Not only is it National Volunteer Week but it's also our 50TH EPISODE! So we had to make it an extra special one. So this week, it's all about Erin, sign language interpreter by day, community hero by heart who set up our Thorney hub. Join Mark and Vic as they chat about skipping meals, hiding food insecurity from your kids and parsnips!

Behind every food bag at Bread and Butter is a dedicated volunteer like Zosia. Having escaped living under martial law in Poland, Zosia arrived in the UK in 1982 and immediately took on multiple jobs without seeking government support. Join Mark and Alex as they talk about managing on a modest pension, property prices and finding purpose in giving back.

As our focus on working families continues, this week we meet singer, vocal coach and part-time carer, Colette. Despite juggling three jobs, a mortgage, and raising two children, she struggled to stay afloat and was without a permanent home for five months. Join us as we talk ‘mystery dinners’ and how quickly life can change.

As part of our Slice of Life campaign, we meet James, a support worker and young dad doing everything he can to make sure his little boy is well fed. Join Mark and Vic as they chat about what poverty really looks like today, the toll of constant financial pressure, expensive childcare and trying to stay afloat.

From hospital wards to hub volunteering, Sarah bulldozes her way through life with tonnes of energy, honesty and humour. Join Mark and Alex as they chat about the reality of working full-time yet still struggling, challenge assumptions about who needs food support and Pickles the wolf-whistling parrot. 

Tucked away in leafy Cheshire, Broken Cross Primary's Headteacher Donna is leading a quiet revolution in how schools support struggling families. Join Mark and Vic as they chat with Donna about the growing pressures on working families and why Bread and Butter is such an important part of their school community. 

"Smell it, smell it, use your eyes and use your nose!" declares James, this week's entertaining podcast guest. Join Mark and Alex as they enjoy James's opinions on sustainability, food systems and generational attitudes toward food waste.

Penny Walters is a force to be reckoned with. Join Mark and Alex as they chat to Byker hub leader Penny, about her incredible journey, from working 70-hour weeks surviving on pasta with margarine to speaking at Westminster as a Food Foundation ambassador.

The final in our Team Talk mini series takes you behind the scenes to hear directly from the team at Bread and Butter HQ. Whilst these guys might not be out in our hubs everyday, they're busy making sure that things get to where they need to be and at the right time.

What happens when affordable food becomes the catalyst for community connection? In the second of our Team Talk podcast mini series, we catch up with some of the seasoned veterans of Bread and Butter to unpick the magic that powers the organisation. Each team member reveals how these hubs have now become extended families. 

This week's podcast lands with a bit of a difference. Mark and Vic are joined by a few of our newest team members and of course, Blue Mark's dog, for a noisy sharing of life stories. Captured at our most recent bi-annual gathering, it provides a behind-the-scenes snippet of the magic that can happen when people from all backgrounds discover their calling.

Ahead of this week's government announcements, Mark and Vic catch up with Kath, who is living with multiple chronic health conditions and the fear of financial ruin if welfare reforms cut her benefits. Together, they talk through the impact of welfare reforms and the toll it all takes on Kath's mental health.

Ever wondered why a banana curves? Join Mark and Justin as they get geeky about tropical fruit with Sophie and Shania from Fyffes.  Enjoy a glimpse behind the scenes of Europe's largest banana importer with a few weird and wonderful science secrets revealed along the way. Have a listen and stock up on some fruity facts. 

Meet Marie, a community-driven retired nursery nurse who’s only recently discovered pension credits after months of financial struggle. We chat about the challenges many retirees face, from rising living costs to the lack of awareness around available benefits and, of course, Mark’s favourite topic - dogs! 

Welcome to the second part of our Impact specials! Once again, we’re joined by the brilliant Dr. Megan Blake, Senior Lecturer and Food Insecurity Scholar from the University of Sheffield. This time, we’re chatting about how food clubs are helping change eating habits and improve health. 

Welcome to the first edition of our Impact special two-part Slice of Bread and Butter podcast! This week, we are joined by our friend and all round accessible food expert, Dr. Megan Blake from the University of Sheffield. As part of our Impact launch, Megan joins us to unpack the differences between food banks and food clubs and generational views on food support.

Meet Kelly, a spirited WASPI woman whose life took a life-altering turn after a carjacking incident. We caught up with Kelly about being at the mercy of government sudden shift in pension age, the aftermath of a traumatic event and having an interesting side hustle!

This week we talk to Deano, a former pub manager whose life was unexpectedly turned upside down by the pandemic. With no family and few friends to rely on, his journey of resilience is pretty humbling. Join Mark and Vic as they chat with him about learning to live on a shoestring and creative meal combinations.

Kiera juggles the demands of being a young single mum and part-time care work but still finds time to volunteer with Bread and Butter at Broken Cross Primary School. Join Mark and Vic as they chat to Kiera about past struggles with debt and changing financial habits for a brighter future. 

As everyday life becomes more entwined with AI, Alex and Mark catch up with Gill (and her little dog Jesse), about the feeling of being left behind in an increasingly online world. Not one to let these things get her down, Gill shares how she overcame cancer with the help of healthy food, her batch-cooking top tips and how much she looks forward to hub day.