New York Welsh

Rebecca Hurn is an independent singer-songwriter from Porthcawl, in South Wales. Before writing and releasing her own music, Rebecca built up a fan following by recording acoustic cover songs and sharing them online.
In September 2015 Rebecca released her debut EP ‘Lions’ which reached no. 5 in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts. With the release of her second EP ‘Waves’ in April 2018, Rebecca became a BBC Radio Wales 'A list recording Artist’ and, in June 2019, she won ‘Best Singer-Songwriter’ in the Folk Song category at the International Independent Music Awards held in New York City.
Most recently, Rebecca was awarded the New York Songwriters Circle annual grant, performing at their live virtual showcase. The grant will go towards the production of her debut album, scheduled to be released summer 2021.
Gideon and Richard caught up with Rebecca over Zoom from her home in Porthcawl. They discussed the pros and cons of being an independent artist, her ongoing love affair with New York, and the time she staged a concert from her driveway to boost morale during lockdown.

Claire Thomas is a photographer and photojournalist from Penygroes in South Wales. Her work on issues relating to global political and military conflicts, human rights, and humanitarian and environmental crises has earned her recognition at the 2017 British Journalism Awards, the 2018 UK Picture Editors’ Guild Awards, and the 2018 Amnesty International UK Media Awards.
From within the camps that emerged from the refugee crisis in Europe to the war against ISIS in Iraq, Claire has covered a range of stories in various countries, contributing images and photo essays to leading newspapers, magazines and news agencies worldwide. Her editorial clients include The Sunday Times, The Guardian, National Geographic, Greenpeace and Al Jazeera, to name just a few. She also works regularly with United Nations agencies and international NGOs, including Amnesty International, OXFAM and Save the Children.
On this episode, Gideon and Richard chat with Claire about her path in photojournalism to the front line in Iraq, her coverage of the torched oil fields in Qayyarah and her experiences at a makeshift field clinic in Mosul - the location of one of the deadliest urban battles since World War II. They discuss the role of a photojournalist in a humanitarian crisis as well as some of the more unique psychological aspects of her job, including what it’s like returning back to Wales after being in a war zone.

On this episode, Gideon and Richard chat with Dr Megan Williams from the Welsh North American Association about the upcoming annual North American Festival of Wales, a weekend long event that includes performances, poetry, literature, singing, dancing, seminars, a marketplace and an Eisteddfod. Sadly, due to the ongoing coronavirus threat, this year's entire event will be virtual, the first time in the festival's 91 year history. The good news is that anyone can now attend for free online when proceedings kick off on Sept 4th, or screen it at their own leisure through Sept 30 via their event page. During their conversation, Gideon and Richard speak with Megan about the importance of the festival to the Welsh North American community, the challenges of adapting to a virtual format and the history of the event and Welsh heritage in North America.

Rod Thomas (stage name Bright Light Bright Light) is an independent singer-songwriter from the outskirts of Neath in South Wales. His music is a combination of nu-disco, 80s synthpop, dance and house music. Over the past decade he has collaborated with Elton John, Jake Shears, Andy Bell of Erasure, and toured with Cher. Two of his albums have reached the Top 20 on the UK Independent Albums Chart and his upcoming, fourth album, ‘Fun City’, will be released this September. He is also the founder of Yskwn, a record label and creative company set up to support LGBTQ+ and immigrant talent in NYC. On this episode, Gideon and Richard discuss Rod’s musical career, his latest single, ‘I Used To Be Cool’, as well as the ongoing fight for equal representation of LGBTQ+ artists in music and popular culture.

Jamie Grundy is a former football coach and writer with a special focus on criminal justice, sport and rehabilitation. He is the author of 90 Minutes of Freedom, which follows HMP Prescoed FC, the only prisoner football team in Wales, through a single season in Gwent Central Division 2. The book was written with the support of 'National Sporting Heritage' as an exploration of how sport can assist in the rehabilitation efforts of prisoners.
On this episode Gideon and Richard discuss the origins of the project and Jamie's research process, which included witnessing locker room confrontations and even lacing up to play himself, as well as some of the unique aspects of playing football in prison and the special bonds that are formed as a result.

Gwenllian Higginson is an actor and writer from North Pembrokeshire. Gareth John Bale is an actor and director from Ynysmeudwy in the Swansea Valleys. On this episode, Gideon and Richard discuss ‘West’, the play written by Owen Thomas that Gwenllian and Gareth came to New York to perform as part of Wales Week. They cover Gwenllian’s previous run of performances in New York, starring as Jackie in ‘The Good Earth’, as well as Gareth’s sensational one man play, ‘Grav’, depicting the life of rugby legend and broadcaster Ray Gravell.

Jaz-Michael King is a Chief Technology Officer and data privacy advocate. He the is founder of Tŵt (Toot) Wales, a new social media network built to encourage bilingualism online while providing a more private social media experience. Born in Cardiff, Jaz grew up in Llanilltud Fawr, South Glamorgan. After stints in England and France, he moved to New York in the mid-90s where his arrival coincided with the explosion of the internet. During this time, he ran a cybercafe in Brooklyn and built and sold his own internet startup, MerlinWeb, before moving into healthcare where he now works as an expert in health informatics, quality improvement, and public reporting. On this episode, Gideon and Richard discuss Jaz's experiences in New York, including setting up Brooklyn’s first youth rugby club, riding the dot-com boom, and how creating one of the largest online government conspiracy forums led to several run-ins with the FBI.

Joined by Rachel John and Gwilyn Roberts-Harry from the New York Welsh, Gideon and Richard look back at the last 12 months. They discuss their favorite moments from the podcast, how the New York Welsh continues to evolve as an organization, and look ahead at what's to come in 2020.

In the second of a two-part special episode Gideon and Richard pick up the story by looking at the catalyst for Welsh language activism in the 60s and 70s, the successes of the movement and the changes brought about by the establishing of the Welsh Assembly. With more contributions from special guest experts they learn about the sociological and neurological benefits of learning a second language and share some of the many tools for learning Welsh available today.

In the first of a two-part special, Gideon and Richard ask, "Do you speak Welsh?”. They discuss the falling numbers of Welsh speakers and the various factors behind this decline. With contributions from special guest experts they delve into the history of Cymraeg, the roots of the language and how key events in history have impacted its usage—from the Roman Occupation, the English Reformation and the Industrial Revolution all the way to the 20th century.

Peter Thabit Jones is a poet from Swansea in South Wales. He is the author of sixteen books and his poems have been translated into over twenty-two languages. He is the recipient of a number of awards, including the Arts Council of Wales Award, the Homer European Medal for Poetry and Art, and the Shabdaguchha Journal Poet of the Year Award for his contribution to international poetry. He has performed and given writing workshops at festivals such as the Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and throughout America, including the Massachusetts Poetry Festival and the Conference of World Affairs in Colorado. He is also the founder and editor of The Seventh Quarry, a poetry magazine published in Swansea with an international perspective.
On this episode, Gideon and Richard speak to Peter about the life of a working poet, his time spent traveling America, and how he came to be commissioned, alongside Aeronwy Thomas the poet and daughter of Dylan Thomas, to write the Dylan Thomas Walking Tour of Greenwich Village, on which Peter kindly led us in episode 18.
Peter's new book America, Aeronwy and Me: Dylan Thomas Tribute Tour is available now.

Chloe Wilson is an actor and singer from the Rhondda.
An accomplished soprano, she learned her craft in the choral traditions of the valleys. At 18 she auditioned for and was accepted in to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and — on completion of her studies — she was invited to stay on and join the Academy’s Company for 2018/19.
Chloe recently performed in her first off-Broadway musical in New York, Ablaze, an a Capella “musical thriller” at The New Ohio Theatre.
Richard and Gideon caught up with Chloe the day after closing night to talk about her experience in the show, what it’s like to be a young actor starting out in the Big Apple, and how some Welsh solidarity gave her the resources she needed to follow her dreams.

Dylan Thomas is one of the most recognisable Welsh names in the United States. He’s best known for his landmark poems such as ‘Do not go gentle into that good night’ and ‘Death shall have no dominion’, his play for voices ‘Under Milk Wood’, and classic stories such as ‘A Child’s Christmas in Wales’.
Born in Swansea in 1914, the legendary poet spent much of his life traveling back and forth between homes in London and Wales, yet to many he will always be associated with New York City. Between 1950 and 1953 Dylan visited New York on four occasions, the last of which culminated with his passing at the age of 39.
On this episode Gideon & Richard are joined by Swansea poet and author, Peter Thabit Jones, for a guided walking tour through Greenwich Village visiting places of significance to Dylan, including a few of his old watering holes. The tour, written by Peter Thabit Jones and Aeronwy Thomas, can be purchased as a self-guided book or accessed through its affiliated app.

Ibby Tarafdar is a graphic designer from Cardiff. Born in Wales, he grew up in Gabalfa after his father emigrated to Wales from Bangladesh in the 1980s. Since completing his degree in Graphic Communication at the University of South Wales in 2014, Ibby has since created brand identities for numerous athletes signed to Mayweather Promotions and Jay Z’s Roc Nation. His designs have featured alongside globally recognized brands like Under Armor and Puma and have been televised worldwide. On this episode, Gideon & Richard discuss Ibby’s rise to notoriety, his new studio in Cardiff, and what it’s like to work with some of the most powerful entertainment names in America.

Dr Denny Taylor is an author, researcher and educator living in New York City. She has published 19 books—fiction and nonfiction—and is a co-founder of Garn Press, a publishing house with a focus on social conscience. Denny is widely credited with giving rise to family literacy, a concept UNESCO uses today as an organizing principle for supporting vulnerable populations all over the world.
In 2004, she was elected Member of the International Reading Association’s Reading Hall of Fame and has been nominated for a number of prestigious awards, including a Pulitzer Prize in 1997 and, most recently, the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize.
On this episode, Gideon and Richard talk to Denny about her work in Family Literacy, her involvement with UN, and a number of the major issues facing society today relating to education, technology, and climate change. They also discuss two of Denny’s books; ‘Rosie’s Umbrella’, a book inspired by Denny and her mother’s own experiences of life in the Welsh mining towns of the early 20th century, and ‘Split Second Solution’, a dystopian tale set in NYC in 2022 that foreshadows the rise of Trump, the 'me-too' movement, and the wide mis-application of artificial intelligence.

James Bird is a rugby player and management consultant. He is a fly-half for New York based Old Blue RFC, who he has played for since moving to the US in 2013. In 2016 he became eligible for and represented the US national team in the Americas Rugby Championship, the American equivalent of the Six Nations. On this episode, Richard and Gideon talk about the growing game in the US, the challenges of balancing a demanding rugby schedule with a corporate career, and where to get married if you’re planning a quintessential New York wedding.

Matthew Hitt is a singer and songwriter from the Rhondda Valley in South Wales. He is the front man of Drowners, an American-Welsh indie rock band based out of New York. Formed in 2011, the band signed for Frenchkiss Records and released their self-titled studio album in May 2013. After seven years performing and touring the world and one more studio album, the band announced a hiatus last year, prompting Matt to produce his first
solo record. On this episode, Richard and Gideon chat to Matt about life in New York, what it's like to stay in some of the best and worst hotels in America, and how a surprise scouting in Times Square launched a decade long side-career in modelling.

Sir Karl Jenkins is a musician and composer from Penclawdd on the Gower Peninsula. He was knighted in the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours List. From his early days in jazz and prog rock he has gone on to become the most performed living composer in the world. His canon of work transcends genre or classification and now includes 17 gold and platinum discs. His work The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace has been in the UK charts for 15 years, and was performed at the Lincoln Center New York on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Lady Carol Barratt is a musician, composer, educator, and a lyricist for Sir Karl's work. She has written 84 titles in musical education, and three children's books set on Gower which have now been translated in to Welsh. Richard and Gideon speak to Sir Karl and Lady Carol ahead of the concert in Carnegie Hall in honour of his 75th birthday.

Sarah Collinson is Head of Account Management at Joan, a startup creative agency based in NYC that works with Google and YouTube. Prior to joining Joan, Sarah spent 4 years at world-renowned advertising agency Anomaly where, among other things, she helped create one of the most highly-acclaimed cannabis brands in the world today. Originating from Swansea, she studied History at Oxford before moving to London, and later New York, to build a successful career in advertising. On this episode, Richard and Gideon discuss Joan’s efforts to bridge the gender and diversity gap, what Sarah looks for when hiring, and where to get a good pint in Swansea on a Monday night in 2002.

Paul Mealor has been described in the New York Times as, the most important person to emerge in Welsh music since William Mathias.
He rose to global attention when his motet Ubi Caritas et Amor was performed at the wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton in 2011.
That same year he became the first classical composer to hold both the classical and pop chart No 1’s at the same time while his single, ‘Wherever You Are’, a piece for The Military Wives Choir, reached UK Christmas No 1.
Born in St Asaph, North Wales, Paul now splits his time between Anglesey and Aberdeen where he is Professor of Composition.

Richard and Gideon caught up with Paul ahead of his US premier of Requiem at Carnegie Hall as part of the DCINY commemoration of The Great War.
During the episode, the boys discuss Paul’s overnight fame, his pledge to defend the city of Aberdeen, and what it‘s like being the Warren Garland of classical music.

Jemima Williams a NY-based illustrator from Aberystwyth in South Wales. Prior to moving to the US she worked for eight years as a designer for the children’s television program Peppa Pig.
Jemima recently finished her first children’s book ‘Hibernate with Me’, a collaboration with singer-songwriter (and her husband), Benjamin Scheuer, which will be published in early 2019. She is currenlty working on her second book, to be released later next year. On this episode, Richard & Gideon discuss what it’s like working with child actors, the role of children’s books in society, and how to get yourself inside Doctor Who’s Tardis.

Davey Newington is a musician and front man of Cardiff band Boy Azooga. Their debut album ‘1, 2 King Fu!’ was released earlier this year, ahead of the band’s transatlantic tour, including a stop at Rough Trade in Brooklyn on October 24. Boy Azooga burst onto the scene in 2017 with their breakout hit, ‘Face Behind Her Cigarette’, which NME called “a total firecracker, with its mammoth riffs and splashy harmonies, all punctuated by stomping sleigh-bells.” Since then, they’ve performed all over UK and parts of Europe, lining up at Green Man festival and appearing on Jools Holland. Signed to London-based indie label Heavenly Recordings, their music draws on a range of influences from Black Sabbath to the Beach Boys, Frank Zappa to African synth legend, William Onyeabor. In this episode, Richard and Gideon chat to Dave over FaceTime, while he’s in transit between locations for a music video shoot. Among other things, they discuss Davey’s reaction to the last 12 months, marching in Cardiff as part of the SWS campaign, and what expect at a Boy Azooga gig.

Emma Pritchard is a Fashion stylist from Pontypool. After graduating with a degree in Fashion & Design from University of Wales, Emma swapped the UK for Asia to embark on a career in advertising. Emma ended up spending 9 years in Singapore, initially working as an Art Director on brands such as Elizabeth Arden, Guess and DeBeers, and later as a stylist. In 2006, she relocated to New York where she’s since amassed impressive portfolio and roster of loyal clients including, Puma, Cadillac, L’Oreal, Visa, and more. While still owning a house in Pontypool, and visiting her family frequently, Emma now calls New York her home. On this episode, Gideon and Richard chat with Emma about what’s involved in being a fashion stylist, the pros and cons of Instagram, and how managing photoshoots with big name stars come with a unique set of challenges.

Tom Chandler is a Welsh actor from Penarth in South Wales. He currently plays Begbie in the Off-Broadway show, Trainspotting Live. The play is an adaptation of the 1993 book by Irvine Welsh about the struggles of a group heroin addicted friends living in Edinburgh, most widely known for the 1996 film of the same name. What makes Transporting Live so unique is its immersive nature. With no 'fourth wall' the actors are free to interact with the audience throughout the performance. The play initially came under mixed reviews with some lauding its ambition while others questioned its political correctness. In August, the play was extended until the end of October 2018, which is perhaps the best indication of its enduring success.
In this episode, the boys meet Tom to discuss some of the challenges around performing in an immersive theatre production, acting in New York at the age of 21, and what it’s like to read reviews about yourself in the New York Times.

Gareth is a multi-disciplinary designer based in Nuremberg, working on the ‘Futures’ design team for Adidas. This summer, Gareth was selected to participate in Adidas’s annual design program in New York, working alongside other star designers from around the world. On the episode, Gareth tells the boys how he finds his inspiration, his philosophy on seizing opportunities, and how he grew up in Capel Hendre wanting to be a mechanic but ended up designing cars in Japan.

Writer-director Claire Fowler is a filmmaker from North Wales, based in New York City. Her most recent short, ‘Salam’, a film about a Syrian female Lyft driver on a night shift in New York City, had its World Premiere at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival. After studying at Oxford University and the Royal College of Art, Claire made a name for herself after making a number of human rights-themed documentary films, including ‘Open Heart’ an emotional journey that highlights the plight of the struggling Palestinian health care system. In 2008, she won a Fulbright scholarship to study film in the US, where she graduated with an MFA honors in screenwriting from Columbia University. Since then, she’s won the grand prize in Shore Scripts Screenwriting Competition and Starz Denver Screenwriting Competition for her feature screenplay, ‘Little House’, while her AFI DWW short film, ‘Noodles’, which premiered at Nantucket Film Festival, was acquired by Nowness in 2016. In this episode, Richard and Gideon discuss Claire’s journey from North Wales to Brooklyn, the challenges of funding a short-film, and what it takes to film in the West Bank.

Hywel John grew up in West Wales, and London. He attended Bristol University and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After initially coming to New York in 2008 as an actor, appearing in Rupert Goold’s production of Macbeth—alongside Sir Patrick Stewart—Hywel moved to the United States permantly in 2014 to further his career as a playwright and screenwriter. His plays have been professionally staged all around the world: in Wales, Edinburgh, Finland, Denmark, New York and London. The London Evening Standard has called Hywel’s work “a gem”, while The Guardian has compared his work to that of Harold Pinter. Hywel currenlty splits his time between New York, Alabama and Wales, while working on a commission for National Theatre Wales, entitled ‘The Wales Window’. On this episode, Richard and Gideon sit down with Hywel to discuss his New York journey from budding actor to transatlantic playwright.

On this episode, the boys speak to Cian Llewellyn, an actor, producer and director, whose debut short recently screened in cinemas across the United States.
Based upon Dylan Thomas' short story, ‘The Outing’ features a cast of untrained actors who, guided by Cian, come together in this quirky yet memorable short film.
Richard and Gideon probe Cian on his unique methods and discuss his own unlikely journey to the big screen.

Lucy Jones is an award-winning designer and entrepreneur with a unique focus on addressing the needs of those in society often ignored in the traditional fashion design process. Originally from South Wales, Lucy came to New York to study fashion at the world-renowned Parsons Schools of Design, whose alumni include the likes of Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Joel Schumacher and Paul Rand. After being awarded Parsons’ Womenswear Designer of the year Class of 2015, Lucy began to attract national attention for her bold and innovative work, resulting in her being selected for Forbes 30 under 30 at the age of just 24. She has since had commissions from both the Museum of Art & Design (MAD) and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)—where her piece was procured for the permanent collection. Later this year, her fashion lifestyle brand, Ffora, is set to launch globally. In this episode Gideon and Richard discuss Lucy’s design philosophy, bouncing back from failure, and an almost overlooked invitation to the White House.

Illtyd Barrett came to New York in the 90s with the intention of experiencing the good, the bad and the ugly side of a city that would come to be his home for the next two decades. After years of feeling like the only Welsh person in the city, the artist and musician, decided he wanted to create a bar and restaurant that would be a beacon of Wales across the Atlantic. In 2016 Illtyd and his brother Dom opened the doors of the Sunken Hundred—named after the mythical lost kingdom submerged by the rising sea—to which they received enthusiastic reviews from The New Yorker and New York Magazine. Unfortunately, even the reputation of serving the city’s most spectacular pasty wasn’t enough to keep the restaurant from being swallowed up by rising rents and a competitive restaurant scene and, earlier this year, the brothers called final orders for the last time. In this episode, the boys discuss Illtyd’s arrival on a vanishing New York art scene, the days surrounding September 11th, and what it means to be part of a community in a city that never sleeps.