Episodi
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In this bonus episode, Katy Cowan and Rob Draper swap the big career questions for something a lot more daft – a quickfire ramble through nostalgia, confessions and very questionable claims to greatness.
Rob shares his most controversial creative opinion (talking about it isn't doing it), the smallest thing that improves his work day, and the theme tune his creative style would have – an old radio dial flicking between fast and slow, classic and modern, all in the name of contrast. He reveals the skills he'd steal overnight, from projection mapping to portraiture, and the daily portrait challenge he's quietly set himself.
Along the way, the pair tumble down a glorious rabbit hole of childhood memories: Number 73 and Saturday morning telly, the first wave of electro and hip-hop, breakdancing in Worcester, and an eleven-year-old Rob's all-consuming dream of working for Nike. Katy, meanwhile, makes the case for stolen marzipan, declares herself the world's greatest hip-hop dancer (white wine permitting), and tries – repeatedly, desperately – to find a single other human being who gets the "fuzzy nose" feeling.
Warm, silly and gloriously off-piste, it's the perfect send-off for the season, and a reminder that the best creative conversations are the ones that refuse to stay serious.
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Lettering artist, designer and University of Worcester fellow Rob Draper joins Katy Cowan to close out the season with a warm, philosophical conversation about starting over and the art of creating something from nothing.
Rob opens up about the redundancy that upended his life at 40, the period when he cleared out a warehouse waiting for work that never came, and the decision that changed everything: to try anything, turn down nothing, and trust that action creates action. From teaching art in a men's prison to drawing on Starbucks cups and learning sign writing from a canal-barge painter, he shares how saying yes to the unexpected slowly built a career – and how COVID later pushed him back towards being the artist he'd always wanted to be.
Together they get honest about the "messy middle" of a creative life: redundancy, divorce, losing the house and starting again on a camp bed at his sister's, and what happens when the trappings of success you can no longer afford force you to rethink what success even means. Rob makes the case for baby steps over big leaps, for keeping a creative "toolbox" of skills you might not need yet, and for kicking enough balls at goal that, eventually, one goes in.
With reflections on authenticity in the age of AI, why craft will always find an audience, and the quiet contentment of enjoying the path rather than chasing the destination, it's a generous, funny and reassuring listen for anyone facing uncertainty – and proof that going right back to square one might just be the best thing that ever happens to you.
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Episodi mancanti?
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In the second, faster, slightly more feral half of the recording this week, Katy Ennis-Hargreaves of BOLDISM stays in the chair for The Spark – the rapid-fire round where the questions get cheekier and the answers get more honest.
Top of the agenda is her renowned and entirely unrepentant hatred of crocs, a feud so well known that former colleagues now send her "croc bait" on a weekly basis. From there, she makes the case against the beige, clean-girl aesthetic taking over the high street, and argues that the world simply needs more colour.
It's not all footwear-based warfare. Katy shares the small habit that actually rescues her work day, explains why "fake it till you make it" is the one piece of advice she'd ban from the industry forever, and pays tribute to Vivienne Westwood as her creative hero, the designer who insisted she wasn't a fashion designer at all but an activist.
Along the way, there's a frank confession about the last thing Katie "stole", a question handed forward to next week's guest, Rob Draper, and a gloriously unprofessional detour into why being bold means having genuine substance rather than just climbing.
Warm, daft and refreshingly raw in all the right places, it's a reminder that you can run a serious creative business and still have an enormous amount of fun doing it.
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Katy Ennis-Hargreaves of design studio BOLDISM joins Katy Cowan for an honest conversation about what happens when you stop watering yourself down and start living as your full self.
They dig into imposter syndrome as a driver rather than a hindrance, the years of being told you're "too awkward" or "too different", and the slow, organic transition toward going all in on who you really are.
Katy shares her journey from interior architecture graduate to independent designer with a leopard-print car, why she abandoned the rigid agency blueprint in favour of a more collaborative, human way of working, and how being part of the grassroots Wilson's Republic community keeps her grounded.
Along the way, they tackle the bullshit-bingo language of the design world, the difference between genuine substance and hollow social climbing, why "fake it till you make it" deserves the bin, and the truth that no one can ever really copy you because there's only one of you.
Warm, funny and refreshingly unprofessional in all the best ways, it's a chat about finding the courage to be bold, the people who shaped us, and remembering we only get one go on this rock.
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It's time for the Spark – our weekly bonus episode where we step away from the work and get to know our guest a little better through a round of quick, fun questions. No prep, no warning, no idea what's coming.
This week, host Katy Cowan puts Malika Favre on the spot, and the result is exactly the sort of relaxed, slightly daft chat you'd have with a mate over a glass of wine. They cover the small things that instantly improve a working day, what Malika's creative style would sound like if it had a theme tune, and the dream dinner party she'd throw, given two guests, dead or alive. There's a trend she's quietly very over, a surprising skill she'd love to steal from another world entirely, and the one country's food she'd happily eat for the rest of her life.
And then there's the question Malika was secretly hoping she'd be asked – which leads to a rather cheeky confession about her younger years. A short, warm, and very good-natured way to round off the week. Enjoy!
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Artist and illustrator Malika Favre joins host Katy Cowan for a wide-ranging conversation about building a creative career on your own terms. They talk about why Malika left London after fifteen years for the slower, sunnier rhythm of Barcelona, and the strange guilt of trying to take it easy in a city that never lets you.
Malika reflects on becoming an illustrator later in life at 28, why the years she spent as an in-house designer at studios like Airside gave her the business head that helped her survive freelancing, and how she resisted being put in a box – even turning down lucrative erotic commissions after her Kama Sutra book made her name, so she could keep that side of her work personal.
They get into the real state of the industry too: shrinking budgets, impossible briefs, and what AI means for illustrators starting out today. Malika makes the case that anything handmade and deeply personal will only become more valuable because no one can copy what comes from within.
Along the way, there's talk of growing up without a TV in the suburbs of Paris, the strong women who shaped her, the oversharing of vulnerability online, and her side venture, I Can't Afford This But Maybe She Can, which gives a voice to independent makers. Honest, funny and full of hard-won wisdom, it's a chat about stamina, taste, and why there will always be space for people with talent.
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Artist Jimmy Turrell returns for The Spark, where things get a little weirder and a lot more chaotic.
This week, we talk about the creative power of curiosity, the music that still puts Jimmy into a flow state, and why some of the best ideas come from getting out into the world and actually living a bit. There's also chat about rave culture, Anthony Bourdain, creative rituals, burnout, weighted blankets, album covers, childhood memories and an unexpectedly passionate tangent about eating snails.
Somewhere underneath all the nonsense is a surprisingly thoughtful conversation about creativity, imagination and staying open to life. This one definitely feels like the bit of the night where everyone should’ve gone home hours ago, but nobody wants the conversation to end.
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Jimmy Turrell joins host Katy Cowan for a sprawling, funny and unexpectedly moving conversation about creativity, working-class roots, growing up in the North East, and staying human in an increasingly artificial world. From childhood adventures that sound straight out of The Goonies to surviving bread factory shifts and discovering rave culture in the '90s, Jimmy reflects on the freedom and chaos that shaped his imagination long before social media arrived.
The celebrated graphic artist and illustrator also opens up about carving out a creative career without ever really fitting neatly into one box. He shares how his analogue, hands-on process accidentally future-proofed his work in the age of AI, why collaboration has become more important than ever, and how learning to embrace uncertainty can lead to your best work. Along the way, Katy and Jimmy dive into publishing, burnout, music, fashion, working-class identity, and the pressures creatives face as technology rapidly reshapes the industry.
There's also plenty of laughter. Expect Geordie accents, stories from Newcastle and Liverpool in the '90s, conversations about creativity versus commerce, and a refreshingly honest discussion about what it really takes to build a lasting creative life. Beneath all the humour lies something bigger: a conversation about originality, resilience, curiosity, and protecting your creative spirit as the world keeps changing around you.
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Right, this is where things get a bit more… unhinged. In this bonus episode, Katy and James Martin ditch the big topics and just have a proper chat. It's looser, more playful, and exactly the kind of conversation you'd have if you were sat next to each other at the pub after the mics were meant to be off.
They get into the small stuff that says a lot. The daily rituals that keep you sane. The trends that quietly drive you mad. The advice you wish would disappear forever. And yes, it goes exactly where you'd expect… pasta shapes, rave memories, and a few moments where you wonder how you're both still alive.
There's honesty in here, too. The kind that sneaks up on you when you stop trying to be clever and just talk. It's messy, funny, and full of those little insights that only come out when you're not overthinking it.
And, of course, it ends with a question for the next guest that might reveal more about someone than anything else. Don't take it too seriously. That's kind of the point.
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What does "personal branding" actually mean anymore? And do we really need to be visible all the time to build a successful creative career?
In this episode, Katy sits down with designer and founder James Martin (Made by James) for a candid, funny and surprisingly deep conversation about the reality behind the buzzwords. From the pressure to show up online to the myth of "being your authentic self", they unpack why so much of what we're told just doesn't quite sit right.
James shares his perspective on branding as something far simpler and more grounded. Not performance, but reputation. Not chasing attention, but building trust over time. Together, they explore what actually matters if you want to grow a creative career that lasts.
There's talk of confidence, comparison culture, and the uncomfortable truth that many of us still don't quite know who we are, let alone how to present ourselves online. Katy reflects on her own journey of stepping forward after years of staying behind the scenes, and why letting go of perfection can be the turning point.
Along the way, James introduces his 'DEEDS' model, a practical way to think about building a reputation through action rather than noise. It's a refreshing reminder that you don't need to play the game the way everyone else is.
It's honest. Messy. And it's a much-needed reset for anyone feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to be seen. So if you've ever questioned whether you're doing it "right" online, this one's for you.
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After a pretty emotional main episode, we ease things up a bit with Natty Harris in this week's Spark. And yes, there's still depth, but there's also plenty of laughs.
We get into the creative trends Natty's quietly over (sorry, sans serif lovers), the tiny things that can instantly improve your day, and why a really good pen might be one of life's greatest underrated joys. There's also a very relatable chat about overthinking, writing, and that awkward gap between what's in your head and what actually makes it onto the page.
Natty shares her creative hero, Frida Kahlo, and why being unapologetically yourself is harder than it sounds but absolutely worth striving for. Plus, we build the ultimate dinner party guest list, talk Netflix obsessions, and get into the kind of questions that are somehow both silly and weirdly revealing.
And of course, we end on a high note with possibly the best question we've ever had for a future guest. It involves pasta. You've been warned.
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This week, Katy sits down with senior designer Natty Harris for a deeply honest and emotional conversation about grief, loss, and rebuilding your life when everything changes. At the heart of the episode is Natty's brother Thomas, who died suddenly at 24, and the profound impact he had on shaping who she is today.
Together, they explore the many forms grief can take, from losing a loved one to navigating life changes that quietly alter who we are. Natty shares what it was like growing up as a young carer, the complicated mix of love, responsibility and identity that came with it, and how those experiences continue to influence her work as a designer and storyteller.
The conversation gently moves through the realities of grief. The chaos, the stillness, the strange moments of laughter, and the importance of allowing yourself to feel everything rather than pushing it down. Natty reflects on therapy, timing, and how doing the work before loss changed the way she was able to process it when it came.
There's also a wider thread here about creativity. What it means to show up when your emotional tank is empty, how grief shifts your perspective on work, and why so many creatives are feeling exhausted right now. This is an episode about humanity as much as it is about loss.
Ultimately, it's a conversation full of hope. About carrying the people we've lost with us. About finding courage in the hardest moments. And about learning, slowly, who you are on the other side.
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n this Spark episode, things get a bit looser and a bit more revealing. Katy puts David Airey on the spot with a mix of quick-fire questions, unexpected tangents, and the kind of prompts that lead to surprisingly honest answers.
They get into David's most controversial creative opinion, why he's wary of social media and the way it shapes design, and the one thing he'd quietly challenge about how we're all told to build a creative career. There's also a brilliant moment on discipline versus passion that flips the usual advice on its head.
Along the way, there are stories from early career missteps, thoughts on saying yes to everything, and a few nostalgic detours that remind you how different things used to be. It's lighter in tone, but still full of insight. And then it lands on something bigger. What you'd wish you'd done more of. What actually matters. The kind of question that lingers long after the episode ends.
A relaxed, honest, and quietly thought-provoking finish to the conversation.
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Katy sits down with legendary graphic designer and author David Airey to talk about two decades in the industry, but this isn't just a conversation about logos, books, and client work. It quickly becomes something deeper. A reflection on time, family, creativity, and what actually matters when you strip everything else away.
They explore what it means to build a long, sustainable creative career in a world that's constantly shifting. From growing up in that in-between analogue-to-digital era to navigating today's AI-fuelled uncertainty, David shares how he's managed to stay grounded, focused, and still in love with the work. His approach is simple but powerful: focus on the client in front of you, don't look too far ahead, and protect your attention at all costs.
There's also a refreshingly honest take on success. David opens up about the moment priorities shifted, particularly after becoming a parent, and how that changed his relationship with work. Less hustle, more intention. Fewer projects, better balance. And a growing awareness that time, not money or recognition, is the most valuable thing we've got.
Katy and David also get into the realities of the creative industry. The pressure, the comparison, the impact of social media, and why it's so easy to lose yourself in it all. David offers a quietly radical perspective here: discipline matters more than passion. Not the kind of advice that shouts, but the kind that sticks.
Along the way, there are stories of early-career missteps, reflections on regret (or the lack of it), and a shared nostalgia for a slower, pre-Internet world that shaped how they both approach life and work today. It's thoughtful, funny, and at times unexpectedly emotional.
If you've ever questioned your pace, your priorities, or what you're actually aiming for, this episode will land.
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Photographer Liz Seabrook is back for The Spark. Slightly subdued, a little chaotic, but still brilliantly honest.
What starts as a playful chat about matcha and East London fashion quickly becomes more reflective. There's talk of cycling rage, parachute pants, and the strange freedom of dressing however you want. But underneath it all is a deeper thread about identity, confidence and finding your place in the world.
Liz shares the small things that make a big difference to her day. Quiet time. Space to think. No distractions. A reminder that creativity often needs stillness, not noise. There's also a refreshingly direct take on side hustles. If you're serious about building something, she says, at some point you have to go all in—no half measures.
She talks about the skill she envies most. The patience to experiment, to sit with ideas, to not rush straight to the outcome. Something she's actively trying to learn.
And then the conversation shifts. Asked what she wants to be remembered for, Liz reflects on the recent loss of a friend. What follows is a quiet, powerful moment about kindness, presence and showing up for others, not just in life, but in her work as a photographer.
Because for Liz, it's never just about taking a picture. It's about creating a space where people feel safe enough to be themselves.
A gentle, thoughtful end to the episode. And a reminder that, in a world that often feels anything but, being seen and being kind still matter most.
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What happens when everything starts to look the same? In this episode, Katy sits down with photographer Liz Seabrook to talk about image-making in a world that feels increasingly artificial. From AI-generated campaigns to face-tuned portraits, they explore what's being lost as perfection becomes the default.
They begin with AI, because it's impossible not to. But the conversation quickly moves into something deeper. The strange overlap between technology and beauty standards, and how both are pushing us towards a kind of visual sameness that feels unsettling.
Liz shares what she's seeing behind the scenes as a working photographer: Clients arriving with AI-generated mockups; expectations shaped before a shoot has even begun, and a growing disconnect between the people making the work and the outcome.
There's also an honest conversation about how we see ourselves and why so many people feel uncomfortable in front of the camera. How years of filters, retouching and social media have quietly shifted our idea of what's normal. And the subtle pressure to look a certain way, even when we think we're immune to it.
Katy reflects on her own recent experience stepping back in front of the lens. The vulnerability of it. The surprise of seeing yourself through someone else's eyes. And the reminder that behind every great image is a team of skilled creatives working together to make something real.
They also touch on what's happening across the wider industry. The rise of AI in creative workflows, the loss of entry-level roles, and the increasing demand for more content, faster, often for the same budgets. It paints a picture of an industry in flux, trying to keep up with technology that's moving faster than anyone can regulate. And yet, there's still optimism.
Liz leaves us with a simple but powerful thought. To be creative is to be optimistic. Because why make anything at all if you don't believe it might be seen, felt or make a difference?
A timely conversation about authenticity, pressure and where creativity goes next.
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essie McGuire returns for The Spark, where things get a little looser and a lot more revealing.
She shares what she's tired of seeing in the creative world right now, including the obsession with speed and the pressure to react instantly to everything. It's a thoughtful take on why creativity needs time and space to breathe.
There's a brilliant moment on imposter syndrome, too. Jessie challenges the idea entirely, arguing that it's often something placed on people from the outside rather than something we truly feel within ourselves. It's a refreshing and empowering perspective.
The conversation drifts into social media, cringe culture and the pressure to present a perfect life. Jessie talks about the importance of stepping away from screens and reconnecting with your own thoughts, your own pace and your own voice.
We also get a glimpse into her personal side. From her love of notebooks and stickers to her dream dinner party with Elton John and Bad Bunny, it's full of charm and personality.
And then there's a genuinely touching moment. Asked what she'd do with $150, Jessie chooses to spend it on a meal with her mum. Simple, heartfelt and a reminder of what really matters.
She leaves us with a question for the next guest that lingers long after the episode ends. What do you want to be remembered for?
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What if design isn't neutral at all? In this episode, Katy sits down with Jessie McGuire, partner at New York design studio Thought Matter, to explore the real power of creativity and why it comes with responsibility.
Jessie shares her 10-year story at Thought Matter, working closely with founder Tom Jaffe to shape a studio built on experimentation, curiosity and big ideas. From those early days to recently winning the prestigious National Design Award, this is a conversation about commitment, belief and staying the course, even when the path isn't always clear.
They talk about imagination as more than a creative spark. It's a tool for shaping culture, influencing behaviour and questioning power. Jessie explains why she firmly believes design is never neutral and how every decision we make as creatives affects the world around us.
There's also an honest look at the past decade. From the shock of the 2016 election to the stillness of the pandemic, Jessie reflects on how those moments forced her and her team to pause, rethink and reconnect with what really matters. That shift led to more purposeful work, deeper questions and a stronger sense of direction.
Katy and Jessie explore what it means to do work that matters, how to support emerging designers, and why the industry needs more openness and collaboration. They also touch on the importance of discomfort and why pushing through uncertainty is often where the most meaningful work happens.
Jessie's perspective is grounded, thoughtful and quietly powerful. This is a chat about backing yourself, trusting your ideas and recognising that creativity isn't just about making things look good; it's about making things count.
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n this week's Spark, Adam J. Kurtz gets refreshingly honest about creativity, identity, and letting go of perfection.
From why "good enough" is often more than enough, to the surprising power of putting on a pair of socks, Adam shares the small shifts that can make a big difference to your day. He reflects on trusting your instincts, embracing imperfection, and why chasing "cool" might be the very thing holding you back.
There's humour, a bit of chaos, and some genuinely thoughtful moments along the way, including a simple question about what you'd do with $150 that reveals more than you might expect about priorities, creativity, and how we choose to live.
It's a short one, but it might just stay with you.
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In this week's episode, Katy sits down with artist, author and beautifully honest human Adam J. Kurtz to talk about what happens when you reach the thing you thought you wanted… and realise it's not the whole story.
Dialling in from Hawaii, Adam shares how leaving New York forced him to untangle his identity from his work, his city, and the version of success he'd been chasing for years. What followed wasn't a dramatic reinvention, but something quieter and more meaningful—a shift towards simplicity, honesty, and figuring things out in real time.
They talk about burnout, creative cycles, and the uncomfortable question so many of us are sitting with right now: what next? Adam reflects on how his work has evolved alongside his life, moving from hopeful striving to something more grounded, self-aware, and forgiving.
There's also a glimpse into his upcoming book, Now What?, a project shaped by uncertainty, growth, and the reality that none of us ever really have it all figured out.
It's a conversation about letting go of perfection, embracing change, and finding a version of success that actually feels good to live with. Funny, candid, and quietly reassuring, you'll realise that you're allowed to change your mind, path, and pace... no matter where you are right now.
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