A phone call during lockdown set off a chain of events that reshaped local media in Perthshire. We sit down with Dave Mack and Scoogs to unpack how an online experiment became the force behind a revived Heartland FM—keeping a vital FM signal alive where DAB drops out, building a trusted What’s On guide, and turning a humble studio into a community classroom.

We talk through the sound of the station: a melodic, easy daytime mix built for shops, cafes, surgeries, and workplaces, then a nightly switch to volunteer‑led specialty shows—folk, jazz, Celtic rock, classical, country, and Scottish music. Consistent slots make it easy to find your genre, while the Listen Again feature on the app and website lets you catch up anytime. Behind the mic, the Heartland Radio Foundation powers an education pipeline. With National Lottery support, the Heartland Academy now delivers SQA‑approved radio skills, giving students hands‑on training in audio production, interviewing, scripting, and public speaking. Teacher training multiplies that impact across schools, and adult courses help towns launch their own community podcasts.

We also explore the engine room of growth: a redesigned website with self‑serve event listings, fast local news on socials, and real proof that promotion drives turnout. Venues are seeing more people through the door and more “heard it on Heartland FM” moments. Dave breaks down why FM still matters in hilly terrain, how online listening is rising, and why radio advertising works through memory and repetition. And if you’ve ever wanted to get involved, we share clear paths to volunteer, present, or partner—plus what a strong demo looks like and how we support new voices with training.

If local music, practical news, and real community impact matter to you, this conversation shows how a small station can be a big connector. Subscribe, share with a friend in Perthshire, and leave a review to help more people find the show.

Strathearn Stories
Recorded in Johnston Media's Podcast Studio in Crieff
Produced by Johnston Media - https://johnstonmediapodcasts.co.uk
Hosted by Iain Johnston - Strathearn Stories
Guest - Nadia McNicol, founder of What the Sence

We sit down with Nadia McNicol, founder of What the Sence, to talk about why she would like to build a sensory and illusion activity centre in Crieff.


Imagine a place where a tough day can soften in minutes: a quiet room with gentle lights, a movement space with monkey bars, then a burst of wonder in an illusion gallery or a short VR adventure. That’s the heart of Nadia’s plan for What The Sense, a sensory and illusion activity centre in Crieff designed for children, teens, adults, and older people who need spaces that calm, delight, and include.

We talk through the lived experience that sparked the idea: raising two boys, one with microcephaly, and navigating outings that too often end in overwhelm, stares, and early exits. From there, the vision expands—multiple illusion rooms, an arcade and VR zone, a smaller dim sensory room for refuge, and a larger regulation room for climbing and jumping. The inclusive café and membership model aim to lower stress and cost for frequent visits while keeping families visible to one another across a sensory garden built for safe exploration. This isn’t a gimmick; it’s community wellbeing by design.

Support is growing fast. Local schools and NHS health visitors see clear benefits for mental and physical health. Media coverage has ranged from the Strathearn Herald to STV News, and the VR Collective in Houston highlighted the project’s global relevance. On the practical side, Perth and Kinross Council’s greenspace team is exploring off‑market sites, while private estate owners review a 101‑page business plan that maps feasibility, phasing, and sustainability. We also cover timelines, potential planning hurdles, and why a centre that works for neurodivergent people can make public life better for everyone—from overstretched parents to elders seeking gentle stimulation.

If this vision resonates, help us build momentum: share the episode, spread the word locally, and point us to land or partners who could unlock the next step. Subscribe, leave a review to boost the message, and tell us what your ideal sensory space would include.