From Phone Booths to 350k Followers: The Joy of Creative Chaos with Philippa Stanton
Artist and photographer Philippa Stanton is a synaesthete who believes that connecting with our senses can unlock new levels of creativity. She’s also a super fan of the humble telephone kiosk, and sometimes wonders if her house might have once been a brothel.
In this episode she shares tips for embracing procrastination, staying sane (and successful) on Instagram and treating life as a creative act.
An exhibition of Philippa’s abstract and multi-media telephone kiosk work will be on display at The Regency Townhouse in Brighton from 23-28 September 2025.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
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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.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
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Finding Your Artistic Voice: Letting Your Quirks Become Your Superpower with Lisa Congdon
Letting go of perfectionism, and embracing creative constraints, has allowed artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon to make great art and great pizza!
In this episode she shares her tips for navigating influence and developing your artistic voice, surviving the skills gap (otherwise known as the shark tank) and breaking free of the ‘starving artist’ mindset.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
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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.
A solo exhibition of Henley’s work is on display at Stadtmuseum Schleswig, Germany, until 14 September 2025.
Thanks for listening!
New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
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Ink Over Algorithm: Trusting Creativity in a Digital Age with Janine Vangool
We live in a digital age, but some things – like creative intuition and a love for print – can’t be automated.
Janine Vangool recently introduced a ban on AI in UPPERCASE. In this episode she explains why, as well as her tips on how to get things done, how to train yourself to notice ideas and why creative mess is all part of the magic.
This is the final episode of Season One of We Need to Make Things. I’ve got some amazing guests lined up for Series Two, which will begin in a few weeks.
Please subscribe or follow to stay up to date. Thanks for listening!
Why do we make things? Where do ideas come from? How can we overcome creative blocks? What can we learn from criticism? How do we find our voice? Can we really make money from creative pursuits?
If you’ve ever found yourself asking these questions, We Need to Make Things is the podcast you need to kickstart your creative practice, stay inspired, and find the confidence to share your work with people who really need to see it.
Every fortnight, Tracy Calder sits down with artists, writers, scientists, gallerists and other influential experts and asks 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.
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