Refreshing Pod - Lockerbie Remembered

21st December 1988, 19:03:00.

38 minutes after take-off, Pan Am Flight 103, on route from London to New York, explodes at 31,000 feet over Lockerbie, Scotland.

259 people on board the flight (243 passengers and 16 crew members) plus 11 people on the ground die as a result of the explosion.

There were victims from 21 different countries.

The Lockerbie Bombing was the biggest terrorist attack against the United States before September 11th 2001. The bomb blast broke the plane into thousands of pieces

that landed in an area covering roughly 850 square miles. To this day, it’s the biggest crime scene in the UK, and the 2nd biggest to take place in Europe.

Questions around the plane bombing, and justice for the 270 people who died as a result of the attack, have continued for the near-four decades since it occurred.

Johnny speaks to Michelle Ciulla Lipkin & Kara Weitz who both lost family members that night.

Michelle & Kara speak in depth sharing memories, love, grief, the vpaf 103 legacy award, the 6 main goals of the organisation. Plus the actions taken (and still needed) to seek the truth about the tragedy and how they keep the memory of all the victims in connection with Pan Am 103 alive.

The interview is filled with love, laughter and above all memories of those lost in the sky, and how the people of Lockerbie showed love and support whilst dealing with their own tragedy, that devastated a small town, and community.

Find out more about the the group of family members and friends of those whose lives ended when a terrorist bomb exploded on Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland on December 21, 1988. Copy and paste the link below.

Online: www.victimsofpanamflight103.org

The organisation are committed to seeking the truth about this tragedy and keeping the memory of our loved ones alive.

Watch all episodes of 'The Bombing Of Pan Am 103' on BBC iPlayer

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0029db1/episodes/player

Lorraine Kelly (now a UK household name, but at the time of Lockerbie, Lorraine was a junior reporter for TV-am). Lorraine covered the disaster from the very beginning, and only recently made a return trip to the town. To watch her 2023 documentary 'Return To Lockerbie' meeting residents, and families connected both sides of the Atlantic. You can watch it via ITVX.

https://www.itv.com/watch/return-to-lockerbie-with-lorraine-kelly/10a4931/10a4931a0001

For information on the 2026 trail of Abu Agila Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi, click below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2e1rk90v8o

Masud has denied priming the explosive device which brought down Pan Am 103. The trial is set to get under way next April.

Refreshing Podcast season 8, episode 11 in made in memory of all 270 victims lost on the night of December 21st 1988, and continuous strength shown.

We'd like to thank everyone involved in making this podcast possible, both in the USA, and Lockerbie.

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Railway 200 (Mike Lamport)

In this 200th year since the birth of the modern railway, train enthusiast Johnny chats to Mike Lamport, and both discuss how the railways in Britain have transformed the country since 1825.

Mike's knowledge on the railway is second to none, and in some capacity his family have been a part of railway history for roughly 170 years, so he's the perfect person to discus the past, present and future,

and how important it is to inspire the future generations of railway enthusiasts.

Find out about Mike's railway past, including how his great great grandfather saved many lives after a crash. Mike also shares his views on the future of the railway, and both him and Johnny arrange a cup of tea at the National Railway museum in York ... and possibly get into a big conversation about what train they like the most.

The official date since the first Rail journey is Saturday 27th September, and will be marked across a variety of platforms, so look out for a host of TV, Radio, Print & Podcasts etc this month.

A special train is also making trips on the rail network, 'Inspiration'

Young and old can go on a journey of discovery exploring the railway’s 200-year story of innovation, brought to life by interactive exhibitions and hands-on activities. The timetable is below, Inspiration set off in June, and will make it's final departure in December 2025.

Celebrations are in full swing for Railway 200, the links below give details on how you can get involved.

Online: Railway200.co.uk

Linktr.ee : https://linktr.ee/railway200

X : x.com/railway200

Insta: Railway200

Future Day Out : www.railwaymuseum.org.uk

Mike And Andrew Lamport : The search for Britain’s longest serving railway family:

https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/search-is-on-for-uks-longest-serving-railway-family

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Footballers' Wives The Musical

It's Johnny's last Fringe Festival Interview for 2025 and he takes you back to the year 2002.

We're delighted to be joined by Ceili O'Connor, AKA Tanya Turner, from Footballers' Wives, The Musical, that ends it's run this Sunday.

A new British musical based on the iconic TV series following the fall and rise of captain's wife Tanya Turner as she schemes to save her marriage and her husband's career. Go back to 23 years, Sven as the England manager, and the WAG scene was just kicking in. Premier League football was the new rock'n'roll – with the money, glamour and bad behaviour to match.

Johnny & Ceili talk about life back in 2002 (fashion, haircuts, big mobile phones) the impact the show had, and how each character was OTT, including how well Zöe Lucker played the original Tanya.

Ohh & look out for a great piece of knowledge from Ceili regarding the whole 'Wagatha Christie' saga.

Behind the scenes of this musical, has music and lyrics by Kath Gotts (Bad Girls The Musical), based on the book by Maureen Chadwick (original creator of Footballers' Wives, ITV; Bad Girls, ITV; Waterloo Road, BBC), and choreography by Dame Arlene Phillips. The show is directed by Anthony Banks.

Spoiler alert: Contains scenes of an adult nature, drug-taking, noughties fashion, attempted murder, coercion, offensive language, outmoded attitudes, sexual impropriety, drama, heartbreak, comedy, singing, dancing – and absolutely no football! '

Gloriously OTT sass with brains and heart' (Musicals Magazine)

Nominated for 'Musical Theatre Award - Best Musical Award'

Tickets: edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/footballers-wives-the-musical

Online: www.fwmusical.com (bookmark to see what happens post Fringe Festival).

Footballers' Wives: The Musical

Music Hall at Assembly Rooms, New Town, Edinburgh.

Ends Sunday.

ITVX: Complete Footballers Wives original series available to stream now.

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.