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Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Neil Maggs

Bristol Unpacked with Neil Maggs brings you fascinating and challenging conversations from characters of all stripes on big topics facing the city and beyond. Sign up to the Cable’s newsletter and follow us on social media to listen in. Subscribe for new episodes on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Presenter: Neil Maggs

Audio producer: George Colwey

Executive producer: Priyanka Raval

Illustration: Jazz Thompson

Listen: Bristol Unpacked on a £23 million gap in the council’s budget, with Craig Cheney the councillor holding the city’s purse strings

After 12 years of central government imposed austerity, that purse is much smaller than it needs to be.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked on acting in new drama Outlaws and living with real bank robbers, Longwell Record’s Ian Aitchison

What was it like acting with Christopher Walken when his previous biggest role was playing a genital wart 20 years ago? Southmead-born Ian Aitchison runs...

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with former mayor George Ferguson, on his highs, lows, beef with Marvin and being ‘radical’ as an ex-Merchant Venturer

The red-trouser wearing self-described “establishment rebel” and first and former Bristol mayor George Ferguson joins the podcast this week.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked on if Drill music is driving knife crime with youth worker Darren Alexander

In the wake of the tragic death of 18-year-old Dontae Davis in Lawrence Hill, what’s behind youth violence? And as Avon and Somerset Police have said recently, is drill music a concern?

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with new Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer on taking the fight to Labour and if the Greens are a party of government as well as protest

With Labour shifting to the right, and concern about the climate crisis starting to become mainstream, Denyer thinks this is the moment for Greens.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with actor Joe Sims on making it in the industry, and learning to be proud as a big, bald Bristolian

Joe Sims is a well known actor from Bristol. Having made it through the ranks of a notoriously elitist industry with a working class background, Joe has a lot to say on and off screen.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with the city’s ‘night Tzar’ Carly Heath on sexual entertainment, drugs on the dancefloor and the recovery of a bruised sector

After a long stint working in Bristol's nightlife, in March Carly Heath was appointed by the council as Bristol's first ever Night-time Economy Advisor.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Tory Police and Crime commissioner Mark Shelford, on crime, riots and institutional racism in policing

The new PCC on the Police and Crime Bill, the riot and protests in Bristol and how policing can be just and effective.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with Bristol South MP Karin Smyth on ‘undemocratic’ mayoral system, Labour’s past failings, and why the Merchant Venturers must go

The Labour MP for Bristol South Karin Smyth talks about her background and her eventful six years in parliament.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with campaigning parent and councillor for Hartcliffe Kerry Bailes on the Special Educational Needs crisis

Kerry Bailes is a longstanding campaigner for Hartcliffe and a leading voice among parents seeking a solution to the Special Educational Needs and Disability provision crisis in the city.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked with the Master of the Merchant Venturers, on whether they are an all powerful elite club, or just charitable business people

The Society of Merchant Venturers is often talked about in conspiratorial tones.

Listen: Bristol Unpacked on the ‘free speech crisis’ at universities with Bristol Uni Free Speech Society’s Harry Walker

The government are introducing a new law claiming to defend freedom of speech, amid an alleged crisis on British university campuses of ‘cancel culture’ and...

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