I know that people can listen to this podcast anytime, but it is being posted as the Christmas edition for 2025 and it is, appropriately, a cracker!! Suzanne Zeedyk has been mentioned in a number of the earlier episodes and has, clearly, been hugely influential in the efforts to make sure that the Scottish public is a familiar as possible with the science of ACEs. The idea for this "Taking Action” series stemmed from Suzanne's vision for a year of celebration to mark the 20 years of Scotland...

I have been keen to record another episode of this series which focussed on Further Education to follow up the wonderful episode with Jackie Galbraith from West Lothian College. Kirsten Harrold is a worthy successor. Kirsten is a brilliant combination intellect and rigour, with a deep knowledge of the theory of child development and of attachment, and a resolute pragmatism and practicality. All of that is delivered in a completely unpretentious way laced with energy, enthusiasm and humo...

This episode marks our quarter century. It also marks a bit of a departure in that it is a discussion with Louise Marryat and reflecting on her 2019 research into ACEs in Scotland. It is about a different sort of taking action, but we wanted to get an overview of where we were in terms of the prevalence of ACEs in Scotland. As the conversation develops it does much more than that. It delves into the impact of poverty in Scotland and elsewhere. That underlines the need for us to take pol...

This is a really important podcast for me. I realised that we had recorded 23 episodes and not included anyone from a black or minority ethnic community. That led me to reflect on how little engagement there has been between these communities and the ACEs movement in Scotland so I wanted to explore why that was the case. I also wanted to explore the whole area of anti-racism, highlight examples of action and see where there could be more overlap with the ACEs movement. Kwaku Adjei ań ideał pe...

I am delighted to be releasing this episode of Taking Action for a number of reasons. First, and most importantly, it features two really committed and passionate people in Gwenne and Jennie, who have an excellent project to talk about. Secondly, it highlights work in health, which is an area that I haven't featured enough in the series. Thirdly, it touches on a lot of themes that have been developing across this series. Their work recognises that childhood trauma may have long-lasting effect...

Angus Bell's story is remarkable. His experience of attending a well known boarding school in Scotland is utterly horrific, but Angus has certainly taken action. He took legal action against the school that he attended and won a significant settlement from them. He gave testimony to the Scottish Child Abuse Enquiry. Both of these actions took considerable courage. They meant confronting his own awful experience and the damage that it had done to him. They also meant taking on very powerful fo...

Upstart Scotland - https://upstart.scot/ - is a remarkable organisation. Here's the link to a very old video by way of introduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMaxhELpG7I. It takes a special campaign to bring together academics, writers, educationalists, forest schoolers and police, but Upstart does that and more It has engaged parents and politicians and built partnerships to attempt to establish a Kindergarten stage and a later start to formal education in Scotland. Wha...

I am really proud that we have reached 20 episodes of this podcast and am very pleased that it is an interview with Jennie Seed, Deputy Headteacher at Carnoustie High School. Jennie is a classic example of someone meeting Jaz Ampaw Farr's challenge to us to be 10% braver. Jennie is someone who has been prepared to learn from all sorts of experience, in practice, in reading and through learning from other people and then make the effort to translate that learning into meaningful change. Jenni...

I am always amazed at how many people are doing things to try to make Scotland a more caring, compassionate and just nation and the different ways that they find to do that. My guest on this episode is a classic example of this. I wanted to have Laura McGlinn on the podcast because of the short film that she had made about Tina Hendry. Here is the comment about Tina from a blog on the Mind Waves site http://www.mindwavesnews.com/the-words-i-couldnt-say-my-tribute-to-tina-hendry-by-laura...

I am aware that the episodes of Taking Action are getting longer and this is one of the episodes that justifies that. Apart from the fact that Fiona Duncan, who led the Review leading to The Promise and is the Independent Strategic Advisor on The Promise, and advises Scottish Ministers in this capacity, is a very impressive guest - articulate, bright, committed and passionate with a total command of the interview - The Promise (https://thepromise.scot/) deserves time for exp...

I hope this is as much of a treat for you to listen to as it was for me to record. As is very apparent in the episode, I am a huge fan of Blue Rose Code and of Ross Wilson's work, but the interview is much more than a piece of self-indulgence. Ross has taken action. He has a real sense of service and makes that clear. He shares his own experience and history and talks about its impact, He shares his knowledge and understanding of trauma and its impact and he thinks deeply and profoundly...

I am delighted by this episode for all sorts of reasons. Ciara Burke is a joy to talk with. She is effervescent, full of enthusiasm and generosity. I felt energised simply by hearing her. She also has a great story to tell. What Midlothian are doing as a Council, based on their understanding of the impact of poverty, of disadvantage and of disruption on the lives of too many of the people who live there is remarkable. Ciara, along with colleagues and elected members, is trying to ensure...

This is another instance where the quality of the recording does not match up to the quality of the content. Thomas Seisay is a wonderful example to all of us. He and his husband adopted two children who had both been in the care system. That marks them out as caring, committed and compassionate even if they had not done anything else, but they have done so much more. They saw the challenges that their son faced and then their daughter and did all that they could as parents to sup...

I hope that the title for this episode got your attention. It was difficult to know what to call it, but it was delight to be part of it! Essentially, it is me trying to interview Angela Gardner from St John the Baptist Primary School in Fauldhouse - and not Falkirk as I suggest - Eileen Brennan, from Our Lady of Lourdes in Blackburn, West Lothian and Frances Burns from St Joseph's in Whitburn. In reality, it is like herding budgies with me trying to keep up as three fabulous headteachers int...

Following on from the inspirational conversation with Danny Gemmell, here is another wonderful example of individual and community activism. Sandra Sutton is a force of nature. She is full of drive and energy and she has devoted that to the former mining village of Twechar in East Dunbartonshire. Twechar could have been another dying community left behind after the pit closure and the impact of economic change. Instead, it is thriving. It has a growing population and a vibrant community...

One of the great things about doing this podcast is getting to meet someone every week who is doing something remarkable to implement what they know about the impact of trauma and the healing power of relationships. It gives me hope art a time when that can be a rare commodity. Danny Gemmell really adds to that list of outstanding people. I hope that everyone will check out his website https://www.beinnunity.co.uk/. It is really professional and beautiful, so much so, as I say in the programm...

This episode is with the remarkable Juliet Robertson. It focusses on her collection of poetry, Blood Lines, which deals with the trauma of living with a diagnosis of terminal cancer. The book is astonishing. The poems are in different styles. Some are deeply moving, some are upbeat and funny. All of them offer insights into what it is like to live with the pressing certainty that life is limited. It is a collection which offers comfort and inspiration in equal measure. It is for those who sha...

Siobhan is doing something remarkable. She combines all that she knows about the science of connection and trauma and brings that to life through the creative arts. Siobhan is part of Anam Alba - https://anam-alba.com - an organisation with a marvellous heading on their website Creativity forges Connection. &...

I have been looking forward to this conversation since I started recording the Taking Action series. Iain Smith has done a massive amount to try to ensure that the justice system in Scotland recognises, and takes account of, the impact of trauma on people's lives. It is challenging work as Iain is so aware of the need to support the victims of crime as well as taking account of the circumstances of the perpetrators Iain feels that his greatest achievement since he began campaigning was the in...

It was a privilege to record this conversation with Sarah Lathan. Her book, Creating a Trauma Informed Classroom is outstanding. It offers excellent support and advice for educators in any context. It is based on Sarah's experience, deep knowledge and understanding and it also offers a superb summary of the research, and the other texts, which inform the book. By my reckoning, it distils almost all of the books that you would otherwise have to read to become better informed abut the imp...