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Georgia Bowers is an applied theatre practitioner, researcher and academic currently undertaking her PhD at the University of Portsmouth and her research is interested in learning about how theatre can be used to disrupt the established narratives around ageing, and the impact this may have on participants. Georgia speaks about the ways that applied theatre might be able to create shame resilience among older adults. Georgia’s interest in this area started from a summer job as an activities coordinator in a care home, which provoked her to address her pre-conceptions about working with older adults and instead open up and be inspired by the vibrance and energy of her collaborators. She then began to develop an applied theatre practice by setting up a theatre company within the care home which helped the collective of residents tell their stories, learn about each other and build community. Her research builds on these experiences and seeks to measure what difference theatre can make to adults over 65 who take part in a regular theatrical intervention.

In this episode, Hannah talks to Rajeshree Sisodia about Creative Writing for Therapeutic Purposes, and Vedic Meditation, and how Rajeshree brings these two practices together. Midway through the episode Rajeshree leads listeners through a 20 minute guided therapeutic writing activity, exploring inner landscapes and feelings of belonging. The episode is rounded off with a discussion of Rajeshree’s research practice, and the potential benefits of broadening academic perspectives beyond western frames of reference, so that we might "deepen our understanding of emotional geographies". You can get in touch with Rajeshree and find out more about her practice, 'Well Through Words' at www.wellthroughwords.org Sound effects used in the creative writing activity were created by Alexander Gastrell, and obtained from https://www.zapsplat.com

This episode is a conversation between AHSW General Manager Hannah, Katrina Millar and Kirstie Millar, the creators of Ache magazine. Ache is an intersectional feminist publisher exploring illness, health, bodies and pain. The discussion explores the ways writing can be used as a vehicle for opening up irrational, subversive narratives about bodies, and how this can be a way of resisting the rational medical discourse on health. Other areas this episode touches on are personal experiences of Endometriosis, eating disorders and health anxiety, ways to approach health from a more intersectional perspective, and exploring illness creatively within a community. Find out more about Ache magazine at their website: https://achemagazine.co.uk/ You can buy Cusp, a new collection of feminist writing exploring bodies, myth and magic via their online shop: https://achemagazine.bigcartel.com Follow Ache on social media to hear about upcoming workshops and events, and future submission announcements: https://www.instagram.com/helloachemagazine/ https://twitter.com/ache_magazine Here are some more links related to the topics covered in the episode: --Race and Health is a collective of academics, artists, activists and individuals seeking to reverse the harmful effects racism and discrimination has on health. Website: https://raceandhealth.org/ / Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raceandhealth/ --Cori Smith is a trans man living with endometriosis. In this essay Cori speaks on the difficulties he has encountered when seeking gynaecological healthcare as a trans man: https://thoughtcatalog.com/cori-smith/2019/09/what-its-like-to-have-endometriosis-as-a-transgender-man/ —Endometriosis UK is a national charity that offers valuable resources for individuals who think they might have endometriosis or are living with the condition: https://endometriosis-uk.org/understanding-endometriosis —BEAT is a national eating disorder charity with information, resources and support: https://www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk/ —Black Minds Matter is an organisation connecting black individuals with free mental health services and offering valuable mental health resources: https://www.blackmindsmatteruk.com

In this episode, Hannah Mumby (AHSW General Manager) is joined by Jakki Weaden, a former nurse from Bristol who talks about her journey from working in nursing to now building a creative vocation in basketry-making. They share a conversation about the parallels between basketry, wound care, and horticulture; the metaphors associated with care and weaving; and the resourceful creative outlook needed to work in nursing. You can find Jakki’s work on Instagram at @jakkiweaden

Welcome to this podcast series of Stories from 2020. These stories come from our Annual Conference in November. The sixth story is from Sophie Harbour, Engagement Officer at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery in Exeter, who talks about their online and offline project 'RAMM at Home', which encouraged young people to create their own collections inspired by the museum and a challenge to build their own mini museum. RAMM website: https://rammuseum.org.uk Interview with Sophie by AHSW’s Communications Intern, Abbi Bayliss: https://www.ahsw.org.uk/blog/interview-with-royal-albert-memorial-museum-art-gallerys-sophie-harbour/

Welcome to this podcast series of Stories from 2020. These stories come from our Annual Conference in November. The fifth story is from Pippa Jones, Director of Create Gloucestershire and and Abi Nicol, Fine Art Printmaker and Photographer, who talk about their work with artists to support people and communities during lockdown. Create Gloucestershire website: https://www.creategloucestershire.co.uk Abi Nicol’s website: http://www.abinicol.co.uk

Welcome to this podcast series of Stories from 2020. These stories come from our Annual Conference in November. The fourth story is from Rosie Mead, founder and CEO of Musica Music and Wellbeing, which supports people with dementia and their caregivers. Rosie talks about her work during Covid-19 to provide online learning and coaching for caregivers and an on-demand music activity service for Care Homes. Musica website: https://musica-music.co.uk

Welcome to this podcast series of Stories from 2020. These stories come from our Annual Conference in November. The third story is from Dr Louise Younie, GP and Medical Educator, who talks about her work during Covid-19 lockdown which invited students to co-create a virtual creative enquiry programme, which they titled ‘Interpretive Voices’ The Creative Enquiry website: https://www.creativeenquiry.qmul.ac.uk

Welcome to this podcast series of Stories from 2020. These stories come from our Annual Conference in November. The second story is from Janine Valentine, Consultant Nurse Older People at Yeovil Hospital, and Jenny Walters, Senior Supervisor Housekeeping at Yeovil Hospital, who share stories from the Covid Chronicles, a creative writing project to explore staff experiences during the pandemic.

Welcome to this podcast series of Stories from 2020. These stories come from our Annual Conference in November. The first story is from Dr Will Hirst, a junior doctor who was working at the Great Weston Hospital Swindon during the first wave of the pandemic. He was part of the front door team, which included the emergency department and the covid assessment team.

In this episode, Hannah is joined by Alex Coulter (Director of AHSW) and artists Natasha, Gavin and Max. All 5 reflect on their experience of being involved in the 2020 Spring School just before lockdown, where the theme was 'making new meaning from illness', and where we explored using creative activities to support resilience and wellbeing. We talk about how we have each used creativity in times of isolation to "extend ourselves beyond our situations", and share thoughts on how creativity can enable you to be still and yet flourish and connect in other ways, and make the process of "relating" into something very beautiful. Natasha, Gavin and Max share the ways they feel that they have learned to cope with isolation, before Covid-19, and we think about how isolation can operate in many different ways, for instance when you're in a group of people that perceive you to be different. We discuss what "productivity" means to each of us and how we might challenge this idea, drawing out what it might mean to nurture a sense of purpose, value and meaning in our lives. Some links to what we mentioned in the conversation: AHSW Spring School info: https://www.ahsw.org.uk/opportunities/spring-school/ Alex's Blog: https://www.ahsw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Spring-School-Blog-Alex-Coulter.pdf Max's Blog: https://www.ahsw.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Max-Frances-Absentee-Artist-Blog-Spring-2020.pdf Grayson Perry's Art Club: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/graysons-art-club Covid-19 Resources Page: https://www.ahsw.org.uk/resources/covid-19-resources/

Our guest for this episode is Hugh McCann, a Southwest based artist with an interest in wellbeing, public space, technology and participation. Along with playwright and mental health nurse Cally Hayes, he recently co-founded 'Alright Mate? CIC' which aims to destigmatise male mental health one art project at a time. Their work is always participatory and so far includes installations in barbershops, books written by veterans and theatre in community spaces. Alright Mate? aim to normalise conversations around male mental health, in order to reduce needless suffering. ________ LINKS: Alright Mate website: https://alrightmateproject.com (Here you can also find information about participating in Alright Mate’s upcoming projects about fathers/fatherhood and the construction industry!) Download a digital copy of the Veterans Project Book: https://alrightmateproject.com/notalone CoLab Exeter, an integrated wellbeing and innovation hub that works in collaboration with agencies across sectors to strengthen local services and achieve positive whole community outcomes around homelessness, addiction, (re)offending, and health inequality: https://www.colabexeter.org.uk Veterans Change Partnership, a CIC which aims to provide programmes of rehabilitation and support for and to former military veteran offenders and their families: http://veteranschangepartnership.co.uk