Real Folk with Jo Burke

Apr 02 2025 23 ep. 43 mins 1
Real Folk with Jo Burke Podcast artwork

Real Folk - Inspiring life stories. Jo chinwags with guests from diverse backgrounds and delves into their lives so far. Guests include actors, adventurers, comedians, dancers, artists, singers, filmmakers, foster carers, authors, entrepreneurs, linguists and more. Who would we be without our stories? Sharing, listening and learning about our experiences is the essence of being human.

  Society & Culture
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22. Josephine Lacey - Stand Up Comedian, 'Autism Mama' and writer

Apr 02 2025 55 mins  
Funny, heartbreaking and inspirational in equal measure, this is a Real Folk to remember... Jo takes a deep dive into the background of stand-up comedian and writer, Josephine Lacey, creator of the hit five star comedy show, 'Autism Mama', 'The straight-talking comic’s debut hour is cheerfully rude and glowing with maternal love, as she describes parenting a son with autism.' The

21. Sophie Haydock - Author, editor, journalist

Mar 11 2025 49 mins  
Jo catches up with Sophie Haydock, Sunday Times and Guardian journalist, author of The Flames 'One of the finest historical authors of 2022', The Times. Her latest book, Madame Matisse, is released on 6th March 2025. Sophie delicately weaves fact and fiction to flesh out the stories surrounding the women that inspired Egon Schiele and Henri Mattise. Find out more about her passion

20. Dan Parkes - Author & Director of Photography

Feb 06 2025 63 mins  
If, like Jo, you have always been intrigued by the stories that surround the Titanic tragedy, you should definitely tune in to discover more about Dan Parkes debut book, Titanic Legacy: The Captain, the Daughter and the Spy. More twists and turns, than a twisty turny thing. Jo 'dives' in to Dan's DOP work, his drone training and what triggered his lifelong obsession with the Titani

19. Ben Rufus Green - Actor, comedian, writer

Jan 13 2025 59 mins  
Jo catches up with fellow actor, comedian and writer, Ben Rufus Green. On our TV screens Ben played 'David Cockfield' in both series of, Joe Wilkinson's, hilarious family comedy 'The Cockfields'. He most recently starred in Scottish BAFTA Award winning 'Dinosaur' Ashley Storrie's, new comedy show. Also in 2024 he starred in his first feature film 'Seize Them!' starring comedy legen

18. Mel Larsen - International Coach & Consultant

Jan 07 2025 56 mins  
It's the start of a New Year. What are your personal, career or business plans/goals/challenges for 2025? Grab a cuppa and join Jo and the marvellous, Mel Larsen, International Coach & Consultant who has been helping entrepreneurs for over three decades to joyfully trust their vision. Her work has taken her around the world, including Russia, The Caribbean, Australia and New Ze

17. Darren Walsh - Comedian, Tik Tok Pun Guy, Director, Writer

Dec 19 2024 36 mins  
Tik Tok Pun Guy, Darren Walsh, chats to Jo about his comedy career, the fact he is absolutely NOT the other Darren Walsh, a famous animator who created Angry Kid, plus insider info on how Darren creates his viral Tik Tok Puns on the Street. You can catch Darren's latest show 'Do You Like Puns?' at Leicester Comedy Festival in Feb, Glasgow in March, London's Leicester Square Theatre

16. Sarah O'Connell - YouTube Celebrity Chat Show host, Comedian, Artist/Animator

Dec 08 2024 43 mins  
Sarah kindly allowed Jo to turn the tables and interview her for Real Folk, so you can find out about Sarah's life for a change. 'The Sarah O'Connell Show' is a YouTube sensation with her celebrity guests ranging from Hollywood stars like Keanu Reeves, comedians/national treasures such as our wonderful Dawn French and of course musicians like Darren Hayes from Savage Garden, to nam

15. Benjamin Bankole Bello - Character comedian President Obonjo

Feb 20 2024 55 mins  
Jo's back with more Real Folk. Put your feet up and join Jo for an intriguing and thought provoking chat with 'accidental' comedian, Benjamin Bankole Bello, who has spent more than a decade honing his comic character, President Obonjo, African Dictator of LAFTA Republic, who became a social media viral sensation. Check out his millions of views on TikTok, Twitter, Facebook and Inst

14. Anna Kennedy OBE - Autism educator and Strictly star

Apr 01 2021 53 mins  
Kick back in your favourite comfy chair and join Jo and Anna chatting about autism awareness, Strictly Come Dancing and meeting the Queen. Anna shares the story of her children's diagnosis. What led her to set up two specialist schools, a college, a residential home and Anna Kennedy Online. She is also known as Autisms answer to 'Simon Cowell' (she's not sure that's a good thing) o

13. Amanda Egan - Author, fundraiser and creative

Feb 17 2021 30 mins  
Amanda Egan, author of 'Diary of a Mummy Misfit' and many more, chats with Jo about her writing process, lockdown life and her latest creative adventures. Tune in for an exclusive preview of an AMAZING song from the musical based on her utterly fabulous book 'Stilettos and Stubble' set in a drag club. Composed and sung by Alan Penman, written by her husband. We simply CANNOT let Co