That’s a wrap: Teach Inspire Create podcast, Season 5 comes to a close!
- Written byUAL Awarding Body
- Published date 22 June 2026
We’ve come to the end of series 5 of the Teach Inspire Create podcast and what a season it has been! From tattoo culture and architecture to gaming, fashion and music journalism, Series 5 of Teach Inspire Create explored the many different routes into creative careers and the people shaping them.
Hosted by Matt Moseley, UAL Awarding Body Chief Examiner for Art and Design, this season brought together creatives from a diverse range of creative disciplines and career paths. From art historians and sculptors to architects, journalists, theatre makers, and much more! Each guest shared their unique journey and insights into the creative world, proving that there are many ways to pursue a fulfilling creative career.
The podcast explored the multitude of careers you can pursue in the arts industries, serving as inspiration for all creatives.
Here’s your guide to Series 5.
Episode 1: Tracing stories of ink and identity with Dr. Matt Lodder
Art historian, author and tattoo expert, Dr Matt Lodder, a Senior Lecturer in Art History at the University of Essex, kicked off the first episode exploring how a lifelong fascination with tattoos evolved into an academic career.
In conversation with Matt Moseley, Dr. Lodder explored tattoo culture and material history, and the ways in which images on the body shape identity and storytelling.
‘If tattooing is an art form, what does it mean to be an artwork walking around in the world?’
Episode 2: Creating meaning from found materials with Justine Watt
Award-winning Scottish sculptor, Justine Watt, transforms unwanted everyday objects into thought-provoking works of art that challenge how we think about waste, upcycling, and sustainability.
From running away to join the circus to becoming an award-winning sculptor, in this episode, Justine discusses her incredible life stories and how they fuel and inspire her current creative practice. She also shares inspiring insights for young artists and designers at the start of their creative journey.
‘I worried that if I was making work about me, the work would become me, but just by the very act of making, the stories naturally have found their way through the work.’
Episode 3: Sketching spaces into life with Narinder Sagoo MBE
Architect, artist, and senior partner at Foster + Partners, Narinder Sagoo explores how creativity, curiosity, and human connection can shape the spaces we inhabit.
From sketching as a child in Leeds to shaping major architectural projects around the world, Narinder discusses the importance of curiosity, authenticity, observation, and why drawing remains a powerful human skill in an increasingly digital age.
‘Drawing was one of those things that allowed me to escape and enter that kind of lucid world of creativity.’
Episode 4: Speaking the language of games with Natalia Hinds
Award-winning voice and performance director, Natalia Hinds explores how voice, movement and imagination bring digital worlds to life.
Natalia examines her journey from dance school and musical theatre to directing performances for major video game studios. Along the way, she discusses the craft of voice acting, the importance of reading out loud, confidence, mentorship, and representation in the gaming industry.
‘It doesn't matter where you come from and it doesn't matter how much money you have . . . the most simple thing you can do is read out loud. And once you start to read out loud as a voice actor, you get your pace.’
Episode 5: Unlocking creative pathways in education with Paul Glennon
Artist, designer, and educator, Paul Glennon has taught art and design at every educational level, from primary school to higher education.
He is currently head of Outreach and Access at the University of the Arts London and in this episode, Paul reflects on the importance of inclusive teaching, creative confidence and giving young people meaningful opportunities to see themselves in creative futures.
‘If you have a cohort of students that are diverse, especially in creativity and art and design, it helps the students to gain a rich global outlook rather than a particular myopic view of the world.’
Episode 6: Threading lived experience through fashion and form with Yvette Blundell
Fashion and textiles educator, Yvette Blundell is a former textile designer, and curriculum leader on the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art and Design. Yvette draws on her experiences growing up in rural Somerset, working across the fashion industry, and how that impacted her teaching the next generation of creatives.
Yvette’s work champions playful, experimental, and brave approaches to creativity. She also discusses the power of lived experience in creative education, sharing thoughtful anecdotes on how to help students develop authentic and meaningful creative work.
‘Grab the opportunities as they come . . . [be] open-minded and willing to work hard at things. You can be incredibly talented, but if you tend to hold back and not throw yourself into things, you lose opportunity.’
Episode 7: Finding your voice in music journalism with Niall Smith
Award-winning music and culture journalist, Niall Smith is a broadcaster and founder of The Culture Crypt. His work spans journalism, publishing, radio, and cultural archiving, with a focus on documenting and celebrating music, media, and contemporary culture.
Niall reflects on how writing became a creative outlet from an early age and how a passion for music, media and storytelling led him to build The Culture Crypt into an influential independent publication. He shares powerful insights on the importance of curiosity, developing your own voice, preserving cultural history, and creating opportunities through passion, persistence, and community.
‘I think sometimes people really aspire to do something, but it feels so far away from … unachievable. But actually, if you take incremental, consistent steps towards it, you can.’
Episode 8: Shaping performance from unheard voices with Emma Bernard
Theatre maker, director and playwright, Emma Bernard explores creativity, collaboration, and the power of performance to connect people in her work.
Emma discusses her journey from actor to director in this episode, drawing on the experiences that shaped her approach to making theatre, and the importance of trust, curiosity, and connection in the creative process. Passionate about inclusion, Emma reflects on creating supportive spaces where artists can experiment, collaborate, and discover new possibilities through performance.
‘When art is at its best, it is about making us feel that we can be a more complex, more connected human being.’
Missed an episode?
Now is the perfect time to catch up. Whether you're interested in architecture, fashion, theatre, gaming, journalism or creative education, Series 5 offers practical insights and inspiring stories from people who have built successful careers by following their curiosity and creativity.
Listen to Series 5 now - available on all major streaming platforms. Do not forget to tag us using #TICPodcast on social media!