In this episode, Katie speaks with Alex Dunkley - a writer, musician, and independent funeral celebrant – about creativity, courage, and the quiet power of ritual. Alex weaves all three aspects of her work in and alongside each other kaleidoscopically, and identifies as being AuDHD. Her work invites stories into the room—whether that's through song, ceremony, or the written word—exploring how narrative can hold space for grief, joy, and everything in between. She’s deeply fascinated by the stori...
Jun 24, 2025•58 min•Season 6Ep. 7
In this episode, Katie speaks with Juliet Bennett, to explore how wild swimming, coaching, and nature combine to create powerful, transformative experiences. From the clarity of lake water to coaching on windswept beaches, Juliet shares her journey into blue health, her love for cold water immersion, and how outdoor coaching is opening up new ways for people to find purpose, hope, and connection. "I added the word 'broken' to my brand because I needed people to know that there was space for them...
Jun 11, 2025•36 min
In this episode, Katie Treggiden speaks with Amy Wilson. Amy is an artistic and adventurous soul, wielding the epic powers of creativity daily at her studio, Acorn. She is passionate about creating brands, stories, and art in the world that shift paradigms and expand perspectives. Amy advocates for childlike play, the power of the imagination, Mother Earth, and the future - among other things! She is abstract, imperfect, free, and wildly creative. "I added the word 'broken' to my brand because I...
Apr 16, 2025•55 min
In this episode, Katie Treggiden speaks with Kirsty Tanner, a Scottish multi-disciplinary artist, designer and maker, living in Liverpool. She runs design studio Tom Pigeon alongside her personal practice working across paint, textiles and collage. Kirsty's childhood in rural Scotland meets her love of Modernist design and Brutalist architecture, combining abstract expressions of nature with strong architectural line and negative space. Kirsty has worked on collaborative collections with clients...
Apr 03, 2025•57 min
In this episode, Katie Treggiden speaks with Joanne Lamb, an Irish artist based in London, who creates delicate woven vessels inspired by nature and the Celtic Wheel of the Year. "I want each of the baskets to tell a story, they are imbued with a sense of time and place for me. The power of telling stories helps us connect with nature, event the earliest humans have done that." – Joanne Lamb What we cover: * Joanne's artistic process and how she creates delicate vessels that look " grown rather ...
Mar 19, 2025•45 min
In this episode of Brackish, Katie speaks with Agnes Becker, artist, science communicator, and creator of We Are Stardust, about bridging the gap between art and science, connecting with nature, and finding freedom in creative expression. Brackish is a term used to describe water that is a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, for example, where a river meets the sea. I first encountered it sitting in a boat in just such water and it immediately became one of my favourite words. I am fascinated b...
Feb 12, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Brackish is a term used to describe water that is a mixture of saltwater and freshwater, for example, where a river meets the sea. ‘I first encountered it sitting in a boat in just such water and it immediately became one of my favourite words. I am fascinated by intersections, liminal and littoral spaces, overlaps and interconnections, and I want to use this space to explore all of those things – the ideas that don’t fit into neat boxes. So, I’ll be exploring those things here – the places wher...
Jan 22, 2025•40 min
In this episode, Katie talks to Elle Bower Johnston. Elle (she/they) is a body witch. Their work is the alchemisation of breathwork, somatic, and rest practices with witchcraft and folk magic. She works with creatives, witches, queers, change-makers, weirdos - folks who might not necessarily feel like they belong in ‘wellness’ or ‘spiritual’ spaces - to help them get into deeper their relationship with their body and connect with their magic. Her work is queer- and trans-centred, trauma-consciou...
Aug 22, 2024•42 min
In this episode, Katie talks to Rosie Murphy. Rosie is a consummate communicator and connector. She is just one of a broad ecosystem of architectural workers uniting for greater social justice and environmental consciousness in all aspects of the built environment. She is an advocate for networks such as Black Females in Architecture, HomeGrown Plus and Architects Climate Action Network. Rosie's work is centred on youth engagement, creating creative opportunities and experiences for children and...
Aug 15, 2024•52 min
**This episode was originally an Instagram Live, so at the point of going live on the podcast, the rest challenge we talk about has already happened – however, the Making Design Circular Conference is happening on Thursday 05 September 2024 – find out more get your ticket for that HERE >>> ** In this episode, Katie talks to Jo Casey. Jo Casey is an Autistic and ADHD speaker and business coach who helps fellow quirky-brained entrepreneurs align their business strategies with their unique...
Aug 08, 2024•41 min
In this episode, Katie continues last week’s conversation with Tamu Thomas a renowned transformational life coach, dedicated to guiding women towards achieving work-life harmony by embracing holistic well-being practices that align with their nervous system. Katie & Tamu explore: The term ‘high-functioning freeze’ Defiant hope & rage Activism v Martyrdom And of course, the final quick fire round of season 4! You can connect with Tamu here Website: https://www.livethreesixty.com/ and http...
Dec 14, 2023•35 min
In this episode, Katie talks to Tamu Thomas a renowned transformational life coach and the author of "Women Who Work Too Much: Break Free from Toxic Productivity and Find Your Joy." She is dedicated to guiding women towards achieving work-life harmony by embracing holistic well-being practices that align with their nervous system. Tamu's groundbreaking book sheds light on the systemic pressures that force women into a cycle of over-functioning, often leading to significant workplace stress and a...
Dec 07, 2023•1 hr 5 min
In this episode, Katie talks to Lucy Hawthorne. Lucy is a campaigner at heart and Founder of Climate Play . Through play-based training and facilitation for adults, she helps make it safe, light and fun for people to face climate change. Combining a lot of LEGO with climate psychology, she creates conversation on the topic that teams actually want to have, rather than only feel like they should. Her serious play approach helps people to engage more honestly, deeply and creatively, identifying wa...
Nov 08, 2023•41 min
In this episode, Katie talks to Ella Wiles and Andres Roberts from The Bio-Leadership Project. The Bio-Leadership Project’s mission is to change the story of leadership by working with nature. A movement of people and organisations, changing human systems to be more resilient, regenerative, and designed to protect our planet. Bio-Leadership is about challenging an outdated story of progress, about building organisations and communities that protect and replenish our world. Most importantly, it i...
Nov 01, 2023•51 min
In this episode, Katie digs into one part of her Making Design Circular framework, the methodology that underpins everything she does. She talks about walk, and walk is short for walk, don't run. It is this idea that you don't have to do everything all at once you can take things step by step. And to support you doing that she has developed a path to sustainability, taking of all the things you could possibly do and put them into an order. By the end of this episode, you will be able to work out...
Oct 25, 2023•34 min
In this episode, Katie talks to Tom Curran, a World Leading Expert on Perfectionism. With an eye on politics, economics, and society, he takes a cultural lens to the study of perfectionism. His work is groundbreaking and has uncovered a frightening trend of young people breaking under the strain of perfectionistic pressures. Tom brings perfectionism to life and makes it relevant and understandable to the widest audiences. He is a TED speaker and Thought Leader, a regular contributor to high-prof...
Oct 18, 2023•46 min
This week Katie is doing something a little different. As you may have heard her mentioned in the previous episode, her latest book, Broken: Mending and repair in a throwaway world came out in April of this year, and she will be reading you the wonderfully. Thought-provoking introduction to give you a flavour of the book. Here are some highlights: Making a statement “Although any form of mending or repair could be seen as a form of activism in today's single use culture, many of today's artists,...
Oct 11, 2023•15 min
In this episode, Katie talks to Minnie Moll, Chief Executive at the Design Council. Minnie spent years in innovation, design, advertising and brand consultancy. She was Managing Partner of HHCL, the ‘Advertising Agency of the decade’ and then Global Marketing Director of Innovation company? What If!, which won Great Place to Work Institute’s ‘Best Place to Work in the UK’ two years running. Minnie was voted Vistage UK Business Leader of the Year in 2020. Always a purpose driven business leader, ...
Oct 04, 2023•50 min
In this episode, Katie is joined by Laura Eigel PhD, the founder of The Catch Group , a leadership coaching firm accelerating women into the C-suite, and the host of the You Belong in the C-Suite podcast. Known for her direct feedback and her passion for living a life guided by her values, she has been an HR executive at Fortune 50 companies, joined the C-suite as a Chief Learning Officer, and now coaches high-achieving women to build fulfilling lives inside and outside of the boardroom. She's a...
Mar 29, 2023•1 hr 2 min
In this episode, Katie talks about Define, another element of the Making Design Circular framework, this is all about working out your niche, your unique contribution to environmentalism, and letting go of the idea that you have to save the planet single-handedly. Here are some highlights: The Starfish Story “…this particular story is about a little girl who is walking on the beach, and there's been a big storm. And lots and lots of starfish have been thrown up onto the beach after this storm, a...
Mar 22, 2023•28 min
In this episode, Katie talks to Ray Dodd a Money Coach who helps those who have traditionally been excluded from making money, to make life-changing amounts of money. All without compromising who they are. If you’re hearing the term ‘money coach’ and wincing a little – imagining fluffy talk of manifesting millions in your sleep, – prepare to have your fears soothed – because you’re in for a treat. Ray is a money coach with a difference. You won’t hear ‘think good thoughts and watch the money com...
Mar 15, 2023•1 hr 11 min
In this episode, Katie explores another of the pillars of the making design circular framework – Believe. The idea that we need to bring about change and that we need to believe that it's possible, but as ever it’s easier said than done. Maintaining hope, and believing that we can sort all this out, is the work. It’s one of the hardest things we have to do as environmentalists so Katie is diving into how to maintain that stubborn optimism, how to cultivate hope in the face of the climate crisis ...
Mar 08, 2023•29 min
In this episode, Katie talks about perfectionism, about: Liberating yourself from perfectionism, the second part of the first pillar of the MDC framework Her personal journey with perfectionism including publishing her first foray into the online learning and recording a podcast The idea of toxic professionalism – the sense that any deviation from a white, straight, cis, tall, able-body bodied man in a suit is seen as unprofessional – and the similarities between this and perfectionism – the sen...
Feb 22, 2023•24 min
[Trigger Warning: Matt mentions female genital mutilation (FMG) in this episode, so listener discretion is advised.] In this episode, Katie talks with Matt Hocking from Leap.eco, an award-winning design studio who has proven it’s possible to create inspiring work which delivers positive outcomes for people, planet and profit. He has been passionate about working sustainably since long before it was cool. Every project he’s delivered doesn’t just meet a client’s business goals, it helps make the ...
Feb 15, 2023•52 min
In this episode, Katie talks about the idea of absolving yourself from guilt. The climate crisis is not your fault, but it is your responsibility, and you have an incredible opportunity to bring about change. Katie talks about: The idea of absolving yourself of the guilt that comes with the climate crisis How the energy industry has not only contributed the vast majority of the carbon in the atmosphere, but has also worked really hard to curb regulations and undermine public understanding of cli...
Feb 08, 2023•16 min
In this episode, Katie talks with Sarah Fox a coach and mentor helping organisations and individuals who are motivated to do good and do well, being drivers of positive social change. Sarah’s mission is to help people who care about the world to live a life of fulfilment, a life that is truly well lived, meaningful, purposeful and creative. We discuss: Sarah’s strive to always do good and her journey with ‘kindness’ What is means to be good, not just to the natural world but to ourselves. Sarah’...
Feb 01, 2023•56 min
We’re kicking off with Katie guiding us through her Making Design Circular Framework, all based around the goal to “rewild your creative practice, so that you, your business, and the planet can thrive”, and you can find the image Katie promised HERE . (It turns out you can’t add images directly to show-notes!) We discuss: The 3 distinct areas of the framework, Release, Plant and Grow Absolving yourself from guilt about the climate crisis and the things you were doing right or wrong when it comes...
Feb 01, 2023•27 min
Do we always need to mend? How can mending help to nudge us towards significant behaviour shifts? What are the materials innovations that might help? Are there self-healing materials – or even self-destructing materials? In this bonus episode, I’m leading a panel discussion with TOAST, including amazing insights from Seetal Solanki, Tom van Deijnen, Celia Pym and Bonnie Kemske. We discuss: - The art of kintsugi and what it means within Japanese culture. - The fine line between repairing invented...
Aug 24, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Is there a trade-off between affordability and disposability? Can we go back to a mindset of mending and repair, without pricing ourselves out? How do we overcome the objections of time, money and skillset to get more people involved in this movement? On today’s episode, I’m talking to Tom van Deijnen – a self-taught textiles practitioner, founder of The Visible Mending Programme, and a volunteer at the Brighton Repair Café. He says that he likes ‘doing things that take forever’ because that slo...
Aug 17, 2021•50 min
How does conservation differ from repair? How is it similar? How have the tenets and ideas of best practice with conservation changed over time? On today’s episode, I’m talking to Lauren Chang, a textile specialist, who spins, dyes, weaves, and writes about textiles on her website interstitial-spaces.com . She holds a B.A. in Art and Archaeology from Princeton University and an MA in Textile Conservation from the Textile Conservation Centre in the United Kingdom. Lauren worked as a textile conse...
Aug 10, 2021•56 min
