Cumbria’s mountain whiz kid is set to launch his very own podcast.
Hosted by Frankie McMillan, age nine, of Gosforth, the first episode of the Frankie Moves the Mountains podcast will release next Thursday, December 18.
Inspired by Frankie’s own epic adventures and fundraising efforts, the podcast will see him chat with Cumbrian guests who move all kinds of mountains, whether it be actually climbing them or moving them in a different way.
The youngster has previously tackled over 700 mountains including Everest Base Camp and Mount Olympus all in the name of inspiring others and raising money for charity.
Next year, Frankie will also be climbing the 10 highest mountains in the Balkans in just five weeks over summer, on a mission to raise a whopping £50,000 for charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, inspired by Frankie’s good friend Xander, who is living with a heart condition.
Frankie’s often record-breaking adventures have put him on a national stage and as a result he has won awards and spoken at outdoor expos alongside the likes of TV adventurer Ben Fogle.
His new podcast is being supported and produced by the Assa Colours podcast project run by Proud and Diverse Cumbria, working in collaboration with the Cumbrian Assa Marra podcast.
Frankie is one of six young people the project is giving the chance to create their own podcast free of charge, including full training for 12 months, funded by project sponsor Axiom Consortium.
It is being filmed and recorded in Whitehaven’s new podcasting studio, which opened earlier this year in the Colours Hub, run by Proud and Diverse Cumbria.
Frankie’s mum Basia said the idea for the podcast first came up after Frankie was invited to appear as a guest on the Assa Marra podcast.
She said: “Originally Frankie was invited to be a guest for Catherine Williamson on the Assa Marra podcast, which is all about special and extraordinary people from West Cumbria.
“She did a podcast episode with Frankie and that will be coming out before Christmas, but she was so taken with him and his story and the fact that he is a chatterbox, that she told us about the Assa Colours project.
“So it was a great surprise, Frankie is normally other side of microphone!”
Frankie’s first podcast episode will see him chat with Richard Warren OBE, who has spent almost 40 years volunteering for mountain rescue in a variety of roles.
Basia added: “We recorded the first two episodes on December 5, so we will have Richard open the first podcast and then Frankie has also spoken with marathon man Gary McKee.
“That will be coming out in January, because he is doing his 100 marathons challenge starting in January. We also have more recordings to come so we’ll also be speaking with Wasdale hero Lindsay Buck.
“But Frankie will also be asking each guest four specific questions about their personal life and past as part of the podcast, so things you wouldn’t normally hear about, so it’ll be nice to hear that side of each guest.
“He is also inviting his friend Xander to the podcast, who is the reason behind his latest fundraising for Cardiac Risk in the Young.
“We’re planning to do one episode a month for now, but if it’s very successful we might do two.
“But we’re really excited for it to come out and it will come out on the same day as his Assa Marra podcast will come out, so it will be great to see the role change on each side of the table!”
Basia said Frankie has enjoyed recording the podcast episodes so far – but was a little star struck at first while chatting with Gary Mckee.
She added: “Funnily enough, Frankie was really really nervous to chat with Gary because he has always really admired and looked up to him, but he did really enjoy it in the end, which is all that matters.
“We have to remember that he is only nine years old! Just sitting in a small room alone with a local celebrity with cameras and microphones around would be difficult for many adults, never mind a child.
“And then he had to engage them in conversation! He did so well and was very brave taking it all in.”
The first episode of the Frankie Moves the Mountains podcast will be out next week on Thursday December 18.
It will be available on both Spotify and YouTube.
You can also support Frankie’s CRY fundraising challenge by donating here.
Frankie’s 10 peak challenge next year will also form part of his wider goal to climb every highest peak in every European country which if he were to complete, would see him set a world record as the youngest person to do so.
Anyone able to offer support, advice, grants or funding to help Frankie take on his challenge can get in touch via his Facebook page, Frankie Moves The Mountains.
