This Is My Voice: Recent Episodes
Eleanor Kumar
A series of conversations, highlighting the work of Black and Asian people in the arts. We'll be hearing from some of the most exciting voices in literature, art, theatre, poetry, film-making and more - and tackling issues like representation, and diversity in the arts industry.
Like our theme music? It's Sparks by Chael, available on Free Stock Music
Today we're talking to writer Iphgenia Baal, whose new book - Man Hating Psycho - is out now
We chat about terrible first jobs - and the unnecessary categorization of almost everything in life...
(You might notice there's one or two bits of our conversation where there is some background noise - people have been trickling back into our studios but hopefully it won't affect your enjoyment of this episode)
Today we're talking to Andrea Carter, from the international visual arts producer "D6 Culture in Transit"
D6 has just launched the plans for the new Sanctuary in Culture programme, and have spend lockdown refurbishing and building brand new studio spaces
We talk about the effects the pandemic has had on the arts - and how it might begin to recover.
Today I'm talking with journalist and writer Melissa Tutesigensi - whose work was featured as part of last year's Durham Book Festival
We also reminisce about university life, and wonder what living and working in London will be like - post-pandemic
Today I'm chatting with actor, playwright and puppeteer Ashton Owen
He turned his childhood experiences into a one-man play - Outskirts, which was screened online during the most recent lockdown.
We talk about opening up about racist experiences within mixed race families, and how representation is changing..
Today I'm chatting to Elizabeth Chakrabarty, who is about to release her debut novel - Lessons In Love and Other Crimes
We discuss the struggles of cracking the publishing industry as a person of colour and how to talk about love, from a place of hate, and vice versa.
Today we're chatting to Brooklyn based writer Tariq Shah, who is about to release his debut novel, Whiteout Conditions.
We talk about dealing with toxic masculinity, the state of Post-Trump America, and the age old debate between Chicago and New York - who has better pizza?
Today I'm talking with J.A. Mensah, a writer and novelist whose debut novel "Castles From Cobwebs" is out now
We discuss intersectionality, how to create your own country and the wild beauty of the North East of England
Today I'm chatting to the poet Degna Stone, whose latest collection "Handling Stolen Goods" is out now
We discuss the connections between poetry and theatre, whether there is anything to write about in poetry aside from love and how the Coronavirus pandemic has changed creativity.
Today I'm chatting to novelist Neema Shah, whose debut - Kololo Hill - was written while Neema juggled a full time job
We talk about some of the many significant parts of British history left out of school curriculums, and the joy of combining food from different cultures.
Today I'm speaking to Hannabiell Sanders - one half of the Afro-Latin percussion and Brass duo Ladies of Midnight Blue
We talk about the importance of a diverse musical language, and the freedom which can come from performing
Hannabiell is also the founder of Harambee Passadia - a cultural organisation and festival in the North East
Today I'm talking to the the multi-talented author Catherine Johnson
She's written everything - from books for children and historical fiction, to working on a screenplay for a new series, focusing on the lives of Black Tudors in 17th century London.
We talk, in particular, about how Black History Month is still vitally important when it comes to diversifying education.
Today I'm talking to Young Adult and Children's author Patrice Lawrence - who has written books like Orangeboy, and her newest release, 8 Pieces of Silva.
We discuss feeling seen as people of colour within literature, and the importance of libraries...
Today I'm talking to award winning novelist Sara Collins - whose debut - 'The Confessions of Frannie Langton' is a glorious gothic romance - set to get the TV treatment.
We discuss the need for black and non-white heroines in literature, and the struggles of creating that first novel.
Today we're chatting from Actor, DJ and musician Wayne C McDonald - who is set to become the first black actor to take on the role of Macbeth in the North East
We talk about his concerns about the role - and the future of theatre, and how a love of music kick started everything.
Today I'm crossing the Atlantic - to speak to novelist Elaine Castillo in California.
We talk about her debut book - America is Not The heart - and everything from food and family to politics and Anime.
Today we're talking to the poet and writer Sunayna B-gharva - who - just days before we spoke, officially finished her PHD in astrophysics
We talk about leading a double life between poetry and science, and fighting to be heard in both industries.
Today we're chatting to Krishna Muthurangu - a filmmaker and director from the North East of England
He tells us about growing up - in his words! - in the middle of nowhere, and how he came to film-making from a love of skateboarding and heavy metal....
We talk about all things film - and the potential future of the industry post-Covid 19
Today we're chatting to playwright Olivia Hannah - who's first full length play; Braids was due to take to the stage earlier this year, before lockdown began, after she was named one of Live Theatre's Associate Artists for 2018/19.
We talk about the state of the Theatre world due to the pandemic - and what her hopes are for the future of the industry.
Today we're talking food - as we sit down with food writer and activist Riaz Phillips - who's coordinated a collective recipe book called Community Comfort - raising money for Black and Asian people affected by the Coronavirus Pandemic
Riaz tells me how he gathered together over a hundred cooks - all with migrant heritage - to put together the collection - and what his go to comfort meal is...
Community Comfort is a e-book collection of over a hundred recipes from chefs with migrant heritage - raising money for the families of Black, Asian and minority victims of Covid-19, available from Tezeta Press.
We welcome poet and writer Rachel Long - founder of Octavia, Poetry Collective for Womxn of Colour, who's about to release her first collection of poems "My Darling From The Lions" on August 6th.
Due to lockdown we wrangled with technology to speak over Zoom - where I was very jealous of Rachel's ability not to kill plants - and the sunshine streaming in through her window!
Welcome to This Is My Voice - a series of conversations with Black and Asian people in the arts - highlighting issues like representation and diversity