We Need To Make Things
A podcast to help you kickstart your creative practice, stay inspired, and find the confidence to share your work with people who really need to see it.
Every fortnight, I sit down with artists, writers, scientists, gallerists and other influential experts and ask them to share their stories, tools and strategies for living a creative life so you, too, can make work that matters, for people who care.
Portraits, Purpose and Parenthood: Life Behind the Lens with Harry Borden
Portrait photographer Harry Borden has won numerous high-profile awards and captured everyone from Keir Starmer to the Spice Girls, but it's the photographs of his children and his role as a father that he cherishes the most.
In this episode he shares the two questions you should ask yourself before starting a long-term project, how running a YouTube channel has deepened his relationship with his son, Fred, and why blasting The Stone Roses out of your car window is the best way to enliven a trip to Lidl.
Beneath the Surface: Diving into Creative Risk with Henley Spiers
Diving in the open ocean has taught photographer, writer and expedition leader Henley Spiers as much about himself as it has about the marine life he captures with his camera.
In this episode he shares tips for marketing work on Instagram, lessons the ocean can teach us about life on land, advice on taking criticism, and the dangers of becoming too creatively comfortable.
Spacesuits and Spark: Staying Creative for the Long Haul with Simon Murphy
From wearing a spacesuit to inviting strangers into photo booths, Simon Murphy knows how to work on long-term projects without losing momentum or a sense of playfulness.
In this episode he shares his chapter approach to projects, his creative morning routines, his advice on unlearning and his feelings on AI.
Creativity Unlocked: Rhythm, Revenue & the Power of AI with Bastiaan Woudt
Many brilliant artists are terrible at business but using some of the skills he learnt in hospitality management, Bastiaan Woudt was never going to be one of them.
Effective marketing, foolproof systems and a passion for photography have enabled him to create an enviable career that balances work, life and personal projects such as DJing, travelling and supporting NGOs.
Creating Order Out of Chaos: Perfectionism, Criticism and Vulnerability with Sean Tucker
When Sean Tucker was thrown out of the church for being a heretic, he discovered the importance of adopting a creative outlet to work through his frustrations.
Sean is now a successful photographer, filmmaker, speaker, and the author of The Meaning in the Making, a brilliant book that shares his philosophy for living a creative life.
Through his experiences, Sean has learnt the importance of knowing who you are and how you’re wired, the perils of being a perfectionist, and how to pull order out of chaos.
Don’t Break the Chain: Secrets to Staying Creatively Limber with Mary Jo Hoffman
When Mary Jo Hoffman, author of STILL: The Art of Noticing, committed to posting a picture a day online, the process became so addictive (and beneficial) that the chain remained unbroken for more than a decade.
During the process, Mary Jo learnt that wild constraints lead to wild creativity, process is more important than product, and reconnecting with nature has value beyond measure.