland. In this episode, we talk about how it all began, what drives Jess to keep it going, and why spaces like this are vital for the cultural life of our city. Joining Jess are members Tom, Cate, Sam, Andrew, and Molly - all brilliant writers who bring their own voices to the conversation. And woven through the episode is the beautiful sound of the Glasgow Trad Society, colouring the edges of this recording with the music of the city we're talking about. At its core, this is a conversation about belonging - about sitting down with a pen and a page, and knowing the person next to you is rooting for you. Featured in this episode: Jess Smith — @jessica.smxth Tom — @toms_books Cate — @cate_a_b Samual Adams Andrew Molly — @molly.mallinder Find Kelvingrove Writers: @kelvingrovewriters With thanks to: @dramglasgow and @glasgowuni_trad 🎧 Glasgow Sessions is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music — just search Glasgow Sessions. Follow the show on Instagram: @glasgowsessions Support the podcast and help keep these conversations going: patreon.com/GlasgowSessions