Skeddan, Moots and Loaghtan

A three part podcast series is exploring Manx food and culture.

‘Blasstal’ is a series of three episodes, running between 35 and 45 mins each, created by Lucy Dearlove  and Manxie Katie Callin of Lecker: A Food Podcast.

The full series is supported by a Culture Vannin grant and features theme music by the amazing Mega Royle and artwork by the incredible Vicky Webb.

Lucy said: ‘Katie and I met through mutual radio producer friends in London a few years ago and almost immediately decided that we would go to the Isle of Man together (Katie’s homeland) and record an episode for my food podcast, Lecker, about the World Bonnag Championships.

‘What we ended up making was what one reviewer called an “atmospheric documentary” chronicling the process of Katie learning to make the bonnag from their mum Vanessa Callin, a champion bonnag baker herself, and us attending the event and speaking to attendees and judges. Although Katie’s gluten free bonnag entry was unfortunately overlooked on the podium (robbed!), we felt like we’d touched on something really interesting and so decided to return with our microphones to make something more ambitious.’

After the success of their bonnag episode, in particular how food and folklore come together on the Isle of Man, they wanted to see what other foods connected in this way.

After a few chats with Culture Vannin, they settled on three episodes: Moots, Skeddan, Loaghtan. And so, Blasstal was born.

We’re not going to give any more details about this, but you can find the series on your favourite podcast provided by searching Blasstal.

Oh go on then, here’s the trailer (be aware, it does feature THAT safety video).