The Making Of

Trish completed her BA in English and Drama in Swansea in 1974. From Swansea, Trish joined Granada Television and worked her way up from producer to become a global format leader. Trish is a highly influential television executive, best known for her leadership at FremantleMedia North America where she oversaw major entertainment formats like American Idol, X Factor and America’s Got Talent. In recognition of her services to broadcasting and the international TV format industry, Trish was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE). If Trish's story inspires you. check our more career opportunities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jonny Owen is a writer, actor, producer and filmmaker who graduated from Swansea with a BA in History in 1999, and received an Honorary Fellowship in 2023. As an actor he has appeared in Murphy’s Law, Shameless and Torchwood, while we created the cult series Svengali and won a Welsh Bafta for co-producing the documentary The Aberfan Disaster. He has also directed acclaimed sports documentaries, including I Believe in Miracles (about Nottingham Forest) and Don’t Take Me Home (chronicling Wales’ run at the UEFA Euro 2016). Outside film and TV, Jonny is a Director of Nottingham Forest FC and an investor in Merthyr Town FC. In Jonny's story you will hear about a kid from a mining town reach the very top of the TV and film industry, with studying at Swansea playing a central role. So if his story inspires you and you would like to experience Swansea for yourself, you can visit Swansea University on an open day and see where it all begins. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Heather Koldewey is a marine biologist and conservationist who leads the Bertarelli Foundation’s Marine Science Programme at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL). She completed her PhD in Genetics at Swansea in 1992. Heather co-founded Project Seahorse in 1996 and spearheaded Net-Works, a project that recycles discarded fishing nets into carpet, supporting both conservation and local communities. When she doesn’t have a snorkel mask on Heather is also an Honorary Professor at the University of Exeter and a National Geographic Explorer. In this episode Heather tells Andy about the drive it takes to do a PhD, how she is battling to ensure investment and expertise in conservation doesn't simply impact "Western" nations, and of course how the natural landscape at Swansea played such a a key role in her career. If Heather's story inspires you and you would like to experience Swansea for yourself, you can visit Swansea University on an open day and see where it all begins. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Raised in Lagos, Nigeria, Nonso graduated from Swansea University in 2016 with a BEng in Chemical Engineering. His career since has seen him develop as a singer, songwriter and producer celebrated for his evocative blend of Afro-R&B, alté and soul. He first broke onto the music scene with his 2015 EP Alone and the hit single “Tonight” has had 20 million streams on Spotify. Nonso’s music is deeply personal and borderless: drawing on his African roots, R&B influences like Mary J. Blige and his experience as an international student. Off-stage, he is committed to giving back. He founded HILLS, a charity supporting children in Nigeria, Canada and beyond. In this episode Nonso tells Andy how he developed his musical passion on-campus alongside studying, and gives a fascinating insight into the music industry and what it takes - and what sacrifices are required - to make it to the top. If Nonso's story inspires you and you would like to experience Swansea for yourself, you can visit Swansea University on an open day and see where it all begins. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Find out more here.⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Renee is a celebrated Welsh surfer, broadcaster and documentary filmmaker. She graduated from Swansea in 2004 with a BSc Econ in Social Anthropology, and spent her student days catching waves before lectures, showcasing early on how deeply her life is rooted in the sea. A four-time Welsh surfing champion, Renee has combined her love of the outdoors with a passion for storytelling working on high-profile series such as Human Planet and Hostile Planet. In this episode she explains the career path that took her into making some of the world's most watched nature documentaries, how her love for the sea was fed during her time at Swansea, and some of the highs and lows of her career to date. If Renee's story inspires you and you would like to experience Swansea for yourself, you can visit Swansea University on an open day and see where it all begins. ⁠⁠⁠Find out more here.⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Paul, who writes under the name Brian Bilston and rarely shows his face, graduated from Swansea with a BA in History in 1991. His poems have earned him the nicknames the 'Poet Laureate of Twitter' and the 'Banksy of Poetry', and he has published multiple collections, including You Took the Last Bus Home, Alexa and Days Like These. He has also written a novel, Diary of a Somebody, which was shortlisted for a Costa First Novel Award. In this episode he talks Andy Bush about how he came into poetry late, the steps in his career that took him there, and the vibrant music scene at Swansea that played a key role in his time studying at the University. If Paul's story inspires you and you would like to experience Swansea for yourself, you can visit Swansea University on an open day and see where it all begins. ⁠⁠Find out more here.⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lara Hallett graduated from Swansea University in 2007 with a BSc in Psychology. Her career since has seen her work internationally in the USA, Europe and APAC, leading communication, and diplomacy teams around the world. Her most recent posting was in Los Angeles, where she served as British Deputy Consul General, overseeing the Consulate team to forge political, cultural, and economic ties between the UK and Southern California, Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and Hawaii. In this episode of The Making Of podcast Lara tells Andy Bush about how she climbed the diplomatic ladder, the highs and lows she experience in that time, and how her time studying at Swansea helped her on the road to career success. If Lara's story inspires you and you would like to experience Swansea for yourself, you can visit Swansea University on an open day and see where it all begins. ⁠Find out more here.⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices