Nicky Goulder is the founding chief executive of Create, the UK's leading charity empowering lives through the creative arts. It all began at Nicky's dining room table in 2003 following her vision a year earlier when she was motivated by a passion for helping to create a fair, caring and inclusive society where anyone, no matter their situation, could fulfil their potential. Here, we discuss how the creative arts have the power to change lives. We also find out how Create coped when the pandemic hit last year, how it adapted and the difference it continues to make, despite the many challenges today.

Trent Payne is a London-born award-winning creative who is currently the creative lead at TouchNote. During his varied career, he has run a thriving creative studio, and worked in-house and at leading agencies, working on campaigns for the likes of MTV, Nike and Warner Brothers. Here, we talk about what it was like back in the early '90s as a black student hoping to make it into that creative world – and we look at how things may or might not have changed in nearly three decades. We also talk about the differences between freelancing, working in-house and agency side. This is a frank and open discussion about the changing creative industries, unconventional paths, diversity, and the power of speaking up.

Katie Chappell is a freelance illustrator specialising in 'live event' illustration for brands such as Google, Facebook and Apple. She's also one of the founders of The Good Ship Illustration, helping other artists to navigate a creative career. Here, we talk about how Katie found her niche. And she explains why there's no shame in a part-time job when you're trying to make illustration a full-time career. We also discuss productivity tips, business planning and why having your own creative community is everything.

Brand consultant William Seabrook began his career in 2002 when he graduated with a degree in Visual Communication from Birmingham City University. He then spent three years working as a fashion illustrator but later ventured into design, launching his own branding consultancy. Here, we chat about growing businesses, the lessons we learn, the mistakes we make – all leading to something bigger and better. It's a very honest chat about surviving and thriving in the creative industries.

Glasgow-based illustrator and design writer, Greg McIndoe, otherwise known as Headless Greg, graduated in 2020, during the height of the global pandemic, and has immediately gone freelance. Here, we chat about the pandemic and how it's affected us. We also talk of slowing down, distancing ourselves from social media and why it's ok to share the things we all suffer from. That we're all the same. We also talk of overcoming rejection, finding our creative paths and why we don't have to worry about being stuck creatively.

Filmmaker, blogger and podcaster, Monique Henry-Hudson, is currently working at Netflix Animation, runs her own podcast, and is behind Diverse Toons, a travelling animation panel series that highlights the importance of diversity in the animation industry. Here, we chat about growing up in Queens, finding opportunities to get into animation and discovering unexpected paths. We talk about the power of networking and making valuable connections. And we delve into recent movie releases (Disney/Pixar's Soul and Onward) and how the industry is evolving after the events of last summer – not to mention how we, as an audience, are demanding more from creators and why there are lots of things to be excited about, particularly from Netflix.

London-based graphic designer and illustrator, Harkiran Kalsi has worked for the likes of Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need. She also creates gorgeous murals, in her signature hand-lettering style and uses her art to spread positive and important messages. Here, we find out from Harky how she got to where she is now – despite a few setbacks. We discuss that famous artwork she created last summer for Black Lives Matter and how the movement affected her. And we share some laughs (and much respect) for Lewis Hamilton, Will Smith and Richard, the street cat.

Luke Tonge is a freelance graphic designer and art director based in Birmingham and also one of the co-founders of Birmingham Design Festival. Here, we talk about the last decade or so, as we share similar paths in publishing and how we survived the global economic crisis and found a whole creative community online. We also talk of how times have changed, why the design industry still has some way to go, but how Luke is hopeful for people entering the working world today.

Anthropological Future Designer Stacie Woolsey is the founder of Make Your Own Masters – an alternative post-graduate learning experiment that she began to address the lack of access and diversity within the creative industries. Here, we discuss the problems with higher education, unusual job titles and the power of shaping our own careers however we want. So if you like a rebel with a cause, and you're looking to progress in your own life and work, Stacie is just the inspiration you need.

Award-winning graphic designer and illustrator Shanti Sparrow is also Global Head of Teaching at Shillington, which teaches the next generation of graphic designers. Here, we talk about her background, we find out why she gives her illustrated animals names (and why they're so traditionally British), and we talk of how the world is changing fast and for the better.