
Show Notes
Karen talks to the wonderful Nicola Glencross. Glencross, also known as Nikki Storm, is a professional wrestler and historian working on capturing women wrestler's stories. The project explores American women’s sports history and popular culture, and utilises oral history testimony.
Currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Edinburgh, Nicola Glencross is a former World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) women and tag team champion. Alongside her academic career, Nicola travels and works around the world as her professional wrestling alter ego Nikki Storm.
Beginning her journey in hometown of Glasgow, Scotland, Nikki spent eight years honing her craft, wrestling across the UK, Ireland, Europe, Japan and North America. In 2016, she moved to America after being signed to the WWE where she competed for 10 years on television, playing various characters such as Nikki Cross, Abby the Witch and Nikki ASH.
Throughout her WWE career, she continued with her academic journey, graduating with an MSc in History at the University of Edinburgh in 2023. She also completed courses in American, Art and Women’s history from Seminole State college in Florida (2017-2019). Shortly following her exit from WWE, the world stood up and took notice as Nikki and her husband Big Damo (formerly Killian Dain in WWE) took over the reigns at PROGRESS Wrestling in May 2026.Founded in 2012, and as one of the premier companies in Europe, PROGRESS is now in the hands of active wrestlers for the first time ever. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Round the Studios
On this episode, Karen talks to Dr Cat Dunn. Cat is an amazing curator who has put on several shows which use contemporary artists to explore the themes of migration, identity, memory and Blackness in relation to the landscape and built environment. She has worked in collaboration with Historic Environment Scotland, The University of Edinburgh and Glasgow Sculpture Studios.
In this episode, Karen explores radical Glasgow with Historian and Tour Guide Katherine MacKinnon. Bonding over their love of the Vicky Road Oxfam Book shop, they talk about some of the key figures in the city's radical history including Agnes and Patrick Dollan, John S. Clarke and John McLean. We also chat about the changing skyline of the city, lion taming, the mural trail and how there are actually more notable Glaswegians than just Billy Connelly!
Want to find out who 'Stanny' is? If so, listen to Karen talk to independent art advisor James McNaught talk about the Glasgow Girls, exhibitions and the art market. They talk about their favourite 'Glasgow Girl', a term which was bestowed on a group of artists and designers who were working and producing in Glasgow from around 1880.Jessie M.King, Norah Neilson Gray and De Courcy Lewthwaite Dewar all get a mention.
Welcome back to Season 2 of 'Round the Studios: Scottish History from a different perspective'. In episode 1, Karen talks to her lifelong friend (they have known each other since they were 4 years old) the ceramicist and all round legend, Dr Maria Di Mario.*
Join Karen as she talks to Irish artist and researcher Aoife Cawley at her Edinburgh based studio. We talk about Aoife's influences, use of colour, archives and dirty books! This is part one of a two part episode because we had so much fun chatting. This is part 2 of the interview. If you have not listened to part 1, I'd suggest going back and listening to it so you know what we are going on about!