Award-winning Welsh language mental health podcast back for second series

An award-winning Welsh language mental health podcast is coming back for second series.

Dewr (Brave), which won the Gold Award in the Best Podcast in the Welsh language category at the British Podcast Awards over the weekend, is going to feature on BBC Sounds in September.

The podcast is presented by singer and actress, Tara Bethan, and came to life at the beginning of the pandemic.

She collaborated with her friend, Llinos Manon Williams, to create an honest podcast about life’s challenges and mental health in the Welsh language.

It featured some of Wales’ most famous voices as they discuss some of their most challenging and happy life experiences.

The first series heard from contributors including the radio personality Hywel Gwynfryn, renowned harpist Catrin Finch and author Manon Steffan Ross.

‘So happy’

“I’m so, so happy that BBC Sounds have offered us a second series. When my friend, Llinos Manon, and I started working on the first series of Dewr, with support from the Arts Council of Wales, we had no idea what the reaction would be like,” Tara said.

“As Welsh people, we’re not a nation that naturally wants to talk about our personal lives, let alone our mental health – so the both of us were shocked by the positive support we received.

“So many listeners have been in touch to thank us and to share their own experiences after relating to the experiences shared by our wonderful guests.

“We had over 20k hits and now the prestige of winning the Best Podcast in the Welsh language at the British Podcast Awards. It’s nuts!”

“Mental health is something I’ve personally struggled with over the years, but it feels like an honour, a relief and a complete pleasure to turn my lifelong challenge into positive conversations that has not only helped many but has also been an education for Llinos and myself.

“Our ambition for the second series, as we did in the first, is to bring our listeners more amazing, honest and fun chats and I’m sure we’ll have a lot of tears and laughter along the way this year.”

Gruffudd Pritchard, Content Editor for Cymru Fyw said: “Dewr made a huge impact on many of us during 2020 and I’m thrilled that Tara and her guests will make their new home on BBC Sounds.

“I hope we’ll help this important podcast grow and develop and that a new audience will find Dewr.