AFEW Great People Podcast

Major Nick Alexander from the Australian Army talks of his experience as a professional ballet dancer before joining the military, relating to how the values he held dear in one career could be built upon and has resulted in fuelling his success in another.

Cate Carter talks through her experience of a life in theatre and the arts before joining the Army and bringing what she learned to the fore in a completely different career path that surprisingly has many similarities.

Dr Michael Stanton is a licensed Clinical Health Psychologist and Assistant Professor at California State University, East Bay. Dr. Stanton's research examines how stress affects health behaviors, and his clinical work integrates mindfulness with cognitive behavioral therapy to treat both mental and physical health problems.  A frequent presenter at both national and international scientific conferences, his articles have been published in such journals as Molecular Psychiatry, American Journal of Public Health, and Harvard Review of Psychiatry. Dr. Stanton is also a guest contributor to several Bay Area TV news stations, where he adds psychology expertise to the analysis of current events. He holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with a focus in Behavioral Medicine from Duke University, completed his postdoctoral training at Stanford University, and received his B.A. from Brown University. 

Sam Wright is an actor who trained at Identity School of Acting and Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Her recent theatre credits include Paulina in Winters Tale which toured to Paris, Emma in Mike Bartlett's contractions at Hen and Chickens Theatre and Carol in new writing Flight of Fancy by James Mannion at the White Bear Theatre. She is a member of Third Person Theatre – a dramatic improv group and over lockdown has performed with them in remote International Dramatic Improv Festival in Texas in September.

Brian Voakes is an actor whose career has taken him on unlikely journey that started at his high school drama club, saw him study Psychology at college and embark on a first career in finance. As evidence of how it's not unusual to take many paths in life, Brian found himself in a timely place after emigrating to the UK and being one of the first designers in the country qualified with an IT degree; his second Bachelors degree. His rare talent was sought after and some 25 years in design and book publishing followed, before Brian's path has come full circle and today sees him successfully forging a new career in the dramatic arts, having recently completed an acting Diploma at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

Dr Kaushik Murali is based in Bengaluru, India, and does amazing community outreach work with @sankaraeyehospitals that has helped over 2 million people in rural India with their eyesight. In recognition of Dr Murali's essential work and Diwali, a wonderful Hindu festival which symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance; the afew Great People podcast brings you this uplifting episode where we discuss how millions of rupees won't necessarily bring you happiness.

LEIO is one of the hottest upcoming singer-songwriters of the year. This episode features two of LEIO's tracks, her debut single 342 and an exclusive listen into Euston Road from her soon to be released EP.  We treat you with an insightful look into LEIO's artistic inspiration by taking you on a journey that includes Eva Cassidy's version of Fields of Gold and how you can build the life you want. Once in a generation a talent so pure and forceful breaks through and sets the world aflame. LEIO is here. Time to burn. 

“As we build up to our customer service focused performance night this October, 2020, in this episode we bring you Becky Huddy, who having been furloughed from her job in the events industry during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, launched herself into working as a Warehouse Associate for Amazon! Following a recall from furlough, Becky's back as a Project Manager in the events industry based in London. She originally obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Electronic Engineering at Durham University before later completing her postgraduate diploma in Event Management with the Event Academy. As we build up to our customer service focused performance night this October, 2020, in this episode we bring you Becky Huddy, who having been furloughed from her job in the events industry during the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic, launched herself into working as a Warehouse Associate for Amazon! Following a recall from furlough, Becky's back as a Project Manager in the events industry based in London. She originally obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Electronic Engineering at Durham University before later completing her postgraduate diploma in Event Management with the Event Academy.

Lorna Brown, a respected international actor based in London. After training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Lorna debuted in Once On This Island. In the 25 years since then her acting experience has taken her from the Royal Shakespeare Company and The National Theatre to television and feature films, the first of which was in Denmark, and saw Lorna nominated for a Robert Award. She most recently appeared in Terminator: Dark Fate and in Devils for Sky. We are honoured to have Lorna as our Patron at Arts For Essential Workers and our guest in this podcast episode, where she talks about Jamaican storytelling, breaking medieval curses & how following your heart is linked to the environment.

Lucía Verdomar is an Argentine singer with live performance experience worldwide from intimate audiences in London's  Soho House, Covent Garden, to massive concerts in Argentina. As an entrepreneur, Lucia founded the Online International Academy of Music: for singers and musicians, “Academia Viva Voz”. She's as passionate about vocal coaching and music teaching, as she is about performing and music producing, another string to Lucia's bow.

Dr Keshav Shree, our creative director at afew. An Imperial College London graduate, Keshav has worked as an Accident and Emergency doctor (at King's College Hospital) through the COVID-19 pandemic. He has explored his creative side through studying acting in his spare time – winning a number of short-film acting roles; writing and directing his own work. 2020 marks a watershed moment for Keshav who finished his acting training at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and now leaps into scriptwriting, acting, directing and illustrating. Keshav believes the arts are a crucial respite for essential workers. He is driven by a desire to make afew's productions accessible, relevant, and interactive

Katie Coull, our Artistic Director at afew. Katie is a Scottish creative who graduated from East 15 Acting School in 2017, after which she co-founded two theatre companies: Dead Leaf Theatre & We Are Kilter. . Notable plays include Bit of Sunshine, written by Nicole Zweiback and directed by Katie and co-founder Ed Theakston, where they were awarded best new play at Stockwell playhouse and most successful short run play at Theatre 503. Bit of Sunshine has also gained multiple 5 star reviews in its two trips to Edinburgh Fringe.   Katie also had an excellent run with her play Celtic Sisters which she wrote, produced and acted in. Celtic Sisters debuted in June 2019 at the Tara Arts Theatre.  Having been raised in a family full of teachers and nurses, Katie feels a strong connection to the ethos of Arts For essential workers.

Sarah Pimenta is an experienced artist, workshop facilitator, teacher and lecturer in creativity. Her specialist art form is print-making, and her creative practice has brought texture, colour and emotion into a variety of environments, both in the UK and abroad. She has over twenty years' experience of designing, delivering and teaching in creative, high-quality art workshops in over 250 schools, diverse communities and public venues, including the British Library, Tate, St Paul's Cathedral, V&A, NESTA, Oval House and many charities. Her work is often described as art with therapeutic intent, and she is skilled in working with adults and children who have access issues and complex needs. Sarah is known as Social Fabric www.social-fabric.co.uk.

Anna Hoghton's debut children's novel ‘The Mask of Aribella' was published by Chicken House Books in January 2020. Previously, Anna has worked in film, and as a ‘Visual Storyteller' for the creative agency ‘Pixillion'. She is an award-winning writer/director who spent two years on the BAFTA Youth Board. In 2018, her environmental short film ‘Never Land' won the Ideastap ‘short film fund' for development and, was awarded ‘best narrative' at the Women in Film and Television International Showcase.  Anna is a published poet and recently won the Bath and North Somerset Libraries ‘Lockdown Poetry' competition. 

In this episode we speak to Priya Jindal, a teacher of science in London. Priya studied her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology at Edinburgh University and subsequently achieved her qualified teacher status after being awarded her Postgraduate Certificate in Education from the University of Oxford. Priya is passionate about teaching and the importance of an equal opportunity education for all, which is what she aims to bring to her classroom. At afew we admire Priya. Why? Not only is she an inspiring teacher from a London based secondary schoo,l that faced many challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she is also one of those rare people who is working in a profession that's fully aligned with her purpose in life.  We could all learn a little something from someone with such strong values…

In this episode we speak to Syrus Lowe, a respected actor who trained at RADA. He has appeared in the West End in The Inheritance & La Cage Aux Folles. Other theatre includes Saint Joan at the Donmar Warehouse, ‘Earthquakes In London' at the National Theatre & Henry V at Regents Park Open Air Theatre. His most recent Television work includes Home on Channel 4 & HBO's Avenue 5. He has also appeared in Holby City, DCI Banks & Sherlock.  Did you know, Syrus is the voice of Lars in the hit CBeebies series, Go Jetters?!

In this episode we interview Caroline Coull, a Scottish nurse who has worked for the NHS for over 30 years and has dedicated her life to helping others while being a mother to three girls (one of which is Katie, our Artistic Director!) Caroline uses yoga and art as a way to wind down after days in high intensity environments and in this candid interview she talks about how important it is to take time for yourself both for mental health and physical health, whether that's through reading a good book, watching a nostalgic film or up-cycling an antique cabinet!

In this episode we speak to Hadi Mousally who is a multiple award winning hybrid film director and fashion artivist against injustice. Born and raised in Lebanon, Hadi shares his journey from obscurity, via mathematics and engineering, before backing himself and taking a leap of faith into the film and fashion industries.   In 2014 in Paris, Hadi was shunned as an unknown creative artist - He was told he was a ‘no-one'.   How he has risen from those humble beginnings to become a respected, international award winning, and in his words, a HYBRID artist who is firmly in touch with his identity, is revealed in this extended edition episode, that was so captivating that even after editing, we've run over-time to the 50 minute mark!   We start this episode with a 1 minute silence.  This is in respect of  Hadi's Lebanese origins and the people of Beirut, who suffered greatly on the 4th of August 2020 after a stockpile of ammonium nitrate exploded to devastating effect, resulting in at least 157 deaths, 5000 injuries, and some 300k people left homeless.

In this third episode we interview Dr Sita Jindal, an essential worker from the UK's National Health Service.  The afew Great People Podcast brings you a series of light-hearted interviews with essential workers and creative artists from all over the world. We start by asking all our guests one question: 'What 3 works of art have most impacted you in your life?' afew Great People is part of the not for profit social enterprise 'Arts For Essential Workers', an organisation that produces interactive art to support essential workers by encouraging dialogue and inspire human connection.

The afew Great People Podcast brings you a series of light-hearted interviews with essential workers and creative artists from all over the world. We start by asking all our guests one question: 'What 3 works of art have most impacted you in your life?' afew Great People is part of the not for profit social enterprise 'Arts For Essential Workers', an organisation that produces interactive art to support essential workers by encouraging dialogue and inspire human connection.

Time to chill? Listen to our short stories, written by Arts For Essential Workers creative artists. 

Light hearted entertainment interviewing essential workers and creative artists.