Give me a break

About Give me a break

Getting work in the art industry can be a rough ride, filled with mystery, elitism and BS. 'Give me a break' hears from those who've made it work their way, often against the odds. Hosted by Harriet Lloyd-Smith, Plaster's managing editor, the podcast is not a career how-to guide; it's a series of honest stories about different paths to success (however that's defined). Spoiler alert: nothing was easy.

Publisher

Plaster Magazine

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Apr 2025

Latest episode

4 Nov 2025

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   4 Nov 2025

   Tai Shani

   On Give me a break this week, Harriet’s guest is the artist Tai Shani. Tai was born in London in 1976, and had an unconventional, hippyish childhood, including time spent in a psychedelic community in Goa, which offered her a liberal perspective, but as she puts it, a slightly mangled relationship with authority. She always knew she’d be an artist, but it’s been a road filled with detours. From working as a fashion photographer in the 1990s to crafting dildos for a lesbian sex shop (that’s Doctor Dildo to you). It’s no surprise then, that Tai’s eclectic background is reflected in her practice. Tai is an architect of myth, moving between performance, film, installation (whatever medium feels right at the time) and experimental text, which underpins her work. In her epic, sci-fi infused universes – some of which are years in duration – Christine de Pizan meets hallucinogenic fungi, cosmic slime meets feminine excess, and forgotten histories are reimagined. In 2019, she made history when she won the Turner Prize, sharing the honour alongside three other nominees, who collectively asked to share the award in a statement of solidarity. Alongside her work, Tai has been a longtime tutor in contemporary art practice (she was recently named a visiting professor at the Royal College of Art), which has given her a window onto the challenges facing emerging artists today. In this conversation, Tai and Harriet talk rejection, learning curves, performances gone wrong, bad crits (you know we love disaster on GMAB), and even going TikTok viral (like proper viral) with her recent installation at Somerset House. Tai also reflects poignantly on the grief of losing her mother, to whom her current show at Gathering is dedicated. "I've always tried to use the spite of rejection as a way to be like 'I'll show you.' Because I've had a lot of it, and my trajectory wasn't smooth, really, at all."

2. 

   14 Oct 2025

   Sadie Coles

   If anyone on the London art scene needs no introduction, it’s probably Sadie Coles. Born in 1963, Sadie studied art history and film at Middlesex University before cutting her teeth in the press office at the National Theatre and Bristol's Arnolfini. She learnt the "value of art" with a training from dealer Anthony d’Offay, and later managed Jeff Koons’ studio in New York – all before opening her eponymous gallery in 1997. Often dubbed the “godmother” of the YBAs (a title she humbly disputes), Sadie played a key role in launching the careers of artists like Sarah Lucas and Angus Fairhurst. Nearly three decades on she remains at the epicentre of the London art world, constantly evolving her programme and championing a dynamic, international roster that includes Martine Syms, Matthew Barney, Jordan Wolfson, Alvaro Barrington, Arthur Jafa, and previous GMAB guest, Monster Chetwynd. In 2021, she was awarded an OBE for services to art. Sadie's community-focused ethos extends to initiatives like The Shop, a recently opened project space with a rolling lineup of guest curators, and ‘Gargle’, her monthly series of live events. Coinciding with Frieze London 2025, she’ll open a brand-new flagship gallery: a 6,000 sq ft Georgian townhouse on Savile Row. In this episode of Give me a break, Harriet and Sadie take it from the top – unpacking the moments, instincts, and relationships that shaped one of the most influential figures in contemporary art. Along the way, they get into the misconceptions, the myths of the art dealer, and how Sadie has learned to bat away the BS. “Culture is important. It’s a response to a need in a society, that’s why the museums are full. That’s why people go to cultural events of all sorts. We need something that is reflecting humanity, that is discussing the difficulties of being a human being in the world today.”

3. 

   16 Sept 2025

   Ben Luke

   For the next episode of GMAB, we’re with one of the most insightful and dedicated arts critics around: Ben Luke. If you’re in the art world orbit, you will have heard his voice, you’ve maybe even preordered his new book, possibly begged to go on his podcast. Ben is a contributing editor at The Art Newspaper, and hosts of two of its podcasts, The Week in Artand A Brush With, exploring the cultural experiences and greatest influences of everyone who’s anyone who’s an artist. Ben cut his teeth in the press office of Tate, was Deputy Editor and Features Editor of the late Art World Magazine, and went on to become an art critic at The Evening Standard before joining The Art Newspaper. He’s written essays and catalogues on the likes of Michael Craig‑Martin, Sean Scully, Phyllida Barlow, and is a member of the advisory board for the UK’s Government Art Collection – above all, he's a devout believe that art enthusiasm and criticism can go hand in hand. Now, with over 120 podcast guests under his belt (from Arthur Jafa to Marlene Dumas), he's come to known a thing or two about navigating the art world with curiosity, care, and a healthy amount of scepticism. Ahead of the release of his new book, What is art for? Contemporary artists on their inspirations, influences and disciplines, Harriet picks Ben's brains on 25 years of being an art critic (spoiler: there's joy, self-doubt, pain and tears), shamelessly harvests podcast tips from one of the best in the biz, and turns the tables to ask Ben his own favourite question, with a twist: what are critics for? "One of the things about being a freelancer is just dealing with the knocking down, the pitches where you're desperate to write for somebody and they just aren’t interested.”

4. 

   29 Jul 2025

   Monster Chetwynd

   We’re out of the studio this week, and right in the belly of the beast (Tate Modern) for this special episode to track down Monster Chetwynd. Though she was born Alalia Chetwynd in 1973, the Turner Prize-nominated artist is best known by her previous stage names, which have included Spartacus Chetwynd and Marvin Gaye Chetwynd. Monster is celebrated for her wildly imaginative, carnivalesque performances and films, which often feature delightfully chaotic handmade props and puppets that reimagine pieces of cultural history, from the Canterbury Tales to Star Wars. Harriet manages to squeeze some time in with Monster in the midst of installing her Tate Uniqlo Play commission, Thunder, Crackle and Magic, involving creatures, costumes and dragons. They talk art school torture, navigating egos, and living for risk. "It's a little bit difficult that you go from a subject that doesn't have any very obvious industry based outcome of employment to another subject that has exactly the same problem."

5. 

   15 Jul 2025

   Gary Card

   Gary Card doesn’t really do things by halves. The set designer, artist, illustrator, and unapologetic maximalist was born in Bournemouth in 1981. Growing up, he hated the beach, and instead spent his childhood indoors, drawing monsters, cartoons, and grotesque horror scenes – a love affair that endures today. Despite having never been to the theatre, Gary moved to London to study theatre design at Central Saint Martins. After graduating, his unique blend of chaotic creativity garnered early media attention, and he admits he found success before he’d fully honed his craft. Over a 20-year career working with the biggest names in fashion and pop culture, from Comme des Garçons and Louis Vuitton to Paul McCartney and Lady Gaga, Gary has earned a reputation as a maverick of maximalist set design, and fundamentally, an artist. Ahead of his Plaster Store takeover, where he transformed the entire space into a madman’s studio, Harriet Lloyd-Smith sat down with Gary to take a trip down the rabbit hole. They dive into his obsessive collecting, major mess ups, naughty clients and why brutal honesty is essential. "I think the 'A word' [artist] that came with baggage, analytical baggage for me, and it's hard to even put into words now. I did for a long time, dare not speak its name, because I didn't think I was worthy. And I am an artist. I've been an artist for years, but it took me a long time to actually have the confidence to say it out loud."

6. 

   2 Jul 2025

   Gabrielle de la Puente of The White Pube

   Gabrielle de la Puente of The White Pube discusses dismantling art world elitism with Harriet, addressing salary transparency, defying art school snobbery, and embracing the power of silence in art criticism in this interview.

7. 

   17 Jun 2025

   Joe Scotland

   Host Harriet interviews Joe Scotland, director of Studio Voltaire, who reflects on his career, Studio Voltaire's evolution, and the current economic challenges facing artists, offering a candid perspective on the industry.

8. 

   3 Jun 2025

   Naomi Rea

   Artnet News Editor-in-Chief Naomi Rea discusses navigating the complexities of the global art world and upholding journalistic integrity in an industry that values opacity, in an interview with Harriet.

9. 

   20 May 2025

   Harland Miller

   For the third episode of Give me a break, Harriet is joined by Yorkshire-born artist and writer Harland Miller. Best known for his darkly comic reimaginings of vintage Penguin book covers, he blends sardonic humour with sharp social commentary. His debut novel Slow Down Arthur, Stick to Thirty, a poignant story about a boy travelling around the North of England with a David Bowie impersonator, laid the foundations for a lifelong interest in storytelling. White Cube gallery, who has represented Harland for over 20 years, describe him as a "raconteur", which we can certainly vouch for after spending three hours with him in the Plaster podcast studio. Harland takes Harriet on path of winding, witty anecdotes from childhood and his early career, to sticking it out as a painter when painting was not de rigueur. "People would ask, 'what do you do?' And I would say, well, I'm a painter. And they would look at you with a mixture of curiosity and pity."

10. 

    9 May 2025

    Bengi Ünsal

    For the second episode of Give me a break, Harriet is joined by Bengi Ünsal, director of London’s ICA. Bengi grew up in Turkey, and began her career in music programming. Coming up, she was a self-proclaimed “shy person” with no degree or ‘ins’ in the arts, but eventually proved a knack for finding new talent as an early champion of acts like Muse, St Vincent and Nils Frahm. In 2016, she moved to London to become head of contemporary music at Southbank Centre before taking the top job at the ICA in 2022 (the first woman to do so in over half a century). There, against a backdrop of ever-shifting funding and political challenges, she has transformed the ICA into a hotbed of experimental art, music, film and cross-disciplinary happenings – a place where people want to be, and be seen. Bengi and Harriet discuss everything from begging for jobs and bad bosses to overcoming shyness, going bankrupt and starting over.

11. 

    25 Apr 2025

    Pam Evelyn

    Getting work in the art industry can be a rough ride, filled with mystery, elitism and BS. Our new podcast, 'Give me a break' hears from those who've made it work their way, often against the odds. Hosted by Harriet Lloyd-Smith, managing editor at Plaster, Give Me A Break is not a career how-to guide; it's a series of honest stories about different paths to success (however that's defined). Spoiler alert: nothing was easy. For episode one, we’re joined by British painter Pam Evelyn. Since graduating from the RCA in 2022, Pam has exhibited internationally, joined Pace gallery, and become a standout of her generation. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing to get here. Pam and Harriet open up about failure and false starts, juggling hospitality jobs, losing confidence and regaining it. Pam Evelyn interviewed by Harriet Lloyd-Smith; Production: Dora DB; Editing and sound: Steven Llewellyn; Image: Pam photographed by Robert Glowacki, courtesy Pace Gallery

Who has been a guest on Give me a break

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Gabrielle de la Puente
• Joe Scotland
• Naomi Rea

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

10,394

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100

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

Quality

16

Social presence

0

YouTube

76

Engagement

0

Contact Give me a break

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

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

Questions about Give me a break