On 2nd September 2025, Strathnaver Museum launches a new podcast series called ‘Highlands Reimagined’.
The podcast was commissioned by Strathnaver Museum, is produced by Anya Media and published in partnership with the Wild for Scotland podcast.
The ‘Highlands Reimagined’ podcast explores why young people leave northwest Sutherland and what will encourage them to build their futures in the region. It features interviews with students from Farr High School, local entrepreneurs and remote workers across three thirty-minute episodes.
Using objects in the museum collection, the young people explore the age-old problem of Highland depopulation and outward economic migration. Through interviews with national and regional representatives from government, agencies and community organisations, the young people discuss their hopes and fears for their future as part of their Highland community.
The podcast emerged from Will Sadler’s successful 2024 Artist in Residence project with Strathnaver Museum, where he used objects in the museum collection to explore issues relevant to Highland communities today. The Artist Residency Programme has been part funded by Museums Galleries Scotland, The William Syson Foundation, the Children’s and Young People’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund, and has received £5,755 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Fiona Mackenzie, Strathnaver Museum manager, explains: “We have many fascinating objects in our collection which can help us explore and understand issues which affect us today. We are incredibly excited about the launch of ‘Highlands Reimagined’ which provides a vehicle for our young people to share their hopes and concerns for their future within their Highland community.”
Will Sadler, the podcast’s producer says: “This podcast explores the differences between the picture-postcard Highlands of my childhood holidays and the complex reality of growing up there. The goal isn’t to dismiss an appreciation for Scotland’s natural beauty, but to enrich it by revealing the nuances of life in one of Western Europe’s most sparsely populated areas as it faces ongoing population challenges. Fundamentally, I hope the show encourages us all to consider what role we play in helping to build a more resilient future for this beautiful place.”
Kathi Kamleitner, co-producer of the Wild for Scotland travel podcast, notes: “The northern Highlands are often presented as a ‘wild’ and rugged landscape to be enjoyed by tourists seeking vastness and space. But it’s important not to lose sight of the people who call these landscapes their home. ‘Highlands Reimagined’ paints a complex picture of modern life in the Highlands and centres the lived experiences that often get omitted in favour of a romanticised landscape.
To find out more visit highlandsreimagined.com