Join Joel

Mel is the creator behind Off The Cuff With Mel, a social media platform sharing honest and unfiltered conversations about the UK prison system. A former prison officer, Mel draws on her own experience working inside prisons to give audiences a different perspective on life behind bars, speaking openly about prisoners, rehabilitation and the realities of the prison service. Through her TikTok, YouTube and other social channels, Mel has built a growing audience by challenging perceptions, sharing real stories and encouraging conversations around the people and issues within the criminal justice system.

Beth Heath is the Creative Director of award-winning events company Shropshire Festivals and marketing agency Shropshire ThinkTank. With over 30 years of experience across events, hospitality, tourism and marketing, Beth has built Shropshire Festivals into a hugely successful business, attracting more than 90,000 visitors to the county each year through events including Shrewsbury Food Festival, Shropshire Oktoberfest and Shropshire Petal Fields. A passionate advocate for Shropshire, Beth is known for her creativity, energy and commitment to supporting local businesses and putting the region firmly on the map.

Rich Foster is the Founder of STROM Sports Nutrition, a UK sports nutrition brand built around his passion for training, performance and bodybuilding. With a background competing in strongman, powerlifting and bodybuilding, Rich has combined his experience as an athlete with his expertise as a Level 5 Accredited Advanced Sports & Exercise Nutritional Advisor to develop STROM’s range of products. Known for his straight-talking approach and passion for sports nutrition, Rich has built STROM into a recognised brand within the fitness and bodybuilding community.

Pete Sims is the Founder and Director of 7video, an award-winning video production company based in Shrewsbury. Founded in 2007, Pete has built 7video from a one-man operation into a growing creative team delivering film, animation, drone, timelapse and digital content for businesses across the UK and beyond. With a background in documentary filmmaking, Pete is passionate about visual storytelling and helping businesses bring their ideas, people and stories to life through video.

Rod Plummer is the Founder and Managing Director of Shoothill, an award-winning software development company based in Shrewsbury. With decades of experience in technology and digital innovation, Rod has helped organisations across the public and private sectors solve complex challenges through bespoke software, data-driven solutions and mobile applications. An entrepreneur at heart, he's passionate about using technology to improve everyday life, championing innovation, and supporting the local business community through his work as both a business leader and trustee.

We are back with another Join Joel podcast and this time we are joined with Laura from Marshall harmony, Laura Davies is the Founder and Managing Director of Marshall Harmony, a specialist recruitment consultancy focused on the manufacturing and engineering sectors. With over 26 years of recruitment experience, Laura is known for her honest, relationship-led approach to helping businesses find and retain the right people. She's a passionate advocate for ethical recruitment, a regular voice on the UK's manufacturing skills shortage.

In the first episode of Join Joel, We sit down with Dr Rachael Ironside to explore the power of storytelling, folklore and heritage in shaping communities and places.
From supernatural legends and dark tourism to placemaking and visitor experiences, Racheal shares insights from her research and discusses why stories remain one of society's most valuable tools for connection, identity and understanding, and how it translates into heritage and tourism attractions.
A fascinating conversation about culture, community and the stories that influence the world around us.