Assa Marra
Assa Marra
Podcast Description
Assa Marra: “A Love Letter to West Cumbria and the Legend I Married”This 18th December marks 16 incredible years since I met my husband, madcap adventurer and total legend, John Williamson. To celebrate this milestone, I’ve created Assa Marra—a 10-episode podcast series that is as much a tribute to him as it is to the place we both hold so dear: West Cumbria.West Cumbria has been the backdrop to our love story. Its rugged landscapes, rich history, and incredible people mirror the qualities I adore in him: strength, humour, indomitable nature, and an unstoppable spirit. Over the years, we’ve found inspiration in the stories of this county’s remarkable characters, from legends like Josh Naylor to the everyday heroes whose contributions have gone unnoticed.Through Assa Marra, I weave our love story with the soul of West Cumbria. These 10 episodes are deeply personal, recounting not only the moments that have defined our relationship but also the beauty of the people and places that have been part of our journey.Assa Marra blends highlights from my previous podcast, Gobsmacked!, with brand-new radio interviews, creating a unique tapestry of stories that celebrate both our personal journey and the vibrant spirit of West Cumbria.As the creator of Gobsmacked!—a podcast loved in 114 countries—I’m thrilled to use this platform to bring West Cumbria’s charm, humour, and spirit to a global audience. Above all, Assa Marra is my gift to John: a celebration of the life we’ve built together and the magical county that continues to inspire us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast focuses on the intertwining themes of personal love stories and the unique culture of West Cumbria. Topics include personal resilience, adventures, and the lives of remarkable locals like Darren Banks, a visually impaired veteran who ran from Land’s End to John O’Groats, and Ruth Hasson, a survivor of domestic abuse advocating for victims. The series provides a platform for discussing mental health, entrepreneurship, and local legends.
Assa Marra: “A Love Letter to West Cumbria and the Legend I Married”
18th December 2024 marked 16 incredible years since I met my husband, madcap adventurer and total legend, John Williamson. To celebrate this milestone, I created Assa Marra – a podcast series that is as much a tribute to him as it is to the place we both hold so dear: West Cumbria. It has grown to 16 episodes, with a couple more due before the end of 2025.
West Cumbria has been the backdrop to our love story. Its rugged landscapes, rich history, and incredible people mirror the qualities I adore in him: strength, humour, indomitable nature, and an unstoppable spirit. Over the years, we’ve found inspiration in the stories of this county’s remarkable characters, from legends like Josh Naylor to the everyday heroes whose contributions have gone unnoticed.
Through Assa Marra, I weave our love story with the soul of West Cumbria. These 10 episodes are deeply personal, recounting not only the moments that have defined our relationship but also the beauty of the people and places that have been part of our journey.
Assa Marra blends highlights from my previous podcast, Gobsmacked!, with brand-new radio interviews, creating a unique tapestry of stories that celebrate both our personal journey and the vibrant spirit of West Cumbria.
As the creator of Gobsmacked! – a podcast loved in 147 countries to date – I’m thrilled to use this platform to bring West Cumbria’s charm, humour, and spirit to a global audience. Above all, Assa Marra is my gift to John: a celebration of the life we’ve built together and the magical county that continues to inspire us. Our West Cumbrian community is being heard loud and clear in over 40 countries, celebrating and amplifying the wonderful people around us.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Men in West Cumbria are still dying too young and too often in silence.
In this conversation with Colin Cox, Director of Public Health for Cumberland, this episode looks at what sits underneath that reality.
West Cumbria is a place of contrasts. Beautiful landscapes and strong, close communities sit alongside real and persistent challenges, poverty, poor health, isolation and suicide rates that remain far too high, particularly among men.
This is not about labelling a region. It is about trying to understand it more honestly.
Colin speaks with real clarity and care about that. During COVID, many people locally came to rely on public health voices for reassurance and direction. Colin became one of those trusted figures, helping communities make sense of an uncertain time.
His latest report, Man up?, challenges something deeper than behaviour. It asks whether the old ideas of masculinity we have inherited are still helping men or quietly harming them.
In a place shaped by hard, physical, often dangerous work, stoicism was once a strength. It got people through. But it may also have left a legacy where too many men still feel they have to cope alone.
So perhaps the question is not “man up”.
Perhaps it is, how do we make it easier for men to open up?
How do we build communities where strength includes vulnerability and where asking for help is recognised as courage, not weakness?
This is a thoughtful and compelling conversation about place, identity and what might need to change.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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