Emotipod: Arts & Emotions: Recent Episodes
Frances Butt
Aimed at anyone who loves any kind of art form, in this series of conversations with brilliant guest creatives from many different genres, host Frances Butt explores the countless emotional and mental health benefits of the arts. After all, life without them wouldn't be much of a life at all...
In this final episode of Emotipod, host Frances Butt looks for hope in dark times, and chiefly references one of the best books ever written: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. Every adult should read it at least once.
Many thanks to all participants and listeners over the three series, which will remain available to listen to again.
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Music: Frances
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
...the Big One!
In this penultimate episode of Emotipod, host Frances Butt talks to Internal Family Systems coach Alex Bollag, about shame, a sensitive topic for everyone.
For excellent writings by Alex and to find out more about Internal Family Systems,
visit her website, The Healing Life
Buy The Language of Emotionsby Karla McLaren
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Music: Frances
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
Stories of heroes and villains, good versus (preferably conquering) evil, have always been with us, and extremely popular.
But have they always been conflated with our views of daily life and people, which seem to have become so polarised?
Why does do more people these days seem to be either worshiped or vilified?
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Having listened to the brilliant Jon Ronson on Joseph Campbell and the Hero's Journey (link below), host Frances Butt is joined by Chrissy Van Dyke for a wade through the culture wars...
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Some Call It Conspiracy:
Jon Ronson on the Allure of Conspiracies and the Culture War
(link to Apple podcasts, but available on others)
Music: Frances
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
Dissatisfaction or discomfort with one's appearance - we all have a little bit, but the beauty and slimming industries as well as popular culture feed the body shaming and 'othering' that can lead to very serious dysmorphic disorders like anorexia, addictions, extreme plastic surgery, etc.
Host Frances talks to peri-menopause, body image and confidence coach Tamsin Broster about how she's helping women - and her own children - feel happy in their own skins.
Tamsin Broster
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
What is MHFA? Mental Health First Aider and trainer Fabiola Doano fills in the details to host Frances Butt.
Trigger warning: this episode includes some references to sexual assault.
Here is a link to Fabiola's Mental Health First Aid training courses:
http://www.apoyocourses.co.uk
And her LinkedIn page:
Fabiola Doano, LinkedIn
You can also find out about MHFA within and beyond the UK here:
https://mhfaengland.org/
https://www.smhfa.com/
https://mhfawales.org/
https://aware-ni.org/mental-health-first-aid
MHFA International
Music: Frances Butt
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
An overblown sense of pride and self-importance in political leaders and high-achievers is nothing new.
Hubris is a very human thing and we’ve always been susceptible.
Join host Frances Butt in this very short solo journey through a few artistic and real-life examples of hubris.
Music: Frances Butt
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
What is the Jungian 'human shadow'?
Is it only the worst of ourselves, that we hide from ourselves and the world, or is there more to it?
Host Frances Butt explores with interior design psychologist Michelle Armitage.
Michelle's website - Light & Frank
Music: Frances Butt
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
As a performer, artist or just as someone aiming to promote your business, do you ever worry that you're bragging rather than sharing your talents, and that this might be harming rather than hindering you?
Host Frances Butt consults women's business network founder Sarah Cook and Internal Family Systems coach Alex Bollag to find out how to distinguish sharing from showing off.
Music:
Frances Butt
The Inkspots
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
Rage, not being an everyday emotion (ideally not at least), can be hard to understand and deal with. It isn’t ‘nice’ either. So we don’t talk about it that much - but maybe we should…
Step forward intrepid interior designer Zoe Hewett of stylemongersofbristol.co.uk to share experiences of rage with host Frances Butt.
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Music
Intro: Frances Butt
La Danza Del Tezcatlipoca Rojo: Ramiro Musotto
Rise: Public Image Ltd
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
... or manners? Are they the same thing? Is etiquette just a relic of the upper echelons of society, or does it still exist in various forms? No answers promised, no solutions, just explorations.
Host Frances Butt chats to friend Hilary Lewis about etiquette, convention and rules.
Music:
Titles/credits: Frances Butt
The Blue Danube, Johann Strauss
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
Well, we all make them, but we don't always enjoy them.
Yet mistakes, as commercial photographer Marcus Ahmad tells host Frances Butt, are essential to creativity.
If you're feeling crushed by a recent screw-up, we hope this conversation might help soothe. You're not alone.
Click here for Marcus Ahmad's photography website
And here for Vivian Maier's social history photography
Emotipod homepage
Music: Frances Butt
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
This episode is for anyone struggling with being consistent at work.
Sarah Cook, founder of a successful women's business network, was for some years an advisor on social media marketing; something most self-employed must learn to use these days.
Sarah's not a 'corporate creature', despite descriptive words like 'networking' and 'marketing' attached to her; she has a degree in fashion and her flamboyant style couldn't be less business-suity.
Sarah joins host Frances Butt to discuss managing stamina and expectations, learning how to give in to proper rest, and to trust that those creative juices will flow again.
Click here for Sarah Cook's gloriously colourful website
And here for the Emotipod homepage
Music: Frances Butt
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
Are we talking about our moral compass, or just general tidiness and orderliness, when we use the word 'conscientious'? And do we get our meanings mixed up?
Frances talks to Michelle Armitage, an expert in interior design psychology, about conscientiousness, with Michelle's excellent book, Your Design Personality at Home as their starting point.
Michelle Armitage's website,
Light & Frank
Buy Michelle's book here - paperback, Kindle or audiobook narrated by Frances:
Your Design Personality at Home
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
Why does resentment often prove so hard to get rid of, once it sets in?
Countless relationships, artistic collaborations and businesses have folded because of it.
In this second episode of Series 3, host Frances is joined by Hilary Lewis, who shares her personal perspective on feelings of resentment and making possibly unfair judgments about others.
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Music: Frances
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice
Or visit Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
Why does cheekiness cheer us up? It's a mysterious but wonderful art, and some people are really good at it.
Comedy legends and cheeky chars Dolly and Gracie are a case in point. They share with host Frances Butt a little of what's involved in their particular nostalgic brand of cheek, a week before they walk once again among the crowds at the Goodwood Revival Festival, leaving joy and laughter in their wake.
Includes a gorgeous story about how laughter really is the best medicine...
Check out Dolly and Gracie's website and find out how you can book them for your event:
https://www.dollyandgracie.com
All music:
Frances Butt
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice/
for updates.
Or subscribe to newsletters via Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
Here we go again! Emotipod returns September 2023 with more great discussions on the curious things we come up against as human beings.
Host Frances Butt recaps Series 1 and 2, and introduces Series 3.
Join Frances on Instagram:
@francesbbristol
or LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/francesbvoice/
for between-show updates.
Or subscribe to newsletters via Frances's website:
francesbutt.com
In this final episode of Series 2, Creative Blocks, Dr. Nicola Harker shares with host Frances Butt her experience of burnout, re-education, recovery, and her subsequent journey towards helping many other people who burn out.
Being overwhelmed and overworked, crashing and burning is all too common.
The question is, how to avoid it?
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The Thinking Toolbox
It's never a great feeling when you're giving your all but people just aren't into it.
In this penultimate episode of Emotipod Series 2, Creative Blocks, host Frances Butt once again seeks help from her friends, creatives and coaches, to discuss experiences of indifference and possible ways of dealing with it.
Guests:
Lisa Jones psychotherapist
Knud Stüwe, guitarist and oud player
Amos Childs, music producer
Birdsmith (Katie Bird) silversmith/jeweller
Oliver Lee, copywriter & Alexander Technique teacher
Alex Bollag, healing coach
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The Thinking Toolbox
It's all too common to say 'yes' to something we should have said 'no' to, and vice versa.
Why do some of us have so much trouble with this? How can we learn to exercise better judgment and self-control, if at all?
Host Frances Butt discusses with artistic friends the tricky balance of saying 'yes' to the right stuff, and 'no' to things that won't do us any good...
Guests:
Lisa Jones psychotherapist and performer
John Telfer, actor
Helen Gill, writer
Birdsmith (Katie Bird) silversmith/jeweller
Amos Childs, music producer
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The Thinking Toolbox
Is it a mortal sin, to procrastinate?
Or can it sometimes be the right thing to do?
Host Frances Butt discusses the ins and outs of putting things off, with a series of helpful artistic friends.
Guests and links:
Helen Gill, writer
Hannah Rose Platt, singer-songwriter
Elizabeth Mikellides, digital artist
Oliver Lee, copywriter & Alexander Technique teacher
Sadia Ghazanfar, international coach
The Thinking Toolbox
It's definitely a thing. Our attention spans are more severely challenged these days then ever before, and sadly shorter as a result.
What can creatives do to help stay on course?
Host Frances Butt talks to friends (and family) about their experiences and strategies.
Guests & Links:
Lisa Jones, psychotherapist
Dan Butt, TV editor
Sarah Cook, networking director
A.A.Abbott, crimewriter
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The Thinking Toolbox
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Dr. Kristy Goodwin
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Chris Fox
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Music: Frances
It's never nice being on the receiving end of snobbery, but it's common - after all, if we're honest with ourselves, we're all capable of being snobby about something or other. Prejudice is more serious and difficult to deal with.
Can artists build more resilience to snobbery and prejudice if they need to?
Host Frances Butt discusses these things with friends, family, and Emotipod's resident psychotherapist, Lisa Jones.
Guests:
Lisa Jones psychotherapist
Knud Stüwe, guitarist and oud player
Tirke Linnemann cellist
Maria Linnemann guitar composer
Amos Childs, music producer
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The Thinking Toolbox
Many artists succumb to envy - some to the point of feeling demotivated and pessimistic about their own creative output. But can it be a positive thing?
Host Frances Butt and guests discuss experiences and opinions about envy.
Guests:
Lisa Jones psychotherapist
Oliver Lee, copywriter & Alexander Technique teacher
Victoria Firth, performer, theatre maker, director
Amos Childs, music producer
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Sparky's Magic Piano
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The Thinking Toolbox
Being all over the place hardly helps get things done; yet making art is often kind of messy. It can sometimes be tricky to balance creating spontaneity, freedom and flow, without descending into more general chaos.
Are some of us just fated to be disorderly, or can we get a little better at being more organised without 'forfeiting our artistic souls'? Host Frances Butt and friends discuss.
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Guests:
Helen Gill, novelist
A.A.Abbott (Helen Blenkinsop), crimewriter
Elizabeth Mikellides digital artist
Sadia Ghazanfar, international coach
Oliver Lee, copywriter & Alexander Technique teacher
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The Thinking Toolbox
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Music: Frances
A lack of confidence can really hold back even the most talented of artists and performers, but self doubt often goes with the creative territory.
With the help of friends, host Frances Butt peers into the spectrum of confidence, including those unpleasant extremes we'd rather not be associated with - arrogance and narcissism.
Guests and links:
Lisa Jones psychotherapist and performer
Birdsmith (Katie Bird) silversmith/jeweller
Knud Stüwe, guitarist and oud player
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The Thinking Toolbox
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Music: Frances
Creative people are often sensitive to criticism and find it hard to take. Can you get better at it? Host Frances Butt talks to friends about various kinds of critique and criticism and how best to weather it.
Lisa Jones psychotherapist
Maria Linnemann composer and guitarist
Claudia Aurora, singer-songwriter
Helen Gill, writer
Birdsmith (Katie Bird) silversmith/jeweller
Knud Stüwe, guitarist and oud player
Oliver Lee, copywriter & Alexander Technique teacher
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The Thinking Toolbox
Host Frances Butt talks to friends about the thorny issue of making a living or a decent side-hustle from artistic endeavours.
Very few people manage make a mint from their art; but, strangely and unfairly, there is a degree of stigma and shame attached to not doing so. How can we ditch those feelings?
Guests and links:
Tirke Linnemann cellist
Knud Stüwe, guitarist and oud player
Amos Childs music producer
Birdsmith (Katie Bird) silversmith/jeweller
Dr. Rushana Khusainova coach and marketing lecturer
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The Thinking Toolbox
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Music: Frances
Host Frances Butt talks to creative and expert friends about their experiences of failure, different attitudes towards it, and whether it's possible to get better at failing if you find it horribly painful.
Guests and links:
Tim Bentinck actor
John Telfer actor
Amos Childs, music producer
Quincy Medwynter Duvallon Lohan transformational coach
Lisa Jones psychotherapist and performer
Rushana Khusainova marketing lecturer & soft skills coach
Birdsmith (Katie Bird) silversmith/jeweller
Occasional swearing
The Thinking Toolbox
Mistakes Were Made (But Not By Me) by Carol Tavris & Elliot Aronson
Host Frances Butt talks to creative, business and health-practitioner friends about the qualities of staying power. Can it be learned and improved, or is it innate?
Guests and links:
Lisa Jones, psychotherapist and performer
Sarah Cook, networking director
Hannah Rose Platt, singer-songwriter
Helen Gill, writer
Grit, by Angela Duckworth
Self-promotion is often conflated with boasting... yet how can people know about your work if you won't tell them about it and you can't afford a publicist?
Host Frances Butt and friends discuss the emotional conundrums and blocks about promoting your own artwork, and explore possible strategies for managing misgivings and feeling better about getting yourself out there.
Guests and links:
Bill Butt, film director/producer
Helen Gill, author
Lisa Jones psychotherapist
Amos Childs, music producer
Sadia Ghazanfar, international coach
The Thinking Toolbox
Frances Butt and friends explore the tricky subject of mediocrity.
Nobody likes their work to be thought of as mediocre; but...
are you OK just being - OK?
Guests:
Lisa Jones, psychotherapist
Knud Stüwe, guitarist and oud player
Amos Childs, music producer
Oliver Lee, copywriter & Alexander Technique teacher
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The Thinking Toolbox
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(profanity warning - one instance)
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Music, Frances
Frances talks to actors Tim Bentinck and John Telfer,
psychotherapist Lisa Jones,
transformational coach Quincy Medwynter Duvallon Lohan,
and sales lecturer and business and marketing coach Rushana Khusainova
Guests & Links:
Lisa Jones psychotherapist
Tim Bentinck actor
John Telfer actor
Quincy Medwynter Duvallon Lohan transformational coach
Rushana Khusainova marketing lecturer & soft skills coach
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The Thinking Toolbox
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Music: Frances
Frances talks with performer friends about their experiences of stage fright, explores the nuts and bolts of it, and seeks strategies for dealing with it.
Guests & Links:
Lisa Jones, psychotherapist
Tim Bentinck, actor
John Telfer, actor
Claudia Aurora, singer-songwriter
Amos Childs, music producer
Maria Linnemann, guitarist and composer
Victoria Firth, performer, theatre maker, director
Knud Stüwe, guitarist and oud player
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The Thinking Toolbox
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Music: Frances
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Profanity warning: the odd four-letter word
Host Frances Butt talks to writers, musicians, performers and psychotherapist Lisa Jones about what creative block means, its causes, and what can be done to get past it to inspiration and productivity again.
Guests & Links:
Lisa Jones, psychotherapist
Helen Gill, writer
A.A.Abbott, crimewriter
Oliver Lee, copywriter & Alexander Technique teacher
Hannah Rose Platt, singer-songwriter
Claudia Aurora, singer-songwriter
Amos Childs, music producer
Victoria Firth, performer, theatre maker, director
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The Thinking Toolbox
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Profanity warning: occasional four-letter word
Why does imposter syndrome occur? Why do so many of us feel unworthy and undeserving, as though we're going to be caught out as frauds - even when we're doing wonderful work?
Host Frances Butt talks to various artists and guest psychotherapist Lisa Jones about the topic, and what can be done about it.
Guests & Links:
Lisa Jones psychotherapist
Elizabeth Mikellides digital artist
Tirke Linnemann cellist
Hannah Rose Platt singer-songwriter
Amos Childs music producer
Birdsmith (Katie Bird) silversmith/jeweller
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The Thinking Toolbox
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Music: Frances
In the first episode of Emotipod Series 2: Creative Blocks...
...host Frances Butt talks to various friends about what they understand by the term 'perfectionist'; whether they think it's a good or a bad thing, and whether it's played any part of their education or training.
Resident expert psychotherapist Lisa Jones also explains how perfectionism can become a big problem, and what can be done about it if it does...
Guests and links:
Lisa Jones psychotherapist
A A Abbott crime writer
Elizabeth Mikellides digital artist
Maria Linnemann composer and guitarist
Tirke Linnemann cellist
Knud Stüwe, guitarist and oud player
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The Thinking Toolbox
Music: Frances
More stories, wisdom, encouragement, and helpful strategies for anyone with chronic pain, from musician Chrissy Van Dyke, coach Alex Bollag, psychotherapist Lisa Jones and medicinal herbalist Clare McQuade.
If you suffer with chronic pain you're not alone, and there is hope...
Part 2 of 2
Profanity warning: occasional swearing
In order of appearance:
Chrissy Van Dyke, musician and Alexander Technique teacher
soundcloud.com/chrissyvandyke
(If you would like help with chronic pain, the following three practitioners offer different, all excellent and highly recommendable services)
Psychotherapist Lisa Jones
lisajonescoaching.co.uk
Alexandra Bollag, coaching for people with chronic pain
alexandrabollag.com
Clare McQuade, medicinal herbalist:
stoneroot.life/herbal-medicine
Further useful information from pain expert Professor Lorimer Moseley
tamethebeast.org
Chronic pain is an emotional roller coaster.
Host Frances Butt talks to three excellent women with extensive experience, knowledge and understanding of chronic pain, and the huge variety of emotions that can go with it.
Why does pain hang around? What kinds of things do people try to help themselves?
What kinds of things get in the way of progress?
If you suffer with chronic pain you're not alone, and there is hope...
Part 1 of 2
Profanity warning: occasional swearing
In order of appearance:
Chrissy Van Dyke is a musician and Alexander Technique teacher.
soundcloud.com/chrissyvandyke
Lisa Jones is a psychotherapist and mental health educator.
headstrongtraining.co.uk
Alex Bollag is a yoga teacher, Alexander Technique teacher and coach for people with chronic pain.
alexandrabollag.com
Introducing a new flavour of Emotipod podcasts, this time tackling the many kinds of struggle that can be involved in art-making. Host Frances Butt explains how she'll be talking to various artists and experts about obstacles like perfectionism, writers' block, stage fright, imposter syndrome, rejection, and many more.
Episode 1, Perfectionism, will be out on 24th September, and remaining episodes will be fortnightly after that.
BONUS: TWO-PART SPECIAL ON CHRONIC PAIN, OUT 10TH SEPTEMBER.
Subscribe now, wherever you like to listen to podcasts.
Artist and Dynamic Emotional Integration practitioner Sue Barclay talks to Frances Butt about how important it is for her to be able to express her feelings through her painting, as well as how helpful it is to better understand and engage with our emotions.
https://www.suebarclay.com
https://www.instagram.com/suebarclayart/
The Language of Emotions: What Your Feelings Are Trying to Tell You
- Karla McLaren
Living with Feeling: The Art of Emotional Expression
- Lucia Capoccione
Call to Ritual
- film by Gabby Biazotti
Recorded April 2022
Music: Frances
Wildlife screen composer David Poore and ex-screen composer Frances discuss the role of music in movies, TV dramas, documentaries and of course wildlife films. Conversation also covers conscious and subconscious influences in composition, and the electronic software that has revolutionised the industry these past few decades.
David is perhaps best known for his well-loved theme to BBC's Springwatch, but has been composing for TV across the world for over 25 years.
Recorded April 2022
Hear more samples of David's music at
https://www.davidpoore.com
Few creative arts can match hairdressing for its direct, personal importance and influence on people.
Bristol's best-known hairdresser Doug Hobbs talks to host Frances Butt about the roots (pun intended) of his career. Their discussions cover the craft of cutting and colouring, the importance of building a brand, client relationships, and the general positivity of a job that is officially known for being the happiest of all.
For anyone unfamiliar with Cockney rhyming slang,
'barnet' = hair (Barnet Fair)
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Recorded March 2022
Music - Frances Butt
Hobbs website
http://www.hobbs-style.com
https://www.instagram.com/hobbshairdressing/
https://www.facebook.com/HobbsHairdressing
Bringing 1940s and 50s style into today and totally living the aesthetic, Mars Dilbert shares her artistry, her need for self-expression and her love of history with host Frances Butt.
Mars' Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/life_on_mars96/
TikTok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLfpM17e/
Recorded March 2022
Music: Frances
The Archers is a daily or weekly must for millions of listeners, in the UK and worldwide.
Long-standing stars of the longest drama series in the world,
actors Tim Bentinck (David Archer) and John Telfer (Alan Franks),
share their characters' stories with Frances Butt, discuss the appeal and the many enduring, endearing qualities of this much-loved programme, and throw in a few fun anecdotes along the way.
Buy Tim Bentinck's book here:
Being David Archer, and Other Unusual Ways of Earning a Living,
published by Constable (Little Brown Group).
John Telfer has narrated over 200 books - find him here:
John Telfer on Audible
Recorded February 2022
Music: Frances Butt
Extraordinary pianist and musical explorer Edward Chilvers explains to host Frances Butt a few basics about his mission to push the boundaries of harmonic and polyrhythmic possibility.
Edward's website
Youtube channel
Facebook page
Buy 31 Pieces, CD or download
Contact Edward (via website)
Recorded March 2022
All music: Edward Chilvers, from 12 Etudes & 31 Pieces
Artist and art therapist Laura talks movingly to host Frances about the often-demanding but rewarding practice of clinical, psychotherapy-based art therapy.
Laura's website:
https://www.laurabutt.com
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/laurakbutt
Recorded January 2022
Music: Frances
World-renowned photographer Paul Graham joins host Frances Butt to talk about the ways he works, empathically documenting moments of the world and people's lives as they present themselves, as well as the impact of the pandemic on his work and on life in general.
You can find writings on and by Paul here:
https://www.paulgrahamarchive.com
And his Museum of Modern Art archive here:
https://www.moma.org/artists/2286
Recorded January 2022
Music: Frances
Leila Nabih charts her career path towards becoming a children's illustrator, and talks with host Frances Butt about the warm, safe, cosy feelings most often associated with the pictures in children's books, as well as some of her influences and projects
Leila’s website:
https://www.leilanabih.com
Facebook/Instagram: @leilanabihillustrations
https://www.facebook.com/LeilaNabihIllustrations
https://www.instagram.com/leilanabihillustrations/
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Recorded January 2022
Music: Frances
Solo performer Victoria Firth creates entertaining, courageous one-woman shows tackling emotive issues, using elements of comedy, clowning and performance art.
Victoria talks to host Frances about her journey from arts administrator to solo performer, the theme of care running through her work, and how she uses her wisdom and experience to help other creatives.
Victoria's website: http://www.victoriafirth.co.uk
V's poem called ‘The Art of Caring’
http://www.victoriafirth.co.uk/2-of-3-the-art-of-caring/
Victoria’s preparations for performing The Butter Piecehttp://www.victoriafirth.co.uk/pushing-butter-1-of-5-preparing-the-body/
Twitter and Instagram: @msvhf
Facebook: msvictoriafirth
Music: Frances
Recorded December 2021
Wendy White tells host Frances Butt her story and motivation behind 'My Mood Stars', the brilliant little toys she has designed to help children with their emotions.
Wendy's website: https://www.wendywoo.uk/mymoodstars/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mymoodstars
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mymoodstars41/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mymoodstars
Recorded November 2021
Music: Frances
Portuguese singer Claudia Aurora and Frances dig down into the essence of Fado, that powerful, emotion-packed song tradition from Portugal. Claudia also shares her own story; how she started singing Fado, how with her husband Javier Moreno she has branched out with a new project called Auroora, and touches on the necessity for a healthy work/life balance.
Auroora YouTube
Claudia Aurora YouTube
Auroora on Spotify
Claudia Aurora on Spotify
Clips of Claudia's songs in this episode:
Mãos de Luar
Poema
Amar
Sou capaz
Despedida
Claudia's influences:
From Portugal:
Amália Rodrigues, Zeca Afonso, Sergio Godinho, Jorge Palma,
Dulce Pontes, Antonio Variações.
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From Brazil:
Elis Regina, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa,
Maria Bethania, Dolores Doran
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Rock:
Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Neil Young,
Neil Diamond, Cowboy Junkies
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Jazz:
Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Etta James, Dinah Washington,
Maria João & Mario Laginha
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Recorded October 2021
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Comic actor and writer Jon Monie, regular at the Theatre Royal Bath, joins Frances to explain more about the inner workings of that most cheery of cheerful shows, the annual British Christmas Panto.
Jon regularly plays the silly comical character, and learned his craft alongside Chris Harris, one of the all-time Great Dames.
Book tickets here for Cinderella at the Theatre Royal, Bath - 16th Dec '21 - 9th Jan '22
Recorded August 2021
Music: Frances
Oliver Lee shares his love of musical theatre and delves into its emotional layers.
Musicals seemed to thin out for a couple of decades, but their popularity hasn't waned since Cameron Mackintosh really cranked things up again in the 1980s.
What are the ingredients for a successful show?
Oliver's recommendations to look out for:
Candide, Leonard Bernstein
Guys & Dolls, Frank Loesser
My Fair Lady, Frederick Loewe, Alan Jay Lerner
Company, Stephen Sondheim
Everybody's Talking About Jamie, Tom MacRae, Dan Gillespie Sells
Matilda, Tim Minchin
And 'his' performers to look out for:
Michael Ball
Imelda Staunton
Julian Ovenden
Music: Frances
Recorded August 2021
Emily Breeze, "noir pop chanteuse" of "dystopian loungecore," "“the tomboy rockabilly lovechild of Nick Cave and K.D. Lang with Scotty Moore on guitar," (Tom Robinson) - you get the idea - talks about the stories she weaves with her intriguing mixture of sweetness, gothic menace, tragedy and humour.
This episode contains some swearing.
Rituals album:
https://sugarshackrecords.bandcamp.com/album/rituals
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/EmilyBreezeMusic
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/emilybreeze66/
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCayLTsVV9BfvdoSTBWMpB5g
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2HNmwhXbWYHrxZf091THHk?si=NV8GmBC1Qfm5RCqpzlYWNA&dl_branch=1
Recorded July 2021
Music: Emily Breeze
Create. Collaborate. Connect.
That's the mission statement of Smiling Monk, a new collective project set up by Josh Linnemann to bring together and promote all kinds of creative artists.
Josh explains why the name 'Smiling Monk', telling the very personal back story to his enterprise and what he hopes to achieve with it...
Follow:
Smiling Monk Instagram
Smiling Monk Soundcloud
Latcho Drom - feature-length music documentary following Roma communities from India to Spain:
Maria Linnemann, Your Name in the Stars
Henrik Linnemann, Millhouse's Mooch
Frances Butt, I Wonder
Chico Marx playing piano with an apple
Recorded August 2021
Supremely knowledgeable Bambi Everson and Frank Coleman talk with Frances Butt about some great scary movies - the old ones are still the best - and how classic horror can be an excellent emotional workout for a healthy psyche.
Bambi & Frank's top thrilling picks for Halloween watching:
The Trilogy:
Frankenstein (1931)
Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Son of Frankenstein (1939)
After watching those, enjoy
Young Frankenstein (1981)
Freaks (1931)
The Old Dark House (1932)
Dead of Night (1945)
Night of the Demon (UK)/Curse of the Demon (US) (1957)
The Innocents (1953)
Great 20-minute taster documentary:
Monsters We Have Known and Loved (1964)
The book of Bambi Everson's play, The Thin Man in the Cherry Orchard, is also now available for purchase.
--
Recorded July 2021
Music, Frances Butt
There are very few arts that just about everyone has a go at; but there's a definite art to wrapping presents, if you think about it. Many people, disappointed by their efforts, get discouraged and then decide they don't like doing it. What a shame, to get the dreads every upcoming birthday or gift-giving festival.
Professional gift wrapper Amanda White is all about helping people to enjoy doing that simple but lovely thing of wrapping presents to be proud to hand over; gifts that look smart, chic, fun or all three, and of course these days using eco-friendly materials too.
Amanda talks to Frances about doing the work she loves, and ahead of some of her seasonal workshops, kindly offers a few invaluable tips.
Amanda's links:
https://giftfrippery.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/GiftFrippery/
https://www.facebook.com/Gift-Frippery-574844652710992
https://twitter.com/GiftFrippery
https://www.pinterest.co.uk/giftfrippery/
--
Recorded July 2021
Music: Frances Butt
There are puppets, and then there are puppets...
Emma Berry makes the most amazing animated dragons, fairies, witches and animals; often inspired by the folklore of Northumberland, where she lives.
Emma talks to Frances about these lifelike creations, and the journey towards her wonderful craft.
https://www.instagram.com/emma.berry.maker/
Poet and playwright Dr. Edson Burton discusses early influences and his own writing journey. He also talks about the power of poetry - when opportunities for people to meet and get to know each other don't exist - to build understanding, empathy and compassion.
Highly recommended, by Edson:
Seasoned: collection of poems
Deacon (click on title): three radio plays starring Don Warrington, BBC sounds
Edson on Vimeo (including 'Afrofuturism' and The Last Blues Song of a Lost Afronaut)
Edson on YouTube
Other poets and writers mentioned:
Keats
Mahmood Jamal
Grace Nichols
Alice Walker
Kate Tempest
Robert Lowell
Sylvia Plath
Recorded June 2021
Music: Frances
Zoe Challenor, co-founder of B'Opera, a company bringing music to young children, talks to Frances about her own opera-filled childhood, how she believes opera can be for everyone, and her mission to deliver 'beautiful music to tiny ears'.
B'Opera links:
website:
https://www.bopera.co.uk/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/BoperaBabyOpera
Instagram:
@boperababyopera
Patreon page, for subscribing to online events:
https://www.patreon.com/boperazoe?fan_landing=true
Zoe’s 'entry-level' opera picks:
Carmen, Bizet
La Traviata, Verdi
Anything by Puccini: e.g. Madama Butterfly, La Bohème or Tosca
Turn of the Screw, Britten
Online tasters:
Duet, Au Fond du Temple Saint from The Pearl Fishers (Bizet)
Jonas Kaufmann, tenor, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, baritone
https://youtu.be/XFL5CE4j4Vs
Sous le dôme épais - Flower Duet from Lakme (Delibes)
(yes, the British Airways one)
Anna Netrebko, soprano, Elina Garanča, mezzo-soprano
https://youtu.be/8hEPvslCWMI
William Tell Overture (Rossini)
Tokyo Philharmonic, conductor Myung-Whun Chung
https://youtu.be/j3T8-aeOrbg
O Mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi (Puccini)
Sissel Kyrkjebø, soprano
https://youtu.be/4N6_eu3yBDA
Lascia Ch’io Pianga from Rinaldo (Handel)
Marilyn Horne, soprano
https://youtu.be/5aRiv-GSLR4
Duet, Barcarolle from Les Contes d'Hoffman (Offenbach)
Anna Netrebko, soprano, Elina Graranča mezzo-soprano
https://youtu.be/0u0M4CMq7uI
Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes (Britten)
BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Sakari Oramo
https://youtu.be/ht9mQE6X0C0
Recorded June 2021
Music, Frances
Professional dancer and costume maker Amanda Perry shares her career story with Frances Butt, and explains how both costumes and dancing helped her through a particularly tough pandemic year...
Amanda's Facebook pages:
https://www.facebook.com/ladyamp
https://www.facebook.com/amanda.dance.79
Instagram: @ladyamp007
Robot Monkey pages:
https://www.facebook.com/robotmonkeyofficial
http://robotmonkey.net
Instagram: @robot.monkey
Recorded June 2021
Music: Frances Butt
Why 'Emotipod'?
Why arts and emotions?
.
Frances Butt explains how this podcast series, featuring different creatives talking about their specialisms, came about.
.
Art really matters. Listen here to why this is.
--
Music: Frances
Conceptual artist Elizabeth Mikellides plays with different ways of visualising music, and conversely, turning visual art into music. The results are stunning, colourful pieces.
You can see Elizabeth's work at
elizabethmikellides.art
or follow her on Instagram.
Musical references:
Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Amy Beach, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, John Cage.
Art references:
Paul Klee, Sol LeWitt
--
Music: Frances / Elizabeth Mikellides
"Sonic master of the universe" (says Courtney Love) Will Sergeant talks to Frances Butt about the processes of writing and recording his excellent memoir Bunnyman, along with a few of the stories in it.
Bunnyman is out 15th July 2021 via publishers Constable in the UK,
and via Third Man in the US.
--
Recorded July 8th 2021
Music:
Will Sergeant, GlideEcho & The Bunnymen, Going Up / Happy Death Men (live at Eric's, 1979)
Hilary Barber RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) returns to talk with Frances about the history and art of garden design.
The variety of style and taste is of course endless, but there's something for everyone here, and there are plenty of suggestions of spectacular and inspiring places to look up and maybe visit one day.
Hilary also offers some helpful tips for overwhelmed newcomers to garden planning.
Gardeners and gardens mentioned:
Capability Brown landscapes
(e.g. Blenheim, Chatsworth, Stowe & many more)
Westonbirt Arboretum, nr. Tetbury, Glos.
The Palace Gardens at Versailles, W of Paris
Monet's Garden - Giverny, NW of Paris
Piet Oudolf prairie gardens - Bury Court, Surrey;
also one of the designers of The High Line, NYC;
& the Lurie Garden, Millennium Park, Chicago
Christopher Lloyd - Great Dixter, nr. Tenterden, Kent
Vita Sackville-West - Sissinghurst, nr. Tunbridge Wells, Kent
Beth Chatto - Gravel Garden, nr. Colchester, Essex
César Manrique - Cactus Garden, Lanzarote
Derek Jarman – Prospect Cottage, Dungeness, Kent
Botanic Garden, Bristol
Poison Garden, Ainwick Castle, Northumberland
Book: The Story of Gardening, Penelope Hobhouse ---
Recorded April 2021
Music: Frances
Frances talks to legendary Echo & the Bunnymen guitarist Will Sergeant about his creative processes in guitar playing, painting, collage - and his new autobiography.
Will's art: willsergeant.com
Will's guitar influences:
Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd of American punk giants Television;
“That bloke from Pere Ubu” - they've had quite a few guitarists over the years, so just go find them, they were a really fascinating underground band.
Jimmy Paige and Jimmi Hendrix (obvs)
Zal Cleminson of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, clown-face wearer of the early ‘70s.
And of course Wilko Johnson, legendary chopster of Dr. Feelgood & the Blockheads -
also in Game of Thrones. What’s not to like? Look up Roxette.
Electronic influences:
Can, Neu, Kraftwerk, Brian Eno
Music clips by Will Sergeant:
Themes for Grind: Scene VII
Weird As Fish/Le Via Luonge: Darkness
Recorded March 2021
Frances talks to Nia dance teacher Helen Drane about dancing for all. You don't need to dance publicly to enjoy doing this most natural human thing: moving to music.
Nia is a particular dance system, developed to be as easy and beneficial as possible for body, mind and spirit.
Further information about Nia:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nia_(fitness)
Dancers mentioned:
Ksenia Parkhatskaya (YouTube Jazz Roots 2015)
Marquese Scott (YouTube Pumped Up Kicks Dubstep)
Recorded March 2021
Music: Frances
Why are we so fascinated with made-up crime stories? Is it that they feed our morbid fascinations and our need to see justice done?
Frances talks to crime writer and critic Peter Guttridge about the hugely popular genre of crime fiction and what it does for us.
Books specially mentioned include
By Peter Guttridge: No Laughing Matter (comic crime);
The Brighton Trilogy (City of Dreadful Night, The Last King of Brighton & The Thing Itself); The Lady of the LakeBy James Ellroy: The LA Trilogy (The Big Nowhere, LA Confidential & White Jazz)
By Lawrence Durrell: The Alexandria Quartet (Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive, Clear)
Recorded March 2021
Music: Frances
Tattooing is a 12,000 year-old art form; a very personal form of artistic expression, more popular and certainly more respectable today than even just a couple of decades ago. Tattoos are celebrations, statements, mementos, badges of honour or rebellion. There are so many different reasons people decide to have them and the design choice is endless.
Frances chats with gorgeously colourful Chrissy Van Dyke about her own inks, various tattoo cultures and tales.
Recorded March 2021
Music: Frances
What's 'emoting'? And what are the differences between stage acting and screen acting?
International stage and screen actor Greta Scacchi talks to Frances about her Bristol Old Vic Theatre School training, talks techniques, shares some of her stories and explains how different theatre and movies are for actors to work in.
Particular mentions to check out and watch are: White Mischief; the version of Jane Austen's Emma with Gwynneth Paltrow; and the NBC miniseries A.D. The Bible Continues. And absolutely anything starring Bette Davies...
Recorded March 2021
Music: Frances
Why include gardening in a series about the arts? Nature is a huge source of inspiration for just about any other form of art, and gardening is a medium in which anyone and everyone can get up close and personal with nature and artfully tailor it to their own tastes.
Guest Hilary Barber RHS talks to Frances about the many ways that having a go at growing things is good for us all.
Recorded February 2021
Music: Frances
Style coach Becky Barnes talks to Frances about the way clothes make us feel, how our tastes and style change over the years, and how Becky helps women regain lost confidence in their ability to try new things and discover what will make them feel at their best.
Visit Becky's website where she blogs about fashion ethics and offers some excellent style tips: beckybarnesstyle.com
Recorded March 2021
Music: Frances
Colour, found everywhere in nature, is the foundation of almost all visual art, and is harnessed to different effect in all kinds of man-made environments.
Frances talks to Michelle Armitage of Light & Frank about the psychology of colour.
Is it all entirely subjective, or do certain colours physically affect everyone the same way?
Visit Michelle's website: lightandfrank.com
Recorded February 2021
Music: Frances
Frances talks to Keith Warmington, folk and blues singer, harmonica and guitar player, about 'pandemic playing practices' that keep him healthy as well as gig-fit, and they discuss some of his favourite folk singers and harmonica players.
Artists & songs mentioned to check out:
Vocalists:
Laura Marling
Eliza Gilkyson
Mary Coughlan
Leonard Cohen
Elvis Costello
Sam Brookes, new album Black Feathers
Steve Tilston, new album Such Time
Harmonica:The Beatles, Love Me DoRolling Stones, Little Red RoosterChromatic Harmonica players
Toots Thielemans
Larry Adler
Stevie Wonder (Fragile, with Sting, on YouTube)
Paul Simon's Night Game (Toots Thielemans solo)
Blues Players
Sonny Boy Williamson
Little Walter (Juke)
Stone Fox Chase (theme from The Old Grey Whistle Test)
What's the Use - Bunny Scott & The Upsetters
Recorded January 2021
Music played: Frances & Keith
This episode goes out to all exhausted key workers, with grateful thanks for all you are doing.
Frances talks once again to cellist Tirke Linnemann, this time about possible suggestions for help with winding down from peak adrenaline mode and getting some quality rest.
Pieces mentioned to check out.
If needing to let off steam first:
Shostakovich String Quartet no. 8, Molto Allegro section
(plus Heavy Metal version by guitarist Connor Gallagher)
Brahms Hungarian Dances
Holst Planet Suite: Mars
After 'some steam released', for further calming:
Arvo Pärt: Spiegel im Spiegel
Charles Villiers Stanford: The Bluebird
Mahler Symphony no. 5, 4th movt., Adagietto
Ralph Vaughan Williams generally
And to help with sleep:
Max Richter: Sleep
Gregorian chant
Russian choral music
Recorded January 2021
Music: Frances
If you think classical music just isn't for you, maybe this first episode could persuade you to try a symphony or two.
Orchestral music is an incredibly powerful medium for engaging with emotions we might not otherwise be willing or able to face - and we do need to be able to allow and fully experience all, not just some of our emotions, if we are to thrive.
Musician, writer and teacher Frances Butt interviews cellist Tirke Linnemann about what classical music does for her; with a few suggestions for listeners along the way.
Here are the pieces discussed, for anyone who wants to listen to any of them:
Brahms Symphony no. 1
(Leonard Bernstein, Vienna Philharmonic)
Tchaikovsky Symphony no. 6
(Tugan Sokhiev, National Orchestra of Toulouse)
Rachmaninov Symphony no. 2
(André Previn, London Symphony Orchestra
Beethoven Piano Concerto no. 1
(Martha Argerich, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music)
Bach Cello Suites (YoYo Ma)
(special mention for Suite 5 Sarabande)
--
Recorded January 2021
Re-edited January 2022
Other music: Frances