Yours For The Making with Robin Johnson

Potter Lulu Jacobs joins Robin Johnson to discuss leaving a career in branding and marketing to pursue pottery full time. Lulu shares how a short course at Turning Earth turned into a full creative obsession, leading her to build a pottery business from a garden studio while raising a young family. The conversation explores the emotional highs and crushing failures of ceramics, the reality of selling handmade pottery, the pressure of social media, and the challenge of balancing creative freedom with commercial work. Lulu also talks openly about working with difficult black clay, building an audience online without becoming fake, and why bravery matters more than confidence when building a creative career.

Key Topics Covered

• Leaving marketing to pursue pottery full time
• Learning ceramics through Turning Earth
• Building a pottery studio at home
• Why social media feels uncomfortable for makers
• Authenticity and community on Instagram
• The challenge of working with black clay
• Glaze chemistry and kiln failures
• Selling handmade pottery profitably
• Restaurant commissions and wholesale pottery
• The impact of The Great Pottery Throw Down
• Functional pottery versus art pottery
• Creative risk taking and overcoming fear
• Pottery as escapism and meditation
• Imposter syndrome in creative industries

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Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Leaving branding and discovering pottery

01:27 The Turning Earth course that changed everything

02:40 Learning pottery privately through failure

03:58 Building an authentic pottery audience online

05:57 The nightmare and beauty of black clay

10:50 Growing up around pottery studios and kilns

15:18 Why pottery feels addictive

18:30 Opening the kiln at midnight

20:35 The financial reality of handmade pottery

23:35 Landing a first restaurant commission

26:58 The impact of The Great Pottery Throw Down

35:15 Pottery as escapism and meditation

42:24 Creative freedom versus commercial work

46:56 Florian Gadsby and the pottery creator economy

49:07 Pottery content creators and social media culture

58:32 Advice to her 18 year old self

Helen Welch, founder of the London School of Furniture Making, joins Robin Johnson for a direct conversation about teaching craftsmanship, surviving as a maker, and why furniture making still attracts people desperate to work with their hands instead of staring at screens all day. Helen reflects on leaving school early, training as a carpenter and joiner in 1980s London, and eventually building a furniture school that now teaches joinery, steam bending, furniture design, carving, and specialist woodworking skills in Camden.

The conversation explores the reality of making a living in furniture making, the financial barriers facing young makers, the decline in apprenticeships, and why business knowledge matters just as much as craftsmanship. Helen also shares her thoughts on resin tables, Nakashima furniture, teaching for over 30 years, and why many people entering woodworking today are searching for something more meaningful than office work and finance careers.

Key Topics Covered

• Why Helen left furniture making for teaching
• Building the London School of Furniture Making from evening classes
• Apprenticeships in carpentry and joinery during the 1980s
• Why furniture making businesses struggle financially
• The rise of finance workers entering woodworking
• Steam bending, Kumiko, carving, and specialist furniture courses
• Why resin river tables became so popular
• George Nakashima and authentic furniture design
• The challenge of making affordable solid wood furniture
• Why many people use woodworking to escape screen based work
• How apprenticeships have changed in Britain
• The importance of business knowledge for makers
• Why passion matters in craftsmanship
• Balancing teaching, creativity, and family life

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Helen Welch on building the London School of Furniture Making

02:03 From carpentry apprentice to furniture teacher

05:31 Why making furniture for clients stopped being enjoyable

08:47 The courses taught at the furniture school

10:41 George Nakashima and the problem with resin tables

18:41 Why people are turning to woodworking again

20:18 Finance workers learning furniture making

23:42 Bringing specialist carving and Kumiko instructors into the school

30:11 The reality of earning a living as a furniture maker

33:38 Why furniture making is financially difficult

39:28 Why makers must understand business

40:26 Former students now running successful workshops

42:31 Expanding into a larger workshop in Camden

45:51 Why apprenticeships are no longer long enough

50:10 How great apprentices learn faster than everyone else

55:19 Advice Helen would give her 18 year old self

Robin Johnson sits down with furniture maker and designer Simon Thomas Pirie to discuss the reality of building a long term creative business in Britain. Simon shares his journey from studying fine art and discovering woodworking through Hook Park, to running a respected bespoke furniture workshop in Dorset for nearly three decades. The conversation explores furniture design, apprenticeships, CNC technology, kitchens, direct client work, workshop culture, scaling a creative business, and the pressure of balancing craftsmanship with commercial survival. Simon also reflects on leadership, hiring the right people, working with architects and interior designers, and why British furniture making struggles without proper industrial support.

Key Topics Covered

• Building a bespoke furniture business from scratch
• Hook Park and the influence of John Makepeace
• Fine art, furniture design, and creative career paths
• The reality of running a small workshop business
• Why direct client relationships matter
• Kitchens versus freestanding furniture projects
• CNC machines and modern furniture production
• Hiring apprentices and training young makers
• Workshop culture and team dynamics
• Expanding into larger workshop spaces
• British furniture making versus European manufacturing
• Creative burnout and staying inspired after 30 years
• Garden bench production and Chelsea Flower Show
• Working with architects and interior designers
• Legacy, craftsmanship, and long term creative work

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Growing up around woodworking

01:41 Discovering furniture making

02:48 Learning at Hook Park

05:20 Teaching furniture design

08:25 Starting the workshop

10:14 The struggle of solo makers

11:30 Kitchens and commercial projects

16:30 Design influences and style

21:50 Expanding the workshop

26:36 CNC technology and production

31:42 Workshop culture and apprentices

50:45 Problems with creative education

58:59 Becoming a furniture maker

01:02:57 Bespoke furniture versus products

01:08:03 Recycled timber projects

01:09:02 Advice to his younger self

Robin Johnson sits down with sisters Clara and Rose Prince to discuss studying furniture making and textile design, navigating creative careers, and building a future in craft. Clara studies furniture making at West Dean College while Rose focuses on weaving and textiles at Chelsea College. They speak openly about the realities of creative education, student debt, apprenticeships, networking, exhibitions, and the pressure of entering industries where practical skills matter more than academic status. The conversation also explores collaboration, British manufacturing, women in craft industries, and why hands on work still matters in a digital world.

Key Topics Covered:

• Studying furniture making at West Dean College
• Learning weaving and textile design at Chelsea College
• Women entering male dominated craft industries
• Networking and building industry relationships through exhibitions
• Starting a creative career after university
• The reality of running a craft business
• Creative collaboration between furniture and textiles
• The financial pressure of university and student debt
• Why apprenticeships deserve more attention
• British manufacturing and sustainable production
• Using textiles to support dementia care and cognitive health
• Balancing creative ambition with practical industry experience

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Clara and Rose Prince

00:43 Growing up in a creative and hands on family

02:22 Women entering furniture making and textile design

04:48 Supporting each other through creative education

05:53 Exhibitions and presenting work publicly

07:56 How university prepares students for industry

09:32 Plans after graduation and gaining industry experience

12:19 Collaboration ideas and future business ambitions

17:52 Balancing business goals with personal ambitions

21:43 Family influence and inherited craftsmanship

22:54 The cost of university and creative education

23:10 Apprenticeships versus university pathways

26:31 Textiles, dementia care, and cognitive health

29:23 British manufacturing and preserving craft industries

46:48 Advice to their younger selves

Robin Johnson speaks with Oliver Chalk, a self taught wood turner who rebuilt his career during the pandemic by following curiosity rather than a fixed plan. Starting with climbing holds and basic tools, Oliver moved into large scale sculptural woodwork, developing his own techniques through repetition and failure. He explains why surface, texture, and emotional response drive his work, how investing in the right tools changed his trajectory, and why process matters more than outcome when building a creative career.

Key Topics Covered

• Learning wood turning without formal training
• Building skill through experimentation and repetition
• Importance of investing in professional tools and maintaining them
• Developing a recognisable style through surface and texture
• Working with large scale timber and physical challenges
• Using natural materials for sustainability and longevity
• Creative philosophy focused on process and self expression
• Balancing risk, safety, and creativity in the workshop
• Why failure drives progress and skill development

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Oliver Chalk and his wood turning work

00:46 Pandemic career shift and early experimentation

02:11 Learning wood turning through trial and error

06:57 Discovering surface texture and creative direction

09:30 Investing in tools and committing to the craft

10:10 Working with large scale timber and safety awareness

18:09 Moving from turning to sculptural carving techniques

22:49 Creative philosophy and finding purpose through making

29:21 Creativity as problem solving and pushing limits

34:23 Process over product and emotional connection to work

39:27 Exhibitions, galleries, and building a career

53:27 Advice on failure and continuous improvement

Robin Johnson speaks with Ben Goldsmith from Design Woodcraft Ltd about building a timber and furniture business without a clear plan. Ben started with no tools, no strategy, and no formal direction, then grew the company through consistent work and curiosity. The conversation focuses on how the business developed into a sustainable operation, milling its own timber, tracking carbon impact, and working with high profile hospitality clients. This episode gives a grounded view of how a creative business can grow through action rather than planning, and where that approach creates both opportunity and limitations.

Key Topics Covered:

• Starting a business with no plan or formal training
• Moving from kitchen work into woodworking and furniture making
• How Design Woodcraft Ltd grew through trial and consistency
• Building a sustainable timber supply chain from log to finished product
• Milling timber, air drying processes, and cost advantages
• Carbon tracking and creating low impact furniture products
• Working with hospitality clients and high end restaurants
• Why word of mouth growth limits scale
• The challenge of marketing a craft based business
• Creating recurring revenue through maintenance services
• Plans to expand workshop capacity and increase turnover

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Ben Goldsmith and Design Woodcraft Ltd

02:47 Starting with no tools and no clear plan

07:52 Years of operating without strategy or structure

14:27 Carbon tracking and sustainability in furniture production

23:01 Milling timber and cost advantages

26:00 Full control of supply chain from log to product

29:54 Limits of word of mouth growth

37:23 Creating a recurring revenue service model

41:03 Challenges with marketing and content

1:00:49 Advice on creativity and exploration

Robin Johnson speaks with Paul Drake from JDO Ltd, a global branding agency working with brands such as Dove and Shell, to break down how branding actually works. This conversation focuses on emotional response, visual identity, and why strong brands win attention and trust. Paul explains how design influences perception, how storytelling drives value, and why consistency matters more than originality in many cases. They also examine the real impact of AI on creative industries, from branding and product design to customer experience.

Key Topics Covered

• How global brands build emotional connection through design
• Why branding is about psychology not just visuals
• The role of storytelling in premium product positioning
• How distinctive shapes and visual cues drive brand recognition
• Case study of luxury packaging and high value products
• The real process behind building a brand identity
• How AI is changing branding, design, and creative work
• Practical use of AI in engineering, product development, and training
• The balance between human creativity and automation
• Career advice for entering branding, design, and creative industries

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Paul Drake and global branding work

01:11 How branding projects begin and how agencies build brand identity

02:05 Career path into branding and design industry

03:00 Emotional response and how brands influence perception

05:12 Why storytelling drives value in creative work

07:33 Brand consistency and why it builds long term trust

10:39 Visual cues, shapes, and consumer behaviour

12:36 Case study of Mermaid gin and packaging design success

16:30 Building a global branding agency and creative partnerships

19:43 What makes a product visually distinctive

23:06 Designing furniture and creating a recognisable style

27:04 The economics of design, production, and scalability

31:58 CAD, CNC, and technical challenges in manufacturing

36:41 AI in design and the future of creative industries

41:55 Automation, jobs, and the future of work

44:34 Can AI replace creativity and brand thinking

49:03 Limits of AI in product design and real world application

53:05 AI in engineering and medical innovation

57:08 Technology as a tool to extend human capability

1:03:08 Human interaction versus automation in daily life

1:10:21 How to get into branding and design careers

1:28:15 Advice for younger self and building confidence

Robin Johnson sits down with Paddy Piggott to break down how he went from washing dishes during a recession to opening one of Hastings’ most well known bars.

Paddy shares how he started with no qualifications, worked his way through kitchens and bars, and spotted the opportunity to open the Dragon Bar. He explains the reality of building a venue from an empty 1820 storage unit, digging out the basement by hand, and creating a space that has lasted over 20 years.

This conversation focuses on what it takes to run a bar long term. Paddy talks through staffing challenges, rising costs, regulations, and why the industry is harder now than when he started. He also explains why bars succeed or fail, and why creating the right atmosphere matters more than anything else.

Alongside the business, Paddy shares stories from years behind the bar, the culture of Hastings, and why risk, travel, and experience matter more than playing it safe.

Key Topics Covered

• Starting in hospitality with no qualifications during a recession
• Working in kitchens and bars and learning through experience
• The culture and late night scene at Harper’s in Hastings
• Opening the Dragon Bar and finding the right location
• Renovating an empty unit and building the bar by hand
• Creating a space that attracts loyal customers and strong staff
• Managing staff and building a team with personality and energy
• The financial reality of running a bar and rising operating costs
• Regulations, taxes, and why the industry is harder today
• Differences between running a bar and a restaurant
• Why atmosphere and experience drive repeat customers
• The impact of social media and changing nightlife culture
• Lessons from travel, risk taking, and personal growth

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Introduction to Paddy Piggott and early career

00:34 Starting work as a dishwasher during a recession

01:31 Harper’s bar and late night culture in Hastings

03:44 Changes in nightlife and social behaviour over time

08:17 Decision to open the Dragon Bar

10:10 Finding the location and securing the lease

12:30 Renovating the space and building the bar

14:05 Designing the bar and creating long lasting features

17:10 Running the kitchen and building a reputation for food

20:10 Staff culture and hiring the right people

26:39 Why opening a bar today is harder than before

28:22 Rising costs and the economics of running a bar

37:26 Buying and rebuilding Fagan’s restaurant

45:19 Why bars are more viable than restaurants

50:13 Social media and changing customer behaviour

52:50 Memorable stories from behind the bar

1:01:05 Advice to his 18 year old self

Robin Johnson reflects on one year of Yours for the Making and the journey behind building his business, Johnson Bespoke.

Starting in his father’s workshop, Robin developed a hands on approach to making from an early age. He went on to study surf science, where he learned critical thinking, before working at Quiksilver and gaining insight into retail and customer behaviour. After a period in teaching design and technology, he made the decision to leave and start his own business.

In this episode, Robin shares the reality of building a creative business from scratch. He talks through early struggles with pricing, inconsistent work, and poor financial management. He explains how losing a major project during COVID forced a reset, and how focusing on joinery and controlling costs allowed the business to recover and grow.

He also reflects on hiring key people, building a skilled team, and setting a clear direction for the company. This is a direct account of building a business through mistakes, pressure, and long term thinking.

Key Topics Covered

• One year of podcasting and lessons from creative guests
• Early exposure to making and learning through experimentation
• Studying surf science and developing critical thinking
• Working at Quicksilver and understanding retail behaviour
• Teaching design and technology and working in private education
• Starting Johnson Bespoke and early business challenges
• Financial mistakes and lessons from COVID disruption
• Why focusing on joinery improved profitability
• Hiring key people and building a strong team
• Scaling a creative business and working with global designers
• Long term ambition to build a leading joinery company
• Personal growth through podcasting and reflection

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 One year of podcasting and purpose of the solo episode

01:14 Early making experiences and learning through experimentation

03:25 Studying surf science and developing critical thinking

07:16 Teaching design and technology and working in schools

12:04 Starting Johnson Bespoke and early struggles

15:15 Taking on major projects and facing COVID disruption

19:04 Financial mistakes and learning to manage numbers

21:41 Hiring Richard Muddyman and scaling the business

26:35 Building high end joinery and working with designers

31:42 Podcast growth and building a personal brand

36:12 Advice to his 18 year old self and mindset

Robin Johnson sits down with Sam Wills, a soulful vocalist and independent artist from Hastings whose song Traingazing recently hit 100 million streams. Sam grew up in Surrey, moved to Hastings at 13, and cut his teeth playing covers in local pubs and restaurants before developing one of the most distinctive falsettos in British soul music. In this episode, Sam talks honestly about what it takes to build a music career from the ground up without a major label: the four years it took to make his album Breathe, the battle with imposter syndrome, the grind of social media, the reality of streaming income, and what it means to hear your song played by DJ Jazzy Jeff in Ibiza.

He also shares the story of building a cabin in the woods by hand using pallet wood, why he started making fruit wine, and what he is planning for album number three. This is a conversation about creativity, obsession, staying independent and finding your own path as an artist.

Key Topics Covered:

• How growing up in Hastings and its live music scene shaped Sam's confidence and stage craft
• Sam's first gig at Pissarros playing Arctic Monkeys covers and the years of pub and restaurant performances that followed
• Reaching 100 million streams on Train Gazing and how that milestone sits alongside imposter syndrome
• What Sam's musical style actually sounds like: soulful harmonies, folk, hip-hop, R&B and jazz influences
• The four years it took to make the album Breathe and the emotional stagnation that inspired it
• Why the album tells a cohesive story from start to finish and how listeners have connected with it
• Being independent: label services deals, creative control, forming your own team and staying out of the major label system
• The reality of social media for independent musicians: 80% of working time, perfectionism, and the fear of being left behind

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Robin introduces Sam Wills and the context of a Hastings music scene that gave him the space to develop

01:03 Sam moved to Hastings at 13 and within months was playing his first gig at Pissarros doing Arctic Monkeys and Craig David covers

03:13 Why Hastings is genuinely unique for live music: any night of the week, any part of the Old Town, there is always music somewhere

04:51 Traingazing hits 100 million streams and Sam reflects on what that number actually means

05:21 Why numbers do not define success but do help when imposter syndrome and self-doubt creep in

07:40 Sam describes his musical style: soulful at its core, drifting between folk, hip-hop, R&B and jazz

11:13 Why Breathe took nearly four years to make and how a period of stagnation became its emotional foundation

14:27 Why being a musician now means being a marketer, content creator and social media strategist as much as a songwriter

21:51 Sam's musical influences: D'Angelo, Michael Jackson, Jeff Buckley, Bonnie Raitt, Frank Ocean, Justin Timberlake and Chet Baker

23:34 How a single connection in Hamburg led to a festival show in Taiwan and the discovery of a strong listening base across Southeast Asia

25:27 Using Spotify and Apple artist dashboards to track listeners by location and how Sam plans to tour East and Southeast Asia

27:44 The economics of streaming: a fraction of a penny per play and what 100 million streams would have been worth in the CD era

32:46 The British soul community: Jordan Rakei, Tom Misch, Olivia Dean and why artists competing for the same ears often make each other stronger

40:59 How Sam started building a cabin in the woods from pallet wood while making Breathe and why the physical project kept him sane

54:32 On the danger of chasing the next thing versus appreciating the journey and taking stock of progress

58:08 Why making an album requires obsession, belief and the willingness to keep pushing a boulder uphill

1:03:29 Advice for anyone wanting to start a music career: invest in self marketing, absorb the music you love, replicate to learn, get obsessed and keep making