Creative Health Stories

About Creative Health Stories

Creative Health Stories is a platform and consultancy led by Laura Bailey and Associates based in Faversham, Kent. We showcase the transformative impact of creativity on health and wellbeing through engaging audio stories, community projects, and workplace initiatives. Our services aim to increase understanding, access and investment in creative health. In each podcast episode we explore why creativity, art, culture, nature and design are important to public health. Conversations with health professionals, artists, cultural practitioners, academics, policy makers and people with lived experience reveal how creativity supports our general health and wellbeing and chronic, long term conditions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Publisher

Laura Bailey

Category

arts · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Aug 2023

Latest episode

20 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

36 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Feb 2026

   Hollie McNish on poetry, politics and wellbeing

   In this conversation, Laura and award winning poet and performer Hollie McNish explore the profound connection between creativity, poetry, humour and wellbeing. They discuss the nature of creativity, the journey to becoming a poet, and the impact of poetry on mental health. Hollie shares her insights on the intersection of personal and political themes in her work, the importance of community in fostering creativity, and the role of humor in addressing serious issues. They also touch on the value of everyday creativity and the challenges faced in arts funding and accessibility. The conversation concludes with advice for aspiring creatives and reflections on the transformative power of art in people's lives. Listen to the end to hear Hollie reading from her new book Virgin. A thoughtful and candid discussion about permission, persistence and the power of everyday creativity in public life. Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome and introduction to Hollie McNish's work and themes 02:00 - Childhood creativity and societal labels on arts and talent 05:00 - The importance of creative health in education and everyday life 08:00 - Personal stories and how poetry helps process grief, joy, and anger 12:00 - The journey from hobbyist to professional poet and challenges faced 15:00 - Using poetry as social commentary on societal issues like misogyny and xenophobia 20:00 - How writing about personal and political topics serves emotional and societal healing 25:00 - Explaining how poetry addresses feelings and personal experiences 30:00 - The role of humor and satire in tackling serious societal issues 35:00 - The political significance of content around topics like virginity, sex education, and menopause 40:00 - Community arts, policy challenges, and funding cuts: what's needed to improve access 45:00 - Encouraging people to find their creative outlets and access arts for health 50:00 - The cultural and economic benefits of national and international arts funding schemes 55:00 - Final thoughts on the power of everyday creativity and its impact on health and society Resources & Links: Hollie McNish's website (https://www.holliepoetry.com/) Virgin by Hollie McNish (https://www.bookbaruk.com/product-page/virgin-by-hollie-mcnish) Maternal Journal - support for new mothers (https://www.maternaljournal.org/) Professor Sir Michael Marmot's work on social determinants of health (https://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/) Pride (Film about activism and community) (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3169706/) Social Media: Hollie on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/holliepoetry/?hl=en) Creative Health Stories on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/creativehealthstories/?hl=en) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

2. 

   6 Feb 2026

   Why Movement Matters: Rambert’s Early Moves Programme in Greater Manchester

   In this commissioned episode of Creative Health Stories, host Laura Bailey explores an innovative initiative that brings professional dance and movement training into early years education. Early Moves is a partnership programme from Rambert Dance Company, Rambert Grades, and Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) which trains nursery practitioners to embed creative movement into daily practice. Designed to support children from 0–5 years, this pioneering project uses dance to enhance physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development, contributing to school readiness and workforce wellbeing at scale. Early Moves has been made possible through support from Arts Council England's National Lottery funded Place Partnership Fund, with additional support from the Granada Foundation and GMCA. Key Themes Movement as Development: Early movement isn’t just physical play — it’s tied to brain development, communication, balance, emotional regulation, and self-expression. Empowering Practitioners: Nursery practitioners with little or no dance experience are trained to lead creative movement sessions confidently, enhancing their professional skills, wellbeing, and job satisfaction. Real-world Impact: Practitioners share stories about boosts in children’s confidence, listening skills, social interaction, language development, and engagement, especially for those who are shy or have additional needs. Strategic Partnership: Greater Manchester’s early years leaders invested in the programme to tackle low school readiness rates, particularly in more deprived areas, through a creative and holistic approach. Voices from the Episode Daniel Fulvio, Director of Community Partnerships, Rambert Hannah Kidd, Head of Education & Examinations, Rambert Grades Chloe Senior, Early Years Dance Specialist Anna Daley and Anne O’Connor, Evaluators, Primed for Life Miriam Loxham, Senior Principal for Early Years and Faily Help, Greater Manchester Combined Authority Julie McCarthy, Strategic Lead for Creative Health, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and NHS Greater Manchester Early Years Practitioners: Pamela (Dream Big Little One), Sharon (St. Vincent’s), Holly (Safari Kindergarten), Tiffany (Clayton Tiddlywinks), Niamh (Buttercup Corner). Organisation Links Rambert Dance Company Website https://rambert.org.uk/ (https://rambert.org.uk/ ) Instagram: @rambertdance (https://www.instagram.com/rambertdance/) Rambert Grades Website: https://www.rambertgrades.com/ (https://www.rambertgrades.com/) Instagram: @rambertgrades (https://www.instagram.com/rambertgrades/) Greater Manchester Combined Authority Website: https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk (https://www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk) Instagram: @greatermcr (https://www.instagram.com/greatermcr/) Arts Council England https://www.artscouncil.org.uk (https://www.artscouncil.org.uk) Instagram: @aceagrams (https://www.instagram.com/aceagrams/) Granada Foundation Website: https://granadafoundation.org/ (https://granadafoundation.org/) Image by Jack Thomson @j_a_c_k__t_h_o_m_s_o_n (https://www.instagram.com/j_a_c_k__t_h_o_m_s_o_n/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

3. 

   5 Sept 2025

   Charcoal, Compulsion and Creative Recovery with Artist Liz Atkin

   This episode of Creative Health Stories is a little different. Host Laura Bailey takes the podcast outdoors to the Whitstable seafront for a conversation with artist Liz Atkin. Liz shares her lived experience of dermatillomania (compulsive skin picking disorder) and how charcoal drawing became both a recovery tool and a powerful creative practice. Together they explore how creativity can transform personal health and support others in clinical and community settings. It’s a candid and inspiring conversation about vulnerability, play, and the therapeutic potential of creativity. Key Points: Liz’s journey from theatre and dance to charcoal drawing. Using creativity to refocus compulsion and anxiety. The role of play and flow in improving wellbeing. Workshops with NHS staff and the importance of creative breaks. How creative health programmes face challenges in the current NHS context. Links: Liz Atkin: lizatkin.com (https://www.lizatkin.com/) Breathe Arts Health Research: breatheahr.org (https://breatheahr.org/) Horsebridge Arts Centre, Whitstable: horsebridge.org.uk (https://thehorsebridge.org.uk/) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

8 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 33 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

38

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

68

Contact Creative Health Stories

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.