Leeds Voices

Northern Ballet’s Romeo & Juliet has survived fire, flood and the changing fashions of more than three decades. Ahead of the 2024 revival of this classic production, we discover the turbulent tale behind it.Director of the University’s Cultural Institute Wieke Eringa hears from Daniel de Andrade and Pippa Moore MBE, who danced the title roles and are now passing their knowledge on to the next generation as members of Northern Ballet’s artistic staff. Romeo & Juliet will return to the stage from 8 March, and you can visit the University of Leeds exhibition Preserving the Passion: Northern Ballet's Romeo & Juliet' in The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery until 23 March.The Northern Ballet Archive, donated to the University of Leeds in 2021, tells the 50-year story of the company from its foundation to the present. Bringing together drawings, props, costumes and photographs, this exhibition documents the production, the evolution and sometimes the complete recreation of a cornerstone of the company’s repertoire.

Founder and director of Northern Bloc Dirk Mischendahl (Psychology 1995) is doing ice cream differently. He started out by making ice cream through the night and selling it from a van during the day. Now, Dirk and co-founder Josh Lee supply hundreds of theatres, arts venues and tourist attractions across the UK.Northern Bloc can be found in the Co-op, Ocado, Morrisons, Waitrose, and on all Virgin Atlantic outbound flights. Their plant-based and vegan range are changing perceptions – and setting the standard for non-dairy products.Ahead of World Vegan Day, we hear his thoughts on making tasty vegan ice cream, why he chose to make ethical products, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs at Leeds.

In this episode we’re joined by broadcaster Anita Rani (Broadcasting 2000) and physicist Ondrej Krivanek (Physics 1971), as they return to the University to receive honorary doctorates.Ondrej is a leading developer of electron-optical instruments. He talks about how the Russian invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 led to him enrolling in physics at Leeds, and looks back on three years where he combined his studies with playing volleyball and seeing The Who in the Refectory. (08:42)Anita, a regular presenter of Woman's Hour and Countryfile, studied broadcasting at Leeds, and tells how the course gave her the opportunity to spend six months working in the media in London - and how this led to her getting her first job after graduating in 2000. (01:20)Each gives their advice to those students starting out on their own careers after graduation.

Naga Munchetty is one of the most recognisable faces in the UK. Since 2014 she's been a regular presenter on BBC Breakfast, she's a presenter on 5 Live, but did you know the spark to embarking on her career as a journalist involved a trumpet and the Leeds Student? After being a musician in her teens, she had to give back her trumpet to the Inner London Education Authority before embarking on her English course at the University of Leeds. With the loss of her first passion, music, she needed to "find a tribe" at university. As a strong writer, she thought she'd try her hand at writing for the Leeds Student, and soon her insatiable curiosity was fed by her extracurricular journalistic sleuthing. On this week's episode, Naga discusses how her time at Leeds helped propel her to her career in journalism, and her recent work on shining a light on adenomyosis, a lesser-known womb condition. She shared her own diagnosis of the condition, which causes her - and other sufferers - chronic pain on a daily basis. Naga's reporting on the condition has revealed some women have spent years in agony before being diagnosed with the condition. Her reporting has prompted the government's women's health ambassador, Prof Dame Lesley Regan, to say the NHS is "failing women". As it's also graduation season, Naga also discusses what it was like to graduate from the University of Leeds, and offers up her own pearls of wisdom for recent graduates.

This week we speak to Dr Keith Brownlee, Director of Medical Affairs at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Since graduating with a medical degree from Leeds in 1984, Dr Brownlee gained over 30 years’ experience caring for children and families with Cystic Fibrosis. In the podcast he speaks about the disease, the development of life-changing treatments, the work of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, and the impact Leeds has had on improving outcomes for the disease across the world.As the father of two of Leeds’ most successful sporting alumni – Olympic medal winning brothers Jonathan and Alistair Brownlee – Dr Brownlee also gives us some insight into experience of a parent watching their children compete on the world stage.

This week marks the 75th anniversary of the NHS, and another health organisation that’s celebrating 75 years in 2023 is the World Health Organization. The international body’s renowned for its work in eradicating smallpox, polio, and most recently its efforts during the Covid pandemic. Leeds has a long history of its alumni working for the organisation, including Dr Ian Smith. Ian completed his medical degree in 1980, before returning in 1994 to study a Masters in Public Health. His time at Leeds has led him to the heights of the WHO where he works as a senior adviser to the body’s Director General. 

This week we're coming to the end of Pride Month. The month of June is a time when we celebrate and commemorate the LGBT community. We celebrate how far we’ve come from the time of the Stonewall riots of 1969, but we also reflect on the issues that continue to face LGBT people globally. And that’s something that we want to address at the University of Leeds. To mark the end of Pride month, we have a very special announcement. Leeds intends to establish up to 25 PhD Pride scholarships exploring global issues that impact the LGBT community. It marks a significant investment for the University in the LGBT community, and its ambitions to become a world leader on LGBT research. And to explain more we’re joined by Professor of Sociology and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Paul Johnson OBE.Prof Johnson’s own work was fundamental in bringing about ‘Turing’s Law’ in the UK. You can read more on the plans for the Pride Scholarships here: https://www.leeds.ac.uk/news-alumni/news/article/5333/leeds-announces-plans-to-fund-25-phd-pride-scholarships

This week the University is celebrating its staff and alumni who have been named in the King’s Birthday Honours, and Biomedical scientist and Leeds alum Professor Steve Jackson is among them. He received a knighthood as part of the King's Birthday Honours List. Steve is both a researcher and entrepreneur, and heads up the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, and is a professor of biology at the University.Alongside his research, he’s a successful entrepreneur and has founded several biomedical sciences startups, one of which developed the so-called cancer wonder drug olaparib, which has been used to treat 75,000 people worldwide. The synthetic lethality drug exploits the genetic weakness to kill certain cancer cells, while leaving normal sells unharmed. It was our pleasure to interview him in the place where it all started, at the University of Leeds.

After struggling with a debilitating combination of fatigue and burnout during her career as an HR leader, Karina decided to take matters into her own hands. She retrained as a nutritionist, and now runs her own clinic, providing support to people with fatigue, stress and burnout.This year, she released her bestselling book, Fix Your Fatigue. Karina recently starred on Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch, as well as The Chris Evan’s Breakfast Show.She talks us through her experience of fatigue and how she came to recognise that tiredness isn’t normal. We learn how to make simple adjustments to everyday favourites – from jam on toast to spaghetti bolognaise – and talk through the five steps people can take to fix their fatigue.

Crime writer and Leeds alumnus Peter Robinson is one of the University's most well-known former students. The Leeds-born novelist's DCI Banks series has sold nine million copies worldwide, and been translated into multiple languages. Peter died last year after a short illness, but his legacy at the University continues in the literary archive he gifted to the University, and the annual scholarship that bears his name. On the day of the publication of his final novel, we speak to some of Peter's closest colleagues about the crime writer who helped define a genre. To read more about Peter's contribution to the University, follow the link below:https://spotlight.leeds.ac.uk/author-creates-a-lasting-story/index.html

This week on Leeds Voices we're talking to Hind Hassan (Medicinal Chemisty 2007). She broadcasts from the most hostile environments in the world – but last year Hind found herself at the centre of an armed bank raid. She spent 16 hours reporting the siege in Lebanon to thousands of followers online, filming the antagonists with guns, Molotov cocktails, and gasoline. The difference between this raid and others was the armed depositors were not stealing, they were trying to get their own money out of the bank. As a result of the 2019 financial crisis in Lebanon, banks began prohibiting normal people from withdrawing more than $400 (£336) a month. This has caused untold anguish to families with medical bills, school fees, and issues just making ends meet. She spoke to us about reporting from warzones, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises, and how Leeds inspired her to get into journalism.

This week we’re joined by Leeds alum and triathlete Jonny Brownlee MBE. Jonny has completed the set – he’s won Olympic gold, silver and bronze medals. He’s been world champion, and he’s won countless European and Commonwealth medals over a 14-year career.In 2012, as well as winning Olympic bronze at the London Olympics, he also graduated from Leeds with a degree in history. He was subsequently awarded an honorary degree in recognition of his achievements in 2013.Jonny’s impact extends beyond the competitive arena. Together with brother and fellow alum Alistair, Jonny founded the Brownlee Foundation in 2014. The foundation inspires children from all backgrounds to enjoy sport, encouraging them to lead active lifestyles and benefit from the opportunities sport provides.In May, the Brownlee Foundation celebrated a huge milestone achievement when it welcomed its 50,000th child to participate in their free triathlon events.Jonny spoke about the foundation, his career, and his key to success.

At a time of escalating food prices and a deepening climate crisis, Jamie Crummie has created a global phenomenon that protects bank balances and the planet. The Too Good To Go app helps customers rescue unsold food from shops and restaurants, saving it from going to waste. With the help of Spark funding from the University of Leeds, he co-founded the app in the UK with fellow student Christopher Wilson. It allows businesses and restaurants to sell their surplus food in surprise bags at a significantly reduced rate.Jamie's journey to becoming an entrepreneur was never set in stone. As a law student he intended on becoming a solicitor or barrister. But he was inspired after seeing vast amounts of food waste during a year abroad in Australia.Listen to his fascinating story of going from food waste activist to entrepreneur.

Eurovision fever has gripped the globe and for the first time since 1997 the UK is hosting the contest, on behalf of Ukraine. Weirdly these two worlds collide for BBC Russia Editor, and song contest superfan Steve Rosenberg. The Leeds alum is known for his love of the contest and away from reporting on the war in Ukraine, he escapes from the world of Kremlin politics by learning to play 300 Eurovision entries off by heart on his piano. We spoke to him last year about his enduring love for Eurovision. In this episode you'll also hear from BBC producer Joe Mason. He worked on last year's UK entry, which reversed the countries decade-long misfortunes in the contest, and several dreaded nil point. He talks about last year's campaign, and what it will take for Liverpool to host this year's event.You can listen to and read the full interview with Steve Rosenberg here: https://spotlight.leeds.ac.uk/moscow-calling/index.html

Camilla Tominey's journey to becoming a royal journalist started at Tetley Hall, studying Law at the University of Leeds. In this candid interview she discusses preparing for the King's Coronation, reporting on the Queen's death, and reporting on royal births outside hospital while she was also heavily pregnant. Leeds Voices is brought to by the University of Leeds Advancement Team. Follow us on social media @leedsalumni or email us at alumni@leeds.ac.uk.

Food broadcaster Jay Rayner tells us about how his path to becoming the UK’s most famous restaurant critic started with the Leeds Student newspaper. 2:15Professor Anwesha Sakar explains how her research in oral tribology can make chocolate healthier without losing its taste. 11:59Katy Richardson, Musical Supervisor of the stage phenomenon SIX, discusses waving the baton in Riley Smith Hall and West End stardom. 18:44Our roving reporter Tom Davy saw campus through a rainbow of colour in March when he joined our students for Holi Festival celebrations. 25:08

Here’s a treat for everyone who read the student newspaper.Was it Union News, Leeds Student or The Gryphon when you were at Leeds? On this episode, you'll hear about the integral role our student newspaper has played on campus through the decades. 2 minutes 45 and 21 minutes 45You’ll get the inside scoop from those who held the editor’s seat as they celebrate the paper that’s forged the careers of many prominent journalists. Joining us are:David Smith, Washington Bureau Chief, The GuardianAndrew Harrison, PodcasterJessica Murray, Midlands Correspondent, The GuardianAdam Lebor, Author, trainer and former foreign correspondentAlba Goskova, current editor, The GryphonAlso on this episode, technology has finally caught up with some vision needs, thanks to physicist Professor Helen Gleeson OBE. Using liquid crystals, Helen’s team have made contact lenses that will adjust between distance and near vision with a press of a button. 12 minutes 45This episode is not to be missed so please listen now.

Henry Gee used to ask a Hell's Angel called Big Paul for the Prog Rock Society's cheque book. You won't want to miss a rambling tale of dinosaurs, University Challenge and a benevolent Leeds professor told by the winner of the Royal Society Science Book Prize. 02:30How do you count fish, and why would you do it? Based in our Aquatic Interactions Lab, Josie South is on a mission to prevent unstoppable change in our fish and aquatic ecosystems before it's too late. 09:40He hosted Leeds Student Radio and will soon appear in Jemima Khan's film What's Love Got to Do with It? Mim Shaikh tells us about hanging out with Will.i.am when he was BBC 1Xtra's first South Asian daytime host.Favourite sandwich shop? Barber? Night out? Listen to hear which "really, really, really good memories" of Leeds you share with Mim. 15:45We celebrate 21 years of LUU's Fruity club night with enthusiastic students who prove that cheesy music never ages. 21:45

This bumper episode features contents from the Leeds alumni digital magazine as well as a few highlights from last year's episodes. Steve Rosenberg (Russian 1991) describes momentous events during his time as the BBC's Moscow correspondent and how his life at Leeds shaped his career. 1:27After treating casualties in Libya and Iraq, Moez Zeiton (Medicine 2009) tells how, within weeks of returning to Manchester, he put his medical war experience into practice with the arena bombing. 12:06Like what you hear? Find out more with the latest edition of Leeds magazineHighlights from last year:Hollywood star Chris Pine (JYA English 2001) tells us why he loved his time at the University of Leeds. 18:47The creator of Idris Elba's Luther, Neil Cross (English and Theology 1994, MA English 1995), sheds light on why his heroes are complex characters. 20:15Superstar podcaster and author, Pandora Sykes (English Literature and Language 2009), reminisces about our library, studying with boys and the Top Shop phenomenon. 26:26

Did you know that the founder of IMDb went to Leeds? With a passion for film and some computing savvy, Col Needham tells us how he built the world's largest entertainment website. 02:15Academic Dr Tom Bennett astounds us with news that plants detect signals from each other in a variety of ways, even by touch. 12:00From Botswana, Rebecca Klein discusses her work preserving the world’s fastest land animal. 19:00After laying face down in the Yorkshire Dales for 1600 years, stone inscriptions shed new light on the first African emperors of Rome. 23:20