PIVOTAL SLICE: on writing & composing

Trigger warning for discussion of sexual violence in media. David and Jade attempt to break down the elusive concept of ‘tone’. They discuss the balance of light and dark in HBO's Succession , the role of intention in the writing process, and the rapey vibes of Poor Things .  You can read Jade’s review of Poor Things here: Men explain sexual liberation to me in 'Poor Things' Music a...

Jade chats to writer and yoga teacher Miles Borrero about publishing his memoir Beautiful Monster: A Becoming , and the importance of seeing positive trans stories in media and literature. Throughout his many lives, Miles Borrero has survived fronting a Latin rock band, riding horses competitively, acting on various stages across the US, and nannying a six-year-old. He has been Catholic, Jewish, a...

How do we figure out the path we are meant to be on, rather than the path chosen for us by others?  David and Jade ‘do a funny one’, rambling chaotically about marriage, babies, and the miserable reality of ‘cool jobs’. Merry Christmas!  Tell us about your own indoctrination by emailing pivotalslice@gmail.com. If this episode resonated with you, and you need some guidance around getting off ‘auto-...

Christina was thrilled when she learned she had won a prize for her poetry, and the chance to publish a book. But she quickly noticed red flags as she was communicating with the editor in charge of her work – and things only got worse from there. Jade chats to Christina about the importance of valuing yourself and listening to intuition while navigating the world of publishing, and beyond.  Christ...

Jade and David enjoy a damn fine cup of coffee and discuss the tonal landscapes of David Lynch’s work. Topics covered include baguettes, Tibetan monks, and car alarms.  Music and production by David Mackenzie FOLLOW AND SUPPORT US Buy us a coffee Find us on socials: Twitter Instagram Facebook TikTok Email us at pivotalslice@gmail.com Follow your hosts, Jade Green and David Mackenzie

David catches up with film and TV composer Denise Santos about her work, creative process and development. They discuss: The importance of representing diverse stories Staying strong and authentic in a male-dominated industry Getting the most out of collaboration Cultivating a healthy working routine Denise is an Emmy-winning Filipino musician and composer based in Los Angeles. Having previously w...

Jade speaks to Zuzu Valla, a fashion and beauty photographer based in the UK who is redefining modern beauty standards. They discuss Zuzu’s process of capturing a person’s ‘soul’, the importance of representing marginalised people in fashion and art, and how Zuzu built her own creative team and studio, starting in her living room. Follow Zuzu on Instagram / Visit her website We are raising money f...

Jade and David talk about their experiences with psychedelics, the impact of tripping and microdosing on their mental health/spiritual journeys, and the use of psychedelics to develop consciousness and creativity. We’d love to hear your thoughts, questions and experiences. Join the conversation by emailing us or reaching out on our social media channels.  Please make sure you are looking after you...

Come with us on an immersive journey through sound and stories! We connect with influential people within the immersive theatre world: Actor and Director Jess-Luisa Flynn and Creative Director Neil Connolly. They discuss the role of immersive art today, removing audiences from their reality, and the re-emergence of more traditional art forms that has factored into the immersive theatre boom. Throu...

TW: discussion of abuse Jade and David discuss their experiences of exploitation in their creative fields, and offer tips for recognizing potentially dangerous people while seeking representation or collaboration. They explore: Power and co-dependency in creative relationships Learning how to state your worth  Cultivating professional boundaries Spotting ‘red flags’ and ‘green lights’ Book recomme...

David speaks to Andrew Morgan Smith, the veteran film composer of the Nicolas Cage Western The Old Way (2023) and over ninety other projects across all media. They discuss Andrew’s journey into the film industry, his creative process while collaborating on large and small projects, and how parenthood has impacted his work life. Find out more about Andrew through his website , and follow him on Ins...

TW: Discussion of abuse  What happens to a piece of work once it is out in the world? Does the audience take ownership? As artists, how do we ‘let go’ of something we have poured so much energy into? Jade and David explore this process of separation from art. They also discuss how we decide what to do with the work of artists who have caused great harm to other people, and to the industries in whi...

Jade speaks to KB Brookins, a writer, cultural worker, and artist from Texas. They talk about using writing to deal with anxiety, what it takes to call yourself a ‘real’ writer, and how KB is utilizing their creative power to inspire positive change. KB Brookins is the author of How To Identify Yourself with a Wound (Kallisto Gaia Press, 2022) and Freedom House (Deep Vellum, 2023). KB is a 2023 Na...

On this episode we discuss the purpose of art in society, and how change starts from within. We explore: Using art to raise consciousness The effect of the ‘ego’ mind on creativity How identifying with your work can lead to crisis Cultivating healthy detachment from your art The roles of the right and left brain in the creative process ------------------------------ Music and production by David M...

David and Jade chat to Kristina K, a fashion designer and artist based in New York City who was a finalist on season 19 of Project Runway . They discuss how Kristina found her way to designing, the benefits of having time restraints, and tips for surviving the cutthroat world of fashion. Visit Kristina's website and follow her on Instagram Music and production by David Mackenzie FOLLOW AND SU...

Jade talks to Eri Maeda, a Japanese 'Self-Love Artist' based in Paris. Eri creates sculpture, ceramics and homeware based on inclusive representations of human bodies and sexuality. Jade and Eri discuss the message of her work - "Everyone is different and everyone is beautiful" and talk about how she started to create art to fight against the beauty standards and social pressur...

It may be harder to make a living as an artist than ever before. On this episode, David and Jade explore the exploitation of artists in modern society, discussing: self-worth and the energy of receptivity the role of technology in the undervaluing of art working for ‘likes’  defining your purpose as an artist processing shame around selling your work Music and production by David Mackenzie FOLLOW...

We continue our conversation on fiction writing with Jade Green. David talks to Jade about the ups and downs of writing novels and short stories, how her definition of feminism has changed through running a literary journal, and turning challenges into gifts. Music and production by David Mackenzie FOLLOW AND SUPPORT US Buy us a coffee Join our Patreon for uncut interviews, bonus episodes and excl...

We continue our conversation on writing music with composer David Mackenzie. Jade talks to David about what he has learned over the last year of running a new music brand, how he approached collaboration while working as a sound designer/composer for Wake the Tiger , and developing his sound through use of vocals. We play a selection of David’s new music throughout the episode.  05:59 The Undersid...

David chats to Cyrus Shahrad (Hiatus) about finding his way to writing and making music, differentiating language and musical form, and the role of the ‘self’ in artistic output. Cyrus is an electronic music producer and writer based in London. His musical work combines Iranian instrumentation, poetry, nostalgia and modern ambient sounds. He has worked as a journalist and written for various accla...

We often over-think the end result of our art, and forget to enjoy the process. From childhood we've measured our worth based on external achievements - such as money, qualifications and job titles - but how do we undo this conditioning to get the most out of our passion? In this episode David and Jade discuss: -          the difference between setting goals and obsessing over end results - ...

It’s an oranges journal takeover! Jade invites five writers to share excerpts from stories published on orangesjournal.com and talk about their inspiration. oranges is an intersectional feminist journal dedicated to amplifying marginalised voices. The writers joining us are based all over the world and represent a cross-section of the work featured on the journal. Stories: 06:00 Bathtup Kinship by...

It’s Halloween, it’s our one-year anniversary, and we’re delving into the scariest of subjects! Jade and David talk about the fears we must overcome in our creative lives. They discuss getting comfortable with the uncomfortable and how vulnerability is the key to powerful creative work. Jade also chats to Ellen Huang , a writer of horror and speculative fiction, about spirituality in stories and w...

On this bonus episode (unlocked from the Patreon feed) David and Jade talk about the role of rejection in the creative process, the energy of ‘I am enough’, and not taking rejections personally.  Keep trying, keep submitting, and know that by living your truth, you are bringing huge value to the world! We’ll be back soon with a brand new season of the pod, a fresh look, and more insightful guests...

Stress is a blockage to creativity. How can we manage the daily stresses and anxieties of life, so that we can give ourselves fully to our creative practice? Meditation is one of the best techniques you can learn to help you cope with stress and other mental health issues, and clear space in your mind to get the most out of your imagination. Jade and David talk about the techniques they use, the i...