Tom

In this episode, I chat with Sarah Beth Morgan, who is a freelance animation director and illustrator based in Cleveland, Ohio. Sarah Beth is 33 and lives with her husband, Tyler, also an animator, their three-year-old son, Artie, and their dog, Bandit.It was so interesting to hear Sarah Beth’s reflections on the immediate pressure that many parents feel to have a second child as soon as the first arrives.She also opened up about her experience with postpartum depression and how she found her own way to navigate it, prioritising projects that bring her joy and choosing clients who respect her time as a new parent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I chat with Amy Chapman, a producer working in the film industry. Amy has spent a long time abroad, travelling and living in Germany before settling in Brighton with her partner, Luke, who’s a filmmaker. This is a particularly special conversation, as Amy is now seven months pregnant. We talk about how she and Luke navigated the decision to have children, and how supportive the industry has been since she announced her pregnancy. We also get into the practical side of things, discussing money, maternity allowance, and what it’s really like to plan for parenthood as a freelancer in the UK.Amy Chapman is a freelance producer working across branded content, documentaries, animation and short films. She also works with her partner Luke, who has a small production company in Brighton Nougie Film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I chat with Justyna, a 36-year-old illustrator and animator who lives in Dorset with her husband, their dog and their cat. She started out working in communications for the design sector, and then decided to do a master’s in illustration and has been freelancing ever since.More recently she’s been getting into animation too, and she’s already released her first short film, Make a Wish, which explores her indecision about having kids.It was really great to hear her story and how she used animation to talk about something so personal. We also get into her creative process, her journey with endometriosis, and the way society and the media put so much pressure on women to fit into a certain role which makes the whole question of kids feel like this huge, life-defining decision.Justyna Green is a British-Polish illustrator, animator, and animation director, specializing in content that addresses women’s health and wellbeing. Her work explores complex topics through a combination of humor and sensitivity, offering accessible narratives on difficult subjects. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Jade Liessa Wheldon, a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey has taken her from designing props for films to producing documentaries and directing animations. Now based in North London and in her mid-thirties, Jade brings a wealth of experience and insight to our conversation.We talk about her time in Africa filming a documentary and working with an NGO called Maison de la gare, an experience that left a lasting mark on her. Jade also shares her personal journey with Long Covid, opening up about how it has shaped both her perspective on life and the direction of her creative work.At this link you can find more information about Maison de la gare and their work in Senegal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I chat with Amy, a Creative Director at Scriberia.Amy is 36 and she recently moved from London to Wales with her partner and their 3 year old son.We talked about how she tries to split things equally at home and with the baby and how even with the best intentions, it’s easy to feel torn between wanting to keep your career going and not wanting to miss out on those early years with your kid.Amy also shared the pros and cons of living in a big city like London as a new parent and how that led to their decision of moving. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I talk to Anna, a graphic designer living in Brighton. Anna is 32 and lives with her partner and their cat Luna.In our chat, we talked about how the children’s conversation came up for her, and what she's most nervous about. We also got into the ups and downs of the creative process, and how building that resilience to try, fail, and keep creating might actually be a strength when it comes to parenting.Anna Barton is a Senior Designer specialised in branding, campaigns, print and web.She's all about coming up with good creative ideas that do something good in the world.She's currently working at Studio Texture part time, and spend the rest of my time working freelance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode I chat with Margaux, creative director and co-founder of Moth, an amazing animation studio based in London. Margaux is 39 and she lives with her partner, their baby Oran and their cat Pantera.As we talked, I could really relate to her story: She opened up about the mixed feelings around having kids, especially when life is already full between close friendships, travel, hobbies, and a deep passion for her work. Like many of us, she was focused on building something meaningful, and having kids wasn’t really on the radar.After our conversation, Margaux got in touch to share a few extra thoughts, which I’ve included in the final edit.Marie-Margaux is a Greek/Italian creative director and co-founder of Moth Studio, an animation studio based in London known for its perceptive and emotive storytelling with a strong emphasis on character and design as communication.Born and raised in Athens, she developed her love for Animation at age 3 through her dad and came to England to study Animation at Kingston and the RCA, where Moth was formed. She lives in Forest Hill, South London with her family and cat and when not in the studio she enjoys teaching and doing talks in universities and festivals worldwide. She is currently working on her first Illustrated Children’s book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I speak with Matt, a 41-year-old filmmaker based in Brighton.He shares how the idea of having children never really crossed his mind until he turned 40. Now, in a new relationship, the topic has started to surface more frequently.We talk about the uncertainty that can come with such a life-changing decision, and explore how parenthood might reshape his world — both professionally and personally.Our conversation also touches on the rise of AI: its impact on creative industries, and how thinking about the future of technology intertwines with the question of raising children in an increasingly unpredictable world.Matt Harmer is an award-winning Director and D.P. specialising in documentary and branded content. He has worked with clients such as National Geographic, WaterBear Network, CNN, and the BBC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nell’episodio di oggi parlo con Silvia Clo, regista e autrice freelance di 30 anni che abita a Milano con il suo compagno Sam e il loro gatto Gagarin.Silvia ha una passione e un’energia travolgenti quando parla del suo lavoro, che per lei è anche uno strumento per amplificare temi politici e sociali.Attraverso il cinema, la fotografia e la scrittura ha esplorato le rappresentazioni della comunità queer, le dinamiche di discriminazione e il tema della maternita’.Silvia Clo crede nel potere dell'immaginazione. Regista, autrice e artista, i suoi lavori decostruiscono stereotipi e indagano le rappresentazioni della comunità queer, con uno sguardo intimo e politico. Attraverso cinema, scrittura e arte visiva, crea narrazioni che sfidano i confini e aprono nuovi spazi di possibilità. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I chat with Tom, an amazing illustrator based in Brighton, where he lives with his wife, their 16-month-old daughter, and their cat, George. Parenthood is still a new adventure for him, and we dive into how he and his wife are navigating the ups and downs—figuring out sleep routines, raising their daughter vegetarian, and, most importantly, handling the financial challenges of life as two freelancers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.