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In this episode, we meet James Stedman, a storyteller, poet, and theatre‑maker whose work blends queer identity, folklore, and heartfelt social commentary. Based in Leith, James creates imaginative, emotionally rich performance that weaves together fairy-tale logic, personal memory, and contemporary politics.

We explore his multidisciplinary practice across storytelling, spoken word, playwriting, and devised theatre, and how themes of class, mental health, and queerness shape his artistic voice. James shares insights into his creative process, his love of mythic storytelling, and the ways he refracts lived experience through poetry and folklore.

The conversation dives into Joyfully Grimm, his acclaimed one‑person show reimagining queer adolescence during the era of Section 28. Praised for its emotional clarity and political resonance, the piece combines traditional tales with original poetry to illuminate the complexities of growing up queer.

Episode recorded on 5 February 2026.

Website: www.jamesstedmanplays.com

Instagram: @jamesstedmanplays

Podcast details:
Podcast email: artiststalespodcast@gmail.com
Website: www.artiststales.net
Instagram: @artists_tales_podcast
Threads: @artists_tales_podcast

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In this episode, we meet eco‑artivist, rubbish artist, and waste mosaicist Francesca Busca. Known for transforming discarded materials into what she calls “trashure”, Francesca has built a practice that merges art, activism, and environmental urgency. Since 2017, she has created mosaics entirely from waste, using textile scraps, unrecyclable aluminium, scrap paper, and even marine debris recovered through Project One Wave.

A former City of London solicitor, Francesca left the legal world in 2015 to pursue art full‑time. She later graduated with distinction from the London School of Mosaic, where she also lectured between 2021 and 2022.

Francesca’s eco‑artivism extends far beyond her studio. She lives a low‑impact lifestyle rooted in veganism, renewable energy, second‑hand clothing, plastic avoidance, local food sourcing, water conservation, and even four years of flight‑free living.

Episode recorded on 13 January 2026.

Website: www.francescabusca.art

Instagram: @francesca_busca

Podcast details:
Podcast email: artiststalespodcast@gmail.com
Website: www.artiststales.net
Instagram: @artists_tales_podcast
Threads: @artists_tales_podcast

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In this episode, we hear from textile artist Russell Barratt, a self‑taught maker celebrated for his bold, joyful quilted artworks crafted entirely from second hand fabrics and repurposed clothing. Rooted in memory, domestic life, and a lifelong DIY ethos, Russell’s practice embraces recycling not just as a material choice but as a creative philosophy.

Russell shares how his background in fashion, costume, and garment conceptual design shaped his approach to colour, texture, and composition. Born in Edinburgh and now based in London, Russell reflects on his influences such as 1980s aesthetics, club culture, knotting, and recycling informed his evolving style. We explore his signature “high‑volume joy,” the emotional resonance of cloth, and the tension between maximalism and empty space that defines his work.

Episode recorded on 19 January 2026.

Website: russellbarratt.com
Instagram: @russelljamesbarratt

Podcast details:
Podcast email: artiststalespodcast@gmail.com
Website: www.artiststales.net
Instagram: @artists_tales_podcast
Threads: @artists_tales_podcast