Real Folk with Jo Burke
by Jo Burke
Real Folk - Inspiring life stories.Jo chinwags with guests from diverse backgrounds and delves into their lives so far. Guests include actors, adventurers, comedians, dancers, artists, singers, filmmakers, foster carers, authors, entrepreneurs, linguists and more. Who would we be without our stories? Sharing, listening and learning about our experiences is the essence of being human.
Episodes
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26. Marc Burrows - Author, critic, comic & musician
Jo chews the Christmas fat with author, critic, comic and musician, Marc Burrows. Jo delves deeper into what inspired Marc's latest book The Story of the Christmas No.1 - Mistletoe and Vinyl. Listen up for some festive music facts. Find out why Simon Cowell makes the X Factor winner a Christmas...
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25. Claire Storey - Stage and TV Actor/Writer
Jo is feeling autumnal so pull up a chair grab a cuppa and join her for a cosy natter with tv, stage and voice actor, Claire Storey. You may recognise her from the long running, award winning, BBC series Call the Midwife. Claire has also popped up on your tv screens in almost all our beloved…
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24. Sarah Callaghan - Spoken word artist & award-winning comedian
Jo's back with a bang, after a summer hiatus, with the multi-talented, Sarah Callaghan who was named a Time Out One to Watch. Tune in for a frank and inspiring chat about comedy, performance poetry, her experience on BAFTA Award-winning spoken word series Life & Rhymes on Sky Arts - Hosted by...
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23. Sooz Kempner - Actor, comedian, singer
Jo sets the world to rights with super talented, award-winning comedian, actor and singer, Sooz Kempner. You may recognise Sooz from her hugely successful appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe, this year is her eleventh show. She's created tons of character comedy sketches that have gone viral and...
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22. Josephine Lacey - Stand Up Comedian, 'Autism Mama' and writer
Funny, heartbreaking and inspirational in equal measure, this is a Real Folk to remember... Jo takes a deep dive into the background of stand-up comedian and writer, Josephine Lacey, creator of the hit five star comedy show, 'Autism Mama', 'The straight-talking comic’s debut hour is cheerfully…
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21. Sophie Haydock - Author, editor, journalist
Jo catches up with Sophie Haydock, Sunday Times and Guardian journalist, author of The Flames 'One of the finest historical authors of 2022', The Times. Her latest book, Madame Matisse, is released on 6th March 2025. Sophie delicately weaves fact and fiction to flesh out the stories surrounding…
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20. Dan Parkes - Author & Director of Photography
If, like Jo, you have always been intrigued by the stories that surround the Titanic tragedy, you should definitely tune in to discover more about Dan Parkes debut book, Titanic Legacy: The Captain, the Daughter and the Spy. More twists and turns than a twisty turny thing. Jo 'dives' in to Dan's...
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19. Ben Rufus Green - Actor, comedian, writer
Jo catches up with fellow actor, comedian and writer, Ben Rufus Green. On our TV screens Ben played 'David Cockfield' in both series of, Joe Wilkinson's, hilarious family comedy 'The Cockfields'. He most recently starred in Scottish BAFTA Award winning 'Dinosaur' Ashley Storrie's, new comedy…
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18. Mel Larsen - International Coach & Consultant
It's the start of a New Year. What are your personal, career or business plans/goals/challenges for 2025? Grab a cuppa and join Jo and the marvellous, Mel Larsen, International Coach & Consultant who has been helping entrepreneurs for over three decades to joyfully trust their vision. Her work…
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17. Darren Walsh - Comedian, Tik Tok Pun Guy, Director, Writer
TikTok Pun Guy, Darren Walsh, chats to Jo about his comedy career, the fact he is absolutely NOT the other Darren Walsh, a famous animator who created Angry Kid, plus insider info on how Darren creates his viral Tik Tok Puns on the Street. You can catch Darren's latest show 'Do You Like Puns?' at...
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16. Sarah O'Connell - YouTube Celebrity Chat Show host, Comedian, Artist/Animator
Sarah kindly allowed Jo to turn the tables and interview her for Real Folk, so you can find out about Sarah's life for a change. 'The Sarah O'Connell Show' is a YouTube sensation with her celebrity guests ranging from Hollywood stars like Keanu Reeves, comedians/national treasures such as our...
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15. Benjamin Bankole Bello - Character comedian President Obonjo
Jo's back with more Real Folk. Put your feet up and join Jo for an intriguing and thought provoking chat with 'accidental' comedian, Benjamin Bankole Bello, who has spent more than a decade honing his comic character, President Obonjo, African Dictator of LAFTA Republic, who became a social media...
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14. Anna Kennedy OBE - Autism educator and Strictly star
Kick back in your favourite comfy chair and join Jo and Anna chatting about autism awareness, Strictly Come Dancing and meeting the Queen. Anna shares the story of her children's diagnosis. What led her to set up two specialist schools, a college, a residential home and Anna Kennedy Online. She…
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13. Amanda Egan - Author, fundraiser and creative
Amanda Egan, author of 'Diary of a Mummy Misfit' and many more, chats with Jo about her writing process, lockdown life and her latest creative adventures. Tune in for an exclusive preview of an AMAZING song from the musical based on her utterly fabulous book 'Stilettos and Stubble' set in a drag...
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12. John Fleming - Comedy connoisseur and blogger
Jo chews the fat with comedy connoisseur, blogger and founder of the infamous 'Malcolm Hardee Awards', John Fleming. They discuss great writers, naked balloon dancing, how he ended up being co-author of Malcolm Hardee's book 'I Stole Freddie Mercury's Birthday Cake' and of course life in general....
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11. Alison Knowles - Emotional wellbeing therapist and author
Emotional wellbeing is critical during these challenging times. Jo chats to the inspiring, Alison Knowles, creator of 'Ollie and his Superpowers', a book brand that helps both children and adults understand and control their emotions. Ali shares her story of dyslexia, having left school with...
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10. Lynn Rae - Make-up artist, physical therapist and pilates instructor
Grab a cuppa and join Lynn and Jo for a life affirming chat. Starting with Lynn's background as a make-up artist in the 80's, why she became a physical therapist and how she continues to manage her breast cancer diagnosis received in 2008. Find out what her biggest life lessons are and why she...
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9. David Shackleton - Linguist, actor, teacher
Linguist, actor and teacher, David Shackleton, chats candidly with Jo about attempting to take his own life, being a gay man in the 1960's, he also picks Jo up on a few of her own language faux pas. A fascinating journey into language, life and being true to yourself.
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8. Pam Jones - Foster carer for 30 years, set up local charity to help the homeless.
Unstoppable, Pam Jones, popped into Custard HQ in Folkestone, to share the highs and lows of life as a foster carer for more than thirty years. Plus how and why she set up a local charity 'Helping the Homeless and Vulnerable' donations and details on Facebook. Prepare to fall in love...
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7. Lee and Hartmut - Theatre entrepreneurs crowdfunding for the arts
Lee and Hartmut set up Central Tickets in 2017. Like so many of us in the arts they were hit hard by Covid19. Incredibly, during the toughest of times, the dynamic duo went to enormous lengths to help performers, producers and theatre technicians to survive. Have a listen to how it all started…
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6. Kate Sheppeard - Australian opera singer, jewellery designer & teacher
Hilarious natter with Australian opera singer, jewellery designer (KTCD Jewellery on Etsy) and teacher, Kate Sheppeard. They shoot the breeze about nightmare performances, imposter syndrome, anxiety, working at ENO and Sydney Opera House plus so much more...
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5. Andy Elias - Indie filmmaker, actor, vlogger and teacher
Join Jo for a natter with Andy about his love of the horror film genre, his indie film company 'Ciao Handy', the making of his award winning short, 'Life's a Bench' and how vlogging helped him recover from illness.
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4. Lynn Ruth Miller - American journalist who started stand-up comedy aged 70
86 year old American stand-up comedian, artist, author and force of nature, Lynn Ruth Miller, shares some of her amazing stories. Including starting stand-up aged 70, two failed marriages and coping with eating disorders...
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3. Joff Summerfield - Cyclist, engineer and round-the-world traveller
A modern day Phileas Fogg, if Mr Fogg had cycled round the world and taken a tad longer, owing to the height of his bike. Jo chats with Joff (at 'Custard HQ' in Folkestone) about his round-the-world trip that started and finished at stunning Greenwich Market, in South East London, with a few…
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2. Manolis Emmanouel - Greek actor, voice over artist and director
Jo catches up with Greek actor and friend Manolis Emmanouel. This is his first podcast so have a listen to this exclusive and find out about his role in Michael Winterbottom's film 'Greed', his unusual, unwanted admirer and some pretty huge life events...
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1. Jackie Meade - Mayor of Folkestone, 80's rocker, charity fundraiser
Jo's first guest, recorded at her creative/gallery space 'Custard HQ' on the Old High St in Folkestone, is former Mayor of Folkestone - Jackie Meade. Find out about Jackie's Olympic Gold Medal, her brushes with 80's pop stars, her charity work and so much more...
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Real Folk with Jo Burke Taster
Get a taste for Jo Burke's Real Folk featuring Joff Summerfield and Lynn Ruth Miller.
About this show
Real Folk - Inspiring life stories.Jo chinwags with guests from diverse backgrounds and delves into their lives so far. Guests include actors, adventurers, comedians, dancers, artists, singers, filmmakers, foster carers, authors, entrepreneurs, linguists and more. Who would we be without our stories? Sharing, listening and learning about our experiences is the essence of being human.
Hosted by
Jo Burke
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