How can artists contribute to tackling the environmental crisis? Hear from inspired artist Maya Chowdhry, as she takes us through her creative odyssey from reluctant teen to pioneering, seed-planting, eco-music cultivating international poet. A must for all those wanting to write us into a greener world 🌍

Follow Maya: https://www.instagram.com/maya_chowdhry/

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Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios

Do you have lots of ideas but struggle to harness your energy? In Episode 9 of Black Writers: After Hours talented young musician-poet Naomi Kalu spins us through her enthusiasms for boxing, music and lyrics composition; describing how she has managed to excel across forms. If you want a masterclass from a champion in juggling different talents and interests then this is the episode for you!

Follow Naomi: https://www.instagram.com/thanksalotnaomi/

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Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios

Have you ever been discouraged by the thought ‘I need to learn how to write well’? Hear Desiree Reynolds as she deals with this and many other ball-and-chain writing myths that can stop you from writing freely. Play this episode to be enlightened, motivated and freed of your writing demons! 

Desiree Reynolds is a South Londoner up North. Her first novel Seduce was published in 2013 by Peepal Tree Press to much acclaim & she explores the continuous struggle against the white male gaze and notions of beauty race and being. Self-proclaimed history nerd, Desiree is Creative Director at Dig Where You Stand an archival justice movement in Sheffield unearthing untold stories of local people of colour.

Follow Desiree: www.instagram.com/desiree_reynoldsu2/

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Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios

Balancing your mental health and creative pursuits can be tricky. Creative wellspring Cheryl Martin charts her own path in this episode: hear how she creates fabulous work in verse, song and theatre, whilst navigating the ups and downs of life. If you want some invaluable tips and examples on maintaining that vital balance, don’t miss this episode.

Trigger Warning: This episode mentions mental health issues and suicide if you want to avoid this content please skip to 11 mins 30.

Follow Cheryl on X: https://twitter.com/cherylalaska

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Facebook: @culturewordcommonword

Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios

When you find the world both funny and dizzyingly serious, how do you write about it?  Join Billie Meredith as she tells us of her writer’s journey - one that takes in Tim Minchin, her musical family and keeping merry while writing about life’s absurdities. Learn how to keep motivated and embrace the humour in the bleak, in this episode. 

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Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios

How do you translate your creativity across artforms? Is it possible to succeed in wildly different disciplines? Annette Reis Dunne has managed just that. An opera singer cum novelist, she has previously sung for the likes of Andrew Lloyd Webber & published a children’s novel ‘Dream the Red Earth’.  If you want to make a similar leap or simply hear how such a leap happens, don’t miss this episode of Black Writers: After Hours…

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Facebook: @culturewordcommonword

Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios

Everyone wants more joy in their life. And how better to achieve that than by making your writing practice a place of joy? Join the fabulous afshan d’souza-lodhi, as she describes her process, how she dodges dysphoria, embraces her sexuality and finds the erotic in colonial mangoes. We’ll hear about her journey across film, poetry and live performance: and how afshan challenges taboos, pushes envelopes and spreads the joy as she goes! 

Find out more about afshan: https://afshandl.com/

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Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios

Do you sometimes battle impostor syndrome – feel you are just not cut out for creativity, or struggling to make space in your busy life? Join pastry chef and fabulous poet Cherrelle Anne as she tells us of her inspiring journey though relationship breakdowns, business crashes, lockdown crises and more – to finding her poetry mojo. If you want to know how to rise above your inner critic as well as the rocks life can throw at you, don’t miss this episode. 

Find out more about Cherrelle: https://www.instagram.com/cherrelleanne/

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Facebook: @culturewordcommonword

Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios

Do you get daunted by your writing projects, and feel hesitant about taking the next step? Tune in to this episode in which internationally famous librettist, poet and playwright, SuAndi explains her journey from humble beginnings, by daring to say yes. A must-listen for those summoning up the courage to take the plunge in a new direction.

Read more about SuAndi: https://mixedmuseum.org.uk/amri-exhibition/suandi-the-story-of-m/

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Facebook: @culturewordcommonword

Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios

Is getting published your goal? Join us for this new series and learn how to find your pathway to publishing success. Black Writers: After Hours is a literary salon in the form of a podcast – we’ll be meeting a pastry chef turned poet, lyricists, a radical playwright, and a creative climate champion

In this first episode, Radhaika meets bona fide creative writing expert & former stilt-walker Pete Kalu. Pete has dedicated his career to supporting emerging writers. His job is his passion; as Artistic Director of Commonword Cultureword he has mentored hundreds of writers over the years whilst continuing his own creative pursuits. Today he is a lauded novelist and poet. So, who better to explain the concept of our podcast? Expect amusing anecdotes and an overview of how YOU can participate in our writing prompts.

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Facebook: @culturewordcommonword

Website: www.cultureword.org.uk

Funded by The Space and Arts Council England. Recorded at Silver Lining Music Studios