Art Imitates Life

On today's episode I had a brilliant chat with the very talented Robert Foulkes who worked as the location manager for many of my favourite films including La La Land, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and so much more! We spoke about everything from the films he made in high school with none other than Nicolas Cage to using Google Maps to track down the stunning locations used in Three Billboards, as well as the logistics in shooting ambitious dance sequences such as that iconic opening where "Another Day Of Sun" is performed on the freeway. You can keep up with Robert's work on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rofo1Foulkes and on IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0288316/ If you enjoyed the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds (https://twitter.com/johnreyno42). Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Today I talk to Philippa Tomlin, a talented artist who uses recycled materials to create unique pieces her son labelled "hysterious", a name which stuck and appropriately fits! If you're interested in checking out Philippa's artwork you can follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/philippa.tomlin/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/HysteriousArt If you enjoyed the podcast you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Today I'm talking to the wonderful actor Richard James about his experience of working on the 1996 film "The Wind in The Willows", directed by and starring Terry Jones, alongside Steve Coogan, Eric Idle, John Cleese, Victoria Wood, Stephen Fry, Michael Palin, and a whole host of British comedy legends. Richard spoke to me about being directed by a larger-than-life Terry Jones dressed as Toad, the chaos of filming the Weasel scenes at Toad Hall, and what he learned from being offered a bigger role than he auditioned for at such an early stage in his career. If you enjoyed the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Today's episode is one of my favourites yet: a wonderful in-depth chat with my friend Joe about his directorial debut short film that I recently starred in: "A Backline In Belgium." Four soldiers trapped in a single room inside the trenches of Belgium in WW1 are torn apart by each other due to the conflict between a captain and his superior officer as they discern who among them, if any, is a spy. We had a great chat about the behind the scenes chaos that ensued in his dad's shed, writing characters that would be believable and contrasting, and the research he did to make the WW1 setting more authentic. A Backline In Belgium can be watched and enjoyed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlG6aEAfHrg&t=346s If you would like to follow Joe's filmmaking on Instagram, his page is: https://www.instagram.com/phosejphilms/ If you enjoyed the podcast, you can follow the Instagram page at: https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ Or buy me a coffee at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Or even follow me on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/johnreyno42 Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Today I spoke to David Hughes, an Ormskirk-based singer-songwriter who goes by the name "Charity Shop Pop." We had a great chat all about bedroom pop, Ormskirk's charity shop scene, and keeping spirits up during quarantine! If you would like to follow Charity Shop Pop on social media, you can do so on Twitter (https://twitter.com/charityshoppop) or on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/charityshoppop/) Stream Crazy About Her on Spotify, or watch the music video here on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__x4dsdbZ6s If you enjoyed the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram at (https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/), follow me on Twitter at (https://twitter.com/johnreyno42) or support the show by buying me a coffee at (www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife) Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Today I talk to a real Renaissance man, David William Parry; an award-winning 'theatrical poet', esteemed celebrant, and Central Asia enthusiast. Reverend David Parry is also an LGBTQ activist, TEDx speaker, playwright, producer, essayist, broadcaster, actor, director, founding member of Theo-Humanist Arts and a frantically busy Social Gospel pastor to South London's disadvantaged. I had a wonderful chat with David about life, the arts and how creative calling is similar to a religious calling. If you would like to keep up to date with David's work, you can follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/dparry777/ If you enjoyed the podcast, then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds

After a bit of a break, I'm back!! Today's episode sees me talking to musician and songwriting mentor Connor Frost. If you're interested in his songwriting mentorship service you can check out his website here: https://www.connorfrost.com/ or follow him on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/connorlfrost/ If you enjoyed the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds

Happy new year! I'm delighted that the first episode of this year is with Rivkah Reyes, who you will recognise as Katie from School of Rock. I had a great chat with Rivkah about their experience in School of Rock, how they've recovered from some problems caused by this, and how they're planning a comeback through exciting new projects including several indie films and a popular TikTok page I really recommend checking out the article Rivkah wrote last year which we refer to several times throughout the show: https://humanparts.medium.com/tales-of-an-obsolete-child-actor-92a120f08576 If you would like to keep up with Rivkah on social media, you can on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rivkah.reyes , on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rivkah.reyes , and on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rivkahreyes If you enjoyed the show, then you can support the Podcast by following me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buying me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds

Today it's great to speak to Craft-D, a rapper, poet, writer and educator from London, now based in Bristol, whose latest song "Letter To Corbyn" not only went viral and made the charts, but inspired me to reconnect with the enthusiasm I had for political activism last year. I talk with Danny about how Jeremy Corbyn inspired us both to be kinder people, and how Corbyn's legacy will be seen throughout the rest of our lifetimes. "Letter To Corbyn" is available on all music platforms, and you can find Craft-D on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Craft_D or Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/yocraftd If you enjoy the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife To learn more about Rethink Stigma, please visit rethinkstigma.org Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

On today's episode I'm talking to a good friend of mine, Gary Lunt, about his Liverpool-based film locations walking tour: Reel Tours. We hear how Gary set Reel Tours up, why film has been Gary's closest friend since he discovered Jason And The Argonauts at a young age, and what is was like watching Matt Reeve's upcoming Batman film being filmed on top of the Liver Building and around the city last month. If you would like to learn more about Reel Tours, then you can visit his website here: https://www.reeltours.co.uk/ If you enjoyed the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife If you would like to learn more about Rethink Stigma and our mission to rethink the stigma on mental health, improve the way mental health is viewed and treated in our society, and ultimately save lives, then you can visit the website here: https://www.rethinkstigma.org/ Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness.

On today's show I'm talking to one of my good friends from uni, Freya Yeldham, all about her dissertation topic: Pussy Riot and Performance Protest. Pussy Riot are a highly controversial Russian-based feminist punk group, so this was a really brilliant discussion that taught me a lot!! To keep up to date with Freya's acting, theatre and politics, then follow her on Twitter at https://twitter.com/freyaaaclare If you enjoyed the show then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Today I'm talking to Pruthvi Khilosia, my friend from college, who is a freelance journalist and lover of stories. We're talking about South Asian Identity in the media: how true some of the stereotypes are about Indian and Pakistani families living in Britain, and what a diverse, balanced film industry should look like. He wrote a brilliant article which I reference a couple of times in the episode which you can visit here: https://bylinetimes.com/2020/07/30/our-lives-matter-the-generational-fears-holding-young-asian-people-back/ If you're interested in following Pruthvi's journey then I definitely recommend following his Instagram page here: https://www.instagram.com/pruthviproductions/ If you enjoyed the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Today I spoke to my internet buddy Jamie Goodman, the host of the brilliant Red's Ramblings Podcast, all about why he decided to dedicate a series on his show to learning about different cultures around the world. We talk about the value of making friends from all around the world and how the internet has made that so much more accessible, growing up in a small town and wanting to explore more of the world, and why it's important to be curious. Jamie also offers some great tips for anyone hoping to set up a podcast of their own. If you'd like to listen to Red's Ramblings then you can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts from! You can follow his show on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/redsramblings1/ If you enjoyed the show then you can follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

In today's episode I interview Ekwa Msangi, director of the film "Farewell Amor." The synopsis: Esther and Sylvia arrive from Angola to live with Walter, who left his war-torn homeland 17 years ago. Sharing a tiny apartment in Brooklyn, they try to rebuild their lives together and overcome the personal and political differences that developed in their years apart. Walter accepts that he can no longer play the role of the single man, while Esther has become a devout Christian, secretly sending what little they earn to her church back home. Meanwhile, Sylvia tries to adjust to life in this foreign land. Presenting the emotional journey of three characters as they struggle to reconnect, filmmaker Ekwa Msangi's sensitive and thought-provoking drama succeeds in offering us a glimpse into the experiences of New York's African immigrant population. If you enjoy today's episode then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife

I'm back from my break to talk about my favourite film I saw at the BFI London Film Festival 2020: Thomas Vinterberg's brilliant "Another Round." The film stars Mads Mikkelsen as a History teacher in a bit of a rut, so gets together with his friends to test a theory that says humans are born with an alcohol deficit, and that we're more productive and confident when we have 0.05% of alcohol in our bloodstream at all times. I'm joined by two Danish cinephiles (Vibe Kellerman and Theo Refsgaard) who kindly shared their thoughts on the film and how accurate a depiction it was of Danish culture. If you enjoyed the podcast then you can follow the show on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife

I was lucky enough to be accepted to do press for the BFI London Film Festival 2020! Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching Peter Murimi's new documentary "I Am Samuel" and then being able to speak to him afterwards about it. We spoke all about the LGBT experience in Nairobi, some of the misconceptions about Kenya that Westerners may learn from his film, and the importance of keeping hope when there is nothing else. Samuel grew up on a farm in the Kenyan countryside, where tradition is valued above all else. He moves to Nairobi in search of a new life, where he finds belonging in a community of fellow queer men where he meets and falls in love with Alex. Their love thrives even though Kenyan laws criminalize anyone who identifies as LGBTQ, and together they face threats of violence and rejection. Samuel's father, a preacher at the local church, doesn't understand why his son is not yet married and Samuel must navigate the very real risk that being truthful to who he is may cost him his family's acceptance. Filmed over five years, I Am Samuel is an intimate portrait of a Kenyan man balancing pressures of family loyalty, love, and safety and questioning the concept of conflicting identities. If you enjoy the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ Hosted by John Reynolds

Today I talk to a wonderful and unique creator, Heather Kennedy, who set up "It Was Made At Midnight" earlier this year. Heather makes adorable needle felted mice from scratch, and after being internet friends for so long I decided it was finally time to talk face-to-face and get her on the show! If you want to check out Heather's mice, then you can follow her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/itwasmadeatmidnight/ or visit her Etsy at: https://www.etsy.com/shop/itwasmadeatmidnight/ If you enjoy the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds

Today I'm talking to a very inspiring independent documentary filmmaker who finds the pleasure and beauty in the relaxing things in life. Peter has been creating short videos documenting his town Weymouth which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/user/zzippster . We spoke about the importance of independent media in an era dominated by mainstream media and making profit from news. If you enjoyed today's episode then you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife

Happy October! That can only mean one thing, can't it? Halloween is at the end of the month! If you're a fan of all things spooky, then why not join me and Martha in our "Spooktober" challenge. It's simple: watch 31 horror films in 31 days. Post each film you watch to your Instagram story, tag @artimitateslifepodcast and hashtag it #Spooktober ! Hope to see you again at the end of the month where we will be recapping and reviewing the 31 horror films we saw. To see my watchlist for the month go to: https://letterboxd.com/john_reynolds/list/spooktober-2020/ If you enjoy the podcast then you can follow the podcast on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife

Today I talk to acting coach Mark Westbrook about Post-Performance Depression, a temporary form of depression that performers feel after finishing a show or project. We discuss why it's so important for artists to reflect on themselves after finishing a performance, ways to deal with Post-Performance Depression, and why self-care is not only vital for creators, but for everyone. If you want to hear more from Mark, you can visit his website: https://actingcoachscotland.co.uk/ or find him on social media. If you enjoyed the podcast then you can follow me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Jingle by Gabriel Ness. Hosted by John Reynolds.

In today's episode I'm talking to Fiona McNamara, a lifestyle YouTuber who confronts taboo topics and raises awareness about mental health issues. I've been watching Fiona's videos for a couple of years so I thought it would be great to chat to her about how she approaches such difficult and complex topics in an honest and comforting way, and what some of the misconceptions are with Lifestyle YouTubing and how this differs from "Influencer Culture." If you want to see Fiona's videos then you can check out her YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqP6P2imm2ysbzTDtLj63Ww or follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fionamcnamaraxx/ If you've enjoyed the podcast then you can keep up to date on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

In today's episode I talk with actor Naomi Reddy, who I recently starred alongside in our upcoming short film "Nick & Liv Together." Behind the scenes, we often ranted about people who said the arts "isn't a proper career" or acting "isn't a real degree", so we decided to continue the conversation here and hopefully provide some useful advice for people who want to get into a creative career but have been put off by these lies that they will never make it. If you want to keep up to date with our film "Nick & Liv Together" then you can follow our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/someguyswithacamera/ . If you enjoy the podcast then you can follow the show at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or you can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife . Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

In today's episode I talk to Phoenix Alexander, a librarian at my University, who curates the largest catalogued science fiction collection in Europe. As I wrote my History dissertation focusing on H. G. Wells earlier this year, Phoenix helped point me in the right direction for a lot of valuable resources from the collection. I thought it would be brilliant to catch up and hear more about his role and what his thoughts are of science fiction as an important form of social commentary. If you're interested in reading more of Phoenix's fictional and non-fictional work, then you can discover more on his website: https://www.phoenixalexanderauthor.com/. If you enjoyed the podcast you can follow the show on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or you can leave a £3 tip at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Today's episode is with Occulta Dama, a wonderfully weird multi-disciplinary artist who believes that keeping in touch with your child self is vital because that's the best part of you. If you'd like to check out her work you can visit her website: https://www.occultadama.co.uk/ or follow her on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/occultadama/ . If you enjoy the podcast you can follow the show on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife . Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

On Monday, me and my filmmaking group "Some Guys With A Camera" were invited to screen our latest short film "Blackbird" at the Plaza Cinema in Liverpool, followed by a Q&A with the cast and crew. Blackbird is a 20 minute short film we shot on a minuscule budget in January/February and released in March online. Over the summer it received several nominations from international film festivals. The plot is "Liverpool, 1985. Trampled by Thatcherist society and the loss of her long-term boyfriend, nihilistic loner Mary-Kate turns to petty crime to climb the class ladder as an inner-city avenger." In the Q&A we had: Matthew Reynolds (writer and director), Phoebe Riding (lead actor who plays Mary-Kate), Conor O'Neill (producer and supporting actor), myself (producer and supporting actor), and Ugnius Gorbaciovas (lead actor who plays Vincent.) The film is available to view on Amazon Prime here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/detail/B08DK31XQZ/ If you would like to keep up with my filmmaking adventures, you can follow the Some Guys With A Camera page on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/someguyswithacamera/ If you enjoyed the podcast, you can follow the show on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Today I'm talking to up and coming singer-songwriter and producer Joelle Edwards, who goes creatively by the name "Almost Autumn." We spoke about her songwriting process, producing her own songs, and how she keeps her mental health happy in such a demanding industry. You can find her on all social media under the name "Almost Autumn." Her new EP "Grow" is out now and available to listen to on Spotify or her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClIY_BsPq8zs0IF5sPi9VNQ If you enjoyed the show, you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

Friend/fellow filmmaker Conor O'Neill, and ,I boldly go where no man has gone before and discuss whether the universe depicted in Star Trek is the ideal perfect future. Combining my knowledge and passion of the concept of Utopia (I focused my history dissertation on it after all) with Conor's undying love for Wrath of Khan (and the rest of the Trek Universe), we discuss concepts such as money, technology and what it means to be human in this fun quest delving deep into the meaning behind Gene Roddenberry's creation. If you're interested in seeing more of mine and Conor's collaborations, you can keep up to date with our filmmaking projects by visiting the Some Guys With A Camera Instagram page (https://www.instagram.com/someguyswithacamera/). If you enjoyed the show, you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

I caught up with a friend from school, Sarah Prescott, who is pursuing her dream of being a vocalist. We spoke about why persistence is so important in the music industry, how she goes about teaching music at schools, and her last minute invite to attend the Brits. You can check out Sarah's work on her website https://www.sarahprescottmusic.com/ or by searching "Sarah Prescott Music" on social media. If you enjoyed the show you can follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast/ or you can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (http://gabrielness.com/)

I had a brilliant candid chat with local actor Andrew McKay, known in Liverpool for performing in drag as his character "Filla Crack." In this candid conversation Andrew opens up about the reality of drag performing and how he finds it difficult at times to connect with his true self, the difference between his style of drag and the "drag queens" that we see on RuPaul's Drag Race, and what his advice would be for young performers who want to go into drag. You can get in touch with Andrew on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/fillacrack. If you enjoy the podcast you can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife or follow the show on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/artimitateslifepodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness

James Jones is a violinist, guitarist, fiddler and so much more! I ask him about what it's like being able to play so many instruments, how Instagram has helped him get his music out there, and why quarantine inspired him to write a new album (coming soon!) For more info on James, you can visit his website at https://www.jameshenrybennettjones.com/about. If you're enjoying the show, you can buy me a coffee at https://www.buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife or follow the show on Instagram at @ArtImitatesLifePodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

In today's episode I talk to Aditiya Singh, an eclectic artist based in India who uses different mediums to express his art. I talk to Aditiya all about creating art in his Mumbai studio, being one of the youngest artists to have an exhibition at the Jehangir Art Gallery, and how his famously creative family (including Bollywood icons Ashok Kumar and Kiara Advani) inspired him to be an artist. You can discover more about Aditiya and his work on his website: aditiyasinghart.com. You can follow the show on Instagram @ArtImitatesLifePodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram.)

I talk to USA Today bestselling author Russell Nohelty about his books, graphic novels and advice for turning your creativity into a career. And HP Lovecraft (hence the title of this episode.) You can follow the show at @ArtImitatesLifePodcast on Instagram. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram) If you enjoy the podcast then you can support me at buymeacoffee.com/artimitateslife

In today's episode I'm talking to Chañtelle Lunt, who set up the Merseyside Black Lives Matter Alliance, and is also a journalist who writes about racial issues to raise awareness on the movement. I spoke to Chañtelle about why the movement is not just a US issue, why she quit the police force and how she is encouraging artists and creatives to support Black Lives Matter. You can follow the group on Twitter @MerseysideBLM, or by searching for "Merseyside Black Lives Matter" on Facebook. You can follow the show on Instagram @ArtImitatesLifePodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

In today's episode I talk to artist and art teacher Erin Bockler about how art has helped her express herself and heal through difficult times, and how she teaches her students to be creative. You can follow Erin on Instagram @erinbockler_art. You can follow the show on Instagram @artimitateslifepodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

On today's episode I talk to Jodi Aman, a psychotherapist with over 20 years experience, all about her work as a healer helping people recover from anxiety and depression, and also how she uses her books and YouTube channel to help others reclaim their happiness. You can follow Jodi Aman on all social medias. You can follow the show on Instagram @artimitateslifepodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

In today's episode I talk to a good friend Benji Holmes, a musician and songwriter, all about his debut EP ("Coming Alive or Falling Asleep"), his influences, and why music production is becoming much more accessible. You can follow Benji Holmes on Spotify and Twitter (@benjixholmes). You can follow the show on Instagram (@artimitateslifepodcast). Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram.)

Today I'm talking to Mary Potter Kenyon all about her upcoming book "Called To Be Creative" which is out on the 18th August. We talk about how everyone is creative, why it's so important to be creative, and how we can utilise creativity in our everyday lives. You can follow the show on Instagram (@ArtImitatesLifePodcast). Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

On today's episode I talk with one of my best friends, Adam Forshaw, about his new short story "Quali-Tea", writing, and the beauty of random acts of kindness. You can follow the show on Instagram: @artimitateslifepodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@gabrielnesscomposer on Instagram)

In today's episode I talk to makeup and effects artist Jeff Goodwin, who has worked on many iconic films such as Last of the Mohicans, Rambo III, and one of my favourite films: Blue Velvet (including making that iconic ear!) I spoke to Jeff about how he got into vfx makeup, what it was like working on set with David Lynch, and how the job of makeup artists has changed since CGI became more prominent in the film industry. You can follow the podcast on Instagram @ArtImitatesLifePodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

In today's episode I talk to stage manager Lauren Desjardins all about the art of behind the scenes theatre. We talk about working at the Edinburgh Fringe, what the roles and responsibilities of stage managers are, and how she deals with the stress and anxiety of behind-the-scenes responsibilities. Lauren's current creative outlet in lockdown has been her podcast "Dear Diary, Keep Out", which you can find on Twitter @ddkopod, or on the website, which is ddko.co.uk. You can follow the show on Instagram @ArtImitatesLifePodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

In today's episode I speak to contemporary dancer and teacher Michelle Boulé all about why dance is such a beautiful medium, how dancers use their body to express themselves and how people less familiar with dance (like myself) can learn to love and appreciate the art form. You can follow Michelle on social media (@boulemichelle on Twitter or @michelle.boule on Instagram) or visit her website www.michelleboule.com. You can follow the show on Instagram @ArtImitatesLifePodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

Today's episode is a little bit different because it's a story I'm very much a part of. I talk to my brother Matthew Reynolds about how we set up our zero budget film company "Some Guys With A Camera" and how we went from making films in our house as kids, to getting nominated for three international film festivals. We look at why you don't have to have money to make a film and why passion and a creative story is better than making a short film "technically" perfect. You can follow our films on Instagram @someguyswithacamera or on YouTube by searching "Some Guys With A Camera." Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

In today's episode I speak to Aleksandra DiGesaro, a fashion photographer who moved to Milan to pursue her love for art as a career. Aleksandra talks to me all about creativity, photography and how creatives can turn their hobby into their career. You can follow Aleksandra on Instagram at @aleksandragalert and get in contact with the show at @artimitateslifepodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

In today's episode I talk to Jacey Readle, a young woman who runs a YouTube channel dedicated to transgender issues where she posts videos about a variety of things such as coming out as trans and beauty/hair tutorials. We talk about how her journey has inspired not only her channel, but also her writing and acting. You can follow the show at @artimitateslifepodcast on Instagram. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram)

In today's episode I'm lucky to be joined by a very talented actor, Thomas Coombes, who is known for his work on TV shows such as Save Me, Man Down and Jekyll and Hyde, as well as his portrayal as Oswald in stage performances of King Lear in 2016. I talked to Tom about what COVID-19 has meant for the acting world, his personal creative process and the importance of drama education in schools. You can follow Tom on Twitter @thommycoombes and get in touch with the show on Instagram at @artimitateslifepodcast. Hosted by John Reynolds. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@GabrielNessComposer on Instagram.)

In today's episode I talk to Ruqia Osman, a young poet who performed "Bruises Under Black Skin" at the Black Lives Matter protest in Bristol. As a Somali refugee, Ruqia explains how her life influenced her poems and helped shaped her into the person she is today. You can follow her on Twitter @itsr_qia and get in touch with the show on Instagram @artimitateslifepodcast. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@gabrielnesscomposer)

It was an honour to talk to one of my favourite YouTube creators, Mark Wolters from Wolters World! Mark runs a popular channel that focuses on giving its followers honest travel advice, and suggesting the best places to visit when you go on your travels. I spoke to him about travelling and marketing his YouTube channel. You can follow Mark on all social media, just search for "Wolters World," and you can get in touch with the show on Instagram @artimitateslifepodcast. Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@gabrielnesscomposer on Instagram)

In episode 3 I'm joined from the States by Taylor Conley, an aspiring filmmaker going into her final year as a film student. As a black lesbian woman, Taylor talks to me about the struggles for African Americans and LGBT filmmakers in the industry, as well as discussing some of her favourite films by black directors: The Watermelon Woman (1996, dir. Cheryl Dunye) and Do The Right Thing (1989, dir. Spike Lee.) You can follow Taylor on Instagram @taylorcnly, and you can contact the show @artimitateslifepodcast Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@gabrielnessmusic on Instagram)

In Episode 2 of Art Imitates Life I'm joined from Sintra, Portugal by my friend Jasmim Bettencourt, a fellow Instagram film critic and aspiring filmmaker. For Pride month, we decide to discuss all things LGBT cinema and talk about the #QueeringCinema Instagram event that Jasmim set up. The films we discuss are: Weekend (2011, dir. Andrew Haigh); Love, Simon (2018, dir. Greg Berlanti); Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019, dir. Celine Sciamma); Moonlight (2016, dir. Barry Jenkins); and also the works of Derek Jarman and Kenneth Anger. You can follow Jasmim on Instagram at @jasmimtalkscinema_ or read the Queering Cinema reviews using the hashtag #Queering Cinema You can get in touch with myself on Instagram @artimitateslife podcast :) Jingle by Gabriel Ness (@gabrielnessmusic on Instagram)

In this first episode I introduce myself and the sort of things I will be talking about on the show. Thank you for checking out my podcast! My social media: Instagram: @artimitateslifepodcast Twitter: @johnreyno42