Jo's Art History Podcast

About Jo's Art History Podcast

Join art historian Jo McLaughlin as she delves into the wonderful world of art history in a fun and accessible way Jo’s aim is to begin breaking down the elitism which surrounds the subject of art history and believes in order to do so, it’s important to create a space where everyone from all walks of life have the opportunity to talk about art that is meaningful to them; as let’s face it, if you are passionate about something, you are going to be good at talking about it! Painting, sculpture, architecture, jewellery, ceramics, design – no subject is off-limits on Jo’s Art History Podcast.

Publisher

Jo McLaughlin

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Sept 2020

Latest episode

21 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

127 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Born To. Episode Five - Kas Williams

   Hello and welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast. This episode is part of a special five part series, produced in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee, celebrating five artists who’ve found a second act in life through their creative practice. Their work will be shown as part of the Born To exhibition at British Art Fair this September. The Artist Kas Williams drew and painted constantly as a child, but was written off academically in the school system of the 1960s, and spent years in what she calls mundane office jobs. A chance conversation in her mid-twenties prompted her to try art college, something she describes as the first time she chose creativity over safety. Four years studying textiles changed her life, and in between periods of study she worked across an extraordinary range of jobs to keep her art alive. At 63 she returned to education to complete a Masters in Textiles, and now in her seventies, she describes her creative drive as as strong as ever. Featured works: The Random Flight of Bees and Gothic Bloom Website: www.kaswilliams.com Instagram: @kaswilliams PensionBee This episode’s PensionBee segment asks: why do we need to know about the gender pension gap? Thank you to our partner PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at British Art Fair (https://www.britishartfair.co.uk/), showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover the exhibition (https://www.britishartfair.co.uk/) from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London. PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026)’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/podcast?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. Listen (https://podfollow.com/the-pension-confident-podcast) or watch the full episodes (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjaWtMAOMXg3xPoHDfyxQOWU45szcxfvU) on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their Pension Calculator (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/pension-calculator?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), blogs (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/blog?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), and videos (https://www.youtube.com/@PensionbeeTV). With PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. Self-employed (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/self-employed-pension?employment_status=self-employed&utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026) pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Take control of your retirement today with PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026). When investing, your money is at risk. Thank you for listening to Jo's Art History Podcast.

2. 

   14 Sept 2026

   Born To. Episode Four - Richard Wilshire

   Hello and welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast. This episode is part of a special five part series, produced in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee, celebrating five artists who’ve found a second act in life through their creative practice. Their work will be shown as part of the Born To exhibition at British Art Fair this September. The Artist Richard Wilshire studied Art and Design at university in the 1990s, but found himself pulled into the early digital media industry, designing websites, and gradually moving away from making into management and strategy. By the early 2020s he felt something was missing, and began making again quietly in his garden garage, working with offcuts of wood and found objects. This year Richard was shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, a significant milestone for a practice that, until now, has existed mostly on his website and Instagram. This will be his first public showing. Featured works: Nature vs Nurture, Waveform, Autumn Oak & Four Letter Word Website: www.richardwilshire.com Instagram: @richardwilshire PensionBee This episode’s PensionBee segment asks: why do women need to engage with their pensions even more? Thank you to our partner PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at British Art Fair (https://www.britishartfair.co.uk/), showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover the exhibition (https://www.britishartfair.co.uk/) from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London. PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026)’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/podcast?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. Listen (https://podfollow.com/the-pension-confident-podcast) or watch the full episodes (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjaWtMAOMXg3xPoHDfyxQOWU45szcxfvU) on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their Pension Calculator (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/pension-calculator?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), blogs (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/blog?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), and videos (https://www.youtube.com/@PensionbeeTV). With PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. Self-employed (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/self-employed-pension?employment_status=self-employed&utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026) pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Visit PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026) to feel inspired. When investing, your money is at risk. Thank you for listening to Jo's Art History Podcast.

3. 

   7 Sept 2026

   Born To. Episode Three - Myrna Mitchell

   Hello and welcome back to Jo’s Art History Podcast. This episode is part of a special five part series, produced in collaboration with British Art Fair and PensionBee, celebrating five artists who’ve found a second act in life through their creative practice. Their work will be shown as part of the Born To exhibition at British Art Fair this September in London. The artist Myrna Mitchell, who works under the name Myrna Tracy Ceramics, spent 20 years living in the UAE, returning to the UK in 2011 with a young family. A pottery class she joined as a hobby soon became a life changing new direction. In 2019 she returned to education as a mature student, completing an Art Foundation and then a Creative Arts Practice degree at Bath Spa University, graduating with First Class Honours in 2022 and receiving the Outstanding Achievement Award. Since then she’s been selected for the British Ceramics Biennial Fresh, the John Ruskin Prize, Sotheby’s Secret Ceramics, and London Craft Week. Her work explores identity, belonging, and the stories objects carry, rooted in her own experience of displacement and return. Featured works: Kiss and Dancing for Joy Website: www.myrnatracyceramics.com Instagram: @myrnatracyceramics This episode’s PensionBee segment asks: why do the self-employed need to get their pension game sorted? Thank you to our partner PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), a leading online pension provider on a mission to build pension confidence so that everyone can enjoy a happy retirement. PensionBee’s exciting campaign ‘Born to Retire’ highlights how retirement isn’t the end of your life, it’s just the beginning. In celebration of this campaign, PensionBee is holding a feature exhibition ‘Born To’ at British Art Fair (https://www.britishartfair.co.uk/), showcasing what becomes possible when financial security gives people the freedom to pursue their passions. Curated by me, Jo McLaughlin, presenter of Jo’s Art History, the artists featured are all aged 50 and over, with practices that reflect longevity, reinvention, or sustained creative ambition. Discover the exhibition (https://www.britishartfair.co.uk/) from 24 to 27 September at the Saatchi Gallery, London. PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026)’s monthly podcast, The Pension Confident Podcast (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/podcast?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), aims to help listeners better understand the world of personal finance and pensions. Listen (https://podfollow.com/the-pension-confident-podcast) or watch the full episodes (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjaWtMAOMXg3xPoHDfyxQOWU45szcxfvU) on YouTube. Their website and award-winning app help savers understand pensions with helpful tools like their Pension Calculator (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/pension-calculator?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), blogs (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/blog?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), and videos (https://www.youtube.com/@PensionbeeTV). With PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026), you can manage your pension savings online with ease and can combine and contribute from one place. Self-employed (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/self-employed-pension?employment_status=self-employed&utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026) pension savers can even open a flexible pension plan, contributing as often or as little as they like. Take control of your retirement today with PensionBee (https://www.pensionbee.com/uk/hive/accounts/signup/name?utm_source=partner&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=jo_british_art_fair_2026). When investing, your money is at risk.

Who has been a guest on Jo's Art History Podcast

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

• Jane Dickins
• Daniel Johnson Gray
• Dan Quill
• Leyli Salayeva

Reach and audience

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

YouTube views

19,670

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Spotify

4.9 / 5

34 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 77 / 100

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

Quality

71

Social presence

94

YouTube

76

Engagement

85

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