Other clubs can't believe or understand why Sunderland and Newcastle as footy clubs mean so much to the fans and the cities. They spur each other on as clubs and fans; a massive derby, a massive rivalry.

Middlesborough fans are also passionate and loyal, but they're on a level below the Sunderland/Newcastle derby - which is no disgrace, given Sunderland and Newcastle have perhaps the best rivalry in the whole world.

In this episode of Word on Wearside, join us as we explore the three teams behind this 'North East Passion'.

The team behind this episode:

• Josh Bell
• Tom Kelly-Hansford
• Josh Metcalfe

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.

Is men's mental health in crisis? We explore the unspoken topics and discover why men won't talk about their mental health. We are joined by Michael Chapplow, who provides expert advice and opinion on the topic from his experience as a worker at mental health charity Andy's Man Club.

Trigger Warning: Please be aware that this episode of Word on Wearside involves discussing men's mental health and suicide.

The team behind this episode:

• Will Jeffries
• Jamie Leadbitter
• James Young

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.

With the 2024 January transfer window creeping ever closer, join Callum, Dom, Liam, and local journalist Daniel Wills, as we discuss what's ahead for the upcoming season.

The team behind this episode:

• Callum Close
• Dom Frank
• Liam Rafferty

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland.

On this episode, Joseph Hannen, Dylan Richardson and Josh Kirtley discuss potential areas for Newcastle United to improve on in the upcoming transfer window, with an exclusive interview with up-and-coming Newcastle reporter Joel Bland. 

In light of the ten month ban for former midfielder Sandro Tonali, who admitted to allegations of illegal gambling, this position is a priority for Newcastle to fill. But who could replace him, and how will this shift affect the lineup?

The team behind this episode:

• Joe Hannen
• Josh Kirtley
• Dylan Richardson

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.

As the use of A.I. rises, young designers are becoming more and more nervous about their jobs and their futures. Could this be even tougher for us northerners?

We have spoken to two people in the industry to help us find out if A.I. really impacts emerging designers in the North East, and how we can future-proof ourselves in this changing industry.

The team behind this episode:

• Lucy Baker
• Maddy Ciaraldi
• Maia Olusanya
• Jessica Thompson

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.

A multi-national episode, as representatives from England (Jack), Germany (Annika), and Albania (Marlind) discuss their countries' chances at the summer's Euro tournament.

With analysis from BBC's Guy Mowbray, and The Athletic's Seb Stafford-Bloor.

The team behind this episode:

• Jack Austwicke
• Annika Böttcher
• Marlind Ymeri

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.

Whether it’s a gory slasher, or a suspenseful thriller, the world of horror is as varied as it is terrifying.  And, with a constant stream of films produced, it can be difficult to find the choicest cuts.

There are podcasts out there showcasing the highest quality horror, as well as new releases; they’re well-made, well-informed productions, by professional horror fans.

But this is not that, and we are not professionals. This is not new, this is not good, this is the worst of the worst - the bottom of the bargain bin - that is schlocky, goofy, just plain stupid horror.

We’ve got three awful nasties on the skewer for you today, and, let me tell you, they were suffering. If we never watch these movies again, good, because they’re terrible: Zombeavers, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, and Killer Sofa.

And for more insight, we’ve partnered with Sunderland-based horror filmmaker and YouTube video-essayist Dan Drambles.

Trigger Warning: The subject matter in the films discussed is considered explicit. Listeners sensitive to topics such as violence, swearing, gore, or nudity should be advised to take precaution.

The team behind this episode:

• Declan McCourt
• Divine Njoume
• William Pollock

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.

Racism has always been a problem in football, however in recent years there has been a rise in racially motivated incidents.

In this episode of Word on Wearside, we speak about the problem, the impact it has, and the Sunderland based charity Show Racism the Red Card, who are fighting to put an end to racism in football.

Content Warning: Please be aware that this episode contains frequent reference to racial abuse and other racially sensitive content. Listener discretion is advised.

The team behind this episode:

• Paul Hughes
• Tom Nichols

Word on Wearside is a Spark Sunderland podcast, produced by journalism students at the University of Sunderland. With teaching supervision by Lecturer in Audio, Jay Sykes.