We Need to Make Things

When his dream job as picture editor of The Times turned into a nightmare, Paul Sanders turned to photography to help him heal and find a way back to himself. In this episode Paul urges us to forget about being famous, praise our peers and fully accept that we are enough. (He also explains why leaving a job with a six-figure salary was one of the best decisions he ever made.) Content warning: This...

Having spent 12 years as a comedian, David duChemin uses his knowledge of improvisation, messy beginnings and creative angst to make photographs that connect with people in a deeply human way.   In this episode, David urges us to reject perfection, start ugly and treat our lives as our greatest art. Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things are posted every other Tuesday, so mak...

Heidi Zuckerman believes that art saves lives and has the power to make the world a better place, which is why she’s on a mission to remove as many barriers to creativity as she can.  In this episode, Heidi shares her five-step morning routine, her advice on dropping into the flow state and her belief that art should be a basic human right, not a privilege.   Thanks for listening! New episodes of...

A 1980s bleach advert led to an unexpected career start for Bill Ward, but what he learnt in the advertising office has shaped and influenced his journey as a multi-award-winning actor and photographer.    In this episode, Bill describes what his background in advertising and acting bring to his photography, the importance of safe spaces for ideas, how he deals with rejection and why staying open...

Cig Harvey’s work is devoted to the topic of what it is to feel. From capturing moments that make her gasp to embracing the collision of senses, she explores what it is to be human via large-scale colour photography and written vignettes.   In this episode, Cig shares her thoughts on the value of art, the secret language of flowers, the importance of the journey over the destination, and the need...

A mix of creative instinct and tenacity has enabled award-winning photographer Alys Tomlinson to create a number of celebrated long-term photography projects and, more recently, to co-direct an award-winning documentary film, Mother Vera.      In this episode, Alys shares why creative problem-solving is at the heart of her work, how it feels to hand a project over to an audience, and the extraordi...

When photographer and travel journalist Suzy Bennett walked into a Victorian forge to commission a curtain rail, she was bewitched by the sights and sounds she found there. The experience caused a career change that led Suzy to reduce her worldwide travel and pick up stories closer to home in Devon.   In this episode she looks at what lies behind our compulsion to make things, how craft can benefi...

Zelda Cheatle is a curator, consultant and lecturer whose passion for photography remains undimmed despite more then 40 years in the industry. In 2024 she was named a ‘Woman of Influence’ by the Association of Photographers.  In this episode Zelda shares the mistakes people make when approaching galleries, what happens when museums run out of storage and describes the day she used a water pistol t...

Artist and photographer Philippa Stanton is a synaesthete who believes that connecting with our senses can unlock new levels of creativity. She’s also a super fan of the humble telephone kiosk, and sometimes wonders if her house might have once been a brothel. In this episode she shares tips for embracing procrastination, staying sane (and successful) on Instagram and treating life as a creative a...

Portrait photographer Harry Borden has won numerous high-profile awards and captured everyone from Keir Starmer to the Spice Girls, but it's the photographs of his children and his role as a father that he cherishes the most. In this episode he shares the two questions you should ask yourself before starting a long-term project, how running a YouTube channel has deepened his relationship with his...

Letting go of perfectionism, and embracing creative constraints, has allowed artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon to make great art and great pizza!    In this episode she shares her tips for navigating influence and developing your artistic voice, surviving the skills gap (otherwise known as the shark tank) and breaking free of the ‘starving artist’ mindset. Thanks for listening! New episodes of W...

Diving in the open ocean has taught photographer, writer and expedition leader Henley Spiers as much about himself as it has about the marine life he captures with his camera. In this episode he shares tips for marketing work on Instagram, lessons the ocean can teach us about life on land, advice on taking criticism, and the dangers of becoming too creatively comfortable. A solo exhibition of Henl...

We live in a digital age, but some things – like creative intuition and a love for print – can’t be automated. Janine Vangool recently introduced a ban on AI in UPPERCASE. In this episode she explains why, as well as her tips on how to get things done, how to train yourself to notice ideas and why creative mess is all part of the magic.     This is the final episode of Season One of We Need to Mak...

From wearing a spacesuit to inviting strangers into photo booths, Simon Murphy knows how to work on long-term projects without losing momentum or a sense of playfulness. In this episode he shares his chapter approach to projects, his creative morning routines, his advice on unlearning and his feelings on AI. Simon’s wonderful first book Govanhill was published in 2023. Thanks for listening! New ep...

Many brilliant artists are terrible at business, but using some of the skills he learnt in hospitality management, Bastiaan Woudt was never going to be one of them. Effective marketing, foolproof systems and a passion for photography have enabled him to create an enviable career that balances work, life and personal projects such as DJing, travelling and supporting NGOs. In this episode, Bastiaan...

When he was thrown out of the church for being a heretic, Sean Tucker discovered the importance of adopting a creative outlet to work through his frustrations. Sean is now a successful photographer, filmmaker, speaker, and the author of The Meaning in the Making, a brilliant book that shares his philosophy for living a creative life. Through his experiences, Sean has learnt the importance of knowi...

Using our hands to make things is the new luxury. It connects us to our ancestors, the earth and ourselves, and it improves our wellbeing and brain development. In 2012, Melanie Falick found herself sitting in a bathroom, looking at her hands and crying. Technology and business were robbing her of a good life, and something had to change. This realisation led her to travel the world, meeting with...

When Mary Jo Hoffman committed to posting a picture a day online, the process became so addictive (and beneficial) that the chain remained unbroken for more than a decade. During the process, Mary Jo learnt that wild constraints lead to wild creativity, process is more important than product, and reconnecting with nature has value beyond measure.    Mary Jo’s beautiful book STILL: The Art of Notic...

Welcome to We Need To Make Things, a fortnightly podcast that will help you to kickstart your creative practice, stay inspired, and find the confidence to share your work with people who really need to see or hear it.