A RADIO documentary exploring what makes Frome unique was released last week by American podcasters, Upstream.
The three-part podcast was released on Thursday 1st September and explores Frome’s Independents movement, exciting projects like the Share Shop and Community Fridge, wellbeing initiatives and social and economic divisions in the town.
The hour-long pieces include interviews with local people including town councillor Peter Macfadyen; the council’s resilience officer, Anna Francis; former Mendip councillor, Sam Phripp; chair of Fair Frome, Bob Ashford; and SHARE shop manager, Helen Johnstone.
Producer Della Duncan, originally from San Francisco but now studying in England says, “Zooming out often to get a wider perspective, the series looks at Frome as a microcosm of a much larger series of questions being asked nationally and globally.
“What happens when a group of frustrated and ambitious residents take over their town council and begin running things in a radically different way? What kinds of new economics and politics begin to emerge? And what happens to those who feel like they don’t belong to this new movement?
“What are the scars left from thirty years of closing factories and cutting services? And how do these scars reveal themselves in our hearts and in our communities?
“Is it possible to bridge the economic, social, and psychological divides that carve up our societies? Is it helpful to speak about them? And if it’s possible to bridge them, then how do we do it?
“Our interviews with town residents, local historians, renowned economists and politicians invite listeners to think about Frome from diverse perspectives, and to ask if it’s possible to live in a different world – one more equal and inclusive that values people and planet over profit.”
The documentary also ties Frome to global issues, giving insights on the effects of everything from Brexit to Trump’s rise to power in the USA.
The series will feature music written and inspired by musicians in Frome. It will be presented on Frome FM throughout the month of September and can also be listened to and downloaded for free at www.upstreampodcast.org
Stay tuned!
