Ben is interviewed by York Creatives board member for writing and publishing, Kathryn Tann, who is also one of eight contributing authors who wrote either a short story or a poem for the book.

Kids Just Wanna Fly is about youthful ambition and the tumultuous years of young adulthood. Unfolding between 2003 and 2013, it’s a raw portrait of youth in the pre-smartphone era, and life growing up in post industrial northern England.

In addition to this interview, the launch event featured two short poetry videos and a performance by Bram Jarman (@jarmouse_). You can watch them here.

For those listening before 29th November 2025, Ben would like to invite you to the closing of the exhibition on Saturday 29th November, which coincides with the Patch Frost Fair - a winter celebration of print.

Ben will be there representing Overt Books, the publishing company he created to bring to life artist book projects. He would love to speak to local artists and creatives who have a project that they think might work well as a book.

The Frost Fair is taking place at Patch, The Bonding Warehouse, between 12pm and 6pm this Saturday. Entry is free.

The book is also available to purchase here via Overt Books.

John is a Creative Producer and Consultant for immersive and interactive media projects. He works with the University of York’s groundbreaking XR Stories project, which brings together creatives and technologists to explore new storytelling. As York Creatives new Chair, John will lead the strategic development of the organisation, working closely with Sarah.

If you want to find out more about John, or where York Creatives is headed, he welcomes messages via the York Creatives platform Circle.

This episode was recorded in the XR Stories Lab at The Guildhall.

Sarah Williams is a writer, writing coach, tutor, and general enthusiast for all things literary.

The novel that she is currently working on is a literary fiction novel in which a woman leaves society forever to travel to the rainforest where she is followed by the embodiment of evolution.

Since moving to York just over two years ago (she's gotten this wrong a few times and said three!) she has jumped into the writing and creative scene. She founded Written in York at the beginning of 2024 with the aim of connecting and uplifting writers and event organisers in York and she runs an ongoing critique group that meets every two weeks.

Since the beginning of 2025 she has steadily been taking over the role of Managing Director at York Creatives. Her ambitions with the new phase of York Creatives is to uplift grassroots creatives, facilitate events that allow York Creative members to try different mediums and to serve the incredible legacy that York Creatives already has in the city of York.

If you want to find out any more about the writing scene in York, or where York Creatives is headed, Sarah welcomes messages via the York Creatives platform Circle, or on Instagram @Written.in.York

This podcast was recorded at Patch, at The Bonding Warehouse in York. A neighbourhood workspace with offices, co-working, meeting and event space and even a podcast studio! If you'd like to try a day at Patch for free visit www.patch.work/book-a-trial-day and make sure to say you heard about Patch through the York Creatives Podcast.

What if instead we could create our own job, tailor made to the interests and skills we've developed through passion and exploration?

Tom Moore of design studio Lást Maps talks us through his journey of building a life around this goal.

Lást Maps is a small design studio that specialises in heritage style ink work. The brand started with hand-drawn cartography, expanding into designing clothing graphics, label identities and logo design.

Lást Maps online:
Website | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook 

JJ Jackson is a tattoo artist and the owner of Awake Arise tattoo studio. He’s also in two bands - Fizzy Milk and The B*****d Sons.

In this episode we journey into the world of tattooing, following JJ’s unconventional career path. He shares his honest thoughts on the industry, how it’s changed since he started, and the role social media has played in that. 

We talk about designing your own version of success and avoiding comparing yourself with others, and the links between creativity, rebellion and culture. 

You can find JJ at:
instagram.com/tattoosbyjj
Instagram.com/fizzymilkmusic
instagram.com/thebastardsons
facebook.com/awakearise 

What effect does education have on our creativity and the confidence we have in our work?

Amy D'Agorne is a Yorkshire-born photographer currently studying her MA in Documentary Photography at the University of South Wales.

In this episode we explore the role photography has in influencing society, about knowing your worth as a creative, and the struggle in balancing personal and commercial work. 

Amy's projects investigate the prevalent issues related to climate change; such as food sovereignty, corporate agriculture, fossil-fuel extraction, and the many-faceted ways that late-stage capitalism presents itself. 

She graduated with a BA First Class Honours in Photography from Edinburgh College of Art in 2015, and is currently working on a commission with photographer Hannah Starkey for The Hepworth Gallery in Wakefield.

You can find Amy at:

amydagorne.format.com
instagram.com/amydagorne

Edi Adegbola is a PR Account Manager based in York. He loves fashion, photography and coffee.

In this podcast we discuss the worlds of public relations, social media and content creation. 

Edi shares his approach to using the Instagram platform to sharing moments of his life that he finds exciting and joyful. He gives tips to those looking to get started, or struggling to build an audience. We discuss what to do, and what not to do, when reaching out to others online to try and develop fruitful business or social relationships.

You can find Edi at:
http://instagram.com/ediadegbola

He’s the founder and creative director of a media and image studio called Livestock Studios, and has worked with artists including Liam Gallagher, Pete Doherty and Shed Seven.

Listen as we chat about his journey in building his business, developing his skills and building his contacts, and connecting with the people you’re making art with.

Follow Livestock Studios on Instagram @livestockstudios

Follow Barnaby on Instagram @barnaby_fairley

Air TV has been named as one of the best places to work in TV and the company have picked up several prestigious RTS awards for their work.

Matt previously worked for the BBC for more than 15 years, starting as a news reporter and video journalist for BBC News before moving into programme making as an Assistant Producer and Producer/Director. From filming in Syrian refugee camps, to following car rallies across the Sahara and scrambling with Australia’s flying doctors, Matt has filmed in some pretty challenging and unpredictable situations.

He’s a qualified air ambulance Technical Crew Member and is one of Air TV’s licensed drone operators.  Matt also runs an outdoor adventure charity and is a qualified mountaineering and rock climbing instructor.

In this episode we follow Matt’s journey through the tv industry, discussing how he’s used his work to follow his passions. We chat about the tremendous value he’s seen from in investing in personal relationships, about learning to manage risk through outdoor adventure activities, and Matt tells us why there’s no better place to make television than Yorkshire. 

https://airtv.co.uk/
https://www.apexchallenge.co.uk/ 

In this episode we chat about the process of finding your feet as a young creative, how it can feel like one step forward and two steps backwards with everything feeling uncertain and imposter syndrome creeping in. We discuss why job titles mean nothing, and how difficult it can be applying for new jobs after being made redundant, as well as Laura's hopes for bringing back more human elements into the world of design and branding.

Laura:

https://www.instagram.com/mrslaurasanderson/

Bright Young Things

https://www.instagram.com/bright_youngthings/

We also discuss what it’s like venturing out on your own as a freelancer, how to build trust and authenticity in writing copy for clients in a world full of fake news, we cover tips and tricks for staying productive, and Katie tells us of some the creative ways she's raised money for the charity she supports, Deaf Blind UK.

www.katielingo.co.uk/blog
www.twitter.com/katielingoyork
www.linkedin.com/in/katie-lingo-freelance-writer/
www.facebook.com/katielingoyork
www.instagram.com/katielingoyork

In this episode we chat about the numerous projects Rebecca has started over the years, the importance of creative environments for children where they have freedom to experiment, and the magnetic power in knowing your own value and getting out and doing stuff for your community.

https://www.kaizenartsagency.org/
https://twitter.com/ArtsKaizen

https://www.yorkdesignweek.com/
https://twitter.com/yorkdesignweek

As a founder of KMA, Kit has also worked as an installation artist in the interactive public realm, creating works that have dramatically transformed many iconic spaces from London’s Trafalgar Square to Shanghai's Bund, and as a theatre and show designer with artists as diverse as Prince and DV8.

In this episode we chat about some of Kit’s early work, and the role of technology in creativity. We discuss the increasingly interconnected relationship between all art forms, how those relationships can be used to blend the boundaries between artist, subject and audience, and his upcoming work "People We Love" showing next month at York Minster as part of York Mediale.

https://yorkmediale.com/events/people-we-love/ https://kma.co.uk

https://viridianfx.co.uk

In this episode we discuss the changing landscape of York’s creative scene during the 16 years since the gallery has opened, we get into what Greg and Ails look for when searching for artists to support and exhibit, as well as the work they do through their charity New Visuality to support people from disadvantaged backgrounds to develop their creative voice.

https://accordingtomcgee.com/
https://www.instagram.com/accordingtomcgee
https://twitter.com/according2mcgee

In this episode we discuss early experiences that lead her to developing her installations, we chat about the way she creates her work, allowing it to form slowly over time, and about the importance of light and darkness in all art forms.

https://www.katieloumccabe.com

https://www.instagram.com/_katieloumccabe_

https://open.spotify.com/album/6VIDBrm2z1k7Pq0twPsL8L