Not Just B.S

For our season finale we are turning the tables and answering your questions - along with a few unforgettable ones from our guests this season. Nothing is off limits.. apparently. It's warm, it's witty, and yes - we are absolutely running on caffeine and perseverance. Join us for a final laugh, a few honest truths, and a celebratory wrap on a season filled with creativity, courage and some very qu...

This week we’re joined by business empowerment coach Kirsty Heap, who’s on a mission to help people stop comparing, start creating, and build businesses that actually fit them. Kirsty shares her journey from HR to coaching, how being dyslexic and ADHD once felt like being lost in the forest — and how she turned that into her strength. We talk about finding fresh ways to tackle tricky tasks, breaki...

This week, we’re talking about tipping points — those moments in life and creativity when you’re ready to give up… or finally get going. From the BBC’s Riot Women and the lessons it offers about using your voice, to our own battles with perfectionism, songwriting procrastination, and learning new skills we explore how frustration can flip into fuel. We share how close we came to giving up on our n...

This week we talk to creator Becky Burchell about her latest project, Women of the Dark Skies — a nighttime pilgrimage across Cranborne Chase exploring the ancient history of the North Dorset landscape. We discuss what it means to trust your creative instincts, how nature adds its own unpredictable elements, and why inviting audiences to spend time alone in the dark can be so powerful. Becky opens...

Remember when promoting a show meant drawing a poster and handing out photocopies? Simpler times! In this episode, we talk about the highs and lows of getting people through the door — from when to cancel an event to when to hold your nerve and trust your audience will show up. We dive into whether COVID broke the collective trust between venues and ticket buyers, how tough it can be to afford the...

This week we chat with Ruth Woods, creative practitioner and founder of Craft School Oz, about her winding creative journey — from jobs that fuelled her imagination to those that simply paid the bills. Ruth shares brilliant insights into running a creative business, the balance between creativity and admin, and how social media can be a friend (not a foe) for makers. We also talk about her self-pu...

It's a bit of a whirl-wind this week - we're getting ready for a show, doing Susan's hair, and recording a podcast all at once (because...multi- tasking creatives right?!) In between the tonging and the pre-show nerves, we chat about what it really means to be an 'emerging artist' - and why that label shouldn't just belong to the young! We talk about the challenges of building a creative career ou...

This week. we're joined by multi-disciplinary artist, musician, illustrator, performer and mermaid Anne-Louise Richards, who shares her journey of accidentally falling into a creative career and embracing it full-time over the last year. We talk about the reality of collaborating with others, the pressure to have it all figured out by thirty, and how comparison can cloud your creative path. Anne -...

It's just us this week - no guests, just stories, laughs and a few lessons form the road. We're talking about a frustrating gig into a teachable moment, why you're always learning as a creative, and how communication, delegation, and better systems can make all the difference. We share why artists are sometimes reluctant to delegate, what venues and organisers could do better, and the bravery it t...

In this episode, we sit down with singer-songwriter Ben Francis to talk about the power of manifestation, the people who believe in us, and why mental health should never be a taboo subject. Ben shares openly about the struggles of songwriting, the search for authenticity, and the questions every creative faces: Is this what I truly believe in, or am I just doing it for someone else? It’s an hones...

We’re back with Season 5! And we’re kicking off with some honesty: if you want to create, perform, or put yourself out there — you’ve got to be prepared to suck (at least at first). In this episode, we catch up on life, talk about facing fears 100 times over, why telling the truth works when selling your work, and what to do when imposter syndrome barges in. From crawling up Gold Hill in Shaftesbu...

In our season finale, we're turning the tables and answering your questions. From how we met, who inspires us, and the musicals we'd cast ourselves and our guests in - nothing's off limits. It's funny, it's honest and a little unexpected.... the perfect way to wrap up the season.

This week, we’re joined by artist Andrea Jenkins , whose creative journey has taken her from painting in a hyper-realistic style to embracing bold, abstract expression. We talk about the music that fuels her work, the joy and freedom she’s found since becoming a full-time artist, and the power of finding your creative tribe when you work alone. Andrea shares why she retired early from teaching art...

This week, Susan and Joni dive into what it really means to live, create and finding your Inner 'wild' without compromising yourself. Bring inspired by Glennon Doyle's 'Untamed 'and Elizabeth Gilberts 'Big magic' We talk about creative ruts, is it ok to settle, the awkward reality of “living our values,” and the sheer effort it takes to keep going when life is throwing everything at you (including...

This week we chat with international private chef, TV presenter and food writer Philippa Davis whose culinery adventures have taken her from high-end kitchens to the front of the camera. We talk about her journey to success, the performative pressure of cheffing, hilarious behind the scenes stories and how she kept going - even when no one was watching. Philippa shares why showing up, staying busy...

Can we be very honest.... it was hard to show up for this podcast! Our storage on our phones and our emotional 'storage' is full to the brim! But we did show up and it was great to talk through some of the issues we are finding hard and the minute and as soon as we begin to chat things through we found ourselves laughing in no time! Recorded during the peak of the heatwave you may hear one of our...

This week, we’re joined by Linus Karl and Josef Martin of Awkward Productions — the fearless, funny duo behind Diana : The Untold and Untrue Story and the new interactive romcom The Fit Prince . We talk with them about turning bad reviews into buzz, building a global audience, and why saying yes to your wildest creative instincts might just be the key to success. They share Fringe highs and lows,...

In this episode, we take you behind the scenes of our new cabaret - revealing the heart, humour, and real-life chaos that shaped the set -list. From multitasking to perimenopause, meditation to being heard in a noisy world, every track was chosen because it says something we've felt - and that you probably have too. It's about more than performance. it's about telling the truth .. in perfect harmo...

In this episode, we talk to somatic movement expert and Nia teacher Dorit Noble about how movement, meditation, and creativity all live in the body — not the mirror. We explore how healing happens when we stop trying to make it all look “good,” and start tuning into what we actually feel. Expect a soulful, surprising conversation about connecting to the unconscious, creating without performance pr...

Joni and Susan discuss the expectations we put on ourselves, other people and the weight of everyone else expectations!

Joni de Winter and Susan Grant are back and this week they have a very special guest Actor/Musician Geri Allen. Geri is currently starring in 2024 Oliver Award Winner for Best New Musical 'Operation Mincemeat'. In amongst Geri's brilliant stories about the industry we discuss how Geri made her West End Debut in her 40's whilst navigating being a new mum. We talk about how we can be made to feel th...

Season 4 Episode 1 of The Not Just B.S Podcast In the episode we dive into the messy middle of the creative process - where motivation hides and deadlines loom. We talk about recognising that you're actually moving forward (even if it doesn't feel like it), learning to sell yourself without cringing and why sometimes you have to trust the final version. We also discuss setting aggressive but reali...

In this season finale, we hand the mic to you! Listeners and past guests fire questions our way — from the funny to the heartfelt — as we reflect on creativity, chaos, and what’s next.

In this powerful episode we sit down with our guest, actor Benedict Hurley, who opens up about the rollercoaster of performing through personal trauma, teaching young people to find their voice, and the pressure of not fitting into the casting mold. From grief to the stage, popularity to self-worth, this is a raw honest conversation about showing up when life hits hardest. Whether you're a creativ...

Joni de Winter and Susan Grant discuss their latest creative projects and how the advice from their guests this season have affected the creative process of creating their two new shows. They also chat about creative spaces and the 'Dare to Do' group on Facebook - an online space for creatives to set themselves challenges and talk about how they are getting on with their creative projects.