ABOUT THIS PODCAST 🔗
Hit the North - presented by Tom May - consists of conversations with interesting people about the North, defined inclusively! Series 1 guests include musicians, actors, writers, a comedian, an academic and a neurodivergent poet. Hit the North is a NON-PROFIT podcast, with NO ADVERTS. Episodes include fair usage of brief, relevantly illustrative sound clips.
Hit the North is generally not suitable for children, including some swearing; there will be some discussion of difficult topics - written trigger warnings will be provided for episodes that require them.
Hit the North is generally not suitable for children, including some swearing; there will be some discussion of difficult topics - written trigger warnings will be provided for episodes that require them.
Hosts:
Update frequency:
weekly
Average audio length:
60 minutes
Guest interviews
English
United States
10 episodes
since Nov. 5, 2025
episodic
LATEST EPISODE 🔗
This week, Tom presents the Series 1 Sum-up! This includes listeners' Northern musical selections, some more interview extracts (Matthew Kelly, John Howard, Laura Minor & Mariam Rezaei), other musical picks and a quiz! The winner of the latter lifts the inaugural Flat Cap Trophy, while Tom also…
PREVIOUS EPISODES 🔗
This week, Tom talks to Tyneside turntablist Mariam Rezaei, a vital musician whose work is experimental, expansive and deeply ambitious, utterly refuting any ideas of fixed, discrete 'genre'. We talked about her life and work, class, politics, identity, gatekeeping within the music industry, AI and…
This week, Tom talks to the neurodivergent poet Peter Street, who has lived an utterly remarkable life - from gravedigger in Bolton to war poet in Bosnia to arborist and tree surgeon. This is a serious and humorous chat, exploring camarederie with gravediggers, the environmental crisis and there ar…
This week, Tom speaks to a fellow academic, Dr Laura Minor (Salford), whose roots are in the West Midlands, but who has a lived in the North of England for a good many years now. We talk about Laura's recent book about gender, social class and TV comedy, alongside whether a corner has been turned o…
This week, Tom speaks to Rachel Jackson, a fabulously distinctive voice in stand-up comedy and screen acting. We speak about Northernness, Scottishness, her unique comedy style, the film she was in with Karen Gillen, horror films and the excellent rave film, BEATS (2019). Rachel candidly addresses …
This week, Tom speaks to John Howard, the great singer-songwriter you probably haven't heard of but will love if you like David Bowie, Elton John, Jobriath, Duncan Browne and Clifford T. Ward. This episode includes discussion ranging over the whole of John's music career, including his landmark alb…
Hit the North aims to include guests from all over the North, and outside it. Justin Lewis is an authoritative historian of comedy and pop music, and this episode explores his life, and showcases his excellent books, including the new "Into the Groove", a history of 1980s music. Justin's …
This week's guest is the singer Ruth-Ann Boyle, primarily known for her work with Olive, but who has also recorded with The Durutti Column and Enigma. This enjoyable chat takes in the minutiae of Sunderland life, the tabloid press and how Top of the Pops was better than Never Mind the Buzzcocks. As…
This week, Tom speaks to the actor and presenter Matthew Kelly about his life and work and Northern England. The discussion takes in a key agitprop production at the Liverpool Everyman, Stars in Their Eyes, Samuel Beckett, Not Going Out and Inside No. 9 among much else! What a delightful first gues…
Tom May introduces the new podcast HIT THE NORTH.
Extracts of these* pieces of music are included under fair dealing/fair use for commentary and review and to illustrate guest choices. This podcast is non-commercial.
*The JAMs - 'It's Grim Up North', Jake Thackray - 'Old Molly Metcalfe' and Alex Gl…
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Tom May, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.
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