Why do we make things? Where do ideas come from? How can we overcome creative blocks? What can we learn from criticism? How do we find our voice? Can we really make money from creative pursuits?
If you’ve ever found yourself asking these questions, We Need to Make Things is the podcast you need to kickstart your creative practice, stay inspired, and find the confidence to share your work with people who really need to see it.
Every fortnight, Tracy Calder sits down with artists, writers, scientists, gallerists and other influential experts and asks them to share their stories, tools and strategies for living a creative life so you, too, can make work that matters, for people who care.
From Crisis to Clarity: Creativity, Recovery and Self-acceptance
When his dream job as picture editor of The Times turned into a nightmare, Paul Sanders turned to photography to help him heal and find a way back to himself.
In this episode Paul urges us to forget about being famous, praise our peers and fully accept that we are enough. (He also explains why leaving a job with a six-figure salary was one of the best decisions he ever made.)
Content warning: This episode includes discussion of a mental health crisis, which some listeners may find distressing.
Thanks for listening! This is the final episode of season three of We Need to Make Things. To find out when season four starts, please subscribe or hit ‘follow’.
21 Apr 2026
Colouring Outside the Lines: The Benefits of Rule-Breaking and Starting Ugly
Having spent 12 years as a comedian, David duChemin uses his knowledge of improvisation, messy beginnings and creative angst to make photographs that connect with people in a deeply human way.
In this episode, David urges us to reject perfection, start ugly and treat our lives as our greatest art.
Thanks for listening!
New episodes of We Need to Make Things are posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit ‘follow’ to hear the latest.
7 Apr 2026
Why Access to Art Should Be a Basic Human Right
Heidi Zuckerman believes that art saves lives and has the power to make the world a better place, which is why she’s on a mission to remove as many barriers to creativity as she can.
In this episode, Heidi shares her five-step morning routine, her advice on dropping into the flow state and her belief that art should be a basic human right, not a privilege.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
10 Feb 2026
From What If? to Why Not? Finding Creative Freedom Through Action with Bill Ward
A 1980s bleach advert led to an unexpected career start for Bill Ward, but what he learnt in the advertising office has shaped and influenced his journey as a multi-award-winning actor and photographer.
In this episode, Bill describes what his background in advertising and acting bring to his photography, the importance of safe spaces for ideas, how he deals with rejection and why staying open is the best way to receive fresh insights.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
16 Dec 2025
Colour, Sensory Collisions and the Art of Being Human with Cig Harvey
Cig Harvey’s work is devoted to the topic of what it is to feel. From capturing moments that make her gasp to embracing the collision of senses, she explores what it is to be human via large-scale colour photography and written vignettes.
In this episode, Cig shares her thoughts on the value of art, the secret language of flowers, the importance of the journey over the destination, and the need to wake up every day and seek something beautiful.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
25 Nov 2025
Problem-solving, long-term projects and a life-changing encounter with Alys Tomlinson
A mix of creative instinct and tenacity has enabled award-winning photographer Alys Tomlinson to create a number of celebrated long-term photography projects and, more recently, to co-direct an award-winning documentary film, Mother Vera.
In this episode, Alys shares why creative problem-solving is at the heart of her work, how it feels to hand a project over to an audience, and the extraordinary meeting with a nun from Belarus that reshaped her life and career.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
21 Oct 2025
The Creative Instinct: Exploring the Ancient Urge to Make Things by Hand with Suzy Bennett
When photographer and travel journalist Suzy Bennett walked into a Victorian forge to commission a curtain rail, she was bewitched by the sights and sounds she found there.
The experience caused a career change that led Suzy to reduce her worldwide travel and pick up stories closer to home in Devon.
In this episode she looks at what lies behind our compulsion to make things, how craft can benefit mental health and the importance of celebrating traditional techniques and practical earthy people.
Suzy’s book, Artisans of Dartmoor, is out now.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
7 Oct 2025
The Curator’s Eye: Passion, Commitment and Relationships in the Art World with Zelda Cheatle
Zelda Cheatle is a curator, consultant and lecturer whose passion for photography remains undimmed despite more then 40 years in the industry. In 2024 she was named a ‘Woman of Influence’ by the Association of Photographers.
In this episode Zelda shares the mistakes people make when approaching galleries, what happens when museums run out of storage and describes the day she used a water pistol to secure a show, among many other things.
Zelda is part of the team behind the reinvention of PhotoMonth, a festival for all parts of London with an ‘E’ in the postcode, which runs throughout October.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
16 Sept 2025
From Phone Booths to 350k Followers: The Joy of Creative Chaos with Philippa Stanton
Artist and photographer Philippa Stanton is a synaesthete who believes that connecting with our senses can unlock new levels of creativity. She’s also a super fan of the humble telephone kiosk, and sometimes wonders if her house might have once been a brothel.
In this episode she shares tips for embracing procrastination, staying sane (and successful) on Instagram and treating life as a creative act.
An exhibition of Philippa’s abstract and multi-media telephone kiosk work will be on display at The Regency Townhouse in Brighton from 23-28 September 2025.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
19 Aug 2025
Portraits, Purpose and Parenthood: Life Behind the Lens with Harry Borden
Portrait photographer Harry Borden has won numerous high-profile awards and captured everyone from Keir Starmer to the Spice Girls, but it's the photographs of his children and his role as a father that he cherishes the most.
In this episode he shares the two questions you should ask yourself before starting a long-term project, how running a YouTube channel has deepened his relationship with his son, Fred, and why blasting The Stone Roses out of your car window is the best way to enliven a trip to Lidl.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
29 Jul 2025
Finding Your Artistic Voice: Letting Your Quirks Become Your Superpower with Lisa Congdon
Letting go of perfectionism, and embracing creative constraints, has allowed artist and illustrator Lisa Congdon to make great art and great pizza!
In this episode she shares her tips for navigating influence and developing your artistic voice, surviving the skills gap (otherwise known as the shark tank) and breaking free of the ‘starving artist’ mindset.
Thanks for listening! New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
15 Jul 2025
Beneath the Surface: Diving into Creative Risk with Henley Spiers
Diving in the open ocean has taught photographer, writer and expedition leader Henley Spiers as much about himself as it has about the marine life he captures with his camera.
In this episode he shares tips for marketing work on Instagram, lessons the ocean can teach us about life on land, advice on taking criticism, and the dangers of becoming too creatively comfortable.
A solo exhibition of Henley’s work is on display at Stadtmuseum Schleswig, Germany, until 14 September 2025.
Thanks for listening!
New episodes of We Need to Make Things will be posted every other Tuesday, so make sure you subscribe or hit follow to hear the latest.
18 Jun 2025
Ink Over Algorithm: Trusting Creativity in a Digital Age with Janine Vangool
Janine Vangool discusses trusting creative intuition and banning AI to emphasize the importance of creative mess and noticing ideas in an interview with the host.
4 Jun 2025
Spacesuits and Spark: Staying Creative for the Long Haul with Simon Murphy
Photographer Simon Murphy discusses maintaining creativity and playfulness in long-term projects, sharing his chapter approach, morning routines, and thoughts on AI in an interview with the host.
20 May 2025
Creativity Unlocked: Rhythm, Revenue & the Power of AI with Bastiaan Woudt
Photographer Bastiaan Woudt discusses how he balances his artistic passions with effective business strategies, including marketing and AI, to build a successful and fulfilling career in this interview.
6 May 2025
Creating Order Out of Chaos: Perfectionism, Criticism and Vulnerability with Sean Tucker
Photographer Sean Tucker discusses overcoming perfectionism, sharing creative work without fear, and using criticism to find order in chaos during an interview.
21 Apr 2025
From Hands to Heart: Crafting a Creative Life on Your Terms with Melanie Falick
Melanie Falick discusses the benefits of handmade crafts, making time for creativity, using the right side of the brain, and discovering hidden parts of ourselves through curiosity in this interview.
8 Apr 2025
Don’t break the chain: Secrets to Staying Creatively Limber with Mary Jo Hoffman
Photographer Mary Jo Hoffman discusses how daily creative constraints unlock unexpected inspiration and deepen one's connection with nature in this interview.
28 Mar 2025
Welcome to the We Need to Make Things podcast with Tracy Calder
Host Tracy Calder introduces "We Need to Make Things," a podcast designed to ignite your creativity and empower you to confidently share your work.
Who has been a guest on We Need to Make Things
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Janine Vangool
Simon Murphy
Bastiaan Woudt
Sean Tucker
Melanie Falick
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
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Podcast Authority Score: 13 / 100
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