It feels that within the creative industries there is an audible sigh of exhaustion, of weariness, of disturbed momentum, of uncertainty. So, in this collection of conversations, we are going to discuss ideas, approaches and temperaments that could act an antidote to this. I have approached those who have reimagined an industry, a material, an approach to doing things as I hope that this will bring some energy, fresh ideas and confidence to the fore. Today’s guest is just the caffeine fix we all...
Nov 29, 2022•53 min
In this episode we face up to a complex, emotive and sadly ubiquitous challenge: copying. To my mind this is a heady mix of principle and pragmatism, the creative life and commercial reality. The fact is that copying is an inherent part of the pursuit of creativity. Imitation is how we learn and we are all searching for inspiration hoping to excavate our way to something extraordinary and, frankly, something saleable. And yet we require limits, restrictions and processes to marshal true original...
Sep 07, 2022•58 min
Welcome to Episode 62 and a rather special follow up episode. Back in November 2020, I had the pleasure of speaking with Alexandra Dauley and Sophie Ashby co-founders of United in Design. United in Design is a charitable project working to tackle the lack of diversity in the design industries. The conversation that we had was honest and moving. It was focused on practical action. It was about hope. And today we see hope realised in that we are joined by Christine Omorere and Roshu Shreshtha. The...
Jun 21, 2022•32 min
Welcome to Episode 61 and a topic I am delighted to be discussing - how to build on success. Too often preoccupied with what could go wrong, we rarely openly discuss “what could go right”? How does success impact us? Does it offer freedom or pressure? How do we sustain it? Far from an air of arrogance, for me building on success is the antidote to a burnout culture that celebrates one hit wonders and unsustainable creative and business practices. Taking the long view, building something that las...
Jun 08, 2022•46 min
In this spring-time cluster of episodes, I look to the great outdoors, to gardens, garden design, landscaping and all things green and, in particular, that great institution Chelsea Flower Show. The show is a place to luxuriate in the great garden renaissance of the 2020s and to explore current themes, preoccupations and narratives. For this episode, we are joined by garden designer and writer Tabi Jackson-Gee. She writes for a plethora of publications and I particularly enjoy her articles for t...
May 25, 2022•35 min
In these spring-time episodes, I look to the great outdoors, to gardens, garden design, landscaping and, in particular, that great institution Chelsea Flower show. Far from its past reputation as a little ‘fuddy duddy’, Chelsea is now a place to luxuriate in the great garden renaissance of the 2020s. It is an opportunity to explore current themes, preoccupations and meanings found within the natural world and how we experience it. In this episode I am joined by Lottie Delamain. She is one of the...
May 18, 2022•47 min
You might be forgiven for thinking that you've downloaded an episode of Elizabeth Day's How to Fail when you hear the story of this episode. I had the honour of interviewing Taymoor Atighetchi, founder of Papier, some weeks ago over Zoom. I'll be honest. I made a huge mistake. I failed to press record. It was a horrifying realisation. By some miracle Taymoor's PR team had recorded the call. However the quality isn't perfect. But the lesson I learnt is. The consequence of my conversation with Tay...
May 11, 2022•41 min
Welcome to the latest episode in our Start Series. Today we Start with the Classics with Emily Campbell of nightwear brand If Only If. For me a classic is something timeless, of quality, of influence, an outstanding example that for reasons not always easy to articulate stands apart. A classic may come in and out of the limelight, be refreshed and reimagined, but they remain. Examples are numerous and personal. My list is long and includes, without doubt, the nightdress. I consider Emily Campbel...
May 04, 2022•57 min
Welcome to the latest episode in our Start Series. In this episode we consider, Start A Partnership. And we do so with a very special pair indeed - Lori de Mori and Laura Jackson of Towpath. Towpath is that rare thing these days. It is a discovery. Nestled in four kiosks on Regent's Canal, the shutters open in Spring to reveal a warmth, an intimacy. They offer great food, drink and conversation. Their cookbook - sharing recipes and stories - is a little window into their magical world and, impor...
Apr 27, 2022•54 min
Welcome to the latest episode in the Start Series. Today, Start A Creative Life Outside London. It seems to me that creatives, creative endeavour, creative projects and workspaces have shifted to the length and breadth of the nation thanks, I presume, to the pandemic. Whilst London is a world famous centre for the full range of creative industries, it has been refreshing to see those outside London thriving. And thriving is exactly the word to describe our guests today. Jeremy and Cath Brown are...
Apr 20, 2022•46 min
Welcome to the second part of our special two-part series looking at the Museum of the Home. Twig Hutchinson is back to co-host and we recorded the episode overlooking the beautiful gardens of the museum. On the day of the Yard Sale they were teeming with stalls, treasures and conversation. Twig and I are acutely aware of all that is going on in the world, of the precarious and precious nature of home. If Covid has us counting our blessings, the situation in Ukraine has us cherishing our freedom...
Mar 23, 2022•1 hr 21 min
Home means something, something significant, to all of us. This episode is different and a bit special. It is the first of a two part series focusing on the Museum of the Home. You will hear all about the Museum itself, the Behind the Door campaign supporting London's homeless women and families and the Yard Sale that the Museum is holding on 12 March to raise both funds and awareness. The episode was recorded in the beautiful Plain English kitchen at the Museum in amongst the hustle and bustle ...
Mar 03, 2022•1 hr 1 min
As we find ourselves heading into another strange Christmas, I wanted to find someone with a bit of festive cheer for you. And so, a festive tipple is on the agenda! I have, by good luck, managed to combine it with one of my favourite topics: the family business. It’s been on my list for a long time and I am delighted to have the founders of Kuda Cocktails join me to discuss it. Kuda Cocktails was founded by a Trinidadian mother-daughters team last year. We are lucky enough to have two out of th...
Dec 16, 2021•41 min
Welcome to the latest episode in the START series. Today we have Rowena Morgan-Cox founder of Palefire. We are going to consider 'Start Something New'. Over the last few years, the number of people registering new business has increased dramatically In March 2021, more new businesses were created that month than any other month since HMRC records began in 1989. Or put another way, in the first half of 2021, nearly 80 new businesses were registered each hour according to Companies House. This wav...
Dec 12, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Welcome to the latest episode in our series Start. Today is Start Your Own Approach and to explore that topic, both in style and substance, we have Georgia Dant founder of Marfa Stance. Marfa Stance is a clothing brand with a distinctive aesthetic that creates timeless designs providing not just life long quality but versatility too. They invite their customers into the design process by offering variety, layering and potential. Frankly, it's worth ushering in winter to be able to envelope yours...
Dec 05, 2021•57 min
Welcome to the first episode in the new series entitled START. The topic is Start Your Own Projects and our guest is the incredibly talented still life photographer, Kate Friend. It seems to me that it is very easy to become focused entirely on commission based work, bringing a client’s vision and expectations to life. Working on your own passion projects, side hustles, ideas and vision is crucial to keeping your creativity at its best. It also gives the greatest opportunity for progression, dev...
Nov 29, 2021•1 hr 4 min
In this episode we have a little extra end of summertime treat ahead of the new series starting later in the autumn. My guest is Chow Mezger of Jude's Ice Cream and we explore the deceptive simplicity of a tub of vanilla ice cream. I have long wanted Jude's to come on the podcast because I feel that the story of Jude's touches on so many interesting and important topics - acting on idea later in life, running a family business, what it means to be a British brand, taking the long view, being car...
Sep 09, 2021•1 hr 5 min
Welcome to Episode Six of the Perseverance Series. We all know wonderful people who can tell a great story - the perfect person to sit next to at dinner. They can make a story about getting on a ferry, going to the supermarket or attending parents evening incredibly funny or they can bring a place, a meal or a culture to life in very few words. The same is true of brands and businesses. There are those who can draw us in to their narrative, their vision and so much so that we want to be a part o...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 1 min
Welcome to Episode Five in this latest series entitled Perseverance. In May 2020, The Craft Council produced an extensive report on the Market For Craft (it is certainly worth a read). They reported on a new generation of craft makers and consumers - I couldn't agree more! A renewed respect for technique, the digital age and a desire for experience over transaction have all played their part in bringing craft and making back to the fore. If you are looking for a masterclass in traditional craft,...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 9 min
Welcome to the latest in the series on perseverance - whatever creative industry you are in or whatever stage your career is at, whether you are starting up or scaling up, perseverance is the name of the game. And in this episode we are going to delve into 'persevering with your values'. If you have worked with me, you'll know about y frankly obsessive preoccupation with values. That might be defining them, refining them, nurturing them, communicating them, protecting them and, to be honest, jus...
Feb 24, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Welcome to Episode Three in our series on Perseverance. In this episode, we explore 'Persevere with Performance'. I know that the performing arts have been woefully under-represented on this podcast as they aren't, in the traditional sense, 'entrepreneurial'. But in fact, I think that we have a great deal to learn from those who dedicate themselves to performance especially in a pandemic. Our guest is Xander Parish. He is the first Western Principal Ballet Dancer at the Mariinsky Theatre in St P...
Feb 17, 2021•49 min
Welcome to Episode Two in our series entitled “Perseverance”. Atelier Ellis make quiet, beautiful handmade paint to help you tell the story of your home. Founder Cassandra Ellis, is queen of the understated, the considered, the cocooning. It is apparently effortless and deeply atmospheric. Even the hand-painted paint chart is thing of beauty. She advises her customers to ‘tune out the noise’ of what is in vogue, fashionable, everywhere else and instead asks us all to tell our own story. I think ...
Dec 14, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Welcome to our new podcast series entitled ‘Perseverance’. It seems to me that is what we are all going to have to focus on as we head into 2021. And we are starting at a great place, ‘Persevere with Your Passions’. We are all going to need to do this and to inspire and encourage us is cookery author, Skye McAlpine. I have often admired Skye’s wonderful kitchen creations, marvelling at how she manages to turn something quite simple into a feast. Whether in Venice or London, lunch in a heatwave o...
Dec 07, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Welcome to the final episode in our series on Hope. Now, we haven’t given up hope completely! On the contrary, I wanted to end the series with the episode that I felt was the most hopeful of all. My hope is that this episode lifts the spirits and moves us all to action. This episode is The Hope of Change with Alexandria Dauley and Sophie Ashby of United in Design. United in Design is a charitable organisation set up to address the lack of diversity within the design industry. If the last six mon...
Nov 05, 2020•58 min
Welcome to Episode Ten in our series on Hope. For quite some time I have wanted to have some more established entrepreneurs on the podcast. And you are in for a treat today. Meri Meri is an international lifestyle brand for party, home and play. To be honest, a party isn’t a party in our house with some Meri Meri! Their world is whimsical, magical, celebratory and of seeming limitless creativity. We are going to hear all about that and what it actually takes to make that happen. Speaking to Mere...
Oct 15, 2020•1 hr 2 min
Welcome to Episode Nine in our series on Hope. In this episode we speak with Georgia Spray founder of Partnership Editions about the Hope of Collecting Art. Partnership Editions aim to make remarkable art accessible to all by offering an online platform married with events, collecting advice and a creative community. They work alongside exciting, emerging artists such as Christabel Blackburn, Richard Hart, Hester Finch, Charlotte Eady and Fee Greening to name but a few. There are six ‘drops’ a y...
Oct 08, 2020•56 min
Welcome to Episode Eight in our series on Hope. In this episode, Molly Mahon and I consider the hope of the unexpected. We delve into the story of her eponymous company which designs and creates glorious block printed fabrics and wallpapers. You will hear all about that Shepherds Hut, how happenstance became a business, the methodical, mesmerising, meditative power of block printing, her breadth of reference from Jaipur to Charleston, unexpected success, the chapter entitled ‘lockdown’ and the m...
Jul 26, 2020•52 min
Welcome to Episode Seven in our series on Hope. Today we are delving into the space where fashion, technology and sustainability meet. Where each enhances the other and offers the hope of conscious fashion, and perhaps also the hope of innovation. Our guest is Eshita Kabra founder of By Rotation which is the UK's first and only fashion rental platform. The aim is a good one - to transform the way that we consume fashion - and it is beautifully executed. Eshita shares the principles, values and m...
Jul 20, 2020•55 min
Welcome to Episode 6 in our series on Hope. As we have all been forced to slow down, we have been given the opportunity to consider more carefully what it is that we buy, what it is made of and who made it. So I wanted to explore the idea of pursuing quality of quantity. And that is exactly what we debate in this episode with Alice Byron founder of Blake LDN. Their mission is to create contemporary knitwear with a clean and understated aesthetic and it is worn by the likes of Alexa Coe, Alice Ar...
Jul 05, 2020•57 min
Welcome to Episode Five in our podcast series on Hope. Given how much time we have all been spending at home, it seemed obvious that I needed to explore the Hope of Home. To do that, I wrote out a wish list of interior designers and today’s guest was right at the top of that list. This is a huge career highlight for me, and I haven’t slept a wink because we have got the incredible Rachel Chudley joining us today! She is a shining star of the interior design world. Her projects require more than ...
Jun 28, 2020•1 hr 11 min
