We Need to Make Things

Spacesuits and Spark: Staying Creative for the Long Haul with Simon Murphy

From wearing a spacesuit to inviting strangers into photo booths, Simon Murphy knows how to work on long-term projects without losing momentum or a sense of playfulness.
In this episode he shares his chapter approach to projects, his creative morning routines, his advice on unlearning and his feelings on AI.
Simon’s wonderful first book Govanhill was published in 2023.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.

Creativity Unlocked: Rhythm, Revenue & the Power of AI with Bastiaan Woudt

Many brilliant artists are terrible at business, but using some of the skills he learnt in hospitality management, Bastiaan Woudt was never going to be one of them.
Effective marketing, foolproof systems and a passion for photography have enabled him to create an enviable career that balances work, life and personal projects such as DJing, travelling and supporting NGOs.
In this episode, Bastiaan chats about structure and rhythm, turning passion into profit, using your second brain and the benefits of AI, among many other things!
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest

Creating Order Out of Chaos: Perfectionism, Criticism and Vulnerability with Sean Tucker

When he was thrown out of the church for being a heretic, Sean Tucker discovered the importance of adopting a creative outlet to work through his frustrations.
Sean is now a successful photographer, filmmaker, speaker, and the author of The Meaning in the Making, a brilliant book that shares his philosophy for living a creative life.
Through his experiences, Sean has learnt the importance of knowing who you are and how you’re wired, the perils of being a perfectionist, and how to pull order out of chaos.
This episode is full of Sean's wisdom including:
How to overcome ‘brutal’ perfectionism
Why we shouldn’t let fear stop us sharing our work
Dealing with (and benefitting from) criticism
Why we can’t wait for inspiration to strike
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.

From Hands to Heart: Crafting a Creative Life on Your Terms with Melanie Falick

Using our hands to make things is the new luxury. It connects us to our ancestors, the earth and ourselves, and it improves our wellbeing and brain development.
In 2012, Melanie Falick found herself sitting in a bathroom, looking at her hands and crying. Technology and business were robbing her of a good life, and something had to change.
This realisation led her to travel the world, meeting with potters, weavers, painters, artists and more to discover the role making by hand can play in making a good life.
Melanie’s adventures led to a beautiful book, Making a Life: Working by Hand and Discovering the Life You Are Meant to Live.
In this episode Melanie shares what she has learnt about the importance of making by hand, how to give yourself time (and permission) to create and redefining what success means, among many other things!    
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.

Don’t break the chain: Secrets to Staying Creatively Limber with Mary Jo Hoffman

When Mary Jo Hoffman committed to posting a picture a day online, the process became so addictive (and beneficial) that the chain remained unbroken for more than a decade.
During the process, Mary Jo learnt that wild constraints lead to wild creativity, process is more important than product, and reconnecting with nature has value beyond measure.   
Mary Jo’s beautiful book STILL: The Art of Noticing is out now.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.

Welcome to the We Need to Make Things podcast with Tracy Calder

Welcome to We Need To Make Things, a fortnightly podcast that will help you to kickstart your creative practice, stay inspired, and find the confidence to share your work with people who really need to see or hear it.