In the first of our 2024 episodes Tim talks to the amazing Ash Mukherjee in Cliftonville, Kent.

Born in Kolkata, India, Ash trained in Bharatanatyam at Kalamandalam Kolkata with Guru Smt Thankamani Kutty.

He pursued ballet with Lady Doreen Wells from the Royal Ballet and earned a BA (hons) in Jazz Theatre Dance from London Studio Centre.

Acclaimed by Dance Europe Magazine as one of the finest Indian classical dancers in the UK, Ash was hand picked by the This Is It! team, to dance a duet with Michael Jackson at London’s O2 Arena.

Ash starred on BBC 3’s Move Like Michael Jackson and created with choreographer Lavelle Smith Junior a solo integrating Indian classical dance with Michael’s iconic hit "Man In The Mirror," broadcast to three million viewers.

Choreographic works include BBC 2's Royal Wedding Duet for So You Think You Can Dance UK, Katie Melua/William Orbit's "The Flood" video, and British Youth Music Theatre's "Educating Yorkshire T’Musical".

Awards include Outstanding Male Dancer Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards UK nominee, Time Out London Rising Talent, and Critics’ Choice artist by Dance Europe.

As an actor Ash has appeared in TNT's "Will," Marvel's The Eternals, and HBO's "House Of Dragon." His one-person show "Vishnu’s Got My Back," delving into mental health from post-colonial Kolkata to London, premiered at Royal Birmingham Conservetoire, followed by a 2022 UK tour.

Ash currently serves as Movement Director for The Citizens of the World Refugee Choir, performing at the Queens Platinum Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace and Glastonbury 2022.

Instagram: @ashmukherjeeofficial

Despite still being a teenager, Sunderland-based newcomer Tom A. Smith has already achieved more than most artists do in a lifetime. He played his first ever gig aged just eight, supporting local psychedelic rockers Detroit Social Club at legendary Newcastle venue The Cluny, he performed at Glastonbury before he was even in secondary school, and Tim Burgess handpicked him to play his stage at Kendal Calling, making him the festival’s youngest ever performer. He has played live with local hero Sam Fender and supported Catfish & The Bottlemen, as well as other Northern acts on the rise like The Lathums and The Mysterines.

Tom has also supported other big names such as Elton John & Billy Bragg and he’s appeared on Soccer AM performing alongside Miles Kane. Following a summer full of festival appearances.

Tom joins Tim for a chat outside the iconic Dreamland Cinema in Margate and walks along the beach talking about his early beginnings, from picking up the guitar at the age of 4 through to the fantastic year he has had touring and bringing out new material.

Tom's website and links to his music and socials https://www.tomasmithmusic.com

Recorded at Margate, Kent, December 2023

Youtube Video Version: https://youtu.be/yrvlXzZWsgM

David Ippolito is an American singer-songwriter and playwright. He has self-released eight albums and is best known for his weekly summer performances in Central Park. In 1992, David first performed an impromptu concert on a hill in Central Park in front of a small audience. Among those present was editor Jack Rosenthal from The New York Times, who the next day published an editorial about the performance. The next week, David played again, and began to gather a following. Since then, he has performed on a hill near a rowboat lake almost every summer weekend to crowds of passers-by and regulars, including international tourists, and has become a cult figure in New York. David talks to Tim about his early battles with drink and drugs and how he found himself playing the guitar and singing in Central Park.

In a special extended 2 part special David walks Tim through the sites and sounds of Central Park in New York, as he works on his new venture as a playwright and screenwriter.

Next step Broadway and Hollywood!

Davids site: http://www.thatguitarman.com

David Ippolito is an American singer-songwriter and playwright. He has self-released eight albums and is best known for his weekly summer performances in Central Park. In 1992, David first performed an impromptu concert on a hill in Central Park in front of a small audience. Among those present was editor Jack Rosenthal from The New York Times, who the next day published an editorial about the performance. The next week, David played again, and began to gather a following. Since then, he has performed on a hill near a rowboat lake almost every summer weekend to crowds of passers-by and regulars, including international tourists, and has become a cult figure in New York.

David talks to Tim about his early battles with drink and drugs and how he found himself playing the guitar and singing in Central Park. In a special extended 2 part special David walks Tim through the sites and sounds of Central Park in New York, as he works on his new venture as a playwright and screenwriter. Next step: Broadway and Hollywood!

Davids site: http://www.thatguitarman.com

Grant Turley, an experienced currency trader, macro economist and FX strategist, has lived in New York for years and has seen a raft of change in the city from the pre-mayor Giuliani period right up to now in the post-COVID economy.

Grant talks to Tim outside the world's biggest department store, Maceys on Herald Square in Manhattan, New York City; the building's 2.5 million square feet.

Ariana is a presenter and producer/creator of Essenza, a show about finding the essence of life through fashion, entertainment and lifestyle through a new lense. Available to watch on KokoConnect.TV

Ariana talks to Tim about fashion, presenting and producing Essenza and her studies at college and her future plans.

Join Ariana and Tim as they walk along 7th Avenue (Fashion Avenue) in New York towards Times Square.

https://kokoconnect.tv https://www.instagram.com/itsarirebello https://www.instagram.com/twin.thatswhatineed/

Youtube Version: https://youtu.be/H4_ZcdCp89I

Billy is a self-starter and motivator who mentors people on lifestyle, health, fitness and wellness. From a young age, he has been goal-driven, and he is now an entrepreneur who runs his own wellness company; Billy is also the marketing and sales director for his family business.

Billy talks to Tim about his career path and how he helps people with his inspiring support and knowledge. Also, his outlook on life, he has many goals and plans for the future, which he discusses.

https://linktr.ee/Billjh24

Recorded at Mote Park, Maidstone, Kent

Evan has a unique story, at just the age of 17 he has experienced a lot of expeditions and adventures. All Boys are born with a love for adventure in them. If you look at history, it comes from a very distant relation to the smelly, dirty, sabertooth tiger-hunting, spear-wielding cave man, of which teen boys still mimic their unique language to this day made up of grunts and groans.

We may share a relation with these primitive humans and maybe some more than others, but Evan says he shares a bit more than a few genes with these hairy humans from the Stone Age. Evans's life has been full of peaks as high as Mount Everest and troughs as low as the depths of the ocean, a journey from struggles to strengths, negativity to positivity and from a downward dive to learning to thrive.

Evan talks to Tim about those peaks and troughs, a unique home-ed childhood education with the outdoors being the classroom, and how he wants to inspire others with positive mental health from being outdoors and being one with nature.

Evans link tree: https://linktr.ee/juniorsurvivor

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@junior_survivor