Meet our Teach Inspire Create 2026 speaker: Josie Long
- Written byJosie Long
- Published date 27 October 2026
What can comedy teach us about creativity, taking risks and having the confidence to put ideas out into the world?
These are some of the questions comedian, writer and broadcaster Josie Long will explore when she joins us at the Teach Inspire Create Summit 2026.
Josie has been writing and performing stand-up since she was 14, winning the BBC New Comedy Awards at 17 and the Best Newcomer award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2006, alongside three nominations for the Edinburgh Comedy Award for Best Show. Since then, her work has spanned stand-up, television, radio, film and podcasting, including presenting the BBC Radio 4 documentary series and podcast Short Cuts.
Alongside her creative work, Josie has championed the role of the arts in society. She co-founded Arts Emergency, a charity supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to access education and careers in the arts. Her work brings together creativity, social and political questions, and a commitment to making opportunities in the arts more accessible.
With her belief in the importance of creativity and the arts, Josie is a natural fit for the Teach Inspire Create Summit. Ahead of the Summit, we caught up with Josie to discuss her creative journey, why the arts matter and what educators might take from her experience as they support the next generation of creative talent.
1. Can you tell us about your journey into comedy?
I was such a comedy geek when I was a kid. I loved any TV comedy that I could watch and I loved performing. I think I was really lucky to find stand up as young as I did. I was 14 when I started writing and performing, and as soon as I found it, I felt like it suited me. I really have loved it ever since. I think the longer you do it, the richer your repertoire gets to be. You find that you can talk about anything and bring different types of register to it.
2. Why do you think it’s important for teachers to support their students’ creative pursuits and how can they use comedy to inspire and connect with students?
Because every single one of us is an artist and a creative person, and it's so fundamental to our humanity. And because to approach any other subject creatively is a positive thing. And because in the past 16 years arts education has been so undermined by successive governments, and we need to do everything we can to nurture that part of us. And because creative pursuits are so integral to so many other skills too. I don't know about teachers using comedy, it must be much harder when the crowd hasn't paid, but I do know that it's such a good way to learn.
3. How do you approach blending social justice with comedy?
I write about what I care about, and I try to put my genuine self and values on the line. But also, I try to stay cognisant of the fact that I'm making comedy, and so I often like to be both totally earnest and totally undermining of myself at the same time. It's a very fun balance to get to strike but I am very glad to be able to at least try to make art that feels meaningful to me, and that tries to help change the world.
4.What do you think young creatives will need to succeed in the years ahead?
I want them to foster the same entitlement and confidence that their wealthy peers will have had bought for them. To remember that they have every right to create and to be there. I think they will need to be more tenacious, and dedicated than ever, but I think difficult times also call for the deepest humanity and the most beautiful silliness too.
5. Teach Inspire Create 2025 aims to bring together a diverse community of educators and creatives – what do you hope they’ll take away from your session?
I hope I can be useful to them in any way at all! I was talking to my friend recently about "preaching to the choir" and whether or not this is a good or bad thing, but I think that preaching to the choir makes them sing more beautifully. I feel privileged to get to speak to people who are doing such important and dedicated work and I want to help remind them of the passion behind what they do!
There is still time to book your spot at this year's Teach Inspire Create Summit, taking place on Friday 20 November!
Register now to join us.