This Is My Voice

Today we're talking to writer Iphgenia Baal, whose new book - Man Hating Psycho - is out now 

We chat about terrible first jobs - and the unnecessary categorization of almost everything in life...

(You might notice there's one or two bits of our conversation where there is some background noise - people have been trickling back into our studios but hopefully it won't affect your enjoyment of this episode)

Today we're talking to Andrea Carter, from the international visual arts producer "D6 Culture in Transit"

D6 has  just launched the plans for the new Sanctuary in Culture programme, and have spend lockdown refurbishing and building brand new studio spaces

We talk about the effects the pandemic has had on the arts - and how it might begin to recover.

Today I'm talking with journalist and writer Melissa Tutesigensi - whose work was featured as part of last year's Durham Book Festival 

We also reminisce about  university life, and wonder what living and working in London will be like - post-pandemic 

Today I'm chatting with actor, playwright and puppeteer Ashton Owen 

He turned his childhood experiences into a one-man play - Outskirts, which was screened online during the most recent lockdown.

We talk about opening up about racist experiences within mixed race families, and how representation is changing..

Today I'm chatting to Elizabeth Chakrabarty, who is about to release her debut novel - Lessons In Love and Other Crimes

We discuss the struggles of cracking the publishing industry as a person of colour and how to talk about love, from a place of hate, and vice versa. 

Today we're chatting to Brooklyn based writer Tariq Shah, who is about to release his debut novel, Whiteout Conditions.

We talk about dealing with toxic masculinity, the state of Post-Trump America, and the age old debate between Chicago and New York - who has better pizza?

Today I'm talking with J.A. Mensah, a writer and novelist whose debut novel "Castles From Cobwebs" is out now

We discuss intersectionality, how to create your own country and the wild beauty of the North East of England

Today I'm chatting to the poet Degna Stone, whose latest collection "Handling Stolen Goods" is out now 

We discuss the connections between poetry and theatre, whether there is anything to write about in poetry aside from love and how the Coronavirus pandemic has changed creativity. 

Today I'm chatting to novelist Neema Shah, whose debut - Kololo Hill - was written while Neema juggled a full time job 

We talk about some of the many significant parts of British history left out of school curriculums, and the joy of combining food from different cultures.

Today I'm speaking to Hannabiell Sanders - one half of the Afro-Latin percussion and Brass duo Ladies of Midnight Blue 

We talk about the importance of a diverse musical language, and the freedom which can come from performing

Hannabiell is also the founder of Harambee Passadia - a cultural organisation and festival in the North East