This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan meet with Smith & Liddle, the songwriting duo formed after both artists reached a crossroads in their solo careers. They talk openly about why working alone started to feel creatively draining, the uncertainty of giving up individual identity to become a duo, and how starting again from scratch helped reduce pressure and reignite their love for writing music.

The conversation explores their songwriting process, how songs change meaning over time, and the real stories behind their tracks - including how a disagreement about food unexpectedly turned into one of their album songs.

Away from the music, the episode leans heavily into personality. There’s a deep dive into food habits on tour, fussy eating, Greggs orders, last-meal choices, Sunday dinners, and a surprisingly serious debate about whether a Jaffa Cake is a biscuit or a cake.

These moments reveal the dynamic between the duo and the humour that underpins their partnership. They also discuss touring, social media, viral moments, dealing with online criticism, and how engagement - even negative - can shape visibility as an independent artist.

The result is a loose, honest and funny conversation that balances music, real life, and the everyday chaos that comes with building a band together.

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One year on from Chris and Dan’s original sit-down with Si King, we are welcoming the PROPA engine room to the Local Heroes Podcast to mark a major milestone - one full year of PROPA.

In this episode, we talk to the PROPA kitchen crew (left to right) - Tom Cuthbert, Josef Blythe and Rory Welch - reflecting on a whirlwind first year that has seen PROPA grow from an idea into a defining part of the North East food scene. From opening the doors in a tiny former stable to producing thousands of pies, navigating match days, media attention, collaborations, and constant demand, the lads look back on a year that moved faster than anyone expected. The discussion celebrates not just the success, but the craft behind it.

Tom, Josef and Rory talk about what makes a proper pie: generous fillings, the right texture, gravy that takes time, and food rooted in tradition rather than trends. They reflect on how the menu has evolved over the year, how customer demand shaped decisions, and why respect for local produce and familiar flavours remains central to PROPA’s identity. This is also a celebration of teamwork and shared graft.

Drawing on years spent in high-pressure kitchens, mass catering and restaurants, the lads explain how being willing to do every job - from pots to prep - helped PROPA survive its most intense moments. They discuss adapting to takeaway life, finding better balance, and learning how to scale without losing standards.

As always, the conversation is full of North East food nostalgia and humour - from chip-shop debates and saveloy dips to corned beef, Greggs orders, and the smells and memories that define the region’s food culture.

Above all, this episode marks a year of PROPA - a celebration of the humble pie as a symbol of North East food heritage, done properly, with heart, graft, and pride.

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On this week's Local Heroes Podcast, your average hosts Chris and Dan talk to the electric and entrepreneurial Steffi Smith - a true North East legend and one of the region’s most inspiring business role models.

As the founder of The Chocolate Smiths, she has built not just an iconic brand, but a blueprint for creativity, resilience, and modern entrepreneurship. Steffi opens up about discovering her ADHD later in life, how it shaped her path, and how embracing it became one of her greatest strengths.

She takes us from the early days of making chocolate bars in her kitchen with a microwave, to becoming a social media favourite, earning a viral shoutout from Joe Wicks, and navigating the overwhelming pressures that came with rapid growth.

Steffi speaks with rare honesty about burnout, self-doubt, and the moment she nearly walked away — before rebuilding her business with more clarity, courage, and conviction than ever.

From designing bespoke moulds, elevating her brand, and switching to ethically sourced Colombian chocolate, to investing deeply in her team and leading with creativity, Steffi demonstrates exactly why she’s become such an incredible entrepreneurial example for emerging founders everywhere.

Packed with laughter, spills, wild ideas, breakfast-and-brainstorm sessions, and even a call for a Greggs × Chocolate Smiths collab, this episode showcases the brilliance, passion, and heart that make Steffi a local hero in every sense.

If you love powerful founder stories, creativity, neurodiversity, or just really good chocolate — this conversation will stay with you.

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