Episode 4 - February, Partners and Poems

It’s truly the bleak midwinter on this February episode of Panacea. After a month hiatus, Sarah delves into what makes February the month of contradictions and transitions. February is the perfect time to look at life from a new angle and discover new meaning.
Sarah and Owen have some resolutions to follow up on in this episode! For a Valentine’s treat, take a peek into Swing Dancing in Newcastle. But if you’re feeling a bit more subdued this time of year, maybe some original poetry will do the trick.

0:00 - Cold Open:

Sarah and Owen explore Old Durham Gardens, discovering new gems in places they thought they knew.

5:12 - Intro:

10:32 - Chapter 1: Oh I Wanna Dance with Somebody

Get a glimpse into the Newcastle Swing Dance scene as Sarah interviews one of the many talented dance teachers at Swing Tyne, Esther Fearn. Learn more about swing dancing and how you can get started at www.swingtyne.com

20:49 - Chapter 2: Dispersion of Light 

Sarah reflects on her high school days, sitting outside the library with her book-worm friends. One of these friends, and “almost poet” Crystal Yeung, reads some original work about new angles.

A 28 minute podcast for a 28 day month. See you in March!

What are your ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future? How do feelings of nostalgia, cherished traditions, and thoughts of the future come together to create the perfect holiday season? 

Join Sarah and Owen as they search for some answers to these questions on Panacea's Christmas episode. Cuddle up as they take you to Crook Hall to discover the Christmas secrets of the manor and gardens. Look to Christmas future as they travel to Newcastle to learn how to bring sustainability to all of our celebrations. And listen in to two academics (and friends) chat about the diversity with which the world approaches the holiday season. 

0:00 - Cold Open

4:42 - Intro

5:45 - Chapter 1: Deck the Hall

Sarah talks to the owners of Crook Hall in Durham and gets the inside scoop on their Christmas festivities and their winter gardening techniques

www.crookhallgardens.co.uk

21:30 - Chapter 2: Your Own Front Door

Kate Norris from Northumbrian Flowers talks sustainability in our Christmas crafts and how we can do better for future Christmases to come

www.northumbrianflowers.co.uk

30:25 - Chapter 3: The Reason for the Season

Sarah and Matt have a frank discussion on their differing perspectives this holiday season and talk about some different ways of celebrating this time of year in other cultures

Get in the Christmas spirit with this preview for our December episode. Sarah talks to the owners of Crook Hall and Gardens in Durham about their seasonal offerings and their own memories of Christmas in this very special place. Tune in again next week to hear more from the head gardener at Crook Hall, get tips on how to make your own Christmas wreath, and much much more!

Step into deep autumn as Sarah and Owen reminisce about their favourite autumnal holidays. Learn how to bake a traditional Thanksgiving treat that's as American as apple pie! Find out what goes into making that perfect seasonal candle and discover the second verse of a nursery rhyme you thought you already knew. 0:00 - Cold Open 5:10 - Intro 9:15 - Chapter 1: Waxing Poetic We visit Watergate Cafe in Gateshead to learn how to make our own scented Candles from Holly of Brown & Co Durham www.brownandcodurham.com www.facebook.com/Watergate-Cafe-213804969093232 17:35 - Chapter 2: In-bread We jump across the pond to New York to learn how to make the perfect apple pie. Join Sarah as she learns about her family's baking history and how memories can be passed down from recipe to recipe 44:30 - Chapter 3: Out with a Bang Owen reminisces about bonfire night in the UK, Sarah learns the rest of nursery rhyme she thought she knew Tori Rosen’s Apple Pie Recipe Crisco ~1/2 cup Flour 1.5 cups Salt 1 tbsp. Water (cold) 1/3 cup Apples (peeled) 10/ or 11 Sugar to taste Cinnamon to taste Butter to taste Preheat oven to 425 F (218 C) Add ½ cup of flour to ~1/2 cup of Crisco and mash together with a fork in a mixing bowl. Once combined, add additional 1 cup of flour and cut mixture with a kitchen knife until it is in pea-sized bunches. Add small handful of mixture to 1/3 cup of cold water, mix this with fork, and then pour over the rest of the mixture in the bowl. Combine with fork until mixture forms a ball. Divide this ball, in roughly 1/3 and 2/3 portions. The 2/3 portion will act as bottom crust and the 1/3 portion will act as top crust. Place 2/3 portion on rolling surface and dust rolling pin with flour. Roll out the 2/3 portion, scrape from surface (and fold gently if easier to handle), and place in pie plate. Pierce bottom crust with fork several times. Dust bottom crust with a mixture of cinnamon and sugar (to taste), and then slice peeled apples into the pie plate. The apples should be cut thinly and should fill the plate entirely. Dust the apples with more cinnamon and sugar, then add chunks of butter on top of the apple slices. The top crust is full of potential. In chapter 2, Sarah rolls out the 1/3 portion of the crust and uses a round cookie cutter to make rings of overlapping circles. Be creative! Once top crust is on, place pie into over for 15 minutes at 425 F (218 C). Turn down oven to 350 F (176 C) and bake for another 45 minutes. When down, place on cooling rack to avoid a soggy bottom crust.

In this first episode of Panacea Sarah and Owen explore what's so special about early Autumn/Fall and the month of October. Considering the Danish concept of Hygge we visit a Tartan weaving class to understand how to make comfy, cosy scarves and blankets for this time of year. We get expert tips on how to take stunning photos of trees and leaves in this season and learn what makes a great photo. Finally for Halloween we explore two creepy castles and go ghost hunting with some intrepid fellow travelers. Do we find anything? Find out now by listening to our debut episode... 0:00 - Cold Open 5:50 - Introduction 8:48 - Chapter 1: A New Leaf We visit Durham Botanic Gardens with photographer Pete Swan and get expert tips on taking stunning pictures at this time of year www.dur.ac.uk/botanic.garden www.flickr.com/photos/pjswanphotography www.facebook.com/petejswan 8:16 - Chapter 2: Autumn Weaves? We visit a Tartan weaving class in Bishop Auckland and learn how you can make comfy, cosy blankets perfect for the cold autumn nights www.aucklandcastle.org www.janbeadletextiles.co.uk 27:22 - Hot Chocolate Recipe 27:42 - Chapter 3: The Phantom in the Fortress We explore two creepy castles at night and go ghost hunting with some intrepid travelers. We also talk to the Vice Master of Durham Castle about his ghostly experiences there www.dur.ac.uk/durham.castle www.alnwickcastle.com