On the Irregular with Java Bere

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In this episode I chat to artist and community organiser Sapna Agarwal.Sapna is one of my oldest friends, having met in Manchester twenty years ago when we were both running around the city pretending to be the stars of a Jean Luc Goddard film.This was a soft, gentle talk, fitting for a rainy day across Yorkshire and Glasgow. Sapna tells me about dropping out of architecture school, how having children helped her understand her purpose and as she describes it 'the golden thread that runs through her creative practice', and the power of community.With a light peppering of reminiscing about our youth.Welcome to my conversation with the coolest girl I still know, Sapna Agarwal.Sapna is far too cool to be on Instagram but if you're local to Glasgow do say hello and pop along to one of Sapna's events.Thank you to Moon Water Treasures for sponsoring this episode. You can find them online moonwatertreasures.uk, on Etsy and on instagram @moonwatertreasuresAnd thank you for listening to On the Irregular, please remember to rate review and subscribe, as it helps other liste ers find us.Jingle and final edit: Jon Tipler, Loaded for Bear AudioSupport the show

In this episode I chat to Poet, Writer, Performer and Educator Fionna Inward Allen.I first met Fee around six years ago at a mutual friend’s picnic. As soon as she flashed her stellar smile, I knew I wanted to talk to her. And talk we did, all afternoon. We have since kept in touch via social media and on the 10th of September we finally met again when Fee performed a few of her beautiful poems at the podcast live event. Her words moved the audience between both tears and laughter.In our chat for the podcast we covered Fee’s life growing up feeling torn between writing and performing, her vast inner world as a child, creativity as a means of escape, especially when you are bound to one physical place, her time working at the BBC and her self imposed fifteen year writing apprenticeship in the caravan she bought for this sole purpose, rebuilding herself after having her son and then subsequently becoming a single parent.And of course, so much more.Welcome to my chat with the delightfully gorgeous Fionna Inward Allen.Warning, this episode contains swearing and mentions of eating disorders and child abuse.You can find Fee online at fionnainwardallen.com and on instagram @fionna_inward_allenThank you to Right Hand House for sponsoring this episode. You can find Right And House online righthandhouse.co.uk and on instagram @right_hand_houseThank you for listening to On the Irregular, please remember to review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us.Final edit and jingle: Jon TiplerSupport the show

In this episode I chat to Life Coach, Speaker, Writer Syreeta Challinger.It’s an emotional one, Syreeta shares her unique story of love, creativity and transformation.We discuss growing up with a high level of academic expectations, her experience studying a degree in textiles in Manchester, the impact she believes the contraceptive pill had on her decision making in her twenties, her time in Hong Kong where she refound herself and met her husband Rob. And then we talk about Rob’s brain anyeurism and how this shifted their life irrevocably and how she challenged her grief through her brand MOSS.And we talk about love.Welcome to my conversation with the fiercely honest, utterly gorgeous Syreeta Challinger.You can find Syreeta online at thisisleaven.com and on instagram @thisisleaven and @momentsofsenseandstyleAnd you can find Syreeta’s podcast Leaven, wherever you find your podcasts.Thank you to Hazel copy for sponsoring this episode. You can find Haze Copy online here and on instagram @hazelcopyAnd thank you for listening to this episode of On the Irregular, please remember to subscribe, rate and review as it helps other listeners find us.Jingle and final edit: Jon TiplerSupport the show

In this episode I chat to writer, artist and creator of the Moon Journal, Jo Cauldrick.With her Moon Journal website, instagram, book and patreon, Jo has created a space full of resources and wisdom about working with the moon cycles and how these can help us find balance, rhythm and focus. Beautifully illustrated and full of inspiring writing, they are not only informative but also a delight to behold.Jo and I chat about her years of travelling around, searching for their dream home and how this led them to moving in 2020 to live off grid in Portugal, on a piece of land they hadn’t even visited before.We talked about the time she was living in a caravan with her young family and how her decision to learn to crochet and sell fruit hats on etsy grew her confidence and blossomed into Jo pursuing the creative path she is on now. And of course we talk about the moon and the transformative effect it has had on both of our lives. Welcome to my conversation with the beautifully warm and inspiring Jo Cauldrick, I hope you enjoy listening as much as I did talking to her.You can find Jo online at themoonjournal.com, on instagram @themoon_journal and on patreon. Jo’s book ‘Muse with the Moon’ is available on Amazon.Thank you to Jana Puisa for sponsoring this episode. You can find Jana online at janapuisa.com and @janapuisaThank you for listening to On the Irregular, please remember to review and subscribe as it helps others find us.Support the show

In this episode I chat to creative coach Kathryn Ho, or as she describes herself on Instagram 'Psychological witch and self-doubt coach’.This felt like a deeply thoughtful and delicate conversation. Kathryn’s meditative pace and considered answers to my questions led us to the big questions, the big feelings, the essence of it all, in many ways.We talked about her awareness of the arbitrariness of life from a  very young age, her experience of art school, existential pain. Questioning the concept of ‘fulfilling your potential’, the idea of needing to assign yourself a label as a creative and her gentle approach to coaching.Welcome to my conversation with Kathryn Ho, a creative coach for the mind and the soul.You can find Kathryn online at kathrynho.com and on instagram @kathryn_ho_ and you can subscribe to Kathryn’s newsletters by heading to kathrynho.substack.comThank you to Heidi-Lee Gregory for sponsoring this episode. You can find Heidi online at heidileegregory.co.uk and on instagram @heidilee.gregoryThank you for listening to On the Irregular, please remember to review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us.Support the show

This conversation comes with a trigger warning regarding baby loss.Eight Years ago, Jon and I lost our daughter Alma at six months in the womb through a late stage termination due to medical reasons. We discuss the pregnancy, the procedure, her birth and her funeral.At certain points we express a humour which could be uncomfortable for some listeners. This was, and still is, one of our ways of processing the grief, and as always, we try to be as honest as possible in sharing our experience, in the hope that it may help others feel less alone.For this episode, we shared out story while making lunch at home in our kitchen. There are tears and there is sadness, but there is also laughter and love and a conversation about how much she brought into our life and the creative transformation we both experienced through the grief of losing her.Baby loss awareness week, now in its 20th year, is a wonderful opportunity to bring us together as a community and give anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss a safe and supportive space to share their experiences and feel that they are not alone. You can find out more at babyloss-awareness.orgArc antenatal are a UK charity offering support for those dealing with antenatal results and choices.If you or someone close to you has been through the experience of ending a wanted pregnancy after a pre-natal diagnosis, Arc are there to provide non directive information and support before, during and after antenatal screening.You can find them online arc-uk.org and on instagram @arcantenatalSupport the show

In this episode I chat to Interior Designer, Diversity Consultant, Instagram Influencer and Location House Host, Natasha Landers.I first came across Natasha when I spotted her magnificent yellow kitchen floor on Instagram, and instantly fell hook, line and sinker for her sense of style both in her home and her dress sense.I’m not the only one who noticed.So did 14K other followers on instagram, Harpers Bazaar magazine, Stylist magazine, Reclaim mag and the Modern House.Born in Hackney, Natasha ended up at uni in Wales studying a degree she still cannot understand the purpose of. We talked about how she finally came to accept that interior design is her calling, how dancing in her kitchen got her through lockdown, imposter syndrome, the loneliness of being a freelance creative and how the incredible yellow floor came about.Welcome to my chat with the interior design and style queen, Natasha Landers.You can find Natasha on Instagram @untillemonsaresweet and do keep an eye out for her upcoming website.Thank you to Saba Lashay for sponsoring this episode. You can find Saba's work online at sabalashay.com , on etsy and on Instagram @saba.lashayThank you for listening to On the Irregular, please remember to review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Support the show

In this episode I chat to Adventurer, Author, TV Presenter, Public Speaker and Podcaster, Alice Morrison.Many moons ago, Alice and I met at a 1920’s themed birthday party in the South of France. At the time we were both decked out in feather boas and flowing dresses, but oh how times have changed. Alice currently lives in The Atlas Mountains of Morocco, where you will at one point witness the sound of the wind clattering through her window shutters.Alice starts her story in Edinburgh where she was born, her time living in Uganda as a child, studying Arabic and Turkish at university, her time teaching in Cairo, a move to London where she worked for the BBC 24 hour news channel, a subsequent move to the north of England and what led her to running marathons through the desert and trekking with camels.We talk about writing her first book in her 50’s, the gratitude she feels towards her parents for guiding her in her choices, the value of going ahead and trying things, even if you think you may not be naturally skilled at them, and … her narrow miss with a giant boulder.Welcome to my chat with the wildly inspiring and absolutely no nonsense, Alice Morrison.You can find Alice online at alicemorrison.co.uk and on instagram @aliceoutthere1 You can also listen to Alice’s podcast Alice in Wanderland and watch her BBC 2 series, From Morocco to Timbuktu. Alice’s books are available online and from all good bookshops.And thank you to Lily Greenwood for sponsoring this episode. You can find Lily Greenwood online her, on etsy and on instagram @lilygreenwoodpaintingThank you for listening to On the Irregular, please remember to review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Jingle and final edit: Jon TiplerSupport the show

In this episode I talk to actor, writer and singer Sandra Cole.Once upon a time, many years ago, I had the honour of being Sandra’s acting agent.I adored Sandra and always knew there was more I’d like to talk to her about than audition times and self tapes.So, finally I got my chance.Sandra graced me with her gentle, winding thoughts on grief, the fear we often have of our own power, how her recent health has impacted her attitude to life, her experience as a Black woman in white Briton, the whim hoff method and the strength we can find in loving and being open.We start in Camberwell, London 1962, as one of seven sisters, then pass through biochemistry, following her path into acting, becoming a mother at 28 and then find ourselves in Lancashire, talking about why Sandra writes and how ‘being’ comes before ‘doing’.Welcome to my conversation with the deeply moving and deeply funny, Sandra Cole.You can find Sandra’s books ‘Things White People Have Said to Me’ on Amazon and you can find Sandra on instagram @sandracoleukSandra is represented by Jane Hollowood Associates. Thank you to Doodlelove designs for sponsoring this episode. You can also find Doodlove on Etsy , Not on the High Street and on Instagram.Thank You for listening to On the Irrregular, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Jingle and final edit: Jon TiplerSupport the show

In this episode I chat to Annie Ridout: journalist, author, poet and founder of the business community for women The RoboraWhen I listened back to this conversation, recorded in July, I realised that Annie is such a natural coach that I had accidentally ended up talking more about myself than I usually would.Thankfully I managed to shut up long enough for Annie to find the space to talk to me about her varied career, starting from a very young age washing cars, passing through nightclubs in her early twenties and internships at newspapers to where she is now.We also talked about the idea of all art as connection, her book Shy, where she explores the value in being the quiet person in the room and what it was like to go viral with her poetry,Welcome to my very chatty chat with the endlessly lovely and fast thinking Annie Ridout.Warning, this episode contains swearing.You can find Annie online here and at therobora.com And on intagram with the following accounts: @therobora @annieridout @annieridoutpoetry Annie’s books Shy and The Freelance Mum are available in all good bookshops.Thank you to Fly Me to the Bloom for sponsoring this episode. You can also find Fly Me to the Bloom on instagram @flymetothebloomThank you for listening to On the Irrregular, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Support the show

In this episode I chat to artist, designer, maker and soon to be qualified yoga teacher, my friend Lynne Morris.Throughout this conversation, amongst many things, you will witness Lynne’s ADHD in live, gorgeous, technicolour action, and you will also witness my giddy inability to stop cackling every thirty seconds.We grasshopper all over the place, covering: Lynne’s long lost career dreams of being an olympic athlete, her time creating Burlesque costumes in Melbourne, how she nearly became a tailor on Savile row, how easy it is to devalue our creativity when it is infused in every area of our life, drawing people on public transport, the vast difference between privilege and lack of privilege when embarking on a career in the arts and… so. Much. more.Welcome to my conversation with the truly spectacular and marvellously self analytical Lynne Morris. Warning, this episode contains swearing.You can find Lynn’s work on instagram @lynnemorrismakes And thank you for listening to On the Irregular, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Sponsor:This episode of On the Irregular is sponsored by Graphic Designer, GIF maker and host of the Building Your Brand podcast, Liz Mosley.Liz specialises in branding for small businesses, and has created the podcast Building Your Brand to help small businesses create a brand that they love and feel confident promoting.Through her decade of branding and design experience and with the help of her guests, Liz shares tips around branding and marketing to take the fear out of selling and to help you in building your brand. Building Your Brand is one of my favourite business podcasts around, and listening to Liz talk about her experience of podcasting is what gave me the final push to start ‘On the Irregular’. Her chats with guests are informal, warm yet highly informative and valuable for any small business owner.Released every Wednesday, you can find Building Your Brand wherever you find your podcasts, and if you enjoy, remember to subscribe and leave a review, as this truly does help. You can also head to lizmosley.net to find out more or get in touch, and on social media @lizmmosleyThank you for listening!Jingle and final production: Jon TiplerSupport the show

In this episode, I talk to the singer songwriter, Josephine Oniyama.Born and bred in Manchester, Jo grew up listening to her mum’s record collection, never knowing a time when music and writing weren’t her focus.Starting gigging in her teens, her career took off very quickly, leading her to touring and working with huge names in the industry and eventually recording the widely applauded album ‘Portrait’.We talk about what it was like to start her career at such a young age, the support she received from teachers and family, the fickle nature of the music industry, why she chose to step away from performing for a few years and where she’s going from here.Plus, Josephine will be performing at the live event of ‘On the Irregular’ at HOME, Manchester in September.Welcome to this special bonus episode, with the immense talent, utterly lovely Josephine Oniyama.Josephine’s new single ‘Tears Will Never be Mine’  from her upcoming album ‘Kindred’ was released on June 3rd through Sound of Solar Records.You can find Josephine on Instagram @josephineoniyama and on twitter @thisisjosephine. Shownotes: New Single: 'Tears Will Never Be Mine'Josephine on BandcampJosephine on SoundcloudLady Smith Black MambazoGuy GarveyPostProduction and Jingle: Jon TiplerSupport the show

This week I chat to Deborah Eydmann Beau, writer, model, life long creative.In this inspiring and at points, tear inducing chat, Deborah tells me about coming into her own  at 55, her childhood in Yorkshire and how this formed her, a lifelong passion for drama, her life in France with her three children, successful careers in translation and blogging the three years she spent walking to find herself again, the cabin in the woods where she lived off grid for a year, her current life by the sea, the transformative power of stopping dying her hair in her 40’s, and what her future holds.Welcome to episode 12 and the rather exceptional, Deborah Eydeman.You can find Debora on instagram @plumesandfeathers and on the account she shares with her partner @tonyandbabsThank you so much for listening to ‘On the Irregular’, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Shownotes:Kick can and conkers blogLondon GrammarLordeThe Foraged HomeTable MagazineHandmade CharlotteSupport the show

This week I am chatting to baker, artist and empress of cushion embroidery Sharon Nagadya.Born in Uganda, Sharon moved to the UK age 11. After initially pursuing a career as a nurse/hairdresser, Sharon couldn’t ignore the fact that her passion was in the creative fields. We talk about family and cultural expectations, what she now considers to be the markers of success, her time caring for her fabulous mother in her early twenties, reclaiming the word ‘Immigrant’, how she wants to be perceived, her pivot from the world of retail to baking at the cosiest of bakeries Longbois Bakehouse in South Manchester. Sharon also manages to compare herself to Beyonce at least twice with complete justification. May I introduce to you episode 11 of On the Irregular and the wondrous artist Sharon Nagadya.A gentle warning, this episode contains expletives.You can find Sharon on instagram @snagadya and at via the bakery website @longboisbakes. Thank you so much for listening to ‘On the Irregular’, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Support the show

This week I’m chatting to Grower & Florist Hattie Shackleton of Honour Farm Folk.In our conversation we touch upon Hattie’s experience of working in branding agencies and being a woman in the graphic design industry, then opening up her own shop ‘Maud’s House’ in the old market town of Skipton.We talk about what it’s like to have several skills and to allow yourself to hone in what you love, the impact of her dad’s passing and the elitism of the horticulture industry.And most excitingly, we talk about the unusual property Hattie and her family are moving to where she will expand her flower business and passion for opening up the farm in the future to help make growing more accessible for the local community.Welcome to episode ten with the endlessly stylish yet permanently down to earth Hattie.You can find Hattie on instagram @honourfarmfolk or you can head to her website commondaisy.co.uk. On the date of publishing this episode, the site is currently under maintenance, but the site explains how you can get in touch with Hattie for wedding bookings.Thank you so much for listening to ‘On the Irregular’, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Support the show

This week I’m chatting to writer and life coach, Nadia Karim.Nadia’s rich journey includes a passion for photography, social justice, an ongoing theme of storytelling and being one half of Edinburgh based shop Century General Store.We had a long chat about empathy, acknowledging the depths of our differences, the value of being quiet, her journey as a writer and story teller, interrogating the attitude of ‘one size fits all’ to wellbeing and her gentle approach to coaching.For more details on how Nadia works and how you can join her online community, please refer to the show notes.You can find Nadia online at everydaywrites.com and join her Radiant Folk online community by subscribing via her website.All of Nadia's coaching is one-to-one, online. Nadia also sent me a breakdown of who might find her coaching useful:You have ideas for a creative project but don't know where to begin and are feeling overwhelmed which is stopping you from starting, you want to be clear on what to do first.You have sensory needs that affect how you navigate the world and want to put in place consistent wellbeing habits.You want to tell your story or your creativity as a person from a marginalised identity, with someone who understands and celebrates their lived experience and the bigger picture of how they navigate the worldYou've recently had an autism / ADHD / neurodiversity diagnosis and are exploring what this means for the way you approach your life, wellbeing or work moving forwardsYou want to make a big leap towards something you've always dreamed You want to create healthy boundaries with family members or in any aspect of your lifeYou want to know where best to focus your energy and to show up consistently instead of feeling drainedWelcome to episode nine with the gentle, soothing and wise Nadia Karim.Thank you so much for listening to ‘On the Irregular’, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Shownotes: Quiet by Susan CainTender by Penny WincerSupport the show

This week I’m chatting to TV Camera Operator and photographer Lyndsey Harris.As a camera op, Lyndsey has worked on productions such as Coronation Street, Wimbledon and, in my opinion, the most exciting of all, Stars in Their Eyes. When she’s not filming, Lyndsey captures the world around her with her camera and a sharp documentary eye, honing in on the moments we often miss.We talk about growing up as a mixed race child on an all white council estate in Birmingham, the film that was the catalyst for her pursuing a career in visuals, and being a woman in an industry historically dominated by white men. A large theme was the internal battle between her drive and passion and her, often debilitating, anxiety and imposter syndrome.Welcome to episode eight. May I introduce you to my dear friend, talented photographer and one of the oddaprents to our children, Lyndsey Harris,You can find Lyndsey’s photography work on instagram @allfromthelefteye.Thank you so much for listening to ‘On the Irregular’, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Shownotes:Martin ParrAva DuVernayLynne RamsaySteve McQueenSupport the show

This week I’m chatting to visual artist, community builder and photographer Jo Melia.Jo and I chatted about growing up and living with her mum’s alcoholism and the impact this had on her creative dreams, parenting and being part of a neuro-divergent family, her experience of art school, her years working full time in a bank, setting up a make-up business on her own with two young children, the value of community and the unique skills each of us have to offer. Since we recorded this episode in early January, Jo has continued further down her personal creative path and is currently absorbed in working with paint on canvas. These creative shifts are also something we touch upon.Welcome to episode seven with the thoughtful soul and queen of earthy colour palettes, Jo Melia.You can find Jo on instagram @jomeliaart and @themelias.co and you can also find the photography workshops she co-runs with her partner james online themelias.co. Please refer ot the shownotes for links.Thank you so much for listening to ‘On the Irregular’, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Shownotes:The Lost Daughter - NetflixMaid - NetflixSupport the show

This week I’m chatting to artist, adventurer, writer and marine conservationist Katie Tunn. Katie lives her life in companionship with the waters: waking up to the sound of waves on the Isle of Skye, creating stunning art work inspired by the Hebridean seas, collecting litter and rescuing injured seals along the coastline and, later this year, visiting all 82 of Britain’s largest islands.In our chat, we touch upon Katie’s relationship with her environment, the pros and cons of social media, spontaneity in creativity, the value of sometimes saying no and her experience on the channel 4 reality series Eden, where she and 22 other participants lived for a year in a remote part of Scotland and attempted to build a self-sufficient community.Welcome to episode six with the delightful and, rather magical, Katie Tunn.You can find more about Katie’s varied work online at katietunn.com and on instagram @katietunn and @katietunnart. Please refer to the shownotes for links.Thank you so much for listening to ‘On the Irregular’, please make sure you review and subscribe as it helps other listeners find us!Show notes:Elizabeth Gilbert - Big Magic - Creative Living Beyond FearAlastair HumphriesEden: Paradise Lost on Channel 4Support the show