In Bed With YAYA: Recent Episodes
YAYA
This is a podcast for those working in or interested in the creative arts. An industry insight that you will find is hard to beat. Where do creatives do most of their thinking? Well, many admit that a lot of ideas happen while they are in bed! For example, Salvador Dali’s Persistence of Memory was inspired by a dream, as was Christoper Nolan’s Inception. So hop into bed with with me and my guests and we'll take you under the covers and show you what's rarely seen! A life in the creative arts might not be all that it seems! We explore their morning routines, their nighttime dreams, and everything in between! A writer, spoken word poet, creative professional, former dancer and music lover, I have always had a huge interest in and passion for the Arts. Currently a director of my own creative agency I previously worked for many years in public service broadcasting with BBC Radio in Central London. I am also a professionally trained classical ballet dancer, having trained full-time at The National Theatre Ballet School in Melbourne and the Glen Street Academy of Performing Arts in Sydney, Australia.
In episode 2 of In Bed With YAYA, I have the wonderful poet, writer, artist and philosopher, Dally London.
Dally is a man of mystery, and rarely shows his face, so this is a real treat for not only you but also for me! A descendant of Braveheart’s, Sir William Robert Wallace, you can see why he never will shy away from speaking his truth and helping others to find theirs!
He is not only a friend of mine, but he is s hugely multi-talented artist in so, so many ways. Everything he does is done with passion, purpose, and absolute perfection!
Dally has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Business and with industry knowledge and experience in marketing, advertising, performance, arts, and technology. He has written several books including his debut book Stardust Cocaine, Dead Blooms, and perhaps the most thought-provoking book ‘The Philosophy of Truth’ that explores how modern-day society is being manipulated with misinformation and our privacy is being stolen as we are slowly handing over control of our lives, unknowingly to greater forces, namely AI.
We both can’t wait to get under the covers and show you all a little more of what is rarely seen!
For those of you who have little clue of what he looks like, then this is your unique chance to see and meet Dally London in the flesh!
So let’s go!
Hello and welcome to episode 1 of In Bed With YAYA. On my very first show, I have a very special guest, who is also a friend of mine from way back when. I’m very excited to have her on the show and that she has agreed to let you see a little more of what’s rarely seen.
About Simone.
A fellow Melbournian, Simone began her full-time training in classical ballet at the prestigious National Theatre Ballet School, in St Kilda, Melbourne.
After her training, she commenced her professional stage career with the Australian Opera Ballet and soon after was asked to join Graeme Murphy’s prestigious Sydney Dance Company, dancing many principal roles during her six-year tenure, including a season of the critically acclaimed Ellipse in New York. The Sydney Morning Herald noted Simone’s triumph in Ellipse as, “an outstandingly vivacious performance.”
She has performed in many professional musical productions in Australia, London, and Paris, including, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago, Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Sinatra and ENO productions of On The Town.
Simone has also completed several films - most notably Beauty and the Beast, Sweeney Todd, and Alice in Wonderland by Oscar-nominated director Tim Burton. She also had the honour of singing the demo track Take It All for director Rob Marshall’s film Nine. She has also appeared in numerous tv shows and commercials and performed on world stages at prestigious awards shows.
Her creative roles have encompassed workshops for major West End productions such as The Wizard of Oz, Flashdance, and Shoes. As well as choreographing for Love Never Dies (Hamburg), Sadler’s Wells’ Most Incredible Things with the Pet Shop Boys, Strictly Dance Fever for the BBC, and the 2012 London Olympic Games ceremonies with Danny Boyle.
Not only is Simone incredibly beautiful - still as beautiful as the day we met - but her talents have made her a much sought after dance coach and creative/choreographer all over the world. I am so excited to have her as my first guest on the show!
Welcome to the podcast ‘In Bed with YAYA’. A podcast for people interested and involved in the creative arts.
Why did I specifically choose the creative arts sector for this podcast? Well, as a writer, a spoken-word poet, a creative professional, a former dancer, and a music lover myself, I have always had a tremendous interest and passion for the arts.
Currently managing my own creative agency specialising in live events, I worked for many years in public service broadcasting with BBC Radio in central London. I am also a professionally trained classical ballet dancer, having trained full-time at The National Theatre Ballet School in Melbourne and at the Glen Street Academy of Performing Arts in Sydney, Australia.
This podcast was created for two reasons, the first being a way to finally focus my career in the direction I have always seen. After working in radio for many years, I secretly harboured a desire to host my own show, but never had the time, or perhaps the courage to go for it. This pandemic has given me the time and the courage to follow through on my dreams. After being a radio guest on the Liam Davis show, last month, I decided to finally develop my own show that would help to inspire, people like myself, working in the creative arts.
Secondly, I have seen firsthand the enormous impact of this pandemic on live events and the creative arts that has almost decimated the entire industry. Artists who have devoted their entire lives to their craft have been left in limbo with very little support and with very little hope for any future work. The lack of disparity in financial support for the arts and the entire event industry is, to say the least, distressing.
But artists are known for their incredible resilience and by their very nature, they are always filled with hope. That’s what dreamers do! We dream! We want a better tomorrow. An improved world. A world of social justice and equality.
I have always hoped to raise my children as kind souls and as artists that will continue to inspire, to educate, to entertain, to bring joy, and most importantly, bring others hope, by sharing their love and their passion for all things creative. As young musicians, singers and dancers, I want to give them hope that there is a worthwhile and exciting career in the arts and a creative life they can lead in an industry that is not only vibrant but is incredibly vital to all of our emotional and physical well-being.
So while this podcast has some serious goals to inspire those currently working in the field and looking to have a career in the arts, it is also meant to be a podcast that is particularly playful! Most artists appreciate the importance of embracing their inner-child. The importance of always remaining playful and high-spirited. The importance of always keeping the joy, so that they can share their joy with you. The importance of always staying hopeful, even when at times it might start to feel all hope is lost.
So let’s get under the covers and let’s show what’s rarely seen! What are the real challenges most artists face? What are the highs and what are the lows of a career in the arts? And just how much dedication does it really take to make it in the arts? It may sound glamorous, and it might look like a lot of fun, but a life in the arts is far from easy! A career in the arts is not one of just dreaming your dream! It’s about turning those dreams into reality. And that takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears! A lot of tears! And unfortunately, sometimes reality sucks! But sometimes, as they say, the best things in life come from our struggles.
And although the arts are currently struggling! The arts are here to stay! After all, the arts are the only real connection that we have, to ourselves!