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Rob O'Connor and Chloe Hanks tell us all about what's in store for this year's York Literature Festival!York Creatives' Pro Members get 10% off Lit Fest tickets - sign up now! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

This episode is a live interview which took place at the exhibition and book launch of Ben Porter’s new project Kids Just Wanna Fly on Friday 7th November 2025. Ben is interviewed by York Creatives board member for writing and publishing, Kathryn Tann, who is also one of eight contributing authors who wrote either a short story or a poem for the book. Kids Just Wanna Fly is about youthful ambition and the tumultuous years of young adulthood. Unfolding between 2003 and 2013, it’s a raw portrait of youth in the pre-smartphone era, and life growing up in post industrial northern England. In addition to this interview, the launch event featured two short poetry videos and a performance by Bram Jarman (@jarmouse_). You can watch them here. For those listening before 29th November 2025, Ben would like to invite you to the closing of the exhibition on Saturday 29th November, which coincides with the Patch Frost Fair - a winter celebration of print. Ben will be there representing Overt Books, the publishing company he created to bring to life artist book projects. He would love to speak to local artists and creatives who have a project that they think might work well as a book. The Frost Fair is taking place at Patch, The Bonding Warehouse, between 12pm and 6pm this Saturday. Entry is free. The book is also available to purchase here via Overt Books. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

Sarah and John discuss getting into the creative world, a few issues with the title ‘Chair’ (if anyone has any better titles, they haven’t come to any conclusions yet..) and what the future of York, and York Creatives, might look like. John is a Creative Producer and Consultant for immersive and interactive media projects. He works with the University of York’s groundbreaking XR Stories project, which brings together creatives and technologists to explore new storytelling. As York Creatives new Chair, John will lead the strategic development of the organisation, working closely with Sarah. If you want to find out more about John, or where York Creatives is headed, he welcomes messages via the York Creatives platform Circle. This episode was recorded in the XR Stories Lab at The Guildhall. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

The York Creatives podcast is back! Sarah Williams is a writer, writing coach, tutor, and general enthusiast for all things literary. The novel that she is currently working on is a literary fiction novel in which a woman leaves society forever to travel to the rainforest where she is followed by the embodiment of evolution. Since moving to York just over two years ago (she's gotten this wrong a few times and said three!) she has jumped into the writing and creative scene. She founded Written in York at the beginning of 2024 with the aim of connecting and uplifting writers and event organisers in York and she runs an ongoing critique group that meets every two weeks. Since the beginning of 2025 she has steadily been taking over the role of Managing Director at York Creatives. Her ambitions with the new phase of York Creatives is to uplift grassroots creatives, facilitate events that allow York Creative members to try different mediums and to serve the incredible legacy that York Creatives already has in the city of York. If you want to find out any more about the writing scene in York, or where York Creatives is headed, Sarah welcomes messages via the York Creatives platform Circle, or on Instagram @Written.in.York This podcast was recorded at Patch, at The Bonding Warehouse in York. A neighbourhood workspace with offices, co-working, meeting and event space and even a podcast studio! If you'd like to try a day at Patch for free visit www.patch.work/book-a-trial-day and make sure to say you heard about Patch through the York Creatives Podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

How many of us spend our lives moving from job to job, hoping we will find something that fulfils us? What if instead we could create our own job, tailor made to the interests and skills we've developed through passion and exploration? Tom Moore of design studio Lást Maps talks us through his journey of building a life around this goal. Lást Maps is a small design studio that specialises in heritage style ink work. The brand started with hand-drawn cartography, expanding into designing clothing graphics, label identities and logo design. Lást Maps online: Website | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

Creativity is an act of rebellion.  JJ Jackson is a tattoo artist and the owner of Awake Arise tattoo studio. He’s also in two bands - Fizzy Milk and The B*****d Sons. In this episode we journey into the world of tattooing, following JJ’s unconventional career path. He shares his honest thoughts on the industry, how it’s changed since he started, and the role social media has played in that.  We talk about designing your own version of success and avoiding comparing yourself with others, and the links between creativity, rebellion and culture.  You can find JJ at: instagram.com/tattoosbyjj Instagram.com/fizzymilkmusic instagram.com/thebastardsons facebook.com/awakearise  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

What do we notice about people that are great teachers? What effect does education have on our creativity and the confidence we have in our work? Amy D'Agorne is a Yorkshire-born photographer currently studying her MA in Documentary Photography at the University of South Wales. In this episode we explore the role photography has in influencing society, about knowing your worth as a creative, and the struggle in balancing personal and commercial work.  Amy's projects investigate the prevalent issues related to climate change; such as food sovereignty, corporate agriculture, fossil-fuel extraction, and the many-faceted ways that late-stage capitalism presents itself.  She graduated with a BA First Class Honours in Photography from Edinburgh College of Art in 2015, and is currently working on a commission with photographer Hannah Starkey for The Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield. You can find Amy at: amydagorne.format.com instagram.com/amydagorne This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

How do you tell your story online? Edi Adegbola is a PR Account Manager based in York. He loves fashion, photography and coffee. In this podcast we discuss the worlds of public relations, social media and content creation.  Edi shares his approach to using the Instagram platform to sharing moments of his life that he finds exciting and joyful. He gives tips to those looking to get started, or struggling to build an audience. We discuss what to do, and what not to do, when reaching out to others online to try and develop fruitful business or social relationships. You can find Edi at: http://instagram.com/ediadegbola This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

Barnaby Fairley is a Yorkshire based photographer and videographer, shooting bands, press shoots, album artwork and music videos. He’s the founder and creative director of a media and image studio called Livestock Studios, and has worked with artists including Liam Gallagher, Pete Doherty and Shed Seven. Listen as we chat about his journey in building his business, developing his skills and building his contacts, and connecting with the people you’re making art with. Follow Livestock Studios on Instagram @livestockstudios Follow Barnaby on Instagram @barnaby_fairley This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

Johannes Grimmond is a British Graphic Designer with 17 years experience working across a wide range of brand identity, environmental and digital projects. In 2014 he joined the internationally acclaimed design agency Pentagram as a Senior Designer, working as a key member of a small team led by Harry Pearce — in 2017 he was made Associate. During his time at Pentagram he has played a key role in creating large scale brand identities for clients across retail, arts, publishing, cultural and entertainment sectors including John Lewis & Partners, The Old Vic Theatre, Pink Floyd Records, Thames & Hudson, Liberty London and #WeThe15, an inclusivity movement for people with disabilities that launched as part of last year’s Paralympics opening ceremony. Pentagram on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pentagramdesign/ Johannes on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johannes.grimmond/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

Kimbal Bumstead is a multi disciplinary artist working across painting, drawing, video, performance and sound. His work explores notions of imaged and re-imaged landscapes, abstraction as a form of storytelling, and mark making as a tool to tune in to sensory, emotional and embodied experiences. In this episode we journey through his creative pursuits, uncovering lessons learned, working between mediums, and how art can be a voice to express human emotions that can’t be formed into words. kimbalbumstead.com instagram.com/kimbalbumstead soundcloud.com/kimbalbumstead This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

Layla Grainger is a creative consultant and the founder of the northern branch of London Terrariums York. With a background that includes working as a graphic designer and a workplace consultant before starting her own small business, Layla is passionate about human-centred design and enjoys taking a cross-disciplinary approach to her work. In this episode we cover life lessons learnt through taking a non linear career path, with Layla passing on her advice to others who find themselves working outside of the corporate world. We chat about the importance of pausing every now and again to remind yourself of what you’ve managed to accomplish, and about the areas we can make improvements as a city to help support more freelancers and start ups. https://londonterrariumsyork.com https://instagram.com/londonterrariumsyork This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

Sarah Jackson is the creator of Sarah Anne Draws, which focuses on simple, honest and sustainable design for print, textiles and other small businesses. With over a decade in textile design, engineering and product development, and then deciding 2020 was the year to travel the world whilst drawing on the way, she has found herself in York with some more long-term, engaging and sustainable ideas. In this episode we discuss what it was like running a remote business while travelling in the early months of this year, how it enabled focus and the ability to bring in elements of lifestyle design. We chat about the Swedish term ‘lagom’ - meaning in balance, or enough, and how being in a new city forces you to be clear on your purpose and mission. https://sarahannedraws.co.uk/ https://instagram.com/s_a_r_a_h_anne/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

Clinton Lofthouse is a photographer and digital artist. He has worked with clients such as Hollywood movie director Eli Roths, Crypt TV, Nike, and Liam Payne. Clinton solves visual problems for clients around the globe. In this episode we discuss Clinton’s route into the industry, trying out multiple creative pursuits before finding his groove with photography and digital art. We chat about the difference between conceptual and commercial work, the things he wished he knew when he was getting started, and why he believes that building creative communities is the future of getting paid to do creative work. Clinton: http://clintonlofthousephotography.com Agency: http://rebelnorthcreative.com Tutorials: http://photomanipulation.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com

Matt Richards is a Director and Executive Producer for Air TV - a television production company based at Church Fenton. The company makes several emergency shows such as Helicopter ER with the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and 999 Rescue Squad with a specialist paramedic unit in Leeds. They also make the classic car auction series Bangers & Cash, and several other documentaries. Air TV has been named as one of the best places to work in TV and the company have picked up several prestigious RTS awards for their work. Matt previously worked for the BBC for more than 15 years, starting as a news reporter and video journalist for BBC News before moving into programme making as an Assistant Producer and Producer/Director. From filming in Syrian refugee camps, to following car rallies across the Sahara and scrambling with Australia’s flying doctors, Matt has filmed in some pretty challenging and unpredictable situations. He’s a qualified air ambulance Technical Crew Member and is one of Air TV’s licensed drone operators.  Matt also runs an outdoor adventure charity and is a qualified mountaineering and rock climbing instructor. In this episode we follow Matt’s journey through the tv industry, discussing how he’s used his work to follow his passions. We chat about the tremendous value he’s seen from in investing in personal relationships, about learning to manage risk through outdoor adventure activities, and Matt tells us why there’s no better place to make television than Yorkshire.  https://airtv.co.uk/ https://www.apexchallenge.co.uk/  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit yorkcreatives.substack.com