Episode 93: Reimagining the Highlands with Will Sadler & Fiona Mackenzie
Hear the story of how Will Sadler produced a podcast series about the lives of (young) people in the northern Highlands.
“Highlands Reimagined” asked young people in the far north of Scotland what makes them want to build their adult lives there, and what might hinder them from doing so. We heard about the lack of job opportunities and affordable housing, but also how these contemporary issues tie in with historic events like the Highland Clearances.
Join me for a conversation with podcast producer Will Sadler about his work on the “Highlands Reimagined” series. Will explains his process of making a show about life in the Highlands and how his work was inspired by the young people featured on the show. We explore differences and parallels to other rural and urban areas around the world, and discuss how he struck a balance between telling the story as it is without falling into hopelessness in the face of these huge societal issues.
We are joined by Fiona Mackenzie, manager of the Strathnaver Museum in Bettyhill, who commissioned the podcast series through their artist residency programme. Fiona shares her insight as a local Highlander, and even answers the age-old question I get asked all the time, when I’m on tour: what do people in the Highlands do for work?
This conversation is inspired by the 3-part “Highlands Reimagined” series, which we featured on Wild for Scotland in September 2025. If you haven’t done so yet, it makes sense to listen to the series first (you can do so here), before listening to my chat with Will and Fiona.
In this conversation we cover:
- The making of the “Highlands Reimagined” series,
- How and why Strathnaver Museum works with artists and podcasters,
- How to remain hopeful in the face of huge societal issues,
- The surprising parallels between rural areas and inner-city districts,
- The role of tourism in the northern Highlands,
- What tourists specifically can learn from the series,
- and much more!
Disclaimer: All information provided in this podcast is based on personal travel experiences. Companies mentioned in the story or tips were active at the time of release. If you listen to episodes at a later point, note that this information may have changed in the meantime.
